| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09645609B2 |
Protective case with keyboard for portable electronic device
A protective case for a tablet device having a back face and a front face, a touchscreen on its front face, and one or more control buttons and ports on its perimeter walls. The case comprises a shell having front and back sides wherein the front side is configured to receive and retain the tablet device while providing user access to the touchscreen and user access to one or more of the control buttons, said shell including a back wall that is configured to cover at least a portion of the back face of the tablet. The protective case further includes a front cover that includes a tray, a wireless keyboard and keyboard housing. The tray includes opposing side rails and the keyboard housing includes opposing grooves on opposing side walls that are concealed and configured to engage the rails to allow the keyboard housing to slide in and out from the tray in a defined manner. The tray, keyboard and shell may each include magnets to facilitate the positioning of the case in the various open and closed positions. |
| US09645608B1 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes an expansion assembly and a tablet computer. The expansion assembly includes a hinge base, a rotating element, and a first magnet. The hinge base is located on the expansion assembly and has a first concave portion. The rotating element is pivoted to the first concave portion. The first magnet is located on the hinge base. The position of the first magnet corresponds to the position of the rotating element. The tablet computer includes a housing and a second magnet. The housing has a second concave portion. The position of the second concave portion corresponds to the position of the first concave portion and the second concave portion has an oblique wall. The second magnet is located on the oblique wall and the magnetic force of the second magnet is greater than the magnetic force of the first magnet. |
| US09645602B2 |
Frequency sensor for side-channel attack
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be used for detecting an incorrect clock frequency. In one example, the apparatus includes a first circuit configured to compare a clock signal period to a delay period. Additionally, in one example, the apparatus includes a second circuit configured to output a first signal. The period of the first signal may be double the clock signal period when the clock signal period is greater than the delay period. The apparatus may, in one example, also include a third circuit configured to output a second signal. The period of the second signal may be greater than double the clock signal period when the clock signal period is greater than the delay period. |
| US09645599B2 |
Power supply management device and machine tool having the power-supply management device
The present invention provides a power-supply management device which can efficiently connect and disconnect power supply to an electric-powered section, and a machine tool including the power-supply management device. The power-supply management device (101) detects a synchronization command of a control program, and compares an operation time of the electric-powered section between synchronizations in each control system which is a synchronization target by the synchronization command on the basis of the detected synchronization command. Then, the power-supply management device (101) disconnects the power supply to the electric-powered section belonging to the control system except the control system having the maximum operation time of the electric-powered section between the synchronizations, and restarts the power supply at the end of the synchronization in each control system. |
| US09645595B2 |
Method for measuring frequency of phasor of power system
The present invention relates to a method for measuring the frequency of phasor of a power system, belonging to the technical field of power systems and automation thereof. A grid-connected photovoltaic generation system is provided with a control module, a data buffer module, an inverter, a sampling module and an analog-to-digital conversion module; a voltage transformer is connected to the grid side of the grid-connected photovoltaic generation system; the voltage transformer is electrically connected to the analog-to-digital conversion module; the analog-to-digital conversion module converts an analog signal sent by the voltage transformer into a digital signal; the sampling module samples the digital signal and transmits the digital signal into the data buffer module; the data buffer module is provided with a plurality of data windows; and the control module receives signals from the data windows. |
| US09645593B2 |
Voltage regulator
Provided is a voltage regulator in which an output current can be controlled stably and accurately to an overcurrent protection set value without the need of providing a phase compensation circuit including an element having a large area. The voltage regulator includes a constant voltage control circuit including: a first differential amplifier circuit for comparing a first reference voltage and a feedback voltage to each other; and an output transistor to be controlled by an output voltage of the first differential amplifier circuit, and an overcurrent protective circuit including: a resistor for measuring the output current; a second differential amplifier circuit for measuring a difference between voltages at both terminals of the resistor; a comparator for comparing an output voltage of the second differential amplifier circuit and a second reference voltage to each other; and a switch to be controlled by a detection signal of the comparator. When the output current equal to or larger than an overcurrent protection set value flows, the output voltage of the second differential amplifier circuit is input to the first differential amplifier circuit via the switch, to thereby switch control of the output transistor from control based on the constant voltage control circuit to control based on the overcurrent protective circuit. |
| US09645591B2 |
Charge sharing linear voltage regulator
Exemplary embodiments are related to voltage regulators. A device may include a first energy storage element coupled between a ground voltage and an output. The device may also include a second energy storage element coupled to the ground voltage and configured to selectively couple to the output. Further, the device may include a voltage regulator coupled between an input and the second energy storage element. |
| US09645590B1 |
System for providing on-chip voltage supply for distributed loads
A system for providing on-chip voltage supply includes a plurality of local voltage regulators each including a first input, a second input, and an output; a transconductance amplifier connected with the local voltage regulators and configured to drive the local voltage regulators, including a first input, a second input and an output; a reference voltage source; and a plurality of transistors. The output of the transconductance amplifier is connected to the first input of each local voltage regulators. The first input of each local voltage regulator is connected to ground through a first capacitor. The output of each local voltage regulator is connected to gate of each transistor correspondingly. Source or drain of each transistor is connected to a load, to the second input of the local voltage regulator, to each other through a plurality of first resistors representing metal routing resistance, and to ground through a RC network. |
| US09645583B2 |
Balanced fluid valve
It is proposed to design a fluid flux regulating unit, comprising a first fluid port, a second fluid port and a valve comprising a movable valve part and at least one fluid pressure balancing means, wherein the fluid pressure balancing means comprises a surface in fluid communication with the first fluid port, which has a surface normal vector at least partially in parallel to the moving direction of the movable valve part. |
| US09645580B2 |
Radio-controlled flying craft
A homeostatic flying hovercraft preferably utilizes at least two pairs of counter-rotating ducted fans to generate lift like a hovercraft and utilizes a homeostatic hover control system to create a flying craft that is easily controlled. The homeostatic hover control system provides true homeostasis of the craft with a true fly-by-wire flight control and control-by-wire system control. |
| US09645577B1 |
Facilitating vehicle driving and self-driving
Among other things, an operation related to control of a vehicle is facilitated by actions that include the following. A finite set of candidate trajectories of the vehicle is generated that begin at a location of the vehicle as of a given time. The candidate trajectories are based on a state of the vehicle and on possible behaviors of the vehicle and of the environment as of the location of the vehicle and the given time. A putative optimal trajectory is selected from among the candidate trajectories based on costs associated with the candidate trajectories. The costs include costs associated with violations of rules of operation of the vehicle. The selected putative optimal trajectory is used to facilitate the operation related to control of the vehicle. |
| US09645575B2 |
Method and apparatus for artificially intelligent model-based control of dynamic processes using probabilistic agents
A system and method for controlling a process such as an oil production process is disclosed. The system comprises multiple intelligent agents for processing data received from a plurality sensors deployed in a job site of an oil well, and applies a probabilistic model for evaluating risk and recommending appropriate control action to the process. |
| US09645572B2 |
Device class information support for multi-option devices
A system for defining information for multi-option devices connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each device has a single electronic data sheet (EDS) defining options associated with the device as well as each of the choices associated with those options. An option data sheet (ODS) is included for each option defining the device information corresponding to that option. A programmer interface may allow a programmer to select devices as well as the options for each of those devices associated with a control system. Each device is also configured to store the EDS and each ODS corresponding to that device within memory in the device. The programmer interface generates a controller configuration file defining the connections between each device and the controller. |
| US09645571B2 |
Reliability maintaining serial number credit process
Embodiments are directed to receiving, by a computing device comprising a processor, an anticipated usage input, a load input and a strength input associated with a unit, calculating, by the computing device, a baseline reliability value based at least in part on the anticipated usage input, the load input and the strength input, receiving, by the computing device, usage data associated with use of the unit, generating, by the computing device, an updated reliability value based on at least some of the inputs used to calculate the baseline reliability value and the usage data, and determining, by the computing device, a lifetime for the unit based on the updated reliability value. |
| US09645567B2 |
Data setting device
In one aspect of the present invention, data to be written is divided into a plurality of pieces of divided data of a maximum size or less to calculate an offset of each piece of divided data, a frame issuing an instruction to a PLC to write a predetermined terminal code in a head address of a data area is transmitted, a frame issuing an instruction to the PLC to write the divided data at a position of the corresponding offset from the head address of the data area with respect to the divided data except a head divided data is transmitted, and a frame issuing an instruction to the PLC to write the head divided data in the head address of the data area is transmitted. |
| US09645561B2 |
Optimizing a dispensing parameter of a product dispenser based on product usage data
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for optimizing a value of a dispensing parameter of a product dispenser based at least in part on product usage data. The dispensing parameter may include any suitable adjustable parameter of the product dispenser including, but not limited to, a dispense duration, a volume of product (e.g., a shot size), a sheet length, a capability of a user sensor to distinguish between genuine and false triggers of the sensor, a delay setting that specifies a delay time between successive dispenses, or the like. The value of the dispensing parameter may be optimized to align an actual performance outcome with a target performance outcome. The target performance outcome may include, for example, minimizing product usage per user, maximizing user sensor reliability (e.g., a percentage of dispenses that occur in response to genuine user-initiated triggering events), and so forth. |
| US09645558B2 |
Dynamic parameter tuning using particle swarm optimization
Dynamic parameter tuning using particle swarm optimization is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a system for dynamically tuning parameters comprising a control unit; and a system for receiving parameters tuned by the control unit. The control unit receives as input a model selection and definitions, and dynamically tunes a value for each parameter by using a modified particle swarm optimization method. The modified particle swarm optimization method comprises moving particle locations based on a particle's inertia, experience, global knowledge, and a tuning factor. The control unit outputs the dynamically tuned value for each parameter. |
| US09645554B2 |
Parameter setting method and parameter setting apparatus for positioning apparatus, and positioning apparatus provided with the parameter setting apparatus
A parameter setting apparatus includes a calculator calculating a first resonance frequency ωr1 of a structure composed of a table, a rotor of a drive motor, and an object and a second resonance frequency ωr2 of a structure composed of a stator of the drive motor and a base using equations given below, and a setter setting a frequency band to be removed for a first damping filter based on the calculated first resonance frequency ωr1 and setting a frequency band to be removed for a second damping filter based on the second resonance frequency ωr2. |
| US09645550B2 |
Timepiece part
A timepiece part, includes a frame having a power source, a housing including a first pivotal movement system and a second pivotal movement system; an escapement set up on a mounting, a first kinematic linkage including a first wheel borne by a first half-shaft from the first pivotal movement system and a second wheel borne by a first half-shaft from the second pivotal movement system, and a second kinematic linkage including a first wheel borne by the second half-shaft from the first pivotal movement system and a second wheel borne by the first or second half-shaft of the second pivotal movement system. One of the wheels borne by the second pivotal movement system is kinematically linked to the power source, and the other wheel borne by the pivotal movement system is stationary relative to the frame. Both wheels borne by the first system are kinematically linked to a differential. |
| US09645549B2 |
Balance spring with coil spacer device
A balance spring includes a strip of polygonal section wound on itself into several coils. At least one coil of the balance spring includes a coil spacer device including at least four stop members mounted on the same face and protruding from the thickness of the at least one coil of the strip. Each of the at least four stop members is arranged to enter into contact with the opposite face of another coil of the strip preventing the other coil from touching the at least one coil in the event of a shock. |
| US09645548B2 |
System, apparatus and method for extracting image cross-sections of an object from received electromagnetic radiation
An apparatus and method to produce a hologram of a cross-section of an object includes an electromagnetic radiation assembly configured to receive a received electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from the object. The electromagnetic radiation assembly is further configured to diffract the received electromagnetic radiation and transmit a diffracted electromagnetic radiation. An image capture assembly is configured to capture an image of the diffracted electromagnetic radiation and produce the hologram of the cross-section of the object from the captured image. The hologram of the cross-section includes information regarding a single cross-section of the object. |
| US09645547B2 |
Ventilation port for image forming apparatus cover
An image forming apparatus to form an image electro-photographically is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a housing formed to have an opening; a cover being movable between an open position and an exposing position and having a ventilation port, through which air is allowed to flow; a cartridge having a developer roller and being detachably attached to a body of the image forming apparatus through the opening; a discharging fan arranged on an opposite side from the opening across the cartridge; a handle arranged on the cartridge to extend from the cartridge in a direction toward the opening in an upper position with respect to the ventilation port, when the cartridge is attached to the body and the opening is covered by the cover; and a facing part arranged on the cover to face the handle in a vertically displaced position with respect to the handle. |
| US09645545B2 |
Process cartridge and photosensitive member cartridge
A process cartridge comprises: a developing cartridge; and a photosensitive member cartridge receiving the developing cartridge. The photosensitive member cartridge comprises a photosensitive member, and a pressing member configured to press the developing cartridge. The developing cartridge is configured to be located at a first position at which it is pressed by the pressing member and at a second position at which it is separable from the photosensitive member cartridge. The developing cartridge comprises: a driving mechanism including a detected member, and a covering member configured to cover the driving mechanism. The covering member comprises: a receiving part protruding configured to receive at least a part of the detected member; and an abutting part continuing to the receiving part, the abutting part being configured to abut on a member in the image forming apparatus main body and to move the developing cartridge to the first position. |
| US09645542B2 |
Electric apparatus
An electric apparatus includes a power cord having first and second plug portions, and a cord portion, a plug insertion recessed portion, and a cord housing groove. The plug insertion recessed portion has an insertion surface that is formed at a position recessed inward from a side surface, and to which an inlet is attached, a first slope extending from a lower end part of the insertion surface, and a second slope extending from an upper end part of the insertion surface. In a state where the first plug part has been inserted in the inlet, a distance a from a lower end part of the first plug portion to the lower edge of the plug insertion recessed portion and a distance b from an upper end part of the first plug portion to the upper edge of the plug insertion recessed portion satisfy a relationship of a>b. |
| US09645537B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of detecting presence or absence of a cartridge or a shape of the cartridge without increasing the number of components
An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a light-emitting unit which emits light to an image bearing member which bears a developer image and that detects presence or absence of a developer container storing developer or a shape of the developer container on the basis of the number of electrons discharged from or received by the image bearing member when the light-emitting unit emits the light. |
| US09645526B2 |
Powder containing device and image forming apparatus
Provided is a powder containing device including a powder container that contains powder, that has a first end which is closed, that has a second end which is opened, that includes a main body section and a tapered section which is disposed on the second end side from the main body section and has a diameter reduced as close to the second end side, and that has an inner circumferential surface on which a protruding ridge is formed to convey the powder to the second end side by rotating around a rotation axis extending in a direction in which the first end and the second end is connected, and a lid member that is provided with an outlet of the powder, is maintained in a non-rotating state, and causes the powder flowing from the opening to flow out from the outlet. |
| US09645522B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus
Provided is an optical scanning apparatus, including: a deflection unit; and an imaging optical element (IOE) guiding a light flux deflected by deflection unit onto a scanned surface, in which, an fθ coefficient of IOE, a focal length of IOE, and when an intersection between deflection unit and an optical axis of IOE is set as an origin, a coordinate in an optical axis direction (OAD) of an intersection between a principal ray of an outermost off-axis light flux and an incident surface of IOE, a coordinate in OAD of an intersection between principal ray of outermost off-axis light flux and an exit surface of IOE, a coordinate in OAD of an intersection between a principal ray of an on-axis light flux and the incident surface, and a coordinate in OAD of an intersection between principal ray of on-axis light flux and the exit surface are appropriately set. |
| US09645521B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus including multiple light emitting elements, upon receiving an instruction from a user to execute correction (first correction) of a phase shift due to a shift in the relative positions of an optical scanning apparatus and the photosensitive member, a CPU executes correction (second correction) of a phase shift due to temperature change in the image forming apparatus. Thereafter, the CPU performs image formation control such that a phase adjustment image is formed on a recording medium, and determines a phase adjustment value based on an adjustment value input by the user. The CPU sets the phase adjustment value in the optical scanning apparatus to correct the phase shift. Thus, when the first correction is to be executed, the CPU executes the second correction before executing the first correction. |
| US09645516B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus
An electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, and a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer on the support, wherein the charge generating layer includes a gallium phthalocyanine crystal in which an organic compound is contained, wherein the organic compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylformamide, N-propylformamide, N-vinylformamide and N-methylpyrrolidone, the content of the organic compound is 0.1% by mass or more and 1.5% or less based on a gallium phthalocyanine in the gallium phthalocyanine crystal, and the charge transporting layer includes a polyester resin having a structural unit represented by formula (1). A-B (1). |
| US09645513B2 |
Optical imaging with reduced immersion liquid evaporation effects
An optical arrangement for use in an optical imaging process includes an optical element, an immersion zone and a liquid repelling device. During the optical imaging process, the immersion zone is located adjacent to the optical element and is filled with an immersion liquid. The optical element has a first surface region and a second surface region. During the optical imaging process, the first surface region is wetted by the immersion liquid. At least temporarily during the optical imaging process, the liquid repelling device generates an electrical field in the region of the second surface. The electrical field being is adapted to cause a repellent force on parts of the immersion liquid which are responsive to the electrical field and inadvertently contact the second surface region. The repellent force has a direction to drive away the parts of the immersion liquid from the second surface region. |
| US09645511B2 |
Lithography system, method of clamping and wafer table
The invention relates to a lithography system, for example for projecting an image or an image pattern on to a target (1) such as a wafer, said target being included in said system by means of a target table (2), clamping means being present for clamping said target on said table. Said clamping means comprises a layer or stationary liquid (3), included at such thickness between target and target table that, provided the material of the liquid (C) and of the respective contacting faces (A, B) of the target (1) and target table (2), a pressure drop (PCap) arises. |
| US09645510B2 |
Method of controlling a radiation source and lithographic apparatus comprising the radiation source
A method of selecting a periodic modulation to be applied to a variable of a radiation source, wherein the source delivers radiation for projection onto a substrate and wherein there is relative motion between the substrate and the radiation at a scan speed, the method including: for a set of system parameters and for a position on the substrate, calculating a quantity, the quantity being a measure of the contribution to an energy dose delivered to the position that arises from the modulation being applied to the variable of the source, wherein the contribution to the energy dose is calculated as a convolution of: a profile of radiation, and a contribution to an irradiance of radiation delivered by the source; and selecting a modulation frequency at which the quantity for the set of system parameters and the position on the substrate satisfies a certain criteria. |
| US09645509B2 |
Scanner model representation with transmission cross coefficients
The present invention relates to a method for simulating aspects of a lithographic process. According to certain aspects, the present invention uses transmission cross coefficients to represent the scanner data and models. According to other aspects, the present invention enables sensitive data regarding various scanner subsystems to be hidden from third party view, while providing data and models useful for accurate lithographic simulation. |
| US09645508B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and surface cleaning method
An apparatus and method for cleaning a contaminated surface of a lithographic apparatus are provided. A liquid confinement structure comprises at least two openings used to supply and extract liquid to a gap below the structure. The direction of flow between the openings can be switched. Liquid may be supplied to the gap radially outward of an opening adapted for dual flow. Supply and extraction lines to respectively supply liquid to and extract liquid from the liquid confinement structure have an inner surface that is resistant to corrosion by an organic liquid. A corrosive cleaning fluid can be used to clean photo resist contamination. |
| US09645507B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
In an immersion lithography apparatus in which immersion liquid is supplied to a localized space, the space is substantially polygonal in plan substantially parallel to the substrate. In an embodiment, two corners of the space have a radius of curvature no greater than the width of a transition zone between the space configured to contain liquid and a surrounding configured not to contain liquid. |
| US09645499B2 |
Photoresist with top-coating photo-decomposable base for photolithography
A lithographic method includes forming a photoresist layer on a target layer, forming a photo-decomposable base (PDB) layer on the photo resist layer, performing an exposure operation using a mask, and performing a negative development treatment to form a patterned photoresist layer on the target layer. In some cases, the photo-decomposable base layer includes a self-generating top coating photo-decomposable base (TC-PDB) layer. The method can also include forming a top surface water-resistant coating in separate coating process. In some embodiments, a top surface water-resistant coating is self-generated during a photoresist coating process. |
| US09645496B2 |
Maskless digital lithography systems and methods with image motion compensation
Maskless digital lithography systems and methods with image motion compensation are disclosed. The systems include an illuminator, an image transducer and a scanning device, wherein the transducer can be upstream or downstream from the scanning device. The illuminator provides illumination light that is modulated by the image transducer. The scanning device, illuminator and image transducer are operated in synchrony so that an image formed in a photoresist layer on a moving substrate forms a photoresist pattern that is not substantially smeared. |
| US09645492B2 |
Coloring composition, colored cured film, color filter, solid-state image sensor and image display device
Provided is a coloring composition which uses a dye polymer and which can form a pattern properly. The coloring composition includes a (A) dye multimer having a non-nucleophilic counter anion and a (B) polymerizable compound. |
| US09645488B2 |
Position measuring method, misplacement map generating method, and inspection system
In a position measuring method, a mask including first patterns to be transferred and second patterns not to be transferred is prepared. The position coordinates of the second patterns are measured with a position measuring apparatus and an inspection system. First position correction data is generated based on the position coordinates of the second patterns. A difference is obtained between the measured position coordinates of the second patterns and the first position correction data is corrected using the obtained difference. Second position correction data is generated from the corrected first position correction data. An optical image including the position coordinates of the first and second patterns is acquired. The position coordinates of the first patterns of the optical image are corrected using a difference between the position coordinates of the second patterns of the optical image and of the second patterns based on the second position correction data. |
| US09645483B2 |
Projection optical system
In a 1-2nd lens group, a reduction-side fixed lens group (first fixed lens group) as a fixed group is disposed on the outermost reduction side, an enlargement-side fixed lens group (second fixed lens group) as a fixed group is disposed on the outermost enlargement side, moving lens groups (lens groups), which move when focusing is performed in response to a magnification change, are disposed between the fixed groups, and thereby it is possible to perform effective correction in order to suppress aberration fluctuation to be reduced. Even in a case where the second optical group is configured of one mirror, it is possible for a primary image to have appropriate aberration and to hereby reduce aberration for a good image which is finally projected onto a screen through the second optical group. |
| US09645478B2 |
Cooling device, image projection apparatus, and electronic apparatus
A cooling device includes a heat dissipating unit that is in contact with an object to be cooled and dissipates heat, and an air blowing unit that takes therein air and blows the air to the heat dissipating unit. The heat dissipating unit includes a first stage portion and a second stage portion that have a difference in level therebetween. The air blowing unit includes a first inlet port that takes therein air from outside, and an outlet port that exhausts the taken-in air. The first inlet port faces the first stage portion, and the outlet port faces the second stage portion. |
| US09645477B2 |
Polarization LED module, and lighting device and projector having the same
Provided is a polarization light emitting diode (LED) module including: a casing comprising an opening; a light source configured to emit light; a reflective polarizer configured to transmit first polarized light of the light emitted from the light source through the opening of the casing toward an external polarization converter, and configured to reflect second polarized light of the light emitted from the light source toward the light source; and a reflector configured to reflect light, which is reflected from the reflective polarizer and traveling toward the light source, toward the reflective polarizer, wherein the light source, the reflective polarizer and the reflector are provided inside the casing. |
| US09645476B2 |
Camera accessory, camera accessory mount, camera body and camera body mount
A camera accessory can be detachably engaged with a camera body that includes a camera body mount, and is equipped with an accessory mount assuming a bayonet structure with a first tab, a second tab and a third tab set over intervals in a circumferential direction running along a circumference of a circle and projecting from the circumference along a radial direction. The accessory mount can be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs being hindered by any of three camera body-side tabs at the camera body mount, as long as the accessory mount is inserted into the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The accessory mount includes a restricting member disposed near the third tab. |
| US09645474B2 |
Camera module having an auto focus adjustment function
The present invention relates to a camera module having an auto focus function, the module including a lens unit having at least one lens, a barrel into which the lens unit is inserted, and connected by a VCM (Voice Coil Motor) actuator, and an image sensor discretely positioned from the lens unit to convert light having passed the lens unit to an electrical signal, where the VCM actuator includes a gap of a reference distance position value which is a position of an object catering to a lens focal length according to the camera module, and information on a focus-met lens position value, and adjusts an initial position of the lens by using the gap of reference distance position value of the lens position value during operation of the camera module. |
| US09645473B2 |
Endoscope apparatus and control method for endoscope apparatus
The endoscope apparatus includes a focus control section that performs a focus control process that controls a plurality of in-focus object plane position, the plurality of in-focus object plane positions being set discretely, a switch control section that switches the focus control process between an autofocus control process and a manual focus control process, and an operation section that is operated by a user, when the operation section has been operated by the user during a period in which the focus control section performs the autofocus control process, the switch control section switching the focus control process from the autofocus control process to the manual focus control process, and the focus control section moving the in-focus object plane position to an in-focus object plane position among the plurality of in-focus object plane positions that differs from the in-focus object plane position when the operation section has been operated. |
| US09645467B2 |
Electrophoretic particles, electrophoretic dispersion liquid, display sheet, display device, and electronic equipment
Electrophoretic particle include a core particle; a siloxane-based compound that is bonded to a surface of the core particle and contains a connection structure in which a plurality of siloxane bonds are serially connected to each other; and a polarizing group that is an organic group bonded to the surface of the core particle, contains a main skeleton and a substituent bonded to the main skeleton, and has unevenly distributed electrons on the particle side of the main skeleton or the opposing side thereof. |
| US09645466B2 |
Electrophoretic particles, electrophoretic dispersion liquid, display sheet, display device, and electronic equipment
Electrophoretic particle include a core particle (mother particle); a siloxane-based compound that is bonded to a surface of the core particle and contains a connection structure in which a plurality of siloxane bonds are serially connected to each other; and a charging group that is an organic group bonded to the surface of the core particle, contains a main skeleton, and has a positive or negative electric charge. It is preferable that the occupancy rate of an area to which the siloxane-based compound is bonded on the surface of the core particle be in the range of 0.05% to 20%. |
| US09645460B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display includes: a substrate; a reference electrode disposed on the substrate; a reference electrode passivation layer disposed on the reference electrode; a thin film transistor disposed on the reference electrode passivation layer; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a pixel electrode passivation layer disposed on a portion of the pixel electrode; a light blocking member disposed on the pixel electrode passivation layer; a color filter disposed so as to face the pixel electrode; a micro cavity disposed between the pixel electrode and the color filter; and a liquid crystal material disposed in the micro cavity. |
| US09645459B2 |
TFT substrate and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a TFT substrate and method for manufacturing the same. The method comprises the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a TFT structure above the substrate; further forming a color resist layer above the substrate, and forming a first opening area in the color resist layer at a location corresponding to the TFT structure; forming a first black matrix in the first opening area such that the TFT structure is covered by the first black matrix; and forming a pixel electrode above the color resist layer and the first black matrix, and the pixel electrode being electrically coupled to the TFT structure through the first black matrix. By applying the method described above, the present invention is sufficient to shield the light and reduce the light transmittance effect when the panel comprising the TFT substrate is bent, such that the contrast of the panel can be improved. |
| US09645458B2 |
Electrooptical device, method of manufacturing electrooptical device, and electronic apparatus
The liquid crystal device includes a first base material 10a, a TFT 30 that is disposed on the first base material 10a, a capacitive element 16 which is connected to the TFT 30 and in which an insulating film is interposed between a pair of electrodes, a first interconnection 16a1 that is electrically connected to one electrode of the pair of electrodes, a second interconnection 16c1 that is electrically connected to the other electrode of the pair of electrodes, a contact hole CNT71 that electrically connects the first interconnection 16a1 and a pixel electrode 27, and a contact hole CNT72 that is disposed on the second interconnection 16c1. The contact holes CNT71 and CNT72 are provided in a pixel insulating layer 11e that is disposed between the pixel electrode 27 and the first interconnection 16a1 and the second interconnection 16c1. |
| US09645457B2 |
Array substrate, display device, and method for manufacturing the array substrate
An array substrate has regions in which an intermediate resist film thickness is formed and processed by an intermediate exposure amount which does not completely expose a resist, respectively on a drain electrode, source terminal, and a common connection wiring which are made of a second conductive film. Thin film patterns or a common wiring made of a first conductive film is formed in substantially entire regions on the bottom layers of the regions so that the heights from a substrate are substantially the same. |
| US09645456B2 |
Liquid crystal display
Provided are a liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate which faces the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer which is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a wire grid polarizer (WGP) which is disposed on the first substrate; a WGP insulating layer which is disposed on the WGP and covers the WGP; and a pad electrode which is disposed on the first substrate, wherein the first substrate comprises a non-overlap area protruding from the second substrate, a sidewall of the WGP insulating layer is located in the non-overlap area, and the pad electrode extends from the non-overlap area of the first substrate along the sidewall of the WGP insulating layer. |
| US09645454B2 |
Transparent conductive film and electric device
According to one embodiment, the transparent conductive film contains a laminated structure including a conductive layer and a transparent polymer layer. The conductive layer contains a metal nanowire and a carbon material including grapheme. The transparent polymer layer contains a transparent polymer having a glass transition temperature of 100° C. or less. The carbon material constitutes one surface of the transparent conductive film. |
| US09645451B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal exhibiting a blue phase and having a novel structure, and a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device. A plurality of structure bodies (also referred to as ribs, protrusions, or projecting portions) are formed over the same substrate, and a pixel electrode and an electrode (a common electrode at a fixed potential) corresponding to the pixel electrode are formed thereover. An electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase by using the pixel electrode that has an inclination and the electrode corresponding to the pixel electrode, which also has an inclination. A shorter distance between the adjacent structure bodies allows a strong electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal layer, which results in a reduction in power consumption for driving the liquid crystal. |
| US09645435B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first electrode which is disposed on the first substrate and transmits a first voltage, a second electrode which is disposed on the first substrate and transmits a second voltage, and a light blocking member overlapping a space between a side of the first electrode and a side of the second electrode which face each other, where the light blocking member has an island shape within a region of a pixel of the plurality of pixels in a plan view. |
| US09645434B2 |
Transparent display device and manufacturing method thereof
Discussed are a transparent display device and a manufacturing method thereof, which may reduce diffraction grating. The transparent display device includes gate lines and data lines formed on a substrate and crossing each other with a gate insulator film interposed therebetween to define pixel areas, common lines formed on the substrate and being parallel to the gate lines, thin film transistors formed in the respective pixel areas, pixel electrodes connected to the thin film transistors, and common electrodes connected to the common lines and alternating with the pixel electrodes. In the transparent display device, blocks between the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes are reduced or increased in width by an equal difference with increasing distance from both edges of each pixel area proximate to the data lines or by an equal difference with decreasing distance to the center of the pixel area. |
| US09645433B2 |
Glazing having electrically switchable optical properties
A glazing having electrically adjustable optical properties is described, including an outer pane and an optically adjustable element which is connected to the outer pane in a planar fashion via at least one thermoplastic film, wherein the thermoplastic film contains at least one luminescent material. |
| US09645429B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
In an exemplary display device of the present invention, a first microcavity filled with liquid crystal molecules is disposed on a substrate. A roof layer is disposed on an upper side and two facing first sides of the first microcavity. The two facing first sides are arranged in a first direction. A support member is disposed on one of two facing second sides of the first microcavity. The two facing second sides are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction. An overcoat is disposed on the roof layer and the other of the two facing second sides of the first microcavity. The support member having a column shape is connected to the roof layer. |
| US09645426B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display component, a light source, a substrate, and a cabinet. The light source irradiates the display component with light. The light source is mounted to the substrate. The substrate is attached to the cabinet. The cabinet includes a positioning component that positions the substrate. |
| US09645424B2 |
Backboard of liquid crystal display
The present invention provides a backboard of a liquid crystal display, which includes a backboard body and a heat dissipation brace mounted to one side of the backboard body. The heat dissipation brace includes a bottom plate that is in contact engagement with a bottom surface of the backboard body and a side plate connected to the bottom plate. The backboard body includes, formed thereon, a plurality of lateral reinforcement ribs substantially parallel to the heat dissipation brace and a plurality of longitudinal reinforcement ribs arranged to perpendicularly intersect the plurality of lateral reinforcement ribs. The plurality of longitudinal reinforcement ribs is each extended to a site above the bottom plate of the heat dissipation brace so as to form a plurality of reinforcement extension sections on the bottom plate. The bottom plate of the heat dissipation brace includes a plurality of notches formed therein to respectively correspond to the plurality of reinforcement extension sections so that the plurality of reinforcement extension sections is respectively received and set in the notches to form an intercrossing structure with respect to the bottom plate. The backboard has a high strength and reduced reliance on material thickness of the backboard body, allowing for optimization of cost. |
| US09645423B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Discussed is a liquid crystal display device which provides a simple structure by minimizing structural and optical components. The liquid crystal display (LCD) device can include a liquid crystal display panel that includes a lower substrate and an upper substrate bonded to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; a rear cover that includes a bottom supporter supporting a light source module emitting light toward a bottom of the liquid crystal display panel, an upper supporter supporting a lower edge of the liquid crystal display panel, and a sidewall between the bottom supporter and the upper supporter; a diffusion sheet arranged below the liquid crystal display panel to cover the bottom supporter of the rear cover; and a sheet attachment member provided at the edge of the diffusion sheet and attached to the bottom of the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US09645418B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing optical display device
