| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09679194B2 |
Automated obscurity for pervasive imaging
Methods for obfuscating an image of a subject in a captured media are disclosed. For example, a method receives a communication from an endpoint device of a subject indicating that the image of the subject is to be obfuscated in a captured media. The communication may include a feature set associated with the subject, where the feature set contains facial features of the subject and motion information associated with the subject. The method then detects the image of the subject in the captured media. For example, the image of the subject is detected by matching the facial features of the subject to the image of the subject in the captured media and matching the motion information associated with the subject to a trajectory of the image of the subject in the captured media. The method then obfuscates the image of the subject in the captured media. |
| US09679191B1 |
System and method for evaluating the perception system of an autonomous vehicle
A method and apparatus are provided for optimizing one or more object detection parameters used by an autonomous vehicle to detect objects in images. The autonomous vehicle may capture the images using one or more sensors. The autonomous vehicle may then determine object labels and their corresponding object label parameters for the detected objects. The captured images and the object label parameters may be communicated to an object identification server. The object identification server may request that one or more reviewers identify objects in the captured images. The object identification server may then compare the identification of objects by reviewers with the identification of objects by the autonomous vehicle. Depending on the results of the comparison, the object identification server may recommend or perform the optimization of one or more of the object detection parameters. |
| US09679182B2 |
Display apparatus capable of image scanning and driving method thereof
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display apparatus capable of image scanning and a method for driving the same are provided.According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display apparatus capable of image scanning is provided including a contact sensor arranged in each unit pixel. The contact sensor includes a pixel electrode forming a contact capacitance by contact with a contact means; a reset transistor where a drain electrode is connected to a node where the contact capacitance is formed, and each of a gate electrode and a source electrode is connected to a first scan line to which a selective signal is applied; an amplifying transistor where a gate electrode is connected to the drain electrode of the reset transistor, and a source electrode is connected to a power input terminal; and a detecting transistor where a drain electrode is connected to the drain electrode of the amplifying transistor, a gate electrode is connected to a second scan line to which a selective signal is applied, and a source electrode is connected to a readout line detecting a current corresponding to the contact capacitance. |
| US09679173B2 |
Apparatuses and methods using command sets specific for controlling the operation of a type of the RFID transponder to which the command sets are transmitted
Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward an apparatus in which a first circuit communicates with a plurality of different types of RFID transponders using radio frequency signals. A second circuit detects and communicates with the plurality of different types of RFID transponders via the first circuit, respectively using a command set for the type of RFID transponder that the first circuit is communicating with. The second circuit, in response to detecting an RFID transponder having configuration data for a new command set, accesses and uses the configuration data for the new command set to update a configuration of the second circuit to enable communication with the new type of RFID transponder. |
| US09679167B2 |
Chip and method for detecting an attack on a chip
According to one embodiment, a chip is described comprising a substrate; an energy source configured to provide energy to the substrate; an energy receiver configured to receive energy from the energy source via the substrate and a determiner configured to determine a value of a parameter of the energy transmission between the energy source and the energy receiver, to check whether the value matches a predetermined value of the parameter and to output a signal depending on the result of the check. |
| US09679166B2 |
Settlement terminal device
Provided is a settlement terminal device including a housing that includes a first face which has an operation display face, a second face which is disposed on an opposite side to the operation display face, and a step portion which is formed on one end side of the second face so as to be substantially parallel to an edge side of the one end side. A length of the housing in a thickness direction on the one end side adjacent to the step portion is larger than a length of the housing in the thickness direction which is located closer to the other end side than the step portion. An insecure region that does not have tamper resistance is formed on one end side of the housing. A secure region that has tamper resistance is formed on the other end side of the housing. |
| US09679165B2 |
Encryption/decryption for data storage system with snapshot capability
A method for managing access to encrypted data of a data storage system storing snapshot data, a snapshot providing a previous point-in-time copy of data in a volume of the data storage system, wherein the data storage system utilizes changing encryption keys for write data. For each snapshot, the method stores at least one decryption key identifier for each decryption key corresponding to an encryption key utilized to encrypt data written to a volume since a previous snapshot was committed to disk, and associates the at least one decryption key identifier with the snapshot. A key table associating decryption key identifiers with corresponding decryption keys is provided, and based on the key table and the at least one decryption key identifier associated with the snapshot, one or more decryption keys required for accessing encrypted data associated with the snapshot are determined. Decryption key identifiers may be stored in snapshot metadata. |
| US09679163B2 |
Installation and management of client extensions
Application extension management may be provided. Upon logging into a user device by a user, a list of a plurality of extensions associated with the user may be retrieved from a central repository. Access to each of the plurality of extensions associated with the user on the user device may then be provided to the user device. |
| US09679162B2 |
Application permission settings
Systems, device and techniques are disclosed for automatically determining a permission setting that indicates whether a permission is granted or denied to the application. The automatic determination may be made based on a previous selection by a user. Alternatively, an indication of a permission may be provided to a user and an indication of a permission setting may be received from the user. The permission setting received from the user may be assigned to a permission to an application. Permissions provided to a user may be ordered in a list based on permission or application popularity or frequency. |
| US09679161B2 |
Distribution of encrypted information in multiple locations
A method, system, and/or computer program product stores information in a distributed data-processing environment. The method comprises: encrypting, by one or more processors, a piece of information; splitting, by one or more processors, the encrypted piece of information into at least one first encrypted block and at least one second encrypted block, at least part of said at least one first encrypted block being required for decrypting said at least one second encrypted block; distributing, by one or more processors, said at least one first encrypted block for storing in at least one first location; and distributing, by one or more processors, said at least one second encrypted block for storing in at least one second location. |
| US09679154B2 |
Tracking location of portable computing device
A device and software utilizing Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technologies for monitoring and recovering portable computing devices and, a method and system for acquiring such devices, protecting data on such devices, and for compensating owners of devices. A GPS mechanism of the invention provides real time tracking of missing devices that may be coordinated with security agencies to intercept and recover missing computing devices. When a stolen device is unrecoverable, the invention may receive a signal to initiate data recovery where a wireless network is available to recover data for the owner. Alternatively, the GPS mechanism instructs the device to encrypt or destroy stored data files to prevent commercial espionage or privacy violations. The invention discloses a software system and method for computing a purchase price of the GPS mechanism, computing compensation for loss of the device and lost data. |
| US09679151B2 |
Method for encrypting on-screen contents, electronic apparatus using the method and recording medium using the method
A method for encrypting on-screen contents, an electronic apparatus using the method, and a recording medium using the method are provided. The method is adapted for the electronic apparatus having a screen. In the method, contents are displayed on the screen. A user's operation is then detected to generate a trigger signal. The displayed contents are encrypted according to the trigger signal. |
| US09679150B2 |
Document managing apparatus and document managing method
Provided is a document managing apparatus that can eliminate the complexity of operation related to designation of confidential information, and yet reliably prevents leakage of confidential information. First, a receiving circuit receives target files from a client terminal. Therefore, a file managing circuit manages, of the received target files, a file that is designated as confidential, having been subjected to output restriction, as a confidential designated file. In addition, the file managing circuit manages a file that is not designated as confidential, as a user file. In addition, the file analyzing circuit compares the user file with the confidential designated file. If the content of the user file is similar to the content of the confidential designated file at a rate equal to or higher than a certain value (for example, 80%), the file analyzing circuit applies output restriction to the user file. |
| US09679149B2 |
Secret sharing system, data distribution apparatus, distributed data transform apparatus, secret sharing method and program
A secret sharing system transforms shares in ramp secret sharing to shares in homomorphic secret sharing. On a data distribution apparatus, a division part divides information a into N shares fa(n) using an arbitrary ramp secret sharing scheme S1. On each of distributed data transform apparatuses, a random number selecting part generates a random number vector ri whose elements are L random numbers ri1. A first random number division part divides the random number vector into N shares fri(n) using a ramp secret sharing scheme S1. A second random number division part divides each of the L random numbers ri1 into N shares gri,1(n) using an arbitrary secret sharing scheme S2. A disturbance part generates a share Ui by using a share fa(i) and shares frλ(i). A reconstruction part reconstructs L pieces of disturbance information c1 from shares Uλ by using the ramp secret sharing scheme S1. A redivision part divides each piece of disturbance information c1 into N using the secret sharing scheme S2 to generate shares gc1(n). A transform part generates shares ga1(i) of the information a by using a share gc1(i) and the shares grλ,1(i). |
| US09679148B2 |
Access permissions management system and method
In a hierarchical access permissions environment, a method for enabling efficient management of project-wise permissions including maintaining project-wise lists of network objects, access permissions to which cannot be managed together via a hierarchical folder structure and employing the project-wise lists of network objects to make project-wise changes in access permissions to the network objects without the need to individually modify access permissions to individual ones of the network objects. |
| US09679145B2 |
Increased flexibility of security framework during low power modes management
The present invention relates to a method of managing switching from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation a first processor in a processing device which comprises at least one other processor and a controller processor. The method comprises receiving a message which comprises a request to switch the first processor from a first to a second mode of operation; deciding whether the switching is appropriate; and upon decision of switching, switching the first processor from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation according to the selected type of switching. |
| US09679142B2 |
Staged control release in boot process
Integrity validation of a network device may be performed. A network device comprising a secure hardware module, may receive a root key. The secure hardware module may also receive a first code measurement. The secure hardware module may provide a first key based on the root key and the first code measurement. The secure hardware module may receive a second code measurement and provide a second key based on the first key and the second code measurement. The release of keys based on code measurements may provide authentication in stages. |
| US09679139B1 |
System and method of performing an antivirus scan of a file on a virtual machine
A method and system are provided for performing an antivirus scan of a file on a virtual machine. An example method includes performing a first execution of the file on the virtual machine, recording a first log that includes an API function call and an internal event detected during execution, and determining if any signatures in the log are stored in a signatures database. Moreover, if no signatures in the first log are found in the first database of signatures, the file is classified as not malicious. In contrast, if at least one signature is found, a second execution of the file is perform and a second log is recorded that includes a detected internal event. Moreover, the method includes determining if any signatures in the second log are stored in a second database of signatures; and classifying the file as not malicious if no signatures are found. |
| US09679137B2 |
Anti-viral scanning in Network Attached Storage
In one embodiment a method comprises initiating, by a network attached storage device, a virus scan process on the network attached storage device, receiving, by the network attached storage device, a first file access request that identifies a file, and interrupting the virus scan process to respond to the first file access request. |
| US09679136B2 |
Method and system for discrete stateful behavioral analysis
A method for analyzing a computing system includes the steps of at a first moment in time, scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware, at a second moment in time scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware and determining the system executable objects loaded on the computing system, determining malware system changes, identifying a relationship between the malware system changes and the system executable objects loaded on the computing system, and identifying as suspected malware the system executable objects loaded on the computing system which have a relationship with the malware system changes. The malware system changes include differences between the results of scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware at the second and first moment of time. |
| US09679135B2 |
Computing device for secured transactions and virtual monitoring external from the operating system
A secure computer for secure transactions that includes an operating system, a processor, an identity security module, and a loss protection device. The operating system has built-in security features. The processor is manufactured with security features and configured to execute software in a virtualized state outside of the operating system. The computer includes or be able to create at least one virtualized monitoring application that operates outside of the operating system and. monitor system files and duplicate files of the system files for modification by malicious software, such that any of the duplicate files or system files determined to be modified by malicious software are restored to one of an original version or a known operative state and generates and communicates an alert indicating possible suspicious activity based on the determined modification. |
| US09679128B1 |
De-authentication of wearable devices
A wearable device comprises a first member, a second member that is configured to move relative to the first member, a sensor disposed on the first member, one or more components disposed on the second member, and an authentication module. The sensor is configured to output a sense signal that is indicative of a distance between the sensor and at least one of the one or more components. When the wearable device is worn by a user, the wearable device may be authenticated. The sense signal indicates when at least a portion of the wearable device is opened and/or removed. The wearable device may be de-authenticated based at least in part on the sense signal indicating that a portion of the wearable device has been opened or removed. |
| US09679127B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting accessories in electronic devices
A method and an apparatus for detecting an accessory in an electronic device. A connection of accessory with an interface unit is detected. An analog signal in a predetermined frequency is generated. The generated analog signal is applied to an identification terminal of the interface unit. The applied analog signal is converted to a digital signal and the type of the accessory is identified based on the converted digital signal. |
| US09679126B2 |
Decryption device, method for decrypting and method and system for secure data transmission
A decryption device for decrypting a document encrypted using biometric information of an intended receiver of the document is provided. The decryption device comprises: an imaging device configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the document; a biometric detection device configured to detect biometric information of a user; a processor configured to decrypt at least the portion of the document using the captured image and the detected biometric information; and a display device configured to display at least the portion of the document decrypted by the processor. |
| US09679122B1 |
Methods and apparatus for using credentials to access computing resources
Mechanisms for controlling access to credentials are disclosed. A computing device receives, at a first time, a request associated with a user to initiate a plurality of actions against a computing resource of a plurality of computing resources, the request including a credential identifier that identifies a credential. A memory is accessed, based on the credential identifier, to retrieve the credential identified by the credential identifier that was stored in the memory at a time prior to the first time, the credential comprising authentication information configured to authenticate the plurality of actions to the computing resource. The computing device communicates the request and the authentication information to an orchestration engine for execution of the plurality of actions against the computing resource. |
| US09679121B2 |
Unlocking electronic devices using touchscreen input gestures
A computer implemented method for detecting input gesture events on a touchscreen of an electronic device and for unlocking the electronic device is disclosed. The method may include displaying, while the electronic device is in a locked state, a plurality of guidance lines on the touchscreen of the electronic device, detecting, during an input gesture event, guidance line crossings and calculating a number of guidance line crossings detected during the input gesture event. The method may also include converting a calculated number of detected guidance line crossings into at least one password digit, comparing a sequence of password digits to a stored password in the electronic device and unlocking, in response to comparing the sequence of password digits to the stored password, the electronic device. |
| US09679117B2 |
System and method for obtaining an authorization key to use a product
A system and method for obtaining an authorization key to use a product utilizes a secured product identification code, which includes a serial number and at least one code that is generated based on a cryptographic algorithm. |
| US09679116B2 |
Photoresist simulation
A processor based method for measuring dimensional properties of a photoresist profile by determining a number acid generators and quenchers within a photoresist volume, determining a number of photons absorbed by the photoresist volume, determining a number of the acid generators converted to acid, determining a number of acid and quencher reactions within the photoresist volume, calculating a development of the photoresist volume, producing with the processor a three-dimensional simulated scanning electron microscope image of the photoresist profile created by the development of the photoresist volume, and measuring the dimensional properties of the photoresist profile. |
| US09679099B2 |
De-coupling capacitance placement
A method, executed by one or more processors, includes receiving IR-drop information as a function of location for a placement for a plurality of circuit blocks corresponding to an integrated circuit, calculating a target density for decoupling capacitors as a function of location based on the IR-drop information, placing a plurality of decoupling capacitors according to the target density to provide placed decoupling capacitors. The placed decoupling capacitors may be locally clustered to improve decoupling performance. The method may also include incrementally moving circuit elements or placed decoupling capacitors to avoid collisions within one or more circuit blocks, and routing the integrated circuit. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed herein. |
| US09679098B2 |
Protocol probes
This application discloses a computing system to provide test stimulus to an electronic device modeled in a verification environment by the computing system. The computing system can identify transactions performed by the electronic device in the verification environment based, at least in part, on messages exchanged over an interconnect in the electronic device in response to the test stimulus. The computing system can output the transactions from the verification environment and bundle a plurality of the transactions based, at least in part, on messaging relationships defined by a communication protocol for the interconnect. The computing system can utilize the bundles of transactions to determine whether the electronic device functions in accordance with the communication protocol. |
| US09679095B1 |
Layout decomposition for multiple patterning lithography
Aspects of the disclosed techniques relate to techniques of layout decomposition for multiple patterning lithography. Data of a coloring graph are derived from layout data for a layout design. The coloring graph is simplified by repeatedly applying a plurality of graph simplification units. Each of the graph simplification units is configured to use a unique approach to simplify a graph. Based on the simplified coloring graph, the layout design is decomposed to generate decomposition information. The decomposition process may comprise applying a heuristic method for coloring if needed. The decomposition information may comprise information of one or more layout regions that cannot be decomposed. |
| US09679090B1 |
Systematically exploring programs during testing
A testing service is used to test the operation of a program. The testing service systematically explores the display screens generated by the program. The testing service also identifies the elements that are displayed on the screen and programmatically interacts with the elements. Test data including performance metrics and screen captures may be recorded during the testing. Test results associated with the testing of the program are provided to an authorized user. |
| US09679085B2 |
Printing a three dimensional object about a preformed structure
A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method. The method includes obtaining a data file that includes print instructions for causing a three dimensional printer to print a three dimensional object, wherein the data file describes external surfaces of the object, and providing user instructions for positioning a preformed structure so that the three dimensional printer can print the object around the preformed structure, wherein the preformed structure has a size and a shape to be subsumed within the external surfaces of the object. The method further includes modifying the print instructions so that the printer will print the object around the preformed structure, and printing material around the preformed structure using the modified print instructions to form the object. |
| US09679083B2 |
Displaying sort results on a mobile computing device
Technologies for displaying sort results on a computing device includes determining a plurality of sort criteria of the set of data items to be sorted and associating a visual property to each sort criteria. A sort priority of sort criteria may also be determined. The set of data items are sorted based on the sort criteria and sort priority. The sort result is displayed using the visual properties of identify the sorting order of each corresponding sort criteria. The visual properties may include, for example, the display location, size, color, animation, or other visual aspect of the data items. |
| US09679078B2 |
Search client context on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph comprising nodes and a edges connecting the nodes, receiving from a first user a query inputted at a search client, the search client being associated with context data from a page associated with the search client, such that the context data identifies one or more nodes associated with the page, generating search results corresponding to the query, wherein each of the search results corresponds to a node, and scoring the search results based at least in part on the context data associated with the search client. The context data may identify a social context of the page, which can include tags, comments, likes, commenters, and the like. |
| US09679074B2 |
Social genome
Systems and methods are provided for processing a data stream in real time to identify connections between one or more social elements social elements and aggregating and storing the identified connections over a rolling time window. Social elements may be stored as nodes and connection between social elements may be stored as labeled connections between nodes. Other embodiments are provided. |
| US09679073B2 |
Webpage comprising a rules engine
A webpage comprising at least one rule rendering element including definition of a rule trigger is provided to a client. When a rule trigger is detected, the rule definitions are analyzed by means of a rules engine, including evaluation of the rule definitions. At least the evaluation takes place client-side. The client performs one or more operations within the webpage on the basis of the evaluation. |
| US09679072B2 |
Mobile photo sharing via barcode, sound or collision
Jane talks to Bob, who can be a stranger. She shows him photos on her mobile device. He wants a copy of a photo. Jane could work for a company that wants to promote its products. Her device has product images. She makes data with a link to the image, and her contact information. The data is in a barcode on her screen. Bob decodes the data. He gets her email address. His device replies with an auto-generated message. Her device gets his electronic address. Her device can send a message, offering a discount or extra features about the product. Another use lets Bob comment in text or speech about Jane's photo. His comment is added to the webpage that shows the photo. Other wireless means are possible. Including “chirp”—an identifier of the data is transmitted as audio. Or using accelerometers and geolocation on both devices. The invention permits the automated transmission of photos and contact information between people, with minimal manual steps. A company can use it to build a database of potential customers interested in their products. Another method lets Jane transmit her email address to Bob, who takes a photo of her and emails it to her. |
| US09679062B2 |
Local recommendation engine
A recommendation engine and a user profile stored on a user device are employed by the user device to select from a content store, content that is relevant to a current display of the user device. The selected content is combined with the current display to generate the contextually relevant display. The user profile on the user device is updated based on user interaction with the displayed content and the updated profile may be uploaded to the server in accordance with privacy settings associated with the user profile. |
| US09679055B2 |
Method and system for constructing database based on mutual relations between video data
The present invention relates to a method and system for constructing a database (DB) based on mutual relations between pieces of video data. The present invention provides the method of constructing a DB based on mutual relations between pieces of video data, including 1) generating one or more nodes so that pieces of identical video data are included in an identical node, 2) generating pieces of node information about respective generated nodes, 3) comparing comparison target video data with pieces of video data of the respective nodes, and then setting relations between the comparison target video data and the pieces of video data of the respective nodes, and 4) updating pieces of node information about the respective nodes, based on the set relations, and also provides a DB construction system using the method. |
| US09679050B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating thumbnails
A method for generating thumbnail is provided. In one embodiment, a summary of a first document is generated. The summary includes a first asset (e.g. words, images or sentences). The first document is a first source. The first asset is used to obtain a second asset (e.g. words, images or sentences) from a second source. A thumbnail of the first document is generated using the first asset and the second asset. An apparatus for substantially performing the method as described herein is also provided. |
| US09679047B1 |
Context-sensitive reference works
An architecture and techniques for outputting requested information from reference works (e.g., dictionaries, thesauruses, almanacs, atlases, encyclopedias, gazetteers) in a context-sensitive manner. For instance, when a user reads an electronic book (eBook) and requests a definition for a word found within the eBook, the techniques may display a definition for the word that has been selected based on the context of the request. In one example, the techniques may display a definition that corresponds to an identified genre of the eBook in which the word appears. In another example, the techniques may display a definition that corresponds to known information about the user, such as a preference of the user or the like. |
| US09679046B2 |
Identification and quantification of predatory behavior across communications systems
Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided that enable the identification of predatory behavior in communications systems. A plurality of textual messages of a message repository is queried with a plurality of sets of key phrases to determine and score textual messages that include one or more of the key phrases of the sets. Each scored textual message includes a suspect, a potential victim, and a score. Each suspect-to-potential victim pair corresponds to a conversation that includes the scored textual messages between the suspect and potential victim of the pair. A plurality of conversation risk scores is determined based at least on the scored textual messages. Each conversation risk score indicates an estimate of a risk of predatory behavior occurring during the corresponding conversation. |
| US09679041B2 |
Semantic indexing engine
Embodiments are described for a method of distributing n-tuples over a cluster of triple-store machines, by storing each n-tuple as text in a distributed file system using a key value store; providing each machine of the cluster with a resident semantic data lake component accessing one or more persistent RDF triplestores for the n-tuple data stored on each machine; and defining one part of each n-tuple as a partition variable to ensure locality of data within each respective n-tuple. A method includes inserting graphs into a key/value store to determine how the key/value store distributes the data across a plurality of servers, by generating textual triple data, and storing the triple data in key-value stores wherein a fourth element of the triple comprises the key, and a value associated with the key comprises all the triples about a subject; indexing the data in the key-value store in an RDF triplestore using a partition based on the fourth element. |
| US09679040B1 |
Performing deduplication in a distributed filesystem
The disclosed embodiments provide techniques for performing deduplication for a distributed filesystem. Two or more cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in one or more cloud storage systems; the cloud controllers cache and ensure data consistency for the stored data. During operation, a cloud controller receives an incremental metadata snapshot that references new data that was added to the distributed filesystem by a remote cloud controller. The cloud controller extracts a set of deduplication information from this incremental metadata snapshot. Upon receiving a subsequent client write request (e.g., a file write that includes one or more data blocks), the cloud controller uses the extracted deduplication information to determine that one or more data blocks in the client write request have already been written to the distributed filesystem. |
| US09679035B2 |
Content transfer
The present invention provides a method of transferring content from a file and a database. In this case, the file includes content instances, each content instance being associated with a respective field, and each field having a respective type. The transfer is achieved by determining the type of each field, and then storing each content instance in a store in accordance with the determined field type of the associated field. Each content instance can then be transferred to the database in accordance with the determined field type. A similar procedure is provided for creating XML files based on content within the database. |
| US09679034B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating a computer-telephony system
One embodiment of the invention provides a method of operating a computer-telephony system. The method comprises providing computer-telephony support for a plurality of customers. Each customer maintains customer relationship management (CRM) data. The CRM data is uploaded from the plurality of customers into a computer-telephony database. The uploading includes transforming the CRM data from an original format maintained by the respective customer into a standardized format for the computer-telephony database. Telephone calls can then be handled using the transformed CRM data in the computer-telephony database. |
| US09679033B2 |
Run time insertion and removal of buffer operators
Insertion, in a data warehouse process, of a buffer operator between an upstream data operator and a downstream data operator. The processor processes a data record for the upstream data operator to pass to the downstream data operator. In response to determining that the downstream data operator is not ready to accept the data record from the upstream data operator, a buffer operator is inserted between the upstream data operator and the downstream data operator. The data record processed by the upstream data operator is passed to the buffer operator for storing into a buffer allocated for use by the buffer operator. The data record stored into the buffer is passed to the downstream data operator when the downstream data operator is ready to accept data. In another aspect, when the allocated buffer utilization decreases to a threshold value, the buffer operator is removed and the buffers are released. |
| US09679029B2 |
Optimizing storage cloud environments through adaptive statistical modeling
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for adapting an information extraction middleware for a clustered computing environment (e.g., a cloud environment) by creating and managing a set of statistical models generated from performance statistics of operating devices within the clustered computing environment. This approach takes into account the required accuracy in modeling, including computation cost of modeling, to pick the best modeling solution at a given point in time. When higher accuracy is desired (e.g., nearing workload saturation), the approach adapts to use an appropriate modeling algorithm. Adapting statistical models to the data characteristics ensures optimal accuracy with minimal computation time and resources for modeling. This approach provides intelligent selective refinement of models using accuracy-based and operating probability-based triggers to optimize the clustered computing environment, i.e., maximize accuracy and minimize computation time. |
| US09679026B2 |
Methods and apparatus for bifurcating data storage for enabling implementation and manipulation of an interactive hierarchical entitlement structure
A method for bifurcating data storage to enable implementation and manipulation of an interactive entitlement structure is provided. The method may include displaying a GUI and copying information corresponding to the list of entitlements to using one or more features associated with the GUI. The method may copy from a remote System of Record to a cache memory local to the GUI. The method may include displaying on the GUI signatories with an entitlement authorization; receiving a modification of the entitlement authorization; and extracting a signature of a signatory with entitlement authorization. An input signal may be received that indicates an input signal indicator is hovering over the signatory and displaying, on the GUI, in response to the hovering indication, 1) a copy of the signature of the signatory; 2) a hierarchal list of signatories with current entitlement authorization; and/or 3) a listing of documents signed by a signatory. |
| US09679025B2 |
Providing search query results based on entity variant generation and normalization
Search results are provided for a search query. A search query including an entity and entity type is received. The entity is parsed into semantic components. Variants are generated based on input from auxiliary information and user configuration information for each of the semantic components. The entity is recomposed in different morphological forms from different variants of the semantic components. At least one morphological form for the entity is presented as a search result. |
| US09679024B2 |
Social-based spelling correction for online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a search query, determining if a bloom filter indicates an n-gram of the query does not exist in a set of object names associated with a vertical, identifying variant-tokens for each n-gram that does not exist in the set of object names, generating unique combinations of the n-grams and variant-tokens, where each unique combination includes a variant-token corresponding to each n-gram that does not exist in the set of object names for the n-gram, calculating a confidence score for each unique combination based at least in part on the search query and whether the unique combination exists in the set of object names, identifying objects matching each unique combination, where the unique combination has a confidence score greater than a threshold confidence score, and sending a search-results page responsive to the search query to the client device of the user. |
| US09679019B2 |
System and method for patent and prior art analysis
Systems and techniques for analyzing patents and prior art in a patent management system are described herein. Claims of an issued and a published patent may be retrieved. The claims may be compared to identify a unique keyword present in the issued claim but not present in the published claim. The unique keyword may be cross-referenced to a passage in a specification of the issued patent. A first and second prior art document may be identified. Overlap scores may be calculated for the first and second prior art document based on the occurrence of the unique keyword. A ranking may be calculated based on a comparison of the overlap scores. The overlap score of the first prior art document, the overlap score of the second prior art document based on the ranking and the passage in the specification of the issued patent may be displayed in a user interface. |
| US09679017B2 |
Method and system for centralized control of database applications
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system enables control of database applications. The system comprises a computer system including a database application to provide access to a database system, and at least one processor. The computer system requests retrieval of application specific property information for the database application from a data repository, and applies the retrieved application specific property information to the database application to control operation of the database application. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for controlling database applications in substantially the same manner described above. |
| US09679015B2 |
Script converter
According to an embodiment, an apparatus including a memory and a processor is provided. The memory may store a plurality of conversion rules. The processor may receive a first script and determine a first type associated with the first script, a plurality of variables included in the first script, and a first layout associated with the first script. The processor may determine that at least one conversion rule of the plurality of conversion rules should be applied. The processor may determine a second type, a second variable, and a second layout. The processor may generate a second script associated with the second type and the second layout, the second script comprising the second variable, the second script executable against a database comprising a plurality of database processors. |
| US09679014B2 |
Generating and accessing a data table
A data sharing space (DSS) is generated for a base table having a set of rows with stored data. Requests are received to generate tables, each request including a query to the base table. A row from the set of rows is then accessed. The query is then applied to the row to generate results. An index value is then determined and a portion of the row is stored in the DSS based on the index value. |
| US09679012B1 |
Parallel streaming of external data
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for streaming external data in parallel from a second distributed system to a first distributed system. One of the methods includes receiving a query that requests a join of first rows of a first table in a first distributed system with second rows of an external table, the external table representing data in a second distributed system. Each of the segment nodes communicates with a respective extension service that obtains fragments from one or more data nodes of the second distributed system according to location information for the respective fragments, and provides to the segment node a stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table. Each of the segment nodes computes joined rows between the first rows of the first table and the stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table. |
| US09679009B2 |
Component independent process integration message search
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for centralized message searching of business processes. One process includes identifying a process integration (PI) domain associated with a message search, where the PI domain includes at least one PI component, and receiving a set of user-defined search attributes for searching messages within the identified PI domain, where each search attribute associated with a corresponding value. At least one message corresponding to the set of the received user-defined search attributes associated with at least one PI component is identified, and information associated with the identified at least one message corresponding to at least a portion of the set of received search attributes is retrieved. At least a portion of the retrieved information associated with the identified at least one message is presented via a user interface. |
| US09679007B1 |
Techniques for managing references to containers
Techniques for managing references to containers are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for managing references to containers comprising comparing at least one identifier to a first bloom filter, generating a first list of identifiers based on the comparison of the at least one identifier and the first bloom filter, comparing the first list of identifiers to a second bloom filter, generating a second list of identifiers based on the comparison of the first list and the second bloom filter, comparing the second list of identifiers to a main container list, and determining whether an image refers to a container based on the comparison of the second list and the main container list. |
| US09679003B2 |
Rendezvous-based optimistic concurrency control
A concurrent transaction validate phase with the transaction operations read, compute, and write allows for a rendezvous-based optimistic concurrency control process. |
| US09679002B2 |
Method for producing and using a recursive index of search engines
A method and an apparatus for creating and using recursive index in search engines. In particular, extracting text from an index of a search engine starting at an arbitrary position in the text, and analyzing texts for co-occurrence of words, and using said extraction and analysis for inferring implicit relationships among objects in sequences thereof. As such, utility of search engines to index and retrieve information represented by a sequence of objects different from text information objects are extended. A method and an apparatus extends the basic hit with at least two word identifications, one for the previous word and one for the next word. |
