最新美国发明专利第2017-06-06期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09672347B2	Integrity for security audit logs Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for storing event data in an audit log file. Implementations include actions of receiving event data, determining a first signature based on the event data and an end marker, and appending the event data and the first signature to the audit log file, the first signature comprising at least a portion of a signature chain associated with the audit log file.
US09672346B2	Object tracking by establishing a mesh network and transmitting packets A communication device configured to form a cluster with one or more other communication devices in its vicinity, monitor the presence, in the cluster, of those other communication devices and provide information about the presence, in the cluster, of the other communication devices to another device.
US09672345B2	Method and apparatus for making a decision on a card Method and devices for making access decisions in a secure access network are provided. The access decisions are made by a portable credential using data and algorithms stored on the credential. Since access decisions are made by the portable credential non-networked hosts or local hosts can be employed that do not necessarily need to be connected to a central access controller or database thereby reducing the cost of building and maintaining the secure access network.
US09672341B2	Systems and methods for spoof detection in iris based biometric systems The invention provides methods, systems and computer program products for spoof detection in iris based biometric recognition. In an embodiment, the invention comprises (i) obtaining a first image of an iris at an imaging apparatus configured to a first exposure setting (ii) obtaining a second image of the iris at the imaging apparatus configured to a second exposure setting (iii) comparing incidence of reflection patterns within the first and second iris images and (iv) determining authenticity of the imaged iris based on a result of comparing the incidence of reflection patterns within the first and second iris images.
US09672339B2	Electro-biometric authentication Electro-biometric data obtained from a user of a processor-based device may be used to authenticate that user. In some cases, no special action may need to be taken to initiate authentication.
US09672336B1	Security system for verification of user credentials A system is disclosed that enables network-based systems to confirm the identity of users and/or the authenticity of their credentials during their registration process by providing a database of verified users and various means for requesting and verifying user-provided information using the database. For example, the system may verify credentials and/or other aspects of the user and store such information in a database. The system may also generate badges that can be displayed on various content sites and that link to a summary of the user's verified information. The summaries may be customized for each content site at which the user has registered.
US09672335B2	Cognitive-based logon process for computing device A method of user logon to a computing device or computer system that, distinct from requiring entry of a set of known logon credentials such as a username and password, introduces an additional thought-directed user interface whereby the user must respond to one or more prompts that measure the user's cognitive function at the time of logon or during an active logon session. The user's responses to these prompts are evaluated for several purposes, including determining whether the user demonstrates the required level of cognitive function to gain access to the computer system or continue an active logon session. The user's responses and associated data may also be stored and retrieved at a later time for various purposes, including determining whether and to what extent the user's level of cognitive function is improving, diminishing, or remaining static over time.
US09672333B2	Trusted storage In one embodiment, a method for authenticating access to encrypted content on a storage medium, wherein the encrypted content is encrypted according to a full disk encryption (FDE) key, the storage medium including an encrypted version of the FDE key and an encrypted version of a protected storage area (PSA) key, and wherein the encrypted version of the FDE key is encrypted according to the PSA key, the method comprising: providing an authenticated communication channel between a host and a storage engine associated with the storage medium; at the storage engine, receiving a pass code from the host over the authenticated communication channel; hashing the pass code to form a derived key, wherein the encrypted version of the PSA key is encrypted according to the derived key; verifying an authenticity of the pass code; if the pass code is authentic, decrypting the encrypted version of the PSA key to recover the PSA key; decrypting the encrypted FDE key using the recovered PSA key to recover the FDE key; and decrypting the encrypted content using the FDE key.
US09672330B2	Mass spectrometer A product ion spectrum is created on the basis of MS2 analysis data respectively obtained for a parent compound and a metabolite (S1 and S2). Additionally, a neutral loss spectrum, in which the mass of each product ion is replaced with a mass difference between the mass of the product ion and that of a precursor ion, is created (S3). Then, a common peak having the same mass on the neutral loss spectrums of both the parent compound and the metabolite is extracted (S4), and a complementary peak appearing on the product ion spectrum of the metabolite is extracted (S5); this peak appears at a position corresponding to the difference between the mass of the common peak and that of the precursor ion. The ion corresponding to the complementary peak is designated as a precursor ion for the next MS3 analysis (S6), and this MS3 analysis is performed (S7). By a dissociation operation, if a portion common to the parent compound and the metabolite is desorbed in the form of a neutral molecule while a different portion remains in the form of an ion, an MS3 analysis in which the ion of the different portion is used as the precursor ion is performed to obtain structural information of a site of metabolism.
US09672328B2	Medicine administering system including injection pen and companion device Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for administering a medicament to a patient. In one aspect, a system includes an injection pen device in wireless communication with a mobile communication device. The injection pen device includes a housing including a chamber to encase a cartridge containing medicine, a dose setting and dispensing mechanism to set the mechanism to dispense a particular dose of the medicine from the loaded cartridge, a sensor unit to detect a dispensed dose based on positions and/or movements of the dose setting and dispensing mechanism, and an electronics unit in communication with the sensor unit to process the detected dispensed dose and time data associated with a dispensing event and to wirelessly transmit the dose data to a user's device. The mobile communication device provides a software application to provide the user with health information using the processed dose data.
US09672327B2	System and apparatus for item management Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.
US09672325B2	Methods and apparatus for establishing a healthcare data interface using a practice management system Methods and apparatus for establishing a healthcare data interface for a healthcare provider associated with a practice management system, wherein the healthcare data interface is established between the practice management system and a healthcare trading partner to enable electronic transmission of data between the practice management system and the healthcare trading partner. The method comprises receiving a request from the healthcare provider to establish the healthcare data interface with the healthcare trading partner and prompting, via a user interface, the healthcare provider for configuration information, wherein the prompting is performed based, at least in part, on information associated with the healthcare trading partner stored by the practice management system. The method further comprises receiving the configuration information from the healthcare provider, and configuring the healthcare data interface for the healthcare provider based, at least in part, on the received configuration information.
US09672323B2	Reduction of warpage of multilayered substrate or package A method that minimizes adjustment of a wiring layer in reducing a warpage of a multilayered substrate and enables location of a part of a wiring layer that needs correction in order to reduce the warpage. The difference in average coefficient of thermal expansion, Δα, varies in a substrate. The method focuses in on the difference in Δα with a great length scale (low frequency) having a relatively significant effect on the warpage compared to the difference in Δα with a smaller length scale (high frequency) and corrects only the difference in Δα with a greater length scale. The distribution of the difference in Δα in a plane of substrate is determined. Then digital filtering is performed to extract only the difference in Δα with a low frequency and the difference in Δα between before and after correction, thereby revealing a part that requires correction.
US09672318B2	Synthesis of reduced netlist having positive elements and no controlled sources In one embodiment, a circuit analysis method includes obtaining a netlist of a circuit, generating a reduced model from the netlist, using the reduced model to synthesize a positive netlist having no controlled current or voltage sources, unstamping the synthesized positive netlist, and simulating the circuit using the unstamped synthesized positive netlist.
US09672314B2	Logic structure aware circuit routing A method, executed by a computer, for routing a circuit includes receiving a logic structure for a circuit, retrieving a logic template, determining whether the logic structure for the circuit matches the logic template, and routing the circuit using a routing recipe corresponding to the logic template in response to determining that the logic structure matches the logic template. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed herein.
US09672312B2	Method wherein test cells and dummy cells are included into a layout of an integrated circuit A method includes receiving a layout of an integrated circuit that includes a plurality of layers, one of the layers is selected and one or more tile number values are provided. A die area of the integrated circuit is partitioned into a plurality of tiles on the basis of the tile number values. It is determined, on the basis of the layout, if a portion of the selected one of the layers in the tile has an available space for inclusion of a test cell or a dummy cell, and a label indicative of a result is assigned to the tile. It is determined, on the basis of the labels assigned, if one or more space availability criteria are fulfilled and, if fulfilled, the labels are used for placing at least one of one or more test cells and one or more dummy cells in the layout.
US09672311B2	Method and system for via retargeting Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for SAV (self-aligned via) retargeting. The SAV (Self Aligned Vias) process aids in the alignment of the vias with the metal above (Mx+1) during the dual damascene process. The retargeting enables an increase the area of the via during photolithography without affecting the final critical dimension. SAV retargeting is the via retargeting during the mask tape-out to reshape the via and protect it against possible via-to-Mx+1 overlay error. With embodiments of the present invention, the via edge movement is linked to the actual driver behind the SAV retargeting, which is maintaining a minimum area coverage with the metal above at extreme overlay error conditions. Accordingly, for a via edge to get SAV retargeted, a calculation is first made to determine how much its opposite via edge is subject to be cut during SAV due to overlay error.
US09672307B2	Clock placement for programmable logic devices Various techniques are provided to efficiently implement user designs in programmable logic devices (PLDs). In one example, a computer-implemented method includes determining clock resources in a design identifying operations to be performed by a PLD, determining available clock resources of the PLD, determining a flow network model corresponding to the design and the PLD, and determining a clock resource placement based on the flow network model. The flow network model may include a plurality of levels of vertices disposed between source and sink vertices, where vertices are coupled to each other using edges with unit capacity.
US09672305B1	Method for gating clock signals using late arriving enable signals A method for designing clock gates which may reduce timing requirements associated with clock gating control signals may include identifying a clock gating function included in a Hardware Description Language of an integrated circuit, wherein the clock gating function may include capturing a state of an enable signal dependent upon a clock signal. The method may include determining a delay time for capturing the state of the enable signal dependent on a time difference between transitions of the enable signal and the clock signal. The method may include creating a gating circuit, in which the gating circuit includes a delay unit coupled to a source of the clock signal, and wherein a delay value is dependent upon the amount of time to delay capturing the enable signal. The method may include modifying the HDL model dependent upon the clock gating circuit.
US09672302B2	Producing a three-dimensional model of an implant Determining a shape of a medical device to be implanted into a subject produces an image including a defective portion and a non-defective portion of a surface of a tissue of interest included in the subject. The tissue of interest is segmented within the image. A template, representing a normative shape of an external anatomical surface of the tissue of interest, is superimposed to span the defective portion. An external shape of an implant, is determined as a function of respective shapes of the defective portion as seen in the template, for repairing the defective portion.
US09672301B2	Pattern selection for lithographic model calibration The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for test pattern selection for computational lithography model calibration. According to some aspects, the pattern selection algorithms of the present invention can be applied to any existing pool of candidate test patterns. According to some aspects, the present invention automatically selects those test patterns that are most effective in determining the optimal model parameter values from an existing pool of candidate test patterns, as opposed to designing optimal patterns. According to additional aspects, the selected set of test patterns according to the invention is able to excite all the known physics and chemistry in the model formulation, making sure that the wafer data for the test patterns can drive the model calibration to the optimal parameter values that realize the upper bound of prediction accuracy imposed by the model formulation.
US09672300B2	Pattern generation method A pattern generation method for generating a pattern of a cell used to generate a pattern of a mask using a computer, includes obtaining data of pattern of the cell, calculating image of the pattern of the cell to obtain an evaluation value of the image by repeatedly changing a parameter value of an exposure condition when the mask which has the pattern of the cell is illuminated to project image of the pattern of the cell onto a substrate to expose the substrate, and a parameter value of the pattern of the cell, and determining parameter value of the pattern of the cell when the evaluation value satisfies a predetermined evaluation standard.
US09672292B2	Affinity-based page navigation This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling affinity-based page navigation. These techniques and apparatuses enable page navigation, such as page flipping, page searches, and other navigation based on affinities associated with various pages. These affinities can include a reference to a page, such as a link or quotation in a social networking service, an encyclopedia, a webpage, an article, a newspaper, or a blog. These affinities can also or instead include usage, such as how many users have read, highlighted, dog-eared, or bookmarked a page.
US09672287B2	Method and apparatus for gesture-based searching A content searching technique that includes sensing at least three types of input gestures from a user, each of the at least three input gestures representative of a respective one of a search term, a class of assets to be searched and a location to be searched. The sensed at least three types of input gestures are translated into the search term, the class of assets to be searched and the location to be searched. The specified location is searched for the class of assets corresponding to the search term. A list of assets residing or available from at the searched location corresponding to the search term are presented in a user interface display.
US09672286B2	Singular, collective and automated creation of a media guide for online content Systems and methods are provided in which a content guide includes one or more tags associated with a single user, a group of users or a channel subscribed to by users that enables the retrieval of content for subsequent viewing and which can be supplemented by recommendations and data from other sources.
US09672285B2	System and method for improving access to search results Aspects of the disclosure provide a system and method for prerendering of search result pages. A search engine may process search queries received from a client. The search engine may determine one or more search results in response to the search query. One or more of the search results may be associated with prerender instructions, such that when the search results are received by the client, the client prerenders the search results associated with the prerender instructions. Prerender instructions may be associated with the search results in various manners, including ranking the search results based on relevance, or ranking the search results based on the likelihood of selection. Metrics and analytical data may be collected from the client to improve the search result prerendering process.
US09672284B2	Categorizing social network objects based on user affiliations Groups of users of a social networking system are categorized based on their association with a type of malicious activity. A set of predetermined malicious groups is identified. Users associated with the malicious groups are selected based on their level of interactions with the malicious groups. Other groups associated with the selected users are identified as being potentially malicious groups. The potentially malicious groups are further analyzed based on occurrences of keywords associated with the type of malicious activity and manual verification by experts. The potentially malicious groups are either classified as being malicious or non-malicious or assigned a score based on their likelihood of being associated with the type of malicious activity. The methods and system disclosed can be used for categorizing other types of social network objects based on their association with a type of malicious activity, for example, users, events, and content.
US09672283B2	Structured and social data aggregator Information is obtained from the Internet is combined with processed and rated information from social networking services by a structured and social data aggregator providing highly relevant search results. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a product information crawler, which crawls the Internet in search of web pages relevant to a requested subject or product. The product information crawler conveys captured web pages to a structured data extractor, which extracts product information. A social networking crawler crawls social networking services in search of social network information to the requested subject or product. The processed product information and processed social network information is conveyed to an information aggregator, which merges the information and stores it in a data store that can be queried by a user. A user would then be able conduct a single search about a subject or product, and retrieve highly relevant structured product information enhanced by social networking information.
US09672279B1	Cluster labeling system for documents comprising unstructured text data An apparatus comprises a processing platform configured to implement a cluster labeling system for documents comprising unstructured text data. The cluster labeling system comprises a clustering module and a visualization module. The clustering module implements a topic model generator and is configured to assign each of the documents to one or more of a plurality of clusters based at least in part on one or more topics identified from the unstructured text data using at least one topic model provided by the topic model generator. The visualization module comprises multiple view generators configured to generate respective distinct visualizations of a selected one of the clusters. The multiple view generators include at least a bigram view generator configured to provide a visualization of a plurality of term pairs from the selected cluster, and a summarization view generator configured to provide a visualization of representative term sequences from the selected cluster.
US09672275B2	Recommendation apparatus, recommendation method, and storage medium There is provided a technique capable of recommending more useful contents to a recommendation target user who is the current work user. A group of recommendation candidate contents is obtained from a similar work case similar to work by the recommendation target user. A relationship between an arbitrary user and the recommendation candidate contents is detected. Recommendation candidate contents having the detected relationship with the recommendation target user are recommended by priority from among the group of recommendation candidate contents.
US09672273B2	Representing a machine-to-machine device model based on ontological relationships In an approach for creating a machine-to-machine device model based on ontological relationship, one or more computer processors determine a plurality of characteristics of one or more machine-to-machine devices within a machine-to-machine communication environment. The one or more computer processors determine one or more ontological relationships between the one or more machine-to-machine devices and the plurality of characteristics of the one or more machine-to-machine devices. The one or more computer processors create a semantic device model, based, at least in part, on the one or more ontological relationships between the one or more machine-to-machine devices and the plurality of characteristics of the one or more machine-to-machine devices.
US09672272B2	Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for efficiently performing operations on distinct data values An apparatus, computer-readable medium, and computer-implemented method for efficiently performing operations on distinct data values, including receiving a query directed to a column of data, the query defining one or more group sets for grouping the data retrieved in response to the query, and for each of the one or more group sets, generating one or more entity map vectors, the length of each entity map vector being equal to the number of unique data values in a domain which corresponds to the column of data, the position of each bit in the entity map vector corresponding to the lexical position of a corresponding unique data value in a lexically ordered list of the unique data values, and the value of each bit in the entity map vector indicating the presence or absence of the corresponding unique data value in the group set.
US09672266B2	Method and apparatus for ensuring consistent outcomes in updates to distributed databases Methods of conducting database transactions. One such method comprises receiving data to be written to a database; identifying a set of shard replicas corresponding to the database to which the data is to be written; transmitting, to each of the replicas in the set, a request to write the data thereto; receiving votes back from the replicas in the set, each vote representing whether the respective replica commits to a writing of the data thereto; determining whether to commit to the writing of the data to the database according to whether a majority of the replicas of every shard having replicas in the set has transmitted a vote committing to the writing of the data thereto; and transmitting an outcome of the determining to each of the replicas in the set.
US09672263B1	Reliability engineering data integration Exemplary practice of the present invention provides an electronic system for integrating information from various network sources. The inventive system includes a server computer and at least one client computer (e.g., tablet). According to the software logic resident in the server computer, information is transmitted from various online resources (e.g., web-accessible collections of data) to an enterprise service bus (ESB), and the ESB collates some or all of the information received and stores the collated information in a network database. According to the software logic resident in each client computer, the collated information stored in the network database is downloaded onto an online webpage, parsed, stored in a local database, synched, and downloaded onto an offline webpage. A client can direct the server to collate a particular segment of information, thus affording the client offline access to pertinent, well-organized information on a portable, wireless platform such as a tablet.
US09672258B2	Systems and methods for dynamically selecting graphical query result display modes Systems and methods for displaying graphical database query results on a map by dynamically selecting graphical query result display modes are described. In one example, the system includes a distributed database query system having a remote server and a local client computer. The remote server receives a query request from the client and obtains a threshold number of results for display. If a particular query provides less than the threshold number of results, the system uses a first interactive graphical query result mode utilizing client rendering. If the query provides the threshold number of results or more, the system uses a second non-interactive graphical query result mode utilizing server rendering.
US09672253B1	Ranking a search result document based on data usage to load the search result document Methods and apparatus for ranking one or more documents that are responsive to a search query. A document that is responsive to the search query may be ranked based on a data measure of the document that is indicative of an amount of data usage required to load the document. In some implementations, the data measure of the document may be a measured value based on actual data usage during retrieval of the document. In some implementations, the ranking of two or more documents may be based on comparison of the data measures of the two or more documents.
US09672248B2	Embracing and exploiting data skew during a join or groupby A hybrid approach for performing a join in a database includes: obtaining a distribution of data values in a join column of an inner table; using the distribution, identifying one or more data ranges containing skew; for each data range identified as containing skew, performing, by the processor, the join operation using a skew specific join scheme; and for each data range not identified as containing skew, performing, by the processor, the join operation using a non-skew specific join scheme. One skew specific join scheme involves a compact array table, a highly populated array that represents the range of values that the inner table join column contains. One non-skew specific join scheme involves a compact hash table, an optimized hash table that allows high load factors with a small memory overhead. In combining multiple join techniques, joins may be performed more efficiently for skewed and non-skewed data.
US09672246B1	Time-varying data retrieval Methods for determining the representation of time-dependent attributes stored in a database and extracting data according to the representation of the time-dependent attributes are described. In some cases, a time-dependent attribute may comprise a time scale varying attribute (TSV) in which a sum may be computed for any date range. In some embodiments, a time-dependent attribute may be represented as a Character Large Object (CLOB) that encodes information about the time-dependent attribute in a text string and may be accessed by table functions. Alternatively, some time-dependent attributes may also be represented as Binary Large Objects (BLOBs) that are used to populate timeslicing tables. Upon receiving a query for data pertaining to a stored time-dependent attribute, a system identifies whether the stored time-dependent attribute is represented as a CLOB or a BLOB, and generates the queried data in a manner dependent on the representation of the time-dependent attribute.
US09672245B2	Memory storage apparatus, method of supporting transaction function for database, and memory system A memory storage apparatus interworking with a database management system and a file system includes a flash translation layer (FTL) configured to guarantee atomicity of a transaction for the database management system by utilizing a copy-on-write (CoW) mechanism.
US09672244B2	Efficient undo-processing during data redistribution A method and system for facilitating an undo operation. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a plurality of control files, where each of the control files is associated with a batch of data that is received from a sending partition during a redistribution process, and where each control file includes a list of pages and corresponding ranges of rows of data that have been appended to the pages. The method also includes writing the control files to a persistent memory for each control file where all of the associated rows of the respective consistency point have been appended to pages and written to a persistent memory. The method also includes, in response to an interruption in the redistribution process, identifying pages and rows to be deleted during an undo operation based on the plurality of control files.
US09672238B2	Dynamic filter processing The disclosed subject matter includes systems, methods, and computer readable medium for automatically updating data source objects (DSO). First and second DSO can be created and mapped to first and second data, respectively. A third DSO can be created and mapped to the first subset of the first stored data by filtering the first stored data mapped to the first DSO with the second stored data mapped to the second DSO. A listener can be created for the third DSO to detect changes to the first DSO. Listener can receive notification of a change to the first DSO. the mapping of the third DSO can be updated by applying the change. A remapping can be requested of the third DSO to a second subset of first stored data by filtering the first stored data mapped to the first DSO with the second stored data mapped to the second DSO.
US09672235B2	Method and system for dynamically partitioning very large database indices on write-once tables Methods and systems for partitioning and dynamically merging a database index are described. A database index includes a single first-level index partition stored in a data cache. As the first-level index partition in the data cache reaches a predetermined size, it is copied to secondary storage and a new index partition is generated in the data cache. When the number of index partitions in secondary storage reaches some predetermined number, the index partitions are merged to create a single index partition of a higher level in a hierarchy of index partitions having an exponentially increasing size with each increase in level within the hierarchy.
US09672231B2	Concurrent access for hierarchical data storage Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage mediums are presented for aggregating multiple values for an object using database rows. Each value added to the database for the object may include a same primary key and a unique sequence key. This allows multiple values to be added for an object concurrently by simply adding additional rows to the database table. After values have been added, a process can identify multiple rows having the same primary key and aggregate the values stored in those rows together into a single database row having the primary key. This can be done as part of a garbage-collection routine or in response to other processes attempting to add additional values for the object.
US09672227B2	Image processing apparatus, image display method, and image display program An image processing apparatus includes: a display device; a storage unit configured to store a plurality of image data having information corresponding to a search key; a search key specifying unit configured to specify a search key used for image search; a search unit configured to search and extract image data having information relating to the search key specified by the search key specifying unit from the storage unit; and a display control unit configured to control the image corresponding to image data extracted by the search unit to be displayed on the position corresponding to the degree of association as to the search key on the display screen of the display device.
US09672221B2	Identification of moved or renamed files in file synchronization A method for synchronizing files is provided. Current metadata including a filename and a hash identifier for each file of the synchronized folder is created. The current metadata is compared to previous metadata. Based on the comparison, a first file and a first folder added to the synchronized folder and a second file and a second folder deleted from the synchronized folder are identified. The hash identifiers of the first and second files are compared. If the hash identifiers match, the filenames of the first and second files are compared. If the filenames do not match, the first file is identified as a renamed file. Metadata is sent to a synchronized device with information related to the first folder sent before information related to the first file, which is sent before information related to the second folder.
US09672218B2	Systems and methods for data chunk deduplication A method includes receiving information about a plurality of data chunks and determining if one or more of a plurality of back-end nodes already stores more than a threshold amount of the plurality of data chunks where one of the plurality of back-end nodes is designated as a sticky node. The method further includes, responsive to determining that none of the plurality of back-end nodes already stores more than a threshold amount of the plurality of data chunks, deduplicating the plurality of data chunks against the back-end node designated as the sticky node. Finally, the method includes, responsive to an amount of data being processed, designating a different back-end node as the sticky node.
US09672215B2	Database storage reclaiming program The computer retrieves a list of the data elements contained in a database. The computer performs a static and dynamic analysis on the list to determine which data elements have been active in a static or dynamic Structured Query Language (SQL) statement, then removes active data elements from the list. The computer performs a dependency test to determine which data elements on the list are depended on by data objects not on the list and removes those data elements which are depended on. The computer analyzes application code to extract SQL statements and determine whether data elements on the list are active in application code SQL. Any data elements on the list which are active in application code SQL are removed from the list and the remaining data elements on the list are sorted in descending order based on size.
US09672214B2	Incrementally updating a large key-value store The present disclosure extends to incrementally updating a database in a production environment in a way that maintains data freshness and allows for high priority updates for critical changed values and regular updates for noncritical changed values in the database.
US09672213B2	Providing media items from playback history Embodiments are described for providing media items from a playback history for media items played by one or more playback zones in a media playback system. A computing device maintains the playback history. The playback history includes, for each of the media items, (i) an indication of a playback zone in which the media item was played, (ii) a time at which the media item was played, and (iii) metadata associated with the media item. The metadata may include, among others, at least one of an album associated with the media item, a genre associated with the media item, and a track name associated with the media item. The computing device, in response to a request, may transmit a portion of the playback history based on the request. The portion of the playback history identifies media items played by one of the playback zones at a given time.
US09672212B1	System and method for supporting remote accesses to a host computer from a mobile computing device Users of a client computer having non-conventional input devices interact with a host computing platform with the same user experience as if he or she was operating the client computer natively. This is achieved by having the non-conventional input devices of the client device appear local to the applications that are running on the host platform, even though the host computing platform may not be equipped with drivers for the non-conventional input devices.
US09672211B1	Script unique prompts Providing unique prompts for script, comprising sequencing, by a processor, at least one script in a design order having at least one prompt, identifying, by the processor, duplicate prompts of the at least one prompt, identifying, by the processor, unique prompts of the at least one prompt, translation tagging, by the processor, the identified unique prompts and replicating, by the processor, the translation tagged unique prompts to the identified duplicate prompts.
US09672210B2	Language translation with head-worn computing Aspects of the present invention relate to language translation systems for head-worn computers.
US09672209B2	Dynamic translation substitution Mechanisms are provided for translating messages output by processes associated with the data processing system. Language based user activities occurring via a data processing system are tracked and automatically analyzed to determine a relative priority ordering of one or more languages used by a user performing the user activities. A sequence of preferred language translation substitutions is generated for outputting messages based on results of the analysis and is automatically applied to a received message from a process associated with the data processing system to generate a translated message using one of the preferred language translation substitutions in the sequence of preferred language translation substitutions. The translated message is output via an output device of the data processing system.
US09672199B2	Electronic device and electronic device control method Disclosed are an electronic device and an electronic device control method that can use address information on the basis of an inputted string. The disclosed electronic device is provided with: a memory (44) that stores an address book that has names and address information; input keys (14) for inputting strings; a display unit (21) that displays both an input string inputted via the input keys (14) and a conversion candidate string which is a conversion candidate for the input string; a search execution unit (46) that searches the address book on the basis of an input string inputted via the input keys (14); and a control unit (45) that has the display unit (21) display, as a conversion candidate string, a name or address information that corresponds to the input string and was searched for by the search execution unit (46).
US09672183B2	Integration of downstream ports in a multiple interface device One aspect of a multiple data type interface device can include a plurality of upstream ports, wherein at least two of the upstream ports are of a different type, a plurality of downstream ports, wherein at least one of the plurality of downstream ports is configured to connect to an external device, and one or more processors configured to detect a connection at one of the plurality of upstream ports, and route an upstream port signal associated with one of the plurality of upstream ports to the at least one of the plurality of downstream ports configured to connect to the external device when the connection is detected at the one of the plurality of upstream.
US09672180B1	Cache memory management system and method A system comprises a first cache controller and at least a second cache controller. The first cache controller and the second cache controller each include a cache memory interface, an inter-cache controller communication link configured for bidirectional communication with the other cache controller, a first peripheral interface, a second peripheral interface, and logic circuitry. The first peripheral interface communicates with a first host device and the second peripheral interface communicates with a second host device. The first host device and the second host device are each connected to the first and second cache controllers by the first and second peripheral interfaces. The logic circuitry loads a cache command from a cache command memory of the first host device, loads a cache command from a cache command memory of the second cache controller, and performs the cache commands.
US09672175B2	Communication system A communication system having a plurality of communication nodes connected by a communication bus is provided. The system allows at least one non-periodical data message to have a higher priority order than a periodical data message that is transmitted in response to a periodically-transmitted reference message from a master node ECU. In such a manner, a transmission of an urgent non-periodical data message has a higher priority than a transmission of the periodical data message. As a result, a wait time before a start of a transmission of the non-periodical data message is reduced.
US09672160B1	System and method for caching data A method, computer program product, and computing system for storing a plurality of frontend data chunks within a cache system. The plurality of frontend data chunks correspond to a plurality of backend data chunks stored within a data array. A device weight is determined for each of the plurality of backend data chunks. The device weight is indicative of the type of storage device upon which each of the plurality of backend data chunks is stored within the data array. A deletion score is assigned to each of the plurality of frontend data chunks. Each deletion score is based, at least in part, upon the device weight determined for its corresponding backend data chunk.
US09672156B2	Dynamic data caches, decoders and decoding methods Dynamic data caches (DDCs), decoders and decoding methods that may fit into a smaller width area. The DDCs, decoders and decoding method may be used in flash memory devices. A single column select line may be provided to select a plurality of cached bytes, while a second select line selects a byte of the selected plurality. The column select line may be routed parallel to bit lines carrying data, while the second select line may be routed perpendicular to the bit lines.
US09672152B2	Size dependent type in accessing dynamically typed array objects A method and an apparatus for providing a flat array type in an object model for dynamically typed programs are described. Whether an array object is of a flat array type can be dynamically tracked for a dynamic language based program. Array elements of an array object of the flat array type may be stored in an inline storage within an object cell of the array object. The inline storage may be limited by available memory space between adjacent object cells. The flat array type of an array object may be detected based on whether the inline storage has sufficient memory space to store elements of the array. An array object of the flay array type may allow array elements of the array object to be accessed within a object cell without additional memory loading via a pointer stored in the object cell.
US09672149B2	Partial page programming of nonvolatile memory device In one embodiment of the inventive concept, a partial page program method is provided for a system comprising a nonvolatile memory device. The method comprises loading random data stored in the nonvolatile memory device into a page buffer circuit in the nonvolatile memory device, reloading partial page data having a size corresponding to a portion of one page into the page buffer circuit after the random data is loaded by receiving the partial page data from a memory controller, and programming, to a target page, page data stored in the page buffer circuit after the random data is loaded and the partial page data is reloaded.
US09672145B2	Service associated with persistent storage Examples are disclosed for allocating a block of persistent storage or accessing a block of persistent storage based on a storage service string that includes a universally unique identifier and associated metadata.
US09672144B2	Allocating additional requested storage space for a data set in a first managed space in a second managed space Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for allocating additional requested storage space for a data set in a first managed space in a second managed space. A request for additional storage space is received for a requested data set stored in a first managed space in the storage. A revised amount of storage space for the requested data set comprises at least an amount of space currently allocated to the requested data set in the first managed space and the requested additional storage space. If the revised amount of storage space exceeds a value, then allocation is made of the revised amount of storage space in allocated storage space in a second managed space of the storage. The data set is stored in the allocated storage space in the second managed space.
US09672143B2	Remote memory ring buffers in a cluster of data processing nodes A data processing node has an inter-node messaging module including a plurality of sets of registers each defining an instance of a GET/PUT context and a plurality of data processing cores each coupled to the inter-node messaging module. Each one of the data processing cores includes a mapping function for mapping each one of a plurality of user level processes to a different one of the sets of registers and thereby to a respective GET/PUT context instance. Mapping each one of the user level processes to the different one of the sets of registers enables a particular one of the user level processes to utilize the respective GET/PUT context instance thereof for performing a GET/PUT action to a ring buffer of a different data processing node coupled to the data processing node through a fabric without involvement of an operating system of any one of the data processing cores.
US09672141B1	Generic language application programming interface interpreter Technical solutions are described for facilitating a first computer program product to communicate with a second computer program product. The first computer program product invokes an application programming interface (API) function from an API of the second computer program product, where the first computer program product and the second computer program product use distinct programming languages. The solutions described herein initiate a record corresponding to the API function and invoke an interpreter that calls the API function in the second programming language. Upon receiving, from the interpreter, an indication that the API function has completed execution, result of the execution are obtained from the record and returned to the first computer program product.
US09672136B2	Crosstalk emulator for xDSL cable A crosstalk emulator for a cable, preferably a xDSL telecommunication cable, represented by several emulation paths each comprising a first segment (L1a/L4a) serially connected to a second segment (L1b/L4b) on a printed circuit board PCB. The first and second segments of a same emulation path form an angle, e.g. of about 90 degrees, at their junction point. All the emulation paths have a same length and preferably run in parallel over the PCB. As a result, each emulation path crosses only once (X21) any other emulation path at a cross-point. Furthermore, the area occupied by the crosstalk emulator on the PCB is reduced with respect to a matrix topology, whereby the present topology can easily be extended to large numbers of couplings, allowing design guidance for a passive coupling emulator with a large amount of coupling elements (CP) at the cross-points.
US09672135B2	System, method and apparatus for debugging of reactive applications A debugger executes on a computer system to receive a first debugging command from a client, where the first debugging command sets a first instruction in the reactive application to suspend execution of the reactive application, and where during execution of the reactive application the first instruction is triggered which suspends execution of the reactive application. Responsive to the execution of the reactive application being suspended, a system clock of the reactive application is replaced with a substitute clock and the substitute clock is paused. The debugger then receives a second debugging command, where the second debugging command triggers a second instruction in the reactive application to continue execution of the reactive application. Responsive to the execution of the reactive application being continued, clocking of the substitute clock is continued.