A method for manufacturing an optical display device comprises: sequentially peeling a plurality of optical film sheets continuously supported via an adhesive layer on one of opposite surfaces of a carrier film, together with the adhesive layer from the carrier film under peeling action of the movable peeling member by winding a long web of the carrier film in a state where the other of opposite surfaces thereof being folded to inside at a tip-end of the movable peeling member having the tip-end and passed around the peeling member; and laminating the plurality of optical film sheets to one of opposite surfaces of respective ones of panel components via the adhesive layer under laminating action of the closed lamination rollers. |
| US09645417B2 |
Preparation cell systems and methods of a preparing a state of laser light
Preparation cell systems and methods are described herein. One example of a system for a preparation cell includes a laser coupled to a fiber bundle comprising a plurality of fibers, a preparation cell to prepare a state of laser light received by the fiber bundle, and an exiting fiber bundle coupled to the preparation cell. |
| US09645413B2 |
Line of sight detection device, display method, line of sight detection device calibration method, spectacle lens design method, spectacle lens selection method, spectacle lens manufacturing method, printed matter, spectacle lens sales method, optical device, line of sight information detection method, optical instrument design method, optical instrument, optical instrument selection method, and optical instrument production method
A line of sight detection device calibration method, which calibrates a line of sight detection device that measures movement of an eyeball of a subject wearing eyeglasses and detects a transmission point at which a line of sight of the subject passes through a lens of the eyeglasses based on a result of measurement, includes: a measurement step of measuring the movement of the eyeball of the subject in a condition in which a first baseline is arranged at a predetermined position relative to the lens of the eyeglasses and the first baseline reflected in a corner cube substantially corresponds to a second baseline of the corner cube; and a calibration step of calibrating the line of sight detection device based on a result of measurement by the measurement step. |
| US09645412B2 |
Customized lens device and method
A system and method for identifying a custom contact lens for a patient. The method includes receiving as input results from a bare eye examination of a patient including at least a measured sphere power; receiving as input a target or actual measured sphere power of a selected fitting lens; receiving as input results of an over-refraction examination of a patient wearing the fitting lens, wherein the results of the over-refraction examination include at least a measured sphere power; calculating the power delivered by the fitting lens on the patient's eye based on input received from the bare eye examination and over-refraction examinations; calculating an Effectiveness Ratio using the calculated power delivered by the fitting lens and the target or actual measured sphere power of the fitting lens; and calculating a custom lens power for the patient using the Effectiveness Ratio and measured sphere power from the bare eye examination. |
| US09645403B2 |
Reflective imaging element and optical system
A reflective imaging element that may be manufactured in a convenient method and obtain a high quality aerial picture is provided. A reflective imaging element of an embodiment includes a first reflective element and a second reflective element including a light receiving surface to receive light from a projected material and an emitting surface, parallel to the light receiving surface, to emit the light from the projected material. When a ratio of light contributing to imaging out of the light from the projected material is defined as a ratio of amount of light and an incident angle of the light from the projected material when the ratio of amount of light is highest to the light receiving surface is defined as a maximum incident angle, the maximum incident angle of the first reflective element and the maximum incident angle of the second reflective element are different from each other. |
| US09645401B2 |
Image display device comprising beam splitter
An image display device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a display including light-emitting elements arrayed two-dimensionally, and having regions, in each of which a part of the light-emitting elements is located; a mirror lens array including mirror lenses, each of the mirror lenses being disposed correspondingly to one of the regions, reflecting light from the regions, and forming virtual images; and a beam splitter disposed between the display and the mirror lens array, the beam splitter transmitting a part of the light from the regions in a direction of the mirror lens array and reflecting a part of reflected light from the mirror lens array. |
| US09645400B2 |
Three-dimensional image display device
The present invention provides a three-dimensional image display device for improving the visibility with prevention of moiré phenomena. The display device includes an image panel having a pixel repeatedly arranged in a first direction. The pixel consists of k sub-pixels where k is natural number. The average of the center distances between adjacent sub-pixels in the first direction is Psub. The display also includes a barrier panel arranged before or behind the image panel, a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other. The barrier panel is arranged between the first and the second substrate. The display device further includes a plurality of walls extended in a second direction crossing the first direction arranged with an interval Pw in the first direction, where m is a natural number but not a multiple of k, and Pw=mPsub. |
| US09645399B2 |
Autostereoscopic display apparatus and method
A three-dimensional (3D) display apparatus is provided for displaying a 3D image. The 3D display apparatus includes a display panel and a grating device coupled to the display panel. The display panel includes a plurality of display pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, and each pixel includes multiple sub-pixels. The grating device includes a plurality of grating elements based on liquid crystal to guide lights associated with the plurality of display pixels into predetermined viewing directions. Further, the grating device is one of a lenticular lens grating and a slit grating, and the plurality of grating elements are arranged in parallel. The plurality of grating elements cover the plurality of display pixels and are tilted at an inclination angle with respect to the display pixels, and each grating element comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged at the inclination angle. Further, a width of the electrodes is less than or equal to a width of a sub-pixel and a width between any two electrode is less than or equal to a sub-pixel. |
| US09645389B2 |
Light guiding device, method for producing same, and LD module
A light-guiding device that converts an input beam bundle made of a plurality of laser beams that have respectively been emitted from a plurality of LD elements, to an output beam bundle made of a plurality of output beams, includes a plurality of double mirrors each corresponding to a corresponding one of the LD elements LDi, the double mirrors being separated from one another. The double mirrors Mi each are made of a first mirror Mi1 that is mounted on a top surface of a base plate B and a second mirror Mi2 that is mounted on a top surface the first mirror Mi1. The first mirror has a first reflective surface whose normal makes an angle of 45° with a normal of the top surface of the base plate. The second mirror has a second reflective surface whose normal makes an angle of 135° with the normal of the top surface of the base plate. The laser beams respectively emitted from the LD elements respectively corresponding to the double mirrors each are first reflected by the first reflective surface and then further reflected by the second reflective surface. By adjusting orientations and positions of the first mirror and the second mirror, it is possible to adjust a propagation direction of each of the output beams. |
| US09645388B2 |
Facet mirror device
There is provided a facet mirror device comprising a facet element and a support unit, the support unit supporting the facet element. The support unit comprises a first support element and a second support element, the second support element being connected to the facet element to support the facet element. The first support element is connected to the second support element to support the second support element, the first support element being connected to the second support element via at least one flexure unit, the flexure unit comprising at least one flexure. |
| US09645383B2 |
Objective lens for endoscope and endoscope
An objective lens for an endoscope consists of, in order from the object side, a negative front group, an aperture stop and a positive rear group. The front group consists of, in order from the object side, a negative first lens and a cemented lens of a negative second lens and a positive third lens cemented together. The rear group consists of, in order from the object side, a positive lens and a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens cemented together. The objective lens for an endoscope satisfies predetermined conditional expressions. |
| US09645382B2 |
Objective lens for endoscope and endoscope
An objective lens for an endoscope focuses from a farthest point object to a nearest point object by moving, along optical axis Z, at least one lens group excluding a most object-side lens group. The objective lens satisfies the formulae: 1.2≦ft/fw, and 0.0<(fm−fw)/(ft−fw)≦0.5, where ft is a focal length of an entire system when the objective lens has been focused on the nearest point object, fw is a focal length of the entire system when the objective lens has been focused on the farthest point object, and fm is a focal length of the entire system when the objective lens has been focused on the middle point object. |
| US09645381B2 |
Multi-surface optical 3D microscope
A method of detecting multi-surfaces of an object includes providing an imaging system capable of detecting surfaces of the object. After system parameters are set up, two-dimensional images of the object at multiple Z steps can be acquired. Each surface of the object can then be extracted using two steps. In a first step, the surface can be constructed based on a confidence threshold. In a second step, the surface can be enhanced using an interpolation filter. |
| US09645377B2 |
Compressive imaging systems and methods
A compressive imaging system includes an illumination system arranged to illuminate an object of interest with illumination light, and a detection system configured to detect at least a portion of the illumination light after being at least one of reflected from, scattered from, or transmitted through the object of interest or to detect fluorescent light from the object of interest and to provide an imaging signal. The compressive imaging system further includes an image processing system configured to communicate with the detection system to receive the imaging signal. The illumination light from the illumination system comprises a plurality of light pulses such that each light pulse has a preselected spectrum that is distinguishable from spectra of all other pulses. The image processing system is configured to form an image of the object of interest using information concerning the preselected spectra of the plurality of light pulses. |
| US09645375B2 |
Light microscope and microscopy method
A light microscope having a specimen plane, in which a specimen to be examined is positioned, having a light source to emit illuminating light, having optical imaging means to convey the illuminating light into the specimen plane, having a first scanning means, with which an optical path of the illuminating light and the specimen can be moved relative to each other to produce an illumination scanning movement of the illuminating light relative to the specimen, having a detector means to detect specimen light coming from the specimen and having electronic means to produce an image of the specimen based on the specimen light detected by the detector means at different specimen regions. A second scanning means is present, with which it can be adjusted which specimen region can be imaged on a determined detector element. |
| US09645369B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power that does not move for zooming; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves during zooming; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power that moves during zooming; and at least one lens unit having a positive refractive power, and focal lengths of the zoom lens at a wide angle end and a telephoto end, a maximum value of a half angle of field at the wide angle end, and products of lateral magnifications of lens units arranged on the image side of the third lens unit in a state in which focus is at infinity at the telephoto end and the wide angle end are appropriately set. |
| US09645367B2 |
Zoom lens system
A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a third lens group including at least one positive lens element or one negative lens element, a positive fourth lens group, and a negative fifth lens group, in that order from the object side. At least the first, second, fourth and fifth lens groups are moved during zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, and the following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: −6.5 |
| US09645364B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens consists of, in order from the object side, a front group having a negative refractive power, a stop, and a rear group having a positive refractive power. The front group consist of a front-group negative lens group that consists of three negative lenses and has a negative refractive power, and a front-group positive lens group that includes one positive lens and one negative lens and has a positive refractive power, where the negative lens is disposed at the most image-side position. The rear group includes two positive lenses and two negative lenses. The imaging lens satisfies condition expression (1): 0.95<−fAn/f<2, where fAn is a focal length of the front-group negative lens group, and f is a focal length of the entire system. |
| US09645362B2 |
Projection optical system
A 1-2nd lens group includes two aspherical resin lenses, and thereby it is possible to perform effective correction in order to suppress aberration fluctuation to be reduced. At this time, a glass lens is disposed between the two lenses, and thereby it is possible to control an incident light angle to the resin lens and to reduce power of the resin lenses, and it is possible to prevent variations of shapes of the resin lens. Even in a case where the second optical group is configured of one mirror, it is possible for a primary image to have appropriate aberration and to hereby reduce aberration for a good image which is finally projected onto a screen through the second optical group. |
| US09645360B2 |
Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens may comprise an aperture stop and five lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. By controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements and designing parameters satisfying at least one inequality, the optical imaging lens may exhibit better optical characteristics and larger half-field of view, and meanwhile the total length of the optical imaging lens may be shortened. |
| US09645358B2 |
Optical image capturing system
A six-piece optical lens for capturing image and a six-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis includes a first lens with refractive power, a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power, a fourth lens with refractive power, a fifth lens with refractive power and a sixth lens with refractive power. At least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the six lens elements is aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09645357B2 |
Optical image capturing system
A six-piece optical lens for capturing image and a six-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis includes a first lens with refractive power, a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power, a fourth lens with refractive power, a fifth lens with refractive power and a sixth lens with refractive power. At least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the six lens elements is aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09645355B2 |
Lens module
A lens module includes a first lens having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, a second lens having a concave object-side surface; a third lens having a meniscus shape; and a fourth lens having an inflection point formed on an image-side surface and a convex object-side surface. A distance from an image-side surface of the third lens to the object-side surface of the fourth lens may be less than 0.05. In an embodiment, r2, a radius of curvature of an image-side surface of the first lens, and, f, an overall focal length of an optical system including the first through fourth lenses may satisfy −0.94 |
| US09645349B1 |
Compact mounting for local oscillator laser launch
A compact LIDAR pointing assembly can comprise a body, first and second ferrules, and a clip component that can be used to maintain an engagement between the first and second ferrules and an alignment of light emanating from the first and second ferrules relative to received light propagating along an optical axis of the assembly. The ferrules can be pivoted to adjust the orientation of the light emanating from the ferrules. |
| US09645348B2 |
Method of producing a lens mount and a lens mount which can be fixed radially in a lens tube
A lens mount for radially fixing, or for radially adjusting and fixing, in a lens tube, having a mounting ring in which tangentially running first slots form cylindrical segments which, during the operation of turning the external diameter of the mounting ring to a nominal dimension are deformed by a screw by a width of the first slots, and therefore the circumferential surface of the mounting ring is not turned, at least in part, along the segment and the external diameter has an oversize. |
| US09645347B2 |
Spacer for lenses and photographing apparatus having the same
A lens spacer may be configured to maintain a gap between a first lens and a second lens arranged along an optical axis. The lens spacer may include a first film member having a ring shape and may include a plurality of first tabs and a plurality of first recesses disposed between adjacent ones of the first tabs. The first tabs may protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the first film member toward the optical axis. A second film member may have a ring shape and may include a plurality of second tabs and a plurality of second recesses between adjacent ones of the second tabs. The second tabs may protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the second film member toward the optical axis. The first and second film members may be arranged along the optical axis, and the second tabs may overlap respective ones of the first recesses. |
| US09645345B2 |
Optical element alignment and retention for optical instruments
An optical element holder includes receptacles for retaining optical elements, and is configured to move a selected optical element into an optical path whereby a light beam passes through the selected optical element. The optical element holder is configured to retain the optical elements in a manner that mitigates or avoids misalignment of the optical elements, thereby mitigating or avoiding unwanted deviations in the path of the light beam. The optical element holder may be part of a microscope or other optical instrument. |
| US09645344B2 |
Inverted cable storage device
A cable supporting device includes a channel member having a top flange, a bottom flange, and an outer wall defining an inward facing channel. The channel extends around a curved back section, a first side section, and a second side section. A cross brace extends from the first side section to the second side section. The cable supporting device is used in a distribution system to store excess cable. |
| US09645343B2 |
Suspension clamp for cables having preferential bend
Suspension clamps for fiber optic cables having a preferential bend are disclosed. The suspension clamp includes a body having a clamping region with a first radius R1 adjacent to the clamping region and a second radius R2 adjacent to the first radius R1 where the first radius is greater than the second radius R2. In one embodiment, the suspension clamp is formed from an first (upper) portion having an attachment structure and a second (lower) portion where the body is generally symmetric about the clamping region. |
| US09645342B2 |
Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays
An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining rearward cable connections and forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. Openings permitting access to the rearward and forward cable connections of the adapters are provided. The chassis further including a removable rear chassis portion to provide access to cable routing areas within the chassis interior. |
| US09645341B2 |
Cable assembly with connector having twist ability for aligning mating features
A hybrid cable includes a sleeve surrounding conductors and optical fibers. The sleeve is attached to a transition element. In one embodiment, the optical fibers exiting the transition element are surrounded by a first jacket, and the conductors exiting the transition element are surrounded by a second jacket. The sleeve may be attached to a second transition element, such that the conductors and optical fibers pass through the second transition element, and at least the conductors enter a flexible tube and pass to a connector. If the conductors and optical fibers pass through the flexible tube, the connector may be a hybrid connector terminating both the conductors and optical fibers. The flexible tube can twist about its axis of extension per linear foot without incurring a kink to a greater degree than the sleeve can twist about its axis of extension per linear foot without incurring a kink. |
| US09645338B2 |
Optical port having one or more alignment features
Disclosed are optical ports and devices using the optical ports. The optical port includes a mounting body having a first pocket and at least one mounting surface for securing the optical port, one or more optical elements, and a first alignment feature disposed in the pocket, wherein the alignment feature includes a piston that is translatable during mating. The one or more optical elements may be an integral portion of the mounting body or a discrete lens. In other embodiments, the mounting body may include a plurality of pockets and one of the pockets may include a magnet for securing a plug to the optical port. The optical port may optionally have a minimalist optical port footprint so that the complimentary mating optical plug engages a portion of the frame during mating. |
| US09645336B2 |
Optical connections having magnetic coupling
Optical connections for optical communication having in-line optical paths and magnetic coupling portions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connection includes a lens block having an optical interface portion that defines an in-line optical path without an optical turn for optical signals propagating through the lens block, and a magnetic coupling portion disposed about at least a portion of the lens block. In another embodiment, a method of making an optical connection that includes providing a circuit board having one or more active components and placing a lens block on the circuit board. The lens block includes an optical interface portion defining an in-line optical path. The method further includes placing at least one magnetic coupling portion about the lens block. The at least one magnetic coupling portion is configured as a bulk magnetic material. Electronic devices and fiber optic cable assemblies are also disclosed. |
| US09645333B2 |
Optomechanical assembly
A dual enclosure including an inner housing inside an outer housing is provided for an optical bench supporting a plurality of optical elements. An air gap is provided between the inner and outer housings. The inner housing may act as a heat spreader for isothermal operation, and the outer housing may act as a heat insulator. The optical bench may be disposed within the inner housing on a supporting element or elements, which thermally and mechanically decouple the optical bench from the inner housing. |
| US09645332B2 |
Implantable optical feedthrough connector
Configurations are described for creating and using separable optical feedthroughs. These are especially useful in their at least semi-hermetic form when integrated with implantable photomedical devices. One embodiment is directed to a system for operatively coupling an optical output from a light source positioned inside of a sealed housing to an external optical fiber, comprising: a first optical fiber disposed adjacent to the light source and configured to receive at least a portion of the optical output; a second optical fiber operatively coupled to the first optical fiber and configured to capture at least a portion of an output from the first optical fiber; a primary seal operatively coupled to the housing between the light source and the second optical fiber that is at least partially transparent; and a secondary seal positioned between the second optical fiber and the environment. |
| US09645331B1 |
Optical module device and method of manufacturing the same
An optical module device including optical devices 110, a substrate 100 on which the optical devices 110 are disposed, optical fibers 200 that implement optical communications with the optical devices 110, an optical bench 300 to which the optical fibers 200 are fixed and which implements optical coupling between the optical devices 110 and the optical fibers 200, a cover block 400 that covers the optical bench 300 and a copper cable receptacle 500. |
| US09645329B2 |
Gradient index (GRIN) lens holders employing groove alignment feature(s) in recessed cover and single piece components, connectors, and methods
Gradient index (GRIN) lens holders employing groove alignment feature(s) in recessed cover and single piece components, connectors, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the GRIN lens holder contains one or more internal groove alignment features configured to secure one or more GRIN lenses in the GRIN lens holder. The groove alignment features are also configured to accurately align the end faces of the GRIN lenses. The GRIN lens holders disclosed herein can be provided as part of an optical fiber ferrule and/or a fiber optic component or connector for making optical connections. A fiber optic connector containing the GRIN lens holders disclosed herein may be optically connected to one or more optical fibers in another fiber optic connector or to an optical device, such as a laser-emitting diode (LED), laser diode, or opto-electronic device for light transfer. |
| US09645328B2 |
No-polish optical element attachment for optical fiber ferrule
Systems and method for attaching optical elements to a multi-fiber ferrule. The method may include the steps of acquiring a ferrule having a plurality of holes and an output side; providing an optical element having a flat surface such that an orientation of the flat surface of the optical element is facing the output side of the ferrule within a predetermined tolerance; applying an adhesive to the flat surface of the optical element or the output side of the ferrule, the adhesive selected to match the refractive index of the optical element; moving at least one of the optical element and the ferrule with a controlled velocity and acceleration such that the flat surface of the optical element pushes against all of the protruding fibers; and curing the applied adhesive to attach the optical element to the ferrule. |
| US09645326B1 |
Optical connector with a movable cleaning element
Examples include an optical connector with a movable cleaning element that comprises a connector sleeve and an optical ferrule located at a rear of the connector sleeve. Some examples comprise a cleaning element located within the connector sleeve, said cleaning element comprising a wipe panel to clean an end of an optical ferrule of a male optical connector when mated with the female optical connector and a spring flap to couple the wipe panel to the connector sleeve. Some examples comprise channels, located in the connector sleeve, and protrusions, located in the wipe panel, that engage into the channels such that the wipe panel is movable along the channels between a cleaning position in which the wipe panel is positioned perpendicular to the optical ferrule of the male optical connector and a resting position in which the wipe panel allows connection of the ferrules of the male and female optical connectors. |
| US09645323B2 |
Micro hybrid LC duplex adapter
A hybrid optical fiber adapter comprises a first adapter end configured to receive a first optical fiber connector, and a second adapter end configured to receive a second optical fiber connector of a different type from the first optical fiber connector. The hybrid adapter further comprises a spring configured to couple to the second adapter end such that the second optical fiber connector received into the second adapter end is disposed between the spring and the second adapter end, so as to allow floating of the second optical fiber connector. In one embodiment, the first optical fiber connector is an LC connector and the second optical fiber connector is a micro connector. The hybrid adapter may be coupled to a module such that the second adapter end protrudes into the module, requiring less space inside the module compared to conventional hybrid adapters, without sacrificing optical performance. |
| US09645320B2 |
Coupler and optical waveguide chip applying the coupler
A coupler and a waveguide chip including the coupler are provided. The coupler connects a first optical waveguide to a second optical waveguide and includes an entity region and a first waveguide grating. A first end of the entity region is coupled to the first optical waveguide. A second end of the entity region is coupled to a second end of the first waveguide grating. A first end of the first waveguide grating is coupled to the second optical waveguide. Size of the first end of the entity region matches size of an end plane of the first optical waveguide, size of an end plane of the second end of the entity region matches size of an end plane of the second end of the first waveguide grating, and size of the first end of the first waveguide grating matches size of an end plane of the second waveguide. |
| US09645315B2 |
Multiplexer
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a multiplexer, and relate to the field of fiber communications technologies. The multiplexer according to the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a first light beam adjusting element, a second light beam adjusting element, a first light filtering and combining element, a second light filtering and combining element, a polarization changing element, and a light polarizing and combining element. The optical multiplexer according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may not only implement combining at least four light beams into one light beam but also reduce the number of reflection times of light during a light combination process. |
| US09645312B2 |
Rebalanced adiabatic optical polarization splitter
A polarization splitter/combiner and method of forming the same includes a first waveguide having a direction of propagation in a first direction. The height of the first waveguide is greater than the width of the first waveguide. A second waveguide is in proximity to the first waveguide and has a direction of propagation substantially parallel to the first direction in an interaction region. The second waveguide includes a first portion having a greater than the width of the first portion and a second portion having a width greater than a height of the second portion. |
| US09645311B2 |
Optical component with angled-facet waveguide
An optical component includes a component body, and at least one angled-facet waveguide formed in the component body, wherein the angled-facet waveguide is substantially mirror-symmetrical in shape relative to a line at or near the center of the angled-facet waveguide. |
| US09645308B2 |
Backlight device and display apparatus
The backlight device included in the display apparatus includes a bezel, light guide plate, heat sink (supporting member) located on the rear side of the light guide plate, and a front side chassis (pressing member) located on the front side of the light guide plate to press the light guide plate from the front side. The bezel is fixed to the front side chassis. By a protrusion (suppressing member), the heat sink suppresses the approaching movement of a part of the bezel covering a side part of the heat sink. This also prevents the rotational movement of front part of the bezel and the front side chassis moving forward along with the movement of the part of the bezel. The force of the front side chassis pressing the light guide plate is not lowered, while preventing the light guide plate from shifting its position. |
| US09645306B2 |
Backlight module, LCD and OLED display device
The present invention proposes a backlight module including a back bezel made of memorizing alloy materials and a heating apparatus for heating the back bezel. The back bezel is curved upon a condition that a temperature is equal or over a predetermined temperature. The back bezel is flattened upon a condition that the temperature is under the predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature indicates to a threshold temperature of deformation of the memorizing alloy materials. The present invention also proposes an LCD device and an OLED display device. The backlight module, the LCD device and the OLED display device of the present invention are capable of switching a surface between a plane and a curve at will. |
| US09645295B2 |
Light guide plate and backlight module with the same
A light guide plate includes an incident edge and a plurality of V-shaped grooves. The incident edge includes a tilted surface, a vertical surface, a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is configured in parallel with the bottom surface. The top surface joins with an end of the tilted surface. The bottom surface joins with the other end of the tilted surface. The plurality of V-shaped grooves extend in a predetermined direction and are configured on the tilted surface. When the light from a light source strikes on a tilted surface, on which V-shaped grooves make the light diffused, and the diffused light is in conformity on the incident edge, having no hot spot there. |
| US09645294B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, electronic apparatus, and illumination device
Provided is a liquid crystal display device including: an illumination device, and a liquid crystal panel that is arranged so as to be stacked on a light-emitting surface side of the illumination device, wherein the illumination device includes a light guide plate in which a side end surface extending in a first direction is a light incident portion, a plurality of light-emitting elements that align along a first direction and, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements faces a light-irradiating surface in the light incident portion, and a plurality of groove rows that are formed of a plurality of grooves which are linearly arranged in a second direction on an opposite surface facing the light-emitting surface of the light guide plate, the second direction intersects the first direction in an in-plane direction of the light-emitting surface, and that are arranged in parallel in the first direction. |
| US09645292B2 |
Thin high-performance polarizing film and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a thin high-performance polarizing film includes coating a polyvinyl alcohol type resin on a resin substrate having a thickness of at least 20 μm and then drying the resin to thereby form a polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer, immersing thus produced polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer in a dyeing solution including a dichroic material to thereby have the dichroic material impregnated in the polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer, stretching the polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer having the dichroic material impregnated therein together with the resin substrate in a boric acid solution such that a total stretching ratio of 5.0 or more of the original length is achieved. |
| US09645291B1 |
Voltage-tunable optical filters for instrumentation applications
A series combination of a shortwave pass (SWP) filter and a longwave pass (LWP) filter is provided in an arrangement where the filters are separately and independently controlled by voltages applied to the respective filters. The applied voltages modify the response profile of the associated filters, where changes in the voltage applied to the SWP filter changes its cut-off wavelength λS and changes in the voltage applied to the LWP filter changes its cut-on wavelength λL (the bandwidth of the combined arrangement between the span between λL and λS). The ability to independently tune both the SWP and LWP filters allows for the combined result of their series combination to modify both the center wavelength (CWL) and bandwidth (BW) of the overall filter resulting from their combination. |
| US09645289B2 |
Optical effect coating
Provided is an article having a condition-dependent image, said article comprising (a) a substrate having a surface, (b) upon the surface of the substrate, one or more layers of a clear coating comprising a plurality of beads. Also provided are a method of producing such an article and a method of observing the image on such an article. |
| US09645288B2 |
Film for display device and manufacturing method thereof
A film for a display device and a method of manufacturing the film, the film including transparent layers; and scattering layers, the transparent layers and scattering layers being alternately arranged with a predetermined cycle, wherein a plurality of patterns are non-periodically formed in an upper surface or a lower surface of the film. |
| US09645285B2 |
Optical article comprising a surfactant-based temporary antifog coating with an improved durability
The present invention relates to an optical article comprising a substrate coated with a coating preferably comprising silanol groups on its surface and, directly contacting this coating, an antifog coating precursor coating, said precursor coating preferably having a static contact angle with water of more than 10° and of less than 50° and being obtained through the grafting of at least one organosilane compound possessing a polyoxyalkylene group and at least one silicon atom bearing at least one hydrolyzable group, and is further coated with a film obtained by applying a composition containing at least one surfactant of formula F(CF2)y—(CH2—CH2O)x+1H (VIII), wherein x is an integer ranging from 1 to 14, y is an integer lower than or equal to 10, compounds of formula (VIII) in which y=6 representing at least 90% by weight by weight, relative to the weight of compounds (VIII) present in the composition, so as to form an antifog coating, having preferably a static contact angle with water lower than or equal to 10°. |
| US09645283B2 |
Weather prediction apparatus and weather prediction method
According to an embodiment, weather prediction apparatus divides prediction target area into grids and performs weather prediction for each grid. The apparatus includes receiver, calculator and corrector. Receiver receives observation value in each grid at a first time interval. Calculator sets first observation value received by receiver as initial value and calculates prediction value in each grid using advection model at a second time interval shorter than first time interval. When receiver receives second observation value after first observation value, corrector corrects advection model based on difference between second observation value and prediction value corresponding to observation time of second observation value. |
| US09645280B2 |
Global grid building in reverse faulted areas by an optimized unfaulting method
A method to generate a global grid may include storing at least one data structure representing a plurality of fault blocks associated with one or more faults in a geographic formation; selecting two fault blocks associated with a fault of the one or more faults; changing the position of a first of the two fault blocks in the at least one data structure representative of a shift of the first fault block towards the other fault block of the two fault blocks to position the center of gravity of a fault boundary of the first fault block with the center of gravity of a fault boundary of the other fault block; aligning the first fault block with the other fault block according to a permitted level of conflict between fault blocks; and updating the at least one data structure to indicate a merging of the two selected fault blocks. |
| US09645275B2 |
Integrated dip from 3D resistivity tool and borehole imaging tool
A method for determining a dip of a geological structure in a subterranean formation, involves generating, using a 3D resistivity analyzer, a first intermediate result describing the dip of the geological structure based on 3D resistivity data collected from a borehole penetrating the subterranean formation. The method further involves generating, using a borehole image analyzer, a second intermediate result describing the dip of the geological structure based on a borehole image collected from the borehole. The method further involves generating, by a computer processor combining the first intermediate result and the second intermediate result based on a pre-determined criterion, an integrated result describing the dip of the geological structure. |
| US09645273B2 |
Method of semi-permeable terrain geophysical data acquisition
A method, a system and an apparatus of semi-permeable terrain geophysical data acquisition is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of geophysical data acquisition over a semi-permeable terrain includes placing an apparatus housing geophysical data measuring instruments over a semi-permeable terrain. The method adjusts and calibrates low frequency unshielded dipole antennas with a transmitter and a receiver in a pre-determined interval distance depending on central frequency. The method selects a time data trigger type and/or a unit data trigger type to scan and/or trace where a data signal is sent to a ground at selected intervals. The method causes a linear movement of the apparatus over the semi-permeable terrain. The method determines an optimal position for geophysical data acquisition over the semi-permeable terrain. Further, the method captures geophysical data with measuring instruments housed on the apparatus. |
| US09645272B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing clocks underwater using light and sound
Methods and systems for synchronizing clocks used in underwater devices is described. All clocks have some drift due to frequency accuracy and this disclosure provides a method for periodically synchronizing clocks to an accurate master clock to remove long term drift. A synchronization device can use an accurate clock and hardware to transmit both a sound wave and light pulse at the same point in time. Remote slave clocks can detect the light first, and later the sound, allowing them to calculate the distance the pulse had to travel. The clocks can then synchronize their time to the master clock canceling out any drift. The synchronization device can be packaged in a waterproof housing and can be moved around on a periodic basis between the clock on an underwater robot or any other means. |
| US09645270B2 |
Method for post-stack noise mitigation
Method for mitigating coherent noise and seismic data using an adaptively varying filter. The strongest and most coherent pattern (53), generally associated with the geology, is adaptively removed (56) from the original seismic data, producing an intermediate product that consists predominantly of noise. These noise data are then removed from the original input data (57) to produce a significantly more interpretable seismic volume. |
| US09645268B2 |
Seismic orthogonal decomposition attribute
A method can include providing seismic data for a subsurface region that includes a reflector; decomposing at least a portion of the seismic data using principal component analysis (PCA) to generate at least one principal component; and outputting output data based at least in part on the at least one principal component. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US09645267B2 |
Triaxial accelerometer assembly and in-situ calibration method for improved geodetic and seismic measurements
A device and method for improved geodetic and seismic measurements are disclosed. The device comprises a triaxial accelerometer assembly, mounted to a reference structure, having full scale ranges greater than +/−1 G on three orthogonal axes and a mechanism for rotating the triaxial accelerometer assembly on the reference structure. The triaxial acceleration assembly is calibrated with an internal alignment matrix such that measurements of Earth's gravity vector are rotationally invariant with respect to the direction of Earth's 1 G static gravity vector irrespective of the orientation of the triaxial assembly on the reference structure. In-situ calibrations are performed by rotating the axes of the triaxial acceleration assembly in the direction of Earth's static gravity vector. Drift of the triaxial accelerometer assembly is compensated for by measuring changes in the values of the invariant static gravity vector for each axis and correcting for the drift with new calibration coefficients. |
| US09645253B2 |
Method and apparatus for detection of radioactive isotopes
A method and apparatus for detecting an isotope. Embodiments can detect radioactive isotopes. Embodiments can utilize a detector that incorporates at least two sub-detectors. Each sub-detector can receive energy from an isotope and create a signal corresponding to the received energy. Each sub-detector can incorporate a detector element, such as a detector element incorporating one or more diodes, a detector element incorporating a crystal, a detector element incorporating a solid-state device, or a detector element incorporating a scintillator. The sub-detectors can be configured such that for each isotope to be detected at least two of the sub-detectors produce different output signals, or readings. In an embodiment, each sub-detector is configured such that when there are at least two sub-detectors exposed to the isotope each of the corresponding readings from the sub-detectors is different from each of the other readings. |
| US09645252B2 |
Method to extract photon depth-of interaction and arrival time within a positron emission tomography detector
A method for extracting photon depth-of-interaction of an incident photon in a crystal with a reflective coating optically coupled to all sides of the crystal, except for an opening, wherein a photodetector is optically coupled to the opening. A pulse shape of a photodetector output as a result of detection of scintillation photons from the crystal generated by the incident photon is measured, wherein the reflective coating optically coupled to all sides of the crystal, except for an opening optically coupled to the photodetector reflects the scintillation photons passing to all sides of the crystal, except for the opening optically coupled to the photodetector. The pulse shape is used to determine photon depth-of-interaction within the crystal. |