| US09678998B2 |
Content name resolution for information centric networking
A content-name-resolution (CNR) system can resolve IP addresses for named data objects (NDOs) based on their name. During operation, a CNR server can receive a query from a client device for a source to a named data object. The query can include at least a name prefix for the named data object. The CNR server can identify a cache server that corresponds to the named data object's name prefix, and determines one or more sources associated with the named data object's name prefix. The CNR server then returns, to the client device, a query response that includes a network address for the cache server, and includes a content record specifying the one or more sources. |
| US09678991B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing image
Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method thereof. The image processing method extracts at least one texture area from an input image according to at least one texture feature of an object, processing, for each texture area of the extracted at least one texture area, the texture area using an image set value respectively corresponding to the texture area, and combining the at least one texture area that is processed by the processing and outputting the combined at least one texture area. |
| US09678990B2 |
Construction drawing evaluation systems and methods
The invention provides the ability to count symbols within drawings in an automated fashion using a computer processor. This may be accomplished by identifying a particular symbol (representing a drawing part) and then permitting the computer to search for the identified symbol in the drawing. Following the initial search, a secondary search may be performed to increase the accuracy of an initial automated count, and obtaining refined searches results representing similar parts (represented by the same symbol) but being a part type as indicated by an identifier associated with the initial symbol. |
| US09678988B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus receives an input specifying a target in a first captured image group that is obtained by slicing a three-dimensional body into captured images at a first point in time, extracts feature points surrounding the specified target from the captured images of the first captured image group, specifies slice positions of each of the feature points that are extracted in captured images of a second captured image group that is obtained by slicing the three-dimensional body into the captured images at a second point in time, and outputs an image corresponding to a slice position range specified based on the specified slice positions of each of the extracted feature points, and corresponding to a range on a first plane specified based on positions of each of the extracted feature points on a second plane. |
| US09678984B2 |
File access for applications deployed in a cloud environment
A method of operating a virtual computer system including a file access interceptor and multiple virtual machines that are logically arranged in a virtualization environment that is managed by a virtualization environment manager is provided. The method includes reading file settings definitions that include identifications and properties of files that are configured to be accessed by a computer application, replacing operations of a file interface in the computer application using with file access interceptor operations that use the file settings to decouple file attributes from the computer application, managing file access via the file access interceptor operations to provide data file storage and read access to the files, and synchronizing file actions in each of a plurality of instances of the files. Related systems and computer program products are disclosed. |
| US09678983B1 |
Systems and methods for automatically passing hints to a file system
Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems and methods for passing optimization information, which may be used to optimize input/output (“I/O”) requests, from a database management system to a file system, using various protocols of a network file system. The optimization information provided by the database management system may relate to various aspects of an I/O request that may be optimized. |
| US09678981B1 |
Customizing data management for a distributed filesystem
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that adjusts the characteristics of a distributed filesystem using a locality policy. Two or more cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in one or more cloud storage systems; the cloud controllers cache and ensure data consistency for the stored data. During operation, a cloud controller receives a locality policy that specifies one or more management policies for the cloud controller. The portion of the distributed filesystem's data that is managed, created, and/or cached at the cloud controller is then managed based on this locality policy. Locality policies facilitate customizing and optimizing data management for the distributed filesystem to fit the needs of an organization (e.g., specific sets of users, applications, and/or datasets). |
| US09678977B1 |
Similarity based deduplication of snapshots data
Embodiments for deduplication of snapshots data in a data storage by a processor. Input snapshot data is partitioned into input similarity units. An input similarity unit is deduplicated with a corresponding similarity unit of a previous snapshot. Deduplication coverage is examined. If a deduplication coverage threshold is not met, a similarity search is conducted and the input similarity unit is deduplicated with a found similarity unit. |
| US09678973B2 |
Multi-node hybrid deduplication
According to at least one embodiment, a data storage system is provided. The data storage system includes memory, at least one processor in data communication with the memory, and a deduplication director component executable by the at least one processor. The deduplication director component is configured to receive data for storage on the data storage system, analyze the data to determine whether the data is suitable for at least one of summary-based deduplication, content-based deduplication, and no deduplication, and store, in a common object store, at least one of the data and a reference to duplicate data stored in the common object store. |
| US09678970B2 |
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. |
| US09678969B2 |
Metadata updating method and apparatus based on columnar storage in distributed file system, and host
A metadata updating method based on columnar storage in a distributed file system includes acquiring to-be-updated metadata in a data table, splitting data records of the data table into multiple row groups on a row basis, converting the data table into global file metadata and multiple row group files, where the row group file includes an actual data block, a data index block, a local metadata block, a metadata index block, and a file footer, determining whether the to-be-updated metadata belongs to the global file metadata, updating local metadata when the to-be-updated metadata does not belong to the global file metadata, and adding an updated local metadata block, an updated metadata index block, and an updated file footer to the multiple row group files according to updated local metadata. Dynamic updating of metadata saves time of executing an updating operation of this type and needed computing resources. |
| US09678968B1 |
Deleting a file from a distributed filesystem
The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques for deleting a file from a distributed filesystem. Two or more cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in one or more cloud storage systems; the cloud controllers store metadata for the distributed filesystem, and cache and ensure data consistency for the data stored in the cloud storage systems. During operation, a cloud controller receives a request from a client to delete a file from the distributed filesystem. The cloud controller updates a user view of the distributed filesystem to present the appearance of the target file being deleted to the client, and then initiates a background deletion operation to delete the target file without negatively affecting the performance of the other users of the distributed filesystem. |
| US09678965B1 |
System and method for enforcing data lifecycle policy across multiple domains
A first backup storage system within a receiving domain receives information from an originating domain distinct from the receiving domain. The first backup storage system includes at least one storage device and the information includes backup data and corresponding lifecycle policy information for the backup data. The first backup storage system automatically performs an operation relating to the backup data, where the operation is specified by the received lifecycle policy information. In some embodiments, the lifecycle policy information may be received by the receiving domain within a header located within the backup data. |
| US09678963B2 |
Methods and apparatus for point cloud data processing
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing data representing three-dimensional points organized in a data structure wherein each point has multiple components, the data is organized in a respective layer per component, each layer is segmented in cells of a two-dimensional grid, the cells are arranged such that the components of a given point are contained in corresponding cells of multiple layers, the cells are grouped in patches by layer, and the patches are arranged such that the components of an array of points is represented by corresponding patches of multiple layers. At least one first criterion and at least one second criterion are obtained. Data are retrieved from cells of patches meeting the at least one first criterion and from layers meeting the at least one second criterion. The retrieved data are processed to obtain a derivative data set. |
| US09678960B2 |
Methods and systems of dynamic content analysis
Methods and systems of dynamic content analysis for categorizing media contents are provided. Data regarding the media contents that a user is watching on one or more devices is obtained, and the environment in which the user is watching the media contents may be captured. Metadata categorizing the events and the media contents can be generated, and the metadata may be further associated with a corresponding event. |
| US09678957B2 |
Systems and methods for classifying electronic information using advanced active learning techniques
Systems and methods for classifying electronic information or documents into a number of classes and subclasses are provided through an active learning algorithm. In certain embodiments, seed sets may be eliminated by merging relevance feedback and machine learning phases. In certain embodiments, the active learning algorithm forks a number of classification paths corresponding to predicted user coding decisions for a selected document. The active learning algorithm determines an order in which the documents of the collection may be processed and scored by the forked classification paths. Such document classification systems are easily scalable for large document collections, require less manpower and can be employed on a single computer, thus requiring fewer resources. Furthermore, the classification systems and methods described can be used for any pattern recognition or classification effort in a wide variety of fields. |
| US09678953B2 |
Translation and integration of presentation materials with cross-lingual multi-media support
Computer-based systems and methods are disclosed for translation of a multi-media presentation (e.g., a lecture) along with the accompanying presentation materials. Translation and delivery of text-based presentation materials to a listener is annotated and aligned with audio, so that the listener can follow both the audio and the presentation material. The content of the presentation materials can be used to improve presentation translation, as it extracts supportive material from the presentation materials as they relate to the speech. |
| US09678950B2 |
System and method for enabling communication between a rich communication service system and a non-rich communication service system
System and method for enabling communication between a Rich Communication Service System and a non-Rich Communication Service system. Embodiments of the present invention disclose a translation feature to enhance the communication experience between users of RCS and non-RCS systems by enabling users to communicate in their preferred language with the RCS taking care of language translation. |
| US09678943B2 |
Partial gesture text entry
A graphical keyboard including a number of keys is output for display at a display device. The computing device receives an indication of a gesture to select at least two of the keys based at least in part on detecting an input unit at locations of a presence-sensitive input device. In response to the detecting and while the input unit is detected at the presence-sensitive input device: the computing device determines a candidate word for the gesture based at least in part on the at least two keys and the candidate word is output for display at a first location of the output device. In response to determining that the input unit is no longer detected at the presence-sensitive input device, the displayed candidate word is output for display at a second location of the display device. |
| US09678941B2 |
Domain-specific computational lexicon formation
According to an aspect, a candidate token sequence including one or more word tokens is extracted from an unstructured domain glossary that includes entries associated with a domain. A look-up operation is performed to retrieve language data for each word token in the candidate token sequence and annotates each word token in the candidate token sequence found by the look-up operation with corresponding retrieved language data to form an annotated sequence. A pattern match of the annotated sequence is performed relative to a repository of patterns and identifies a best matching pattern from the repository of patterns to the annotated sequence based on matching criteria. The annotated sequence is refined with lexical information associated with the best matching pattern as a refined annotated sequence. The candidate token sequence and the refined annotated sequence are output to a domain-specific computational lexicon file. |
| US09678937B2 |
Single click in a partially protected cell of a table
Displaying a table in a user interface includes receiving data related to a position within the user interface selected by a user; determining a particular cell of the table corresponding to the position, wherein the particular cell includes an editable portion and a non-editable portion; and determining a particular location within the cell corresponding to the position. A determination is made whether the particular location corresponds to the editable portion of the particular cell; and, if so, positioning a cursor at the particular location; or when the particular location does not correspond to the editable portion of the particular cell, preventing editing at the particular location. |
| US09678931B2 |
Triggered event handler addition
Embodiments of the present invention provide an intuitive method for the specification of a design as follows. A widget is added to the design at the direction of a user. The widget has an event and an event handler. A second widget is added to the design. The design is exported from a design program and an instantiation of the design is created that is capable of being rendered by an external player. Executing the event handler adds a second event handler to a second widget in the instantiation of the design. |
| US09678928B1 |
Webpage partial rendering engine
According to some embodiments, the present technology is directed to a method for rendering a webpage. The method comprises receiving a URL of the webpage and fetching a file from a server designated by the URL, the fetched file including source code describing the webpage. The method further includes parsing the source code to catalog resources used for rendering the webpage and determining a priority for each resource. For each resource, the method includes fetching the resource if the priority exceeds a threshold, and omitting the resource if the priority does not exceed the threshold. The method also includes generating a representation of the webpage using the fetched resources, the generated representation being a transformation of an intended representation for the webpage. |
| US09678926B2 |
Image preview
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of a file by interfacing with a graphical interface relating to the file. A request for viewing a file content is received. A window for viewing a graphical representation of at least a portion of the content of a file is provided. |
| US09678914B2 |
Hot removing an I/O module with multiple hot plug slots
In a method for ejecting a plurality of hot plug slots sharing a power controller, a processor receives a request to eject a plurality of hot plug slots, wherein the plurality of hot plug slots share a power controller and have at least two adapters present. A processor causes an OS to incrementally eject the at least two adapters, wherein ejecting an adapter comprises the OS stopping at least one driver of the adapter, and the OS generating a request to remove power from a hot plug slot. Responsive to a request by the OS to remove power from a hot plug slot, a processor generates a signal that prevents the OS from recognizing the adapter is present in the hot plug slot. Responsive to all device drivers for the at least two adapters being stopped, a processor causes power to be removed from the plurality of hot plug slots. |
| US09678907B2 |
Oldest link first arbitration between links grouped as single arbitration elements
A method for scheduling a crossbar using distributed request-grant-accept arbitration between input group arbiters and output group arbiters in a switch unit is provided. Each input group arbiter and output group arbiter maintains an ordered queue of links in an input group or an output group. The ordered queue prioritizes links in the output group or output group that was least recently selected. To satisfy an arbitration slot won on the group-level, the input group arbiter or output group arbiter starts a search from the oldest link that was selected and maintains fairness among links in the group. |
| US09678906B2 |
Oldest link first arbitration between links grouped as single arbitration elements
A method for scheduling a crossbar using distributed request-grant-accept arbitration between input group arbiters and output group arbiters in a switch unit is provided. Each input group arbiter and output group arbiter maintains an ordered queue of links in an input group or an output group. The ordered queue prioritizes links in the output group or output group that was least recently selected. To satisfy an arbitration slot won on the group-level, the input group arbiter or output group arbiter starts a search from the oldest link that was selected and maintains fairness among links in the group. |
| US09678905B2 |
Bus controller, bus control system and network interface
In a bus control system for a semiconductor circuit, data is transmitted between first and second nodes over a network of buses. The bus controller is connected directly to the first node and includes: a route load detector which detects loads on routes that form at least one of a group of forward routes leading from the first to the second node and a group of backward routes leading from the second to the first node; a candidate route extraction circuit which extracts a candidate route from the group of routes so that loads on the routes that form the group become uniform; a route determining circuit which determines the route to transmit the data based on the candidate route and a predetermined selection rule; and a data communication circuit which transmits the data between the first and second nodes based on header information including route information indicating the route. |
| US09678904B2 |
PCI express data transmission
PCIe devices and corresponding methods are provided wherein a length of data to be transferred is aligned to a multiple of a double word length. |
| US09678900B2 |
Abnormal interrupt request processing
To detect an abnormality in an interrupt control system without completely depending on dualization of a circuit, without the need to create a test pattern for a built-in self-test by spending time, and without considerably increasing an amount of power consumption. A test interrupt request is generated periodically using a timer or the like in an interrupt signal system from an interrupt controller to a central processing unit, the state of an interrupt request flag within the interrupt controller is checked in an interrupt processing routine, and in the case where it is detected that the same interrupt request flag is kept in a set state twice or more in succession, it is supposed that there is a high possibility that a failure has occurred in the interrupt signal system and it is considered that there is an abnormality. |
| US09678890B2 |
Synchronizing a translation lookaside buffer with an extended paging table
A processor including logic to execute an instruction to synchronize a mapping from a physical address of a guest of a virtualization based system (guest physical address) to a physical address of the host of the virtualization based system (host physical address), and stored in a translation lookaside buffer (TLB), with a corresponding mapping stored in an extended paging table (EPT) of the virtualization based system. |
| US09678886B2 |
Processing page fault exceptions in supervisory software when accessing strings and similar data structures using normal load instructions
Embodiments are directed to a method of accessing a data frame, wherein a first portion of the data frame is in a first memory block, and wherein a second portion of the data frame is in a second memory block. The method includes determining that an access of the data frame crosses a boundary between the first second memory blocks, determining that an attempted translation of an address of the first portion of the data frame in the first memory block did not result in a translation fault, and accessing the first portion of the data frame. The method further includes, based at least in part on a determination that an attempted translation of an address of the second portion of the data frame in the second memory block resulted in a translation fault, accessing at least one default character as a replacement for accessing the second portion of the data frame. |
| US09678881B2 |
Data distribution device and data distribution method
A data distribution device includes: a memory configured to store cache data of data to be distributed; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: read the cache data from the memory in accordance with a request message received from other devices to distribute the cache data to the other devices, update, when the request message is received, a counter value that gets closer to a given value with time, so as to make the counter value move away from the given value in accordance with a reference value that is a reciprocal of a threshold value of a reception rate of the request message, whether or not to store the cache data being determined based on the reception rate; and discard the cache data in the memory when the counter value becomes the given value. |
| US09678880B1 |
System and method for cache management in systems that interface to cloud storage
A method and a system for cache management in system interfacing to a cloud storage. The cache has two layers: the filter layer for tracing read access to the data blocks and the cache layer for keeping the actual data blocks. The layer two consists of two modules—a main cache and a boot cache. The boot cache is filled during the short period of time after the first file open operation. The boot cache also has a limit on the amount of data that can be put into the cache for the particular file. The filter layer detects continuous read access pattern and avoids caching data, if the data is read continuously beyond some limit. |
| US09678873B2 |
Early shared resource release in symmetric multiprocessing computer systems
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes detecting a cache miss for a cache line. A resource is reserved on each of one or more remote computing nodes, responsive to the cache miss. A request for a state of the cache line on the one or more remote computing nodes is broadcast to the one or more remote computing nodes, responsive to the cache miss. A resource credit is received from a first remote computing node of the one or more remote computing nodes, responsive to the request. The resource credit indicates that the first remote computing node will not participate in completing the request. The resource on the first remote computing node is released, responsive to receiving the resource credit from the first remote computing node. |
| US09678870B2 |
Diagnostic apparatus, control unit, integrated circuit, vehicle and method of recording diagnostic data
A diagnostic apparatus comprises a diagnostic data buffer constituting a volatile memory, and a non-volatile memory capable of receiving data from the buffer. A data buffer controller is also provided and is operably coupled to the buffer and has an event alert input and a data channel monitoring input for receiving diagnostic data. The buffer receives, when the state of a buffer status memory indicates that the buffer is in an unprotected state, at least part of the diagnostic data received by the controller via the data channel monitoring input to the buffer and the controller sets the state of the buffer status memory to indicate the protected state in response to receipt of an event alert received via the event alert input. A controller monitors the buffer status memory and copies a portion of the buffer to the non-volatile memory in response to the buffer status memory being set to be indicative of the protected state. |
| US09678864B2 |
Data reallocation upon detection of errors
A device includes one or more data storage media having a main storage area, and includes a non-volatile cache memory and a controller. The controller stores a plurality of data packets into a plurality of physical locations in the main storage area. Each of the data packets is associated with a different logical block address (LBA), and each of the physical locations is associated with a different physical location address (PLA). The controller generates mapping information that links the different LBAs to the different PLAs. Upon detecting a soft error when reading a data packet stored in a physical location, the controller relocates the data packet associated with the soft error to a physical location of the non-volatile cache memory. The controller also marks the physical location as a suspect location. The controller updates the mapping information to reflect the relocation of the data packet associated with the soft error. |
| US09678854B2 |
Application-centric analysis of leak suspect operations
To identify a source of a memory leak in an application, a pattern of objects is identified in an object hierarchy of a heap dump, the pattern including an indication of the memory leak. The pattern is matched with a metadata of the application. A static entry in the metadata describes a relationship between a component of the application and an object of a class used in the component. A flow entry in the metadata describes a relationship between a pattern of instantiation of a set of objects corresponding to a set of classes and an operation performed using the application. When the pattern matches the flow entry in the flow section of the metadata, a conclusion is drawn that the memory leak is caused in the operation identified in the flow entry. A portion of a code that participates in the operation is selected for modification. |
| US09678848B2 |
Eliminate corrupted portions of cache during runtime
In an approach for taking corrupt portions of cache offline during runtime, a notification of a section of a cache to be taken offline is received, wherein the section includes one or more sets in one or more indexes of the cache. An indication is associated with each set of the one or more sets in a first index of the one or more indexes, wherein the indication marks the respective set as unusable for future operations. Data is purged from the one or more sets in the first index of the cache. Each set of the one or more sets in the first index is marked as invalid. |
| US09678843B2 |
Validating connection, structural characteristics and positioning of cable connectors
In one or more aspects, a determination is made as to whether a connector is securely fastened, whether the connector connected within a socket structure is the expected connector for that socket structure, and/or whether connectors coupled to one another via one or more cables are properly positioned for communication between them. Information on selected physical connection elements of a connector is used to determine one or more structural characteristics of the cable(s) connected to the connector and to determine whether the connector is the expected connector for a particular socket structure. |
| US09678840B2 |
Fast failover for application performance based WAN path optimization with multiple border routers
According to one aspect, a control entity (such as a policy server) in communication with a plurality of border routers in a network, generates failover entries for one or more traffic flows. Each failover entry specifies a backup path to be used by a border router when the border router determines that a wide area network interface of the border router has failed. The control entity sends the failover entries to each of the border routers. A border router operating in a network stores failover entries for one or more traffic flows. For packets received at the border router either from a local area network interface or via a tunnel from another border router, when the border router detects that the wide area network interface has failed, the border router determines how to handle the packets based on the stored failover entries. |
| US09678837B1 |
Variable checkpointing in a streaming application with one or more consistent regions
A variable checkpoint mechanism in a streams manager checkpoints a streaming application based on periodic time periods for checkpoints. The variable checkpoint mechanism can take a checkpoint before a periodic time period ends when a spike is coming, or can take a checkpoint after the periodic time period ends when there is backpressure in a consistent region of the streaming application. When there is no anticipated spike coming and when there is no backpressure in a consistent region of the streaming application, the checkpoint is performed at the normal end of the periodic time period for checkpoints. In this manner the checkpoint timing of the variable checkpoint mechanism can be adjusted real-time to minimize the negative impact of checkpointing on the performance of the streaming application. |
| US09678830B2 |
Recovery improvement for quiesced systems
Methods and apparatuses for performing a quiesce operation during a processor recovery action is provided. A processor performs a processor recovery action. A processor retrieves a quiesce status of a computer system from a shared cache with a second processor. A processor determines a quiesce status of the first processor based, a least in part, on the retrieved quiesce status of the computer system. |
| US09678829B2 |
Memory device and erasing method thereof
An erasing method of a memory device is provided. The memory device includes a memory controller and a memory array having a first memory region and a second memory region. The first memory region and the second memory region share the same well. The erasing method comprising steps of: erasing the first memory region; and selectively programming the second memory region according to an error correction code algorithm. |
| US09678822B2 |
Real-time categorization of log events
Embodiments for categorizing a real-time log event are described. In one example, a Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) vector for the log event is computed based on pre-calculated TF-IDF matrix of log corpus and number of new words in log event, where log corpus comprises one or more pre-existing log events, and where the log event is indicative of error message. Further, distance between TF-IDF vector and cluster centroid of each cluster in the log corpus is calculated. Thereafter, cluster having closest cluster centroid is identified from amongst the clusters based on distance between TF-IDF vector and cluster centroid of each of the clusters, where closest cluster centroid is cluster centroid closest to TF-IDF vector. Subsequently, log event is categorized into one or more log categories based on comparison of distance between TF-IDF vector and closest cluster centroid pre-determined silhouette threshold corresponding to cluster with closest cluster centroid. |
| US09678820B2 |
Alerting with duplicate suppression
The present disclosure is related to systems, methods, and non-transitory machine readable media for alerting with duplicate suppression. An example non-transitory machine readable medium can store instructions executable by a processing resource to cause a computing system to receive an alert at a first virtual computing instance (VCI) from a second VCI, compare the alert with at least one previously received alert to determine if the alert is a duplicate alert, and send the alert to an alert notification queue associated with the first VCI in response to a determination that the alert is not a duplicate alert. In some embodiments, the medium can store instructions to confirm that the alert has been sent in response to the determination that the alert is a duplicate alert. |
| US09678815B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and method of controlling them
There is provided a technique of enabling to easily identify the association between process results in a plurality of components which are executed in association with an RPC. An information processing system in which an application of a first component performs an RPC for a functional function of a second component, the system comprises: a stub of the first component configured to receive the RPC and transmit an RPC message to the second component; and a skeleton of the second component configured to receive the RPC message from the stub and control execution of a predetermined function. The stub generates an RPC message having a header in which a sequence identifier acquired from the first management unit is embedded, and transmits the generated RPC message, and the skeleton extracts a sequence identifier from the header of the received RPC message. |
| US09678813B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for mutual communication between processes of many-core processor
A method, an apparatus, and a system for mutual communication between processes of a many-core processor are provided that relate to the field of many-core operating systems The method is executed by a target kernel, where the target kernel corresponds to a target processor core. The method includes acquiring a message header of a message from a quick message channel (QMC); executing a central processing unit (CPU) pre-fetching command according to the message header, so that a message body that is in the message stored in a shared memory and corresponds to the message header is loaded to a cache that corresponds to the target processor core; and switching to a target process, so that the target process acquires the message body from the cache. The embodiments of the present invention apply to a scenario of mutual communication between processes of a many-core processor. |
| US09678810B2 |
Multi-operating system
A mobile computing device with a mobile operating system and desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a shared kernel without virtualization. The mobile operating system provides a user experience for the mobile computing device that suits the mobile environment. The desktop operating system provides a full desktop user experience when the mobile computing device is docked to a secondary terminal environment. The mobile computing device may be a smartphone running the Android mobile OS and a full desktop Linux distribution on a modified Android kernel. |
| US09678802B2 |
Service management modes of operation in distributed node service management
A distributed node service management system utilizes multiple existing processor nodes of a distributed computing system, in support of the primary data processing functions of the distributed computing system. The distributed node service management system coordinates and manages service functions on behalf of processor nodes of the distributed computing system. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application. |
| US09678799B2 |
Dynamic correlated operation management for a distributed computing system
In one aspect of the present description, in a distributed node management system for a distributed computing system having multiple processor nodes, each processor node has a local data structure which contains a “to-do tasks” synchronization table that resides on each such processor node. The “to-do-tasks” synchronization table contains one or more actions that each processor node may perform to facilitate maintaining the operations of the associated processor node with equivalent knowledge of the system configuration, status and backup capabilities as the other processor nodes of the distributed computing system. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application. |
| US09678797B2 |
Dynamic resource management for multi-process applications
Techniques are described that enable an application executing on a computing device to dynamically control how an allocated portion of a resource of the computing device is to be divided among multiple processes associated with the application. For example, an application executing on the computing device may interact with an operating system of the computing device to dynamically control how an allocated portion of a resource of the computing device is to be divided among a foreground process associated with the application and one or more background processes associated with the application. |
| US09678794B1 |
Techniques for processing queries relating to task-completion times or cross-data-structure interactions
Methods and systems disclosed herein relate generally to data processing by applying machine learning techniques to iteration data to identify anomaly subsets of iteration data. More specifically, iteration data for individual iterations of a workflow involving a set of tasks may contain a client data set, client-associated sparse indicators and their classifications, and a set of processing times for the set of tasks performed in that iteration of the workflow. These individual iterations of the workflow may also be associated with particular data sources. Using the iteration data, anomaly subsets within the iteration data can be identified, such as data items resulting from systematic error associated with particular data sources, sets of sparse indicators to be validated or double-checked, or tasks that are associated with long processing times. The anomaly subsets can be provided in a generated communication or report in order to optimize future iterations of the workflow. |
| US09678783B2 |
Temporal dynamic virtual machine policies
Temporal dynamic policies may be used to effectively alter the management of a virtual machine in a virtualized computing environment based upon some temporal condition such as how long a virtual machine has been active or idle, how long it has been since the virtual machine was created or deployed, etc. The altered management may be used, for example, to activate various performance and/or reliability-related technologies such as high availability and failover functionality for longer-running virtual machines. |
| US09678781B2 |
Methods of and data processing systems for handling an accelerator's scheduling statistics
A data processing system comprises one or more processors that each execute one or more operating systems. Each operating system includes one or more applications. The system also comprises an accelerator that provides a shared resource for a plurality of the applications, an input/output module comprising one or more input/output interfaces for the submission of tasks to the accelerator, a hypervisor that manages the allocation of the input/output interfaces to the one or more operating systems and a storage area accessible by the hypervisor and the accelerator. The accelerator is capable of writing one or more selected pieces of information representative of one or more scheduling statistics of the accelerator periodically to the storage area without having received a request for the one or more selected pieces of information from the hypervisor. |
| US09678779B2 |
Method and an apparatus for co-processor data plane virtualization
A method and a system embodying the method for a data plane virtualization, comprising assigning each of at least one data plane a unique identifier; providing a request comprising an identifier of one of the at least one data plane together with an identifier of a virtual resource assigned to a guest; determining validity of the provided request in accordance with the identifier of the one of the at least one data plane and the identifier of the virtual resource assigned to the guest; and processing the request based on the determined validity of the request are disclosed. |
| US09678777B2 |
Administering virtual machines in a distributed computing environment
In a distributed computing environment that includes hosts that execute a VMM, with each VMM supporting execution of one or more VMs, administering VMs may include: assigning, by a VMM manager, the VMMs of the distributed computing environment to a logical tree topology, including assigning one of the VMMs as a root VMM of the tree topology; and executing, amongst the VMMs of the tree topology, a scatter operation, including: pausing, by the root VMM one or more executing VMs; storing, by the root VMM in a buffer, a plurality of VMs to scatter amongst the other VMMs of the tree topology; and sending, by the root VMM, to each of the other VMMs of the tree topology a different one of the VMs stored in the buffer. |
| US09678776B2 |
Suppress newer facilities when simulating an older machine
Suppressing enabled newer facilities of an older simulated machine. This makes the native machine appear just like the corresponding older simulated machine. The invention creates the Allowed Facilities Table (AFT) that includes all the facilities of each simulated machine that needs to be supported and queries all the installed facilities of the simulated machine. It reads each machine facility of the simulated machine and checks the AFT that includes the state of all the facilities that are allowed to be enabled for the simulated machine to see if this installed facility is also enabled in the AFT. If the installed facility is also enabled in the AFT, then this facility may be used by the software without any problems. Otherwise, this facility should not be used. A system and program product for carrying out the method are included. |
| US09678766B2 |
Controlling the configuration of computer systems
Embodiments relate to controlling configuration of a computer system comprising one or more exchangeable components. The exchangeable components comprising identification means to store an identifier. A pair of a private key and a public key are generated for each accepted manufacturer of the exchangeable components and a pair of a private key and a public key for the computer system; assigning an identifier for each exchangeable component available for attachment to the system; receiving configuration data comprising a list of encrypted identity records comprising identifiers of the components together with signatures over the data generated with the private key of the respective component manufacturer for each component expected to be attached to the system; and receiving a configuration record. The configuration data of the expected components from the received configuration record is compared with the configuration data of the components attached to the system. |
| US09678762B2 |
Dynamic, automated monitoring and controlling of boot operations in computers
A network device manages multiple computers and connects the computers to boot devices that store boot programs used by the computers to boot. The network device downloads to each computer a respective boot order that specifies an order in which the computer is to attempt to boot from boot devices specified in the boot order. The network device automatically determines network paths over which each computer is to access the boot devices in the boot order for that computer. The network device automatically determines an availability of each network path and an availability of each boot device. The network device also receives boot status from each computer while the computer attempts to boot from boot devices in the boot order for that computer. The network device automatically performs boot-related actions based on the determined network path and boot device availabilities, and the received boot status. |
| US09678760B2 |
Memory card and storage system having authentication program and method for operating thereof
A memory card includes a nonvolatile memory and a device controller. The nonvolatile memory stores data. The device controller divides the nonvolatile memory into a plurality of logical units and stores an authentication program at a partial area the plurality of logical units. When connected with a host, the device controller enables the authentication program to be executable on the host. |
| US09678757B2 |
Forming instruction groups based on decode time instruction optimization
Instructions are grouped into instruction groups based on optimizations that may be performed. An instruction is obtained, and a determination is made as to whether the instruction is to be included in a current instruction group or another instruction group. This determination is made based on whether the instruction is a candidate for optimization, such as decode time instruction optimization. If it is determined that the instruction is to be included in another group, then the other group is formed to include the instruction. |
| US09678754B2 |
System and method of processing hierarchical very long instruction packets
