| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09696940B1 |
Technique for verifying virtual machine integrity using hypervisor-based memory snapshots
A method includes receiving a request at a hypervisor from an application, where the application and the hypervisor are executed by a computing node. The request identifies a memory location in a memory device of the computing node, and the memory location is associated with a virtual machine executed by the computing node. The method also includes obtaining a snapshot of contents of the memory location in the memory device, where the snapshot is obtained by the hypervisor directly from the memory device. The method further includes providing the snapshot to the application. The application could form part of a second virtual machine that is executed by the computing node. |
| US09696939B1 |
Replicating data using deduplication-based arrays using network-based replication
In one aspect, a method to send a snapshot to a replication site includes generating a first snapshot of a production storage volume at a first point in time, generating a second snapshot of the production storage volume at a second point in time after the first point in time, obtaining differences between the first snapshot and the second snapshot, reading signatures from the production storage volume, sending the signatures to the replication site, writing the signatures to the replication site, reading data from changed locations in the second snapshot which is not at the replication site and sending the data from the changed locations to the replication site comprising a replica volume replicating the production storage volume. The production storage volume is part of a deduplication-based storage array. |
| US09696938B2 |
Method, apparatus, and controller for managing storage array
A method, an apparatus, and a controller for managing a storage array. The storage array is divided into a first subset of storage devices and a second subset of storage devices according to degrees of wear of storage devices, such that all the degrees of wear of the storage devices in the first subset are greater than or equal to all the degrees of wear of the storage devices in the second subset, and then, data from the storage devices in the second subset is migrated to the storage devices in the first subset. Therefore, service lives of storage devices in the second subset may be extended relatively by shortening service lives of storage devices in the first subset. |
| US09696933B2 |
Virtual machine manager initiated page-in of kernel pages
A rule-based method for pre-fetching “important pages” from memory paging space back into kernel memory space performs the following steps: (i) establishing a first machine logic based rule, with the machine logic based rule including a first triggering condition and a first consequential responsive action; (ii) determining that the first triggering condition has occurred; and (iii) in response to the determination that the first triggering condition has occurred, performing the first consequential responsive action. The first triggering condition includes the following sub-conditions: (i) at least one of a first set of important page(s) of a computer system has been paged out of kernel memory space and into paging memory space, and (ii) a processing status of the computer system indicates that the first set of important page(s) will be likely to be required for computer operations. |
| US09696931B2 |
Region-based storage for volume data and metadata
Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include receiving a request to create a storage entity on a storage system, the storage entity including data and metadata, the metadata used to manage the storage entity. Upon receiving the request, multiple metadata attributes are identified for the metadata, and for each given identified metadata attribute, a respective metadata region is created on the storage system, and a subset of the metadata having the given metadata attribute is stored to the respective metadata region. Finally, a data region is created on the storage system, and the data is stored to the data region. |
| US09696926B2 |
Providing service address space for diagnostics collection
A method and technique are provided for providing a service address space. The method includes providing a service co-processor with a service address space attached to a main processor. The main processor is provided with a main address space, and the service address space and the main address space include a full range of memory available to the respective service-co-processor and the main processor. The service co-processor creates and maintains an independent copy of the main address space in the form of the service address space. The service address space is updated by receiving storage delta packets from the main processor and applying the storage delta packets to the service address space. |
| US09696925B2 |
Providing service address space for diagnostics collection
A system and technique are provided for providing a service address space. The system includes a service co-processor provided with a service address space. The service co-processor is attached to a main processor wherein the main processor is provided with a main address space. The service address space and the main address space include a full range of memory available to the respective service-co-processor and the main processor. The service co-processor creates and maintains an independent copy of the main address space in the form of the service address space. The service co-processor has a storage update receiving component for updating the service address space by receiving storage delta packets from the main processor and applying these to the service address space. |
| US09696923B2 |
Reliability-aware memory partitioning mechanisms for future memory technologies
A memory module (735) can include a memory array (105) and a memory controller (740). The memory controller (740) can include a status register (745) that specifies whether the memory module (735) is operating at normal power or low power. A normal reliability region (305, 505) and a low reliability region (310, 510) can be defined in the memory array (105), based on the power level specified by the status register (745). |
| US09696920B2 |
Systems and methods for improving efficiencies of a memory system
A memory device includes a memory component that store data. The memory device also includes a processor that receives a signal indicating that the memory component is coupled to the processor and retrieves information from the memory component. The information may include one or more algorithms capable of being performed by the memory component. The processor may then receive one or more packets associated with one or more data operations regarding the memory component. The processor may then perform the one or more data operations by using the memory component to employ the one or more algorithms. |
| US09696916B2 |
Techniques for reducing memory write operations using coalescing memory buffers and difference information
The present disclosure relates to examples of reducing memory write operations using coalescing memory buffers. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method comprises computing a difference between a current state of data of at least one block of a storage device to which data is to be written and a state that would result from the write operation. The method further comprises populating at least one of one or more coalescing memory buffers with difference information associated with the difference and to be used to update an associated one of the blocks. Additionally, the method comprises selectively writing the difference information in the coalescing memory buffers to the storage devices, based on a determination of fullness of the coalescing memory buffers. The coalescing memory buffers are separate from the storage devices. |
| US09696912B2 |
Synchronous input/output command with partial completion
Aspects include communicating synchronous input/output (I/O) commands between an operating system and recipient by issuing a first synchronous I/O command with an initiation bit set, identifying that a mailbox command has been initiated to return control to an operating system before waiting for operations of the first synchronous I/O command to complete, and issuing a second synchronous I/O command with a completion bit set in response to the control returning to the operating system. |
| US09696910B2 |
Data compression and management
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for data compression and management. A number of methods include receiving a number of data segments corresponding to a managed unit amount of data, determining a respective compressibility of each of the number of data segments, compressing each of the number of data segments in accordance with its respective determined compressibility, forming a compressed managed unit that includes compressed and/or uncompressed data segments corresponding to the number of data segments corresponding to the managed unit amount of data, and forming a page of data that comprises at least the compressed managed unit. |
| US09696909B2 |
Contactless IC memory on removeable media
Method, system, and computer program product embodiments for recording data on a contactless integrated circuit (IC) memory associated with a data storage cartridge are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a consistency is verified between a TOC written to a contactless IC memory and an index, wherein if the TOC and the index are inconsistent, a TOC profile file is refreshed with data from the index. The TOC is written to the contactless IC memory. |
| US09696908B2 |
Non-volatile memory, system, and method
A non volatile memory device includes a first buffer register configured to receive and store the data to be stored into the memory device provided via a memory bus. A command window is activatable for interposing itself for access to a memory matrix between the first buffer element and the memory matrix. The command window includes a second buffer element that stores data stored in or to be stored into a group of memory elements. A first data transfer means executes a first transfer of the data stored in the second buffer register into the first buffer register during a first phase of a data write operation started by the reception of a first command. A second data transfer means receives the data provided by the memory bus and modifies, based on the received data, the data stored in the first buffer register during a second phase of the data write operation started by the reception of a second command. The first transfer means execute a second transfer of the modified data stored in the first buffer register into the second buffer register during a third phase of the data write operation. The second transfer is executed in response to the reception of a signal received by the memory bus together with the second command. |
| US09696907B2 |
Remove-on-delete technologies for solid state drive optimization
Technologies for identifying data stored on a solid state drive (“SSD”) device that correspond to data associated with a delete event, and marking the deleted data stored on the SSD as invalid such that the SSD can avoid unnecessary operations on the invalid data. Included are interfaces operable to communicate invalid data information providing a remove-on-delete command that provides invalid data information sufficient to identify the SSD data to be marked as invalid. |
| US09696906B1 |
Storage management
A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving a storage operation request for a logical storage object. A storage insurance value is associated with the logical storage object. The storage operation request is processed to associate a storage liability value with the storage operation request. Whether the storage operation request should be effectuated is determined based, at least in part, upon the storage liability value and the storage insurance value. |
| US09696900B2 |
System and method for creation and management of digital photo book
Disclosed is a digital photo book creation and management system based on a client-server technology, wherein the client device comprises a touch screen. The system comprises receiving one or more source (or virtual location) of one or more images, via a client user interface and downloading one or more images from the source into the server and client databases. Further, the metadata is extracted from the downloaded images or from the source of the images and stored within the server and client databases. Further, the downloaded images are rated using gesture recognition and the rating is saved as photo's metadata. The images are compiled into a digital photo book that can be edited from the client device based on a criteria performed on the photo's metadata. Further, the compiled digital photo book can be shared with users within the network and can be signed by the visiting users. |
| US09696898B2 |
Scrolling through a series of content items
In one embodiment, a method includes displaying one or more first content items on a screen of an electronic device, the first content items being part of a series of content items; and in response to a user input with respect to the first content items, displaying an animation sequence depicting one or more second content items replacing the first content items on the screen of the electronic device, the second content items being part of the series of content items; and displaying the second content items on the screen of the electronic device. |
| US09696897B2 |
Image-based measurement tools
Provided are methods, systems, devices, and computer programs enabling the measurement of various objects using imaging. The inventions are adaptable to mobile devices such as smartphones, allowing a range of unique measurements to be conveniently made, including length, area, distance, velocity, and height. The methods, systems, devices, and computer programs include the novel application of image-based measurement in medical, research, and other contexts. |
| US09696895B2 |
Portable terminal device, luminance control method, and luminance control program
A portable terminal apparatus receives an operation instructing that an image displayed on a screen be scrolled, and moves the image in the instructed direction. The apparatus comprising: one or more memories, and circuitry. The circuitry which, in operation, judges whether or not a display image at an end of scrolling is included in a region of the screen during scrolling and determines, to be a control target region, a region judged not to include the display image at the end of the scrolling of the region of the screen; and performs control of lowering brightness of the control target region on the display image during scrolling. |
| US09696892B2 |
Mechanism for facilitating dynamic change orientation for edit modes at computing devices
A mechanism is described for facilitating dynamic edit modes at computing devices according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes receiving a first request for accessing an edit mode at a computing device, where the first request is placed by turning the computing device from a first position to a second position, and allowing access to the edit mode, if the first request is determined to be intentional. |
| US09696889B2 |
Electronic device that displays an operation screen including an object
Provided is an electronic device, including: a display unit that displays, on one screen, a plurality of objects to be selected by a user; a line-of-sight detection unit that detects visually-recognized coordinates on the display unit to which the user's line-of-sight is directed; an object visually-recognized time period calculation unit that calculates a time period during which the visually-recognized coordinates detected by the line-of-sight detection unit fall within a range of the object; and a selection exclusion unit that excludes the object from candidates to be selected by the user if the time period calculated by the object visually-recognized time period calculation unit is longer than a time period threshold value and a frequency at which the object is selected is higher than a frequency threshold value. |
| US09696885B2 |
Integrated user interface using linked data
A computer receives user input regarding at least a first and a second resource. The computer retrieves navigational content for the first and second resource. The computer displays the retrieved navigational content in a single interface. The computer receives user selection of at least one element of the retrieved navigational content. The computer then retrieves page content associated with the selected at least one element of the retrieved navigational content. |
| US09696882B2 |
Operation processing method, operation processing device, and control method
An operation processing method and an operation processing device applied in an electronic apparatus include a display unit in which a first interactive interface having a first size is displayed. The method includes displaying a second interactive interface having a second size which is different from the first size and having a mapping relation with the first interactive interface in the display unit, detecting a first action executed by the user in the second interactive interface; and executing a first operation in the first interactive interface according to the first action. Thus, the first interactive interface can be mapped into the second interactive interface and the first operation that the user expects to execute in the first interactive interface can be implemented by the first action executed in the second interactive interface, so that the user can conveniently operate the electronic apparatus. |
| US09696873B2 |
System and method for processing sliding operations on portable terminal devices
The invention relates to a system for processing sliding operations on a portable terminal device. The portable terminal device includes a touch screen. The system includes a memory device configured to store data related to sliding operations, and a processor coupled to the memory device. The processor is configured to cause to display, on the touch screen, a communication function interface for receiving user sliding operations. The processor is further configured to receive original messages obtained on the touch screen corresponding to the user sliding operations, and process the original messages to determine possible sliding patterns corresponding to the user sliding operations. The processor is also configured to set a user-defined sliding pattern based on the possible sliding patterns. |
| US09696872B2 |
Treemap perspective manipulation
Dynamic display of hierarchical data in the form of a treemap. A first instance of an object representation is selected in a first visualization of a hierarchy encoded by containment. A second instance of the object representation is designated, wherein each instance is a tier for object occupation. An object within the hierarchy is displayed as a shape comprising at least two opposing surfaces, and the object is selected through the opposing surfaces. The hierarchy is dynamically re-ordered in response to the selection and designation, and the second representation of the hierarchy is displayed based on the dynamic re-ordering. |
| US09696870B2 |
Method of operating a background content and terminal supporting the same
A method of outputting background content, which includes outputting a complex area by outputting a background content area in which a background content designated as a start content is output and outputting a function selection area to the background content area, the function selection area including items for selecting at least one specific function supported by a terminal, receiving an input signal for removing the function selection area, and outputting a background screen including only the background content area according to the received input signal for removing the function selection area. |
| US09696867B2 |
Dynamic user interactions for display control and identifying dominant gestures
The technology disclosed relates to distinguishing meaningful gestures from proximate non-meaningful gestures in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space. In particular, it relates to calculating spatial trajectories of different gestures and determining a dominant gesture based on magnitudes of the spatial trajectories. The technology disclosed also relates to uniformly responding to gestural inputs from a user irrespective of a position of the user. In particular, it relates to automatically adapting a responsiveness scale between gestures in a physical space and resulting responses in a gestural interface by automatically proportioning on-screen responsiveness to scaled movement distances of gestures in the physical space, user spacing with the 3D sensory space, or virtual object density in the gestural interface. The technology disclosed further relates to detecting if a user has intended to interact with a virtual object based on measuring a degree of completion of gestures and creating interface elements in the 3D space. |
| US09696860B2 |
Capacitive touch sensor
The present disclosure provides a capacitive touch sensor for an electronic device. The touch sensor has a trace carrier having a sensing surface, a connecting surface, and a number of electrically conductive traces on the trace carrier. The traces form a sensing pattern on the sensing surface and pass from the sensing surface to the connecting surface. The sensor also includes a capacitive sensing circuit operable to electrically couple to the traces at the connecting surface of the trace carrier, and to sense a capacitance change. A touch position on the sensing surface is determined dependent upon the sensed capacitance change. |
| US09696859B1 |
Detecting tap-based user input on a mobile device based on motion sensor data
A computing device can detect first and second device motions within a first time period. The first and second device motions may be separated by a second time period. The computing device can determine that the second time period is within a specified time range. The computing device can determine that first and second motion metrics for the first and second device motions, respectively, are likely indicative of first and second taps, respectively, on a surface of the computing device. The computing device can determine that a first coordinate frame of the computing device associated with the first tap is within a range of angular degrees from a second coordinate frame of the computing device associated with the second tap. The computing device can further determine the first tap and the second tap as part of a double tap gesture. |
| US09696858B2 |
Display device having an integrated sensing device with improved proximity sensing
Embodiments described herein include a method and apparatus for capacitive sensing in input devices integrated with a display device. In one embodiment, a processing system for a display device comprising an integrated capacitive sensing device is provided that includes a display driver module, a transmitter module, and a receiver module. The display driver and transmitter modules are configured to operate in a display update mode and a sleep mode. The receiver module is configured to, while operating in a doze mode, communicate with and trigger the transmitter module to enter the active sensing mode while the display driver module remains in the sleep mode when presence of an object is detected based on the resulting signals. |
| US09696857B2 |
Signal processing circuit, signal processing method, position detecting device, and electronic apparatus
A signal processing circuit is provided, which is suitable to be connected to a signal receiving conductor of a capacitive position detecting sensor, which has low power consumption and small circuit scale, and which allows setting of a small value as the capacitance value of a capacitor used for I-V conversion. After a receiving conductor is clamped to a predetermined potential by a clamp circuit, this receiving conductor clamped to the predetermined potential is connected to a capacitor circuit via a gate circuit. Thereby, a potential that changes corresponding to a position indicated by an indicator such as a finger is generated in the capacitor circuit, and a voltage signal generated in this capacitor circuit is converted to a digital signal to be output. |
| US09696856B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting simultaneous touch events on a bending-wave touchscreen
A method of detecting touch events on a touch panel includes identifying sets of coordinate locations based on at least one signal from at least one sensor. The at least one signal is responsive to at least one touch event, and the coordinate locations represent matches with respect to template fingerprints. Consecutive ones of the sets of coordinate locations are compared based on a first distance threshold to form streams of spatially continuous coordinate locations that satisfy the first distance threshold. A touch event is identified corresponding to one of the streams of spatially continuous coordinate locations, the stream having a minimum number of spatially continuous coordinate locations. |