| US09645244B2 |
UTC time offset estimation at a GNSS receiver
Techniques are provided to quickly estimate a temporal shift of a GPS signal based on an analysis of a GLONASS signal. The shift can be a result of applied leap-second adjustments affecting GLONASS signals but not GPS signals. By identifying this shift, GPS and GLONASS signals can be considered together in order to estimate locations. The temporal shift can be determined, e.g., by estimating a separation between a GPS-signal frame feature (e.g., frame onset) and a GLONASS-signal frame feature (e.g., frame onset), or identifying coinciding frame features (e.g., a GPS-signal subframe coinciding with a GLONASS-signal string number). The techniques allow the temporal shift to be estimated based on an analysis of just a portion of the GPS-signal and GLONASS-signal frames, such that a speed of location estimations can be improved. |
| US09645243B2 |
Platform relative navigation using range measurements
A method for platform relative navigation using range measurements involves four or more transmitters of positioning signals located on and/or near a platform of a first object and a second object approaching the platform that includes three or more receivers for receiving the positioning signals. For each received positioning signal, a range measurement between the transmitter of the positioning signal and the receiver of the positioning signal is performed. The relative position and relative attitude of a body frame of the second object is estimated with regard to the first object by processing the range measurements with a state space estimation algorithm implementing a model of the system of the first and second object. |
| US09645240B1 |
Method for optically scanning and measuring an environment
A method for optically scanning, measuring and displaying a point cloud is provided. The method includes emitting, by a laser scanner, an emission light beam and receiving a reflection light beam that is reflected from an object. A control device determines for measurement points projected on a plane corresponding to a screen, wherein at least some measurement points are displayed on a display device. One or more pixels are gap filled to generate a visual appearance of a surface on the display device. Wherein the gap filling includes a first horizontal search in a first direction of a first measured point of the measurement points followed by a second horizontal search in a second direction of the first measured point. The gap filling further includes a first vertical search in a third direction of the measured point, followed by a second vertical search in a fourth direction. |
| US09645239B2 |
Laser tracker comprising interferometer and absolute distance measuring unit, and calibration method for a laser tracker
Some embodiments described herein include a laser tracker for continuously tracking a reflective target and for determining the distance with respect to the target. The laser tracker may include beam directing unit for emitting a measurement radiation and for receiving at least part of the measurement radiation reflected at the target. The laser tracker additionally comprises an interferometer for determining a change in distance with respect to the target. A control and evaluation unit is designed in such a way that an interferometer wavelength of the measurement radiation is determined by defined sample measurements being carried out with variation of the distance with respect to the target, wherein the sample measurements are effected for at least two different distances with respect to the target, the measurement radiation is constantly oriented towards the target and with the interferometer wavelength being kept stable. |
| US09645236B2 |
Target detection apparatus and program
A first specifying-means specifies a first-region including a first detection-point, which is of a first-target on an X-Y plane on which a width direction of a vehicle is defined as an X-axis, and a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is defined as a Y-axis. A second specifying-means specifies a second-region including a second detection-point, which is of a second-target on the X-Y plane, based on a direction of the second detection-point and a target-width, which is a width along the X-axis of the second-target. A determination means determines that the first- and second-targets are the same, provided that an overlapping portion exists therebetween. An estimation means estimates a true-value target-width, based on the direction of the second detection-point and the first detection-point, provided that the first- and second-targets are the same. A correction-means corrects a position of the second-region specified next time by using the true-value target-width as the target-width. |
| US09645223B2 |
Underwater acoustic navigation systems and methods
An acoustic underwater navigation system is disclosed. For instance, an underwater receiver determines its position using signals broadcast from an array of acoustic transmitters located near the surface. The position of the array is measured using global positioning system (GPS) technology and the transmitters collectively produce an acoustic signal in which the position and attitude of the array and the GPS time of transmission are encoded. An underwater receiver which is synchronized with the GPS time uses the transmitted position and attitude of the array and the transmission time information to calculate its position. |
| US09645222B2 |
Apparatus for direction finding of wireless signals
Provided herein is a compact and economical direction finding antenna using a mono-pulse antenna system, where a plurality of antenna elements are disposed in a circular array. The directional antennas may be formed by any type of antenna element, including a patch or reflector. The antenna beams of the directional antenna elements overlap, so that from any azimuthal direction, the point is covered by more than one antenna beam. Signals from each pair of adjacent antenna elements of the circular array are processed in order to determine the angle of arrival of a received signal. |
| US09645221B1 |
Communication system and method
A method on a first mobile device is described. Information is received that includes i) location information for a second mobile device at a geographical location proximate to the first mobile device, and ii) user information selected by a user of the second mobile device. An image location is determined, within an image, that indicates a relative location of the second mobile device based on an orientation of the first mobile device and the location information for the second mobile device. The image is augmented to include a visual identifier that corresponds to the second mobile device at the image location. The augmented image is displayed. |
| US09645217B2 |
System and method for error correction for CNC machines
A method of determining a positioning error of a CNC machine is provided and an system thereof. A calibration element is placed within the CNC machine. A first sensor reading is taken of the calibration element. A second sensor reading is taken and the sensor is moved in a manner that the difference between the first and second sensor data decreases until the difference becomes less or equal to a pre-determined threshold value. A positioning error of the tool head is determined based on the movement of the sensor. |
| US09645216B2 |
Determination of a measuring sequence for a magnetic resonance system
A method and a measuring-sequence-determining device for determining a measuring sequence for a magnetic resonance system based on at least one intra-repetition-interval time parameter are provided. During the determination of the measuring sequence in a gradient-optimization method, gradient-pulse parameters of the measuring sequence are automatically optimized to reduce at least one gradient-pulse-parameter maximum value. As a boundary condition in the gradient-optimization method, the intra-repetition-interval time parameter is kept constant at least within a specified tolerance value. |
| US09645213B2 |
Device combining magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography for breast examination
A device combining magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography for a breast examination is revealed herein to comprise an air pressure source, a servo flow control module, a pedestal disposed under a breast accommodating hole of a breast MRI bed and having a bearing platform for bearing a PET scanner ring thereon, a non-metallic and non-magnetic pneumatic actuator disposed on the pedestal and connected with the servo flow control module, and a movable pulley having a first nylon rope whose one end connects to the bearing platform and the other end connects to a counterweight unit, wherein the bearing platform connects to a displacement measurement unit by a second nylon rope for receipt of a location information thereof and transmission of the same to the servo flow control module for controlling the opening of the servo flow control valve to change gas flows entering into the pneumatic actuator. |
| US09645212B2 |
Fiber tractography using entropy spectrum pathways
A method for fiber tractography processes multi-shell diffusion weighted MRI data to identify fiber tracts by calculating intravoxel diffusion characteristics from the MRI data. A transition probability is calculated for each possible path on the lattice, with the transition probability weighted according the intravoxel characteristics. Entropy is calculated for each path and the paths are ranked according to entropy. A geometrical optics algorithm is applied to the entropy data to define pathways, which are ranked according to their significance to generate a map of the pathways. |
| US09645211B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging using steering-propeller
A GRASE-type PROPELLER sequence called Steer-PROP is disclosed. This sequence exploits a serious of steer blips together with rewinding gradient pulse to traverse k-space. Steer-PROP improves the scan time by a factor of 3 or higher compared to FSE-PROPELLER, provides improved robustness to off-resonance effects compared to EPI-PROPELLER, and addresses a long-standing phase correction problem inherent to GRASE based sequences. Steer-PROP also enables intra-blade, inter-blade, and inter-shot phase errors to be separately determined and independently corrected. |
| US09645204B2 |
Magnetic field sensors and sensng circuits
A magnetic sensor for sensing an external magnetic field includes first and second electrodes and first and second magnetic tunneling junctions. The first and second electrodes are disposed over a substrate; and the first and second magnetic tunneling junctions are conductively disposed between the first and second electrodes and connected in parallel between the first and second electrodes. The first and second magnetic tunneling junctions are arranged along a first easy axis of the magnetic sensor. The first magnetic tunneling junction includes a first pinned magnetization and a first free magnetization, and the second magnetic tunneling junction includes a second pinned magnetization and a second free magnetization. The first free magnetization and the second free magnetization are arranged substantially in parallel to the first easy axis and in substantially opposite directions. |
| US09645200B2 |
Battery power measuring method, measuring device and battery-powered equipment
Disclosed herein are various battery power measurement devices, methods, and related apparatuses. In one embodiment, a method of measuring a battery power can include: (i) detecting a voltage and a temperature at an output terminal of a battery; (ii) obtaining a first correction coefficient based on a battery open-circuit voltage at a previous sample time; (iii) obtaining a second correction coefficient based on the battery temperature; (iv) calculating a real-time battery open-circuit voltage by using the voltage at the output terminal of the battery, the first and second correction coefficients, the battery open-circuit voltage at the previous sample time, and a time interval between the previous sample time and a present sample time; and (v) converting the real-time battery open-circuit voltage into a battery power measurement for display. |
| US09645198B2 |
Full/reduced pin JTAG interface shadow protocol detection, command, address circuits
The disclosure describes a process and apparatus for accessing devices on a substrate. The substrate may include only full pin JTAG devices (504), only reduced pin JTAG devices (506), or a mixture of both full pin and reduced pin JTAG devices. The access is accomplished using a single interface (502) between the substrate (408) and a JTAG controller (404). The access interface may be a wired interface or a wireless interface and may be used for JTAG based device testing, debugging, programming, or other type of JTAG based operation. |
| US09645196B2 |
Test structure activated by probe needle
A test structure (200) in an integrated circuit (100) includes a probe pad (210) disposed at a surface of a die (102) of the integrated circuit, a transmission gate (202) for connecting portions of an electronic circuit within the integrated circuit in response to a momentary signal applied to the probe pad, a first inverter (221) having an input coupled to the probe pad and having an output coupled to a control input of the transmission gate, and a second inverter (222) having an input coupled to an output of the first inverter and having an output coupled to another control input of the transmission gate. The output of the second inverter is coupled to the input of the first inverter. Upon power-up, the transmission gate is open. After the momentary signal is applied to the probe pad, the transmission gate closes and remains closed until power is disconnected. |
| US09645192B2 |
Ground fault circuit interrupter and method
A ground fault interrupter circuit and a method for operating a ground fault interrupter that includes configuring the ground fault interrupter to perform a plurality of self tests. The ground fault interrupter may be configured to perform a ground fault self test, a grounded-neutral self test, and a trip circuit self test. |
| US09645186B2 |
Loose plug detection
According to the disclosure there is provided a method for characterizing an electrical connection between an energy storage device of an electrical or hybrid vehicle and an external power supply. The method may include, in the vehicle, receiving an alternating waveform from the power supply, determining a fundamental frequency of the waveform, determining if the waveform is distorted, and, if it is determined that the waveform is distorted, determining if the distortion is an indication of a loose connection between the vehicle and the power supply. There is further provided a charging system for characterizing an electrical connection between an energy storage device of an electrical or hybrid vehicle and an external power supply. |
| US09645185B2 |
AC traction motor fault detection using DC bus leakage hardware
An electrified vehicle has first and second DC buses and a chassis ground. A leakage detector has a detector switch and detector resistor in series between the first bus and chassis ground. A voltage measured across the detector resistor is proportional to a leakage resistance between the second bus and chassis. An inverter has a plurality of phase legs, each having first and second phase switches coupled between the buses. An AC traction motor has phases coupled to the phase legs. An inverter control circuit receives data messages having a predetermined latency period from the detector identifying a measured leakage resistance. Switching events are detected during which a phase switch is closed for a duration greater than the latency period. An electrical short is indicated if the measured leakage resistance in a data message received during a detected switching event is less than a predetermined threshold. |
| US09645173B2 |
Test carrier
A test carrier includes a base member and a cover member. The base member includes a multi-layer board including a wiring line that is electrically connected to a die and a base film that supports the multi-layer board. The cover member includes a frame-shaped cover frame having an opening formed therein. The size of the multi-layer board is larger than the size of the die and is smaller than the size of the opening in a direction along a surface that is opposite to the die. |
| US09645171B1 |
Traveling wave detector
A traveling wave detector and method of traveling wave signal detection employ a plurality of detector diodes connected according to different polarities with respect to adjacent ones of the detector diodes. The traveling wave detector includes a transmission line having an input end and a terminal end and the plurality of detector diodes connected as stated above and spaced apart along the transmission line. The traveling wave detector further includes a plurality of direct current (DC) blocks to define a series conduction path. The method of traveling wave signal detection includes rectifying a received incident signal using the traveling wave detector to produce a video signal at each of the detector diodes and summing the video signals along the series conduction path to produce an output video signal. |
| US09645166B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling oscillation of a gyroscope
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for determining rotation. A gyroscope includes a drive frame and a base, the drive frame springedly coupled to the base. The gyroscope includes a drive structure configured for causing a drive frame to oscillate along a first axis. The gyroscope includes a sense mass springedly coupled to the drive frame. The gyroscope includes a sense mass sense structure configured for measuring a displacement of the sense mass along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The gyroscope includes measurement circuitry configured for determining a velocity of the drive frame, extracting a Coriolis component from the measured displacement, and determining, based on the determined velocity and extracted Coriolis component, a rotation rate of the gyroscope. |
| US09645165B2 |
Sports electronic training system with sport ball, and applications thereof
A sports electronic training system with sport ball, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system comprises at least one monitor and an electronic processing device for receiving data from the at least one monitor and providing feedback to an individual based on the received data. The monitor can be a motion monitor that measures an individual's performance such as, for example, speed, pace and distance for a runner. Other monitors might include a heart rate monitor, a temperature monitor, an altimeter, et cetera. In an embodiment, a sport ball that includes a motion monitor for monitoring motion of the sport ball stores an identification value received when a shoe that includes a motion monitor contacts the sport ball. The stored identification value serves as a record of the contact. |
| US09645155B2 |
Methods of synthesizing γ-aapeptides, γ-aapeptide building blocks, γ-aapeptide libraries, and γ-aapeptide inhibitors of Aβ40 aggregates
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for γ-AApeptides, γ-AApeptide building blocks, methods of making γ-AApeptides and libraries of γ-AApeptides, methods of screening the γ-AApeptide libraries for desired peptidomimetic activity, and the like. The present disclosure also provides for γ-AApeptides that are inhibitors of Aβ peptide aggregation, methods of inhibiting and disassembling Aβ peptide aggregation, methods of inhibiting the toxicity of Aβ aggregates towards N2a neuroblasotma cells, as well as methods and compounds for treating Alzheimer's disease. |
| US09645152B2 |
Methods for predicting the survival time of a patient suffering from a solid cancer
The present invention provides methods and kits for the prognosis of survival time of a patient suffering from a cancerous tumor. The method involves quantitating the density of Th17 cells at the center of the tumor and at the invasive margin of the tumor, where low density values at each location indicate a favourable prognosis, high values at each location indicate an unfavourable prognosis, and heterogeneous values at the two locations (one high, one low) indicate an intermediate prognosis. |
| US09645146B2 |
Cell surface display, screening and production of proteins of interest
Aspects of the invention provide compositions and methods for displaying engineered polypeptides on a cell surface. According to aspects of the invention, immobilized polypeptides can be screened to identify one or more variants having one or more functional or structural properties of interest. Aspects of the invention provide composition and methods for producing engineered protein or protein variants having a functional or a structural property of interest. |
| US09645142B2 |
Magnetic microspheres for use in fluorescence-based applications
Microspheres, populations of microspheres, and methods for forming microspheres are provided. One microsphere configured to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties includes a core microsphere and a magnetic material coupled to a surface of the core microsphere. About 50% or less of the surface of the core microsphere is covered by the magnetic material. The microsphere also includes a polymer layer surrounding the magnetic material and the core microsphere. One population of microspheres configured to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties includes two or more subsets of microspheres. The two or more subsets of microspheres are configured to exhibit different fluorescent and/or magnetic properties. Individual microspheres in the two or more subsets are configured as described above. |
| US09645139B2 |
Neuroprotective chemicals and methods for identifying and using same
Provided herein are methods for identifying a compound having cell-protective (e.g., neuroprotective) activity. Compounds identified therefrom are also provided. These compounds can be used to treat various diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with, for example, unwanted cell death. |
| US09645135B2 |
Nanowire field-effect transistor biosensor with improved sensitivity
The present invention is directed to a multiwire nanowire field effect transistor (nwFET) device for the measurement. The device includes a sensing nanowire having a first end and a second end and a nanowire FET having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the sensing nanowire is connected to the nanowire FET to form a node. Additionally, the first end of the nanowire FET is connected to a source electrode, the second end of the nanowire FET is connected to a drain electrode, and the second end of the sensing nanowire is connected to a base electrode. The sensing nanowire is derivatized with a plurality of immobilized capture probes that are specific for a target(s) of interest. The device is used to detect biomolecules or to detect the change in the ionic environment of a sample. In a further embodiment, the sensing nanowire is derivatized with amino, carboxyl or hydroxyl groups. Upon a change in ionic environment, or binding of a molecule to the sensing nanowire, the sensing nanowire current (IB) fluctuates. This fluctuation is amplified and readout as the nanowire FET drain current (ID). Accordingly, the present invention provides for label-free detection of biomolecules and may find use as a point-of-care diagnostic device. |
| US09645130B2 |
Measuring properties of a multiphase mixture flow
Properties of a multiphase mixture flow are measured in a blind-tee. The measured properties include the permittivity and/or the conductivity of the multiphase mixture flowing through a conduit. The permittivity and/or conductivity are measured at liquid-rich region(s) in a blind-tee section of the conduit and are used to determine properties of a liquid phase of the multiphase fluid flow, including one of the water conductivity, water in liquid ratio and water volume fraction. One or more electromagnetic sensors may be used in the blind-tee to measure the permittivity and/or conductivity. The sensors may be in contact with the multiphase flow or be disposed behind a dielectric window. |
| US09645129B2 |
Process-based approach for the detection of deep gas invading the surface
The present invention includes a method for determining the level of deep gas in a near surface formation that includes: measuring CO2, O2, CH4, and N2 levels in percent by volume from one or more surface or near surface geological samples; adding the water vapor content to the measured CO2, O2, CH4, and N2 levels in percent by volume; normalizing the gas mixture to 100% by volume or 1 atmospheric total pressure; and determining the ratios of: O2 versus CO2 to distinguish in-situ vadose zone CO2 from exogenous deep leakage CO2; CO2 versus N2 to distinguish whether CO2 is being removed from the near surface formation or CO2 is added from an exogenous deep leakage input; or CO2 versus N2/O2 to determine the degree of oxygen influx, consumption, or both; wherein the ratios are indicative of natural in situ CO2 or CO2 from the exogenous deep leakage input. |
| US09645128B2 |
Substituted imidazo[1,2-A]pyrazines for measuring a transcription activity
There has been a need for coelenterazine analogs that exhibit luminescence properties different from those of known coelenterazine analogs. The present invention provides the compound represented by general formula (1). |
| US09645127B2 |
Electronic nose system and method
Systems and methods for a mobile electronic system that gathers and analyzes odors, airborne chemicals and/or compounds. The system includes a sample delivery component that can gather airborne substances and/or gaseous substances. A detection component can detect the presences of chemicals, substances, and/or visual gases in a sample. Analyzed samples can be compared with known substance and/or odor analysis. In addition, the source of the sample can be determined. Accordingly, odor, gas, and/or airborne substance identification can be accomplished. |
| US09645124B2 |
Large capacity acid or base generator and method of use
Method and apparatus for generating an acid or base, e.g. for chromatographic analysis of anions. For generating a base the method includes the steps of providing a cation source in a cation source reservoir, flowing an aqueous liquid stream through a base generation chamber separated from the cation source reservoir by a barrier (e.g. a charged membrane) substantially preventing liquid flow while providing a cation transport bridge, applying an electric potential between an anode cation source reservoir and a cathode in the base generation chamber to electrolytically generate hydroxide ions therein and to cause cations in the cation source reservoir to electromigrate and to be transported across the barrier toward the cathode to combine with the transported cations to form cation hydroxide, and removing the cation hydroxide in an aqueous liquid stream as an effluent from the first base generation chamber. Suitable cation sources include a salt solution, a cation hydroxide solution or cation exchange resin. |
| US09645122B2 |
Vibration generation apparatus
A gyro sensor includes a vibrator and a drive circuit. A PWM drive signal is applied to a pair of electrodes of the vibrator. The drive circuit outputs a high level signal and a low level signal to the electrodes as the PWM drive signal. The high level signal and the low level signal have potentials higher and lower than that of the reference signal, respectively. The drive circuit outputs the high level signal to one of the pair of electrodes and the low level signal to the other of the pair of electrodes. |
| US09645120B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing noise transmission through a window
Attenuators are introduced that offer quiet, enhanced sound quality for interior of enclosures than previous devices. An acoustical rating system for the levels of sound propagation through glass windows/windshields is introduced for the building and construction industry. Just as windows and insulation have an R-value to define the temperature energy efficiency of the interior of a room, an A-Rating™ system would define the acoustical energy efficiency of an enclosure space. In the summer, the higher the R-value, the less cool air that escapes a room through a window (and the less heat that penetrates into the interior), thus keeping the room cooler with less energy. Similarly, the higher the A-Rating™ of a window, the less noise that propagates through, maintaining lower levels of sound in the interior of an enclosure, creating a more harmonious, acoustically energy efficient room for enhanced health, preventing sleep interference, speech interference, and maintaining adequate levels of safety according to EPA and OSHA standards. The A-Rating™ system can help set standards for bearable and unbearable windows for a particular house, building, shopping store, restaurant, vehicle-cabin, fuselage cabin, locomotive/train/subway cabin, hotel, apartment, airport, library, museum, or any other enclosure, for a particular area or jurisdiction. |
| US09645118B2 |
Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and ultrasonic imaging method
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus in which ultrasonic tomographic images can be obtained without repeating ultrasonic transmission/reception at many times while sequentially changing the direction of the ultrasonic beam. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: a transmitting and receiving unit for processing reception signals outputted from ultrasonic transducers; a sampling unit for generating a reception signal matrix representing ultrasonic echoes from sampling points on a section of the object; a conversion matrix calculating unit for calculating a conversion matrix representing weighting information when ultrasonic echoes from plural locations on the section are synthesized; an inverse matrix calculating unit for calculating an inverse matrix of the conversion matrix; and a sound source information calculating unit for calculating a product of the inverse matrix and the reception signal matrix to obtain a sound source signal matrix representing information on reflective sound sources within the object, and generating an image signal. |
| US09645117B2 |
Piezoelectric unit, piezoelectric device, piezoelectric determination apparatus, and state determination method
A piezoelectric unit 1 includes a piezoelectric element that causes thickness shear vibration, a first electrode provided on one surface of the piezoelectric element, a second electrode and a third electrode which are provided on an opposite surface to the one surface which is provided with the first electrode of the piezoelectric element and are electrically insulated from each other, and a switching portion that is connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, in which the switching portion can switch measurement modes between a mass/viscoelasticity measurement mode for measuring mass of a substance which is in contact with the piezoelectric element or viscoelasticity by vibrating the piezoelectric element, and an electrical characteristic measurement mode for measuring electrical characteristics between the second electrode and the third electrode. |
| US09645114B2 |
Single magnet fluid densitometer
An instrument for determining fluid properties is provided. The instrument (300) includes a tube (304) receiving the fluid, a single magnet (302) attached to the tube, and a single coil (306) wound around the single magnet. The single coil is coupled to a pulse current source (312) and receives a pulse current that creates a magnetic field in the single coil, the created magnetic field interacting with the single magnet to drive the tube to vibrate. The instrument further includes a detector (306) coupled to the tube, wherein the detector is coupled to measurement circuitry (310) and detects properties of the tube as it vibrates, and the measurement circuitry determines the fluid properties based on the detected properties. The instrument also includes a housing (314) enclosing the tube, the single magnet, and the single coil wound around the single magnet. |
| US09645105B2 |
Analyte measurement devices and systems, and components and methods related thereto
In some aspects, a modular analyte measurement system having a replaceable strip port module is provided to permit contaminated modules to be replaced. Some aspects of the present disclosure related to barriers for strip ports or the sealing of strip ports and/or analyte measurement devices to maintain a clean strip port and/or enable the strip port to be cleaned for reuse. Cleaning tools are also provided. Also provided are strip port interfaces that guide fluid away from the strip port opening, as well as absorptive elements that prevent fluid from entering a strip port. Analyte measurement devices with gravity sensors or accelerometers are also provided, along with methods related thereto. Also provided are docking station that serve as an information server and provides storage and recharging capabilities. |
| US09645100B2 |
X-ray fluorescence analysis apparatus
An X-ray fluorescence analysis apparatus is provided with: an excitation source configured to excite an analysis target sample to emit a characteristic X-ray; an X-ray detector configured to detect the characteristic X-ray emitted from the analysis target sample; and an electromagnetic wave shield and a heat shield that are sequentially arranged from the analysis target sample toward the X-ray detector. The electromagnetic wave shield is provided with a through hole portion on which a through hole through which the characteristic X-ray passes is formed, the through hole having a size equal to or smaller than 50 μm. The heat shield is provided with a window portion through which the characteristic X-ray is passed through. |
| US09645099B2 |
Device for determining a composition of a liquid
A determining device for determining at least one component of a liquid, e.g., a fuel mixture, for use in motor vehicles, includes at least one sensor which has at least one connecting device for coupling microwave signals into the liquid and/or out of the liquid. The determining device is implemented as a hand-held measuring instrument. |
| US09645097B2 |
In-line wafer edge inspection, wafer pre-alignment, and wafer cleaning
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for inspecting and processing semiconductor wafers. The system includes an edge detection system for receiving each wafer that is to undergo a photolithography process. The edge detection system comprises an illumination channel for directing one or more illumination beams towards a side, top, and bottom edge portion that are within a border region of the wafer. The edge detection system also includes a collection module for collecting and sensing output radiation that is scattered or reflected from the edge portion of the wafer and an analyzer module for locating defects in the edge portion and determining whether each wafer is within specification based on the sensed output radiation for such wafer. The photolithography system is configured for receiving from the edge detection system each wafer that has been found to be within specification. The edge detection system is coupled in-line with the photolithography system. |
| US09645095B2 |
System and method for inspecting a composite part during manufacture
A method, system and computer-readable storage medium are provided to facilitate inspection of a composite part during manufacture. In the context of a system, a system for inspecting a composite part during manufacture is provided that includes an inspection system configured to detect an in-process anomaly with respect to a ply of the composite part during placement of the ply. The system also includes a computing system configured to determine part location coordinates of the in-process anomaly detected by the inspection system with respect to the ply of the composite part. The computing system is also configured to map the in-process anomaly to a digital part model based upon the part location coordinates. The system additionally includes a display, responsive to the computing system, configured to present a representation of the digital part model including an indication of the in-process anomaly relative thereto. |
| US09645093B2 |
System and method for apodization in a semiconductor device inspection system
An inspection system with selectable apodization includes a selectably configurable apodization device disposed along an optical pathway of an optical system. The apodization device includes one or more apodization elements operatively coupled to one or more actuation stages. The one or more actuation stages are configured to selectably actuate the one or more apodization elements along one or more directions. The inspection system includes a control system communicatively coupled to the one or more actuation stages. The control system is configured to selectably control an actuation state of at the one or more apodization elements so as to apply a selected apodization profile formed with the one or more apodization elements. |
| US09645091B2 |
Specimen sample collection device and test system
A portable, hand-held electro-optical reader and specimen sample collector is provided, including an absorbent pad, one or more test strips contained in the collector handle to provide observable results through a window, the handle insertable into the reader for immediate recording and analysis. The system includes means to automatically provide subject and test specific data with the test results and retain samples for later verification analysis. |
| US09645082B1 |
Ballistic carrier spectral sensor
A ballistic carrier spectral sensor includes a photon absorption region to generate photo-generated carriers from incident light; a first potential barrier region adjacent the photon absorption region and having an adjustable height defining a minimum energy of the photo-generated carriers required to pass therethrough; a second potential barrier region having an adjustable height defining a minimum energy of the photo-generated carriers required to pass therethrough; a spillage well region disposed between the first potential barrier region and the second potential barrier region and configured to collect photo-generated carriers having an energy lower than that required to pass through the second potential barrier region; and a collection region adjacent the second potential barrier region and configured to collect carriers that cross the second potential barrier region. A total thickness of the first potential barrier region and the spillage well region is less than a mean free path of the photo-generated carriers. |
| US09645080B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for separating, concentrating, and/or differentiating between cells from a cell sample
Embodiments are generally related to differentiating and/or separating portions of a sample that are of interest from the remainder of the sample. Embodiments may be directed towards separating cells of interest from a cell sample. In some embodiments, acoustic impedances of the cells of interest may be modified. For example, the acoustic properties of the cells of interest may be modified by attaching bubbles to the cells of interest. The cell sample may then be subjected to an acoustic wave. The cells of interest may be differentiated and/or separated from the remainder of the sample based on relative displacements and/or volumetric changes experienced by the cells of interest in response thereto. The cells of interest may be separated using a standing wave and sorted into separate channels of a flow cell. Optionally, the cells may be interrogated by a light source and differentiated by signals generated in response thereto. |
| US09645077B2 |
Spectroscopic quantification of extremely rare molecular species in the presence of interfering optical absorption
Optical spectrometer apparatus, systems, and methods for analysis of carbon-14 including a resonant optical cavity configured to accept a sample gas including carbon-14, an optical source configured to deliver optical radiation to the resonant optical cavity, an optical detector configured to detect optical radiation emitted from the resonant cavity and to provide a detector signal; and a processor configured to compute a carbon-14 concentration from the detector signal, wherein computing the carbon-14 concentration from the detector signal includes fitting a spectroscopic model to a measured spectrogram, wherein the spectroscopic model accounts for contributions from one or more interfering species that spectroscopically interfere with carbon-14. |
| US09645075B2 |
Multispectral imager with hybrid double layer filter array
Hybrid dual layer filter can be employed can be employed as filters. A multispectral imager comprises a two layer filter array monolithically integrated onto detector array, a top layer of pigment based filter and a lower layer of plasmonic nano-optic filter to make a low cost and narrow bandwidth filter without side leaking or side peaks. Multispectral imager comprises a microlens array, a mosaic patterned optical filter array underlying the microlens array and including a two-dimensional repetition of a unit mosaic pattern, and a pixelated detector array underlying the mosaic patterned optical filter array. The unit mosaic pattern comprises an array of composite filter elements having different peaks in a respective transmittance spectrum. Each composite filter element comprises a pigment based filter portion and a plasmonic nano-optic filter portion. |
| US09645072B2 |
Intermediate sealing for ultradeep water applications
A sealing arrangement and a method for testing the integrity of a sealing arrangement of a flexible pipe are disclosed. The method includes locating a first annular sealing element and a second annular sealing element in a joint between two elements of a flexible pipe, with a region of the joint therebetween; and pressurizing the region between the first sealing element and the second sealing element through a port extending towards the region to a predetermined pressure of 0.2 MP or greater. |
| US09645067B2 |
Method and device for determining solid particle surface energy
A wedge floatation device includes a bottom section and a sidewall positioned around a perimeter of the bottom section to contain a liquid within the wedge floatation device. The bottom section includes an outer portion and a plateau portion centrally positioned in the bottom section. The plateau portion is raised to a height above the outer portion and below a top edge of the sidewall. The plateau portion includes a groove that is substantially concentric with an outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The groove is designed to dampen the velocity of a liquid directed from the outer perimeter of the plateau portion to a center of the plateau portion. The bottom section further includes a transition portion extending between the outer portion and the plateau portion. The transition portion surrounds the outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The outer portion surrounds a perimeter of the transition portion. |
| US09645066B1 |
Polymer compositions having improved processability and methods of making and using same
A method of preparing a polymer article comprising determining a zero-shear viscosity for a polymer sample; sieving the polymer sample to produce a plurality of sieved polymer samples; determining a molecular weight distribution for each of the plurality of sieved polymer samples; determining a zero-shear viscosity for each of the plurality of sieved polymer samples; determining a compositional diversity of each of the plurality of sieved polymer samples based on a ratio of the zero shear viscosity for each of the plurality of sieved polymer samples to the zero shear viscosity for the polymer sample; identifying a polymer sample having a ratio of the zero shear viscosity to zero shear viscosity for the polymer sample of from about 0.5 to equal to or greater than about 3; and preparing a polymer article from the identified polymer sample. |
| US09645050B2 |
Actuation system investigation apparatus
An apparatus for investigating mechanical operational characteristics of a gas turbine variable vane actuation system includes coaxial inner and outer annular casings corresponding to inner and outer casings of a gas turbine engine. The apparatus includes a circumferential row of vane substitutes, each extending between an inner end at the inner casing and an outer end at the outer casing, and rotatable about an axis extending through its ends to emulate the rotation of a variable vane in the engine. The apparatus includes respective loading devices for the vane substitutes, each applying a mechanical load to its vane substitute between the inner and outer ends as the vane substitute rotates to emulate the aerodynamic loading on a variable vane in the engine and to generate resulting frictional loading at the inner and outer ends which emulates resulting the frictional loading at the ends of the variable vane in the engine. |
| US09645048B2 |
Method and device for analyzing the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines, and exhaust gas cooler for this device
A method for analyzing the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines provides for the cooling of the exhaust gas before analysis, the determination of the concentration of at least two different exhaust gas components in at least two separate analysis stages or the determination of the concentration of a single exhaust gas component with at least two different cooling stages. In order to achieve a higher measuring accuracy, at least one first cooling is carried out before a first analysis stage and at least one second cooling is carried out at a lower temperature than that of the first cooling before at least one further analysis stage. |
| US09645047B2 |
Method and apparatus for measurement of the noisiness of a rolling bearing, in particular of a wheel hub bearing unit
A method wherein the possible abnormal noisiness and vibrations of a rolling bearing for a wheel hub unit are detected by fixing a first one of the inner and outer rings of the bearing integral on a support provided with a first and a second accelerometer so that the first and second accelerometers have respective measurement axes (X, Y) arranged at a right angle relative to each other on a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry (A) of the bearing. A second ring of the bearing is angularly coupled with means for rotating it at a predetermined speed, calculated beforehand based on operating parameters of the bearing; processing means detect in a predetermined time interval a first and a second electric signal (T1, T2) emitted by the first and second accelerometers and, through a frequency analysis, obtain a frequency spectrum (P) of the amplitude of any vibrations detected. |
| US09645046B2 |
Fault detection system and associated method
A method implemented using a processor based device includes obtaining a measured electrical signal from an electrical device coupled to a mechanical device and generating a signal signature representative of a fault in the mechanical device based on the measured electrical signal. The method also includes determining a diagnostic parameter based on a harmonic frequency of the signal signature and determining the fault in the mechanical device based on the diagnostic parameter. |