A system and method of processing a hierarchical very long instruction word (VLIW) packet is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of processing instructions is disclosed. The method includes receiving a hierarchical VLIW packet of instructions and decoding an instruction from the packet to determine whether the instruction is a single instruction or whether the instruction includes a subpacket that includes a plurality of sub-instructions. The method also includes, in response to determining that the instruction includes the subpacket, executing each of the sub-instructions. |
| US09678753B2 |
SIMD sign operation
Method, apparatus, and program means for nonlinear filtering and deblocking applications utilizing SIMD sign and absolute value operations. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving first data for a first block and second data for a second block. The first data and said second data are comprised of a plurality of rows and columns of pixel data. A block boundary between the first block and the second block is characterized. A correction factor for a deblocking algorithm is calculated with a first instruction for a sign operation that multiplies and with a second instruction for an absolute value operation. Data for pixels located along said block boundary between the first and second block are corrected. |
| US09678751B2 |
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing a horizontal partial sum in response to a single instruction
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing in a computer processor vector packed horizontal partial sum of packed data elements in response to a single vector packed horizontal sum instruction that includes a destination vector register operand, a source vector register operand, and an opcode are described. |
| US09678750B2 |
Vector instructions to enable efficient synchronization and parallel reduction operations
In one embodiment, a processor may include a vector unit to perform operations on multiple data elements responsive to a single instruction, and a control unit coupled to the vector unit to provide the data elements to the vector unit, where the control unit is to enable an atomic vector operation to be performed on at least some of the data elements responsive to a first vector instruction to be executed under a first mask and a second vector instruction to be executed under a second mask. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09678746B2 |
Coding convention discovery and enforcement
In general, embodiments of the invention provide an approach to discover and enforce coding conventions among a group of developers. Specifically, source code files for a group of developers are imported from a code repository. The source code files are analyzed to discover the commonly used coding conventions of the group. Convention templates are generated based on these coding conventions. Each convention template is assigned a weighted value, and the convention templates are reviewed and approved based on the weighted value. |
| US09678740B2 |
Migration mechanism
Methods, systems, and computer program products for enabling software upgrades and migrations are described. A selection of one or more software entities is generated and a target product vector is defined based on the selection of one or more software entities. A start component vector is computed based on a landscape of a source system and a target component vector is computed based on the start component vector and target product vector. A determination of whether a component of the target component vector is a successor of a selected component of the start component vector is made and one or more migration files are generated comprising the target product vector and the target component vector based on the determination. |
| US09678739B2 |
Cluster update system
A locking system may place a persistent object on each of the devices in a computer cluster. The objects may indicate that an update is being performed on the devices so that other systems may not also update the devices. When an update has completed, the objects may be removed. The objects may include an identifier for the system owning the objects, as well as other information regarding the update. In some cases, the objects may include executable code and perform some of the update functions on the various devices. |
| US09678738B1 |
Software update methodology
Software update information is communicated to a network appliance either across a network or from a local memory device. The software update information includes kernel data, application data, or indicator data. The network appliance includes a first storage device, a second storage device, an operating memory, a central processing unit (CPU), and a network adapter. First and second storage devices are persistent storage devices. In a first example, both kernel data and application data are updated in the network appliance in response to receiving the software update information. In a second example, only the kernel data is updated in the network appliance in response to receiving the software update information. In a third example, only the application data is updated in the network appliance in response to receiving the software update information. Indicator data included in the software update information determines the data to be updated in the network appliance. |
| US09678735B2 |
Data caching among interconnected devices
Technology is disclosed herein for optimizing data caches among multiple interconnected computing devices. According to at least one embodiment, a storage server transfers a first data set to a computing device. The storage server then identifies a neighbor computing device sharing a local area network (LAN) with the computing device. The neighbor computing device maintains a network connection with the storage server. The storage server transmits a second data set relevant to the first data set to the neighbor computing device. In response to a read request for the second data set from the computing device, the storage server sends to the computing device an instruction indicating that the neighbor computing device is storing a data cache for the computing device. |
| US09678732B2 |
Firmware agent
Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with providing firmware to a device are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, an apparatus may include a device, and a processor to host a computing environment that includes the device and a device driver of the device. Further, the apparatus may include a firmware agent, disposed outside the computing environment, to provide, on behalf of the device driver, firmware to the device on power-on of the device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09678729B2 |
Dependency-driven co-specialization of specialized classes
The loading or operation of a specialized class may trigger the specialization of other classes. A compiler may be configured to recognize dependency relationships between generic classes and to describe the classes in terms of the type variables of the triggering types (e.g., the types and/or type parameterizations) that trigger the specialization of classes based on the specialization of a first class. A compiler may include information, such as structural references, indicating dependency relationships between classes when generating class files. Thus, the class file may include information indicating that a class extends a class resulting from applying a specialization code generator to an argument. Loading a first class may trigger the loading of a second class described by a structural description such that a specializer (and/or class loader) may apply the structural description to generate and load the second class for the particular parameterization. |
| US09678728B1 |
Version compatibility
A method, system, and program product for creating compatibility between two program interfaces comprising determining differences the interfaces; and generating code to create a compatibility layer between the first interface and second interface based on the differences between the interfaces. |
| US09678726B1 |
Automatic generation of plugins for development tools
Disclosed are various embodiments for automatic generation of plugins for development tools. A platform-independent model is obtained for software functionality such as an application programming interface (API) to a software development kit (SDK). A platform-specific plugin is generated for a development environment based at least in part on the platform-independent model. The platform-specific plugin provides the software functionality for a particular platform of multiple platforms. |
| US09678720B2 |
Implicit software dependency analysis
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generated aggregated dependencies between software elements in a code base. One of the methods includes receiving a request to generate implicit dependencies introduced by remote procedure calls in a project. A registration of a remote procedure call is identified, wherein the registration of the remote procedure call specifies a target function and a name for the remote procedure call. An invocation of the remote procedure call using the name for the remote procedure call is identified, wherein the invocation occurs in a source software element of the project. A definition of the target function of the remote procedure call is identified, wherein the target function is defined in a target software element of the project. A new dependency is generated, the new dependency being a dependency from the source software element to the target software element. |
| US09678719B1 |
System and software for creation and modification of software
Described herein is a system comprising an App Generator (application generator) comprising executable program instructions that define one or more constraints. The one or more constraints embody one or more rules for converting an information structure into one or more components of a software application. The system also includes a digital data processor executing said executable program instructions to: i. provide a user interface; ii. accept input data that defines the information structure; and iii. apply the one or more constraints to said input data to generate the one or more components of the software application. |
| US09678718B1 |
Analyzing information associated with logic
In an embodiment, information associated with logic is acquired. The logic may have a changed portion and an unchanged portion. The information may include information associated with an execution of the logic. A filter is applied to the acquired information to identify information associated with the changed portion of the logic. A report may be generated based on the identified information. |
| US09678717B2 |
Distributing resource requests in a computing system
In an embodiment, a method include, in a hardware processor, producing, by a block of hardware logic resources, a constrained randomly generated or pseudo-randomly generated number (CRGN) based on a bit mask stored in a register memory. |
| US09678716B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing absolute difference operation
An apparatus comprises processing circuitry for performing an absolute difference operation for generating an absolute difference value in response to the first operand the second operand. The processing circuitry supports variable data element sizes for data elements of the first and second operands and the absolute difference value. Each data element of the absolute difference value represents an absolute difference between corresponding data elements of the first and second operands. The processing circuitry has an adding stage for performing at least one addition to generate at least one intermediate value and an inverting stage for inverting selected bits of each intermediate value. Control circuitry generates control information based on the current data element size and status information generated in the adding stage, to identify the selected bits to be inverted in the inverting stage to convert each intermediate value into a corresponding portion of the absolute difference value. |
| US09678714B2 |
Check procedure for floating point operations
Method and computer system for implementing an operation on ≧1 floating point input, in accordance with a rounding mode, e.g. using a Newton-Raphson technique. The floating point result comprises a p-bit mantissa. An unrounded proposed mantissa result is determined using the Newton-Raphson technique, wherein a p-bit rounded proposed mantissa result, t, corresponds to a rounding of the unrounded proposed mantissa result in accordance with the rounding mode, with k leading zeroes. If an increment to the (m−k)th bit of the unrounded result would affect the p-bit rounded result then the input(s) and bits of the unrounded result are used to determine a check parameter which is indicative of a relationship between an exact result and the unrounded result if the (m−k)th bit were incremented. The p-bit mantissa of the floating point result, is determined in dependence upon the check parameter, to be either t or t+1. |
| US09678709B1 |
Processing sound using collective feedforward
Personal audio systems and methods are disclosed. A personal audio system includes a processor to generate a personal audio stream by processing an ambient audio stream in accordance with an active processing parameter set, a circular buffer memory to store a most recent snippet of the ambient audio stream, and an event detector to detect a trigger event. In response to detection of the trigger event, a controller may transmit, to a knowledgebase remote from the personal audio system, the most recent snippet of the ambient audio stream and associated metadata. |
| US09678707B2 |
Identification of audio content facilitated by playback device
An example playback device includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions. The functions include receiving digital data representing audio content. The functions further include sending at least a portion of the digital data to an identification system configured to identify the audio content based on the at least a portion of the digital data. The functions further include receiving information associated with the audio content from the identification system. The functions further include, in response to receiving the information associated with the audio content from the identification system, sending the received information to a control device that is configured to control the playback device. The functions further include playing the audio content via one or more speakers electrically connected to the playback device via a wired connection. |
| US09678704B2 |
NFC-enabled digital apparatus and method of NFC-based information transmission
An NFC-enabled digital apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a touch screen display and a near field communication (NFC) module comprising an NFC antenna and an NFC controller. In response to tagging between the NFC-enabled digital apparatus and the external NFC terminal, an NFC communication channel is established between the NFC enabled-digital apparatus and the external NFC terminal for data communication therebetween. |
| US09678698B2 |
Methods and systems for performing queue-based routing of print jobs in a multi-site print production environment
A system for performing queue-based routing of print jobs in one or more print production environments includes a computing device having a processor, and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computing device will receive print jobs from one or more client computing devices, and the computing device will store the received print jobs in a scheduling queue. When the computing device determines that a released print job has been released by a print production environment, it will determine a similarity metric for a plurality of print jobs in the scheduling queen, identify the print job having the highest similarity metric, and route the identified print job to the print production environment for processing. |
| US09678697B2 |
Systems and methods of displaying a printer driver user interface
An embodiment is a method of presenting options for printing a document. A computing system receives data descriptive of a document to be printed. The computing system identifies one or more preview thumbnail profiles indicative of graphical parameters for rendering a portion of the document to be printed into preview thumbnail images. The computing system renders a portion of the document to be printed, based at least in part on the graphical parameters of the one or more preview thumbnail profiles, to generate one or more preview thumbnail images. The computing system displays the one or more preview thumbnail images on a printer driver user interface in conjunction with one or more printing options. The preview thumbnail images display predicted appearances of the portion of the document corresponding to the printing options. |
| US09678694B2 |
Document delivery to a mobile device using mobile device based permissions
Mobile devices enable users to access data and documents in a convenient portable format. The disclosed method and system enables management of permissions associated with documents to be transferred/moved onto a mobile device for review or reference by making the transfer simple and straight forward so that it may be easy for non-technically literate users using a printer driver metaphor on a sending device such as a personal computer. |
| US09678693B2 |
Method of setting wireless connection via near field communication function and image forming apparatus for performing the method
A method of configuring a wireless connection of an image forming apparatus via near field communication (NFC) is provided. The method includes receiving, by the image forming apparatus, wireless configuration information and Internet protocol (IP) address configuration information from a mobile device when the mobile device is tagged by the image forming apparatus, performing, user authentication of the mobile device with respect to the image forming apparatus, establishing communication between the image forming apparatus and an access point (AP) based on the wireless configuration information, and assigning an IP address to the image forming apparatus based on the IP address configuration information. |
| US09678692B2 |
Image forming apparatus remote control system, image forming apparatus, and remote control method with a control unit that displays warning screens
An image forming apparatus remote control system in which an information terminal device and an image forming apparatus are connected with each other via a network, the system capable of displaying an operation screen on a terminal operation unit of the information terminal device via the network based on operation unit image data corresponding to an operation screen displayed on an apparatus operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and capable of operating the apparatus operation unit of the image forming apparatus by remote control on the terminal operation unit side, the system includes a control unit that controls the remote control, wherein the control unit displays warning screens each including a display cancel function on the operation screens when a use action of the remote control system and a use action of the apparatus operation unit overlap with each other. |
| US09678691B2 |
Image forming apparatus for printing jobs in an order according to a time of submission
There is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion, an accepting portion accepting print jobs and identification information associated with the print jobs, a storage portion storing the print jobs and the identification information, an identification information input portion, and a controller. The controller is configured to: cause the storage portion to store an acceptance time at which the accepting portion accepts each of the print jobs, authenticate the identification information, extract the print jobs associated with the authenticated identification information from the print jobs stored in the storage portion, acquire a difference time which is a difference between an authentication time of authenticating the identification information and an acceptance time of accepting the extracted print jobs, and cause the image forming portion to carry out image formation for all the print jobs with the acquired difference time within a first time period. |
| US09678687B2 |
User mode heap swapping
In an example, there is disclosed a computing apparatus, including a processor, including a trusted execution instruction set; a memory having an enclave portion, wherein the enclave is accessible only via the trusted execution instruction set; a swap file; and a memory management engine operable to: allocate a buffer within the enclave; receive a scope directive to indicate that the buffer is in scope; and protect the buffer from swapping to the swap file while the buffer is in scope. There is further disclosed an method of providing a memory management engine, and one or more computer-readable storage mediums having stored thereon executable instructions for providing the memory management engine. |
| US09678683B1 |
Lazy persistent storage volume provisioning
Methods and systems for provisioning persistent storage are disclosed. For example, a new isolated guest and associated persistent storage volume are requested to be created. The isolated guest is based on an image file in an image repository and is associated with metadata. An orchestrator obtains the image file. The orchestrator reserves the persistent storage volume by updating the system resource allocation database based on the metadata. The persistent storage volume is then created in the persistent storage based on the reservation of the persistent storage volume in the system resource allocation database. The orchestrator activates the constructed isolated guest and the isolated guest accesses the persistent storage volume. |
| US09678679B2 |
Data mirroring for network attached storage
A computer-implemented method for data mirroring for network attached storage includes duplicating an identity mapping database on a second NAS server and creating a queue of updated data files containing updated elements since a prior synchronization. Data files containing the updated elements are transmitted from the first NAS server to the second NAS server. An updated copy of the identity mapping database from the first NAS server is stored at the second NAS server. The updated data files and metadata information from the first NAS server are written to the second NAS server. The permission entries of the transmitted data files from the first NAS server are translated using the identity mapping databases of the first and second NAS servers, such that the permission entries reflect the local ID mapping database on the second NAS server. |
| US09678678B2 |
Storage network data retrieval
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of retrieving data in a storage network may include determining a list of storage blocks of a storage network for potential retrieval of a data file for storage on a first storage block of the storage network. The determining may be based on two or more of: assignment information of the data file as assigned by a storage network manager, location information, device types, peer-to-peer reachability, network information, and presence information. The method may also include attempting to retrieve the data file from a second storage block included in the list of storage blocks for storage on the first storage block. Further, the method may include attempting to retrieve the data file from a third storage block included in the list of storage blocks for storage on the first storage block when retrieval from the second storage block fails. |
| US09678677B2 |
Determining adjustments to the spare space in a storage device unavailable to a user based on a current consumption profile of a storage device
Provided are a computer program product, system and method for determining adjustments to the spare space in a storage device unavailable to a user based on a current consumption profile of a storage device. A current write amplification is based on storage writes to a media at a storage device and host writes from a host to the storage device. An adjustment to the current write amplification is determined to produce an adjusted write amplification based on an estimated lifespan of the storage device, a maximum storage writes for the storage device, and the storage writes at the storage device since the storage device was powered-on. A determination is made to an adjustment to spare space based on the adjusted write amplification. The spare space and the free space available to the user are reconfigured to adjust the spare space by the determined adjustment to the spare space. |
| US09678670B2 |
Method for compute element state replication
A method and system for compute element state replication is provided. The method includes transforming at least a subset of metadata of a source compute element from a memory tier of the source compute element to a block representation; within a destination compute element, mounting the block representation; reverse transforming the metadata to a memory tier of the destination compute element; and using the reverse transformed metadata to operate the destination compute element. |
| US09678669B2 |
Hierarchical memory system compiler
Designing memory subsystems for integrated circuits can be time-consuming and costly task. To reduce development time and costs, an automated system and method for designing and constructing high-speed memory operations is disclosed. The automated system accepts a set of desired memory characteristics and then methodically selects different potential memory system design types and different implementations of each memory system design type. The potential memory system design types may include traditional memory systems, optimized traditional memory systems, intelligent memory systems, and hierarchical memory systems. A selected set of proposed memory systems that meet the specified set of desired memory characteristics is output to a circuit designer. When a circuit designer selects a proposed memory system, the automated system generates a complete memory system design, a model for the memory system, and a test suite for the memory system. |
| US09678667B2 |
Techniques for maintaining device coordination in a storage cluster system
Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for maintaining and using a quorum of nodes within a cluster of a storage cluster system to perform coordinated operations. An apparatus includes a network interface of a node of multiple nodes of a storage cluster system to receive a command from another device to cause the node to become unavailable to remain within a quorum of the nodes; an update coordination component to enable one node at a time to have authority to update node status data, the node status data comprising indications of states of the multiple nodes; and a command evaluation component to cooperate with the update coordination component to obtain the authority, analyze the indications to determine a current status of the quorum when the node has the authority, and determine whether to accept the command based on whether unavailability of the node causes loss of the quorum. |
| US09678663B2 |
Display system and operation input method
A display system includes a sensor unit that detects the position of a pointing object in contact with a predetermined object, a control apparatus that sets a key layout on the object and recognizes a key operated by the pointing object based on the position of the pointing object relative to the key layout, and a display apparatus that receives operational input from the operated key. |
| US09678660B2 |
Method and apparatus for conveying efficient map panning over a mapping user interface
An approach is provided for processing one or more user interactions and/or user gestures with the user interface element to a cause panning for specifying routes with location anchors for streets. A panning platform determines an input for specifying at least one panning operation over a mapping user interface. Next, the panning platform determines one or more map features rendered in the mapping user interface. Subsequently, the panning platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of the one or more map features to determine one or more parameters for the at least one panning operation, wherein the at least one panning operation includes a recentering of the mapping user interface. |
| US09678658B2 |
Method for displaying interface content and user equipment
A method for displaying interface content and user equipment, which effectively improve interaction experience of a user when the user performs a flick operation on a touchscreen, and enhance pleasure in application interaction. A specific solution is acquiring an initial position and a movement direction of a touch point, determining a motion parameter of an interface element object in each grid on a screen according to the initial position and the movement direction, where the screen is divided in advance into multiple grids, and each grid includes a preset quantity of pixels, and moving the interface element object in each grid according to the motion parameter of the interface element object in each grid. |
| US09678654B2 |
Wearable computer with superimposed controls and instructions for external device
A wearable computing device includes a head-mounted display (HMD) that provides a field of view in which at least a portion of the environment of the wearable computing device is viewable. The HMD is operable to display images superimposed over the field of view. When the wearable computing device determines that a target device is within its environment, the wearable computing device obtains target device information related to the target device. The target device information may include information that defines a virtual control interface for controlling the target device and an identification of a defined area of the target device on which the virtual control image is to be provided. The wearable computing device controls the HMD to display the virtual control image as an image superimposed over the defined area of the target device in the field of view. |
| US09678646B2 |
Electronic device and computer-readable recording medium storing information display program
An electronic device includes a magnified view window display unit configured to display a magnified view window to magnify and display an area including a first touched position, a magnified view window size change unit configured to enlarge a size of the magnified view window based on the first touched position and a second touched position when a touched position moves to the second touched position from the first touched position, and a view target area determining unit configured to determine a display target area including the second touched position corresponding to the size of the magnified view window and to display the display target area on the magnified view window. |
| US09678645B2 |
Interactive map markers
A system for providing an interactive map displays an interactive map marker that includes an associated location on the map, an associated data value, a visual indicator, and an underlying data model. The system receives an interaction from a user that modifies the visual indicator and changes the associated data value based on the visual indicator modification. The system then changes the underlying data model based on the visual indicator modification. |
| US09678644B2 |
Displaying a plurality of registered images
A system for displaying a plurality of registered images is disclosed. A first viewport unit displays a representation of a first image dataset in a first viewport. A second viewport unit displays a representation of a second image dataset in a second viewport. A position indication unit enables a user to indicate a position in the first dataset displayed in the first viewport, to obtain a user-indicated position. A corresponding position determining unit determines a position in the second image dataset corresponding to the user-indicated position, to obtain a corresponding position in the second image dataset, based on correspondence information mapping positions in the first image dataset to corresponding positions in the second image dataset. The second viewport unit displays an indication of the corresponding position in the second viewport. |
| US09678643B2 |
Secure online communication through a widget on a web page
A client device requests a web page via a network, where the web page is identified by an identifier and references a widget. Following receipt of the requested web page, the client device requests the widget referenced by the requested web page and presents, within the requested web page, a presentation of the widget. Thereafter, in response to receiving user information within the presentation of the widget, the client device communicates the user information to a server via a secure connection between the widget on the client device and the server while maintaining user context at the client device in the requested web page, where the secure connection is initiated by the client device and employs a secure communication protocol implemented by the widget. |
| US09678640B2 |
View management architecture
Multi-display computing environments are often represented as a unified coordinate space, where each display presents application views within a coordinate region. Such arrangements may enable features such as application views that span multiple displays, but such features may not appeal to users. Additionally, such representations may complicate the application of layouts to particular displays while maintaining relationships among application views. Instead, a view management architecture may generate a user interface collection comprising, for respective displays, an arrangement of view entries for respective views presented on the display. Entries for new views may be added to the arrangement for a particular display, and may be contained within an application container encapsulating all views of an application on the display. This multi-display representation enables display layouts to be applied to the views within a particular display while preserving relationships among views presented by each of several displays of the computing environment. |
| US09678637B1 |
Providing context-based portions of content
Systems and methods are provided for recommending a portion of one or more content items to be consumed in a given context. For example, a recommendation service may receive context information associated with a user's current context, where the context may be associated with a geographic location, an activity or other information. The recommendation service may then determine one or more recommended portions of one or more content items to be consumed in the given context, where the determination may be based in part on content characteristics of the one or more recommended portions. |
| US09678634B2 |
Extensible framework for ereader tools
The functionality of an ereader module that is displaying an electronic book (“ebook”) is extended. A user identifier specifying a user using a client device executing the ereader module and an ebook identifier specifying the ebook displayed by the ereader module are received from the client device. One or more layers associated with the user are determined. One or more layers associated with the ebook are determined. A list of one or more layers is assembled. The layer list is transmitted to the client device. The client device enables the user to select a layer and use the selected layer to interact with content of the ebook. |
| US09678633B2 |
Display device, image forming apparatus, and display control method
A display device (10) includes a display section (210), a detection section (220), and a display control section (100). The display section (210) displays a plurality of pages (P). The detection section (220) detects a plurality of touch points on a display surface of the display section (210). The display control section (100) performs page turning of the plurality of pages in response to movement of one of the touch points and suspends page turning in response to movement of the touch point stopping. In response to movement of a touch point different from the touch point that stops among the plurality of touch points, the display control section (100) performs page turning at a page turning speed different from that in page turning before the touch point stops. The turning speed is the number of pages (P) turned per unit time. |
| US09678630B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing electronic books
A method for managing an electronic book (e-book) is provided. The method includes mapping e-books corresponding to class textbooks by time zone based on a timetable, displaying the timetable comprising objects corresponding to the e-books mapped by time zone and class related information, and, if any one of the objects corresponding to the e-books is touched, opening and displaying a page of an e-book corresponding to the touched object. |
| US09678625B2 |
Multimedia player and menu screen display method
A menu management unit relates items of contents received from a storage unit to multiple folder icons 120, which represent units for displaying contents. A menu screen generating unit generates image data for a menu screen 50, which includes a function icon array 70 formed by multiple function icons 52-62 aligned horizontally, and a folder icon array 72 formed by multiple folder icons 120 aligned vertically. With respect to each of the multiple folder icons, an effect processing unit receives, as a folder attachment image 122, one of content icons representing related contents from the storage unit, and then displays, in the folder icon array 72, the folder attachment image 122 and the folder icon 120 so that the folder attachment image is included in the semi-transparent folder icon superimposed upon the image. |
| US09678624B2 |
Unified desktop triad control user interface for a phone manager
Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface or “desktop” across two devices are provided. More particularly, a unified desktop is presented across a device and a computer system that comprise a unified system. The unified desktop acts as a single user interface that presents data and receives user interaction in a seamless environment that emulates a personal computing environment. To function within the personal computing environment, the unified desktop includes a process for docking and undocking the device with the computer system. The unified desktop presents a new user interface to allow access to functions of the unified desktop. |
| US09678612B2 |
Single layered electrode structure
A single layered electrode structure includes a plurality of first electrode groups arranged along a first direction, a plurality of second electrode groups arranged along the first direction, and a plurality of third electrodes arranged along the first direction. Each of the first electrode groups includes at least one first electrode arranged along a second direction. Each of the second electrode groups includes a plurality of second electrodes arranged along the second direction, with each of the second electrodes at least corresponding to the at least one first electrode. Each of the third electrodes is arranged as one of combinations of between two of the first electrode groups, between two of the first electrode groups, and between one of the first electrode groups and one of the second electrode groups. |
| US09678610B2 |
Capacitive touch screen and single layer wiring electrode array
Disclosed are a capacitive touch screen and a single layer wiring electrode array. The single layer wiring electrode array includes capacitive regions and wiring regions located on one plane. Wires in the wiring regions are zigzag-shaped or wave-shaped. The capacitive touch screen includes a substrate; a single layer wiring electrode array disposed over the substrate, wherein the single layer wiring electrode array includes capacitive regions and wiring regions located on one plane and wires in the wiring region are zigzag-shaped or wave-shaped; and control ports for connecting to one or more integrated circuits, wherein the wires in the wiring regions are connected to the control ports respectively. The single layer wiring electrode array and the capacitive touch screen lower the fabrication cost and improve the display effects. |
| US09678609B2 |
Orthogonal frequency scan scheme in touch system
Systems and processes for stimulating a touch sensor panel using orthogonal frequencies are provided. In one example process, the drive lines of the touch sensor panel can be stimulated with stimulation signals having orthogonal frequencies. The orthogonal frequencies can be separated by a frequency that is inversely proportional to an integration time of the touch sensor panel. The touch signals generated in response to the stimulation signals can be amplified, converted into digital form, demodulated using the orthogonal frequencies, and integrated over the integration time. Integrating the demodulated signals over a length of time that is inversely proportional to the frequency spacing between the orthogonal frequencies reduces or eliminates interference in the touch signals caused by the stimulation signals having different frequencies. |
| US09678604B2 |
Digitizer-integrated display module
To provide a rigid digitizer-integrated display module, the display module includes a display panel for forming an image, a digitizer module formed on the bottom side of the display panel to detect electromagnetic type digitizer input, and a non-magnetic metal structure enclosing the bottom sides of the mold frame and the digitizer and the outer periphery of the mold frame. |
| US09678603B2 |
Synchronized multi-device transmissions
In a method of operating at least first and second electronic devices, the devices are each arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, e.g. to operate a touchless user interface. Both devices, or at least two of the devices, are synchronised to transmit said signals at substantially the same time. The devices may, for example, listen to each other's ultrasonic signals or use a WiFi network access point for synchronization. |
| US09678602B2 |
Touch-sensitive apparatus with improved spatial resolution
A touch-sensitive apparatus is configured to define a touch surface on a panel by propagating diverging energy beams (e.g. of radiation) across the touch surface inside the panel. Two rows (20A, 20B) of components (2, 3) of a first type that emits energy as a diverging beam and a second type that detects energy are functionally connected to the panel at opposite ends of the touch surface. The rows (20A, 20B) are defined by consecutive component blocks (B) that each contain only components (2, 3) of one type and are defined by type and number of included components. Each row (20A, 20B) comprises a respective sequence (S) of two component blocks (B) of different types and is defined by systematically repeating the sequence (S) along the respective opposite end. To achieve an improved spatial resolution of the touch-sensitive apparatus for a given number of components, at least one of the sequences (S) is selected to consist of two component blocks (B) with different number of components, and the sequences (S) are selected such that at least one component block (B) differs between the sequences (S). |
| US09678598B2 |
Touch panel
A capacitive touch panel includes a scanning circuit portion for inputting a drive voltage to each scanning electrode sequentially in 1st to n-th sub detection periods, a capacitance detection circuit portion for detecting a capacitance detection signal of the each detecting electrode in the 1st to n-th groups, and a control circuit portion for calculating a capacitance detection signal change amount from the capacitance detection signals of a plurality of the detecting electrodes detected by the capacitance detection circuit portion, and calculating coordinates of a touch position based on the capacitance detection signal change amounts. The control circuit portion determines, in consecutive sub detection periods, the capacitance detection signal change amount of the each detecting electrode in two groups from which the capacitance detection signals are detected in the consecutive sub detection periods, based on the capacitance detection signals consecutively detected from at least one same detecting electrode. |
| US09678589B2 |
Touch panel and apparatus for driving thereof
Disclosed is a touch sensing display device capable of sensing both touch position and touch force, shortening a driving time for the touch sensing, and improving touch sensing efficiency, and an apparatus for driving thereof. The display device can include a color filter, a plurality of first touch electrodes for touch force sensing, and a plurality of second touch electrodes for touch position sensing and separated from the first touch electrodes by the color filter. The display can also include a force sensing touch driver for the first touch electrodes and a touch position touch driver for the second touch electrodes. |
| US09678585B2 |
Pen switching between active and passive status
An embodiment provides a method, including: identifying, using a processor, a pen characteristic; identifying, using a processor, an inability to communicate between the pen and an input component using the pen characteristic; and responsive to detecting the inability, disabling a pen feature. Other embodiments, including systems, devices and products, are described and claimed. |
| US09678580B2 |
Human-to-computer interfaces
The invention relates to an improved keyboard and keyboard driver for facilitating a reduction in the number of key presses required to create or delete a given data string (i.e. mnemonics, abbreviations, words, sentences, paragraphs etc.). The keyboard includes an array of keys having multi-character indicia and an interface system comprising data storage means; data processing means; and data display means, wherein the data processing means reduces key presses by filtering data stored within the data storage means by initial character, as determined by the character or characters ascribed to a data input key initially pressed by a user, and prioritizing the filtered data in real-time according to user-configurable prioritization parameters (using qualitative and/or quantitative information relating to each data string stored within the storage means). The invention also provides improved calculator functionality and function-lock keys. Taken together, the keyboard and keyboard driver of the invention (which may be implemented in isolation or together) promotes ease of use, reduced user-interactivity, elevated efficiency and thus enhanced productivity that in turn yields improved accuracy and flexibility. |
| US09678577B1 |
Magnetic sensing user interface device methods and apparatus using electromagnets and associated magnetic sensors
User interface devices with electromagnetic dipole array and associated magnetic sensors, control circuits, and processing elements for determining user actuation of the device are disclosed. In one embodiment a user interface device include an electromagnetic dipole array coupled to an actuator, along with a three-axis magnetic sensor and control and processing elements for controlling driving currents to the dipole array and sensing and processing received magnetic field signals to determine movement or displacement of the actuator. |