US09672131B2	False power failure alert impact mitigation A method includes receiving a signal indicating a loss of power, starting a timer, the timer configured to expire after a specific time period, copying, by a distributed storage system having volatile memory configured as a write cache, write cache data from the volatile memory to a solid state device, upon receiving the signal indicating the loss of power to the storage system, configuring, the solid state device as both a read cache and the write cache, performing a health test on the storage system upon receiving the signal indicating the loss of power, and determining the loss of power as a false alarm if the timer expires and the storage system passes a health test on the storage system.
US09672129B2	Testing tray A testing tray includes a receiving member and a connector. The receiving includes a tray and a latching member. The tray includes a bottom wall, a peripheral sidewall protruded from the bottom wall, a resisting member and a guide groove. The resisting member includes a resisting portion and two elastic portions coupling the resisting portion with the peripheral sidewall. The tray includes at least one latching portion protruded from the peripheral sidewall. The latching member includes a sliding portion slidably mounted on the bottom wall to cover the guide groove and an elastic member located between the sliding portion and the bottom wall. The connector includes a fixed member detachably mounted on the at least one latching portion and a conducting member detachably mounted on the fixed member. The conducting member is capable of coupling the electronic device with a testing device.
US09672125B2	Ability to partition an array into two or more logical arrays with independently running software A plurality of storage nodes in a single chassis is provided. The plurality of storage nodes includes a first plurality of storage nodes configured to communicate together as a first storage cluster and a second plurality of storage nodes configured to communicate together as a second storage cluster. Each of the first and second pluralities of storage nodes has nonvolatile solid-state memory for user data storage and each of the first and second pluralities of storage nodes is configured to distribute user data and metadata associated with the user data throughout a respective plurality of storage nodes such that a respective storage cluster maintains ability to read the user data, using erasure coding, despite a loss of one or more of the respective plurality of storage nodes.
US09672121B2	Methods and systems for automatically rerouting logical circuit data An example involves assigning a first logical circuit identifier to a logical failover circuit prior to a failure of a dedicated logical circuit. The dedicated logical circuit includes first variable communication paths to route data through a first local access and transport area (LATA), second variable communication paths to route the data through a second LATA, and fixed communication paths to route the data between the first LATA, the second LATA, and an inter-exchange carrier. The failure of the dedicated logical circuit is identified based on status information pertinent to the dedicated logical circuit. The logical failover circuit includes an alternate communication path for communicating the data. When the first logical circuit identifier does not match the second logical circuit identifier, the second logical circuit identifier is renamed to match the first logical circuit identifier. The data is rerouted to the logical failover circuit without manual intervention.
US09672119B2	Methods and systems for replicating an expandable storage volume Machine implemented method and system for generating a disaster recovery copy of an expandable storage volume having a namespace for storing information for accessing data objects stored at a data constituent volume is provided. A transfer operation for transferring a point in time copy of the expandable storage volume from a first location to a second location is generated. Information regarding the expandable storage volume from the first location is retrieved and a destination expandable storage volume is resized to match components of the expandable storage volume at the first location. Thereafter, the point in time copy of the expandable storage volume from the first location to the second location is transferred and configuration information regarding the point in time copy is copied from the first location to the second location; a data structure for storing information regarding the transferred point in time copy of the expandable storage volume is updated.
US09672114B2	Conditional saving of input data This document relates to preserving input data. One example includes obtaining a request that a service perform processing on input data to produce an output representation of the input data. This example also includes applying criteria to the request, and preserving the input data responsive to determining that the criteria are met.
US09672111B2	Load control backup signal generating circuit A load control backup signal generating circuit for supplying a backup control signal to a switch of a load connected to an output of a control processor in a case that abnormality occurs in the control processor, includes a first input terminal that receives a constant period signal that is output periodically from the control processor when the control processor is normal, a constant period signal monitoring section that monitors a state of the constant period signal for identifying whether a length of the time during which a high or low level state of the constant period signal continues is longer than a predetermined time, and that outputs the signal corresponding to a result of the identification, and a backup signal output section that outputs the backup control signal when the output of the constant period signal monitoring section satisfies a predetermined condition.
US09672109B2	Adaptive dispersed storage network (DSN) and system A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. When additional unique pillar combinations of at least read threshold number of encoded data slices (EDSs) supported by EDSs may be needed, the computing device dispersed error encodes each data segment in accordance to generate additional pluralities of EDSs and distributedly stores the additional pluralities of EDSs associated respectively with the data object across the plurality of SUs within the DSN to support the additional unique pillar combinations of the at least read threshold number of EDSs.
US09672108B2	Dispersed storage network (DSN) and system with improved security A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations including to receive, via the interface, content retrieval messages for a data object. Then, based on the content retrieval messages for the data object and respectively for each associated data segment, the processing module determines respective groups of unique pillar combinations of at least read threshold number of EDSs, retrieves the respective groups of unique pillar combinations of at least read threshold number of EDSs from storage units (SUs) within the DSN, and provides the respective groups of unique pillar combinations of at least read threshold number of EDSs respectively to recipient device(s).
US09672101B2	Memory device having address and command selectable capabilities Subject matter disclosed herein relates to memory management, and more particularly to partitioning a memory based on memory attributes.
US09672099B2	Error detection and recovery for synchronous input/output operations Aspects include receiving, at an operating system (OS) executing on a server, a notification that an error was detected during execution of a synchronous I/O operation issued by the OS to a persistent storage control unit (SCU). The notification is received from firmware executing on the server and it includes a command response block that includes error condition information about the error. The method can also include selecting, by the OS, a recovery operation for the synchronous I/O operation. The selecting is based on the error condition information about the error in the command response block. The selected recovery option is performed by the OS.
US09672098B2	Error detection and recovery for synchronous input/output operations Aspects include receiving, at an operating system (OS) executing on a server, a notification that an error was detected during execution of a synchronous I/O operation issued by the OS to a persistent storage control unit (SCU). The notification is received from firmware executing on the server and it includes a command response block that includes error condition information about the error. The method can also include selecting, by the OS, a recovery operation for the synchronous I/O operation. The selecting is based on the error condition information about the error in the command response block. The selected recovery option is performed by the OS.
US09672096B2	Network of devices forming a diagnostic system The present invention relates to the field of systems and methods of diagnosis of apparatuses constituting a vast machine-to-machine communication network. The system proposed is based on a virtual network linking the various apparatuses so as to form a hierarchical tree. This virtual network is reliant on the network for real communication between the apparatuses. However, the topology of the virtual network is independent of that of the real network. Each apparatus includes a diagnostic agent offering local self-diagnostic capabilities. Each apparatus enables offering a state of its operation and of the operation of the entire sub-network of which it is the father. The self-diagnostic capabilities of an apparatus are implemented either locally by the apparatus, or within apparatuses of its close network environment as a function of the capabilities of the various items of equipment.
US09672095B2	Safety level specific error response scheme for mixed criticality systems An error response method for a mixed criticality system includes assigning a safety level to an application executed by a processor. Executing the application includes a transaction between the processor and a resource. The safety level is stored at the resource. The safety level and a fault indication are transmitted from the resource to a fault collection and control unit (FCCU). The fault indication is responsive to a fault from the resource. The FCCU responds to the fault indication with an action determined by the safety level.
US09672089B2	Method to determine BER (bit error rate) from an eye diagram A system and method for calculating a bit error rate for a mask is described. For each time during the time duration of the mask, the minimum and maximum voltages of the mask at that time are determined. The maximum bit error rate can be calculated for each time by integrating between those voltages. The maximum bit error rate for all times during the time duration of the mask can be selected as the maximum bit error rate for the mask.
US09672088B2	Hardware device controller, image forming apparatus, and control method A hardware device controller includes a controlling unit, a relay unit, and a watchdog timer. The controlling unit outputs a control signal to control a hardware device. The relay unit outputs, on the basis of the control signal, a control signal to the hardware device. When not receiving a first signal output from the controlling unit via the relay unit for a predetermined length of time or longer, the watchdog timer outputs a second signal. When the second signal is output, the controlling unit and the relay unit perform initialization process, and the hardware device stops driving.
US09672083B2	Operating a program code object in conjunction with an application context A method is provided for operating a program code object in conjunction with an application context in an application server environment. The method includes identifying a program code object in the application server environment and identifying an application context enabling the provision of a service. The application context is not directly accessible by the program code object. An entry point of the program code object is identified and a tag identifier referencing the application context is associated with the entry point. When executing the program code object in the application server environment, the tag identifier is used to access the application context.
US09672082B2	Guaranteeing the event order for multi-stage processing in distributed systems Systems and methods for guaranteeing the event order for multi-stage processing in distributed systems are disclosed. In some examples, a warm-up period is used to accurately determine a starting point for ordered events of an event stream. Skip-beats may be utilized as dummy events so that the event processor does not wait too long for events that were filtered out at earlier stages.
US09672080B2	Systems and methods for enabling dynamic calls via filtering, grouping, and substitution mechanisms Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems and methods that enable the dynamic execution of code library calls using external system data. A processing device processes unstructured data to generate structured data that optionally may be filtered. The processing device uses the structured data and one or more parameter groupings to execute various commands associated with a code library of an external system.
US09672078B2	Deployment and management of virtual containers A system virtualizes applications on a managed endpoint using containers. A managed endpoint receives a virtualized container from an IT automation appliance. The virtualized container includes an application and a virtualization module. The virtualization module includes computer program instructions for virtualizing the application. An operating system API call made by the application during execution is intercepted, and a portion of the computer program instructions are executed based on the operating system API call. The computer program instructions modify the behavior of the application to effect the file and data virtualization of the application. A virtualized container can be deployed and updated from an IT automation appliance along with an agent to support the deployment and updating of the virtualized container.
US09672068B2	Virtual machine scheduling using optimum power-consumption profile Methods and systems of determining an optimum power-consumption profile for virtual machines running in a data center are disclosed. In one aspect, a power-consumption profile of a virtual machine and a unit-rate profile of electrical power cost over a period are received. The methods determine an optimum power-consumption profile based on the power-consumption profile and the unit-rate profile. The optimum power-consumption profile may be used reschedule the virtual machine over the period.
US09672066B2	Systems and methods for mass distribution of 3-dimensional reconstruction over network Systems and methods are described for distributing a 3-dimensional model of a target space, including, but not limited to: determining a position of an object within a target space; encoding the position of the object as RGB values associated with at least one pixel of a base frame; and transmitting the base frame to a user device for decoding the position of the object.
US09672065B2	Parallel simulation using multiple co-simulators A method includes accepting a simulation task for simulation by a simulator that controls multiple co-simulators. Each of the multiple co-simulators is assigned to execute one or more respective sub-tasks of the simulation task. The simulation task is executed by invoking each co-simulator to execute the respective assigned sub-tasks.
US09672062B1	Batched memory page hinting Systems and methods for batching memory page hints that may enable a hypervisor to reuse a particular memory page without copying the particular memory page to and from swap space. An example method may comprise: releasing, by a guest operating system, a plurality of memory pages in use by the guest operating system; adding, by the guest operating system, the memory pages to a set of memory pages; determining, by the guest operating system, that the set of memory pages satisfies a predetermined threshold quantity; and responsive to the determining, notifying a hypervisor that the memory pages released by the guest operating system are available for reuse by the hypervisor.
US09672060B2	Managing virtual machine migration Exemplary embodiments provide techniques for managing VM migrations that use relatively simple and uncomplicated commands or APIs that can be executed through scripts or applications. Configuration and preparation for the conversion may be addressed by one set of command-lets or APIs, while the conversion itself is handled by a separate set of command-lets or APIs, which allows the conversion command-lets to be uncomplex and to require little input. Moreover, the architecture-specific commands can be largely abstracted away, so that the configuration and conversion processes can be carried out through straightforward general commands, which automatically cause an interface (e.g., at the conversion server) to call upon any necessary architecture-specific functionality. Still further, the information that must be entered by a user may be kept to a minimum, because the initial configuration information may be used by the system to automatically discover additional information that is needed to perform the conversion.
US09672058B2	Reduced service partition virtualization system and method A reduced service partition system and method for a host computing device having a host processor and system resources including memory divided into most privileged system memory and less privileged user memory. The system includes a virtualization boot application that operates in the less privileged user memory and divides the host computing device into a resource management partition, at least one virtual service partition and at least one virtual guest partition. The virtual guest partition provides a virtualization environment for at least one guest operating system. The virtual service partition provides a virtualization environment for the basic operations of the virtualization system. The resource management partition maintains a resource database for use in managing the use of the host processor and the system resources. A monitor operates in the most privileged system memory, and maintains guest applications in the at least one virtual guest partition within memory space allocated by the virtual service partition to the at least one virtual guest partition. A context switch between the at least one monitor and the respective virtual guest partitions and the virtual service partition controls multitask processing in the partitions on the at least one host processor.
US09672050B2	Method of distributed layout negotiation in a user interface framework A method of determining a layout of a user interface (UI) that composites elements from a plurality of applications, each of the plurality of applications having a respective UI client engine, the method comprising: receiving, from one of a plurality of UI client engines, a request to change layout parameters; negotiating, between the plurality of UI client engines, changes to the layout parameters to determine negotiated layout parameters; and transmitting the negotiated layout parameters to a UI rendering engine, as a component tree structure, for rendering to a display. A UI system, electronic device and computer program product are also provided.
US09672049B2	Dynamic and configurable user interface In some embodiments, a method for generating a mobile device's user interface is provided. The method may include: receiving, via the mobile device, input from a user of the mobile device, the input being related to a property for presenting dynamic context-dependent informational cues; determining a context; identifying a subset of a set of informational cues, the subset being associated with the context; and predominately presenting, via the mobile device, the identified subset to the user, the presentation being predominate as compared to any presentation of other informational cues in the set of informational cues, wherein the presentation accords with the received user input.
US09672048B2	Electronic device and method for waking up operating system thereof An electronic device and method for operating system waking up thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a processing unit, a timer coupled to the processing unit and a basic input/output system unit (BIOS) coupled to the processing unit. When an operating system operated by the processing unit is in a sleep state and the processing unit receives a wake-up signal, the processing unit executes a wake-up procedure through the BIOS to switch the operating system from the sleep state to a work state, and also controls the timer to start a timing procedure. When the processing unit determines that a timing value of the timing procedure exceeds a threshold and the operating system fails to switch from the sleep state to the work state, the processing unit executes a reset procedure through the BIOS.
US09672046B2	Apparatus and method for intelligently powering heterogeneous processor components An intelligent power allocation architecture for a processor. For example, one embodiment of a processor comprises: a plurality of processor components for performing a corresponding plurality of processor functions; a plurality of power planes, each power plane associated with one of the processor components; and a power control unit (PCU) to dynamically adjust power to each of the power planes based on user experience metrics, workload characteristics, and power constraints for a current use of the processor.
US09672044B2	Space efficient checkpoint facility and technique for processor with integrally indexed register mapping and free-list arrays A processor may efficiently implement register renaming and checkpoint repair even in instruction set architectures with large numbers of wide (bit-width) registers by (i) renaming all destination operand register targets, (ii) implementing free list and architectural-to-physical mapping table as a combined array storage with unitary (or common) read, write and checkpoint pointer indexing and (iiii) storing checkpoints as snapshots of the mapping table, rather than of actual register contents. In this way, uniformity (and timing simplicity) of the decode pipeline may be accentuated and architectural-to-physical mappings (or allocable mappings) may be efficiently shuttled between free-list, reorder buffer and mapping table stores in correspondence with instruction dispatch and completion as well as checkpoint creation, retirement and restoration.
US09672039B2	Register file having a plurality of sub-register files Register files for use in an out-of-order processor that have been divided into a plurality of sub-register files. The register files also have a plurality of buffers which are each associated with one of the sub-register files. Each buffer receives and stores write operations destined for the associated sub-register file which can be later issued to the sub-register file. Specifically, each clock cycle it is determined whether there is at least one write operation in the buffer that has not been issued to the associated sub-register file. If there is at least one write operation in the buffer that has not been issued to the associated sub-register file, one of the non-issued write operations is issued to the associated sub-register file. Each sub-register file may also have an arbitration logic unit which resolves conflicts between read and write operations that want to access the associated sub-register file in the same cycle by prioritizing read operations unless a conflicting write instruction has reached commit time.
US09672038B2	System and method for supporting a scalable concurrent queue in a distributed data grid A scalable concurrent queue includes a central queue associated with multiple temporary queues for holding batches of nodes from multiple producers. When a producer thread or service performs an insertion operation on the scalable concurrent queue, the producer inserts one or more nodes into a batch in one of the multiple temporary queues associated with the central queue. Subsequently, the producer (or another producer) inserts the batch held in the temporary queue into the central queue. Contention between the multiple producers is reduced by providing multiple temporary queues into which the producers may insert nodes, and also by inserting nodes in the central queue in batches rather than one node at a time. The scalable concurrent queue scales to serve large number of producers with reduced contention thereby improving performance in a distributed data grid.
US09672036B2	Instruction and logic to provide vector loads with strides and masking functionality Instructions and logic provide vector loads and/or stores with stride and mask functionality. Some embodiments, responsive to an instruction specifying: a set of loads, destination register, mask register, memory address, and stride length; execution units read values in the mask register, wherein fields in the mask register correspond to stride-length multiples from the memory address to data elements in memory. A first mask value indicates the element has not been loaded from memory and a second value indicates that the element does not need to be, or has already been loaded. For each having the first value, the corresponding multiple of said stride length is generated according to the data field's position in the mask register to load the data element from memory into the corresponding destination register location, and the corresponding value in the mask register is changed to the second value. These instructions can restart after faults.
US09672030B2	Generating comprehensive symbol tables for source code files A computer-implemented method includes identifying a primary symbol table associated with a primary source code file and identifying a secondary symbol table associated with a secondary source code file. The computer-implemented further includes receiving a source code association indication. The source code association indication includes at least one association relationship between the primary source code file and the secondary source code file. The computer-implemented further includes creating a comprehensive symbol table. The comprehensive symbol table comprises contents of the primary symbol table and contents of the secondary symbol table. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.
US09672025B2	Encryption for telematics flashing of a vehicle A vehicle may receive an encrypted software update responsive to an update request to an update server; identify a key offset into a long key stored to the vehicle according to a timestamp of the update request; and decrypt the encrypted software update according to the long key indexed to the key offset. An update server may receive, from a vehicle, an update request including a timestamp and a vehicle identifier; retrieve a long key according to the vehicle identifier; identify a key offset into the long key according to a timestamp of the update request; and encrypt a software update into an encrypted software update to send to the vehicle according to the long key indexed to the key offset.
US09672024B2	Techniques for automatic software provisioning Techniques to perform automatic software provisioning are described. An apparatus may comprise a provisioning database, a client provisioning module and a network interface. The provisioning server may be operative to store software update packages for different packet telephony devices. The client provisioning module may be operative to automatically provision packet telephony devices in response to provisioning requests from the packet telephony devices. For example, the client provisioning module may receive device configuration information for a packet telephony device, and retrieve a software update package from the provisioning database based on the device configuration information. The network interface may send the software update package to the packet telephony device on behalf of the client provisioning module. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09672023B2	Providing a unified update center for security software updates and application software updates A graphical user interface (GUI) for a unified software update display center is provided. The GUI includes a first display area for displaying a set of available security system software updates. The GUI includes a second display area for displaying a set of available non-security system software updates. The GUI includes a third display area for displaying a set of available application software updates. The GUI includes a single selection tool for installing all available security updates without installing any updates displayed in the second and third display areas. The GUI includes individual selection tools for installing individual updates displayed in the second and third display areas. The GUI includes a selection tool to receive further updates from a system update server and an application update server. The critical security updates are displayed with different display attributes or in different sections to distinguish them from other types of updates.
US09672022B2	Applications including multiple experience modules An application on a device includes multiple experience modules that each implement a set of features when the application is running on the device. Each of the multiple experience modules includes a first component that includes code specific to a particular type of the device, and a second component that includes code that is common across multiple types of devices. Update packages changing individual ones of the multiple experience modules can be received from a deployment service and installed on the device.
US09672021B2	Identification of an application associated with a third party system and transmission of application installation information to a user by an online system An online system allows a user to provide information for accessing the online system to a third party system, which communicates the information to the online system. Based on the received information, the online system determines whether the user is authorized to access the third party system. Additionally, the online system determines whether an application is associated with the third party system. When determining whether an application is associated with the third party system, the online system may also account for characteristics of a client device associated with the user. If an application is associated with the third party system, the online system sends information for installing the application to the client device associated with the user.
US09672016B2	Process execution method and information processing apparatus A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium has a program stored therein for causing a computer to execute a process of processing a program by repeating analysis and execution of a source code having been read. The process includes associating, when the source code includes a definition of a function, a function name identifying the function, with an intermediate representation of the source code corresponding to the function, to be stored; determining whether the intermediate representation having the function associated is stored, when calling the function; executing a procedure corresponding to the function, by using the intermediate representation, when the intermediate representation is stored; and generating the intermediate representation by analyzing the source code corresponding to the function, when the intermediate representation is not stored.
US09672015B2	Automatic determination of compiler configuration Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for automatically determining configuration properties of a compiler. One of the methods includes determining that an executable of the newly created process is a compiler called by the build system to compile source code of a source code file. In response to the determining, a plurality of configuration properties of the compiler called by the build system are determined, the configuration properties including first properties of a plurality of built-in functions of the compiler, second properties of a plurality of built-in types of the compiler, or both. A compiler emulator is configured to emulate the behavior of the compiler called by the build system using the determined configuration properties. Access to the source code is provided to the compiler emulator configured using the determined configuration properties.
US09672014B2	Transparent network substrate system A transparent network substrate system including at least one server module and at least one client module. The server module provides a selected functionality, such as moving an actuator, performing a mathematical operation, and receiving data from a sensor. Upon execution the server module's machine code writes information necessary to describe the selected functionality to memory. The information written to memory includes information necessary to invoke the server module functionality and may include types, members, and parameters. The client module searches the memory for the selected functionality; requests information from the server module; and invokes the functionality of the server module. Once invoked by the client the server module uses the information in memory for creating dynamic function calls.
US09672010B2	Unified modeling language (UML) analysis system and method A universal modeling language (UML) analysis method may include importing a plurality of tool-specific UML models from a plurality of UML tools. The tool-specific UML models are in different tool-specific formats. The method may also include capturing snapshots, which may include text data and diagrams, of the plurality of tool-specific UML models. The method may also include translating each of the tool-specific UML models into a transformed UML model having a universal UML format. The translating operation may include extracting base data and one or more associated extended elements from the tool-specific UML model. The method may also include storing the transformed UML models within a UML tool database.
US09672007B2	Device for performing arithmetic operations of multivariate polynomials, control method, and program Provided is an arithmetic operation device including a plurality of shift registers each constituted by first to (N+1)th registers and a control unit configured to cause the shift registers to move stored values. The control unit causes the stored values to be output from a predetermined pair of registers constituting the first shift register while causing the stored values to move so that all combinations of a pair of stored values selectable from the stored values are output, and causes the stored values to be output from a predetermined pair of registers constituting the other shift register while causing the stored values to move.
US09672001B1	Insect decoder and communicator An insect decoder and communicator, comprising a user input interface, a microcontroller, a power source, a non-user input, an output interface, and a communication interface to communicate with external devices, where the user input interface, microcontroller, power source, non-user input, output interface, and communication interface are electronically connected, a preset pattern of insect communication from an external device loaded into the microcontroller through the communication interface and stored into memory, and the non-user input connected to the microcontroller and causing the microcontroller to modify the frequency of the preset patterns of insect communication produced by the output interface to accurately emulate patterns of insect communications affected by ambient temperature.
US09671996B2	Mirror display system and mirror display method A mirror display system and a mirror display method are present. The mirror display system comprises a transporting device and a receiving device. The mirror display method comprises following steps of: establishing a network connection with a receiving device at the transporting device; loading a plurality of contents; transforming the plurality of contents into a plurality of display data; transporting the plurality of display data to the receiving device via network; merging the plurality of display data into an output display data at the receiving device; transporting the output display data to a display unit for displaying. This application allows user to watch current screens of execution of the contents of the transporting device via a single display unit.
US09671994B2	Didactic information portal system A method of updating a didactic information display includes providing information for display on a number of interactive information devices. The method includes receiving and aggregating data related to interactions from users of the number interactive information devices. The data includes a location and a timestamp associated with each of the interactions. Each of the interactions is related to a subset of the information displayed on one of the number of interactive information devices. The method includes determining a most relevant subset of the information for a plurality of sets of parameters and determining a current set of parameters from the plurality of sets of parameters. The method includes communicating a command to a passive display device located remotely from the number of interactive information devices. The command may cause the passive display device to display the most relevant subset of the information based on the current set of parameters.
US09671992B2	Flexible display device monitoring system A flexible display device monitoring system includes a display layer that is configured to flex into a plurality of flexed orientations. A sensor layer is coupled to the display layer and is configured to flex with the display layer into the plurality of flexed orientations. The sensor layer includes a plurality of sensors that each generate stress data in response to the sensor layer being flexed. A stress monitoring engine is coupled to the sensor layer and receives the stress data from the plurality of sensors when the sensor layer is flexed. The stress monitoring engine determines that the stress data exceeds a stress threshold and, in response, activates an alert system that may provide a vibration alert, a sound alert, or a visual alert. Visual alerts may include activating a relative portion on the display layer that corresponds to sensors that provided sensor data that exceeded the stress threshold.
US09671991B2	Printing apparatus connectable with Wi-Fi direct, method of controlling the same, and storage medium A printing apparatus that makes it possible to prevent the operation of an application from being interrupted against the intention of a user during Wi-Fi direct connection, and thereby smoothly perform processing intended by the user. A printing apparatus equipped with a Wi-Fi direct function performs wireless connection to an external apparatus, by Wi-Fi direct connection. The printing apparatus determines based on information acquired from the external apparatus whether or not the user is operating a print application on the external apparatus, and if it is determined that the user is operating the print application on the external apparatus, the Wi-Fi direct connection between the printing apparatus and the external apparatus is extended.
US09671990B2	Image forming apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium for controlling display of an operation screen based on setting values An image forming apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set whether to use personal setting information stored for each user, and a reflection unit configured to reflect a setting value changed by an authenticated user to personal setting information of the authenticated user, in a case where using the personal setting information has been set by the setting unit, and to reflect the setting value changed by the authenticated user to common setting information shared by a plurality of users, in a case where not using the personal setting information has been set by the setting unit.
US09671988B2	Image forming apparatus with preview image An image forming apparatus includes a storage portion, a preview image generating circuit, an output image generating circuit, a data information obtaining circuit, and a display circuit. The storage portion stores image data that is an output target. The preview image generating circuit generates a preview image from the image data based on an output setting. The output image generating circuit generates an output image from the image data based on the output setting. The data information obtaining circuit obtains data information from output image data of the output image, and discards the output image data from which the data information was obtained. The display circuit displays the data information together with the preview image.
US09671985B2	Image forming apparatus, method for controlling thereof, and storage medium An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect an object, a reception unit configured to receive an operation of a user, and a shifting unit configured to shift, if the detection unit detects an object, a power state of the image forming apparatus from a first power state to a second power state different from the first power state, and shift, if the reception unit receives an operation of a user, the power state of the image forming apparatus from the second power state to the first power state.
US09671983B2	Technique for information processing device and printer which are capable of changing status information in server An information processing device may receive, from a server, identification information for identifying an image file being stored in the server and status information indicating a print process status of the image file, display a first screen indicating these information, and send a change instruction to the server. The change instruction may be for changing status information of a designated image file into a first status indicating where a print process for an image file has not been performed. The information processing device may send print instruction information and authentication information to a printer. The print instruction information may be for causing the printer to acquire print data from the server. The authentication information may be used by the printer to acquire the print data from the server.
US09671981B2	Information processing apparatus, control method for information processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for controlling and stopping display of an indicator for causing a user to recognize that image processing is in progress An information processing apparatus capable of performing a software program including a first program layer with an instruction set to be interpreted and performed by a processor and a second program layer with an instruction set compiled in advance by a unit other than the processor comprises a unit configured to transmit parameter information used for image processing from the first program layer to the second program layer, a unit configured to perform the image processing in the second program layer according to the parameter information, a display control unit configured to display an indicator for allowing a user to recognize that the image processing is in progress, and a unit configured to issue an instruction to control display of the indicator from the second program layer to the first program layer, the display control unit controls the display according to the instruction.
US09671976B2	Data management system for managing storage of data on primary and secondary storage A data management system for managing the storage of data on primary and secondary storage from a primary information source having original file content to be stored including: a data file stub stored on primary storage; a data file stored on secondary storage; and wherein: the data file stub comprises original file meta data and additional stub meta data relevant to the data file; the data file comprises the original file content and additional file meta data relevant to the data file stub; the additional stub meta data includes location and information relevant to locate and recover the data file; the additional file meta data includes information relevant to the location and content of the stub; the additional stub meta data and additional file meta data being so formed and arranged that the data to be stored may be accessed without stateful middleware.
US09671975B2	Partial release management A method, system, and computer program product for managing a partial release for a unit of storage space in a storage facility is disclosed. The method, system, and computer program product include establishing an invocation threshold for initiating a partial release for a unit of storage space. The method, system, and computer program product include establishing a preservation threshold for releasing a fractional amount of the unit of storage space. The method, system, and computer program product include initiating the partial release in response to reaching the invocation threshold. The method, system, and computer program product include releasing the fractional amount based on the preservation threshold.
US09671974B2	Storage system and deduplication control method therefor A storage system according to the present invention includes: a block detecting means for checking whether respective block data obtained by division are already stored in a storage device; and a data writing means for storing the respective block data obtained by division with duplicated storage eliminated into the storage device. The block detecting means detects a share rate representing a rate of a shared portion between a plurality of consecutive block data configuring a predetermined range in write target data among the block data obtained by division and a plurality of block data in a predetermined range already stored consecutively in the storage device. The data writing means, depending on the detected share rate, newly stores the block data obtained by division, into the storage device.
US09671970B2	Sharing an accelerator context across multiple processes The present disclosure relates to sharing a context on a coherent hardware accelerator among multiple processes. According to one embodiment, in response to a first process requesting to create a shared memory space, a system creates a shared hardware context on the coherent hardware accelerator and binds the first process and the shared memory space to the hardware context. In response to the first process spawning one or more second processes, the system binds the one or more second processes to the shared memory space and the hardware context. Subsequently, the system performs one or more operations initiated by the first process or one of the one or more second processes on the coherent hardware accelerator according to the bound hardware context.
US09671969B2	Data storage having recovery function for threshold voltage distribution change of memory cells due to applying surface mounting technology and operating method Methods of programming firmware in a data storage device include pre-programming memory cells included in at least one nonvolatile memory of a plurality of nonvolatile memories using a first verification voltage higher than a first reference voltage before a surface mounting technology is applied to the nonvolatile memories.
US09671968B2	Programmable peak-current control in non-volatile memory devices A method includes, in a memory device, receiving a command that specifies a peak power consumption that is not to be exceeded by the memory device. A memory of the memory device is configured in accordance with the peak power consumption specified in the command. A data storage operation in the configured memory is performed, while complying with the specified peak power consumption.
US09671961B2	Memory controller, storage apparatus, information processing system, and control method for the same There is provided a memory controller that includes an address conversion information buffer that stores address conversion information about a correlation between logical and physical addresses, the physical address including a memory area number, an address conversion section that converts the logical address into the physical address in accordance with the address conversion information, the logical address being in a command issued by a host computer, an allocation information storage section that stores allocation information indicating a correlation between an access size and the memory area number, a memory identification section that outputs the memory area number in accordance with the allocation information, the memory area number corresponding to the access size in the command, and a control section that performs, when the memory area number in the physical address is different from the one identified by the memory identification section, data writing to the identified memory area.
US09671959B2	Tiered sub-unit throughputs in mass storage assemblies Tiered mass storage assemblies are presented. The mass storage assembly in one example includes a plurality of drive interfaces configured to couple to a plurality of storage devices, with each drive interface of the plurality of drive interfaces being configured to exchange digital data at a predetermined maximum interface throughput, one or more low-output storage drives coupled to one or more corresponding drive interfaces, with a low-output storage drive exchanging digital data using the predetermined maximum interface throughput, and one or more high-output storage drives, with each high-output storage drive of the one or more high-output storage drives being coupled to two or more drive interfaces and with a high-output storage drive exchanging digital data using two or more predetermined maximum interface throughputs of the two or more drive interfaces.
US09671948B2	Image-display control system, image-display control method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing image-display control program An image-display control system including: a display having a display area; a touch panel; a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: display object images arranged in a first direction in the display area; determine a touch and a position of the touch; define, in the display area, first and second operation regions arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first operation region being not defined in the identical position to the second operation region, at least a part of each object image being displayed in the two operation regions; when determined the touch in the first operation region, execute a unique process assigned for one of the object images displayed at a position of the touch; and when determined the touch in the second operation region and when determined that a position of the touch is moving in the first direction while keeping the touch, scroll the object images in the first direction.