| US09645044B2 |
Controlled-contact method of measuring insertion loss in optical fiber connectors
A controlled-contact method of measuring an insertion loss of a compressible DUT having a first ferrule with a first optical fiber and a first end face is disclosed. The method utilizes a compressible reference connector having a second ferrule with a second optical fiber and a second end face. The method includes: axially aligning the first and second ferrules to define a gap with an axial gap distance of greater than 150 μm; moving the reference connector at a connector velocity in the range from 1 mm/s to 5 mm/s; when the gap distance is less than 150 μm, reducing the connector velocity to between 10 μm/s and 500 μm/s until contact while continuing to measure the coupled optical power; after contact, increasing the connector velocity as the reference and DUT connector axially compress. The insertion loss is determined from ongoing measurements of the coupled optical power. |
| US09645041B2 |
Interpolation engine for analysis of time-varying load data signals
A method for analyzing fatigue life of an elastomeric component includes a step of conducting a finite element analysis to obtain a base state. A plurality of case vectors are then selected to represent a space of possible loading states that occur within a time-varying load data signal based on measurement of the elastomeric component or on a simulation of multibody dynamics. For at least a portion of the case vectors, a finite element analysis is conducted at a plurality of discrete gridpoints along the case vectors starting at the base state and tracking the case vector. Using an interpolation engine, desired local solution variables for a current state may be interpolated from the finite element analysis at the plurality of discrete gridpoints. A damage calculation may then be calculated based on the desired local solution variables for the current state. |
| US09645039B1 |
Survey area indicators for gas leak detection
In some embodiments, content is generated that includes a street map, at least one path on the map indicating a route of travel by a mobile gas measurement device, and at least one indicator on the map that indicates a survey area for a potential gas leak source. The survey area adjoins the path and extends in a substantially upwind direction from the path. The survey area has a boundary determined such that if the potential gas leak source is located in the survey area and has a rate of leakage meeting a minimum leak rate condition, then an estimated probability of detection of a gas leak from the potential source at one or more measurement points along the path satisfies a probability condition. |
| US09645038B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring gas flow through a rotary seal
A method of measuring a flow rate of a first fluid through a rotary seal of a gas turbine engine comprising controlling a probe flow of a second fluid at an intra-seal cavity and measuring a pressure change in the first fluid caused by the probe flow. |
| US09645037B2 |
Method and apparatus for wheel assembly lateral force measurement
A vehicle wheel service system configured with a load roller assembly to apply a generally radial load to a vehicle wheel assembly during rotation, and which is configured with sensors to obtain one or more measurements of lateral forces associated with the vehicle wheel assembly during the loaded rotation, from which a quantified representation of lateral force for the tire of the vehicle wheel assembly is determined. |
| US09645032B2 |
Pressure-sensitive sensor
The present invention achieves a pressure-sensitive sensor which can detect information on a pressure, a sound pressure, acceleration, gas and the like, with high sensitivity. The pressure-sensitive sensor includes: a cantilever (22); a frame (23) which is provided around the cantilever (22) and holds a base end of the cantilever (22); a gap (24) formed between the cantilever (22) and the frame (23); and a liquid (28) which seals the gap (24). |
| US09645029B2 |
Force feedback loop for pressure sensors
A pressure sensor system comprises a force feedback loop. The force feedback loop is configured to receive a measured pressure sensor signal and generate a feedback signal based on the measured pressure and an electrostatic force. The electrostatic force is generated based on the feedback signal and combined with the measured force keeping the resultant sensor signal stable. |
| US09645028B2 |
Resistive pressure sensor including piezo-resistive electrode
Provided is a pressure sensor including an elastic thin film including a first surface and a second surface that face each other, the elastic thin film including an elastomer material, a plurality of protruding deformable structures patterned on the first surface; a piezoresistive electrode formed along surfaces of the plurality of protruding deformable structures; and a counter electrode disposed to face the piezoresistive electrode. |
| US09645025B2 |
Synchronous pre-tensionable sensing screw with fiber Bragg grating devices
An apparatus includes a sensing screw capable of providing synchronous both pre-drawing of fiber Bragg grating and pre-tightening of bolt with induced characteristics to detect feedback control of large scale public engineering structures or precise equipments to facilitate fabrication of precise elements to achieve more precise control and record fabrication processes. Through the sensing screw apparatus a precision system structure can be formed to meet expectation of improved product quality and comprehensive recording of complete production process and physical characteristics at important points of the production process. The invention can provide instant onsite status and accumulate data or make parameter pre-action to avoid error accumulation, thereby improve production yield or safety of large scale structures. |
| US09645021B2 |
Sheet pressure sensor
A sheet pressure sensor includes a first fiber layer, a second fiber layer, and a third fiber layer provided between the first and second fiber layers. The third fiber layer has connecting yarns that electrically connect first conductive portions of the first fiber layer and the second conductive portion in the second fiber layer with a predetermined electric resistivity. The sheet pressure sensor further includes a measuring instrument for measuring electric resistance between at least one of the first conductive portions and the second conductive portion. The connecting yarns unstrain due to deformation of the first or second conductive portion which is generated by applied pressure, and then are short-circuited with one of them. The sheet pressure sensor can detect the pressure while keeping air ventilation characteristic by giving a pressure detection function to the fiber layers. |
| US09645019B2 |
Dielectric geometry for capacitive-based tactile sensor
A dielectric for a capacitive-based tactile sensor of the type having a pair of spaced apart conductive plates with the dielectric conductively therebetween, includes a body of a non-rigid dielectric polymeric material. The body is shaped into a microstructure defined by a plurality of members adapted to extend from one of the conductive plates to the other. Some of the members includes a first feature shaped to have a first end surface and a second end surface. Second features are integral with the first feature and project from the second end surface. A cross-section area of each of the second features is substantially smaller than a cross-section area of the first feature at the second end surface. A height of the first feature in a distance between the conductive plates is substantially greater than a height of the second features. A capacitive-based tactile sensor with the dielectric is also provided. |
| US09645014B2 |
System and method for providing supervisory control of an HVAC system
A sensor surrogate (120) for causing a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system (110) to maintain a desired room temperature, contains a temperature sensor (122) for determining an actual room temperature and logic embodied on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium (130). The logic (130) is configured to perform the steps of: calculating a current low temperature that is lower than a pre-programmed HVAC system temperature and providing the HVAC system with a first signal that represents the calculated current low temperature, if the desired temperature is above the pre-programmed HVAC system temperature; and calculating a current high temperature that is above the pre-programmed HVAC system temperature and providing the HVAC system (110) with a second signal that represents the calculated current high temperature, if the desired room temperature is below the pre-programmed HVAC system temperature. |
| US09645013B2 |
Thermometer user interface
At least one indicator light is located on the body or probe sections of a thermometer to indicate to the user that adjustments should be made to the timing or probe cover positioning of the thermometer. Additionally or alternatively the thermometer retains and displays information from previous uses, and in particular displays information pertaining to how long ago the last temperature measure was taken. Additionally, the thermometer may include additional buttons which can function to toggle the display to provide various types of information to the user, or toggle between thermometer usage modes, icon display, and LED color, among others. In another aspect, an internal body section with an access door provides access to a button allowing the user to toggle the interface of the thermometer, such as whether the temperature output is in degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Centigrade. |
| US09645010B2 |
Fluidic flow cytometry devices and methods
Devices, systems and methods facilitate analyzing, identifying and sorting particles in fluids, including cytometry devices and techniques. The described techniques can be used in a variety of applications such as in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements. One exemplary flow cytometry device includes a channel that is capable of conducting a fluid containing at least one particle and also capable of allowing light be transmitted to and from the channel. The flow cytometry device also includes a lens that is positioned between the channel and a color filter. The lens directs at least a portion of light transmitted from the channel to the color filter. The color filter includes a plurality of zones, where each zone is adapted to allow transmission of only a particular spectral range of light. The flow cytometry device further includes a detector configured to receive the light that is transmitted through the color filter. |
| US09645008B2 |
Light sensor windows for electronic devices
An electronic device may be provided with light sensors. The electronic device may have an electronic device housing in which a display is mounted. The display may have a transparent layer such as a transparent display cover layer, a thin-film transistor layer, or a color filter layer. An opaque masking layer such as a layer of black ink may be used to cover an inner surface of the transparent layer in an inactive area of the display. Sensor window openings may be formed in the black ink layer. A layer of ink may be formed in each sensor window opening. Each layer of ink may have a diffuse reflectivity that is matched to that of the black ink. A diffuser layer such as a polymer coating layer with light-scattering particles may be coated on the inner surface of the layer of ink in a sensor window opening. |
| US09645006B2 |
Calibration of grain mass measurement
A method of calibrating a mass flow sensor while harvesting grain includes sensing an accumulated mass of a portion of grain within the grain tank with a first sensor. A mass flow rate sensor is calibrated based at least in part on a signal of the first sensor. |
| US09645000B2 |
Measurement device and purge gas flow rate measuring method
A purge gas flow rate in a carrier that houses a smaller number of articles than a usual number is measured. The flow rate of the purge gas supplied from a nozzle of a shelf support in a rack is measured by a measurement device. The measurement device includes a substrate, a gas introduction section provided on a bottom surface of the substrate and configured to introduce the purge gas when coming into contact with the nozzle of the shelf support, while maintaining contact with the nozzle airtight with a load from the substrate, a circuit including a flowmeter that measures the purge gas flow rate and a power supply, and a plurality of legs movable in a vertical direction with respect to the substrate and defining a portion of the weight of the measurement device supported on the shelf support. |
| US09644998B2 |
Testing element, testing apparatus, and testing system
Conventional laboratory tests require calibration before each test. This results in the need for a reagent for calibration before each test. Additionally, calibration takes a long time, and the total TAT (Turn Around Time) of a testing system increases. The testing system thus suffers from the difficulty of improving the testing efficiency. This invention, which has been made to solve the problem, provides a testing element for performing a laboratory test, wherein the testing element includes an information recording section at the surface of and/or inside the testing element, and the information recording section stores information on a characteristic of the testing element. |
| US09644994B2 |
Magnetic sensor
A magnetic sensor for detecting the position of a magnet in an X direction includes two magnetic sensor elements which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a Y direction and are disposed to face the magnet in a Z direction, in which a soft magnetic body is provided to be located between the magnet and the two magnetic sensor elements and to be located between the two magnetic sensor elements, the two magnetic sensor elements are provided in a range in which magnetic flux which is generated from the magnet saturates magnetization of free magnetic layers of the two magnetic sensor elements, magnetization directions of fixed magnetic layers of the two magnetic sensor elements are the same as each other, and a bridge circuit is configured with the two magnetic sensor elements. |
| US09644992B2 |
Gas meter reading system and meter reading method
A delivery server includes: a reception unit of receiving meter indication data of an existing gas meter and meter indication data of a new gas meter from a mobile terminal; a modification unit causing the new gas meter to be managed as a gas meter to be managed that is installed in a supply facility; and a meter reading processing unit performing a gas meter reading processing for the supply facility, when meter indication data of the new gas meter on a current meter indication date from the mobile terminal after gas meter replacement, on the basis of the received meter indication data, respective meter indication data of the new gas meter and the existing gas meter in the gas meter replacement, and meter indication data of the existing gas meter in the supply facility on a previous meter indication date of earlier than the gas meter replacement. |
| US09644991B2 |
System and method for support of one-way endpoints in two-way wireless networks
A sensor data collection system includes a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to a corresponding set of endpoints, the endpoints configured to communicate sensor data to a central data collection point via a data communication protocol. A proxy service-enabled endpoint facilitates interoperability with the data collection system for the benefit of endpoints that are otherwise incompatible with the data communication protocol. The endpoint includes a remote endpoint interface module configured to receive communications from at least one of the incompatible endpoints containing incompatible endpoint sensor data. A remote endpoint virtualization module operatively coupled to the remote endpoint interface module and associated with the at least one of the incompatible endpoints. The remote endpoint virtualization module is uniquely addressable according to a corresponding virtual endpoint address, and configured to store the incompatible endpoint sensor data and to communicate that data to the central data collection point via the data communication protocol. |
| US09644990B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting sink rate alert envelope for special landing zones
Systems and methods for improving sink rate alerting for rotary wing aircraft. In one example, the system includes a radio altimeter that produces an altitude value, a processor that is in signal communication with the user interface device and the radio altimeter. The processor receives an altitude value, a position value for the aircraft and landing zone (LZ) information. The processor determines if the aircraft is on an approach to land at an LZ that is raised above surrounding terrain based on the received position value and LZ information. The processor receives sink rate information for the aircraft and generates a sink rate alert based on the received sink rate information and the aircraft altitude value if the sink rate information is greater than a sink rate value adjusted according to the LZ information. An output device outputs the generated sink rate alert. The LZ information includes an altitude value. |
| US09644985B2 |
Navigation device that evaluates points of interest based on user utterance
Because a navigation device that provides guidance on a moving route and displays map data on a display screen on the basis of the map data and the position of a moving object automatically acquires evaluation information for a point or a region from a recognition result and position information, and registers the evaluation information, the navigation device can leave an impression (evaluation) of the point or the region automatically and safely without requiring the user's special operation. Further, by adding the evaluation information to map data and displaying this map data at the time of use, the navigation device enables the user to revisit a point through which the user desires to pass once again, bypass a point through which the user desires to never pass again, and so on without requiring the user's work of consciously memorizing the impression of each point. |
| US09644982B2 |
System and method for delivering departure notifications
The present invention provides a system and method for determining the necessary departure time to allow for an on-time or desired arrival time at a particular location over a particular route based on the evaluation of historic, present, and predicted road conditions. |
| US09644971B2 |
MEMS recorder apparatus method and system
A Micro-Electromechanical System (MEMS) recorder is provided. The MEMS recorder includes a scheduler, a serializer, a multiplexer, a transmit/receive switch, a master clock generator, a deserializer, a comparator array to determine whether to generate a signal to wake up a controller and/or a location module from a sleep mode, and a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) memory to output data to be stored and wake up the controller and/or the location module from the sleep mode if a signal to wake up the controller and/or the location module is received or if the FIFO memory is full, wherein the controller and/or the location module is awakened directly by the MEMS recorder or via the controller. |
| US09644964B2 |
IC for sensor with a switchable low pass filter, sensor device and electronic apparatus
A IC for sensor includes a detector which detects an angular velocity signal based on a signal from a sensor element, an AD converter which converts an analog signal from the detector into a digital signal, and a DC component detector which detects a DC component from the digital signal output from the AD converter within a predetermined period of time. |
| US09644963B2 |
Apparatus and methods for PLL-based gyroscope gain control, quadrature cancellation and demodulation
This application discusses simplified interface circuits for a gyroscope. In an example, an interface can include an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit configured to couple to driver for a proof mass of a gyroscope sensor and to drive the proof-mass to oscillate at a predefined oscillation amplitude, and a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to receive sensed oscillation information from the proof-mass and to provide at least a first phase signal synchronized with a sinusoidal waveform of the sensed oscillation information. |
| US09644961B2 |
Drive circuit for a MEMS resonator
A drive loop circuit for a MEMS resonator. The circuit comprises a closed loop circuit to detect and amplify a signal of the MEMS resonator, a phase shifting circuit to phase shift the detected and amplified signal, and a feedback circuit to feed the detected, amplified and phase shifted signal as a feedback signal back to the MEMS resonator. The phase shifting circuit can include a low pass filter of at least 2nd order. |
| US09644959B2 |
Data fusion architecture
A data fusion architecture with a plurality of sensors, optionally position measuring equipment (PMEs), is described. Each sensor supplies measurement data x1, x2 . . . xM and is associated with accuracy data H1, H2 . . . HM indicative of the accuracy of the supplied measurement data. Sub-processing units derives first estimates sf1, sf2 . . . sfM and second estimates Hn1, Hn2 . . . HnM of the variability of the measurement data supplied by the respective sensor. The first estimates are derived by processing the measurement data x1, x2 . . . xM and the second estimates are derived by processing the accuracy data H1, H2 . . . HM. The first and second estimates are combined in a multiplier to derive overall estimates σ1, σ2 . . . σM of the variability of the measurement data supplied by the respective sensor. Data fusion means such as a Kalman filter combines the measurement data supplied by each sensor and the overall estimates σ1, σ2 . . . σM for each sensor. |
| US09644957B2 |
Interaction device corrective parameters
The techniques described herein are directed to receiving parameters directed to correcting spatial error and/or jitter associated with an interaction device connected to a computing device. In some instances, the parameters are encrypted parameters that may be decrypted and consumed to correct the spatial error and/or the jitter associated with the interaction device. For instance, the parameters may provide an adjustment to one or more reported positions of input received from a detection area of the interaction device, so that a display position more accurately reflects, based on the adjustment, an actual position of input on the detection area of the interaction device. |
| US09644955B2 |
Scanning electron beam device with focus adjustment based on acceleration voltage and dimension measurement method using same
A scanning electron beam device having: a deflector (5) for deflecting an electron beam (17) emitted from an electron source (1); an objective lens (7) for causing the electron beam to converge; a retarding electrode; a stage (9) for placing a wafer (16); and a controller (15); wherein the stage can be raised and lowered. In the low acceleration voltage region, the controller performs rough adjustment and fine adjustment of the focus in relation to the variation in the height of the wafer using electromagnetic focusing performed through excitation current adjustment of the objective lens. In the high acceleration voltage region, the controller performs rough adjustment of the focus in relation to the variation in the height of the wafer by mechanical focusing performed through raising and lowering of the stage, and performs fine adjustment by electrostatic focusing performed through adjustment of the retarding voltage. It thereby becomes possible to provide a scanning electron beam device that measures, in a highly accurate manner, both the upper part and the bottom part of a groove or a hole having a high aspect ratio. |
| US09644951B2 |
Pointer-type angle measuring device with wireless power supply for lighting
The invention belongs to the field of measuring tools, particularly relates to a pointer-type angle measuring device with wireless power supply for lighting for measuring angle state of an object. The invention includes a housing, a dial, a pointer and an electronic circuit. Wherein, the electronic circuit includes a wireless power supply circuit and a wireless power receiving and lighting circuit, and the wireless power receiving and lighting circuit is set on the pointer. The invention is characterized in that the pointer can illuminate, and the invention is convenient for people to use in a low light environment, to measure angle of the object. |
| US09644950B2 |
Shape measuring apparatus and point sensor positioning unit
A positioning unit includes two or more the laser light sources disposed around a point sensor. Laser light beams from the two or more the laser light sources intersect at an adjustment point separated from a detection point, which is away from the point sensor, by a predetermined distance. The adjustment point is positioned on a desired measurement start point on a work, the point sensor is moved close to the work by the predetermined distance, and a measurement scan of the work is started. |
| US09644941B2 |
Grazing incidence interferometer
A grazing incidence interferometer is configured to measure a profile of a target surface using a measurement beam radiated on the target surface in a direction oblique to a normal line of the target surface and reflected on the target surface to cause an interference with a reference beam. The grazing incidence interferometer includes: a light source to emit light; a first polarization beam splitter that splits the light from the light source into the reference beam and the measurement beam; a ratio changer that changes a light amount ratio between the reference beam and the measurement beam; a second polarization beam splitter that synthesizes the measurement beam reflected on the target surface and the reference beam; and an image capturing camera that receives the synthesized beam of the reference beam and the measurement beam. |
| US09644940B2 |
System and method for sensing ammonia
A system and method for the monitoring of ammonia in a fluid. The ammonia monitoring system includes an ammonia sensor that is configured to detect trace amounts of ammonia (NH3) in a fluid (i.e., gas or liquid) that is pumped through it in real time. The real time ammonia sensor includes an interferometer configured to track the amount of ammonia that is pumped into the real time ammonia sensor. The ammonia monitoring system, via the real time ammonia sensor, is further configured to detect ammonia levels in industrial poultry houses and provide electronic feedback to the building's ventilation control system. |
| US09644934B2 |
Combination square with swivel head
A combination square for usage with a grooved blade, comprising: a straight component having a first straight edge and a second straight edge perpendicular to the first straight edge; an angled component having a third straight edge and an angled edge; a marked scale comprising degrees; a marker, wherein the square is configured to allow indication by the marker of angles on the scale; a slot configured to allow accommodating the blade; and a locking screw configured to allow clamping the combination square onto the blade at a desired position along the blade; wherein the angled component is rotatably connected to the straight component; and the square is further configured to allow measuring a center of a circle coupled to the second straight edge and the angled edge at a second end of range of motion of the rotation by the straight component relative to the angled component. |
| US09644925B1 |
Explosive device for breaching doors and walls
An explosive breaching device is made from a surplus bomblet. The bomblet includes a shaped-charge liner, a steel fragmentation case with an open end, explosive material disposed between the shaped-charge liner and the steel fragmentation case, and a fuze. The fuze of the bomblet is removed and a shock-attenuating case is fixed adjacent to and coaxial with the steel fragmentation case. The shock-attenuating case may be made of a material having a speed of sound that differs from the speed of sound in the steel fragmentation case. A mild steel housing is fixed around the shock-attenuating case. A retaining sleeve may be fixed to the mild steel housing. The explosive breaching device may be mounted in an aiming device to direct the shaped-charge jet in a desired direction. |
| US09644924B2 |
Archery backstop
An archery backstop includes a collapsible frame used to receive a front board and a rear board. The front board is formed from a medium density fiberboard while the rear board is formed from an extruded polystyrene insulation. The frame is collapsible about a pair of hinges formed on the frame, allowing the frame to be folded in half when transported. A pair of magnetic locks disposed on the frame maintains the backstop in a collapsed position, while a rotatable locking mechanism disposed on the frame maintains the frame in an open position during use. The frame further includes an adjustable hanger bar support to allow for various configurations and placements of a target to be attached to the backstop. |
| US09644923B2 |
Composite, protective fabric and garments made thereof
A composite, protective fabric, and garments made thereof, are disclosed. The composite fabric has microflex layers of woven para-aramid yarn placed in proximity to metallic mesh layers of woven stainless steel mesh. The individual poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide fibers in the para-aramid yarn have a denier of less than or equal to 2 dtex. The metallic mesh layers are woven from stainless steel fibers having a diameter of 0.2 mm or less and have a mesh aperture of 0.45 mm or less. The garments made using the fabric include glove, bullet proof vests and chain-saw resistant trousers. |
| US09644920B2 |
Telescopic gun sight with tilting optical adjustment mechanism
A precision optical mechanism for adjusting the point of aim in telescopic gun sights is provided. A pair of thin wedge prisms are placed in the optical path of a telescopic gun sight such that they can tilt around an axis perpendicular to the optical axis of the sight. The sight's point of aim is adjusted by tilting the prisms. |
| US09644919B1 |
Secondary safety device for crossbows
A crossbow includes a body and an activator. The body has a shooting device, a first safety device and a string connected thereto. The shooting device has a trigger. The activator is located at the rear end of the body and has an extension. A second safety device is located between the extension and the body, and includes a rod and contact member. When the activator is operated, the activator is removed from the rod which pivots the contact member, and the contact member contacts the first safety device to restrict the trigger from being pulled. When the activator is not operated and positioned at the body, the rod is pushed by the activator and pivots the contact member, and the first safety device is released so that the trigger can be pulled. |
| US09644913B2 |
Multi-stage trigger mechanism for rifle
A trigger mechanism for a firearm is presented. The trigger mechanism has a trigger housing, a sear, a sear block and a trigger lever. Actuation of the trigger causes the trigger lever to rotate and eventually come into contact and move the sear block, which permits the sear to fall and permit the actuation of the firing mechanism. |
| US09644911B1 |
Firearm disabling system and method
A firearm disabling system is disclosed. The firearm disabling system includes a control circuit configured to detect one or more operational parameters of a firearm associated with an unauthorized use scenario. A foam deployment system is in signal communication with the control circuit. The foam deployment system is configured to disable one or more mechanical functions of the firearm. |
| US09644908B2 |
Firearm receiver assembly
An upper receiver assembly for a firearm having an upper receiver with an integral barrel nut, a handguard assembly and a barrel nut assembly with a barrel and lock nut is provided. The barrel is received by the upper receiver and is secured directly to the upper receiver using the lock nut. The upper receiver also includes an integral handguard mounting member to which the handguard assembly may be directly attached. The upper receiver assembly allows the user to attach both the barrel and handguard assemblies directly to the upper receiver, independently of one another. |
| US09644898B2 |
Systems and methods for heat balance and transport for aircraft hydraulic systems
A thermal management system includes a first hydraulic system for circulating a first hydraulic fluid at a first temperature and a second hydraulic system for circulating a second hydraulic fluid at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature. The thermal management system also includes a sealed heat transfer device coupled between the first hydraulic system and the second hydraulic system. The sealed heat transfer device is not in flow communication with either of the first hydraulic system and the second hydraulic system. The sealed heat transfer device is configured to transfer heat from the second hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic fluid. |
| US09644883B2 |
Fluidized bed conveyor belt freezer system
A fluidized bed conveyor belt freezer system including at least one wire mesh conveyor belt in a freezer housing with a plurality of coil arrays and centrifugal fan assemblies that produce a high volume of cold air directed directly upward to a plurality of adjustable vanes mounted under the belt. The vanes are longitudinally aligned and evenly distribute the volume of cold air through the conveyor belt to efficiently fluidize, freeze the product transported on the conveyor belt. The volume of cold air in the fan chamber is produced by a plurality of fan assemblies that draw cold air from the coils, uniformly mixed and delivered to the entire length of the bottom of the conveyor belt. The vanes are adjusted to distribute the cold air in the fan chamber through the conveyor belt to prevent blowouts. The fan motors are mounted externally on the freezer housing for easier servicing. |
| US09644882B2 |
Refrigeration apparatus and method
The disclosure describes a refrigeration device. The refrigeration device includes a cold store, positioned next to a reservoir having a head region and a body region, and a payload space positioned next to the reservoir opposite the cold store. The reservoir includes a cooling fluid (in many cases, water). A cooling element in the cold store absorbs heat from fluid contained in the head region of the reservoir. The fluid in the head region cools the fluid in the body region, which in turn cools the payload. In some embodiments, the body region has a greater volume than the head region which in turn increases the thermal resistance of the body region. The refrigeration device, once at an in use equilibrium, is resistant to temperature change in a payload container. The stable temperature is maintained at a critical temperature of the cooling fluid—the critical temperature being a temperature wherein the cooling fluid is of lower density both above and below the critical temperature. The natural critical temperature for water is 4 degrees Celsius. |
| US09644880B2 |
Cooling device
A cooling device and methods of using the cooling device are described. The cooling device includes a flexible, elongated body member having a first end portion and a second end portion, or is adjustable with the first end portion and the second end portion attached, the elongated body member forming an elongated cavity extending substantially between the first end portion and the second end portion, the cavity having a first substance disposed within the cavity. The cooling device further includes at least one rupturable compartment contained within the cavity, the compartment having a second substance disposed within the compartment. The cooling device also includes fastening means disposed on at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion for detachably fastening the first end portion to the second end portion to secure the cooling device around a circumference of a body part. |
| US09644879B2 |
Apparatus and method for sensing ice thickness and detecting failure modes of an ice maker
An ice maker includes a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The control system includes an air fitting disposed in the sump of the water system, a pneumatic tube, and a controller including a processor and an air pressure sensor. The air fitting defines a chamber in which air may be trapped and includes openings through which water in the sump is in fluid communication with the air in the chamber. The pneumatic tube is in fluid communication with the air pressure sensor and the air fitting. The air pressure sensor is adapted to sense a pressure corresponding to a sump water level. The controller is adapted to control the operation of the refrigeration system and the operation of the water system based upon the sump water level and to detect one or more failure modes of the water system based upon the sump water level. |
| US09644875B2 |
Air-conditioning system and humidity control device
An air-conditioning system includes at least one outdoor unit including a compressor, a four-way valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger, at least one indoor unit including an indoor unit expansion valve and an indoor unit heat exchanger, and at least one humidity control device including a humidity control device expansion valve, a humidity control device heat exchanger, and first and second water adsorption/desorption devices. The compressor, the four-way valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the indoor unit expansion valve, the indoor unit heat exchanger, the humidity control device expansion valve, and the humidity control device heat exchanger are connected to each other with pipes so as to constitute a refrigerant circuit. |
| US09644873B2 |
Method and apparatus for refrigeration system energy signature capture
Systems and methods for monitoring and diagnosing refrigeration equipment including one or more monitoring devices, a data collection and communication hub in communication with the monitoring devices, and in communication with an analysis means. In some examples, the systems and methods include an Internet accessible cloud-based analysis means. In some further examples, the systems and methods include analysis means implemented on locally networked computers. |
| US09644862B1 |
Air duct filter apparatus and system
An air duct filter apparatus for filtering air discharged from an air duct into a room, vehicle or other space at a duct opening in a surface. The apparatus has a venting device, such as a register or vent, that fits within the duct opening. A pair of filter brackets on the venting device support an air filter behind a venting area, typically having louvers, of the venting device. Preferably, the air filter is sized to frictionally engage the filter brackets so it will be held in place but be easily removable from the brackets. A pair of duct brackets are mounted to the surface on opposite sides of the duct opening. A connecting mechanism connects the venting device with the duct brackets in a manner that allows the venting device to be pulled away from the surface to inspect, clean or replace the air filter without using tools. |
| US09644859B2 |
Directional air jet system for air register
A directional air jet system includes a body frame. The body frame defines a cavity therein. A plurality of pedestals is affixed to the body frame and each has a pedestal surface. A plurality of magnets is each affixed to a different one of the pedestal surfaces and are couple the body frame to the air vent. A turret extends outwardly from the hole defined by the lateral surface and is configured to rotate about a first axis. A ball nozzle is pivotally fit into the turret and defines a bottom opening that is in fluid communication with the cavity through the turret. The ball nozzle is configured to rotate about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis so as to be configured to direct air from the air vent as an air jet in a user-selected direction. |
| US09644852B2 |
Air conditioning unit
An air conditioning unit, which can be located in an enclosed environment comprising at least one duct through which a heat transfer fluid flows. The duct is affected sequentially by at least one compressor, for raising the temperature and pressure of the heat transfer fluid in the gaseous state, at least one condenser, for carrying off heat from the heat transfer fluid and its passage from the gaseous state to the liquid state, at least one lamination element, for lowering the pressure of the heat transfer fluid in the liquid state, and at least one evaporator, for absorbing heat by means of the passage of the heat transfer fluid from the liquid state to the gaseous state.The air conditioning unit comprises elements of natural, not forced, collection and conveyance, toward the condenser, of condensed water which may have formed along the outer surfaces of the evaporator. |
| US09644845B2 |
System and method for reducing modal coupling of combustion dynamics
A system and method for reducing modal coupling of combustion dynamics among multiple combustors are provided. Each combustor may include one or more fuel nozzles axially aligned with a combustion chamber; one or more fuel injectors downstream from the fuel nozzles; and a set of flow openings integrated with the combustor. The fuel injectors provide fluid communication through a liner that circumferentially surrounds each combustion chamber. The flow rate of compressed working fluid diverted through the fuel injectors may be different and/or variable between the combustors to produce different combustion instability frequencies. |
| US09644842B2 |
Glow plug and manufacturing method thereof
A glow plug (1) provided with heater (2); tubular main metal shell (4) with shaft hole (43); conductive member (3) extending in the shaft hole toward a rear end side GK; metal terminal member (5) with one part (55) positioned in the shaft hole and another part (56) protruding from a rear end (48) of the main metal shell toward the rear end side GK, the terminal member including an enclosing portion (51) opened toward a front end side GS housing a rear end portion (32) of the conductive member and having electrical continuity with the rear end portion, the terminal member being disposed in the shaft hole while spaced apart from an inner peripheral surface 43m of the main metal shell; and sealing member (7) made of an insulator and airtightly sealing and insulating between the inner peripheral surface and the terminal member in the shaft hole. |
| US09644835B2 |
Twinkling door hanger
A twinkling door hanger mainly includes a main decoration, secondary decoration, illumination device and hanging portion. The secondary decoration is configured on the top of the main decoration, being different from the main decoration in material; the illumination device has at least one illumination element configured inside the main decoration; the hanging portion is configured above the main decoration, capable of being hung on a door knob, allowing the present invention to achieve a decoration profiting effect through the configuration of the illumination element. |
| US09644832B2 |
Lighting device
Disclosed is a lighting apparatus that can be provided in a warehouse and driven by using an industrial power source and has superior light efficiency and long life span.The disclosed lighting apparatus is provided in a warehouse and driven by an industrial power source, and comprises a main body having a plurality of concave portions and a plurality of convex portions; and a plurality of light emitting modules disposed in the concave portions of the main body, thereby having low power consumption and long life span. |
| US09644831B2 |
Intelligent manifold assemblies for a light source, light sources including intelligent manifold assemblies, and methods of operating the same
A manifold assembly for distribution of a cooling fluid configured for use with a light source is provided. The manifold assembly includes a fluid manifold for providing a cooling fluid to a lamp head assembly of the light source, at least one sensor for sensing at least one characteristic of the cooling fluid in the fluid manifold, and a microprocessor for receiving information related to the at least one characteristic from the at least one sensor. |
| US09644830B2 |
Application-specific LED module and associated LED point source luminaires
LED downlight and other point source luminaires contain one or more Application-Specific LED modules with integrated optical, mechanical, and heat dissipation systems; a fluted extruded metal housing acts as a heat sink as well as the luminaire housing containing the AS-LED module(s) or receiving a rotatable spherical housing that contains the AS-LED module, printed circuit board units, and wires; mounting brackets; and a remote LED driver. The extruded aluminum housing (and heat sink) may be comprised of a single cylinder or multiple concentric cylinders. The heat dissipation base of the AS-LED module can be any shape and size dependent on the type of LED luminaire the AS-LED module is designed for. The LED luminaires have a short thermal path, including just one electrical/thermal insulation layer between the LED chips and the housing, and one optical lens system between the LED chips and the surrounding ambient air. |
| US09644825B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device may be provided that includes: a light source which includes a blue light emitting device emitting blue light, and a red light emitting device emitting red light in a visible light spectrum; an optical exciter which is disposed on the light source, is spaced apart from the blue light emitting device and the red light emitting device, and includes at least one phosphor; and a power supply unit which is electrically connected to the light source and controls on/off of the blue light emitting device and the red light emitting device. When the blue light emitting device is an on-state and the red light emitting device is an off-state by the power supply unit, light emitted from the optical exciter is disposed within a specific area on a CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram. The specific area is formed by connecting three color coordinates, and the three color coordinates are (0.32, 0.4), (0.36, 0.5) and (0.368, 0.49). When the blue light emitting device and the red light emitting device are an on-state, the light emitted from the optical exciter is disposed within a predetermined target color coordinate range on the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram. |
| US09644824B2 |
Solid state light assembly with control circuit