| US09678575B2 |
Flexibly-mounted evacuation channels in collapsible bags
The present invention relates to a mounting for connecting at least one peripherally-connected evacuation channel to the spout of a flexible bag and more particularly to a flexible mounting for connecting such at least one evacuation channel. |
| US09678568B2 |
Apparatus, system, method for designating displayed items and for controlling operation by detecting movement
An electronic apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a displaying unit for displaying plural items, the items prepared for giving instructions of performing different operations respectively, a detecting unit for detecting movement, and a controlling unit for, when an item is designated from among the plural items, performing an operation corresponding to the designated item. Further, on the assumption that any of the plural items is designated on the displaying unit and the detecting unit detects movement, the controlling unit changes an indication of the designated item or an indication relating to designated item, displayed on the displaying unit, and on the assumption that other item is designated on the displaying unit and the detecting unit detects movement, changes an indication of the designated other item or an indication relating to designated other item, displayed on the displaying unit. |
| US09678564B2 |
Multiprocessor system with interrupt distributor
An intelligent interrupt distributor balances interrupts (workload) in a highly parallelized system. The intelligent interrupt distributor distributes the interrupts between the processor cores. This allows lowering of voltage and frequency of individual processors and ensures that the overall system power consumption is reduced. |
| US09678562B2 |
Information processing apparatus, data transfer apparatus, and control method for data transfer apparatus
A bus system comprises a plurality of bus modules each for performing data transfer between a master module and a slave module. A power control module controls transition to a power-saving mode of each bus module based on communication with the plurality of bus modules. The power control module comprises a plurality of control modules corresponding to the plurality of bus modules respectively. Each control module performs communication with the corresponding bus module using power control signals. |
| US09678555B2 |
Methods and systems for calibration of voltage regulator systems with multiple types of power stages
Methods and systems are disclosed that may be employed to enable multi-phase voltage regulator (VR) system calibration during the development phase of a multi-phase VR system so as to meet defined accuracy targets and, in one example, to avoid the need for system level calibration in a production environment. The disclosed systems and methods may be further implemented to enable use of multiple sources for and types of integrated power stages (IPstages) in a common multi-phase VR system configuration while still achieving the required current sense accuracy, thus reducing or substantially eliminating continuity of supply (COS) concerns. |
| US09678551B2 |
Apparatus and method for visual field replaceable unit identification in the absence of host system device power
The present disclosure is directed to visual field replacement unit (FRU) identification and retaining FRU status information of one or more field replaceable units in a host system device when one or more of the field replaceable units is removed from the host system device disconnecting host power to the removed field replaceable unit(s). The one or more field replaceable units may be located on a carrier printed circuit board assembly and the host system device may contain multiple field replaceable units and/or multiple carrier printed circuit board subassemblies. Once the host power is disconnected from the carrier, an alternate power source continues to provide power to keep the FRU indicator illuminated for repairs or replacement. The FRU indicator is illuminated long enough for a service technician to place the carrier on a bench or table top and recognize the failed FRU from the remaining FRUs. |
| US09678547B1 |
Performing a power cycle reset in response to a change in charging power applied to an electronic device
An electronic device is configured to perform a power cycle reset in response to a change in charging power applied to the device. The device includes an electrical load with a microprocessor, a battery, a charging circuit that receives power from an external power source and uses the received power to charge the battery, and a control circuit that regulates the power cycle reset operation. The power supply circuit selectively uses the battery to power the device by coupling the load to a power supply path and discharges the load by coupling the load to a discharge path. The control circuit receives, from the charging circuit, an indication of a change in power applied to the charging circuit and responsively generates a control signal and applies the control signal to the power supply circuit, which causes the power supply circuit to temporarily couple the load to the discharge path. |
| US09678537B2 |
Mobile device case and peripheral system
A mobile device case having a first port and a second port, both for interfacing with a mobile device and a third port electrically connected to both the first port and the second port, the third port for interfacing with a peripheral. In one embodiment, the first port may be for power and the second port may be for data, and the third port may be a circular port having rings of conductive material electrically connected to either the first port or the second port. In one embodiment, the third port may further be recessed into a back surface of the case, and walls of the recessed segment may be used as a portion of a support system for removably fixing peripherals to the third port. |
| US09678536B2 |
Flip-open wearable computer
A wearable computer may include a housing that rotates in relation to a rear cover to selectively allow access to a battery. The wearable computer may be secured to a user's extremity by a mounting strap extending from the rear cover. The housing is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, the rear cover extends along the rear surface of the housing, and a latching assembly allows a user to selectively secure the housing to the cover. In the second orientation, the rear surface of the housing extends at an angle from the rear cover, allowing a user access to the battery without removing the housing from the user's extremity. A data cable connected to an input/output port on the rear surface can be routed out of a side of the housing. |
| US09678534B2 |
Convertible clamshell to slate device
In one embodiment, a clamshell-slate hybrid may act as either a clamshell or slate computing device. The clamshell-slate hybrid 202 may selectively set an activation state of a vestigial key set 426 of a keyboard 424 on a key side 422 of a keyboard chassis 206 hinged along a top axis to a display chassis 204. The clamshell-slate hybrid 202 may retract the vestigial key set 426 based on an activation state. The clamshell-slate hybrid 202 may receive a user input in a touch screen display 354 on a display side 352 of the display chassis 204. |
| US09678532B2 |
Capacitive touch sensitive housing and method for making the same
A method for making a capacitive touch sensitive housing, comprises: forming a non-patterned active metal layer on a housing wall; patterning the non-patterned active metal layer on the housing wall by laser ablation such that the non-patterned active metal layer is formed into a patterned active metal layer including a plurality of plating portions separated from each other, and a plurality of non-plating portions separated from the plating portions; and forming a metal layer on the patterned active metal layer such that the metal layer has first portions formed on the plating portions of the patterned active metal layer, and second portions formed on the non-plating portions of the patterned active metal layer. |
| US09678530B2 |
Clock skew adjusting structure
An clock skew adjusting structure is provided. The clock skew adjusting structure includes a substrate, a wiring structure, a first active component and a second active component. The wiring structure includes at least a wiring layer and at least a via, the via is configured for different wiring layers to be electrically connected with each other. The first active component is formed on the substrate and configured for delivering a clock signal to the wiring structure. The second active component is formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the first active component through the wiring structure thus forming a timing path. The second active component receives the clock signal through the timing path. |
| US09678529B2 |
Efficiency-based clock frequency adjustment
One aspect of the disclosure provides a computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system comprises a clock generator, at least one processor, and a clock frequency controller. The clock generator is configured to provide a clock signal at a clock frequency. The at least one processor is configured to receive the clock signal and to operate at a speed dependent on the clock frequency. The clock frequency controller is configured to receive efficiency information indicating a current efficiency of the at least one processor. The clock frequency controller is further configured to receive a request from the processor for a target number of processor instructions to be handled in a particular time period. The clock frequency controller is further configured to output a frequency control signal to the clock generator for controlling the clock frequency in dependence thereon. |
| US09678524B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for power regulation based on input power
Apparatuses and methods for power regulation based on input power using circuitry are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include a reference circuit configured to receive a first voltage and a second voltage and to provide an output reference voltage at an output node having a value equal to the second voltage subtracted from the first voltage. The reference circuit may be configured to mirror a current of a first circuit coupled between the second voltage and a reference voltage through a second circuit coupled between the first voltage and the output node. The example apparatus may further include a power circuit configured to provide a third voltage based on the output reference voltage. The third voltage may have a value that is equal to the output reference voltage. |
| US09678518B2 |
Remote maintenance
The invention relates to a thermostat for communicating with a remote maintenance server. The thermostat being configured for receiving and sending network data from and to the remote maintenance server. The thermostat is configured to receive network data provided by a maintenance interface service for receiving and displaying network data from and to a maintenance person. The thermostat is configured for receiving and sending remote controller data from and to a remote controller. The thermostat is configured to receive remote controller data from a user through a controller user interface. The thermostat is configured for receiving and sending appliance data from and to at least one appliance. The thermostat is configured for generating a request for appliance data from the at least one appliance and the thermostat is configured for receiving appliance data in response to the request for appliance data. |
| US09678514B2 |
Double port pressure regulator with floating seat
A double port regulator assembly includes a first fluid port and a second fluid port. A fixed valve seat assembly is disposed proximate the first fluid port and a floating valve seat assembly is disposed proximate the second fluid port. A first valve plug cooperates with the fixed valve seat assembly to open and close the first fluid port and a second valve lug cooperates with the floating valve seat assembly to open and close the second fluid port. The floating valve seat assembly includes a floating valve seat that is movable with respect to the fixed valve seat. |
| US09678513B2 |
Fluid regulating unit
A fluid regulating unit includes a body, a pressure regulator, and a control valve. The body has an inlet, an outlet configured to output a regulated flow of fluid, and a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet. The body integrates a pressure regulator and a control valve, each of which is disposed in the flow path. The pressure regulator has a regulator body, a control assembly configured to control a fluid flow through the regulator body, a sensor operatively coupled to the control assembly to control a position of the control element, and a bonnet movably coupled to the regulator body. The regulator body and the bonnet define a reference chamber disposed in the flow path. The reference chamber is configured to apply a reference force to the sensor to control the fluid flow through the regulator body. |
| US09678510B2 |
Electromagnetic actuator
An electromechanical actuator includes a drive motor having rotatable drive shaft. A magnetic element is disposed on the drive shaft. A rotary-to-linear motion converter is driven by the rotatable drive shaft and includes a non-rotating actuator body that is linearly movable in a traveling direction. A Hall-effect sensor is disposed in a stationary manner proximal to the magnetic element disposed on the drive shaft. A controller is in electronic communication with the Hall-effect sensor. The controller counts the number of impulses output by the Hall-effect sensor when the drive shaft rotates relative to the Hall-effect sensor, and turns off the drive motor after a predetermined number of impulses have been counted since the start-up of the non-rotating actuator body. The controller may also count the number of times that the current of the drive motor exceeds a predetermined maximum value and store this counted value in a memory element. |
| US09678497B2 |
Parallel processing with cooperative multitasking
Multiple parallel slave processes and a master process are assigned to a node executing an operating system such that the operating system maintains a ready queue comprising a list of one or more processes that are ready to be executed by at least one processing core. A parallel slave process takes an action that causes the operating system to keep the parallel slave process out of the ready queue. Based on receiving an indication that the parallel slave process is to be kept out of the ready queue, the master process sets the parallel slave process to a blocking state, selects a second parallel slave process that is in a runnable state but is currently kept from being in the ready queue, and takes an action that causes the operating system to add the parallel slave process that is in the runnable state to the ready queue. |
| US09678496B2 |
Concrete material dispensing system
A control system for a concrete plant adds intelligent capabilities in the concrete plant that may enhance safety, localize control of the concrete plant, and assist with troubleshooting. The control system may also enhance accuracy for determining an amount of mixed concrete dispensed, or amounts of concrete ingredients to dispense, and may eliminate the need for equipment used to verify the amount of mixed concrete or concrete ingredients dispensed. |
| US09678490B2 |
Systems and methods for temperature-based performance optimization of memory devices
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a memory system may include one or more memory modules and a memory controller communicatively coupled to one or more memory modules. The memory controller may be configured to determine a temperature associated with the memory system and determine if the temperature is below a minimum threshold temperature, wherein the minimum threshold temperature is a predetermined margin greater than a critical temperature below which one or more timing parameters of the memory system are of greater durations than they are when the temperature is above the critical temperature, and further wherein the predetermined margin is zero or greater. The memory controller may also be configured to initiate one or more remedial actions to increase the temperature above the minimum threshold temperature if the temperature is below the minimum threshold temperature. |
| US09678488B1 |
System and method for vehicle build verification
A system and method for performing build verification of equipment systems after being installed in a partially constructed vehicle portion. After installing one or more of prerequisite equipment systems during a current build stage of a vehicle build plan, the installed equipment systems are tested during the current build stage to determine whether the installed equipment systems are electrically connected correctly. |
| US09678487B1 |
System and method for allocating a fixed quantity distributed over a set of quantities
A method of allocating a fixed resource includes displaying an interface control in a user interface display. The interface control includes at least three continuous value control elements associated with a group including at least three categories. Each continuous value control element is associated with a value associated with a category of the group. The operator of the values associated with the at least three continuous value control elements is equal to a fixed quantity. In response to a first user input, a first continuous value control element is locked to fix the value associated with the first continuous value control element. In response to a second user input, a second continuous value control element is adjusted to change the value associated with the second continuous value control element. The method further includes automatically adjusting unlocked continuous value control elements of the at least three continuous value control elements other than the second continuous value control element to maintain the operator of the values associated with the at least three continuous value control elements equal to the fixed quantity. |
| US09678484B2 |
Method and apparatus for seamless state transfer between user interface devices in a mobile control room
Methods and apparatus for operating a process plant include a server providing display information to a first user interface (UI) device, storing state information, and providing display information to a second user interface device according to the stored state data. A processor is coupled to a unitary, logical data storage area and to a memory device that stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor. The instructions cause the processor to retrieve process data for display on a first UI device, transmit to the first UI device the retrieved process data, store state information associated with the display of the process data on the first UI device, retrieve process data for display on a second UI device according to the stored state information, and transmit to the second UI device the process data retrieved according to the stored state information. |
| US09678476B2 |
Scalable and tileable holographic displays
A holographic display system for generating a super hologram with full parallax in different fields of view in the horizontal and vertical directions. The display system includes assemblies or subsystems each adapted to combine holographic displays and coarse integral displays to produce or display a coarse integral hologram. The display system is adapted to combine such displays or display systems to add more detail or information. For example, the display system can be assembled as if it were made up of “holographic bricks” that can be stacked and combined to provide a unique image/output. Briefly, the display system described herein teaches techniques for combining coarse integral holographic (CIH) displays in a seamless and scalable manner, e.g., a display system where multiple spatial light modulators (SLMs) can be placed or provided behind coarse integral optics. |
| US09678471B2 |
Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit
A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a casing, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member is movable between a first position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is coaxial with the axis L1 of the photosensitive drum, and a second position in which the axis L2 of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the axis L1 of the photosensitive drum. |
| US09678466B2 |
Image forming apparatus that controls a conveyance speed of sheets while purging the sheets after a paper jam
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a paper sheet; a conveying unit configured to convey the paper sheet to the image forming unit at a first conveyance speed and convey the paper sheet in the image forming unit at a second conveyance speed; a trouble detecting unit configured to detect a trouble; and a control unit configured to control the conveyance of the paper sheet in the conveying unit and the image formation on the paper sheet in the image forming unit, wherein, when the trouble detecting unit detects a trouble from the paper sheet being conveyed, and the control unit controls the conveying unit to perform a purging process to discharge a troubled paper sheet to the outside of the apparatus, the control unit controls a conveyance speed to be equal to the second conveyance speed. |
| US09678464B2 |
Sheet feeder, and image forming apparatus using the sheet feeder
A sheet feeder is provided. The sheet feeder includes a sheet container installation space forming member to form a sheet container installation space in the sheet feeder; a sheet container to contain a recording sheet therein, which can be inserted into or extracted from the sheet container installation space; and a sheet feeding device, which contacts with the recording sheet in the sheet container at a sheet pickup position to apply a feeding power to the recording sheet. The sheet feeder has a passage, which is formed by the sheet container and the sheet container installation space forming member to communicate the inside of the sheet feeder with the outside thereof and which is detoured plural times, wherein the passage is located above the sheet pickup position. |
| US09678462B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method for fixing device
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fixing device, a transport unit and a controller. The fixing device includes a heat roller and a pressure roller that is moveable with respect to the heat roller. A movement mechanism moves the pressure roller among a contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a first pressing force, a separation position in which the pressure roller does not contact the heat roller, and a semi-contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a second pressing force smaller than the first pressing force. The transport unit transports a medium between the heat roller and the pressure roller. The controller controls the movement mechanism so that the pressure roller moves from the semi-contact position to the separation position after the pressure unit is in the semi-contact position for more than a predetermined time. |
| US09678460B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
A fixing device includes a primary heater, a secondary heater, and a tertiary heater to heat a primary heating span, a secondary heating span, and a tertiary heating span of a fixing rotator, respectively. A primary temperature detector and a secondary temperature detector detect a temperature of the fixing rotator. A tertiary temperature detector detects a temperature of a pressure rotator. A controller selectively performs a primary control mode to de-energize the tertiary heater and a secondary control mode to connect the secondary heater and the tertiary heater in series to energize the primary heater, the secondary heater, and the tertiary heater. The controller energizes the secondary heater and the tertiary heater in the secondary control mode based on the temperature of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator detected by the secondary temperature detector and the tertiary temperature detector, respectively. |
| US09678457B2 |
Cartridge, rotary unit, and image forming apparatus
A cartridge includes a coupling member, a transmitted member, and a rotary member. The transmitted member includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the coupling member, and a protruded portion integrally formed with an inner wall of the accommodating portion and protruding from the inner wall toward an inside of the accommodating portion. The coupling member includes a free end portion having a rotational force receiving portion that receives a rotational force, a connected portion connected to the transmitted member in such a manner that at least a part of the connected portion can be accommodated in the accommodating portion, and a recessed portion provided at the connected portion so that the protruded portion can enter. An inclination angle of a rotation axis of the coupling member relative to a rotation axis of the transmitted member is variable. |
| US09678453B2 |
Semiconductive roller
A semiconductive roller (1) is formed from a semiconductive rubber composition which contains a rubber component including 15 to 80 mass % of an epichlorohydrin rubber, and has an oxide film (5) formed in its outer peripheral surface (4). The arithmetic average roughness Ra of the outer peripheral surface is 1.0 to 3.5 μm, and the ratio S/S0 of a measured surface area S per unit area of the outer peripheral surface to a theoretical surface area S0 per unit area of the outer peripheral surface determined assuming that the outer peripheral surface is a smooth surface is 2.0 to 5.0. |
| US09678444B2 |
Optical apparatus, projection optical system, exposure apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides an optical apparatus that deforms a reflecting surface of a mirror, comprising a base plate, a plurality of actuators that are disposed between the base plate and the mirror and are configured to apply a force to the mirror, a detection unit configured to detect vibration generated in the base plate, and a control unit configured to control each actuator based on a result of detection performed by the detection unit such that a deformation of the mirror caused as a result of the vibration generated in the base plate is within an acceptable range. |
| US09678441B2 |
Mask pattern generation method and optical image calculation method
In a method for generating, with a computer, a pattern of a mask, a pattern on an object plane of a projection optical system is set, shifted plural pupil functions are generated, a matrix containing the generated plural pupil functions is defined, an image of the pattern on the object plane is calculated by generating a vector obtained by transposing and complex-conjugating a vector containing, as components, values of the pupil functions at origin coordinates on a pupil plane from among components of the matrix, and performing convolution integral between the pattern on the object plane and a Fourier transform of a product of the vector and the matrix, an assist pattern for the pattern on the object plane is generated using the calculated image, and a pattern of the mask including the pattern on the object plane and the assist pattern is generated. |
| US09678440B2 |
Projection exposure method, system and objective
A projection exposure method includes exposing an exposure area of a radiation sensitive substrate with at least one image of a pattern of a mask in a scanning operation. The scanning operation includes moving the mask relative to an effective object field of the projection objective and simultaneously moving the substrate relative to an effective image field of the projection objective in respective scanning directions. The projection exposure method also includes changing imaging properties of the projection objective actively during the scanning operation according to a given time profile to change dynamically at least one aberration of the projection objective between a beginning and an end of the scanning operation. |
| US09678434B2 |
Grid refinement method
Lithography methods disclosed herein accommodate shrinking pattern dimensions. An exemplary method includes receiving a pattern to be transferred to a workpiece by a pattern generator. The pattern generator is divided into a first segment set and a second segment set based on the pattern, such that a collective exposure dose from the first segment set and the second segment set satisfies an exposure dose specified by the pattern. The first segment set is offset from the second segment set in a first direction, and segments in the first segment set and segments in the second segment set are offset from each other in a second direction different than the first direction. The method further includes exposing the workpiece according to the first segment set and the second segment set. |
| US09678432B2 |
Optical assembly for increasing the etendue
An optical system has a light source having an original etendue of less than 0.1 mm2 for an illumination system for projection lithography. An optical assembly serves for simultaneously increasing the etendue of a used emission of the light source. The optical assembly is embodied such that an increase in the etendue by at least a factor of 10 results. A component of the optical assembly that is impinged on is displaced relative to the light source such that an impingement region of the emission of the light source on the optical component of the optical assembly varies temporally. |
| US09678423B2 |
Resist composition, method for forming resist pattern, acid generator and compound
A resist composition which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, and which includes a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the acid-generator component (B) including a compound (B0-1) represented by general formula (b0) shown below (in the formula, Yx01 represents a divalent linking group; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; and M′m+ represents an organic cation having a valency of m. |
| US09678417B2 |
Light source unit including laser diodes as light sources and microlens array and projector
A projector includes a light source unit comprising a microlens array having a first area and a second area having a wider interval than that of the first area, a first light source configured to emit light to be incident on the first area, and a second light source configured to emit light to be incident on the first area and the second area, wherein the microlens array diffuses the lights emitted from the first light source and the second light source by microlenses thereof, a collective lens collecting diffuse lights diffused by the microlens array, a display device on which the diffuse lights collected by the collective lens are shone to produce projected light, a projection optical system guiding the projected light produced by the display device, and a control unit controlling the display device and the light source unit. |
| US09678412B2 |
Projection lens system having magnification changing function and projector
A zoom lens is a projection lens which is composed of a negative first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a negative fourth lens group, a fifth lens group, and a positive sixth lens group in order from the enlargement conjugate side, and changes magnification by changing the intervals between the lens groups. At least the second, third, and fifth lens groups move when the magnification is changed, and the third lens group moves from the enlargement conjugate side to the reduction conjugate side when the magnification is changed from a telephoto end to a wide angle end. An aperture stop is disposed between the surface closest to the reduction conjugate side of the third lens group and the surface closest to the enlargement conjugate side of the fifth lens group, and is approximately telecentric on the reduction conjugate side. |
| US09678408B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
Provided is a zoom lens including a plurality of lens units, in which an interval between each pair of adjacent lens units is changed during zooming, the plurality of lens units include a lens unit BR arranged closest to image side in zoom lens, which moves in optical axis direction during focusing and a lens element A arranged adjacent to lens unit BR on object side, having refractive power of sign opposite to that of lens unit BR, in which lens element A consists of a single lens or a cemented lens, and distance between surface closest to image side of lens element A and image plane at wide angle end, distance between surface closest to image side of lens element A and surface closest to object side of lens unit BR at wide angle end, and focal length of zoom lens at wide angle end are each appropriately set. |
| US09678405B2 |
System and method for high-intensity ultrashort pulse compression
A system comprising a laser emitting an ultrashort pulse beam; and a dielectric bulk medium having a refractive index depending on intensity, the bulk medium broadening the laser beam homogeneously versus transversal spatial coordinates, and a method for compressing high energy femtosecond laser pulses, comprising propagating the laser beam inside a dielectric bulk medium having a refractive index depending on the beam intensity, the bulk medium broadening the laser beam homogeneously versus transversal spatial coordinates; and compressing a resulting broadened spectrum. |
| US09678399B2 |
Array substrate, method of repairing the same, display panel and display device
An array substrate, a method of repairing the same, a display panel and a display device are disclosed. A data-line repair line, which is connected with a data line and insulated from a common electrode, is provided in each pixel area in an array substrate and an orthogonal projection of the data-line repair line on a base substrate has an overlapped area with an orthogonal projection of a sub-electrode or a connection line of a common electrode on the substrate. Therefore, if a breakage occurs to a data line at its overlapped area with a gate line on the array substrate, it is able to repair the breakage via the date line repair line and a portion cut out of the common electrode. |
| US09678398B2 |
Structure and method for obtaining capacitance in array substrate
A structure and a method for obtaining capacitance in an array substrate are disclosed. The structure comprises a first conductive region, arranged in a same layer as a first conductive layer of said array substrate; a second conductive region, arranged in a same layer as a second conductive layer of said array substrate, wherein said second conductive region overlaps with said first conductive region partly or totally; a first measurement region, connected with said first conductive region; and a second measurement region, connected with said second conductive region. The capacitance of the corresponding capacitor of the sub pixel can be detected by the structure, thereby providing data basis for judging the performance and quality of the sub pixel and the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US09678393B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, display apparatus and method for driving the display apparatus
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a display apparatus and a method for driving the display apparatus capable of providing a LCD panel having good display quality are provided. The liquid crystal display panel comprises: a first substrate (11) and a second substrate (21) opposite to each other, a pixel array provided on the first substrate (11), and a liquid crystal layer (3) between the first substrate (11) and the second substrate (21). The liquid crystal display panel further comprising a first common electrode (12) disposed on a side of the first substrate (11) close to the liquid crystal layer (3) and a second common electrode (22) disposed on a side of the second substrate (21) close to the liquid crystal layer (3). A first pixel electrode (1) and a second pixel electrode (2) are disposed on the first substrate (11). The second common electrode (22) has no overlap region directly facing the first pixel electrode (1) and/or the second pixel electrode (2). |
| US09678392B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer arranged between the first and second substrates, and a secondary spacer. The secondary spacer has a bottom face fixed to the first substrate and a top face forming a gap with respect to the second substrate. The top face of the secondary spacer is provided with a first electrode and the second substrate is provided, at a location corresponding to the top face of the secondary spacer, with a second electrode. When the liquid crystal panel is driven and depressed, the first electrode electrically engages the second electrode so that a pixel electrode of the liquid crystal display panel at the depressed site is electrically connected to the ground thereby eliminating a high voltage difference between the pixel electrode and a common electrode. |
| US09678391B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In a liquid crystal display device, a TFT substrate and a counter substrate are bonded by a sealing material, with a liquid crystal interposed between the two substrates. An alignment film has a two-layer structure of a lower alignment film not subjected to photo alignment treatment and an upper alignment film subjected to photo alignment treatment and contacting the liquid crystal. A hollow with an increased film thickness is formed in an end portion of the lower alignment film. An end portion of the upper alignment film is determined by the hollow of the lower alignment film. The material, process conditions, or other conditions of the lower alignment film for easy control of outer end dimensions can be selected to easily control the profile of the alignment film as a whole. Thus, it is possible to avoid the reduction of reliability due to the reduction of the bonding strength between the sealing material and the alignment film. |
| US09678390B2 |
Mask plate, photo-alignment method and liquid crystal display device
The disclosure is related to a photo-alignment method, comprising the following steps. A top panel and a bottom panel each with an alignment film are provided; a mask plate for shielding the top panel and the bottom panel is provided, and a transparent section of the mask plate is disposed; an ultraviolet is emitted along a first incident direction by the mask plate for exposing the alignment film of the top panel and the bottom panel; the transparent section of the mask plate is adjusted, an ultraviolet is emitted along a second incident direction by the mask plate for exposing the alignment film of the top panel and the bottom panel. The manufacture of the alignment film in the whole liquid crystal display device can be accomplished by a mask plate undergoing exposure twice, so that the exposure times decrease and the process is simplified. |
| US09678389B2 |
Multi-domain liquid crystal display panel and method for preparing the same
Disclosed are a multi-domain liquid crystal display panel comprising an upper substrate and a lower substrate, wherein at least one of the substrates includes a glass substrate, a conventional alignment layer coated on the surface of the glass substrate, and a polymer alignment layer having a different alignment direction from that of the conventional alignment layer and a method for preparing the same. In the present invention, a smectic/cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is formed from the mixture of liquid crystal polymerizable monomers having smectic phase (Sm)-cholesteric phase (N*) transition, and multiple liquid crystal alignments in a single pixel are formed by adjusting the polymerization temperature, the thickness of the polymer layer, and the amount of the smectic liquid crystal polymerizable monomer, thereby realizing a multi-domain display by the subsequent masking treatment and ultraviolet irradiation. The method for preparing the same is simple, novel, low-cost, and easy to achieve. |
| US09678388B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
To provide a vertical alignment liquid crystal display device capable of achieving a high-definition image display. Tilt directions of liquid crystal molecules when a voltage is applied are within a plane that is in parallel to a border between a first pixel and a second pixel, and are different by 180 degrees between the first and second pixels. The first pixel is constituted with three sub-pixels for R, G, and B arranged in a direction in parallel to the border. Similarly, the second pixel is constituted with three sub-pixels for R, G, and B. The tilt directions of the liquid crystal molecules when a voltage is applied are different by 180 degrees from each other between the sub-pixels for R of the first and second pixels, between the sub-pixels for G of the first and second pixels, and between the sub-pixels for B of the first and second pixels. |
| US09678387B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display including a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; an alignment layer disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a reactive mesogen; and bumps disposed adjacent to a surface of the alignment layer, wherein the alignment layer comprises a main chain and a plurality of side chains connected to the main chain, and the side chains comprise a polymerization inhibiting agent group. |
| US09678385B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing alignment layer, and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device by using the same
An apparatus for manufacturing an alignment layer includes: a dispenser which supplies an alignment material; an anilox roll, onto which the alignment material supplied from the dispenser is applied; a printing roll which is engaged and rotated with the anilox roll; and a resin plate attached to an outer peripheral surface of the printing roll, where the resin plate receives the alignment material applied onto the anilox roll and prints the alignment material to a targeted substrate, in which the resin plate comprises a first area and a second area surrounding the first area, first convex portions and first concave portions are disposed in the first area, second convex portions and second concave portions are disposed in the second area, and an area of each second convex portion is larger than an area of each first convex portion. |
| US09678384B2 |
Retardation film, composition, method of manufacturing retardation film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device
An object of the present invention is to provide a film capable of giving a necessary retardation without degrading the contrast. The present invention provides a retardation film formed from a composition which includes a polymer compound, a rod-like liquid crystal compound and a photo-reactive compound, wherein the polymer compound has a side chain which has one or more azo groups and/or cynnamate groups, and 3 or more and 10 or less arylene groups; the side chain further has an optionally substituted amino group, or a hydrocarbon group at the terminal; an absolute value of difference between an SP value of the polymer compound and an SP value of the photo-reactive compound is 1.1 or less; and an in-plane retardation of the film at wavelength of 550 nm is 10 nm or more and 200 nm or less. |
| US09678383B1 |
Method and apparatus for light diffusion
An apparatus includes a substrate and an LED attached to the substrate via conductive pads on a first side of the LED. The LED includes a first reflective element disposed adjacent the first side of the LED so as to reflect light in a direction away from the substrate, and a second reflective element disposed adjacent a second side of the LED that opposes the first side of the LED. The second reflective element disposed so as to reflect light primarily in a direction toward the substrate. |
| US09678382B2 |
Light unit and a LCD liquid crystal display comprising the light unit
Provided is a light unit including a plurality of LED light sources formed on a PCB, a resin layer stacked on the PCB to diffuse and guide emitted light forwards, and a diffusion plate having an optical pattern printed thereon to shield light emitted from the LED light sources. The optical pattern is composed of a diffusion pattern implemented as at least one layer, or a combination of the diffusion pattern layer and a light shielding pattern. The light unit forms an optical pattern for shielding or diffusing light on a surface of a light diffusion plate of the back-light unit, and combines a diffusion pattern and a metal pattern to attain uniformity of light and realize a yellow-light shielding effect, thus leading to a reliable light quality. |
| US09678381B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes first pixels and second pixels which are adjacent to one another and are partitioned by light shielding portions. The liquid crystal device also includes an element substrate, an opposing substrate which is disposed to oppose the element substrate, a liquid crystal layer which is disposed between the element substrate and the opposing substrate, first micro lenses which correspond to the first pixels which are disposed on the opposing substrate, and second micro lenses which correspond to the second pixels and have different lens diameters from the first micro lenses. A boundary between the first micro lenses and the second micro lenses is disposed in a region which overlaps the light shielding portions in plan view. |
| US09678380B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display includes: a substrate including a display region and a non-display region, a light leakage preventing layer disposed on the substrate along the non-display region, a step providing layer disposed on the light leakage preventing layer, and a hydrophobic layer disposed on the step providing layer. |
| US09678377B2 |
Touch structure, LCD panel and display device
Provided are touch structure, LCD panel and display device. The touch structure comprises a plurality of first signal lines; a plurality of second signal lines, a plurality of crossing points being formed by cross arrangement of the plurality of first signal lines and the plurality of second signal lines which are insulated from each other; a plurality of touch units, corresponding to the plurality of crossing points one to one, wherein when one touch unit of the plurality of touch units is touched, the first signal line and the second signal line which form a crossing point corresponding to the touch unit generate electrical signals respectively; a controller, connected to the plurality of first signal lines and the plurality of second signal lines respectively, for calculating a contact position based on the electrical signal of the first signal line and the electrical signal of the second signal line respectively. |
