Document Document Title
US09626115B2 Threshold based incremental flashcopy backup of a raid protected array
Changes in a multi-RAID configuration to metadata of a source production volume in a source RAID are monitored since taking a most recent FC backup on the source production volume. The incremental copies of the metadata are stored on a target production volume in an target RAID. An incremental FC backup of the metadata are periodically created or created if the monitored changes exceed a change rate threshold.
US09626112B2 eMMC functionality expander
An eMMC functionality expander, and methods there for, are provided herein. For example, provided herein is a device comprising: a first processor; a multimedia card memory (“eMMC”); a second processor; a client eMMC interface between the second processor and the first processor; a host eMMC interface between the second processor and the eMMC; and an NVRAM (“Non-Volatile Random Access Memory”) in communication with the second processor, the second processor configured to manage data storage to the eMMC and the NVRAM so that the eMMC and the NVRAM appears as a single storage device to the first processor. The NVRAM can also be used to provide communication between the first processor and a slave processor. Furthermore, the NVRAM can store boot data, and the like, to decrease the boot times of the processors and the boot time of the device.
US09626105B2 Controlling a storage system
A method, computer-readable storage medium and computer system for controlling a storage system, the storage system comprising a plurality of logical storage volumes, the method comprising: monitoring, for each of the logical storage volumes, one or more load parameters; receiving, for each of the logical storage volumes, one or more load parameter threshold values; comparing, for each of the logical storage volumes, the first load parameter values of said logical storage volume with the corresponding one or more load parameter threshold values; in case at least one of the first load parameter values of one of the logical storage volumes violates the load parameter threshold value it is compared with, automatically executing a corrective action.
US09626104B2 Thumb access area for one-handed touchscreen use
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for reconfiguring touch controls on a device, such as a cell phone, in reaction to a user's changing mode of operation. For example, a standard display of icons that works well in two-handed operation may not work as well for one-handed operation where the user tries to operate the controls with a thumb of the holding hand. In such a case, a device can detect that the user is trying to operate the controls with a thumb of the holding hand and the controls can be reconfigured to be more suitable for thumb operation. Reconfiguration can also occur in other modes of operation, such as when the user is using a stylus, multiple fingers of a second (non-holding hand), fingers on both hands, etc. In some embodiments, detection of the mode of operation can be automatic such as where a camera takes an image to determine the mode.
US09626096B2 Electronic device and display method
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a display controller and a selector. The display controller displays, on a screen, at least one or more note icons corresponding to a note file including a plurality of pages. The selector selects a first note icon displayed on the screen. If a display mode of a note icon transitions from a mode capable of selecting at least one or more note icons to a mode capable of manipulating a page of a first note file corresponding to the first note icon, the display controller displays a transition image including an enlarged image of the first note icon and an enlarged image of a region other than the first note icon.
US09626093B2 Display apparatus, information input method and program
There is provided a mobile display apparatus applied to the display apparatus including a display screen; an operation area control unit that displays an operation area for a user to perform an input operation on the display screen; a display area control unit that displays a display area for displaying input information on the display screen; a touch panel that is provided to the display screen and detects an input operation performed by a user in the operation area; an arithmetic unit that selects input information based on the input operation detected by the device; and an input information presentation unit that presents the input information selected by the arithmetic unit in the display area to prompt the user to check the input information.
US09626090B2 Systems and methods for scrolling through content displayed on an electronic device
Systems and methods for scrolling through content displayed on an electronic device are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a detection module configured to detect scrolling events. Each of the scrolling events includes a signal to scroll in an indicated direction and by an indicated amount relative to the content displayed on the electronic device. The system also includes a scrolling module configured to scroll from a current page of the content to a next page of the content based on whether a time between the detection of a current one of the scrolling events and the detection of a previous one of the scrolling events exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US09626088B2 System and method for generating event visualizations
An event matrix may comprise labels and indicators corresponding to objects and links of an ontology. The objects and links may be determined from a plurality of data sources by a data integration system. Some of the labels may correspond to event objects, and may be arranged in a first spatial dimension at least in part on the basis of dates associated with said event objects. Other labels may correspond to non-event objects, and may be arranged in a second spatial dimension. Indicators may correspond to links between the event and non-event objects. An indicator for a particular link may be positioned with respect to the first and second spatial dimensions in accordance with the locations of the labels that correspond to the objects connected by the link.
US09626081B2 System for classification code selection
A system for classification code selection is provided. In some embodiments, the system receives a geographic location indicator associated with a plurality of geographic location-based rules stored in a database. The system monitors a user input interface of an interactive user display for a user input string that includes a minimum number of characters. A suggestion request may be generated to retrieve a data set from the database that matches the geographic location indicator and the user input string based on determining that the user input string includes at least the minimum number of characters. The data set received in response to the suggestion request may be formatted as a list including one or more entries, where each of the entries has a numeric classification code and a corresponding description. The list may be output on the interactive user display for selection and further processing.
US09626079B2 System and method for browsing tabbed-heterogeneous windows
The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for managing multiple content windows. The content windows may host a web browser, a shell view, a word processing application, and the like. A set of content windows are grouped into a frame in a manner such that a taskbar shows one item for the set of content windows. Each content window is associated with a tab for the frame. A content-specific menu may be associated with each tab. The content-specific menu includes a set of commands based on the heterogeneous content hosted in the content window. The set of commands provide functionality to the heterogeneous content.
US09626067B2 Modifying positions of on-canvas objects
Approaches are disclosed for maintaining spatial relationships (i.e., a layout) between a table object and other objects placed on a virtual canvas of an application work space. In certain implementations, offsets between the other objects and the table object are initially determined and are used to maintain the spatial relationships when the table object is resized. In certain implementations, the movement of the objects in response to a resize of the table object is dynamic from the user's perspective and can be easily undone.
US09626066B2 Video playback analytics collection
In embodiments of video playback analytics collection, an analytics script can be distributed to a client device along with video content that is requested by the client device. The analytics script is implemented to identify a type and/or version of a browser application that supports a video player session to playback the video content for viewing at the client device. The analytics script is also implemented to collect video playback data associated with the video content playback, detect an early end of the video player session before the playback of the video content is completed, and initiate communication of the video playback data to an analytics server. The analytics script can also initiate a timing delay to delay a browser navigation away from the video player session, where the timing delay is effective to allow communication of the video playback data to the analytics server.
US09626064B2 Presentation facilitation
Multiple schemes and techniques for facilitating presentations with an interactive application are described. For example, an interactive application provides a console view overlay for integrating multiple productivity applications into a graphical user interface (GUI) window. An interactive application can also share a selected display portion of the console view overlay with other interactive applications. As another example, presenters and other audience members can draw on the selected display portion being shared, and the drawn graphics are synchronously displayed by the other interactive applications. Interactive applications, as directed by their users, can join various member groups and specific presentations thereof. Moreover, a user may share content in accordance with membership grouping.
US09626062B2 Touch sensing apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a touch sensing apparatus includes repeatedly forming a plurality of electrode patterns on a first sub-substrate unwound from a first roller; repeatedly forming a plurality of interconnection patterns on a second sub-substrate unwound by a second roller; forming an array of touch sensing substrates by adhering the first sub-substrate to the second sub-substrate; forming a plurality of via holes through which the plurality of electrode patterns are electrically connected to the plurality of interconnection patterns; and cutting the array of touch sensing substrates into a plurality of touch sensing substrates, each touch sensing substrate including one of the electrode patterns and one of the interconnection patterns.
US09626060B2 Display device with touch detection function and electronic apparatus
According to an aspect, a display device with a touch detection function includes: a substrate; a drive electrode that extends in a first direction; and a plurality of touch detection electrodes that are metal wirings extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The metal wirings are arranged with a predetermined pitch so as to make capacitive coupling with the drive electrode.
US09626056B2 Sensor-equipped display device
According to one embodiment, a sensor-equipped display device includes a display panel, a sensor and a controller. The sensor includes a plurality of detection electrodes. Each of the detection electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a greater area in a rear part than in a front part in the first direction in the detection electrode. The second electrode includes a greater area in the front part than in the rear part in the first direction in the detection electrode.
US09626055B2 In-cell touch screen, touch detection method thereof and display device
An in-cell touch screen, a touch detection method thereof and a display device are disclosed, the in-cell touch screen comprising: an array substrate and an opposed substrate arranged opposite to each other; a self-capacitance electrode pattern (100, 200), disposed on a side of the array substrate facing the opposed substrate and/or a side of the opposed substrate facing the array substrate, including: a plurality of first self-capacitance electrodes (100), each of the first self-capacitance electrodes (100) being a strip electrode, a plurality of second self-capacitance electrodes (200), each of the second self-capacitance electrodes including a plurality of block electrodes (210) electrically connected with each other; and a touch detecting chip, configured to judge a touch position according to signal variation of the self-capacitance electrode pattern, wherein orthogonal projections of each of the first self-capacitance electrodes (100) and each of the second self-capacitance electrodes (200) on the array substrate cross to each other, and each of the first self-capacitance electrodes (100) and each of the second self-capacitance electrodes (200) are connected with the touch detecting chip through periphery wirings (300), respectively. The in-cell touch screen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure varies the self-capacitance electrode pattern, which can significantly reduce the number of the periphery wirings, and is conducive to narrow frame design; moreover, time required for touch detection can be greatly reduced in a mode of switching self capacitance and mutual capacitance.
US09626054B2 Capacitive sensing device and method that reduces influence from transient environmental changes
A capacitive sensing method includes detecting present measured values of plural reference points from plural sensing points; generating a present difference value according to the present measured values of the reference points and current reference measured values; comparing the present difference value with a threshold; detecting present measured values of the sensing points; generating plural position signals of the sensing points according to the present measured values of the sensing points and the current reference measured values; and controlling the output of the position signals according to a reference signal. When the present difference value is greater than the threshold, executing a procedure for refreshing background noise to refresh the current reference measured values. The sensing points are defined by intersected electrodes, configured to form an array, and correspond to the current reference measured values. The reference points are located at the periphery of the array.
US09626053B2 Touch control display device and joint touch control display
A touch control display device includes a display panel, an image compensation element positioned on the display panel, and a touch sensing structure adjacent to the image compensation element. The touch sensing structure is configured to sense touch actions applied to the touch control display device. The display panel includes a main display portion and a periphery display portion. The image compensation element includes a compensation portion, and the compensation portion is configured to distribute the image of the periphery display portion to the outside of the periphery display portion away from the main display portion. The compensation portion includes a light incident surface, a light emitting surface, and a plurality of light guiding channels extending from the light incident surface to the light emitting surface. An area of the light emitting surface is greater than an area of the light incident surface.
US09626050B2 Touch panel and touch-sensitive display device
A touch panel and a touch-sensitive display device are provided. The touch panel includes transversal electrode arrays and longitudinal electrode arrays with mutually perpendicular extending directions. The transversal electrode arrays and the longitudinal electrode arrays are each connected to a controller by a wire. All the wires are each serially connected with a first resistor. A sum of an owned resistance of each wire and a resistance of the first resistor serially connected with the wire constitutes an equivalent resistance, and all the equivalent resistances respectively corresponding to all the wires are equal. By the above solution, the invention can avoid the problem of inaccurate detection caused by error resulting from different wire resistances, and the detection accuracy of the touch panel is effectively improved consequently.
US09626048B2 Touch screen and related touch sensing control circuit
Disclosed herein are touch screens that integrate touch sensing systems with display devices. The touch sensing system serves data lines and common electrodes of a driving circuitry of the display device as touch driving lines and touch sensing lines for touch sensing operations. A common electrode layer having the common electrodes of the driving circuitry includes a plurality of openings for reducing a base mutual-capacitance of the touch sensing system.
US09626047B2 Capacitive touch unit and capacitive touch screen
The invention discloses a capacitive touch unit, including a sensing electrode, connected to a control unit through a sensing electrode lead; and a plurality of scan electrodes, disposed at two sides of the sensing electrode; the scan electrode being connected to the control unit through a scan electrode lead, and the scan electrodes and the sensing electrode being coplanar; wherein the sensing electrode comprising a plurality of identical sensing electrode units, the plurality of sensing electrode units being arranged regularly along a same direction, the plurality of sensing electrode units being electrically connected; each scan electrode comprising a plurality of identical scan electrode units, the plurality of scan electrode units being arranged regularly along a same direction and the direction the same as sensing electrode units, and the plurality of scan electrode units being electrically connected. The invention also provides a capacitive touch screen with the capacitive touch unit.
US09626044B2 System and method for scanning control of a capacitive touch panel
This invention provides a system for scanning control of a capacitive touch panel. The system includes a driving unit driving a partially neighboring strips of a plurality of first axial conductive strips of the capacitive touch panel, wherein the plurality of first axial conductive strips are parallel to each other, and a first detecting unit detecting one of the partially neighboring strips of first axial conductive strips. By doing so, the influence caused by unintended conducting materials can be kept from the touch point detection for the capacitive touch panel, and the electro-magnetic interference of the capacitive touch panel can be also decreased.
US09626043B2 Optical touch system and method for optical touch location
The present invention provides an optical touch system, applied to an electronic apparatus having at least a physical plane. It comprises: an optical unit set on the physical plane and configured to produce a first optical effect; an image acquisition unit set on the physical plane, at least a part of the optical unit being within an acquisition range of the image acquisition unit, a touch operation area being formed by the image acquisition unit and the optical unit; the image acquisition unit configured to capture an image having a second optical effect which is formed on the first optical effect after an operation body for operating the electronic apparatus enters the touch operation area; a processing unit being connected with the image acquisition unit and configured to determine the range of the operation body in the touch operation area according to the image having the second optical effect. The present invention also provides an optical touch input display apparatus and optical touch input positioning method. The touch system of the present invention is low-cost and highly reliable.
US09626039B2 Electronic device
A touch panel has a first zone, a second zone and a third zone. The first zone includes a first vertical distance, which is less than a first value and greater than a second value, from the surface of the planar display, and includes a center of the planer display. The second zone includes the first vertical distance and is located outside the first zone with respect to the two dimensional coordinates. The third zone includes a second vertical distance, which is greater than the first value, from the surface of the planar display. When the indicator directly enters the second zone from the third zone, the two dimensional coordinates of the indicator are invalid. The two dimensional coordinates of the indicator are valid coordinates, when the indicator directly enters the second zone from the third zone, or when the indicator directly enters the first zone from the third zone.
US09626037B2 Display device
A display device includes: a display functional layer that can change display for each pixel in accordance with an application voltage; a plurality of driving electrodes separately disposed in one direction; a plurality of pixel signal lines to which pixel signals used for applying the application voltage to the display functional layer in accordance with an electric potential difference from the display reference electric potential are applied; a plurality of detection electrodes that are separately disposed in a direction other than the one direction, are coupled with the driving electrodes as electrostatic capacitance, generate detection electric potentials in response to the detection driving signal, and change the detection electric potential in accordance with approach of a detection target object; and a pixel signal control unit that controls the pixel signals so as to include pixel signals having different polarities during the display period.
US09626036B2 Touch circuit, method for driving the same and touch display apparatus
An embodiment of the present invention provides a touch circuit, a method for driving a touch circuit and a touch display apparatus, which may achieve a touch display apparatus with a narrower frame. The touch circuit includes: a touch signal input module having a first output end for outputting a touch drive triggering signal and a second output end for outputting a touch clock signal; a plurality of touch control sub-circuits cascaded to each other, each of which has a first input end for inputting the touch drive triggering signal and a second input end for inputting the touch clock signal; and a plurality of touch electrodes, wherein the first output end and the second output end of the touch signal input module are connected to at least one cascade of the touch control sub-circuits and configured to output the touch drive triggering signal and the touch clock signal to the at least one cascade of the touch control sub-circuits, and wherein the touch control sub-circuits are configured to drive the touch electrodes when they are triggered by the touch drive triggering signal and the touch clock signal.
US09626029B2 Electronic device and method of controlling electronic device using grip sensing
An electronic device is provided. The device includes a touch sensor configured to sense at least one touch; a pressure sensor configured to sense at least one pressure; and a controller configured to sense a grip pattern on the electronic device using the touch sensor and the pressure sensor, and to control a predetermined function according to the grip pattern.
US09626025B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Provided is an information processing apparatus including a display control unit configured to display a first map, and an operation detection unit configured to detect a first operation of selecting a first spot on the first map. The display control unit displays a second map associated with the selected first spot instead of the first map when the first operation is detected.
US09626023B2 LED/OLED array approach to integrated display, lensless-camera, and touch-screen user interface devices and associated processors
A system for implementing a display which also serves as one or more of a tactile user interface touchscreen, light field sensor, proximate hand gesture sensor, and lensless imaging camera. In an implementation, an OLED array can be used for light sensing as well as light emission functions. In one implementation a single OLED array is used as the only optoelectronic user interface element in the system. In another implementation two OLED arrays are used, each performing and/or optimized from different functions. In another implementation, an LCD and an OLED array are used in various configurations. The resulting arrangements allow for sharing of both optoelectric devices as well as associated electronics and computational processors, and are accordingly advantageous for use in handheld devices such as cellphone, smartphones, PDAs, tablet computers, and other such devices.
US09626022B2 Display panel with touch detector, touch panel, and electronic unit
There are provided a display panel with a touch detector that allows the touch detection electrodes to be less visible, a touch panel, and an electronic unit having the display panel with a touch detector. The display panel with a touch detector includes: a display layer including a plurality of display elements arranged side by side; and an electrode layer alternately segmented into first regions and second regions along a first direction, the electrode layer including a plurality of first slits arranged side by side to extend in a second direction, and a plurality of second slits each allowing an adjacent pair of the plurality of first slits in the second regions to be in communication with one another.
US09626021B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a control section which, if it is determined that a first object is selected by an operating body, causes a second object, which is obtained by duplicating a part or all of the first object, to be displayed at a predetermined position on a second display surface, and if it is determined that the second object is selected by the operating body, hides the first object displayed at the position indicated by object coordinate information and also updates the object coordinate information with in-second display surface destination coordinate information.
US09626018B2 Object detection in touch systems
A signal processor implements a technique for detecting objects on a panel which transmits signals inside the panel such that the objects are allowed to interact with (e.g. attenuate) the signals by contact with a touch surface of the panel. The signal processor operates to define cells that have a given location on the touch surface and are associated with a respective set of intersecting paths for the signals across the touch surface. The signal processor operates to obtain (70) an output signal from a signal detection arrangement that measures a signal property for each path; process (71) the output signal to obtain an interaction value for each path; and determine (73-75) a touch status of a selected cell among the cells by analyzing the distribution of interaction values for at least part of the intersecting paths. The touch status indicates presence or absence of one of the objects in the selected cell.
US09626017B2 Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof, display device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof, as well as a display device. The touch panel includes a first sensing electrode layer, a second sensing electrode layer and an insulating layer between the first sensing electrode layer and the second sensing electrode layer, wherein the first sensing electrode layer includes first sensing electrode patterns; the second sensing electrode layer includes second sensing electrode patterns; and the insulating layer includes insulating patterns, a shape of the insulating patterns is the same as that of the first sensing electrode patterns or the second sensing electrode patterns.
US09626016B2 System and method for interactive distribution of digital content
A system for distribution of digital content includes at least one interactive terminal with a display, at least one battery, electronics for enabling digital image creation on the display, a communication module, and means for controlling an interactive touchless user interface in order to display selected content on the interactive terminal. In addition, a method for digital distribution of digital content with content pages c=1, 2, . . . , h to be displayed with at least one interactive terminal at at least one location j=1, 2, . . . , m, includes locating at least one i=1, 2, . . . , n interactive terminals at a defined location j=1, 2, . . . , m for displaying the digital content, providing means for interaction with a user via the touchless user interface, based on user input, and communicating with a server infrastructure to display selected content on the interactive terminal.
US09626013B2 Imaging apparatus
An information processing apparatus that includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject, a display, provided on a first surface of the information processing apparatus, that displays the image of the subject, and a touch panel, provided on a second surface of the information processing apparatus, that detects a touch input, the second surface being a surface opposite to the first surface. The information processing apparatus further including a controller that receives an output from the touch panel corresponding to the touch input and outputs a command to control at least one of the imaging unit and the display based on the touch input.
US09626012B2 Method for generating pointer movement value and pointing device using the same
Disclosed are an apparatus for calculating the movement value of a pointer, a method of correcting the movement value of the pointer, and a 3D pointing device. The method of generating correction information of pointer includes acquiring movement data of a 3D pointing device during a predetermined time, adding up values of the movement data, generating control information and moving the pointer if an added-up result of the movement data is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and transmitting the control information to the pointer.
US09626010B2 Touch pen, method and apparatus for providing touch function
A touch pen is provided, which includes a case; a tip that is inserted to protrude from one end of the case; and a button that allows an acoustic absorbent to contact with or be detached from a portion of the tip for adjusting a natural frequency of the tip.
US09626009B2 Coordinate indicating device and coordinate measuring device for measuring input coordinates of coordinate indicating device
A coordinate indicating device which inputs coordinates to a coordinate measuring device is provided. The coordinate indicating device includes a power receiver for wirelessly receiving drive power from the coordinate measuring device, a rectifier for rectifying the wirelessly received drive power into Direct Current (DC) drive power, a battery for storing the rectified drive power, an actuator for outputting at least one of preset vibration, frictional force, and electrostatic force, based on relative positions of the coordinate measuring device and the coordinate indicating device by using the rectified drive power provided from the battery, a coordinate indicator for indicating coordinates at predetermined coordinates on the coordinate measuring device, and a shielding portion for shielding the coordinate indicator.
US09626005B2 Removable pushbutton type interface device for touch panel
An inputting device for inputting information to a touch sensor is disclosed which is less likely to cause false detection and allows comparatively free selection of a disposition position of the inputting device relative to a touch sensor. The inputting device includes a conductive member disposed on a touch sensor of the capacitance type and cooperating with the touch sensor to form a capacitor therebetween, a ground terminal connected to the ground of the touch sensor, a current path interconnecting the conductive member and the ground terminal, and a switch disposed on the current path. A result of detection by the touch sensor varies in response to switching of the switch.
US09626004B2 Control panel
Integrated control panel and electronic displays wherein the control panel may be positioned over the electronic display with at least part of the display being visible to the user. The control panel may consist of control elements such as rotary controls or buttons that can be associated with graphics on the display. Light emitters and detectors may be used to detect movement of the control elements such that the region of the display adjacent or juxtaposed to the control elements is not obscured from view of the user.
US09626003B2 Natural gazes during online video conversations
A system of enhancing communication in a multi-participant video conference by tracking eye contact between participants, implemented by a computing processor, detects that a first participant is looking at a second participant on a first screen viewed by the first participant, where both are engaged in the multi-participant video conference. The system adjusts a first video representation of the first participant such that the first participant appears to look directly at the second participant on a second screen viewed by the second participant. The system adjusts the second video representation to look directly at the first participant to enhance communication between the first participant and the second participant by allowing the first participant and the second participant to look directly into each other's eyes during the multi-participant video conference.
US09625999B2 Integrated input control and output display system
An integrated input control and output rendering system for a processor-driven user device is provided. The system integrates input sensors (such as a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, camera, etc.) and output actuators (such as a display panel, speaker, robot, etc.) into a device independently of the user device and the applications running on the user device. The system includes an input logic engine to interpret input signals from various input devices together with an output rendering engine to output appropriate output signals in response to the input signals.
US09625997B2 Human interface device and method
A method for state tracking based gesture recognition engine for a sensor system has the steps of: defining a plurality of sequential states of a finite-state machine, determining a Sequence Progress Level (SPL) for each state, mapping a state probability distribution to a (single) SPL on run-time, and utilizing the mapped SPL estimate as an output value of the sensor system.
US09625987B1 Updating and displaying information in different power modes
A computing device is described that executes a centralized service and a plurality of applications. The centralized service detects a change from a first power mode of the computing device to a second power mode of the computing device and responsive to detecting the change, determines a first application from the plurality of applications executing at the computing device, to notify of the change from the first power mode to a second power mode. The centralized service outputs to the first application an indication of the change from the first power mode to the second power mode, and responsive to receiving an indication response from the first application, suspends an application processor of the computing device.
US09625985B2 Power excursion warning system
A power excursion warning system includes a power system having a first slew rate. A powered component is coupled to the power system. The powered component voltage regulator has a second slew rate that is greater than the first slew rate. A powered component voltage regulator is coupled to the powered component and operable to convert a first voltage received from the power system to a second voltage that is supplied to the powered component. A power excursion warning device is coupled to the powered component voltage regulator and operable to receive a signal from the powered component voltage regulator that is associated with the second slew rate, determine that the signal indicates a power excursion that will result in the power system operating outside a predetermined range, and produce a warning signal indicative of the power excursion.
US09625984B2 Technologies for managing power during an activation cycle
Technologies of managing power during an activation cycle of a processor core or other compute domain include determining new operation limits for active processor cores or other compute domains during an activation cycle of a hibernating processor core or other hibernating compute domain to reduce the likelihood of a power surge during the activation of the hibernating processor core or other compute domain. The active processor cores or other compute domain are monitored until their operating points are at or below the new operating limits. Thereafter, the hibernating processor core or other hibernating compute domain is activated.
US09625981B2 Electronic device and voltage control method
An electronic device including an insertion portion for insertion of a connection terminal, includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to detect an acceleration when the electronic device is moved, detect whether or not the connection terminal is inserted in the insertion portion, based on a potential of a connection line with the insertion portion, and start application of voltage to the connection line when the detected acceleration varies from a value less than a threshold to a value equal to or greater than the threshold.
US09625978B2 Receiving, at least in part, and/or issuing, at least in part, at least one packet to request change in power consumption state
An embodiment may include circuitry to be included, at least in part, in at least one node to be used in a network. The circuitry may (a) receive, at least in part, via at least one power supply line of the at least one node, at least one packet, and/or (b) issue, at least in part, via the at least one power supply line, the at least one packet. The at least one packet may request at least one change, at least in part, in at least one power consumption state of at least one portion of the at least one node. Many modifications, variations, and alternatives are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US09625964B2 Method and system for discovery, validation and delivery of power through a universal power center
A system and method of discovery, validation and delivery of power to an electronic device through a universal power center is provided. The method comprises providing a power tip for an electronic device with a unique identification and broadcasting the unique identification to a power center. The method further includes verifying the unique identification and connection location of the electronic device, determining power requirements for the connected electronic device based on the unique identification and connection location, and delivering power to the electronic device based on the determined power requirements.
US09625958B2 Deflectable dividers separating peripheral components
An apparatus with deflectable dividers separating peripheral components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a shroud housing coupleable to a circuit board of a computer. In an installed position, the shroud housing facilitates a proper electrical connection between peripheral components and the circuit board. The apparatus also includes at least one deflectable divider that is deflectably mounted to the shroud housing. In the installed position, the at least one deflectable divider is disposed between adjacent peripheral components. The at least one deflectable divider is operably displaced away from a selected peripheral component in a displacement motion by fingers of a user during a component swap operation to allow space for the fingers of the user to grasp the selected peripheral component.
US09625955B2 Electronic device with flexible assembly and limit structure thereof
An electronic device with a flexible assembly, comprising a housing, a positioning assembly and a flexible display, is provided. The housing comprises a first cover plate, a second cover plate and a flexible assembly. The flexible assembly is bendably connected to the first and second cover plates, so that the first cover plate closes on the second cover plate or opens to a limit angle with respect to the second cover plate and then stops. The positioning assembly is disposed on the housing for positioning the first cover plate, the flexible assembly and the second cover plate in an open state or a closed state. When the first cover plate opens to the limit angle with respect to the second cover plate, the positioning assembly prevents the first cover plate from rotating in a reverse direction with respect to the second cover plate.
US09625954B2 Multi-pivot hinge
The description relates to devices, such as computing devices that have hinged portions. One example can include a first portion and a second portion. This example can also include a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion. The sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly can include rotation control elements configured to control a relative order of rotation around axes of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly.
US09625952B2 Hinge assemblies
An apparatus can include a processor; memory accessible by the processor; a first housing that includes a front side and a back side and a thickness therebetween; a second housing that includes a front side and a back side and a thickness therebetween; a first gear operatively coupled to the first housing; and a second gear operatively coupled to the second housing where the first and second gears mesh to orient the first and second housings in a front side to front side orientation and in a back side to back side orientation.
US09625949B2 Electronic device and method for manufacturing the same
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a support member including at least a portion formed of a conductive material, an enclosure member configured to receive the support member and including at least a portion of which is formed of a conductive material. The conductive material portion of the enclosure member and the conductive material portion of the support member are insulated from each other.
US09625948B2 Electronic devices with retractable displays
An electronic device may have a pair of elongated housings. A flexible display may be placed in a first position in which the display is retracted within one of the housings and a second position in which the flexible display is deployed and extends between the housings in a planar shape for viewing by a user. Support structures such as rigid slats that run parallel to the housings and bistable slats that run perpendicular to the rigid slats may be used to support the flexible display. Speakers, microphones, cameras, and other components can be mounted in the housings. The housings may be held together using magnets and may contain electrical components such as integrated circuits, batteries, and other devices. The components may be mounted on printed circuit boards that rotate within a rotating roller around which the display is wrapped when retracted.
US09625939B2 Clock forwarding over optics
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for synchronizing a common reference clock over optics. For example, a reference clock from a host device may be frequency adjusted based on a pass-band of an optical link, decoded, and converted into an optical signal, and transferred to a controller of a target device via one or more optical cables. The controller may be used to recover the reference clock using the optical signal, which may be used as a common-reference clock for communications between the host and target devices.
US09625937B2 Computation efficiency by diffraction order truncation
A method for improving computation efficiency for diffraction signals in optical metrology is described. The method includes simulating a set of diffraction orders for a three-dimensional structure. The diffraction orders within the set of diffraction orders are then prioritized. The set of diffraction orders is truncated to provide a truncated set of diffraction orders based on the prioritizing. Finally, a simulated spectrum is provided based on the truncated set of diffraction orders.
US09625934B2 Voltage regulator with improved load regulation
A voltage regulator comprises a ground node, a pick-off node, a regulator branch, a load branch, and a current mirror the regulator branch and the load branch are connected in parallel between the pick-off node and the ground node; the load branch comprises one or more resistive connecting lines that are connectable in series with the load to generate a load current through the load branch; the regulator branch comprises a bias node, a resistive element, and a tap node; the bias node is arranged to provide a regulated bias voltage; the resistive element is connected between the bias node and the pick-off node; and the tap node is connected between the bias node and the resistive element. The current mirror is connected to the tap node and arranged to draw a mirror current from the tap node; the mirror current having a component that is proportional to the load current.
US09625933B1 Voltage regulation circuit
A switchable voltage regulation circuit includes a power supply chip and a voltage regulation module. The voltage regulation module includes first and second resistors and first and second switch units. A first terminal of the first resistor is electrically coupled to a power supply and a first output pin of the power supply chip. A first terminal of the second resistor is electrically coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor. The first switch unit is electrically coupled between the first terminal of the first resistor and the second terminal of the first resistor. The second switch unit is electrically coupled between the first terminal of the second resistor and the voltage output. By manual switching, or by transistors under control of a baseboard management unit, the resistances can be switched in or switched out to regulate the voltage.
US09625924B2 Leakage current supply circuit for reducing low drop-out voltage regulator headroom
Systems and methods relate to a low-dropout voltage (LDO) voltage regulator which receives a maximum supply voltage and provides a regulated voltage to a load, where the load may be a processing core of a multi-core processing system. A leakage current supply source includes a leakage current sensor to determine a leakage current demand of the load of the LDO voltage regulator and a leakage current supply circuit to supply the leakage current demand. In this manner, the leakage current supply source provides current assistance to the LDO voltage regulator, such that the LDO voltage regulator can supply only dynamic current. Thus, headroom voltage of the LDO voltage regulator, which is a difference between the maximum supply voltage and the regulated voltage, can be reduced. Reducing the headroom voltage allows greater number of dynamic voltage and frequency scaling states of the load.
US09625917B2 Gas pressure regulator with guide
A gas pressure regulator for use with gas delivery systems is provided. The gas pressure regulator includes, in one form, a body defining a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a central portion having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. An inlet is disposed proximate the distal end portion of the body, the inlet defining an inlet axis extending therethrough, and the inlet axis being offset from the longitudinal axis. A cavity is disposed within the central portion of the body, and defines an upper portion and a lower portion, the cavity centrally aligned with the longitudinal axis. The gas pressure regulator further includes a channel extending between the inlet and the cavity, and a guide disposed within the lower portion of the cavity in abutment with a bottom surface of the cavity substantially perpendicular to the lateral axis.
US09625916B2 Control of liquid flow sequence on a microfluidic device
Described embodiments provide devices, systems and methods for sequencing liquid flow in response to a driving force by entrapping and releasing gas between volumes of liquid in a controlled manner. In one particular form, a centrifugal “lab on a disk” device is provided to drive liquid flow and sequencing by virtue of the centrifugal force and in one particular form a radially inward bend conduit is used in connection with controllably trapping and releasing gas between liquid volumes.
US09625905B2 Haptic remote control for toys
A haptic feedback remote control device provides control signals to a toy device, such as a car, boat, plane, etc., to control the toy's operation. The remote control device includes a housing and at least one control for manual manipulation by the user, where control signals representing the manipulation are sent to the toy, preferably transmitted wirelessly. An actuator outputs forces on the housing and/or on a control in response to actuator signals. A controller provides the actuator signals based on the manual manipulation of the control by the user, or based on status signals from the toy indicating the toy's actions or interactions, or based on both. In one embodiment, the actuator moves an inertial mass to provide inertial sensations on the housing. The information received from the toy device can include information from a contact sensor or inertial sensor on the toy device.