A light assembly that includes a cover, a housing coupled to the cover, and a lamp base coupled to the cover. The light assembly also includes a first circuit board disposed within the housing. The first circuit board has a plurality of light sources thereon. A heat sink is thermally coupled to the light sources and is disposed within the housing. The heat sink includes openings therethrough. Each of the outer edges is in contact with the housing. The light assembly also includes an elongated control circuit board assembly electrically coupled to the light sources of the first circuit board and the lamp base. The control circuit board extends through the openings. The control circuit board has a plurality of electrical components thereon for controlling the light sources. |
| US09644821B2 |
Mounting carrier for a bulb
A mounting carrier for a bulb has a fastener and a mounting unit, the fastener has an engaging portion and a holding ring, and the engaging portion has a slant protrusion. The mounting unit connects to the fastener and has a connecting portion having at least one blocking lump and a fastening hole, the engaging portion is held and limited by the blocking lump, and the fastening hole is fastened with the slant protrusion of the engaging portion. In use, the bulb is clamped by the holding ring, so that the bulb can be hung on a wall for illumination. |
| US09644820B2 |
Light-weight lighting fixture
Implementations of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for providing illumination. Particularly, at least one implementation includes a light-weight lighting fixture that can enclose one or more lighting elements and can provide a desired illumination. Furthermore, the light-weight lighting fixture can have no visible hardware connecting various components and/or portions thereof. |
| US09644818B2 |
Optical device with total reflection surfaces for achieving light signal transmission and light intensity attenuation, and associated optical module
The invention discloses an optical device and an optical module, the optical device includes a collimation lens arranged on an outer surface for converting incident light from a light source to parallel light, further includes a transmission light total reflection surface for totally reflecting a part of the parallel light at a first angle so that the part of the parallel light is finally coupled to an external optical fiber, a detection light total reflection surface for totally reflecting a part of the parallel light at a second angle so that the part of the parallel light is finally coupled to an external optical detector, and at least one attenuation light reflection surface for totally reflecting parallel light to be attenuated at a third angle before the parallel light leaves the optical device. The invention achieves the light intensity attenuation while realizing the direction-changing transmission of light signals. |
| US09644817B2 |
Phosphor sheets
A light converter, and lights and displays incorporating the light converter are disclosed together with methods of making the light converter. The light converter has a substrate having a first layer of phosphor particles disposed on an area of one surface of the substrate. The first layer has a thickness of about 1 monolayer of phosphor particles, and the phosphor particles in the first layer form a uniform and dense layer. The thickness of the substrate can be between about 25 μm and about 500 μm in embodiments intended to be flexible and between about 0.5 mm and 2 mm in embodiments that can be formed into rigid shapes. The screen weight of the phosphor particles is between about 0.5 mg/cm2 and about 40 mg/cm2. The substrate can include a base layer and an adhesive layer. |
| US09644816B1 |
Tailored stray light control for display applications
A piecewise light control layer includes a plurality of light control portions including a first light control portion and a second light control portion. The first light control portion is configured to restrict light having a first angular profile. The second light control portion is configured to restrict light having a second angular profile, wherein the first angular profile is different from the second angular profile. |
| US09644815B2 |
Luminaire
The present invention relates to a luminaire comprising one or more LED light sources (102) arranged within a light chamber that is enclosed by a translucent cover (302), having an inner surface (308), wherein the LED light source (102) is arranged to illuminate the inner surface (308) of the translucent cover (302). The translucent cover (302) comprises a prismatic optical structure (304) on the inner surface (308) for reflecting and/or refracting light from the LED light source (102) omni-directionally. The prismatic optical structure (304) is designed such that a direct view of the LED light source from outside the luminaire is obstructed by means of total internal reflection at the prismatic optical structure. |
| US09644813B2 |
Lighting device
Disclosed is a lighting device which comprises: an optical member comprising a protruding optical pattern forming a gap with an adjacent layer; at least one light emitting unit inserted into the optical member; and a resin layer formed on the optical member and the at least one light emitting unit, whereby it is possible to obtain an effect that the shapes of light change depending on the viewing angle when viewing the light source by producing various protruding optical patterns, an effect that the whole thickness can be reduced, and an effect that the degree of design freedom can be enhanced when designing products thanks to an enhanced flexibility. |
| US09644811B2 |
Vehicular headlamp
A vehicular headlamp has a projection lens having an optical axis extending in a front-back direction, a light source disposed behind a rear side focal point of the projection lens, a reflector that reflects direct light from the light source toward the projection lens, a shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source, and that partially blocks light reflected from the reflector and to form a cut-off line of a light distribution pattern, a first reflective surface disposed in front of the reflector, that partially reflects direct light from the light source downward to the a front of the shade, and a second reflective surface disposed in front of the shade and lower than the rear side focal point of the projection lens, that reflects the light reflected from the first reflective surface toward the projection lens. |
| US09644810B2 |
Lamp unit
A lamp unit has a first light source, a second light source which is illuminated when the first light source is turned off, and a projection lens having a first entering surface which is associated with a first focal point and a second entering surface which is associated with a second focal point. Light emitted from the first light source is incident on the first entering surface and passes through the projection lens. The second light source is disposed between the first light source and the projection lens in a position through which light emitted from the first light source to reach the first entering surface does not pass. Light emitted from the second light source is incident on the second entering surface and passes through the projection lens. |
| US09644808B1 |
Light energy conveyance and control system
A light energy conveyance and control system uses a multiple of separately arranged light energy conveyance lenses to define a conveyance path for passing light energy from front to rear, and each light energy conveyance lens has a scatter region for scattering light energy to provide illumination, and the light energy scattered by the scatter region of each light energy conveyance lens is controlled to distribute the light energy on the conveyance path, and the scattered light energy is determined by a scatter area and/or a scatter level. |
| US09644807B1 |
Enhanced solid-state light source and electronic simulated candle
Apparatuses and systems are illustrated relating to solid-state light sources with enhanced designs. The enhanced design may include bending the leads of an LED about ninety degrees to point all LED tips along horizontal planes. The enhanced design is implemented in an electronic window candle product. |
| US09644805B2 |
Optical assembly and method for assembling the same, and optical module implemented with optical assembly
An optical assembly that installs red, green, blue laser diodes (LDs) within a single package is disclosed. The LDs are mounted on a base via respective sub-mounts. Light emitted from the LDs is collimated by collimating lenses and multiplexed by two wavelength filters so as to align optical axes of the light. The multiplexed light has an axis substantially leveled with the axes of the red, green, and blue light measured from the top of the base. |
| US09644801B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and method for product light-emitting element
A light-emitting section (2) and a transparent member (1) which is arranged on a side of a surface (SUF2) of the light-emitting section (2) and exhibits transparency with respect to laser light (L) are provided, and the transparent member (1) includes a plurality of scattering microregions (MP) which isotropically scatter the laser light (L) passing therethrough and increase a light-emission spot size of the laser light (L). |
| US09644795B2 |
Fracturing fluid process plant and method thereof
A process plant includes a base having a plurality of module receiving areas, each area configured to receive a supply module. At least one of the receiving areas additionally configured to receive a blender. A plurality of interconnection pipings fixedly arranged relative to the base. Each piping interconnecting each of the module receiving areas to each other; and connections on each of the interconnection pipings at each of the module receiving areas. Each connection configured to selectively connect and disconnect either a supply module or blender within a respective module receiving area from its respective interconnection piping. A method of processing a fracturing fluid is also included. |
| US09644790B2 |
Pressure vessel boss and liner interface
A boss for a pressure vessel has a flange. The flange includes an interior keyway having an inner sidewall and a plurality of bores disposed on the inner sidewall. A pressure vessel includes a main body section and an end section. The end section includes a boss and the boss includes a flange. The flange includes an interior keyway having an inner sidewall and a plurality of bores disposed on the inner sidewall. In another aspect, a pressure vessel includes an outer shell, and inner liner and a boss including a flange with an exterior side and an interior side. The liner is mechanically integrated with the flange via a plurality of anchors, each anchor contacting the flange only on the interior side. A method of forming a pressure vessel includes providing a boss having a flange. The flange has an interior keyway having an inner sidewall and a plurality of bores disposed on the inner sidewall. The method comprises allowing a fluid polymer material to flow into the interior keyway and into the plurality of bores. |
| US09644787B2 |
Videoconferencing equipment assembly and related methods
An assembly of videoconferencing equipment includes a flat panel display, a structure mounting the flat panel display to a support surface, and videoconferencing equipment mounted to the structure. The structure and the videoconferencing equipment mounted to the structure are substantially concealed from view by the flat panel display from a front side of the flat panel display. |
| US09644780B2 |
Kink resistant hose system with layer of spaced geometrical units and method of manufacturing
A fluid conduit includes a flexible member having a tubular wall and a plurality of geometric segments located adjacent to the tubular wall. The geometric segments are disposed about a central axis of the conduit and spaced apart relative to each other to define a gap therebetween. The gap is sized to be closed by contact between adjacent geometric segments upon a predetermined flexure of the flexible member. A method of forming the conduit includes forming a flexible member with a tubular wall and forming a plurality of grooves about the central axis in the tubular wall. The geometric segments in one embodiment are formed from the intersections of a first plurality of helical grooves formed at a first angle relative to the central axis and a second plurality of helical grooves formed at a second angle mutually opposite from the first angle. |
| US09644776B2 |
Prefabricated electrically heatable media line and method for producing a media line of this kind
In a prefabricated electrically heatable media line having at least one pipeline part with an integrated electrically conductive device and having at least one connecting device, in particular a plug, screw or coupling device, the pipeline part and the electrically conductive device extend as far as or close to that end of the connecting device which is averted from the pipeline part or close to, in front of or in a connection contour. In a method for producing a media line, a pipeline part is produced with at least one integrated electrically conductive device and the integrated electrically conductive device is exposed in at least one end region of the pipeline part, permanent electrical contact is made with said integrated electrically conductive part by a contact-making device, and the contact-making device is routed out at the outer face of the pipeline part in order to form a connection to an electrical energy source. |
| US09644772B2 |
Pipe insulation fitting cover
A shell type fitting cover provided and is formed from a polymer material or a flexible thermoplastic sheet. A continuous gasket is affixed to the peripheral edges of the shell fitting prior to its installation. Preferably the gasket is a flexible, compressible material. The fitting includes a shell having two ends that overlap onto the linear portions of a pipe insulation system and a longitudinal seam that allows the shell to be installed over an existing piping system. A strip of foam gasket material is provided along each of the peripheral edges in order to create a seal where the installed fitting overlaps the linear sections of insulation as well as where the fitting shell overlaps itself at the longitudinal joint. |
| US09644771B1 |
Threaded coupling
A threaded coupling for joining tubulars for oil and gas field operations forming connected tubulars. The threaded coupling has a body with an outer surface, an inner surface and a central axis, a first tapered edge, a second tapered, and a first coupling bearing face and second coupling bearing faces for supporting load, weight, or both on the connected tubulars. As the inner surface of the body is swaged onto each tubular, the inner surface of the body deflects away from the central axis, providing a plurality of bands of high contact pressure for each metal to metal seal between the inner surface of the body and each connected tubular to sustain seal pressures between the threaded coupling. |
| US09644769B1 |
System and method for welding tubular workpieces
A method of joining metal workpieces together. The method includes an intermediate metal workpiece between first and second metal workpieces to define gaps therebetween, and positioning induction coils in the gaps. The induction coils are energized, to heat hot portions in the first and second workpieces and intermediate hot portions in the intermediate workpiece in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to at least a hot working temperature. The induction coils are removed from the gaps, and the intermediate workpiece is rotated about an axis thereof. Contact surfaces on the first and second workpieces are pressed against the intermediate contact surfaces of the intermediate workpiece respectively while the intermediate workpiece is rotating, for plastic deformation of at least part of the metal in the hot portions and in the hot intermediate portions. The first, second, and intermediate workpieces are cooled to bond the first and second metal workpieces and the intermediate workpiece together. |
| US09644768B2 |
Expandable sealing mechanism
A sealing assembly has an expansion band having an arcuate band portion and a pair of threaded end portions formed at opposing ends of the arcuate band, in which the arcuate band and threaded end portions are monolithically formed as a single piece. Fixed within respective threaded end portions are a pair of oppositely threaded nuts adapted to receive a bolt having correspondingly oppositely threaded ends. Rotation of the bolt causes the threaded end portions to be simultaneously driven apart or drawn toward one another (depending on the rotation direction of the bolt) to thereby expand or contract the overall outer profile of the arcuate band portion. The monolithically formed expansion band may be made of an inexpensive, non-rusting material such as nylon 66, and glass fibers and/or additives may be employed to impart strength and flexibility. |
| US09644767B2 |
Pipe support
A pipe support structure comprised of a series of blocks mounted on a base to create opposing ridges arrayed on opposite sides of a central drainage channel. The ridges have a rounded curved outer surface and create intervening valleys that are sloped to direct fluid flow into the central drainage channel. The ridges are arranged and oriented so that the curved outer surface of the ridges support the pipe on its peripheral underside above with the drainage channel and create a space between the bottom of the pipe and the base. The blocks may be angled to further facilitate desired drainage into the drainage channel. |
| US09644763B2 |
Holding device
The invention relates to a holding device (1) for holding an object (2) extending along an axis, in particular for holding the capillary holder (2) of a micromanipulator, with a main body (3, 4) having a bearing element (4) which runs parallel to a bearing axis and on which the object (2) can be mounted in an axis-parallel position in which the axis of the object and the bearing axis (A) of the bearing element run parallel, a fastening mechanism (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) which is designed in such a way and can be optionally set by the user in at least a first or a second arrangement in such a way that, in the first arrangement of the fastening mechanism, the object (2) is secured with a force fit on the bearing element (4) in the axis-parallel position (A) by a first force, such that it is movable by a hand of a user in the axis-parallel position, and in such a way that, in the second arrangement of the fastening mechanism, the object (2) is fixed on the bearing element in the axis-parallel position (A), wherein the holding device (1) is designed such that the object (2), at least in a third arrangement of the fastening mechanism, can be inserted into and removed from the holding device (1) by a movement directed perpendicularly with respect to the bearing axis (A). |
| US09644760B2 |
Damping valve
A damping valve includes a valve seat member, a valve body, a back-pressure chamber, a pilot passage, and a pilot valve, wherein the pilot valve has a pilot valve seat member and a pilot valve body, the pilot valve seat member having an cylindrical valve container provided with a penetrating hole connecting the inside and the outside, the penetrating hole communicating with the port, and an annular pilot valve seat provided in an end of the valve container, and the pilot valve body having a large diameter portion, a small diameter portion slidably inserted into the valve container, and a concave portion provided between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion to face the penetrating hole, and an end of the large diameter portion is seated on or unseated from the pilot valve seat to open or close the pilot passage. |
| US09644756B2 |
Pressure relief valve
A pressure relief valve for pressure equalization between an essentially closed space and the surrounding atmosphere is disclosed. The pressure relief valve includes a valve housing with: a cylindrical wall defining a flow passage, a valve body arranged to cooperate with a valve seat arranged in the outflow of the valve housing, a stem configured for axial guidance of the valve body, a lifting element or plate arranged further down in the flow passage relative to the valve seat, a flow constriction defining an essentially truncated conically shaped interior and arranged to encircle the lifting element such that a radial passage between the lifting element and flow constriction increase when the lifting element and the valve body is moved from a closed state of the pressure relief valve towards an open state of the pressure relief valve. |
| US09644748B2 |
Seal for a sawing machine for separating electronic components and sawing machine provided with such a seal
The invention relates to a seal for a sawing machine (1) for separating electronic components (12), comprising: an elongate form-retaining holder (20,22), a flexible, elongate expandable body (8,9)and a pressure source (24) for a medium, wherein the elongate expandable body (8,9) is provided with a strengthened elongate edge (21) which lies clear of the form-retaining holder (20,22) The invention also relates to a sawing machine (1) for separating electronic components (12) provided with such a seal. |
| US09644746B2 |
Mechanical seal
A mechanical seal having a seal cover that has a high versatility and is less prone to deformation even when secured to a housing by two bolts is provided. A mechanical seal 100 includes a rotating ring 40, a stationary ring 20, and a seal cover 10 to attach the stationary ring 20 to a housing 300. The seal cover 10 includes two U-shaped grooves 11 and two elongate holes 12 for bolting, which are disposed alternately and at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the shaft hole, and elongate holes 12 are elongate in a radial direction of the shaft hole and innermost positions within the elongate holes 12 where bolt shanks can pass through are located further inward than innermost positions within the U-shaped grooves 11 where bolt shanks can pass through. |
| US09644736B2 |
Power transmitting device
A gear changer of a power transmitting device includes an input shaft to which a rotational force is inputted from an engine, an output shaft for outputting the rotational force to a rear wheel, and a plurality of speed change gear pairs for transmitting the rotational force from the input shaft to the output shaft. A slider member for selecting one of the speed change gear pairs to transmit the rotational force from the input shaft to the output shaft is supported by the output shaft. Selection of one of the speed change gear pairs is accomplished by moving the slider member in an axial direction by means of a shifter mechanism. A pump rotary shaft, to which the rotation is transmitted from the input shaft, is disposed at a location between the input shaft and the shifter mechanism in a circumferential direction of the output shaft. |
| US09644733B2 |
Method for determination of at least a drag torque effective on the input side of an automatic motor vehicle transmission
A method of determining at least one drag torque acting on the input side of an automatic transmission, such that prior to the determination a separator clutch located between the transmission and an engine is disengaged. To be able to carry out the determination regardless of the type of transmission concerned, also prior to the determination, the transmission is shifted to neutral and subsequently the drag torque is calculated when the engine is deactivated. For this, a first gradient of a transmission input rotational speed is determined, before an engine rotational speed of the engine falls below the transmission input rotational speed, and a second gradient of the transmission input rotational speed is determined, after the engine rotational speed falls below the transmission input rotational speed. The method is stored as a computer program stored on data carrier of a drive-train control unit of a motor vehicle. |
| US09644729B2 |
Mechanical system forming a cam follower or a rocker arm, injection pump or valve actuator comprising such a mechanical system and method for manufacturing such a mechanical system
A mechanical system forms a cam follower or a rocker arm and includes a support element, a pin extending between two opposite ends along a first axis and supported by the support element, and a roller mounted on the pin, movable in rotation relative to the pin around the first axis and adapted to roll on a cam. The support element includes a first axial abutment feature blocking the translation of a pin assembly including at least the pin, in a first direction parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The mechanical system additionally includes an insert inserted in the support element and supporting the pin opposite the first axial abutment feature, wherein the first axial abutment feature protrudes outside a cavity delimited by the support element and receiving the pin. |
| US09644725B2 |
Shift system for power transfer unit using non-contacting position sensor
A two-speed active transfer case is disclosed having a range shift mechanism with a moveable range shift component and a contactless position sensing arrangement for detecting the position of said moveable range shift component. |
| US09644723B2 |
Multi-speed transmission with lay shaft
A transmission gearing arrangement produces seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of two shift elements in various combinations. Some embodiment includes three simple planetary gearsets in conjunction with two axis transfer gear pairs and a layshaft. Another embodiment includes an additional two axis transfer gear pairs and layshaft in place of one of the planetary gearsets. |
| US09644719B2 |
Step actuator
A step actuator includes a housing, a stator in the housing, a rotor including a magnet provided radially inward of the stator and a nut member inserted into the magnet and protruding through one side of the housing, a bearing rotatably supporting the nut member, a screw member coupled with the nut member to linearly move as the rotor rotates, and a mounting member supported on one side of the housing to support the screw member in such a manner that the screw member is linearly movable. The nut member includes an end portion passing through the bearing and a coupling portion extending from the end portion to couple with the bearing. |
| US09644718B2 |
Shift arrangement for a motor vehicle transmission and method for actuating said shift arrangement
A shift arrangement for a motor vehicle transmission has a housing. At least two push rods are mounted on the housing so as to be movable in an axial direction between a neutral position and a shift position. The push rods can each be coupled to a shift clutch. At least two return rods are mounted on the housing. The return rods are each coupled to one of the push rods so that a push rod and the return rod associated therewith are moved in opposite axial directions. A shift cam of a shift member can be aligned with a push rod or with a return rod for the purpose of selecting, and can transmit a pushing force to a selected rod. A driving feature is arranged on the shift member and can transmit a pushing force in order to move an unselected rod into the neutral position. |
| US09644716B2 |
Belt wave drives
A belt wave drive transmission system and method are shown involving a first rotor (10) having a first drum configured to rotate about its axis of rotation and a second rotor (20) having a second drum configured to rotate about its axis of rotation, where the first rotor (10) is constrained to orbit concentrically about the axis of rotation of the second drum. A belt (30) encircles the first and second drums to couple the first (10) and second (20) rotors such that the first rotor (10) moves concentrically around the second rotor (20) as the belt (30) advances about a circumference of the second drum. In further refinements, the system and method involve electrically controllably coupling at least one of the first and second rotors to the belt. |
| US09644715B2 |
Transmission and a method for operating same
A transmission includes a drive train having a primary drive with a primary drive shaft (16), particularly for a vehicle, and includes a Ravigneaux planetary gearset (2) which has a double planetary gear with two sun gear shafts (10, 13), one planetary carrier shaft (18) and at least one ring gear shaft (12), as well as an upstream single planetary gearset (3) which is designed as a reduction gearing and includes the gear elements of sun gear (5a), planetary carrier (8a) and ring gear (6a). A first of the gear elements of the single planetary gear set (2), particularly the sun gear (5a), is designed to be fixed to a housing. At least one first element of the Ravigneaux planetary gear set (2) is drive-connected, preferably permanently, to a secondary drive (21) which is particularly preferred to be in the form of an electrical machine. |
| US09644710B2 |
Transmission
A transmission (G) is provided with four planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3, P4), several shafts (W1-W7) and a first, second, third, fourth and fifth shift element (B1, B2, K1, K2, K3), the selective meshing of which brings about different transmission ratio relationships between a transmission input shaft (GW1) and a transmission output shaft (GW2). The transmission (G) includes a sixth shift element (K4), through which the fifth shaft (W5) is connectable to the sun gear (So-P4) of the fourth planetary gear set (P4), either directly or through the second shift element (B2), and whereas the fourth shaft (W4) is connectable through the fourth shift element (K2) with the sun gear (So-P4) of the fourth planetary gear set (P4), either directly or through the second shift element (B2). |
| US09644709B2 |
Speed transmission device for a hybrid type motor vehicle
The present invention relates to a speed transmission device for a hybrid type motor vehicle comprising a primary transmission shaft (34) connected to a thermal engine (10) through a disengaging coupling (38) and carrying at least two primary toothed wheels (50, 52) cooperating with at least two secondary toothed wheels (54, 56) carried by a secondary transmission shaft (36) connected to an axle shaft (20) of the vehicle and to an electric machine (12).According to the invention, one (54) of the secondary toothed wheels is carried by secondary shaft (36) through a one-way coupling (58). |
| US09644706B2 |
Belt having a multilayer impregnated textile overlay
A power transmission belt having a base made of polyurethane and a textile overlay includes a first coating of a first thermoplastic material on the surface of the textile overlay. The first coating forms an impregnation, which has a melting temperature from 80° C. to approximately 145° C., penetrates at least partially into the textile. A second thermoplastic material on the first coating has a higher melting point. The first and second coatings can be applied successively to the textile overlay before casting of the polyurethane or can be overlaid as individual films or as a multi-layer film, and they may be applied to the textile overlay by heat and pressure. The coating acts to reduce abrasion and prevents the through passage of the belt polyurethane. |
| US09644705B2 |
Damper unit of internal combustion engine
A damper unit of an internal combustion engine includes an input-side rotor, an output-side rotor, first coiled springs, second coiled springs, an input-side sliding contact surface, and a biasing member. The input-side rotor includes a first spring holder, a second spring holder, and a connecting portion. The second spring holder is arranged on a second side of the output-side rotor, has a facing side facing the output-side rotor, and has second spring accommodation portions on the facing side each of which accommodates each of the second coiled springs. The input-side sliding contact surface is provided in the second spring holder so as to be in sliding contact with an output-side sliding contact surface of the output-side rotor. The biasing member is provided between the first spring holder and the output-side rotor to press the output-side rotor toward the second spring holder. |
| US09644703B2 |
Shock absorber
A shock absorber includes a damping passage that connects an expanding-side chamber with a contracting-side chamber inside a cylinder, a housing that forms a pressurizing chamber, a free piston that partitions the pressurizing chamber into an expanding-side pressurizing chamber and a contracting-side pressurizing chamber, an expanding-side passage that connects the expanding-side chamber with the expanding-side pressurizing chamber, a contracting-side passage that connects the contracting-side chamber with the contracting-side pressurizing chamber, a spring element configured to suppress displacement of the free piston, a cushion configured to collide with the free piston to suppress displacement of the free piston thereover when the free piston is displaced from the neutral position with respect to the housing by a predetermined displacement amount or more; and a cushion fixing member fixed to the housing, the cushion fixing member holding the cushion. |
| US09644702B2 |
Shock absorber with pressure-controlled damping
A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount. |
| US09644698B2 |
Device for the purpose of influencing the transfer of vibration between two units
The invention is a device for influencing transfer of vibration between two units, one is mounted so that it can vibrate and the other is mounted to be damped. A parallel circuit is connected indirectly or directly with both units, which comprises at least one elastically deformable element, with an associated first force path and at least one force generator, providing a second force path, oriented parallel to the first force path and associated with a lever, connected indirectly or directly with the one unit, which lever at one end is rotated about a first axis of rotation oriented orthogonally to both force paths. |
| US09644697B2 |
Eccentric clamping bushing
A clamping bushing which, due to the particular eccentric geometry and composite materials used to manufacture the same, comprising elastomers (14, 15) and metal sheets (10, 11), is suitable for the reduction of principally vertically acting vibrations and structure-borne sound which can arise in machines/gearboxes and, in particular, in wind turbines. |
| US09644695B2 |
Anti-squeal shim
Anti-squeal shim (100) comprising a fiber reinforced vibration insulating layer (110) and a vibration absorbing layer (120), the fiber reinforced vibration insulating layer comprises reinforcement fibers, a filler material and a binder material. There is also provided a method of producing anti-squeal shims, and a method of preventing squeal noise from a disc brake. |
| US09644692B2 |
One-way transmission structure and one-way transmission method
A one-way transmission structure is provided, which includes a sleeve and a rotating shaft passing through the sleeve, where the rotating shaft is fixed in the sleeve through a rope in a suspended manner, a first end of the rope hitches on the rotating shaft and forms a Prusik knot, and a second end of the rope is fastened on a side wall of the sleeve. In the one-way transmission structure, an active portion and a passive portion can be connected flexibly, which has advantages such as a simple structure, a low manufacturing and maintenance cost, and conveniences in mounting and maintenance. |
| US09644685B2 |
Output shaft adapter
A transmission includes an output shaft. The output shaft is configured to transmit torque from the transmission through an output shaft flange to a driveshaft. The transmission further includes an adapter having a first threaded portion, a second threaded portion, and a journal. The first threaded portion is received by the output shaft. The journal extends from the second threaded portion and is configured to align the driveshaft with the output shaft. |
| US09644683B2 |
Thermal management of bearings in hot magnetic separator
An apparatus for separating hot particles including a plurality of materials having different magnetic properties includes a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in a magnet assembly and configured to create a magnetic flux capable of providing a coercive force on at least a portion of the particles, the magnet assembly being mounted on a stationary shaft, a moving surface proximate the magnet assembly for carrying the particles in a downward path through the magnetic flux while the coercive force attracts the portion of the hot particles toward the moving surface, the moving surface being mounted on a drive shaft supported by a bearing, and an inert gas supply system which supplies inert gas into a gap between the stationary shaft and the drive shaft for cooling the drive shaft and the bearings, and into the magnet assembly for purging the magnet assembly of oxygen. |
| US09644681B2 |
Low-friction dynamic seal
A sealing arrangement, for sealing of a radial gap between relatively rotatable inner and out components, whereby the inner component is rotational about an axis of rotation and the outer component is coaxially arranged around the inner component. The sealing arrangement comprises: a dynamic seal part mountable to the inner component; a static seal part mountable to the outer component; and first and second labyrinth seals, each being formed by a gap between at least one set of opposing surfaces on the static and dynamic seal parts, and a lip seal arranged radially between the first and second labyrinth seal. The lip seal comprises a sealing lip connected to the dynamic seal part and bears against a radially oriented counterface on the static seal part. The sealing lip has a longitudinal extension in a radial cross section that extends towards the rotation axis at an angle between 10° and 80°. |
| US09644669B2 |
Vehicle and a compression load limiter assembly for the vehicle
A vehicle and a compression load limiter assembly for the vehicle are disclosed. The assembly includes a first component defining a first hole along a first axis to present a first wall radially spaced from the first axis. The assembly also includes a second component defining a second hole along a second axis to present a second wall radially spaced from the second axis. The first and second holes generally align with each other to couple together the first and second components. The assembly further includes a load limiter member including a first body portion engaging one of the first and second walls when disposed in one of the first and second holes. The first body portion has a radially compliant feature to allow movement of the load limiter member within one of the first and second holes in response to a force being applied to the load limiter member. |
| US09644667B2 |
Floating fasteners
One or more floating fastener assemblies used to fasten components together are described. In some embodiments, the components are top and bottom portions of an enclosure of a computing device. Each floating fastener assembly can include a fastener having at least one surface that can engage with a surface of the enclosure to limit the rotation of the fastener during fastening. Each floating fastener can also include a clearance area for the fastener to “float” in a lateral direction with respect to the enclosure. Thus, when corresponding openings in the top and bottom portions of the enclosure are not exactly aligned, each fastener can shift laterally to allow screws to engage to fasten the top and bottom portions together. |
| US09644666B2 |
Electrically insulating cage nut
An electrically insulating cage nut (10) having a nut body (12) which is held in a cage (14), in which the nut body (12) has a cylindrical attachment (16) and a broadened holding element (18), and the cylindrical attachment (16) has an internal thread (20) and extends through an opening (22) in the cage (14) to the outside, wherein the internal diameter of the opening (22) is substantially larger than the external diameter of the cylindrical attachment (16), but is smaller than the external size of the holding element (18), and an insulator apparatus (24) is arranged between the cage (14) and cylindrical attachment (16), wherein the insulator apparatus (24) is formed integrally, and in consequence the cage nut (10) consists of only three components (12, 14, 24). |
| US09644664B2 |
Male anti-false thread fastener member
A male anti-false thread fastener member having features, including: a shank that has a lead end and a tool engagement end; a head formed at the tool engagement end of the shank; at least one male fastening thread formed on the exterior of the shank as a plurality of thread windings adapted to mate with a corresponding female fastening thread formed in an interior of a female fastener member; at least one male lead thread formed on the exterior of the shank at the lead end that is at least a half winding around the shank and comprises curved profile defined by an arc having a radius approximately equal to a radius of an arc that is tangent to both flanks of a thread profile of the at least one male fastening thread and below the pitch line of the at least one male fastener thread. |
| US09644662B2 |
Cold spray nodes, studs, stud assemblies, and methods of manufacture
Studs, nodes, and study assembly systems formed by various methods are disclosed. Various disclosed methods include cold spraying a powder onto a substrate to form a node on the substrate and drilling a hole only into the node. Various disclosed methods include cold spraying a powder onto a substrate to form a node and machining the node to form a stud. |
| US09644659B2 |
Temporary clamp up system for sealant squeeze out in lock bolt installations
A joint fastening system employs a lock bolt having a pull stem and locking threads inserted through a bore in a joint having fay sealant between layers. A collar is received over the pull stem to engage the threads, the collar producing tension on the threads to generate clamp force sufficient for fay sealant squeeze out. |
| US09644657B2 |
Fastening device
The invention relates to a fastening device (100) comprising: a bolt (107) with a head (108) and a shaft (109); a sleeve (111) comprising a head (112) able to house the head of the bolt and a body (113) able to house the bolt shaft, the sleeve body having an inner diameter smaller than the bolt shaft diameter; a ring (116) in solid and compressible material, attached to an outer surface (115) of the sleeve body and positioned near the sleeve head, said outer surface being able to contact a wall (106) of a drilled hole (103) made in a structural component, said ring being able to be compressed between said outer surface and said wall. |
| US09644656B2 |
Systems and methods for securing portions of a cord
Systems and methods are operable to secure a coiled portion of an electrical cord, a cable, or a rope. An exemplary embodiment has a coil securing portion with an interior surface, a collapsing portion joined with the coil securing portion, and a means for securing the coil retainer in a collapsed position. The coil securing portion and the collapsing portion cooperatively define a substantially tubular interior region and an opening, wherein the interior region is configured to receive a coil portion inserted through the opening when the coil retainer is in an open position. The coiled portion is frictionally secured by the interior surface of the coil securing portion when the coil retainer is secured in the collapsed position. |
| US09644655B2 |
Approaches for welding sandwich structures
Methods for welding sandwich structures together, especially vehicle structures, where the structures include two opposing face sheets with a core, such as a micro-truss core, therebetween. In one embodiment, two sandwich structures are butt welded together. A cooling fluid barrier is provided at an end of the core between the face sheets to prevent cooling fluid from entering the core during the welding process, where the cooling barrier can be a micro-truss structure and can include cooling fluid channels. A welding insert is inserted into the end of one of the structures adjacent to the cooling barrier, and is welded to the other structure to secure the structures together. |
| US09644654B2 |
Dual-threaded stepped setscrew
Devices and methods for a setscrew device. An elongated cylindrical rod has a first threaded portion with a first diameter and a continuous spiraling thread, an unthreaded shank portion with a second diameter, and a second threaded portion having the second diameter and a continuous spiraling thread. The second diameter is smaller than the first diameter. The unthreaded shank portion is located between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion forming a step. A bias element is disposed on the step and surrounds the second threaded portion. A compression element is threaded onto the second threaded portion and operatively connected to the bias element. |
| US09644653B2 |
Lightweight construction panel, connecting arrangement and method for producing a connecting arrangement
A lightweight board having an upper covering layer, which extends in a longitudinal direction, a lower covering layer, which extends parallel to the upper covering layer and is spaced apart from the upper covering layer in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a light middle layer, which extends between the upper covering layer and the lower covering layer, and a bar, which extends between the upper covering layer and the lower covering layer and consists of wood or wood-based material. To simplify the production of a connection arrangement, the bar has a machine-worked tongue profile and/or groove profile, which is formed for mechanical locking in the longitudinal direction and in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction with a corresponding profile of a further component. The invention also relates to a corresponding connection arrangement and a corresponding method for producing a connection arrangement. |
| US09644651B2 |
Method for controlling hydraulic system of construction machinery
The method for controlling the hydraulic system of construction machinery according to the present disclosure includes an engine speed prediction step, in which a variable rated engine speed, which varies within a range larger than a fixed rated engine speed and smaller than a high idle engine speed for the fixed rated engine speed and a virtual engine speed, which is to be input later, are predicted to output a virtual engine speed value predicted before an actual engine speed is input. Accordingly, when an operation load is applied, pump torque may initially have a margin, and even though an engine speed is decreased due to the operation load, it is possible to prevent an engine speed decrease phenomenon in which the engine speed becomes remarkably smaller than the rated engine speed. |
| US09644646B2 |
Multiple-staged fluid operated actuator
A multiple-stage fluid operated actuator (100) is provided. The multiple-stage fluid operated actuator (100) comprises a housing (101) including a first bore (212) with a first cross-sectional area and a second bore (215) with a second cross-sectional area. The multiple-stage fluid operated actuator (100) further comprises a piston assembly (210) including a first piston (210a) movable within the first bore (212) and a second piston (210b) movable within the first and second bores (212, 215). The piston assembly (210) separates the first and second bores (212, 215) into a first fluid chamber (214a) selectively in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source (220) or an exhaust, an airtight second fluid chamber (214b), and a third fluid chamber (214c) selectively in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source (220) or the exhaust. |
| US09644644B2 |
Hydraulic accumulator in form of a bellows accumulator