US09671942B2	Dynamic user interface for inheritance based avatar generation The generation of characters within computer animations is a labor intensive and expensive activity. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations to the businesses employing them. Accordingly the invention provides the user with a simple and intuitive mechanism to affect the weightings applied in establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar generated using an inheritance based avatar generator. The inheritance based generator allowing, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents, affect the weightings in generating the second generation parents, and subsequently affect the weightings in generating the third generation off-spring avatar from these parents, therein providing a wide range of avatars from an initially limited set of avatars. Accordingly the invention provides animators with a means of rapidly generating and refining the off-spring avatar to provide the character for their animated audio-visual content.
US09671940B1	Game event display with scroll bar and play event icons A method is disclosed for receiving a plurality of play events associated with a sporting event, wherein each play event of the plurality of play events comprises a timestamp; for each of the play events, associating the play event with a sports team of a plurality of sports teams; for each of the play events, associating with the play event a particular icon from among a plurality of different icons based, at least in part, on the sports team that is associated with the play event; causing to display a bar in a graphical user interface of a mobile computing device, wherein the bar represents at least a portion of a time duration of the sporting event; for each of the play events, causing to display the particular icon at a position in the bar, wherein the position is based, at least in part, on the timestamp of the event.
US09671937B2	System and method for decluttering an image on a cockpit display system An avionics system and method is provided that de-clutters an image on a cockpit display system on a host aircraft, thus increasing a pilot's situational awareness. The avionics display system comprises a processor and a display system. The processor is coupled to the display system, a user input device, and a plurality of sources of information layers. When the de-clutter process is enabled, a filter parameter is applied to a selected information layer, and a graphic display of the filtered information layer is provided. The adjustable filter parameter can be applied to any of the information layers displayed on the cockpit display system.
US09671927B2	Selecting an option based on context after waking from sleep System and method involving user interfaces and remote control devices. More specifically, these user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. The user interface may be customized based on current user activity or other contexts (e.g., based on current or previous states), the user logging in (e.g., using a communication device), etc. Additionally, the user interface may allow the user to adjust cameras whose video are not currently displayed, rejoin previously left videoconferences, and/or any of a variety of desirable actions.
US09671922B1	Scaling of displayed objects with shifts to the periphery Some examples relate to facilitating multi-tasking in a computing environment. A focus area component defines a focus area within a display space—the focus area occupying a subset area of the display space area. A scaling component scales display objects as a function of proximity to the focus area, and a behavior modification component modifies respective behavior of the display objects as a function their location of the display space. Some implementations provide for interaction technique(s) and user interface(s) in connection with managing display objects on a display surface. Further, some examples define a central focus area, such that the display objects are displayed and behave as usual. Also included is a periphery outside the focus area where the display objects are reduced in size based on their location, getting smaller as the display objects near an edge of the display surface with many more objects visible.
US09671918B2	Electronic induction type sensor panel and method for reducing indication error To reduce an indication error at a peripheral part of an electromagnetic induction type coordinate detection device, sensor coils having a coil width of 21 pitches are arranged at a central part at intervals of 4 pitches. At a peripheral part, the coil width is shortened from sensor coil #5 to coil #1 sequentially so that the coil width of a sensor coil is shorter than a coil width of an inwardly adjacent sensor coil by 2 pitches. This enables the coil side pitch that is 1 all over the coil group 222, and an area enabling three-point supplementing can be enlarged from the conventional one. The sensor coils at the peripheral part have a coil pitch of 3, and so an indication error there can be reduced compared with the conventional case of coil pitch of 4 for two-point supplementing as well. Dummy wires required at the peripheral part conventionally can be eliminated.
US09671917B2	Display device A touch panel includes a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of wirings. Each of the plurality of first electrodes has a first portion formed on a layer different from that on which the second electrodes are formed and intersecting the second electrodes, and a second portion formed on the same layer as that on which the second electrodes are formed, but separated from the second electrode. The second electrode and the second portion of the first electrode are formed on a layer different than the layer where the wiring is formed. The first portion of the first electrode is connected to the second portion through a contact portion formed in an insulating film made of a negative resist between the first portion and the second electrode.
US09671915B2	Avoidance of bending effects in a touch sensor device Disclosed herein include an input device, processing system and methods for touch sensing. Implementations advantageously are resistive to diminished performance when a film stack of an input device is bent in response to an input (touch) event. In one implementation, an input device is provided that includes a housing, a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a pattern on a substrate, a plurality of routing traces coupled to the sensor electrodes, an electrically conductive shield and a compressible layer. The electrically conductive shield has an areal extent approximately equal or greater than an areal extent of the pattern of sensor electrodes. The electrically conductive shield and the substrate are part of a display film stack disposed in the housing. The compressible layer is disposed between the display film stack and housing. The compressible layer is configured to allow the display film stack to deflect towards a bottom of the housing.
US09671906B2	Touch display circuit, drive method thereof, array substrate and display device The present invention provides a touch display circuit of a pixel unit, a drive method thereof, an array substrate and a display device, by means of which the process steps in manufacturing a touch display product can be reduced, and meanwhile, the aperture ratio of the product can be increased to raise the added value. The touch display circuit comprises a touch unit and a display unit; a first scanning line, a second scanning line, a detection signal line, a data line and a signal control line connected with the touch unit; and a gate line and a data line connected with the display unit, wherein the touch unit comprises a first switch transistor, a second switch transistor, a first capacitor, a touch electrode and an amplifier transistor.
US09671903B1	Modular optical touch panel structures An apparatus has a first ring of infrared emitters and a second ring of infrared detectors positioned adjacent to the first ring. A controller applies signals to the first ring and collects signals from the second ring.
US09671900B2	Optical touch tomography An optical touch-sensitive device has the capability to determine touch locations of multiple simultaneous touch events. The touch events disturb optical beams propagating across the touch sensitive surface. With multi-touch events, a single beam can be disturbed by more than one touch event. In one aspect, a non-linear transform is applied to measurements of the optical beams in order to linearize the effects of multiple touch events on a single optical beam. In another aspect, the effect of known touch events (i.e., reference touches) is modeled in advance, and then unknown touch events are determined with respect to the reference touches.
US09671891B2	Mobile apparatus displaying end effect and control method thereof A method of controlling a mobile apparatus to display an end effect is provided. The method includes displaying at least one object on a first layer on a touch screen, converting the at least one object in response to a first gesture that converts the at least one object, detecting that the conversion for the at least one object is ended, and displaying an end effect, which represents a message saying that the at least one object to be converted does not exist anymore or represents additional information, on the touch screen.
US09671885B2	High-accuracy flat touch display panel structure A high-accuracy flat touch display panel structure includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, a liquid crystal layer configured between the upper and lower substrates, a thin film transistor and wiring layer, and a sensing electrode layer. The thin film transistor and wiring layer is disposed at one side of the lower substrate facing the liquid crystal layer, and includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, and a plurality of wirings. The sensing electrode layer is disposed at one side of the thin film transistor and wiring layer facing the liquid crystal layer, and has a plurality of sensing conductor lines. The plurality of sensing conductor lines are disposed corresponding to positions of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines.
US09671878B2	Mobile terminal and cursor display control method A mobile phone comprises a display provided with a touch panel, etc. When an end portion of the touch panel is touched, a touch icon that indicates a touch position is displayed. Furthermore, if a distance between the touch position and the end portion of the touch panel becomes larger than a first threshold value, a cursor is displayed based on the touch position. This cursor moves if a touch position changes with a touch operation. At this time, if a moving amount of the cursor is large, an afterimage object that indicates the last position (locus) of the cursor is displayed. On the other hand, a moving amount of the cursor is small, the above-described afterimage object is not displayed.
US09671871B2	Apparatus for recognizing gesture using infrared ray and method thereof An apparatus and a method of recognizing a gesture uses an infrared ray. The apparatus for recognizing a gesture, includes a sensing unit which detects a gesture using an infrared sensor to obtain a sensing value from the sensing result; a control unit which performs gesture recognition to which an intention of a user is reflected in accordance with a predetermined recognizing mode based on the obtained sensing value; and a storing unit which stores the predetermined recognizing mode when the gesture recognition set in advance by the user is performed. The predetermined recognizing mode includes a first recognizing mode in which the gesture is directly recognized and a second recognizing mode in which the gesture is recognized after recognizing a hold motion for determining start of the gesture recognition.
US09671868B2	System and method for volumetric computing A system and method is provided for analyzing the movement of an object. The system is comprised of a sensor that is coupled to a processor that is configured to generate a volume that corresponds to a predefined area and the location of the object. The sensor detects the movement of the object and determines if the object's movement is within the volume. If the movement is within the volume, then an information channel is created between the volume and the user defined algorithm. The movement is then compared with the requirements of the user defined algorithm and accepted if the movement meets the requirements. Otherwise, the object's movement is discarded if the movement is not within the volume or does not meet the requirements of the user defined algorithm.
US09671860B2	Manipulation input device and manipulator system having the same A manipulation input device includes a master grip having a grip part and manipulation handles movably supported on the grip part, a spring configured to generate manipulation resistance in response to a displacement amount of the manipulation handles when the manipulation handles are manipulated, and a force magnitude adjusting unit configured to adjust the force magnitude of the manipulation resistance relative to the displacement amount.
US09671859B2	Information processing device, client device, server device, list generation method, list acquisition method, list providing method and program There is provided an information processing device including a plurality of specifying devices used to respectively specify a plurality of types of parameter values representing music features; a music extraction portion that extracts, from a first database in which a plurality of pieces of music and the parameter values are associated with each other, pieces of music that match the parameter values specified using the specifying devices; and a list generation portion that generates a list of the pieces of music extracted by the music extraction portion.
US09671857B2	Apparatus, system and method for dynamic power management across heterogeneous processors in a shared power domain Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting an input parameter to a power domain in a portable computing device are disclosed. The power domain includes two or more processing resources that share a power source. Dynamic use of the two or more processing resources creates an opportunity to adjust the input parameter when a status change associated with a processing resource in the power domain occurs. A controller in the power domain includes logic that responds to a status indicator associated with a respective processing resource in the power domain by generating a control signal that directs a device to adjust one or both of input voltage and clock frequency.
US09671855B2	Apparatuses and methods of entering unselected memories into a different power mode during multi-memory operation Disclosed are examples of apparatuses including memory devices and systems comprising memories sharing a common enable signal, wherein the memories may be put into different power modes. Example methods for setting the different power modes of the memories are disclosed. In some examples, different power modes may be set by issuing memory group-level commands, memory-level commands, or combinations thereof.
US09671849B2	Controlling power supply unit selection based on calculated total on duration A power supply system is provided to control one or more power supply units associated with an information handling system. A first power supply unit and a second power supply unit are electrically coupled to the information handling system. A controller is provided in communication with both the first and second power supply units. The controller functions to select one of the first and second power supply units to electrically power the information handling system. The non-selected unit generates zero output.
US09671846B1	Power sequencing for optimal system load at start up A method for power sequencing is provided. The method includes determining a chassis configuration prior to blades within slots of the chassis being powered up and generating a power sequence based on the determining. The method includes applying the power sequence to the blades and monitoring the applying and the chassis configuration to achieve an optimal system load.
US09671844B2	Method and apparatus for managing global chip power on a multicore system on chip According to at least one example embodiment, a method and corresponding apparatus for controlling power in a multi-core processor chip include: accumulating, at a controller within the multi-core processor chip, one or more power estimates associated with multiple core processors within the multi-core processor chip. A global power threshold is determined based on a cumulative power estimate, the cumulative power estimate being determined based at least in part on the one or more power estimates accumulated. The controller causes power consumption at each of the core processors to be controlled based on the determined global power threshold. The controller may directly control power consumption at the core processors or may command the core processors to do so.
US09671837B2	Air dam for a datacenter facility A method, apparatus, and system in which an air dam is incorporated into an air ventilation stream of a datacenter to control the temperature of an interior space of the datacenter. The datacenter may include a raised floor in which the ventilation stream is injected through perforations within the raised floor. An air dam may be positioned at an entry region of the under floor plenum to obstruct the flow of air from a supply air plenum. The air dam is used to create a positive pressure across the raised floor at a substantially constant pressure distribution.
US09671836B2	Data storage transfer archive repository A memory system includes c-shell units, PCBs, and a controller logic. The c-shell units are positioned side-by-side adjacent each other. Each c-shell unit has at least two sled-less memory bays and the sled-less memory bays are positioned vertically relative to each other. Each of the sled-less memory bays receives a memory device. A PCB is vertically mounted to a corresponding c-shell unit. The control logic controls access to and from the memory devices so that it manages storing data to the memory devices and retrieving data from the memory devices. Each PCB comprises traces to route signals between the control logic and the memory devices.
US09671835B2	Personal cloud case cover with a plurality of modular capabilities A personal cloud contained in a case for a portable computing device such as a tablet personal computer (PC), mobile phones, portable media players, or the like. The personal cloud case may be fitted with memory, a network connection, two-way wireless charging, external memory slots, external connections and other components for portable personal cloud computing.
US09671834B2	Retractable screen-and-keyboard assembly for tables Retractable screen (1) and keyboard (2) assembly for tables, comprising a supporting structure provided with a frame (3) defining a housing (4), and with a supporting frame (5) on the table, the screen (1) being able to rotate from a position in which it is stowed inside the housing (4) and flush with the supporting frame (5) to an elevated use position, a platform (6) arranged in the housing (4) on which the keyboard (2) rests, means for guiding (G) the platform (6) vertically from a lower position which leaves space for the stowed screen (1) and an upper use position, and further comprising a base (7) for the screen (1) which can rotate about a fixed axis (Γ) in relation to said frame (3), the screen (1) being mounted on said base (7), the screen (1) and base (7) assembly being able to rotate about said axis (Γ) from the stowed position to the use position.
US09671825B2	Device, method, and graphical user interface for navigating through an electronic document An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface stores a document having primary content, supplementary content, and user-generated content. The device displays a representation of the document in a segmented user interface on the display. Primary content of the document is displayed in a first segment of the segmented user interface and supplementary content of the document is concurrently displayed in a second segment of the segmented user interface distinct from the first segment. The device receives a request to view user-generated content of the document. In response to the request, the device maintains display of the previously displayed primary content, ceases to display at least a portion of the previously displayed supplementary content, and displays user-generated content of the document in a third segment of the segmented user interface distinct from the first segment and the second segment.
US09671820B2	Communication device, communication method, and communication system A slave device (20), which is a communication device, receives and analyzes commands, and returns the results to a master device (10). During the command analysis period, an IIC control unit (205) and a CPU (210), which form a control unit, control an SCL control unit (201) so as to stop an SCL signal. When the value of a timer (206) is equal to or less than a threshold value, transmit data are saved in a transmission FIFO (203), control for stopping the SCL signal is canceled, and in synchronization with the SCL signal, an SDA control unit (202) transmits the data saved in the transmission FIFO (203) to the master device (10). When the value of the timer (206) exceeds the threshold value, control for stopping the SCL signal is canceled, the clock control unit is placed in a state to receive the clock signal, and the SDA control unit (202) is placed in a state to receive a slave address indicating a communication device that operates in the slave mode.
US09671816B2	Suspension and/or throttling of processes for connected standby One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for assigning power management classifications to a process, transitioning a computing environment into a connected standby state based upon power management classifications assigned to processes, and transitioning the computing environment from the connected standby state to an execution state. That is, power management classifications, such as exempt, throttle, and/or suspend, may be assigned to processes based upon various factors, such as whether a process provides desired functionality and/or whether the process provides functionality relied upon for basic operation of the computing environment. In this way, the computing environment may be transitioned into a low power connected standby state that may continue executing desired functionality, while reducing power consumption by suspending and/or throttling other functionality. Because some functionality may still execute, the computing environment may transition into the execution state in a responsive manner to quickly provide a user with up-to-date information.
US09671809B2	Reactive power compensation device having function of detecting system impedance In a reactive power compensation device, a control unit controls a magnitude of reactive power to be output by a reactive power output unit, based on a detected system voltage and one or more control parameters in a first operation mode. In a second operation mode, the control unit changes the magnitude of the reactive power to be output by the reactive power output unit to a power system in an output change period, calculates system impedances of the power system at a plurality of detection time points within the output change period, based on change amounts of the system voltage detected at the plurality of detection time points and corresponding change amounts of the reactive power, and, when a variation in the calculated system impedances is within an acceptable range, adjusts the one or more control parameters, based on the calculated system impedances.
US09671807B2	Power grid stabilization system and power grid stabilization method Plural power storage systems 10 are provided in a power system. The power storage systems 10 are connected to a management system 60 via a communication network CN1. The power storage systems each include a power storage device 11, 12, and a control device 100 for controlling the power storage device. The control device stores performance information about the power storage system including the control device, location information indicating a location in the power system of the power storage system including the control device, and order information indicating an order of operation allocated to the power storage system including the control device. When a disturbance occurs in the power system, the control device performs a predetermined compensation operation based on the location information and the order information, and then returns to a preset stand-by state.
US09671802B2	Voltage regulator having overshoot suppression Provided is a voltage regulator capable of applying an optimal overshoot suppression unit depending on states. The voltage regulator includes: an amplifier for controlling an output transistor based on a voltage obtained by amplifying a difference between a divided voltage and a reference voltage; a first overshoot suppression unit for controlling a gate voltage of the output transistor, to thereby suppress overshoot of the output voltage; a second overshoot suppression unit for controlling an operating current of the amplifier, to thereby suppress the overshoot of the output voltage; and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on the first overshoot suppression unit immediately after the voltage regulator is powered on, and turn off the first overshoot suppression unit under a state in which the output voltage is stable.
US09671799B2	System and method for a power supply controller In accordance with an embodiment, a power supply controller includes an error signal input configured to be coupled to a sensing node of a power supply, a control output configured to be coupled to a switch control circuit, and a control circuit having an input coupled to the error signal input. The control circuit is configured to provide a first variable limit signal if the error signal input is in a first range, and to adjust the first variable limit signal according to the error signal input.
US09671798B2	System and method for manufacturing Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a customizable bio-manufacturing system which includes a manufacturing space having a first air handling system for providing supply air and a second air handling system for handling exhaust air, the supply air system being optionally provided with at least one of filtration, heating, cooling and or humidity control and a plurality of portable modules provided within the manufacturing space. At least one module having an interior capable of being interconnected with another module interior and each module's interior includes one or more components to perform at least one specific task of a biological, chemical, and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing process. At least one module includes an on-board environmental control system for controlling an environment within the module and a connection means for interconnecting the module interior with another module interior. The system also includes a central controller operating to at least perform one or more of operation and information collection for the operation of at least one of the system and one or more modules.
US09671797B2	Optimization of gas turbine combustion systems low load performance on simple cycle and heat recovery steam generator applications Provided herein is a system and method for tuning the operation of a turbine and optimizing the mechanical life of a heat recovery steam generator. Provided therewith is a turbine controller, sensor means for sensing operational parameters, control means for adjusting operational control elements. The controller is adapted to tune the operation of the gas turbine in accordance preprogrammed steps in response to operational priorities selected by a user. The operational priorities preferably comprise optimal heat recovery steam generator life.
US09671796B2	Pressure governor and air dryer A pressure governor includes a first valve that determines the introducing pressure and a second valve that determines the releasing pressure. A first valve receiving chamber in which the first valve is received and a second valve receiving chamber in which the second valve is received are formed independently from each other. Thus, there is no need to form the valves coaxially, and each valve can be easily fabricated with high accuracy by simple processing.
US09671794B1	Safety valve control system and method of use A safety valve control system may include a remotely operable control assembly, a first transducer, a valve assembly, and a compressor assembly in communication with the control assembly. The control assembly is operable to actuate the pump and valve assemblies to supply fluid to actuate the safety valve into open and closed positions, in response to one or more signals received from the first transducer. A method of operation may include maintaining the safety valve in an open or closed position while sensing a physical property with the control system; communicating a signal corresponding to the sensed physical property to the control system; and automatically closing or opening the safety valve in response to a comparison of the sensed physical property to a pre-set condition.
US09671785B1	V2X object-location verification system for automated vehicles An object-detection system suitable for use in an automated vehicle includes a transceiver, and object-detector, and a controller. The transceiver is suitable to install on a host-vehicle. The transceiver is used to receive an indicated-location of an object proximate to the host-vehicle. The object-detector is suitable to install on the host-vehicle. The object-detector is used to detect a relative-location of the object relative to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the transceiver and the object-detector. The controller determines a confirmed-location of the object relative to the host-vehicle based on the indicated-location and the relative-location. Determining the confirmed-location of the object allows for selecting from a variety of optimized algorithms to better track subsequent expected motion of the object, and reducing the risk of unnecessary or erratic action by the host-vehicle caused by hacking of the wireless-transmission or deliberate malicious content in the wireless-transmission.
US09671780B2	Playback device control Examples described herein involve a playback device performing one or more playback device actions based on locations of one or more physical contacts on an external surface of the playback device. A processor of the playback device may receive from an array of proximity sensors underlying an external surface of the playback device, location data indicating a physical contact at a location on the external surface. Based on at least the location, the processor may identify a playback device action from a plurality of playback device actions, and cause at least the playback device to perform the identified playback device action. The playback device may further include at least one orientation sensor from which the processor may also receive orientation data indicating an orientation of the playback device. The processor may identify identify the playback device action also based on the orientation of the playback device.
US09671777B1	Training robots to execute actions in physics-based virtual environment A disclosed system includes a physically plausible virtual runtime environment to simulate a real-life environment for the simulated robot and a test planning and testing component operable to receive task data based used to create a plurality of plausible tests for at least one robot control program. The plurality of plausible tests is designed to execute at least one task associated with the task data. The test planning and testing component is further operable to define test parameters for each of the plurality of plausible tests. The system further includes a robot controller operable to execute the plurality of plausible tests substantially simultaneously on the simulated robot, analyze results of the execution to select an optimized robot control program from the at least one robot control program, and based on the analysis, selectively optimize the test associated with the optimized robot control program.
US09671773B2	Numerical control system In a numerical control system in which a numerical controller is connected with a plurality of amplifiers via a daisy-chain serial bus, these amplifiers are grouped into a first group and a second group, and connected in an order of the amplifiers of the first group and the amplifiers of the second group from the numerical controller. Further, a communication cycle in the communication between the numerical controller and the amplifiers of the second group is set n times (n is an integer of 2 or larger) as large as a communication cycle of the first group.
US09671772B2	Contextual clothing system One embodiment provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes a contextual clothing controller. The contextual clothing controller includes clothing selection logic. The clothing selection logic is to identify a clothing article based, at least in part, on a predicted target clothing characteristic. The clothing selection logic is further to determine a location of the identified clothing article in a storage system.
US09671768B2	Smart building management system and multi-building management system A smart building management system manages a building for providing smart analyses and strategies. The management system connects with plural hardware devices in the building and receives the data and statuses replied by the hardware devices, and further analyzes the maintenance statuses and energy consumption statuses of the hardware devices. Then the management system gathers the statistics of the total energy consumption statuses of the building according to the energy consumption statuses of the hardware devices. The management system receives the requests of users through a graphic user interface. The management system plans an energy-saving strategy based on the maintenance statuses of the hardware devices and the requests of users, and adjusts the hardware devices depending on the energy-saving strategy. Therefore, the total energy consumption statuses of the building meet an energy-saving target set by users in advance.
US09671767B2	Hybrid system and method for determining performance levels based on thermal conditions within a processor A system and method for efficient management of operating modes within an integrated circuit (IC) for optimal power and performance targets. A semiconductor chip includes one or more processing units each of which operates with respective operating parameters. One or more temperature sensors are included to measure a temperature of the one or more processing units during operation. When the measured temperature exceeds a threshold, a power manager on the chip determines a temperature headroom utilizing temperature values based on worst-case ambient temperature. When the measured temperature does not exceed the threshold, the power manager determines the temperature headroom utilizing at least one temperature value based on room ambient temperature. Following, the power manager adjusts the respective operating parameters based on at least the temperature headroom.
US09671760B2	Portable terminal, wireless charging device, and wireless charging structure thereof A portable terminal according to the present disclosure may include an information display part including a display screen displaying information and a battery; and a band part fastened to the information display part, wherein the band part includes a charging coil wirelessly receiving power to transfer the power to the battery.
US09671756B2	Fastening of a timepiece spring by adhesive bonding Timepiece sub-assembly including a balance spring stud arranged to be fastened to a balance cock, and a balance spring comprising an outer coil and an end plate of larger section than that of the outer coil, this stud including a housing arranged, in a first free state of the sub-assembly, to loosely contain the end plate with tangential mobility with respect to the outer coil, and, in a second immobilized state of the sub-assembly, to immobilize the end plate to which the housing is joined by a layer of adhesive covering a change-of-section shoulder and which forms a mechanical seal for the balance spring in a longitudinal direction of the housing, and the end plate includes an eye communicating with the layer in the second immobilized state.
US09671750B2	Positional control features for an imaging unit in an electrophotographic image forming device An imaging unit for an electrophotographic image forming device having positional control features for aligning the imaging unit in a supporting frame in the image forming device. The positional control features include on each end wall, first and second bullet noses and a stop arm positioned between the two bullet noses. The first and second bullet noses engage support or datum surfaces provided in corresponding openings in the frame. The stop arm receives a biasing force that rotates the imaging unit into its final operating position. A latching assembly is provided on one end wall to prevent the imaging unit from ejecting from the frame.
US09671743B2	Image forming apparatus, image forming system and image forming maintenance method An image forming apparatus including a conveying unit conveying a continuous paper; an image forming unit forming an image on an image carrier and printing the image on the continuous paper conveyed by the conveying unit; and a control unit controlling the image forming apparatus; wherein when a progress state of the image forming apparatus reaches a reference, the control unit performs a maintenance operation by forming an image for maintenance on the image carrier of the image forming unit, after interrupting the printing based on a job when the job is being executed, and when the job is to be executed, the control unit determines whether the progress state of the image forming apparatus exceeds the reference before the job is completed prior to the maintenance operation, and, when the progress state exceeds the reference, issues an alarm regarding the interruption of the printing based on the job.
US09671740B2	Print control apparatus, printing system, and print control method A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates clear-toner plane data based on gloss-control plane data, which contains a gloss control value for specifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for specifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and clear plane data, which contains a density value for specifying a transparent image other than the surface effect; and an outputting unit that outputs the clear-toner plane data. When a region where the gloss control value is specified in the gloss-control plane data and a region where the density value is specified in the clear plane data overlap each other, the generating unit sets a value of the clear-toner plane data to the gloss control value or the density value, based on a predetermined condition.
US09671735B2	Differential transformer magnetic permeability sensor Provided is a differential transformer magnetic permeability sensor that accurately suppress a variation of output level of each sensor even if a position shift occurs in forming a detection coil, a reference coil, and a drive coil as planar coils. The differential transformer magnetic permeability sensor includes a first coil layer including a first drive coil constituted of a first wire of a flat winding and a detection coil constituted of a second wire of a flat winding, a second coil layer including a second drive coil constituted of a third wire of a flat winding and a reference coil constituted of a fourth wire of a flat winding. The first drive coil and the second drive coil are connected so that drive current have the same direction, while the detection coil and the reference coil are connected so that induced current have opposite directions.
US09671734B2	Control device, image forming apparatus, and control method A control device drives a main driving device among driving devices each used to discharge recording material from a recording material container. A malfunction detector detects malfunction of the main driving device. When the malfunction detector has detected the malfunction, a recording material amount setting unit sets information indicating an amount of the recording material in the recording material container connected to the main driving device to a first value. A main driving device switching unit stops, when an amount of the recording material in the recording material container connected to the main driving device is the first value, driving the main driving device and then, when the driving devices other than the main driving device include one driving device having a recording material container connected thereto that contains a recording material an amount of which exceeds the first value, switches the main driving device to the one driving device.
US09671732B2	Image forming apparatus provided with fixing unit having mechanism capable of selectively executing driving of roller or operation of varying fixing nip pressure by switching rotation direction of one driving input gear In an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit and a storage part, the fixing unit includes: two rollers forming a fixing nip part; a pressure adjustment mechanism varying fixing nip pressure; one driving input gear receiving: a rotational power in a first direction for driving the two rollers and a rotational power in a second direction for actuating the pressure adjustment mechanism; and a gear cover supporting, with a long hole, a bearing supporting a rotary shaft of the driving input gear. The gear cover has a convex part, and the storage part has a receiving part supporting the bearing of the driving input gear at time of insertion of the fixing unit. The receiving part has a concave part fitted with the convex part of the gear cover moving with respect to the bearing of the driving input gear at the time of insertion of the fixing unit.
US09671731B2	Fixing member, fixing device, and image forming apparatus A fixing member is provided, including a release layer containing a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), wherein a content of the perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PAVE) based on all PFAs in the release layer is 3.0 mol % or more and 5.8 mol % or less, and an elastic layer having an indentation elastic modulus EITs at a surface thereof and an indentation elastic modulus EITc at a position in a depth of 50 μm from the surface, EITs and EITc being measured at a temperature of 150° C., and EITs is larger than EITc and EITc being 17 MPa or more and 24 MPa or less.
US09671730B2	Fixing device and fixing temperature control method of fixing device According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes determination means for determining the size of a medium, heating means for including plural heat-generating members which are two-dimensionally arranged such that the heat-generating members are lined up along two parallel lines or more which are vertical to a transport direction of the medium and divided at locations on the parallel lines, and are disposed so as to come into contact with an inner side of the rotating body, and a switching unit which switches individual conduction, and heats the medium, pressing means for forming a nip by performing pressing and contact at a position of the plural heat-generating members, and heating control means for selecting a group of the heat-generating members which are lined up in the two-dimensional arrangement, conducting the selected group of the heat-generating members, and controlling the heating means.
US09671729B2	Heater, image heating apparatus including the heater and manufacturing method of the heater A heater includes: a substrate; and a plurality of electrode portions including first electrode portions electrically connectable with the first terminal and second electrode portions electrically connectable with the second terminal. The first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are arranged alternately with predetermined gaps in a longitudinal direction of the substrate. The heater also includes a plurality of heat generating portions provided between adjacent ones of the electrode portions so as to electrically connect between adjacent electrode portions. The heat generating portions are capable of generating heat by the electric power supply between adjacent electrode portions. With respect to a widthwise direction of the substrate, the distance between ends of the adjacent electrode portions is larger than the width of the plurality of heat generating portions.
US09671725B1	Transfer device applying a voltage for transfering a toner image to a member disposed opposite a transfer member with an image carrier therebetween A transfer device includes a transfer unit including an image carrier that carries a toner image to be transferred to a transfer surface of a recording medium, a transfer member disposed on a non-transfer-surface side of the recording medium, and an opposing member disposed opposite the transfer member with the image carrier therebetween; a scraping member that scrapes adhering matter from a surface of the transfer member by contacting the surface; a first application unit that applies a voltage, for transferring the toner image, to the opposing member; and a second application unit that applies to the transfer member a voltage having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the voltage applied by the first application unit.
US09671722B2	Apparatus and method for determining a measure for the solid content of a liquid toner, and printing system including such an apparatus A measurement apparatus for determining a measure for the solid content of a liquid toner. The liquid toner includes a carrier liquid with marking particles, and the solid content is the ratio of the mass of the marking particles divided by the mass of the liquid toner. The measurement apparatus includes a measurement space for receiving liquid toner. The measurement space includes at least one hydrostatic pressure sensor configured and arranged for measuring data representative for the hydrostatic pressure caused by the liquid toner at least one predetermined position in the measurement space. The measurement apparatus also includes a controller configured for receiving the measured data and for determining a measure for the solid content of the liquid toner based on the received data.
US09671713B2	Exposing device, method of manufacturing the same, and image forming apparatus There is provided an exposing device which includes an elongated optical head in which a plurality of light emitting portions are arranged, and a supporting member to which the optical head is adhered. The optical head and the supporting member are adhered by a first adhesive, and a second adhesive of which a modulus of elasticity after curing is lower than that of the first adhesive. The second adhesive is applied in a second adhesive area which is located at a boundary between the optical head and the supporting member and which is longer, in a longitudinal direction of the optical head, than a first adhesive area which is located at the boundary and to which the first adhesive is applied.
US09671711B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image forming units forming an image in the corresponding color by electrophotographic system; a high-voltage power supply circuit capable of generating a bias voltage; and a control unit that controls a first printing mode and a second printing mode, wherein in the second printing mode, the control unit performs such control that the photosensitive bodies provided on the image forming units not used in the second printing mode continuously rotate at a speed lower than a speed in the first printing mode, and/or such control that a bias voltage whose absolute value is less than an absolute value of a bias voltage in the first printing mode is supplied from the high-voltage power supply circuit to the processing components of the same type provided on the image forming units not used in the second printing mode.
US09671709B2	Chemically prepared core shell toner formulation including a borax coupling agent and a plasticizing agent in the core A chemically prepared toner composition according to one example embodiment includes a core including a first polymer binder, a second polymer binder, a colorant and a release agent; a shell that is formed around the core and includes a third polymer binder; and a borax coupling agent between the core and the shell. The first and third polymer binders are different amorphous polyester resins. The second polymer binder is a crystalline polyester resin and acts as a plasticizing agent in the core. The borax coupling agent assists in adhering the shell to the outer surface of the core. Optionally, the toner of the present invention may be finished with a set of extra particulate additives.