US09625902B2 Method and system for detecting integrity of a control loop of a physical system
In a control loop, a command signal is applied to physical components to cause movement of the physical components. The position of the physical components is detected and used to generate subsequent command signals. In an implementation, an integrity detection system causes an excitation signal to be injected onto the command signal to cause movement of the physical components at an excitation frequency. This movement is detected in the physical system control loop and isolated by the integrity detection system. If the integrity detection system fails to detect energy in the excitation frequency band, a failure of at least one component of the control system is inferred.
US09625898B2 Feedback control system having servomechanism monitoring system and methods of monitoring servomechanisms
A feedback control system includes at least one servo unit controlling operation of a motor, wherein the at least one servo unit is configured to acquire operational data with respect to controlling the operation of the motor. The feedback control system also includes a programmable logic controller communicatively coupled to the at least one servo unit, wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to receive the operational data from the at least one servo unit and output real-time data corresponding to the operational data.
US09625897B2 Method and system for testing a machine tool
A method to control a material remover can include generating a test path to be processed by the processing circuitry to cause the material remover of the machine tool to move along a predetermined path; causing the processing circuitry to execute the test path and move the material remover along the test path; timing at least one of the performance of the processing circuitry and the movement of the material remover along the test path to generate machine tool timings; and using the machine tool timings to set limits which are arranged to subsequently be used when cutting paths are generated for the machine tool for which the test path has been generated.
US09625893B2 Method of using an installation guide system to configure an air conditioner or HVAC arrangement
A method of using an installation guide system to configure an air conditioner or HVAC arrangement is provided. The installation guide system may include an input configured to receive inputs from a user; a memory configured to store information; a display; and a controller configured to control the input, the memory, and the display. The method may include receiving input, into the installation guide system, of installation information to be used to configure the air conditioner or HVAC arrangement; displaying on a drawing display of the display at least one image of an installation space for the air conditioner or HVAC; configuring the installation information with respect to the at least one image of the installation space; arranging apparatuses constituting an air conditioner or HVAC on the drawing display to create a design drawing for an air conditioner or HVAC arrangement based on the installation information; and inspecting the air conditioner or HVAC arrangement for errors.
US09625892B2 System and method for monitoring device calibration
A system and method for monitoring device calibration. The system includes an asset management computer communicatively coupled to field devices. The asset management computer includes a processor connected to a memory device storing a field device drift identifying (FDDI) program. The FDDI program causes the asset management computer to statistically determine at least one process control limit from historical parameter data received from each of the field devices. The system continuously samples current parameter data received from each of the field devices and compares the current parameter data to respective ones of the process control limits for each of the field devices to determine whenever any of the current parameter data is outside the process control limit for identifying a first device drift for a first field device. Responsive to identifying the first device drift, an alert is generated that the first field device needs calibration.
US09625887B2 Contingency screening in multi-control area electrical power systems using coordinated DC power flow
A new approach in contingency analysis is presented based on a modular method for power flow calculation. The proposed method exploits reuse of power flow data for modules not affected by an outage. The method minimizes the number of necessary computations and matrix inversions in contingency analysis; this is achieved by recalculating only the modules affected by the change and reusing data from the original system for all other modules.
US09625885B2 Application-generated function block for data exchange between control programs and building automation objects
A system, process, and method for modeling a building automation system is provided that permits a control program to easily and efficiently add field devices, gather data from, and provide data to field devices, iterate though all field devices in a hierarchical structure, poll the field devices, evaluate the results, and react accordingly.
US09625881B2 Electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece includes: a timer unit configured to count date and time; a current position acquiring unit configured to acquire a current position; an associated position selecting unit configured to select an associated position preset according to a current position when the current position is acquired; a local time calculating unit configured to calculate local time at the current position and local time at the associated position based on the date and time counted by the timer unit, time difference information of the current position and time difference information of the associated position on differences in time from a predetermined reference position; and a display part configured to display the calculated local times simultaneously or by selectively switching therebetween.
US09625880B2 Shock-proof system with simplified assembly for timepiece
A shock-absorber bearing for a staff of a moving part of a timepiece, the bearing including: a support including a housing configured to receive a pivot module configured to cooperate with the staff; an elastic mechanism configured to exert at least one axial force on the pivot module to retain the pivot module in its housing, the pivot module and the housing having a geometry of revolution defined to have freedom of angular orientation, one relative to the other; and a fixing mechanism for fixing the elastic mechanism.
US09625879B2 Method for fabricating a colored component for a watch
A method of fabricating a component for use in a watch includes a step of depositing a first thin film on a wafer wherein the first thin film is adapted to allow light reflected away from the wafer to be indicative of a first color characteristic. The step of depositing the first thin film is performed by using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process or a low pressure chemical vapor deposition process. The method may further include a step of fabricating a second color characteristic, including defining a pattern on the first thin film using photolithography, and, processing a region within a boundary of the pattern so that the region is adapted to allow light reflected away from the wafer to be indicative of the second color characteristic. The step of processing the region within the boundary of the pattern includes depositing a metal or a ceramic material within the boundary of the pattern which is indicative of the second color characteristic. The step of processing the region within the boundary of the pattern may also include depositing a second thin film within the region within the boundary of the pattern.
US09625878B2 Dynamic time multiplexing fabrication of holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals for increased wavelength sensitivity
Described herein is a new holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) medium with broadband reflective properties, and a new technique for fabrication of broadband HPDLC mediums. The new technique involves dynamic variation of the holography setup during HPDLC formation, enabling the broadening of the HPDLC medium's wavelength response. Dynamic variation of the holography setup may include the rotation and/or translation of one or more motorized stages, allowing for time and spatial, or angular, multiplexing through variation of the incident angles of one or more laser beams on a pre-polymer mixture during manufacture. An HPDLC medium manufactured using these techniques exhibits improved optical response by reflecting a broadband spectrum of wavelengths. A new broadband holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal thin film polymeric mirror stack with electrically-switchable beam steering capability is disclosed.
US09625876B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cartridge, a storage medium, a cartridge-side holding device, a body-side holding device, and a reading device. The cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body. Information relating to the cartridge is stored in the storage medium. The cartridge-side holding device is provided in the cartridge and, when the cartridge is in a non-inserted state in which the cartridge is not inserted into the apparatus body, holds the storage medium. The body-side holding device is provided in the apparatus body and, when the cartridge is in an attached state in which the cartridge is disposed at an operation position in the apparatus body, holds the storage medium transferred from the cartridge-side holding device. The reading device reads the information from the storage medium held by the body-side holding device.
US09625873B2 Image forming apparatus provided with contacting-separating member capable of moving developing roller relative to photosensitive drum
An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; photosensitive drums juxtaposed with each other in a juxtaposed direction; developing units each including a developing roller; an opening-closing member; and a first contacting-separating member. The opening-closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first contacting-separating member is provided at the opening-closing member and movable relative to the casing in the juxtaposed direction for moving, in a state where the opening-closing member is at the closed position, the developing roller between an adjacent position adjacent to or in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drums and a separated position spaced apart from the corresponding photosensitive drums.
US09625870B2 Image forming apparatus having photosensitive members and blades in contact with respective photosensitive members
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, first and second image forming portions, and a processor. In the first and second image forming portions, first and second blades are respectively in contact with first and second photosensitive members. A distance between the first image forming portion and the fixing member is shorter than a distance between the second image forming portion and the fixing member. The processor controls a first image forming portion to perform a toner supply operation in which a first supply member supplies toner amounting to a first quantity per a prescribed rotation amount of the first photosensitive member, and controls the second image forming portion to perform a toner supply operation in which the second supply member supplies toner amounting to a second quantity per the prescribed rotation amount of the second photosensitive member. The second quantity is smaller than the first quantity.
US09625869B2 Image forming apparatus with a controller for forming a toner patch
An image forming apparatus having: an image supporting member; an electrostatic latent image forming section; and a developing device. In the developing device, a supply member receives toner, polish and antifriction at a supply part. The supply member supplies the toner, the polish and the antifriction to a developing roller while conveying the toner, the polish and the antifriction in a predetermined direction along a rotation axis of the image supporting member. A developing roller develops an electrostatic latent image by supplying the toner, the polish and the antifriction to the image supporting member. A toner patch is formed on the image supporting member, in a facing area capable of facing the developing roller, such that the amount of toner adhering to the image supporting member decreases with increasing distance in the predetermined direction from the supply part. A cleaner removes the toner patch from the image supporting member.
US09625868B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus (1) includes an apparatus body (2) including an image forming part (5) implementing an image forming process on a recording material (S); and a discharge tray (7) disposed at an upper part of the apparatus body (2), the discharge tray including a stacking surface (22) receiving the recording material (S) discharged after the image forming process; an outer edge part (23) located above the stacking surface (22) and provided while surrounding a periphery of the stacking surface (22); and a connecting surface (24) provided between the stacking surface (22) and the outer edge part (23), wherein the stacking surface (22) being formed such that a width thereof in a direction orthogonal to a discharge direction downstream in the discharge direction is wider than the width thereof upstream in the discharge direction.
US09625865B2 Image forming apparatus and control method for image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer that bears a toner image, a sensor, an adhesion amount calculator, and a wavelength determiner. The sensor includes a light source that emit light onto the image bearer, and an image element that detects reflected light that is emitted from the light source and reflected from the image bearer. The adhesion amount calculator calculates a toner adhesion amount of the toner image on the image bearer based on the reflected light having at least one wavelength among a plurality of wavelengths detected by the sensor. The wavelength determiner determines, based on color information of the image bearer detected by the sensor, a wavelength to be used in calculation of the toner adhesion amount by the adhesion amount calculator.
US09625862B2 Heater control device and image forming apparatus
A heater control device includes a power factor correction circuit configured to convert an alternate current voltage from a commercial power source to a direct current voltage; an inverter configured to generate a specific alternate current voltage from the direct current voltage converted with the power factor correction circuit; a heater configured to receive the specific alternate current voltage generated with the inverter; and an excessive temperature rise preventing portion configured to interrupt the specific alternate current voltage generated with the inverter from being supplied to the heater.
US09625861B2 Sheet cooling apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet cooling apparatus cools a sheet while conveying the sheet having passed through a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on the sheet by heating the toner image. A second suspension member is arranged so as to press a second endless belt on a circumferential face of a first cooling roller through a first endless belt, a first suspension member is arranged so as to press the first endless belt on a circumferential face of a second cooling roller through the second endless belt, and a curved sheet conveying path is formed between the first endless belt and the second endless belt.
US09625860B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus comprises a first roller, a second roller and a control section. The first roller is arranged on a conveyance path of a sheet. The second roller is arranged downstream side of the first roller in the conveyance path. The control section calculates a deflection amount of the sheet nipped by the first roller and the second roller based on a conveyance speed of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path, and controls a rotation speed of at least one of the first roller and the second roller based on the calculated deflection amount.
US09625858B2 Intermediate transfer belt, and image forming apparatus using the belt
An intermediate transfer belt includes a thermoplastic resin and a fibrous material. The fibrous material has an orientation angle Fa of from 5° to 30° in a direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the intermediate transfer belt.
US09625854B2 Developer carrying member, electrophotographic process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Provided are a developer carrying member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus using the developer carrying member, the developer carrying member including a substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer covering a surface of the elastic layer in which the surface layer contains a modified acrylic resin, and the modified acrylic resin has a constituent unit represented by the following structural formula (1). (R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; U represents a urethane resin having, between two adjacent urethane bonds, a structure represented by the following structural formula (2), and at least one of structure selected from a structure represented by the following structural formula (3) and a structure represented by the following structural formula (4); and L represents a divalent linking group containing an ester bond (—O—C(═O)—)).
US09625852B2 Cleaning unit, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A cleaning unit for an image forming apparatus includes a frame; a cleaning blade; a first seal sealing between the frame and the blade, provided by injection molding into the frame adjacent to an axial end; and a second seal between the frame and the drum, provided opposing to the free end portion adjacent to the axial end portion, and the second seal having a L-like configuration with projection extending in a direction crossing with the axial direction outwardly beyond an end surface of the blade, wherein the first seal includes a base portion provided at a position inside of the end surface and extending in the crossing direction and an extension extending from the base portion in the axial direction, the extension having a free end portion compressed by the projection to seal between the projection and the frame.
US09625849B2 Image forming apparatus
In a case of changing a first light quantity to a second light quantity which is smaller than the first light quantity, a light quantity changing unit changes a light quantity to a third light quantity, which is smaller than the first light quantity and larger than the second light quantity, before changing the light quantity to the second light quantity, and a third light quantity is a light quantity with which the signal is able to be output in a state where a first threshold is set.
US09625848B2 Toner and method for producing toner
A toner, wherein the toner is obtained by washing a toner particle dispersion liquid which is obtained by adding cellulase to a dispersion slurry, and the dispersion slurry is obtained from a dispersion liquid or an emulsion of a toner material-containing oil phase in an aqueous medium, and wherein the dispersion liquid or the emulsion contains a cellulosic dispersion stabilizing agent.
US09625846B2 Suspension polymerization toner of core-shell structure with positive charges and preparation method
Suspension polymerization toner of core-shell structure with positive charges comprises core-shell composite particles prepared by mixing composition forming toner core particles with aqueous dispersion liquid, carrying out a heating polymerization reaction to obtain suspension dispersion liquid of toner soft core particles, and carrying out a water-based polymerization reaction to form the core-shell composite particles of which an outer surface of the toner core particles are coated with the rigid shell layer with dense positive charges.
US09625845B2 Compound having azo skeleton structure, pigment-dispersing agent, pigment composition, pigment dispersion, and toner
The present invention provides a compound capable of improving the dispersibility of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black pigments in a water-insoluble solvent and a pigment-dispersing agent. The present invention also provides a pigment composition, a pigment dispersion, and a toner, which have satisfactory tinting strength. The present invention relates to a compound having a structure in which an azo skeleton structure is bound to a polymer portion via a linking group in the azo skeleton structure.
US09625842B2 Magnetic toner
A magnetic toner including: magnetic toner particles containing a binder resin, a magnetic body, and a release agent; and inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles, wherein the inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles contain metal oxide fine particles, the metal oxide fine particles containing silica fine particles, and optionally containing titania fine particles and alumina fine particles, and a content of the silica fine particles being at least 85 mass % with respect to a total mass of the silica fine particles, the titania fine particles and the alumina fine particles, wherein the magnetic toner has a coverage ratio A of the magnetic toner particles' surface by the inorganic fine particles and a coverage ratio B of the magnetic toner particles' surface by the inorganic fine particles fixed to the magnetic toner particles' surface that reside in prescribed numerical value ranges; the binder resin contains a styrene resin; the release agent contains a monoester compound or a diester compound; and the softening temperature and softening point of the magnetic toner reside in prescribed temperature ranges.
US09625841B2 Toner having silica fine particles
A magnetic toner contains magnetic toner particles containing a binder resin, a release agent, and a magnetic body, and inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles, wherein a ratio of coverage of the magnetic toner particles' surface by the inorganic fine particles is in a prescribed range for the magnetic toner, the inorganic fine particles contain prescribed metal oxide fine particles, with at least 85 mass % of the metal oxide fine particles being silica fine particles, the coefficient of variation on the coverage ratio A is in a prescribed range, the binder resin contains a styrene resin, in a GPC measurement of a THF-soluble matter in the magnetic toner, a peak molecular weight (Mp) of a main peak is in a prescribed range, and a prescribed fatty acid ester compound is incorporated as a release agent.
US09625840B2 Co-emulsification of insoluble compounds with toner resins
A process for making a latex emulsion suitable for use in a toner composition includes co-emulsifying a bio-based resin with an insoluble component, such as a pigment or wax, whereby the resin encapsulates the insoluble component. The resulting latex, including the insoluble component encapsulated in the resin, may then be utilized to form a toner. The insoluble component may thus be included in toner particles, which might otherwise be difficult to achieve, using emulsion aggregation processes.
US09625835B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus includes a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, a projection system configured to project a patterned radiation beam through an opening and onto a target portion of the substrate, and a conduit having an outlet in the opening. The conduit is configured to deliver gas to the opening. The lithographic apparatus includes a temperature control apparatus disposed in a space between the projection system and the substrate table. The temperature control device is configured to control the temperature of the gas in the space after the gas passes through the opening.
US09625831B1 Exposure apparatus, exposure method and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a controller calculates wafer alignment residuals from results of wafer alignment measurement and calculates shape change displacement residuals from the surface shape of a wafer. Further, the controller calculates first conversion coefficients that are ratios of the wafer alignment residuals to the shape change displacement residuals and generates fine wafer alignment residual data by using the first conversion coefficients. Furthermore, the controller generates correction information in which first correction values at the time of the exposure processing are calculated for every shot on the wafer by using the fine wafer alignment residual data. Then, the controller controls exposure processing in an exposure unit by using the correction information corresponding to the shot of the wafer.
US09625829B2 Fluid handling structure, a lithographic apparatus and a device manufacturing method
A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus has, at a boundary of a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure, a gas supply opening radially outward of the space, a fluid recovery opening radially outward of the gas supply opening, and a damper surface extending at least 0.5 mm radially outwards from the fluid recovery opening along the undersurface of the fluid handling structure.
US09625828B2 Fluid handling structure, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure successively having, at a boundary from a space configured to comprise immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: an extractor having at least one opening arranged in a first line that, in use, is directed towards a substrate and/or a table; and a liquid manipulator on a surface that, in use, faces the substrate and/or table to reduce the chance of droplets on the surface from coalescing.
US09625817B2 Photoresist with positive-resist behaviour, method for photochemical structuring thereof, method for the production of silanes and of silicic acid (hetero)poly(co)condensates with positive-resist behaviour and also silicic acid (hetero)poly(co)condensates
The present invention relates to a special heteropolymer, namely a silicic acid (hetero)poly(co)condensate with positive-resist behavior which is distinguished by polycondensation or copolycondensation of specially modified silanes. The invention relates likewise to monomeric silanes from which the corresponding heteropolymers, i.e. the silicic acid (hetero)poly(co)condensates, can be produced. The silicic acid (hetero)poly(co)condensates according to the invention can be used for a photoresist which has positive-resist behavior. In addition, the invention relates to corresponding methods both for the production of the silanes, the silicic acid (hetero)poly(co)condensates or a method for photochemical structuring of the photoresist according to the invention which is based on the silicic acid (hetero)poly(co)condensates.
US09625813B2 Chemical amplification resist composition, resist film using the composition, resist-coated mask blanks, resist pattern forming method, photomask and polymer compound
A chemical amplification resist composition contains: (A) a polymer compound having a structure where a hydrogen atom of a phenolic hydroxyl group is replaced by a group having a non-acid-decomposable polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon structure; and (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation.
US09625811B2 Imprint lithography
An object provided with a particular alignment arrangement for use in aligning the object and a further object with respect to each other is disclosed. The alignment arrangement includes a first fine alignment mark in the form of a substantially regular grating, and a second coarse alignment mark located in the same area as the first alignment mark.
US09625810B2 Source multiplexing illumination for mask inspection
Methods and systems for source multiplexing illumination for mask inspection are disclosed. Such illumination systems enable EUV sources of small brightness to be used for EUV mask defect inspection at nodes below the 22 nm. Utilizing the multiple plane or conic mirrors that are either attached to a continuously rotating base with different angles or individually rotating to position for each pulse, the reflected beams may be directed through a common optical path. The light may then be focused by a condenser to an EUV mask. The reflected and scattered light from the mask may then be imaged by some imaging optics onto some sensors. The mask image may be subsequently processed for defect information.
US09625809B2 Method and system for forming patterns using charged particle beam lithography with variable pattern dosage
A method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or optical proximity correction or proximity effect correction or mask process correction is disclosed in which a set of shaped beam shots is determined that is capable of forming a pattern on a surface, where the set of shots provides different dosages to different parts of the pattern, and where the dose margin from the set of shots is calculated. A method for forming patterns on a surface is also disclosed.
US09625802B2 Projection display screen and projection method for representing images, in particular 3D moving images
The present invention provides a woven textile projection display screen including a projection display region wherein the projection display region has two or more interwoven yarns and each yarn in the projection display region includes metal. The projection display region is optically transparent in use. The invention further includes a projection apparatus including the woven textile projection display screen and one or more projectors.
US09625800B2 Light source, light source apparatus, and image display apparatus to facilitate cooling and handling of the light source
A light source unit includes one or more solid-state light sources and a light collecting optical system. The one or more solid-state light sources are arranged on a rear side of an output portion and each output light in a predetermined wavelength range along the same direction as an optical-axis direction. The output portion includes a light emitter that is excited by the light in the predetermined wavelength range with a predetermined direction as the optical-axis direction to emit visible light in a wavelength range longer than the predetermined wavelength range. The output portion is also capable of outputting light containing the light in the predetermined wavelength range and the visible light from the light emitter along the optical-axis direction. The light collecting optical system collects the light in the predetermined wavelength range.
US09625799B2 Attaching device of image projection device
A projection display system includes: an image projection device projecting an image on a projection surface; an optical detecting device; and an attaching device, wherein the optical detecting device includes an irradiating section emitting an irradiation light toward a detection region which is set along the projection surface, a light receiving section receiving a reflected light generated as a result of the irradiation light being reflected from the object, and a detecting section detecting position information of the object based on the result of the light received by the light receiving section, and the attaching device includes a first attaching section attached to a support supporting the attaching device, a second attaching section attached to the image projection device, and a third attaching section attached to the optical detecting device.
US09625798B2 Light source unit and image projection system
There is provided a light source unit including a first light source, a second light source, a first heat sink for the first light source which is disposed to a side of the first light source, a second heat sink for the second light source which is disposed to a side of the second light source, and a first cooling fan which is disposed between the first heat sink and the second heat sink, wherein the first light source and the first heat sink are connected together by a first heat pipe via a bulkhead, and wherein the second light source and the second heat sink are connected together by a second heat pipe via the bulkhead.
US09625797B2 Projection optical device and image projection apparatus
A projection optical device to project an image on a projection plane, includes a reflection mirror, a plurality of projection lenses, a projection lens supporting member to support the plurality of projection lenses, and a position-arrangement member provided at the projection lens supporting member to arrange the reflection mirror at a predefined position on the projection lens supporting member.
US09625794B2 Portable studio for item photography
A portable studio for item photography is developed as a closed container whose base (1), sides (2) with covers (3) and rotating table (4) are immobile and interconnected, and with a movable, rotating housing (5) with a holder (7) for attaching the photographic camera. There is a rotating table (4) inside the housing and light sources (14) in the housing. The housing consists of two coaxial surfaces—outer (5) and inner (6), in a shape approximating a cylinder, between which the light sources (14) are distributed horizontally and in sections.
US09625789B2 Imaging device including a front optical system having a movable focusing lens group
Provided is an imaging device (1) having: a front optical system (10) that transmits light from an object; a spectral filter array (20) that transmits light from the front optical system (10) via a plurality of spectral filters; a small lens array (30) that transmits the light from the plurality of spectral filters via a plurality of small lenses respectively, and forms a plurality of object images; a picture element (50) that captures the plurality of object images respectively; and an image processor (60) that determines two-dimensional spectral information on the object images based on image signals output from the picture element (50). The front optical system (10) is configured to transmit the light from the focused object to collimate the light into a parallel luminous flux.
US09625787B2 Focus detection apparatus, focus detection method and program, and imaging apparatus
A focus detection apparatus for performing a focus detection on the basis of pixel data of an object obtained from an imaging unit having pupil dividing means of a photographing optical system, Sets a focus detection area divided into division areas and a plurality of different first areas for deciding a focus state in the focus detection area, arithmetically operates first correlation data from the pixel data with respect to the object image of each division area to hold into a memory, adds the first correlation data of the division areas included in each first area read out from the memory, generates second correlation data of each first area, And discriminates focus states of a plurality of first areas in predetermined order on the basis of the second correlation data of each first area.
US09625786B2 Linear actuator and camera with a motorized back focus module with the linear actuator
Surveillance networks are used to observe large areas, like public places, streets, public buildings or private houses, privates premises etc. The surveillance networks often comprise a plurality of surveillance cameras. Such surveillance cameras should be small, robust, trouble-free and have low-maintenance requirements. Subject-matter of the invention is a linear actuator (8) for a linear motion of a component of a camera (1), the linear actuator comprising a supporting structure (6), a motor (10) arranged on the supporting structure for generating a rotational movement, a component carrier (7) for carrying the component and for performing the linear motion relative to the supporting structure, a gear mechanism (11) for transmitting the rotational movement, whereby the last gear of the gear mechanism before the component carrier is a transfer gear (20), whereby the transfer gear comprises a guide way (23a, b, c) extending in rotational direction of the transfer gear with a slope along the guide way whereby the component carrier is coupled with the guide way by resting means (24a, b, c), so that the component carrier is displaced in the linear direction (9) by a rotational movement of the transfer gear due to the slope of the guide way.
US09625777B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a gate line, a data line, first and second reference voltage lines disposed on the substrate, first and second subpixel electrodes disposed in one pixel area, and first to third switching elements. The first and second reference voltage lines apply first and second reference voltages. The first and second subpixel electrodes include a plate portion and a plurality of branch portions extending from the plate portion. The first and second reference voltage lines include a first portion overlapping the first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode. The first portion overlaps the plate portion of the first and second subpixel electrodes. A voltage difference between the first subpixel electrode and a common voltage is larger than a voltage difference between the second subpixel electrode and the common voltage.
US09625776B2 Polymer/liquid crystal composite and liquid crystal display device including the same
The occurrence of a defective orientation of a polymer/liquid crystal composite is suppressed. In addition, the occurrence of defective display of a liquid crystal display device including the polymer/liquid crystal composite is suppressed. In the polymer/liquid crystal composite exhibiting a blue phase, a plurality of domains are included and defective orientations easily occur at boundaries between the domains. Thus, by lowering orientation periodicities at boundaries between the domains, a defect-free orientation to high orientation periodicities at the boundary between adjacent domains can be obtained. Specifically, the polymer/liquid crystal composite exhibiting the blue phase includes the plurality of domains each of which has a size of 3 μm or less.
US09625775B2 Display device
A display device includes: a TFT substrate including: a display region including a plurality of pixels; a plurality of source drivers arranged and aligned in a first direction along the display region; and a plurality of gate drivers arranged and aligned in a second direction along the display region; a printed board including a timing controller for controlling the plurality of source drivers and the plurality of gate drivers; and a plurality of flexible boards for connecting the TFT substrate and the printed board to each other, in which the plurality of flexible boards include a plurality of first flexible boards that extend obliquely to one side with respect to the second direction, and a plurality of second flexible boards that extend obliquely to another side with respect to the second direction.
US09625772B2 Liquid crystal display device
In an LCD device, the slope angle of a wall surface of a wall structure (wall-surface slope angle) is varied in accordance with the angle formed between the wall structure and an alignment treatment direction (alignment treatment angle). At places where the alignment treatment angle is small, the wall-surface slope angle is made larger; conversely, at places where the alignment treatment angle is large, the wall-surface slope angle is made smaller.
US09625771B2 Display device
Pixel electrodes of a display device include plural first pixel electrodes and plural second pixel electrodes which have areas different from each other. Each of plural scanning signal lines is connected with any one of the plural first pixel electrodes and the plural second pixel electrodes through respective transistors. A control circuit applies a first conducting voltage that is a conducting voltage which is applied to the scanning signal lines connected with the first pixel electrodes, and a second conducting voltage that is a conducting voltage which is applied to the scanning signal lines connected with the second pixel electrodes, and different from the first conducting voltage.
US09625770B2 Display panel
A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate and an electrode layer. The first substrate and the second substrate are disposed opposite to each other. The electrode layer is disposed on the first substrate and facing the second substrate, and includes at least a first part and a second part adjacent to the first part. The first part includes a plurality of first branch electrodes disposed along a direction and spaced from each other by a first distance (T). The centers of two adjacent ones of the first branch electrodes are separated by a second distance (P). The first part and the second part have a spacing (S) therebetween. The values of S, T and P satisfy the following equation: 1 2 ⁢ a · ( b + P · m 2 + 1 4 · T 2 P ) - 1.5 ≤ S ≤ 1 2 ⁢ a · ( b + P · m 2 + 1 4 · T 2 P ) + 1.5 wherein, a= 1/12, b=¼, m= 1/10, and the units of S, T and P are micrometer.
US09625769B2 Liquid crystal display including protruding auxiliary wires corresponding to spacer
A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other. The first substrate includes a gate line which defines a gate electrode; a passivation layer on the gate line; a pixel in which are disposed, a pixel electrode and a common electrode which overlap each other with an insulating layer therebetween; and a first auxiliary wire and a second auxiliary wire each disposed between the passivation layer and the insulating layer, the first and second auxiliary wires extended parallel to a direction in which the gate line extends, the extended first and second auxiliary wires spaced apart from each other by a gap. The second substrate includes a column spacer. In a plan view a center point of the column spacer of the second substrate is disposed in the gap between the first auxiliary wire and the second auxiliary wire of the first substrate.
US09625768B2 Pixel structure, display panel and display device
The present disclosure discloses a pixel structure, a display panel and a display device, wherein the pixel structure includes a first electrode and a second electrode located above the first electrode, at least one of the first electrode and the end electrode is provided with a concave structure in the region at the intersection between the first electrode and the end electrode, so as to increase the distance between the first electrode and the end electrode at the intersection, resulting in that the undesired electric field formed between the end electrode and the first electrode is weakened, namely, the electric field unbeneficial for the pixels to display the white state is weakened, so that the light transmittance of pixels during displaying the white state in an FFS display mode is improved, so as to optimize the display effects of the display panel and the display device.
US09625766B2 Post spacer, display panel and display device
The present invention relates to the technical field of display, and in particular to a post spacer, a display panel and a display device. The post spacer includes a support post and a support pillow, wherein the support pillow is formed of a plurality of sub-pillows dispersedly arranged below the bottom of the support post. Since the post spacer is provided with the support pillows dispersedly arranged below the bottom of the support post, the bottom of the support post can be more uniformly stressed, and the support pillow can further provide a certain antiskid effect. Therefore, the post spacer of the present invention has a better supporting effect and can effectively avoid Mura faults.
US09625765B2 Method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device having continuous rectangular close-shape seal members
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device having a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and a sealing member formed in a peripheral portion of at least one of the substrates. The method includes forming the sealing member, disposing the liquid crystal layer inside the sealing member, and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate. In forming the sealing member, a ring-shaped portion that seals the liquid crystal layer inside the sealing member, a first sealing layer and a second sealing layer that face each other to be separated from each other are formed. In the bonding of the first substrate to the second substrate, a junction portion is formed in which the first and second sealing layers are pressed and joined outside the sealing member so as to form the ring-shaped portion.
US09625763B2 Liquid crystal display
An LCD includes a first TAC film, a first optical uniaxial phase compensating film, an LC cell, a second optical uniaxial phase compensating film and a second TAC film from the incident surface to the emitting surface. The first optical uniaxial phase compensating film is used for providing a first compensating value and a second compensating value by adjusting thickness and by adjusting a first refractive index, a second refractive index, and a third refractive index. The second optical uniaxial phase compensating film is used for providing a third compensating value by adjusting thickness and by adjusting a fourth refractive index, a fifth refractive index, and a sixth refractive index. Leakage of light is controlled according to the first compensating value, the second compensating value, and the third compensating value in the LCD.
US09625760B2 Method for manufacturing color filter substrate, color filter substrate and display device
Provided are method for manufacturing a color filter substrate, color filter substrate and display device. The method includes the following steps: providing a substrate; forming a color pixel unit on the substrate; forming a protective layer on the color pixel unit; coating an alignment film paint and a spacer paint on the protective layer in turn, and forming an alignment film and a spacer via a single patterning process or double patterning processes.
US09625755B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate, a lower display electrode provided on the first substrate, an insulating layer provided on the lower display electrode, an upper display electrode provided on the insulating layer and having a mesh pattern including opening portions, a common electrode provided on the second substrate, and a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate in a state in which the upper display electrode and the common electrode face each other.
US09625754B2 Display apparatus
A backlight assembly outputs light. A display panel receives the light and displays an image. A first adhesive member on an edge of the backlight assembly fixes the backlight assembly to the display panel. The backlight assembly may include a light emitting unit, a light guide plate and a reflecting member. The first adhesive member may intervene between the display panel and the reflecting member and may fix the display panel to the reflecting member.
US09625744B2 Contact lens cleaning system with insulation
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses. In various respects, the invention is directed to an insulated system that reduces heat loss from catalyzed neutralization of a disinfecting solution resulting in an increased temperature of the disinfection solution during the disinfection process and neutralization of the disinfection solution. The increased temperature increases the kill rate (i.e., better reduction) of microorganisms present on the lenses, and increases the neutralization rate of the disinfection solution. Increase of the kill rate allows better reduction of microorganisms resistant to elimination using previous systems and methods, (e.g., Acanthamoeba cysts), and decreases the amount of time as compared to previous systems and methods necessary to reduce microorganisms to acceptable levels.
US09625737B2 Lens drive apparatus, camera module and camera
A lens drive apparatus that displaces a lens holder in a direction of an optical axis and a direction orthogonal to the optical axis comprises: an assembly formed by assembling the lens holder together with a conductive body and comprises a circuit that receives supplied power; a shake correction drive section configured to displace the assembly by a shake correction magnet and a shake correction coil disposed at a position facing the shake correction magnet in collaboration with each other; and a position detection section configured to detect a position of the assembly in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis, wherein: the shake correction magnet is disposed around the lens holder, and the shake correction magnet, the shake correction coil and the position detection section are disposed at respective positions shifted in the direction of the optical axis with respect to each other.