A hydraulic accumulator includes an accumulator housing (1), in which a bellows (21) having a selectable number of pleats (23) forms a mobile separation element between the gas side (25) and the fluid side (13). A distancing device (33) is arranged inside the accumulator housing (1), and is fluidically connected to the inside of the bellows (21) or abuts the bellows (21), forming an additional medium chamber. |
| US09644643B2 |
Aspirator pump with dual high pressure streams
A three stream aspirator includes an upstream passage for receiving and discharging a motivator stream, a low pressure passage for receiving and discharging a low pressure stream, and a Venturi for receiving and discharging the motivator stream and for drawing the low pressure stream through the low pressure passage. The aspirator body also includes a mixing passage for receiving and mixing the motivator stream and the low pressure stream, and a first aspirator outlet, located at the end of the mixing passage, configured to discharge the mixed stream from the aspirator. The aspirator body further includes an isolated passage for receiving a high pressure stream, wherein the high pressure stream is isolated from any other stream while within the aspirator; and a second aspirator outlet, adjacent to the first aspirator outlet, from which the high pressure stream is discharged. |
| US09644640B2 |
Compressor nozzle stage for a turbine engine
A single-piece compressor nozzle stage for a turbine engine, the stage including two coaxial rings, connected together by radial vanes, the inner ring including an annular cavity for housing a damper for damping vibration by friction, which damper is secured to an annular abradable-material support. |
| US09644636B2 |
Centrifugal steam compressor and shaft seal system used with same
In a centrifugal steam compressor having sealing water discharge at pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, a simple structure in which a high-pressure piping system is omitted as much as possible from a sealing water circulation system is realized. A shaft seal system 50 is capable of supplying high-pressure sealing water and low-pressure sealing water. The shaft seal system has a circulating water reservoir 240 to store circulating water, a positive displacement pump 200 to suck the circulating water from the reservoir, and is capable of supplying the sealing water to a first pressure regulating valve 290 provided in a high-pressure side sealing water line 330 of a centrifugal compressor 100 and a second pressure regulating valve 300 provided in a low-pressure side sealing water line 310 of the centrifugal compressor, an accumulator 210 provided between the positive displacement pump and the first and second pressure regulating valves, return pipings 315, 316, 335 and 336 to return the sealing water, which water-seals seal means of the centrifugal compressor, to the circulating water reservoir, and depressurization means 313, 314, 333 and 334 interpositioned in the middle of the return pipings. |
| US09644635B2 |
Electric air blower
Fan (3) includes suction-side shroud (3a) and suction port (22) at the center portion of suction-side shroud (3a). Fan case (2) includes opening part (13) at a location facing suction port (22). Fan seal (4) is disposed between inner wall surface (2a) of fan case (2) and suction port-side end surface (3b) of suction-side shroud (3a). Opening part (13) includes a plurality of mushroom-shaped anchors (2b). Fan seal (4) includes holding parts (4b) that fit onto mushroom-shaped anchors (2b). Fan seal (4) is press-fitted onto fan case (2) that includes mushroom-shaped anchors (2b). |
| US09644633B2 |
Centrifugal motor-compressor unit
A centrifugal compressor unit includes a driving means for rotatably driving a rotor, and at least one compressor including a statoric body and an arrangement of blade wheels mounted on a shaft which is rotatably driven by the rotor in the statoric body. The group formed by the motor and/or each compressor being mounted in a common housing is sealed from the gas used by the compressor. The compressor unit also includes an arrangement of active bearings for axially and radially guiding the rotor and the driven shaft, and a means for cooling the driving means and the guiding bearings by withdrawing the gas used by the compressor at the outlet of a first compression stage. The cooling means includes a set of internal conduits for supplying the driving means and the bearings with cooling gas. The cooling gas flow in the motor and the cooling gas flow in the bearing is separated and then converge upstream of the first compression stage. |
| US09644631B2 |
Multi-blade centrifugal fan and air conditioner employing the same
In a multi-blade centrifugal fan in which an impeller is provided in a scroll casing in a freely rotatable manner, the scroll casing is provided with an axially expanded portion that forms an air channel at a bottom surface thereof which is expanded in a rotation-axis direction at a radially outer side of an annular flange portion which supports the impeller; and is provided, in a region of an outlet between a tongue portion and a spiral-end portion of the scroll casing in the axially expanded portion, with a protrusion that protrudes radially outward from a radially inner side surface by a predetermined amount so as to directly face an airflow in a circumferential direction. |
| US09644630B2 |
Supercharger with integrated contraction chamber for noise attenuation
A supercharger for a vehicle includes a lower body housing a compressor and an upper lid having a contraction chamber. The upper lid includes an air circulation port and is configured to be coupled to the lower body thereby forming a plenum. The contraction chamber is integrally formed in the upper lid adjacent to the air circulation port and includes an attenuator plate that defines a tuning neck. The tuning neck defines an inlet to and part of a volume of the contraction chamber, and includes a predetermined size and shape configured to attenuate a desired sound frequency generated by operation of the supercharger. |
| US09644626B2 |
Vane pump
A vane pump includes: a rotor; vanes; a cam ring; pump chambers; a suction port; a discharge port; back-pressure chambers; a discharge-side back pressure port configured to guide working fluid that is discharged from the discharge port to the back-pressure chambers; and suction-side back pressure ports configured to guide the working fluid to the back-pressure chambers. The suction-side back pressure ports are formed to be divided into a low-pressure port and a high-pressure port, the low-pressure port being configured to guide the working fluid in the suction port to the back-pressure chambers, and the high-pressure port being configured to guide the working fluid that is discharged from the discharge port to the back-pressure chambers. The high-pressure port is arranged at the forward-side of the low-pressure port in rotating direction of the rotor. |
| US09644623B2 |
Fluid control structures in microfluidic devices
Methods and apparatus for implementing microfluidic analysis devices are provided. A monolithic elastomer membrane associated with an integrated pneumatic manifold allows the placement and actuation of a variety of fluid control structures, such as structures for pumping, isolating, mixing, routing, merging, splitting, preparing, and storing volumes of fluid. The fluid control structures can be used to implement a variety of sample introduction, preparation, processing, and storage techniques. |
| US09644622B2 |
Membrane pump with air release valve
A suction pump, in particular a breast pump, comprises a bleed valve with a bleed opening, a bleed body which seals the bleed opening and an operating means for operating the bleed body. The bleed body may be operated such that upon opening the valve initially only a partial region of the bleed opening is released and subsequently a greater part thereof or the whole bleed opening is released. The suction pump provides a large functionality with the smallest size and, furthermore, is cheap to produce and easily assembled. |
| US09644617B2 |
Hydrostatic axial piston machine
The disclosure relates to a hydrostatic axial piston machine having a housing, having a drive shaft, to which a flange disc is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner, and having a swash plate, to which a rotor disc, driven by the drive shaft or the flange disc, is rotatably mounted, and having a plurality of displacement units arranged distributed between the flange disc and the rotor disc and around the axis of the drive shaft, each displacement unit comprising a cylinder sleeve and a piston which extends into the cylinder sleeve and has a ball head and a spherical joint head which extends into the cylinder sleeve, wherein during operation, the piston plunges more or less far into the cylinder sleeve. |
| US09644613B2 |
Wind turbine lighting protection system and wind turbine blade
Method and apparatus for cooling a hydrocarbon stream. The present invention relates to a wind turbine lightning protection system and to a wind turbine blade comprising a wind turbine lightning protection system. A lightning protection system is provided for use in a wind turbine blade, comprising a lightning conductor located along an interior portion of the wind turbine blade and being coupled to ground, at least one receptor module arranged on an external surface of the wind turbine blade, the receptor module being electrically connected to the lightning conductor, and a vortex generator strip arranged in a longitudinal direction on the external surface of the wind turbine blade, the vortex generator strip being adapted to attract and receive a lightning strike and to transmit an electrical current from the lightning strike to the receptor module and thereafter to ground through the lightning conductor. |
| US09644608B2 |
Method and system for shutting down a wind turbine
A method and system for shutting down a wind turbine is presented. The method includes determining one or more pitch positions for one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine such that a sum of potential energy and kinetic energy in the wind turbine is minimized. The method further includes pitching the one or more rotor blades from an operating position to the determined pitch positions. |
| US09644604B2 |
Vertical axis turbine
A vertical axis wind turbine including a turbine rotor having an axis of rotation and at least one blade spaced from and mounted for rotation about the rotation axis of the turbine. The blade has at least one longitudinal surface substantially parallel to the rotation axis and for engagement, in use, with wind incident on the turbine rotor. The blade is a two part blade with a first leading blade portion pivotably connected to a second trailing blade portion. The turbine includes pitch control means and camber control means for controlling the pitch and camber of the blade. |
| US09644603B1 |
Electric generating wind turbine system for low and high wind speeds
An electrical power generating system includes a wind deflecting structure having a contour at a proximal end formed by a plurality of sail segments that in a first position define the contour, a turbine positioned in proximity to a distal end of the wind deflecting structure such that the turbine is driven by wind passing around the wind deflecting structure, and an energy converter coupled to the turbine that converts rotary motion from the turbine into electrical energy, wherein at least one of the plurality of sails is movable between the first position defining a corresponding portion of the contour of the wind deflecting structure and a second position that reduces a wind drag coefficient of the wind deflecting structure. |
| US09644601B2 |
Linear faraday induction generator for the generation of electrical power from ocean wave kinetic energy and arrangements thereof
A linear generator includes a permanent magnet array having at least two magnets arranged end-to-end. A set of conductive coils is arranged around the permanent magnet array. A four-phase full wave rectifier is configured to accept alternating current inputs from the set of conductive coils and to produce one or more direct current outputs. A summing circuit is configured to aggregate the one or more direct current outputs from the rectifier to produce a combined, rectified direct current output. |
| US09644597B2 |
Ceramic glow plug
A ceramic glow pug has a structure in which a portion of an embedded resistor is exposed on a portion of a substrate and forms an exposed surface of an electrode taking-out portion. The resistor formed of an electrically conductive ceramic is embedded in the substrate formed of an electrically insulating ceramic, and a portion of the resistor is exposed on the surface of the substrate and has an exposed surface. The exposed surface and the embedded portion differ in stress acting on the substrate, which may decrease the breakage resistance in the vicinity of the electrode taking-out portion. The shape of the exposed surface is such that dimensions, in the axial and circumferential directions, fall within a range of 1.0 mm to 1.8 mm. |
| US09644595B2 |
Starting battery for an internal combustion engine
A starting battery for use with an internal combustion engine including an electric starting system with a starter motor is provided. The starting battery includes a battery cell and a control system including a timer and configured to operate a starter motor of an internal combustion engine. The control system is configured to actuate the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine in response to a user input and deactivate the motor after a predetermined amount of time measured by the timer. |
| US09644594B2 |
Switch arrangement in a motor vehicle electrical system
Switch system for a motor vehicle electrical system comprising a first switch element arranged between a generator-battery line and a starter-battery line of a vehicle electrical system, such that the generator-battery line and the starter-batter line can be short circuited spatially in the region of the starter. |
| US09644593B2 |
Cold-crank event management
Systems and methods for managing cold-crank events. In an embodiment, a method may include detecting a cold-crank event and setting a switching circuit to a non-conductive state, where the switching circuit is configured to couple a first regulator to a memory circuit such that setting the switching circuit to the non-conductive state de-couples the memory circuit from the first regulator. The method may also include setting the switching circuit to a conductive state in current limitation mode during a recovery period following the cold-crank event to re-couple the memory circuit to the first regulator. In another embodiment, an electronic device include a switching circuit, a first regulator coupled to a first terminal of the switching circuit, a second regulator coupled to a second terminal of the switching circuit, a logic circuit coupled to the switching circuit, and a memory circuit coupled to the second terminal of the switching circuit. |
| US09644585B2 |
Auxiliary pressure relief valve in single piston fuel pump
A fuel pump has a low pressure fuel inlet (40) and a single piston pumping chamber (10) for supplying high pressure fuel through a pump outlet to an inlet side of a common rail (16). The fuel pump comprises a primary pressure relief valve (12) having an inlet side in hydraulic communication with the inlet side of the common rail (16) and an outlet side in fluid communication with the pumping chamber (10); and an auxiliary pressure relief valve (19) having an inlet side (35) in hydraulic communication with the pumping chamber (10) and an outlet side in direct fluid communication with a fuel passage (37) at the low pressure of the pump inlet (40). |
| US09644580B2 |
Filter element with retaining surfaces, filter with a filter element and filter housing of a filter
A filter element (10) is provided with open filter bellows (16) of a filter medium (18). The filter element (10) has at least one longitudinal mating surface (40) which is directed with at least one direction component axially to an element axis (14) of the filter element (10) and which is in contact with a corresponding longitudinal mating surface of the filter housing (11) for securing the filter element (10) axially to the element axis (14). The filter element (10) has at least one transverse retaining surface (52) which is directed with at least one direction component across the element axis (14). The transverse retaining surface (52) is separated from the at least one longitudinal retaining surface (40) and may be in contact with a corresponding transverse mating surface (56) of the filter housing (11) for securing the filter element (10) across the element axis (14). |
| US09644576B2 |
Exhaust gas feed device for an internal combustion engine
An exhaust gas feed device for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas recirculation duct comprising an end, an outlet, and an outflow cross-section. An air intake duct opens into the exhaust gas recirculation duct. A flow-guiding element is arranged in and at the end of the exhaust gas recirculation duct. An exhaust gas recirculation valve comprises a regulator body. The regulator body is configured to control the outflow cross-section. A valve seat is arranged at the outlet at the end of the exhaust gas recirculation duct in which the flow-guiding element is arranged. The valve seat is configured to limit the outflow cross-section of the exhaust gas recirculation duct. |
| US09644572B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
This invention relates to a control device for internal combustion engine for performing an exhaust recirculation control for controlling an operation condition of an exhaust recirculation device (50,52) according to a target exhaust gas recirculation amount (TRegr) set such that a detected air-fuel ratio (AFd) corresponds to an estimated air-fuel ratio (AFe). When the sign of the ratio (Rtregr) of the change amount of the actual target exhaust gas recirculation amount relative to the change amount of the base exhaust gas recirculation amount setting parameter (Q) used for the setting of the base exhaust gas recirculation amount (Regrb) is different from that of the ratio of the change amount of the referential target exhaust gas recirculation amount relative to the change amount of the base exhaust gas recirculation amount setting parameter, the performance of the learning function to calculate the learned correction value (KGn) on the basis of the instant correction value (KT) for correcting the current target exhaust gas recirculation amount such that the air-fuel ratio deviation (Raf) becomes zero is forbidden. |
| US09644560B1 |
Emergency forced idle device
The Emergency Forced Idle Device aka “EFID” is a device configured to make an automotive engine idle and the brakes to work normally completely ignoring the accelerator's request for more power, although the driver is inadvertently applying both the brake and the accelerator pedals at the same time. |
| US09644555B2 |
Method of pre-emptively regenerating a lean nox trap
A method of predicting the future use of a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle is used to evaluate whether NOx slippage from a lean NOx trap is likely to occur during a current drive cycle and also for scheduling when favorable conditions are likely to exist to purge the lean NOx trap before the slippage of NOx from the lean NOx trap is expected to occur. |
| US09644548B2 |
Exhaust system pressure estimation systems and methods
A control system for an engine of a vehicle includes an adder module that determines a pressure sum based on a sum of a plurality of pressures determined based on (i) a plurality of operating parameters of the vehicle and (ii) a plurality of predetermined values calibrated for determining an estimated pressure at a location within an exhaust system of the vehicle. An estimating module determines the estimated pressure at the location within the exhaust system based on the pressure sum and a reference pressure. An actuator control module selectively adjusts at least one engine actuator based on the estimated pressure. |
| US09644546B2 |
Internal combustion engine provided with variable compression ratio mechanism
This internal combustion engine is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism capable of changing a mechanical compression ratio by changing the volume of the combustion chamber at the top dead center. The pressure and temperature of remaining combusted gas within the combustion chamber at the time when the exhaust valve is closed in the intake stroke is measured or estimated, the pressure and temperature of intake air supplied into the combustion chamber after the exhaust valve is closed in the intake stroke is measured or estimated, and based on the assumption that the pressure and temperature of the remaining combusted gas which saturates the volume of the combustion chamber at the time when the exhaust valve is closed in the air intake stroke become, when the intake air is supplied to the combustion chamber, equal to the pressure and temperature of the intake air, the volume of the remaining combusted gas after the change is calculated. |
| US09644544B2 |
Spring biased exhaust valve assembly
An exhaust valve assembly comprises a housing having a central axis. A ram assembly moves along a shaft fixed inside a hollow interior of the housing. Downstream movement of the ram assembly increases the size of the valve opening, allowing additional exhaust gases to pass through the interior of the housing. Springs maintain the ram assembly in a position in which exhaust gases may pass around the ram assembly. Sufficient force on the ram assembly from exhaust gases compresses at least one spring allowing the ram assembly to move downstream, thereby allowing additional exhaust gases to pass through the interior of the housing. |
| US09644543B2 |
Prediction of intake manifold pressure in an engine system
An engine assembly includes an intake manifold and a manifold absolute pressure sensor configured to generate a current measured manifold absolute pressure (MAPM) signal for the intake manifold. The assembly includes a throttle valve adjustable to control airflow to the intake manifold and a throttle position sensor configured to generate a current measured throttle position (TPM) signal. A controller is operatively connected to the throttle valve and the manifold absolute pressure sensor and has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining a predicted manifold absolute pressure (MAPP). Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to determine the predicted manifold absolute pressure (MAPP) based at least partially on a predicted throttle flow (TFP) and the current measured manifold absolute pressure (MAPM) signal. |
| US09644538B2 |
Passive cooling system for auxiliary power unit installation
A passive cooling system for an auxiliary power unit (APU) installation on an aircraft is provided. The system is for an auxiliary power unit having at least a compressor portion of a gas turbine engine and an oil cooler contained separately within a nacelle. The system includes the auxiliary power unit housed within the nacelle of the aircraft, an engine exhaust opening defined in the aft portion of the nacelle and communicating with the gas turbine engine, at least a first air inlet duct communicating with a second opening defined in said nacelle and with said compressor portion and the oil cooler is located within a second duct communicating with an opening other than the engine exhaust opening of said nacelle and with the engine exhaust opening. Exterior cooling air and engine exhaust ejected through said engine exhaust opening entrain cooling air through said second duct to said oil cooler, and thus provide engine oil cooling. An exhaust eductor is also provided. |
| US09644534B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing engine cycle count
Systems and methods for implementing engine cycle counts are disclosed. One method may include determining, by at least one processor, a plurality of cycles associated with an engine; determining a category, by at least one processor, for each of the plurality of cycles based at least in part on an acceleration value associated with each of the plurality of cycles; and predicting, by at least one processor, a life cycle associated with the engine based at least in part on the determined category. |
| US09644530B2 |
Internal combustion engine coupled turbocharger with an infinitely variable transmission
A turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine is provided. The turbocharger comprises a differential device having a carrier portion, a compressor portion, and a turbine portion. The compressor portion is in driving engagement with a first portion of the differential device. The turbine portion is in driving engagement with a second portion of the differential device. The carrier portion of the differential device is in driving engagement with an infinitely variable transmission. The infinitely variable transmission is in driving engagement with the internal combustion engine. The turbocharger is simply controlled, reduces turbo lag, decreases a boost threshold of the turbocharger, and increases an efficiency of the internal combustion engine. |
| US09644528B2 |
Engine system with EGR over-pressure protection
An engine system is disclosed for use with an engine having at least a first cylinder and a second cylinder. The engine system may have a first exhaust manifold fluidly connected to the first cylinder, a second exhaust manifold fluidly connected to the second cylinder, and a recirculation passage extending from the first exhaust manifold to at least one of the first and second cylinders. The engine system may also have a restricted orifice connecting the first exhaust manifold to the second exhaust manifold, a pressure relief passage extending from the first exhaust manifold, and a valve disposed within the pressure relief passage and movable to selectively reduce a back pressure of the first exhaust manifold. |
| US09644527B2 |
Method of operating a combustion engine provided with at least one flushed prechamber
A method of operating a combustion engine provided with at least one flushed prechamber, and the at least one prechamber is connected to a main combustion chamber of the combustion engine. During a compression phase immediately preceding the ignition in the main combustion chamber—after ignition has taken place in the prechamber, in a first transfer phase, gas transfers from the prechamber into the main combustion chamber. After the first transfer phase, an at least two-phase, incompressible medium—preferably water—is introduced into the prechamber. |
| US09644517B2 |
Exhaust aftertreatment device
An exhaust treatment device for treating exhaust includes a main body defining an interior, an inlet, and an outlet; an inlet arrangement disposed at the inlet; an aftertreatment substrate disposed between the inlet and the outlet; a restrictor arrangement disposed between a first closed end of the main body interior and the aftertreatment substrate; and a dosing arrangement configured to inject reactant into the exhaust. The restrictor arrangement defines a restricted passageway that extends towards the first closed end so that exhaust entering the main body interior from the inlet is swirled around the restricted passageway before entering the restricted passageway and passing to a second chamber prior to the aftertreatment substrate. |
| US09644506B2 |
Method and system of oil delivery in a combustion engine
Methods and systems are described for an oil delivery system of an engine. In one method, oil is pumped via a lower pressure oil pump to piston cooling jets while oil is separately pumped via a higher pressure oil pump to a cylinder head, bearings, a turbocharger, or a variable valve operation system. Herein, the higher and lower pressure oil pumps each draw oil from a common, shared sump, and return oil back to the common, shared sump. |
| US09644505B2 |
Rotary valve internal combustion engine
A rotary valve internal combustion engine has a piston connected to a crankshaft and reciprocatable in a cylinder, a combustion chamber being defined in part by the piston. The engine has a rotary valve rotatable in a valve housing fixed relative to the cylinder, the rotary valve having a valve body containing a volume defining, in part, the combustion chamber and further having a wall part thereof a port giving, during rotation of the valve, fluid communication successively to and from the combustion chamber via inlet and exhaust ports in the valve housing, wherein the rotary valve is rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft, the valve being mounted in a bearing arrangement which restrains the valve from movement in the axial direction but permits movement in the radial direction. |
| US09644504B2 |
Single crystal engine valve
A valve for use in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The valve includes a stem friction welded to a head portion. The head portion is cast from a single crystal metal using a casting process that creates little or no grain boundaries. The single crystal metal can be a nickel based superalloys such as CMSX-4, CMSX 3, Rene N5, and Rene N6. By having little or no grain boundaries, defects that occur in other types of casting material, such as large numbers of grain boundaries can be minimized. This allows the head portion and particularly the combustion face to withstand an operating temperature in the combustion chamber in excess of 850° C. |
| US09644503B2 |
System to diagnose variable valve actuation malfunctions by monitoring fluid pressure in a hydraulic lash adjuster gallery
A system for diagnosing malfunctions in a variable valve actuation device. The system has a rocker arm assembly with first and second arms attached at a first end and a hydraulically operated latch assembly to secure the first arm to the second arm when latched. The rocker arm assembly pivots upon a hydraulic lash adjuster and includes a source of pressurized fluid connected to a hydraulic valve providing high or low pressure fluid to the hydraulically-operated latch. The latch may be operated by a remote device. A pressure transducer positioned within the hydraulic lash adjuster (HLA) is adapted to create a signal indicating fluid pressure in the HLA. A control unit coupled to the hydraulic valve and the pressure transducer is adapted to sense engine operating parameters, actuate the hydraulic valve, read the signal from the pressure transducer and identify malfunctions of the rocker arm assembly based upon the signal. |
| US09644502B2 |
Regenerative thermodynamic power generation cycle systems, and methods for operating thereof
A regenerative closed loop thermodynamic power generation cycle system is presented. The system includes a high-pressure expander to deliver an exhaust stream. A conduit is fluidly coupled to the high-pressure expander, which is configured to split the exhaust stream from the high-pressure expander into a first exhaust stream and a second exhaust stream. The system further includes a first low-pressure expander and a second low-pressure expander. The first low-pressure expander is coupled to a pressurization device through a turbocompressor shaft, and fluidly coupled to receive the first exhaust stream. The second low-pressure expander is coupled to the high-pressure expander and an electrical generator through a turbogenerator shaft, and fluidly coupled to receive the second exhaust stream. A method for operating the regenerative closed loop thermodynamic power generation cycle system is also presented. |
| US09644500B2 |
Electricity-water co-generation system and method
An electricity-water co-generation system and method, the method comprising: step 1, heating saline water by spent steam, crystallizing a calcium magnesium compound in the saline water, then filtering the saline water; step 2, distilling the descaled water, and discharging strong saline water; step 3, converting the heat energy of the saturated steam into electric energy, dividing condensed water generated by releasing heat energy of the saturated steam into two parts, one part being output as fresh water; step 4, heating the other part of condensed water, and converting the heat energy of the overheated steam into electric energy, then feeding spent steam to heat the saline water and distilling the descaled water at a high temperature. The system comprises a descaling device, a mixed heat exchanger, a residual heat generator and a thermal power generation device, and the working process of the system is accordance with the method. |
| US09644494B2 |
Gas turbine
A gas turbine configured to prevent eccentricity of a rotor (14) due to heat is installed with a strut (23), an outer diffuser (24), an inner diffuser (25), a strut cover (26), and a partition wall (28), wherein the gas turbine includes an inflow hole (31) for cooling air (W), a first flow passage (R1) formed between a casing wall (21) and the outer diffuser (24), a second flow passage (R2) formed between the strut (23) and the strut cover (26), a third flow passage (R3) formed between the inner diffuser (25) and the partition wall (28), and an outflow hole (51) installed in the inner diffuser (25). |
| US09644491B2 |
Single bolting flange arrangement for variable guide vane connection
A single bolting flange arrangement for variable inlet guide vane (VIGV) connection includes a connection arm connected to a stem of the VIGV to rotate the VIGV. The connection arm is driven by a drive pin received in a slot of the connection arm. The connection arm has a bolting flange and the stem of the VIGV is fastened to one side of the single bolting flange by a bolt/nut assembly. |
| US09644489B1 |
Additive manufacturing of abradable mesh structure on ring segment surface
An abradable turbine component, a method of creating a turbine component with an abradable mesh structure, and a gas turbine engine are provided. The abradable turbine component includes a turbine component surface for coupling to a turbine casing, and a deposited abradable mesh structure coupled to the turbine component surface. The abradable mesh structure includes interlacing strands of material, each strand including a height relative to the turbine component surface. At least two of the plurality of interlacing strands include a height different from each other. The method includes applying a bond coat layer followed by a thermal barrier coating layer. An abradable mesh structure is deposited on top of thermal barrier coating wherein the abradable mesh structure includes interlacing strands of material wherein at least two of the interlacing strands include a height different from each other. A gas turbine engine including the abradable turbine component is also provided. |
| US09644488B2 |
Turbine stage with a blow-out arrangement and method for blowing out a sealing gas flow
A turbine stage having a gas channel in which at least one rotor assembly is disposed, is disclosed. A cavity communicates with the gas channel and is delimited by a front side of a rotor element and by a rotor element-mounted seal. A blow-out arrangement with at least one gas passage for blowing out a sealing gas flow into the cavity is provided, where the gas passage for blowing out the sealing gas flow is configured with a swirl in the circumferential direction and has an outlet opening that is offset radially outwardly from the rotor element-mounted seal. |
| US09644487B2 |
Fixed turbine engine receiver part comprising an assembly for holding ancillary systems in position inside a fixed hollow shaft
The invention relates to a fixed turbine engine receiver part comprising a fixed hollow shaft for carrying ancillary systems of a turbine engine, centered on the turbine engine axis, turbine engine ancillary systems, an assembly for holding ancillary systems in position situated inside the fixed hollow shaft. The assembly for holding ancillary systems in position comprises at least one first ancillary system support ring, having an axis substantially parallel with the turbine engine axis, a first distance sleeve for holding the first ancillary system support ring in position, having an axis substantially parallel with the turbine engine axis, the first distance sleeve bearing against the first support ring, such that the first support ring comprises a plurality of mutually separated through holes, each through hole defining a passage for at least one ancillary system, each through hole being traversed by at least one of the ancillary systems of the turbine engine. |
| US09644484B2 |
System and method for providing a film treatment to a surface using inlet bleed heat manifold
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for treating a surface, such as a gas turbine surface, with a filming agent using an inlet bleed heat manifold. A filming control system includes a storage tank configured to contain a filming agent; an inlet bleed heat manifold; and a supply conduit coupled to the storage tank on a first end and the inlet bleed heat manifold on a second end; wherein the filming control system is configured to deliver the filming agent from the storage tank and to discharge the filming agent through the inlet heat bleed manifold and the filming agent includes siloxane, fluorosilane, mercapto silane, amino silane, tetraethyl orthosilicate, succinic anhydride silane, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing. |
| US09644480B2 |
Fluid pressure rotary machine
A fluid pressure rotary machine includes a cylinder block that is fixed to a rotary shaft and includes a plurality of cylinder bores, a piston disposed to be free to slide in each cylinder bore such that a volume chamber is defined thereby, a swash plate that causes the piston to reciprocate such that the volume chamber expands and contracts, and a valve plate that slides against the cylinder block and includes an intake port and a discharge port communicating with the volume chamber. The valve plate includes a sliding surface formed to project in a spherical shape against the cylinder block. The cylinder block includes a sliding surface formed as an indentation corresponding to the shape of the sliding surface of the valve plate. A minute gap is formed between the sliding surface of the valve plate and the sliding surface of the cylinder block in an outer edge position. |
| US09644479B2 |
Device for sampling fluid under pressure for geological site development monitoring
The invention is a device for sampling fluids under pressure from a well which comprises a chamber for retaining the fluid within a sample chamber (01). The chambers includes a first piston which allows or prevents fluid inflow into the lower part of the chamber. The first piston is displaced by means comprising an elastic element (20) disposed in a chamber filled with oil and connected to the piston by a rod (04). Sampled fluid transfer means allows control of the descent of a second piston (02) from the upper part to the lower part of the chamber so that the fluid remains at constant pressure in chamber during the transfer. |
| US09644478B2 |
Sampling assembly for a single packer
A sampling assembly of a single packer assembly may have more guard drains than sampling drains. The single packer assembly having the sampling assembly may be deployed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, and the single packer assembly may be deployed on a wireline cable or another deployment or conveyance. The number and the area of the sampling drains, the number and the area of the guard drains, and the positions of the sampling drains and the guard drains may be designed so that the guard drains which are operational may provide a fluid intake rate exceeding a predetermined threshold if one of the guard drains is congested and/or blocked. |
| US09644475B2 |
Communications protocol for downhole data collection
A method of managing data obtained in a borehole is provided. The method includes monitoring a characteristic with at least one sensor and obtaining raw data therefrom; indexing the raw data with the at least one sensor; recording the indexed data with the at least one sensor; forming a data packet with the at least one sensor, the data packet including at least a portion of the indexed data and index information; and transmitting the data packet in a predetermined segment of a communication protocol. |
| US09644470B2 |
Downhole camera
A camera apparatus that is at least partially incorporated within a downhole tool to be disposed to a subterranean location by a running arrangement. The camera apparatus includes a camera sensor for capturing one or more visual images of a subterranean location and a memory storage operably associated with camera sensor, the camera sensor providing one or more visual images to the storage memory. |
| US09644468B2 |
Steam assisted gravity drainage processes with the addition of oxygen
A process to recover hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon reservoir, namely bitumen (API<10; in situ viscosity>100,000 c.p.), said process comprising;establishing a horizontal production well in said reservoir;separately injecting an oxygen-containing gas and steam into the hydrocarbon reservoir continuously to cause heated hydrocarbons and water to drain, by gravity, to the horizontal production well, the ratio of oxygen/steam injectant gases being controlled in the range from 0.05 to 1.00 (v/v).removing non-condensable combustion gases from at least one separate vent-gas well, which is established in the reservoir to avoid undesirable pressures in the reservoir. |
| US09644467B2 |
Recovery from a hydrocarbon reservoir
A method of recovering heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir. The method includes injecting steam into a subterranean reservoir to heat heavy oil in the subterranean reservoir and thereby produce heavy oil of reduced viscosity; injecting a multi-purpose agent into the subterranean reservoir; and producing the heavy oil of reduced viscosity from the subterranean reservoir after injecting the steam and the multi-purpose agent. The multi-purpose agent comprises an ester of the formula RxCOORy wherein Rx is a straight chained or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, Ry is a straight chained or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, C is carbon and O is oxygen. |
| US09644463B2 |
Method of completing and producing long lateral wellbores
Long lateral wellbores are prepared for the production of hydrocarbons by preparing only a portion of the wellbore for production at a time, starting at a remote end of the long lateral wellbore. The prepared production section is produced until production becomes uneconomic before a further production section is prepared and produced. |
| US09644460B2 |
Method for the enhancement of injection activities and stimulation of oil and gas production
By removing material of low permeability from within and around a perforation tunnel and creating at least one fracture at the tip of a perforation tunnel, injection parameters and effects such as outflow rate and, in the case of multiple perforation tunnels benefiting from such cleanup, distribution of injected fluids along a wellbore are enhanced. Following detonation of a charge carrier, a second explosive event is triggered within a freshly made tunnel, thereby substantially eliminating a crushed zone and improving the geometry and quality (and length) of the tunnel. In addition, this action creates substantially debris-free tunnels and relieves the residual stress cage, resulting in perforation tunnels that are highly conducive to injection under fracturing conditions for disposal and stimulation purposes, and that promote even coverage of injected fluids across the perforated interval. |
| US09644458B2 |
Screen communication sleeve assembly and method
Fluid flow between screen-pipe annuli of pipe sections in a down-hole well structure is provided by a fluid communication sleeve assembly that may be installed where adjacent pipe sections are connected. A flow ring is provided at each pipe section end, each flow ring providing fluid communication from and to an annulus between a screen and a corresponding base pipe. The fluid communication sleeve assembly includes a screen shield spaced from the adjoining pipes and the pipe joint, the screen shield connected to a flow ring at each screen shield end, and a lock nut at each screen shield end, the lock nut retaining a screen shield end to a corresponding flow ring. A method for providing fluid flow between screen-pipe annuli of pipe is also provided. |
| US09644455B2 |
System and method for controlling and optimizing the hydrothermal upgrading of heavy crude oil and bitumen
A system and method is provided for upgrading a continuously flowing process stream including heavy crude oil (HCO). A reactor receives the process stream in combination with water, at an inlet temperature within a range of about 60° C. to about 200° C. The reactor includes one or more process flow tubes having a combined length of about 30 times their aggregated transverse cross-sectional dimension, and progressively heats the process stream to an outlet temperature T(max)1 within a range of between about 260° C. to about 400° C. The reactor maintains the process stream at a pressure sufficient to ensure that it remains a single phase at T(max)1. A controller selectively adjusts the rate of flow of the process stream through the reactor to maintain a total residence time of greater than about 1 minute and less than about 25 minutes. |
| US09644452B2 |
Segmented seat assembly
An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first plurality of segments, and the second portion includes a second plurality of segments. The apparatus is deployable in a tubing string that is installed in the well, and the second plurality of segments is adapted to engage the tubing string and exert a force on the first plurality of segments. The first plurality of segments is adapted to expand to form a seat in the tubing string to receive an untethered object in response to the force, and the second plurality of segments is adapted to be released from the first plurality of segments downhole in the well. |
| US09644450B2 |
Well flow control assemblies and associated methods
A well choke, and an actuation mechanism for the well choke are described. The actuation mechanism includes a linearly translating drive mechanism which is coupled to a valve member drive assembly through a fluid coupling which facilitates a change in the overall length of the actuation mechanism. Fluid in the fluid coupling can be released in response to fluid pressure exerted on the valve member when it is proximate a valve seat of the choke, to achieve this change in length. In some embodiments, the fluid coupling will provide a retained fluid column and the valve member drive assembly will include a piston with in the fluid coupling which is movable from a fully extended to a compressed, by the release of fluid from the coupling in response to pressure in the chamber reaching a threshold level. |
| US09644449B2 |
Geothermal integrated expansion spool assembly
A geothermal expansion spool assembly includes an integrated or single piece configuration. The geothermal expansion spool assembly comprises an upper portion adapted to directly couple to a production valve and a lower portion adapted to surround and engage with a surface casing of a geothermal well, wherein the upper and lower portion are permanently fixed to one another. |
| US09644447B2 |
Wireline pressure control apparatus
A wireline pressure control apparatus for use in an oil or gas well, comprising a grease injector having first and second tubes (10) and a bore (12), and a grease injection channel in communication with the bore for injecting grease between the outer surface of the wireline and the inner surface of the bore. The bore (12) has radial passages (15) at spaced apart locations providing a leak path for fluids between the inner surface of the bore and the outer surface of the tubes, allowing pressure to equalize. The radial passages are in fluid communication with one another outwith the bore. |