US09671707B2	Apparatus for heat-treating powder particles and method of producing toner Provided is an apparatus for heat treatment capable of heat-treating toner particles efficiently and uniformly while suppressing increase of coarse particles due to coalescence, to thereby enable stable toner production. The apparatus for heat-treating powder particles each of which contains a binder resin and a colorant includes: a cylindrical treatment chamber in which the powder particles are heat-treated; a columnar member (6) provided so as to protrude from a lower end part of the treatment chamber toward an upper end part thereof; a powder particle supply unit (2) for supplying the powder particles to the treatment chamber; a hot air supply unit (3) for heat-treating the supplied powder particles; and a collection unit (5) for collecting the heat-treated powder particles discharged outside the treatment chamber through a toner discharge port provided on the lower end part side of the treatment chamber. The hot air supply unit is provided so that the hot air is supplied along an inner circumferential surface of the treatment chamber. The powder particle supply unit includes multiple particle supply ports provided on an outer circumferential surface of the columnar member. The toner discharge port is provided in an outer circumferential portion of the treatment chamber so as to keep a rotation direction of the powder particles.
US09671705B2	Electrophotographic photoconductor, production method thereof, and electrophotographic apparatus An electrophotographic photoconductor includes a conductive support; and a photoconductive layer that contains at least a charge generation material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material and a binder resin, and that is provided on the conductive support, wherein the photoconductive layer has an outermost layer that contains a charge generation material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, a binder resin and a highly branched polymer that is obtained by polymerizing, in the presence of a polymerization initiator, a monomer having, in a molecule, two or more radically polymerizable double bonds and a monomer having, in a molecule, a long-chain alkyl group or an alicyclic group and at least one radically polymerizable double bond. The electrophotographic photoconductor exhibits superior operational stability and stably high image quality, without problems with image memory, a contact member, or image defects due to cracks caused by contamination by oils/fats or sebum.
US09671700B2	Digital exposure device using GLV and digital exposure device using DMD A digital exposure device including a GLV or a DMD. The digital exposure device also includes: a stage to support and move a substrate in a scan direction; an optical system disposed between the stage and the GLV or the DMD, to form a pattern on the substrate by modulating light received from the GLV or the DMD; and a control unit to control the a width of the pattern by a unit, the unit being obtained by dividing the width of the pattern by a natural number m, in the second direction.
US09671696B2	Flexographic printing element which can be digitally imaged and has a polar, ultra-thin barrier layer Digital imageable flexographic printing elements for producing flexographic printing plates, which are developable using hydrocarbon-comprising washout media and which, between the photopolymerizable layer and the digital imageable layer, have a polar, ultrathin, oxygen-blocking barrier layer. Methods for producing flexographic printing plates using such digital imageable flexographic printing elements, by imaging, exposing, washing out, drying, and post-treating, the washout being formed by means of hydrocarbon-comprising washout media.
US09671694B1	Wet strippable gap fill materials A layered structure includes a substrate; an underlayer including a reversibly crosslinked polymer and/or oligomer interconnected by ester functionalities; a silicon-containing mask overlaying the underlayer; and a photoresist overlaying the silicon-containing hardmask layer. Also described are multilayer lithographic processes and processes of forming the underlayer, which generally includes coating an underlayer composition onto a surface of the substrate at a thickness effective to provide a planar upper surface, wherein the underlayer composition includes a polymer including terminal alcohol groups, a multifunctional anhydride, and a solvent. The underlayer composition is heated to a temperature to effect a crosslinking reaction between the multifunctional anhydride and the terminal alcohol groups to form the ester functionalities, which can be selectively removed (reversibly crosslinked) using a wet etchant.
US09671693B2	Resist composition and method for producing resist pattern A resist composition contains; (A1) a resin having a structural unit represented by the formula (aa) and at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of a structural unit represented by the formula (a1-1) and a structural unit represented by the formula (a1-2); (A2) a resin which does not have the structural unit represented by the formula (aa) and which is insoluble or poorly soluble in aqueous alkali solution, but becomes soluble in aqueous alkali solution by the action of acid; and (B) an acid generator, wherein Raa1, Aaa1, Raa2, La1, La2, Ra4, Ra5, Ra6, Ra7, m1, n1 and n1′ are defined in the specification.
US09671692B2	Compound, resin and photoresist composition A compound represented by formula (I): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group where a hydrogen atom can be replaced by a halogen atom, L1 represents a C1-C8 fluorinated alkanediyl group, X1 represents —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— or —O— where * represents a binding site to L1, and R2 represents a C1-C18 hydrocarbon group in which a methylene group can be replaced by an oxygen atom, a carbonyl group or a sulfonyl group and in which a hydrogen atom can be replaced by a hydroxy group, or in which two hydrogen atoms can be each replaced by an oxygen atom forming one ketal structure together with a C1-C8 alkanediyl group bonded to the oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom in said ketal structure can be replaced by a fluorine atom.
US09671691B2	Resin, resist composition and method for producing resist pattern A resist composition includes (A1) a resin which includes a structural unit represented by formula (a4), a structural unit having a cyclic ether, and the resin has no acid-labile group, (A2) a resin having an acid-labile group, and an acid generator: wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R4 represents a C1 to C24 saturated hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom and a methylene group contained in the saturated hydrocarbon group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group.
US09671690B2	Resist composition, method for forming resist pattern, photo-reactive quencher and compound A resist composition which generates an acid upon exposure and whose solubility in a developing solution changes under the action of an acid. The composition includes a base material component whose solubility in a developing solution changes under the action of an acid; an acid generator component which generates an acid upon exposure; and a photo-reactive quencher which contains a compound represented by the general formula shown below: in which Ra1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may have a substituent; and Ra2 and Ra3 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may have a substituent. X− represents a counter anion.
US09671688B2	Monomer for hardmask composition, hardmask composition including said monomer, and method for forming pattern using said hardmask composition Disclosed are a monomer represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 for a hardmask composition, a hardmask composition including the monomer, and a method of forming patterns using the same. In the above Chemical Formula 1, A, A′, L, L′, X and n are the same as defined in the specification.
US09671684B2	Theater parameter management apparatus and method The present invention relates to a theater parameter management apparatus including: a parameter creation unit for creating parameters showing a structure of a theater based on input information; a database for storing the parameters created by the parameter creation unit; and a data processing unit for performing a data processing using the parameters stored in the database.
US09671683B2	Multiple light source projection system to project multiple images A projection apparatus includes one or more light sources, wherein the one or more light sources are arranged to collectively provide a light signal which comprises multiple wavelengths, wherein the projection apparatus further includes an optical filter configured to filter the light signal provided by the one or more light sources, so that two or more images may be projected simultaneously by the projection apparatus, each image being projected to a different position.
US09671681B2	Image projection apparatus An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to form an image to be projected, a first flow path, a control unit configured to control a light emission from the light source, an electrical power stabilizing unit configured to stabilize an electrical power to be supplied to the light source, and an electrical power source unit configured to supply the electrical power to at least one of the control unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit. One or both of the electrical power source unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit is/are divided into a plurality of boards. The light source is arranged on a normal line of a surface of any of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards configure surfaces of the first flow path except a surface nearest to the light source.
US09671680B2	Imaging apparatus An imaging apparatus includes the following. A camera unit; a remote control unit which controls the camera unit; a detachable mechanism which detachably connects the camera unit and the remote control unit; and a shaped portion provided on the detachable mechanism to fix the camera unit in a predetermined location.
US09671679B2	Apparatus comprising flash light circuitry An apparatus including flash light circuitry configured to emit a flash of light; an optically transparent window, overlying the flash light circuitry, configured to transmit externally an emitted flash of light from the flash light circuitry; and at least one filter configured to reduce total internal reflection of the flash of light within the optically transparent window.
US09671677B2	Focal-plane shutter and optical apparatus A focal-plane shutter capable of stabilizing a curtain in continuous photographing action for suppression of variation in light exposure period is provided. The focal-plane shutter includes a base plate having a first opening, a blade receiving plate so arranged as to face the base plate and having a second opening formed in a position corresponding to the first opening, and a rear curtain that is arranged between the base plate and the blade receiving plate and moves between an open position where the first opening and the second opening are open and a closed position where the first opening and the second opening are closed to open and close the first opening and the second opening. The blade receiving plate has a protruding section in a position where the blade receiving plate overlaps with the rear curtain located in the open position when viewed along the optical axis direction, and the protruding section so protrudes toward the rear curtain as to allow the rear curtain to come into contact with the protruding section.
US09671676B2	Bi-stable electromagnetically controlled shutter A shutter assembly comprises a plurality of shutter blades movable between an open position and a closed position, and a plurality of drive mechanisms arranged circumferentially about the plurality of shutter blades for moving the plurality of shutter blades, wherein each of said drive mechanisms is stable in at least a first position and a second position.
US09671675B2	Stop apparatus, and lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus having the same A stop apparatus includes blades each having a drive pin, a support member supporting pivot members of the blades, and a cam member having cams engaging with the drive pins. The blades form an aperture. The cam member includes cams of which the largest radial distances from the center of the aperture are different from each other. The blades include first blades and second blades. The radial distance from the center of the drive pins of the first blades and that of the drive pins of the second blades are different from each other in an open aperture state. The pivot members of the first and second blades are disposed at positions at a radial distance from the center shorter than the radial distance from the center of a drive pin having the longest radial distance from the center in the open aperture state among the drive pins.
US09671667B2	Electrophoretic particle, electrophoretic particle dispersion liquid, display medium, and display device An electrophoretic particle includes a polymer having at least a reactive compound represented by the following Formula (I) as a polymerizable component, at least on a surface: wherein in Formula (I), Ra represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, X represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent hydrocarbon group, Y represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent hydrocarbon group, and Z represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group.
US09671666B2	Color display apparatus A color display apparatus includes a driving substrate, a color filter, a display layer and an adhesive. The color filter is faced to the driving substrate. The color filter includes a substrate and a filter layer, and the filter layer is disposed on the substrate and faced to the driving substrate. The display layer is disposed between the driving substrate and the color filter, and an orthographic projection of the display layer projecting on the filter layer is surrounded by a periphery boundary of the filter layer. An interval is existed between the orthographic projection of the display layer projecting on the filter layer and the periphery boundary of the filter layer. Besides, the adhesive is disposed between the display layer and the color filter, and a periphery boundary of the display layer and the periphery boundary of the filter layer are surrounded by the adhesive.
US09671662B2	Array substrate and liquid crystal display panel The present invention discloses an array substrate and liquid crystal display panel, wherein in the array substrate, each pixel unit includes a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode and a third pixel electrode; and each pixel unit includes a first control circuit and a second control circuit; the first control circuit affects first pixel electrode to make first pixel electrode in a state corresponding to displaying a black image in 3D display mode; the second control circuit affects second pixel electrode to change the voltage of second pixel electrode. As such, the present invention can reduce color difference at large viewing angle, improve opening ratio in 2D mode, reduce signal cross-talk in 3D mode, and reduce the number of data line drivers to reduce the cost.
US09671658B2	Liquid crystal display A liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a plurality of signal lines, a gate driver, and a sealant. The substrate includes a display area and a peripheral area outside the display area. The signal lines are integrated with the substrate and include a clock signal line. The gate driver includes a stage located between the clock signal line and the display area. The stage is integrated with the substrate and is configured to apply a gate voltage to the display area. The sealant is distributed over part of the peripheral area. A seal region where the sealant is distributed includes a seal line, and the clock signal line is located within the seal line. The clock signal line is located further away from the stage than the other signal lines.
US09671654B2	Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same A liquid crystal display including: a first insulating substrate; a plurality of color filters disposed on the first insulating substrate; a light blocking member disposed on the color filters; a second insulating substrate facing the first insulating substrate; and a spacer disposed between the first insulating substrate and the second insulating substrate. The spacer includes a main column spacer and a sub-column spacer spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, a protrusion protruding toward the second insulating substrate by stacking at least one sub-color filter on the color filter, the main column spacer is disposed on the protrusion, and the light blocking member and the spacer are made of the same material.
US09671653B2	Display device A display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed to oppose the first substrate; a light shielding portion disposed on the first or second substrate and defining a plurality of pixel areas; and a spacer disposed on the light shielding portion between vertically adjacent pixel areas; wherein the spacer has a first interval apart from an upper pixel area and a second interval apart from a lower pixel area from among the vertically adjacent pixel areas, and the first interval differs from the second interval in upper and lower portions of the first or second substrate.
US09671645B2	Direct-type backlight and liquid crystal display device A direct-type backlight and a liquid crystal display device including the same are disclosed. The direct-type backlight comprises: a prism component (1) having a plurality of prism-unit structures (11); a plurality of rows of lights sources (2) located below the prism component (1), and a plurality of gratings (3) located between the prism component (1) and the plurality of rows of lights sources (2), each row of the lights sources (2) corresponds to one prism-unit structure (11), and each row of the lights sources (2) comprises a plurality of lights sources (21). Divergent lights emitted from each of the lights sources (21) are converted into one or two bundles of linear lights after passing through the corresponding grating (3), and each bundle of the linear lights is split into visible lights of seven colors after being refracted by the corresponding prism-unit structure (11).
US09671642B2	Display panel and display device A display panel and a display device are provided, the display panel includes a color filter layer (230); a reflective filter (281) is provided below the color filter layer (230), and the reflective filter (281) is configured to reflect light with wavelength smaller than a predetermined value and configured to transmit light with wavelength greater than or equal to the predetermined value.
US09671640B2	Color filter substrate, electro-optical device, and projection-type display device In an electro-optical device 100, a color filter substrate 20 is provided with colored pixels, which are: a red pixel 2(R) with a colored layer 28(R) formed inside a concave portion 25(R) formed in a first surface 20s of a light-transmissive substrate 20d, a green pixel 2(G) with a colored layer 28(G) formed inside a concave portion 25(G) formed in said surface, and a blue pixel 2(B) with a colored layer 28(B) formed inside a concave portion 25(B) formed in said surface. In addition, in the substrate 20d, a non-colored pixel 2(W), at which no colored layer is provided, is provided outside the concave portion 25(R), 25(G), 25(B) at a position where the thickness of the substrate 20d is greater than that at the colored pixels.
US09671638B2	High-accuracy in-cell touch panel structure of narrow border A high-accuracy in-cell touch panel structure of narrow border includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, a liquid crystal layer configured between the upper and lower substrates, a thin film transistor layer, a sensing electrode layer, and a black matrix layer. The thin film transistor layer includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, and a plurality of first conductor line units arranged in a first direction. The sensing electrode layer includes plural second conductor line units and plural connection lines arranged in a second direction. The plurality of first conductor line units and the plurality of second conductor line units form a sensing touch pattern structure for sensing an approaching external object. The plurality of first conductor line units and the plurality of second conductor line units are disposed corresponding to positions of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines.
US09671637B2	Touch screen substrate and method of manufacturing the same In a touch screen substrate and a method of manufacturing the same, the touch screen substrate includes a base substrate, a light blocking pattern, a first sensing element and a first switching element. The light blocking pattern includes an inorganic layer formed on the base substrate and a light blocking layer formed on the inorganic layer, the light blocking layer transmitting an infrared light and absorbing a visible light. The first sensing element is formed on the light blocking pattern and senses the infrared light. The first switching element is electrically connected to the first sensing element. Thus, an undercut may be prevented from being formed at a lower portion of the light blocking pattern, and an adhesive strength between the light blocking pattern and the base substrate may be enhanced.
US09671628B2	Silicon electro-optical modulator Disclosed are designs and methods of fabrication of silicon carrier-depletion based electro-optical modulators having doping configurations that produce modulators exhibiting desirable modulation efficiency, optical absorption loss and bandwidth characteristics. The disclosed method of fabrication of a modulator having such doping configurations utilizes counter doping to create narrow regions of relatively high doping levels near a waveguide center.
US09671627B2	Transmissive optical shutter and method of manufacturing the same Disclosed are a transparent optical shutter which may be manufactured at the wafer level, and a method of manufacturing a transparent optical shutter at the wafer level. In the disclosed optical shutter, a polymer-based material is used as a transparent protective layer for ensuring the mechanical or chemical stability of the optical shutter, and thus, the shutter may be manufactured at the wafer level in large quantities. Also, a layer which is optically transparent and has excellent heat conductivity is disposed under the transparent protective layer.
US09671624B2	Optical lens processing system, such as a system for providing lens design source information to users An electronic lens processing system that tracks a lens design product used in the manufacture of a lens at a manufacturing facility is described. The system creates a work order for manufacturing the lens, where the manufacturing process can include machining a surface curvature on a lens blank by a lens grinding machine, and where the surface curvature is specified by a lens design. The system displays the work order on an electronic screen, and the work order includes the manufacturing facility's brand for the manufactured lens. A user can select the brand on the work ticket to obtain source information for the lens design used to manufacture the lens.
US09671619B2	Electronic ophthalmic lens with eye gaze sensor A gaze direction tracking system for an ophthalmic lens comprising an electronic system is described herein. The gaze direction tracking system is part of an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic lens. The electronic system includes one or more batteries or other power sources, power management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock generation circuitry, control algorithms and circuitry, and lens driver circuitry. The gaze direction tracking system is utilized to determine pupil position and use this information to control various aspects of the ophthalmic lens.
US09671617B2	Method for estimating a distance separating a pair of glasses and an eye of the wearer of the pair of glasses A method for estimating an eye/spectacles distance (VG) includes the steps of: a) acquiring at least two images of the wearer (1), in which the head (10) of the wearer exhibits various angular positions; b) determining, for each image acquired, an angle of inclination (α301) of the head of the wearer with respect to the image sensor; c) acquiring at least two simulated values (VG1, VG2, VG3) of the eye/spectacles distance sought; d) calculating, for each image acquired and with each simulated value, a morphological distance (EG1301, EG2301, EG3301) between the eye of the wearer and a median plane of the head of the wearer, having regard to the angle of inclination; and e) selecting, from among the simulated values, the one closest to the eye/spectacles distance of the wearer, as a function of the head/plane distances calculated in step d).
US09671612B2	Dynamic lens for head mounted display A Head Mounted Display (“HMD”) includes a display module, an optical combiner, control circuitry, and a lens. The display module generates image light and the optical combiner is for combining the image light with external scene light. The lens is positioned to receive the image light. The lens is capable of dynamically changing at least one lens property of the lens. The control circuitry controls the lens to dynamically change at least one lens property of the lens.
US09671610B2	Lens assembly with light blocking member and imaging lens including the same A light blocking member includes a first surface, a second surface, an outside surface and an inside surface. The first surface includes a first asymmetric opening. The second surface includes a second asymmetric opening corresponding to the first asymmetric opening. The outside surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface includes a cutting portion and an arch portion. The cutting portion connects the first asymmetric opening and the second asymmetric opening. The inside surface is disposed between the first surface and the second surface. A virtual curved surface is formed between two ends of the cutting portion, and a virtual line is formed between a central point of the virtual curved surface and a central axis of the light blocking member. Two shapes of both of the first asymmetric opening and the second asymmetric opening with respect to two sides of the virtual line are asymmetric.
US09671603B2	Optical arrangement and light microscope An optical arrangement for positioning in a beam path of a light microscope, has an optical carrier, on which a first set of optical assemblies for generating structured illumination light of different orientations is arranged. The optical arrangement includes an adjustable deflection device provided for selectably deflecting a light beam to one of the optical assemblies and for deflecting one light beam coming from said optical assembly into the direction of a sample that is to be examined. The invention further relates to a light microscope having an optical arrangement according to the invention.
US09671602B2	Measurement method for height profiles of surfaces using a differential interference contrast image A method for optically measuring height profiles of surfaces, in which an image of the height profile is recorded using an optical recording system, is characterized in that the image is a differential interference contrast image and height gradients within the height profile are represented by intensity gradients, which are quantitatively or qualitatively evaluatable. The surfaces can have structures having a defined profile, in which intensity gradients in the differential interference contrast image, which assume, within a specified tolerance and within a specified range, a value which deviates from a predetermined value or assume a selected value from within a specified tolerance and within a specified range, indicate a defect.
US09671599B2	Film mirror, and composite film for use in same The film mirror includes a resin substrate; a metal reflective layer; and a surface coating layer, a ratio of a number of fluorine atoms to a number of carbon atoms in a surface layer portion of the surface coating layer as expressed by F/C is 0.21 to 1.00 and the surface coating layer has a surface hardness of more than 100 N/mm2 and an elastic recovery rate of 60% or more. The film mirror has stain-proof properties, and scratch resistance so that the surface is resistant to scratches in collision with sandy dust and is also resistant to scratches upon cleaning with a brush.
US09671597B2	Zoom lens unit, imaging device, and monitoring video camera A zoom lens unit includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens group having positive refractive power and a focus function, a second lens group having negative refractive power, which moves when changing a magnification, a third lens group which moves when changing a magnification, and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, which is fixed when changing a magnification, wherein the following condition (1) is fulfilled: \|M2W·M3W·M4W\|<0.14 (1) where M2W represents an imaging magnification of the second lens group at a wide-angle end, M3W represents an imaging magnification of the third lens group at the wide-angle end, and M4W represents an imaging magnification of the fourth lens group at the wide-angle end.
US09671595B2	Methods and apparatus for using multiple optical chains in paralell Methods and apparatus for capturing or generating images using multiple optical chains operating in parallel are described. Pixel values captured by individual optical chains corresponding to the same scene area are combined to provide an image with at least some of the benefits which would have been provided by capturing an image of the scene using a larger lens than that of the individual lenses of the optical chain modules. By using multiple optical chains in parallel at least some benefits normally obtained from using a large lens can be obtained without the need for a large lens. Furthermore in at least some embodiments, a wide dynamic range can be supported through the use of multiple sensors with the overall supported dynamic range being potentially larger than that of the individual sensors. Some lens and/or optical chain configurations are designed for use in small handheld devices, e.g., cell phones.
US09671592B2	Optical image capturing system A five-piece optical lens for capturing image and a five-piece optical module for capturing image, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, include a first lens with positive refractive power having an object-side surface which can be convex; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; a fourth lens with refractive power; and a fifth lens which can have negative refractive power, wherein an image-side surface thereof can be concave, and at least one surface of the fifth lens has an inflection point; both surfaces of each of the five lenses are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US09671590B2	Imaging lens and imaging apparatus equipped with the imaging lens An imaging lens consists of five lenses, including: a first lens having a positive refractive power and a meniscus shape with a convex surface toward the object side, a second lens having a biconcave shape with the surface having the radius of curvature with the smaller absolute value toward the image side, a third lens having a meniscus shape with a convex surface toward the object side, a fourth lens having a negative refractive power and a meniscus shape with a convex surface toward the image side, and a fifth lens having a negative refractive power and a meniscus shape with a concave surface toward the image side, the image-side surface thereof having at least one inflection point, disposed in this order from the object side.
US09671589B2	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 six lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. Through 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 the total length of the optical imaging lens may be shortened.
US09671586B2	Optical system, optical apparatus and method for manufacturing the optical system Provided is an optical system having, in order from an object, a positive first lens group (G1), an aperture stop (S) and a second lens group (G2), wherein the first lens group (G1) includes, in order from the object, a negative lens component (L1), a positive lens component (L2) and a first lens component (L3, L4), the image side surface of which is a concave surface facing the aperture stop (S), the second lens group (G2) includes, in order from the object, a second lens component (L5, L6), the object side surface of which is a concave surface facing the aperture stop (S), and a positive lens component (L8) disposed closest to the image, the first lens component (L1) and the second lens component (L2) face each other sandwiching the aperture stop (S), and the following conditional expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 1.5
US09671583B2	Optical transceiver having plug board independent of circuit board and a holder that holds the circuit board on a level with the plug board An optical transceiver that provides a plug board independent of a circuit board is disclosed. The optical transceiver further includes a holder to hold both of the plug board and the circuit board in respective positions. The holder provides a first support to support the plug board in a side thereof, and a second support to support the circuit board in a side thereof. Because the holder supports the plug board and the circuit board in respective sides thereof, the holder does not reduce a space for mounting electronic circuit on the circuit board and not interfere with the function of the plug board.
US09671580B1	Photonic transceiving device package structure An apparatus for packaging a photonic transceiver. The apparatus includes a case having a base member, two partial side members, and a lid member to provide a spatial volume with an opening at a back end of the base member. Additionally, the apparatus includes a PCB installed inside the spatial volume over the base member with a pluggable connector at the back end. The apparatus includes one or more optical transmitting devices being mounted upside-down via a flex circuit board bended 180 degrees inward to a backside of the PCB and including a built-in TEC module in contact with the lid member. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a silicon photonics chip including a fiber-to-silicon attachment module, mounted on the PCB and coupled to a modulation driver module and a trans-impedance-amplifier module. Moreover, the apparatus includes an optical input port and output port being back connected to the fiber-to-silicon attachment module.
US09671574B2	Optical integrated circuit comprising light path turning micro-mirror inside the optical waveguide and method of manufacturing the same An optical integrated circuit comprises optical waveguides, grooves formed by etching the upper cladding layer, the core layer and all or parts of the lower cladding layer close to a end section of the optical waveguide to intercept light transmitted through the core layer of the optical waveguide or to couple light into the core layer, a plurality of bonding pads formed around the groove, micro-mirrors and active optical elements. Such a PLC based optical integrated circuit and a method of manufacturing the same provides a low-cost manufacturing of optical integrated circuits and high quality mirrors for vertical optical coupling scheme.
US09671572B2	Integrated chip package with optical interface A chip package includes an integrated circuit and an optical integrated circuit (such as a hybrid integrated circuit) with an optical source and/or an optical receiver. The integrated circuit and the optical integrated circuit may be proximate to each other on opposite sides of an interposer in the chip package. Moreover, the integrated circuit may include a driver circuit of electrical signals for the optical source and/or a receiver circuit of electrical signals from the optical receiver. Furthermore, the optical integrated circuit may be positioned in a hole or an etch pit in a substrate, and an alignment feature may mechanically couple the substrate to an optical-fiber assembly, so that the optical-fiber assembly is positioned relative to the interposer and the optical integrated circuit. In particular, the optical-fiber assembly may partially overlap the interposer, so that optical signals are provided and/or received from the optical integrated circuit through the interposer.
US09671566B2	Planar waveguide apparatus with diffraction element(s) and system employing same A waveguide apparatus includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element (DOE) that provides a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and interior of the planar waveguide. A phase profile of the DOE may combine a linear diffraction grating with a circular lens, to shape a wave front and produce beams with desired focus. Waveguide apparati may be assembled to create multiple focal planes. The DOE may have a low diffraction efficiency, and planar waveguides may be transparent when viewed normally, allowing passage of light from an ambient environment (e.g., real world) useful in AR systems. Light may be returned for temporally sequentially passes through the planar waveguide. The DOE(s) may be fixed or may have dynamically adjustable characteristics. An optical coupler system may couple images to the waveguide apparatus from a projector, for instance a biaxially scanning cantilevered optical fiber tip.
US09671563B2	Through-substrate optical coupling to photonics chips An optoelectronic integrated circuit for coupling light to or from an optical waveguide formed in an optical device layer in a near-normal angle to that layer. In an embodiment, the integrated circuit comprises a semiconductor body including a metal-dielectric stack, an optical device layer, a buried oxide layer and a semiconductor substrate arranged in series between first and second opposite sides of the semiconductor body. At least one optical waveguide is formed in the optical device layer for guiding light in a defined plane in that device layer. Diffractive coupling elements are disposed in the optical device layer to couple light from the waveguide toward the second surface of the semiconductor body at a near-normal angle to the defined plane in the optical device layer. In an embodiment, an optical fiber is positioned against the semiconductor body for receiving the light from the coupling elements.
US09671556B2	Optoelectronic component device, method for producing an optoelectronic component device and method for operating an optoelectronic component device Various embodiments may relate to an optoelectronic component device, including a first optically active structure, which is configured to provide an electromagnetic radiation, a measuring structure, which is configured to determine the luminance distribution of the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the measuring structure is configured to determine the luminance distribution in the first optically active structure, and wherein the measurement structure has a plurality of second optically active structures, wherein the plurality of second optically active structures are configured as optoelectric components and/or optoelectronic components, which receive the provided electromagnetic radiation.
US09671554B2	Apparatus for compensating image of display and display assembly An image compensating portion located on a display panel includes a light incident surface, a light emitting surface, and a plurality of light guiding channels parallel with each other. The display panel includes a main display region and a periphery display region. A projection of the light emitting surface on the light incident surface is larger than an area of the light incident surface. The light guiding channel guides lights from the light incident surface to be emitted from the light emitting surface for being extended.
US09671548B2	Optical waveguide for guiding illumination light An optical waveguide serves for guiding illumination light. The waveguide has a waveguide main body for guiding the illumination light between a main body entrance region and a main body exit region. At least one coupling-out device is provided in the main body exit region. Via the coupling-out device, at least one coupling-out illumination light partial beam is coupled out from the illumination light emerging from the waveguide main body. This is done such that the coupling-out illumination light partial beam can be separated from the rest of the illumination light beam emerging from the waveguide main body. This results in a waveguide having improved possibilities for use when guiding illumination light.
US09671547B2	Illumination device and display device Provided are an illumination device capable of improving the uniformity in brightness of the illumination light, and a display device using the same. An illumination device is provided with: a plurality of light sources arranged in a row in one direction; and a light guide plate which has, along a side edge face, a light receiving face facing the light source, guides light entering through the light receiving face, and outputs illumination light from a light emitting surface disposed on the front surface; the light guide plate having a plurality of prisms and a plurality of prisms provided in an indented manner on the front or rear surface and arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the light receiving face; the prisms being formed spanning between the light receiving face and the opposing face opposite the light receiving face; and the prisms being formed, between adjacent prisms, deeper than the prisms within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the light receiving face.
US09671546B2	Backlight assembly and display device having the same Provided are a backlight assembly and a display device having the same. A backlight assembly includes a light source unit which emits light, a light guide plate (LGP) including an incident surface upon which light emitted from the light source unit is incident, an opposite surface which faces the incident surface, and an exit surface which connects the incident surface and the opposite surface and from which light incident upon the incident surface exits, a wavelength conversion member which is located on the exit surface and converts a wavelength of light output from the exit surface, and a first reflective member which is located on the opposite surface and reflects light incident upon the opposite surface, wherein the first reflective member includes a plurality of first color patterns which face the opposite surface.
US09671542B2	Method for manufacturing polarizing film Provided herein is a method for producing a nano polaroid film using a one-pack type or two-pack type blackening ink so that a single layer film may replace a conventional polaroid film generally produced by superposing various types of optical films, and especially, a method for producing a nano polaroid film consisting of one film and having excellent observability by coating a transparent nano pattern substrate with a functional ink that contains a blackening material, and then removing particles formed on protruding portions using an etching solution, and refilling the functional ink into grooves.
US09671541B2	Optical sheet module Provided is an optical sheet module that includes: a first optical sheet that includes a first base substrate, and a first structurization pattern configured to refract light incident from the first base substrate in a normal direction; a second optical sheet that is formed above the first optical sheet, and includes a second base substrate and a second structurization pattern for refracting the light incident from the second base substrate in the normal direction and intersecting an extension direction of the pattern with an extension direction of the first structurization pattern; and a reflective polarizing sheet that is formed on the second optical sheet, reflects light polarized in the first direction to the lower portion, and transmits light polarized in the second direction to a display, wherein the first optical sheet and the second optical sheet are bonded to each other.
US09671538B2	Optical elements comprising cholesteric liquid crystal polymers A linear photopolymerizable polymer (LPP) layer is situated to align liquid crystal molecules in a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer (Ch-LCP) layer situated at or on the LPP layers. The Ch-LCP layer includes a patterned area and an unpatterned area. The patterned area and the un-patterned area have different optical properties. The Ch-LCP layer can be tuned to transmit light of a desired frequency and handedness. Single and multiple-layered LPP/Ch-LCP and/or LPP/LCP structures can be provided as patterned polarizers, patterned retarders and other devices.
US09671537B2	Multi-layer color filter for low color error and high SNR Embodiments are described of a color filter array including a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Each minimal repeating unit includes an invisible-wavelength filter layer including a plurality of filters and a visible-wavelength filter layer positioned on the invisible-wavelength filter layer and having a plurality of filters such that each filter from the visible-wavelength layer is optically coupled to a corresponding filter in the invisible-wavelength layer.
US09671534B2	Optical reflective diffraction device having a high resistance to laser flux The present invention relates to an optical device for reflective diffraction with high diffraction efficiency and high laser flux resistance. The device includes a protective structure having at least one mixture layer produced by a uniform mixture of a first material and of a second material, where both of these are dielectric, and wherein said first material has an optical index lower than that of the said second material.
US09671531B2	Thermoplastic resin composition for light reflector, formed article for light reflector, light reflector, and method for producing formed article for light reflector Thermoplastic resin composition for a light reflector such as a housing, reflector, and extension of an automotive lamp, and a lighting fixture. The composition contains 2 to 45 parts by mass of an inorganic filler treated with a fatty acid type surface treating agent and has an average diameter of not more than 3 μm, per 100 parts by mass of a thermoplastic resin. The housing reflector made from such thermoplastic resin composition shows excellent surface smoothness, surface luster and surface image clarify.
US09671527B2	Optical lens assembly and electronic device An optical lens assembly, which has an optical axis, includes, at least one dual molded lens element having two plastic parts with different colors. The dual molded lens element includes a transparent portion and a light absorbing portion, wherein the transparent portion has an optical effective region. The dual molded lens element has an outer diameter surface connecting a first side surface and a second side surface of the dual molded lens element, the transparent portion is arranged from an optical effective region of the dual molded lens element to the outer diameter surface and surrounds the dual molded lens element, thus the transparent portion is a part of the outer diameter surface, and the light absorbing portion is located on one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the dual molded lens element.