| US09678375B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display component, a plastic frame, and a rear frame. The plastic frame supports the display component near an edge portion of the display component from a rear side of the display device relative to the display component. The rear frame is disposed on the rear side of the display device relative to the display component. The rear frame includes a fixing component that fixedly couples at least the plastic frame relative to the rear frame. The fixing component has an inner bent component that extends forward and inward of the display device from an edge part of the rear frame. |
| US09678373B2 |
Device for the temporal shaping of the amplitude and phase of ultrashort light pulses
A device for the temporal shaping of the amplitude and phase of ultrashort pulses, includes: —a birefringent waveguide 1 of main axis Δ consisting of a nematic liquid crystal 2 located between a photoconductive material 3 and a substrate 4, —two transparent electrodes, one of which 5 is located between the nematic liquid crystal 2 and the substrate 4, and the other 6 such that the photoconductive material 3 is located between the other electrode 6 and the nematic liquid crystal 2, and —projection optics 7 for projecting a programmable optical mask 8 onto the photoconductive material 3. |
| US09678370B2 |
Carrier-depletion based silicon waveguide resonant cavity modulator with integrated optical power monitor
A carrier-depletion based silicon waveguide resonant cavity modulator includes a silicon waveguide based resonant cavity. The resonant cavity includes an optical modulation section and an optical power monitoring section. The optical power monitoring section includes an integrated lateral PIN diode including a doping compensated I region having a high defect density and a low net free carrier concentration. The doping compensated I region may be formed by performing a P-type implantation step and an N-type implantation step with overlapping ion implantation windows. |
| US09678368B2 |
Self-dimming system
To provide a self-dimming system including: a main body section which is configured by a pair of transparent substrates arranged to face each other and to be separated from each other, and a frame body holding the pair of transparent substrates and forming a gap together with the pair of transparent substrates; a dimming section which is arranged in the gap and provided with a dimming element whose optical properties are reversibly changed by hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of the dimming element; a power-generating equipment which is arranged in the main body section; a hydrogen suction and discharge section which, when receiving electric power generated in the power-generating equipment, generates hydrogen by performing electrolysis and supplies the hydrogen to the gap and which, when not receiving electric power generated in the power-generating equipment, generates electric power by using the hydrogen in the gap; and control means which controls whether or not electric power generated in the power-generating equipment is supplied to the hydrogen suction and discharge section. |
| US09678364B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming sunglass lenses with a predetermined gradient
A method for forming sunglass lenses with a predetermined optical gradient, namely a polarized gradient, or transmissivity gradient in which a gradient pattern is provided on an oriented sheet. The oriented sheet is incorporated into a lens to provide the lens with the associated gradient. |
| US09678363B2 |
Optical article with gradient photochromism
The present invention is drawn to an optical article comprising: (a) a photochromic substrate comprising at least one photochromic dye, and (b) an interference coating having a specific gradient thickness providing for a gradient reflectance. It also pertains to a process for making such an optical article. |
| US09678362B2 |
Optical device provided to an eye glass or a helmet having a voltage control unit that switches a voltage cyclically
An optical device comprises: a transmittance changing unit that is provided in front of an eye of a user, and changes transmittance for light from the outside according to a voltage being applied; and a voltage control unit that controls a voltage to be applied to the transmittance changing unit by switching cyclically between a high voltage and a low voltage, wherein the voltage control unit switches the voltage at a cycle that is shorter than the sum of time required for transmittance of the transmittance changing unit to stabilize when changing from a minimum value to a maximum value by switching a voltage and time required for transmittance of the transmittance changing unit to stabilize when changing from a maximum value to a minimum value by switching a voltage. |
| US09678354B2 |
Glassless multi-view display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel comprising a plurality of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels, and arranges and displays a multi-view image in an arrangement pattern. The display panel includes a polarizing film disposed on a back surface of the display panel and which transmits, to the display panel, light having a first polarization direction to an area corresponding to a first part of each of the sub-pixels, and light having a second polarization direction to an area corresponding to a second part of the sub-pixels. a polarizing panel disposed on a back surface of the polarizing film and configured to adjusts the first and second polarization directions of the light transmitted by the polarizing film, and a controller configured to control a driving state of the polarizing panel to sequentially provide the first and second polarization directions for one image frame section. |
| US09678353B2 |
Three-dimensional glasses and three-dimensional display system
The present disclosure discloses three-dimensional glasses and a three-dimensional display system, which provide a wearer with a better three-dimensional visual effect and reduce dizziness and fatigue of the wearer. The three-dimensional glasses include a frame including two lens frames, each lens frame having an engagement part; two lenses rotationally assembled in the engagement parts of the two lens frames, respectively; and at least one counterweight member fixed to a periphery of each of the lenses and rotating the lens to an equilibrium position. When the two lenses are at the equilibrium positions, a transmission axis of one of the two lenses is parallel to a polarization axis of a left eye image of a three-dimensional display apparatus and a transmission axis of the other one of the two lenses is parallel to a polarization axis of a right eye image of the three-dimensional display apparatus. |
| US09678350B2 |
Laser with integrated multi line or scanning beam capability
A method and system for providing illumination is disclosed. The method may include providing a laser having a predetermined wavelength; performing at least one of: beam splitting or beam scanning prior to a frequency conversion; converting a frequency of each output beam of the at least one of: beam splitting or beam scanning; and providing the frequency converted output beam for illumination. |
| US09678347B2 |
Glasses-type mobile terminal
A glasses-type mobile terminal includes a frame, a fixing body, a moving body and a joint. The frame is wearable on a user's head. The fixing body is coupled to one side of the frame. The moving body has a display unit for providing a user with visual information, and is disposed at the front based on user's eyes. The joint has one end coupled to the fixing body and the other end tiltably connected to the moving body so that the position of the moving body is controlled. |
| US09678344B2 |
Virtual image display apparatus with registration mechanism
A wearer of a virtual image display apparatus can adjust the position of the virtual image display apparatus relative to the position of each of the wearer's eyes by using a registration mechanism while checking a marker member that is a positioning member, whereby an optimum adjusted position is readily achieved. Further, registration according to person-to-person differences in the position of each of the eyes can be readily achieved, whereby it is not necessary to increase the light flux width of image light in advance or provide the image light with a margin so that the wearer can recognize an image even when the position of the eye deviates from a normal position to some extent, and the size of the apparatus will not increase. |
| US09678342B2 |
Information processing device, display control method, and program
An apparatus includes a user action state obtaining circuit configured to obtain an action state of a user; and a display control circuit configured to control a display to modify display information based on the action state. |
| US09678341B2 |
Head-up display apparatus
A head-up display (HUD) apparatus and a method of using the HUD apparatus are described. The HUD apparatus includes a first optical module configured to display a two dimensional (2D) image, a second optical module configured to display a three dimensional (3D) image and arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the first optical module, a separation module arranged on an optical path of the first and second optical modules to reflect a light of the first optical module and to project a light from the second optical module, and an optical system configured to output the light having passed the separation module. |
| US09678339B2 |
Display, in particular for a motor vehicle
A display, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a projection module for generating an image in order to project it in the normal viewing direction of a user of the display, along an optical path. The display also includes a reflecting and/or displaying element, which is movable between various display positions. The display also includes a holder for the reflecting and/or displaying element. The holder can be moved vertically between various positioning states. |
| US09678336B2 |
Lens assembly
A lens assembly includes a lens barrel, a plurality of lenses and at least one light-shielding member. The lens barrel extends along an axis and includes a peripheral wall that surrounds the axis and defines a receiving chamber. The peripheral wall has open and aperture-forming ends that are opposite to each other and respectively adjacent to image and object sides of the lens assembly. The lenses are disposed in the receiving chamber in sequence along the axis between the aperture-forming and open ends. The light-shielding member is disposed in the receiving chamber and includes an annular light-shielding body and an adhesive layer for positioning the annular light-shielding body relative to at least one of the lenses. |
| US09678334B1 |
Oscillating mirror line based image transformation
An image forming apparatus performs periodic line based image transformation in order to correct for irregularities in a mirror and for mechanical disturbances that may occur during the rotation of the mirror. The irregularities of the mirror and the mechanical disturbances that occur during the rotation of the mirror may be measured at installation or may be measured during an operation of the image formation apparatus. The characteristics of the mirror are stored as configuration data, which is referenced by a direction of rotation. The image forming apparatus adjusts image data according to the configuration data. The adjustment may occur through data manipulation in stored image data. Alternatively, the adjustment may occur through the control of a pixel rate used to modulate the image data into a transmitted laser beam. The image data may be received by a host device or the image data may be generated by a scanner. |
| US09678331B1 |
Optical path switching device
An optical path switching device is configured to selectively direct electromagnetic radiation toward one detector of a plurality of detectors. The switching device includes a platform, a mirror mount rotatably mounted on the platform by a bearing, a mirror coupled to the mirror mount, and an active actuator configured to rotate the mirror mount with respect to the platform a predetermined amount to direct electromagnetic radiation toward a desired detector. |
| US09678326B2 |
Generating perspective views in microscopy
A microscope includes a spatial light modulator configured for adjusting the perspective angle of a view imaged at the light detector. The spatial light modulator is positioned at a pupil plane, or at an equivalent conjugate plane thereof, in the illumination light path or in the detection light path. The microscope enables perspective views of a sample at different angles, which may be utilized to generate a three-dimensional image of the sample. |
| US09678324B2 |
Microscope system
The present microscope system has: a microscope, which has a light source, an aperture stop, a condenser lens, and an objective lens; a camera, which has a microlens array and an image pickup element; and an image processing unit, which constitutes a computer. The image processing unit divides a plurality of pixels allocated to each of the microlenses into bright-field image detection regions to be used for detecting bright-field images, and dark-field image detection regions to be used for detecting darkfield images, in accordance with the size of an aperture of the aperture stop. The image processing unit generates bright-field image data of a sample and darkfield image data of the sample. |
| US09678323B2 |
High throughput multichannel fluorescence microscopy with microlens arrays
A microscope includes a multi-wavelength emitting laser light source. A microscope objective is configured to receive and expand input light emitted from the light source, and a dichroic mirror is configured to reflect the expanded input light. A micro lens array with a plurality of micro lenses splits the reflected and expanded input light onto a fluorescence producing sample. A lens collectively captures the fluorescence for each micro lens in the plurality of micro lenses, and a camera receives the fluorescence from the lens and produces an image of the sample based on the received fluorescence. |
| US09678319B2 |
Zoom lens
In a zoom lens of a fixed total length, at the time of changing the magnification from the wide-angle end toward the telephoto end, the first lens group is anchored while the second lens group is moved, and the third and fourth lens groups are moved so as to be located at the object side of the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end, such that: the interval between the second and third lens groups is decreased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end; the interval between the third and fourth lens groups is increased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end; and the interval between the fourth and fifth lens groups is increased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end, and at the time of focusing a near object point from a remote object point, the second lens group is moved. |
| US09678318B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
Provided is a zoom lens, including, in order from an object side to an image side: a positive first lens unit that does not move for zooming; a negative second lens unit that moves during zooming; and a positive N-th lens unit that does not move for zooming and is arranged closest to the image side. Among lenses constructing the second lens unit, two lenses closest to the image side are a positive lens and a negative lens, and partial dispersion ratios for g-line and F-line and Abbe numbers for a d-line of the positive and negative lenses, and an average value of refractive indices of all the lenses of the second lens unit are appropriately set. |
| US09678317B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens including, in order from an object side: a positive first lens unit not moving for zooming; a negative second lens unit moving during zooming; a negative third lens unit moving during zooming; and a fourth lens unit not moving for zooming and including an aperture stop, the fourth lens unit including first and second sub-lens units arranged on object side and image plane side of the aperture stop, respectively, in which a relationship between a maximum height of an axial ray from an optical axis in the first sub-lens unit when focusing at infinity at a wide angle end, and a maximum height of an axial ray at the aperture stop when focusing at infinity at the wide angle end and of full open aperture, and a lateral magnification of the fourth lens unit when focusing at infinity at the wide angle end are appropriately set. |
| US09678309B2 |
Optical image capturing system
The present disclosure discloses an optical image capturing system. The optical image capturing system includes a first lens with refractive power, a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power, a fourth lens with refractive power, a fifth lens with refractive power, a sixth lens with refractive power and a seventh lens with refractive power sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along the optical axis. At least one of the first through sixth lens has positive refractive power. The seventh lens may have negative refractive power and both image side and object side surfaces of the seventh lens are aspheric. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for the application of compact cameras. |
| US09678305B2 |
Inner focus lens
An inner focus lens includes sequentially from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power; and a third lens group having a negative refractive power. The second lens group is moved along the optical axis, whereby focusing from a focus state for an object at infinity to a focus state for a minimum object distance is performed. The inner focus lens satisfies a conditional expression (1) −29.0≦f3/f≦−5.4, where f3 is a focal length of the third lens group at the focus state for an object at infinity and f is a focal length of the optical system overall at the focus state for an object at infinity. |
| US09678303B2 |
Imaging device and focusing control method
Provided are an imaging device and a focusing control method capable of preventing a focusing error even in a case where still image capturing is consecutively performed to enhance imaging quality. A digital camera performs a correlation operation of two images captured by a pixel pair P1 after performing an imaging process of an N-th frame, and determines a reliability of a correlation operation result based on the result of the correlation operation. In a case where the reliability is low, the digital camera performs a focusing control based on a contrast AF method in each time of imaging subsequent to an (N+1)-th frame, and in a case where the reliability is low, the digital camera performs a focusing control based on a phase difference AF method in an imaging process of the (N+1)-th frame. |
| US09678298B2 |
Cable tie-down bracket
A modular cable tie-down bracket is provided. The cable tie-down bracket includes a pipe adapter mounting portion and a cable mounting portion integrally formed with the pipe adapter mounting portion. Further, the pipe adapter mounting portion is configured to be mounted to a pipe adapter and the cable mounting portion is configured to mount a cable. A cable mounting assembly is also provided. |
| US09678295B2 |
Fiber optic cable module holder
A holder for a plurality of fiber optic cable modules. The holder may includes a tray, wherein the tray is movably positionable in a chassis; and a plurality of mounts coupled to the tray, each mount configured to releasably retain a module of a plurality of various types of modules relative to the tray. |
| US09678293B2 |
Fiber termination enclosure with modular plate assemblies
Certain types of fiber termination enclosures include an enclosure and at least one of a plurality of plate module mounting assemblies. Example plate module mounting assemblies include a termination panel plate assembly; a splice tray plate assembly; a cable spool plate assembly; and a drop-in plate assembly. Example cable spool plate assemblies include a cable spool arrangement rotationally coupled to a mounting plate, which fixedly mounts within the enclosure housing. A stand-off mount element may be disposed on the front of the cable spool arrangement to rotate in unison with the cable spool arrangement. The stand-off mount element may include one or more termination adapters. |
| US09678288B2 |
Optical circuit
A low-cost optical circuit, in which influence of reflected light is reduced, is provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical circuit (200) comprises a first optical coupler (204A) having at least two outputs, and a second optical coupler (204B) coupled to at least one of the outputs of the first optical coupler (204A), and wherein the ratio of an intensity of light reflected from the first optical coupler (204A) to an intensity of light inputted to the first optical coupler is smaller than the ratio of an intensity of light reflected from the second optical coupler (204B) to an intensity of light inputted to the second optical coupler. |
| US09678284B2 |
Method and device for cleaning an optical waveguide end
A device (1) for cleaning an optical waveguide end (2) comprises a guide portion (3) for receiving the optical waveguide end (2) in a stable position and a rotatably mounted spool (4) onto which a flexible cleaning element (5) is wound. The guide portion (3) and the spool (4) are positioned relative to one another such that an optical waveguide end (2) received by the guide portion (3) is able to be pressed against the wound cleaning element (5). The cleaning element (5) is able to be unwound from the spool (4) such that different portions of the cleaning element (5) are able to be applied to the optical waveguide end (2) during unwinding. |
| US09678281B2 |
Apparatus for and method of terminating a multi-fiber ferrule
An apparatus allows a plurality of optical fibers to be held together during the termination process. A handling device holds the optical fibers while a cleaving device allows for consistent cleaving of the optical fibers to ensure the ends are cleaved consistently. The handling device may also be used during the fixation of the optical fibers in the fiber optic ferrule. A method for terminating the plurality of optical fiber is also provided. |
| US09678280B2 |
Optical rotary transmitter
The invention relates to an optical rotary transmitter for transmitting optical signals, comprising a first light coupler (1) that has one or a plurality of first light guides (11) the end faces of which are designed to transmit optical signals and are arranged on a first ring about a central rotational axis Z, a second light coupler (3) that has one or a plurality of second light guides (31) the end faces of which are designed to transmit optical signals and are arranged on a second ring about the central rotational axis Z, a fiber mirror (5) comprising a plurality of third light guides that are arranged between said two light couplers (1,3) and are designed to compensate for the effect, on the transmission of the optical signals, of the two light couplers (1,3) rotating relative to one another, the end faces of the third light guides being designed to transmit optical signals and arranged on a third and fourth ring about the central rotational axis Z. Light inlet/outlet surfaces that are formed by the third and fourth rings are substantially gap-free such that the optical signals can be continuously transmitted without interruption. |
| US09678279B2 |
System and method for mounting blown fiber tubes to a housing
An apparatus (10) for mounting blown fiber tubes (20) includes a main housing (40) mountable to an end (32) of a flex tube (30), an outer ring (50) positioned at an end (42) of the main housing (40), and an inner ring (60) positioned adjacent to and within the outer ring (50) wherein the blown fiber tubes (20) are positioned about an outer periphery (62) of the inner ring (60). A trigger (70) pushes the inner ring (60) to compress the blown fiber tubes (20) between the inner ring (60) and the outer ring (50). The outer ring (500 and the inner ring (60) each include a plurality of spaced pockets (52, 68) each sized for receipt of a blown fiber tube (20). The trigger (70) includes a threaded member (80) which pushes the inner ring (60) outwardly. In one embodiment, portions (64) of the inner ring (60) separate during activation and press against the blown fiber tubes (20) to compress the blown fiber tubes (20) against the outer ring (50). A spring (496) may be added to push on the inner ring (60). Anti-rotation and lock features are provided for the compression, sealing and fixation mechanisms. |
| US09678278B2 |
Integrated optical circuit and methods for its manufacturing and reconfiguring
The present invention is related to an integrated optical circuit, in particular, to an optical-field writable array, as well as to methods for its manufacturing and reconfiguring.The integrated optical circuit comprises at least one nanophotonic device and at least one photonic wire, wherein the nanophotonic device comprises a substrate equipped with at least one reception for at least one external connector, wherein the reception is coupled to at least one connector waveguide, and at least one set of nano-optic components, wherein the nano-optic component is one of a nanophotonic waveguide or a nanophotonic component, wherein the nano-photonic component is nano-optically coupled to at least one nanophotonic waveguide, wherein at least one of the nanophotonic waveguides is selectively coupleable to at least one of the connector waveguides, wherein the photonic wire connects at least one of the nanophotonic waveguides to at least one of the connector waveguides. |
| US09678275B1 |
Efficient coupling of infrared radiation to renal calculi
Herein are disclosed protected optical fiber terminations for use in the treatment of renal and biliary calculi. The protected optical fiber termination including a ferrule affixed to the optical fiber that provides the termination of the optical fiber with protection from contact with saline and/or biological fluids. The optical fiber termination can include open or closed ferrules. The open ferrules providing a means for maintaining a bubble, e.g., a Moses bubble on the termination; the closed ferrules providing a calumniated focus on the renal or biliary calculi. |
| US09678269B2 |
Multimode optical fiber transmission system including single mode fiber
Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical transmission system that operates at a wavelength in the range from 950 nm to 1600 nm and that employs a single-mode optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to respective ends of a multimode fiber designed for 850 nm multimode operation. The optical transmission system also employs at least one single mode fiber situated within the optical pathway between the optical transmitter and the receiver and coupled to the multimode fiber. |
| US09678264B2 |
Light guide plate and surface light source device
A light guide plate has a light guide plate member having a light incident surface on an end face of the light guide member, and a light emitting surface on a front surface of the light guide plate member, wherein the light incident surface is structured to have light incident thereon, and wherein the light emitting surface is structured to widen and emit light incident thereon out of the light guide plate member, and a directivity changing unit arranged on a light incident end portion of the light guide plate member on the front surface or a back surface of the light guide plate member. The directivity changing unit has a first inner inclined surface and a second inner inclined surface that change a directivity of the incident light within the directivity changing unit to widen the light laterally with respect to a direction perpendicular to the light incident surface. |
| US09678262B2 |
Laser-operated light source
A laser-operated light source encompasses a chamber for accommodating an ionizable gas and an ignition source for ionizing the gas in the chamber for generating a plasma. The light source encompasses a laser for inputting laser energy into the plasma such that, under the impact of the laser radiation, the plasma emits useful light, which forms the output signal of the light source, wherein provision is made for means for coupling the useful light into a transferring optical fiber. An optical system for imaging the plasma onto the end of the optical fiber, which faces the optical system, is arranged between the chamber and the transferring optical fiber, wherein the optical system is corrected for reducing the chromatic aberration. |
| US09678261B2 |
Inorganic polarizing plate containing FeSi having 1 to 33 mol% Fe
To provide an inorganic polarizing plate which, when used in structures having different used wavelength bands, can reduce reflectance by using a common structure, making it possible to achieve a predetermined light extinction ratio. The inorganic polarizing plate has a substrate that is transparent to light in a used bandwidth, a reflective layer that is composed of grids that are formed on one surface of the substrate with a pitch that is smaller than a wavelength of light in the used bandwidth, a dielectric layer that is stacked on the reflective layer, and an absorbing layer containing FeSi fine particles. |
| US09678260B2 |
Omnidirectional high chroma red structural color with semiconductor absorber layer
A high-chroma omnidirectional red structural color pigment. The omnidirectional structural color pigment is in the form of a multilayer stack that has a reflective core layer, a semiconductor absorber layer extending across the reflective core layer, and a high index of refraction dielectric layer extending across the semiconductor absorber layer. The multilayer stack reflects a single band of visible light with a hue between 0-40°, and preferably between 10-30°, on an a*b* Lab color map. The single band of visible light has a hue shift of less than 30° on the a*b* Lab color map when viewed from all angles between 0-45° normal to an outer surface of the multilayer stack. |
| US09678258B2 |
Dichroic glass for cosmetic appeal in an electronic device
A dichroic coating can be applied to a glass window of an electronic device to enhance the cosmetic and aesthetic appeal of the device. Different processes can be applied to the glass window in combination with a dichroic coating. For example, a layer of ink can be applied to the glass window in addition to one or more layers of dichroic material. The material layers can cover any suitable portion of the glass. For example, the material layers can include holes or openings. As another example, the material layers can be constructed from several distinct shapes placed on the glass. In some cases, software applications can be used to define a desired color profile for a coating, and to retrieve a suitable combination of dichroic and other layers to provide the desired color profile. |
| US09678256B2 |
Transparent heat-shielding member
A transparent heat-shielding member according to the present invention includes a transparent base substrate, an infrared reflective layer and a transparent screen function layer. The infrared reflective layer includes at least one selected from a metal oxide layer and a metal nitride layer, and a metal layer. The transparent screen function layer is formed of a light diffusing layer. The light diffusing layer contains light diffusing particles and a transparent resin. The light diffusing particles are dispersed in the transparent resin. The transparent heat-shielding member has a visible light reflectance measured in accordance with JIS R3106-1998 of 12% or more and 30% or less, a haze value measured in accordance with JIS K7136-2000 of 5% or more and 35% or less, and a shading coefficient measured in accordance with JIS A5759-2008 of 0.69 or less. |
| US09678252B2 |
Multilayer stack with overlapping harmonics for wide visible-infrared coverage
A broadband mirror, polarizer, or other reflector includes at least one stack of microlayers. Microlayers in the stack are arranged into optical repeat units. At a design angle of incidence such as normal incidence, the stack provides a 1st order reflection band, a 2nd order reflection band, and optionally a 3rd order reflection band. The 2nd order reflection band overlaps, or substantially overlaps, the 1st and/or 3rd order reflection bands to form a single wide reflection band. The wide reflection band may include the 2nd and 1st but not a 3rd order reflection band, or the 2nd and 3rd but not the 1st order reflection band, or it may include the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order reflection bands, as well as still higher order reflection bands. The wide reflection band may cover at least a portion of visible and infrared wavelengths. |
| US09678244B2 |
Thin-layer spectroelectrochemical cell for use in subterranean formation operations
Apparatus, methods, and systems related to a spectroelectrochemical cell apparatus including a cell body that has a first volume, a transparent sample window defined in the cell body, the transparent sample window defining an optical path through the cell body and having a second volume, a working electrode extending through the cell body and into the transparent sample window in the optical path, a counter electrode extending through the cell body, a reference electrode extending through the cell body, a sample inlet extending through the cell body, a solvent inlet extending through the cell body, an electrolyte inlet extending through the cell body, an ionic fluid inlet extending through the cell body, a detection species inlet extending through the cell body, a fluid outlet extending through the cell body, and a fluid mixer located within the cell body. |
| US09678241B2 |
Magnetic ranging tool and method
A downhole magnetic ranging tool includes first and second axially spaced magnetic sources deployed in a downhole tool body. The first and second magnetic sources have magnetic moments that axially opposed one another. A magnetic field sensor is deployed axially between the first and second magnetic sources. The tool may be utilized, for example, in subterranean well twinning, well intercept, and well avoidance operations to obtain a separation distance and dip angle between a drilling well and a target well. |
| US09678239B2 |
System and method for imaging properties of subterranean formations
A system and method for imaging properties of subterranean formations in a wellbore is provided. The system comprises a formation sensor for collecting currents injected into the subterranean formations, the formation sensor positionable on a downhole tool deployable into the wellbore. The system comprises a controller for controlling the formation sensor and a formation imaging unit. The formation imaging unit comprises a current management unit for collecting data from the currents injected into the subterranean formations, the currents having at least two different frequencies. The formation imaging unit comprises a drilling mud data unit for determining at least one drilling mud parameter, a formation data unit for determining at least one formation parameter from the collected data, and an inversion unit for determining at least one formation property by inverting the at least one formation parameter. |
| US09678234B2 |
Multi-level seismic source and method
A depth-varying marine acoustic source array is configured for generating an acoustic wave in a body of water. The depth-varying marine acoustic source array includes a float; plural source points connected to the float through corresponding cables; and a housing extending from a first source point to a last source point, the housing including plural segments. The at least one segment is configured to withstand bending. |
| US09678231B2 |
Systems and methods for acquiring and characterizing time varying signals of interest
Methods or systems for identifying seismic or acoustic signals of interest originating with moving motorized vehicles or footstep movement or stationary or moving machinery. A related system for monitoring an area includes a plurality of sensing devices each comprising a frame and a piezo-electric sensor element. A monitoring device is coupled to receive information from each of the sensing devices. One method includes providing a processing chain coupled to receive signal data from a sensor device which receives the signals, including a detection stage, a Joint Time Frequency (JTF) domain stage, and a classification stage. The detection stage identifies presence of signals that emerge from the background. The JTF domain stage estimates the state of the signals of interest over time. The classification stage assesses the previously derived information to form a decision about source identity. In one embodiment, the detector stage performs detections on a single cycle basis. |
| US09678228B2 |
Method of real-time mapping of a distribution of photons in a site
A method of real-time mapping of a presence distribution of a source of photons in a site. The method includes measuring, at a plurality of measurement points, a photon flux in an energy bandwidth determined with a spectrometric detector, and noting the geographical co-ordinates of the point. At each measurement point, from a response function of the detector, and information on the site, establishing a distribution of origins of the photons around the measurement point. From the distributions, representing, on a map of the site, a distribution of origin of photons, the method further includes, for each measurement point starting from the second, a step prior to the representing step, during which the distributions of origins of the photons around the current measurement point are correlated with those of previous measurement points. |
| US09678227B2 |
Radiation analyzing apparatus
A superconductive transition edge sensor detects radiation. A wave height analyzer generates an energy spectrum of radiation using a detection signal which is output from the superconductive transition edge sensor. A temperature control section and a base line monitor mechanism acquire a physical quantity of data having correlation with detection sensitivity of the superconductive transition edge sensor. A sensitivity correction arithmetic operation unit associates the physical quantity of a plurality of pieces of the acquired data at a plurality of different timings over a predetermined period of time with the detection signal at a certain timing and corrects the detection signal at the certain timing in accordance with the detection sensitivity of the superconductive transition edge sensor by using information regarding the correlation between the physical quantity of the plurality of pieces of data and the detection sensitivity of the superconductive transition edge sensor. |
| US09678224B2 |
System and method for detecting neutron, gamma and muon radiations with contiguous plastics scintillators
A radiation detecting system, including: plastics scintillators juxtaposed to form at least one pair of contiguous plastics scintillators; a photomultiplier associated with each plastics scintillator to provide an electrical signal representative of the light signal generated in the plastics scintillator; a calculator connected to the photomultipliers and configured to: detect pulse coincidences between two electrical pulses provided by the photomultipliers associated with a pair of contiguous plastics scintillators; for each pulse coincidence, determine the time offset between the coincidence pulses relative to the pulse having the greatest amplitude taken as a zero reference; determine the number of pulse coincidences the time offset of which is included in a time offset window. |
| US09678223B2 |
Scintillator
An afterglow property of cesium iodide:thallium (CsI:Tl), in which CsI is a host material and doped with thallium, is improved. It is possible to improve the afterglow property of a scintillator by doping a crystal material including CsI (cesium iodide), as a host material, and thallium (Tl), as a luminescent center, with bismuth (Bi). |
| US09678218B2 |
Radiation analyzing apparatus
A wave height analyzer generates pre-sensitivity correction data using a radiation pulse signal transmitted from a room temperature amplifier, a heater value acquired from a temperature control section, a base line of a current flowing to a TES acquired from a base line monitor mechanism. The wave height analyzer outputs the pre-sensitivity correction data to a sensitivity correction arithmetic operation unit and receives post-sensitivity correction data, on which sensitivity correction is performed. The wave height analyzer generates composite data of a combination of the pre-sensitivity correction data and the post-sensitivity correction data. A spectrum display section receives pieces of composite data sequentially created by the wave height analyzer and displays at least one of a spectrum before sensitivity correction and a spectrum after sensitivity correction, in response to receiving an operator's request. |
| US09678211B2 |
Method for optically scanning and measuring an environment
A method, system and computer program product are provided for displaying three-dimensional measurement points on a two-dimensional plane of a display screen having a plurality of pixels. The method includes projecting the measurement points onto the plane. Each of the measurement points is assigned to one of the pixels. A depth value is assigned to each of the pixels. A first pixel is selected having a first measurement point and a first depth value. A first side is searched for a second pixel having a second measurement point and a second depth value. A second side is searched for a third pixel having a third measurement point and a third depth value. It is determined whether the second and third measurement points are on a same plane. The first depth value of the first pixel is changed when the second and third measurement points are on the same plane. |
| US09678198B2 |
Milking implement
The present invention provides for a milking implement for automatically milking a dairy animal. The implement includes a measuring device for measuring a position of an object such as at least one of a displaceable element of the milking implement and a teat of the dairy animal, and a control device for controlling at least the measuring device. The control device is configured to take at least one measurement, using the measuring device, on at least one point on the object in order to obtain a position information regarding the object, compare the obtained position information with a known position information regarding the object, and calibrate the measuring device on the basis of the comparison between the obtained position information and the known position information. |
| US09678189B2 |
Mapping cardiac tissue architecture systems and methods
Systems and methods are provided for mapping myocardial tissue architecture based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). A set of eigenvectors is derived from diffusion tensor data, where each eigenvector describes the diffusion of spins along one of the Cartesian directions. A radial coordinate axis and a circumferential plane are determined based on anatomical information of the subject, such as from an image depicting the epicardial surface of the subject's heart, A longitudinal coordinate axis and a circumferential coordinate axis are determined based on the radial coordinate axis and circumferential plane, A fiber architecture matrix (FAM) is then computed for locations in the subject's heart based on projecting the set of eigenvectors onto a local coordinate system defined by the circumferential, radial, and longitudinal axes, Maps that represent myocardial tissue architecture can then be generated using the FAM for locations within the subject's heart. |
| US09678182B2 |
System and method for processing magnetic resonance signals
A magnetic resonance (MR) receiver is described herein. The MR receiver can be used to process nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals. The MR receiver includes a transformer that amplifies the MR signals and a preamplifier that receives the MR signals from the transformer. The preamplifier can include a transimpedance amplifier circuit with an input stage that includes a field effect transistor. |
| US09678180B2 |
Coaxial cable magnetic resonance image (MRI) coil
Example magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio frequency (RF) coils are described. An MRI RF coil may include a first terminal and a second terminal that are connected by a coaxial cable. Rather than rely exclusively on two terminal passive components (e.g., resistor, inductor, capacitor), example coax MRI RF coils rely on the capacitance that can be created in the coax cable between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. The capacitance of the coil may be controlled by selectively disrupting (e.g., cutting, stripping) the outer conductor, the inner conductor, or the dielectric material disposed between the inner and outer conductor. |
| US09678179B2 |
Tester for testing magnetic memory
According to one embodiment, a tester includes a magnetic shield portion having a space which is shielded from an external magnetic field, a controller generating a test signal for testing a magnetic memory having a magnetoresistive element provided in the space, an interface portion in the space, the interface portion which functions as an interface between the controller and the magnetic memory, and a magnetic field generating portion in the space, the magnetic field generating portion generating a test magnetic field while the magnetic memory is tested by the test signal. |
| US09678176B2 |
XMR angle sensors
Embodiments relate to xMR sensors, sensor elements and structures, and methods. In an embodiment, a sensor element comprises a non-elongated xMR structure; and a plurality of contact regions formed on the xMR structure spaced apart from one another such that a non-homogeneous current direction and current density distribution are induced in the xMR structure when a voltage is applied between the plurality of contact regions. |
| US09678171B2 |
Method and device for acquiring at least one signal
A method for acquiring at least one signal transmitted via an electric conductor, wherein an electric and/or magnetic field of the conductor is acquired at at least two identical or different positions relative to a longitudinal coordinate of the conductor, thus obtaining two measurement signals corresponding to the respective positions, and the signal transmitted via the conductor is inferred from the measurement signals. |
| US09678169B2 |
Testing assembly for testing magnetic sensor and method for testing magnetic sensor
A testing assembly for testing a magnetic sensor comprises a testing interface and a detachable magnetic-field generator. The testing interface has a base plate and plurality of testing terminals. The base plate has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The plurality of testing terminals is arranged on the first side of the base plate. The detachable magnetic-field generator is arranged on the second side of the base plate in a detachable fashion. The detachable magnetic-field generator has a coil support and at least one coil winding around the coil support. |