| US09696850B2 |
Denoising touch gesture input
In one embodiment, a computing device determines a touch gesture on a touch screen of the computing device. The touch gesture includes two or more data points that each correspond to a particular location on the touch screen and a particular point in time. For each of one or more of the data points, the computing device adjusts a time value representing its particular point in time. For each of one or more of the data points, the computing device adjusts a position value representing its particular location on the touch screen. The computing device fits a curve to the two or more data points to determine a user intent associated with the touch gesture. |
| US09696847B2 |
User-defined gesture enablement protocols for touch input device
A user interface method is disclosed. For a particular interface, such as a touch input device, the method involves defining an enablement protocol for a function and recording and retaining the enablement protocol of said function, such that a user enables the function by substantially reproducing the enablement protocol in the absence of spatial or temporal indication of at least a portion of the enablement protocol. |
| US09696845B2 |
Apparatus for driving of touch panel
Embodiments relate to a touch panel operable in a first haptic mode and a second haptic mode. The touch panel includes first electrodes and second electrodes intersecting the first electrodes. The touch panel further includes an elastic dielectric member disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to separate the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The first electrodes are applied with a first voltage during the first haptic mode. The second electrodes are applied with a reference voltage in the first haptic mode. A subset of the second electrodes is applied with a second voltage to generate electrostatic force between the subset of the second electrodes and a user's finger in the second haptic mode. The elastic dielectric member vibrates in response to the first voltage applied to the first electrodes in the first haptic mode. |
| US09696844B2 |
Inductive touch screen, display panel and display apparatus
The present disclosure provides an inductive touch screen, a display panel and a display apparatus. The inductive touch screen includes a first electromagnetic induction layer including a plurality of first conductive lines arranged in a first direction; a second electromagnetic induction layer including a plurality of second conductive lines arranged in a second direction, and the second conductive lines being intersected with and isolated from the first conductive lines; a driver circuit connected to the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines and configured to alternately supply driving current to the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines to cause the first conductive lines or the second conductive lines to generate a magnetic fields; and a sensor circuit connected to the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines and configured to sense variation of currents in the first conductive lines or the second conductive lines. |
| US09696838B2 |
Organic light emitting display apparatus having a touch sensing layer and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display apparatus including a thin film encapsulation layer having a touch screen structure. The organic light emitting display apparatus includes a substrate; an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer on the substrate; a thin film encapsulation layer on the OLED layer, and comprising a plurality of inorganic layers and a plurality of organic layers that are alternately stacked; and a touch sensing layer in the thin film encapsulation layer, wherein the touch sensing layer includes: a first touch conductive layer; a touch inorganic layer on the first touch conductive layer; and a second touch conductive layer on the touch inorganic layer, wherein the touch inorganic layer is one of the plurality of inorganic layers included in the thin film encapsulation layer. |
| US09696837B1 |
Display device with wave shaped bypass line
A display of an electric device includes a plurality of separated transparent electrode blocks, which are configured to provide one or more of supplemental features such as touch recognition. Signal paths between the transparent electrode blocks and the driver for the supplemental feature are implemented with a plurality of conductive lines placed under positioned under one or more planarization layers. The conductive lines implementing the signal paths are routed across the display area, directly toward a non-display area where drive-integrated circuits are located. |
| US09696830B2 |
Method of manufacturing transparent circuit substrate for touch screen
Provided is a method of manufacturing a transparent circuit substrate for a touch screen. The method may involve forming an electrode layer on a transparent substrate, stacking a light shielding layer on the transparent substrate such that the light shielding layer is located on an outside of the electrode layer, stacking a mask on the light shielding layer and the electrode layer, forming a conductive layer on the mask, forming connecting lines for connecting the electrode layer and connecting terminals by removing the mask and a portion of the conductive layer, and forming the connecting terminals on the light shielding layer such that the connecting terminals contact the connecting lines. |
| US09696827B2 |
Triggering method and wireless handheld device
A triggering method and a wireless handheld device provided in embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of electronic technologies. The touchscreen triggering method includes: detecting an input combination that is of a click frequency and/or click intensity and is received when a touchscreen is in a locked state; and when it is detected that the input combination that is of the click frequency and/or the click intensity and is received when the touchscreen is in the locked state matches a pre-stored input combination of a click frequency and/or click intensity, wherein the pre-stored input combination of the click frequency and/or the click intensity is corresponding to an operation, executing the operation corresponding to the matched pre-stored input combination of the click frequency and/or the click intensity. |
| US09696824B2 |
Electronic device, input device, and method for controlling electronic device using the input device
An electronic device, an input device, and a method for controlling the electronic device using the input device are provided. The electronic device includes an input device sensor configured to detect mounting of an input device, a reception unit configured to receive a button input signal received from the input device mounted on the electronic device, and a controller configured to set a button portion provided in the input device as a button of the electronic device in response to a mounting of the input device on the electronic device, and to perform a function corresponding to the button input signal if the button input signal of the input device is received from the reception unit. Other embodiments are also possible. |
| US09696820B2 |
Position indication device and position indication method
The present invention relates to digital circuit processing and provides a position indication device and a position indication method. In order to improve positioning accuracy of the position indication device without degrading its sensitivity, a position indication device is provided. The device comprises: a voltage dividing circuit connected with a resonant circuit and a rectifying and filtering circuit. The voltage dividing circuit obtains a predetermined proportion of a signal output from the resonant circuit and outputs it to the rectifying and filtering circuit. The present invention is applicable to digital handwriting pens. |
| US09696819B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to a stylus having a multi-level force-sensitive user interface
A stylus comprises a barrel having a scribing nib disposed at one end thereof. The barrel supports at least one multi-level force-sensitive user interface. A control circuit operably couples to this control surface and responds differently to each of at least two different levels of applied force as applied to that control surface. For example, the control circuit can respond to one level of applied force by causing the transmission of a first signal to influence in a first way the scribing interaction between the stylus and the scribing surface and can respond to a second, different level of applied force by causing the transmission of a second, different signal to influence in a second, different way the scribing interaction between the stylus and the scribing surface. |
| US09696815B2 |
Method, device, system and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for providing user interface
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a user interface, comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring information on postures or motions of a first device and a second device, and sensing an input event specified on the basis of a relative relationship between the posture or motion of the first device and that of the second device; and (b) in response to the occurrence of the input event, causing at least some of contents and functions provided on the first device to be provided on the second device, or causing at least some of contents and functions provided on the second device to be provided on the first device. |
| US09696808B2 |
Hand-gesture recognition method
One embodiment of the invention includes a method of providing device inputs. The method includes illuminating hand gestures performed via a bare hand of a user in a foreground of a background surface with at least one infrared (IR) light source. The method also includes generating a first plurality of silhouette images associated with the bare hand based on an IR light contrast between the bare hand and the background surface and generating a second plurality of silhouette images associated with the bare hand based on an IR light contrast between the bare hand and the background surface. The method also includes determining a plurality of three-dimensional features of the bare hand relative to the background surface based on a parallax separation of the bare hand in the first plurality of silhouette images relative to the second plurality of silhouette images. The method also includes determining a provided input gesture based on the plurality of three-dimensional features of the bare hand and comparing the provided input gesture with a plurality of predefined gesture inputs in a gesture library. The method further includes providing at least one device input corresponding to interaction with displayed visual content based on the provided input gesture corresponding to one of the plurality of predefined gesture inputs. |
| US09696805B2 |
Electronic device
Provided is an electronic device including a contact detection unit 16 configured to detect a contact made by a contacting object, a pressure detection unit 13 configured to detect pressure applied to the contact detection unit 16, and a control unit 11 configured to perform control so that predetermined processing is carried out when data based on the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit 13 satisfies a predetermined standard. When the contact detection unit 16 detects another contact within a predetermined time period after the predetermined processing has been carried out, the control unit 11 performs control so that the predetermined processing is carried out when the data based on the pressure satisfies a lower standard than the predetermined standard. |
| US09696804B2 |
Systems and methods for eliciting cutaneous sensations by electromagnetic radiation
The present disclosure provides various systems and methods for inducing cutaneous sensations by delivering electromagnetic radiation to directly or indirectly excite neural tissue. An electromagnetic radiation source, such as one or more infrared lasers, may be used to transcutaneously excite neural tissue. The excited neural tissue may be interpreted by the user's nervous system as cutaneous sensations. Accordingly, a system as described herein may be used to induce sensations to allow actual cutaneous sensations to be simulated. A system for inducing a cutaneous sensation via transcutaneously focused electromagnetic radiation may be incorporated in a display to provide cutaneous sensation feedback or used as a separate accessory component associated with a display. Numerous additional applications and variations are provided herein. |
| US09696803B2 |
Systems and methods for friction displays and additional haptic effects
Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing composite haptic effects are disclosed. One disclosed method includes detecting a touch occurring in a touch area when an object contacts a touch surface and selecting a composite haptic effect to generate in response to the touch, the composite haptic effect including at least one surface-based haptic effect and at least one other effect. Based on the selected composite haptic effect, a first haptic signal can be sent to cause an actuator to vary a coefficient of friction of the touch surface and a second actuator can be caused to provide a second haptic output in addition to the variation in the coefficient of friction. The second haptic signal can be sent to a second actuator or the same actuator(s) used to vary the coefficient of friction can generate the second haptic output. |
| US09696800B2 |
Menu selection apparatus using gaze tracking
A menu selection apparatus using gaze tracking includes: a gaze tracker configured to track a gaze of a driver and to output time series gaze data; a timer included in the gaze tracker and configured to output a timing pulse; a buffer configured to store the time series gaze data; a counter configured to count the timing pulse to adjust synchronization with the timer; a button configured to output a click signal when being clicked by the driver; and a controller configured to extract the time series gaze data for a critical time based on button click timing as the click signal is output from the button and to then calculate an average of gaze vectors within each time series gaze data. |
| US09696792B2 |
Digital device and method for controlling the same
A digital device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. Herein, a digital device having its display turned off may include a user input receiver receiving a user input, a controller performing control operations, so as to configure a virtual page, wherein the virtual page includes at least one or more unique functions and applications of the digital device, and to execute a predetermined function in accordance with a user selection, and an output unit outputting the configured virtual page and outputting data respective to the execution of the predetermined function. |
| US09696791B2 |
Expanding universal plug and play capabilities in power constrained environment
This invention describes a method for expanding universal plug and play capabilities in a power constrained environment thus facilitating communication between two terminals with universal plug and play (UPnP) application capabilities, wherein one of the terminals is in a sleeping mode. The present invention can be applied (but not be limited) to mobile terminals, wireless devices, portable devices, mobile communication devices, mobile phones, etc. The invention describes a mechanism in which the UPnP application dynamically instructs the TCP/IP stack to tune-up its parameters so that it can tolerate longer delays and timeouts, due to the fact that it operates in a power constrained UPnP environment. |
| US09696787B2 |
Dynamic control of processors to reduce thermal and power costs
Systems and methods for controlling processor cores on a computing device are disclosed. One method includes tracking a load of each of a plurality of processor cores and determining a load percentage of each of the processor cores. A core is designated as a busy core if a load percentage of the core exceeds an upper threshold, and the busy core designation is removed if the load percentage of the core drops below a lower threshold. To reduce power consumption and adverse thermal effects, no more than N+M cores are maintained online wherein N is a number of busy cores and M is generally zero, but may be increased to at least one. |
| US09696786B2 |
System and method for optimizing energy consumption by processors
Methods and systems for selecting an appropriate forecasting model for accurate workload prediction of a processor is disclosed. The processor is configured to monitor workload and extract workload history of the processor for a given time interval. Further, the processor is configured to create plurality of forecasting models based on the extracted workload history and apply the group of forecasting model on the extracted workload history to obtain a plurality of predicted future workload for the given time interval. Further, the processor is configured to compute an error measure of the plurality of predicted future workload in reference to an actual workload of the processor and select the appropriate forecasting model from plurality of the forecasting models having least error measure among the computed error measures for dynamically scaling frequency and voltage required by the processor and thereby optimizing energy consumption in the processor. |
| US09696782B2 |
Battery parameter-based power management for suppressing power spikes
This document describes techniques and apparatuses for suppressing power spikes. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses determine an available amount of power that a battery is capable of providing while maintaining a particular voltage level and a requisite amount of power that components will consume to perform a task. When the requisite amount of power exceeds the available amount of power, power states of the components are altered effective to enable the battery to maintain the particular voltage level. |
| US09696780B2 |
Information processing apparatus, system, management apparatus, and power status control method
It is sensed that an event has occurred which is a target of an event policy to transition power status with an event occurrence as a trigger, a setting of the event policy is acquired, it is determined whether or not a loop of power status transition has occurred, and the event policy is deactivated if the loop of the power status transition has occurred. |
| US09696778B2 |
Power delivery device and control method of the same
There can be provided a power delivery (PD) device capable of achieving protocols, e.g. Hard Reset, without using any alternative power source, and a control method of thereof. The PD device includes: a power source; a power line configured to deliver power supplied from the power source, to an outside; a switch connected between the power source and the power line; and a control circuit connected to the power line so that power is supplied from the power source to the control circuit, wherein at the time when a Hard Reset protocol is received from the outside through the power line, the control circuit turns from ON to OFF the switch to disconnect the power line from the power source. |
| US09696775B2 |
Integrated circuit with on-chip power profiling
Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems for determining a power consumption of a circuit block in an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include first and second power supply networks. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit may include a plurality of instances of a circuit block under test. A first instance of the circuit block may be coupled to the first power supply network during a first test run, and a second instance of the circuit block may be coupled to the second power supply network during a second test run. In other embodiments, a single instance of a circuit block under test may be coupled with the first power supply network during a first test run and coupled with the second power supply network during a second test run. The power consumption of the circuit block may be determined based on the first and second test runs. |
| US09696774B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling power supply
A demand response apparatus receives from a supply resource utilizing apparatus a signal indicating whether power supply from the demand response apparatus to the supply resource utilizing apparatus is possible, estimates a first power usage of the demand response apparatus for a first time interval, changes an operation of the demand response apparatus, estimates a second power usage for a second time interval after the changing of the operation of the demand response apparatus, calculates supply power available to the supply resource utilizing apparatus based on the estimated first power usage and the estimated second power usage, and transmits information about the available supply power to the supply resource utilizing apparatus. |
| US09696770B2 |
Flexible tier data center
A server cooling system includes: a flex-switch with one or more flexible building bridges; one or more utility farms coupled with the flex-switch; a power distribution unit operably connected to the flex-switch; and a server POD including one or more racks operably connected to the power distribution unit. The flex-switch is configurable to include additional utility farms, one or more generator farms, and one or more UPS farms. |
| US09696768B2 |
Touch type organic light emitting diode display device
An organic light emitting diode display device includes a display portion including a substrate, and an organic light emitting diode on the substrate; and an electromagnetic induction sensor portion attached to a bottom of the display portion, wherein the electromagnetic induction sensor portion includes: a back plate; a protection layer covering a bottom of the back plate; and a loop antenna pattern on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the back plate. |
| US09696766B1 |
Double-jointed hinge for computer keyboard
The double-jointed hinge comprises a dual hinge part, first rotary part, second rotary part and at least one conductor assembly wherein the conductor assembly is sandwiched between the dual hinge part and the two rotary parts. The dual hinge part is connected to the keyboard by a cylindrical column, and connected to the computer by another cylindrical column. The cylindrical column is partially received in a cylindrical column hole in the keyboard and received in a cylindrical column hole in the dual hinge part, and in a similar manner, the other cylindrical column is received in a cylindrical column hole in the computer and partially received in a cylindrical column hole in the dual hinge part. A multiple of four dual hinge parts are used to connect the keyboard and the computer. |
| US09696756B1 |
Device case with added functionality
A case for a device includes a plurality of walls defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity. A first one of the walls is opposite the opening and is configured as a support surface to support a portion of a first housing of the device and also has a first recess therein configured to receive a portion of at least a first end of a band of the device. A second one of the walls defines an edge of the opening that is configured to extend along a center support of the band with the optical element of the device being positioned between the second one of the walls and the support surface when the device is received in the cavity. The case also includes a lid configured to cover the opening and to selectively enclose the interior cavity. |
| US09696755B2 |
Opening and closing device, and electronic device
There is provided an opening and closing device including a base; a movable member that is moved between a retracted position and a forward position by making linear movement and rotational movement with respect to the base; and a locking system for locking the movable member at the retracted position, wherein locking of the movable member by the locking system is released by rotationally moving the movable member, and thereby the linear movement of the movable member is allowed. |
| US09696752B2 |
Dynamically stabilized magnetic array
This application relates to devices and accessories that include or are configured to react with a mixture of electromagnets and permanent magnets. In particular the permanent magnets are configured to maintain persistent connections between components while the electromagnets are configured to pulse or activate periodically to maintain the connections or fix alignment of the various connections in certain circumstances. |
| US09696751B2 |
Substrate with transparent electrode, method for manufacturing same, and touch panel