US09671526B2	Occupancy sensor with improved functionality An occupancy sensor detects the occupancy state of a monitored area. The occupancy sensor may be mounted in a standard junction box at various angles and one or more of the ultrasonic sensors may be disabled. The occupancy sensor includes a PIR sensor and one or more ultrasonic sensors. The sensor sensitivities and timeout settings may be programmed by a technician or user via an IR interface or via a network interface. The settings may be changed according to control system logic or some other factor such as date, time or room conditions. Setup of the sensor may also be performed via the IR interface or network interface. The occupancy outputs both a signal taking into account the timeout period as well as a raw data signal. The IR interface may be used to relay messages between a control system and external devices. Algorithms employed in the occupancy sensor allow for the occupancy sensor to process analog signals from sensors to determine the room state, enhance performance such as by reducing false trips, enhance energy savings and force sensors into vacancy or occupancy mode. The occupancy sensor additionally comprises a microphone. Sound can be required to qualify detection from another sensor and may be employed to prolong the occupancy state once it is established.
US09671523B2	Field installable light curtain status module Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular plug-in accessory including a connector for making pluggable electrical connection to a cascading electrical output port for providing cascading connection from an elongate light curtain, the accessory comprising an omni-directional light indicator to illuminate a light signal indicative of a status of the light curtain, wherein the accessory is configured to releasably make or break operative connection to the end cap containing the output port while the end cap is sealably connected to an end of the light curtain. In an illustrative example, the accessory may plug in directly to the terminal end of a light curtain. The receiving light curtain may be connected at the distal end of a string of light curtains. In some examples, the accessory may provide high visibility status indication information about any of the light curtain segments in the string of light curtains.
US09671522B2	Multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor system A detection processing unit determines, in a detection area including optical axes formed between emitter elements and receiver elements, whether each optical axis is in an interrupted state after optical axis selection corresponding to one scan, and outputs a detection signal based on the determination result. When at least one of the optical axes is constantly interrupted by an object movable within the detection area, the detection processing unit outputs the detection signal upon determining that the number of optical axes in an interrupted state is greater than a preset maximum optical axis number, and also outputs the detection signal upon determining that the number of optical axes in an interrupted state is smaller than a preset minimum optical axis number.
US09671519B2	Neutron-gamma density through normalized inelastic ratio Systems, methods, and devices for determining neutron-gamma density (NGD) measurement of a subterranean formation that is accurate in both liquid- and gas-filled formations are provided. For example, a downhole tool for obtaining such an NGD measurement may include a neutron generator, neutron detector, two gamma-ray detectors, and data processing circuitry. Neutron generator may emit neutrons into a formation, causing a fast neutron cloud to form. Neutron detector may detect a count of neutrons representing the extent of the neutron cloud. Gamma-ray detectors may detect counts of inelastic gamma-rays caused by neutrons that inelastically scatter off the formation. Since the extent of the fast neutron cloud may vary depending on whether the formation is liquid- or gas-filled, data processing circuitry may determine the density of the formation based at least in part on the counts of inelastic gamma-rays normalized to the count of neutrons.
US09671518B2	Multiple source neutron measurement, device, system and use thereof A multi-source neutron logging tool has been developed. The multi-source logging tool comprises axially aligned gamma and thermal neutron detectors on either side of a multi-neutron source. The multi-source neutron logging tool may be used to evaluate formations adjacent a borehole.
US09671514B2	Apparatus for positioning of seismic equipment towed by a survey vessel There is provided an apparatus for positioning in water of seismic equipment towed by a survey vessel. The apparatus is made of an elongated body part for receiving a towed underwater cable. The body part is provided with wings and integrated wing flaps for stably holding the apparatus in the correct water position.
US09671513B2	Seismic image acquisition using ghost compensation in Kirchhoff migration Methods and systems for ghost compensation of seismic data in conjunction with Kirchhoff migration are described. Input traces are deghosted by applying a deghost operator thereto across a range of ray parameters, which ray parameters are associated with the Kirchhoff migration. The deghosted traces are buffered and then selected for use in the mapping stage of Kirchhoff migration.
US09671503B2	Mobile platform for conveying an NSS device A survey instrument conveyance is disclosed. One embodiment includes a mobile platform having a set of wheels attached thereto. In addition, a mechanical coupling assembly is used to couple a survey instrument to the mobile platform. An adjustable position mechanism is coupled to the mechanical coupling assembly to raise and lower the survey instrument relative to the mobile platform.
US09671502B2	Adaptive synthetic positioning Methods, systems, and portable devices capable of adaptive synthetic positioning while in a dead zone are described. In one method, when a portable device having a Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and a dead zone database enters a dead zone, it determines whether the dead zone database has a record for the dead zone. If it does, it retrieves parameters corresponding to the dead zone from the database and calculates synthetic position solutions using the retrieved parameters while in the dead zone. The portable device may also use the synthetic position solutions to help calculate position solutions when exiting the dead zone. If a dead zone database record does not exist, the portable device determines parameters for calculating synthetic position solutions in the dead zone and a new dead zone database record indicating a set of parameters based on the determined set of parameters is created.
US09671496B2	Indoor localization using digital off-air access units A system for indoor localization using satellite navigation signals in a Distributed Antenna System includes a plurality of Off-Air Access Units (OAAUs). Each of the plurality of OAAUs is operable to receive an individual satellite navigation signal from at least one of a plurality of satellites and operable to route signals optically to one or more DAUs. The system also includes a plurality of remote DRUs located at a Remote location. The plurality of remote DRUs are operable to receive signals from a plurality of the one or more DAUs. The system further includes an algorithm to delay each individual satellite navigation signal for providing indoor localization at each of the plurality of DRUs.
US09671480B2	Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus The MRI apparatus includes an image generating unit, an area setting unit, a slice condition determining unit and an imaging executing unit. The image generating unit images an object at a predetermined imaging position, and generates an image for positioning. The area setting unit sets a slab area and a slice area on a basis of a recommended value that is stored in a storage and corresponds to the predetermined imaging position, and to display the set slab area and the set slice area on the image for positioning, the storage storing the recommended value of a parameter concerning a slice condition for each of a plurality of imaging positions. The slice condition determining unit determines the slice condition on a basis of the slice area. The imaging executing unit executes an imaging of the slab area in accordance with the determined slice condition.
US09671477B2	Inductive sensor for a motor vehicle, comprising electric oscillators designed to form an AC voltage at the terminals of a field coil by means of electric resonance An inductive sensor (100) for a motor vehicle, includes: a field coil (101) designed to form an electromagnetic field, a coil (103) for measuring a magnetic field and designed to provide an output signal representative of the position of a metal target (102) in the magnetic field formed by the field coil (101), and at least two electric circuits (111) connected simultaneously in parallel to the terminals of the field coil (101), each electric circuit (111) including an inverter element (112) and a capacitive element (113), and forming, together with the field coil (101) an electric oscillator (110) designed to form an AC voltage at the terminals of the field coil (10) via electric resonance, the electric oscillators (110) being of the same resonance frequency.
US09671474B2	Three 3-contact vertical hall sensor elements connected in a ring and related devices, systems, and methods A vertical Hall effect sensor having three Hall effect regions interconnected in a ring can be operated in a spinning scheme. Each Hall effect region has three contacts: the first Hall effect region includes first, second, and third contacts; the second Hall effect region has fourth, fifth, and sixth contacts, and the third Hall effect region has seventh, eighth, and ninth contacts. Interconnections between the Hall effect regions are provided such that a first terminal is connected to a third contact, a second interconnection is arranged between the second and fourth contacts, a third terminal is connected to the sixth contact, a fourth interconnection is arranged between the fifth and seventh contacts, a fifth terminal is connected to the ninth contact, and a sixth interconnection is arranged between the first and eighth contacts.
US09671469B2	Voltage detection circuit A voltage detection circuit for a secondary battery. A secondary battery is composed of a plurality of battery blocks (B1) to (B3), and is connected to a flying capacitor (C1) via input side sampling switches (SW1) to (SW3). The flying capacitor (C1) is connected to a differential amplifier circuit (10) via output side sampling switches (SWa) and (SWb). A feedback capacitor (C2) is connected to an inverting input terminal of the differential amplifier circuit (10) to form an integrator circuit, which reduces the capacitance of the flying capacitor (C1).
US09671467B2	Electric power meter capable of monitoring contact status of latch relay An electric power meter capable of monitoring a contact status of a latch relay, comprises: a latch relay having a pair of primary coils and a secondary contact, the secondary contact operable to a closed position or an open position, the primary coils configured to provide a magnetic force to open or close the secondary contact; and a meter controller configured to determine that the latch relay is in a closed position when the input voltage of the primary coils is substantially equal to the output voltage of the secondary contact with a predetermined allowable error range, and configured to determine that the latch relay is in an open position when the output voltage of the secondary contact has not been input, even if the input voltage of the primary coils has been input.
US09671461B2	Test system for semiconductor apparatus and test method using the same A test system for a semiconductor apparatus that includes a calibration board having first skew information therein and outputting a plurality of test signals, and a main board configured to perform first skew correction for correcting skews of the test signals based on the first skew information and perform secondary skew correction for correcting an I/O skew thereof using the plurality of test signals.
US09671457B2	3D IC testing apparatus A method comprises connecting a testing setup having a plurality of probes to a device under test having a plurality of vias, wherein a probe is aligned with a corresponding via of the device under test and conducting a plurality of via electrical characteristic tests through a conductive path comprising the vias, the probes and a plurality of conductive devices, each of which connects two adjacent probes, wherein the conductive devices are in the testing setup.
US09671449B2	System for detecting an electrical fault and associated method A system for detecting an electrical fault in an electrical installation including several electrical conductors, the system including at least two measurement modules, each measurement module including first radioelectric communication device, a sensor for measuring each electrical magnitude associated with a corresponding electrical conductor and a first clock defined by a first initial instant and a first clock frequency, each measured value being suitable for being associated with a first instant of measurement, determined with respect to the first initial instant and as a function of the first frequency, an acquisition unit, including second radioelectric means adapted for communicating with the first radioelectric communication device.
US09671448B2	In-tool ESD events monitoring method and apparatus In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for electrostatic discharges (ESD) events monitoring incorporating a charged device model event simulator (CDMES) unit comprises: at least one antenna positioned in a process area; an ESD detector coupled to said at least one antenna; said ESD detector wirelessly coupled to said CDMES unit; and said ESD detector calibrated for different discharge energies generated by said CDMES unit.
US09671446B2	Noise detection circuit and semiconductor system using the same A noise detection circuit may include a divider configured to receive a clock signal and a clock bar signal, divide the clock signal and the clock bar signal, and generate a first divided signal and a second divided signal. The noise detection circuit may also include a noise detection reference block configured to reflect a power supply voltage level variation on the first divided signal and the second divided signal, and generate a first reference signal and a second reference signal, and a duty sensing circuit configured to generate first duty information and second duty information of the clock signal in response to the first reference signal and the second reference signal. The noise detection circuit may also include a detection circuit configured to generate a noise detection signal in response to the first duty information and the second duty information.
US09671445B2	System and method for testing radio frequency wireless signal transceivers using wireless test signals A system and method to facilitate wireless testing of a radio frequency (RF) multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) signal transceiver device under test (DUT). With the DUT operating in a controlled electromagnetic environment, the tester transmits multiple test signals wirelessly to the DUT. Signal phases of the respective test signals transmitted by the tester are controlled in accordance with feedback signal data from the DUT. Magnitudes of the respective test signals can also be controlled in accordance with such feedback signal data, thereby enabling dynamic optimization of the wireless communication channel condition number k(H).
US09671443B2	Device and method for measuring static charge on flying insects A device and method of use for measuring the electrical charge of flying insects. The inventive device comprises measuring the charge induced by a flying insect and measuring the average of charge deposited on a metal screen due to the impact of multiple of insects on the screen.
US09671441B2	Microstructure device for measuring molecular membranes and a method for producing said microstructure device The invention is related to a microstructure apparatus for the measurement of biological membranes, comprising a support substrate having an upper side for supporting the membrane, at least one microcavity of the support substrate for receiving an electrolyte, wherein the microcavity is open upward and ends in a microaperture in the upper side of the support substrate, wherein the microaperture has a first characteristic diameter D1 and has at least one electrode, which is at least partially arranged within the microcavity and which has a contact side for contacting an electrolyte, the contact side being arranged adjacent to the inner volume of the microcavity, characterized in that the contact side of the electrode has a characteristic diameter D2, being larger than D1. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for producing the microstructure apparatus.
US09671433B2	Current sensor devices and methods Devices and methods associated with current measurements are provided. A current in a conductor portion may be measured by a current sensing element. An output signal indicative of the current may be generated based on the measured current and information regarding a current path.
US09671430B2	Tester and test apparatus for testing semiconductor devices having the same A tester includes a level controller for independently restricting the central deformation and the peripheral deformation of a probe card. The level controller includes a single upper plate, a single first lower plate and a plurality of second lower plates. A first elastic force is applied to a central portion of the probe card by the first lower plate to restrict the central deformation. Second elastic forces are independently applied to peripheral portions of the probe card by the individual second lower plates to locally restrict the peripheral deformations.
US09671429B2	Multi-layer, multi-material micro-scale and millimeter-scale devices with enhanced electrical and/or mechanical properties Some embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes for use in die level testing of semiconductor devices) from a core material and a shell or coating material that (1) partially coats the surface of the structure, (2) completely coats the surface of the structure, and/or (3) completely coats the surface of structural material of each layer from which the structure is formed including interlayer regions. These embodiments incorporate both the core material and the shell material into the structure as each layer is formed along with a sacrificial material that is removed after formation of all layers of the structure. In some embodiments the core material may be a material that would be removed with sacrificial material if it were accessible by an etchant during removal of the sacrificial material.
US09671426B2	Response collector circuitry coupled with through silicon via and tap The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for improving silicon interposers to include test circuitry for testing stacked die mounted on the interposer. The improvement allows for the stacked die to be selectively tested by an external tester or by the test circuitry included in the interposer.
US09671425B1	Testing apparatus usable in switchgear cabinet A test apparatus that is usable with a switchgear cabinet is structured to mimic the operation of a circuit interruption device being received in the interior of the switchgear cabinet by providing a number of structures such as an engagement wall that engages a shutter assembly and moves it from a deployed state to an undeployed state. The engagement wall in the test apparatus has a number of openings formed therein that permit a number of electrical conductors and the relevant portions of the shutter assembly to be viewed from the exterior of the switchgear cabinet.
US09671422B2	Vibratory ring structure A vibratory ring structure is described which comprises a ring body and at least one ring electrode secured thereto, the or each ring electrode extending over a first angular extent and: being attached to the ring body over second angular extent, wherein the first angular extent is greater than the second angular extent.
US09671420B2	Automated fluid handling system Automated fluid handling system comprising a housing and two or more fluid handling units arranged as interchangeable modular components with an external fluidics section and an internal non fluidics section, and wherein the housing comprises a liquid handling panel with two or more of component positions for receiving said interchangeable modular components such that the external fluidics section is separated from the non fluidics section by the liquid handling panel.
US09671416B2	Sample processing system for processing biological samples The invention relates to a sample processing system and method for processing biological samples, comprising a sample processing device having: a receiving plate, which is arranged substantially horizontally in a plane; a first and second working arm, which can move relative to the receiving plate and extend substantially parallel to each other in a second direction (Y) over the receiving plate; at least one pipetting device mounted on the first working arm, which is movable in a second direction (Y) and in a third direction (Z) orthogonal in relation to the first and second direction (X, Y); at least one gripping device, mounted on the second working arm, with grippers that can be rotated around a gripper axis of rotation (GA) parallel to the third direction (Z); and a control device for controlling the pipetting device and the gripping device.
US09671413B2	Prostate cancer point of care diagnostics The invention relates to point of care diagnostic disposables, devices, methods, and systems for diagnosing or predicting prostate cancer. The present invention employs biomarker specific reagents in disposable cassettes or lab cards for use as analyzers, as well as software to evaluate and report test results. The system promises to improve point of care in vitro diagnostics.
US09671412B2	Beclin 1 phosphorylation Antibodies specific for human Beclin 1 protein phosphorylated Ser234, Ser295, Tyr229, Tyr233 or Try352 are useful in diagnosing diseases such as cancer and impaired autophagy. The invention further relates to human Beclin 1 mutated at Ser234, Ser295, Tyr229, Tyr233 or Try352 with a phospho-silencing residue and uses thereof.
US09671410B2	Biomarker-based methods for identifying and formulating compositions that improve skin quality and reduce the visible signs of aging in skin In various embodiments, provided are methods for selecting and formulating compositions for treating and maintaining the quality of skin, wherein a composition is selected for use in a personal care product based on its demonstrated biological effect to improve skin quality as evidenced by one or more biomarker changes that correlate with improvement as evidenced by one or more objective measurements of skin health.
US09671408B2	Wild-card-modification search technique for peptide identification Embodiments of a computer system, a method, and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for analyzing tandem-mass-spectrometry data are described. Using this analysis technique, unanticipated chemical modifications to peptides associated with proteins can be identified. In particular, a modification called a wild-card modification is used to identify the most likely chemical modifications in the peptides. A wild-card modification allows the addition of any mass, typically any integer atomic mass within a range, to any one amino acid residue within a candidate peptide.
US09671405B2	Identifying taxane sensitivity in prostate cancer patients The invention relates to detection and/or treatment of a subset of prostate cancer patients who may benefit from taxane treatment. The method comprises testing whether an androgen receptor (AR) splice variant is present in a test sample obtained from the patient, wherein the androgen receptor variant can be ARv5,6,7.
US09671404B2	Use of myeloid cell biomarkers for the diagnosis of cancer The present invention relates to the use of myeloid cell biomarkers for the differential diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or colorectal cancer (CRC). The present invention furthermore relates to monitoring the effect of a treatment against renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or colorectal cancer (CRC), and establishing a prognosis of the outcome of the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or colorectal cancer (CRC). The present invention furthermore relates to panels of cellular biomarkers for use in the above methods, in particular multicolor panels for measuring said biomarkers.
US09671403B2	Biosensor for detecting multiple epitopes on a target The present invention encompasses a method for detecting a target comprising a repeating epitope.
US09671402B2	Lateral flow blotting assay Methods, compositions, and kits for performing analyte detection in a lateral flow assay.
US09671401B2	Calibration system for use with lateral flow assay test strips A method of adjusting a final signal value measured on a lateral flow assay test strip, by: identifying a pre-determined calibration method for the test strip, wherein the pre-determined calibration method corresponds to the manufacturing lot from which the test strip has been made; measuring signal values while performing a lateral flow assay reaction on a test strip; determining a final signal value; and adjusting the final signal value based upon the identified pre-selected calibration method for the test strip.
US09671397B2	Method for functionalizing surfaces for analyte detection The invention relates to a device for detecting analytes, including a plastic substrate at least partially covered by bonding polymers attached to the substrate in a non-covalent manner, said bonding polymers comprising a polysaccharide backbone provided with aromatic groupings and carboxylic acid groupings.
US09671395B2	Analyzing bacteria without culturing The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most 24 hrs of culturing) or no culturing of the pathogen. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a pathogen from a sample that involve obtaining a sample including a pathogen, conducting an assay that isolates the pathogen from the sample, culturing the isolated pathogen for at most about 24 hrs, and analyzing the pathogen.
US09671393B2	Cells for chromatin immunoprecipitation and methods for making The present invention provides isolated, non-viable bacterial cells comprising a plurality of nucleic acid crosslinks, methods for making said cells, and methods for using said cells to isolate DNA-protein complexes. In particular, the nucleic acids of the cells are crosslinked by contacting the cells with a furocoumarin compound and ultraviolet light.
US09671390B2	In vitro method using hetero-oligomeric T1R1/T1R3 taste receptors to identify umami tastants The present invention relates to the discovery that the T1R receptors assemble to form functional taste receptors. Particularly, it has been discovered that co-expression of T1R1 and T1R3 results in a taste receptor that responds to umami taste stimuli, including monosodium glutamate. Also, it has been discovered that co-expression of the T1R2 and T1R3 receptors results in a taste receptor that responds to sweet taste stimuli including naturally occurring and artificial sweeteners. Also the present invention relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli.
US09671389B2	Apparatus for measuring a level of a specific gas in exhaled breath There is provided an apparatus for measuring levels of a specified gas in exhaled breath, the apparatus comprising a photoacoustic sensor for providing a measurement representative of the level of the specified gas in the exhaled air, wherein the photoacoustic sensor comprises a light source that is modulated at a first frequency; a sound speed measurement module for measuring the sound speed of the exhaled breath, wherein the sound speed measurement module operates either at a second frequency that is substantially different to the first frequency or in a pulsed mode; wherein the first frequency of the modulated light source is adjusted during exhalation in accordance with the measured speed of sound of the exhaled breath.
US09671388B2	Apparatus and method for blood analysis Provided is an apparatus for blood analysis. The apparatus for blood analysis includes a spin coater to which blood is supplied, a light source part emitting light onto the spin coater, a measurement part detecting light reflected from the blood on the spin coater, and outputting a detected signal, and an analysis part analyzing information on the blood from the detected signal from the measurement part.
US09671386B2	Detection of thermal damage of composites using molecular probes Improved methods of detecting thermal exposure are provided herein. The provided methods utilize initially dormant luminescent probes incorporated into a matrix to form a composite. When exposed to heat over a period of time, the luminescent probes are “activated” through a molecular transformation initiated by thermal energy. The activated probes exhibit a luminescent profile based on the extent of thermal exposure, thereby providing an indicator of the thermal exposure experienced by the matrix. When the composite is used to produce a structural component of a vehicle (e.g., an aircraft), the methods provide a convenient, large-area indicator of thermal damage experienced by the structural component.
US09671384B2	Low volume in-line filtration method for evaluation of asphaltenes for hydrocarbon-containing feedstock Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing sample having solvated asphaltenes therein, the method comprising the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing sample having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents and capturing the precipitated asphaltenes in one or more low volume filters comprising a porous filter element comprising an area through which a fluid may flow; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.
US09671383B2	Gas-monitoring apparatus for detecting bowel movements and method of use A room monitoring device designed and intended to detect a bowel movement (BM) of a person occupying the room, such as a baby or infant or an adult with special needs or in a care facility. The device tests the air for particular substances such as, but not limited to, methane and hydrogen sulfide. The test is performed multiple times per minute to reduce the chances of a false-positive detection. Once the device detects a positive BM, it alerts a user via Wi-Fi message, SMS text message, visual alerts (e.g., flashing lights), and/or audio alerts. This device may be paired with existing monitoring devices, such as a baby monitor with a remote camera.
US09671381B2	Device for analyzing at least one hydrocarbon contained in a drilling fluid and associated method The device comprises an extractor (53) having an outlet (71) at which a gas stream is sampled. The gas stream contains at least one hydrocarbon to be analyzed and at least one interfering compound. A transport line (54), is connected to the outlet (71) of the extractor (53) to transport the gas stream to an analyzer (55A) comprising a detector being able to measure at least one of the hydrocarbons to be analyzed contained in this gas stream. The device comprises a chemical reactor (141) located between the extractor (53) and the detector. At least a portion of the extracted gases is transported through the chemical reactor (141) where a selective catalytic reaction of at least one interfering compound is carried out without any substantial reaction of at least one of the hydrocarbons to be analyzed.
US09671380B2	Method for diagnosing particulate matter sensor deterioration A method is presented for diagnosing a particulate matter sensing system, where the system includes a sensing element having two electrodes spaced from one another. The method determining at a first time during a cool-down event a first sensing element temperature and a resistance of the sensing element, and determining at a later second time during the cool-down event a second sensing element temperature and the resistance of the sensing element. The method further includes calculating a predicted sensing element resistance at the second sensing element temperature, based on the first sensing element temperature, the resistance of the sensing element determined at the first time, and a predetermined model of the resistance vs. temperature characteristics of the sensing element. A fault condition for the system may be indicated based on a comparison of the predicted sensing element resistance at the second sensing element temperature and a measured sensing element resistance.
US09671379B2	Systems and methods for analyzing contaminants in flowing atmospheric air Optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with a flowing atmospheric air composition and optically interacting the electromagnetic radiation with an integrated computational element (“ICE”), the ICE being configured to analyze for a contaminant in the flowing atmospheric air. A detector receives the electromagnetic radiation that has optically interacted with the flowing atmospheric air and the ICE and generates an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the contaminant in the flowing atmospheric air.
US09671376B2	Flow path switching valve A base and a stator forming a housing are joined by a stator position adjustment member. The adjustment member is a ring-shaped member having an inner diameter that is equal to the outer forms of the base and the stator, and threads opposite to each other are provided to an upper portion and a lower portion of the inner circumferential surface, along the circumferential direction. A thread for being screwed with the thread is provided, in the circumferential direction, to each of an upper portion of an outer circumferential surface of the base and a lower portion of an outer circumferential surface of an outer wall member of the stator. When the adjustment member is rotated, the base and the stator move in the direction of separating from each other or in the direction of coming close to each other.
US09671375B2	Fluidic chip with displacable patterned layer for detecting fluid pressure A fluidic chip device configured for processing a fluid, wherein the fluidic chip device comprises a plurality of layers laminated to one another, wherein at least a part of the layers comprises a patterned section of an alternating sequence of bars and fluidic channels for conducting the fluid under pressure, the patterned section being configured for being displaceable in response to the pressure, and a pressure detector responding to the displacement of the patterned section by generating a detector signal being indicative of a value of the pressure.
US09671370B2	System and method for detecting material loss in a tubular A method and system for detecting material loss in a tubular. A method includes identifying a radial cross-sectional area of a tubular as having a loss of material in a wall of the tubular. Responsive to the identifying, an amount of voltage offset present in each of a plurality of measurement signals is determined. Each of the measurement signals provides measurement information for an arc section of the wall. For each of the measurement signals, a zero adjusted signal is produced by adjusting the measurement signal to remove the amount of voltage offset over a length of the tubular for which the identifying recognizes the loss of material. An assessment of wall material loss is produced for each arc section of the wall of the tubular based on the zero adjusted signals. An image of the wall of the tubular showing the wall material loss for each arc section is generated.
US09671365B2	Electrowetting dispensing devices and related methods A method for dispensing liquid for use in biological analysis may comprise positioning liquid to be dispensed via electrowetting. The positioning may comprise aligning the liquid with a plurality of predetermined locations. The method may further comprise dispensing the aligned liquid from the plurality of predetermined locations through a plurality of openings respectively aligned with the predetermined locations. The dispensing may be via electrowetting.
US09671361B2	Biochip comprising covalently immobilized bioactive molecules through organic couplers thereon The present invention relates to a biochip comprising an electrode having a titania coating layer on its surface; an organic coupler comprising two or more carboxylic acid groups and capable of transporting electrons; and bioactive molecules, wherein the organic coupler is covalently bonded to a hydroxyl group of titania on the electrode surface through one carboxylic acid group, and to the bioactive molecules through other one or more carboxylic acid groups, a method for analyzing target molecules using the biochip, a method for diagnosing the development of diseases using the biochip, an electrode provided with a titania coating layer on its surface to which an organic coupler, comprising 2 or more carboxylic acid groups and capable of transporting electrons, is bound, wherein the organic coupler is covalently bonded to a hydroxyl group of titania on the electrode surface through one carboxylic acid group, and a method for preparing the electrode provided with a mesoporous titania coating layer, the method comprising coating a mixed solution of a titania precursor and a template polymer on the top of the electrode, and calcinating the coated electrode under an air flow condition.
US09671360B2	Biosensor and method for manufacturing same Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a biosensor comprising (a) forming an insulating layer in an electrode region; (b) coating the first photoresist layer on the insulating layer; (c) performing the first exposing process on the first electrode region through the first photomask; (d) removing unexposed area of the first photoresist layer except for the first electrode region using development; (e) coating the second photoresist layer on the first electrode region and the insulating layer after the step (d); (f) performing the second exposing process on the second electrode regions through the second photomask; (g) performing the third exposing process on the top portion of the second photoresist layer through a photomask with open areas in the shape of micro-sized wires connecting the second electrode regions; (h) removing the second photoresist layer except for the portions exposed in the steps (c), (f) and (g) using development.
US09671358B2	Route examining system and method A system includes at least one examining module configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system and a mitigation module. The at least one examining module is configured to identify an identified section of a route being traversed by the vehicle system, with the identified section corresponding to at least one of a potentially damaged section of the route or an actually damaged section of the route. The mitigation module is configured to, responsive to an identification by the at least one examining module of the identified section of the route, automatically perform a mitigation action corresponding to the identified section of the route.
US09671354B2	Method of electron beam diffraction analysis A method is provided for analysing electron backscatter diffraction data generated from a sample material. An image data set representative of an image of electron backscatter diffraction bands is obtained from the sample material. A set of estimated first diffraction parameters is then generated, these defining individual electron backscatter diffraction bands in the image data set. A candidate phase is then selected together with a respective orientation for the material, based upon the generated set of estimated parameters thereby identifying diffraction bands in the image data set. Second diffraction parameters of the identified diffraction bands are simulated for the candidate phase according to the respective orientation. These second diffraction parameters are then adjusted for the identified simulated bands so as to fit the simulated bands to the bands in the image data. A fitted orientation for the candidate phase is then calculated together with a corresponding fitting parameter defining the quality of fit. The second diffraction parameters are rho and phi angles, each of which is modulated independently during the said adjusting of a fit to a single band.
US09671353B2	Apparatus and system for pest detection, and method for detecting pest damage Provided are apparatus and system for pest detection and a method for detecting pest damage to prevent pest damage in wooden building structures. The apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a post-shaped main body extending in a set direction and formed therealong, and comprising a plurality of holes distanced from each other with a wall therebetween, the wall comprising timber which can be despoiled by pest; and a sensor unit allowing attachment and detachment to and from the upper end of the main body. Here, the sensor unit may comprise: a light-emitting unit comprising at least one light-emitting body for irradiating the interior of at least one hole among the plurality of holes; a sensing unit for sensing the light, emitted from the light-emitting unit, in the interior of at least one hole from among the plurality of holes; and a detection unit for outputting a light signal received from the sensing unit as an electrical signal.
US09671346B2	Particle detecting and discriminating device and method A particle detecting device includes: a storing device that stores first boundary information wherein the third light intensity is recorded in a first range at a discriminating boundary for particles of first and second classifications, second boundary information wherein the third light intensity is recorded in a second range at a discriminating boundary for particles of first and second classifications, and discriminating information wherein identifiers for particles of the first and second classifications are recorded in cells bounded and not bounded by the discriminating boundary, respectively; and a particle identifying portion that evaluates a particle being measured as a particle of the first classification when the identifier for a particle of the first classification is acquired based on the measured values for the first and second light intensities and the measured value for the third light intensity falls between the first and second boundary values.
US09671344B2	High-density biochemical array chips with asynchronous tracks for alignment correction by moiré averaging An array chip useful for biochemical assays is provided wherein the chip includes a field region arranged with attachment sites according to a first pitch and at least one track region having a one-dimensional spot pattern arranged according to a second pitch that is less dense and is a non-integer multiple of the first pitch so that one-dimensional Moiré averaging may be applied in the track region, thereby to attain alignment of the chip to the optical instrumentation with a higher density of attachment sites.
US09671339B2	Method for determining a turbidity and turbidity sensor for implementing the method A method for determining a turbidity of a medium in a container using at least one turbidity sensor. Depending on the ambient conditions at the installation location of the turbidity sensor, comprising the following steps: passing transmitted radiation through the medium, wherein the transmitted radiation is converted by interaction with the medium, as a function of the turbidity in the received radiation; receiving the received radiation; converting the received radiation into a scattered light intensity, and determining the turbidity from the scattered light intensity. The method is characterized by the following steps: detecting the chronological sequence of the scattered light intensity; determining a mean value on the basis of the chronological sequence of the scattered light intensity; determining the turbidity from the mean value using a calibration model by assigning a turbidity to each mean value; determining a corrected mean value on the basis of the chronological sequence of the scattered light intensity, by determining a noise parameter from the scattered light intensity, and by determining the corrected mean value from the noise parameter using a noise model, and determining a corrected turbidity at least from the corrected mean value using the calibration model by assigning a corrected turbidity to each corrected mean value. The invention further relates to a turbidity sensor for implementing the method.
US09671334B2	Multi-analyte optical sensor An analyte-detection system has an optical waveguide with first and second cladding layers adjacent a core; a light source coupled to provide light to the waveguide; a photodetector such as a metal-semiconductor-metal, vertical PIN, or horizontal PIN photodetectors, the photodetector having an absorber configured to detect light escaping from the waveguide through the first cladding layer; multiple, separate, photocurrent collectors, where each photocurrent collector collects current from a separate portion of the photodetector absorber; and at least one current-sensing amplifier for receiving photocurrent. The photodetector absorber is an undivided absorber region for multiple photocurrent collectors. Either separate amplifiers are provided for each of the multiple photocurrent collection lines, or multiplexing logic couples selected photocurrent collectors to amplifiers, while coupling unselected photocurrent collectors to a bias generator.
US09671333B2	Laser gas analyzer A laser gas analyzer includes a wavelength-variable laser having a wide wavelength-variable width, a light-split module configured to split an output light of the wavelength-variable laser into a measurement light and a reference light, a first gas cell into which gases to be measured are introduced, and the measurement light is made to be incident, and a data processor configured to obtain an absorption spectrum of each of the gases to be measured based on a reference signal related to the reference light and an absorption signal related to an output light of the first gas cell, and to obtain concentrations of the respective gases to be measured.