| US09678168B2 |
Sensor system including multiple comparators
A system including a sensor circuit and comparison circuitry. The sensor circuit is configured to provide a sensed signal. The comparison circuitry is configured to receive an input signal that corresponds to the sensed signal. The comparison circuitry provides output signals that switch state at different levels of the input signal. |
| US09678167B2 |
Degradation speed estimation method, and degradation speed estimation device, of lithium-ion battery
A deterioration rate estimation method for a lithium-ion battery of estimating the deterioration rate of the lithium-ion battery including a negative electrode having stage structures switching depending on an electric storage amount includes a first step of acquiring first information about the stage structure, a second step of acquiring second information about the battery temperature of the lithium-ion battery, and a third step of estimating the deterioration rate from the first information and the second information. |
| US09678163B2 |
Differential current monitoring for parallel-connected batteries
A system for determining battery characteristics based on differential current monitoring includes a first battery; a second battery, the second battery being connected in parallel with the first battery; and a differential current measurement module comprising at least one current measuring device, the differential current measurement module being configured to determine a differential current associated with the first battery and the second battery. A method for determining battery characteristics based on differential current monitoring includes determining a differential current associated with a first battery and a second battery, the first battery being connected in parallel with the second battery. |
| US09678161B2 |
Wind energy installation and method for testing a rotational speed relay of a wind energy installation
The disclosure relates to checking a rotational speed relay of a wind turbine. The wind turbine comprises a rotational speed sensor for the rotational speed of a shaft. The rotational speed sensor outputs a rotational speed signal, which is fed to a signal input of the rotational speed relay. According to disclosure, the rotational speed signal fed to the rotational speed relay is first inactivated. Then a signal generator is activated, which produces a check signal equivalent to the rotational speed signal. The check signal is fed to the signal input of the rotational speed relay. The signal generator is operated with a check signal that is beyond a rotational speed limit, and a check is performed to determine if the rotational speed relay generates a switch-off command. This allows the functional capability of the rotational speed relay to be checked reliably and at low cost. |
| US09678160B2 |
Industrial automatic-diagnostic device
An industrial automatic-diagnostic device connected to an FA system in which a plurality of FA devices are connected to each other, the industrial automatic-diagnostic device includes: an engineering tool; and a display unit. Based on interface connection information and device configuration information of a corresponding FA device held by each of the FA devices, the engineering tool creates overall configuration information of the FA system and displays an overall configuration of the FA system on the display unit based on the overall configuration information. When an abnormality occurs in the FA device, diagnosis information about an abnormal part self-diagnosed by the FA device and abnormality contents with respect to the abnormality occurred in a corresponding abnormal part is obtained. Based on the obtained diagnosis information, occurrence of an abnormality is displayed in an abnormal part in an overall configuration of the FA system displayed on the display unit. |
| US09678158B2 |
Apparatus for testing a package-on-package semiconductor device
An apparatus for testing a package-on-package semiconductor device includes a top cover, a lower base, a heat dissipation module, and a plurality of probes. The lower base is disposed under the top cover so as to form an internal accommodation space for receiving an upper chip. The heat dissipation module includes a heat sink arranged in the internal accommodation space and attached to an upper surface of the upper chip. The probes are arranged in the lower base so as to electrically connect the upper chip with a lower chip. By the heat sink arranged in the internal accommodation space formed of the top cover and the lower base, heat generated from the upper chip during operation of the upper chip can be greatly dissipated so that the performance and the service life of the upper chip can be improved. |
| US09678157B2 |
TAPs and TAP selector output enables coupled to output circuitry
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatuses for allowing a controller to select and access different types of access ports in a device. The selecting and accessing of the access ports is achieved using only the dedicated TDI, TMS, TCK, and TDO signal terminals of the device. The selecting and accessing of device access ports can be achieved when a single device is connected to the controller, when multiple devices are placed in a daisy-chain arrangement and connected to the controller, or when multiple devices are placed in a addressable parallel arrangement and connected to the controller. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure. |
| US09678155B2 |
DDR circuitry for TAM controller with TAM enable output
A device test architecture and a reduced device test interface are provided to enable efficient testing of embedded cores and other circuits within devices. The reduced device test interface is achieved using a double data rate (DDR) signaling technique between the tester and the device. The DDR test interface allows the tester to interface to test circuits within the device, such as IEEE 1500 and/or IEEE 1149.1 test circuits, to provide high test data bandwidth to the test circuits using a minimum of test interface signals. The test architecture includes compare circuits that allow for comparison of test response data to be performed within the device. The test architecture further includes a memory for storing the results of the test response comparisons. The test architecture includes a programmable test controller to allow for various test control operations by simply inputting an instruction to the programmable test controller from the external tester. Additional features and embodiments of the device test architecture and reduced test interface are also disclosed. |
| US09678154B2 |
Circuit techniques for efficient scan hold path design
In one embodiment, a method for signal delay in a scan path comprises, in a scan mode, delaying a scan signal in the scan path by propagating the scan signal through a plurality of delay devices coupled in series, wherein a first one of the delay devices is powered by a first voltage, a second one of the delay devices is powered by a second voltage, and the second voltage is greater than the first voltage. The method also comprises, in a functional mode, disabling the delay devices. |
| US09678152B2 |
Scan chain latch design that improves testability of integrated circuits
A scan chain latch circuit, a method of operating a latch circuit in a scan chain, and a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure defining a scan chain latch circuit for instantiation on a semiconductor die are disclosed. In an embodiment, the scan chain latch circuit comprises a first latch for holding one data value, a second latch for holding another data value, and a multiplexor. The one data value is applied to a first data input of the multiplexor and the another data value is applied to a second data input of the multiplexor. An alternating clock signal is applied to a select input of the multiplexor to control the output of the multiplexor, wherein the output of the multiplexor toggles between the two data values held in the two latches at a defined frequency. |
| US09678151B2 |
Efficiency of cycle-reproducible debug processes in a multi-core environment
An approach for improving efficiency of cycle-reproducible debug in a multi-core environment is provided. The approach executes an exerciser image on one or more cores, wherein the exerciser image includes one or more different seeds. The approach determines a seed from the one or more different seeds that locates a fail-condition. Responsive to determining a seed from the one or more different seeds that locates the fail condition, the approach determines an upper bound and a lower bound of the fail-condition. The approach determines an exact cycle where the fail-condition occurs. The approach constructs a multi-cycle trace for the fail-condition. |
| US09678143B2 |
Semiconductor evaluation apparatus
A semiconductor evaluation apparatus includes a jig for evaluation and a probe substrate. The jig for evaluation is provided such that a plurality of semiconductor devices can be placed thereon. The probe substrate is provided so as to face the jig for evaluation, and includes a contact probe. The jig for evaluation includes a plurality of housing portions divided by a frame portion such that the plurality of semiconductor devices can be separately placed on the plurality of housing portions, respectively. The semiconductor evaluation apparatus is configured such that the contact probe can be brought into contact with a plurality of elements in the state where a space is provided by bringing the frame portion and the probe substrate in proximity to each other. In this space, each of the plurality of semiconductor devices is placed between a corresponding one of the plurality of housing portions and the probe substrate. |
| US09678139B2 |
Method and apparatus for high side transistor protection
A method and apparatus for detecting a high energy event in a transistor includes performing the steps of: monitoring a gate to source voltage of a transistor during transistor start up, continuously determining a derivative of the monitored gate to source voltage with respect to time, and detecting a high energy event when the derivative of the gate to source voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US09678138B2 |
Unit and method for monitoring an integrity of a signal path, signal processing system and sensor system
A monitoring unit (100; 800) for monitoring an integrity of a signal path (200; 620) configured to receive an input signal (210, 802) and further configured to provide an output (220) in response to the input signal (210, 802), comprises a signal monitor (110; 801) configured to extract a first signal (112; 630) from the signal path (200; 620) corresponding to the input signal (210, 802) in at least a first characteristic. The monitoring unit (100; 800) further comprises a signal interface (120; 803) configured to extract a second signal (122; 631) corresponding to the output (220) in at least a second characteristic from the signal path (200; 620); and an evaluator (130) configured to determine, whether the at least first characteristic of the first signal (112; 630) corresponds to the at least second characteristic of the second signal (122; 631) according to a predefined relation. |
| US09678137B2 |
System and method to monitor contact joint integrity
Methods and systems for monitoring contact joint integrity in an information handling system may include precisely monitoring a change in resistance of a resistive element associated with a contact joint. The change in resistance of the resistive element may be indicative of the integrity of the contact joint. The resistance may be measured using a modulated current source and by demodulating a voltage signal resulting from the modulated current flowing across the resistive element. |
| US09678136B2 |
Back-plane connector for cubesat
A back-plane connector connects component boards for a cubesat with a processing unit and a board connector electrically connected to the back-plane connector. The board connector mates with complimentary connectors on the component boards. The arrangement facilitates assembly, testing and operational reliability. An image capture system may be included and has an image capture device with a multiplexer for interactive collection and storage of image and video data. |
| US09678135B2 |
Device for diagnosing the loss of a connection between an electronic control module and a ground
The subject of the present invention is a device for diagnosing the loss of a connection to a ground (M) of an electronic control module (BCM) of a motor vehicle. This device (1) comprises a first branch (B1) connecting the electronic control module (BCM) to the ground(M), a second branch (B2) connecting the electronic control module (BCM) to the ground (M) adapted to receive power currents (I(power)) originating from power equipments (EQP) and comprising unidirectional current-conducting means (D), a diagnostic circuit (CD) connected to the second connecting branch (B2) at the level of a measurement point (PM) situated between the unidirectional current-conducting means (D) and the ground (M) and defining a voltage (Vdiag) for diagnosing a loss of connection to the ground (M) of the electronic control module (BCM) on the first branch connecting (B1). According to the invention, the second connecting branch (B2) comprises, between the measurement point (Pm) of the diagnostic circuit (CD)and the ground(M), voltage-generating means(Rs, Idiag) adapted to increase the diagnostic voltage (Vdiag) in case of disconnection of the first branch (B1). |
| US09678134B2 |
Method for determining maintenance time for contacts, and testing apparatus
A method for maintaining a contact of a connection jig for connecting between a target object to be subjected to an electrical test and a testing apparatus configured to conduct the electrical test on the target object includes: detecting a change in voltage upon supply of power for the electrical test to a test point on the target object through the contact; and issuing maintenance information indicating the contact is abnormal, upon detection of a portion where the voltage does not successively rise. |
| US09678133B2 |
Intelligent patching systems and methods using electrical cable diagnostic tests and inference-based mapping techniques
A new patch cord connection in a communications network may be automatically identified by using a plug insertion/removal sensor to detect the insertion of a first plug into a first connector port of a patch panel. An electrical cable diagnostic test is used to detect an insertion of a second plug into a first connector port on a network device. It may be inferred that a new patch cord connection has been established between the first connector port of the patch panel and the first connector port of the network device based on the consecutive detections of the insertions of the first and second plugs. |
| US09678131B2 |
Method and apparatus for short fault isolation in a controller area network
A controller area network (CAN) includes a CAN bus having a CAN-H wire, a CAN-L wire, and a pair of CAN bus terminators located at opposite ends of the CAN bus. The CAN further includes a plurality of nodes including controllers wherein at least one of the controllers is a monitoring controller. The monitoring controller includes a detection control routine for isolating faults on the CAN bus including measuring a CAN-H wire voltage, measuring a CAN-L wire voltage, and isolating a short fault based upon the CAN-H wire voltage and the CAN-L wire voltage. |
| US09678129B2 |
Device and method for monitoring the state of a system component
In order to detect the current state of a system component, e.g. to display whether an electrical conductor, a cable or the like, is currently live, a field generator that generates a magnetic field in the environment of the system part is provided, which generator is connected to an organic magnetoresistive OMR semiconductor element that is arranged stationary in the environment of the system component to be monitored, and a voltage source for generating an electrical voltage between two electrodes of the OMR semiconductor element is provided. The device and the method can be fitted in a simple manner and cost-effectively to almost any system part, even at a later stage to already existing systems. A corresponding display shows the desired information locally limited and in the simplest manner: if the electric conductor is currently energized, an additional evaluation is not necessary. |
| US09678128B2 |
Noise test apparatus and method for testing a display panel using the same
A noise test apparatus includes a ground plate, a base plate including a ground plate, the ground plate being configured to support a display panel. A first antenna configured to receive electromagnetic waves irradiated by the display panel and disposed on the base plate adjacent to a first side of the ground plate. A second antenna configured to receive the electromagnetic waves irradiated by the display panel and disposed on the base plate adjacent to a second side of the ground plate, the second side extending substantially perpendicular to the first side. |
| US09678126B2 |
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) signal transceiver device under test (DUT). With the DUT operating in a controlled electromagnetic environment, the tester exchanges multiple test signals wirelessly with the DUT. Signal phases of the respective test signals are controlled in accordance with feedback signals from the DUT and test equipment. Magnitudes of the respective test signals can also be controlled in accordance with such feedback signals, thereby enabling minimizing of apparent signal path loss between the tester and DUT to effectively simulate an electrically conductive signal path. |
| US09678121B2 |
Power distribution management apparatus, display control method, and recording medium
A power distribution management apparatus (10) includes acquiring a measurement result from a meter connected to a customer's load facility which receives a distributed power from a power distribution system, and using different display representation to display a facility where electricity flows from the load facility toward the facility of the power distribution system among facilities of the power distribution system to be distinguished from a facility where electricity flows from the facility of the power distribution system toward the load facility utilizing the measurement result of the meter. |
| US09678120B2 |
Electrical load identification using system line voltage
Methods and systems may provide for receiving a set of voltage samples corresponding to a line voltage of a leg in an electrical system and conducting a time domain analysis to identify one or more loads in the electrical system. Additionally, the time domain analysis may be used to identify one or more loads in the electrical system. In one example, conducting the time domain analysis involves classifying events with respect to cross correlation, shape magnitude, transient amplitude, transient duration, run delta and/or standard deviation. |
| US09678116B2 |
TRIAC low voltage dimming control system
A TRIAC low voltage dimming control system for effectively controlling the dimming of low voltage lighting using a TRIAC dimmer. The TRIAC low voltage dimming control system generally includes a TRIAC analyzer that applies a test voltage to a TRIAC dimmer and measures the amount of time required for the TRIAC dimmer to conduct electricity. Utilizing the measured time for the TRIAC dimmer to conduct electricity, the TRIAC analyzer is able to calculate an approximate state of the TRIAC dimmer and provide a corresponding level of DC electrical power to a DC load. |
| US09678114B2 |
Apparatus and methods thereof for error correction in split core current transformers
Apparatus and methods are provided for electrical parameter measurements at points of interest, such as circuit breakers, machines, and the like. The devices which comprise of components that may require corrections, such as the errors induced by, but not limited to, the use of a split core mounted around a current carrier, and hence calibration coefficients are provided based on test, measurements and/or calculations respective of the devices. These coefficients may be stored in a database for retrieval when calibration of measurements received from a measuring device. In one embodiment at least one of the calibration coefficients is stored on the measuring device. |
| US09678105B2 |
Analysis of ex vivo cells for disease state detection and therapeutic agent selection and monitoring
Described herein is the analysis of nanomechanical characteristics of cells. In particular, changes in certain local nanomechanical characteristics of ex vivo human cells can correlate with presence of a human disease, such as cancer, as well as a particular stage of progression of the disease. Also, for human patients that are administered with a therapeutic agent, changes in local nanomechanical characteristics of ex vivo cells collected from the patients can correlate with effectiveness of the therapeutic agent in terms of impeding or reversing progression of the disease. By exploiting this correlation, systems and related methods can be advantageously implemented for disease state detection and therapeutic agent selection and monitoring. |
| US09678099B2 |
Athermalized optics for laser wind sensing
Techniques are disclosed for providing an optical assembly to provide stereoscopic images of a reflected laser spot to a camera for wind measurement. According to certain embodiments of the invention, an optical assembly can include left and right (or first and second) subassemblies having lens groups and reflective elements that cause light traveling left and right subassemblies to follow similar paths to focus on respective left and right portions of a camera. The camera can then use left and right images of reflected laser light to determine wind based on turbulence patterns in the left and right images. |
| US09678097B2 |
Angle detection device and angle detection method
An angle detection device includes: first and second rotation measuring instruments; an anomaly detection unit detecting occurrences of anomalies in the first and second rotation measuring instruments; and a switching interpolation unit configured to select a first angle signal and a first angular speed signal and output as a third angle signal and a third angular speed signal when the first rotation measuring instrument is normal, and to perform switching so that a second angle signal and a second angular speed signal are output as the third angle signal and the third angular speed signal while performing interpolation so that the difference between the first angle signal and the second angle signal is reduced stepwise if the second rotation measuring instrument is normal when an anomaly has occurred in the first rotation measuring instrument. |
| US09678093B2 |
Automatic analyzer
An automatic analyzer provided with a roller and a reagent container shoulder presser at the position where an operator inserts a reagent container into the automatic analyzer. The reagent container is pushed while the lid of the reagent container is made to touch the upper side of the roller and the shoulder presser is made to touch the shoulder of the reagent container, and the application of upward force to the lid causes the lid of the reagent container to be half open, after which the reagent container is inserted in the analyzer. |
| US09678092B2 |
Workflow timing between modules
The invention relates to a method of isolating and analyzing an analyte using an analytical apparatus which comprises modules of different types, wherein any one module of one type has a specific, pre-defined timing for carrying out its workflow. |
| US09678086B2 |
Diagnostic assay for Alzheimer's disease
The present invention relates to the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD). More specifically, the present invention provides methods and compositions useful in diagnosing and assessing AD. In another embodiment, a method for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in a patient comprises the steps of (a) obtaining CSF sample from the patient; (b) adding to the sample isotopically labeled peptides identical to a portion of one or more biomarker proteins, wherein the one or more biomarker proteins comprise total APP, APP isoform 751, APP isoform 770, amyloid beta 40 peptide, APOE, and Clusterin; and (c) measuring the one or more biomarker proteins in the sample using mass spectrometry, wherein the level of one or more biomarker proteins compared to a control correlates with AD in the patient. |
| US09678082B2 |
Method of traceless labeling glycoproteins on surface and application thereof
The present invention relates to a method of traceless labeling glycoproteins on a surface and an application thereof. A test glycoprotein can be immobilized on a surface using a BA-tosyl probe and the BA-tosyl probe is then released using a releasing agent, so as to expose a glycan residue of the test glycoprotein. The exposed glycan residue of the test glycoprotein can be detected without altering native glycan structures. Moreover, the present invention further provides a detection kit of traceless labeling glycoproteins on a surface in the study of glycoprotein-protein interactions, which is suitable for using the aforementioned method. |
| US09678081B2 |
Chromatography method and chromatographic kit
The chromatography method includes a step of forming a composite with a test substance and a labeling substance containing a metal modified by a first binding substance of the test substance and then developing the composite on an insoluble carrier; a step of capturing the test substance and the labeling substance in a detection site on the insoluble carrier including a second binding substance of the test substance or a substance having a binding property to the first binding substance of the test substance; and a step of amplifying the captured labeling substance using a first amplification reagent and a second amplification reagent to detect the test substance. |
| US09678080B2 |
Bis-biotinylation tags
Multi-biotinylated reactants are provided which can be used in divalent complexes for various applications such as colocalization, labeling, immobilization, and purification. Methods for constructing, purifying, and using the bis-biotinylated reactants are also provided. In certain embodiments, two bis-biotinylated reactants are bound to a single streptavidin tetramer to provide a complex having a 1:1 stoichiometry with respect to the bis-biotinylated reactants. |
| US09678078B2 |
Methods and compositions for personalized medicine by point-of-care devices for brain natriuretic peptide
Methods, devices, reagent, systems and kits for the detection, diagnosis of ovarian cancer as well as for the monitoring of ovarian cancer progression and for monitoring the progress of ovarian cancer treatments using BNP as a biomarker. |
| US09678077B2 |
ERG/TFF3/HMWCK triple immunostain for detection of prostate cancer
This invention relates to a triple immunostaining assay (ERG/TFF3/HMWCK) for sensitive and specific detection of prostate cancer. Positive staining for at least one of ERG or TFF3 combined with negative staining of HMWCK in a sample such as prostate tissue sample is indicative of cancer. |
| US09678075B2 |
Prediction of recurrence for bladder cancer by a protein signature in tissue samples
The present invention pertains to the field of cancer prediction. Specifically, it relates to a method for predicting the risk of recurrence of bladder cancer in a subject after treatment of bladder cancer comprising the steps of determining the amount of at least one biomarker selected from the biomarkers shown in Table, and comparing the amount of said at least one biomarker with a reference amount for said at least one biomarker, whereby the risk of recurrence of bladder cancer is to be predicted. The present invention also contemplates a method for identifying a subject being in need of a further bladder cancer therapy. Encompassed are, furthermore, diagnostic devices and kits for carrying out said methods. |
| US09678066B2 |
Method and kit for measuring interaction between molecules
The present invention relates to methods of measuring interaction between a first and a second molecule, for example a protein and an antibody, by conjugation of one of these molecules with nanoparticles, and measuring the interaction between the first and second molecule via changes in the optical properties of the nanoparticles. The present invention further relates to methods of coating nanoparticles. |
| US09678065B2 |
Low-cost point-of-care assay device
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for analyzing a liquid sample. A micro-fluidic device to perform an assay of a liquid sample is described that includes a sample application site and a vent outlet in fluid communication with the capillary channel. A cap is provided that is configured to seal both the vent outlet and the sample application site in a shared volume and separate from an outside environment. |
| US09678064B2 |
Immunoassay apparatus incorporating microfluidic channel
An assay apparatus having an assay strip. The assay strip has a first area with a plurality of magnetic particles bonded thereto. The assay strip also has a microfluidic (or nanofluidic) channel or chamber, having a sensing area including one or more magnetic particle traps and a magnetic field source provided adjacent to the sensing area. Introduction of a fluid causes the magnetic particles to become attached to or displaced by a substance of interest, travel along the microfluidic channel to the sensing area and become concentrated in the one or more traps thus providing an indication of the presence or absence of a substance of interest in the fluid. There may be a plurality of traps. |
| US09678059B2 |
Detection, staging and grading of benign and malignant tumors
The present invention provides a method for detecting and grading benign and malignant tumors using at least one sensor of conductive nanoparticles capped with an organic coating in conjunction with a learning and pattern recognition algorithm. The method utilizes a plurality of response induced parameters to obtain improved sensitivity and selectivity for diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and staging various types of cancers, or for identifying or grading benign or malignant tumors. |
| US09678054B2 |
Method of marking hydrocarbon liquids
Method of marking a hydrocarbon liquid includes adding to the liquid, a tracer compound of Formula I or II: wherein at least one of R1-R6 in Formula I and at least one of R7-R14 in Formula II is selected from: i. a bromine or fluorine atom; ii. a partially or fully halogenated alkyl group; iii. a branched or cyclic C4-C20 alkyl group; iv. an aliphatic substituent linking two positions selected from R1-R6 in Formula I to one another or two positions selected from R7-R14 in Formula II to one another; or v. a phenyl group substituted with a halogen atom, an aliphatic group or halogenated aliphatic group and none of R1-R6 and none of R7-R14 being a sulphonate group or COOR15, where R15 represents H, C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, C3-C15 cycloalkyl or aryl. |
| US09678051B2 |
Method for distinguishing, classifying and measuring soft and hard inclusions in liquid metal
The present invention is a method for distinguishing, classifying and measuring soft and hard inclusions in a liquid metal that includes obtaining a flow through cell disposed on a tube with a top to allow the liquid metal to flow through the flow through cell and into the tube. There is also a mounting and a vacuum system disposed on top of the tube to draw the liquid metal through the flow through cell and into the tube that utilizes a pair of electrodes set inside and outside of the tube to apply an electric current to the liquid metal passing through the flow through cell. An electric resistance change is then measured and an electric resistance pulse is applied to the liquid metal to measure deformed behavior of the inclusions. The resistance pulse method can be used with liquid droplets, steel slag, bubbles and other deformable inclusions. |
| US09678049B2 |
Method for processing measured values from a nitrogen oxide sensor
A method for processing measured values two nitrogen oxide sensors, one of which is arranged upstream of a nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter in the exhaust gas system of a motor vehicle and the other of which is arranged downstream of the nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter, involves recording and comparing measured values from the two nitrogen oxide sensors at least approximately at the same time. A sensitivity of the first nitrogen oxide sensor and/or of the second nitrogen oxide sensor is changed depending on the result of the comparison. |
| US09678046B2 |
Gas chromatography using a thermal gradient that is substantially monotonically non-increasing and has a positive second derivative
A system and method for thermal gradient gas chromatography wherein a front or injection end of a column is heated to a higher temperature than a back or detector end to thereby create a thermal gradient having a profile that is substantially monotonically non-increasing and has a positive second derivative, and then providing a heat source to raise the thermal gradient and cause it to remain stationary or to travel through the column while maintaining a desired profile. |
| US09678044B2 |
Method of measuring acoustic energy impinging upon a cable
A method of measuring acoustic energy impinging upon a cable includes, interrogating at least one optical fiber of the cable with electromagnetic energy, the at least one optical fiber is nonconcentrically surrounded by and strain locked to a sheath of the cable, monitoring electromagnetic energy returned in the at least one optical fiber, and determining acoustic energy impinging on the cable. |
| US09678043B2 |
Methods, systems, and fixtures for inspection of gasket welds
A method may involve positioning a fixture over a portion of a tube portion of a gasket, where the gasket includes a first lip portion joined to a second lip portion by a weld of the gasket and the first lip portion joined to the second lip portion defines the tube portion, where the fixture comprises a housing and an injection port; positioning an ultrasonic probe in the housing; filling, by the injection port, coupling fluid between the ultrasonic probe and the tube portion of the gasket; and scanning at least a portion of the weld with the ultrasonic probe, where scanning the at least a portion of the weld may involve transmitting, by the ultrasonic probe, a plurality of ultrasonic waves through the coupling fluid into the tube portion, and translating the fixture in a longitudinal direction along the tube portion of the gasket. |
| US09678040B2 |
Rotating magnetic field hall measurement system
A rotating magnetic field Hall apparatus is provided and includes first and second magnets disposed in a master-slave configuration, a device-under-test (DUT) stage interposable between the first and second magnets on which a DUT is disposable in first or second orientations for Hall measurement or photoelectromagnetic (PEM) testing, respectively, controllers disposed to center the DUT stage between the first and second magnets and orthogonal magnetic field sensors disposed aside lateral sides of the first magnet to facilitate positional initialization of the first and second magnets and to generate in-phase and out-of-phase reference signals for phase-sensitive or lock-in Hall signal detection. The system also includes software system to perform signal processing to yield the final Hall signal. |
| US09678039B2 |
Ion modification
An ion mobility spectrometry method comprising determining whether a sample comprises ions having a first characteristic, and in the event that it is determined that the sample comprises ions having the first characteristic, applying thermal energy together with a radio frequency, RF, electric field to parent ions so as to obtain daughter ions having a second characteristic for inferring at least one identity for the parent ions based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic. |
| US09678036B2 |
Graphene-based gas and bio sensor with high sensitivity and selectivity
A graphene sensor and method for selective sensing of vapors, gases and biological agents are disclosed. The graphene sensor can include a substrate; a dielectric substrate on an upper layer of the substrate; a layer of graphene on an upper layer of the dielectric substrate; and a source and drain contact on an upper surface of the layer of graphene. The method for detection of vapors, gases and biological objects with low frequency input as a sensing parameter can include exposing a graphene device to at least one vapor, gas, and/or biological object, the graphene device comprising: a substrate; a dielectric substrate on an upper layer of the substrate, a layer of graphene on an upper layer of the dielectric substrate, and a source and drain contact on an upper surface of the layer of graphene; and measuring a change in a noise spectra of the graphene device. |
| US09678035B2 |
Hydrocarbon gas sensor
Provided is a gas sensor capable of accurately obtaining a hydrocarbon gas concentration even if a measurement gas contains water vapor. A main pumping cell adjusts an oxygen partial pressure of a first internal space such that a hydrocarbon gas in a measurement gas is not substantially burned in the first internal space. An auxiliary pumping cell adjusts an oxygen partial pressure of a second internal space such that inflammable gas components except for hydrocarbon are selectively burned. Then, a measuring pumping cell supplies oxygen to a surface of a measuring electrode. As a result, hydrocarbon existing in the measurement gas being in contact with the measuring electrode is all burned on the surface of the measuring electrode and, based on the magnitude of a current flowing between the measuring electrode and a main pumping electrode at that time, identifies a concentration of a hydrocarbon gas component existing in the measurement gas. |
| US09678034B2 |
Analyte sensors and systems including retention tab and methods of manufacturing same
In some aspects, an analyte sensor is provided for detecting an analyte concentration level in a biological fluid sample. The analyte sensor has a base including a top and bottom side, a lid, and an attachment member including one or more retention tabs coupled proximate the top side so that the analyte sensor can be grasped by the sensor's top side. Manufacturing methods and systems adapted to use and dispense the analyte sensors are provided, as are numerous other aspects. |
| US09678032B2 |
Chemometric analysis of chemical agents using electrochemical detection and classification techniques
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for the identification of chemical agents and determination of their level of exposure using electrochemical detection and advanced signal processing. In one aspect, a method includes collecting a sample from a surface containing a chemical agent to an electrode on a sensor such that the chemical agent transfers on the electrode, detecting an electrochemical signal of the chemical agent on the electrode to transduce chemical information associated with the chemical agent to an electrical signal, processing the electrical signal to obtain electrochemical spectral signature data to identify the chemical agent and generating a series of coefficients of the electrochemical spectral signature data to reduce the data, and classifying the chemical information based on the series of coefficients among preselected data sets to determine a level of exposure to the chemical agent. |
| US09678030B2 |
Materials and sensors for detecting gaseous agents
A sensor for detecting gaseous agents has a transducer, which includes an electrical resonant circuit that forms an antenna. The sensor further includes a sensing material that is disposed on at least a portion of the transducer. The sensing material is configured to simultaneously exhibit a capacitance response and a resistance response in the presence of a gaseous agent. The sensor may be reversible, battery free, and may require no electrical contact with a sensor reader. |
| US09678027B2 |
Monitoring device with jumper cable coupling and related methods
A monitoring device is for a block of building material. The monitoring device may include an electric supply line configured to be buried in the block of building material and having a flexible main cable, and flexible jumper cables coupled to the flexible main cable and extending outwardly. The monitoring device may include sensor devices configured to be buried in the block of building material and coupled to respective ones of the flexible jumper cables. Each sensor device may include a primary inductor coupled to the electric supply line at a position based upon peaks of a stationary waveform when the electric supply line is alternating current (AC) powered, and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit may include an integrated sensor, and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary inductor and configured to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric supply line. |
| US09678026B2 |
Structural health monitoring system for a material and production method
A structural health monitoring system includes a signal transmission element and a sensor unit. The sensor unit is designed to feed a first signal into the signal transmission element and to read out a second signal from the signal transmission element. The signal transmission element has carbon nanotubes. |
| US09678023B2 |
Method of determining surface orientation of single crystal wafer
Provided is a method of determining a surface orientation of a single crystal wafer. The method of determining a surface orientation of a single crystal wafer using high resolution X-ray rocking curve measurement may determine a surface angle of the wafer and a direction of the surface angle using rocking curve measurement of a high resolution X-ray diffraction method and measuring a misalignment angle formed by a rotation axis of a measuring apparatus and a surface normal of the wafer and an orientation of the misalignment angle. |
| US09678021B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting defects
In optical dark field defect inspection, the present invention provides including: condensing laser emitted from a light source in a line shape; reflecting the laser, with a mirror; irradiating the reflected laser via an objective lens to a sample placed on a table from a vertical direction; condensing reflected scattered light from the sample with the objective lens; shielding diffraction light occurred from a periodical pattern formed on the sample, in the reflected scattered light from the sample and scattered light occurred from the mirror, with a spatial filter; receiving the reflected scattered light from the sample, not shielded with the spatial filter, with an imaging lens, and forming an image of the reflected scattered light; detecting the image of the reflected scattered light; and processing a detection signal obtained by detecting the image of the reflected scattered light and detecting a defect on the sample. |
| US09678015B2 |
Method for elemental analysis of a snack food product in a dynamic production line
A method and apparatus for analyzing one or more elements of targeted moving snack food surfaces uses laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to detect the presence, absence, or amount of an element on a heterogeneous surface, including seasoned and ready-to-eat snack foods. A laser is used to quantify the element concentration without destroying the targeted sample. An automated on-line system may be integrated into the method to create a closed-loop feedback control system, adjusting the concentration as desired. |
| US09678008B2 |
Device for measuring scattered light from a measurement volume with compensation for background signals
A device for measuring scattered light from a measurement volume with compensation for background signals, includes a light sensor having separately evaluable light-sensitive elements, a single imaging optical system, wherein the light-sensitive elements are arranged in the image plane and the measurement volume is arranged in the corresponding object plane of the optical system, a light transmitter with a collimated light beam, this light-sensitive element detects scattered light from the measurement volume and background light from the overlapping visual ranges behind the subject plane, and the other light-sensitive element detects no or significantly less scattered light from the measurement volume and background light from the overlapping visual areas behind the object plane, and a diaphragm that restricts the visual ranges of the light-sensitive elements behind the object plane. |
| US09678006B2 |
Optical sensor and image forming apparatus
In an optical sensor, a light emission system emits an irradiated light of a linear polarization in a first polarization direction toward a surface of a target object having a sheet shape from an incident direction which is inclined with respect to a normal direction of the surface. A first light detection system includes a first light detector arranged on a first light path of a specular reflected light, which is emitted from the light emission system and is specularly reflected from the target object. A second light detection system includes a second light detector arranged on a second light path of a diffuse reflected light which is diffusely reflected from an incident plane on the target object. The second light detector receives second light passed by an optical element which passes a linear polarization component of a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction. |
| US09678004B2 |
Plasmonic interferometer sensor
An optical device includes a transparent substrate and a conductive layer disposed over an upper surface of the transparent substrate. The conductive layer defines at least one groove inwardly extending from an upper surface and includes an aperture that is spaced apart from the at least one groove. An interface between the upper surface of the conductive layer and an ambient medium defines an optical branch along which surface plasmon polariton modes are excited in response to at least partially coherent light being received by the optical device. |
| US09678003B2 |
Cavity enhanced laser based isotopic gas analyzer