A substrate is provided with a transparent electrode in which the pattern is hardly visible even when the transparent electrode layer has been patterned, and a method for manufacturing thereof is provided. On at least one of the surfaces of a transparent film, a first, second, and third dielectric material layer, and a patterned transparent electrode layer are included, in this order, each preferably having a film thickness and refractive index within a specific range. The first and third dielectric material layers are silicon oxide layers containing SiOx and SiOv as main components, respectively. The second dielectric material layer is a metal oxide layer containing a metal oxide. The transparent electrode layer is a conductive metal oxide layer containing an indium-tin composite oxide as a main component. The refractive indexes of the first (n1), second (n2), and third (n3) dielectric material layers satisfy the relationship n3 |
| US09696749B2 |
Control devices, systems, and methods for self-propelled machinery
Control devices and systems for self-propelled machinery and related methods are disclosed. In one aspect, a control device for self-propelled machinery includes a central portion disposed between a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion and at least one pressure sensitive trigger control provided over either the first or the second gripping portion. The trigger control can be configured to reduce a speed of the self-propelled machinery by actuating a portion of a potentiometer for varying an electrical signal carried by the control device. In some aspects, the control device can electrically communicate with a control unit of the self-propelled machinery. |
| US09696748B2 |
Vehicular grip structure
A vehicle grip structure including a body member and a grip, in which the body member is covered by the grip made of a synthetic resin, the grip includes an insertion hole in which the body member is inserted and a space portion provided along the insertion hole, multiple elastic protrusions are formed integrally with the grip and dispersedly on one of an inner peripheral-side wall surface and an outer peripheral-side wall surface of the space portion so as to protrude toward the other wall surface, when the grip is held by a driver, the elastic protrusions are pressed against the other wall surface and elastically deformed, and the elastic protrusions are arranged in a grid pattern in which adjoining ones of multiple polygons of the same shape have a common side, and are positioned so as to form each side of the polygons. |
| US09696747B1 |
Programmable reference voltage regulator
An example a voltage regulator includes: a bias circuit coupled to an output node; a first operational amplifier having a first input coupled to the output node, a second input coupled to a reference voltage node, and an output coupled to a first node; a second operational amplifier having a first input coupled to the output node, a second input coupled to the reference voltage node, and an output coupled to a second node; an output transistor coupled between the output node and a ground node, the output transistor including a gate; first, second, and third stacked transistor pairs each serially coupled between the output node and the ground node, each transistor of the first, second, and third stacked transistor pairs including a gate; and switch circuits configured to selectively couple: the gates of the first and second stacked transistor pairs to the second node; and the gate of the output transistor to the first node. |
| US09696745B2 |
Apparatus for producing constant direct load current
An apparatus for producing constant direct load current comprises a DC voltage source (DCVS), a DC-to-pulse voltage converter (DCPVC), a pulse-to-DC voltage converter (PDCVC), a DC stabilizer (DCS) and a control circuit (CC). The DCPVC is connected to the DCVC by its inputs and to the PDCVC by its outputs. A PDCVC output is connected to a DCPVC first control input and to a DCS first input, whose second input is connected to a DCVS positive output and whose first output is an apparatus output. A CC first input is connected to the PDCVC output, a CC second input is connected to a DCS second output, a CC first output is connected to a DCVS negative output, and a CC second output is connected to a DCPVC second control input. The result is stabilization of dissipation power in the stabilizer. |
| US09696744B1 |
CMOS low voltage bandgap reference design with orthogonal output voltage trimming
Bandgap Voltage Reference circuits configured to produce reference voltages with both voltage offset and a voltage temperature slope are disclosed. By generating the voltage offset from a temperature-independent current, the voltage offset of the reference voltage may be temperature-independent, while generating the voltage temperature slope from a temperature-dependent current allows the voltage temperature slope to vary with temperature. To ensure that the voltage offset remains independent from the voltage temperature slope, an apparatus is disclosed for orthogonal trimming of voltage offset and voltage temperature slope. |
| US09696739B2 |
Sensing a switching-power-supply phase current
In an embodiment, a coupled-inductor structure includes first and second windings. The first winding is configured to conduct a phase current, has a first node configured for coupling to a phase node of a power supply, and has a second node configured for coupling to an output node of the power supply and to a first node of a sense impedance that is configured to generate a sense signal representative of the phase current. And the second winding is configured for magnetic coupling with the first winding, has a first node coupled to the first node of the first winding, and has a second node configured for coupling to a second node of the sense impedance. For example, the first winding may be a phase inductor of a switching power supply, and the impedance may be a capacitor that generates a sense voltage representative of the phase current. |
| US09696735B2 |
Context adaptive cool-to-dry feature for HVAC controller
A thermostat and a method include using occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, and humidity sensors to control activation of a cooling function of an HVAC system to dehumidify an enclosure. During times when the enclosure is occupied, the cooling function is activated when the humidity exceeds a first threshold humidity, and continues until the humidity drops below a second threshold humidity or the temperature drops below a first threshold temperature. During times when the enclosure is unoccupied, the cooling function is activated when the humidity exceeds a third threshold humidity, and continues until the humidity drops below a fourth threshold humidity or the temperature drops below a second threshold temperature. |
| US09696734B2 |
Active power stealing
A thermostat and related methods are described for controlling one or more functions, such as heating and cooling in an HVAC. According to some embodiments the thermostat includes a switching circuit for controlling an HVAC function, where closing the switching circuit activates the HVAC function. The thermostat may also include power harvesting circuitry adapted and arranged to harvest power from the HVAC system, where during times when the HVAC function is active the switching circuit opens for a time interval. The power harvesting circuitry may harvest power from the HVAC system during the time interval, and the time interval may be short enough that the HVAC function remains activated without interruption during the time interval. |
| US09696732B2 |
Valve device having passage defining member holding restrictor body without connection portion
A valve device includes a valve seat forming member, a case, a first O-ring, and a second O-ring. The valve seat forming member is fit into a passage defining and forms a valve seat. The case houses an electromagnetic solenoid and is connected to the passage defining member. The first O-ring is interposed between an inner circumferential surface of the passage defining member and an outer circumferential surface of the valve seat forming member. The first O-ring prohibits the fluid from flowing through a space between the passage defining member and the valve seat forming member when the main valve body seats on the valve seat. The second O-ring is interposed between the case and the passage defining member. The second O-ring prohibits the fluid from flowing from the passage to an outside of the passage defining member. |
| US09696727B2 |
Fluid control apparatus and thermal sensor installation structure with respect to fluid control apparatus
The present invention provides a fluid control apparatus which allows installation of a thermal sensor for temperature control by a simple work by an effective utilization of a space in the fluid control apparatus, and a thermal sensor installation structure with respect to the fluid control apparatus. The fluid control apparatus 1 includes a first fluid control instrument 3 and a second fluid control instrument 4 adjacent to each other and the thermal sensor 17 configured to measure a temperature of a fluid flowing in the first fluid control instrument 3. The fluid control apparatus 1 further includes a supporting member 19 configured to support the thermal sensor 17 attached to the second fluid control instrument 4. |
| US09696719B2 |
Super landmarks as navigation aids
Systems and methods are provided for autonomously navigating a vehicle along a road segment. In one implementation, a system includes at least one processor programmed to receive from a camera at least one image representative of an environment of the vehicle. The at least one image may be analyzed to identify at least one recognized landmark based upon one or more landmark group characteristics associated with a group of recognized landmarks. The current location of the vehicle relative to a predetermined road model trajectory associated with the road segment may be determined based, at least in part, on a predetermined location of the recognized landmark. An autonomous steering action for the vehicle may be determined based on a direction of the predetermined road model trajectory at the determined current location of the vehicle relative to the predetermined road model trajectory. |
| US09696716B2 |
Method for serial personalization of smart cards
A method for the serial personalization of smart cards in a production chain includes a phase of detecting a smart card already personalized and physically defective, and a phase of retrieving a serial number of the physically defective smart card, to be assigned to a smart card not yet personalized in the production chain. The physically defective smart card and the smart card not yet personalized are loaded together in the production chain wherein the physically defective smart card is rendered unusable, and the not yet personalized smart card receives the serial number retrieved from the physically defective smart card. |
| US09696711B2 |
Processing instructing device, processing instructing method, computer program and processing device
A processing indicating device to improve the efficiency of processing on an object. The device includes a first communication unit which communicates information with a plurality of processing devices for processing the object and a second communication unit which communicates information with a conveyance controlling device controlling conveying of the object to the plurality of processing devices. An arrival time predicting unit predicts on the basis of information received by the second communication unit, the time when the conveying device arrives at one of the processing devices. In addition, a finish time predicting unit receives information and predicts the time when the processing on the object in the one processing device finishes. A processing indicating unit causes processing control information that orders the execution of device state improvement treatment to be transmitted to the one processing device on the basis of the predicted respective times. |
| US09696710B2 |
Method and system for measuring the dynamic response of a structure during a machining process
A machine implement includes sensors that measure a force imparted by the machine implement to a structure during a machining process. A sensor array coupled to the structure measures the vibrational response of the structure to the imparted force. Analysis software compares the imparted force to the vibrational response to generate a transfer function for the structure. Based on the transfer function, a tool-path of the machine implement may be adjusted such that the resulting structure has precise vibrational characteristics that substantially comply with a set of design goals for the structure. |
| US09696709B2 |
Method and system for computing reference signals for machines with redundant positioning
A method computes reference signals for a machine with redundant positioning by first generating a reference trajectory according to an ordered list of points. Then, using a filter or by choosing the value of the reference at each sampling time, a reference trajectory for the slow subsystem is produced. Next, determine whether the reference trajectory and the slow subsystem reference trajectory violate feasibility constraints, and if true, slowing down the reference trajectory and repeating with the generation of the slow subsystem reference trajectory. The slow subsystem reference trajectory is sent, via a model predictive control block, to a slow positioning subsystem controller, and a combination of the slow subsystem reference trajectory and the reference trajectory is sent to a fast positioning subsystem controller. |
| US09696707B2 |
Method of controlling tool orientation and step-over distance in face milling of curvilinear surfaces
A method for performing a milling operation includes providing a milling cutter and a workpiece having an non-machined workpiece surface; receiving a set of milling cutter geometry parameters; creating a curvilinear profile from the workpiece surface; extracting a radius parameter from the curvilinear profile; determining an initial step-over value in response to the set of milling cutter geometry parameters; determining a surface roughness value in response to the set of milling cutter geometry parameters, the curvilinear profile of the workpiece surface, the radius parameter, and an initial tool inclination angle; determining a minimum surface roughness value in response to the cutter inclination angle value; and adjusting a calculated step-over value in response to the minimum surface roughness value where the calculated step-over value and the calculated inclination angle value are applied to operating the milling cutter. |
| US09696705B2 |
Normalized control of an IHS component
A component control system includes a component. At least one component element is included in the component. A component controller is included in the component, coupled to the at least one component element, and operable to couple to an Information Handling System (IHS) controller. The component controller is operable to receive a normalized component performance (NCP) value from the IHS controller. The NCP value is associated with at least one component output range. The component controller is also operable to provide a control signal that is associated with the NCP value to the at least one component element. In response to receiving the control signal, the at least one component element operates such that the component produces at least one component output, and each component output produced by the component is within a corresponding component output range. |
| US09696704B2 |
Plug and play motor control system
A motor control system is provided that includes a communication gateway that facilitates connection of components, such as a motor starter, an operator interface, and a terminal block, through a digital communication link. The communication gateway includes control logic designed to discover interface and operational components connected to the digital communication link upon start-up of the motor control system. The control logic may then set up an operational profile for the motor control system based on the discovered components. For example, the control logic may retrieve and load an operational profile that corresponds to the set of discovered components from a storage of the communication gateway. The operational profile can then be used during operation of the motor control system to govern the functionality of the motor control system. |
| US09696703B2 |
Method and apparatus for ensuring air quality in a building, including method and apparatus for controlling a working device using a handheld unit having scanning, networking, display and input capability
A method for wirelessly controlling a working device using a handheld unit, the method comprising: connecting the working device to a central server by a network, wherein the working device is uniquely identified on the network by an assigned network address, and further wherein the working device and the central server are configured so that the central server can receive data concerning operation of the working device, and control operation of the working device, via the network; positioning a device-specific identification marker at the working device, wherein the device-specific identification marker is linked to the assigned network address of the working device; scanning the device-specific identification marker with the handheld unit, whereby to identify the working device and the assigned network address linked to the working device; and using the handheld unit to cause the central server to communicate with and control the working device at the assigned network address, whereby to allow the user to control operation of the working device via the handheld device and/or to receive data concerning the working device from the central server. |
| US09696697B2 |
Automatic switching of HMI screens based on process, task, and abnormal deviation in a power plant
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to automatic switching of HMI (human-machine interface) screens based on process, task, and abnormal deviation in a power plant. According to one embodiment, a method is provided. The method can include monitoring one or more processes occurring during the operation of a turbine power plant in a steady state monitoring sequence, in which a plurality of overview screens are monitored, and at least one process state is determined. If the at least one process state indicates a predefined condition has occurred, at least one human interface screen can be presented to a user for troubleshooting, based at least in part on the severity of the predefined condition. If the determined process state does not indicate the predefined condition is present, and the at least one determined process state indicates an automated task sequence, the method present a sequence of preconfigured task screens to a user. |
| US09696694B2 |
Parameter setting device
A technique that allows determination of appropriate control parameter values automatically. A constraint evaluation indicator setting unit sets, to each of a plurality of additional constraints, a third evaluation indicator obtained by combining a first evaluation indicator that indicates a level of influence on other control parameters when a control parameter is changed, and a second evaluation indicator that indicates weight according to a property including importance and the like. A constraint satisfaction solution retrieve unit retrieves a combination of control parameter values that satisfies constraints. When the constraint satisfaction solution retrieve unit fails to retrieve the combination of control parameter values, a constraint relaxing unit relaxes the additional constraints in accordance with the third evaluation indicator. |
| US09696685B2 |
Image forming apparatus having cartridges
An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a first cartridge; a second cartridge; and a retaining member. The main body includes a first power-supplying part; and a second power-supplying part. The first cartridge includes a first power-receiving part. The second cartridge includes a second power-receiving part. The first and second power-receiving parts are configured to contact with the first and second power-supplying parts respectively. The retaining member is configured to retain the first and second cartridges and includes one side wall having a frame formed of a resin material and a reinforcing member formed of a metal material. A top edge of the frame is positioned lower than top edges of the first and second power-receiving parts. A top edge of the reinforcing member is positioned at a same vertical position as or lower than the top edge of the frame. |
| US09696683B2 |
Electronic device and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a front cover and a maintenance cover. The front cover has a support section, an interference section, and a projection. The support section is supported by a housing of the image forming apparatus so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis. The interference section extends rearward from an edge of the front cover. The projection is located on a contact surface that comes in or out of contact with a specific section of the maintenance cover as the front cover is closed or opened with the maintenance cover in a closed state. The specific section of the maintenance cover has a hole. The projection fits in the hole. |
| US09696677B2 |
Sheet conveyance apparatus that ensures grounding of discharging member and conveyance roller with simple configuration, and image forming apparatus including the same
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a housing, a rotationally driven conductive shaft, a conveyance roller, a drive transmission unit, a conductive bearing member, a conductive discharging member, a cover member, and a conductive grounding member. The bearing member rotatably supports one end side of a shaft in a sheet width direction. The conductive discharging member is disposed in the openings. The discharging member discharges sheets by contacting the sheets. The cover member is secured to the sidewall along the one end side of the housing in the sheet width direction. The cover member includes a conductive grounding portion for electrical grounding. The conductive grounding member contacts the bearing member and the one end side of the discharging member along the sheet width direction. The grounding member conducts the bearing member and the discharging member to the grounding portion of the cover member. |
| US09696673B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
The image forming apparatus controls each laser scanner by setting the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction to form the color registration correction image for correcting color registration at position according to the detection result of the image detection sensor. When forming the image on the sheet, the image forming apparatus sets the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction according to the detection result of the image detection sensor and the amount of skew of the sheet to control each laser scanner. When forming the density detection toner image for correcting the density, the image forming apparatus sets the writing start timing in the sub-scanning direction to form the image at a position shifted by a pixel unit from the image forming position on the sheet. |
| US09696671B1 |
Fuser belt to be used in an electrophotographic printer
This invention discloses a polyimide fuser belt incorporating synthetic graphite or expanded synthetic graphite as a filler. The resulting fuser belt has increased thermal diffusivity without sacrificing mechanical strength. Fuser belts made with synthetic or expanded synthetic graphite enable electrophotographic printers to exhibit superior fuse temperatures and better print speeds across a range of different media types. |
| US09696669B2 |
Fuser device and image forming apparatus
A fuser device is provided with a first endless belt, a heat application member that is enclosed by the first endless belt and heats the first endless belt, a fuser member enclosed by the first endless belt, a second endless belt of which rigidity is higher than that of the first endless belt, a pressure application member that is enclosed by the second endless belt and applies a pressure to developers on a carried recording medium in the contact part with the fuser member, and a support part forming part that forms a support part of the first endless belt and the second endless belt. |
| US09696667B2 |
Constraining mechanism, cleaning device, image carrier unit, and image forming apparatus
A constraining mechanism includes a porous member that is in contact with a rotating body, which rotates about a rotation axis, and restrains foreign objects from moving in an axial direction of the rotating body and a covering portion that covers a portion of the porous member including an end portion of the porous member located upstream in a direction of rotation of the rotating body and that is in contact with the rotating body as a result of being pressed by the porous member. |