US09671328B2	System and assessment of reflective objects along a roadway A system for classifying different types of sheeting materials of road signs depicted in a videostream compares estimated retroreflectivity values against known minimum retroreflectivity values for each of a plurality of colors. Once a road sign has been identified in the videostream, the frames associated with that road sign are analyzed to determine each of a plurality of colors present on the road sign. An estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors present on the road sign is then determined. By comparing the estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors against known minimum retroreflectivity values for the corresponding color for different types of sheeting materials, an accurate determination of the classification of the sheeting material of the road sign is established. Preferably, certain conditions of gross failure of the sheeting material are filtered out before classification of the sheeting material is determined.
US09671325B2	Particle measuring device A particle measuring device includes: an optical resonator that reflects laser light back and forth between two facing reflective mirrors in order to amplify an energy of that laser light and form resonant laser light; a particle transport unit that transports particles in an aerosol to be measured across a beam path of the resonant laser light; a scattered light receiving unit that receives scattered light produced when the particles in the aerosol are irradiated by the resonant laser light; and a processor that receives light reception signals from the scattered light receiving unit, wherein the processor outputs light reception pulses according to the light reception signals and calculates time intervals between the light reception pulses that are temporally adjacent.
US09671323B2	Detection of foreign material on a substrate chuck A method and apparatus for determining the presence of foreign material on a substrate chuck. The method includes: placing a bottom surface of a substrate on a top surface of the substrate chuck; applying a lateral force in a direction parallel to a top surface of the substrate chuck to the substrate; when the substrate moves partially off or moves completely off the substrate chuck in response to the applying the lateral force then a defect is present between the top surface of the substrate chuck and the bottom surface of the substrate; or when the substrate remains completely on the substrate chuck in response to the applying the lateral force then a defect is not present between the top surface of the substrate chuck and the bottom surface of the substrate.
US09671321B2	Methods and compositions for exosome isolation Disclosed are methods, compositions and kits for the isolation of exosomes from biological fluids and tissues. Volume-excluding polymers are used to precipitate exosomes from biological samples thereby allowing exosome isolation by low-speed (benchtop) centrifugation or filtration. Further fractionation of exosomes after precipitation is also described.
US09671319B1	Sample port A fats, oils, and grease waste materials water sampling apparatus includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a floor to accommodate a sampling jar below the inlet and an open top. The floor in the housing includes a recessed bottom, the recessed bottom extending between the inlet and the outlet to facilitate receipt of a sample jar for fats, oils, and grease waste materials sampling. Systems and methods for the invention are also described.
US09671311B2	Method and device for determining a lambda air ratio using a gas sensor A method for determining a lambda air ratio using a gas sensor having a ceramic measuring element, an output voltage of the gas sensor changing abruptly if lambda is changed in the range around lambda=1 and the gas sensor having an initial inverse voltage which is dependent on the temperature of the gas sensor. A threshold value for the initial inverse voltage is established for a limit between a lambda value below and above 1 as a function of the temperature of the gas sensor. Also described is a device for implementing the method. The method and the device make it possible to operate gas sensors having a ceramic measuring element at an even lower temperature than according to the related art and thus reduce the period between the start of an internal combustion engine and the operational readiness of a lambda regulation. This makes it possible to reduce the fuel consumption as well as the emission of undesirable components of the exhaust gas.
US09671306B2	Water leak warning device An easy-to-use, installation-free water leak warning device having a sturdy hollow body enclosing essential functioning elements including a power source, an amplifier, a speaker, and portions of two electrodes. The water leak warning device is preferably small in size and may be placed at potential water leak or flooding spots. The essential functioning elements are operatively connected with conductive material so that when leaked water flows to where the device is located, an audible signal can be emitted to alert the user of the device to prevent further leakage and mitigate any damage.
US09671303B2	Method and system for laser pressure transducer Methods and systems for provided for accurately estimating an engine intake or exhaust manifold pressure using a laser pressure transducer. Laser circuitry is coupled to a pressure sensitive diaphragm that is mounted to the engine manifold. Manifold pressure is inferred based on a deflection of the diaphragm, as estimated based on a timing between emission of a laser pulse into the diaphragm and detection of a reflected pulse from the diaphragm.
US09671296B2	Portable electronic device with integrated temperature sensor There is provided a portable electronic device with one or more integrated temperature sensors (12) for measuring an ambient temperature, a compensator (25,26) for reducing the difference between a sensor output (Ts) and the ambient temperature (Ta) with the compensator (25,26) switching depending on environmental and/or handling conditions between a plurality of compensation modes selected dependent on measurements of one or more other integrated and/or external sensors.
US09671284B1	Single-photon avalanche diode circuit with variable hold-off time and dual delay regime A circuit is provided. The circuit includes a single-photon avalanche diode. The circuit further includes a delay element comprising a first regulator and a second regulator, each of which is independently selectable based on a selection signal applied to a selection terminal of the delay element. The delay element is configured to receive, at an inverting section, an event signal indicative of an avalanche event in the single-photon avalanche diode. Furthermore, the delay element is configurable in one of two distinct delay resolution regimes, each corresponding to only one edge of the event signal being actively delayed by the delay element when one of the first regulator and the second regulator is enabled and the other one of the first regulator and the second regulator is turned off.
US09671282B2	Imaging device and imaging method having an illuminance calculation unit calculating respective illuminances corresponding to digital signals An imaging device includes an exposure control unit, a determination unit, and an illuminance calculation unit. The exposure control unit is configured to control a plurality of exposure times. The determination unit is configured to determine whether or not saturation occurs using at least one data item of a plurality of data items obtained during the plurality of exposure times. The illuminance calculation unit is configured to calculate, if the determination unit determines that the saturation occurs, an illuminance using a data item different from the at least one data item used in the determination.
US09671278B2	Toilet flush detection system utilizing transducer with piezoelectric sounder element An arrangement for detecting toilet flushing by utilizing an acoustically-based motion detector in a simple amplifier circuit. The detector is in contact with the toilet bowl, which acts as a resonant system. Upon detection of such flushing, a subsequent event, such as a cleaning or disinfecting a toilet, ventilating the surrounding area or releasing deodorant into the area, may be triggered. The mechanically resonant system with the provided circuit is capable of separating frequencies from the frequency of the flushing water in a specific bowl design and provides a high degree of immunity to unwanted ambient frequencies. In addition, the system consumes low power and is suitable for battery power operation.
US09671276B1	Sterilizable wireless animal scale A wireless, sterilizable scale comprising a moving module, on which an animal sits or explores, and a fixed module that measures the weight of the animal on the moving module. The fixed module comprises a compliant membrane or gasket, through which the weight of the moving modules and animal is mechanically coupled. The fixed module comprises three load cells arranged in a triangle so as to support the moving module, through the membrane, such that its tilt is limited. The fixed module is sealed by the membrane and comprises the load cells, batteries and electronics. The fixed module, including an internal moving platform, may be chemically sterilized. The moving module may be sterilized using heat sterilization. IR communication transmits a series of weight values at two different data rates. The scale may be in a sterile cage free of electrical penetrations. A system comprises a vivarium comprising such cages.
US09671270B2	Flow meter having electronic mount bracket assembly A flow meter includes a meter body having a longitudinal axis and including a fluid passageway and an outer surface, and a plurality of electronics housings supported on the meter body by a mounting member, wherein the mounting member includes a base, a tubular member having a passage extending therethrough for the passing of a transducer cable, and a bracket member coupled to the tubular member distal the base, the bracket member having a pair of elongate slots, each configured to allow for the passage of a transducer cable to one of the electronics housings.
US09671268B2	Detection of a change in the cross-sectional area of a fluid tube in a vibrating meter by determining a lateral mode stiffness A method for determining a lateral mode stiffness of one or more fluid tubes (103A, 103B) in a vibrating meter (5) is provided. The method comprises a step of vibrating at least one of the one or more fluid tubes (103A, 103B) in a drive mode vibration. Drive mode sensor signals (310) are received based on a vibrational response to the drive mode vibration. At least one of the one or more fluid tubes (103A, 103B) is vibrated in a lateral mode vibration, wherein the lateral mode is approximately perpendicular to the drive mode. Lateral mode sensor signals (317) are received based on a vibrational response to the lateral mode vibrations. The method further comprises determining a lateral mode stiffness (318) based on the lateral mode sensor signals (317).
US09671267B2	Method and apparatus for accurately measuring individual components of a multiphase fluid using separately measured reynolds number and emulsion type of liquid phase A method for determining the flow rates of a multi-component mixture in a pipe including a gas phase and a liquid phase comprising an emulsion of oil and water, the emulsion being either of the water continuous type or the oil continuous type, the method comprising the following steps: a. the flow rates of the individual components of the multi-component mixture are measured, b. the Reynolds number of the multi-component mixture is measured, c. the emulsion type of the liquid phase of the multi-component mixture is determined, and d. based on the results from steps b and c, a more accurate flow-rate of the individual components of the multi-component mixture and a fluid property of at least one of the components of the multi-component mixture are calculated. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
US09671266B2	Method for thermally determining mass flow of a gaseous medium and thermal mass flow meter A method for determining mass flow of a gas by means of a mass flow meter, which has a first and a second temperature sensor, which can be flowed around by the gas. The first temperature sensor is heated with a heating power Q, wherein the mass flow of the medium is determined by means of a power coefficient PC=Q/ΔT as a function of a heating power Q and a temperature difference ΔTm=T1−T2 between the measured values of the temperature sensor. A corrected power coefficient PCcorr is determined, wherein at least one correction occurs by means of at least one recovery correction term Ki, wherein the recovery correction term Ki has the form Ki=Δx·u2/(2·cp), wherein u is the flow velocity and cp the heat capacity of the medium, Δx is an element of the set {Δ1; Δ2; Δ12}, Δ1:=e1−cr, Δ2:=e2−cr and Δ12:=e1−e2=Δ1−Δ2, e1 and e2 are the recovery factors of the first, respectively second, temperature sensors, and wherein cr is a constant reference value, for which holds cr≦1, especially cr=1.
US09671264B2	Ultrasonic flow switch Provided is an ultrasonic flow switch which can be stably mounted on pipes. A casing part which integrally or independently holds the ultrasonic wave elements is mounted on an outer surface of the pipe by a clamp part. An acoustic couplant which is formed of a soft elastic body is pressed to an outer surface of the pipe such that at least one of the first and second ultrasonic wave elements is acoustically coupled to the pipe. A collapsing amount of the acoustic couplant at a portion where the collapsing amount of the acoustic couplant caused by the pipe is the largest is restricted by a collapsing amount restricting part.
US09671261B2	Ultrasonic flowmeter having multilayer ultrasonic wave damper To provide an ultrasonic flowmeter that prevents reduction in S/N ratio by suppressing the movement of a damping material applied to the pipe of the ultrasonic flowmeter, an ultrasonic flowmeter is provided. The ultrasonic flowmeter includes a first ultrasonic transceiver provided on a part of an outer periphery on an upstream side of a pipe in which gas flows, the first ultrasonic transceiver transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, a second ultrasonic transceiver provided on a part of the outer periphery on a downstream side of the pipe, the second ultrasonic transceiver transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, a main unit measuring a flow quantity of the gas, an ultrasonic absorber provided on the outer periphery of the pipe, the ultrasonic absorber including a first rubber layer formed on the outer periphery of the pipe and a second rubber layer formed on the first rubber layer.
US09671257B2	Correcting and/or preventing errors during the measurement of coordinates of a workpiece An arrangement measures coordinates of a workpiece and/or machines the workpiece. The arrangement has a first part and a second part that can be moved relative to the first part. The relative mobility of the first and second parts is specified in addition to a possible mobility of a probe that is optionally additionally fixed to the arrangement. The mobility of the probe is specified by a deflection of the probe from a neutral position during a mechanical probing of the workpiece for the purpose of measuring the coordinates. A measuring body is arranged on the first or second part, and at least one sensor is arranged on the other part, i.e. on the second or first part. The sensor generates a measurement signal corresponding to a position of the measuring body and thus corresponding to the relative position of the first and second part.
US09671256B2	Proximity sensor A proximity sensor includes a body, a coil, a cap being cylindrical and having a bottom, a hollow housing, and a ring-shaped sealing member. The body includes the coil bobbin at a first end. The coil is wound around the coil bobbin. The cap is to be placed to a body so as to cover a coil bobbin. The housing includes, at a fist end, a circular-cylinder portion having an opening. The housing is to be placed to the body in such a manner that the cap protrudes from the opening. The sealing member is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the cap and the inner peripheral surface of the circular-cylinder portion of the housing.
US09671254B2	Magnetic sensing to detect tampering with a utility meter Disclosed are systems, methods and apparatuses for detecting tampering with a utility meter. A method may comprise measuring a magnetic field created by a rotating magnet in the meter by a removal detector sensor in a solid-state register (SSR). In addition, the SSR may be configured to detect when the SSR is dislodged or removed from the utility meter. The sensor may comprise a register removal tamper alert. The tamper detection methods described herein provide improved techniques for preventing and deterring attempts to alter meters and steal utility-provided resources.
US09671252B2	Apparatus of detecting capacitance An apparatus of detecting capacitance detects a capacitance change of a capacitive sensor. The apparatus includes a pulse modulator configured to output a charging signal including at least one pulse. A switch is configured to charge the capacitive sensor according to the charging signal and output a discharging signal from the capacitive sensor. A discharging compensator is configured to output a discharging delay signal by compensating a voltage level of the discharging signal during a falling period of the discharging signal. A detector is configured to output a detection signal by detecting a region where the discharging delay signal has a voltage threshold. A controller is configured to detect the capacitance change by measuring a discharging time of the capacitive sensor according to the detection signal.
US09671250B2	Subsea sensor assemblies Sensor assemblies, electrical penetrator assemblies and associated methods are provided for monitoring operational characteristics of subsea rotating devices such as subsea motors and pumps. Pressure-compensated proximity sensors configured to withstand subsea pressures are disposed adjacent a subsea rotating shaft for directly monitoring a position of the rotating shaft during dynamic operation thereof. A sensor tip assembly includes a sensor cap and a sensing element therein configured to produce a signal indicative of a distance between the sensor cap and the rotating shaft. A substantially incompressible fluid is disposed within a fluid reservoir within a sensor housing, and fluidly communicates with the sensor cap such that at least a portion of an internal pressure within the sensor housing is applied to interior portions of the sensor cap. The sensor housing is configured such that the internal pressure increases in response to an increase in an external pressure of the sensor housing.
US09671248B2	Method for calibrating an inertial navigation system with a limited mechanical turning range A method of calibrating an inertial unit having an inertial core with vibratory axisymmetric gyros, the method includes the steps of starting from a first position, causing the inertial core to pivot towards a second position about a pivot axis that is different from the sensing axes of the gyros and from a trisector thereof, while taking measurements of an angular orientation of the vibration of each gyro, the angular orientation being left free during pivoting; returning the inertial core to the first position; adjusting the angular orientation of the vibration of each gyro to a value corresponding to the second position; causing the inertial core to pivot towards the second position while once more taking measurements of the angular orientation of each gyro; and calibrating the inertial core as a function of the measurements taken.
US09671247B2	Method for calibrating vibratory gyroscope The present invention is concerned with a method of calibrating a vibrating gyroscope. The method comprises exciting a vibration along an excitation axis of a resonant structure wherein the excitation axis is positioned at a first angular position, sensing the vibration of the resonant structure on a first sensing axis of the resonant structure while the excitation axis is positioned at the first angular position, generating a first sensing signal indicative of the sensed vibration of the resonant structure on the first sensing axis, rotating the excitation axis in a continuous manner around the resonant structure to a second angular position, sensing the vibration of the resonant structure on a second sensing axis of the resonant structure while the excitation axis is positioned at the second angular position, generating a second sensing signal indicative of the sensed vibration of the resonant structure on the second sensing axis and adding the first sensing signal to the second sensing signal in order to derive a bias of the gyroscope.
US09671246B2	Navigation or mapping apparatus and method The invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising a display (240) for displaying a digital map to a user, a processor (210) configured to access digital map data and cause a digital map to be displayed to a user using the display, and a user interface operable by a user to enable the user to interact with the apparatus. The user interface is arranged to allow a user to select a continuous region present in the digital map by providing one or more indications on the digital map displayed to the user. The processor (210) is arranged to determine digital map data relating to the selected continuous region, and to carry out one or more mapping or navigation operations using the determined digital map data. The processor may calculate a route using a path selected on the map by a user.
US09671242B2	Multiple energy routing system Methods, systems, and automotive vehicles are provided for providing routing for an automotive vehicle from a first location to a second location. The automotive vehicle is configured to operate using a primary energy source and a secondary energy source. An energy indicator is configured to provide a measure of available energy from the primary energy source onboard the automotive vehicle. A processor is coupled to the energy indicator, and is configured to ascertain characteristics of a plurality of segments connecting the first location and the second location, and to select an optimized route between the first location and the second location using the measure of available energy and the characteristics of the plurality of segments.
US09671238B2	Navigation system with a combined navigation mechanism and method of operation thereof A navigation system includes: a control unit configured to calculate a non-terrestrial navigation route for guiding a multimodal vehicle during a non-terrestrial travel segment; calculate a ground navigation route for guiding the multimodal vehicle during a ground travel segment beyond a mode-transition point; generate a composite navigation route based on the non-terrestrial navigation route and the ground navigation route for continuously guiding the multimodal vehicle over the non-terrestrial travel segment and the ground travel segment; and an interface unit, coupled to the control unit, configured to communicate the composite navigation route.
US09671237B1	Optimized generation of navigation instructions based on computed parking probability values A number of parking segments is defined as a plurality of areas for street parking. A request for parking within the plurality of parking segments is received that defines parking constraints. The request is for optimize navigation to search for a free parking spot. Parking segments that comply with the parking constraints are determined. Current values for probabilities to park for the parking segments are determined based on evaluation of collected data for parking events. The data may include both traffic data and data related to defined features that are associated with determining of probability values. A route for traversing the parking segments is determined. The route defines an optimized order for traversing according to the determined current value for the probabilities to park. Navigation instructions are provided for the determined optimized route in response to the received request.
US09671229B2	Telecommunications network routing An embodiment is directed towards a network controller for controlling a telecommunications network (70) comprising a plurality of vehicles (250, 280, 330) each including a telecommunications device. The network controller comprises a network configuration database (20), containing data representing the configuration of the network (70); an assets database (30), containing for each vehicle (250, 280, 330) (i) data representing planned movements of the vehicle (250, 280, 330) and (ii) data representing parameters for acceptable variation in said route (260, 290, 350); and an information exchange requirement (IER) database (40), containing data representing expected future network loading. An optimization engine (50) is configured to calculate a set of routes (260, 310, 350) for the vehicles (250, 280, 330) that optimizes the availability of the telecommunications network (70) in the geographic area.
US09671228B2	Floating current mirror for RLG discharge control A ring laser gyroscope (RLG) assembly comprises an RLG block comprising: a first anode; a second anode; a cathode; and a cavity. The RLG assembly further comprises a current supply circuit coupled to the RLG block. The current supply circuit comprises a high voltage power supply to provide a high voltage signal; a first current path coupled between the high voltage power supply and the first anode to provide a first current to the first anode; and a second current path coupled between the high voltage power supply and the second anode to provide a second current to the second anode. The second current path is configured to mirror the first current such that the second current approximately matches the first current. Each component in the second current path is configured to operate based on power derived only from the high voltage signal.
US09671225B2	Method and device for determining a transverse gradient of a road surface on which a two-wheeler travels A method for determining a transverse gradient of a road surface, on which a two-wheeler travels, the two-wheeler having at least one wheel, whose rolling circumference changes as a function of an inclination of the two-wheeler relative to the road surface, an inclination of the two-wheeler relative to the road surface being determined from a variable, which depends on the rolling circumference of the at least one wheel, and the transverse gradient of the road surface being determined from the tilt of the two-wheeler and the inclination relative to the road surface. A corresponding device and a computer program product are also described.
US09671224B2	Methods resolving the elevation of a tracked personnel or assets Methods and systems are described for determining the elevation of tracked personnel or assets (trackees) that can take input from mounted sensors on each trackee (including barometric, inertial, magnetometer, radio frequency ranging and signal strength, light and GPS sensors), external constraints (including ranging constraints, feature constraints, and user corrections), and terrain elevation data. An example implementation of this method for determining elevation of persons on foot is described. But this method is not limited to computing elevation of personnel or to on foot movements.
US09671217B2	Structure measuring unit for tracking, measuring and marking edges and corners of adjacent surfaces A measuring unit having an edge tracking function which runs at least partially automatically. After an at least coarse alignment of a targeting unit having an alignment display function at a first corner known or defined by a user between adjacent surfaces of the structure and a recording of an image of the said first corner with the environment thereof, edge lines are identified as part of the edge tracking function by means of an edge definition by image processing, a query is made as to which of the identified edges lines should be tracked starting from the first corner or in which direction the identified edge line should be tracked starting from the first edge point a user-defined edge line is tracked automatically by the targeting unit at least as far as to a further corner, wherein spatial points situated along the user-defined edge line are measured if necessary.
US09671211B2	Method and apparatus for measuring linear displacement For some embodiments, a system includes a moveable structure, moveable in at least a linear direction relative to a supporting structure, a magnetic field sensor assembly including a magnetic field sensor, and a magnet, wherein one of the magnet and the magnetic field sensor is coupled to the moveable structure, and wherein the other of the magnet and the magnetic field sensor assembly is coupled to the supporting structure, and wherein the magnetic field sensor assembly is configured to determine the relative position of the magnet to the magnetic field sensor.
US09671210B2	Method for determining a correction value for the monitoring of a fluid bearing and machine having at least one fluid bearing A method for ascertaining a correction value for monitoring a fluid bearing of a coordinate measuring machine or other machine tool. Also disclosed is a coordinate measuring machine having at least one fluid bearing. The machine further includes a first element and a second element which are supported against each other by means of at least one fluid bearing. In addition, a control device is provided for controlling the machine. A quantity representing a pressure in the at least one fluid bearing is ascertained as a function of a position and/or orientation of the first element relative to the second element. A correction value for a pressure in the at least one fluid bearing is determined for the position and/or orientation of the first element relative to the second element. The correction value is then stored in the control device, and subsequently used for machining or measuring a workpiece.
US09671204B2	Rifle grenade using bullet trap Disclosed is a rifle grenade using a bullet trap. A propellent assembly is formed with a first housing configured to house a trapping unit that traps a bullet shot from a gun to travel from rear to front and absorbs kinetic energy of the bullet, and a second housing configured to house a propelling unit that is disposed in front of the first housing, and is activated by the kinetic energy of the bullet which is absorbed into the trapping unit to provide a propelling force in a trajectory direction of the rifle grenade.
US09671203B1	Fire extinguishing bullet system for launching Disclosed herein is a fire extinguishing bullet system for launching, which is capable of effectively extinguishing a fire generated at a place that is difficult to access by a person by loading a fire extinguishing bullet that generates a fire extinguishing gas having a fire extinguishing effect onto a projectile, throwing the fire extinguishing bullet loaded at a long distance from a firing point to a specific distance, and discharging the fire extinguishing gas after the fire extinguishing bullet reaches the firing point.
US09671200B1	Kinetic air defense A missile defense system on an aircraft for destroying threats to the aircraft. The defense system includes at least one miniature guided missile mounted in a launch tube on the aircraft, where the guided missile includes a target acquisition and seeker system. The system also includes at least one sensor on the aircraft for acquiring a target threat, and a controller on the aircraft receiving signals from the at least one sensor. The controller generates a fire control solution that is provided to the at least one guided missile that directs the guided missile once it is fired from the launch tube towards the target threat, and the seeker system on the guided missile acquires the target once it is launched from the aircraft so as to destroy the target.
US09671199B1	Armor steel products and method for making same A process for making steel armor products for use, for example as body armor. The steel armor product made has a compound curve and is made from a flat blank of armor steel by high-temperature annealing an armor steel blank to slightly above its austenitizing temperature, then followed by a slow, temperature-controlled cooling it, over-pressing the annealed blank to a first configuration so it springs back to a second configuration approximating the desired product shape when released from the press, and then heat-treating the product back to its austenitizing temperature, quenching it, and tempering it at a low temperature. The tool is conveniently made by lamination, using a series of thin plates of tool steel each cut to produce an approximation of the desired die.
US09671197B2	Remotely operated target-processing system A remotely operated target-processing system includes a shooting robot having a stand supporting a firing part having an optoelectronic aiming device providing an image of the target, sensors detecting the relative position of the firing part, and actuators positioning the firing-pt. A central unit receives the instructions and the signals from the sensors and generates control signals for the actuators and the firing-pert. A control screen displays the image and embeds aiming data, and a control member directs the trajectory line.
US09671195B2	Dot sighting device A sighting device includes a body, a light emitting unit, a bracket, a first adjusting unit and a second adjusting unit. The body couples to an arm having a barrel. The body is disposed relative to the arm in a first direction defined on an up and down axis. A third direction is defined as a direction of the barrel on a front and back axis. A second direction is defined as a left and right axis. The bracket couples to the light emitting unit. The first adjusting unit couples the bracket to the body and moves the bracket relative to the body. The second adjusting unit couples the bracket to the body and moves the bracket relative to the body.
US09671194B1	Device for cyclically operating a firearm trigger A device for cyclically operating a trigger of a firearm includes a glove having a finger stall, a pull mounted at the finger stall, and a drive mechanism coupled to the pull to move the finger stall from a bent configuration toward a straight configuration. The drive mechanism actuates in response to an activation signal.
US09671192B2	Positioning control mechanism of expandable baton The present invention is to provide a positioning control mechanism applied to an expandable baton including a first pipe provided with a clamping groove portion on two opposite inner walls thereof and a second pipe inserted into the first pipe and provided with shifting holes on two opposite wall surfaces thereof. The positioning control mechanism includes an activating mechanism and a releasing rod. The activating mechanism is formed by two activating blocks movably positioned in the shifting holes and hooked with each other to form a releasing hole therebetween. The releasing rod is mounted inside the first pipe and, when one end of the releasing rod is inserted into the releasing hole, the outer edges of the activating block can be retracted inwardly and is not inserted in the clamping groove portion, so the second pipe can be retracted into the first pipe and positioned to form a short-rod shape.
US09671191B1	Methods and system for a stabilizing camera mount for an archery bow Embodiments of a stabilizing camera mount apparatus having a mount assembly for mounting a camera to a bow, such as an archery bow. The mount assembly includes a camera mount with a plurality of springs and/or a dampening material interposed between a top plate and a bottom plate for providing a dampening effect that prevents the camera from excessive movement when the bow is moved by an individual.
US09671190B1	Hinged archery sight for a bow for shooting arrows A hinged archery sight for a bow for shooting arrows includes a sight portion; a hinge portion for pivotally securing a front member of the hinged archery sight to a back member of the hinged archery sight when a bow string is disposed between the front and back members; and fasteners for securing the front and back members of the hinged archery sight to a bow string.
US09671187B2	Trigger module for automatic fire enabled firearms A trigger module is particularly suited for use with firearms having an upper receiver and a lower receiver which are connected in an operable condition and may be separated to expose a trigger mechanism area in the lower receiver. The trigger module includes a module housing including a first side wall spaced apart from a second side wall. An automatic sear mount is included on the module housing and an automatic sear is pivotally secured to the module housing on the automatic sear mount. An automatic sear biasing element is also mounted on the module housing. One or more trigger mechanism mounts are also included on the module housing and a trigger mechanism is secured to the module housing on the one or more trigger mechanism mounts.
US09671183B2	Controlling cooling flow in a sootblower based on lance tube temperature A cleaning system and method for cleaning heat transfer surfaces in a boiler using a temperature measuring system for measuring and monitoring wall temperature of an annular wall of the tube of a lance of one or more sootblowers. Controlling a flow of steam or other fluid through the tube during the cooling portions of the strokes based on wall temperature measurements from the temperature measuring system. Infrared or thermocouple temperature measuring systems may be used. The steam or other fluid may be flowed at a default flowrate that may be substantially zero until the temperature measuring system indicates the wall temperature of the annular wall begins to exceed a predetermined temperature limit which may be the softening point of the annular wall. Then the steam or other fluid is flowed at a rate greater than the default flowrate.
US09671182B2	Copper alloy tube for heat exchanger excellent in fracture strength The present invention provides a copper alloy tube for heat exchangers which is tolerable to a high operating pressure of new cooling media such as carbon dioxide and HFC-based fluorocarbons, and is excellent in fracture strength, even if the tube is thinned, and a copper alloy tube for a heat exchanger which has a composition having specified amounts of Sn and P, has an average crystal grain size of 30 μm or less and has a high strength of 250 MPa or more of a tensile strength in the longitudinal direction of the tube improves the fracture strength as a texture in which the orientation distribution density in the Goss orientation is 4% or less.
US09671181B2	Heat exchanger with improved tank and tube construction A heat exchanger assembly includes a first tank having a tube side wall and a first reservoir. A first row of apertures extends through the tube side wall of the first tank. A first mounting block is secured to the first tank and has a first aperture. A second tank has a tube side wall and a second reservoir with a second row of apertures extending through its tube side wall. A second mounting block is secured to the second tank with a second aperture extending therethrough. A flow tube with a plurality of fins is received in the first aperture of the first block and the second aperture of the second block.
US09671179B2	Liquid-cooled-type cooling device A liquid-cooled-type cooling device includes a casing having a cooling-liquid inlet and a cooling-liquid outlet, and an outflow pipe connected to the cooling-liquid outlet. The casing includes a cooling-liquid outflow portion, and the cooling-liquid outlet is formed in a top wall of the cooling-liquid outflow portion. The outflow pipe has a bottom wall parallel to a portion of the top wall of the cooling-liquid outflow portion where the cooling-liquid outlet is formed. The bottom wall has a through hole for communication with the cooling-liquid outlet. A guide portion is provided on a portion of an upper surface of a bottom wall of the cooling-liquid outflow portion, the portion corresponding to the cooling-liquid outlet, so as to change, toward an upward direction, the flow direction of cooling liquid flowing into the cooling-liquid outflow portion. Thus, a flow resistance which cooling liquid undergoes when flowing out of the casing can be reduced.
US09671177B2	Heat exchanger, method for fabricating heat exchanger, and air-conditioning apparatus Plate-like fins have notches longer than a longitudinal axis of flat tubes that are placed in the notches. The plate-like fins also have bend portions that are located on projections projecting toward the edges more than the ends of the flat tubes, are formed by bending part of the plate-like fins, erect in a stacking direction in which the plate-like fins are stacked, and are in contact with adjacent ones of the plate-like fins. The height of the bend portions in the stacking direction is the length of a predetermined spacing.
US09671176B2	Heat exchanger, and method for transferring heat A heat exchanger is provided to efficiently transfer heat between air and a flow of refrigerant in a reversing air-sourced heat pump system. When the system is operating in heat pump mode, a flow of air is directed through the heat exchanger and is heated by the refrigerant. A portion of the flow of air is prevented from being heated by the refrigerant in a first section of the heat exchanger, and is used to sub-cool the refrigerant in another section of the heat exchanger after the remaining air has been heated by the refrigerant. The same heat exchanger can be used to cool a flow of air using expanded refrigerant when the system is operating in an air conditioning (cooling) mode.
US09671175B2	System for reversibly storing electrical energy as thermal energy A system for reversibly storing electrical energy as thermal energy. The system can include a reversible subcritical vapor-liquid cycle energy storage system with a single hot storage fluid tank and cold storage fluid tank that are inter connected by an inter storage tank flow path. The inter storage tank flow path includes an inter storage heat exchanger in the vapor-liquid cycle that enables sensible heat transfer between the working fluid and storage fluid as the storage fluid passes between the hot storage fluid tank and the cold storage fluid tank. This supplements latent heat transfer between the working fluid and the hot storage fluid tank and the cold storage fluid tank.
US09671174B2	Thermal ground plane with tension elements A thermal ground plane includes a casing having a first casing portion and a second casing portion, the first casing portion united with the second case portion via an ultrasonic weldment so as to delimit a hermetically sealed casing chamber. A phase-change media, a wicking structure and a spacing element are further characteristic of the device, each of which resides within the casing member. The wicking structure is adjacent the first casing portion of the casing, with the spacing element intermediate the wicking structure and the second casing portion.
US09671172B2	Motor with cooled rotor A fan includes an air movement implement including a blade and a motor that drives the air movement implement. The motor includes a rotor that includes an internal diameter heat exchanger and a heat pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end in thermal contact with the internal diameter heat exchanger and the second end in thermal contact with the blade.
US09671170B2	Heat exchange device for exchanging heat between fluids The present invention relates to a heat exchange device for exchanging heat between two fluids circulating through insulated conduits. In the preferred example the first fluid is a hot gas originating from an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, and the second fluid is a coolant liquid used for removing heat from the hot gas. The device according to the invention has a simple and cheap construction, lacking a shell, formed by a plurality of extruded aluminum profile segments attached by clad plates arranged perpendicularly giving rise to a very compact and light-weight configuration when it is in an operating mode.
US09671163B2	Method and apparatus for recovering from a pressurized gas a liquid fraction, in particular hydrocarbons having two or more carbon atoms An expansion device having a passageway formed orderly by a tubular inlet portion, a tubular throat portion and a tubular outlet portion, with a closing element arranged in the throat portion, the closing element adapted to cause a Joule-Thomson expansion and cooling of an at least partially gaseous fluid that is supplied at a predetermined pressure (P1), where in the inlet portion a direction means is provided for directing the fluid according to a flow direction that is generally at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the inlet portion, in order to reduce the friction of the at least partially gaseous fluid when flowing through the throat portion at the closing element, in order to approximate the transformation to a reversible isentropic transformation more closely than what is possible with the known lamination valves.