Systems and methods for measuring the isotope ratio of one or more trace gases and/or components of gas mixtures such as different gas species present in a gas mixture. The system includes a resonant optical cavity having two or more mirrors and containing a gas, the cavity having a free spectral range that equals the difference between frequencies of two measured absorption lines of different gas species in the gas, or of two different isotopes, divided onto an integer number. The system also includes a continuous-wave tunable laser optically coupled with the resonant optical cavity, and a detector system for measuring an absorption of laser light by the gas in the cavity. The detector system includes one of a photo-detector configured to measure an intensity of the intra-cavity light or both a photo-acoustic sensor configured to measure photo-acoustic waves generated in the cavity and a photo-detector configured to measure an intensity of the intra-cavity light. |
| US09677999B2 |
Cavity enhancement methods, systems and devices, and methods of measuring same
A system for increasing light throughput in cavity enhanced spectrometry, and a model for cavity enhanced absorption measurements are presented. The cavity has an entrance mirror, an opposed exit mirror and a detector positioned adjacent the exit mirror. An input aperture is defined in the entrance mirror to allow light from a source to enter the cavity. The input aperture improves light throughput without significant departure from the theoretically predicted amplification of absorbance. This results in improvement of detection limits, even with mirrors of modest reflectivity and inexpensive detectors. |
| US09677996B2 |
Optical sensor arrangement including different scan times through a frequency interval for first and second light sources
An optical sensor arrangement for measuring an observable including at least one light source for generating a first light component of a first frequency including a first mode and a second light component of a second frequency including a second mode orthogonal to the first mode, an optical resonator having differing optical lengths for the first and second modes, at least one of the optical lengths being variable depending on the observable and a dependence of the respective optical length being different for the first and second modes, and a detector unit coupled to the optical resonator for coupling out the two light components and being configured for detecting a frequency difference between a resonance frequency of the optical resonator for the first mode and a resonance frequency of the optical resonator for the second mode. |
| US09677991B2 |
Sand and dust environmental testing system
An environmental testing system for environmental testing with particulate matter, such as sand and dust, is disclosed. The testing system uses a feeder to feed precise amounts of particulate matter into an injector, which injects the particulate matter into the airflow leading to a test chamber with approximately the same velocity as the surrounding airflow. The feeder may be a loss-in-weight gravimetric feeder, and the injector may be a Venturi valve actuated by compressed air. The system also includes operator protection features, such as an exhaust fan that creates negative pressure when the door to the test chamber is opened, and when particulate matter is dumped into the system. A temperature control system heats and cools the airflow during tests, a pneumatic conveying system moves fluidized particulate matter into and out of the system, and a controller provides automatic control over the system. |
| US09677990B2 |
Particle counter with advanced features
An airborne or liquid particle sensor with a number of advanced features is disclosed. The sensor includes an output channel generating an electrical signal for a particle passing through the sensor, where the electrical signal includes information related to the pulse. The information is processed by the sensor to determine a value that indicates a more accurate particle mass for a sample period than the average mass. |
| US09677988B1 |
Integrating radiation collection and detection apparatus
An apparatus for collecting and integrating radiation is disclosed. In embodiments, the apparatus comprises a shell configured to at least partially surround a sample container having a liquid sample contained therein. The liquid sample can comprise one or more liquids. The shell includes one or more inner surfaces with suitable reflectance for causing radiation that is at least one of scattered, reflected, diffracted, refracted, or radiated from one or more particles within the liquid sample to be redirected within the shell until the radiation is received by a detector. |
| US09677983B2 |
Particle characterization
A particle characterization apparatus having first and second body parts, a light source, a sample cell and a detector. The light source illuminates dispersed particles within the sample cell with a light beam along an axis to produce scattered light. The sample cell has first and second walls. The walls have internal surfaces arranged to be in contact with the sample and an opposite external surface. The light beam passes through the external surface of the first wall, through the internal surface of the first wall, through the sample, through the internal surface of the second wall, and through the external surface of the second wall. The light source is fixed to the first body part, which engages with the first wall. The detector is fixed to the second body part, which engages with the second wall. The first and second body parts are separable to enable access to the internal surfaces of the walls for cleaning. |
| US09677980B2 |
Method of entrapping chlorine dioxide gas, method of determining concentration of chlorine dioxide and entrapping agent for chlorine dioxide
A method of entrapping chlorine dioxide gas, including the steps of using an aqueous solution containing an alkaline substance and an iodide and bringing air containing the chlorine dioxide gas into contact with the aqueous solution. |
| US09677976B2 |
Gas sampling and management system
A gas monitoring and control system including a gas sampling chamber, sampling inlet and outlet valves, a pump and a controller. Sensors are disposed within the interior chamber that sense characteristics of a gas from a gas source and generate representative signals. The sampling inlet and outlet valves i) allow the gas into the gas sampling chamber while operating in a gas sampling state, and ii) allow ambient air into the gas sampling chamber while operating in a purge state. The pump i) causes the gas to flow through the gas sampling chamber while operating in the gas sampling state or ii) causes ambient air to flow through the gas sampling chamber while operating in the purge state. The controller causes the sampling inlet and outlet valves, and the pump to alternate operating in the gas sampling or purge state to selectively expose the sensors to the gas. |
| US09677974B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for assessing wheel condition on a vehicle
A method of assessing a condition of a wheel on a vehicle is provided and includes driving the vehicle in a generally longitudinal direction; contactlessly determining a distance to a first location on the wheel; contactlessly determining a distance to a second location on the wheel at a second time that is later than the first time; determining an indication of a tire-wearing angle for the wheel based on the distance to the first location and the distance to the second location; and outputting the indication of the tire wearing angle for the wheel. |
| US09677973B1 |
Method and apparatus for environmental protection of drive-over tire tread depth optical sensors
A drive-over tire tread depth measurement system is configured with environmental protection components for preventing or impeding environmental contaminates from falling through openings in a vehicle support surface or cover plate onto underlying components such as sensor optical windows and adjacent surfaces. The environmental protection components may include air discharge assemblies, movable shields, guards, wipers or deflectors such as drip edges, water-accumulating textured surfaces, flow diverters, and selectively placed flanges or fixed guards which operate cooperatively to displace accumulated contaminates, debris, or liquids from the optical windows and adjacent sensor surfaces. A portion of the vehicle support surface or cover plate is removable to permit access to underlying components. |
| US09677972B2 |
System and method for characterizing tire uniformity machines
A method for characterizing spindle forces of a tire uniformity machine includes receiving a tire in an apparatus having an upper spindle and rim and a lower spindle and rim, wherein the rims capture the tire therebetween. A measurement data waveform is collected and an angular offset between the rims to define an engagement position is determined. The measurement data waveform is designated as a tire result waveform, and the measurement data waveform is appended to a collection of measurement data waveforms for each engagement position. Once the predetermined number of waveforms for the engagement position has been obtained, an average waveform for each engagement position is computed. A characterization waveform for each average waveform is then generated. |
| US09677961B2 |
Pressure indicator with pressure-relief function
A pressure indicator with a pressure-relief function is disclosed, which can release excessive pressure to the environment. The pressure indicator includes a transparent tube defining therein a first bore and a second bore, and a slider which can be forced by the medium supplied from an external pressure source to move along the first and second bores of the transparent tube. In particular, the first bore has a diameter greater than the second bore, and a tapered annular surface is provided between the first bore and the second bore of the transparent tube. When the pressure of the medium exceeds a predetermined pressure, the slider can be forced by the medium to reach the tapered annular surface, at which excessive medium can be released into the environment via an annular gap between the slider and the tapered annular surface. |
| US09677959B2 |
Testing device for electromagnetic attraction force of a magnetic track brake
The present application relates to the technical field of magnetic track brake, and in particular to a testing device for electromagnetic attraction force of a magnetic track brake, comprising a steel rail, a force measuring rail block, a guide groove, an elastic force measuring device and a pull machine, wherein the steel rail consists of segmented steel rails, the groove body of the guide groove is vertically provided between the segmented steel rails, the limiting plate is fixed on an inner wall of the groove body, the force measuring rail block and the elastic force measuring device are both located inside the groove body, and a bottom of the force measuring rail block is connected to the elastic force measuring device and the pull machine through an intermediate connection rod. |
| US09677957B2 |
Serial fiber Bragg grating interrogator with a pulsed laser for reflection spectrum measurement
A serial weak FBG interrogator is disclosed. The serial weak FBG interrogator may include a CW tunable laser or pulsed laser utilized as a laser source and an EDFA. The serial weak FBG interrogator may also be an interrogation of a single sensor system by utilization of a DFB laser which utilizes a single sensor, which may be an interferometer sensor, an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer or a wavelength-modulated sensor. The serial weak FBG interrogator may also include a computer system or CSPU. |
| US09677956B2 |
Optic fibres and fibre optic sensing
Fiber optic cables with improved performance for use in distributed sensing, for instance in distributed acoustic sensors, are disclosed. In one embodiment a fiber optic cable (210) comprises a core (208) and cladding (206) disposed within a buffer material (202) and surrounded by a jacket (204) and arranged so that the core is offset from the center of the cable. By offsetting the core from the center of the jacket any bending effects on the core can be maximised compared with the core being located at the center of the cable. |
| US09677955B2 |
Contact force sensor
Provided is a contact force sensor of high sensitivity and high accuracy. This contact force sensor is fabricated by machining of a silicon semiconductor material. The contact force sensor is provided with a sensor configuration having a base part, and a contact force transmission part formed in a direction orthogonal to this base part. A stress-electricity conversion element for converting displacement of the contact force transmission part to an electrical signal, formed in the base part of the sensor configuration, is also provided. |
| US09677954B2 |
Instant response pressure sensor
An instant response pressure sensor is disclosed. An embodiment shows no continuous gap is configured between a piezoresistor and neighboring element(s) in thickness direction. The instant response pressure sensor is able to respond immediately to an extremely small pressure applied thereupon in the early stage with an extremely small distance movement because the instant response pressure sensor without having an extra press journey to move before trigging. |
| US09677953B2 |
Sensor device, sensor module, force detection device, and robot
A package having a recessed section, a sensor element arranged in the recessed section and having a piezoelectric material, a lid joined to the package and sealing the recessed section of the package are provided. The package has a first hollow portion which a part of the sensor element fits with, on an inner bottom surface of the recessed section. The lid has a second hollow portion which a part of the sensor element fits with. |
| US09677952B2 |
Interface apparatus and methods
Input devices are provided. In accordance with an example embodiment, an input device includes an interface layer that flexes in response to pressure, a plurality of sense electrodes, a dielectric between the sense electrodes and the interface layer, and interconnecting circuitry. The dielectric compresses or expands in response to movement of the interface layer, and exhibits dielectric characteristics that vary based upon a state of compression of the dielectric. The interconnecting circuitry is to the sense electrodes and provides an output indicative of both the position of each sense electrode and an electric characteristic at each sense electrode that provides an indication of pressure applied to the dielectric adjacent the respective sense electrodes. |
| US09677950B2 |
Portable device with temperature sensing
In one embodiment, a portable temperature sensing system includes a portable housing configured to be carried by a user, a microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) thermal sensor assembly supported by the housing and including an array of thermal sensor elements, a memory including program instructions, and a processor operably connected to the memory and to the sensor, and configured to execute the program instructions to obtain signals from each of a selected set of thermal sensor elements of the array of thermal sensor elements, determine an average sensed temperature based upon the signals, and render data associated with the determined average sensed temperature. |
| US09677949B1 |
Fiber-optic sensor for strain-insensitive temperature measurements
An in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor is disclosed. In an implementation, the in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor includes an optically transmissive fiber, a reflector, a microstructured fiber defining a channel therein for receiving a fluid, and a Fabry-Perot cavity in fluid communication with the microstructured fiber. The microstructured fiber can be retained between the optically transmissive fiber and the reflector. The Fabry-Perot cavity defined by a material and configured to receive a gas having an index of refraction that changes in a known way with temperature and pressure changes in fluid communication with the channel of the microstructured fiber. The in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor also includes a chamber defined between the optically transmissive fiber and the microstructured fiber for connecting in fluid communication with a vacuum/pressure source for changing pressure. The in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor also includes a sensor for determining an optical interferometric reflection spectrum associated with the Fabry-Perot cavity. |
| US09677941B2 |
Object movement control device and fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer
Feedback control of an object which moves back and forth in a straight line along a linear guide is performed through PID control. A parameter adjustment unit which determines the control parameters to be used for PID control performs feedback control and determines the optimal value of control parameters by means of an evaluation function based on the error between the measured value of the current velocity and the target velocity, for the control parameters of maximum reverse voltage and at least one from among proportional coefficient (CP), differential coefficient CD), integral coefficient CI), and frictional coefficient (CF). |
| US09677936B2 |
Spectro-sensor and spectrometer employing the same
Provided is a spectro-sensor which includes a nano antenna array. The nano antenna array includes a plurality of nano antennas which have different resonance wavelength bands and an optical detector array which includes a plurality of optical detectors that respectively detect light from the plurality of nano antennas. |
| US09677932B2 |
Field lens corrected three mirror anastigmat spectrograph
A spectrograph that includes a first mirror having flat a mirror reflective surface and positioned to reflect light traversing a prism, a second mirror having a concave-shaped reflective mirror surface and positioned to reflect light received from the first mirror, a third mirror having a convex-shaped reflective mirror surface and positioned to receive light reflected by the second mirror, a fourth mirror having a spheroidal reflective mirror surface and positioned to receive light reflected by the third mirror, and a field lens comprising a concave mirror surface in combination with a convex mirror surface, wherein light received by said field lens from said fourth mirror enters said convex mirror surface, traverses said field lens, and exits from said concave mirror surface. The fifth mirror is positioned such that the second mirror, third mirror, fourth mirror, and fifth mirror share a common vertex axis. |
| US09677927B2 |
Magnetostrictive transmitter piezoelectric pickup sensor
A pickup sensor is disclosed for a magnetostrictive sensing instrument for sensing position of a magnetic field. The instrument includes an elongate tube having a near end and a distal end. A magnetostrictive wire in the tube has first and second ends. The second end is operatively secured at the tube distal end. The pickup sensor comprises a housing mounted proximate the tube near end. A pair of crystals are in the housing sandwiching the magnetostrictive wire so that interaction between an electric pulse on the magnetostrictive wire and a magnetic field produces a torsional wave on the magnetostrictive wire sensed by the pair of crystals. A pair of spring elements are mounted in the housing sandwiching the crystals to provide consistent contact force between the crystals and the magnetostrictive wire. |
| US09677926B2 |
Liquid-level detection device
A liquid-level detection device detects a level of a surface of liquid stored in a container. The liquid-level detection device includes: a float that floats on the surface of liquid; a rotatable body that rotates due to a upward or downward displacement of the float and includes a rotation contact part; a supporting body that rotatably supports the rotatable body and includes a supporting contact part which is located on a rotational track of the rotation contact part to restrict the rotation of the rotatable body in a specified direction by contact between the supporting contact part and the rotation contact part; and an attachment member that is attached to the supporting body and includes an attachment contact part which makes contact with the rotatable body rotating in the specified direction to prevent the contact of the rotation contact part with the supporting contact part. |
| US09677920B2 |
Automation device and method for reducing jitter
An automation device is provided, which comprises an operating system having a first system clock and a communication system having a second system clock. The first system clock is intended to control a system time cycle of the operating system, and the second system clock is intended to control a system time cycle of the communication system. Furthermore, the first system clock and the second system clock are synchronized in time. |
| US09677917B2 |
Housing and housing part for a housing of a sensor for a vehicle transmission; sensor for a vehicle transmission; and method for the production of a sensor for a vehicle transmission
A housing part for a sensor for a vehicle transmission is able to be connected at the sensor housing to an additional housing part along a joining area by means of a joining process. The housing part has at least one uniform wall thickness or adjusted optical material properties in the joining area. |
| US09677911B2 |
Magnetic field sensor and method of operation thereof with a determination of offset values selectable during operation of the sensor
At least one embodiment relates to magnetic field sensors being operable at different calibration modes, wherein the magnetic sensor is capable of switching between the different calibration modes during normal operation of the sensor. The switching may be possible in response to different motion types detected within the sensor. Such sensors may be used in vehicles such as cars, the sensors for example being part of the engine control system or the ABS. Another embodiment relates to a method of changing calibration modes during operation of sensors. |
| US09677909B2 |
Electricity meter
There is provided an improved method of managing the supply of electricity. The method comprises transferring, via contactless communication, first data from an electricity meter to a portable storage medium. The first data may be historical data collected by the electricity meter and related to the supply of electricity by the electricity meter. The method further comprises transferring, via contactless communication, second data from the portable storage medium to the electricity meter. The second data comprises instruction for the electricity meter to supply electricity. |
| US09677905B2 |
Method of power-saving in MEMS sensor applications
Method including detecting low user dynamics by a first MEMS sensor is provided. A first sensor determines sampling rate value corresponding to the low user dynamics. The first sensor sampling rate value is less than a second sensor sampling rate value corresponding to high user dynamics. A sampling rate of a second MEMS sensor is adjusted to the first sensor sampling rate value. |
| US09677895B2 |
Method for operating a navigation system in a vehicle and corresponding control system and computer program product
In order to operate a navigation system in a vehicle where navigation data of the navigation system are transferred to at least one of a plurality of control devices of the vehicle, wherein the data is transferred via at least one data bus to which the control devices are connected, the navigation data are prioritized, and the transfer of the navigation data via the data bus is controlled on the basis of the prioritization. |
| US09677894B2 |
Vehicle operations based on biometric fingerprint analysis
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for enacting various driving profiles based on identifying the age and gender of the user. Initially, identifying information is acquired from a user of a vehicle. An identification program determines whether the driver is known, by comparing the identifying information to a set of stored identifying information. If the driver of the vehicle is known, as the identifying information from the user is similar to stored identifying information, then a specific driver profile associated with the specific driver is activated. If the driver is not known, as the identifying information from the user of the vehicle is not similar to the stored identifying information, then the age and gender of the user of the vehicle is determined. Based on the determined age and gender of the driver of the vehicle, various vehicle setting ranges are enacted. |
| US09677893B2 |
Vehicular navigation system updating based on object presence/absence
Processing arrangement for managing temporary updates to a map for use by vehicular navigation systems in vehicles in which a communications system at a remote site receives wireless communications from each vehicle including information about presence of an object or condition at a specific location automatically identified at the specific location without requiring manual entry of data about the object or condition at the specific location and that affects movement of vehicles on a roadway. A processor generates a map update for use by vehicular navigation systems based on the identified object or condition at the specific location which is transmitted to any vehicle in a vicinity of the specific location to cause the vehicular navigation system of that vehicle to use a map with the generated map update to display or otherwise indicate the presence of the object or condition at the specific location. |
| US09677892B2 |
System and method for assessing quality of transit networks at specified locations
A system and method is disclosed for generating and providing assessments of transit network characteristics for specified locations. The system receives a specified location, generates an assessment of the received location, and provides a generated visual representation of the received location to a client system. Determining a location assessment may be based on transit network information related to the distance between a specified location and the nearest point of access/egress on transit network routes that are accessible from the specified location, the frequency at which the transit network routes stop at the point of access/egress on the transit network routes that are accessible from the indicated location, or the transportation mode used for at least one of the transit network routes that are accessible from the specified location. The initial location assessment may be updated periodically, in response to changes in system status, or on demand by user request. |
| US09677890B2 |
Positioning and mapping based on virtual landmarks
This disclosure is directed to positioning and mapping based on virtual landmarks. A space may include a plurality of signal sources (e.g., wireless access points (APs), cellular base stations, etc.). The space may be virtually divided into a plurality of regions, wherein each region in the space may be associated with a virtual landmark. Virtual landmarks may be identified by a signature comprised of measurements of wireless signals received from the plurality of access points when at the associated region. A device position may be approximated based on signal power magnitude and variance measurements for wireless signals received at the virtual landmark. Devices may employ an algorithm such as, for example, Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) for positioning and map creation in the space without the need for GPS signals, specialized signaling equipment, pre-navigation device training, etc. Navigation/mapping may also account for space changes, signal source position changes, etc. |
| US09677889B2 |
Method and system for compensating for soft iron magnetic disturbances in multiple heading reference systems
A method and system for compensating for soft iron magnetic disturbances in multiple heading reference systems, such as aircraft heading reference systems, integrated standby units; or vehicle inertial systems, detects and provides a heading correction signal to the error prone heading reference system when a detected difference in value between a gyro heading relative to magnetic north and a magnetometer reading during a defined measurement period exceeds a predetermined acceptable threshold value of change, such as one based on the expected gyro drift over that period. Upon receipt of the heading correction signal, the gyro heading is adjusted to maintain an accurate heading relative to true magnetic north. If this threshold value is not exceeded, then the magnetometer reading is used for the heading value. This method is periodically repeated in order to continually maintain an accurate heading and may be employed for each heading measurement axis. |
| US09677886B2 |
Method and apparatus for navigation based on media density along possible routes
The disclosure is directed to routing to a destination. An aspect determines a route from an origin to the destination, and recommends a location of interest. The location of interest is a location with a media density score is greater than a threshold and within a range of deviation from the route. The media density score is based on a number of recommendations of a media file related to the media density score. |
| US09677885B2 |
Vibratory ring structure
A method of tuning a vibratory ring structure includes determining an angular spacing for a pair of fine tuning holes of substantially the same size, located on or near the neutral axis of the vibratory ring structure, the angular offset being selected to reduce to an acceptable level the frequency split between the target normal mode and a further normal mode which is angularly offset relative to the target normal mode, and forming the pair of fine tuning holes in the vibratory ring structure at the determined angular spacing. A ring structure, for example, a gyroscope, tuned or balanced in this manner, is also disclosed. |
| US09677880B2 |
Laser alignment system
A laser alignment system may comprise a machine, a laser source attached to the machine, a photodiode able to communicate with the laser source, and a receiver including the photodiode, wherein a signal is generated upon communication between the photodiode and the laser source. |
| US09677875B2 |
Measuring surface curvature
A method of measuring surface curvature comprises forming an intensity distribution defined by Fresnel diffraction, wherein said intensity distribution is formed by electromagnetic radiation reflected from a surface, obtaining data for the intensity distribution and determining information relating to the curvature of the surface using the obtained data. |
| US09677872B2 |
Handheld dimensioning system with feedback
A handheld dimensioning system that analyzes a depth map for null-data pixels to provide feedback is disclosed. Null-data pixels correspond to missing range data and having too many in a depth map may lead to dimensioning errors. Providing feedback based on the number of null-data pixels helps a user understand and adapt to different dimensioning conditions, promotes accuracy, and facilitates handheld applications. |
| US09677862B2 |
Mutli-stage fragmenting projectile
A multi-stage fragmenting projectile has a number of grooves and slots that are strategically placed on and around the periphery of the projectile. After the projectile engages an object, a first set of fragments separates from a main body of the projectile. A second set of fragments separate a short time later after the projectile has traveled farther in the object. |
| US09677855B2 |
Protective glove with wire mesh
A protective glove includes an inner liner having a soft pliable material configured to cover a front side and a back side of a user's hand. A protective layer is attached to an exterior surface of the inner liner and disposed over at least the front side of the user's hand. The protective layer includes a wire mesh panel that is configured to protect the user's hand from cuts, abrasions, and punctures and that has an edge portion with a plurality of wire ends. An edge protector is disposed over the edge portion of the wire mesh panel and substantially conceals the wire ends to prevent the edge portion from fraying and the plurality of wire ends from piercing the inner liner. An outer layer is attached to the exterior surface of the inner liner and is disposed over the protective layer. |
| US09677854B1 |
Firearms mounting rail
A firearm magnetic locking accessory rail that allows for quick one step attachment or detachment. By having two components connecting together in an interlocking design, the rail allows for easy firearm accessories configuration to meet any shooting requirement. The two magnets in the railing system act as the locking and precision elements that provide sighting accessories same accuracy when remove and re-attach to the firearm. |
| US09677852B2 |
Remote controlled non-lethal weapon station
A Remote Controlled Weapon Station is provided wherein it comprises a weapon mounting bracket that is remotely adjustable in elevating/lowering and a rotatable turret assembly adapted to be mounted on vehicles, remotely adjustable in rotation, and wherein the weapon mounting bracket is pivotally mounted on it, and the Remote Controlled Weapon Station is converted into a remote controlled Non Lethal weapon station by that at least one non lethal means is installed in it, chosen from a group consisting of—a multi barreled means for firing grenades; multi-barrels launcher means for pyrotechnically firing plurality of charges; acoustic means for producing tones; illuminating means; observation means and means for providing sniper firing capabilities of small caliber kinetic bullet. |
| US09677847B2 |
Concealed carry clip for handguns
The present disclosure provides an improved concealed carry clip, that attaches with machine screws to the slide rear cover plate, and which has friction features on the clip to facilitate drawing back the slide with the thumb and index finger. In addition, the cover plate can be equipped with projections that reduce shearing forces on the machine screws. A drilled and tapped replacement rear cover plate is provided with the improved concealed carry clip. Though the improved concealed carry clips have, to date, been designed for Glock®, M&P® and Springfield Armory® XD handguns, the concealed carry clips may be adapted for use on other similarly constructed handguns in the future. |
| US09677845B2 |
Firearm handguard having heat-reducing features
A handguard comprising a plurality of layers of composite material. At least one of the layers is a ceramic matrix composite and at least one of the layers, and preferably the outer later, is a carbon fiber reinforced composite. In addition, the outermost layer is preferably a woven fabric carbon fiber reinforced composite. In one embodiment, one or more ceramic matrix composite layers is sandwiched between layers of carbon fiber reinforced composite. In another embodiment, an innermost layer is a ceramic matrix composite and the outermost layer is a carbon fiber reinforced composite. |
| US09677843B2 |
Baton with recessed control button
An apparatus including a plurality of coaxially nested tubes, a respective spring-loaded retainer located on a first end of some tubes, each retainer having an outer edge wherein release of the control aperture causes a spring of the retainer to urge the outer edge radially outwards into the recess of the second end of the next adjacent outside tube; and a control rod having a button on one end and a tapered tip on the opposing end, the control rod engages the control aperture of each of the tubes in the stowed position to retain the outer edge of the respective retainers in the retracted position and as the plurality of tubes are extended, the tapered end of the control rod disengages the control aperture thereby causing the button to abruptly pop outwards from the marginal edge of the outer most tube. |
| US09677841B2 |
Cable attachment fitting for a bow
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a fitting for attaching a cable to a bow. The cable attachment fitting attaches near a cam to provide an offset between the cam of the bow and a cable attached at the cable attachment fitting. |
| US09677838B2 |
Firearm barrel fluting of varied depth and/or width
The present invention provides a fluted firearm barrel and method of making a fluted firearm barrel. An elongated barrel has an exterior surface. A plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced apart grooves are formed in the exterior surface. Each groove varies in width multiple times along the length thereof, such that each groove has at least two widened portions with a narrowed portion therebetween. |
| US09677837B2 |
Stacked projectile launcher and associated methods
Provided is a barrel insert for use with a barrel containing a plurality of axially stacked projectiles. The barrel insert has a proximal and a distal end, the distal end adapted to engage a proximally disposed projectile disposed in the barrel. The barrel insert also defines an expansion volume for propellant gases for launching the proximally disposed projectile at a predetermined velocity. |
| US09677835B1 |
Ratchet belt locking system for handguns and long guns
Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for locking ratchet belts about handguns and long guns with a ratchet belt and locking box. An embodiment can remove the working magazine from pistols and long guns replacing it with a non-working magazine that is locked onto the firearm. Another embodiment locks the trigger of handgun and long gun firearms. Another embodiment locks the firearm to support surfaces such as a wall, and the like. A still another embodiment can lock and prevent the pull handle of a shot gun from being pumped. Embodiments can be used alone or in combination so that handguns and long guns are locked and prevented from being discharged. |
| US09677833B2 |
Charging handle with improved gas deflection
A charging handle for a firearm which has a handle portion connected to a pull rod member. A bore hole collects exhaust gases passing over the top of the rod member and directs the gases to vent tunnel(s) which extend perpendicular to the rod member. In the preferred embodiment, a deflecting surface is used to further direct the exhaust gases to the bore hole. Further embodiments provide seals to protect the user from any exhaust gas which has not been vented. |
| US09677832B2 |
Liquid cooling system for electric component mounted in aircraft
To provide a liquid cooling system for an electric component mounted in an aircraft, in which a flow rate of a coolant fed to the electric component mounted in the aircraft is optimized by a simple method, a liquid cooling system 1 for an electric component mounted in an aircraft adopts a flow rate adjusting valve which is a thermostat valve 5 such that the opening degree of the valve increases with an increase in the temperature of the coolant flowing into the flow rate adjusting valve so as to raise the flow rate of the coolant fed to the electric component 50, and the opening degree of the valve decreases with a decrease in the temperature of the coolant flowing into the flow rate adjusting valve so as to reduce the flow rate of the coolant fed to the electric component 50. |
| US09677831B2 |
Device with a heat exchanger and method for operating a heat exchanger of a steam generating plant
A device with a heat exchanger with a feed pipe for a medium leading from a medium inlet to the heat exchanger entrance and with a discharge pipe leading away from the heat exchanger exit is characterized in that it has a first bypass from the medium inlet to the discharge pipe and a second bypass from the feed pipe to the medium outlet and valves, so that the medium can also flow from the heat exchanger exit to the heat exchanger entrance. |
| US09677829B2 |
Total heat exchanging element paper
The object of the present invention is to provide an excellent total heat exchanging element paper and a total heat exchanging element which are excellent in heat transferability, water vapor permeability and gas barrier properties and cause no mixing of supplied air and discharged air. The present invention provides a total heat exchanging element paper using a paper made using mainly a natural pulp beaten to a Canadian modification freeness of not more than 150 ml, a substantially non-porous total heat exchanging element paper comprising a substantially non-porous cellulosic base which contains a moisture absorbing agent, a non-porous total heat exchanging element paper having a high gas barrier property which has a thickness of not more than 100 μm and a carbon dioxide permeation constant specified in JIS K7126 of not more than 5.0×10−13 mol·m/m2·s·Pa, and a non-porous total heat exchanging element paper having a high enthalpy exchangeability which has a water vapor permeability specified in JIS Z0208 of not less than 1000 g/m2·24 Hr at 20° C. and 65% RH. |
| US09677826B2 |
Combo-cooler
A combo-cooler includes heat exchangers having parallel tubes corresponding to each heat exchanger aligned in a tube plane. A first end tank assembly includes a columnar end tank separated by a baffle into compartments each in fluid communication with a respective hydraulically independent fluid circuit. The second tank assembly includes manifolds aligned in a column. Serially adjacent manifolds are in slidable contact or separated by a respective gap to allow relative translation. Banks of the tubes are brazed in fluid communication with a compartment and a manifold to connect the compartment and the manifold to have a respective fluid flow therethrough. A bracket contacts at least two of the serially adjacent manifolds to prevent translation between the bracket and the serially adjacent manifolds perpendicular to the tube plane and to allow relative translation between the at least two of the serially adjacent manifolds parallel to the tubes. |
| US09677825B2 |
Shell and tube heat exchanger
A shell and tube heat exchanger include heat surface tubes (6) surrounded by a shell (1), the tubes communicating with an inlet end chamber (11) through a tube sheet (5) at one end and with an outlet end chamber (12) through a tube sheet at the other end, and in the shell side of the tube heat exchanger there is at least one baffle plate made of flat strips for supporting the heat surface tubes and guiding the shell-side flow. The flat strips forming the baffle plate are straight and thinner than the distance between the tubes to be supported, and the required support is achieved by placing each flat strip of the baffle plate in an inclined position with respect to the heat surface tubes so that one of the crosswise edges of the flat strip is supporting one and the other is supporting the other of adjacent tubes. |
| US09677824B2 |
Radiative transfer and power control with fractal metamaterial and plasmonics
Systems according to the present disclosure provide one or more surfaces that function as heat or power radiating surfaces for which at least a portion of the radiating surface includes or is composed of “fractal cells” placed sufficiently closed close together to one another so that a surface (plasmonic) wave causes near replication of current present in one fractal cell in an adjacent fractal cell. A fractal of such a fractal cell can be of any suitable fractal shape and may have two or more iterations. The fractal cells may lie on a flat or curved sheet or layer and be composed in layers for wide bandwidth or multibandwidth transmission. The area of a surface and its number of fractals determines the gain relative to a single fractal cell. The boundary edges of the surface may be terminated resistively so as to not degrade the cell performance at the edges. |
| US09677823B2 |
Heat exchanger
Heat exchanger having a housing, having a first fluid port and having a second fluid port, wherein the housing is in fluid communication with a fluid source via the fluid ports, wherein the housing can be traversed by a flow of a fluid, wherein the housing is of multi-part design and has a housing upper part and a housing lower part, wherein the housing upper part and/or the housing lower part has a base region and an at least partially encircling turned-up edge region, wherein housing the two parts are formed from a plastic or a fiber composite material. |
| US09677819B2 |
Air conditioner and heat exchanger therefor
An air conditioner and a heat exchanger therefor are provided. The heat exchanger may include a shell; an injection pipe to guide a heat source fluid to an inside of the shell; a first refrigerant tube formed with a first spiral tube; a second refrigerant tube formed with a second spiral tube having a radius larger than a radius of the first spiral tube; and a discharge pipe to which the heat source fluid heat-exchanged with a refrigerant is discharged. The first refrigerant tube and the second refrigerant tube may be connected in parallel, and the second spiral tube may have a larger pitch between turns and a smaller number of turns than the first spiral tube. The heat exchanger may provide a simple structure and a high heat-exchange performance. |
| US09677818B2 |
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger for a vapor compression system includes a shell with a longitudinal center axis extending generally parallel to a horizontal plane, a distributing part, a tube bundle, a trough part and a guide part. The distributing part distributes a refrigerant. The tube bundle includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed below the distributing part so that the refrigerant discharged from the distributing part is supplied onto the tube bundle. The heat transfer tubes extend generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell. The trough part extends generally parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the shell under at least one of the heat transfer tubes to accumulate the refrigerant in the trough part. The guide part includes at least one lateral side portion extending upwardly and laterally outwardly from the tube bundle at a vertical position at an upper end of the trough part. |
| US09677814B2 |
Continuous feeding system to a smelting furnace of pre-heated metal material, in continuous, potentiated and combined form
A process for heating a metal feedstock (31) fed in continuous to a smelting furnace (30) through a second horizontal heating section (34) through which hot discharge fumes collected from said furnace (30) pass, said fumes exerting a heating phase of said feedstock (31), characterized in that, immediately before entering said second heating section (34), the feedstock (31) is subjected to a preheating phase by heating means other than the discharge fumes collected from the smelting furnace (30). In a plant for the embodiment of said process, said different heating means are envisaged inside a first preheating section (33), which is operatively connected with said second heating section (34) by means of an intermediate fume evacuation section (35), the fumes coming from said sections (33) and (34) being conveyed to said section. Said sections (33, 34) preferably have a tunnel configuration. |
| US09677812B1 |
Clothes dryer vent airflow system