| US09696663B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Provided is an image forming apparatus in which an electrostatic latent image is developed using developer to which externally added particles have been added. In the image forming apparatus, a cleaning operation in which the developer borne by an intermediate transfer member is transferred to an image bearing member and removed from the surface of the image bearing member with a cleaning member can be executed in a non-image-formation period in which the development of the electrostatic latent image is not performed. The image bearing member is in contact with a developer bearing member and the intermediate transfer member at least within a period in which the cleaning operation is executed within the non-image-formation period. |
| US09696662B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A cleaning device includes an upstream cleaner, an upstream cleaner, and a collection member. The upstream cleaner is configured to remove toner from a surface of a cleaning target. The downstream cleaner is disposed downstream from the upstream cleaner in a direction of movement of the surface of the cleaning target. The downstream cleaner is configured to remove toner from the surface of the cleaning target. The collection member is configured to collect toner from the downstream cleaner. |
| US09696660B1 |
Toner cartridge for an electronic imaging device
A toner cartridge includes a cylinder having an opening and accommodating carbon powder, a transmission member having a pipe portion sleeved onto the cylinder, an end portion and at least one outlet communicating with the opening, a powder guiding member having a main body disposed at the end portion and blades extended from the main body radially, and a powder storing cover having a cover body sleeved onto the pipe portion and a powder exit located under the powder guiding member. As a result, the carbon powder can leave the cylinder through the opening, enter the powder storing cover through the outlet, and be driven by the rotation of each blade of the powder guiding member to move to the powder exit, thereby discharged for usage in an electronic imaging device. The toner cartridge is simple in structure, convenient and fast in assembly, and less possibly has false actions. |
| US09696658B2 |
Developer container, developing apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developer container, which includes an opening and is configured to store developer therein, includes a developer conveyance plate configured to convey the developer. The developer conveyance plate includes a vibration target unit configured to receive a vibration, and conveys the developer in a first direction in which the developer is conveyed toward an opening side, and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The developer is conveyed by the vibration transmitted from the vibration target unit with use of a resultant force generated by adding a conveyance component in the first direction and a conveyance component in the second direction. A maximum acceleration a1 (max) in the first direction that is provided to the developer conveyance plate by the vibration transmitted from the vibration target unit is set to a lower acceleration than a maximum acceleration a2 (max) in an opposite direction from the first direction. |
| US09696657B2 |
Developer container, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus
A removable device to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body includes a container body to store developer; a discharge opening to discharge the developer inside the container body; an internal shutter to open and close the discharge opening; an external shutter to open and close the discharge opening, the external shutter being disposed at an outer side with respect to the internal shutter, wherein the internal shutter and the external shutter are configured to be driven separately. |
| US09696655B2 |
Cartridge and image forming device
A cartridge includes: a casing including a developer accommodation part for accommodating developer; an agitator for agitating the developer and rotatable about a first rotational axis extending in an axial direction; a receiving member rotatable about a second rotational axis upon receipt of a drive force inputted thereto; a first drive-force transmission member rotatable about a third rotational axis upon receipt of the drive force from the receiving member; and a second drive-force transmission member rotatable about the first rotational axis together with the agitator. The second drive-force transmission member can contact the first drive-force transmission member and receive the drive force therefrom, the first rotational axis being positioned closer to the second rotational axis than the third rotational axis is to the second rotational axis when projected in the axial direction of the agitator. |
| US09696651B2 |
Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes a light-irradiation unit configured to move a spot of laser light on a surface of a photosensitive member at a non-constant scanning velocity in a main scanning direction to form a latent image on the photosensitive member, an image data correcting unit configured to correct a length in the main scanning direction of image data by inserting one or more image data pieces into the image data, the number of the image data pieces increasing as the scanning velocity increases, and/or extracting one or more image data pieces from the image data, the number of the image data pieces increasing as the scanning velocity decreases, and a brightness correcting unit configured to correct a brightness of the laser light so that an emission brightness increases as the scanning velocity increases and/or the emission brightness decreases as the scanning velocity decreases. |
| US09696649B2 |
Optical head, optical print head, image formation apparatus, and image reader
An optical head includes a lens array including resin lenses, a holder that holds the lens array, and a positioning mechanism that positions the holder such that the holder is opposed to a target. The positioning mechanism is configured to change a distance between the lens array and the target depending on a change in at least any one of temperature and humidity. |
| US09696647B2 |
Electrostatic latent image developing toner
An electrostatic latent image developing toner contains toner particles each containing a toner core, and a shell layer dividedly disposed as a plurality of segments on a surface of the toner core. The shell layer contains a hydrophobic thermoplastic resin and a hydrophilic thermosetting resin. A toner core-shell layer interface formation rate is 3.78×106 m−1 or more and 7.02×106 m−1 or less. A ratio of the hydrophobic thermoplastic resin to the toner core is 0.40% by mass or more and 1.55% by mass or less. |
| US09696639B2 |
Projection exposure system for microlithography with a measurement device
A projection exposure system (10) for microlithography which includes: a mask holding device (14) holding a mask (18) with mask structures (20) disposed on the mask, a substrate holding device (36) holding a substrate (30), projection optics (26) imaging the mask structures (20) onto the substrate (30) during an exposure process, and a measurement structure (48) disposed in a defined position with respect to a reference element (16) of the projection exposure system (10), which defined position is mechanically uncoupled from the position of the mask holding device (14). The projection exposure system (10) also includes a detector (52) arranged to record an image of the measurement structure (48) imaged by the projection optics (26). The projection exposure system (10) is configured such that during operation of the projection exposure system (10) the imaging of the mask structures (20) and the imaging of the measurement structure (48) take place at the same time by the projection optics (26. An evaluation device (54) is configured to establish a lateral position of the image of the measurement structure (48) in the area of the detector (52) during the exposure process. |
| US09696636B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method and computer program
The invention relates to intensity values for a plurality of beams used to irradiate a plurality of locations on a target are determined with reference to the position and/or rotation of the locations. Also provided is an associated lithographic or exposure apparatus, an associated device manufacturing method and an associated computer program. |
| US09696635B2 |
Method of controlling a lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method, lithographic apparatus, computer program product and method of improving a mathematical model of a lithographic process
A method of controlling a lithographic apparatus, the method including setting an illumination system of the lithographic apparatus to effect a selected illumination mode, measuring a value of a first parameter of the lithographic apparatus, calculating a value of a second parameter of a projected image of a feature of a test pattern having a plurality of features using a model of the lithographic apparatus and the measured value of the first parameter, and controlling the lithographic apparatus with reference to the calculated value of the second parameter. |
| US09696628B2 |
Pattern forming method
According to one embodiment, a pattern forming method includes forming a resist pattern on an under-layer, forming a recessed portion in the under-layer by etching the under-layer using the resist pattern as a mask, slimming the resist pattern, forming a neutral layer having an affinity for first and second polymers on a region of the under-layer not covered with the slimmed resist pattern, forming a block copolymer film containing the first polymer and the second polymer on the slimmed resist pattern and the neutral layer, and forming a microphase separation pattern comprising a first portion formed of the first polymer and a second portion formed of the second polymer by applying microphase separation processing to the block copolymer film. |
| US09696627B2 |
Compositions comprising base-reactive component and processes for photolithography
New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise one or more materials that have base-reactive groups. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing. |
| US09696626B2 |
Composition for forming a resist underlayer film, and pattern-forming method
A composition for forming a resist underlayer film is provided, which contains: a calixarene-based compound obtained from a calixarene by substituting at least a part of hydrogen atoms each on phenolic hydroxyl groups comprised in the calixarene, with a monovalent organic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; and an organic solvent. The monovalent organic group preferably includes a crosslinkable group. A part of hydrogen atoms each on phenolic hydroxyl groups of the calixarene-based compound is preferably substituted. The ratio of the number of substituted phenolic hydroxyl groups to the number of unsubstituted phenolic hydroxyl groups in the calixarene-based compound is preferably no less than 30/70 and no greater than 99/1. |
| US09696623B2 |
Photosensitive compositions and applications thereof
The present invention relates to photosensitive compositions containing polynorbornene (PNB) polymers and certain additives that are useful for forming microelectronic and/or optoelectronic devices and assemblies thereof, and more specifically to compositions encompassing PNBs and certain hindered phenols as additives which are capable of controlling the adhesiveness by radiation. |
| US09696622B2 |
Compositions and processes for immersion lithography
New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise one or more materials that can be substantially non-mixable with a resin component of the resist. Further preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise 1) Si substitution, 2) fluorine substitution; 3) hyperbranched polymers; and/or 4) polymeric particles. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing. |
| US09696621B2 |
Optical waveguide photosensitive resin composition including a diaryliodonium cation-based photoacid generator, photocurable film for forming optical waveguide core layer, optical waveguide using same, and mixed flexible printed circuit board for optical/electrical transmission
Provided is an optical waveguide photosensitive resin composition containing a photocurable resin and a photopolymerization initiator, in which the photopolymerization initiator is a specific photoacid generator represented by the general formula (1). Accordingly, when a core layer is formed by using the optical waveguide photosensitive resin composition as a material for forming an optical waveguide, especially a core layer-forming material, excellent high transparency (low loss effect) is obtained. In the formula (1), R1 and R2 each represent hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and may be identical to or different from each other. |
| US09696620B2 |
Composition, method for producing film with the composition, and method for producing liquid discharge head
A composition includes a photoacid generator and a fluorine-containing epoxy resin that is a polymer of monomers that include an acrylic monomer (a) having a perfluoropolyether group having 9 or more carbon atoms and an acrylic monomer (b) having an epoxy group in a composition ratio such that a number of acrylic functional groups derived from the acrylic monomer (b) is larger than a number of acrylic functional groups derived from the acrylic monomer (a). |
| US09696617B2 |
Screen vibration for reducing speckle
The present disclosure provides discussion of screen vibration to reduce speckle in display applications and/or projection screens. Electrical transducers or reactors may be used with a screen to reduce or remove speckle in projection screens and/or display applications. Electrical transducers may not be directly mounted to a screen, thus eliminating many mechanical failure modes associated with a vibrating transducer as well as resulting in a much quieter operation. By design, the reactors or transducers may actually contact the screen, and can take up less than one square inch of screen surface each, than previous designs, which may be outside of the active viewing area and within 12 inches of the screen border, preferably less than approximately 1 inch from screen edge. The reactors are magnets, though any ferrous material can be made to work with certain operating conditions. |
| US09696613B2 |
Image processing apparatus, projector and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to image a region including a target on which an image is projected to acquire imaged data, a distance measuring unit configured to compute distance data associated with a distance between the target and the imaging unit based on the imaged data acquired from the imaging unit, a plane estimating unit configured to estimate a plane corresponding to the target based on the distance data, and a range specifying unit configured to generate image data associated with the region based on the imaged data and specify a projectable range to the target based on the image data and in formation associated with the plane. |
| US09696612B2 |
Optical redirection adapter
An optical redirection adapter for an electronic device having a camera includes a housing and an optical element. The optical element is attached to the housing and positioned such that, when the adapter is attached the electronic device, the optical element is positioned in the camera's field of view. The optical element reflects light in the camera's field of view from a redirection angle that is offset from the camera's field of view. The optical redirection adapter facilitates ergonomically sound use of the camera. |
| US09696610B2 |
Chain link fence attachment clip
The purpose of this clip is to attach to a chain link fence and provide a connection point for a device or structure. The method of attachment is provided by two mechanically combined structural members with peripheral retaining grooves that fit the fence wire. The clip is compressed or expanded to grip two parallel wires of a chain link fence. The structural members of the clip move the retaining grooves in parallel for a precise fit with the fence. The clip can be engaged with the fence in an internal or external manner. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the chain link fence clip utilizes a spring to force the two retaining grooves into engagement with the fence. The clip can be locked in place for a strong semi-permanent connection. Springs, cams, linkages, and screws can be used to automate engagement for quick tool-less attachment and removal. |
| US09696609B2 |
Camera housing for reducing internal reflections and camera comprising same
A camera includes a camera housing with a housing wall demarcating the interior of the camera housing, an optical aperture and a lenslet aperture extending through the housing wall, and an opaque blocking wall adjoined to and extending inwardly from the housing wall and circumscribing the lenslet aperture; a lenslet in the lenslet aperture aligned with an on-camera light source; a lens contained within the camera housing and aligned with the optical aperture to receive light entering the camera housing through the optical aperture; an imager within the camera housing and aligned with the lens to capture light passing through the lens; and circuitry contained within the camera housing communicative with the imager and operable to operate the camera. The circuitry includes a printed circuit board that abuts the opaque blocking wall and on which is mounted a light source positioned to be circumscribed by the opaque blocking wall. |
| US09696604B1 |
Method for forming a self-aligned Mach-Zehnder interferometer
A method of forming a waveguide for a self-aligned Mach-Zehnder-Interferometer. The method includes forming a waveguide on a substrate and providing a first mask with a first opening exposing a first width and a pair of second widths towards opposite sides of the first width. Additionally, the method includes doping a first dopant of a first concentration through the first opening into a first thickness of the waveguide to form a first semiconducting phase thereof. The method includes providing a second mask with a second opening exposing part of the waveguide and doping a second dopant of a second concentration through the second opening into the part of the waveguide to form a second semiconductor phase thereof sharing a boundary with the first semiconducting phase to form a PN junction across the boundary. The boundary is allowed to vary with a margin of tolerance within the first width. |
| US09696599B2 |
Display device and electronic apparatus
According to an aspect, a display device has a first electrode, a second electrode and liquid crystal layer. When a voltage is not applied to the first and second electrodes, the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a third direction. When a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, the major axes are oriented so as to rise in a direction perpendicular to a first substrate while rotating clockwise in a vicinity of one of long sides of comb tooth portion that face each other and counterclockwise in a vicinity of the other of the long sides. An angle between an electrode base-side portion of a long side of each comb tooth portions and the third direction is larger than an angle between a distal end-side portion of the long side of each comb tooth portions and the third direction. |
| US09696592B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In order to avoid generation of black unevenness caused by the water intrusion into a liquid crystal display device, there is to provide a liquid crystal display device including a display area and a terminal portion, in which a TFT substrate with an organic passivation film formed and an opposite substrate are adhered to each other by a seal portion and a liquid crystal is enclosed there, wherein in the seal portion of the TFT substrate, a groove-shaped through-hole is formed in the organic passivation film to surround the display area, a water absorption layer formed of the same material in the same process as that of the organic passivation film is formed within the groove-shaped through-hole, and the water absorption layer is not covered with the inorganic insulating film. |
| US09696591B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and manufacturing method thereof, and display apparatus
The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display apparatus comprising the liquid crystal panel, which relates to the field of display technology, and can avoid the problem that the sealant is separated from the first substrate and/or the second substrate while the liquid crystal panel is bent. The liquid crystal panel of the present invention comprises a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate are aligned with each other to form a liquid crystal cell, and the liquid crystal cell is sealed with sealant, wherein, at least one convex structure is provided in a region which corresponds to position of the sealant on the first substrate and/or the second substrate. |
| US09696590B2 |
Liquid crystal display
There is provided a liquid crystal display, including: a first substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes comprising a pixel electrode disposed on the first substrate and including a plate-like electrode having a plate shape and a plurality of minute branches extending from a side of the plate-like electrode to the outside; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a plurality of common electrodes comprising a common electrode disposed below the second substrate and including a plurality of minute branches positioned to correspond to the plate-like electrode of the pixel electrode and the plate-like electrode positioned to corresponding to the plurality of minute branches of the pixel electrode; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US09696589B2 |
In-cell polarizer, liquid crystal display including the same, and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a light source unit, a first substrate provided on the light source unit, an electrode layer provided on the first substrate, a second substrate separate from the electrode layer, a polarizing plate provided on a surface of the second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the electrode layer and the second substrate, a reflecting unit provided on a surface of the first substrate; and a wire grid polarizer provided on an opposite surface of the first substrate. |
| US09696583B2 |
Switchable type display device and method of driving the same
A switchable type display device includes: a display panel displaying an image; and a lens panel refracting or transmitting a light emitted from the display panel, the lens panel comprising: first and second substrates facing and spaced apart from each other; first and second electrodes on an inner surface of at least one of the first and second substrates; a lens layer between the first and second substrates; and a liquid crystal layer between the lens layer and one of the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer including a nano liquid crystal having a nano capsule filled with a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. |
| US09696582B2 |
Array substrate, method for manufacturing the same, liquid crystal display panel
The present invention provides an array substrate, a method for manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display panel. The array substrate includes a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array, each pixel unit comprising a reflection region and a transmission region, and for any pixel unit, the array substrate comprising a substrate; a thin film transistor provided on the substrate; and a reflection electrode and a first transparent electrode which are electrically connected with each other, the reflection electrode being located in the reflection region, and the first transparent electrode being located in the transmission region, wherein a first transparent insulation layer is provided between the reflection electrode and the first transparent electrode, and the reflection electrode is on a side of the first transparent insulation layer which is closer to the substrate. |
| US09696579B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal displaying device
A liquid crystal panel includes, sequentially stacked, a glass cover plate, a first polarizer, a liquid crystal layer, a second polarizer, and a glass bottom plate. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The first polarizer includes first absorption axes and second absorption axes. The second polarizer includes third absorption axes and fourth absorption axes. The first absorption axes of the first polarizer and the third absorption axes of the second polarizer have axial directions that are orthogonal to each other and form a first orthogonal system. The second absorption axes of the second polarizer and the fourth absorption axes of the second polarizer have axial directions that are orthogonal to each other and form a second orthogonal system. The first orthogonal system and the second orthogonal system define therebetween an included angle of 45 degrees. |