US09625734B2 Image-stabilized long-range optical device
A long-range optical device has at least one optical channel which comprises a housing and an arrangement of optical elements. At least one of the optical elements is movable relative to the housing for image stabilization in the event of perturbing movements of the housing. The device further comprises a stabilization system for the at least one movable optical element, which has an eddy current damper for damping movements of the at least one movable element. The stabilization system, in the event of a displacement of the at least one movable optical element, generates a restoring force proportional to the displacement velocity of the at least one movable optical element. The eddy current damper comprises a magnet system and an eddy current carrier interacting therewith. The restoring force generated by the eddy current damper is dependent on the amplitude of the displacement of the at least one movable optical element.
US09625731B2 3D glasses and display device
The disclosure provides 3D glasses and a display device. The 3D glasses include a frame, a left lens and a right lens. Each of the left lens and the right lens includes a transparent base layer and a light-sensitive material layer. The light-sensitive material layer is in a first state when being irradiated by a light beam with a predetermined characteristic and in a second state when being not irradiated by the light beam with the predetermined characteristic. The first state is one of a light-transmitting state and a light-proof state, and the second state is the other one of the light-transmitting state and the light-proof state.
US09625725B2 Wearable computer
A wearable computer includes a computer, a display unit, first and second casings, temples, a holding member and an adjustment mechanism. The second casing houses the computer. The temples are respectively connected to one end and, through a connection member, the other end of the first casing in a longitudinal direction. The holding member extends downward from the connection member and holds a nose pad and a translucent member. The display unit extends downward from the first casing and to outside of an installation space of the translucent member to face one eye of a wearer. The adjustment mechanism adjusts a relative position of the display unit and the nose pad. The wearable computer is wearable with the first casing being held above the one eye by the temples, the connection member and the nose pad.
US09625722B2 Control device, display device, control method, illumination control method, and program
There is provided a control device including an illumination control unit that controls an illumination device illuminating a non-display region of a light-shielding unit that includes a display region in which an image is displayed and the non-display region in which the image is not displayed and is designed to be disposed in a region covering a visual field of a user. The illumination control unit controls the illumination device according to display content of the display region.
US09625720B2 Personal electronic target vision system, device and method
A personal, electronic target vision system renders targets in the field of view of the user in real-time so that the user can visualize where the targets are relative to him, in an orientation analogous to unaided human vision. An electronic vision device exchanges target selection information with a target vision server which returns to the electronic vision device the corresponding selected target location information for rendering selected targets in accordance with the user's changing viewpoint. The target vision server queries a target information server in order to access, filter and provide the real-time target location information required by the electronic vision device. A surveillance system of sensors and target tracking systems provides the target information server with target location information.
US09625717B2 Optical device with diffractive grating
The invention relates to optical devices comprising a transparent substrate and a first transparent grating layer on the substrate, the grating layer comprising periodically alternating zones having different refractive indices. According to the invention, the device comprises a second transparent grating layer located on top of the first grating layer and also comprising periodically alternating zones having different refractive indices so that the zones of the first grating layer having higher refractive index are at least partly aligned with the zones of the second grating layer having lower refractive index and vice versa, the second grating layer reducing the amount of light diffracted to non-zero transmission orders. The invention allows for reducing the so-called rainbow effect for example in head-up displays (HUDs).
US09625711B2 Optical scanning apparatus and image forming device
An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, an optical deflector having a rotary polygon mirror to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system configured to focus the light beam deflected by the optical deflector on a target surface, a sync detecting sensor configured to determine a write start timing on the target surface, and a processing unit configured to correct detection data of the sync detecting sensor based on a measured value of a time needed for one revolution of the rotary polygon mirror.
US09625709B1 Reduced windage prismatic polygonal reflector for scanning
An improved prismatic polygonal reflector with increased aerodynamic properties and reduced scattering of reflected light is provided. The reflector may be used for scanning, and may include a first end, a second end, a plurality of side surfaces located circumferentially about a center axis of the reflector, and a plurality of intersections joining the plurality of side surfaces. Each of the plurality of intersections includes a curved or a flat portion and a pointed portion aligned circumferentially with other pointed portions on the plurality of intersections to provide a circumference around the reflector for light to reflect and form a scanning beam without light scattering. A system and method for scanning with the reflector is also provided.
US09625708B2 Optical deflector and image forming apparatus including the same
An optical deflector is a piezoelectrically-driven optical deflector including a vibration mirror part having a reflection surface portion for reflecting light, a torsion bar part connected to the vibration mirror part, and a piezoelectric element that allows the vibration mirror part to swing around the torsion bar part so as to vibrate. Protruding portions are formed respectively at both end portions of the vibration mirror part in a main scanning direction of reflected light to protrude to an outer side in the main scanning direction.
US09625703B1 Pixel wall configuration for an electrowetting display
An electrowetting display comprises a first support plate and a second support plate, pixel regions between the first support plate and the second support plate, and two walls on the first support plate that delineate the pixel regions from one another. The two walls are separated by a gap. The electrowetting display further comprises an electrolyte solution between the first support plate and the second support plate and in the gap that separates the two walls.
US09625701B2 Ocular optical system and finder optical system
An ocular optical system comprising at least five lens elements, and including, in order from a display surface side to an exit side, a first lens unit having negative optical power, a second lens unit having positive optical power, and a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the second lens unit moves along an optical axis for adjustment of diopter scale, and a finder optical system comprising a display device having a display surface on which an image is displayed, and the above-mentioned ocular optical system.
US09625700B2 Visual field apparatus and image transmission apparatus for an endoscope
A visual field apparatus for an image transmission apparatus including a channel that connects the proximal end and the distal end of the visual field apparatus, for inputting the image transmission apparatus, and an optical device on the distal end of the channel that is configured to influence the visual field or the focusing of the image transmission apparatus. A method for preparing an endoscope for a succeeding use including determining a visual field required for the succeeding use, selecting a visual field apparatus with the determined visual field and a channel, and combining the image transmission apparatus with the selected visual field apparatus. A method for autoclaving a visual field apparatus for an image transmission apparatus, including closing the channel on the proximal end so that it is fluid-tight, autoclaving the visual field apparatus after the fluid-tight closing, and opening the channel on the proximal end after autoclaving.
US09625699B2 Monocular/binocular bridge for viewing device and helmet mount employing same
An improved monocular/binocular bridge and helmet mounting device employing same for an optical device are provided. The mounting device herein includes a mount with a bridge attachment for providing multiple options for a monocular or binocular optical device and multiple options for moving the attached optical device to any of multiple stowed positions out of the user's line of sight when the optical device is not in use. The bridge attachment and multiple stow positions also allow the unit to be adapted for a variety of viewing devices.
US09625697B2 Optical system for imaging an object and method for operating said optical system
An optical system for imaging an object includes a objective, an image stabilizing unit, an image plane and a drive unit, which is arranged at the image stabilizing unit and provided for moving the image stabilizing unit. The optical system includes a control unit. A signal from the control unit is forwarded to a first high-pass filter. The control unit has an output line and the high-pass filter has a filter output line. Both the output line and the filter output line are arranged at an addition unit such that an actuation signal from the control unit and an output signal from the high-pass filter are added to produce an addition signal. The addition unit is arranged at the drive unit in such a way that the addition signal is used for actuating the drive unit and for moving the image stabilizing unit.
US09625695B2 Magnifying assembly for an infrared microscope
An infrared microscope includes a sample stage configured to support a sample; an objective configured to focus radiation emanated from the sample to an intermediate image plane between an objective and an infrared detector; and a magnifying assembly including a first set of reflective elements provided in a fixed position and a second set of reflective elements.
US09625691B2 Projection lens
A projection lens configured to form an image from an image source which is disposed at an object side is provided. The projection lens includes a lens group and an aspheric mirror. The lens group has a first optical axis, and an intermediate image is formed by the lens group from the image source. The aspheric mirror has a second optical axis and an aspheric surface. The lens group is disposed between the object side and the aspheric mirror. The aspheric surface faces the lens group and reflects the intermediate image to form the image at an image side. The first optical axis is not coaxial with the second optical axis, and an offset of the image relative to the first optical axis is larger than or equal to 100%.
US09625687B2 Image pickup apparatus and zoom lens used in image pickup apparatus
The 1st positive lens unit is located closer to the object side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end. The distance between the 1st negative lens unit and the 1st positive lens unit is larger at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end. The distance between the image side lens unit group and the 1st negative lens unit varies during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end. The image side lens unit group comprises a 2nd positive lens unit and a 3rd positive lens unit. The distance between the 2nd positive lens unit and the 1st negative lens unit is smaller at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end. The distance between the 3rd positive lens unit and the 2nd positive lens unit varies during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.
US09625683B2 Imaging lens
An imaging lens includes a first lens; a second lens; a third lens; a fourth lens; and a fifth lens, arranged from an object side to an image plane side. The first lens is formed such that a curvature radius of a surface on the object side is positive. The third lens is formed such that a curvature radius of a surface on the object side is positive. The fourth lens is formed such that a surface on the object side and a surface on the image plane side are aspheric. The fifth lens is formed such that a surface on the object side and a surface on the image plane side are aspheric, and a curvature radius of the surface thereof on the image plane side is positive near an optical axis thereof. The first lens and the third lens have specific focal lengths.
US09625682B2 Imaging lens
An imaging lens includes a first lens; a second lens; a third lens; a fourth lens; and a fifth lens, arranged from an object side to an image plane side. The first lens is formed in a shape so that a curvature radius of a surface on the object side is positive. The third lens is formed such that a curvature radius of a surface on the object side is positive. The fourth lens is formed such that a surface on the object side and a surface on the image plane side are aspheric. The fifth lens is formed such that a surface on the object side and a surface on the image plane side are aspheric, and a curvature radius of the surface on the image plane side is positive near an optical axis thereof. The fourth lens and the fifth lens have specific Abbe's numbers.
US09625681B2 Imaging lens and imaging apparatus provided with the same
An imaging lens consists of five lenses consisting of, in order from the object side, a biconvex first lens, a biconcave second lens, a positive third lens having a meniscus shape with the convex surface toward the image side, a positive fourth lens having a meniscus shape with the convex surface toward the image side, and a negative fifth lens having a concave surface toward the image side, and having at least one inflection point on the image-side surface thereof, wherein condition expression (1), 0
US09625678B1 Optical image capturing system
A two-piece optical lens for capturing image and a two-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis includes a first lens with positive refractive power; and a second lens with refractive power; and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the two lens elements are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US09625674B2 Autofocus device and sample observation device
The autofocus device for a sample observation device provided with an objective is provided with a photodetector, an autofocus optical system that includes a tube lens, that guides light to one of two regions of a pupil plane of the objective that has been divided into two, and that guides light that has passed through the other region after being reflected by a sample to the photodetector, and a light shielding member which is arranged between the tube lens and a light receiving plane of the photodetector and on which an aperture has been formed. The autofocus device satisfies 2.1<ΦAP/(2·ΦLD), where ΦAP represents a diameter of the aperture and ΦLD represents a light flux diameter, on the light shielding member, of light reflected by the sample in a state in which the light is condensed on the light receiving plane.
US09625672B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a first member including a holding member, the retaining member holding a lens; a second member surrounding the first member; an imaging device arranged opposite to the first member and the lens; and a driving member arranged in a region adjacent to the first member driving the first member in the vertical direction relative to the imaging device. The first member includes at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first outer diameter and the second portion having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter, the first and second portions respectively having a first corner and a second corner, the first and second corners respectively having a first cutout portion and a second cutout portion. At least a portion of the driving member is disposed at a region corresponding to the second portion.
US09625667B2 Multitube seismic cable
The present disclosure provides an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a strength member made of a composite material made of a polymer matrix. The strength member is centrally located. The strength member lies substantially symmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable. In addition, the optical fiber cable includes a plurality of fiber units. Moreover, the optical fiber cable includes an outer jacket. The outer jacket surrounds the plurality of fiber units. Each of the plurality of fiber units includes one or more optical fibers, a first covering layer, a second covering layer and a gel. The first covering layer is enclosed by the second covering layer. Each of the one or more optical fiber cables is enclosed by the first covering layer.
US09625666B2 Loose-tube fiber optic cables having buffer tubes with beta phase crystallization
A loose-tube fiber optic cable includes a cable core and a jacket. The cable core includes a buffer tube and an optical fiber, where the optical fiber is within the buffer tube. The buffer tube may be positioned at an interior region of the loose-tube fiber optic cable and the jacket may be positioned around the cable core. Material forming the buffer tube may have a composition of greater than or equal to about 70% by weight of a polymer that includes propylene monomers. At least a portion of the polymer may have a beta phase crystal structure characterized by a pseudo hexagonal crystal structure.
US09625662B2 Method and system having a transimpedance amplifier circuit with a differential current monitoring device for monitoring optical receiver circuit
A method for monitoring a circuit. The method may include obtaining, using a total current monitoring device, a measurement of a current transmitted through a cathode in a photodetector circuit. The current may include a first photocurrent for a first photodetector and a second photocurrent for a second photodetector. The method may include obtaining, using a differential current monitoring device in a transimpedance amplifier circuit, a differential voltage proportional to a current difference between the first photocurrent and the second photocurrent. The transimpedance amplifier circuit may generate, using the first photocurrent and the second photocurrent, a first output signal and a second output signal. The method may include determining, using the differential voltage and the measurement of the current transmitted through the cathode, an amount of the first photocurrent and an amount of the second photocurrent.
US09625655B1 Optical fiber socket and optical fiber plug
An optical fiber socket for being connected to an optical fiber plug and a first optical fiber cable includes a socket sleeve unit, a socket shell having a surrounding wall that defines a connecting hole for insertion of the first optical fiber cable thereinto and for being engaged with the optical fiber plug, a plurality of spaced-apart receiving holes that extend radially through the surrounding wall and that communicate with the connecting hole, and a plurality of locking members that are movably and respectively disposed in the receiving holes, and a socket guiding unit. When the optical fiber socket is connected to the optical fiber plug, the locking members are urged to move toward and clamp the optical fiber plug.
US09625652B1 MEMS mirror arrays having multiple mirror units
A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) mirror array can be constructed using sub-dies that each includes two or more MEMS mirrors. In some implementations, an optical cross-connect system includes a first MEMS mirror array that includes first mirror units. Each first mirror unit can include a first substrate and two or more first MEMS mirrors supported by the first substrate. Each first substrate can be independent from each other first substrate. The cross-connect system can include a second MEMS mirror array that includes second mirror units. Each second mirror unit can include a second substrate and two or more second MEMS mirrors supported by the second substrate. Each second substrate can be independent from each other second substrate.
US09625650B2 Optical circulators integrated into transceivers
An optical circulator integrated into a transceiver for bi-directional communication may include a core configured to pass a transmission signal in a transmit direction and a received signal in a receive direction. The optical circulator may include an input port optically coupled to the core. The input port may be configured to deliver the transmission signal to the core. The optical circulator may include an output port optically coupled to the core. The output port may be configured to receive the received signal from the core. The optical circulator may additionally include a network port optically coupled to the core. The network port may be configured to receive the transmission signal from the core and deliver the transmission signal to a fiber optic cable. The network port may be configured to receive the received signal from the fiber optic cable and deliver the received signal to the core.
US09625649B2 Connector system with physical security feature
A connector system comprising: a multi-plug connector, each plug having a housing and a ferrule, said housing having a front and back orientation and having a front face defining an opening, said ferrule being disposed within said opening, said housing defining a first keying element on said front face around said opening, at least two housings of said multi-plug connector having different said first keying elements.
US09625645B2 Large area light source
A large area light source includes a narrow space of several millimeters long arranged between adjacent ends of circuit boards of LED bars that are arranged in series in their longitudinal direction, and one end or both ends of a connecting pin is attached movable in its longitudinal direction to a coupling terminal arranged on an end of the circuit board of the LED bar, the LED bar is attached movable in its longitudinal direction to its holder. Even if deformation of distortion, bending, or strain is induced by transportation, installation, or use of the area light source, the movable LED bar as well as the connecting pin absorbs expansion and contraction stress working between the adjacent ends of the circuit boards to securely prevent such breaking of wire incurred by use of a plurality of divided LED bars.
US09625639B2 Optical member and display device including the same
An optical member including a wavelength conversion layer to convert a wavelength of an incident light; an upper anti-reflective layer of at least two layers disposed on a first surface of the wavelength conversion layer; and a lower anti-reflective layer of at least two layers disposed under a second surface of the wavelength conversion layer opposite to the first surface. Further, wherein the at least two layers of the lower anti-reflective layer have different refractive indices.
US09625638B2 Optical waveguide body
An optical waveguide body includes a first layer of optically transmissive material and a second layer of optically transmissive material in contact with the first layer. At least one of the first and second layers is tapered and the first layer has a first index of refraction and the second layer has a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction and the first and second indices of refraction are both greater than about 1.0.
US09625636B2 Optical waveguide bodies and luminaires utilizing same
A waveguide body comprises a length from a first end to a second end. The waveguide body further comprises a central section extending along the entire length of the waveguide body and comprising a first thickness. First and second opposed side sections extend away from the central section along the length of the waveguide body and comprise second and third thicknesses, respectively, less than the first thickness. A coupling portion is located in the central section, wherein the coupling portion comprises first and second coupling surfaces defining at least in part an elongate coupling cavity extending along the length of the waveguide body. The coupling portion further comprises first and second control surfaces, and the first and second coupling surfaces are configured to direct light onto the first and second control surfaces. The first and second control surfaces are configured to direct light into at least one of the first and second side sections. The side sections comprise optical features to extract light out opposing sides of the at least one side section as the light propagates through the at least one side section.
US09625635B2 Light source and backlight module
A light source includes a light emitter configured to emit light, and a light guiding member located at a side of the light emitter. The light guiding member includes a first light entering face, a first light exiting face and a top face connecting the first light entering face and the first light exiting face. The first light entering face is coupled to the light emitter. The first light entering face is opposite to the first light exiting face. The first light entering face has a height larger than that of the first light exiting face. The top face includes a first connecting face and a second connecting face extending from an angle relative to the first connecting face. The light guiding member is configured to receive the light from the light emitter via the first light entering face and output the light via the first light exiting face.
US09625634B2 Light conducting device, backlight module and display device
The present disclosure provides a light conducting device, a backlight module and a display device. The light conducting device cooperates with a light source to form a backlight module. The light conducting device includes at least one light receiving surface. The light receiving surface includes a plurality of annular sub-receiving surfaces configured to cause received light from the light source to be emitted in a single direction.
US09625627B2 Incident angle insensitive color filter and its manufacturing method
The belt ply feeder and a feeding method include: when a belt ply is conveyed to the front end of a conveying forming board, a force is exerted by a perpendicular adjustment device to drive a conveying forming board bracket to swing upward and rotate around a pivot shaft of a rack to positions at which the upper surface of the conveying forming board is tangential to the periphery of a belt ply drum. According to this arrangement, the belt ply is tangential to the belt ply drum all the time and a belt ply is in firm contact with a belt ply drum regardless of the size of the belt ply drum when wrapping the belt ply around the belt ply drum. Accordingly, the quality of tire shaping can be improved.
US09625622B2 Aspheric variable focal length lens systems and methods
Aspheric variable focal length lens systems and methods are described herein. One example of a system for aspheric variable focal length lens includes a first surface coupled to a second surface by a number of concentric rings that creates a void, wherein the first surface is a variable aspheric surface, an optical material within the void between the first surface and the second surface, a first actuator located at a first end of the first surface and a first end of the second surface, and a second actuator located at a second end of the first surface and a second end of the second surface.
US09625619B2 Optical film assembly, display apparatus having the same and method of manufacturing the same
An optical film assembly includes an anti-reflection film including a plurality of stacked anti-reflection layers, a side surface of the anti-reflection film being inclined with respect to an upper surface of a display panel, the anti-reflection layers having different thicknesses and different refractivities, and an anti-fingerprint film on the anti-reflection film, the anti-fingerprint film being integral with the anti-reflection film, the anti-fingerprint film being hydrophobic.
US09625617B2 Contact lenses comprising water soluble N-(2 hydroxyalkyl) (meth)acrylamide polymers or copolymers
The present invention relates to biomedical devices, and particularly contact lenses comprising a polymer having entangled therein at least one polymer comprising repeating units from N-(2-hydroxyalkyl)(meth)acrylamide.
US09625616B2 Silicone hydrogel contact lenses
A method is provided for manufacturing ophthalmically-acceptable, distortion-free silicone hydrogel contact lenses without the use of volatile organic solvents in the manufacturing process. The contact lenses are extract with an extraction liquid comprising an aqueous solution of a non-volatile organic solvent, such as ethyl lactate.
US09625611B2 Method for detecting zonal underground target in mountain land based on ridge heat radiation correction
The present invention discloses a method for detecting, recognizing, and positioning a zonal underground target in a mountain land environment by detecting a ridge position in the mountain land environment and carrying out energy correction. The method belongs to the interdisciplinary field of pattern recognition, remote sensing technology and terrain analysis. The zonal underground target can cause energy abnormity when the heat field thereof is different from that of a mountain mass, and the heat island effect of the ridge can also cause the energy of the mountain mass to be abnormal. However, the energy abnormity caused by the heat island effect is essentially different from the energy abnormity caused by the zonal underground target in the aspect of mode. Therefore, the present invention aims to achieve an effect of reducing a false alarm rate of detecting and recognizing a zonal underground target in the mountain land environment by eliminating the influence of the heat body effect generated by the ridge in the terrain on the weak energy abnormity mode presented by the zonal underground target. The present invention comprises steps of acquiring digital elevation information of terrain, performing de-noising pretreatment on the digital elevation information, detecting a ridge line, correcting energy at the ridge position, and detecting the zonal underground target.
US09625609B2 System and method for determining a borehole azimuth using gravity in-field referencing
A system and method are provided for determining borehole azimuth. The method comprises receiving a first set of data from a first sensor module, the first sensor module comprising a first plurality of accelerometers; receiving a second set of data from a second sensor module, the second sensor module comprising a second plurality of accelerometers, the second sensor module being positioned further downhole than the first sensor module; determining a first set of gravity components using the first set of data and a second set of gravity components using the second set of data; determining a bend angle and a tilt angle using the first and second sets of gravity components; determining a change in azimuth using the bend and tilt angles; and providing an output indicative of the change in azimuth. The system and method may also use a crustal gravity vector to correct the computed azimuth.
US09625604B2 Analyzing subterranean formation with current source vectors
A method analyzes a subterranean formation. At least one property of a well casing in the subterranean formation is determined and a plurality of current source vectors at respective positions along a trajectory of the well casing are determined. The effect of the well casing is determined based upon the plurality of current source vectors and the at least one property of the well casing.
US09625601B2 Nuclear magnetic resonance rock sample analysis method and instrument with constant gradient field
The present invention relates to a constant gradient field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) rock sample analysis method and instrument. The method includes: in a constant gradient magnetic field, performing NMR measurement to acquire data; converting the measured NMR data into a two-dimensional NMR spectrum D-T2; performing measurement and inversion on a standard sample of a constant gradient field to obtain a standard sample two-dimensional NMR spectrum D-T2; measuring the sample to acquire a two-dimensional NMR spectrum D-T2 of a fluid in the sample; identifying fluid types according to the practically measured two-dimensional NMR spectrum D-T2; computing the fluid property and the petrophysical parameters according to the two-dimensional NMR spectrum D-T2 of the fluid in the sample; performing single slice scanning on the sample to acquire partial oil and water saturation; performing continuous slice scanning to obtain axial oil and water saturation distribution and movable fluid saturation distribution of the sample.
US09625599B2 Downhole elastic anisotropy measurements
A downhole acoustic logging tool includes at least one acoustic transmitter and first and second arrays of acoustic receivers deployed on a tool body. The first array of acoustic receivers includes a plurality of axially spaced apart acoustic receivers and the second array of acoustic receivers includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart acoustic receivers. A method for making downhole acoustic logging measurements of a subterranean formation includes causing an acoustic logging tool to obtain axial acoustic logging measurements and circumferential acoustic logging measurements. The axial acoustic logging measurements and the circumferential acoustic logging measurements are then processed to compute each of five elastic constants of a transversely isotropic medium.
US09625598B2 Coherent sound source for marine seismic surveys
A coherent sound source is provided for marine seismic surveys. An underwater sound projector for producing time-harmonic waveforms comprises two pistons positioned on either side of an electro-magnetic force generator substantially having mechanical and magnetic symmetry about its geometric center thereby creating a virtual node to substantially cancel reaction loads that occur when the pistons are actuated. The underwater sound projector optionally also includes control systems to improve the fidelity of the force generator, provide pressure compensation to the pistons, finely adjust the static position of the pistons, and change the depth and roll when it is configured as tow body. A plurality of underwater sound projectors can be configured in an array. A load-bearing umbilical can connect the underwater sound projectors to a ship, transmit electrical power to each array element and serve as a duplex data transmission medium to route commands from the ship to the projector and report machinery status to the ship.
US09625594B2 Barrier detection system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide a barrier detection system that includes a plurality of sensors that are coupled in series to a seismograph. The seismograph receives a signal from the sensors. The system includes a computer system including computer storage and a processor. The computer system is in communication with the seismograph so that the computer system receives signals from seismograph and stores them in the computer storage. The system can include an object detection system that can process the signals received by the computer system from the seismograph. The object detection system can select a first portion of the signal to analyze based a predetermined time interval, create a baseline value for the first portion, and select a plurality of peaks from the first portion. The object detection can also analyze an amplitude, frequency, and periodicity of the first portion to assess the origin of the signal.
US09625593B2 Seismic data processing
The invention includes a method for reducing noise in migration of seismic data, particularly advantageous for imaging by simultaneous encoded source reverse-time migration (SS-RTM). One example embodiment includes the steps of obtaining a plurality of initial subsurface images; decomposing each of the initial subsurface images into components; identifying a set of components comprising one of (i) components having at least one substantially similar characteristic across the plurality of initial subsurface images, and (ii) components having substantially dissimilar characteristics across the plurality of initial subsurface images; and generating an enhanced subsurface image using the identified set of components. For SS-RTM, each of the initial subsurface images is generated by migrating several sources simultaneously using a unique random set of encoding functions. Another embodiment of the invention uses SS-RTM for velocity model building.
US09625592B2 Method for localizing a marine mammal in an underwater environment implemented by a PAM system, corresponding device, computer program product and non-transitory computer-readable carrier medium
A method for localizing a marine animal in an underwater environment implemented by a passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) system. The passive acoustic monitoring system includes network of acoustic sensors adapted to carry out measurements of acoustic signals. The method includes: obtaining, from the network of acoustic sensors, measured data of an acoustic signal emitted by a marine animal; defining a space of dimensional representation of the underwater environment discretized in a plurality of predefined cells, for each cell of a predefined set, obtaining an error defined as a value of a cost function for the cell, the cost function giving a deviation between: at least some of the measured data; and corresponding theoretical data obtained by assuming the marine animal is located in the cell, the errors obtained for the predefined set of cells enabling to obtain at least one piece of information about localization of the marine animal.
US09625591B2 Radiation detector probe for ionising radiation
A detector probe for detecting ionizing radiation includes at least one detector (14) mounted on a support (12), and an electrically operated source of heat (18) arranged on the support in proximity to the detector so that the temperature of the detector may be changed by operation of the heat source. The detector probe may be used in the manufacture of a level gauge or density profiler.
US09625580B2 LiDAR system comprising a single-photon detector
A method for developing a map of objects in a region surrounding a location is disclosed. The method includes interrogating the region along a detection axis with a series of optical pulses and detecting reflections of the optical pulses that originate at objects located along the detection axis. A multi-dimensional map of the region is developed by scanning the detection axis about the location in at least one dimension. The reflections are detected via a single-photon detector that is armed using a sub-gating scheme such that the single-photon detector selectively detects photons of reflections that originate only within each of a plurality of zones that collectively define the detection field. In some embodiments, the optical pulses have a wavelength within the range of 1350 nm to 1390 nm, which is a spectral range having a relatively high eye-safety threshold and a relatively low solar background.
US09625577B1 Aviation display depiction of weather threats
A method for indicating a weather threat to an aircraft is provided. The method includes inferring a weather threat to an aircraft and causing an image to be displayed on an aviation display in response to a determination by aircraft processing electronics that the inferred weather threat to the aircraft is greater than a measured weather threat to the aircraft.
US09625574B2 Constant pulse repetition frequency techniques for eliminating second time around returns in pulsed doppler radar
The present invention relates to a method and system for identifying and eliminating second time-around ambiguous targets and, more particularly, to a method and system for identifying and eliminating second time-around ambiguous targets using waveform phase modulation.
US09625569B2 Time-of-flight camera with motion detection
A method for operating a time-of-flight camera including a time-of-flight sensor comprising an array of time-of-flight pixels with at least two integration nodes, wherein in a 3D mode the time-of-flight sensor and an illumination means are operated by means of a modulation signal and on the basis of the charges accumulated at the integration nodes distance values are determined, characterized in that in a power saving mode the time-of-flight sensor is operated with a control signal for motion detection, the frequency of which is lower than a lowest frequency of the modulation signal for a distance determination in the 3D mode, wherein an object motion is determined based on a differential value at the integration nodes is provided.
US09625568B2 Wideband digital receiver comprising a phase jump detection mechanism
A wideband digital receiver includes an antenna, an amplifier, and a digital IFM device for measuring the frequency of the received signal or signals based on the result of discrete Fourier transforms DFT applied to said received signals. The receiver includes means for periodically estimating the phase jumps of said signals by combining the measurements of the phase of said signals produced by the transforms DFT.
US09625567B2 Positioning system using sound waves
Disclosed is a positioning system using sound waves. The system provides the current location of a user carrying a dedicated terminal or any portable equipment possessing a microphone and a speaker in real time by using sound waves propagating in slow speed in various indoor spaces such as shopping malls, museums, and art galleries where GPS signals are not received.
US09625565B2 Method and apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a mobile transmitter
A method and an apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a mobile transmitter that has at least two linearly polarized antennas arranged at a predefined angle to one another. A plurality of receivers, which can be synchronized with the mobile transmitter and of which the position is known, each receive transmitter signals of predefined carrier frequency via a circularly polarized antenna. A field-theoretical model of the transmission path between the mobile transmitter and receivers is set up and defines the carrier phase measured values, the field-theoretical model is implemented in a Kalman filter, and the receiver signals are evaluated in terms of carrier phase measured values and/or time of arrival values. The position and orientation of the mobile transmitter are determined in the Kalman filter with use of the field-theoretical model and the carrier phase measured values and/or time of arrival values established from the receiver signals.
US09625564B2 Blind signal classification and demodulation in a multimodal radio frequency environment
Systems and methods can support detecting and identifying threats associated with wireless devices within an electromagnetic environment. One or more sensor antennas may be located within the electromagnetic environment. Radio frequency signals may be coupled from the sensor antennas into a radio receiver. The radio receiver can communicate data samples representing a portion of the radio frequency signal to a raw signal analysis engine. The raw signal analysis engine can identify features associated with a communicated signal within the data samples. The raw signal analysis engine can classify modulation features and decode information features from the communicated signal. Feature vectors may be generated comprising the data samples and the identified features associated with the data samples. The feature vectors can be transmitted to a signal aggregation and analysis engine to support detecting and identifying electromagnetic threats and to support associated operator interfaces.
US09625562B2 Method for determining a direction to a signal-emitting object
The present invention relates to a method for determining a direction to a signal-emitting object by means of a platform comprising at least two antennas separated by a known distance. The method comprises said steps of: receiving, with each of said at least two antennas, a signal from said signal-emitting object at first positions, determining a first phase relation of said signal between said at least two antennas, —receiving, with each of said at least two antennas, a signal from said signal-emitting object at at least second positions, determining at least a second phase relation of said signal between said at least two antennas, characterized by the steps of: determining change(s) in position(s) of at least one antenna of said at least two antennas, and determining a direction to a signal-emitting object based on said first phase relation, said at least second phase relation and said change(s) in position(s) of said at least one antenna. The invention further relates to a platform performing a determination of a direction to a signal-emitting object.
US09625550B2 Systems and methods for assessing pulmonary gas transfer using hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI
Methods and systems for assessing pulmonary gas exchange and/or alveolar-capillary barrier status include obtaining at least one MRI image and/or image data of hyperpolarized 129Xe dissolved in the red blood cells (RBC) in the gas exchange region of the lungs of a patient. The image is sufficiently sensitive to allow a clinician or image recognition program to assess at least one of pulmonary gas exchange, barrier thickness or barrier function based on the 129Xe MRI image.
US09625548B2 System and method for magnetic resonance imaging of intracranial vessel walls
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for intracranial vessel wall imaging. The MRI system includes a radio frequency (RF) coil system to irradiate radio frequency (RF) pulses into a region of interest and detect a plurality of RF response signals, and a signal processing unit adapted to analyze the plurality of RF response signals. The RF coil system arranges the RF pulses in a pulse sequence including an excitation pulse and refocusing pulses which induce corresponding flip angles. A minimum flip angle is in the range of 30 degrees to 65 degrees, and a maximum flip angle is in the range of 100 degrees to 150 degrees. The signal processing unit analyzes the RF response signals with a three-dimensional isotropic resolution of 500 cubic microns or less and orders the RF response signals in k-space to enhance contrast between intracranial vessel wall tissue and cerebrospinal fluid or blood.
US09625544B2 Ferromagnetic augmentation for magnetic resonance imaging
In some aspects, a magnetic system for use in a low-field MRI system. The magnetic system comprises at least one electromagnet configured to, when operated, generate a magnetic field to contribute to a B0 field for the low-field MRI system, and at least one permanent magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to the B0 field.