| US09644443B1 |
Remotely-operated wellhead pressure control apparatus
A wellhead pressure control fitting comprising a generally tubular Pressure Control Equipment (PCE) adapter configured to mate with pressure control equipment at a first adapter end, and with a receptacle inside a generally tubular pressure control assembly at a second adapter end. The pressure control assembly is configured to mate with a wellhead. Cooperating abutment surfaces form a high pressure seal when the second adapter end is compressively received into the receptacle. A plurality of cam locks on the exterior of the pressure control assembly rotate responsive to extension and retraction of the cam lock pistons. Cam lock rotation causes perimeter curvatures on the cam locks to bear down on corresponding curvatures on the second adapter end, which in turn compresses the second adapter end into the receptacle to form the seal. A locking ring may restrain the cam locks from rotation while the seal is enabled. |
| US09644435B2 |
Methods for injecting or retrieving tubewire when connecting two strings of coiled tubing
Systems and methods for injecting tubewire into the core end of coiled tubing sections on reels. Methods are described for disposing tubewire into multiple sections of coiled tubing. |
| US09644430B2 |
Cutting elements for earth-boring tools, earth-boring tools including such cutting elements, and related methods
A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes a substrate and a volume of superabrasive material disposed over the substrate. The volume of superabrasive material may include a cutting face and a longitudinal extension extending longitudinally along a lateral side surface of the substrate. An outer peripheral surface of the longitudinal extension may define at least a portion of a lateral side surface of the cutting element and may have a surface roughness less than about 10 μin. (about 0.254 μm) RMS. Earth-boring tools may include such cutting elements. Methods may include forming such cutting elements. |
| US09644424B2 |
Touch hem bar control
A motorized shade for covering a window, a door, or a wall opening is provided that can be actuated by touching its hem bar. The motorized shade, such as a roller shade, comprises a shade material extending from a top end to a bottom end, a hem bar assembly connected to the bottom end of the shade material, and a shade drive unit operably connected to the top end of the shade material. The hem bar assembly comprises a touch sensing module adapted to detect a user touching the hem bar assembly and transmit a control signal in response to the detected touch. The shade drive unit comprises a motor and a motor control module adapted to receive the control signal and control the motor to open or close the shade material. The control signal can be wirelessly transmitted from the touch sensing module to the motor control module. |
| US09644423B2 |
Roll control device of a vehicle curtain
A roll control device of a vehicle curtain is mounted on a receiving housing and is connected to a curtain rod for wrapping a curtain fabric. The roll control device has a cover, a gear set mounted in the cover, and a one-way transmission assembly and a damping member respectively mounted on a first gear and a second gear of the gear set. The damping member provides rotational resistance to the first gear. When expanding the curtain fabric, with the one-way transmission assembly, the curtain fabric can be easily drawn. When retracting the curtain fabric, with the torsional resistance, the curtain fabric can be smoothly and gently wrapped on the curtain rod without causing noise and excessive vibration. |
| US09644418B2 |
Money storage device and money storage device managing system
To further strengthen the security function of a money storage device, a money storage device which stores collected money is configured to: receive a locked state releasing instruction signal that instructs releasing of a locked state, from a money storage device managing server which manages the money storage device, via a communication network and a repeater by using wireless communication; and release the locked state in response to the reception of the locked state releasing instruction signal. |
| US09644417B2 |
High traffic flow robotic portal for secure access
Electro-mechanical and electronically controlled access devices are described for controlling access to a building, premises or area in a secure manner such that a subject who is deemed ineligible for access will be barred entry. The devices contain multiple rotatable and moveable door panels. The door panels can be controlled by various drive mechanisms in order to control the passage through the device. The direction of flow through a device according to these embodiments is electronically controlled and may be changed at any point in time. At any instant in time, the flow through the device is unidirectional. Multiple devices can be stacked together to form clusters, which can be controlled according to traffic, time of day, or other factors. |
| US09644415B2 |
Method for controlling a motor-powered hatch arrangement of a motor vehicle
Described herein is a method for controlling a motor-powered hatch arrangement of a motor vehicle, wherein the hatch arrangement has an upwardly deflectable hatch, in particular an upwardly pivotable hatch, a drive arrangement which is assigned to the hatch and a control arrangement which is assigned to the drive arrangement, wherein the motor-powered deflection of the hatch in the opening direction is limited to a maximum hatch deflection by means of a control arrangement. It is proposed that the chassis of the motor vehicle can be adjusted vertically as required in order to set different vehicle body levels, and in that the maximum hatch deflection is adapted to a change in the vehicle body level by means of the control arrangement. |
| US09644408B2 |
Method and device for barricading a door
A barricade device and a method of barricading a door are disclosed. The device and method may be used to barricade a door, and thereby prevent an intruder from entering a sheltering space, such as a classroom, storeroom, or hallway. The barricade-device may have a pivotable stop-device that is pivotable from a location adjacent to a door. The pivot-location may be at an elevation that is lower than a door handle on the door. The stop-device may be pivotable from a reserve-position to a stop-position. In the reserve-position, the stop-device does not barricade the door. In the barricade-position, the stop-device barricades the door. |
| US09644404B2 |
Cinching striker with adjustment mechanism
An adjustable cinching striker assembly for installation on a vehicle. The adjustable striker assembly includes a mounting frame for selectively mounting the adjustable striker assembly to the vehicle, and a striker moveably coupled to the mounting frame. A motor is coupled to the striker for moving the striker with respect to the mounting frame from an uncinched position to a cinched position, movement of the striker defining a cinching direction. The cinched position is adjustable with respect to the mounting frame. |
| US09644397B2 |
Food freezer locks and keys having safety features for preventing child entrapment
A tubular lock and its operating key have safety features that render the lock and key well suited for use with food freezer appliances and the like where the keyway of the lock extends horizontally. The tubular portion of the operating key, and the keyway of the tubular lock are cooperatively configured so a key inserted into the keyway of the lock fits quite loosely and is minimally supported even when fully inserted. The graspable bow of the operating key is made unusually long causing the center of gravity of an inserted operating key to be spaced far from the front face of the lock—so the weight of the loosely fitting and minimally supported operating key levers the graspable bow downwardly, causing the key to drop from the keyway unless being held in the keyway. Gravity is optimally used to effect key ejection. |
| US09644396B2 |
Systems and methods for modular locking
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a locker bay system. Specifically, in some embodiments the locker bay includes a catch loop coupled to the locker door and a locking mechanism that releaseably secures the catch loop to lock and unlock the locker bay. The locking mechanism, in some embodiments, includes a lock bar that pulls and pushes the catch loop in and out of the lock bar to lock and unlock the locker bay. |
| US09644394B2 |
Door handle assembly, sub-assembly and method of installing same
A vehicle door handle assembly, comprising: a door handle having opposite first and second ends, the first end including a handle leg connectable to a bellcrank; a door handle end-cap; a slide-lock cassette supporting the bellcrank; and a frame mounting the door handle and the door handle end-cap. The frame is securable to a vehicle door and defines an opening receiving the slide-lock cassette therein. The opening is dimensioned to permit sliding movement of the slide-lock cassette therein. The slide-lock cassette is slidingly moveable relative to the frame between a first position, in which the handle leg is not connected to the bellcrank and the door handle end cap is not secured in place relative to the frame, and a second position, in which the handle leg is connected to the bellcrank and the door handle end-cap is captured by the slide-lock cassette against removal from the frame. |
| US09644390B1 |
Portable personal privacy screen
A system and method for simply and efficiently improving on personal privacy, particularly in a portable or temporary format. A system may include a flexible oblong perimeter frame closed with a covering configured to be bowed into an arch, and an arch-retaining system coupled to ends of the frame maintaining the frame. |
| US09644388B1 |
Global positioning system/fire shelter system
A housing has a front panel, a rear panel, side panels, a bottom panel, and an open top. A major chamber is within the housing. An envelope formed with a minor chamber is attached to one of the panels of the housing. A fire shelter system is removably positioned in the major chamber. A global positioning system is removably positioned within the envelope. A cord extending between the major chamber and the minor chamber couples the fire shelter system and the global positioning system. Deployment of the fire shelter system by removal from the major chamber will pull the cord to activate the global positioning system. |
| US09644387B2 |
Frame for portable shelter and assembly
A portable shelter including a base, a collapsible support member that is projectable substantially diagonally upward and rearward from the portion of the base, a collapsible base support member that is projectable first diagonally downward to a bend and then forward from the portion of the base, and another collapsible support member or a spreader bar that is attachable to an end portion of the collapsible base support member, wherein the collapsible support member, the another collapsible support member or the spreader bar, and the collapsible base support member include a frame. |
| US09644385B2 |
Adjustable umbrella base
An umbrella stand may include a receptacle for receiving a portion of a mast of an umbrella and a base portion configured to interface with a ground surface. A movable joint is disposed between the receptacle and the base portion. A frictional force present between components of the movable joint is great enough to maintain a position of the receptacle relative to the base portion under the weight of the umbrella and mast, and is small enough that the receptacle can be repositioned relative to the base portion by application of a manual force to the mast of the umbrella. The movable joint may be lockable into different positions. |
| US09644383B2 |
Safety grate cover for a swimming pool
A grate cover in combination with a swimming pool being installed in a recess in the top of a sump. The grate is formed of an upper and a lower section. The upper section exhibits four squares or four triangles therein, The upper section has a dome-shaped configuration and has four square or triangular shapes therein, depending on the geometric division therein, each shape has openings therein. The lower section has four trapezoid shapes therein. Each of the shapes of the upper section, whether square or triangular, has a concave surface curvature therein at a transition between the upper and the lower section. Each of the trapezoids of the lower section has two concave surfaces- curvatures therein. One curvature extends in a first direction from the upper section toward an outside edge of grate cover. The other second concave curvature extends in a direction which is normal to the first direction. This way, the forceful suction within the sump cannot obtain enough force to suction the skin of a human onto the grate cover to cause any injuries. The curvatures in the top of the grate cover will always induce a lateral flow under a human body no matter how much of the grate is covered by the body. |
| US09644378B2 |
Variable height support
A variable height support with a platform and a base supporting the platform and reconfigurable to selectively change a height of a support surface on the platform relative to a subjacent surface. A control assembly is operable to selectively: a) maintain the support surface at a selected height; and b) release the platform to allow the base to be reconfigured to change the height of the support surface. The control assembly has a ratchet subassembly that, with the control assembly in a first state, allows the base to be reconfigured by exerting a continuous upward force upon the platform that causes the platform to elevate and be blocked within a range at a plurality of different vertical locations against downward movement. The control assembly further has an actuator that is repositionable to change the control assembly into a second state wherein the platform can be lowered over the range. |
| US09644374B2 |
Pergola cover
A louver cover for a pergola, arbor and the like has pivotal elongated slat assemblies that move between an open upright position and a closed position covering the pergola. The cover is secured between upright supports and cross beams of the pergola. Each slat assembly has a pivotal shaft mounted for pivotal movement between parallel cross beams. The pivotal shaft carries at least one slat member, which is movable between an upright position when the cover is open and a closed position when the slat assemblies extend in covering relationship over the pergola. In one embodiment, each slat assembly has a slat member with S-shaped profile, and in another embodiment the slat assembly has two mirror image slat members of J-shaped profile. |
| US09644373B2 |
Tool for facilitating the cutting of shingles
A tool for facilitating the cutting of shingles having a base plate and a tubular member. The tubular member comprises a slot on the horizontal surface of the tubular member that extends the entire length of the tubular member and that is offset from the center of the tubular member. The base plate comprises a semicircular cutout with a terminal point that coincides with the center point on the first side edge of the tubular member. The first side of the tubular member is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the base plate so that the tubular member is off-center on the base plate. |
| US09644360B2 |
Ventilated toilet assembly
Disclosed herein is a unique ventilated toilet assembly. The toilet assembly includes a base with a central opening, the opening defining a toilet bowl. The toilet assembly includes a first annular ring above the base, the first annular ring having means for delivering water to the toilet bowl and a second annular ring surrounding the first annular ring. The second annular ring having side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, the walls defining a conduit for exhausting air through the second annular ring and the second annular ring having exhaust ports for exhausting air from the toilet bowl. The ventilation member includes the combination of the second annular ring, the conduit, and the exhaust port for exhausting air working cooperatively to capture and remove waste air from the toilet bowl. |
| US09644358B2 |
Method of automatically cleaning a toilet bowl
The invention contemplates automatic cleaning of an entire toilet bowel using an electrically powered motor that simultaneously spins flexible, but rigid, circular brushes that are substantially the same length as the height of the bowl in both vertical and horizontal directions, not only around the bowl, but also along the height of the bowl, with special attention to the two parts of the bowl that collect the most rust and debris: at the “water line” and “under the rim”. The longer one waits to clean a toilet bowl, the more likely an anti-rust chemical will be required to soak the water line and under the rim for a few minutes prior to brushing; and before administering chemicals, the toilet should be flushed. Automatically flushing, releasing chemicals, and soaking before cleaning (and then repeating until all debris is removed) requires a programmable microprocessor and debris sensor(s) to truly operate automatically. |
| US09644352B2 |
Kitchen sink sprayer
A kitchen sink sprayer, comprising a body enclosed in an outer enclosure for being gripped and provided with a coupling to a flexible water supply hose connected to a faucet for adjusting the flow-rate between a closed position and an open position, the body comprising a rod which has, at one end, a tip that is adapted to open selectively the access of the water to a duct for forming a central jet and to ducts for forming a peripheral jet, and is provided with means for actuation by the user, the means for actuating the rod having a tab which is connected directly to the rod in an intermediate position of the rod and protrudes from the enclosure of the sprayer, at its lateral surface, by an extent that is sufficient for contact grip by the user when it is necessary to actuate the rod in order to move it from one of its selection positions to the other and vice versa. |
| US09644346B2 |
Calibration system and calibration method for excavator
A calibration system for an excavator includes the excavator having an upper structure swingably attached to a chassis, a working machine having a boom, an arm, and a working tool, and a current position computation unit configured to compute a current position of a working point of the working tool; a calibration device configured to calibrate parameters based on parameters indicating dimensions and rotation angles of the boom, the arm, and the working tool; an external measurement device that measures a position of the working point; and an inclination information detection device that detects inclination information of the excavator in an anteroposterior direction. The calibration device corrects positions of the working point measured by the external measurement device, based on the inclination information of the excavator in the anteroposterior direction, and computes calibrated values of the parameters based on coordinates of the working point at corrected positions. |
| US09644343B2 |
Construction machine with machine component
A construction machine according to the disclosure comprises a primary drive configured to generate waste heat and one or a plurality of machine components, the machine components being arranged in the area of the primary drive of the construction machine. At least one of the machine components is arranged in a housing including at least one flow passage through which ambient air is sucked using underpressure or which can have ambient air supplied thereto using overpressure so that an air current is created. |
| US09644340B1 |
Scraper device, as well as construction machine
A scraper device for a milling drum mounted in a construction machine at a machine frame between lateral walls with a milling drum axis, with a two-part scraper blade arranged in a height-adjustable fashion behind the milling drum when seen in the direction of travel, the lower part of which can glide over the ground surface milled off by the milling drum, where the lower part of the scraper blade is adjustable in height when in operating position, it is provided that the upper part of the scraper blade is attached, at the upper end, to swivel about a swivelling axis parallel to the axis of the milling drum. |
| US09644336B2 |
Method and apparatus for stabilizing an animal trap
The present invention is directed to one or more anchors that can be used to stabilize various types of animal traps to the ground. The invention comprises a clamping structure having at least two holes formed therein. The holes are axially aligned and formed in the top and bottom members of the structure. The invention further comprises a stake for anchoring the invention and trap to the ground. The clamping structure is designed to engage an edge or flange of an animal trap by positioning the flange in a groove in the structure and securing the structure to the flange using a threaded fastener such as a set screw. A threaded stake may be secured to a flange of the trap to anchor and stabilize the trap on the ground. |
| US09644332B1 |
Modular barrier and airfield repair system
A combination traffic barrier and roadway repair system for use on a traffic way, such as a roadway, runway, taxiway or the like, includes an elongated base and an elongated rectangular slab. The base configured to support the rectangular slab in a vertical orientation when used as a barrier. The rectangular slab being detachable from said base and configured to be placed flush with a traffic way surface, thereby forming a portion of the traffic way. |
| US09644331B2 |
Paint-striping laser guidance system and related technology
A system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a paint-striping machine having a carriage, an outrigger operably connected to the carriage, and a downwardly oriented nozzle carried by the outrigger. The carriage moves along pavement while the nozzle dispenses paint, thereby forming a paint stripe on the pavement. The system further includes a guidance system operably connected to the paint-striping machine. The guidance system includes a light-emitting device and a mounting and containment assembly that provides an adjustable connection between the light-emitting device and the paint-striping machine. The light-emitting device forms a planar light region having a vertical orientation. The mounting and containment assembly includes an adjustment mechanism operable to move the light-emitting device relative to the paint-striping machine, thereby changing a yaw angle of the planar light region. |
| US09644330B2 |
Self-propelled construction machine and method for operating a self-propelled construction machine
A self-propelled construction road milling machine, includes a machine frame and a milling drum housing, in which a milling drum is arranged. The machine includes a drive unit with which the height of the scraper blade of a scraper device can be adjusted in relation to the milling drum. A control unit for the drive unit adjusts the height of the scraper blade and a measurement device measures the distance between the lower edge of the scraper blade and the milled material. The control unit is designed in such a way that the scraper blade is height-adjustable depending on the height of the milled material remaining in the milled track. The control unit ensures that, on the one hand, the milled material can come out of the milling drum housing unimpeded behind the milling drum in the direction of work and, on the other hand, that the milling drum housing is shut above the material that is coming out. On the one hand, an unimpeded operation of the milling machine is thus ensured and, on the other hand, a clean result of the work is achieved. |
| US09644328B1 |
Concrete whitetopping system
A system includes a mold configured for forming a paving material into a slab upon a surface, the mold including a width that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the mold; a mold positioning system coupled to the mold to control a position of the mold above the surface, the mold positioning system including at least one positioning element coupled to the mold to move at least a portion of the mold; and a transport unit including at least one portion configured to contact the surface, the transport unit including a rigid mount coupled to the mold positioning system to maintain a fixed spatial relationship between the transport unit and the mold positioning system, wherein the width of the mold is substantially greater than or equal to a maximum width of the at least one portion of the transport unit configured to contact the surface. |
| US09644327B2 |
Mat for a hybrid turf
A mat for a hybrid sport or decorative turf, having a form of a woven fabric, with a single-sided cover pile made of olefin synthetic yarns such as polyethylene and/or polypropylene and/or polyester, according to a ⅜W or 5/12W or 7/16W weave structure, comprising pile burls interlaced with weft, wherein the ends of the burls form synthetic grass blades. The mat has from 5000 to 20000 pile burls per m2, a warp density from 54 to 72 ends/10 cm, a weft density from 30 to 80 ends/10 cm and a pile height from 20 to 140 mm, wherein each pile burl (3) is interlaced at least two times over three weft fibers (5), and wherein the total surface mass of the mat is from 753 to 2105 g/m2. |
| US09644321B2 |
Method for coating a paper web
The invention relates to a method for coating a paper web (1), comprising the steps in the following sequence: applying a first layer (20) made of a predetermined quantity of melamine resin to a first side of the paper web (1), first drying of the thus coated paper web (1) at a web temperature of at least 120° C., applying a second layer (21) made of a predetermined quantity of urea resin to a second side of the paper web (1), and second drying of the paper web (1) at a web temperature below 100° C. |
| US09644319B2 |
Hybrid sheet, such as a security sheet, formed by assembling a fibrous part and a plastic part
The invention relates to a sheet of a given size, having a rear face and a front face. The invention is characterised in that it includes at least one part which is made from fibrous material and at least one other part which is made from plastic material and which is adjacent to the fibrous part, said parts being joined at a zone in which the two materials overlap. The plastic part at least partially forms a side zone of the sheet that is free of fibrous material and the plastic part includes at least one transparent or translucent zone. |
| US09644314B2 |
Primary carpet backing
A primary carpet backing including at least a first and a second layer of fibers, characterized in that both the first and the second layer of fibers is a nonwoven layer of randomly laid fibers, that both the first layer of fibers and the second layer of fibers has a uniform composition throughout the layer, wherein the linear density of the fibers is in the range of 1 to 25 dtex, wherein both the first layer of fibers and second layer includes at least two different polymers and wherein at least one polymer included in the first layer is different from the polymers included in the second layer. |
| US09644313B2 |
Electrically conductive synthetic fiber and fibrous substrate, method of making, and use thereof
Electrically conductive synthetic fiber and fibrous substrate (e.g. synthetic leather) are disclosed. The electrically conductive polymeric fiber and polymeric fibrous substrate are made electrically conductive by the use of an electrically conductive polymer disposed on the fibers and in contact with inorganic desiccant particles located at the surface of the fibers. The new material finds utility as an electrode for devices and as a resistive heating element, and as a pathway to efficient thermoelectrics. |
| US09644312B2 |
Method for producing synthetic leather having air permeability
Disclosed is a synthetic leather produced by directly coating a water-soluble synthetic resin solution on the surface of a fabric to form a film thereon such that fine gaps formed on the fabric are partially left open to have a certain degree of air permeability. In particular, a brushing process is used for brushing the surface of a fabric using a brushing machine to raise a nap. Next, a hydrolysis-resistant and flame-retardant resin solution is coated on the back of the fabric, which is opposite to the surface on which the nap is raised, to reinforce the back of the fabric. A film forming process then applies a water-soluble polyurethane resin solution to the nap raised on the surface of the fabric to form a film on the surface of the fabric thereby producing a synthetic leather product that has air permeability properties that are superior to genuine leather. |
| US09644311B2 |
Recharging of NFC system and algorithms to conserve power supply of NFC system designed for clothes dryer
Methods and systems are provided for operating a wireless communications device powered by a rechargeable battery and for providing charging of the rechargeable battery. More particularly methods are provided for recharging a battery used to provide operating power to a communications device, particularly a near field communications (NFC) device in a clothes dryer. The method and system determine whether the drum of the clothes dryer is rotating and if not rotating is in a proper alignment to enable charging of the battery. Battery charging may take place when the a battery charger, located at a stationary position in the dryer, is aligned or rotated to be aligned, with the communications device. The battery charger may correspond to a reader of the communications device, an inductive charger separate from the reader, or a slip ring arrangement. |
| US09644304B2 |
Washing machine
A drum type washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a tub, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a shaft that penetrates the tub and is connected to the drum so as to transmit a drive force of a motor to the drum. A stator is fixed to a rear wall of the tub, and an outer rotor, including at least one magnet, an annular back yoke, and a rotor frame, is rotatably disposed at the outside of the stator. The rotor frame may be made of an aluminum material, and includes a side wall portion and a rear wall portion integrally formed with the side wall portion. |
| US09644303B2 |
Wall-mounted drum washing apparatus
A wall-mounted drum washing apparatus includes: a wall-mounted drum washing machine; and an installation stand formed to extend upward from a floor and contacted with a floor and a wall. The wall-mounted drum washing machine is mounted on the installation stand. |
| US09644300B2 |
Apparatus and method for sensing and adding detergent to water for a washing machine appliance
A method and apparatus for determining the amount of detergent in water used in a washing machine and to supplementing such water as needed for a wash load is provided. The amount of detergent present in grey water that is reused for washing, as well as the amount released from clothes or other articles to be washed, can also be determined. |
| US09644297B2 |
Variable stroke drive system for tufting machine
A variable stroke drive system for a tufting machine includes a series of drive assemblies mounted along the frame of the tufting machine. Primary drive shafts extend through the drive assemblies and are each driven by a drive motor. A series of first drive members are mounted to the primary drive shafts and are linked to associated second drive members such that the driving of the first drive members by the primary drive shafts in turn drives the second drive members. Cam arms are connected to the second drive members and to rocker arms to which push rods are mounted, the cam arms being vertically reciprocated by the rotational movement of the second drive members so as to drive the reciprocation of the push rods, and thus the needle bar(s) connected thereto along a desired stroke or reciprocating path of travel. Controlling the rate at which the primary drive shafts are driven enables control of the stroke of the needle bar(s). |
| US09644295B2 |
Centrifugal electrospinning apparatus and methods and fibrous structures produced therefrom
A centrifugal electrospinning apparatus, centrifugal electrospinning method for the production of fibrous structures, and electrospun fibrous structures are provided. |
| US09644292B2 |
Method for knitting knitted fabric
There is provided a method for knitting a knitted fabric, different from a conventional method, of forming a suppressing section for suppressing a stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in the knitting process of the knitted fabric.One side in a longitudinal direction of needle beds (FB, BB) is assumed as a moving direction (DR). A suppressing section (4) is formed by repeating performing of a bind-off process, in which a first stitch (11) held on one needle bed (FB) is overlapped with a second stitch (12) that is proximate in the moving direction (DR) and a retaining stitch (15) is knitted following in a wale direction of a double stitch (13) of the first stitch (11) and the second stitch (12), and forming of a new base stitch (14) branched from at least one of the first stitch (11) and the second stitch (12). |
| US09644291B1 |
Double-sided fabric embedded with continuous linear material and formed as curved form
A double-sided fabric embedded with a continuous linear material and formed as a curved form. The double-sided fabric is knit by a flat bed knitting machine including a front needle bed including front knitting needles, a back needle bed including back knitting needles and a loop presser bed including right-directed and left-directed knitting pressing pieces. The double-sided fabric includes a continuous linear material pressed by the right-directed and/or left-directed knitting pressing pieces and embedded into the double-sided fabric to form loop groups. Each loop group includes loops stitched and formed by one front knitting needle and two back knitting needles at two sides of the front knitting needle in a knitting process and in next knitting process. At least two of the loops groups are located in different knitting processes to cause a level drop in the continuous linear material to form at least one curved portion. |
| US09644286B2 |
Silicon carbide single crystal manufacturing apparatus
A silicon carbide single crystal manufacturing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a pedestal on which a seed crystal is disposed, an inlet of source gas, a reaction chamber extending from a bottom surface of the vacuum chamber toward the pedestal, a first heating device disposed around an outer periphery of the reaction chamber, a second heating device disposed around an outer periphery of the pedestal, and an outlet disposed outside the first and second heating devices in the vacuum chamber. After the source gas supplied from the reaction chamber is supplied toward the pedestal, the source gas is let flow outward in a radial direction of the silicon carbide single crystal between the reaction chamber and the silicon carbide single crystal and is discharged through the outlet. |
| US09644284B2 |
Method for producing a hard coating with high corrosion resistance on articles made of anodizable metals or alloys
A method for coating, a composition suitable for coating and a coating generated with the method of coating on anodizable metallic surfaces, especially on magnesium rich and aluminum rich surfaces, is disclosed. The composition is an aqueous solution including alkali metal or ammonium cations, phosphorus containing anions and silicon containing anions as well as optionally a peroxide or a compound of Al, Ti, Zr or any mixture of them. Preferably, the anodizing is carried out with a micro-arc oxidation process. |
| US09644282B2 |
Manufacturing method of electronic component
A manufacturing method of an electronic component allows an intermediate inspection during a manufacturing process and includes forming element electrodes and feed lines such that pad portions of the element electrodes and the corresponding one of the feed lines faces each other via a gap in a plan view, and such that the feed lines are located below the pad portions 11b. Electrolytic plating is performed while power is supplied to the feed lines to form a plating film that electrically connects the feed lines and the pad portions. The mother substrate is singulated to obtain an electronic component. |
| US09644271B1 |
Systems and methods for using electrical asymmetry effect to control plasma process space in semiconductor fabrication
Systems and methods are disclosed for plasma enabled film deposition on a wafer in which a plasma is generated using radiofrequency signals of multiple frequencies and in which a phase angle relationship is controlled between the radiofrequency signals of multiple frequencies. In the system, a pedestal is provided to support the wafer. A plasma generation region is formed above the pedestal. An electrode is disposed in proximity to the plasma generation region to provide for transmission of radiofrequency signals into the plasma generation region. A radiofrequency power supply provides multiple radiofrequency signals of different frequencies to the electrode. A lowest of the different frequencies is a base frequency, and each of the different frequencies that is greater than the base frequency is an even harmonic of the base frequency. The radiofrequency power supply provides for variable control of the phase angle relationship between each of the multiple radiofrequency signals. |
| US09644254B2 |
Method for adjusting pore size of porous metal material and pore structure of porous metal material
Disclosed are a method for adjusting the pore size of a porous metal material and the pore structure of a porous metal material. The method comprises: permeating at least one element into the surface of the pores of the material to generate a permeated layer on the surface of the pores, so that the average pore size of the porous material is reduced to within a certain range, thus obtaining a pore structure of the porous metal material having the pores distributed on the surface of the material and the permeated layer provided on the surface of the pores. |
| US09644253B2 |
Mitigation and elimination of tin whiskers
A method includes providing an electronic assembly, where the electronic assembly has at least one electrical connection that includes at least a surface that is substantially pure tin metal and the pure tin metal has tin whiskers formed thereon and the pure tin metal has a thickness. The method includes exposing the tin metal to at least one mitigating agent selected to interact with the tin metal to oxidize the tin whiskers and mechanically removing substantially all the oxidized tin whiskers from the electronic assembly. The electronic assembly is exposed to the mitigating agent under appropriate conditions to oxidize the tin whiskers. |
| US09644248B2 |
Heavy wall quenched and tempered seamless steel pipes and related method for manufacturing said steel pipes
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a seamless quenched and tempered steel pipe having a wall thickness (WT) higher than or equal to 35 mm and lower than or equal to 80 mm. Embodiments of the steel pipe can comprise C, Mn, Cr, Ni, Mo, Al, Ca, N, Nb, Ti, Zr, and Ta. Further, for some embodiments of the steel pipe wherein, defining a first parameter P1=50×C+Cr+10×Mo+70×V, the chemical composition can satisfy a first condition P1≦8.0. |
| US09644247B2 |
Methods for manufacturing a high-strength press-formed member
A method for manufacturing a high strength press-formed member includes preparing a steel sheet having the composition including by mass %: C: 0.12% to 0.69%, Si: 3.0% or less, Mn: 0.5% to 3.0%, P: 0.1% or less, S: 0.07% or less, Al: 3.0% or less, N: 0.010% or less, Si+Al: at least 0.7%, and remainder as Fe and incidental impurities, heating the steel sheet to a temperature of 750° C. to 1000° C. and retaining the steel sheet in that state for 5 seconds to 1000 seconds; subjecting the steel sheet to hot press-forming at a temperature of 350° C. to 900° C.; cooling the steel sheet to a temperature of 50° C. to 350° C.; heating the steel sheet to a temperature in a temperature region of 350° C. to 490° C.; and retaining the steel sheet at temperature in the temperature region for 5 seconds to 1000 seconds. |
| US09644242B2 |
Resistance to arthropod pest in tomatoes
The present invention is directed to a commercial tomato, namely S. lycopersicum plant, which is resistant to an arthropod pest comprising in its genome introgressed sequences from S. galapagense conferring resistance to said arthropod pest, wherein the introgressed sequences are chosen from those present in the genome of a plant of the line TUT115 NCIMB accession number 42109. The commercial tomato of the invention is preferably resistant to ToMV (Tomato Mosaic Virus). The introgressed sequences are preferably found at one or more of the 12 loci defined by the following SNP markers: SNP solcap_snp_sl_59890 on chromosome 1, SNP solcap_snp_sl_15339 on chromosome 1, SNP solcap_snp_sl_40154 on chromosome 1, SNP solcap_snp_sl_32320 on chromosome 6, SNP SL10187_425 on chromosome 6, SNP EE_2362 on chromosome 6, SNP EE_2996 on chromosome 6, SNP SL10539_786_LC7260 on chromosome 6, SNP EP_0489_LC7684 on chromosome 9, SNP IL2_5178 on chromosome 9, SNP EE_3482_LC7808 on chromosome 9 and SNP EE_1452 on chromosome 9. |
| US09644240B2 |
Disease susceptibility
Provided herein is a method of assessing the susceptibility of a subject to, or aiding the diagnosis of, an anxiety disorder or depression, the method including determining whether the subject has a haplotype including rs3216799, rs6814934, rs7658048, rs2070950 and rs2070951 with respective alleles ‘+CT, ‘C’, ‘T’, ‘C’ and ‘C’. Also provided is a kit of parts or solid substrate for use in assessing the susceptibility of a subject to an anxiety disorder or depression, the kit including or the solid substrate having attached thereto one or more nucleic acid molecules that hybridize selectively to a genomic region encompassing any two or more SNPs selected from the group consisting of rs3216799, rs6814934, rs7658048, rs2070950 and rs2070951, and/or that hybridize selectively to a genomic region encompassing two or more polymorphic sites in linkage disequilibrium with any one or more SNPs selected from rs3216799, rs6814934, rs7658048, rs2070950 and rs2070951. |
| US09644235B2 |
Methods for detection and quantification of nucleic acid or protein targets in a sample
The invention provides an assay method for detection and/or quantification of a plurality of nucleic acid or protein targets in a sample. In the method probes are used to associate a detectable tag sequence with each of the selected targets present in the sample. Probes or primers sufficient to identify at least 25, and preferably at least 500, different targets are used. The method involves segregating aliquots of the sample from each other and detecting the tag sequences in each aliquot. |
| US09644233B2 |
Loop-shaped primer used in nucleic acid amplification and the use thereof
Loop-shaped primer used in nucleic acid amplification is an oligonucleotide with 3-20 bases in both 3′ and 5′ ends which can be combined together to form a double-strand under appropriate conditions, resulting in the primer forming a stem-loop structure. The double-stranded structure is opened and the stem-loop structure dissolves when the primer recognizes and hybridizes with the target sequence. If the target sequence is not present the primer can form a stem-loop structure automatically by self-annealing. The primer can comprise a universal tag sequence or not. Together with universal tag sequence primer the primer comprising the universal tag sequence can be used for a second round of amplification. The primer has high specificity and does not form a primer dimmer. The primer is easy to design and is suitable for measuring gene expression and detecting features of nucleic acids such as SNPs and rare mutations. |
| US09644232B2 |
Method and device for collection and amplification of circulating nucleic acids
Provided herein are methods for the collection and amplification of circulating nucleic acids from a non-cellular fraction of a biological sample. Circulating nucleic acids are extracted from the non-cellular fraction and are circularized to generate single-stranded nucleic acid circles, which are then subsequently amplified by rolling circular amplification using random primers to produce an amplified library. Devices for the collection of a non-cellular fraction from a biological sample are also provided. The device includes a filtration membrane and a dry solid matrix, which is in direct contact with the filtration membrane. |
| US09644230B2 |
Method and device for detecting bacteria and determining the concentration thereof in a liquid sample
A method for detecting bacteria and determining the concentration thereof in a liquid sample includes the steps of taking an optical section through a container holding a volume of the liquid sample at a predetermined field of view and at a predetermined focal plane depth or angle and after a period of time has elapsed to allow non-bacteria in the sample to settle to the bottom of the container. Since bacteria auto arranges in the liquid sample, forming a lattice-like grid pattern, an optical section through the volume of auto-arranged bacteria may be used to measure the quantity of bacteria residing in that section. A container for holding the liquid sample has particular structure which aids in separating the non-bacteria from the bacteria. |
| US09644228B2 |
Protein concentrate from starch containing grains: composition, method of making, and uses thereof
The present invention relates to methods of producing a protein concentrate from a starch containing grain and uses thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the protein concentrate produced is used to prepare an aquaculture feed. |
| US09644227B2 |
Process for the enzymatic regeneration of redox cofactors
A process for the enzymatic regeneration of the redox cofactors NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH in a one-pot reaction, wherein, as a result of at least two further enzymatically catalyzed redox reactions proceeding in the same reaction batch (product-forming reactions), one of the two redox cofactors accumulates in its reduced form and, respectively, the other one in its oxidized form, characterized in that a) in the regeneration reaction which reconverts the reduced cofactor into its original oxidized form, oxygen or a compound of general formula R1C(O)COOH is reduced, and b) in the regeneration reaction which reconverts the oxidized cofactor into its original reduced form, a compound of general formula R2CH(OH)R3 is oxidized and wherein R1, R2 and R3 in the compounds have different meanings. |
| US09644225B2 |
Programmable oligonucleotide synthesis
The invention relates to methods for the preparation of synthetic nucleic acids, such as double-stranded nucleic acids. The methods involve the preparation of a multiplicity of different nucleic acid fragments by solid-phase synthesis, and the joining together of at least two of the multiplicity of the nucleic acid fragments by binding to one another or by covalent linkage. In the methods at least some of the nucleic acid fragments have a high AT content and are used in an increased amount relative to other fragments for the joining step. |