| US09696578B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device including a substrate, a plurality of data lines disposed on the substrate, a first color filter disposed between a first data line and a second data line that are adjacent to each other among the data lines, a first dummy color filter configured to overlap a third data line that is adjacent to the first data line, be separated from the first color filter, and display a same color as that of the first color filter, and a second color filter disposed at a region between the first data line and the third data line and configured to display a color different from that of the first color filter. A thickness of the first dummy color filter is smaller than that of the first color filter, and the second color filter is disposed on the first dummy color filter. |
| US09696577B2 |
Reflective type display device
According to one embodiment, a reflective type liquid crystal display device provided can suppress light leakage into a thin film transistor due to entry of extraneous light. An array substrate includes a glass substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors, a plurality of pixel electrodes, and a metal film. The plurality of thin film transistors are provided to the glass substrate. The plurality of pixel electrodes are spaced apart from each other and driven by the thin film transistors. The plurality of pixel electrodes reflect extraneous light entering the reflective type display device from a counter substrate side. The metal film is provided between a gap between the pixel electrodes and each of the thin film transistors. |
| US09696576B2 |
Pen writing on one-dimensional capacitive touch sensor
A touch panel includes a base, which is a liquid crystal module serving as a ground; a flexible dielectric layer over the base; and a one-dimensional pattern layer with sensor cells positioned as the same layer over the flexible dielectric layer. The sensor cells form a sensor array, and each of the sensor cells is individually controlled and sensed via an independent sensing line, wherein press sensing control is conducted according to a capacitance change resulting from a distance change between the sensor array and the base in response to an external force, and touch or gesture-based sensing control is conducted according to a capacitance change in the sensor array without involving the base. |
| US09696573B2 |
Display module and liquid crystal display device including the same
A display module, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device including the same, includes a guide panel surrounding a side surface of a liquid crystal panel. The guide panel and a cover bottom are fastened to each other by hooks. |
| US09696572B2 |
Bezel-free display device
The present disclosure provides a bezel-free display device, including: a display panel including a display surface and a back surface opposite to the display surface; a panel connector, one end of which is secured onto a peripheral region of the back surface, and the other end of which is provided with a first support surface, a first snap-on member being provided on the first support surface; and a backlight module including a back plate and a sealant both arranged at a side of the back surface, the sealant being secured onto a periphery of the back plate and arranged at a position corresponding to the panel connector, one end of the sealant adjacent to the display panel being provided with a second support surface cooperating with the first support surface, a second snap-on member cooperating with the first snap-on member being provided on the second support surface. |
| US09696566B2 |
Spectacle with invisible optics
A wearable electronic display that includes an eyewear frame having a first side frame portion. A display module with a micro-display for generating images can be mounted to the first side frame portion. The display module can have an elongate portion with an image exit window positioned for directing viewable images to a user's eye. |
| US09696563B2 |
Brightness-dependent adjustment of a spectacle lens
Adjustment of an eyeglass lens or a pair of eyeglasses by means of an individual brightness-dependent centering of an eyeglass lens. In particular, a method for adjusting an individual eyeglass lens for at least one eye of an eyeglass wearer. The method includes defining an individual usage situation which includes at least one target brightness value for the light to be captured by the at least one eye; determining a position of the pupil in at least one direction of view of the at least one eye which occurs or is expected at the at least one target brightness value; determining a reference point of the eyeglass lens, in which the eyeglass lens effects a required correction of individual refraction data for the at least one direction of view; on the basis of the determined individual value of the pupil position, providing and arranging the eyeglass lens in such a manner that the at least one reference point of the eyeglass lens is arranged in front of the at least one eye of the eyeglass wearer. |
| US09696558B2 |
3D projection system using laser light sources
Laser or narrow band light sources are utilized to from left (R1, G1, B1) and right (R2,G2;B2,) images of a 3D projection. Under off-axis viewing of projections (i.e. oblique incident angles) the passbands of the viewing filters in the glasses are blue-shifted, which has the potential of cause crosstalk and/or loss of energy/brightness in any channel or color. This blue-shift is compensated via the combined use of any of viewing passbands (220) encompassing the associated projected lightband (222) and a red-shift passband (224) selection of passband wavelengths that maximize usability of the passband as it “shifts” due to varying or increasing angles of off-axis viewing), curvature of viewing filters, and guard bands between light bands of adjacent channels. Implemented with any number of light sources, additional light sources are utilized to affect a desirable increase in color gamut. |
| US09696555B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium having stored therein display control program, display control apparatus, display control system, and display control method
An image display apparatus includes a stereoscopic image display apparatus configured to display a stereoscopically visible image, and a planar image display apparatus configured to display a planar image. An adjustment section of the image display apparatus adjusts relative positions, relative sizes, and relative rotations of a left-eye image taken by a left-eye image imaging section and a right-eye image taken by a right-eye image imaging section. The adjusted left-eye image and the adjusted right-eye image are viewed by the left eye and the right eye of the user, respectively, thereby displaying the stereoscopic image on the stereoscopic image display apparatus. The adjusted left-eye image and the adjusted right-eye image are made semi-transparent and superimposed one on the other, and thus a resulting superimposed planar image is displayed on the planar image display apparatus. |
| US09696554B2 |
Color separation optical assembly and image capture device
A color separation optical assembly (3) of an image capture device (1) includes, in order from a light incidence side, a first prism (10) which has a first dichroic film (D1) and extracts blue light (LB) reflected by the first dichroic film, a second prism (20) which has a second dichroic film (D2) and extracts red light (LR) transmitted through the first dichroic film and reflected by the second dichroic film, and a third prism (30) which extracts green light (LG) transmitted through the first and second dichroic films. The first dichroic film is a multiband dichroic film which reflects light of an infrared region from a long wavelength side of a red region. |
| US09696552B1 |
System and method for providing an augmented reality lightweight clip-on wearable device
A system is disclosed including a mountable component configured with an attachment to allow the mountable component to be readily attached to and removed from an independent wearable garment, a positioning slide connected to the mountable component, a display mount connected to the positioning slide, a lens adjustment arm attached to the positioning slide, and a curved lens surface connected to the lens adjustment arm. The positioning slide is configured to move the lens and display mount in a back and forth direction and a left to right direction. Another system and method are also disclosed. |
| US09696550B2 |
Device for improving the vision of a human eye
A device for improving the vision of an eye of a human being includes optical elements for forming an image of a scene; a controllable projector having an input and mounted to co-operate with the optical elements, and suitable for outputting a beam; a mirror; elements for linking the mirror to the orbit and to the projector in such a manner that the optical axis of the mirror passes through the center of rotation of the eye and that the mirror is on the light path of the beam; a sensor for determining the rotation of the eye relative to its orbit, and elements for applying the signal output from the sensor to the input of the projector so as to cause the image light beam to be projected on a location of the mirror that is a function of the rotation of the eye in its orbit. |
| US09696549B2 |
Selectively pairing an application presented in virtual space with a physical display
A method pairs content from a specific area in virtual space with a graphics driver for a physical display. An augmented reality device defines a virtual space, which is delimited by a spatial border that is created by the augmented reality device and is visible only to a user of the augmented reality device. One or more processors associate the virtual space with a graphics driver from a plurality of graphics drivers. A signal indicating a virtual space selection gesture is generated by the augmented reality device in response to the user making a physical motion that selects the virtual space, and sent to a video adapter hardware card. In response to receiving the signal indicating the virtual space selection gesture, the video adapter hardware card implements the graphics driver to display content associated with the virtual space on the physical display. |
| US09696545B2 |
Projector having holders arranged in a light emitting direction
A projector includes a light source portion; and an optical scanning portion that scans light from the light source portion, wherein the light source portion comprises a first holder that holds a light source, and a second holder that holds an optical portion through which light from the light source is emitted, and the first holder and the second holder are arranged in that order from a light emitting direction. |
| US09696544B2 |
Heads up display system having dual fresnel lens magnification
A heads up display system is provided for an automotive vehicle. The automotive vehicle includes an instrument panel and a windshield. The heads up display providing a first reflective mirror, a second reflective mirror, a first Fresnel lens, a second Fresnel lens, and an image display generator. The first Fresnel lens has a concave shape. The first Fresnel lens is positioned downstream of the first reflection mirror and the second reflection mirror. The second Fresnel lens has a convex shape. The second Fresnel lens is positioned downstream of the first Fresnel lens. |
| US09696538B2 |
Optical interconnect device, information processing device and data transmission method
To provide a high-density optical interconnect device, information processing device and data transmission method which are able to suppress limitations caused by the widening of light beams and the size of lenses. An optical interconnect unit includes a plurality of first lenses and a plurality of second lenses corresponding to a plurality of light-emitting element groups, and a plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of light-emitting element groups pass through plurality of first lenses and the plurality of second lenses. The optical interconnect unit also includes a plurality of third lenses and a plurality of fourth lenses, and light beam groups pass through any one of the plurality of third lenses and the plurality of fourth lenses, and are focused by any one of a plurality of light-receiving element groups that include a plurality of light-receiving elements. |
| US09696535B2 |
Optical microscope
An optical device, such as a microscope, is disclosed that can be assembled from flat materials. The optical device can be assembled via a series of folds of a flat material. The optical microscope can include a stage for supporting a sample, an optic stage, and a light source. The optic stage can include one or more lenses. The optical microscope can be capable of obtaining simultaneous images from different forms of microscopy. The optical microscope may have bright field and filter field viewing capabilities wherein a user shifts from bright field to filter field by lateral movement of the stage containing a lens and a light source that cooperate to provide either the bright field or the filter field. |
| US09696533B2 |
Optical image scanning component and microscope device
An optical image scanning component is suitable to receive a light provided by a light source of a microscope device and comprises a first scanning unit and a second scanning unit. The first scanning unit comprises a first scanning mirror rotated along a first direction as axis at a first resonance frequency. The second scanning unit comprises a second scanning mirror rotated along a second direction as axis at a second resonance frequency which is different from the first resonance frequency. The light is emitted to the first scanning mirror and reflected to the second scanning mirror, and the light is reflected by the second scanning mirror to be transmitted to an objective lens module of the microscope device. |
| US09696529B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power; and a fifth lens unit having a negative refractive power, in which: at a telephoto end as compared to a wide angle end, an interval between first lens unit and second lens unit is increased, and an interval between second lens unit and third lens unit is decreased; an interval between each pair of adjacent lens units is changed during zooming; and focal lengths of a focusing mechanism and the third lens unit, a movement amount of the fifth lens unit during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and other factors are appropriately set. |
| US09696528B2 |
Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises five lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements to allow the thickness of the second lens element and air gaps between the five lens elements along the optical axis satisfying the relation 4.11≦f/(AG12+AG45)≦17.06, where f is the effective focal length of the optical imaging lens, AG12 is the air gap between the first and second lens element along the optical axis, and AG45 is the air gap between the fourth and fifth lens element along the optical axis. The optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened. |
| US09696526B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens is constituted by, in order from the object side to the image side: a front group having a negative refractive power; and a rear group having a positive refractive power. The front group is constituted by two negative lenses. The rear group includes a cemented lens formed by cementing a negative lens and a positive lens having a smaller Abbe's number with respect to the d line (wavelength: 587.6 nm) than the negative lens, provided in this order from the object side to the image side, together. |
| US09696522B2 |
Photographing optical lens assembly, image capturing device and electronic device
A photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface, wherein two surfaces of the fourth lens element are both aspheric. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, wherein two surfaces of the fifth lens element are both aspheric. |
| US09696521B2 |
Lens module
A lens module includes: a first lens including a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a second lens including a concave image-side surface; a third lens including a concave object-side surface; a fourth lens having negative refractive power, and including a concave object-side surface; and a fifth lens having negative refractive power and including an image-side surface having one or more inflection points and a convex object-side surface. The first lens, the second lens, the third lens, the fourth lens and the fifth lens are sequentially disposed in a direction from an object side of the lens module. The expression f/ImgH<1.3 is satisfied, with f being an overall focal length of an optical system including the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, the fourth lens and the fifth lens, and with ImgH being half of a diagonal length of an image sensor. |
| US09696518B2 |
Position manipulator for an optical component
A device for adjustably positioning an optical component includes a holding unit, which is which at least partly composed of a magnetostrictive material, and a mechanism for generating a magnetic field having a predetermined directional and amplitude distribution in the region of the holding unit. The holding unit has, in a predefined direction, an expansion which can be varied by a specific absolute value by the effect of the magnetic field. |
| US09696517B2 |
Insertion device and method for accurate and repeatable target insertion
The present invention discloses a device and a method for inserting and positioning a target within a free electron laser, particle accelerator, or other such device that generates or utilizes a beam of energy or particles. The system includes a three-point registration mechanism that insures angular and translational accuracy and repeatability of positioning upon multiple insertions within the same structure. |
| US09696508B2 |
Optical fiber cable
An optical fiber cable has a sectional area of Ac [μm2] and housing a number N of optical fibers. A transmission loss αdB [dB/km], a mode field diameter W [μm], an effective area Aeff [μm2], an effective length Leff [km], and a wavelength dispersion D [ps/nm/km] of each of the optical fibers at a wavelength of 1550 nm satisfy a predetermined equation. |
| US09696507B2 |
Opto-electric hybrid board
An inventive opto-electric hybrid board includes: opto-electric module portions respectively defined on opposite end portions of an elongated insulation layer, and each including a first electric wiring of an electrically conductive pattern and an optical element provided on a front surface of the insulation layer; and an interconnection portion defined on a portion of the insulation layer extending from the opto-electric module portions, and including an optical waveguide optically coupled with the optical elements. A metal reinforcement layer provided on a back surface of the insulation layer as extending over the opto-electric module portions into the interconnection portion. A portion of the metal reinforcement layer present the interconnection portion has a smaller width than the opto-electric module portions, and the smaller width portion has rounded proximal corners. |
| US09696505B2 |
Feedthrough assembly and method of assembling a feedthrough assembly
A feedthrough assembly includes a main housing, a first inner housing positioned within the main housing and defining a plurality of first inner conduits, a second inner housing positioned within the main housing and defining a plurality of second inner conduits, and a chamber defined by an internal surface of the main housing, a first end of the first inner housing, and a first end of the second inner housing that faces the first end of the first inner housing. Each of the plurality of first inner conduits is aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of second inner conduits. A cross-sectional area of the chamber varies along a longitudinal axis of the main housing. |
| US09696503B2 |
Multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) with an optical coupling receptacle providing an off-center fiber
A multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) with an off-center fiber in an optical coupling is disclosed, and can provide passive compensation for beam displacement introduced by optical isolators. The optical coupling receptacle can include an optical isolator configured to receive a focused light beam from a focus lens within the TOSA. The optical coupling receptacle may be offset such that a center line of the focused light beam entering the optical isolator is offset from a center line of a fiber within optical coupling receptacle. Thus the optical isolator receives the focused light beam from the focus lens and introduces beam displacement such that an optical signal is launched generally along a center line of the fiber. Thus the expected beam displacement introduced by the optical isolator is eliminated or otherwise mitigated by the offset between a center line of the fiber and a center position of the focus lens. |
| US09696501B2 |
Fiber coupling module
A fiber coupling module comprises an optical fiber connector detachable from an optical fiber cable, wherein an end surface of the optical fiber cable is treated with an anti-reflection coat to set the reflectance lower than a predetermined value relative to the light of a first wavelength band and to set the reflectance higher than a predetermined value relative to the light of a second wavelength band excluding the first wavelength band, and the fiber coupling module connects to the optical fiber cable through said optical fiber connector. A main light source outputs the light of the first wavelength band to the optical fiber cable. An aiming light source outputs the light of the second wavelength band to the optical fiber cable. A detection element that detects the connection status of the optical fiber cable to the optical fiber connector based on the light of the second wavelength band reflected from the end surface of the optical fiber cable. |
| US09696492B1 |
On-chip photonic-phononic emitter-receiver apparatus
A radio-frequency photonic devices employs photon-phonon coupling for information transfer. The device includes a membrane in which a two-dimensionally periodic phononic crystal (PnC) structure is patterned. The device also includes at least a first optical waveguide embedded in the membrane. At least a first line-defect region interrupts the PnC structure. The first optical waveguide is embedded within the line-defect region. |
| US09696487B2 |
Reduction of thermo-optic effects in silicon photonics
A method and system are described for reducing a thermo-optic effect in silicon photonics. In described embodiments, the system comprises a silicon photonic device with a silicon core that includes a cladding layer comprising titanium adjacent to the silicon core. In described embodiments, the method comprises providing a silicon core and depositing a cladding layer adjacent to the silicon photonic core, wherein the cladding layer comprises titanium. |
| US09696485B2 |
Optical circulator array
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optical communications. In one aspect, an optical circulator array includes a plurality of stacked three port circulators each having a respective first port of a first port array, a respective second port of a second port array, and a respective third port of a third port array, wherein each of the plurality of stacked three port circulators share optical components including: a first Wollaston prism coupled to the first port array, a first lens, a first half wave plate, a polarization dependent beam path separator, a second half wave plate, a second lens, a propagation direction dependent polarization rotation assembly, a second Wollaston prism coupled to the second port array, and a third Wollaston prism coupled to the third port array. |
| US09696481B2 |
Optical member and display device having the same
Disclosed are an optical member and a display device. The display device includes a light guide plate; a light source on a lateral side of the light guide plate; and a wavelength conversion member between the light source and the light guide plate. The wavelength conversion member includes a receiving part between the light source and the light guide plate; a host in the receiving part; and a plurality of wavelength conversion particles in the host. The receiving part includes a convex part between the light source and the host; and a concave part between the light guide plate and the host. |
| US09696471B2 |
Filtered ASE swept source for OCT medical imaging