US09625542B2 Local antenna device for transmitting magnetic resonance signals
A local antenna device for transmitting magnetic resonance (MR) signals of a plurality of MR receiving antenna elements to an MR signal processing device is provided. The local antenna device includes a plurality of analog-to-digital converters for scanning the MR signals and converting the MR signals to digital MR data, and a plurality of transmitting antenna elements for wirelessly transmitting the digital MR data to the MR signal processing device by the emission of an electromagnetic field. The local antenna device includes a plurality of transmitting devices for triggering the transmitting antenna elements and a plurality of spacer elements that is arranged and embodied on the local antenna device such that at least a defined minimum emission spacing is produced between the plurality of transmitting antenna elements and articles adjoining the local antenna device in at least one direction of a principal axis of emission of the electromagnetic field.
US09625540B2 Magnetic resonance fingerprinting exams with optimized sound
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with optimizing sounds produced during nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic to repetitively and variably sample a (k, t, E) space associated with a patient to acquire a set of NMR signals. Members of the set of NMR signals are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The varying parameters may include flip angle, echo time, RF amplitude, and other parameters. The parameters are varied in different acquisition blocks to facilitate matching sounds produced in response to the acquisition blocks to a desired set of sounds. The desired set of sounds may be a musical piece.
US09625535B2 Systems and methods for computing a position of a magnetic target
In embodiments, three magnetic field sensing elements are arranged equidistantly from each other to define a plane and a central axis perpendicular to the plane. The magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate a respective output signal representing proximity of a magnetic target that is proximate to the central axis and capable of moving relative to the central axis. A processor circuit is coupled to receive output signals from each of the sensors and configured to calculate a position of the magnetic target relative to the plane.
US09625534B2 Systems and methods for detection of magnetic fields
Apparatuses for detecting the strength of magnetic fields may include a first magnetic field detection circuit that produces a first signal indicating a strength of a magnetic field, and a second magnetic field detection circuit that can be turned on and off, and produces a second signal indicating the strength of the magnetic field. A control circuit may be configured to determine whether the first signal indicates a change greater than a predetermined amount in the strength of the magnetic field. If the change is greater than the predetermined amount, the control circuit may turn on the second magnetic field detection circuit. The control circuit may turn off the second magnetic field detection circuit to conserve power if the strength of the magnetic field is relatively stable. Methods for detecting the strength of the magnetic field are also disclosed.
US09625532B2 Method, system, and computer-readable medium for determining performance characteristics of an object undergoing one or more arbitrary aging conditions
A method, system, and computer-readable medium are described for characterizing performance loss of an object undergoing an arbitrary aging condition. Baseline aging data may be collected from the object for at least one known baseline aging condition over time, determining baseline multiple sigmoid model parameters from the baseline data, and performance loss of the object may be determined over time through multiple sigmoid model parameters associated with the object undergoing the arbitrary aging condition using a differential deviation-from-baseline approach from the baseline multiple sigmoid model parameters. The system may include an object, monitoring hardware configured to sample performance characteristics of the object, and a processor coupled to the monitoring hardware. The processor is configured to determine performance loss for the arbitrary aging condition from a comparison of the performance characteristics of the object deviating from baseline performance characteristics associated with a baseline aging condition.
US09625524B2 Efficient method of retesting integrated circuits
Efficient production testing of integrated circuits. A first production test is implemented on a group of integrated circuits and failures among the test group are assessed. Specifically, the results of the first test are analyzed such that integrated circuits having a recoverable fail and integrated circuits having a non-recoverable fail are differentiated. The integrated circuits are integrated based on the analyzed results and a second production test is implemented. The second production test tests the integrated circuits responsive to the segregation, such that the second production test is limited only to integrated circuits with a recoverable fail. The next succeeding production test will then use the new test program in the second production test with the handler bin designated as having integrated circuits not to be re-tested.
US09625521B2 Controlling alignment during a thermal cycle
A method of testing an integrated circuit of a device is described. Air is allowed through a fluid line to modify a size of a volume defined between the first and second components of an actuator to move a contactor support structure relative to the apparatus and urge terminals on the contactor support structure against contacts on the device. Air is automatically released from the fluid line through a pressure relief valve when a pressure of the air in the fluid line reaches a predetermined value. The holder is moved relative to the apparatus frame to disengage the terminals from the contacts while maintaining the first and second components of the actuator in a substantially stationary relationship with one another. A connecting arrangement is provided including first and second connecting pieces with complementary interengaging formations that restricts movement of the contactor substrate relative to the distribution board substrate in a tangential direction.
US09625517B2 Leakage current detection method and apparatus for detecting leakage of current from a board-mounted component
A leakage current detection method and apparatus are provided. The method is applied to leakage current detection for a board-mounted component on a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) board, and includes: providing a fixed voltage for a leakage current input end of a board-mounted component under detection, and connecting a leakage current output end to an inverting input end of an operational amplifier of a resistance testing module, where the resistance testing module includes the operational amplifier and a reference resistor that is connected between the inverting input end of the operational amplifier and the voltage output of the operational amplifier; detecting an output voltage of the resistance testing module; and calculating, based on Ohm's law and according to the output voltage and the reference resistor, a leakage current flowing through the board-mounted component under detection.
US09625514B1 Electrical transformer open and short detector
A circuit for monitoring the health of the transformers is disclosed. In an implementation, the circuit includes a transformer that provides an input signal and a pulse generator that generates a pulse signal. An analog-to-digital converter receives a combined signal that includes the input signal and the pulse signal, and the analog-to-digital converter converts the combined signal to a digital representation of the combined signal. The circuit includes a first digital filter and a second digital filter that are connected to the analog-to-digital converter. The first digital filter reconstructs an amplitude characteristic of the input signal, and the second digital filter reconstructs the pulse signal. The circuit also includes a controller that indicates a short circuit or an open circuit associated with the transformer based upon a value of the reconstructed pulse signal.
US09625513B2 Discharge ratio string continuity monitoring
A method for determining continuity in a PV panel string by calculating a discharge ratio includes operatively coupling a PV panel to a PV panel string; measuring a first voltage between points of coupling of the PV panel to the PV panel string; disconnecting the PV panel from the PV panel string; waiting for a discharge period to expire; measuring a second voltage at an expiration of the discharge period; calculating a discharge ratio of the second voltage to the first voltage; and comparing the discharge ratio to a predetermined threshold ratio. An apparatus for determining continuity in a PV panel string includes a discharge resistance serially connected in the PV panel string; a capacitance parallel connected to the discharge resistance; a voltage sensor parallel connected to the discharge resistance; and a first switch parallel connected to the discharge resistance.
US09625510B2 Vehicle antenna diagnostics
In an example of a method for performing vehicle antenna diagnostics, a transmitting and receiving (TX/RX) antenna of a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna assembly of a vehicle is electronically caused to emit a check signal. A response of a receiving only (RX) antenna of the MIMO antenna assembly is electronically detected in response to the check signal. A received signal strength indictor output is generated in response to the response of the RX antenna. The received signal strength indictor output is converted to a digital signal. The integrity of the MIMO antenna is determined after comparing the digital signal with an expected power level of the RX antenna.
US09625506B2 Contactless resistance measurement
A resistance is measured without physical contact/connection to the resistance. A resistive element to be measured is provided, physically connected as part of a passive electrical circuit. Without physically contacting the resistive element, an electromagnetic field is used to produce an excitation in the passive electrical circuit. The resistance of the resistive element is determined based on an effect of the excitation on the electromagnetic field.
US09625504B2 Method for determining a power consumption, supervision system and electric installation comprising application thereof
To determine a consumption in a group of branches of individual distribution of electrical energy, a method includes: a) detecting a change in electrical consumption in the branches, b) reading information relating to an electric current in a specific branch, then c) using the information, establishing an indication according to which the change took place in the specific branch, then d) determining, using measurements taken of an overall power supply of the group of branches before the change and measurements taken of the overall power supply after the change, in addition to the indication, an individual energy consumption of the specific branch.
US09625502B2 Method and arrangement in connection with photovoltaic power generator composed of series-connected photovoltaic modules
A method and an arrangement are provided in connection with a photovoltaic power generator composed of series-connected photovoltaic modules. The method includes determining a maximum power point voltage (UMPP) and a maximum power point current (IMPP). The method also includes determining the ambient temperature (Tamb), calculating an estimated maximum power point voltage (Uest) by using maximum power point current (IMPP) and the determined ambient temperature (Tamb), comparing the estimated maximum power point voltage with the determined maximum power point (UMPP), and determining on the basis of the comparison whether the generator is operating under uniform conditions or in conditions with two maximum power points.
US09625499B2 Receptacle indicating relative level of current or energy
A smart receptacle is for a number of loads. The smart receptacle includes separable contacts; an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts; and a number of current sensors structured to sense current flowing through the separable contacts to one of the number of loads. A number of indicators indicate a relative level of the sensed current or corresponding energy. A processor inputs the sensed current, determines the relative level of the sensed current or the corresponding energy, and controls the number of indicators to indicate the relative level of the sensed current or the corresponding energy.
US09625496B2 Magnetic sensor
A magnetic sensor includes a magnetic detection element, and a correcting section to correct an output voltage of the magnetic detection element and output the corrected output voltage. The correcting section is configured to compute a magnetic flux density from the output voltage of the magnetic detection element, compute and output the corrected output voltage having a linear relationship to the computed magnetic flux density.
US09625490B2 Mitigating the effect of a change in sensor calibration parameters
The disclosure relates to mitigating the effect of a sudden change in sensor calibration parameters. An embodiment of the disclosure retrieves a current calibration parameter value for the sensor, determines a new calibration parameter value for the sensor, and generates transitional calibration parameter values based at least on the current calibration parameter value and the new calibration parameter value using an interpolation function configured to prevent a sudden change in the sensor calibration parameter values.
US09625486B2 MEMS accelerometer
A MEMS acceleration sensor comprising: a frame, a plurality of proofmasses; a plurality of flexures; a plurality of hinges and a plurality of gauges. The frame, proofmasses, flexures, hinges and gauges designed to measure acceleration in a direction perpendicular to the device plane while being generally resistant to motions parallel to the device plane. The measurement of the acceleration is accomplished through the piezoresistive effect of the strain in the gauges.
US09625482B2 Sample analyzer
A sample analyzer comprises a container setting part on which a liquid container is to be set, a liquid supplying part configured to supply a liquid to the liquid container, an aspiration tube configured to aspirate a sample or a reagent, a movement mechanism configured to move the aspiration tube, a liquid surface sensor configured to detect contact of the aspiration tube with a liquid surface, and a controller configured to execute an aspiration tube adjustment operation. The aspiration tube adjustment operation comprises supplying the liquid to the liquid container by the liquid supplying part, lowering the aspiration tube by the movement mechanism toward the liquid container set on the container setting part, and obtaining information regarding a position in a height direction of the aspiration tube at a time when the aspiration tube has come into contact with the liquid surface.
US09625479B1 Automated preservative efficacy test method and device
A preservative efficacy test for determining efficiency of at least one preservative material that is present in a consumable product to reduce or eliminate living microorganisms that includes challenging the preservative material with at least one microorganism derived from a pure culture by inoculating a sample of the product with a quantity of at least one challenge microorganism and allowing the microorganisms to grow for an predetermined interval after which the preservative is neutralized and a portion of the resulting sample is cultured in a testing system that includes at least one testing container, wherein the testing container contains liquid growth media and sensor means capable of monitoring microorganism growth by sensing the metabolic by-products generated by growth of microorganisms present in the liquid growth media and producing an output signal that can be measured and analyzed.
US09625477B2 Vitamin D metabolite determination utilizing mass spectrometry following derivatization
The invention relates to the detection of vitamin D metabolites. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting derivatized vitamin D metabolites by mass spectrometry.
US09625472B2 Real time electronic cell sensing systems and applications for cell-based assays
The present invention includes devices, systems, and methods for assaying cells using cell-substrate impedance monitoring. In one aspect, the invention provides cell-substrate impedance monitoring devices that comprise electrode arrays on a nonconducting substrate, in which each of the arrays has an approximately uniform electrode resistance across the entire array. In another aspect, the invention provides cellular assays that use impedance monitoring to detect changes in cell behavior or state. In some preferred aspects, the assays are designed to investigate the affects of compounds on cells, such as cytotoxicity assays.
US09625466B2 Signal amplification methods for the imaging of protein synthesis and neurotransmitter transport
The present invention describes the synthesis of biological samples that can be used for the purpose of enhancing the signal-to-noise ratios achievable during the imaging of protein synthesis, amino acid transport and neurotransmitter transport, particularly in applications where single-molecule resolution is demanded. The present invention provides quencher-labeled elongation factor (EF-Tu) and fluorophore-labeled tRNA. When these molecules are present in a ternary complex with GTP, the fluorescently-labeled tRNA is quantitatively quenched. Once the tRNA is incorporated into an actively translating ribosome, however, a burst of fluorescence is released and can be detected by a variety of techniques, including smFRET imaging. The invention further provides novel EF-Tu constructs for achieving quencher labeling at high levels while retaining native or near native activity in the translation reactions, as well as methods for preparing stable ternary complexes, methods of protein sequencing, methods of detecting amino acid transport using a proteoliposome assay system and the proteoliposomes systems and methods of imaging translation events in single living cells. The present invention should have an immediate impact on next-generation sequencing technologies and the detection of neurotransmitter transporter activities in both in vitro and in vivo settings, a critical component of drug activity/screening assays targeting this important class of molecules.
US09625465B2 Clinical diagnostic systems
A diagnostic system is provided herein that includes an instrument comprising an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detector, and a cartridge configured to fit within a portion of the instrument, wherein the cartridge includes at least one reagent including an ECL label and a blood collection holder. Also provided herein is a system that includes a diagnostic instrument, which includes a pump, an ECL detector, an incubator, a magnet, and an output device, and a cartridge configured to fit within a portion of the diagnostic instrument, a sample holder configured to fit within the cartridge, and a closed fluidic loop between the diagnostic instrument and the cartridge when the cartridge is fit within a portion of the diagnostic instrument, wherein the cartridge is configured to accept a sample from the sample holder and place the sample in fluidic communication with the diagnostic instrument via the closed fluidic loop.
US09625452B2 Method for estimating GFR (glomerular filtration rate) from measured value of megalin in urine
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for estimating the glomerular renal function in a convenient and non-invasive manner. As a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, the present inventors found that there is a high correlation between the urinary megalin excretion rate and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in renal disease patients, and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be estimated with high probability in a non-invasive manner by measuring the megalin level in the urine. This has led to the completion of the present invention.
US09625448B2 Double caged GABA compounds, bis-CNB-GABA
Double caged GABA compounds and compositions including the same are described. Methods of synthesizing and using double caged GABA compounds are provided.
US09625442B2 Biological information measurement device, and biological information measurement method using same
The present invention has an object of improving the measurement accuracy in a biological information measurement device, e.g., for measuring a blood glucose level. The device is configured to be able to change at least one of i) a voltage value to be applied to the second input terminal and the third input terminal (i.e., the blood component measurement counter electrode 7 and the blood component measurement working electrode 6) in the second biological information measurement mode D and ii) a voltage application time during which a voltage is applied to the second input terminal and the third input terminal in the second biological information measurement mode D based on the first biological information in the first biological information measurement mode A. A hematocrit value is measured in the first biological information measurement mode A, and a glucose value is measured based on the hematocrit value in the second biological information measurement mode D.
US09625440B2 Method of marking hydrocarbon liquids
A method of marking a hydrocarbon liquid includes the step of adding to the liquid, as a tracer compound, a compound of Formula I: wherein at least one of R1-R4 is selected from: i. a bromine or fluorine atom; ii. a partially or fully halogenated alkyl group; iii. a branched or cyclic C4-C20 alkyl group; iv. an aliphatic substituent linking two positions selected from R1-R4 in Formula I to one another; or v. a phenyl group substituted with a halogen atom, an aliphatic group or halogenated aliphatic group. The tracer compounds are resistant to removal from the fuel by chemical laundering or by contact with absorbents such as charcoal.
US09625438B1 Device for measuring expansive soil shrinkage
The device for measuring expansive soil shrinkage includes a plurality of molds, a plate positioned beneath each mold, and a scale. The scale includes a primary plate having a center portion including an aperture and a secondary plate. The primary plate is positioned on top of the secondary plate. The scale also includes a plurality of primary supports, each primary support being positioned between the primary plate and the secondary plate, as well as a first arm movably positioned on the primary plate and a second arm movably positioned on the primary plate, the first arm and the second arm being connected to one another by a plurality of test wires. Further, the scale includes a plurality of cantilever arms movably positioned on the primary plate. The cantilever arms are configured for supporting one of the molds on the test wires.
US09625437B2 System for determination of explosibility indicies of fuels
Explosion test systems for determining explosibility indicies (Kst) of certain dust and gaseous fuels are provided. The test systems comprise a combustion vessel (130) and associated control equipment (110) containing software for operating the combustion vessel and collecting data generated thereby. The combustion vessel (130) generally comprises a test chamber (140) and a reservoir module (150) operable to inject a fuel into the test chamber, wherein an ignition module (170) ignites the fuel.
US09625434B2 Dripless, permanent sealing assembly for container
An embodiment provides a permanent sealing assembly for a container, such as a reagent bottle. The permanent sealing assembly allows for drip-less reagent container exchange for liquid analysis instruments. The permanent sealing assembly may be integrated into a container, such as a reagent bottle, and provides an outflow tube that extends into the container. The permanent sealing assembly and the outflow tube thereof remain in the container such that, on an exchange of regent containers, a removable cap assembly of the liquid analysis instrument may be affixed to a new container of reagent without the risk of reagent from the old container contacting the surroundings. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09625430B2 Multielectrode electrolytic device and method
An electrolytic device comprising: a central sample flow channel, first and second regenerant flow channels, first and second charged barriers disposed between said sample flow channel and first and second regenerant flow channels, and pairs of oppositely charged, spaced electrodes disposed in the regenerant flow channels. Also, electrolytic devices with a different electrode configuration are described. Also, methods of using the devices, e.g., for suppression in an ion chromatography system are described.
US09625423B2 System and method for testing a composite structure using a laser ultrasound testing system
A method and apparatus for testing a composite structure. A pulsed laser beam having a number of properties is generated. Each of the number of properties is within a selected range. The pulsed laser beam generated by the generation laser system is directed towards a composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. A number of ultrasonic waves are formed in the composite structure when the pulsed laser beam contacts the composite structure without causing any undesired inconsistencies in the composite structure outside of selected tolerances.
US09625420B2 Sensing sensor and sensing device
A sensing sensor includes a wiring board, a piezoelectric resonator, a channel forming member, a channel, an effluent channel, a capillary member, and an absorbing member. The effluent channel is disposed at a downstream side of the channel. The effluent channel is configured to discharge the sample solution inside of the channel by capillarity. The capillary member is disposed at a downstream side of the effluent channel in contact with the sample solution flowing through an inside of the effluent channel. The capillary member is configured to cause the sample solution to flow through by the capillarity. The absorbing member is disposed at a downstream side of the capillary member. The absorbing member is configured to absorb the sample solution flowing through the capillary member.
US09625414B2 Application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in sensor systems, devices, and related methods
A diagnostic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedure is applied to measure values of impedance-related parameters for one or more sensing electrodes. The parameters may include real impedance, imaginary impedance, impedance magnitude, and/or phase angle. The measured values of the impedance-related parameters are then used in performing sensor diagnostics, calculating a highly-reliable fused sensor glucose value based on signals from a plurality of redundant sensing electrodes, calibrating sensors, detecting interferents within close proximity of one or more sensing electrodes, and testing surface area characteristics of electroplated electrodes. Advantageously, impedance-related parameters can be defined that are substantially glucose-independent over specific ranges of frequencies. An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) enables implementation of the EIS-based diagnostics, fusion algorithms, and other processes based on measurement of EIS-based parameters.
US09625413B2 Analyte monitoring devices and methods therefor
Method and apparatus for performing a discrete glucose testing and bolus dosage determination including a glucose meter with bolus calculation function are provided.
US09625410B1 Substance detection device and method
Devices and methods are employed to detect substances in a medium. The device comprises an electrogenic bacterium that selectively interacts with a substance to produce electrons. A portion of the electrons provides power to the device and a portion of the electrons generates a signal as an indication of the presence of a substance in the medium. The method comprises contacting the electrogenic bacterium of the device with a medium suspected of containing the substance and measuring the signal generated by the electrons.
US09625408B2 Detection method and apparatus for reduced cross-talk and asic area of a fingerprint sensor
A method and apparatus for electrical detection of a finger print has a reduced number of interconnect signals between a sensor area and a substrate and an electronic circuit for excitation and detection of the finger print compared to a single-chip finger print sensor. The individual signals are connected internally at the sensor substrate in such a way that the response from the individual sensor elements can be separated from each other. Cross-talk is reduced by keeping the sensor outputs at a constant potential, thus eliminating the effect of capacitive coupling between different sensor outputs and also between sensor outputs and a ground or reference potential.
US09625407B2 Catalysis combustion type gas sensor
A catalysis combustion type gas sensor that detects an inflammable gas includes a heat-insulating portion; a heater that is formed on the heat-insulating portion; a gas reaction film that is formed on the heater on the heat-insulating portion and includes a carrier carrying a combustion catalyst for the inflammable gas; a temperature-measuring element that is formed in the vicinity of the gas reaction film on the heat-insulating portion; and a soaking portion that is formed on the heat-insulating portion and is arranged between the heat-insulating portion and the gas reaction film. The soaking portion is configured so as to decentralize heat transferred to the soaking portion in the entire soaking portion.
US09625406B2 Combustible gas sensors including integral support structures and combustible gas sensor with multiple active elements
A combustible gas sensor includes at least a first sensing element comprising a first conductive element having, for example, an average diameter less than 20 μm in electrical connection with electronic circuitry. The combustible gas sensor further includes a first support element having a first anchored end, a second anchored end and an extending intermediate section between the first anchored end and the second anchored end, the extending intermediate section providing support for the first conductive element. Another combustible gas sensor includes a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element includes a first catalyst support member having a volume less than a sphere having a diameter of 500 μm. The second sensing element includes a second catalyst support member having a volume less than a sphere having a diameter of 500 μm. The combustible gas sensor further includes electronic circuitry that is adapted to cycle between a first mode in which the first sensing element is operated in a higher power mode and the second sensing element is operated in a lower power mode and a second mode in which the second sensing element is operated in a higher power mode and the first sensing element is operated in a lower power mode.
US09625404B2 Systems and methods for single-molecule detection using nanotubes
A method for single-molecule detection is provided and uses a carbon nanotube having a probe entity attached thereto to define a first state of the carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube is introduced to a target entity to define a second state of the carbon nanotube. The electrical conductance of the carbon nanotube in the first and second states is compared to detect the presence of a biomolecular entity. A system for single-molecule detection including a carbon nanotube is also provided.
US09625402B2 Method and apparatus for detection of defective brakes
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for detecting defective brakes are disclosed. For example, the method detects that a wheel of a vehicle is in a position to be read by an infrared (IR) thermometer, signals the IR thermometer to take a temperature measurement of a brake of the wheel, receives the temperature measurement of the brake and determines that a defective brake condition exists when the temperature measurement of the brake is outside a temperature range.
US09625399B2 Device for determining thermal conductivity and methods for the use thereof
The application relates to a device based on the electrothermal method for determining thermal conductivity, which allows the examination of various phenomena, with a high level of reliability, through the study of the thermal behavior of materials. The device is constituted by a sample-carrying cylinder surrounded by a resistance element that creates a radial heat flow in the sample, a cooling system based on a spiral-form heat exchanger incorporated into the thermal device, means for the storage of a fluid and a data-storage device. Furthermore, the present application describes the use of the device in processes for determining the productive potential of the soil (“PPS”) and the examination of the nutritional quality of agro-ecological produce and foods.
US09625395B2 Microwave ablation antenna radiation detector
A radiation detector disposed on a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The radiation detector includes a receiving antenna adapted to receive errant microwave energy and a rectifier coupled to the receiving antenna that is adapted to rectify at least a portion of the errant microwave energy. A filter is coupled to the rectifier and is adapted to convert the rectified microwave energy into a detection signal.
US09625393B2 Gemstone viewer
An apparatus for viewing images of a gemstone is described. The apparatus comprises a support structure for supporting the gemstone at an observation position. An illumination structure comprises a plurality of directional light sources directed towards the observation position so as to illuminate the gemstone. The support structure and illumination structure are relatively rotatable relative to one another about a rotation axis. An imaging device is arranged to obtain images of the gemstone at the observation position at a variety of relative rotational positions between the illumination structure and support structure: the imaging device has an imaging axis passing through the observation position. The support structure is arranged so that the gemstone can be placed at the observation position in such a way that the normal to a selected facet of the gemstone is within a range of tilt angles from the rotation axis. The arrangement of directional light sources is such that, for any tilt angle within the range, at least one of the directional light sources will be specularly reflected from the selected facet into the imaging device for at least one rotational position of the support structure.
US09625388B2 Cell analysis apparatus and cell analysis method
A cell analysis apparatus that can accurately distinguish between an aggregating cell and a non-aggregating cell is provided. The cell analysis apparatus (10) includes: an optical detection section (3) for flowing a measurement sample obtained from a biological sample and a pigment into a flow cell (51), irradiating the measurement sample flowing in the flow cell (51) with laser beam and detecting fluorescence from the measurement sample; a signal processing circuit (4) for acquiring, based on a fluorescence signal outputted from the detection section (3), a value reflecting the height of a waveform of the signal and a value reflecting the length of a ridge line of the waveform of the signal; and a system control section (13) for distinguishing between an aggregating cell formed by aggregation of a plurality of cells and a non-aggregating cell, based on the value reflecting the height of the waveform of the fluorescence signal and the value reflecting the length of the ridge line of the waveform of the fluorescence signal obtained by the signal processing circuit (4).
US09625387B2 System and method for controlling depth of imaging in tissues using fluorescence microscopy under ultraviolet excitation following staining with fluorescing agents
The present disclosure relates to a method for analyzing tissue specimens. In one implementation the method involves obtaining a tissue sample and exposing the sample to one or more fluorophores as contrast agents to enhance contrast of subcellular compartments of the tissue sample. The tissue sample is illuminated by an ultraviolet (UV) light having a wavelength between about 200 nm to about 400 nm, with the wavelength being selected to result in penetration to only a specified depth below a surface of the tissue sample. Inter-image operations between images acquired under different imaging parameters allow for improvement of the image quality via removal of unwanted image components. A microscope may be used to image the tissue sample and provide the image to an image acquisition system that makes use of a camera. The image acquisition system may create a corresponding image that is transmitted to a display system for processing and display.
US09625385B2 Photothermal spectroscopy systems for offset synchronous testing of flow assays and methods of using same
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to photothermal spectroscopy apparatuses and systems for offset synchronous testing of flow assays. Methods of using and operating such photothermal spectroscopy systems are also disclosed.
US09625381B2 Sensor including nanostructure and method for fabricating the same
Provided is a sensor having a nanostructure as a sensing element and a fabrication method thereof. The sensor includes a nanostructure as a sensing element for sensing a marker over a substrate, wherein the nanostructure includes: a linker layer, including linkers, bonded to the substrate; and metallic nanoparticles grown from metal ions bonded to the linkers.
US09625372B2 Ultraviolet-based ozone sensor
A solution for evaluating a sample gas for a presence of a trace gas, such as ozone, is provided. The solution uses an ultraviolet source and an ultraviolet detector mounted in a chamber. The chamber can include reflecting walls and/or structures configured to guide ultraviolet light. A computer system can operate the ultraviolet source in a high power pulse mode and acquire data corresponding to an intensity of the ultraviolet radiation detected by the ultraviolet detector while a sample gas is present in the chamber. Using the data, the computer system can determine a presence and/or an amount of the trace gas in the sample gas.
US09625369B2 Polychromatic polarization state generator and its application for real-time birefringence imaging
Apparatus for generating polychromatic polarized light with the polarization ellipse orientation determined by the wavelength. The proposed polychromatic polarization state generator can be used in various configurations of polarized light microscope (called “polychromatic polscope”) for imaging birefringent samples. The polychromatic polscope produces a spectral-modulated visual scene, in which birefringent structures are evident because their appearance is different from the background. New polarized light microscope can subtract the background and produce video-enhanced color image of birefringent structures. The obtained picture can be also mathematically processed in order to obtain a map of quantitative distribution of specimen retardation and orientation of the principal axes.
US09625368B2 Apparatus, optical assembly, method for inspection or measurement of an object and method for manufacturing a structure
An optical assembly for a system for inspecting or measuring of an object is provided that is configured to move as a unit with a system, as the system is pointed at a target, and eliminates the need for a large scanning (pointing) mirror that is moveable relative to other parts of the system. The optical assembly comprises catadioptric optics configured to fold the optical path of the pointing beam and measurement beam that are being directed through the outlet of the system, to compress the size of the optical assembly.
US09625367B2 Enhancing flow cytometry discrimination with geometric transformation
In flow cytometry, particles (2) can be distinguished between populations (8) by combining n-dimensional parameter data, which may be derived from signal data from a particle, to mathematically achieve numerical results representative of an alteration (48). An alteration may include a rotational alteration, a scaled alteration, or perhaps even a translational alteration. Alterations may enhance separation of data points which may provide real-time classification (49) of signal data corresponding to individual particles into one of at least two populations.
US09625366B2 Microwave resonator sensor and associated methods of sensing
The sensor for sensing at least a physical property of an environment generally has a microwave resonator having a top conductive layer, a bottom conductive layer and a substrate layer therebetween, the substrate layer being made of a first dielectric material, a fence electrically connecting the top conductive layer to the bottom conductive layer across the substrate layer, and enclosing at least one resonance cavity, at least one microwave signal port across the fence, at least one sensing portion of a second dielectric material functionalized to the physical property of the environment, extending in the at least one resonance cavity and being exposed to the environment across at least one of the top conductive layer and the bottom conductive layer, the microwave resonator having at least one resonance frequency being dependent of the exposure of the second dielectric material with the environment to affect a microwave signal resonating therein.
US09625364B2 Non-radioactive density measurement in oilfield operations
The current application discloses a non-contact, non-radioactive densitometer system, comprising a curved tube containing an oilfield fluid, a mass measuring device connected to the curved tube, and a data acquisition system connected to the mass measuring device. The mass measuring device measures the mass of the curved tube and the data acquisition system calculate the density of the oilfield fluid in the curved tube. In one embodiment, the non-contact, non-radioactive densitometer system further comprises an antilog amplifier that is connected between the mass measuring device and the data acquisition system, where the antilog amplifier transforms the mass of the curved tube into an exponential value which is then fed into the data acquisition system.
US09625362B2 Method of impact testing using mount assembly with deformable member
A method of impact testing an article of protective equipment includes mounting the article of protective equipment on a deformable member. The method also includes impacting the article of protective equipment with an impact object. Moreover, the method includes detecting an effect of impact on the deformable member due to impacting the article of protective equipment with the impact object.
US09625358B2 Gas sampling apparatus and monitoring apparatus
There is provided a monitoring apparatus including a gas sampling apparatus and a sensor that detects a chemical substance included in gas obtained by the gas sampling apparatus. The gas sampling apparatus includes: an air supplying unit that forms an air curtain to form a space that covers a region to which an object to be monitored is included and which is separated from the outside environment; a sampling unit that extracts the gas inside the separated space; and a diffusion gas supplying unit that supplies, into the separated space, an amount of diffusion gas that is at least equal to the sampled amount of the sampling unit, wherein the sampling unit includes a plurality of sampling nozzles disposed at three-dimensionally different positions inside the separated space.
US09625354B2 Detecting occurrence of abnormality
A method, apparatus and computer program for detecting occurrence of an anomaly. The method can exclude arbitrariness and objectively judge whether a variation of a physical quantity to be detected is abnormal or not even when an external environment is fluctuating. The method includes acquiring multiple primary measurement values from a measurement target. Further, calculating and a reference value for each of the multiple primary measurement values by optimal learning. The method further includes calculating a relationship matrix which indicates mutual relationships between the multiple secondary measurement values. Further the method includes calculating an anomaly score for each of the secondary measurement value which indicates the degree of the measurement target being abnormal. The anomaly score is calculated by comparing the secondary measurement value with a predictive value which is calculated based on the relationship matrix and other secondary measurement values.
US09625353B2 Shape inspection device
A raised and depressed plate has a base surface, a raised surface, and a depressed surface. A mask processing section is configured to use mask data in which a given region and the remaining region in each of the base surface, the raised surface and the depressed surface are defined as a valid region and an invalid region, respectively, to extract measurement data of the valid regions from measurement data obtained from the sidewall surface of the master disk. A master data generation section is configured to generate master data representing a surface shape of the master disk, by using the measurement data of the valid regions. A user can check measurement accuracy of a shape inspection device by comparing shape values of the raised and depressed plate with the master data.
US09625349B2 Time-stamped emissions data collection for process control devices
The claimed method and system provide a process control device monitoring system and a process control valve assembly with a process control device monitoring system to measure one or more operating states of a process control device. The process control device monitoring system may also associate a time-stamp with the one or more measured operating states of the process control device in response to a trigger generated based on the one or more measured operating states. The process control device monitoring system may also transmit the time-stamp and an indication of the one or more operating states to a monitoring device.
US09625348B2 Fibre optic acoustic sensing
This invention relates to the fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing to detect P and S waves in a solid medium. Distributed acoustic sensing can be achieved using an unmodified fiber optic by launching optical pulses into the fiber and detecting radiation which is Rayleigh backscattered there from. By analyzing the returns in analysis bins, acoustic disturbances can be detected in a plurality of discrete longitudinal sections of the fiber. The present invention extends such fiber distributed acoustic sensing to detection of S and P waves.
US09625347B2 Adaptor, system, and method for inflating a glove
An adaptor for use to direct pressurized fluid into a glove to inflate the glove is disclosed. A kit for holding several test components for use to inflate a glove is also disclosed. The kit is provided for testing a glove for leakage. The components include an adaptor, a strap, and a portable pump, which can be either a DC-powered air compressor or a hand or foot pump. A method is also disclosed for inflating a glove to test the glove for leaks.