The clothes dryer vent airflow system is configured to work in between an exhaust port of an existing clothes dryer and an exhaust line that extends outside of a dwelling. The clothes dryer vent airflow system includes a fan housing that includes a dryer exhaust port on a first side while an intake port and fan housing exhaust port are provided on a second side of the fan housing. The fan housing includes a fan therein, which is adapted to receive accelerated clothes dryer exhaust air from the clothes dryer via the dryer exhaust port as well as ambient air via the intake port. |
| US09677799B2 |
Refrigeration and air-conditioning apparatus, refrigerant leakage detection device, and refrigerant leakage detection method
A refrigeration and air-conditioning apparatus rapidly varies the pressure or the temperature inside a liquid reserve container to identify a liquid level position inside the liquid reserve container on the basis of the surface temperature of the liquid reserve container. |
| US09677796B2 |
Modular refrigeration assembly
A subassembly of a refrigeration system includes a frame having a plurality of support members and one or more cross members, each cross member extending between two of the support members. A heat exchanger is operable to condense refrigerant. A compressor is supported by the frame and operable to provide refrigerant to the heat exchanger. A portion of the frame is configured to receive and contain refrigerant condensed by the heat exchanger. |
| US09677793B2 |
Multi mode thermal management system and methods
A cooling structure includes a first plate, a second plate separated from the first plate, and an inlet adapted to receive a cooling fluid. The cooling structure also includes a first cooling portion coupled to the first plate and adapted to maintain a first temperature. The cooling structure further includes a second cooling portion coupled to the second plate and adapted to maintain a second temperature different from the first temperature. |
| US09677792B2 |
Magnetic refrigeration system with separated inlet and outlet flow
An active magnetic regenerative (AMR) refrigerator apparatus can include at least one AMR bed with a first end and a second end and a first heat exchanger (HEX) with a first end and a second end. The AMR refrigerator can also include a first pipe that fluidly connects the first end of the first HEX to the first end of the AMR bed and a second pipe that fluidly connects the second end of the first HEX to the first end of the AMR bed. The first pipe can divide into two or more sub-passages at the AMR bed. The second pipe can divide into two or more sub-passages at the AMR bed. The sub-passages of the first pipe and the second pipe can interleave at the AMR bed. |
| US09677791B2 |
Absorption refrigeration machine
The invention relates to an absorption refrigeration machine (10) that includes an evaporator (12) and an absorber (18) and is characterized in that the evaporator (12) comprises at least one evaporating unit (12′) having a coolant channel (26), through which the coolant (16) flows and which is delimited at least in part by a heat-conducting, vapor- and liquid-tight wall (24), and having at least one refrigerant channel (28) that adjoins the heat-conducting wall (24), is loaded with the refrigerant (14), and is separated from a vapor chamber (32) by a vapor-permeable, liquid-tight membrane wall (30) on the side of the refrigerant channel opposite the heat-conducting wall (24), and in that the absorber (18) comprises an absorption unit (18′) having a cooling-medium channel, through which a cooling medium (34) flows and which is delimited at least in part by a heat-conducting, vapor- and liquid-tight wall (36), and having an absorption channel (40) which adjoins the heat-conducting wall and to which the concentrated, low-refrigerant pair of working substances (22) is fed and which is loaded with refrigerant vapor (20) from the vapor chamber (32) via a vapor-permeable, liquid-tight membrane wall (42) provided on the side of the absorption channel opposite the heat-conducting wall (36). |
| US09677790B2 |
Multi-room air-conditioning apparatus
A multi-room air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, a relay unit connected to an outdoor unit by first and second connection pipes, and a plurality of indoor units connected to the relay unit. The outdoor unit includes a second gas-liquid separating device provided on the suction side of the compressor. The suction side of the compressor and the second gas-liquid separating device are connected to each other by a gas-side outlet pipe and a liquid-side outlet pipe. |
| US09677788B2 |
Refrigerant system with multiple load modes
A refrigerant system capable of operating at multiple capacity modes includes an evaporator, a multi-stage compressor assembly, a first fluid flow path, a second fluid flow path, a first valve, and a second valve. The multi-stage compressor assembly has a first stage and a second stage. The first fluid flow path extends from the evaporator to the first stage of the multi-stage compressor assembly. The second fluid flow path connects to the first fluid flow path and to the multi-stage compressor assembly between the first stage and the second stage. |
| US09677783B2 |
Device for controlling airflow field and method thereof
The present invention is related to a device for controlling an airflow field and a method thereof. The method is included of: supplying a cooling airflow into an air conditioning space, smoothly altering flux of the cooling airflow, retrieving a backflow temperature of the cooling airflow, and comparing variation of the backflow temperature with a flux variation of the cooling airflow. Only part of the air conditioning space is covered in the circulation range of the cooling airflow if the backflow temperature is varying in the same tendency as the flux variation. The device is included of an air conditioning cabinet and a chiller. The air conditioning cabinet is included of a coil pipe, a fan corresponding to the coil pipe and a processing module electrically connected to the fan. The chiller is connected to the coil pipe to supply cooling water in to the coil pipe. |
| US09677782B1 |
Fan system comprising fan array with surge control
A fan system for a variable air volume heating and/or air conditioning unit comprising a fan array with a control system to eliminate surge at low operating flows and to maximize operating range. The fan control system includes a fan pressure sensor for determining the pressure rise across the fan array and a fan airflow sensor for determining the total airflow generated by the fan array. A surge controller is programmed to constantly monitor the calculated surge pressure as the fan speed control is modulating the fan speed in response to user demands. As airflow increases or decreases in response to changes in fan speed, so will the calculated surge pressure. The surge control turn fans on and off to ensure that the operating fans are running in their optimum fan speed ranges. Thus, the fans in the fan array are prevented from reaching the surge point. |
| US09677781B2 |
Control of cooling fan on current
A cooling unit for an agricultural vehicle has a grid for allowing air to enter the unit while limiting debris and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from a coolant to air passing across the heat exchanger. The cooling unit further has a duct with motor driven fan, and a controller to monitor fan current and operate the fan in alternating directions. The controller generates a heat exchanger blockage warning when desirable fan current thresholds are not achieved. |
| US09677780B2 |
Controller and air conditioning processing system
A controller controls the operations of a humidity control apparatus and an air conditioner. The controller includes a power consumption detector, a target value setting processor, and an operation control unit. The power consumption detector detects the power consumption of the humidity control apparatus and the air conditioner. The target value setting processor performs optimal target value setting processing by performing first or second processing. The first processing lowers a target operating frequency of a humidity controlling compressor and a target evaporation temperature in a utilization-side heat exchanger. The second processing raises the target operating frequency and the target evaporation temperature. The optimal target value setting processing sets the target operating frequency and the target evaporation temperature so as to minimize the power consumption. The operation control unit controls the humidity control apparatus to achieve the target operating frequency and the air conditioner to achieve the target evaporation temperature. |
| US09677779B2 |
Modular chiller unit with dedicated cooling and heating fluid circuits and system comprising a plurality of such units
A modular heating and cooling unit comprising an independent set of headers for each of the heating and cooling loads and the source. A bank of these modular units provides a system that is capable of incremental simultaneous heating and cooling and redundancy. Valves in the internal piping of the unit eliminate the need for valves in the headers between units. This substantially reduces the overall footprint of the unit. Because of the parallel flow between the heat exchangers and the heating and cooling load, the modules can be operated in cooling mode and heating mode in any order. |
| US09677778B2 |
Modular chiller unit with dedicated cooling and heating fluid circuits and system comprising a plurality of such units
A modular heating and cooling unit comprising an independent set of headers for each of the heating and cooling loads and the source. A bank of these modular units provides a system that is capable of incremental simultaneous heating and cooling and redundancy. Valves in the internal piping of the unit eliminate the need for valves in the headers between units. This substantially reduces the overall footprint of the unit. Because of the parallel flow between the heat exchangers and the heating and cooling load, the modules can be operated in cooling mode and heating mode in any order. |
| US09677777B2 |
HVAC system and zone control unit
This invention relates to HVAC systems, zone control units, and control systems. More specifically, an HVAC system employs distributed zone control units that provides localized air recirculation. A zone control unit includes a return air section that receives return air from serviced building zones and mixes the return air with a supply of outside air. The mixed air is heated and/or cooled by the zone control unit and discharged to serviced building zones in a controlled manner. An exhaust air system is used to extract air from serviced building zones. The HVAC zone control unit also includes a local control unit with an Internet protocol address. The local control unit includes a memory and a processor for storing and executing a control program for the zone control unit. The control program controls of the zone control unit in response to commands received via the Internet. |
| US09677776B2 |
Wireless wall thermostat
The wireless wall thermostat of the present invention utilizes a push-contact mechanical system that allows a user to raise or lower the temperature within a space by applying a force on the top or bottom center of the front of the thermostat. The perpendicular force applied by the user generates a moment arm around pivot connectors, which rotates the thermostat clockwise or counter-clockwise. When rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, contact buttons attached to the back of the thermostat come into contact with the trigger tabs of a stationary trigger plate mounted to a wall through use of an electromagnetic attraction between a steel disc and a magnet. When the trigger tabs press the contact buttons, the contact buttons send a signal to the central processing unit of the thermostat's internal circuit board to modulate the temperature setting. In addition, the wireless wall thermostat can be detachable by utilizing a magnetic release smart mount. |
| US09677775B2 |
Oven door glass with interlocking mechanism
Provided is a door for a cooking appliance, such as an oven range, with multiple spaced apart glass panels. An interlocking mechanism promotes a proper installation of the glass panels, and interferes with the installation of the glass panels or with operation of the appliance if at least one of the panels is not properly installed. A switch with a plunger can be installed in the door, which allows the appliance to operate only when a failsafe electrical circuit is closed corresponding to a selected position of the plunger when the door is closed. The plunger is prevented from retaining that selected position if at least one of the glass panels is improperly installed or if a top cap is not properly seated or installed above the glass panels. |
| US09677765B2 |
Pneumatic composite having mass balancing
A blower device for delivering at least one medium includes a blower having a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a nozzle, which is fluidically connected and arranged on the housing such that at least one medium can flow there through. The nozzle is designed to effect a negative pressure on the at least one medium at least in some sections. At least one sensor is arranged in the effective region of the nozzle and designed to measure at least parameters of the at least one medium which are required to determine the mass of the at least one medium. |
| US09677759B2 |
Premix gas burner
An air/gas premix burner is disclosed. The air/gas premix burner includes a fan for sending an air/gas mixture towards a combustion head and a gas valve for regulating the introduction of combustible gas. The air/gas premix burner also includes an air/gas mixer, which comprises a localized pressure loss device, and a combustion head. The air/gas mixer includes two channels. One of the channels is provided with two hinged flaps that are designed to open and close for regulating the flow rate of the mixture. |
| US09677756B1 |
Curio door
A door having a front face with a transparent portion and a decorative insert set behind. The decorative insert presents a thematic scene as desired by the user that may be easily changed. The door further enhances the display of the decorative insert by providing selectively controlled illumination and an accompanying audio presentation related to the insert's theme. |
| US09677752B2 |
Light emitting diode (LED) lighting system
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system including a first heat dissipation structure having a front side acting as a contact area to at least one LED and a back side. At least one second heat dissipation structure is positioned adjacent to the backside of the first heat dissipation structure. At least one thermoelectric module is positioned between the first heat dissipation structure. At least one second heat dissipation structure for conducting heat is produced from the at least one LED during operation from the first heat dissipation structure towards the at least one second heat dissipation structure. The front side of the first heat dissipation structure comprises at least one upwardly protruding structure extending distally away from the at least one second heat dissipation structure and the at least one upwardly protruding structure acts as the contact point to the at least one LED. |
| US09677744B1 |
Component housing band in luminaires
A component housing band includes a center portion that comprises an aperture extending through the center portion and a mounting structure disposed adjacent to the aperture. The mounting structure extends from a surface of the center portion in a direction that is substantially normal to the corresponding surface of the center portion. The mounting structure engages the ends of a notch in a lens and forms a cavity to house an electronic component. Further, the component housing band includes a first elongated arm portion and a second elongated arm portion integral with the center portion and extending away from opposite ends of the center portion in opposite directions, respectively. The ends of the first elongated arm portion and the second elongated arm portion that are away from the center portion and opposite to each other are adapted to engage with corresponding latch structures of the lens. |
| US09677740B2 |
Transforming graphical expressions to indicate button function
To provide a user with descriptive images for each function performed by a button, the embodiments described herein use a transforming graphical expression that presents different images depending on the particular function the button is currently performing. For example, if the button is used to increase speaker volume, the graphical expression may display plus sign, but if the button is currently being used to navigate through a display menu, the graphical expression may be transformed into an arrow to indicate the direction a selection element in the menu moves if the button is activated. Thus, as the current function of the button changes, the graphical expression presented to the user also changes. In this manner, the same button may be used to perform multiple functions while presenting to a user a customized graphical expression indicating the current function of the button. |
| US09677739B2 |
Asymmetrical V-shape diffuser for non-white LED fixtures
Provided is an optical diffuser apparatus, for use adjacent a light engine in a lighting fixture for producing desired color-mixed light output. The apparatus includes a first diffuser panel and a second diffuser panel connected to the first diffuser panel. The first diffuser panel and the second diffuser panel are configured and arranged so that, when the apparatus is positioned for operation within the fixture, light emitted by the light engine at greater than a pre-determined threshold angle with respect to a centerline of the engine will pass through both the first diffuser panel and the second diffuser panel, thereby mixing colors of the light toward the desired color-mixed light output. |
| US09677736B2 |
Adaptive lighting system for an automobile vehicle
An adaptive lighting system for an automotive vehicle. The adaptive lighting system has a wavelength conversion device for receiving the light radiation (L) from the primary source and re-emitting white light radiation (B).An optical imaging system receives the white light (B) re-emitted by the wavelength conversion device and projects this light (B) in front of the vehicle to form a lighting beam, the wavelength conversion device being situated close to a focal plane of the optical imaging system, and the scanning system and the optical system being situated on the same side of the wavelength conversion device.An intensity of the white light radiation (B) emitted by the wavelength conversion device is capable of being modulated between a minimum value and a maximum value, and the scanning is performed at variable speed. |
| US09677730B2 |
Vehicular light system
A car lamp includes a housing provided with an optical reflecting surface for reflecting light produced by LED lamps to have the light passing through an optical panel and projected outward. The car lamp has a heat-dissipating member fixed between the housing and the optical panel and installed thereon with LED lamps. The heat-dissipating member has its front end disposed with an auxiliary heat sink that extends in a reserved space of the optical panel and firmly combined with the optical panel. Thus, the auxiliary heat sink is able to directly contact with normal-temperature outside air for elevating heat dissipation effect and prolonging service life of the car lamp. |
| US09677728B2 |
Flagpole illumination device
An illumination device having a pole mount, a light support that extends from the pole mount, a lighting unit is connected to the pole mount, and a solar panel assembly is mounted to the lighting unit. In another embodiment an illumination apparatus is provided having a pole mount and a lighting assembly, and the pole mount has hinged first clamp half and second clamp halves. When in the closed clamp position the pole mount clamp defines a pole opening. A first light support extends from the first clamp half and a light emitting assembly is supported by the first light support. In another preferred embodiment there is a band illumination device that is secured to a pole with a band, and in another preferred embodiment there is and adjustable band illumination assembly secured to a pole with bands. |
| US09677727B2 |
Wall pack light fixture
A lighting fixture includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion includes a base and a wall extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the base. A top portion of the wall includes one or more hinges extending outwardly therefrom. The second housing portion includes a front panel and a side panel extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the front panel. A top portion of the front panel includes at least one slot. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an open position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel is disposed elevationally above the base. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an operational position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel covers the base. |
| US09677726B1 |
Bottle light and shade
An integral light and shade is provided that includes a switched power supply and a plurality of light bulbs configured to provide light directed downward from the shade once the integral light and shade is position upon, and receives into a switch assembly aperture, a rigid member top surface. A switch assembly housed in the shade includes an activating flange orthogonally disposed to the shade central longitudinal axis, and provides electrical power to the light bulbs evenly spaced about a shade longitudinal axis to direct light downward from the shade interior surface. Alternative embodiments include a manual on/off power switch and/or supplemental shade overlays and/or light bulbs that are light emitting diode lamps, and the light and shade switch assembly aperture is sized to receive the top surface of a bottle neck. |
| US09677723B2 |
LED lamps with improved quality of light
LED lamp systems having improved light quality are disclosed. The lamps emit more than 500 lm and more than 2% of the power in the spectral power distribution is emitted within a wavelength range from about 390 nm to about 430 nm. |
| US09677719B2 |
Light-emitting device and illuminating apparatus comprising the light-emitting device
A light-emitting device may include a substrate, a light source arranged on the substrate, and a cover part spaced a certain distance apart from the light source and transmitting light emitted from the light source to outside. The cover part includes a first part, converting wavelengths of a part of light in light emitted from the light source and having different thicknesses at least in two different light-emitting directions of the light source, and a second part, having different thicknesses in the two different light-emitting directions to compensate the thicknesses of the first part. |
| US09677716B2 |
Stagnant fuel thermal insulation system
A method and apparatus for insulating a fluid line in a container configured to contain a fluid. The apparatus comprises a container, a fluid line in the container, and a tube. The container is configured to contain a fluid. The tube is placed around the fluid line in the container to form a channel around a first portion of the fluid line. The tube is configured to contain the fluid from the container in the channel and to prevent a first flow of the fluid between the container and the channel except through a number of ends of the tube. The tube is further configured to reduce a second flow of the fluid within the channel such that the fluid in the channel insulates the fluid line. |
| US09677715B2 |
Residual pressure valve device, valve and cylinder having such a device
The invention relates to a residual pressure valve device comprising a shut-off member (1) that is able to move in the body (9) relative to a seat (2), a return member (5) that urges the shut-off member (1) by default towards the seat (2), the shut-off member (1) comprising an internal duct (6) having a first end in communication with the gas inlet (3) and a second end that leads, via a calibrated orifice (8), into a control chamber (7) that is closed by the shut-off member (1) such that, when the gas pressure in the control chamber (7) reaches a predetermined threshold, this pressure causes the shut-off member (1) to move away from the seat (2), the body of the shut-off member (1) comprising a first portion (11) that forms a male element which is able to move in translation in a female passage of the body (9) with a predetermined fit forming a restriction ensuring partial and progressive opening of the passage for the gas between the inlet (3) and the outlet (4). |
| US09677711B2 |
Sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid
The disclosure relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid, said sealed tank comprising an outer support structure, a thermal insulating barrier retained on the support structure, and a sealing barrier supported by the thermal insulating barrier. In one embodiment, the thermal insulating barrier comprises a corner structure positioned at an intersection between a first and a second wall of the support structure, the corner structure comprising a first and a second insulating panel, each having an outer surface positioned facing the support structure, an inner surface provided with a member for securing the sealing membrane, and lateral edges, the first panel having an outer surface resting against the first wall of the support structure and a lateral edge resting against the second wall of the support structure, the second panel having an outer surface resting against the second wall of the support structure and a lateral edge resting against the outer surface of the first panel. |
| US09677710B2 |
Corner structure of a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid
The disclosure relates to a corner structure which is suitable for a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid comprising a secondary thermal insulation barrier which is retained on a carrier structure, a secondary sealing membrane, a primary thermal insulation barrier and a primary sealing membrane which is intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the tank, the corner structure comprising: a first panel and a second panel forming a corner of the secondary thermal insulation barrier, and comprising an external face intended to move opposite the carrier structure and an internal face; a corner arrangement of the secondary sealing membrane, which arrangement is fixed to the first and second panels; a first insulating block and a second insulating block of a primary thermal insulation barrier which are fixed to the first and second panels, respectively, and which rest against the corner arrangement of the secondary sealing membrane; and a corner of a primary sealing barrier comprising a first wing and a second wing which are fixed to the first and second insulating blocks, respectively. |
| US09677706B1 |
Motor base having overflow-proof capability
A motor base has a body, a motor mount, a filter mount, a through hole, a passage, a flange, and at least one overflow hole. The motor mount is formed on the top surface of the body. The filter mount is formed on the bottom surface of the body. The through hole is defined through the body. The flange is formed on the bottom surface of the body and is arranged around the filter mount. The at least one overflow hole is defined radially through the flange. |
| US09677698B2 |
Connector system and method
A connector is provided, in one embodiment, the connector includes a collar (16) configured to receive first and second components (12,14). In this embodiment, the connector may also include a load ring (50) configured to be received in a groove (46) of the second component (12) and to move into and out of engagement with the collar (16) when the second component (12) is received by the collar (16). The connector of this illustrative embodiment may also include a locking ring (62) configured to inhibit disengagement of the load ring (50) from the collar (16). In some embodiments, engagement of the load ring (50) and the collar (16) effects securing of the first and second components (12, 14) to one another. |
| US09677696B2 |
Fluid-conducting connection with clamping ring
A connection for conducting pressurized fluids between a tube and a connection component having a bore for receiving the tube. A clamping ring surrounds the tube and is seated on a seat between first and second bore segments and has an annular lip extending away from the seat. A locking bolt having a through-hole receiving the tube is threaded into the first bore segment and contacts the ring, an annular collar projecting from the locking bolt surrounding the lip and urging it radially inward to grip the tube when the bolt is tightened against the clamping ring. A sealing ring surrounding the tube is positioned between the clamping ring and a sealing ring seat defined between the second and third bore segments. |
| US09677692B2 |
Welded steel pipe joined with high-energy-density beam and method for producing the same
A steel strip is formed into a cylinder so that opposite ends of the steel strip face each other, while continuously conveying the steel strip. The opposite ends are melted across the entire thickness by irradiating the opposite ends with a high-energy-density beam while applying a pressure with squeeze rolls. A seam is formed by joining the opposite ends, and excess weld metal of the seam on the outer and inner sides of the obtained welded steel pipe is removed by cutting. A repaired seam is then formed by remelting and solidifying a region on the inner side of the welded steel pipe, the region having a depth of 0.5 mm or more from the surface and a width of double or more the width of the seam, and in addition, the center line of the seam is made to coincide with the center line of the repaired seam. |
| US09677689B2 |
Offshore S-lay pipelaying vessel
An offshore S-lay pipelaying vessel for laying a pipeline on the seabed, the vessel includes a hull and an elongated stinger having a hull end and a free end, the stinger being adapted to support the pipeline to be laid from the vessel. The stinger includes a stinger frame, possibly composed of one or more rigid stinger frame sections, possibly articulated sections. And, distributed over the length of the stinger, multiple pipeline support assemblies are mounted to the stinger frame that provide support for the pipeline. |
| US09677685B2 |
Valve having a leakage indicator
A valve includes a leakage indicator and a valve housing. The valve housing includes a valve housing upper part, a valve housing lower part, and a diaphragm. The diaphragm divides the valve housing into a fluid-flow area and a fluid-free area. The leakage indicator is an absorbent element that projects into the fluid-free area. |
| US09677680B2 |
Sanitary installations and shower assembly
A sanitary fixture (1), including a flow regulator unit (5) and a movable adjustment element (6) that adjusts a flow rate and has a control connection to a temperature-sensitive control element (8). The invention provides arranging a return spring (13) on a same side of the flow regulator unit (5) as the control element (8), with respect to the flow direction, and/or designing the control element (8) to assume at least one intermediate position. |
| US09677678B2 |
Venting valve for a container for liquids
A venting valve for a container for liquid has a valve housing having a pressure compensation passage connecting the container interior with the container exterior. A valve member is arranged in the valve housing and controls the pressure compensation passage. An air-permeable filter body is secured within the valve housing and covers the pressure compensation passage, wherein a face of the filter body faces the container interior. A filter element covers the face of the filter body that is facing the container interior. The filter element is a securing element for the filter body. The filter element closes off an opening of the valve housing that opens into the container interior. |
| US09677676B2 |
One-way check valve for solid particulate flow pipeline
A one-way check valve for solid particulate flow pipeline is disclosed suitable for use in a pressure fluid line containing fine particles of solids. The one way valve increases the reliability and safety of the process operations and simplifies the pipeline detection and control requirements. |
| US09677674B2 |
Adjustable clamp
The present discussion relates to tubing clamps and systems employing tubing clamps. In one example a tubing clamp can include generally elongate top and bottom clamp bars extending between a hinge end and a clamp end. The clamp bars can apply force to tubing extending there between while being adjusted to a parallel relationship to one another. |
| US09677672B2 |
Butterfly valve having integral gaskets for its inlet and outlet seats
A butterfly valve comprising a housing having an upper side having an upper valve seat member and a lower side having a lower valve seat member, an extension section having an extension shaft member that extends out of an opening formed in a flange, the extension shaft member having a shaft end that fits within a first shaft bearing formed in a movable disc member, the movable disc member having a second shaft bearing formed therein, and a shaft portion for fitting within the second shaft bearing. |
| US09677670B2 |
Sliding parts
Sliding parts of a pair of annular bodies include sealing faces that relatively slide on each other. A reversed Rayleigh step mechanism serving as a negative pressure generation mechanism is provided in at least one of the sealing faces, and a negative pressure generation groove that forms the reversed Rayleigh step mechanism is provided in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the sealing face so as to be isolated from a high pressure fluid side and a low pressure fluid side by a land section. |
| US09677668B2 |
Hydraulic park gear assembly
A park gear and pawl assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a park gear, a hydraulic control passage, a park pawl, a hydraulic pump, an abutment assembly, a park rod, and a hydraulic actuator. The park gear is fixed for common rotation to an output shaft of the transmission. The hydraulic passage is integrated into a housing of the transmission. The park pawl is engaged with the park gear when the park pawl is in a first position. The hydraulic pump includes an input member and output port. The input member is drivingly connected to the output shaft of the transmission and the output port is in communication with the hydraulic. The park rod at least partially disposed in the abutment assembly. The hydraulic actuator axially actuated via hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic passage. |
| US09677665B2 |
Gearshifting device for a transmission
The invention relates to a gearshifting device (1), which is intended for a transmission and comprises a selector lever (2) that can be moved in such a manner that different shift positions (P, R, N, D, S, M+, M−) can be selected in at least two gearshift gates (3, 4) and that it is possible to shift between one of the gearshift gates (3, 4) and the at least one other gearshift gate (4, 3), and comprises at least one lock (5), which is used to block the traversing path of the selector lever (2) with respect to one of the gearshift gates (3, 4), in order to shift from one of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S) into another of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S). According to the invention, at least one locking element (10) is provided, which is mechanically coupled to the selector lever (2) and by means of which the shift lock (5) can be activated and/or deactivated in that with respect to the gearshift gate (3) that is to be blocked, the locking element (10) can be moved into and out of the traversing path of the selector lever (2). |
| US09677664B2 |
Vehicle differential device
Differential case includes multiple oil intake holes being respectively at positions offset from intermediate point between two pinions adjacent peripherally in the case toward the pinions, the holes passing through outer peripheral wall of the case in inside-outside direction and being capable of taking lubricant oil into the case. The holes are formed such that as seen in projection plane orthogonal to rotation axis of the case, axes of the holes extending from inner to outer opening ends of the holes are inclined forward in rotational direction of the case when vehicle travels forward. As seen in the projection plane, the pinions are placed outside areas between first and second imaginary lines, the first imaginary lines joining the axis and one peripheral ends of the inner opening ends, the second imaginary lines joining the axis and the other peripheral ends thereof. |
| US09677653B1 |
Modular drive unit
A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a main housing and a housing cap sealed to the main housing to form a sump wherein a pump and motor are rotatably disposed. A pump mount is located in the sump and engaged to the housing cap. The housing cap also includes a motor mount for an axial piston motor, and hydraulic fluid passages for connecting the pump to the motor. A pocket is located in the housing cap to rotationally support a swash plate for the pump. |
| US09677650B2 |
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) can be used in concert with an electric motor to facilitate power assistance to a rider in a bicycle. In some embodiments, the CVT and motor is mounted on the frame of the bicycle at a location forward of the rear wheel hub of the bicycle. In some embodiments, the CVT is mounted on and supported by members of the bicycle frame such that the CVT is coaxial with the crankshaft of the bicycle. The crankshaft is configured to drive elements of the CVT, which are configured to operationally drive the traction rings and the traction planets. In some embodiments, the motor is configured to drive elements of the CVT. In other embodiments, the motor is configured to drive the crankshaft. Inventive component and subassemblies for such a CVT are disclosed. |
| US09677647B2 |
Tensioning or guide rail having a continuous recessed sliding body
A tensioning or guide rail for a drive chain, in particular for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises a carrier body with at least two chain guide sections and with at least one recessed section. The at least one recessed section is arranged between two chain guide sections and recessed relative to a tangent connecting the adjoining chain guide sections, the at least two chain guide sections having each a sliding-contact surface for contacting the drive chain. A continuous sliding body is arranged on the carrier body along the at least two chain guide sections and the at least one recessed section, the sliding body defining the sliding-contact surfaces of the at least two chain guide sections and a surface of the at least one recessed section, the surface facing the drive chain. |
| US09677646B2 |
Drive device that transfers rotation of at least one of a rotary electric machine and an internal combustion engine to an oil pump
A drive device includes: an oil pump; a first rotation transfer member drivably coupled to the oil pump and driven by at least one of an internal combustion engine and a rotary electric machine; and a second rotation transfer member drivably coupled to wheels and driven by the rotary electric machine. One of the first rotation transfer member and the second rotation transfer member is a pinion. The other rotation transfer member is a carrier that rotatably supports the pinion. The pinion and the carrier are rotated together with each other in the case where the oil pump is driven by the rotary electric machine. |
| US09677637B2 |
Composite coil spring
A composite coil spring (20) includes a coil body (2) that extends along a coiled axis (24). The coil body includes a core (38) and a plurality of fiber layers (32) impregnated with a polymer material. The plurality of fiber layers are arranged around the core at different radial distances from the coiled axis. Each of the plurality of fiber layers extends around the coiled axis at an oblique fiber angle to the coiled axis. Each of the plurality of fiber layers includes a number of fibers that is a product of a common base number of fibers multiplied by a positive non-zero integer from a set of positive non-zero integers. The positive non-zero integer of at least one of the plurality of fiber layers is different from the positive non-zero integer of at least one other of the plurality of fiber layers. |
| US09677636B2 |
Anti-vibration rubber member and production method thereof
An anti-vibration rubber member includes: a rubber elastic body that is made of a self-lubricating rubber containing an elastomer and a bleeding lubricant; a coating film that covers at least a portion of a sliding inner surface that is a surface of the rubber elastic body disposed on an inner side of a sliding surface, contains a resin having a mercapto group and a solid lubricant containing polytetrafluoroethylene particles and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene particles, and is deformable to follow up deformation of the rubber elastic body; and a lubricating film that covers at least a portion of a surface of the coating film, is formed by including the bleeding lubricant having penetrated the coating film from the rubber elastic body and oozing onto the surface of the coating film, and forms at least a portion of the sliding surface. |
| US09677634B2 |
Hydrodynamic retarder
The invention relates to a hydrodynamic retarder comprising—a rotor (1) and a stator (2) which form a working chamber (3) with each other;—a first working medium connection (6);—a second working medium connection (7); and—a working medium container (4) that has an outlet (10), which is connected to the first working medium connection via a line, and an inlet (11), which is connected to the second working medium connection via a line; wherein—the working medium container is made of two housing parts (8, 9), which are joined together along a parting line (12). According to the invention:—the two housing parts together enclose the working medium storage volume;—one of the two housing parts simultaneously forms a part of a retarder housing (14) which supports or forms the stator and partly forms all or some of the working medium-conducting connections between the working medium storage volume and the working chamber; and—a separating plate (13) is inserted between, the two housing parts, said separating plate together with one or both of the housing parts forming cavities for the working medium-conducting connections and/or the working medium storage volume. |
| US09677631B2 |
Electro-mechanical brake device
Disclosed is an electro-mechanical brake device, including: a disk; a pair of brake pads respectively disposed at both sides of the disk; a caliper respectively disposed inside the pair of brake pads; a brake module portion disposed at one side of the caliper; and a parking brake portion that is disposed to be perpendicular to a motor shaft of the brake module portion and is connected to a parking brake switch that is operated by a driver, and selectively controls a rotation of the motor shaft depending on the operation of the parking brake switch. |
| US09677630B2 |
Motor vehicle brake disc chamber
A brake disk chamber has an essentially cylindrical brake disk chamber jacket without openings. The brake disk chamber jacket is formed of segments in the shape of curved symmetrical trapezoids, which are lined up in a row in the circumferential direction, are alternately rotated by 180°, and are arranged in a regular fashion with an alternately differing radial distance from the longitudinal center axis of the brake disk chamber jacket. |
| US09677628B2 |
Drum brake assembly and method of manufacture
A brake assembly and a method of manufacture. The brake assembly may have a bracket assembly that may include a brake wing and a mounting flange disposed at opposite ends of a tube portion. The bracket assembly may rotatably support a camshaft. |
| US09677626B2 |
Selectable one-way clutch
A selectable one-way clutch to selectively enable torque transmission only in one direction and to interrupt torque transmission in both directions is provided. The selectable one-way clutch comprises: an oil passage that is formed in the selector plate, and that has a first opening situated at a lower level than the oil level and a second opening situated at a higher level than the oil level; and a closure that is formed on the pocket plate at a position to close the second opening at least partially when the selectable one-way clutch is in the overrunning mode, and to increase the opening area of the second opening when the selectable one-way clutch is in the engagement mode. |
| US09677625B2 |
Concentric slave cylinder including one-way clutch
A concentric slave cylinder is provided. The concentric slave cylinder includes a housing including a wall; a piston slidable along the wall in a forward direction and a return direction, the piston including a first angled surface, the piston and the housing forming a hydraulic chamber therebetween; and a ring slidable along the wall in the hydraulic chamber in the forward direction and limiting sliding of the piston in the return direction, the ring including a frustoconical portion having a second angled surface for engaging the first angled surface to limit the sliding of the piston in the return direction. |
| US09677623B2 |
Structural unit for a drive train of a motor vehicle
A constructional unit for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle includes: at least one clutch arrangement configured to decouple an internal combustion engine from the drivetrain, the at least one clutch arrangement having at least one clutch element; a speed-adaptive vibration absorber apparatus, configured to reduce vibrations in the drivetrain with at least one damper mass deflectable along a deflection path; and a limiting device configured to exert a force on the at least one damper mass that limits the movement of the damper mass. The limiting device is further configured, for limiting the movement of the at least one damper mass, to be actuatable by the at least one clutch element. |
| US09677620B2 |
Lift cylinder yoke bearing installer for a bulldozer and method of installation
A system and method that includes a device that is used in a particular method to install bearings into a lift cylinder yoke bore. The device includes use of a hollow bore hydraulic push cylinder that maneuvers a push plate along a threaded rod. The push plate sinks or sets into the bearing and applies pressure through the movement of the hydraulic push cylinder to place the bearing into a fit position without the abrasion that is usually associated with the installation of bearings into the lift cylinder yoke bore. The threaded rod attaches to a threaded bushing that is inserted into the bore and secured with the use of a pin. The threaded rod extends out of the bore opening and allows for the attachment of a bearing, push plate, hydraulic push cylinder, washer and nut. |