US09671158B1	Cooler with modular lighting A cooler with a modular light bar having multiple LEDs to illuminate an entire interior of the cooler is disclosed herein. The LEDs are preferably automatically activated by a switch positioned in the cooler. When the lid is in an open state, the switch completes a circuit from a battery to the LEDs of the modular light bar thereby allowing the LEDs to illuminate the entire interior chamber of the cooler.
US09671157B2	Apparatus, method and system for managing and dispensing liquid enhancement components from a refrigerator A refrigerator or liquid dispensing appliance adapted for receiving, storing, managing, processing and dispensing a liquid enhancement component for preparation of a finished beverage is disclosed. Delivery, processing and management of the liquid enhancement component includes loading a solid liquid enhancement component at a product interface, and managing the transfer of the liquid enhancement component through various systems of the invention including processing to provide a processed liquid enhancement component for discharging for preparing a finished beverage.
US09671156B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber, a door opening or closing the storage chamber, and a dispenser provided at the door. The dispenser includes a dispenser housing that is recessed backward into the door to define a container accommodation space. A control panel unit includes a display part and a dispensing mode selection part. An image corresponding to the dispensing mode selected through the dispensing mode selection part is displayed on the display part as a moving picture by a control from a controller.
US09671154B1	Storage units A storage unit can include a front wall, a rear wall and a divider selectively locatable at at least three positions between the front wall and the rear wall, thereby defining at least three distinct storage areas. The front wall can include a front wall free edge that is structured to support and retain obliquely and spaced away from one another in a storage area between the front wall and the divider upper portions of at least two of a first group of substantially cylindrical articles. The divider can include a divider free edge that is structured to support and retain obliquely and spaced away from one another in a storage area between the divider and the rear wall upper portions of at least two of a second group of substantially cylindrical articles.
US09671146B2	Refrigerant cooling and lubrication system with refrigerant vapor vent line Generally, apparatuses, systems, and methods are described to vent refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant pump line using a vent line, such as during priming of the pump and/or during a startup of the compressor, directed to a relatively reduced volute casing mass of the refrigerant pump, and/or directed to returning refrigerant to an economizer or chiller component other than the condenser.
US09671145B2	Combined accumulator and receiver tank A combined accumulator and receiver tank of a refrigeration system is described. The tank may have an accumulator portion positioned above a receiver portion. An accumulator/receiver pipe (AR pipe) connects the accumulator portion to the receiver portion. The AR pipe may have a valve that allows liquid refrigerant to flow from the accumulator portion to the receiver portion during a heating and/or defrost, and prevent the fluid flow when the refrigeration system is in a cooling cycle. In some embodiments, a side opening that is connected to the AR pipe is above an oil pick up orifice of an accumulator suction line pipe.
US09671144B1	Thermal-compression refrigeration system Aspects of the disclosure provide a system and method for thermal-compression refrigeration. The refrigeration system includes a storage tank that stores a refrigerant condensate from a condenser, a mixing chamber that receives a refrigerant vapor from an evaporator and a portion of the refrigerant condensate from the storage tank, and produces a refrigerant mixture of the refrigerant vapor and the portion of the refrigerant condensate, and a first and second refrigerant compressors between the mixing chamber and condenser. The first and second refrigerant compressors each receives the refrigerant mixture from the mixing chamber, compresses the refrigerant mixture to produce a compressed refrigerant using thermal energy, and is capable of operating in a heater mode or a cooler mode.
US09671138B2	Cascaded power plant using low and medium temperature source fluid The present invention provides a method for operating a plurality of independent, closed cycle power plant modules each having a vaporizer comprising the steps of: serially supplying a medium or low temperature source fluid to each corresponding vaporizer of one or more first plant modules, respectively, to a secondary preheater of a first module, and to a vaporizer of a terminal module, whereby to produce heat depleted source fluid; providing a primary preheater for each vaporizer; and supplying said heat depleted source fluid to all of said primary preheaters in parallel.
US09671137B2	Absorbent material and solar panel using such a material The invention concerns a multilayer material comprising at least: a support having a reflectance R higher than 80% for radiations of wavelengths higher than 5 μm, a selective layer comprising a combination of Vanadium oxides VO2 and VO2O2n+/−1, with n>1, said selective layer having an absorbance higher than 75% for radiations of wavelengths comprised between 0.4 and 2.5 μm, regardless of the temperature T, and having, for radiations of wavelengths comprised between 6 and 10 μm, a transmittance Tr such that: Tr>85% for TTc. Application to the production of thermal solar panels having a low stagnation temperature and high performance.
US09671134B2	Vapor heating implement A vapor heating implement satisfies: (A) the content of water in the heating implement is equal to or higher than 40 parts by mass and is equal to or lower than 80 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the oxidizable metal; (B) the content of the water-retention agent in the exothermic composition is equal to or higher than 0.3 parts by mass and is equal to or lower than 20 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the oxidizable metal; (C) the content of water contained in the exothermic layer (121A) is equal to or higher than 8 parts by mass and is equal to or lower than 45 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the oxidizable metal; and (D) the content of water contained in the water-retention sheet (121C) is from 15 to 30 mass % of the maximum water absorption of the water-retention sheet.
US09671128B2	Air conditioner having angled heat exchangers An air conditioner including a frame, a fan operable to generate an airflow that moves in an airflow direction, and a first heat exchanger including a first end adjacent the air inlet, a second end adjacent the air outlet, an air inlet face that extends between the first end and the second end, an air outlet face that extends between the first end and the second end and faces opposite the air inlet face, and a longitudinal axis that extends through the first end and the second end between the air inlet face and the air outlet face. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the airflow and a cooling medium. A first heat exchanger angle is defined between the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger and the airflow direction, and the first heat exchanger angle can be between about 3 degrees and about 20 degrees.
US09671126B2	Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms A system for maintaining thermal separation between first and second adjacent rooms or spaces. The system includes a vestibule with at least a first compartment, and other embodiments may include two or more compartments, such that the vestibule provides a passageway between the first and second rooms. At least one blower draws air from the first room through an air intake, and back into the first room through an exhaust. The system further includes an exhaust port from the first compartment in fluid communication with the exhaust, to exhaust air from the first compartment into the first room. During operation, a vacuum is formed within the first compartment that provides thermal separation between the first and second adjacent rooms.
US09671124B2	Management apparatus and method of managing air-conditioning apparatus A remaining memory capacity of a memory is acquired in a predetermined cycle, and remaining memory capacity MR is stored in a remaining capacity database in association with an acquisition date. After that, it is determined whether or not a memory leak is present based on the remaining memory capacity and the acquisition date stored in the remaining capacity database. When it is determined that the memory leak possibly occurs, a usage limit period being a length of time to a point when a forced restart according to a usage limit threshold is performed is computed based on the remaining memory capacity and a memory decreasing rate. A restart schedule (and an all-stop period) is set within the usage limit period. On a date of the restart schedule, a management apparatus for managing an air-conditioning apparatus is restarted.
US09671123B2	Air conditioner An air conditioner having an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, at least one of which includes a communication unit, a switching unit turned on when communication lines are connected to the communication unit, turned off in a standby mode, and turned on when the standby mode is released, a voltage distribution unit distributing voltage applied to the communication unit when the switching unit is turned off, a voltage adjustment unit adjusting the voltage applied to the communication unit and transmitting the adjusted voltage to the communication unit, and a control unit turning the switching unit on when driving voltage is input to the control unit, turning the switching unit off when the at least one of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit enters the standby mode, and turning the switching unit on based on the voltage distributed by the voltage distribution unit in the standby mode.
US09671121B2	Motion tracking Apparatuses, methods, apparatuses and systems for tracking motion are disclosed. One method includes identifying a group of sensors that includes a plurality of neighboring sensors sensing motion greater than a threshold during a time interval, and tracking motion, comprising linking the group to at least one past group of at least one past time interval.
US09671118B2	Air-conditioning system An air-conditioning system includes: a first duct through which air discharged from an electronic instrument passes; a water vapor retention chamber; an evaporator configured to be heated by the air passing through the first duct and thereby to generate water vapor inside the water vapor retention chamber; a desiccant rotor including an adsorbent to adsorb moisture and configured to be driven and rotated by a driving unit; a humidification chamber; a second duct configured to feed outdoor air introduced from an outdoor space into the humidification chamber; and a third duct configured to feed the air passing through the humidification chamber into a room where the electronic instrument is installed, wherein a portion of the desiccant rotor is located inside the water vapor retention chamber, and another portion of the desiccant rotor is located inside the humidification chamber.
US09671111B2	Fuel selector valve with shutter mechanism for a gas burner unit A selector valve and shutter mechanism for use with a gas burner unit is disclosed. The valve includes a pilot gas manifold which is in communication with two pilot flames and associated ODS for two different kinds of gas fuel. The shutter mechanism opens or closes an opening to a burner mixing chamber to thereby adjust the flow of air into the mixing chamber depending on the fuel selected, and preferably is in the form of a sleeve that in one approach is rotatably mounted on a part of the burner mixing chamber, with a part of the sleeve covering the mixing chamber opening in one orientation and opening it to airflow in another orientation. A first gear is mounted on the sleeve which is engageable with a second gear mounted on part of the valve which is rotatable to one position or another depending on the gas fuel selected, the sleeve thereby adjusting the airflow to the mixing chamber in response to the valve position. In another approach, the cover moves linearly along the burner tube between orientations. A novel selector mechanism having a manifold for gas flows and a plate-like element to adjust the manifold is also disclosed.
US09671109B2	Chimney cleaner A chimney cleaner that is conveniently installed within a chimney liner is described. In some embodiment, the chimney cleaner is integrated with the chimney cap that may be used to replace existing chimney caps. The chimney cleaner utilizes a cleaner tool affixed to a cable such that the cleaner tool may be raised and lowered within the chimney liner by shortening or lengthening the cable.
US09671106B2	Steam generator and method for generating steam A steam generator apparatus for generating steam from a feedwater inlet stream including impurities is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tubing circuit in communication with an inlet for receiving the feedwater stream, the tubing circuit having a substantially unrifled bore defined by a metal wall, and a heat source operable to deliver a heat flux to the feedwater stream through the metal wall of the tubing circuit, the heat flux being operable to cause evaporation of feedwater within the tubing circuit and to produce an outlet stream at an outlet of the tubing circuit, the outlet stream includes a steam portion and liquid phase portion, the steam portion being greater than about 80% of the outlet stream by mass, the steam portion providing sufficient cooling of the metal wall to maintain a wall temperature at less than a threshold temperature associated with safe operation of the steam generator apparatus.
US09671104B2	Refrigeration appliance with indirect cooling-chamber illumination The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance with at least one cooling chamber, which is formed by walls and at least one door, wherein the refrigeration appliance has an illuminating device with at least one light source for illuminating the cooling chamber indirectly.
US09671103B2	Energy-saving and high brightness lighting fixture An energy-saving and high brightness lighting fixture includes a light cover, a circular plate, a light-collecting lens, a housing body and an electronic device. The light cover is tubular with a plurality of heat sinks and a cooling tank. A circular plate is riveted with light cover's engaging portion, and an LED lamp is disposed on it. A light-collecting lens is disposed on the top of the light cover. A housing body's surface with fixture block and limiting strip, which housing body is inserted in the restricting groove by limiting strip and using fixture block to fix at ring groove of light cover. An electronic device has a main circuit board and at least one auxiliary circuit board, and electronic device can be inserted inside the light cover to reduce the volume and enhance the cooling effect.
US09671098B2	Rechargeable lighting devices A rechargeable lighting device has a rechargeable power source with a positive electrode located at its rear end, a main power circuit that powers a light source and includes the positive electrode, a charging circuit configured to be enabled when the lighting device engages a charging device, and at least one charging contact located on the exterior of the lighting device at or near its tail end. A microcontroller and switch are located at the rear end and the microcontroller wakes up to either turn on the main power circuit and isolate the charging contract from a charging ground path or turn on the charging circuit in which case the charging contact acts as part of the charging ground path.
US09671092B2	Backlight module and display device using the backlight module A backlight module and an engagement fitting thereof, and a display device using the backlight module are provided. The backlight module includes: a rear shell including a back plate and a side plate formed with an assembly hole; a middle frame engaged with the side plate and formed with an engagement portion extending toward the assembly hole; and an engagement fitting disposed in a receiving space and adjacent to the side plate. The engagement fitting includes a buckling member and an engagement member penetrating through the assembly hole, the buckling member is for buckling with an optical component set, the engagement member is for engaging with the engagement portion, and thereby achieving tight engagement of the rear shell, the middle frame and the optical component set. The present invention can effectively simplify the structure of the backlight module, improve the structural strength and reduce the production cost.
US09671087B2	Illumination device In an illumination device, light emitted from an emission element is directed toward a second luminous flux control member by a first luminous flux control member of a luminous flux control member, and then toward the side and rear of the illumination device from the second luminous flux control member. The light is then caused to pass through a cover having a shape in which the ratio (R/O) of the distance (R) between P3-P4 in the Y direction to the distance (O) between P1-P2 in the X direction is greater than 0.33 and less than 1.2, and then the light is evenly distributed to the front, sides and rear of the illumination device.
US09671085B2	Reflector for an LED light source A reflector for reflecting light emitted by an LED light source and a method of forming the same are provided. The reflector has a unitary silicone body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The unitary silicone body has an inner surface extending between the first and second ends. The inner surface defines a first aperture at the first end for receiving the LED light source. The inner surface defines a second aperture at the second end for permitting light emitted from the LED light source to escape the unitary silicone body. The inner surface has a maximum inner diameter between the first and second ends. The inner surface has an inner diameter at the second end that is less than the maximum inner diameter.
US09671083B2	Light fixture with reflective optics In various embodiments, there is provided a luminaire optical system that includes a first optical module and a second optical module. The first optical module includes a first reflective surface configured to output light vectors in a first direction. The second optical module includes a second reflective surface configured to reflect light vectors from the second optical module in a second direction. The first reflective surface and the second reflective surfaces are surfaces of one reflector.
US09671082B2	Warning lamp assembly A warning lamp assembly includes a housing having an upper chamber and a bottom chamber; a driving unit; a gear mechanism including a rotary disk disposed within the upper chamber, and formed with an inwardly and radially extending retention flange, a bearing unit disposed on the retention flange so as to permit rotation of the disk relative to the upper chamber, a toothed wheel having outer peripheral teeth meshed with an axle of the driving unit and an inner periphery formed with downward projections slidably contacting the bearing unit and hence covering the same from above to prevent disengagement of the wheel from the rotary disk; a light source fixed within the upper chamber; and a parabolic reflector disposed on the wheel and covering the light source from above to reflect light rays emitted from the light source in a horizontal plane while simultaneously rotating together with the wheel.
US09671081B2	Marker lamp According to the present disclosure, a first optical system includes a first light source and emits a first illumination light. A second optical system includes a second light source and emits a second illumination light. A controller controls turning-on/off of the first light source and the second light source. The first optical system and the second optical system are configured such that a first illumination standard is satisfied by the first illumination light and the second illumination light. The first optical system is configured such that a second illumination standard is satisfied by the first illumination light. The controller allows the turning-on of the first light source when the turning-on of the second light source is disabled, and prohibits the turning-on of the second light source when the turning-on of the first light source is disabled.
US09671074B2	Modular tree with trunk connectors A lighted artificial tree as that includes a first trunk body, a second trunk body, a first electrical connector, and a second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is housed in the first trunk body, and the second electrical connector is housed in the second trunk body. The first trunk body is configured to couple to the second trunk body, causing the first and second electrical connectors to make electrical connection, the first electrical connector being rotationally locked to the second electrical connector.
US09671071B1	Networked LED lighting system An improved LED lighting system is provided for overhead ceiling lighting, as well as for other uses. The LED lighting system comprises elongated linear lamps having an LED luminary as a source of illumination and configured to operate as a node of an automated networked lighting system. The linear LED lamps have associated modular network connectors and control components so that they can receive control data and power signals over a single network cable according to a standardized power and data network communications architecture such as Ethernet. The system includes connector assemblies designed to securely mount the networkable linear LED lamps to conventional tube lamp lighting fixtures or to another support housing and to provide integrated power and data connectivity to internal components of the lamps. In one form, the disclosed system includes a network enabled snap-fit connector assembly mounted to a lighting fixture and configured to provide Ethernet power and data connectivity to the lamp. The LED lamps have first and second mechanical connectors at opposite ends of the lamp body, and the snap-fit connectors are configured to secure the lamps to an overhead lighting fixture or other support structure as an incident of the lamp ends moving relative to the mounting connectors in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position. The snap-fit connectors are also configured to form a network connection with an internal modular network connector associated with the lamp with the lamp mounted in its operative state on a support. In another form, a clipping mechanism is provided for mounting linear networkable LED lamps to an overhead grid ceiling system.
US09671070B2	LED spherical lamp An LED spherical lamp includes a base, a power supply unit, a substrate and a cover. The power supply unit is installed inside the base, and the substrate has plural LED light emitting elements and is coupled to a side of the base, and the cover is fixed to the base for covering the substrate. The LED spherical lamp includes an electrical connector installed to the substrate and having a plurality of electrical terminals for electrically connecting the substrate to the power supply unit, and an engaging slot is concavely formed on a side of the electrical connector, such that the power supply unit drives the LED light emitting elements to achieve the lighting effect. The LED spherical lamp has the effects of simplifying the assembling and manufacturing procedure, assuring the electrical conduction of components, and facilitating the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the components.
US09671069B2	Lamp unit and vehicle lamp apparatus including the same A lamp unit which implements a source light source with a small number of light sources using a lens and a vehicle lamp apparatus including the same. The lamp unit includes an optical member, a base plate spaced from the optical member by a predetermined distance, and a spacer between the base plate and the optical member. The spacer supports an edge of the optical member, and a light source is disposed on the base plate. A lens is coupled to the base plate, and the lens covers the light source. The lens includes a connection portion contacting the base plate, and a reinforcement part contacting the spacer.
US09671068B2	Pipeline leakage protection vault system A pipeline leakage protection vault system includes a plurality of leakage protection vault modules and a central control unit adapted to be communicably configured to each other. Each module includes a retrofittable configuration adapted to include sub-modules coupled around the pipeline. Each sub-module includes a protective casing, spacer rings and a vault door. The protective casing is adapted to compliment the portion of the pipeline to be fitted to protect the fluid in event of leakage. Further, the spacer rings are adapted to be disposed circumferentially over the protective casing in spaced relationship from each other. The spacer rings includes a plurality of components adapted to monitor parameters associated with the pipeline to generate real time data related to the pipeline. Furthermore, the vault door disposed over the top protective casing and rest over the spacer rings covering the sub-module and withholding the fluid in case of leakage.
US09671066B2	Tank assembly collar mount A tank assembly having a gas impermeable liner having a neck for storing a compressed gas is provided. The neck has a threaded bore. An annular collar having a generally circular opening is disposed around the neck. A structural layer substantially envelopes the liner and secures the collar to the neck.
US09671064B2	Device case with strap A case for a portable electronic device includes a base plate, a device securing mechanism operable to hold the electronic device adjacent to the base plate, and a stretchable strap connected to the base plate. The strap is biased toward a rest position, wherein the strap lies substantially flush with the base plate. The strap is configured to be stretchable between the rest position and a stretched position away from the back of the base plate to allow a user's hand or other item to be placed between the strap and the case.
US09671060B1	Accessory mounting track An accessory mounting track provides quick and easy removable attachment and positioning of various devices. The method of attachment of devices to the accessory mounting track may be compatible with the attachment of these devices to other mounting systems, allowing the accessory mounting track to be used interchangeably with those systems.
US09671054B1	Device for sealing a fluid delivery system and method A device for semi-permanently sealing a leaking fluid delivery system comprising generally cylindrical resilient tubing comprising a material that permits delivery through a portion of a fluid delivery system at a first diameter and application to an interior wall of the fluid delivery system at a second diameter when exposed to temperature and pressure gradients, and further configured to undergo a change from the second diameter to a third diameter when exposed to reduced pressure to enable removal of the cylindrical resilient tubing from the fluid delivery system for replacement by a second length of generally cylindrical resilient tubing that permits delivery at a first diameter and application to an interior wall of the at least a portion of the fluid delivery system at a second diameter when exposed to temperature and pressure gradients.
US09671051B2	Quick connect coupling with sleeve The present invention provides a quick connect coupling with a sleeve.
US09671047B2	Polyethylene of raised temperature resistance The present disclosure relates to a polyethylene composition of Raised Temperature Resistance, having the following features: 1) a density from 0.935 to 0.945 g/cm3; 2) a melt flow index MIF from 10 to 18 g/10 min; 3) a melt flow index MIP from 1 to 2.5 g/10 min; and 4) a MIF/MIP ratio from 5 to 10.
US09671046B2	Cable suspension assembly A cable hanger is disclosed. The cable hanger may include a first latch configured to suspend the cable hanger from a strut and a second latch configured to suspend the cable hanger from the strut. The cable hanger may also include a cable saddle to hold one or more cables. When the cable hanger is suspended by the first latch and not the second latch, a gap may be formed between the cable saddle and the strut such that the cable saddle is configured to receive the one or more cables through the gap. When the cable hanger is suspended by the second latch, the gap may be closed between the cable saddle and the strut to secure the one or more cables.
US09671042B2	Abandonment and recovery system A method of abandoning a pipeline being laid by a pipelaying vessel, wherein said pipeline is being held by a lay tower comprising a pipelaying and tensioning arrangement, comprising at least the steps of: (a) linking the end of the pipeline (103) to a flexible tubular handling conduit (102); (b) separately linking the pipeline to a lifting wire (104); and (c] lowering the pipeline towards the sea floor. In this way, the present invention, using the load capacity of both a flexible tubular handling conduit and a lifting wire for at least some of the pipeline lowering, is able to operate either more safely at existing depths, or at even greater depths to an ocean floor than before, or both.
US09671041B2	Valve device and fluid coupling comprised thereof Embodiments of a valve device that reduces noise and vibration that may occur during low flow conditions in fluid couplings (e.g., valves and flow regulators). These embodiments utilize a plug and seat arrangement with geometry to prevent pressure differentials that cause the plug element to open and close in a cyclic pattern. In one embodiment, the valve device includes a seat element with an aperture and a plug element with a boss that extends into the aperture when the plug element contacts the seat element. The boss has an outer surface that forms a gap, which defines an annular area proximate the point of contact between the seat element and the plug element that is sized to reduce Venturi flow effects that cause the cyclic pattern to occur.
US09671032B2	Dynamic current compensation A method for characterizing a fluid control solenoid with current compensation is described. A current command is sent to the fluid control solenoid. The current command indicates a desired current value related to a desired fluid output pressure to be applied to the solenoid. An actual fluid output pressure is measured at a valve associated with the fluid control solenoid for the desired current value applied to the solenoid. An actual current received value at the fluid control solenoid is also measured. Post processing is then applied. A compensated current value related to the actual fluid output pressure is determined based on a difference between the current command and the actual current received value. Methods for dynamic current compensation are also described.
US09671030B2	Metallic seal assembly, turbine component, and method of regulating airflow in turbo-machinery A metallic seal assembly, a turbine component, and a method of regulating flow in turbo-machinery are disclosed. The metallic seal assembly includes a sealing structure having thermally-responsive features. The thermally-responsive features deploy from or retract toward a surface of the sealing structure in response to a predetermined temperature change. The turbine component includes the metallic seal assembly. The method of regulating flow in turbo-machinery includes providing the metallic seal assembly and raising or retracting the thermally-responsive features in response to the predetermined temperature change.
US09671029B2	Lid of gas pressure regulator A lid of gas pressure regulator has a top segment, a surrounding wall, a pressing segment, and a gap. The surrounding wall protrudes downward and annularly from an annular edge of the top segment. The pressing segment protrudes transversely, outward and annularly from a bottom edge of the surrounding wall, and extends upward. The gap is formed between the surrounding wall and the pressing segment. Because the pressing segment is thinned and the gap is formed between the pressing segment and the surrounding wall, the overall volume and the weight can be reduced, and the pressing segment has sufficient height to prevent an opening edge of the seat from being bent at a large angle and fracture.
US09671025B2	Radially coacting ring seal A ring seal apparatus for high temperature sealing includes a first ring including a pair of radial faces and a second ring including a second pair of radial faces, the second ring adapted to coact with the first ring. The first and second rings together define a pair of coacting mating faces. The mating faces are obliquely angled relative to the radial faces, such that each of the coacting mating faces is adapted to seal an interface of the two rings at an angle relative to their substantially parallel radial faces. The pair of coacting rings is adapted to seal a circumferential gap between a pair of components.
US09671021B2	Arrangement of an oblique-contact seal in a trapezoidal groove An arrangement of a biconical annular seal having a laid down V shaped cross-section, in an annular groove having a trapezoid shaped cross-section, a small base of the trapezoid corresponding to a cylindrical bottom of the groove and being radially inwardly open at a great base of the trapezoid. The seal includes a radially outer annular heel and two generally conical annular wings extending radially inwardly from the heel, an inner radial end of each wing being axially bearing against an associated wall of the groove. The seal is mounted in the groove such that the heel of the seal is located radially distal to a bottom of the groove.
US09671018B1	Gear shift mechanism An improved gear shift mechanism for an auger gear drive which uses a hydraulic cylinder or other linear force means to push on one end of a rocker arm. This moves the rocker arm and the gear train between a first gear set and a second gear set. A biasing means is applied directly to the rocker arm by a spring or other device. The design eliminates adjustable linkages and the need adjustments in the field and allows for use of a simpler hydraulic cylinder than found in the prior art.
US09671016B2	Power plant When a second member of a power plant is in a first position with respect to a first member, a first communication port communicates with a fluid pressure supply source and second and third communication ports communicate with first and second pressure chambers of a fluid pressure motor. The second and third communication ports are shut off from a fourth communication port connected to a reservoir. Different positions of the second member result different communication and shut off relationships among the first to fourth ports. The first to fourth communication ports are provided in a plurality of communication port groups each formed by the first to fourth communication ports.
US09671015B2	Abnormality detection device for continuously variable transmission and method of detecting abnormality of the continuously variable transmission An abnormality detection device includes: a torque upper limit setting module that sets an upper limit of torque based on an allowable input torque for the continuously variable transmission, the upper limit of torque limiting an output torque of an engine; a determination torque calculation module that determines an acceleration requested by a driver based on an amount of operation of an accelerator, obtains a running resistance of a vehicle according to the requested acceleration, and calculates a determination torque for determining abnormality of the upper limit of torque based on the running resistance of the vehicle and a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission; and an abnormality determination module that determines the upper limit of torque to be abnormal in the case where the upper limit of torque is less than or equal to the determination torque.
US09671004B2	Differential device for a motorised wheeled vehicle A differential device (1) for a self-propelled wheeled vehicle, includes an input ring gear (2), two shafts separate from each other, two clutch mechanisms each including a first clutch member (3) mounted integral in rotation to one of the shafts, and a second clutch member (4) mounted freely rotatable relative to the shaft and capable of being rotated by the ring gear (2), the second clutch member being capable of being moved axially. Each second clutch member is provided with elements (44) for bearing contact with the other second clutch member, the elements for bearing contact being capable, in a first given angular configuration of the second clutch members relative to each other, of keeping the second clutch members in the engaged position, and the elements for bearing contact also being capable, in a second given angular configuration, of allowing the second clutch members to shift to the disengaged position.
US09671003B2	Apparatus having multi-output differential gear A multi-output differential gear apparatus includes a first differential gear having a first output gear and a middle gear, and second differential gear having a second output gear and a third output gear.
US09670995B2	Tensioning and damping element for endless chain drive, especially for roller chain drives A tensioning and damping element for endless chain drives, especially for roller chain drives, can be used for endless chain drives, which are to be tensioned diametrically. The material is an elastic plastic. All told, the known tensioning and damping elements, in conjunction with the wear of the chain, the load changing phases, as well as the reversing according to the degree of deformation, have the disadvantage of a phased running irregularity, an increased running noise and of wear-intensive areas in the toothed rim. An element with a ring part and a toothed rim of arc-shaped teeth with, in each case, axially opposite bulges in the roller-seating and, between these, roller-seating depressions, grooves, which are disposed peripherally between the ring part and the bulges, an extended pitch and extended roller-seatings with the advantageous profile shape similar to a semielliptical curve lying on the root circle.
US09670993B2	Multi-stage transmission for vehicle A multi-stage transmission for vehicle may an input shaft, an output shafts, first to fourth planetary gear devices transmitting rotary force between the input and output shafts, each of them having three rotary elements, and at least six shifting elements connected to the rotary elements of the planetary gear devices, wherein first rotary element of the first planetary gear device is permanently connected to the input shaft, second rotary element is installed to be fixable by any one of the shifting elements, and third rotary element is permanently connected to second rotary element of the second planetary gear device.
US09670991B2	Transmission for vehicle A transmission for a vehicle may include a first input shaft selectively receiving power from an engine, a second input shaft continuously receiving power from the engine, a first output shaft and a second output shaft disposed in parallel to the first input shaft and the second input shaft, respectively, a first shift device configured to make a series of desired gear shift ranges between the first input shaft and the and the first output shaft and between the first input shaft and the second output shaft, and a second shift device configured to make duplicate gear shift ranges, which have a gear ratio identical to a gear ratio of one or more gear shift ranges of the series of gear shift ranges made by the first shift device, using the second input shaft.
US09670990B2	Motor vehicle drive train and method of operating a drive train A drive train for a motor vehicle, having a drive unit which comprises a prime mover, a multi-step transmission and a power-splitting device which distributes the driving power between a first and a second drive shaft of a driven axle. The transmission comprises a transmission input and a first sub-transmission and a second sub-transmission. The prime mover is directly connected to the transmission input, wherein each of the two drive shafts is assigned a first and a second friction clutch. The first friction clutches connect the respective drive shaft to the first sub-transmission. The second friction clutches connect the respective drive shaft to the second sub-transmission. The first friction clutches and the second friction clutches form the power-splitting device.
US09670988B2	Gear/drive unit A gear drive unit (1), for a seat adjuster or a power-assisted steering system, comprised of a spindle (40), on which a drive gear (42) that drives the spindle (40) is provided, a drive assembly (20), which drives the drive gear (42) by means of a driven element (500) and at least one device (30) on which the drive assembly (20) is at least flanged-mounted, and which operationally couples at least the driven element (500) and the drive gear (42). The invention provides that at least one additional support (100, 100′) is provided in which the drive gear (42) is mounted, and this support is fastened to the base part (50) and supports the device (30).
US09670986B2	Gripping arrangement and gripping assembly A gripping arrangement (110) is disclosed for gripping an elongate article (111). The gripping arrangement comprises a body (112) defining a pathway (128) along which the article can extend and a gripping member (116) in the body for gripping the article. The gripping member is moveable from a non-gripping position to a gripping position. The gripping arrangement further includes urging means (122) to urge the gripping member towards the gripping position, and locking means (130) moveable from a non-locking position to a locking position. The locking means is configured to lock the article to the gripping member, when the locking means is in the locking position.
US09670982B2	Pressure regulator for shock absorber valve The invention relates to a pressure regulator in a shock absorber valve. The pressure regulator comprises an axially movable first valve part and a first seat, which are arranged in a valve housing in such a way that an adjustable flow opening is created between the parts. The flow opening is arranged to restrict a damping medium flow (q) and its flow opening size (s) is determined by a force balance on the first valve part. The force balance is principally or partially created by the sum of an actuating force (F) and the force (Fs) from a spring arrangement counter to the action of a counter holding regulator force (R). The spring arrangement comprises a first spring having a first spring constant (k1) and a second spring having a second spring constant (k2). The counter holding regulator force (R) is determined by the spring characters of both the first and the second spring, in which the first spring interacts with the actuating force (F) throughout the stroke (S1) and the second spring works in series with the first spring in an initial stroke (S3) close to the seat, in which the size of the initial stroke is determined by the working range of the second spring.
US09670981B2	Motion-damping systems and methods including the same Motion-damping systems and methods that include motion-damping systems are disclosed herein. The motion-damping systems are configured to damp relative motion between a base structure and an attached component that define a gap therebetween. The systems include an at least substantially rigid tubular structure that defines an internal volume and extends within the gap. The systems also include a magnetic assembly and a magnetically active body. One of the magnetic assembly and the magnetically active body is located within the tubular structure and the other of the magnetic assembly and the magnetically active body is operatively attached to a selected one of the base structure and the attached component. The magnetic assembly is in magnetic communication with the magnetically active body such that a magnetic interaction therebetween resists motion of the attached component relative to the base structure. The methods include dissipating energy with the motion-damping system.
US09670980B2	Energy absorber and fall arrest system safety device A safety device for use in a fall arrest or fall safety system includes an energy absorber to absorb energy in the event of a fall or other impulse event. The energy absorber is a resilient element (such as a tolerance ring) providing an interference fit between a first component of the device and a second component of the device. In the event of a fall arrestor other impulse event, the first and second components effect movement relative to one another, the interference fit being overcome, and the resilient element/tolerance ring acting to resist the relative movement thereby absorbing energy.
US09670970B2	Transport lock, in particular for the piston of a clutch release bearing A transport lock for a clutch release system, in particular for a slave cylinder of a motor vehicle, is provided having an axially movable piston and a clutch release bearing that is connected to the piston being arranged concentrically on a housing. In order to lock the piston or the clutch release bearing during transport, a retaining ring which has a collar that extends outwards in a radial direction and which is secured on the housing in an inner cavity of the clutch release bearing is provided. A contact surface of the piston lies against the collar of the retaining ring in such a way that the retaining ring restricts the axial movement of the piston.