US09625340B2 Gas pressure testing device for a gas compartment portion of a bag
A gas pressure testing device, which is for checking pressure of gas inside the gas compartment portion of a bag, including: a pressing member (31) disposed on one side of the bag, a receiving member (38) positioned on another side of the bag, and a movable support member (39) having thereon the pressing member and a distance sensor (32). The pressing member being kept urged toward the gas compartment portion by air cylinder (44) is moved toward the bag so that the gas compartment portion is sandwiched by the pressing member and the receiving member. The distance sensor measures the distance (D) at such time to the pressing member and sends a distance signal to a control unit (37). Based on the distance signal, the control unit determines whether or not the gas pressure in the gas compartment portion is within a preset range.
US09625334B2 Method of measuring elongation of a fastener with ultrasound, performed by a power tool, and a power tool
The invention relates to a method of measuring elongation of a fastener by means of minimum peak side lobe (MPS) coded ultrasonic signals, and a power tool configured to performing the method. MPS coded signals with different base frequencies are transmitted into the fastener and a corresponding set of reflected signals are received from the fastener. Each reflected signal is cross-correlated with the corresponding transmitted signal, and a quality attribute of each transmitted signal is determined from the cross-correlated signals. Based on the quality attributes at least one parameter of an ultrasonic measurement signal is determined and the measurement is performed by transmitting the ultrasonic measurement signal into the fastener, and receiving a reflected ultrasonic measurement signal.
US09625331B2 Surface force apparatus based on a spherical lens
A force detector and method for using the same includes a movable lens having a spherical surface; a cantilever below the movable lens; a laser above the movable lens configured to emit a beam of light through the movable lens, such that light reflects from the spherical surface and the cantilever; a camera configured to capture images of interference rings produced by the light reflected from the spherical surface and the light reflected from the cantilever; and a processor configured to determine a force between the movable lens and the cantilever based on a change in phase of the interference rings.
US09625330B2 Methods and apparatus concerning multi-tactile sensitive (E-skin) pressure sensors
Various aspects as described herein are directed to electronic skin pressure sensors and methods of using the same. As consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes an electronic skin pressure sensor and sensor circuitry. The electronic skin device is configured and arranged for differentiating between different mechanical stimuli including lateral stress and at least one additional mechanical stimuli. The sensor circuitry is configured and arranged to respond to the electronic skin pressure sensor by sensing a change in impedance due to the lateral stress.
US09625325B2 System and method for identifying operating temperatures and modifying of integrated circuits
Aspects of the present disclosure include a computer-implemented method for identifying an operating temperature of an integrated circuit (IC), the method including using a computing device for: applying a test voltage to a test circuit embedded within the IC, the test circuit including a phase shift memory (PSM) element therein, wherein the PSM element crystallizes at a crystallization temperature from an amorphous phase having a first electrical resistance into a crystalline phase having a second electrical resistance, the second electrical resistance being less than the first electrical resistance; and identifying the IC as having operated above the crystallization temperature in response to a resistance of the test circuit at the test voltage being outside of the target operating range.
US09625324B1 Thermal monitoring and estimating system and method
A thermal-tag device including a temperature sensor capable of continuously measuring the temperature in a closed space and of generating corresponding real time temperature data and a low-power communication module capable of wireless communication with a plurality of remote smartphone type devices, a plurality of remote smartphone type devices wirelessly coupled to the thermal tag implementing a temperature monitoring application, the temperature monitoring application continuously processing the received real-time temperature data and displaying real-time temperature information while the smartphone device is wirelessly coupled to the thermal-tag, and the temperature monitoring application continuously deriving and displaying estimated temperature data while the smartphone device is not wirelessly coupled to the thermal-tag device.
US09625323B2 Method for determining the relative temporal position of electromagnetic pulses and determination device
The invention relates to a method for determining the relative temporal position of electromagnetic pulses. Said method having the steps generating a sequence of first electromagnetic pulses, generating a sequence of second electromagnetic pulses, overlaying at least a part of the first and the second pulses in a saturable absorber, detecting the second pulses that have passed through the saturable absorber by means of a detector in such a manner that the second pulses, but not the first pulses that have passed through the saturable absorber, are detected, and determining the temporal position of the first pulses relative to the temporal position of the second pulses with the aid of a signal from the detector which is generated when the second pulses that have passed through the saturable absorber are received.
US09625318B2 Divided-aperture infra-red spectral imaging system for chemical detection
A divided-aperture infrared spectral imaging (DAISI) system that is structured to provide identification of target chemical content in a single imaging shot based on spectrally-multiplexed operation. The system is devoid of spectral scanning acquisition of infrared (IR) spectral signatures of target content with an IR detector and does not require content.
US09625316B2 Spectrometer touch panel graphical user interface display support and movement mechanism
The present invention is directed to a spectrophotometer instrument that includes an arm that can swing between a closed position and an open position which is upward and backward of the lower position and wherein the display is moveable between a position behind the arm to a position to a side of the arm. Thus, the features herein provides the instrument user with positioning features to allow for a superior human factors user experience.
US09625306B2 System and method for conveying agricultural material in a harvester
A system and method for conveying agricultural material in a harvester. One harvester includes a rotor which rotates to separate a plant into a first agricultural material and a second agricultural material. A grate is disposed vertically below the rotor and further separates the first and second agricultural materials from one another. A first conveyor receives the first and second agricultural material directly from a trailing end of the rotor and a trailing end of the grate.
US09625304B2 Systems and methods to initiate a verification test within a flow meter via a flow computer
Systems and methods to initiate a verification test within a flow meter via a flow computer are disclosed. An example method includes communicating, via a flow computer, a request to a flow meter to initiate a verification test of the flow meter. The example method also includes retrieving diagnostic data from the flow meter. The example method further includes logging a result of the verification test in a log of the flow computer, the result based on the diagnostic data.
US09625302B2 Adjustable pet food scoop
An adjustable scoop comprising a sheet of flexible material having a periphery configured so that the sheet may be bent from a flat configuration to form a scoop having a curved body, two handles, a base and a cross member, wherein the cross member may be secured to the body at one of a plurality of locations so that the body, base and cross member form a receptacle having one of a plurality of volumetric capacities for particulate material.
US09625300B2 Metering material dispenser
A measuring and dispensing device is defined for a stored flowable material. The device includes a container portion and a lid or covering portion. A first spout portion is formed as part of the container and is positioned on the outside of a sidewall, adjacent an upper rim. The first spout portion defines a measurement chamber. The lid closely fits on the upper rim of the container. A second spout portion is integrally formed with the lid and projects from the lid sidewall, adjacent an engagement rim. The second spout portion defines a pre-measurement chamber within the container sidewall. The first and second spout portions aligned upon assembly of the container and the lid, with the first spout portion positioned within the measurement chamber. The first spout portion is spaced from the second spout portion, with the spacing defining a discharge passageway for the measurement chamber.
US09625299B2 Adjustable dosing cap
A dispensing cap including a first housing portion defining a first chamber, a lid coupled to the first housing and defining an outlet, the lid movable between a first position and a second position, a second housing portion defining a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, the second housing portion further defining a third chamber separate from the second chamber, wherein when the lid is in the first position, the outlet is in fluid communication with the second chamber to dispense a first volume of fluid, and wherein when the lid in the second position, the outlet is in fluid connection with the second chamber and the third chamber to dispense a second volume of fluid. A method of operating a dispensing cap is also provided.
US09625297B2 Flow meter
A flow meter includes: a measuring portion having rotors and provided on a pair of shafts positioned horizontally; a sensor that measures a pressure and a temperature within a flow path of the measuring portion; a front side panel that supports front side components of the measuring portion; a front cover that covers the front side components of the measuring portion; a main substrate that is installed in the front cover and collects a signal from the sensor; and a counter displaying portion that displays the signal from the sensor outputted from the main substrate. The sensor is assembled in the tip end of a cylindrical sensor case, the sensor case is inserted into the front side panel through an insertion opening formed in the front cover, the sensor is installed within the front cover, and the sensor and the main substrate are connected to each other.
US09625296B2 Thermal flow meter with thin resin portion sealing temperature detection element
To obtain a thermal flow meter capable of providing thermal insulation without degrading responsiveness of a temperature detection element. A thermal flow meter 300 of the present invention includes an air flow sensing portion 602 that detects a flow rate by performing heat transfer with a measurement target gas passing through the main passage 124 using a heat transfer surface, a temperature detection element 518 that detects a temperature of the measurement target gas, a circuit package 400 obtained by connecting a processing unit 604 that processes signals of the air flow sensing portion 602 and the temperature detection element 518 to a lead and sealing the processing unit 604 using a first molding resin through a first molding process, and a housing 302 where the circuit package 400 is fixed using a second molding resin through a second molding process, wherein, in the circuit package 400, a thickness of a temperature detecting portion 452 for sealing the temperature detection element 518 is thinner than that of a package body portion 426 for sealing the processing unit 604.
US09625295B2 Doppler measurement instrument and doppler measurement processing method
A fluid flow measurement instrument is provided. The measurement instrument includes a sensor producing a time domain signal representative of reflections of an emitted signal; and a meter being coupled to the sensor and configured to: receive the time domain signal; create two or more spectral estimates for the time domain signal, wherein said two or more spectral estimates have different frequency ranges and resolutions; determine a frequency offset value using one or more of the two or more spectral estimates; and convert the frequency offset value into a fluid velocity. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09625290B1 Dynamic calibration of MEMS sensors
A MEMS type sensor is used for measuring a particular parameter on an IC chip within an electronic device, such as music player, a smart cellular telephone, etc. The parameter may be a scalar parameter, such as a directional orientation indicative a current compass point, or a multidimensional vector parameter, such as a three-dimensional acceleration. The sensor output is recalibrated using stored coefficients when ambient conditions vary. The stored coefficients may be modified during calibration.
US09625286B2 Adjustable probe holder assembly for an inspection sensor
An adjustable probe holder assembly is disclosed for an inspection or measurement sensor, such as an ultrasound transducer, eddy current sensor, magnetic thickness sensor or optical image sensor, in order to position the sensor in a confined space using an extended arm with an adjustable curvature. The probe holder has at least two elongated holding arms, among which a first arm and a second arm, each having a probe end and a holding end, wherein the probe end of each of the holding arms are attached to the probe and the at least two arms remain substantially parallel and very close to each other when the probe holder is at a non-operational status. The two arms bulge open away from each other due to either a tension force or a compression force being exerted along the longitudinal direction of either one of the arms, holding the probe to be against the test surface of the test object.
US09625285B2 Multi-piece inline jet-sonde
A multi-piece sonde configuration for use in troubleshooting a pipe and providing precise location of the problem includes a sonde carrier having a first end adapted to attach to a line and a second opposite end adapted to attach to a troubleshooting device. The multi-piece sonde can include a first carrier having a sonde housing with a central fluid passageway and a sonde transmitter operably positioned about the central fluid passageway. A second carrier can include a housing with a central fluid passageway and a power source carried by the second carrier. A flexible connector has a central fluid passageway and first and second opposing ends, and the first carrier is operably connected to the first end of the flexible connector and the second carrier is operably connected to the second end of the flexible connector. An electrical connection between the power source and the sonde transmitter can be carried by the flexible connector.
US09625279B2 Open circuit detection for inductive sensors
A system for open circuit detection for inductive sensors includes coils coupled in a star configuration on a first side of each coil. The system further includes driving pins coupled to the coils on a second side of each coil and voltage sources coupled to the driving pins. The system further includes one or more comparators coupled to the driving pins that monitor the voltages of the driving pins to detect open circuits.
US09625277B2 Sensor arrangement for a driven wheel hub-rolling bearing arrangement with a signal generator, a sensor and a sealing cap
An ABS encoder arrangement for a driven wheel bearing unit, with a multi-pole ring, a sensor device with a sensor head, and an annular cap element that has an annular wall portion which shields a cap interior against the exterior. The annular wall section extends through an intermediate region lying between the multi-pole ring and an end face of the sensor head. An extension concentric with the axis of rotation of the multi-pole ring and extending axially over a circumferential area of an articulated shaft head is connected to the annular wall section on a side facing away from the multi-pole ring. In the end portion of the extension facing away from the multi-pole ring and extending over the articulated shaft head, the extension forms a circumferential profile that radially stiffens the extension and forms an annular edge which extends into a circumferential groove of the articulated shaft head and forms a channel cross-section open to the outside.
US09625275B2 External access to meter display
A utility meter comprises a measurement circuit configured to measure consumption data, a memory configured to store meter data including the consumption data, and a receiver configured to receive a priority message from a source external to the utility meter. A meter display on the meter comprises a plurality of display segments. The meter display is configured to display the meter data according to a standard meter display routine. The meter display is further configured to display the priority message on at least a first portion of the plurality of display segments such that meter data normally displayed during the standard meter display routine is not displayed on the first portion of the plurality of display segments. A meter controller is configured to determine whether the standard meter display routine should be interrupted or overridden in order to display the remote message.
US09625273B2 Thickness measurement apparatus and method thereof
A thickness measurement apparatus and method to measure an object to be inspected. The thickness measurement apparatus includes: an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception device that receives/transmits an ultrasonic wave to/from a wall of a pipe to be inspected, covered with a heat insulation material; a support device that supports the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception device from an outer surface of the pipe to be inspected; a thickness calculation device that measures a propagation time of the ultrasonic wave received/transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception device, and calculates thickness of the pipe to be inspected; a calibration board with a predetermined thickness greater than a thickness of a dead zone of the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception device; and a calibration board adjustment device that moves the calibration board toward and away from a gap between the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception device and the outer surface of the pipe to be inspected.
US09625271B2 Systems and methods for terrain warning suppression using flight plan information
A method according to an aspect of the present invention includes determining if terrain presents a hazard to an aircraft based on the current position of the aircraft and the intended flight plan for the aircraft and providing an alert if it is determined that the terrain presents a hazard to the aircraft. The method may be employed in any situation to achieve any result, such as when the aircraft is in a low-RNP environment to prevent nuisance terrain alerts.
US09625269B2 Method and system for mobile device selectively reporting of GPS position information to others
A privacy enhancement device for electronic device such as a cellular telephone. The privacy enhancement device may include a jammer which may produces false information, e.g. false information indicative of pseudo ranges. In addition, the navigation information used on the position detecting device may be locally stored versions of dynamically changing information. The navigation operation may be carried out using a Web service.
US09625260B2 Carbon fiber composite level and method of manufacturing same
A composite level and a method to manufacture the composite level are provided. A composite level can have three layers of material. A first layer comprises a glass-mat material, a second layer comprises carbon fiber, and a third layer comprises a glass fabric material. A composite level can also have only two layers of material. At least one bubble vial is mounted on the level body. The method to manufacture the carbon fiber composite level comprises a pultrusion process wherein a fiber glass material and carbon fiber are saturated with resin and molded into a final shape.
US09625256B1 Device, system and method for alignment of an integrated circuit assembly
Techniques and mechanisms for evaluating misalignment of circuit structures. In an embodiment, infrared (IR) radiation is variously focused on different planes of an assembly including an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a substrate that is to be coupled to, or that is coupled to, the IC chip. The cross-sectional planes include respective structures that variously reflect IR radiation. The reflected IR radiation is measured to create images each representing a corresponding cross-section of the assembly. In another embodiment, respective reference features of the images are identified and evaluated to determine whether a misalignment between the reference features satisfies one or more threshold test conditions.
US09625251B2 Facial movement and expression detection and stimulation
The disclosure features systems and methods for detecting a user's facial movement and expression, that include a plurality of radiation sources, a plurality of radiation detectors, where each radiation detector is paired with a different one of the radiation sources and configured to detect radiation emitted by its paired radiation source, and a controller connected to the radiation detectors and configured to receive signals corresponding to measurements of emitted radiation from each of the radiation detectors, determine, for each radiation source-detector pair, information about whether a radiation path between the source and detector is blocked by a portion of the user's face, and determine a facial movement or expression of the user based on the information.
US09625250B2 Apparatus and method of generating tomographic image
A method of generating a tomographic image includes detecting an interference signal containing cross-sectional information of a target object as raw data of the target object, the raw data being phase-modulated in a first direction with respect to a cross section of the target object; demodulating the raw data by adjusting at least one parameter of a filter function defining filtering using a fixed window size; and generating a tomographic image of the target object by performing signal processing on the demodulated raw data.
US09625248B2 Device and method for measuring ice thickness
A device and method for measuring ice thickness on a first surface of a construction element. The device includes a sensor arrangement arranged in connection with the construction element and arranged to provide signals related to an impedance. A processing unit is coupled to the sensor arrangement and arranged to determine the presence of ice based on the provided impedance signals. A reference sensor arrangement is arranged to generate reference impedance measurement signals. The processing unit is further arranged to determine the ice thickness based on determinations of a relation between the impedance signals determined by the sensor arrangement and the reference impedance values generated by the reference sensor arrangement.
US09625242B1 Igniter for modular artillery charge system
A modular artillery charge system module includes a central igniter container and cap end and body end igniter containers fixed to the central igniter container. The central igniter container is a rigid, longitudinal tube with opposing ends. The end igniter containers are fixed to the opposing ends of the central igniter container. Each end igniter container includes a large container portion and a small container portion that extends from the large container portion toward the central igniter container. The central igniter container and end igniter containers are made of a rigid material, such as foamed celluloid.
US09625238B2 Anti-ballistic shelters
Embodiments of the present application includes methods and structures for Anti-Ballistic Shelters, including an anti-ballistic shelter having a frame comprising at least one support member, and one or more surfaces comprising a flexible high strength layered anti-ballistic material attached to the frame, wherein the flexible high strength layered anti-ballistic material is layered in at least two directions; and further wherein the layered anti-ballistic material is enveloped around the frame.
US09625234B2 Vehicle gun storage safe with flexible internal locking case
A gun storage safe formed from a flexible fabric having a generally rectangular closeable outer shell, at least one longitudinal cable conduit channel and at least one latitudinal cable conduit channels and a plurality of wire cables of predefined length substantially disposed within said cable conduit channels wherein said longitudinal and latitudinal cables traverse the interior surfaces of the outer shell and further wherein said wire cable ends extend beyond said cable conduit channels; adjustable cable locks in operative contact with each wire cable end; at least one gun case disposed within said outer shell, wherein the wire cables are positioned within said wire conduit channels are drawn down upon and tightened on said gun case to form a wire cage and said each adjustable cable lock engages the opposite end of said wire cables end to securely lock the wire cables in place and further comprising a plurality of voids on a lower surface thereof and a separate cable segment and adjustable lock for securing said safe to a cargo tie down.
US09625232B2 Firearm buffer system and buttstock assembly
A buttstock assembly configured to work in conjunction with a compact buffer assembly consisting of a buffer tube, spring and bolt carrier with an integral buffer is provided. The buttstock assembly, buffer tube and bolt carrier are configured to work with AR15/M16 type firearms and their derivatives. By incorporating the buffer onto the bolt carrier, which is used in conjunction with a buffer tube of reduced length, the overall length of the host firearm is reduced by approximately 3.2 inches. No permanent modification need be made to the host firearm in order to utilize the compact buffer assembly and buttstock assembly disclosed herein.
US09625230B2 Archery release having force diversion
An archery release includes, in an embodiment, a body, a finger extension configured to be connected to the body and a hook pivotally coupled to the body. Part of the body has an arc shape centered about a point. The point is located in a horizontal plane or horizontal axis when the archery release is oriented in a vertical position. The hook has a bowstring contact surface which is positioned below the horizontal plane or horizontal axis when the archery release is in the vertical position.
US09625229B1 Window mounted gun rest
A window mounted gun rest including an inverted U-shaped mounting clamp. A threaded aperture is disposed through a rear portion of the mounting clamp, and a plate screw is threadably engaged within the threaded aperture. A mounting plate is disposed between each of a front portion and the rear portion of the mounting clamp. The mounting plate is attached to a tip of the plate screw. A muzzle rest is disposed on a middle portion of the mounting clamp. An elevation support arm is hingedly attached to the rear portion of the mounting clamp. A padded support member is disposed on the elevation support arm. An elevation locking mechanism is configured to selectively lock the elevation support arm into one of a plurality of heights relative to the muzzle rest.
US09625227B2 Firing mechanism for a firearm
A firing mechanism for a firearm is provided for reducing maximum trigger pull weight attributable to a sear and for reducing trigger pre-travel and over-travel distances. By this, the likelihood of sear flutter phenomena is greatly reduced while also decreasing or maintaining maximum trigger pull weight. Also, hand movement during firing is reduced helping to increase accuracy.
US09625226B2 Munitions carrier and method of operating the same
A munitions carrier may include a munitions loading table having a loading section loaded with munitions and a roller assembly for moving the munitions, and a munitions transfer unit attached to one side of the munitions loading table so as to be adjacent to the roller assembly, in order to transfer the munitions to a charge section provided in an artillery gun.
US09625224B2 Bolt recoil tang clamping system
A self-adjusting clamping system top capture and hold a recoil lug extending outwardly from a bolt style receiver of a firearm. At least a lower portion of the receiver and the recoil lug are received into a chassis having a recess. The chassis is configured to receive an anvil block confronting the rear surface of the recoil lug. The chassis is configured to receive a tightening system confronting the front surface of the recoil lug. The anvil block has a front surface that contacts and confronts the rear surface of the recoil lug. The anvil block also has a rear surface that is outwardly rounded. The tightening system is at least partially wedge-shaped having a front surface that is angled and a rear surface that contacts and closely confronts the front surface of the recoil lug.
US09625223B2 Self-cleaning fan assembly
A self-cleaning fan assembly is provided that can be used to automatically clean the assembly's heat exchanger or air filter. In use, once the system determines that the heat exchanger/air filter should be cleaned, for example based on the total operational time or the number of use cycles for the system, or based on the air flow passing through the heat exchanger/air filter, the controller temporarily reverses the direction of the fan, thereby reversing the flow of air through the heat exchanger/air filter and forcing out dust, dirt and other debris.
US09625220B1 Structurally dynamic heat sink
A heat sink structure is provided having fins mechanically altered dynamically to change and optimize the heat sink's performance based on certain environmental conditions. Specifically, the shape of fins of the heat sink structure is dynamically altered in response to environmental conditions that indicate the need for increased thermal performance by spreading the fins through a mechanical device dynamically, or by collapsing the fins to reduce pressure drop across a region when increased thermal performance is not needed.
US09625218B2 Method of manufacturing a heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device includes a mounting bracket and a thermal module. The mounting bracket has at least one retaining hole and a mounting section, and the thermal module includes a plurality of radiating fins, to which the mounting bracket is connected. On the radiating fins, at least one engaging zone is provided for correspondingly engaging with the mounting bracket, and at least one locking portion is formed for correspondingly engaging with the retaining hole. With the above structural design, the mounting bracket can be more firmly and stably connected to the thermal module and be more accurately located on the radiating fins without the need of welding, so that the manufacturing cost for welding is saved. A method of manufacturing the heat dissipation device is also disclosed.
US09625217B2 Heat exchanger and air conditioner including same
An air conditioner includes a compressor and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a first header pipe to have a refrigerant compressed by the compressor to flow therein, a heat exchange unit including a plurality of first refrigeration tubes and a plurality of second refrigeration tubes to thermally exchange the refrigerant with air, a plurality of first header branch pipes coupling the first header pipe with corresponding first refrigeration tubes in the heat exchange unit, a bypass pipe to have the refrigerant, thermally exchanged in the heat exchange unit, passing therethrough in the air cooling operation, and a second header pipe to have the refrigerant passing through the bypass pipe to flow therein. A plurality of second header branch pipes couples the second header pipe with corresponding second refrigeration tubes in the heat exchange unit, where at least two first refrigeration tubes have at least one second refrigeration tube therebetween.
US09625213B2 Silicon-nitride-containing separating layer having high hardness
The invention relates to a shaped body comprising a substrate with a firmly adhering separating layer, wherein the separating layer comprises 92-98 wt. % silicon nitride (Si3N4) and 2-8 wt. % silicon dioxide (SiO2) and wherein the separating layer has a total oxygen content of ≦8 wt. % and a hardness of at least 10 HB 2.5/3 according to DIN EN ISO 6506-1.
US09625211B2 Bead collection device and method
A device is provided for separating beads from a carrier fluid, the device comprising: a bead-receiving means for receiving beads dispersed in a carrier fluid, a fluid removal means operable to remove fluid from the bead-receiving means in a first fluid removal zone by the application of reduced pressure, and a bead collection means operable to remove beads from the bead-receiving means in a bead collection zone by the application of reduced pressure, the bead-receiving means being movable so that beads are movable from the first fluid removal zone to the bead collection zone.
US09625209B2 Method for cryogenically separating a mixture of nitrogen and carbon monoxide
A method for separating a feed gas, containing nitrogen and carbon monoxide as main components, in a distillation column: the feed gas is cooled in a heat exchanger; at least a portion of the feed gas, or at least a portion of a gas derived from the feed gas, is sent to a reboiler of the distillation column so as to condense the gas while producing a liquid, and optionally a gas; at least a portion of the liquid is sent to the distillation column; a nitrogen gas-rich flow is extracted from the distillation column; a carbon monoxide-rich flow is extracted from the distillation column, heated in the heat exchanger, and compressed so as to provide a carbon monoxide-rich material at production pressure.
US09625207B2 Beverage cooling device
The present invention is a cooling device having a number of cooling sub-assemblies, each having a body having a top with an opening, and an interior chamber for holding a cooling fluid. An equal number of sub-assembly connectors connect each body to two adjacent bodies so that the cooling device forms a generally cylindrical inner surface that can be placed around the outside of a beverage container so cooling fluid can absorb heat from a beverage in the container. Each sub-assembly may also have an activator bin inside it for storing an endothermic reactant and having a release mechanism that a user can activate to cause the endothermic reactant to mix with the cooling fluid thereby cooling the cooling fluid which in turn cools the beverage.
US09625202B2 Direct contact icemaker with finned air cooling capacity
A refrigerator includes a direct contact ice making system in conjunction with a circulating coolant. The ice making system includes a cold air loop including a plurality of fins to cool ambient air adjacent the cold air loop in the ice making system. The cooled air is passed by a fan assembly through a supply duct into an ice storage container or compartment to cool the area within the ice storage compartment, thus preventing ice cubes in the compartment from melting. The ice making system also includes a return duct for directing warm air from the ice storage compartment to the cold air loop for re-cooling and recirculation. The cold air loop may generally be a heat exchange zone for cooling the ambient air.
US09625201B2 Device for cooling or frosting a container
The invention relates to a device (1) for cooling or frosting at least one container (2), in particular a glass or mug, by means of cold air, the device (1) comprising a base (4) with a container receiving portion (3), at least one air inlet (5) and an annular chamber (7), whereby the container receiving portion (3) is comprised with the at least one air inlet (5) through which cold air may be introduced into the annular chamber (7), wherein the container receiving portion (3) comprises an air outlet portion (10) comprising a pipe (9) extending upwards into the at least one container (2), the pipe (9) being configured to suck the air out of the at least one container (2). The at least one air inlet (5) is positioned at an outer circumference of the annular chamber (7) so as to introduce the air into the annular chamber (7) tangentially, thereby generating a swirling upward air flow which is led as a thin layer along the inner surface of the at least one container (2) being placed on the container receiving portion (3), thereby cooling or frosting the container (2).
US09625198B2 Automatic ice vending structure
An ice vending structure for making and dispensing ice has an ice maker couplable to a water source. An ice bin is positioned under the ice maker for receiving ice made by the ice maker. A substantially horizontal ice moving auger is positioned in the bottom of the ice bin for ejecting ice out an aperture substantially horizontally, to be received by an ice chute coupled to the aperture. The ice chute directs the ice in a downward and rearward direction into bags supplied by a bag holder assembly.
US09625196B2 System and method for controlling of vapor compression system
A method for controlling an operation of a vapor compression system (VCS) determines values of measured outputs of the operation of the VCS that include performance and constrained outputs. The method determines states of the VCS using an estimator model of the VCS defining a relationship between the states of the VCS, control inputs and controlled outputs, such that a difference between outputs predicted using the estimator model and the measured outputs asymptotically approaches zero. The states of the VCS include a main state representing the operation of the VCS and an auxiliary state representing the effect of unknown disturbances on each measured output of the VCS. The control inputs for controlling the operation of the VCS are determined using a prediction model, such that the constrained output satisfies the constraints, and a difference between the performance output and the value of the setpoint asymptotically approaches zero.
US09625189B2 Absorption type heat pump device
Provided is an absorption type heat pump device including: a battery, a battery case, a regenerator, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber, and a controller, in which, in the cooling operation, heat exchange between the absorber and the outside of the absorber is performed, the refrigerant having a liquid phase is supplied to the battery case from the condenser, and the refrigerant having a gas phase which is obtained by evaporating the refrigerant having a liquid phase by the heat of the battery, is supplied to the absorber, and in the heating operation, heat exchange between the absorber and the battery case is performed, the refrigerant having a gas phase or a liquid phase is supplied to the absorber from the evaporator, and the absorbing solution with relatively high concentration which is accommodated in the regenerator is supplied to the absorber.
US09625184B2 Multi-split HVAC system
A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system has a first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, a first ducted variable speed indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit, and a second indoor unit configured to selectively exchange refrigerant with the first variable refrigerant flow outdoor unit.
US09625179B1 System to provide a backchannel to an HVAC thermostat
In an HVAC system Polarity Splitting is used to provide for one or more backchannels from the furnace to the thermostat. Polarity Splitting is also used to allow a four-wire house cable to provide for three thermostat functions as well as furnace power to the thermostat while also providing for one or more backchannels. A serial datalink can be used to provide for a number of thermostat functions and a number of backchannels as well as to provide furnace power to the thermostat while using only three wires between the furnace and the thermostat. A Wi-Fi enabled furnace adapter can allow the use of a Wi-Fi thermostat while supplying only furnace power (two wires) to the thermostat. A Wi-Fi enabled furnace can use only a remote temperature sensor instead of a remote thermostat.
US09625178B2 Water heater attachment method and water heater attachment structure
A water heater attachment method is a method for attaching a water heater body to a wall surface by using an attachment member provided at a rear end of an upper surface of the water heater body. The method includes a first step of inserting a tip of a rod member into a through hole formed in the attachment member, the rod member projecting forward from the wall surface, a second step of sliding the attachment member toward the wall surface along the rod member to shift the water heater body to an attachment position of the wall surface, and a third step of fastening the attachment member to the wall surface by a screw in a state where the attachment member is held by the rod member.
US09625176B2 Low emissions direct fired air heater
Method of combusting hydrocarbon fuel to form combustion products low in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) and mixing the combustion products with additional air to provide a heated air stream suitable for heating enclosed spaces includes the following steps: (a) delivering a fuel stream to a burner assembly; (b) delivering a combustion air stream to the burner assembly; (c) combining the fuel and air streams within a combustion chamber and heat exchanger wherein the mixture is ignited, completely combusted, and the temperature of the products of combustion are reduced; (d) providing tempering air to the external side of the combustion chamber and heat exchanger to transfer heat away from the combustion gases to tempering air; (e) combining the partially heated tempering air and cooled combustion products low in NO2 and CO; and (f) discharging the mixture into a space to be heated.
US09625175B2 Curb adapter
Provided is a curb adapter, comprising a first wall along a first direction of extension; a second wall along a second direction of extension that is different from the first direction of extension; and a corner support mechanism coupled at a corner that includes an edge of the first wall and an edge of the second wall. The corner support mechanism includes at least one fastener coupled to the edge of the first wall and at least one fastener coupled to the edge of the second wall.
US09625169B2 HVAC controller and method for operating an HVAC system based on a difference in temperature between return air and supply air and an HVAC system employing the controller or method
The disclosure provides an HVAC system, an HVAC controller and a method of operating an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a thermostat call and (2) a processor configured to initiate operation of the HVAC system in response to the thermostat call and control operation thereof based on a temperature difference across a conditioning unit of the HVAC system.
US09625167B2 Humidifier
A humidifier including a spray unit configured to apply electric charge to water, and to spray water having electric charge applied thereto, an evaporation unit formed with a duct in which evaporation of the electrically-charged water being sprayed is taken place, and configured to guide a vapor and a foreign substance, which are separated from each other through the evaporation, to an outside, and a dust collection unit configured to collect the foreign substance at an inside the duct by forming an electric field, the humidifier capable of performing a large-capacity humidification by the generation of the electrically charged droplets, and capable of removing the foreign substance included in the droplets by using the electrical force, thereby enhancing the cleanliness of the humidification, and by using an electric field, accelerating the evaporation so that the size of the duct is minimized, and thus manufacturing the humidifier in a compact size.
US09625166B2 Induction displacement air handling unit
An induction displacement unit is disclosed that includes an induction plenum having first nozzles communicating with a first discharge plenum and second nozzles communicating with a second discharge plenum, a return air plenum and a heating coil disposed between the return air plenum and the first discharge plenum. In addition, the induction displacement unit has a cooling coil disposed between the return air plenum and the second discharge plenum, where the induction plenum is vertically disposed between the heating coil and the cooling coil. The heating coil is disposed in an upper portion of the unit. The first discharge plenum is disposed to induce a substantially vertical discharge, and the second discharge plenum disposed to induce a substantially horizontal discharge.
US09625163B2 Method and apparatus for positioning heating elements
An underlayment system is provided that includes a plurality of protrusions that extend from a common base member. The protrusions and base member can include an opening therethrough that allows for subsequent layers of material, such as adhesive, to interact and bond to each other. The protrusions are arranged in such a way to contain a wire, string, or heating element, within a receiving area. The arrangement of the protrusions allow for routing of the wire, string, or heating element in a variety of angles, bends, and other routing layouts.