| US09644224B2 |
Methods for cyclizing synthetic polymers
The invention provides methods and compositions for production of a cyclic polymer in a cell free system. In general, the methods of the invention involve ligating first and second recombinant intein domains to a linear synthetic polymer to form a compound containing the structure: D1-X(n)-D2, where D1 is a first catalytic domain of an intein; D2 is a second catalytic domain of an intein; where the second catalytic domain has at its N-terminus a first reactive site for the intein; and X(n) is a polymer of a number n of monomer X, where the polymer N-terminus has a second reactive site for the intein. D1-X(n)-D2 compounds autocatalytically cyclize the X(n) polymer to produce a cyclic polymer. The invention finds use in a variety of drug discovery, clinical and therapeutic applications. |
| US09644220B2 |
Processes and recombinant microorganisms for the production of fine chemicals
Recombinant microorganisms with deregulated succinyl-CoA synthetase activity, as well as the uses for producing lysine, β-lysine, cadaverine or N-acetylcadaverine thereby are provided. Recombinant polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence being at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 51 or 53 are also provided. The method of producing fine chemicals using said recombinant microorganisms, in particular the method of producing lysine, or derivatives thereof, such as β-lysine, cadaverine or N-acetylcadaverine is further provided. |
| US09644217B2 |
Method for producing retinoid from microorganism
The present invention relates to a method for producing retinoid from a microorganism, and more specifically, to a method for effectively obtaining retinoid, which lacks stability, from a microorganism by cultivating the microorganism capable of producing retinoid in a medium containing a lipophilic substance, and separating retinoid from the lipophilic substance. |
| US09644214B2 |
Enhanced disease resistance by introduction of NH3
Methods and compositions for improving plant resistance by expression of NPR homolog 3 (NH3) polypeptides are provided. |
| US09644213B2 |
Method of enhancing plant drought tolerance by expression of NDR1
A method of producing improved drought tolerance in a plant by introducing into a plant or plant part a vector having a nucleic acid molecule which expresses or increases a polypeptide that confers drought tolerance compared to a plant in which no vector with the nucleic acid is introduced. The polypeptide is a NON-RACE-SPECIFIC DISEASE RESISTANCE 1 (NDR1). |
| US09644210B2 |
Probiotic gram-positive bacteria for the prophylaxis, suppression, or elimination of allergic reactions in human
A method for a prophylaxis, suppression or elimination of an allergic reaction in a human, or for shifting the TH1-TH2 balance in a human body toward an increase of TH1 or a decrease of TH2 or both an increase in TH1 and a decrease in TH2, includes the steps of preparing a pharmaceutical composition having genomic DNA of at least one probiotic, gram-positive bacteria strain selected from the group Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium bifidum MF 20/5, Bifidobacterium bifidum MG 20/5, Bifidumbacterium longum SP 07/3, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (92164) or a combination thereof, as an active ingredient, the at least one probiotic, gram-positive bacteria strain being present in the form of at least one of viable bacteria and inactivated bacteria, and administering to a human as suppository, vaginally, as a cream applied to skin, rectally, as a subcutaneous injection, as intravenous injection, as an inhalation liquid, or orally in combination with food. |
| US09644207B2 |
Compositions and methods for modulating Tau expression
Disclosed are methods for modulating splicing of Tau mRNA in an animal with Tau antisense compounds. Also disclosed herein are methods for reducing expression of Tau mRNA and protein in an animal with Tau antisense compounds. Such compounds and methods are useful to treat, prevent, or ameliorate neurodegenerative diseases in an individual in need thereof. Examples of neurodegenerative diseases that can be treated, prevented, and ameliorated with the administration Tau antisense oligonucleotides include Alzheimer's Disease, Fronto-temporal Dementia (FTD), FTDP-17, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Epilepsy, and Dravet's Syndrome. |
| US09644206B2 |
Transgenic plants modified for reduced cadmium transport, derivative products, and related methods
Various embodiments are directed to transgenic plants, including transgenic tobacco plants and derivative seeds, genetically modified to impede the transport of Cadmium (Cd) from the root system to aerial portions of transgenic plants by reducing the expression levels of HMA-related transporters. Various embodiments are directed to transgenic tobacco plants genetically modified to stably express a RNAi construct encoding RNAi polynucleotides that enable the degradation of endogenous NtHMA RNA variants. Reduced expression of NtHMA transporters in transgenic plants results in substantially reduced content of Cadmium (Cd) in the leaf lamina. Various consumable products that are substantially free or substantially reduced in Cd content can be produced by incorporating leaves derived from transgenic tobacco plants modified to reduce the expression of NtHMA transporters. |
| US09644202B2 |
Switchable aptamers
The disclosure relates to a switchable aptamer having a high affinity for a selected target such as a virus, cell or antibody when in the presence of a binding ion and a low affinity for said target in the absence of said binding ion. The switchable aptamer may be isolated from a pool comprising a mixture of aptamers by incubating the pool with the target ligand and a binding ion to form target-aptamer complexes; separating unbound aptamer molecules from the target-aptamer complexes; contacting the target-aptamer complexes with a chelating agent having affinity for the binding ion wherein a switchable aptamer specific to said target is released from the target-aptamer complexes; and isolating the switchable aptamer released in the preceding step. |
| US09644199B2 |
Immobilized transposase complexes for DNA fragmentation and tagging
The present invention provides a simple and rapid method for preparing purified transposase complexes that are highly suited for fragmenting DNA. The method includes forming transposase complexes with oligonucleotide adapters in cell lysate, then purifying the complexes from the other substance in the cell lysate. Purification is accomplished using a specific binding pair, in which one member of the pair is bound to an oligonucleotide adapter of the complex and the other member of the pair is bound to a solid substrate. The bound complexes can be immediately used in DNA fragmentation reactions to produce solid substrate-bound DNA fragments, which can be used for any number of purposes, including as templates for amplification and sequencing. |
| US09644198B2 |
RNase H-based assays utilizing modified RNA monomers
The present invention pertains to novel oligonucleotide compounds for use in various biological assays, such as nucleic acid amplification, ligation and sequencing reactions. The novel oligonucleotides comprise a ribonucleic acid domain and a blocking group at or near the 3′ end of the oligonucleotide. These compounds offer an added level of specificity previously unseen. Methods for performing nucleic acid amplification, ligation and sequencing are also provided. Additionally, kits containing the oligonucleotides are also disclosed herein. |
| US09644197B2 |
Fusion protein having factor VII activity
A fusion protein comprising factor VII (FVII) and transferrin according to the present invention has an improved specific activity of FVII compared to existing FVII fusion proteins comprising other fusion partners than transferrin, and thus can be effectively used in a therapy using FVII. |
| US09644196B2 |
Plasminogen and plasmin variants
The invention relates to variants of plasminogen and plasmin comprising one or more point mutations in the catalytic domain which reduce or prevent autocatalytic destruction of the protease activity of plasmin. Compositions, uses and methods of using said variants of plasminogen and plasmin are also disclosed. |
| US09644194B2 |
Cold-adapted protease derived from Pseudoalteromonas arctica PAMC 21717 and uses thereof
A cold-adapted protease derived from Pseudoalteromonas arctica PAMC 21717 or a recombinant cold-adapted protease obtained by expressing a gene encoding the cold-adapted protease in E. coli is described, and more particularly, a crystal of a protease exhibiting activity at low temperatures, a method for crystallizing the protease, a method for preparing the protease, a recombinant microorganism that expresses the protease, a method for preparing the recombinant microorganism, a method for preparing the recombinant protease and the use of the cold-adapted protease. The cold-adapted protease exhibits high activity at low temperatures, and securely maintains its enzymatic activity even in the presence of high pH, various metal ions and surfactants. Thus, it is useful in various industrial applications. |
| US09644193B2 |
B-1,3-glucanase, polynucleotide, recombinant vector, transformant, production method for B-1,3- glucanase, enzyme preparation, and production method for paramylon having reduced molecular weight
A β-1,3-glucanase that exhibits decomposition activity with respect to paramylon derived from the genus Euglena. The β-1,3-glucanase is derived from the genus Euglena and exhibits the properties indicated below: (1) effect: hydrolyzing the β-1,3-bond of β-1,3-glucan; and (2) substrate specificity: decomposing at least paramylon. The β-1,3-glucanase additionally exhibits the properties indicated below: (3) decomposition activity: the ratio of paramylon decomposition activity with respect to laminarin decomposition activity is 20% or higher; (4) optimum pH: 3.7-7.0; and (5) optimum temperature: 30-70° C. |
| US09644191B2 |
Method for producing transgenic plant with increase syringin production and plant produced by using the same
The present invention relates to recombinant glycosyl transferase UGT72E3/2 gene having an excellent syringin synthesis ability based on remarkable enzyme specificity for sinapyl alcohol, a method for producing a transgenic plant with increased syringin production based on a metabolic process which uses F5H and CHS genes that are involved with the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and Myb58 gene as a transcription factor for positive regulation of the gene that is involved with lignin biosynthesis pathway, and a plant obtained by the method. According to the present invention, syringin with various pharmaceutical applications can be effectively produced in a large amount in a plant, and thus it is expected to allow the development of an industry relating to agrobiological materials that are highly valuable as foods or pharmaceuticals. |
| US09644187B2 |
Methods of producing high titer, high purity virus stocks and methods of use thereof
The purity and titer of virus stocks used for virus clearance studies have a significant influence on study outcome, and impact how well the scale-down model represents the production-scale process. Impurities in virus stocks are particularly important in the testing of small virus retentive filters because these impurities may cause a filter to foul prematurely, leading to underestimation of the true throughput capability of the filter and consequent inappropriate sizing of the production scale unit. In addition, impurities can also affect the levels of virus clearance observed by altering the fouling mechanisms and subsequent fluid passage through the virus filter. Described herein are methods for making, producing and using high purity virus stocks having high titer. |
| US09644184B2 |
Methods for the production of IPS cells using Epstein-Barr (EBV)-based reprogramming vectors
Methods and composition of induction of pluripotent stem cells and other desired cell types are disclosed. For example, in certain aspects methods for generating essentially vector-free induced pluripotent stem cells are described. Furthermore, the invention provides induced pluripotent stem cells and desired cell types essentially free of exogenous vector elements with the episomal expression vectors to express differentiation programming factors. |
| US09644181B2 |
Cell preparation containing myocardium-committed cell
The present invention relates to a method for producing a cell population comprising myocardium-committed cells that differentiate into and survive as myocardial cells under a myocardial tissue environment. Specifically, the method is characterized in that adipose-tissue-derived multi-lineage/multi-potent progenitor cells are cultured in the presence of a polyamine. The present invention further relates to a cell population comprising the myocardium-committed cells, a cell preparation comprising the cell population, or a cell sheet. The present invention further relates to a method for treating a heart disease, which comprises administering the cell population to a subject. |
| US09644176B2 |
Photobioreactor
A photobioreactor has an optical waveguide formed at least in part from a highly scattering optically transmitting polymer. The optical waveguide has a light distributing part immersed in a container holding photoactive biological material and a light collecting part outside the container. |
| US09644174B2 |
Encapsulates
The present application relates to encapsulated, preformed peracids and products comprising such encapsulates, as well as processes for making and using such encapsulates and products comprising such encapsulates. Such products deliver bleaching that results in superior whiteness and stain removal without the stability issues that are normally associated with certain bleaching systems. |
| US09644172B2 |
Patterned candle wick
A substantially planar wick is formed with a two- or three-dimensional pattern. The contours of this pattern are determined by the desired flame characteristics or the desired visual aesthetics of the pattern itself. |
| US09644171B2 |
Cyclic acetals and ketals and use thereof as fragrance
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) and use thereof as fragrance. In a further aspect the present invention relates to compositions and fragrance mixtures containing compounds of the formula (I) and the products perfumed with these compositions and fragrance mixtures.Further, the present invention relates to a method for intensifying an odor or several odors selected from the group consisting of fruity, floral, spicy, woody, musk and ambrette and a method for endowing hair or textile fibers with one, several or all of the notes selected from the group consisting of fruity, floral, spicy, woody, musk and ambrette with use of one or more compounds of the formula (I). |
| US09644160B2 |
Integrated fuel production and electricity generation
A gas inlet configured to convey a gas stream from a feed source to the system. A hydrogen sulfide removal stage includes a first vessel configured to receive a first media. A primary compression stage is configured to elevate a pressure of the gas stream. A moisture removal stage is configured to condense and separate remaining moisture from the gas stream. A siloxane removal stage includes a second vessel configured to receive a second media. A carbon dioxide removal stage includes a single-stage membrane configured to separate carbon dioxide from the gas stream by a permeability characteristic of the gas stream. A secondary compression stage is configured to elevate a pressure of the gas stream to a level suitable for distribution to CNG-compatible vehicles. An electrical generator set has a prime mover configured to be fueled by the gas stream. |
| US09644158B2 |
Feed injector for a gasification system
The present disclosure provides a feed injector for a gasification system. The feed injector may include an inner tube defining an inner feed passage therein, an intermediate tube defining an intermediate feed passage therein, and an outer tube defining an outer feed passage therein. The outer tube may include an outer tube pipe portion and an outer tube tip portion attached to one another, and the outer tube tip portion may be formed of a ceramic matrix composite, a sintered Silicon Carbide, or a sintered Silicon Nitride. The present disclosure also provides a related method of operating a feed injector of a gasification system as well as a related integrated gasification combined cycle power plant. |
| US09644157B2 |
Methods and systems for upgrading heavy oil using catalytic hydrocracking and thermal coking
Methods and systems for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstocks to form upgraded material use a colloidal or molecular catalyst dispersed within heavy oil feedstock, pre-coking hydrocracking reactor, separator, and coking reactor. The colloidal or molecular catalyst promotes upgrading reactions that reduce the quantity of asphaltenes or other coke forming precursors in the feedstock, increase hydrogen to carbon ratio in the upgraded material, and decrease boiling points of hydrocarbons in the upgraded material. The methods and systems can be used to upgrade vacuum tower bottoms and other low grade heavy oil feedstocks. The result is one or more of increased conversion level and yield, improved quality of upgraded hydrocarbons, reduced coke formation, reduced equipment fouling, processing of a wider range of lower quality feedstocks, and more efficient use of supported catalyst if used with the colloidal or molecular catalyst, as compared to a conventional hydrocracking process or a conventional thermal coking process. |
| US09644156B2 |
Targeted desulfurization apparatus integrating oxidative desulfurization and hydrodesulfurization to produce diesel fuel having an ultra-low level of organosulfur compounds
Deep desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds containing undesired organosulfur compounds to produce a hydrocarbon product having low levels of sulfur, i.e., 15 ppmw or less of sulfur, is achieved by flashing the feed at a target cut point temperature to obtain two fractions. A first fraction contains refractory organosulfur compounds, which boil at or above the target cut point temperature. A second fraction boiling below the target cut point temperature is substantially free of refractory sulfur-containing compounds. The second fraction is contacted with a hydrodesulfurization catalyst in a hydrodesulfurization reaction zone operating under mild conditions to reduce the quantity of organosulfur compounds to an ultra-low level. The first fraction is contacted with an oxidizing agent and an active metal catalyst in an oxidation reaction zone to convert the refractory organosulfur compounds to oxidized organosulfur compounds. The oxidized organosulfur compounds are removed, producing a stream containing an ultra-low level of organosulfur compounds. The two streams can be combined to obtain a full range hydrocarbon product having an ultra-low level of organosulfur compounds. |
| US09644155B2 |
Integrated process for production of high octane gasoline, high aromatic naphtha and high cetane diesel from high aromatic middle distillate range streams
An integrated process for production of ultra low sulfur products of high octane gasoline, high aromatic naphtha and high Cetane Diesel from high aromatic middle distillate range streams from any cracker units such as Light Cycle Oil (LCO) stream of Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units and subjected to hydrotreating for removal of heteroatoms like sulfur and nitrogen. The effluent from hydrotreating is subjected to hydrocracking at same pressure of hydrotreating step above for selective opening of saturated ring of multi-ring aromatics. The effluent from hydrocracking is separated in CUT-1, CUT 2 in which the monoaromatics and alkylated monoaromatics are concentrated and CUT-3 in which concentration of saturates significantly increased. The CUT-3 is selectively oxidized in selective oxidation step in presence of catalyst, an oxidizing agent and operating conditions such that it results in diesel product with more enhanced Cetane. |
| US09644149B2 |
Medium pressure steam intervention in an olefin cracking furnace decoke procedure
Described herein is a method for removing coke deposits in radiant tubes of an olefin cracking furnace and removing accumulated spalled coke from one or more outlet elbows of the olefin cracking furnace without performing a cold shutdown of the furnace. |
| US09644145B2 |
Birefringent RM lens
The invention relates to a birefringent RM lens obtainable from a polymerizable liquid crystalline medium consisting of a polymerizable liquid crystalline component A, consisting of one or more polymerizable mesogenic compounds, and a non-polymerizable component B, consisting of one or more non-polymerizable compounds and to the use of such birefringent RM lenses in electro optical devices, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or other optical or electrooptical devices, for decorative or security applications. |
| US09644140B2 |
Method of reducing dust with particulates coated with a polycationic polymer
A well treatment composite is characterized by particulates wherein at least a portion of the substrate of the particulates is coated with a polycationic polymer. The presence of the polycationic polymer on the surface of the well treatment particulates reduces the generation of dust and fines during a well treatment operation. The polycationic polymer further reduces the amount of dust or fines generated during transport of the well treatment particulates to a remote location as well during the manufacture or processing of well treatment particulates. |
| US09644139B2 |
Self-suspending proppants for hydraulic fracturing
The invention provides for modified proppants, comprising a proppant particle and a hydrogel coating, wherein the hydrogel coating localizes on the surface of the proppant particle to produce the modified proppant, methods of manufacturing such proppants and methods of use. |
| US09644138B2 |
Process and apparatus for making proppants
A highly efficient process is disclosed for making proppants from generally non-spherical or discretized raw material, such as naturally occurring sand or pelletized refractory material. In one embodiment of the process, the discretized material is heated by a counter-current flow of hot gas in a first Moving Bed Gas-Solids Direct Contact Heat Exchanger (MBGSDCHX). The heated discretized material is then further heated to a transformative temperature by a raw material transformation means to a partially or fully melted state in which the discretized raw material assumes generally spherical shapes. The spheres are then cooled by a counter-current flow of cold gas in a second MBGSDCHX. The cooled spheres are then size-classified for use as proppants. In an alternate embodiment, refractory raw material is melted and then discretized into molten drops. The molten drops are cooled and frozen into generally spherical shapes. The cooled spheres are used as proppants. |
| US09644137B2 |
Method of cryogenic acid fracking
A method of fracking carbonate-rich reservoirs, comprising injecting a cryogenic or chilled fluid followed by an acid into the reservoir, allowing the acid to etch the reservoir, and thereby increasing production of a fluid, such as water, oil or gas, from the reservoir. Further, injecting a preflush into the reservoir and later injecting a postflush into the reservoir to displace the acid from the tubulars into the reservoir. |
| US09644135B2 |
Delayed curing silane-based curable resin system
Method involving consolidation compositions comprising an aqueous-based fluid, a silane-based resin, a silane-based amine curing agent, and a delaying agent. The silane-based resin is an epoxy-functionalized alkoxysilane selected from the group consisting of: (3 glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, (3 glycidoxypropyl)triethoxysilane, 5,6 epoxyhexyltriethoxysilane, (3 glycidoxypropyl)methyldiethoxysilane, (3 glycidoxypropyl)methyldimethoxysilane, and (3 glycidoxypropyl)dimethylethoxysilane. The silane-based amine curing agent is selected from the group consisting of: a polyamine, a hydrophobically modified polyamine, a polyimine, a hydrophobically modified polyimine, a polyalcohol, a hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide, a hydrophobically modified polyacrylate, and any combination thereof. The delaying agent is selected from the group consisting of: methyltrichlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, trimethylchlorosilane, and any combination thereof. |
| US09644132B2 |
Methods for determining reactive index for cement kiln dust, associated compositions and methods of use
A variety of methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one embodiment, a method of treating a well comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a blended cementitious component, wherein the blended cementitious component comprises kiln dust from two or more different sources; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore. |
| US09644130B2 |
Reaction products of acrylamide polymers and methods for use thereof as relative permeability modifiers
Suppressing passage of an aqueous fluid in a subterranean formation in preference to passage of an oleaginous fluid can often be desirable. Methods for suppressing the passage of an aqueous fluid in a subterranean formation, particularly a carbonate formation, can comprise: providing a treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid and a relative permeability modifier comprising a reaction product of 1) an acrylamide polymer, any copolymer thereof, any derivative thereof, any salt thereof, or any combination thereof, and 2) a plurality of amine-containing compounds or any salt thereof, each amine-containing compound containing a primary amine, a secondary amine, or any combination thereof, and the amine-containing compounds being randomly reacted with at least a portion of the amide groups of the acrylamide polymer; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. |
| US09644129B2 |
High-pressure/high-temperature solids-free fluid system for drilling, completing and repairing petroleum and gas wells
The present invention relates to the composition, preparation method and use of a solids-free drilling fluid system formulated with a mixture of divalent heavy brines, which is resistant to high pressures and high temperatures. The system has the special feature that it significantly reduces productive-formation permeability damage as it uses mixtures of different salts of water-soluble divalent metals to provide the features of density, polymers and special additives to provide the system with the physicochemical properties that any fluid for drilling, completing and repairing wells requires in order to fulfill the functions thereof and to provide heat resistance up to 200° C. A main feature of the present invention is that the composition that embeds the drilling/completing/repairing of oil wells fluid contains synthetic polymers and biopolymers that do not require large amounts of time, high shear speeds or heating for hydration thereof in divalent metal salt derived simple or binary brines. |
| US09644125B2 |
Composition comprising HFC and HFO
The present invention provides a composition comprising a mixture of HFC and HFO and having improved lubrication performance. Specifically, the present invention provides a composition comprising HFC and HFO, wherein the composition comprises 1) at least one of HFC-134a and HFC-134 as the HFC, 2) at least one of HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze as the HFO, and 3) at least one member selected from the group consisting of HCFC-1122, HCFC-124, CFC-1113, and 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne as a third component. |
| US09644121B2 |
Adhesives suitable for use in bonding applications
The present invention relates to adhesives that are suitable for use in a broad variety of bonding applications. In particular, the present invention relates to adhesives that are suitable for use in polymer-to-metal, for example elastomer-to-metal, such as rubber-to-metal bonding applications, wherein the adhesives comprise at least one halogenated polyolefin, at least one epoxysilane having at least one terminal alkoxy silane group, at least one bis-silane, and optionally at lease one organic solvent. |
| US09644115B2 |
Fluorochemical coating composition and article treated therewith
A fluorochemical coating composition is provided comprising (A) a hydrolyzable group-containing silane modified with a fluoropolyether-containing polymer and (B) a hydrolyzable group-containing silane modified with a fluoropolyether-polysiloxane copolymer in a weight ratio (A)/(B) of 40/60 to 95/5. The composition forms on a substrate a water/oil repellent layer which does not detract from the visibility of the substrate. |
| US09644114B2 |
Silane endcapped polyamide resins
Disclosed herein are compounds having the formula: R1—(CO—NH—R2—R3)n and polymers made by moisture curing the compound. R1 is an organic group, a dimeric fatty acid chain, a dimeric linoleic fatty acid chain, a trimeric fatty acid chain, a saturated form of any thereof, a residue of a phenalkamine compound, or a residue of a polyamine. Each R2 is an aliphatic group or an aminoaliphatic group. Each R3 comprises an alkoxysilane group. The value n is a positive integer. The compound may be made by reacting a polyester with an amine having an alkoxysilane group or reacting a polyacid with an isocyanate having an alkoxysilane group. Also disclose are compounds made by reacting an amido amine with an epoxy compound. |
| US09644113B2 |
Composition for forming a thin layer with low refractive index, manufacturing method thereof, and manufacturing method of a thin layer with low refractive index
To provide a low refractive index film-forming composition for forming a low refractive index film which has a low refractive index, produces a strong antireflection effect, exhibits excellent adhesiveness with respect to a substrate, and is excellent in water repellency or antifouling properties of the coat surface; a production method of the composition; and a method for forming a low refractive index film. The low refractive index film-forming composition is prepared by generating a hydrolysate of (A) a silicon alkoxide by mixing the (A) silicon alkoxide with (B) water, (C) an inorganic acid or an organic acid, and (D) an organic solvent at a predetermined ratio, and mixing the hydrolysate with (E) silica sol, which is obtained by dispersing fumed silica particles in a liquid medium, at a predetermined ratio. |
| US09644109B2 |
Sealant composition, method for preventing liquid crystal contamination, liquid crystal panel and display device
Disclosed is a sealant composition, a liquid crystal device and a method for preventing liquid crystal contamination using the sealant composition. The sealant composition consists of 20-30 parts by weight of an ultraviolet polymerizable double bond monomer, 15-20 parts by weight of a heat polymerization monomer, 5-20 parts by weight of a polymerizable oligomer, 0.1-5 parts by weight of a photoinitiator, 10-20 parts by weight of a heat curing agent and 0-20 parts by weight of a particulate additive, wherein said polymerizable oligomer is poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate or derivatives thereof. Through the reaction between the polymerizable oligomers and the polymer of the ultraviolet polymerizable double bond monomers to generate a reticular high molecular polymer, the anchoring effect of the polymer on the surrounding unreacted heat polymerization monomers is effectively enhanced, thereby reducing the contamination of the crystal liquid by the sealant. |
| US09644108B2 |
Additives to improve open-time and freeze-thaw characteristics of water-based paints and coatings
Waterborne coatings are described having an acceptable balance of properties both during the storage of coating, application and drying. The period in which irregularities in a freshly applied coating can be repaired without resulting in brush marks is referred to as the open time. Aqueous coatings generally employ dispersed high molecular weight polymers as binders. These binders often provide short open times when the coating is dried since the dispersed polymer particles tend to be immobilized quickly in the edge region of an applied coating. As a result, the viscosity of the coating increases rapidly, which leads to a limited window of workability. The instant invention provides additives that are not volatile but that will extend the time that the film is malleable after it is applied without interfering with other attributes, such as the resistance of the coating to freezing while in the can prior to application. |
| US09644106B2 |
Aqueous emulsion solution, coloring agent composition containing said aqueous solution, aqueous inkjet ink, and method for producing aqueous emulsion solution
A novel aqueous emulsion solution is provided that can be used as a binder for forming a coating film suitable for an inkjet printing system. The present invention is an aqueous emulsion solution containing a polymer I and a polymer II mixed together therein, wherein the polymer I is an A-B block copolymer formed from 90 mass % or more of a methacrylate-based monomer, the A-B block copolymer neutralized with an alkali, a polymer block A is substantially water-insoluble and has a number average molecular weight of 1000 to 10000 and a polydispersity index of 1.5 or less, a polymer block B is synthesized using a monomer containing at least a methacrylic acid and has an acid value of 30 to 250 mgKOH/g, the A-B block copolymer has a number average molecular weight of 5000 to 20000, a content of the polymer block A of 5 to 60% in the A-B block copolymer, and a polydispersity index as a whole of 1.6 or less, the polymer II is a polymer obtained by polymerizing a hydrophobic addition polymerizable monomer and having a glass transition temperature of 70° C. or lower, and further the mass ratio of the polymer I and the polymer II is 5 to 80:95 to 20. |
| US09644102B2 |
Method of manufacturing a corrosion-resistant sacrificial protective coating
The present disclosure provides an aqueous binder composition for forming a sacrificial corrosion-protective coating, said composition being free of chromates and also preferably free of borates and molybdates. Said binder composition advantageously has a pH of less than 6 and comprises a binder, particles of at least one metal oxide and at least one metallic phosphate, said binder comprising a hydrolyzed organosilane oligomer. In addition, the proportion by weight of said particles of at least one metal oxide relative to the total dry weight of said binder composition is greater than or equal to 75%. |
| US09644101B2 |
Inorganic pigment containing calcium carbonate, aqueous suspension containing same, and uses thereof
The present invention concerns the technical sector of mineral pigments containing a product formed in situ by the double and/or multiple reaction between a calcium carbonate and the reaction product or products of the said carbonate with one or more moderately strong to strong H3O+ ion donors and the reaction product or products of the said carbonate with gaseous CO2 formed in situ and/or coming from an external supply, and at least one aluminum silicate and/or at least one synthetic silica and/or at least one calcium silicate and/or at least one silicate of a monovalent salt such as sodium silicate and/or potassium silicate and/or lithium silicate, and/or at least one aluminum hydroxide and/or at least one sodium and/or potassium aluminate, containing less than 0.1% by weight silicate of a monovalent salt such as sodium, potassium or lithium silicate or mixtures thereof, relative to the dry weight of calcium carbonate, having a pH greater than 7.5 measured at 20° C., and their uses in papermaking applications such as mass filling and/or the coating of paper and more particularly of printing paper, in particular for offset printing, or digital printing such as inkjet and/or laser printing. |
| US09644100B2 |
Process for the manufacture of self-binding pigmentary particles, dry or in aqueous suspension or dispersion, containing inorganic matter and binders
The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of an aqueous suspension of self-binding pigmentary particles comprising the following stages: (a) forming one or more aqueous suspensions of at least one inorganic matter comprising calcium carbonate; (b) forming or obtaining one or more aqueous solutions or suspensions or emulsions of at least one binder; and (c) co-grinding the aqueous suspension or suspensions obtained in stage a) with the aqueous solutions or suspensions or emulsions obtained in stage b) in a mill so as to obtain an aqueous suspension of self-binding pigmentary particles. |
| US09644098B2 |
Curable resin composition and cured product thereof, encapsulant, and semiconductor device
Provided is a curable resin composition capable of forming a cured product that has excellent heat resistance and transparency and, in particular, offers excellent barrier properties to a corrosive gas.The curable resin composition according to the present invention includes a polyorganosiloxane (A), an isocyanurate compound (B), and a silane coupling agent (C). The polyorganosiloxane (A) is an aryl-containing polyorganosiloxane. The polyorganosiloxane (A) preferably includes a polyorganosiloxane having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 500 to 4000 as determined by gel permeation chromatography and calibrated with a polystyrene standard. |
| US09644093B2 |
Thermoplastic polymer composition, shoes and outer soles
Provided are a thermoplastic polymer composition having excellent mechanical strength and also having both of abrasion resistance and transparency; shoes, in which the thermoplastic polymer composition is used; and an outer sole, in which the thermoplastic polymer composition is used. The thermoplastic polymer composition contains (I) a hydrogenated product of a block copolymer having a polymer block (A) mainly containing α-methylstyrene units and a polymer block (B) mainly containing conjugated diene compound units; (II) a hydrogenated product of a block copolymer having a polymer block (A′) mainly containing aromatic vinyl compound units other than α-methylstyrene and a polymer block (B′) mainly containing conjugated diene compound units, in which the block copolymer has a hydroxyl group; (III) a polypropylene-based polymer; and (IV) a polyethylene-based polymer. |
| US09644090B2 |
Polymer mixtures with optimized toughness/stiffness ratio and optical properties
The invention relates to a polymer mixture made of styrene/nitrile monomer copolymers and of graft copolymers based on acrylate rubbers, and also to thermoplastic moulding compositions and mouldings produced therefrom and use of these. |
| US09644086B2 |
Resin blend
Provided are a resin blend for melt processing, a pellet and a method of preparing a resin article using the same. The resin blend may include a first resin, and a second resin having a difference in solubility parameter from the first resin at 25° C. of 0.001 to 10 (J/cm3)1/2. The resin blend can improve mechanical and surface characteristics of a resin article. Further, since coating or plating is not required for manufacturing a resin article, a manufacturing time and/or cost can be reduced, and productivity can be increased. |
| US09644084B2 |
Method of preparing chitin nanofibers
The present invention discloses a method of preparing chitin nanofibers. By increasing the saturated moisture content of chitin and instantaneously releasing the pressure under a high temperature and high pressure environment, water within the chitin micro-particles is quickly evaporated and thus generated a high vapor pressure. Consequently, the interaction in chitin fiber is broken, and therefore the chitin nanofibers are obtained. |
| US09644082B2 |
Polyester resin composition and molded article containing this resin composition
An object is to improve both slow crystallization and brittleness that are drawbacks of polyhydroxyalkanoates, so that processability in mold processing, such as injection molding, is improved, processing speed is increased, and ductility is imparted to a resulting molded article. Provided is an aliphatic polyester resin composition including a polyhydroxyalkanoate (A), an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (B), and pentaerythritol (C), wherein the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (B) has a vinyl acetate content of 65 to 95 wt %, and the polyhydroxyalkanoate (A) and the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (B) are compatible. |
| US09644079B2 |
Shaping of expanded polystyrene made using D-limonene as a plasticizer
Disclosed is a process for production of expanded polystyrene using D-limonene as a plasticizer, which allows reducing the amount of pentane in the process, yet allows generating beads with similar cell size as if greater quantities of pentane had been used. Pentane is an organic solvent with toxicity associated with organic solvents. After forming beads, they are melted in a mold to form a variety of products, or they can be extruded in a process where limonene is used instead of or in addition to other blowing agents. |
| US09644077B2 |
Method for forming quantum dot thin film
A method for manufacturing a quantum dot thin film includes applying a tensile force to a substrate to elongate the substrate, coating a quantum dot particle on the substrate to form a quantum dot thin film, replacing a ligand of the quantum dot particle, and removing the tensile force from the substrate. The method may reduce a crack in a quantum dot thin film. |
| US09644074B2 |
Benzene polycarboxylic acid compounds and their use as drug
The present invention relates to new benzene polycarboxylic acids compound, which is prepared by alkaline oxidation of hydrolyzed lignin. The present invention also relates to the use of the new benzene polycarboxylic acids compound as part of a composite substance, where the composite substance is prepared by complexing or encapsulating the new benzene polycarboxylic acid compounds with a metal cation. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the new benzene polycarboxylic acids compound and for its use in cosmetic, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical compositions. |
| US09644071B1 |
Bis(azobenzene) diamines and photomechanical polymers made therefrom
Bis(azo-benzene) diamine monomers and a method of synthesizing the monomers are provided. The bis(azo-benzene) diamine monomers, in combination with amine reactive monomers, form polymers, such as polyimides and copolyimides, having photomechanical and thermomechanical properties. |
| US09644068B2 |
Semiconducting materials based on naphthalenediimide-vinylene-oligothiophene-vinylene polymers
The present invention provides a polymer comprising a unit of formula, wherein R1 and R2 are independently from each other C1-30-alkyl, C2-30-alkenyl, C2-30-alkynyl, phenyl or a 5 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring system, wherein each of the C1-30-alkyl, C2-30-alkenyl or C2-30-alkynyl group may be substituted with 1 to 10 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, —CN, —NO2, —OH, —NH2, —NH(C1-20-alkyl), —N(C1-20-alkyl)2, —NH—C(O)—(C1-20-alkyl), —S(O)2OH, —CHO, —C(O)—C1-20-alkyl, —C(O)OH, —C(O)—OC1-20-alkyl, —C(O)NH2, —CO(O)NH—C1-20-alkyl, —C(O)N(C1-20-alkyl)2, —O—C1-20-alkyl, —O—C(O)—C1-20-alkyl, —SiH3, SiH2(C1-20-alkyl), SiH(C1-20-alkyl)2, Si(C1-20-alkyl)3, C4-8-cycloalkyl, phenyl and a 5 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring system, and phenyl and the 5 to 8 membered heterocyclic ring system may be substituted with 1 to 5 C1-16-alkyl groups, is 1, 2 or 3 and n is an integer from 2 to 10'000, a process for the preparation of the polymer and an electronic device comprising the polymer. |
| US09644063B2 |
Ordered architectures in acrylic polymers
Polymers having ordered architectures and one or more reactive functional groups incorporated in select blocks or regions of the polymer in particular proportions relative to other regions in the polymer, are described. The polymers are well suited for use in adhesive compositions, and particularly for pressure sensitive adhesive compositions. In addition, various methods for forming the noted polymers and adhesive compositions utilizing the ordered polymers are disclosed. |
| US09644061B2 |
Ethylene polymer pellet and extrusion process using the same
Provided is a pellet of an ethylene polymer having a kneading torque at 160° C. of 2 to 15 Nm, wherein the pellet has a specific surface area of 1,800 to 3,000 mm2/g. |
| US09644058B2 |
Process for producing polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin
Provided is a method for producing a polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin in which the physical properties (especially liquid permeability) are improved and maintained even in large scale production. The method for producing a polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin, which sequentially includes a polymerization step, in which a monomer aqueous solution having acrylic acid (salt) as a main component is polymerized, a drying step, in which a water-containing gel-like crosslinked polymer obtained in the polymerization step is dried, and a classification step, in which a polymer obtained in the drying step is classified, wherein a rocking-type sieve classification apparatus is used in the classification step, and the rocking-type sieve classification apparatus has a sieve net having a trajectory and a rotation speed in the following ranges; radial gradient R: from 5 to 40 mm, tangential gradient T: from 0.1 to 25 mm, eccentric gradient E: from 40 to 80 mm, and rotation speed F: from 60 to 600 rpm. |
| US09644048B2 |
Composition for anode buffer layer, high-molecular weight compound for anode buffer layer, organic electroluminescence element, and production process and uses of the same
There is provided a material for an anode buffer lay which permits the use of an organic solvent as a solvent an anode buffer layer-forming solution, and is capable forming an anode buffer layer that does not dissolve even win coated with a luminescent layer-forming material solution containing an organic solvent as a solvent, and which is capable of producing an organic EL element having high electrical power efficiency and long life. |
| US09644042B2 |
Electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization
Electrochemical reduction of an exemplary ATRP catalyst, CIIBr2/Me6TREN, is shown to be an efficient process to mediate and execute an ATRP. The onset of polymerization occurs only through passage of a cathodic current achieved under a reductive potential to form CuIBr2/Me6TREN, within the reaction medium. Unprecedented control over the polymerization kinetics can be attained through electrochemical methods by modulating the magnitude of the applied potential allowing polymerization rate enhancement or retardation. Additional polymerization control is gained through electrochemical “dials” allowing polymerization rate enhancements achieved by larger applied potentials and the ability to successfully switch a polymerization “on” and “off between dormant and active states by application of multistep intermittent potentials. |
| US09644040B2 |
Hyaluronic acid derivatives
The present disclosure relates to hyaluronic acid derivatives, and in particular, derivatives in which the N-acetyl group of hyaluronic acid has been substituted, and methods and uses thereof. |