An integrated swept wavelength optical source uses a filtered ASE signal with an optical amplifier and tracking filter. This source comprises a micro optical bench, a source for generating broadband light, a first tunable Fabry Perot filter, installed on the bench, for spectrally filtering the broadband light from the broadband source to generate a narrowband tunable signal, an amplifier, installed on the bench, for amplifying the tunable signal, and a second tunable Fabry Perot filter, installed on the bench, for spectrally filtering the amplified tunable signal from the amplifier. A self-tracking arrangement is also possible where a single tunable filter both generates the narrowband signal and spectrally filters the amplified signal. In some examples, two-stage amplification is provided. The use of a single bench implementation yields a low cost high performance system. For example, polarization control between components is no longer necessary. |
| US09696470B2 |
Sensing images and light sources via visible light filters
The description relates to capturing or sensing color images of scenes and information about the type of light (e.g., light source) that illuminated the scene. One example can include an image sensor manifest as an array of pixels. This example can also include a lens configured to focus an image from a scene on the array of pixels. The array of pixels can entail first pixels that are configured to sense the image and second pixels that are configured to capture information about lighting of the scene. |
| US09696468B2 |
Methods for fabricating color image display devices comprising structural color pixels from a generic stamp
Methods for rapidly fabricating color image display for any given color image from a prefabricated generic stamp comprising arrays of structural pixels. The pixels are composed of micro-gratings and/or sub-wavelength structures that give structural colors. Different methods based on micro-patterning techniques may be used to fabricate the color image display devices, including: 1) selectively masking the generic stamp and imprinting from the masked stamp; 2) imprinting from the generic stamp and thermal-optical patterning on an imprinted layer. The fabricated color image display device can further function as a stand-alone display device or a color image stamp for replicating multiple color image display devices. |
| US09696465B2 |
Light diffusion reflecting plate
A light diffusion reflecting plate having a high degree of whiteness and excellent light diffusion properties and antiglare properties includes a substrate having thereon at least a ground coat layer and a top coat layer in contact with this ground coat layer. The ground coat layer is a white coating film layer. The top coat layer contains a white pigment from 2 to 15% by mass and two kinds of spherical particles, i.e., (A) a spherical particle having an average particle size of from 5 to 30 μm and (B) a spherical particle having an average particle size of from 15 to 45 μm, each of which is contained in an amount of from 5 to 17% by mass. A difference in the average particle size between the spherical particle (A) and the spherical particle (B) is 10 μm or more. |
| US09696463B2 |
Antiglare film, polarizer, and image display device
The present invention provides an antiglare film that has a thin antiglare layer and suppresses generation of scintillation and white muddiness at significantly high levels, while maintaining the hard-coating property and antiglare property, thereby providing favorable high-contrast display images. The present invention is an antiglare film including: a light-transmitting substrate; and an antiglare layer that has surface roughness and is provided on one face of the light-transmitting substrate, wherein the antiglare layer has plural rod-shaped projections having an aspect ratio of at least 2 on the opposite side of the surface contacting the light-transmitting substrate, the projections of the antiglare layer occupy 20 to 40%, per unit area, of the opposite side of the surface contacting the light-transmitting substrate, and NT indicating the number of all projections and NS indicating the number of rod-shaped projections among all the projections, per unit area of the surface of the antiglare layer, satisfy the following formula (1): NS/NT>0.2 (1). |
| US09696462B2 |
Metal-based particle assembly
There is provided a metal-based particle assembly comprising 30 or more metal-based particles separated from each other and disposed in two dimensions, the metal-based particles having an average particle diameter in a range of from 200 to 1600 nm, an average height in a range of from 55 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio, as defined by a ratio of the average particle diameter to the average height, in a range of from 1 to 8, wherein the metal-based particle assembly has in an absorption spectrum for a visible light region a maximum wavelength of a peak at a longest side in wavelength, and an absorbance at the maximum wavelength is higher as compared with that of a reference metal-based particle assembly, on the premise that the numbers of the metal-based particles are the same. The metal-based particle assembly of the present invention presents significantly intense plasmon resonance. |
| US09696459B1 |
Multipurpose weather measurement instrument sensor system
A multipurpose weather measurement instrument sensor system in which a fan circulates air past temperature and other sensors to ensure their accurate operation, a basin collects rainwater and precisely directs the rainwater into a tipping receptacle to measure the amount of rainwater collected per unit time and a wind speed gauge is provided with a counter-balanced toggle beam to product wobble-free rotation. |
| US09696455B2 |
Automated control of electrically operated radiation generators
The present disclosure describes a downhole tool that includes an electrically operated radiation generator that selectively outputs radiation to a surrounding environment based at least in part on supply of electrical power; a radiation detector that determines a first radiation metric based at least in part on first radiation measured when the electrically operated radiation generator is outputting radiation and that determines a second radiation metric based at least in part on second radiation measured when the electrically operated radiation generator is not outputting radiation; and a control system that determines whether the surrounding environment is properly shielded based at least in part on a relationship between the first radiation metric and the second radiation metric. |
| US09696454B1 |
Identifying weighting material sag with pulsed neutron logs
A method of identifying barite in a subterranean annulus that surrounds a wellbore, where the method includes detecting gamma rays in the wellbore that are generated from the annulus, obtaining a count rate of the detected gamma rays, comparing the count rate with reference data, and determining the presence of barite in the wellbore based on the comparison. The count rate can be a ratio of counts of detected gamma rays obtained from spaced apart receivers on a downhole tool, or a ratio of detected inelastic and capture gamma rays. The reference data is obtained by using a simulation algorithm. |
| US09696440B2 |
Systems and methods for improving energy resolution by sub-pixel energy calibration
A radiation detector assembly is provided including a semiconductor detector, pixelated anodes, and at least one processor. The pixelated anodes are disposed on a surface of the semiconductor detector, and configured to generate a primary signal responsive to reception of a photon and a secondary signal responsive to an induced charge caused by reception of a photon by at least one adjacent anode. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the pixelated anodes, and configured to define sub-pixels for each pixelated anode; acquire primary signals and secondary signals from the pixelated anodes; determine sub-pixel locations for acquisition events using the primary and secondary signals; generate a sub-pixel energy spectrum for each sub-pixel; apply at least one energy calibration parameter to adjust the sub-pixel energy spectra for each pixelated anode; and, for each pixelated anode, combine the adjusted sub-pixel energy spectra to provide a pixelated anode spectrum. |
| US09696439B2 |
Apparatus and method for PET detector
A PET detector and method thereof are provided. The PET detector may include: a crystal array including a plurality of crystal elements arranged in an array and light-splitting structures set on surfaces of the plurality of crystal elements, the light-splitting structures jointly define a light output surface of the crystal array; a semiconductor sensor array, which is set in opposite to the light output surface of the crystal array and is suitable to receive photons from the light output surface, the semiconductor sensor array comprises a plurality of semiconductor sensors arranged in an array. |
| US09696438B2 |
PET detection structure and system with application adaptability
A PET detection structure with application adaptability includes: at least two detector blocks and a detection ring for disposing the detector blocks. The at least two detector blocks are placed on the detection ring and surround a detected object in a manner of encirclement. The performance of each detector block includes inherent spatial resolution, time behavior, energy resolution, detection efficiency and maximum counting rate. The performance of the detector blocks are divided into a plurality of performance levels, and the performance level of one performance of at least one detector block of the at least two detector blocks is higher than the performance rate of the same performance of the other detector blocks. |
| US09696437B2 |
Charge cloud tracker: High-resolution, high DQE, photon-counting, energy discriminating X-ray detector
Improved X-ray detectors are provided in a cross-strip geometry with better resolution than the electrode spacing. The basic idea is analog charge cloud reconstruction. An important practical aspect of this work is rotating the electrode pattern by about 45 degrees relative to the detector slab, which provides several performance benefits (equal length for all electrodes and greater ease of integration into vertical stacks etc.) that are expected to be especially relevant to achieve high performance from analog charge cloud reconstruction. |
| US09696436B2 |
Scintillator crystal and radiation detector using the same
A scintillator crystal includes a plurality of first crystal phases, and a second crystal phase covering respective side surfaces of the first crystal phases. Each of the plurality of first crystal phases is a columnar crystal that includes a perovskite type oxide material containing both Gd and Tb, and emits light by being excited by radiation. The second crystal phase includes alumina. Assuming that a, b, and c respectively represent Gd, Al, and Tb in an element ratio among them that are contained in a total amount of substance of the scintillator crystal, the element ratio is within a range defined by (a, b, c)=(0.174, 0.795, 0.031), (0.207, 0.756, 0.037), (0.213, 0.775, 0.012), and (0.194, 0.795, 0.011) as vertexes in a ternary composition diagram. |
| US09696432B2 |
Device for processing a signal delivered by a radiation detector
The invention relates to a device for processing information delivered by a photon detector, comprising: an analogue circuit for generating a signal comprising a series of pulses, each pulse having an amplitude proportional to the energy freed by an interaction of a photon in the detector; an analogue circuit for determining the instant at which the amplitude of a pulse of the signal is maximal; and an element for capturing the value of the signal at said instant. |
| US09696427B2 |
Wide angle depth detection
Embodiments for a depth sensing camera with a wide field of view are disclosed. In one example, a depth sensing camera comprises an illumination light projection subsystem, an image detection subsystem configured to acquire image data having a wide angle field of view, a logic subsystem configured to execute instructions, and a data-holding subsystem comprising stored instructions executable by the logic subsystem to control projection of illumination light and to determine depth values from image data acquired via the image sensor. The image detection subsystem comprises an image sensor and one or more lenses. |
| US09696425B2 |
Optical distance measuring apparatus
An optical distance measuring apparatus including a light source, a variable mirror scanning the light on an object, a receiving device receiving light from the object, a detected signal amplifying unit detecting a light receiving signal obtained by the receiving device, an amplification control unit detecting a set target value of light sensitivity of the receiving device or sets the light sensitivity based on a light quantity of reflected light, and a distance calculation unit detecting a flight time of the ranging light from a light emitting signal and calculating a distance up to the object, wherein in a first scan period, the amplification control unit detects the set target value based on a light quantity of the reflected light, and in a second scan period, the amplification control unit sets sensitivity of the receiving device to the set target value and the distance calculation unit calculates the distance. |
| US09696423B2 |
Method for improving performance of a Sodar system
A method is disclosed for improving performance of a Sodar system adapted to locate discontinuities in the atmosphere by transmitting pulse compression signals such as plural acoustic chirps. The method comprises transmitting the acoustic chirps, receiving acoustic echoes of the chirps, and processing the acoustic echoes to provide an indication of the discontinuities, wherein the processing includes correcting range or resolution error associated with the acoustic echoes. |
| US09696417B2 |
Antenna
An antenna includes a plurality of transmitting antennas that are: a first transmitting antenna that transmits a transmission wave in a right-upward direction relative to a reference axis substantially parallel to a road surface; a second transmitting antenna that transmits a transmission wave in a left-upward direction relative to the reference axis; a third transmitting antenna that transmits a transmission wave in a right-downward direction relative to the reference axis; and a fourth transmitting antenna that transmits a transmission wave in a left-downward direction relative to the reference axis. A transmission range of the transmission wave transmitted from each of the first transmitting antenna, the second transmitting antenna, the third transmitting antenna and the fourth transmitting antenna partially overlaps with the transmission ranges of the transmission waves transmitted from the transmitting antennas located in vicinity. |
| US09696416B2 |
Mobile radar system
A radar system that includes a gimbal and a platform secured to a frame through the gimbal is disclosed. The radar system includes an antenna rotatably supported by the platform for rotation about an axis and configured to scan a hemispherical field of view above the platform. A controller that controls the rotation of the antenna and a gyroscopic stabilizer that is secured to the platform to maintain the platform in a stable and level position during operation of the radar system and rotation of the antenna is also disclosed. A vehicle is also disclosed for traversing a geographic region with the radar system. The antenna may transmit in the X band. A telescoping mast having a first end secured to the platform and having a second end secured to the gimbal is also disclosed. |
| US09696411B2 |
System and method for multi-wavelength optical signal detection
The system and method for multi-wavelength optical signal detection enables the detection of optical signal levels significantly below those processed at the discrete circuit level by the use of mixed-signal processing methods implemented with integrated circuit technologies. The present invention is configured to detect and process small signals, which enables the reduction of the optical power required to stimulate detection networks, and lowers the required laser power to make specific measurements. The present invention provides an adaptation of active pixel networks combined with mixed-signal processing methods to provide an integer representation of the received signal as an output. The present invention also provides multi-wavelength laser detection circuits for use in various systems, such as a differential absorption light detection and ranging system. |
| US09696407B1 |
Backup navigation position determination using surveillance information
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for determining an ownship position of an aircraft. The method includes the steps of receiving data from a plurality of proximate aircraft and examining the data. Next, the method involves selecting a plurality of reference aircraft from the plurality of proximate aircraft, and receiving data from each reference aircraft. The data received from the reference aircraft is then correlated to a common time in order to create a reference frame for calculating the position of the aircraft. The next step of the method is to calculate the ownship position of the aircraft based on the data received from the reference aircraft and the common time. The system includes a receiver, processor, display, and transmitter, which are used to determine the ownship position of an aircraft. |
| US09696406B2 |
Apparatus and method for enhanced UL positioning support via wireless device
In one aspect, methods and apparatuses disclosed herein improve positioning based on UL signals in a wireless communication network, by sending UL transmission configuration from wireless devices, and by using that information in the network for performing UL-based positioning of the devices. In this regard, the teachings herein advantageously recognize that obtaining UL transmission configuration information from the wireless devices themselves represents a more efficient, complete and richer mechanism for obtaining parameters relevant to configuring and performing UL-based positioning operations. As a further example advantage, the teachings herein provide for control-plane and/or user-plane signaling of UL transmission configuration information, which comprises, for a given wireless device, at least one of resource allocation information for one or more UL transmissions for the wireless device, and UL signal characteristics information. |
| US09696399B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance apparatus for image acquisition
In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for image acquisition using a magnetic resonance sequence in which k-space corresponding to the imaging area is scanned, a first region of k-space, which does not include the center of k-space, is scanned radially along a number of spokes emanating from the k-space center, and at least two phase coding gradients are completely ramped up before the excitation pulse. A second central region of k-space, which remains without the first region, is scanned in a Cartesian manner. For contrast increase a pre-pulse is provided before a predetermined number of individual measurements. The number of spokes is selected so a measurement point nearest to the k-space center is measured at a predetermined point in time after the pre-pulse, which is optimal for signal-to-noise ratio and/or contrast. |
| US09696398B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography system
Provided is a magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography (MRI-PET) system. The MRI-PET system includes a PET unit and a radiofrequency (RF) coil disposed within a gradient coil assembly. |
| US09696393B2 |
MRI receiver coil providing an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) receiver includes a receiver coil on a substrate. The receiver coil includes one or more capacitors. The construction of the capacitors allows for the use of very flexible substrates and allows the capacitors themselves to be highly flexible. The increased flexibility permits the MRI receiver to be conformed to the body of a patient and accordingly improves the MRI process. |
| US09696391B2 |
High speed sample transportation apparatus in a superconducting magnet and transporting method thereof
A precision high-speed shuttle device for transporting samples between different positions of a superconducting magnet with different magnetic field strength is provided. The sample equilibrated at the center of the magnet, where the magnetic field is the highest and homogeneous, is shuttled to a higher position above, where the fringe field is lower, for a defined period of time and shuttled back to the center for detection. By shuttling the sample to different positions in the magnet in different experiments one can obtain a field-dependent profile of particular physical parameters. The position and timing of the sample are precisely under the experimental controlled. In this way various magnetic field-dependent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments can be conducted in a single high-field NMR spectrometer. |
| US09696382B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating maximum power of battery by using internal resistance of the battery
Disclosed is a method for estimating the maximum power of a battery, which can inexpensively perform an estimation of the maximum power of a battery in a relatively simple manner of using the internal resistance of the battery, which has a correlation with and a largest effect on the maximum power of the battery. The method includes the steps of: measuring an internal resistance and a temperature of the battery and estimating a state of charge, if an estimation of the maximum power of the battery is requested; and reading a value of the maximum power of the battery, which corresponds to the measured temperature, the estimated state of charge, and the measured internal resistance, from a table in which the internal resistances and the maximum powers of the battery are mapped according to the temperatures and states of charge. |
| US09696380B2 |
Relay control system and method for controlling same
The present invention relates to a relay control system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a relay control system and a control method thereof capable of determining whether an unrecoverable failure of a relay due to an unexpected environment, namely, whether the relay is fused, by measuring a voltage on a relay in real time while a battery unit operates in a secondary cell battery using DC power. |
| US09696378B2 |
IC output circuit with test data and shadow data inputs
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for providing a shadow access port within a device. The shadow access port is accessed to perform operations in the device by reusing the TDI, TMS, TCK and TDO signals that are used to operate a test access port within the device. The presence and operation of the shadow access port is transparent to the presence and operation of the test access port. According to the disclosure, the shadow access port operates on the falling edge of the TCK signal while the test access port conventionally operates on the rising edge of the TCK signal. |
| US09696376B2 |
Leakage testing of integrated circuits using a logarithmic transducer and a voltmeter
A test configuration for testing a leakage current of a device under test (DUT) of an integrated circuit is provided including a logarithmic transducer electrically connected to the DUT and a voltmeter electrically connected to the logarithmic transducer. |
| US09696373B2 |
Verification and certification of an electronic component
A circuit is designed to be executed in a predeterminable operating mode of a plurality of operating modes. The circuit includes a first functional unit and a second functional unit. The first functional unit is designed as a static functional unit that in each of the plurality of operating modes of the circuit carries out a consistent function. The second functional unit is designed as an adaptable functional unit that is designed to be configured, prior to the circuit being put into service, according to a first configuration of a plurality of different configurations and during the operating time of the circuit to maintain the first configuration so that the first configuration of the second functional unit defines the predeterminable operating mode of the circuit. This makes it possible to reduce the verification expenditure for the circuit because verification can be limited to the adaptable functional unit. |
| US09696372B2 |
Multidimensional structural access