US09625160B2 Hinge
A hinge includes a hinge arm (1) and a hinge base (6) fitting with the hinge arm. A support (2) is disposed between the hinge arm (1) and the hinge base. A first end of the support is movably connected to the hinge arm, and a second end is movably disposed with the hinge base (6). A locking position (12) is disposed on the hinge arm. A connecting piece (4) is disposed in fitting with the locking position. A first end of the connecting piece is movably connected to the body of the support, and a second end is movably connected to a first end of a rocking bar (7). The body portion of the rocking bar (7) is movably connected coaxially to a second end of the support (2) and the hinge base (6). A connecting shaft (72) is disposed on a second end of the rocking bar. A first end of a spring (3) is hung to the connecting shaft, and the other end of the spring is hung to a hanging shaft (62) that is disposed fixedly with the hinge base. Because of the connecting spring, the connecting piece and the support on the key component rocking bar, by adjusting a hole position of a connecting rivet and a force of the spring, a balancing force and a buffering force can be provided for gates with different weights in a changing way, and the adaptability is good.
US09625159B2 Gas burner with inward facing flame
A gas burner with inward-facing flames has a base body disposed under a cooktop and a discoid lid disposed onto the base body. The base body has a central chamber connected to a horizontal Venturi tube fed by a gas injector. A peripheral annular chamber and partitions-defining apertures provide communication between the central chamber and the peripheral annular chamber. The lid has a central dish disposed onto the central chamber of the base body, an intermediate toroidal portion disposed onto the partitions of the base body, and a flame ring disposed onto the peripheral annular chamber for propagation of flame inwards.
US09625156B2 Gas turbine engines having fuel injector shrouds with interior ribs
A fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector and a fuel injector shroud housing the fuel injector. The fuel injector includes a body and a nozzle coupled to the body. The fuel injector shroud includes a swirler device defining a center opening proximate to the nozzle of the fuel injector and a plurality of swirler holes surrounding the center opening, a body section with an air inlet configured to admit a flow of air into the fuel injector shroud and a dome section defining a mount for securing the swirler device to the body section, and at least one interior rib positioned on an interior surface of the dome section configured to direct the flow of air to the swirler holes of the swirler device such that the flow of air exiting through the swirler is mixed with the flow of fuel exiting the nozzle.
US09625151B2 Cooled combustor liner grommet
A combustor liner grommet is disclosed. The grommet may include a peripheral wall defining a hole in a combustor liner and further including at least one cooling air flow channel. The cooling air flow channel in the grommet wall may be a slot or a hole. The channel may increase cooling flow to the grommet and the combustor liner around the grommet to prevent cracking from heat stress.
US09625147B2 Combustion heater
A combustion heater includes an inner tube having a supply passage for combustion gas in an inner portion, and an outer tube disposed to provide a separated combustion space in an outer periphery of the inner tube. A hole part for ejecting the combustion gas is formed on a tube wall of the inner tube and combustion gas is ejected with ejection characteristics such that circulating flow is formed on the periphery of a stagnation point. According to this combustion heater, a stable flame can be formed without increasing costs and the heating efficiency can be improved.
US09625135B2 Angle adjusting device for portable LED light
Disclosed is an angle adjusting device for portable LED light, which includes two symmetrical outer housings of LED light, rotatable shafts fixed to the outer housings, two symmetrical handles, outer gears fixed on an end of the rotatable shafts, and bases. The handle is rotatably connected with the outer housing via the rotatable shafts; two pairs of guide rods are fixed on the handle; the base has an upper guide hole and a lower guide hole formed thereon; the guide rod is sleeved with a compression spring located into the upper guide hole, the base being capable of sliding up and down along the guide rod; and the base has a cavity formed at center thereof for accommodating the outer gear, a gear tooth being provided in the cavity for fitting the outer gear. It has simple structure and the angle between the two outer housings could be adjusted freely.
US09625133B2 Light fixture mounting method and assembly
An assembly for mounting a light fixture in a hole in a ceiling panel and including an annular trim ring that's held upward against a lower surface of a ceiling panel by the light fixture to be mounted, such that the trim ring spans an annular gap between such light fixture and the ceiling panel hole. A top plate is carried by the ceiling panel across the ceiling panel hole and includes a top plate hole that receives the light fixture to be mounted such that the top plate spans an annular gap between the light fixture and the ceiling panel hole. A mount supports the light fixture on the top plate in a position holding the trim ring up against the lower surface of the ceiling panel.
US09625129B2 LED tube light
An LED tube light having a substantially uniform exterior diameter from end to end is disclosed. It has a glass light tube with narrowly curved end regions at ends for engaging with end caps, in which outer diameter of each end cap is equal to outer diameter of light tube. LED tube light also include a thermal conductive ring. The narrowly curved end region is formed by glass tempering. End caps are joined to the light tube by sleeving over the rear end regions with a hot melt adhesive disposed between the rear end region, the transition region, the insulating tubular part and the thermal conductive ring. An outer diameter of thermal conductive ring is the same as the outer diameter of the main region of the light tube. The transition region is curved, and an outer diameter of rear end region is less than that of the main region.
US09625126B2 Luminaire with removable lighting modules
There is provided a luminaire apparatus for illuminating an object. The luminaire apparatus may also include a light module housing that is to be substantially parallel to the object and includes a light module recess. Further, the luminaire apparatus includes lighting module configured to be disposed within the light module recess and configured to be oriented substantially parallel to the object. Additionally, the luminaire apparatus includes a housing mounting member configured to be attached to the light module housing.
US09625122B2 Path light and unitary gasket-reflector
The present application discloses a unitary gasket-reflector for use in light sources having at least one reflector and at least one gasket to seal the inside of the light sources against the elements.
US09625118B2 Optical lens, light emitting device, and lighting device having the same
Disclosed is an optical lens. The optical lens includes a bottom surface having a recess part at center thereof; a light exit surface provided in opposite to the bottom surface and having a convex curved surface; an outer sidewall connected between the bottom surface and the light exit surface; a recess portion recessed toward the bottom surface; and a convex portion provided between the recess portion and the light exit surface. The recess part is convexly recessed in a direction of the recess portion. The recess portion includes a first to third total-reflection surface having curvatures different from each other. The convex portion is protruded inwardly from an inflection point between the convex portion and the light exit surface.
US09625112B2 Electronic flameless candle
An electronic flameless candle including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a sidewall between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a cavity defined by the top surface, the bottom surface and the sidewall, the body configured in shape and size to simulate a true flame candle. The candle may also include a light source operably connected to the body, the light source electrically operated to illuminate in a way that simulates a natural flicker of a real candle flame. The candle may also include a scent component, operably connected to the body, the scent component configured to emit a scent when heated and/or a sensor component, operably connected to the body, the sensor component configured to sense an environmental condition and affect a mode of the light source upon the sensing of the environmental condition.
US09625110B2 Suspendable light fixture
A suspendable includes a housing including a light reflective material. The housing defines an aperture proximate the center of the housing configured to receive a light source. The housing further defines at least two pairs of through holes; a first channel extending between the a first pair of the at least two pairs of through holes and a second channel extending between the second pair of the at least two pairs of through holes, the first channel and the second channel collectively defining a pathway entirely through the housing; the first and second channels each being curvilinear; an at least two substantially arcuate grooves.
US09625102B2 Systems and methods for cascading burst discs
Systems and methods are provided herein for gas storage and the safe release of gas using cascading burst discs. A vessel for storing gas is in pneumatic communication with a first flow path. A first burst disc is disposed in the first flow path such that gas flow is prevented when the disc is intact. A second flow path is in pneumatic communication with the first flow path and configured to receive gas flow when the first burst disc is ruptured. A second burst disc is disposed in the second flow path and configured to prevent a gas flow while the second burst disc is intact. At an operating pressure, the first burst disc may be punctured by an operator allowing normal use of the system. In the event of a gas overpressure, the first and second burst discs will rupture permitting safe release of the gas.
US09625098B2 Transport of natural gas through solution in liquid hydrocarbon at ambient temperature
A method of transporting natural gas by liquefaction of natural gas at ambient temperature, achieved by mixing the natural gas at high pressure with a hydrocarbon that is a stable liquid at ambient temperature and ambient pressure. The hydrocarbon liquid may be crude oil or a distillate of crude oil. The method includes: liquefaction: mixing the natural gas with the hydrocarbon liquid at an ambient temperature and a high pressure to generate a liquid mixture, which contains the natural gas dissolved in the hydrocarbon liquid; shipping: transporting the liquid mixture using a marine tanker, during which the liquid mixture is maintained at ambient temperature and the high pressure; and regasification: at the destination, releasing a gas from the liquid mixture by lowering the pressure of the liquid mixture. The hydrocarbon liquid may be used multiple times.
US09625094B2 Operating method for a cryo-compressed tank
An operating method is provided for a cryo-compressed tank for supplying cryogenic hydrogen to a consumer of a motor vehicle under supercritical pressure at 13 bar or more. In order to compensate for pressure loss resulting from hydrogen removal, the removed hydrogen that has been heated in a heat exchanger is conveyed to a heat exchanger, provided in the cryo-compressed tank, by way of a tank pressure regulating valve and a branch line, which branches off of a supply line leading to the consumer. After flowing through the heat exchanger, it is introduced into the supply line downstream of the branching off of the branch line. Over a period of time that significantly exceeds the cycle times of a conventional frequency valve, either the removed amount of hydrogen is guided without limitation into the heat exchanger, provided in the cryo-compressed tank, the tank pressure regulating valve being completely open, or no return of the heated hydrogen into the heat exchanger occurs at all. Downstream of the branching off of the branch line, the supply line has a pressure regulating unit, which ensures that irrespective of the changes in the pressure in the supply line caused upstream of the pressure regulating unit by switching the tank pressure regulating valve, a sufficient and continuous supply of hydrogen to the consumer at the pressure required is guaranteed.
US09625087B2 Outrigger mount
A mount capable of rotating a body in multiple planes with a single handle. The handle can be disposed in a first position, where rotation of the handle causes the body to rotate in a horizontal plane; or a second position, where rotation of the handle causes the body to rotate in a vertical plane. The body can otherwise be locked and not rotatable.
US09625086B2 Fixing device
A fixing device includes a base body, a connecting unit and a fixing unit. The base body includes a holding wall and a connecting wall having a connecting hole. The connecting hole has a plurality of tooth-like grooves. The holding wall is provided with a holding element for holding the base body onto a first external object. The connecting unit includes a connecting pole and an engaging element. The engaging element has at least a first engaging leg and a second engaging leg that correspondingly pass through the tooth-like grooves to be engaged in between the connecting wall and the holding wall, so as to connect the connecting unit and the base body, where the base body is rotatable upon the connecting pole. The fixing unit is connected to the connecting pole and is provided with a fixing element for securing the fixing unit onto a second external object.
US09625082B2 Simultaneously foldable multi-screen monitor arm device
A simultaneously foldable multi-screen monitor support having separate support arms connected to separate posts extending from a base. The posts are mounted on end sections of the base and are pivotable about a center section. When one post is moved between a first position and a second position, the other post simultaneously moves between a third position and a fourth position. The movement of one post moves the other post and monitors that are supported on the posts are moved in the same manner from a folded position to an operating position or vice versa.
US09625081B2 Stand for supporting a laptop computer
A stand for supporting a computing device at an elevated position is provided. The stand may support a laptop computer at a height such that a screen of the laptop computer is at or near eye-level of a user. The stand may include support arms and cross-members attached to the support arms to provide an offset to the support arms. Mounting points may be attached to ends of the support arms. The mounting points may be engageable with a base of the screen of the laptop computer such that a chassis of the laptop computer is suspended from the base of the screen.
US09625078B2 Pipeline and methods
A pipeline comprising one or more pipes, the pipeline having: one or more sacrificial anodes to provide cathodic protection; one or more pre-formed one-piece integral metallic rings around at least one pipe; and one or more electrical connectors attached to the or each metallic ring and to at least one sacrificial anode to allow an electrical current to flow between the pipeline and one or more of the sacrificial anodes. Each metallic ring has a one-piece form and can be fitted to the pipe without welding.
US09625074B2 High-pressure fluid conduit
A high-pressure fluid conduit that conducts high-pressure fluid from a high-pressure fluid source to a high-pressure fluid container through a hose unit during open or normal operation. This high-pressure fluid conduit has a safety feature that is activated when the high-pressure fluid conduit fails due to exposure to a predetermined force. The safety feature closes off the flow of high-pressure fluid from the high-pressure fluid source and closes off the escape of high-pressure fluid from the hose unit that entered the hose unit during open or normal operation.
US09625073B2 Joint unit and joint assembly comprising such a joint unit for non-detachable connection of media-conveying lines
A joint unit is provided, including a main body, a bush, which is fastened to the main body in the axial direction and forms with the main body a receiving space intended to receive a connecting piece not forming part of the joint unit, and a retaining unit for interacting with the main body and the connecting piece. The bush and the retaining unit are formed together in one piece. A joint assembly is further provided, including a joint unit and a connecting piece.
US09625069B2 Method for connecting plastic tubes by plastically deforming and widening connecting stub
A method for coaxially connecting a first plastic tube (10, 110) to a second plastic tube (20, 120), said plastic tubes (10, 20) in particular being provided as part of a medical catheter (102), the two plastic tubes (10, 20) being connected by way of a tubular connecting piece (50), characterized in that the first plastic tube (10) and/or the second plastic tube (20) are integrally molded from the outside onto the tubular connecting piece (50) using a forming process such that an adhesive and/or positive connection is produced.
US09625065B2 Plastics for medical technical devices
The invention relates to a molded body, especially for parts, top shells, inner elements, accessories and components of devices, for molding materials, filling materials for medical technical devices and/or medical products. The inventive molded body is characterized by being in at least some sections germ-repellant. The invention also relates to a medical device which comprises at least one molded body according to the invention. The invention finally relates to a method for producing the inventive molded body.
US09625063B2 Composite pipe
A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the matrix. At least one longitudinal portion of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a variation in a property of the pipe.
US09625062B2 Fuel system components
Fuel system components comprising polymer compositions containing functionalized graphene sheets. The components are formed from the polymer compositions or are coated with the polymer composition.
US09625057B2 Multi-activity pipe-laying vessel
A pipe-laying vessel has a bow, a stern and a weather deck therebetween, with a moonpool passing through the weather deck. The vessel includes an S-lay pipe deployment facility located below the weather deck, having a main firing line extending along a centerline of the vessel and a pipe assembly factory for assembling single lengths of pipe to form pipe assemblies and introduce them into the firing line for deployment from the vessel. The vessel further includes a J-lay pipe deployment facility for deploying pipe through the moonpool, the J-lay pipe deployment facility including a tower located above the moon pool and pipe handling equipment for delivering pipe assemblies from the firing line to the tower. The moonpool is located to one side of the firing line. By virtue of this configuration a relatively compact structure can be achieved whereby minimal length and width dimensions for the vessel are achievable.
US09625056B2 Automated system for laying pipe
An automated vehicle system for laying pipe includes a vehicle (e.g., a stringing trailer) with a bed for storing a plurality of pipes. Tilted gravity members extend across the bed of the vehicle to feed the pipes toward a chute with conveyor running toward the rear of the vehicle. A gate arm and rocker arm mechanism ensure that pipes are fed one at a time onto the conveyor to lay a series of pipes on the ground. Optionally, a joining trailer can be connected behind the vehicle for joining the pipes together before the pipe is placed on the ground.
US09625053B2 Hydraulic actuator lockout
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an apparatus that includes a valve with a valve housing having an axial bore, a first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a piston located within the axial bore and having a first fluid passage and configured to allow reciprocal axial movement of the piston within the axial bore between a first position in which the first fluid passage aligns axially with the first inlet port and the first outlet port to form a first fluidic circuit, and a second position in which the piston blocks at least one of the first inlet port and the first outlet port. The apparatus also includes a lockout assembly configurable to fix the piston into a selected position in a first configuration, and not interfere with reciprocal axial movement of the piston in a second configuration.
US09625047B2 Flow control valve for flow controller
A flow control valve for a flow controller includes a valve main body provided with an open-top valve chamber hole, a metal diaphragm valve element, a lower support cylinder having notches facing each other, an upper support cylinder attached to the lower support cylinder, a support frame horizontally disposed through the notches of the lower support cylinder, a disc spring placed between the support frame and a bottom of the lower support cylinder, a lower cradle placed on the support frame, a piezoelectric element inserted into the support cylinder above the lower cradle, a guide fixed to the valve main body together with the support frame with the support cylinder being inserted through the guide cylinder in a vertically movable manner. The support cylinder is pressed upward by the extension of the piezoelectric element, whereby the metal diaphragm valve element is separated from the valve seat by the elastic force.
US09625043B2 Apparatus to bias spool valves using supply pressure
Methods and apparatus to bias spool valves using supply pressure are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing of a spool valve, the housing including a first port to receive a fluid at a supply pressure. The example apparatus further includes a spool within the housing. A position of the spool is to be selectively controlled via an input force acting on the spool, the position of the spool to define a path of a flow of the fluid through the spool valve from the first port to a second port of the housing. A biasing force is to bias the spool opposite the input force, the biasing force to be generated from the supply pressure applied to an end of the spool.
US09625042B2 Fluid additive control valve
A valve arrangement includes various improvements useable in the context of a fluid additive system, such as a water softener. For example, the valve assembly may include a seal assembly engaged by a reciprocating piston, in which the seal assembly includes a minimal number of parts, is easily assembled, and can be easily inserted in the bore of the valve body without jeopardizing the integrity of the seals. The valve assembly may further include a quick-disconnect system which allows a “control head” including a valve actuation system and electronic controls to be disconnected from the rest of the valve arrangement with only a partial rotation of the control head. The valve assembly may also include a venturi used for drawing regeneration fluid into the system, and an associated venturi cleaner system which allows a user to unclog the fluid-flow orifice of the venturi without any disassembly of parts of the valve arrangement.
US09625040B2 Ball valve with anti-rotational pressure plate
A ball valve having an anti-rotational pressure plate that allows for a balanced pressure load on a valve member is provided. Additionally, the pressure plate can also fix the rotation of an adjacent flow disk, allowing for angular-orientation specific flow characterizing features to be used with the flow disk. By fixing the rotation of the flow disk, the ball valve can characterize flows using a greater variety of flow disk geometries, including angular-orientation dependent and angular-orientation independent flow disks. Further, the pressure plate could also be directly in the form of a flow disk that has anti-rotation features.
US09625032B2 Method for executing a gearshift in an automatic transmission
A method is provided for executing a gearshift in an automatic transmission with several shifting elements. Upon the execution of the gearshift, a first frictional-locking shifting element is opened and a second positive-locking shifting element is closed. If, upon the execution of the gearshift, an input torque of the automatic transmission is less than a threshold value, after at least partially opening the frictional-locking shifting element and after releasing the positive-locking shifting element, there is a monitoring of whether the positive-locking shifting element is transferred into its end position. If it is then determined that the positive-locking shifting element is not in its end position, a torque transferred by the partially open frictional-locking shifting element initially increases. If, despite the increase in torque transferred by the frictional-locking shifting element, the positive-locking shifting element is not in its end position, the operating pressure of the positive-locking shifting element is then increased.
US09625026B2 Locking differential assembly
A locking differential assembly includes a differential case defining an axis of rotation and a gear chamber. A first side gear is at a first end of the differential case. A second side gear is at a second end of the differential case opposite the first end for selectable rotation relative to the differential case. At least two pinion gears are rotatably supported in the gear chamber in meshing engagement with the first side gear and the second side gear. A solenoid is at the first end. A plunger is selectably magnetically actuatable by the solenoid. A lock ring is selectably engagable with the second side gear to selectably prevent the side gear from rotating relative to the differential case. At least two relay rods are each connected to the plunger and to the lock ring to cause the lock ring to remain a fixed predetermined distance from the plunger.
US09625025B2 Inboard spring arrangement for a clutch actuated differential
The present disclosure relates to a differential including a differential case adapted to be rotated about an axis of rotation, and a cross-shaft operatively coupled to the differential case such that the cross-shaft and the differential case rotate together about the axis of rotation. The differential includes left and right clutch actuators having opposing inboard sides between which the cross-shaft is positioned and left and right axle hubs positioned on opposite sides of the cross-shaft. The differential includes a left clutch pack that prevents relative rotation between the left clutch actuator and the left axle hub about the axis of rotation when a left clutch engagement pressure is applied to the left clutch pack and a right clutch pack that prevents relative rotation between the right clutch actuator and the right axle hub about the axis of rotation when a right clutch engagement pressure is applied to the right clutch pack. A rotation limiting arrangement at the inboard sides of the left and right clutch actuators is provided for limiting relative rotation between the left and right clutch actuators about the axis of rotation. The rotation limiting arrangement includes a rotation limiter captured between first and second stop surfaces which cooperate to define a limited range of relative rotational movement between the left and right clutch actuators. The rotation limiter has a first location that makes line contact with the first stop surface. The rotation limiter also has a second location that makes line contact with the second stop surface.
US09625024B2 Differential with torque coupling
A torque coupling unit for use with a differential assembly is provided. The torque coupling unit comprises a first member, a second member, a clutching assembly, and a clutch actuator. The first member is in driving engagement with a side gear of the differential assembly. The second member is in driving engagement with an output shaft. The clutch actuator assembly is disposed adjacent the clutching assembly and comprises a roller and ramp assembly. In response to a rotation of a portion of the clutch actuator assembly a portion of the roller and ramp assembly is driven in an axial manner to apply a force to the clutching assembly, causing a first portion of the clutching assembly to be at least variably frictionally engaged with a second portion of the clutching assembly.
US09625023B2 Torque converter damper with shudder control
A tuned damper for a torque converter includes a piston plate with a pivot ring, an inertia ring at least partially rotatable in a circumferential direction relative to the piston plate, and a resilient element fixed to the inertia ring and frictionally engaged with the piston plate pivot ring. In some example embodiments, the pivot ring includes a pair of radially extending tabs, the resilient element includes a radially-extending leaf spring fixed to a slide roll, and an outer circumference of the slide roll is clamped by the pivot ring tabs. In an example embodiment, the pivot ring tabs each include respective distal bent segments extending toward one another to limit radial displacement of the slide roll. In an example embodiment, an inertia of the inertia ring and a torsional spring rate of the resilient element are selected so that a natural frequency of the inertia ring is less than a shudder frequency.
US09625021B2 Electric portal axle for electrically driving a motor vehicle
An electric portal axle (1) for electrically driving a motor vehicle has a housing (28), a single electric machine (2) and two spur gear stages (13, 14) for driving two wheels of the axle. A shiftable transmission (5) is downstream of the electric machine (2) and is embodied as a planetary gear mechanism with a freewheel (6) and a differential (7). The portal axle (1) has a shifting mechanism (23) for shifting two gear stages of the portal axle (1). In a first gear stage, a ring gear (9) of the transmission (5) and a clutch body (27) that is fixed to the housing are connected, and a clutch (29) between the ring gear (9) and a planetary carrier (11) of the transmission (5) is opened. In a second gear stage the ring gear (9) and the clutch body (27) are disconnected and the clutch (29) is closed.
US09625012B2 Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (1) includes, in a transmission case (2), an input shaft (3), first to third planetary gear sets (PL1-PL3) of a single pinion type, a fourth planetary gear set (PL4) of a double pinion type, five frictional engagement elements (CL1, CL2, and B1-B3), and outputs (7, 8). The outputs (7, 8) are always engaged with a fourth ring gear (R4).
US09625011B2 Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicles
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, a compound planetary gear set formed by combining third and fourth planetary gear sets and including seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth rotation elements, a fifth planetary gear set including eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth rotation elements, and six friction elements disposed between at least one rotation element among thirteen rotation elements and another rotation element or the input shaft, or between at least one rotation element among the thirteen rotation elements and a transmission housing.
US09625010B2 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 configured to output changed torque of the engine, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements, and a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements.
US09625008B2 Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicles
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for vehicles may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first rotational shaft selectively connected to a transmission housing, a second rotational shaft directly connected to the input shaft, a third rotational shaft, a fourth rotational shaft, a fifth rotational shaft selectively connected to the first rotational shaft or the second rotational shaft, a sixth rotational shaft directly connected to the output shaft, a seventh rotational shaft selectively connected to the transmission housing, an eighth rotational shaft selectively connected to the fourth rotational shaft or the fifth rotational shaft, and six friction elements interposed between the rotational shafts, or between at least one rotational shaft and the transmission housing to connect selectively.
US09625005B2 Speed reducer
A speed reducer includes a first transmission shaft, an eccentric wheel, a first roller assembly, a rotating wheel, a second roller assembly and a second transmission shaft. The rotating wheel includes a main body and an axle hole. The main body includes a convex structure and a concave structure. The convex structure is protruded from an outer periphery of the main body and has outer teeth. The outer teeth are contacted with the corresponding first rollers. The concave structure is concavely formed in a surface of the main body and includes inner teeth. The inner teeth are contacted with plural second rollers of the second roller assembly. Since the speed reducer is designed to have four operating situations, the speed reducer can have various reduction ratios.
US09625004B2 Connecting link pin retaining device
A connecting link pin retaining device has main frame with a lead screw threadably engaged with the main frame. The main frame has opposing upper and lower sections, and is sized and shaped to fit around a connecting link, typically used in connecting sections of mooring lines in subsea mooring applications. The retaining device is positioned around a connecting link, subsea, by a Remotely Operated Vehicle (“ROV”), and the main frame engages the connecting link and positions the lead screw in alignment with the connecting link pin of the connecting link. The lead screw is then rotated by an operating arm of the ROV, advancing the end of the lead screw against the connecting link pin and retaining it in place.
US09624999B2 Vibration absorption device
A floor portion (34) is formed to be inflected to a radial direction inner side from a lower end portion of a channel outer tube portion (32), and is disposed apart from and opposing a flange portion (24) at an outer periphery side of a tube portion (22) of a dividing member (20). The floor portion (34) is disposed within the tube portion (22) in an axial direction S, that is, so as to overlap with the tube portion (22) when viewed from a radial direction. A diaphragm (50) in the form of an elastic film is adhered by vulcanization to a restriction channel member (30) so as to cover an aperture in a lower side of the restriction channel member (30). A seal portion (56) is vulcanization-formed integrally with the diaphragm (50), so as to cover an inner periphery face of a channel inner tube portion (36) of the restriction channel member (30).
US09624998B2 Electromagnetic flywheel damper and method therefor
The present disclosure relates to an electromagnetic rotary shock absorber for damping a wheel suspension component associated with a motor vehicle. The electromagnetic rotary shock absorber has a flywheel and at least one damper. The damper has a first element operably associated with the flywheel for driving the flywheel rotationally, and a second element operably associated with the wheel suspension component. The damper operates to dampen relative movement of the wheel suspension component using an inertia of the flywheel.
US09624991B2 Method for reducing chatter vibrations in a drivetrain
A method is provided for reducing chatter vibrations in a motor vehicle drivetrain having a drive unit, a vehicle transmission and an automated friction clutch, wherein a vibration absorber is emulated by an appropriate operation of the friction clutch in order to improve the method.
US09624990B2 Actuator arrangement for a motor vehicle drive train
Actuator arrangement for a drive train, which has at least one friction clutch for transmitting drive torque and has a transmission. The friction clutch can be actuated by means of a hydraulic clutch cylinder, which is connected directly to a pump port of a pump driven by an electric motor in order to actuate the friction clutch, such that the friction clutch can be actuated by varying the speed of the pump. The actuator arrangement has a parking lock actuator device for actuating a parking lock arrangement of the drive train. The parking lock actuator device has at least one hydraulic parking lock cylinder, which can be connected to the pump, such that the parking lock arrangement can be actuated by varying at least one of the direction of rotation or the speed of the pump.
US09624989B2 Freewheel and freewheel arrangement
A freewheel (4) having a first running ring (28), a second running ring (30), a clamping gap (32) formed between the first and second running rings (28, 30), and at least one clamping element (34) in the clamping gap (32), the clamping gap (32) being assigned a side wall (40; 52) on which the at least one clamping element (34) can be or is supported. A side (60; 64) of the clamping element (34) which faces toward the side wall (40; 52) and/or that side (68; 72) of the side wall (40; 52) which faces toward the clamping element (34) is provided with a friction-reducing, wear-reducing and/or corrosion-reducing coating (62, 66; 70, 74) or surface treatment.
US09624987B2 System for controlling torque converter temperature during torque converter stall conditions
A method and system are provided for controlling the operating temperature of a torque converter during torque converter stall conditions. The torque converter has a pump rotatably driven by an internal combustion engine and a rotatable turbine fluidly coupled to the pump. The system first determines whether the torque converter is currently in a torque converter stall condition, and, if so, determines a slip speed as a difference in rotational speeds between the pump and the turbine, determines an engine output torque limit as a function of the slip speed and a desired slip speed, and controls the operating temperature of the torque converter by limiting output torque produced by the engine based on the engine output torque limit.
US09624982B2 Hollow shaft coupling
A hollow shaft coupling for connecting a shaft to a hollow shaft, where the hollow shaft coupling can be arranged completely in the hollow shaft and can effect clamping both radially inwardly as well as radially outwardly. The coupling enables a first clamping unit to clamp the hollow shaft coupling radially inwardly against the shaft and a second clamping unit which is separate from the first clamping unit to clamp the hollow shaft coupling radially outwardly against the inner circumferential surface of the hollow shaft, with the two clamping units spaced apart from one another axially, and the two clamping units connected to one another via a play-free and rotationally stable coupling which is arranged between them.
US09624981B2 Gas pressure bearing element
A gas pressure bearing element including a housing element with recesses, wherein the housing element is closed by a cover, wherein the recesses are defined by rib shaped intermediary walls and/or other island shaped protrusions and define first intermediary spaces between the intermediary walls and/or the island shaped protrusions, wherein the cover is formed in sections by a cured encasement compound provided with an open pore reinforcement mat, wherein the encasement compound has a flat surface that is processed after curing and forms a bearing surface for the gas pressure bearing element, wherein the bearing surface includes a plurality of gas outlet nozzles which are formed by micro holes penetrating the cover, and wherein the micro holes are provided at locations under which the first intermediary spaces are arranged below the cover, which first intermediary spaces form channels for a pressurized gas supply for the gas outlet nozzles.
US09624973B2 Apparatus having friction preventing function and method of manufacturing the same
A friction preventing apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The apparatus includes: a first object; a second object spaced apart from the first object and facing the first object; and a plurality of charged nanoparticles provided on a surface of one of the first and second objects, such that the nanoparticles are disposed between the first object and the second object. A potential difference is formed between the first and second objects. The nanoparticles may be positively charged and may adhere to the first object, and the first object has a potential lower than a potential of the second object. The nanoparticles may be negatively charged and may adhere to the second object, and the second object has a potential higher than a potential of the first object.
US09624972B2 Linear ball bushing
End rings fit over the opposite ends of the retainer inserted in the outer sleeve to keep properly the retainer against either of rotational and axial directions. End rings fit over the opposite ends of the retainer extending out of the outer sleeve to make abutment against the outer sleeve to cover the outside peripheries of the retainer. The circular groove of the retainer is composed of the raceway groove having the raceway surface with the slit, the return passage lying in parallel with the raceway groove and a pair of turnaround passages to intercommunicate between the raceway groove and the return passage. The end rings are kept in angular location against rotation by means of engagement between the first projections at the opposite ends of outer circular groove of the retainer and the second projections in the inside circular grooves of the end rings. The outer sleeve is to keep the retainer in lengthwise direction.
US09624970B2 Tapered roller bearing
A tapered roller bearing includes an outer ring having an outer-ring raceway surface that increases in diameter from a first side toward a second side in an axial direction, an inner ring having an inner-ring raceway surface and having a cone large face rib that is located on the second side of the inner ring in the axial direction, a plurality of tapered rollers, an annular cage, and a holding member provided on the second side of the outer ring in the axial direction to enable a lubricant inside the bearing to be held. The holding member has a cylindrical portion provided adjacently to the outer ring and a protruding portion protruding inward from the cylindrical portion in the radial direction. A slit is formed in the cylindrical portion to separate a radially inner portion, on which the protruding portion is provided, from a radially outer portion.
US09624968B1 Swing arm latch for a wheel servicing machine
A swing arm latch for a wheel servicing machine provides at least one moveable locking member associated with a support column or a swing arm. The locking member may be selectively engaged with the other one of the support column and swing arm, or may be alternatively engaged with a corresponding structure attached to or defined on the other one of the support column and swing arm. When the locking member is engaged, the swing arm is fixed at a desired angular position relative to the support column. When the locking member is disengaged, the swing arm may freely move in at least one angular direction. In some embodiments, a first locking member is attached to a support column, and a second locking member is attached to the swing arm, wherein the first and second locking members are selectively engageable to lock the swing arm at a desired angular position.
US09624967B2 Device for positioning an object at a user-adjusted position
A device is provided for positioning an object with respect to another object. The device includes a linkage having an extended condition and a collapsed condition, the linkage including at least one pair of links coupled to one another about a pivot rotation axis. The device also includes a friction element positioned at the pivot rotation axis of the at least one pair of links of the linkage. A spring of the device is positioned to apply bias to the links of the at least one pair of links of the linkage. The device is configured to resist unintended movement of the object from the user-adjusted position along the path and to facilitate intended movement of the object proximally toward or distally away from the other object.
US09624966B1 Floating clevis mechanism
A mechanical joint is provided comprising a bracket having a first elongated opening formed therein. An alignment guide comprising a second elongated opening formed therein is configured to rotatably attach to the bracket and is moveable between a first, floating position, and a second, non-floating position. In the first position the first elongated opening of the bracket and the second elongated opening of the alignment guide are axially aligned with one another and define a single elongated opening. In the second position the first elongated opening of the bracket and the second elongated opening of the alignment guide are partially aligned with one another and define a generally circular opening. The alignment guide is configured to slideably attach to a moveable end of a linear actuator.