US09670968B1	Shaft locking assemblies and methods Shaft locking assemblies for a drive shaft include an assembly hub configured to accommodate the drive shaft, the assembly hub including a stop plate; an assembly hub interior in the assembly hub; a contractible shaft locking sleeve disposed in the assembly hub interior and configured to accommodate the drive shaft, the shaft locking sleeve engaging the stop plate; at least one pusher sleeve engaging the shaft locking sleeve; a fluid pressure space disposed in pressure transmitting relationship to the pusher sleeve; and a fluid pressurizing mechanism disposed in fluid communication with the fluid pressure space. The pusher sleeve is adapted to push against the shaft locking sleeve and the shaft locking sleeve is adapted to contract and push against the stop plate and contract against the drive shaft responsive to introducing a pressurizing fluid into the fluid pressure space. Methods of locking a rotating element on a drive shaft are also disclosed.
US09670962B2	Axlebox comprising split housing parts, vehicle comprising at least one such axlebox and processes An axlebox, comprising a first housing part, a second housing part and a bearing unit mounted therebetween, wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are connected by pivot element on one side of the bearing unit and by tightening feature on another side of the bearing unit. The invention also concerns a vehicle comprising at least one such axlebox. The invention also concerns processes for mounting, dismounting or replacing the bearing unit in such an axlebox.
US09670960B2	Radial rolling bearing assembly with connector sleeve A radial rolling bearing assembly is provided which includes first and second radial rolling bearings having respective bearing cups that include respective bearing races, respective radially extending flanges at first axial ends and respective bearing axial flanges with respective connector elements at the second axial ends. Respective cages hold rolling elements in the bearing cups that contact the races and define respective bearing support surfaces that can support, for example, a shaft or housing. A connector sleeve connects the first and second radial rolling bearings. The connector sleeve includes a first axial end with a first complementary connector that engages the first connector element, and a second axial end with a second complementary connector that engages the second connector element.
US09670957B2	Tilting-pad thrust bearing and rotary machine having the same The invention provides a tilting-pad thrust bearing that requires less oil supply and a rotary machine having the same. A tilting-pad thrust bearing 100 comprises: multiple oil inlets 10 disposed in spaces between pads 6; multiple outflow guide grooves 12 each formed near the inner circumferential edge of the sliding surface of the pad 6 such that the outflow guide grooves 12 extend in a circumferential direction; and multiple inflow guide grooves 13 provided separately from the outflow guide grooves 12 and formed at the leading ends of the sliding surfaces of the pads 6 so as to be located more radially inward than the oil inlets 10. Each outflow guide groove 12 is open to the sliding surface and the trailing end surface of the pad 6. Each inflow guide grooves 13 is open to the leading end surface and the sliding surface of the pad 6.
US09670956B2	Compact slide assemblies Slide assemblies that include at least an inner slide segment and an outer slide segment. Many of the slide assemblies also include an intermediate slide segment interposed between the inner slide segment and the outer slide segment. The outer slide segment is constructed from a bent piece of material having a substantially uniform wall thickness. The outer slide segment is formed to have a wall portion, an upper portion and a lower portion. Each of the upper portion and lower portion include two layers of the piece of material. A mounting assembly for a slide assembly includes at least one bracket having a first pin and a second pin movable relative to the first pin. The second pin can surround and slide upon the first pin and can be biased to a first position and movable to a second position relative to the first pin.
US09670954B2	Ball joint member with permanent lubrication A ball joint member including an inner ring, with a general axisymmetrical shape around a first axis, including an external contact surface having a truncated spherical shape, the inner ring including a coating which bears the external contact surface and an outer ring, of a general axisymmetrical shape around a second axis, including an internal contact surface mating the external contact surface, cooperating with the external contact surface, the outer ring including a coating which bears the internal contact surface, wherein at least one of the inner and outer rings includes lubricant reservoirs made on the coating of one of the external and internal contact surfaces, and wherein the coating of the contact surface of one of the rings is textured with micro-cavities forming the lubricant reservoirs.
US09670952B2	Length-adjustable con rod The invention relates to a length-adjustable con rod (1) for a reciprocating piston engine, particularly an internal combustion engine, having at least a first and a second rod part (2, 4), wherein the two rod parts (2, 4) can be pushed together and/or inside one another in a telescoping manner, wherein the second rod part (4) forms a guide cylinder (4a) and the first rod part (2) a piston element (3) which can be pushed longitudinally in the guide cylinder (4a), wherein a high-pressure chamber (4b), into which at least one oil channel (10) opens, is clamped between the first and the second rod parts (2, 4). To enable the compression ratio to be adjusted in the simplest and most reliable manner possible, according to the invention the two rod parts (2, 4) can be fixed, by a locking device (32), relative to one another in at least one position, preferably corresponding to a minimum length of the con rod (1).
US09670941B2	Hydraulic devices and methods of actuating same This disclosure includes hydraulic apparatuses and methods for redundant actuation of a hydraulic device. Some apparatuses include a hydraulic device having a first hydraulic actuator and a second hydraulic actuator, wherein each of the first and second hydraulic actuators comprises at least a first hydraulic cavity, a second hydraulic cavity, and a piston. Some apparatuses also include a controller coupled to the hydraulic device. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to receive hydraulic fluid from a fluid source via at least two parallel hydraulic lines coupled to the controller, select a first hydraulic line of the at least two parallel hydraulic lines, and transfer the hydraulic fluid from the selected first hydraulic line to a first cavity of the first hydraulic actuator to apply pressure to a first piston to actuate the hydraulic device.
US09670939B2	Operation control system An operation control system for a work apparatus equipped to a work vehicle includes a controller controlling the work apparatus. A first hydraulic valve and a second hydraulic valve control hydraulic pressure supply to the work apparatus. An operation unit provides an operation input signal to the controller. A first mounting base and a second mounting base are provided adjacently to each other in the operation unit. A first single-operation tool is formed mountable on the first mounting base and a second single-operation tool is formed mountable on the second mounting base. Further, a multi-operation tool is mountable so as to straddle both the first mounting base and the second mounting base.
US09670935B2	Centrifugal compressor having seal system Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a seal assembly including a first seal and a second seal, wherein the first seal and the second seal axially abut one another within a retaining bore of a compressor, and cooperatively form an outer radial contour of the seal assembly that is retained by the retaining bore.
US09670933B2	Apparatus and method for controlling compressor, and refrigerator having the same A compressor control apparatus, and a refrigerator including the same are provided. The operation of two compressors may be controlled using an alternating current (AC) switch, thereby minimizing a number of components, as well as increasing compressor capacity and enhancing operation efficiency. A plurality of operation modes may be used to correspond to a load or freezing capacity using two compressors, and the two compressors may be operated in a separate or simultaneous manner using a drive including two (AC) switches, thereby simplifying the configuration of the system.
US09670927B2	Scroll compressor with a balancer and elastic member A scroll compressor comprises a housing, a cylindrical rotating shaft, a fixed scroll, a movable scroll, and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes an eccentric pin, and a balancer-integrated bush. The eccentric pin extends in parallel with the rotating shaft from the end part of the rotating shaft. The balancer-integrated bush is disposed between the eccentric pin and the movable scroll, includes an eccentric hole into which the eccentric pin is inserted, and configured to rotate around the eccentric pin, and further includes a balancer in an integrated manner, and is configured to rotatably move relative to the rotating shaft. An elastic member is disposed between the balancer-integrated bush and at least one of the rotating shaft and the eccentric pin, and the elastic member regulates the relatively movable range of the rotating shaft and the balancer-integrated bush.
US09670925B2	Variable displacement pump A variable displacement pump includes: an urging mechanism which includes two spring members; an electromagnetic switching valve which is arranged to connect the second control chamber and the discharge portion in an energized state, and to connect the second control chamber and the low pressure chamber in a deenergized state; and a control valve which is actuated by the pressure of the discharge portion, and which is arranged to decrease the pressure within the second control chamber when the pressure of the discharge portion becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure.
US09670924B2	Gerotor apparatus having outer gerotor with strengthening members According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes a first gerotor, a second gerotor, and a synchronizing system operable to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. The synchronizing system includes a cam plate coupled to the first gerotor, wherein the cam plate includes a plurality of cams, and an alignment plate coupled to the second gerotor. The alignment plate includes at least one alignment member, wherein the plurality of cams and the at least one alignment member interact to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor.
US09670922B2	Pump system including valve cartridge assembly with a suction valve in line with a discharge valve A pump system includes a pump housing defining a plurality of pump bores, a plurality of pumping members, and a plurality of valves positioned within the pump housing. Each of the valves includes a valve body defining a plurality of inlets, arranged to receive a low pressure fluid, a suction valve coupled to the valve body and movable between a closed position and an open position, the suction valve including a suction valve closing member having a conical contact surface having a large diameter portion, and a first elastomeric member positioned adjacent the large diameter portion, and a discharge valve coupled to the valve body and movable between a closed position and an open position, the discharge valve including a discharge valve closing member having a conical contact surface having a large diameter portion, and a second elastomeric member positioned immediately adjacent the large diameter portion.
US09670918B2	Water booster control system and method A water booster control system designed with a controller having an algorithm that determines optimum starting parameters for one or more pumps is disclosed. The water booster control system supplies water to a location at specified operating parameters. Water enters a suction manifold, travels through pipes, and into the pumps. The pumps accelerate the water to the desired pressure and/or flow rate and discharge the water through pipes and out of a discharge manifold. One or more of the components of the water booster control system are monitored during use, and data regarding the parameters is displayed locally and/or remotely. Alarms are specified relating to one or more of the operating parameters and the alarm conditions may be displayed locally and/or remotely. A user may make modifications to the system locally and/or remotely through a screen and/or through a remote device using a smart phone application.
US09670916B2	Compressor and vacuum machine A compressor including a motor, a piston reciprocating by the motor, a crankcase having a middle wall portion formed with a communication hole, the crankcase housing the piston, a cylinder body secured to an inner surface of the middle wall portion, the cylinder body and the wall portion defining a cylinder chamber, and reciprocation of the piston increasing or decreasing a capacity of the cylinder chamber, and a cylinder head secured to an outer surface of the middle wall portion, the cylinder head and the middle wall portion defining an exhaust chamber communicated with the cylinder chamber through the communication hole.
US09670907B2	Wind turbine control system with decentralized voting The present invention relates to a fault-tolerant control system for a wind turbine comprising a plurality of controllable wind turbine components, the control system comprising control means for generating a replica of essentially concurrent set-point values, a data communication network for transmitting the replica of essentially concurrent set-point values to the plurality of wind turbine components, and a plurality of decentralized voting means being arranged so that a decentralized voting means is assigned to each wind turbine component, each decentralized voting means being adapted to select one set-point value out of the replica of set-point values. The present invention further relates to a wind turbine and to an associated method.
US09670903B2	Windmill device for power generation and power generation apparatus Provided is a windmill device including a wind tunnel member with a wind tunnel passage and a windmill held rotatably inside the wind tunnel passage of the wind tunnel member. The windmill includes a hub serving as a rotation center, plurality of spokes extending radially therefrom, an approximately annular limb connecting outer ends of the plurality of spokes, and plurality of sailcloth pieces, each sailcloth piece being approximately triangular in shape, one side of each sailcloth piece left as a free end 24a not supported by any of the spokes and the limb. A ratio S2/S1 is 0.9 or more. S1 is a cross-sectional area of the wind tunnel passage. S2 is a wind catching area of the plurality of sailcloth pieces.
US09670897B2	Method and system for controlling hydroelectric turbines A control system for controlling an operation of a hydroelectric turbine. The control system comprises a converter system to convert AC power, supplied by a generator connected to the turbine, and having a voltage and frequency that is a function of a rotational speed of the turbine, to AC power having a voltage and frequency of a transmission system for transmitting the AC power to a receiving station. The system further comprises a control unit that is arranged to co-operate with the converter system to adjust the AC voltage supplied by the generator in response to a water flow speed through the turbine to thereby control rotation of the turbine. The converter system comprises a first-stage converter and a second-stage converter, with a DC link provided between the first and second-stage converters. The first-stage converter is arranged to convert the AC power supplied by the generator to DC power. The second-stage converter is arranged to convert the DC power to the AC Power for transmission to the receiving station and the second-stage converter is of a voltage-source inverter type.
US09670894B2	Spark plug fouling detection for ignition system A method for determining a level of spark plug fouling and providing an indication to change the spark plugs of an ignition system is provided. The method includes providing a dwell command on a control wire of an ignition system and generating an indication of a recommendation to change a spark plug of the ignition system based upon a current on the control wire.
US09670892B2	Engine startup device An engine startup device is provided having a helical-spline-engaging part where an output shaft (5) and a moving body (3) are coupled with each other, wherein a notch (37b, 38b) is formed on a power-transmitting-side tooth surface (37a, 38a) of at least either one of the output shaft and the moving body, and an angle formed by the notch with respect to a shaft direction is made smaller than the lead angle of a helical spline.
US09670888B2	Replaceable filter elements including plural filter media and related filtration systems, techniques and methods One embodiment is a filter element including an outer filter media and an inner filter media. The outer filter media is operable to remove particulates present in a flow of fluid and/or coalesce water contained in the flow of fluid. The inner filter media is operable to remove particulates from the flow of fluid, separate water form the flow of fluid, and remove particulates from the flow of fluid. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods relating to fuel filters and filtration. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith.
US09670887B1	Ionizing device for improving combustion engine performance and methods of use The disclosure herein relates to devices for improving combustion engine performance. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to ionizing devices and their use in reducing emissions, improving fuel efficiency, improving power, reducing turbo lag, and reducing engine deposits in combustion engines that utilizes a computer to control the air/fuel mixture.
US09670884B2	Coolant control valve that selectively supplies EGR cooler with coolant A coolant control valve that selectively supplies an EGR cooler with coolant may include a cylinder head having a first water jacket and a second water jacket, an EGR cooler that is disposed at one side of the cylinder head and is disposed on an EGR line that recirculates exhaust gas from an exhaust side to an intake side, a heater that is disposed at another side of the cylinder head and heats air through coolant that is supplied to the heater, and a coolant control valve that respectively controls coolant that is supplied from the first water jacket and the second water jacket, supplies the heater with the coolant, and selectively supplies the EGR cooler with the coolant depending on a temperature of the coolant.
US09670877B2	Link arm drag reducing device A flowpath channel has a blade pivotally connected along a longitudinal axis thereof, at opposing top and bottom ends thereof, to respective top and bottom portions of the flowpath channel. The chord axis of the blade, between leading and trailing edges thereof, is capable of pivoting parallel to and skewed from the flowpath. The top end of the blade and an attachment structure secured to the flowpath channel each include a race. A bearing is disposed therebetween, and the blade is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.
US09670876B2	Tandem thrust reverser with sliding rails A pivot thrust reverser includes a first tandem pivot door subassembly comprising an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel and outer panel are connected by a first sliding rail. A second tandem pivot door subassembly is included comprising an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel and outer panel are connected by a second sliding rail.
US09670871B2	Two-part steel piston for internal combustion engines A method for producing a piston for an internal combustion engine, which piston has at least one cooling channel and is produced from at least one upper part and one lower part. The cooling channel of the piston is formed of the upper part and the lower part where the upper part and the lower part of the piston are each produced by means of a forging process At least one rib-like element, in particular, at least one rib, is additionally forged during the forging of the upper part in an area of the cooling channel and/or at least one rib-like element, in particular, at least one rib, is additionally forged during the forging of the lower part in an area of the cooling channel. Two alternative production methods and to a piston for an internal combustion engine are disclosed.
US09670866B2	Control device and control method for internal combustion engine A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an EGR control unit executing open/close control over an EGR valve on the basis of an operating state of the engine; and a fuel injection control unit carrying out at least one of port injection and in-cylinder direct injection by operating at least one of a port injection injector and an in-cylinder direct injection injector on the basis of the engine operating state. The fuel injection control unit sets an EGR non-operation in-cylinder direct injection region, in which the port injection is stopped and the in-cylinder direct injection is carried out while the EGR valve is closed, within an operation range of the engine, and sets part of an EGR operation port injection permissible region, in which at least the port injection is carried out while the EGR valve is open, within the EGR non-operation in-cylinder direct injection region.
US09670865B2	Driving control device and driving control method in hybrid electric vehicle In a hybrid electric vehicle in which an internal combustion engine and an electric motor/generator are connected via a clutch, the controller performs the following processing before the operation of the internal combustion engine stops in a stationary state of the vehicle while the clutch is engaged. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the clutch can be disengaged within a predetermined time period. If the clutch can be disengaged within a predetermined time period, the clutch is disengaged. If the clutch cannot be disengaged within the predetermined time period, a driving torque of the internal combustion engine is lowered to an engine stoppable torque set in advance while the clutch is engaged. Then, the operation of the internal combustion engine stops. Through this control, it is possible to prevent a vibration sound or an abnormal sound that may be generated when a driver turns off the ignition button.
US09670863B2	Apparatus and method for controlling internal-combustion engine An apparatus and a method control an internal-combustion engine with a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into an inlet port. In fuel injection control, injection field pressure at injection start timing is estimated from engine rotation speed and injection starting timing of the fuel injection valve. Since flow rate of the fuel injection valve fluctuates when a fuel accumulating space between a valve body and injection holes of the fuel injection valve changes by injection field pressure, a correction value to correct flow rate fluctuations is calculated based on injection field pressure at injection start timing. Fuel injection by the fuel injection valve is controlled by setting the result of adding the correction value to an injection pulse width calculated from intake air flow, engine rotation speed, etc., to final injection pulse width. Air-fuel ratio error is thereby reduced even when injection field pressure at injection timing changes.
US09670860B2	Abnormality diagnosing apparatus of intake air temperature sensor, and abnormality diagnosing method An abnormality diagnosis apparatus applied to an internal combustion engine, including a supercharger, a communication path, an opening/closing valve, and a downstream intake air temperature sensor and not having a cooling device on the upstream side of the downstream intake air temperature sensor and conducting abnormality diagnosis of the downstream intake air temperature sensor diagnoses that the downstream intake air temperature sensor is abnormal if an operation state of the internal combustion engine is a low load and a low rotation region and a detected value of the downstream intake air temperature sensor is at a predetermined high temperature or more and prohibits the subsequent abnormality diagnosis if the operation state of the internal combustion engine becomes a higher load or a higher rotation than the low load and low rotation region.
US09670859B2	Electronic control unit having abnormality diagnostic function of soak timer An electronic control unit includes a control portion and a soak timer. The control portion acquires first time information of a clock device when a power switch is turned off and stores the first time information in a nonvolatile storage portion. The control portion acquires second time information of the clock device when the soak timer activates the control portion or when the control portion receives an activation request. The control portion calculates a first time difference between the second time information and the first time information stored in the nonvolatile storage portion and determines an abnormality of the soak timer based a difference between the first time difference and the soak timer value of the soak timer.
US09670857B2	Torque control of a power-plant for launching a vehicle with a manual transmission A method of controlling torque output of a power-plant during launch of a vehicle having a transmission with a manually-operated clutch is disclosed. The power-plant torque is varied based on clutch pedal and throttle pedal positions using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control logic in an electronic fuel control system. The method includes setting power-plant idle speed, detecting clutch engagement without application of the throttle pedal, and raising power-plant torque after clutch engagement is detected. In each PID feedback loop, the method includes detecting actual power-plant speed and a rate of change in actual power-plant speed, and adjusting the raised power-plant torque in response to the determined rate of change in actual power-plant speed. The method additionally includes determining a difference between the set idle speed and the actual power-plant speed, and maintaining constant power-plant torque, if the difference between the set idle and actual power-plant speeds is within an acceptable range.
US09670855B2	System, method, and apparatus for managing aftertreatment temperature A system and method are disclosed for controlling the temperature of an aftertreatment system, the method including interpreting an aftertreatment indicating temperature, determining that an engine fueling requirement is zero, and disengaging the engine from a transmission in response to the aftertreatment indicating temperature falling below a first threshold value and in response to the engine fueling requirement being zero, where the engine and the transmission comprise a portion of a vehicle powertrain. Alternatively, the method may include interpreting an aftertreatment indicating temperature, determining that an engine fueling requirement is zero, and performing a reduced air flow operation through the engine in response to the aftertreatment indicating temperature falling below a first threshold value and in response to the engine fueling requirement being zero.
US09670847B2	Two-shaft gas turbine A 2-shaft gas turbine can suppress an increase in NOx emission from a combustor even when degradation of compressor efficiency occurs due to a decrease in performance with long-term use. The 2-shaft gas turbine has a gas generator and a power turbine, and includes a controller configured to set, in accordance with a degree of degradation of compressor efficiency computed from measured control parameters, a target speed of the gas generator at a level lower than a target speed in a state where degradation of the compressor efficiency has not occurred. The controller is configured to control the rotating speed of the gas generator on the basis of a difference between the target speed thus set and an actual rotating speed.
US09670843B2	System and method for heating a catalyst in an exhaust treatment system of a turbine engine A system includes a catalyst system having at least one catalyst to treat an exhaust gas from a gas turbine system, and a thermal storage system having at least one storage tank to store thermal energy in a medium, wherein the system is configured to transfer heat from the medium to the at least one catalyst.
US09670841B2	Methods of varying low emission turbine gas recycle circuits and systems and apparatus related thereto Systems and methods are provided for varying the exhaust gas recycle circuit of low emission gas turbines. In one or more embodiments, the systems and methods incorporate alternatives to the use of a direct contact cooler. In the same or other embodiments, the systems and methods incorporate alternatives intended to reduce or eliminate the erosion or corrosion of compressor blades due to the presence of acidic water droplets in the recycled gas stream.
US09670840B2	Rotor assembly having a concentric arrangement of a turbine portion, a cooling channel and a reinforcement wall The present disclosure introduces a rotor assembly having a concentric arrangement comprising a rotating turbine portion, a cooling channel and an annular reinforcement wall. The concentric arrangement is configured to rotate around a common axis. Also introduced is a rotary engine comprising the rotor assembly, in which the cooling channel further functions as a rotating compressor portion. The rotary engine also comprises a stator assembly that itself comprises a static turbine portion positioned upstream of the rotating turbine portion, a static compressor portion positioned downstream of the rotating compressor portion, and a combustion chamber positioned downstream of the static compressor portion and upstream of the static turbine portion.
US09670837B2	Engine-powered work tool provided with wind governor that performs ignition control An engine-powered work tool includes an engine having a crank shaft, an ignition system, an output controller having a throttle valve shaft for controlling output of the engine, a wind governor connected to the throttle valve shaft, a rotation speed detector and an ignition control unit. The wind governor includes a governor plate movable upon receipt of cooling air generated by a cooling fan to control an angular rotation of the throttle valve shaft. The rotation speed detector detects a rotation speed of the crank shaft. The ignition control unit controls the ignition system based on the rotation speed of the crank shaft detected by the rotation speed detector to reduce the output of the engine when the rotation speed detector determines that the governor plate exceeds a predetermined position.
US09670836B2	Drive unit for a motor vehicle A drive unit for a motor vehicle that has a combustion machine having an internal combustion engine (10) as well as an exhaust gas system via which exhaust gas can be discharged from the internal combustion engine (10), and has a cyclic device that can be used to convert the thermal energy contained in the exhaust gas into mechanical work in a clockwise thermodynamic cycle, whereby the cycle comprises a heat transfer from the exhaust gas to a working medium in a first heat exchange device, as a result of which the temperature and/or the pressure of the working medium is increased, comprises an expansion of the working medium in an expansion device (30) for generating the mechanical work, and comprises a heat transfer from the working medium to a cooling medium in a second heat exchange device. The drive unit is refined in that the first heat exchange device comprises a first heat exchanger (20) and a second heat exchanger (26) as well as an intermediate circuit (22) containing a transfer medium, whereby in the first heat exchanger (20), thermal energy is transferred from the exhaust gas to the transfer medium, and in the second heat exchanger (26), thermal energy is transferred from the transfer medium to the working medium.
US09670835B2	Liquid injection for scavenging Methods are provided for controlling an engine. One method may include boosting engine intake air to a cylinder; and injecting an amount of a scavenging fluid into the cylinder based on an amount of cylinder residual exhaust gas. A scavenging fluid, such as water or windshield washer fluid evaporates on contact with the hot exhaust gases and hot metal components and the expanded volume of the vapor displaces the residual exhaust gas, thereby improving engine scavenging.
US09670833B2	Actuator and exhaust gas recirculation valve, wastegate or variable turbine geometry device of a turbocharger comprising an actuator An actuator comprising a drive, at least one rotatable threaded element and at least one output element driven in translation thereby is described, characterized in that the threaded element has at least two regions of differing pitch and a rotational axis of the threaded element is inclined relative to a translational axis of the output element.
US09670831B2	Temperature control apparatus for intercooler Production of condensed water in an intercooler is suppressed. The apparatus comprises a high temperature system cooling water passage through which cooling water having a high temperature flows; a low temperature system cooling water passage which is a cooling water passage through which cooling water having a low temperature flows and which passes through at least the intercooler; two communication passages which communicate the high temperature system cooling water passage and the low temperature system cooling water passage, one of the communication passages through which the cooling water flows from the high temperature system cooling water passage toward the low temperature system cooling water passage, and the other through which the cooling water flows from the low temperature system cooling water passage toward the high temperature system cooling water passage; valves which are provided for the communication passages respectively; and a control unit which controls the valves provided for the communication passages respectively so that a temperature of the gas flowing out from the intercooler is higher than a dew point temperature.
US09670830B2	Method and apparatus for monitoring a coolant system for an exhaust gas recirculation system A method for monitoring an internal combustion engine includes monitoring thermal efficiency in a heat exchanger of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with a flow control valve commanded to a first, open state and monitoring thermal efficiency in the heat exchanger with the flow control valve commanded to a second, closed state. The flow control valve is evaluated based upon the monitored efficiencies.
US09670827B2	Pre-chamber A pre-chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the pre-chamber is part of a two-stroke combustion engine having a cylinder head with a sparkplug receptacle that has a generally frustoconical shape, and the pre-chamber is coupled to the sparkplug receptacle. The pre-chamber may include a cooling jacket with a generally frustoconical shape and a combustion chamber having an upper zone and a lower zone, which may be narrower than the upper zone.
US09670824B2	Active grille shutter system with a staged progressive linkage to reduce engine misfire from charge air cooler condensation Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a dual grille shutter system based on engine operating conditions. A position of a first group of grille shutters may be adjusted by a motor in response to engine temperature, CAC temperature, and driving conditions. A position of a second group of grille shutters may be adjusted based on the position of the first group of grille shutters.
US09670823B2	Engine with a turbocharger cooling module An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block defining a cylinder, a cylinder head, and an exhaust manifold operatively connected to the cylinder head and configured to exhaust post-combustion gasses from the cylinder. The engine also includes a turbocharger having a turbine housing and configured to be driven by the post-combustion gasses from the exhaust manifold, to pressurize an airflow being received from the ambient, and to discharge the pressurized airflow to the cylinder. The engine additionally includes a cooling module arranged between the turbine housing and the cylinder head and defining a third coolant jacket configured to cool the turbine housing. A vehicle employing such an engine is also disclosed.
US09670822B2	Bore bridge and cylinder cooling An engine includes a cylinder block with first and second saw cuts intersecting a block face on opposed sides of a block bore bridge. A cylinder head has third and fourth saw cuts intersecting a head face on opposed sides of a head bore bridge. A gasket is placed between the block and the head. The gasket defines a cooling passage adapted to fluidly connect the first, second, third and fourth saw cuts and cool the interbore region of the engine. The cooling passage has an inlet and a pair of outlets.
US09670816B2	Exhaust gas aftertreatment device for a combustion engine An exhaust gas aftertreatment device for a combustion engine includes an exhaust gas guide element that includes a dosage device for introducing a reduction agent into the guide element at a feed point and at least one interference element arranged upstream of the feed point, that introduces turbulences into the exhaust gas flow that is intermixed with the reduction agent. The guide element also includes a first guide portion, through which exhaust gas flows in a first flow direction, and a second guide portion, through which exhaust gas flows in a second flow direction that is opposite to the first flow direction. The first and second guide portions are fluidically connected with each other via a third guide portion, which redirects the exhaust gas from the first flow direction into the second flow direction. The feed point and the interference element are arranged in the third guide portion.
US09670815B2	Catalytic converter A catalytic converter comprises: a catalyst carrier that purifies exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine; and a catalyst housing tube that houses the catalyst carrier. The catalyst housing tube comprises: an inlet-side conical part that comprises an exhaust-gas inlet, an inner diameter of the inlet-side conical part increasing as a distance from the exhaust-gas inlet increases; a tube part that comprises the catalyst carrier arranged therein; and, an outlet-side conical part that comprises an exhaust-gas outlet, an inner diameter of the outlet-side conical part increasing as a distance from the exhaust-gas outlet increases. A conical inner tube is further provided inside the inlet-side conical part, a diameter of the conical inner tube being smaller than that of the inlet-side conical part, and, the inlet-side conical part and the conical inner tube form a double structure upstream of the catalyst carrier.
US09670812B2	Deterioration detection system for exhaust gas purification apparatus An object of the present invention is to detect deterioration of a selective reduction type catalyst early and improve a detection precision in a deterioration detection system for an exhaust gas purification apparatus including a selective reduction type catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, a reducing agent adding valve disposed in the exhaust passage upstream of the selective reduction type catalyst, and a NOx sensor disposed in the exhaust passage downstream of the selective reduction type catalyst. To achieve this object, in the deterioration detection system for an exhaust gas purification apparatus according to the present invention, during control for causing the reducing agent adding valve to add a reducing agent, the reducing agent adding valve is controlled in order to modify a reducing agent addition interval thereof while keeping an addition amount per fixed time period constant. Deterioration of the selective reduction type catalyst is then determined on the basis of a difference in a NOx purification ratio before and after modification of the addition interval.
US09670809B2	Apparatus and method for skinning articles A skinning apparatus and a method of skinning a porous ceramic. The apparatus includes an axial skinning manifold. The axial skinning manifold includes a curved adaptive pipe to flow cement in a circumferential direction from an inlet at a first position and through an adaptive opening along an inner bend of the curve through a land channel disposed along the inner bend. The land channel emits the cement at a constant velocity from a land opening extending proximate the first position to a second position spaced apart from the first position. The land outlet emits cement at a constant velocity around the outer periphery of the porous ceramic to dispose a uniform skin thereon as the porous ceramic moves axially relative to the land outlet.
US09670808B2	Separator and method for separating liquid droplets from an aerosol A separator for separating liquid droplets from an aerosol is provided, including a rotor arranged in a housing and including a plurality of parallel disks, a dirty gas inlet, a clean gas outlet, and an annular space between the rotor's circumference and the housing, wherein adjacent disks form an interspace therebetween, the radially outer area of the interspace opening into the annular space, and wherein one of the dirty gas inlet and the clean gas outlet communicates with the annular space and the other communicates with radially inner areas of the interspaces. The disks have flat disk bodies perpendicular to the rotor axis, and between adjacent disk bodies, there are a plurality of adjacent channels allowing passage of the gas to be cleaned. Each channel is curved and the radially outer channel wall forms an impaction and separation surface for the liquid droplets.
US09670803B2	Crankcase oil catcher A crankcase oil catcher configured for placement above a crankshaft and below a piston is described. In one particular example, the crankcase oil catcher has a contour that catches dispersed oil within the crankcase while directing the oil away from a casing wall and towards a crank sump along the contoured surface of the crankcase oil catcher. Inclusion of an aperture within the surface allows for passage of a connecting rod of the crankshaft while providing for a protruding lip around the perimeter of the aperture that prevents oil on the top surface from falling through the aperture.
US09670797B2	Modulated turbine vane cooling A vane structure includes a baffle movably mounted within an aperture, the baffle movable to control a cooling flow between a first cooling cavity and a second cooling cavity.
US09670794B2	Steam valve and steam turbine A steam valve includes: a valve main body which has, on the inside thereof, a flow path through which steam flows, and has a valve seat formed in a portion of the flow path; a valve body which comes into contact with the valve seat, thereby shutting off the flow path, and is separated from the valve seat, thereby opening the flow path; a valve shaft which is connected to the valve body, extends in an upward direction from the valve body, and moves up and down, thereby bringing the valve body into contact with the valve seat and separating the valve body from the valve seat; a hydraulic drive unit which is disposed to be separated in a horizontal direction from the valve main body, at a position which does not overlap the valve main body in a case of being viewed from above, and has a drive rod which is driven forward and backward by oil pressure; a first link unit which connects the drive rod and the valve shaft and transmits the forward and backward drive of the drive rod to the valve shaft, thereby moving the valve shaft up and down; a second link unit connected to the valve main body; and a connection unit which connects the second link unit and the first link unit and transmits a movement of the valve main body in the horizontal direction to the first link unit through the second link unit.
US09670793B2	IR sensor/system for detection of heating associated with crack propagation during operation of rotating equipment A thermal imaging system that detects the growth of cracks in a structural element, where the system has particular application for detecting the growth of cracks and similar defects in a turbine blade. The thermal imaging system includes at least one infrared (IR) fiber optic cable where a sensing end of the fiber optic cable is positioned in close proximity to a location where a crack in the structural element may occur. Infrared emissions generated as a result of crack growth are collected by the IR fiber cable and transmitted by the cable to an infrared monitoring device. The amount of heat that is detected provides an indication of whether the crack is growing, and if so, at what rate.

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