Multiple planes within the sample are exposed from a single perspective for contact by an electrical probe. The sample can be milled at a non-orthogonal angle to expose different layers as sloped surfaces. The sloped edges of multiple, parallel conductor planes provide access to the multiple levels from above. The planes can be accessed, for example, for contacting with an electrical probe for applying or sensing a voltage. The level of an exposed layer to be contacted can be identified, for example, by counting down the exposed layers from the sample surface, since the non-orthogonal mill makes all layers visible from above. Alternatively, the sample can be milled orthogonally to the surface, and then tilted and/or rotated to provide access to multiple levels of the device. The milling is preferably performed away from the region of interest, to provide electrical access to the region while minimizing damage to the region. |
| US09696366B2 |
Terminal testing device and adapters
A terminal testing device provides an adapter customized to a port of a connector being tested so that force applied to the adapter identifies loose and fixed terminals in the connector. The adapter includes springs and push pins that correspond in number to the number of terminals being tested and has a face plate that corresponds to the type of connector being tested. The push pins provide force against the terminal end. Specifically, the device seats the adapter and connector to align both and permit force to be in line with terminal ends. The force applied to the terminal ends is uniform and controlled by means of the adapter and is obtained by a single driving means. |
| US09696365B2 |
Electric leak detector for a vehicle
An electric leak detector (108) for a vehicle includes a coupling capacitor (210) that has a terminal (A) connected to an on-vehicle high voltage device (110) and a terminal (B) connected to a repetitive signal output circuit (212). The coupling capacitor (210) repeatedly performs a charge operation and a discharge operation in response to a repetitive signal (PLS). Determination thresholds are calculated based on a voltage applied to the terminal (A) of the coupling capacitor (210) and an atmospheric temperature. A detected charge period and a detected discharge period are compared with the determination thresholds, to thereby determine a leakage state. |
| US09696362B2 |
Test and measurement device with a pistol-grip handle
A clamp meter configured to receive a removable and rechargeable battery pack. The clamp meter includes a main body having a first axis, a handle, a clamp, a trigger, and a display. The handle has a second axis and includes a first recess configured to receive the battery pack. The first recess includes at least first and second electrical terminals which are exposed when the battery pack is not inserted into the first recess. The second axis forms an oblique angle with the first axis, and the battery pack is inserted into the first recess along the second axis. The clamp is coupled to the main body, aligned with the first axis, and operable to measure an electrical characteristic of a conductor based on an induced current. The trigger is operable to selectively open and close the clamp, and the display configured to display an indication of the electrical characteristic. |
| US09696360B2 |
Sump/ejector pump monitor and sump/ejector pump failure warning system
A sump, ejector, or other pump monitor configured to monitor the amperage of electric current power supplied through the pump monitor to a pump and communicate one or more signals regarding the amperage or variations in amperage to a remote signal receiving device which indicate a predicted failure or actual failure of the pump. In various embodiments, the pump monitor operates with a remote pump failure warning system. The remote signal receiving device or remote pump failure warning system provides suitable warnings to one or more user access devices. |
| US09696357B2 |
Element resistance measurement in an electricity meter
A method measures a resistance of an element that is operably coupled to receive an AC line voltage. The method includes obtaining a first voltage measurement value V1A from a first side of the element at a first time, and obtaining a second voltage measurement value V2A from a second side of the element at the first time. The method also includes obtaining a first current measurement value IA through the element at the first time, and obtaining a second current measurement value IB through the element at the second time. The method further includes obtaining a third voltage measurement value V1B from the first side of the element at a second time, and obtaining a fourth voltage measurement value V2B from the second side of the element at the second time. The processing device determines the resistance at least in part based on the values V1A, V2A, V1B, V2B, IA and IB. The determination based on an adjusted difference of V2B and V2A. |
| US09696355B2 |
System and method for detecting a fundamental frequency of an electric power system
A system and method to detect the fundamental frequency of an electric input signal using a feedback control loop including a phase error detector, a loop controller, and a digitally controlled oscillator. The frequency detector may detect the fundamental frequency of an electric input signal and produce an output signal representing the fundamental frequency of the electric input signal. The frequency detector may further include a filter that may be coupled to the frequency detector output signal in order to remove spurious tones or noise from the output signal. |
| US09696352B2 |
Current sense circuit with offset calibration
A switching device is controlled by a microprocessor to selectively configure the circuit between a current measurement mode and a calibration mode. When the switch is set to the “on” state, the circuit acts as a normal prior art circuit, with the output Vout being read by the microprocessor to determine the current to the load. However, when the switch is set to the “off” state, a small value resistor (which may be roughly three orders of magnitude greater than Rshunt) connects the inputs of the measuring circuit so that the circuit can generate an output Vout corresponding to the zero load current. By connecting the V+ and V− inputs together with a low resistance resistor, the no-load condition Vdiff=V+−V−≈0 applies. In this state, the no-load offset can be determined by measuring the output voltage of the circuit without turning off the load. |
| US09696350B2 |
Non-linear control for voltage regulator
Described is an apparatus having a non-linear control to manage power supply droop at an output of a voltage regulator. The apparatus comprises: a first inductor for coupling to a load; a capacitor, coupled to the first inductor, and for coupling to the load; a first high-side switch couple to the first inductor; a first low-side switch coupled to the first inductor; a bridge controller to control when to turn on and off the first high-side and first low-side switches; and a non-linear control (NLC) unit to monitor output voltage on the load, and to cause the bridge controller to turn on the first high-side switch and turn off the first low-side switch when a voltage droop is detected on the load. |
| US09696346B2 |
Method and system for packet acquistion, analysis and intrusion detection in field area networks
A system for intrusion detection in a field area network where data is transmitted via packets, includes a processor for analyzing the packets to ascertain whether the packets conform to a sets of rules indicating an intrusion, and a database for storing an alert indicating an intrusion if the packets conform to at least one rule in the sets. The sets of rules are for field network layer data, internet protocol traffic data and field area application traffic data. A method for detecting intrusion in a field area network where data is transmitted via packets, including analyzing the packets to ascertain whether the packets conform to the sets of rules, and storing an alert indicating an intrusion if the packets conform to at least one rule in the sets of rules. |
| US09696342B2 |
Quantitative measurements using multiple frequency atomic force microscopy
The imaging mode presented here combines the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode and is adjusted to keep the phase at 90 degrees, on resonance. With this approach, frequency feedback on the second resonant mode and topographic feedback on the first are decoupled, allowing much more stable, robust operation. |
| US09696340B2 |
Multi-axis chip-scale MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU) based on frequency modulation
A multi-axis microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) is fabricated in a vacuum sealed single packaged device. An FM vibratory gyroscope and an FM resonant accelerometer both for generating FM output signals is fabricated in the silicon chip using MEMS. A signal processor is coupled to the an FM vibratory gyroscope and to the FM resonant accelerometer for receiving the FM gyroscopic output signals and the FM accelerometer output signals. The signal processor generates simultaneous and decoupled measurement of input acceleration, input rotation rate, and temperature and/or temperature distribution within the IMU, self-calibration of the biases and scale factors of the IMU and its support electronics against temperature variations and other common mode errors, and reduction of the cross axis sensitivity by reducing acceleration errors in the gyroscope and rotation errors in the accelerometer. |
| US09696336B2 |
Multiple meter detection and processing using motion data
Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying users of portable user devices according to one or more accelerometer profiles created for a respective user. During a media session, the portable computing device collects media exposure data, while at the same time, collects data from the accelerometer and compares it to the user profile. The comparison authenticates the user and determines the physical activity the user is engaged in. Additional data may be collected from the portable computing device to determine one or more operational conditions of the device itself, including the detection of multiple devices being physically carried by one user. Gross motion strings may also be generated by devices and compared to see if strings match, thus suggesting multiple devices are being carried by one user. |
| US09696332B2 |
Automated liquid handling device
A liquid handling system that is configured to receive an interchangeable pipetting head that is selected from a plurality of interchangeable pipetting heads for automated liquid handling flexibility and scalability. The system includes a housing and at least one pipetting head disposed within that housing for aspirating and dispensing a liquid. A locking mechanism interchangeably receives the at least one pipetting head and includes an adaptor plate and a support block. The adaptor plate is operably coupled to the housing and the support block is operably coupled to the at least one pipetting head. The support block is then, in turn, is configured to be operably coupled to the adaptor plate. |
| US09696327B2 |
Consumable hardware coding system
An analytical system is disclosed which recognizes different types of consumables with an identical footprint based on a unique surface geometry of each consumable. The analytical system includes stackers into which the consumables can be loaded either automatically or by the user. The stacker for one specific type of consumable recognizes the type of consumable based on its unique surface geometry. |
| US09696323B2 |
Biomarkers for chagas disease related cardiomyopathy
Certain embodiments include methods for assessing a subject having a trypanosome infection for the presence or absence of indications of cardiomyopathy. |
| US09696320B2 |
Lung cancer differential marker
An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a lung cancer differential marker with which lung cancer can be diagnosed conveniently and highly sensitively without depending only on increase or decrease in protein expression level between cancer patients and healthy persons. Another object of the present invention is to develop and provide a glycan marker capable of distinguishing histological types of lung cancer. Of serum glycoproteins, glycopeptide and glycoprotein groups whose glycan structures were altered specifically in lung cancer cell culture supernatants were identified, and they are provided as lung cancer differential markers. |
| US09696317B2 |
Greener process to synthesize water-soluble Mn2+-doped CdSSe(ZnS) core(shell) nanocrystals for ratiometric temperature sensing, nanocrystals, and methods implementing nanocrystals
Novel Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. These Mn2+-doped quantum dots exhibit excellent temperature sensitivity in both organic solvents and water-based solutions. Methods of preparing the Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. The Mn2+-doped quantum dots may be prepared via a stepwise procedure using air-stable and inexpensive chemicals. The use of air-stable chemicals can significantly reduce the cost of synthesis, chemical storage, and the risk associated with handling flammable chemicals. Methods of temperature sensing using Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. The stepwise procedure provides the ability to tune the temperature-sensing properties to satisfy specific needs for temperature sensing applications. Water solubility may be achieved by passivating the Mn2+-doped quantum dots, allowing the Mn2+-doped quantum dots to probe the fluctuations of local temperature in biological environments. |
| US09696308B2 |
Use of at least one biomarker for the in vitro prognosis or diagnosis of lymphoproliferative episodes associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
A protein complex isolated from its natural medium and including the ZEBRA protein of sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, the isolated protein complex having the following properties: it is more stable than the ZEBRA protein, in particular it is more resistant to the action of the proteases than the ZEBRA protein, it is capable of specifically binding the AZ125 and AZ130 monoclonal antibodies, it is soluble in a body fluid, and in particular a body fluid selected from the group constituted by blood and serum, and to its detection process and the uses of this process for the prognosis or diagnosis of lymphoproliferative episodes associated with the EBV. |
| US09696307B2 |
Methods for the detection of JC polyoma virus
Methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk for PML, including subjects being treated with immunosuppressants, by determining whether the subject harbors a JCV variant with reduced binding for sialic acid relative to a normal JCV, are presented. Furthermore, combinations of JCV-VP1 sequence variations that are associated with PML and that can be used as a basis of an assay for identifying subjects susceptible to PML, subjects with PML (e.g., early stage PML), or subjects at risk of developing PML in response to an immunosuppressive treatment are provided. |
| US09696299B2 |
Integrated modular unit including an analyte concentrator microreactor device connected to a cartridge-cassette
The integrated modular and interchangeable unit of the present invention comprises an analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device having four entrance-exit ports identified as connection areas to a transport capillary for sample and buffer introduction, and to a separation capillary of a cartridge-cassette filled with an appropriate separation fluid for optimal separation of the analytes of interest. Affinity ligand groups are immobilized to microstructures contained within the main inner cavity or channel of the device or directly to the wall of the main inner channel for capturing one or more analytes. The inlet and outlet ends of the transport capillary are connected through a parallel design option to the analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device to facilitate the path of sample and buffers through the inner cavity or channel of the analyte concentrator-microreactor (ACM) device. |
| US09696296B2 |
Targeting c-Rel O-GlcNAcylation and uses thereof
Serine 350 has been identified as the site of O-GlycNAcylation of c-Rel. Methods are provided for identifying compositions capable of blocking c-Rel activation. The methods generally involve identifying compounds that inhibit O-GlcNAcylation of c-Rel at the serine 350 residue, thereby preventing c-Rel activation and production of c-Rel-dependent cytokines. |
| US09696295B2 |
Method for rapidly designing pharmaceutical preparations for preventing viral infection
Certain embodiments of the present invention include a method for rapidly designing pharmaceutical preparations for preventing viral infection that have adapted to growth in various culturing systems but maintain antigenic similarity to the original virus. The method may include serial passaging a plurality of instances of a targeted virus strain from an infected first animal in respective droplets in second animal cells, in parallel synthesizing antibodies that neutralize the targeted virus strain in a third animal, and selecting the second animal cell-adapted viral lineages that are neutralized by the antibodies to identify second animal cell-adapted viral lineages having antigenic similarity to the targeted virus strain. |
| US09696294B2 |
Removable tamper-resistant breath alcohol sampling system
A breath alcohol testing device has a removable tamper-resistant sampling chamber assembly that provides a disposable interface between the test subject and the alcohol sensor, other sensors and electronics of the testing device. Hydrophobic membranes prevent bodily fluids and other liquids from entering the alcohol sensor and other sensitive components of the testing device. A set of chambers with one-way valves direct the gas flow within the sample chamber assembly to ensure the breath sample delivered to the alcohol sensor is not diluted by the subject inhaling, and is a deep-lung breath sample. |
| US09696288B2 |
Attached matter testing device and testing method
Provided is a technique to identify a sample substance attached to an inspection target easily and precisely, while improving the rate of operation and reducing the number of persons required for inspection. A trace detecting system includes detection means to detect the size (vertical and horizontal dimensions) of an inspection target, and selects an air nozzle capable of spraying air jet at 15 m/s or more to the surface of the inspection target for air jet spraying. |
| US09696286B2 |
Vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy system and method
An efficient absorption spectroscopy system is provided. The spectroscopy system may be configured to measure solid, liquid or gaseous samples. Vacuum ultra-violet wavelengths may be utilized. Some of the disclosed techniques can be used for detecting the presence of trace concentrations of gaseous species. A preferable gas flow cell is disclosed. Some of the disclosed techniques may be used with a gas chromatography system so as to detect and identify species eluted from the column. Some of the disclosed techniques may be used in conjunction with an electrospray interface and a liquid chromatography system so as to detect and identify gas phase ions of macromolecules produced from solution. Some of the disclosed techniques may be used to characterize chemical reactions. Some of the disclosed techniques may be used in conjunction with an ultra short-path length sample cell to measure liquids. |
| US09696277B2 |
Two-chamber dual-pore device
Provided is a device comprising a channel through and defined by a plurality of layers surrounding the channel, the channel connecting a first and a second chambers separated by the plurality of layers, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a first layer, a second layer; and a conductive middle layer disposed between the first and second layers, wherein the channel comprises (a) a first region defined by the first layer, denoted as an inlet, that is about 0.5 nm to about 100 nm in diameter and (b) a second region defined by the second layer, denoted as an outlet, wherein the inlet and the outlet are about 10 nm to about 1000 nm apart from each other, and wherein the first and second chambers and the middle layer are connected to a power supply. Also provided are methods of preparing and using the device, in particular for nucleic acid sequencing. |
| US09696271B2 |
Sensor and method for manufacturing the sensor
A sensor, especially a conductive conductivity sensor, to determine a measurand, especially the conductivity, of a medium, including: a process interface shaped as a hollow cylinder and made of a metal, with the process interface having at least two internal segments; a mainly cylinder-shaped sensor element that is mainly made of a ceramic, with a first section to introduce the sensor element into the process interface and a second section with which the sensor element protrudes from the process interface. The first section of the sensor element has at least two segments, wherein the respective first segment of the process interface and the sensor element are designed as a press fit, and the respective second segment of the process interface and the sensor element create a gap and a method to manufacture such a sensor. |
| US09696270B1 |
Thermal conductivity measurement apparatus and related methods
An apparatus for thermal conductance measurement includes a first heater assembly having a beam, a platen disposed at an end of the beam, and a heating element and a Resistance Temperature Device (RDT) disposed on the platen. The embodiment further includes a second heater assembly having a second beam, a second platen disposed at an end of the second beam, and a second heating element and a second Resistance Temperature Device (RDT) disposed on the platen. A test rig is also included, and the first heater and second heater assembly are mated to the test rig and separated by a gap length. |
| US09696269B2 |
NMR analysis of a core sample employing an open permanent magnet removable from a core holder
An apparatus and method for NMR analysis of a plurality of core samples includes a core holder (11) that holds a core sample under pressurized conditions. A radio frequency coil (51) disposed about the core holder (11) generates a pulsed-mode magnetic field component over a sample volume occupied by the core sample. A support structure is removably secured to the respective core holder. A permanent magnet (65A, 65B) has an open configuration such that it is removably disposed into a position within the support structure about the radio frequency coil and the core holder. The open configuration allows the same permanent magnet to be used for NMR analysis of a plurality of core samples without the need for depressurizing the respective core holder and disassembling the core holder and corresponding load frame for each core sample. It also allows multiple core samples to be prepared for NMR analysis while separated from the NMR measurement apparatus. |
| US09696268B2 |
Automated decision-based energy-dispersive x-ray methodology and apparatus
One embodiment relates to a method for automated review of defects detected in a defective die on the target substrate. The method includes: performing an automated review of the defects using an secondary electron microscope (SEM) so as to obtain electron-beam images of the defects; performing an automated classification of the defects into types based on morphology of the defects as determined from the electron-beam images; selecting defects of a specific type for automated energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) review; and performing the automated EDX review on the defects of the specific type. In addition, automated techniques are disclosed for obtaining an accurate reference so as to improve the usefulness of the EDX results. Furthermore, an automated method of classifying the defects based on the EDX results is disclosed which provides a final pareto that combines both morphological and elemental information. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US09696264B2 |
Apparatus and methods for determining defect depths in vertical stack memory
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for inspecting a vertical semiconductor stack of a plurality of layers is disclosed. The method includes (a) on a confocal tool, repeatedly focusing an illumination beam at a plurality of focus planes at a plurality of different depths of a first vertical stack, wherein a defect is located at an unknown one of the different depths and the illumination beam has a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 950 nm, (b) generating a plurality of in-focus images for the different depths based on in-focus output light detected from the first vertical stack at the different depths, wherein out-of-focus output light is inhibited from reaching the detector of the confocal system and inhibited from contributing to generation of the in-focus images, and (c) determining which one of the different depths at which the defect is located in the first vertical stack based on the in-focus images. |
| US09696260B2 |
Device for taking spectroscopic measurements of laser-induced plasma