US09624964B2 Hydroformed driveshaft tube with secondary shape
A hydroformed driveshaft tube formed using a hydroforming process is provided. The hydroformed driveshaft tube comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion. The middle portion is at least partially defined by a circular arc shaped surface of revolution. At least a portion of the middle portion has a diameter greater than a diameter of the first end portion and the second end portion. The middle portion comprises a first distension, a constriction, and a second distension and is formed between the first end portion and the second end portion. The constriction is formed between the first distension and the second distension and the middle portion affects a critical speed and a breathing mode frequency of the hydroformed driveshaft tube. The hydroformed driveshaft tube reduces a cost of a driveshaft assembly.
US09624963B2 Vacuum suction cup having bowl-shaped framework
A suction cup, including a bowl-shaped framework, a cup body covering the framework, a connecting rod on a back surface of the framework and passing through the cup body, a bowl-shaped cup cover placed on the connection rod and covering the back surface of the cup body, and an annular protruding rib placed on the periphery of the back surface of the framework, which is in direct contact with the inner surface of the cup cover for effectively transfer the pressing force to make the suction cup less likely to fall off from the supporting surface.
US09624959B2 Connecting means
In order to provide a connecting means for connecting a first component and a second component, in particular for connecting furniture parts or machine parts, by means of which the components may be connected to one another simply and reliably, it is proposed that the connecting means includes a first connecting element which in the connected condition of the components is arranged on the first component, and a second connecting element which in the connected condition of the components is arranged on the second component, wherein, for connecting the first component and the second component, a spring element of the first connecting element is configured to come into engagement with a receiving element of the second connecting element, wherein the connecting means, in particular the first connecting element and/or the second connecting element, includes a reinforcing element for reinforcing a spring force of the spring element.
US09624958B2 Adaptor for connecting an electronic device having a camera to an optical device
This invention comprises an adaptor device for connecting an electronic device having a camera to a range of optical devices, including but not limited to binoculars, monoculars, riflescopes, spotting scopes, telescopes, and microscopes. This adaptor device has a plurality of protrusion that provide a self-centering and fitted connection between the electronic and optical device, so that the optical axes are aligned so that the user may take images or video on their electronic device through the optical device. The structure of the adaptor device allows the adaptor to fit a range of differently sized optical device, denoted by the diameter of the eyepiece end of the optical device.
US09624955B2 Sub-sea multiple quick connector assembly
A multiple quick connector (MQC) assembly is described herein. The MQC assembly includes a male sub-assembly that includes a plurality of quick connectors coupled to a first circular plate, and an actuator coupled to the first circular plate. The actuator is configured to actuate a shaft having a draw nut attached to an axial end of the shaft. The MQC assembly also includes a female sub-assembly that includes a plurality of couplers coupled to a second circular plate. Each of the couplers is configured to couple to a respective quick connector of the male sub-assembly. The second circular plate comprises an aperture disposed therethrough. Actuation of the shaft causes the draw nut to extend axially through the aperture, and to rotate with respect to the aperture to lock the male sub-assembly axially with respect to the female sub-assembly.
US09624950B2 Boot band
Provided is a boot band that is configured for preventing the occurrence of buckling in the inner-layer portion of a band body. In the boot band, by applying a diameter-reducing tightening force on the band body when an engagement pawl of an inner-layer portion of the band body has entered a top-end engagement hole of an outer-layer portion of the band body, the top-end engagement hole rides over the engagement pawl. Buckling is prevented by providing, at the area of the top-end engagement hole opposite where the engagement pawl enters therein, a guide that faces the engagement pawl.
US09624945B2 Circulation pump
An electric pump has a pump casing, a sealing plate, an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller. The pump casing has a main body. A recess is formed in the main body and with the sealing plate defines a pump chamber. A suction port is connected to the pump chamber by a suction channel and a suction passage formed in the main body. A discharge port is connected to the pump chamber by a discharge channel. The suction passage extends axially from the recess. The recess, suction passage, suction channel and discharge channel are all shaped in a manner allowing the pump casing can be molded as a monolithic structure in a single injection molding process.
US09624933B2 Support assembly for a turbomachine
A support assembly and method for supporting an internal assembly in a casing of a turbomachine are provided. The support assembly may include a support member that may be slidably disposed in a recess formed in the internal assembly and configured to engage an inner surface of the casing. A biasing member may be disposed in a pocket extending radially inward from the recess. The biasing member may at least partially extend into the recess and may be configured to apply a biasing force to the support member disposed therein.
US09624931B2 Pump unit
A pump assembly with an electric drive motor and with an electronics housing (10). The electronics housing in which at least one first electrical circuit board (14) is arranged. On the circuit board electrical contacts (18) are formed. Via the electrical contacts, at least one electronic component (16), in the inside of the electronics housing (10) may be programmed. At least one opening (22), through which the electrical contacts (18) on the circuit board (14) are contactable from the outside, is formed on a wall (20) of the electronics housing (10).
US09624929B2 Electric pump
An electric pump includes a housing and a motor unit having a stator disposed in the housing. A rotor is rotatably disposed on the stator and a rotating shaft is inserted in and passing through the rotor. A pump comprises an inner rotor coupled to one end of the rotating shaft and an outer rotor, and the pump has an inserting recess for receiving the pump.
US09624924B2 Air compressor having enlarged compartment for receiving pressurized air
An air compressor includes a cylinder housing, an outlet receptacle disposed on the cylinder housing, and a partition formed between the cylinder housing and the outlet receptacle and having an air passage formed in the partition, a piston slidably received in the cylinder housing and coupled to a motor for moving relative to the cylinder housing in a reciprocating action in order to generate a pressurized air, and a spring-biased check valve engaged with the partition for selectively blocking the air passage of the partition, the outlet receptacle includes an inner diameter “D2” no less than an inner diameter “D1” of the cylinder housing for allowing the pressurized air to easily flow into the outlet receptacle and for allowing the piston to be moved in a greater moving speed.
US09624923B2 Control arrangement for controlling a piston pump unit for liquid chromatography
A control arrangement for controlling a piston pump unit for liquid chromatography, in particular high-performance liquid chromatography, is described. The piston pump unit has at least two piston-cylinder units which operate cyclically in a phase-offset manner and generate, at an outlet port, a predetermined flow of a liquid medium to be delivered. A system pressure is established at the outlet port, irrespective of an associated fluid load resistance. The control arrangement is configured to record the pressure in the cylinder volume of at least a first of the at least two piston-cylinder units. During a measurement phase of the compression phase of the first piston-cylinder unit or during a measurement phase of the decompression phase of the first piston-cylinder unit, the control arrangement stops the drive device for the first piston-cylinder unit for a predetermined time period and in the process records measurement data which characterize the time profile of the pressure.
US09624922B2 Pressure monitoring device for controlling a compressor
A pressure monitoring device for use in an air system of a vehicle and for controlling a compressor comprises an input air connector for connection to an air tank and for receiving an input pressure from the air tank. A first signal air connector can output a pneumatic ON-load signal for adjusting the compressor to an operation mode. A second signal air connector can output a pneumatic OFF-load signal for adjusting the compressor to a non-operation mode.
US09624918B2 Pumping device
A pumping device compresses fluid, provides a vacuum, or both compresses fluid and provides a vacuum. A pumping device may be used to force gas through a sieve bed, draw gas out of a sieve bed, or both force gas through a sieve bed and drawing gas out of a sieve bed. A pumping device may be operated at high speed to provide a high fluid flow rate with a small pumping device.
US09624917B2 Hurricane dissipation system and method
The present invention concerns itself with systems and methods for the dissipation of hurricanes and/or tropical storms through the use of wind turbine pumps. These pumps, which are driven by the storm's own winds, draw cold deeper water from below the storm and spray it high into the air. This cold spray absorbs the heat energy from the air thus removing the driving force (the heat energy) from the hurricane. The spray also acts as a brake on wind speed. Hence, by using a series of these wind turbine pumps acting in cohesion, dissipation of hurricanes and/or tropical storms may be achieved.
US09624916B2 High-pressure fuel supply pump
The damper mechanism used for a high-pressure fuel supply pump system is configured so that an outer circumferential surface of a cover in regard to the thickness direction of the base material of the cover engages with the inner circumference of an open end part of a bottomed tubular concave part formed in a damper housing or in a pump housing of the high-pressure fuel supply pump. The total height of the damper as a low-pressure pulsation reducing mechanism can be reduced and the dimensions of the damper in the radial directions can also be reduced. In cases where the damper mechanism is formed integrally with the high-pressure fuel supply pump, the total height of the high-pressure fuel supply pump can be reduced and the dimensions of the damper part in the radial directions can also be reduced.
US09624914B2 Hydraulic pump
A rotational shaft 22 receives input of torque that is output from an electric motor 19. A housing 23 rotatably supports the rotational shaft 22. A cylinder block 24 inside the housing 23 rotates with the rotational shaft 22. The pistons 25 are supported relative to the respective cylinder chambers 24a in the cylinder block 24 so as to be slidably displaceable. A swash plate 26 is provided so as to come into contact with ends of the pistons 25 and be rotatable around the rotational shaft 22 with the pistons 25, and be rotatable about a rotation centerline that is obliquely inclined relative to the rotational shaft 22. A case 27 inside the housing 23 is pivotably supported relative to the housing 23. A bearing portion 28 holds the swash plate 26 relative to the case 27 so as to be rotatable around the rotation centerline.
US09624913B2 Hybrid trigeneration system based microgrid combined cooling, heat and power providing heating, cooling, electrical generation and energy storage using an integrated automation system for monitor, analysis and control
Provided is a consumer to industrial scale energy trigeneration process based microgrid combined cooling, heat and power. The present invention includes conversion, processing, extraction and/or storage systems for electrical, chemical and thermal energy. The invention provides a quintessential renewable energy ecosystem incorporating vital energy generation, thermal heating and cooling processes with integrated components installed to encompass a distributed renewable energy generation, energy storage and integrated automation system. The automation system of the invention provides the ability to view, monitor, analyze, control and interact with system components.
US09624909B2 Platform for generating electricity from flowing fluid using generally prolate turbine
A platform-like device for generating electricity from moving fluids has at least two fluid turbines coupled to one another through a frame. The fluid turbines are adapted to rotate in opposite directions. The fluid turbines also provide buoyancy for the platform so that the platform is self supporting in the water. The fluid turbines preferably have helicoid flights (screw-like threads) mounted to generally prolate casings. The fluid turbines preferably connect to electric generators through belt, chain-drive, or other transmission systems. The platform may additional support a wind turbine.
US09624905B2 System and method for preventing excessive loading on a wind turbine
Systems and methods for preventing excessive loading on a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes determining a current wind turbine parameter using at least one operating condition via a processor, the operating condition indicative of wind turbine operation; storing the current wind turbine parameter in a memory store over a predetermined time period; calculating a standard deviation of a plurality of the stored current wind turbine parameters; determining a future wind turbine parameter; calculating a maximum wind turbine parameter as a function of the standard deviation of the plurality of stored wind turbine parameters and the future wind turbine parameter; and, controlling the wind turbine based on a difference between the maximum wind turbine parameter and a parameter setpoint to prevent excessive loading from acting on the wind turbine.
US09624904B2 Wind turbine defense to escape high wind events
Embodiments of the invention provide a number of passive and active defense designs and methods that enable a wind turbine to escape high wind events. The disclosure includes descriptions of multiple designs and methods for lowering the elevated portion of a wind turbine. Other embodiments of the invention concern ways to connect the elevated portion of a wind turbine to the tower. Numerous counterweight systems are also disclosed which enable the lowering of the elevated portion of the wind turbine.
US09624902B2 Assembly method for a main rotor shaft and an installation tool thereto
The present invention relates to an installation tool for assembling a main rotor shaft unit and an assembly method thereof. The installation tool comprises a first element for supporting the generator end of the rotor shaft and a rotatable support plate is coupled to a second element of the installation tool via engaging coupling elements. The rotor shaft is rotated by a single crane unit via lifting elements mounted to the generator end, and then lifted out of the installation tool and placed on a floor. The bearing units are then mounted to the outer surface of the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is afterwards lifted onto the installation tool so that the coupling element is brought into engagement and the rotor shaft is rotated on to the first element. This provides an installation tool that eliminates the need for two crane units to rotate the rotor shaft and reduces the amount of man-hours needed to assemble the rotor shaft unit by up to six hours. The installation tool also provides a stable tool for the workers since the center of gravity is located between the first element and the rotation point.
US09624900B2 Linear faraday induction generator for the generation of electrical power from ocean wave kinetic energy and arrangements thereof
A buoy includes a flotation device configured to float at surface of a body of water. A vibrational linear electric generator (VLEG) is configured to generate power from vibrational oscillations caused by waves using compressed repulsive magnetic fields focused by end magnetic field deflecting magnets. A power collection circuit, which includes a first battery, is configured to collect and store energy generated by the VLEG. One or more electronic components are powered by the vibrational linear electric generator.
US09624899B2 Reaction body for wave energy apparatus
A subsurface reaction body arranged for use in apparatus for converting wave motion in a body of water to useful energy is provided. The subsurface reaction body is arranged to be selectively filled with air to a maximum buoyancy configuration and to be filled with water to a minimum buoyancy configuration. The subsurface reaction body has an arrangement of chambers therein to inhibit free flow of water through the reaction body and to define at least one further preset buoyancy configuration between the respective maximum and minimum configuration.
US09624897B2 Control device for internal combustion engine and method of controlling internal combustion engine
A control device for an internal combustion engine capable of controlling an intake-pipe pressure within a range which allows restartability to be ensured. A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an idle-stop control section for restarting the engine in response to generation of a restart request; and an intake-air amount control section for setting a control amount of an intake system so that the intake air amount becomes zero when an intake-pipe pressure of the engine upon generation of the automatic stop request is higher than a predetermined pressure and setting the control amount of the intake system so that the intake air amount becomes larger than the amount upon generation of the automatic stop request, and then becomes zero when the intake-pipe pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure.
US09624895B2 Control device and control method for vehicle
A vehicle control device includes: a controller configured to adjust a temperature of an evaporator constituting an air conditioning system of the vehicle to a target temperature; the controller being configured to automatically stop an engine when a predetermined engine automatic stop condition is satisfied; the controller being configured to automatically start the engine when at least the temperature of the evaporator reaches a predetermined temperature or higher during automatic stop of the engine, and the predetermined temperature being higher than the target temperature; and the controller being configured to set the target temperature of the evaporator to be lower when a vehicle speed is low than that when the vehicle speed is high.
US09624893B2 Engine shut-off and re-start strategy
When a non-hybrid motor vehicle is stopped, its engine is shut-off upon concurrence of certain conditions precedent without turning off the ignition switch.
US09624888B2 Apparatus for spray injection of liquid or gas
An injection gate (44,144,244,344) for high pressure, high velocity secondary fluid for admixture of an atomized spray (80,180) thereof with another or primary fluid that atomizes the other fluid. The secondary fluid may be an accelerant and the primary fluid may be a low pressure fuel/air mixture in a fuel injection arrangement for an internal combustion engine. An injection billet (10,110,210,310) for an engine is interposed between the carburetor (12) and the manifold (14), with an array of such injection gates (44,244,344) paired with an array of fuel/air gates (34,234,334) about an aperture coinciding with a throttle bore (60,160,260,360) and evenly balancing the spray about the throttle bore, creating a halo effect of atomized admixture of accelerant/fuel. The injection of accelerant is directed sharply downwardly toward the center of the bore and through the injected fuel stream, atomizing the fuel thereof for a high efficiency boost of horsepower.
US09624886B2 Hydraulic coupling
A hydraulic coupling is specified, particularly for fuel injectors, which has a housing pot having a pot bottom and a lateral pot surface, a piston guided axially displaceably in the housing pot, a fluid-filled coupling gap that is provided between the piston and the pot bottom, diaphragm situated on the outer side of the housing pot facing away from the piston, a compensation chamber that is bordered by the diaphragm and flow-connected to the coupling gap, and a spring element acting upon the diaphragm with an axially directed spring force. In order to achieve a low overall stiffness of the hydraulic coupling at the required specified coupling force, the spring element is developed as a spring bracket fixed to the housing pot, which lies against the diaphragm with axial prestressing in the region of the pot bottom.
US09624882B2 Aspirator for internal combustion engine having integrated flow bypass and check valve
An aspirator for a brake system is provided having the integrated functions of a flow bypass and a check valve for automotive applications to achieve various suction flow openings in response to different engine operating condition to enhance brake boost performance. The brake system includes a brake vacuum booster, an engine having an intake manifold, an aspirator having a movable total flow divergence nozzle, the aspirator being connected to the manifold, and a vacuum line connecting the booster to the aspirator. The aspirator includes a body having an internal end wall. A biasing element such as a spring is provided between the movable total flow divergence nozzle and the internal end wall of the aspirator body. The body of the aspirator includes an air flow path having an upstream area and a downstream area. The movable motive flow nozzle is positioned in the downstream area of the flow path.
US09624881B2 Airbox for engine
An airbox for an engine is provided. The airbox includes a first cylinder bank including a plurality of first cylinder sections. The airbox also includes a second cylinder bank including a plurality of second cylinder sections. The airbox further includes an isolation assembly provided in association with the first cylinder bank and the second cylinder bank. The isolation assembly is configured to isolate at least one first cylinder section of the plurality of first cylinder sections from another first cylinder section of the plurality of first cylinder sections, at least one second cylinder section of the plurality of second cylinder sections from another second cylinder section of the plurality of second cylinder sections, and the first cylinder bank from the second cylinder bank.
US09624879B2 Condensed water treatment device for internal combustion engine
The condensed water processing device determines (S2) whether the pH of condensed water stored in the condensed water tank is smaller than a threshold value (t). When the pH of condensed water is smaller than the threshold value (t), the supply quantity of urea water being supplied to the upstream side of the NOx catalyst is increased (S7) so that the supply quantity is larger than that in normal control (S4) executed when the pH of the condensed water is equal to or more than the threshold value (t).
US09624878B2 Non-return valve device for an internal combustion engine
A non-return valve device for an internal combustion engine includes a valve housing comprising an aperture with a downstream end arranged in a duct housing. The aperture defines a flow cross section. A valve seat surrounds the flow cross section. A valve closing member, provided as leaf springs, adapts, closes or opens the flow cross section. A distance between each of the leaf springs in their maximum opened position at the downstream end of the aperture and the duct housing arranged opposite to each of the leaf springs has a maximum which is twice as large as a distance between each of the leaf springs in their maximum opened position and the valve seat arranged opposite to each of the leaf springs. Defining inner walls of the duct housing downstream of the valve housing are arranged so that the flow cross section is first continuously reduced and then continuously enlarged.
US09624876B2 Methods and systems for fuel vapor metering via voltage-dependent solenoid valve on duration compensation
Methods and systems are provided for compensating a pulse width of a signal applied to a solenoid purge valve based on an input voltage, and delays in opening and/or closing the solenoid valve.
US09624874B2 Exhaust gas recirculation apparatus and control method therefor
An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus including an engine; a suction line; an exhaust line; a post-processing unit which is disposed in the exhaust line to reduce hazardous substances contained in the exhaust gas; a first circulation line which guides a part of the exhaust gas, which is guided to the exhaust line, to the suction line; a second circulation line which guides a part of the exhaust gas, which is guided to a downstream side of the post-processing unit, to the suction line; and a bypass line which branches off from an upstream side of the second circulation line, and merges with a downstream side of the second circulation line, wherein ammonia slip, which is discharged from the post-processing unit, is prevented from being guided to the suction line.
US09624871B2 Method and apparatus for supplying a gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine
An apparatus and method for supplying gaseous fuel from a tender car to an internal combustion engine on a locomotive comprising storing the gaseous fuel at a cryogenic temperature in a cryogenic storage tank on the tender car; pumping the gaseous fuel to a first pressure from the cryogenic storage tank; vaporizing the gaseous fuel at the first pressure; and conveying the vaporized gaseous fuel to the internal combustion engine; whereby a pressure of the vaporized gaseous fuel is within a range between 310 bar and 575 bar.
US09624866B2 Method of estimating the injection pressure of an internal combustion engine
A method of estimating an injection pressure for an internal combustion engine of an automotive system is disclosed that is well-suited for use with a digital pressure sensor, which periodically acquires injection pressure signals. An updated injection pressure value is calculated starting from an injection pressure signal and compensated with a pressure-correcting parameter, based on an elapsed time from the injection pressure signal acquisition, an actual engine speed and an actual fuel injection quantity.
US09624863B1 System and method for supplying fuel to engine
A system for supplying fuel to an engine is disclosed. The system includes a first sensing unit for determining multiple operating parameters and multiple ambient conditions of the engine. The system includes an adaptive adjustment mechanism, a pressure regulator having a first valve and a second valve, and a controller communicating with the adaptive adjustment mechanism and the pressure regulator. The controller determines a first error and a second error associated with a pressure of a fuel supply to a pre-combustion chamber and a main combustion chamber, respectively, and receives an output signal indicative of an adjustment factor determined by the adaptive adjustment mechanism. The controller controls the first valve and the second valve based on the first error, the second error, and the output signal, to supply the fuel to the pre-combustion chamber and the main combustion chamber at a first pressure and a second pressure, respectively.
US09624861B2 Method for operating an internal combustion engine
A mixture pilot control for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular a gasoline engine of a motor vehicle, is provided. The mixture pilot control determines at least one composition of an air-fuel mixture required for a predetermined target air-fuel mixture ratio. The internal combustion engine is also provided with a lambda control with at least one lambda probe arranged in the exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine for determining a deviation of the actual air-fuel ratio from the predetermined target air-fuel ratio. Operating-parameter-dependent correction factors for the composition of the air-fuel mixture by the mixture pilot control are determined in dependence on the lambda control deviation, at least one of the load and/or the rotational speed and/or the temperature of the internal combustion engine, and further operating parameters of the vehicle other than the load, rotation speed or temperature of the internal combustion engine.
US09624854B2 Method and apparatus for fuel injection of engine system
A method for fuel injection of an engine system may include detecting driving information, including a combustion pressure in a combustion chamber, a heat generation amount in the combustion chamber, a crank angle, and a pressure/temperature/air amount of an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, setting a fuel amount and injection timing with respect to a pilot injection as map data from an internal temperature, determining whether a maximum combustion pressure change rate is greater than a predetermined pressure change rate, determining generation timing of the maximum combustion pressure change rate, when the maximum combustion pressure change rate is greater than the predetermined pressure change rate, and decreasing a fuel amount of the pilot injection when the maximum combustion pressure change rate is generated during the pilot injection.
US09624846B2 Manual transmission active speed matching
In a vehicle having a manual transmission, various sensors such as pedal and gearshift position sensors and accelerometers provide data to a control module such as an engine control module. The control module includes a microprocessor which calculates derivatives, i.e., the rate of change (first derivative) or the rate of change of the rate of change (second derivative) of the data from the sensors. Based on these derivatives, the microprocessor classifies the current driving activity into one of two, three or more modes, for example, track, sport and touring. During a shift, from the data from the gearshift sensor, the microprocessor determines whether an upshift or downshift is imminent or in progress and decreases or increases the engine speed to achieve zero or negligible cross clutch speed differential upon clutch engagement, rapidly if in the first (track) mode, less rapidly in the second (sport) mode and less rapidly still in the third (touring) mode.
US09624844B2 System and method for emptying a tank
A system for method for emptying a gas storage tank of a vehicle is presented. In one example, engine valve timing is adjusted to facilitate reducing pressure within the gas storage tank. The system and method may extend the use of the gas stored in the gas storage tank.
US09624839B2 Electronic throttle body assembly
A throttle body assembly includes a housing defining a throttle bore with a throttle plate in the bore and mounted on a shaft. An electric motor has a pinion gear. A gear assembly transfers rotational drive from the electric motor to the throttle plate. Biasing structure biases the gear assembly and thus the shaft to cause the throttle plate to close the throttle bore defining a closed position thereof. When the motor is energized, rotation of the gear assembly, against the bias biasing structure, thereby causing rotation of the shaft to move the throttle plate from the closed position to an open position. A position sensor assembly determines a position of the plate.
US09624833B2 Compressor comprising a stator vane assembly having an inner ring and a seal carrier secured thereto with a clamping element
A compressor having a stator vane assembly having an inner ring and a seal carrier secured thereto, the seal carrier having two opposite seal carrier end faces and the inner ring having two inner ring end faces which face said seal carrier end faces and are received between said seal carrier end faces with an axial gap therebetween, at least one clamping element bearing axially with a first clamping element end face against the inner ring and with a second clamping element end face against the seal carrier and being axially resiliently clamped between the inner ring and the seal carrier. A compressor with a clamping element for radial clamping is also provided.
US09624832B2 Heat exchange arrangement
A heat exchange arrangement for a gas turbine engine. The arrangement includes a first conduit for an engine component cooling fluid and a second conduit for a second fluid. The arrangement further includes a heat exchange portion in which fluids flowing through the first and second conduits are in a heat exchange relationship. A valve is provided, which is configured to moderate the mass flow rate of one of the fluids through the heat exchange portion. The arrangement includes divert valve in the first conduit which diverts flow to the second conduit as the flow in the second conduit is moderated to reduce thermal shock in the heat exchange portion.
US09624828B2 Thrust efficient turbofan engine
A turbofan engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a gas generator section for generating a gas stream flow with higher energy per unit mass flow than that contained in ambient air. A power turbine converts the gas stream flow into shaft power. The power turbine rotates at a first rotational speed. A speed reduction device is driven by the power turbine. A propulsor section includes a fan driven by the power turbine through the speed reduction device at a second speed lower than the first speed for generating propulsive thrust as a mass flow rate of air through a bypass flow path. The fan includes a tip diameter greater than about fifty (50) inches and an Engine Unit Thrust Parameter (“EUTP”) defined as net engine thrust divided by a product of the mass flow rate of air through the bypass flow path, a tip diameter of the fan and the first rotational speed of the power turbine is less than about 0.30 at a take-off condition.
US09624827B2 Thrust efficient turbofan engine
A turbofan engine includes a gas generator section for generating a gas stream flow with higher energy per unit mass flow than that contained in the ambient air and a power turbine that converts the gas stream flow into shaft power. The turbofan engine further includes a propulsor section including a fan driven by the power turbine through a geared architecture at a second speed lower than the first speed for generating propulsive thrust as a mass flow rate of air through a bypass flow path. An Engine Unit Thrust Parameter defined as net engine thrust divided by a product of the mass flow rate of air through the bypass flow path, a tip diameter of the fan and the first rotational speed of the power turbine is less than about 0.15 at a take-off condition.
US09624826B2 Variable compression cylinder head, crankshaft, and piston rod and system thereof
A variable compression cylinder head assembly usable with an internal combustion engine having at least one piston, the cylinder head assembly including a cylinder head housing having a combustion chamber formed therein, a compression control piston disposed within the combustion chamber, a compression head actuator coupled to the cylinder head housing, the compression head actuator including an actuator housing defining an actuator reservoir, a fluid port coupled to the actuator housing to receive a fluid, a movable force plate disposed within the actuator reservoir and coupled to the compression control piston, wherein the force plate and the compression control piston move between a first position and a second position when the fluid enters the actuator reservoir.
US09624823B2 Internal combustion engine with deactivatable cylinder, and method for operating an internal combustion engine of said type
A method and system is provided for a turbocharged multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a two-channel turbine and at least two groups of cylinders, wherein one group of cylinders is switchable responsive to an engine load over a threshold. Exhaust lines of each group of cylinders are arranged in a targeted manner to couple with the turbine such that the switchable group is attached to one channel and the active group is attached to the other channel to reduce the difference in distances that pressure pulses travel, wherein a shut-off element is provided in the channel attached to the switchable group and may be moved to block exhaust flow through the channel when the cylinders are deactivated, thus improving the partial deactivation and turbocharging characteristics of the engine.
US09624821B2 Air intake structure for internal combustion engine
ProblemIn an air intake structure for an internal combustion engine 1 where a compressor impeller 22 of a turbocharger 20 is disposed in an air intake passage (4) of the internal combustion engine 1, not to prevent an ice clump 15 from appearing on an inner wall surface of the air intake passage (4), but prevents this ice clump 15 from colliding with the compressor impeller 22, especially, a vane 22a of the compressor impeller 22 when the ice clump 15 formed on the inner wall surface of the air intake passage (4) peels off.SolutionA capture member 30 is provided upstream side with respect to the compressor impeller 22 in the air intake passage (4). The capture member 30 is configured to capture an ice clump 15 formed at an inner wall surface of the air intake passage (4) when the ice clump 15 peels off.
US09624820B2 Control device for direct injection gasoline engines
A control device for direct injection gasoline engines includes a fuel injection control part (engine control device) composed to control a fuel injection aspect of an injector. The fuel injection control part changes an injection mode of the injector by changing the lift amount of the injector and the injection interval of the fuel respectively. The fuel injection control part switches between a first injection mode, which includes multiple times of the fuel injection with the small lift amount of the injector and the small interval of the fuel injection, and a second injection mode, which includes multiple times of the fuel injection with the bigger lift amount of the injector and the larger interval of the fuel injection than those of the first injection mode, according to an operating state of the engine body.
US09624817B2 Cooling fan module and adapter device therefor
The present invention provides a cooling fan module for an automotive cooling system, comprising: a cooling fan having a hub and a plurality of fan blades extending from the hub; a motor for driving the cooling fan, the motor having a rotor mounted or supported for rotation about an axis on a fixed shaft or axle of the motor; and an adapter device by means of which the cooling fan is attached to the rotor, wherein the adapter device comprises a connection member for rotationally fixed connection to a body of the rotor, and an attachment member for attachment with the hub of the cooling fan. The connection member may comprise a stub, which is desirably inserted into a central opening or aperture of the rotor body and the adapter device desirably accommodates at least one bearing upon which the rotor is supported for rotation about the rotational axis.
US09624815B2 Support structure for mounting an emissions cleaning module
A support structure for mounting an emissions cleaning module to an engine is provided. The support structure includes a lower section adapted to be mounted to the engine and an upper section, coupled to the lower section, and adapted to carry the emissions cleaning module. The support structure may include anti-vibration mounts to reduce movement, in use, of the emissions cleaning module due to movement of the engine.
US09624811B2 Control device of internal combustion engine
A control device of an internal combustion engine which is provided with an exhaust purification catalyst is provided with a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor, a feed control means for controlling the fuel feed amount so that the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas becomes a target air-fuel ratio, and an excess/deficiency estimating means which estimates an oxygen excess/deficiency in the exhaust gas. The target air-fuel ratio is switched to a lean air-fuel ratio when the output air-fuel ratio of the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor becomes a rich air-fuel ratio and is switched to the rich air-fuel ratio when the stored amount of oxygen of the exhaust purification catalyst after this becomes a switching reference amount or more. An absolute value of cumulative oxygen excess/deficiency at a time period during which the target air-fuel ratio is made the lean air-fuel ratio and an absolute value of cumulative oxygen excess/deficiency at a time period during which the target air-fuel ratio is made the rich air-fuel ratio are used as the basis to correct the target air-fuel ratio etc. so that the difference of these absolute values becomes small.
US09624810B2 Delivery unit for a liquid additive with a temperature sensor, method for checking the operating state of a delivery unit and motor vehicle having a delivery unit
A delivery unit for delivering a liquid additive in a motor vehicle, includes at least one temperature sensor for contactlessly measuring a temperature at least at one measurement point in the delivery unit. The temperature sensor and the measurement point have a spacing therebetween and a radiation channel which is free from fixtures is provided between the temperature sensor and the measurement point. A method for checking the operating state of a delivery unit and a motor vehicle having a delivery unit are also provided.
US09624797B2 Lubricating system for internal combustion engine, oil pan apparatus, and internal combustion engine
A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine. The lubrication system may comprise an oil cooler; an oil cooler supply passage for delivering oil to an inlet of the oil cooler from an oil reservoir; an oil cooler outlet passage for delivering oil from an outlet of the oil cooler to one or more portions of the internal combustion engine to be lubricated; a first pressure relief valve operably coupled to the oil cooler supply passage, the first pressure relief valve configured to open at a first predetermined pressure to allow oil in the oil cooler supply passage to return to the oil reservoir without passing through the oil cooler; and a second pressure relief valve operably coupled to the oil cooler outlet passage, the second pressure relief valve configured to open at a second predetermined pressure to allow oil in the oil cooler outlet passage to return to the oil reservoir after passing through the oil cooler, the second predetermined pressure being less than the first predetermined pressure.
US09624791B2 Noise suppression apparatus and methods of manufacturing the same
A noise suppression apparatus includes a body portion including a plurality of nested channels, each channel of the plurality of nested channels including a first end opening and a second end opening, and a surface portion including each first end opening and each second end opening of each channel.
US09624789B2 Turbomachine casing assembly
A turbomachine casing assembly including a casing adapted to encase an aerofoil structure, the aerofoil structure having a tip, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the casing substantially surrounding the tip of the aerofoil structure, wherein the casing has a set-back portion extending from a position in the region of the leading edge or the trailing edge of the aerofoil structure part way towards a position in the region of the respective other edge and set back from the remainder of the casing away from the aerofoil structure, such that the set-back portion permits a flow over a corresponding portion of the tip of the aerofoil structure.
US09624784B2 Turbine seal system and method
A system includes a multi-stage turbine that includes a first turbine stage having a first wheel having a plurality of first blade segments spaced circumferentially about the first wheel. The turbine also includes a second turbine stage having a second wheel having a plurality of second blade segments spaced circumferentially about the second wheel. The turbine also includes a seal assembly extending axially between the first and second turbine stages. The seal assembly includes a first coverplate coupled to the first turbine stage. The first coverplate includes a first air director. The seal assembly also includes a second coverplate coupled to the second turbine stage. The second coverplate comprises a second air director. The seal assembly also includes an interstage seal. The first coverplate, the second coverplate, or both are configured to support the interstage seal.
US09624779B2 Thermal management article and method of forming the same, and method of thermal management of a substrate
A thermal management article, a method for forming a thermal management article and a thermal management method are disclosed. Forming a thermal management article includes forming a duct adapted to be inserted into a groove on the surface of a substrate, and attaching the duct to the groove so that the top outer surface of the duct is substantially flush with the surface of the substrate. Thermal management of a substrate includes transporting a fluid through the duct of a thermal management article to alter the temperature of the substrate.
US09624778B2 Rotor blade manufacture
A method is provided of processing one or more blades of a row of blades which forms part of a rotor for a gas turbine engine. The method includes: providing a rotor disc having a slot for mounting one or more blades; loading the blades in the slot and loading the wax blocks in or adjacent the slot, the wax blocks being configured and positioned such that, on loading, the blades shear material from the wax blocks, the sheared wax blocks reducing a range of tilt angles which can be adopted by the blades; and performing a processing operation on the loaded blades.
US09624777B2 Mobile member of a turbomachine which comprises means for changing the resonance frequency of same
A rotor of an aircraft turbomachine having a main axis A, which includes modifying the critical speed of the rotor, depending on whether the rotational speed of the rotor is lower or higher than a predefined rotational speed, including a component that is capable of occupying a first state or a second state depending on whether the rotational speed of the rotor is lower or higher than the predefined rotational speed, each state of the component corresponding to a critical speed of the rotor, and driving the component to one or the other of the two states thereof, depending on the rotational speed of the rotor, wherein modifying the critical speed of the rotor further includes a component that engages with the drive means and is capable of being deformed elastically between one or the other of two stable forms, each of which corresponds to a state of the component.
US09624773B2 Proximity switch actuation mechanism
An actuation mechanism for an electromagnetic switch for a hydraulic cylinder includes a housing adapted to be inserted into a cylinder head. A rod is slidably engaged in the housing and is adapted to move between a first position and a second position. A biasing element, which may be located inside or outside of the housing biases the rod into the first position.
US09624771B2 Take-up mechanism for conveyor system
A tensioning mechanism for a conveyor system includes a first end including a drive unit, an anchor structure, a continuous belt extending at least partially between the drive unit and the anchor structure, a first carriage, and a second carriage. The first carriage is coupled to the drive unit and supports a portion of the belt. The first carriage is supported for movement relative to the drive unit to adjust a tension in the belt, and the first carriage is movable between the drive unit and an intermediate position. The second carriage is releasably secured to the anchor structure and supports another portion of the belt. The second carriage is supported for movement relative to the anchor structure between a first position and a second position. A distance between the first end and the second carriage defining a take-up length, and movement of the second carriage changes the take-up length.
US09624770B2 Self-undercut anchor system
The self-undercut anchor with carbide tip is designed to create a drill hole and enlarging the lowermost end of said drill hole by means of a carbide tip or cutting portion. The carbide tip or cutting portion is positioned in such a way so as to not obstruct the setting of the anchor by means of the spreading lamellae. Once said lamellae have been positioned properly and forced downward, the self-undercut anchor is set in place.
US09624768B2 Methods of evaluating rock properties while drilling using downhole acoustic sensors and telemetry system
Methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of method includes connecting a downhole sensor subassembly between a drill bit and a drill string, operably coupling acoustic sensors to a downhole processor, operably coupling a borehole telemetry system, downhole and surface data transmitting interfaces, and a surface computer to the downhole data transmitting interface. The method also includes receiving raw acoustic sensor data resulting from rotational contact of the drill bit with rock by the downhole processor, transforming the raw acoustic sensor data into the frequency domain, filtering the transformed data, and deriving acoustic characteristics from the filtered data. The method also includes the surface computer receiving the acoustic characteristics and deriving petrophysical properties from the acoustic characteristics directly or by utilizing a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm.
US09624764B2 Method and apparatus for testing a tubular annular seal
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for testing a wellbore, and to an apparatus and method to efficiently and effectively test the annular seal of a tubular string positioned within a wellbore. More specifically, the cement seal between a casing string and a wellbore is tested to assure there is no contamination of groundwater or between different geologic formations. An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a testing assembly comprising a frangible body and a tool body, the tool body providing a passageway to the annular seal when the frangible body is drilled out. In one particular embodiment, the frangible body initially forms an encapsulated bore that aligns with the passageway.
US09624756B2 Sliding sleeve having contracting, dual segmented ball seat
A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port.
US09624755B2 Wireline retrievable injection valve assembly with a variable orifice
A wireline retrievable injection valve for an oil or gas well has an internal valve that is initially moved to open a flapper safety valve and also opens to allow fluid flow through the valve. The internal valve includes a sleeve that opens the flapper safety valve and shields the flapper safety valve from fluid. In this manner the flapper valve is protected from being caused to “flutter” or “chatter” due to pressure variations in the fluid flow, thereby damaging the seat.
US09624754B2 Radiused ID baffle
A method for servicing a subterranean formation comprising providing a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, and placing a wellbore servicing tool in the wellbore, wherein the wellbore servicing tool comprises a baffle, wherein the baffle comprises a seat contoured to match a spherical zone of an obturator.
US09624752B2 Seal and assembly comprising the seal and method for applying the seal
A seal including a seal wall comprising a swelling polymer material having elastomeric properties so that the seal has a non-swollen state and an expanded state, the seal wall having a closed circumference that extends around a central longitudinal axis and that extends from a first end via an intermediate section to a second end along a length (L) in the direction of the central axis (A), wherein the first end of the seal sleeve wall is connected or connectable to the inner element and wherein the seal wall, apart from at and adjacent to the first end thereof, is freely radially expandable due to the fact that the second end and the intermediate section of the seal wall are not connected to any structural parts.
US09624739B2 Drilling rig
An offshore drilling rig comprising a drill floor deck having a hole defining a first well center. The drilling rig may further include a first hoisting system configured for hoisting and lowering tubular equipment through the first well center. The drilling rig may further include first pipe handling equipment for presenting tubular equipment to the first hoisting system so as to allow the first hoisting system to hoist or lower the tubular equipment through the first well center. The drilling rig may include a mounting structure, separate from the first hoisting system for suspending suspendable auxiliary equipment from an elevated position above the drill floor deck, allowing the auxiliary equipment to be lowered or hoisted through the first well center; wherein the mounting structure is movable between a lower position for rigging up auxiliary equipment to the mounting structure, and an elevated position allowing lowering or hoisting of auxiliary equipment suspended from the mounting structure through the first well center.
US09624737B1 Locking collar
A lock collar for locking a centralizer in place on a tubular of the type used in production strings in the oilfield. The lock collar relates to mechanisms such as stop rings or lock collars commonly used in downhole applications to prevent axial and/or rotational movement of centralizers mounted on the tubing or casing outer surface.
US09624736B1 Sucker rod end
A sucker rod including a sucker rod body (122); a transition section (125) having an outer surface disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the transition section, the outer surface having a longitudinal profile comprising a continuous curve beginning at the cylindrical outer surface of the rod body and having a concave curved portion having a radius (RA) and a convex curved portion having a radius (RB), wherein RB is less than RA and a diameter of the transition section measured transverse to the longitudinal axis (AA) is continuously increasing with distance from the outer surface of the rod; a wrench square section (127) having at least four wrench flats (124); a pin shoulder section (128) having a pin shoulder face (126) adapted to contact an end of a coupling (117) the pin shoulder face having an outer diameter (DF); and a threaded pin connection section (129) having male threads.
US09624735B2 Marine drilling riser protection system
A marine drilling riser protection system including a plurality of protection modules adapted for fitment at spaced intervals along the length of a riser, and a plurality of cover parts, wherein each cover part is adapted to be fitted at one end of the cover part to a first protection module, and at an opposite end of the cover part to a second protection module.
US09624732B2 Hole opener and method for drilling
The present document describes a drill-bit which achieves both the rigidity and a fast rate of penetration. The drill-bit comprises a cone shaped central portion comprising a plurality of ribs protruding from the central portion and defining a plurality of blades. The blades are curved along a direction of a longitudinal axis of the cone to facilitate insertion into a hole when rotating in a first direction, and exit from the hole when rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction. The drill-bit comprises a plurality of polycrystalline diamond cutters (PDC) on the blades provided in a first position for cutting the hard structure as the drilling-bit rotates in the first direction, and a plurality of up-drill PDC cutters provided in a second position for cleaning the hole as the drill-bit rotate in the second direction to exit the hole.
US09624730B2 Hard facing configuration for a drilling tool
Bits configured for drilling rock that are of the type that includes a plurality of teeth supported in pockets that are on a cutting face that is driven to rotate. The pockets are configured to allow the teeth to passively rotate while in the pockets. The present disclosure provides a bit having hardfacing around the pockets and related methods.
US09624728B2 Controllable deflection housing, downhole steering assembly and method of use
This invention relates to a controllable deflection tool. The controllable deflection tool is likely to have its greatest utility as part of a downhole assembly to steer a drill bit during drilling for oil and gas. There is provided a controllable deflection tool having a first end and a second end, the tool having: a conduit for a working fluid; a rotary element adapted for rotation within the tool; a deflection member; a vane motor configured to rotate the deflection member relative to the rotary element; and a valve for controlling the flow of working fluid to the vane motor. There is also provided a downhole steering assembly and a method of steering a downhole drilling assembly incorporating the controllable deflection tool.
US09624726B2 System and methodology for mechanically releasing a running string
A technique facilitates selectively disengaging a running string from a lateral tube assembly. The running string comprises a running sub which is engageable with the lateral tube assembly. The running string further comprises a window finder which is positioned to extend into a main bore casing window when the running string is deployed downhole with the lateral tube assembly. Additionally, the running string comprises an extension sub which is coupled to the window finder. The extension sub is selectively extensible to disengage the window finder from the main bore casing prior to release of the running sub from the lateral tube assembly via a release force applied through the running string.
US09624718B2 Dynamic desk accessory delivering on-demand privacy on an open work table
A privacy accessory includes a base having a body portion; a retention portion defining a retention edge for releasably securing the base to a work surface; a plurality of frame members secured to the base, each frame member having a first side portion pivotably secured to the base and a second side portion pivotably secured to the base, each of the plurality of frame members telescopically received with an adjacent one of the plurality of frame members in a series that graduate from a smallest one to a largest one, the frame members being sequentially deployable to a first, expanded state by pulling on the largest one and sequentially folded to a second, collapsed state by pushing on the largest one of the plurality of frame members.
US09624716B2 Multi-layer sealing spacer for entryway components
A spacer for sealing a joint between a first component and a second component of an entryway. The spacer may include substantially rigid support and a first gasket having a first uncompressed thickness (T1). The first gasket is attached to a first surface of the support. The first surface has at least one first boss extending therefrom by a distance (D1) such that (D1) is less than (T1). The at least one first boss is configured to abut a portion of the first component to provide the desired compression of the first gasket between the first component and the support.
US09624715B2 Glazing panel including glass sheets joined together by means of spacers and corresponding method for manufacturing same
The invention relates to a glass panel including a first (5) and a second (5) glass sheet combined together via at least one spacer (8) that keeps the glass sheets at a certain distance from each other, wherein an inner gap (4) between said glass sheets (5) includes at least a first recess (41) in which a vacuum of lower than 1 mbar is formed, said recess being sealed by a peripheral seal arranged at the periphery of the glass sheets around said inner space (4), the seal (1) being a metal seal rigidly connected to the first and second glass sheets, respectively. According to the invention, the metal seal (1) further includes a means (11) for placing the inner gap (4) in communication with the outside of the panel, wherein said communication means can be sealed.
US09624711B2 Locking insert mechanism and receiver to secure personal weapons, valuables and other items
A personal security apparatus to house weapons, valuables, and/or items requiring concealment includes a lockable insert mechanism to securely house items and at least one receiving apparatus adapted to mount the insert mechanism into or onto various structures and a lockable access door that provides convenient, rapid access to the items contained in the personal security apparatus and further prevents access by unauthorized persons.
US09624710B2 Door operating system
A door operating system or door opening and closing apparatus comprising at least one motive source, a linkage assembly and a door. Preferred door operating systems will include two linkage assemblies, two doors and two motive sources, one for each door. Each motive source is preferably attached to an interior facing surface of a frame of a structure and the door is pivotally attached to an exterior facing surface of the frame of a structure. Each linkage assembly operatively connects the respective motive source to the respective door. By having the motive source attached to the interior facing surface of the frame, doors of the operating system can preferably be opened the full width of the frame opening to maximize available vehicle clearance.
US09624706B2 Hinge assembly
A hinge assembly is disclosed herein. An example includes a first knuckle including a first wall that defines a first cavity and second knuckle including a second wall that defines a second cavity. The example also includes a friction element disposed in both the first cavity defined by the first wall of the first knuckle and the second cavity defined by the second wall of the second knuckle to both rotatably and resistively couple the first knuckle to the second knuckle by application of a force directed toward the first wall and the second wall, the friction element including a third wall that defines a third cavity. Modifications and additions to, as well as other examples of, the hinge assembly are also disclosed herein.
US09624705B2 Displacement device for slidable and turnable separation elements and functional entity
The displacement device includes a guide carriage that is slidable along a running rail and that is pivotally connectable to a first separation element. The guide carriage includes a carriage body with a carriage head and a carriage foot, which carriage head and carriage foot are connected with one another by a connecting beam, wherein the carriage head holds at least one support wheel and at least two guide wheels and wherein the carriage foot is connected torque proof with a first end piece of a hinge lever, whose second end piece is pivotally held by a hinge shaft that is connectable to a sidewall of the first separation element.
US09624703B1 Positioning mechanisms of double-pintle hinge
A double-pintle hinge includes a first pintle, a second pintle, and positioning mechanisms configured to allow the first and second pintles to rotate relative to each other to releasably retained positions. The positioning mechanisms include first and second joining members interconnecting the first and second pintles and sandwiching a first and second cams, a first and second cam followers, and a biasing member. The first cam is coupled to the first pintle. The second cam is coupled to the second pintle. The first and second cam followers are positioned between the first and second cams, and respectively abut the first and second cams, and are movably connected with each other. The biasing member is positioned between the first and second cam followers.
US09624702B1 Port O lock
A portable lock for public bathroom stalls for providing temporary closure and external visual notification of occupation for public bathroom stalls. The portable lock for public bathroom stalls may generally include housings connected by a connection rod to springs pivoting on pins retained by retaining rings. Magnets may be installed into lids provide simple closure before use and additional tension or mounting fixation in use.
US09624701B2 Multi-point lock having a shootbolt with a flat driverail mounted in a narrow groove
A multi-point lock having an easy to install modular drive mechanism for shootbolts located at the top and bottom edges of a door in which the multi-point locking system is installed that requires only relatively simple door preparation. The shootbolt operating mechanism is installed into a narrow groove cut into a lateral edge of a door which may be cut using relatively simple tools in relatively quick fashion. The shootbolt actuating mechanisms are flat driverails that are made of flat barstock that fit slidably entirely within the narrow groove defined in the lateral edge of the door above and below the mortise pocket.
US09624699B2 Push-pull closing device
The invention regards a locking device for the closing door of a washing and drying machine, constituted of a body of containment that houses a locking wheel for the door latch, subject to the action of elastic means, a sliding bolt capable of preventing the rotation of said wheel and a time-delay mechanism fitted with a locking pawl for said sliding bolt. The wheel is fitted with a cavity that presents a surface tilted with respect to the plane of rotation, so as to resolve the force it exerts on the bolt, when a pulling is exerted on the door while the device is in a closed and locked position.
US09624697B1 Computer security lock for trapezoidal security slot
A portable electronic device requiring securing against theft, includes a cavity with an opening thereinto. The opening is accessible at an exterior of the device, and defined by an upper edge, a juxtaposed lower edge, and a pair of juxtaposed side edges. The cavity is defined by an upper wall, a juxtaposed lower wall, and juxtaposed side walls, the side walls being angled relative to each other with a separation distance between them gradually increasing in a direction into said cavity, away from said opening into said cavity, whereby a planar cross section through the cavity that bisects both side walls has a trapezoidal shape. The lock opening has a size and shape slightly larger than the cross-sectional size of the forward section of a locking element and an interior larger in cross-sectional size than at the opening of the cavity.
US09624694B2 Tamper detection mechanism for electronic lock device
An apparatus and method for tamper detection of an electronic lock device using a capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor is positioned on a printed circuit board that is positioned in an inner region of a housing of the electronic lock device. An electronic signal is transmitted to a conductive element, such as, for example, an area of a copper layer(s) or trace(s) on the printed circuit board. The transmitted electronic signal is monitored to determine a capacitance value. The capacitance value is evaluated to determine whether the capacitance value corresponds to known or predetermined capacitance values that are associated with a cover plate covering an opening of the inner region. In the event the capacitance value is determined to be outside of predetermined capacitance values, and signal may be generated to a reporting authority indicating the removal of the cover plate from the housing.
US09624693B2 Integrated locks with visual indicators for aircraft galley systems
Provided are integrated locks, aircraft galley systems using such locks, and aircraft including such galley systems. An integrated lock has a low profile and provides secure locking and visual indication of the lock status to meet various FAA regulations. The visual indication may be provided mechanically (e.g., by moving a two-color indicator between two positions) or electronically (e.g., by triggering a switch connected to a light or an electro-chromic device). Furthermore, a main indicator may be connected to multiple different locks to provide a combined visual indication of the status of all locks. A visual indicator may be disposed on a galley system frame. Each integrated lock may include a handle portion and a locking portion connected to the handle portion and configured to engage the galley system frame when the handle portion is in the locked position and the door is closed.
US09624692B2 Tamper evident cargo container seal bolt lock
Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a receiving member, a conductive bolt member adapted to be snap-locked into the receiving member, and a plastic encapsulant which tethers the bolt member to the receiving member. The encapsulant can contain an electrically conductive medium, such as a wire, which runs from the receiving member to the second end of the bolt. A sensory circuit disposed within the receiving member can be configured to sense whether the circuit has been interrupted (e.g., if the bolt has been cut). In the event of an interruption, the circuit can record the present time and/or date in memory. An RFID transponder disposed within the encapsulant or the receiving member can then transmit the recorded date/time to an RFID interrogator if a dispute subsequently arises as to when the lock had been broken.
US09624691B2 Key and disc tumbler cylinder lock
A key and a lock cylinder, which are formed such that the guiding the key into the keyhole and the key canal occurs precisely and in a user-friendly manner. The precise placement of the key in relation to the lock cylinder and its parts enables even distribution of the forces directed onto the key and the lock cylinder.
US09624689B2 Retractable canopy
Aspects of the present disclosure provide retractable canopies, kits of parts for assembling retractable canopies, and methods for assembling and operating retractable canopies. The retractable canopies provide tracks extending in a longitudinal direction and transversely spaced apart. A support extends in a transverse direction between the tracks and is moveably coupled to the tracks via mounts to the tracks. The mounts include engagement members, such as wheels, to engage with the tracks. The engagement members may be biased transversely away from the support (e.g. toward the track), thereby permitting the engagement members to adjust their transverse positions relative to the support as the support moves along the track.
US09624688B1 Inflatable sleeper apparatus
An inflatable sleeper including an inflatable support skeleton of spaced apart parallel tubular arches and an inflatable mattress having an air inlet-outlet valve and further including a waterproof cover, which has an arched door parallel to the arches, removably attached to and covering the entire support skeleton when the support skeleton is in an inflated condition. Each arch has a pair of outer ends attached to and in fluid communication with a bottom edge of the mattress. Spaced apart fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners, on the arches secure the cover and the support skeleton together. Spaced apart tie down eyelets on the cover are configured to receive a tie down fastener, such as a rope, therethrough to secure the cover and support skeleton to one of a pickup truck bend interior side and a ground stake. The mattress rests atop a separate foldable floor provided.
US09624685B1 Mount system for an umbrella
A mount system for an umbrella includes a base configured to be adhered to a ground surface. An attachment assembly is connected to the base. A main tube assembly is connected to the attachment assembly with a key such that the key can hold the main tube assembly to the base at any angle. An umbrella is connected to the main tube assembly.
US09624683B1 Reciprocating in-floor pool cleaner head with adjustable nozzles
A device for use in a swimming pool structure includes an insert defining a chamber and including a lower surface disposed within the chamber. The device includes a piston having a plurality of nozzles, and a cap having an outlet, the cap mounted for rotation among a plurality of positions each aligning the outlet in the cap with one of the nozzles in the piston. The piston is carried in the chamber for reciprocal movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which one of the nozzles is aligned with the outlet, and the one of the nozzles and the outlet are free of obstruction above the insert.
US09624680B2 Bricklaying
There is provided a portable apparatus (10) for supporting and carrying a brick structure (22). The portable apparatus (10) includes a base (12) that is configured to carry, in use, the brick structure (22). The portable apparatus (10) also includes a position assembly (14) that has one or more position members (16). The or each position member (16) is configured to define, in use, a first layout for a plurality of bricks of the brick structure (22).
US09624679B2 Anchor member for insulated concrete form
The invention comprises connector for a pair of opposed spaced concrete forming panels. The connector comprises an elongate spacer member having flanges formed thereon intermediate a central portion thereof and each opposite end thereof. A portion of at least one end of the spacer member is sized and shaped to selectively engage an elongate panel bracing member. A composite insulated concrete form and a method of using the insulated concrete form are also disclosed.
US09624678B2 Panel for forming a floor covering and method for manufacturing such panels
Panel for forming a floor covering, wherein this panel comprises at least two layers of thermoplastic material, wherein said two layers substantially consist of a strewn and pressed granulate, wherein the respective layers enclose a glass fiber layer.
US09624677B2 Joint devices, systems, and methods for exterior flooring
Novel joint devices and systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a joint member for an exterior floor covering can include a body portion, at least one tongue portion extending from the body portion, and at least one opening extending through the body portion. The opening can be configured to pass a liquid directly from an upper surface of the exterior floor covering through the body portion of the joint member.
US09624676B2 Floor covering
Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove.
US09624673B2 Enhanced gutter hanger
A gutter hanger for hanging a rain gutter on the fascia board of a structure or building. The gutter hanger includes an elongated horizontal top member connected to a downwardly extending back member, the top and back member connected by a web of material. A bore for a fascia screw extends from the top member, through the web, and exit the back member. The gutter hanger also includes an upwardly extending protrusion to engage the lip of the gutter. The top member also includes a threaded bore hole to accept a screw, so that the top member may be attached to the top front of the gutter with a threaded fastener.
US09624669B2 Roof tiles and roof tile structures
A roof tile having a mesh covered foam core with a cement-based protective coating, a roof covering formed from such tiles and methods for making same.
US09624667B2 Hollow, composite rebar structure, associated fabrication methodology, and apparatus
A rebar structure for concrete reinforcement may include an elongate tubular central wall portion having an inside surface and an outside surface. The central wall portion may be formed circumferentially around a core axis and may include glass or carbon fibers mostly being oriented longitudinally parallel to the core axis. The rebar structure may include an inner wall portion bonded to the inside surface of the central wall portion. The inner wall portion may include glass or carbon fibers and may have a higher percentage of fibers oriented non-parallel to the core axis as compared to the central wall portion.
US09624666B2 Structural insulated panel framing system
Systems and methods are disclosed herein to a structural insulated panel framing system comprising: insulation sheathing receivable by a wall jig; a frame for placement atop the insulation sheathing; and spray foam for application to the frame and the insulation sheathing to fuse the frame and insulation sheathing to produce a structural insulated panel.
US09624663B2 Thermal barrier in building structures
A building structure includes a base structure (10), a thermal barrier layer (20) and an external layer (30). The thermal barrier layer may be a three-dimensional matrix of filaments. The filaments may be irregularly looped and intermingled in a highly porous, three-dimensional structure with a large open space. The filaments form a thermal barrier by reducing the physical contact between the external layer and the base structure. The filament material is low in conductivity, so little heat transfer occurs between the external layer and the filaments.
US09624662B1 Noise-cancelling wall
A noise-cancelling wall is described that includes a height, a width, a depth, and first and second portions. The first portion has a first characteristic acoustic wavelength and a first thickness along the depth, and the second portion has a second characteristic acoustic wavelength and a second thickness along the depth. A relationship between the first and second portions is such that twice a difference between a ratio of the first characteristic acoustic wavelength to the first thickness, and a ratio of the second characteristic acoustic wavelength to the second thickness ranges from 0.25 above an odd integer to 0.25 below the odd integer. The first portion causes an acoustic phase shift of sound waves passing through the first portion relative to sound waves passing through the second portion, and the phase shift results in destructive acoustic interference between sound waves traveling through the wall.
US09624660B2 Insulative building panels
A panel is disclosed for use in insulating an edifice that includes a first pane, a second pane in engagement with the first pane so as to define a channel therebetween configured and dimensioned for drainage and air flow, a clip in engagement with the first and second panes, and an insulator including an upper portion that is positioned within the clip. A system for use in insulating an edifice includes identical panels, wherein the insulator of one panel is positionable within the clip of another panel to connect the panels together. A panel clip for use in insulating an edifice includes a first arm defining an outer surface with a plurality of connectors, a saddle extending from the first arm, and a second arm connected to the saddle opposite the first arm such that the clip is generally H-shaped in configuration.
US09624655B2 Touchless control of electronic water faucets
Embodiments described herein provide touchless temperature and/or flow control for water faucets utilizing the movements of a user's hand toward or away from to a dispensing area of the faucet. One embodiment comprises a water faucet that provides touchless control of water dispensed by the water faucet. The water faucet comprises a controller and a spout head. The spout head includes a sensor electrically coupled to the controller that detects a movement of a user's hand toward or away from the spout head. The controller initiates dispensing of the water from the spout head at a pre-defined rate, and varies the flow rate based on the movement of the user's hand toward or away from the spout head.
US09624650B2 System and method for implement control
A system associated with an implement of a machine is provided. The system includes a ground speed detection module configured to generate a signal indicative of a ground speed of the machine. The system further includes an implement control module coupled to the ground speed detection module. The implement control module receives the signal indicative of the ground speed of the machine. The implement control module detects at least one of the ground speed of the machine being less than a predetermined speed threshold and a rate of change of the ground speed being above a limit. The implement control module determines a presence of an obstruction in a path of the machine based, at least in part, on the detection. The implement control module further select a movement from a plurality of movements associated with the implement and triggers the movement of the implement.
US09624643B2 Blade tilt system and method for a work vehicle
A work vehicle may comprise a chassis, a ground-engaging blade, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The ground-engaging blade may be movably connected to the chassis via a linkage configured to allow the blade to be tilted relative to the chassis. The sensor assembly may be connected to the work vehicle and configured to provide a tilt signal indicative of an angle of the blade in a roll direction and a roll signal indicative of a rotational velocity of the blade in the roll direction. The controller may be configured to determine a target tilt angle, receive the tilt signal, receive the roll signal, and send a command to tilt the blade toward the target tilt angle, the command based on the tilt signal, the roll signal, and the target tilt angle.
US09624637B2 Flood vent
According to one embodiment, a flood vent includes a frame forming a fluid passageway through an opening in a structure. The flood vent further includes a door pivotally mounted to the frame in the fluid passageway for allowing a fluid to flow through the fluid passageway. The door has two opposing faces that include a first face and a second face. The flood vent further includes a first float positioned within the door in a location in-between the first face and a second float. Additionally, the first float is configured to allow the door to pivot in a first direction. The flood vent further includes the second float positioned within the door in a location in-between the second face and the first float. Furthermore, the second float is configured to allow the door to pivot in a second direction.
US09624636B2 Multi-stage suspended wave screen and coastal protection system
A shoreline protection system comprising a first barrier assembly, which comprises a first pile extending into a bottom of a body of water, a second pile extending into the bottom of the body of water, wherein the first pile and the second pile are spaced apart and essentially parallel relative to each other, and a first screen having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, wherein the first screen extends between the first pile and the second pile, wherein the lower edge of the first screen is spaced from the bottom of the body of water.
US09624634B2 Snow plow assembly
A snow plow assembly comprising a main plow body, at least one butterfly gate, at least one blocker and a diverter. The at least one butterfly gate and the at least one blocker are jointly connected to the main plow body and are controlled by actuators to be opened and closed. The actuators allow the users to control when to release or hold snow collected into the main plow body. This feature is used to prevent the buildup of high snow ridges in front of small pathways such as driveways.
US09624632B2 Snowblower impeller
An impeller for a snowblowing apparatus and a snowblower being designed to rotate about a rotation axis and is including a front axial region to receive snow therein, a rear axial region and a plurality of vanes generally radially extending from the periphery toward the rotation axis, the plurality of vanes including snow-engaging portions generally located toward the front axial region, wherein the snow-engaging portions are radially extending from the periphery further toward the rotation axis over the impeller's eye, at least some of the snow engaging portions including an angle of attack toward the front axial region for engaging snow when the impeller is rotating about the rotation axis.
US09624628B2 Auxiliary drive
A construction machine for the treatment of ground surfaces includes a machine frame and a work drum supported from the machine frame and including exchangeable tools fastened to the work drum. A drive line includes a work motor and a transmission connecting the work motor to the work drum. The transmission includes a belt drive and a reduction gear. An auxiliary drive is mounted at a location on the construction machine and includes an auxiliary drive motor. The auxiliary drive has a first configuration in which the auxiliary drive motor is coupled to the work drum via at least a portion of the transmission to rotate the work drum. The auxiliary drive has a second configuration in which the auxiliary drive remains mounted at the location on the construction machine and the work drum can be rotated by the work motor.
US09624626B1 Geometrically constrained slope control system for cylinder construction equipment
A computer control system in a paving machine determines a location, long slope (pitch), cross-slope (roll), and elevation (with respect to reference surface) of the machine with reference to a plurality of sensors. The long slope, cross slope and elevation are compared to values from a design surface (horizontal alignment, vertical profile, and cross sections) using the location of the machine to query the design data. Deviations from measured orientation and elevation to the design (desired values) are determined for each elevation cylinder of the paving machine based on the sensor data using constrained geometric control algorithms that predict future deviations. Corrections are applied to bring the actual location, long slope, cross-slope and elevation to within acceptable tolerances of the desired values. Sensors are associated with specific legs, with some sensors associated with more than one leg, such that sensor values may be averaged to reduce error.
US09624624B2 Infrared asphalt heating apparatus and method
An infrared asphalt heating and repair apparatus includes a converter having downward facing slits cut therein to provide enhanced durability over prior art ceramic blanket or metal ribbon style heaters. In embodiments, the slits are cut by a milling machine, which may be an automatic milling machine, a band saw, or a laser. Embodiments also provide for more uniform heating over prior art solutions, while largely preventing damaging and costly flame-through events. Because the heat is more uniform than that of the prior art, lower temperatures can be used to achieve similar results, thereby extending equipment life, lowering fuel costs, and reducing warm-up times.
US09624623B2 Emulsification of alkenyl succinic anhydride with an amine-containing homopolymer or copolymer
The present disclosure provides for a method of preparing and using an emulsion for treating a papermaking process. The emulsion is an oil-in-water emulsion of alkenyl succinic anhydride emulsified with a polymer comprising at least one primary or secondary amine containing monomer. The method comprises adding an oil-in-water emulsion to the papermaking process; wherein the oil-in-water emulsion comprises alkenyl succinic anhydride emulsified with a polymer comprising at least one primary or secondary amine containing monomer; and wherein the oil-in-water emulsion is added in an amount sufficient to improve sizing of the paper produced by the papermaking process. The primary or secondary amine may be a secondary amine comprising diallylamine, and the polymer may be a diallylamine-acrylamide copolymer.
US09624622B2 Flame retardant carpet products with coating and/or adhesive layers formed from vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymer dispersions
Disclosed are carpet products comprising at least one flexible substrate and at least one coating and/or adhesive layer associated with the at least one flexible substrate. The coating and/or adhesive layer is formed from an aqueous composition comprising: A) an emulsifier-stabilized vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE) emulsion copolymer dispersion and B) at least one particulate filler material selected from particulate inorganic compounds and particulate plastic material. The vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymer in the copolymer dispersion has a selected ethylene content or glass transition temperature. It is also preferably substantially free of cross-linkable co-monomer moieties which generate formaldehyde upon curing and preferably has a particle size, dw, ranging from about 50 to about 500 nm. The carpet product is substantially free of polyvinyl chloride and bitumen and exhibits a Class B1 flame-retardancy in accordance with DIN 4102-14, corresponding to a critical heat flux of ≧about 4.5 kW/m2.
US09624621B2 Process for the production of coated textiles
A process for the production of coated textiles comprises the steps of: providing a textile substrate having a first side and a second side opposing the first side; contacting at least a part of the first side of the textile substrate with a spreadable polyurethane mechanical foam; applying a reduced pressure to at least a part of the second side of the textile substrate opposing the first side which has been contacted with the polyurethane mechanical foam; and solidifying the polyurethane mechanical foam with which the textile substrate has been contacted. The invention further relates to a coated textile obtainable by such a process, in particular a synthetic leather.
US09624612B2 Align-N-line fabric alignment, marking and cutting guide
A fabric alignment, marking and/or cutting guide that allows for accurate marking, and/or cutting of fabric along the diagonal using a multiple axis fixed edge alignment and a movable triangular angle. The alignment guide has a square cutting board with right angularly positioned upstanding angular edge surfaces for material engagement. A transparent hinged triangular cutting guide plate extends from one alignment edge surface defining a true diagonal line guide edge across a material square to be marked and cut positioned on the cutting board under the triangle guide plate.