An installation for spectroscopic measurement includes a focusing system (2) for focusing a laser beam (3) on a sample (4) for analysis and a system (17) for collecting and spectroscopically analyzing light rays emitted by the plasma (15), this system (17) including, in particular, an optical fiber (18) for collecting light. The installation also includes a motor-driven system (23) for moving the optical fiber (18), an optical imaging system (25) for imaging the plasma in the form of an image, and a processor and control unit (24). The unit (24) is capable of analyzing the image formed by the optical imaging system in order to select a zone of interest and controlling the motor-driven system (23) in order to place the optical fiber in a position enabling it to collect light coming from the selected zone of interest in the plasma. |
| US09696257B2 |
Automated and accurate drop delay for flow cytometry
Disclosed is an automated method and apparatus for automatically setting a drop delay period by detecting calibration particles in a waste stream. The drop delay is incremented over a series of drop delays and the number of calibration particles in the waste stream is detected for each drop delay. The drop delay is selected which has the least number of calibration particles in the waste stream. |
| US09696247B2 |
Sample fixation and stabilisation
It has surprisingly been discovered that it is possible to stabilize biomolecules such as RNA, DNA and proteins in biological samples such as cells, tissues, biopsies and blood using deep eutectic solvents (DES). It has also been discovered that DES mixtures can be used to fix and preserve cell morphology in biological samples such as tissue blocks, cancer biopsies and whole blood. This invention describes methods to stabilize and preserve biomolecules, whole cells, tissues, blood and biological samples using DES mixtures. |
| US09696243B2 |
Fluid sampling system
A fluid sampling system for collecting a fluid sample, the sampling system comprising a detachable sampling device having a recipient, an entrance valve for controlling entry of a fluid into the recipient, an exit valve for controlling exit of the fluid from the recipient, and a data storage device for storing data related to the fluid sample. |
| US09696236B1 |
Testing device including pedestal, vibratory platform and locking mechanism for clamping the pedestal to the platform, and test equipment comprising the same
A test apparatus includes a vibratory body that shakes a device under testing (DUT), a pedestal dedicated to support the DUT and disposed on the vibratory body, and a clamping mechanism operative to selectively clamp the pedestal to the vibratory body and release the pedestal from the vibratory body. The vibratory body and the pedestal define a cavity in which the clamping mechanism is disposed. The clamping mechanism includes a clamp ring and at least one locking element carried by the clamp ring so as to be displaceable in a radial direction relative to the clamp ring, at least one tang facing the at least one locking element in the radial direction, and a piston slidable in an axial direction relative to the clamp ring between a first position at which the pedestal is free from vibratory body and a second position at which the locking element is compressed between the piston and the tang. |
| US09696233B2 |
Method for balancing a propshaft assembly
Methods for correcting a rotational imbalance of a shaft are disclosed. The methods include determining a rotational imbalance of an unbalanced shaft, determining an imbalance correction and mapping the imbalance correction to predetermined points on the shaft. The imbalance correction can be implemented through the addition of mass to or the subtraction of mass from the shaft. |
| US09696231B2 |
Machine tool having numeric control device
A machine tool having a numeric control device is configured such that a storage unit of the numeric control device stores a weight and a position of a center of gravity of a fixed unit and a movable unit of the machine tool, and the position of the center of gravity of the entire set including the machine tool and the load is calculated using the weights and the positions of the center of gravity, the weight and the position of the center of gravity of the load, and a relative position of the movable unit of the machine tool. |
| US09696229B2 |
Precision force applicator for force transducer calibration
A force applicator assembly is disclosed to calibrate an in-situ force transducer (or load cell) in a force (load) applying test machine. The force applicator includes stationary member configured to be secured to fixed structure, a moving member, a load cell operably coupled to an end of the moving member, and a differential screw assembly connecting the moving member to the stationary member. A coupling assembly can be used to assure that only tension or compression loads are applied. The coupling assembly can be configured if desired such that no tension or compression loads can be applied. A method to calibrate an in-situ force transducer in a force applying test machine is also provided and uses a force generator and the coupling assembly. |
| US09696226B2 |
Count-based monitoring machine wires and felts
Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or at the nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment. |
| US09696225B2 |
Low friction tailstock assembly
A tailstock assembly includes a housing, a torque cell supported on the housing and configured to measure loads in a first load range, and a load cell supported on the housing and configured to measure loads in a second load range that is different from the first load range. The tailstock assembly is configured so that the torque cell can be selectively mechanically isolated from the housing. In particular, the torque cell and the load cell are supported on the housing through a low friction bearing, and the tailstock assembly can be selectively switched between a first measurement mode in which the torque cell is fixed to the housing, and a second measurement mode in which the torque cell is mechanically isolated from housing via the bearing. The tailstock assembly may be used as part of a brake dynamometer for accurately measuring both active braking torques and residual drag torques. |
| US09696214B2 |
Portable electronic device with inside temperature calibation
In a portable electronic device, a temperature sensor (1) is provided for sensing an ambient temperature (TR) of the portable electronic device. At least one other temperature sensor (3) is provided for sensing a temperature (TI) inside the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device further comprises a set of components (2) radiating heat in an active state in response to the consumption of electrical energy. A calibration module (5) is adapted to conduct a calibration measurement during or in response to an active state of at least a first component out of the set, and is adapted to determine a set of calibration parameters (c1) in response to the calibration measurement for adjusting the at least one sensed inside temperature (T1). A compensator (4) is provided for determining a compensated ambient temperature (TA) dependent on at least the sensed ambient temperature (TS) and the at least one adjusted sensed inside temperature (c1, T1). |
| US09696213B2 |
Temperature sensor with successive AD conversion with selective comparisons
According to one embodiment, a temperature sensor includes: a voltage generating part generating (2N−1)-midpoint voltages (N is a natural number equal to or larger than 2) based on a reference voltage which does not depend on a temperature; a sense part generating a temperature sensing voltage which depends on the temperature; and an arithmetic part is configured to generate N-bit temperature data by executing first to N-th operations each comparing the temperature sensing voltage with one of the (2N−1)-midpoint voltages. |
| US09696207B2 |
Method of enhancing contrast in prism coupling measurements of stress
A method and apparatus for improving contrast in prism coupling measurements of waveguide mode spectra, wherein the measured waveguide sample has a surface region of rapidly decreasing index, characterized with normalized slope λ n ⅆ n ⅆ z > 0.0004 . An opaque light-blocking element is placed in the portion of the light beam closest to the plane of the contact between prism and measured sample, on the input side, output side or both sides of the prism. The light blocking element prevents light from the light source to reach a portion of the length of the prism-sample coupling interface along the optical path, prevents light reflected from a portion of the aforementioned length to reach the detector, or both when input and output light-blocking elements are used. |
| US09696202B2 |
Method for making surface enhanced Raman scattering device
A method for making a surface enhanced Raman scattering device in accordance with one aspect of the present invention comprises a first step of forming a nanoimprint layer on a main surface of a wafer including a plurality of portions each corresponding to a substrate; a second step of transferring, by using a mold having a pattern corresponding to a fine structural part, the pattern to the nanoimprint layer after the first step, and thereby forming the formed layer including the fine structural part for each portion corresponding to the substrate; a third step of forming a conductor layer on the fine structural part after the second step; and a fourth step of cutting the wafer into each portion corresponding to the substrate after the second step. |
| US09696200B2 |
Combinatorial light device for general lighting and lighting for machine vision
A system with a machine and a lighting device. The machine includes an image capture device and a machine vision processing system configured to detect a characteristic of a subject in a space for an operation of the machine. The lighting device includes a first light source for generating light to illuminate the space, and a second light source for generating light of a particular wavelength to support detection of the characteristic of the subject via the machine vision processing system. The light of the particular wavelength is output at a sufficient intensity reasonably expected to produce a particular emission from the subject detectable via the image capture device different from an emission produced by exposure of the subject to the light for illumination of the space. The first and second light sources are integrated into the lighting device. |
| US09696198B2 |
System and method for monitoring and controlling underground drilling
A system and method for monitoring underground drilling in which vibration is monitored by creating a model of the drill string using finite element techniques or finite difference techniques and (i) predicting vibration by inputting real time values of operating parameters into the model, and then adjusting the model to agree with measured vibration data, (ii) predicting the weight on bit and drill string and mud motor speeds at which resonance will occur, as well as when stick-slip will occur, so that the operator can avoid operating regimes that will result in high vibration, (iii) determining vibration and torque levels along the length of the drill string based on the measured vibration and torque at one or more locations, (iv) determining the remaining life of critical components of the drill string based on the history of the vibration to which the components have been subjected, and (v) determining the optimum drilling parameters that will avoid excessive vibration of the drill string. |
| US09696197B1 |
Automatic surface elevation table (auto SET)
An automatic surface elevation table (Auto SET) for measuring ground surface movements and land surface subsidence. The Auto SET includes a free-floating foot resting on a sediment surface. A benchmark rod passes through a center of the free-floating foot, and is driven into the sediment surface and extends above the sediment surface. A water level recorder system is attached to the benchmark rod. The water level recorder system includes a water level recorder attached to a top of the benchmark rod, a double block pulley system having an upper end connected to the water level recorder and a lower end connected to the free-floating foot, and a counterweight attached to the upper end of the double block pulley system. The water level recorder system measures movement of the free-floating foot to determine ground surface movements. |
| US09696196B2 |
Sealable engine fluid measurement probe
The present embodiments include assemblies and methods for releasably sealing a dipstick tube with a piston valve assembly in a sealable engine fluid measurement probe assembly. In an embodiment, the piston valve assembly is integrated in a handle portion of the sealable engine fluid measurement probe assembly. The seal may be established with an o-ring positioned on an outer diameter of a portion of the sealable engine fluid measurement probe assembly that is configured to be inserted into the dipstick tube. A port or opening on either side of the o-ring is coupled to the piston valve, or other equivalent valve assembly, for allowing air or other gases to bypass the o-ring, thereby releasing the seal between the sealable engine fluid measurement probe assembly and the dipstick tube. |
| US09696181B2 |
Display device, energy display method and computer program
A display device includes: an image display section which displays an image on a screen on the basis of an image signal; and an execution section which executes an application which is acquired from a network on the basis of a user's instruction. When the image display section displays an image, the application which is executed by the execution section acquires, through the network, information related to energy that is used in a predetermined range, and displays the information on the screen. |
| US09696180B2 |
Portable power quality analyzer with networking capabilities
An intelligent electronic device (IED) for monitoring power quality of electrical services and receiving/transmitting information using a wireless and wired communication protocol is disclosed. The IED may be configured as a terminal or server of a Wi-Fi network, a cellular network, Intranet, LAN, WAN, or the Internet. In one application, these techniques are implemented in IEDs such as portable power quality analyzers. |
| US09696179B2 |
Product sensor, product with the product sensor, system and method for allowing communication between the product sensor and the system
A product may be provided with a product sensor, thus making it possible to determine, together with the product, data relating to a system or a machine with the aid of the product sensor. The data determined can be used to diagnose and/or control the system or machine. In this case, it is advantageous that the data are obtained at the location of the product and it is thus possible to directly determine a desirable or undesirable effect (for example of environmental parameters or of the system itself) on the product. This system can be used, for example, in automation, in systems or machines or in different product manufacture variants. |
| US09696175B2 |
Centrally managed waypoints established, communicated and presented via vehicle telematics/infotainment infrastructure
A method is described for incorporating a new waypoint into a current trip. The method includes configuring a trip definition and thereafter determining a proposed POI based upon: the trip definition, and a collection of potential proposed POI instances. The waypoint server system processes the collection of potential proposed POI instances, to render the proposed POI, by: (1) establishing POI ratings for individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based at least in part upon: the delay factor, and an estimate of additional delay arising from adding the individual POI to the current trip route; (2) establishing a rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based upon the POI ratings; and (3) rendering the proposed POI from the rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances. |
| US09696174B2 |
System and method for providing surrounding area search result
Provided is a system and method for providing a surrounding area search result. A search system may include a searcher configured to search for a reference location in response to a nearby point of interest (POI) search request based on the reference location, and to search for POIs located around the reference location, and a display configured to display a search result about the POIs based on each reference location when at least two reference locations are retrieved. |
| US09696171B2 |
Displaying suggested stops on a map based on context-based analysis of purpose of the journey
A map application includes a mechanism to perform context-based analysis to determine the purpose of a journey. The context-based analysis can include an analysis of any or all of the following: the destination, one or more calendars, social media, and historical data. Once the context-based analysis determines the purpose of the journey, the map application suggests one or more stops based on the purpose of the journey, and displays the suggested stop(s) on the map displayed to the user. |
| US09696168B2 |
Travel time information providing apparatus and travel time information providing method
A travel time information providing apparatus includes a probability distribution storage unit configured to store first probability distribution data which expresses an embarkation waiting time for each location where the waiting time occurs and second probability distribution data which expresses a travel time for each location where the travel time occurs; a route acquiring unit configured to acquire a route connecting a point of origin and a destination; a travel time calculating unit configured to calculate a probability distribution of a total travel time by convoluting all probability distribution data corresponding to an embarkation waiting time which occurs on the route and a travel time which occurs on the route; and an information providing unit configured to determine an estimated travel time based on the calculated probability distribution, and output the estimated travel time. |
| US09696166B2 |
Automated identification of anomalous map data
An autocheck module of a map system is configured to automatically identify anomalous conditions within map data that may indicate an error within the data. The identification of the anomalous conditions is accomplished by application of different autocheck types to the map data, each autocheck type representing a class of anomalies and being triggered if particular map data exhibits the anomalous condition associated with the autocheck type. In one embodiment, for at least some of the portions of map data that trigger an autocheck type, an issue entry is created in an issue database, the issue entry referencing the autocheck type that was triggered, the map data that triggered it, and any associated data of relevance for the particular autocheck type in question. |
| US09696163B2 |
Aviation watch
A wearable electronic device utilizes indicators on a display screen, such as tick marks positioned around the perimeter of the display, to point to the bearing of a desired location such as a nearest airport when GPS is enabled. The electronic device may be implemented as an aviation watch that comprises a display device having a screen including a plurality of indicators arranged proximal to a perimeter of the screen. The aviation watch determines a direction of an airport that is nearest in proximity to the location of the aviation watch and activates a subset of the plurality of indicators of the screen, the subset of the plurality of indicators providing a directional bearing to the airport determined to be nearest in proximity to the location of the aviation watch. |
| US09696162B2 |
Mission and path planning using images of crop wind damage
A harvest route generator system generates a harvest route for a harvesting machine. The harvest route generator system has a route generator that receives lodged crop information, from a sensor system, indicative of a characteristic of a lodged crop in a field and generates a harvesting route through the field for the harvesting machine, based on the lodged crop information. The harvest route generator system also has a communication component that communicates the harvesting route through the field to the harvesting machine. |
| US09696161B2 |
Celestial compass kit
A celestial compass kit. The kit includes an inclinometer, a camera system with a special telecentric fisheye lens for imaging at least one celestial object and a processor programmed with a celestial catalog providing known positions at specific times of at least one celestial object and algorithms for automatically calculating target direction information based on the inclination of the system as measured by the inclinometer and the known positions of at least one celestial object as provided by the celestial catalog and as imaged by the camera. The telecentric fisheye lens produces an image on the sensor located at or near the focal plane which remains spatially constant within sub-micron accuracies despite thermally produced changes in the focus of the lens. |
| US09696152B2 |
Position measuring apparatus
It is possible to, with a position measuring apparatus in a NC machine tool, a NC lathe, or the like that uses a load monitoring scheme, significantly reduce a response delay on the detecting jig side than those in the conventional apparatuses, and consequently measure the position of a measurement target with high accuracy. A measurement target (e.g., an advanceable and retractable center) is caused to abut a position detecting jig at the advanced end of the measurement target. In such a state, retracting and advancing motions of the measurement target are created to increase the load torque of a feed motor to a level sufficiently higher than the load torque that is detectable by the apparatus. After that, the abutment state between the measurement target (center) and the jig is canceled to cause a sudden drop in the load torque of the feed motor. Accordingly, it is possible to, even with a position measuring apparatus that uses a relatively low-cost load monitoring scheme, significantly reduce a response delay than those in the conventional apparatuses, and consequently measure a position with higher accuracy. |
| US09696150B2 |
Overlay error measuring device and computer program
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an overlay error measuring device for correcting a pattern displacement other than an overlay error to thereby achieve high-precision overlay error measurement. To accomplish the abovementioned purpose, the present invention proposes an overlay error measuring device which measures a dimension between a plurality of patterns belonging to different layers using a signal obtained by a charged particle beam device, and when measuring the dimension, corrects an amount corresponding to a pattern shift due to an optical proximity effect and measures the dimension between the plurality of patterns. |
| US09696147B2 |
Automatic track alignment control kit and method for automated track alignment
The invention relates to a method for aligning tracks of a roadwork machine, characterized by using a track alignment detection unit that is attached to a first track unit for allowing detection of an orientation of the first track unit, and frame orientation detection means that are attached to the machine frame for allowing detection of an orientation of the machine frame, the method comprising determining an initial orientation of the machine frame, and determining an initial orientation of the first track unit, determining whether a difference between a most recently determined orientation of the machine frame and a most recently determined orientation of the first track unit is within a predefined threshold value, initializing a pivoting of the first track unit, determining a changed orientation of the first track unit after the pivoting, and determining an orientation of the machine frame after the pivoting. |
| US09696143B2 |
Device for optical profilometry with conical light beams
There is described an optical system for sensing the surface of an object. The system comprises: a light source for emitting at least one light beam centered on the optical axis of the system; a light reflector for reflecting the at least one incident light beam to generate at least two hollow conical light beams centered on the optical axis and having different opening angles, the at least two reflected hollow conical light beams for illuminating the surface; and an image capture device for imaging the illuminated surface. |
| US09696137B2 |
Multiple channel locating
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for estimating a location on an object in a three-dimensional scene. Multiple radiation patterns are produced by spatially modulating each of multiple first radiations with a distinct combination of one or more modulating structures, each first radiation having at least one of a distinct radiation path, a distinct source, a distinct source spectrum, or a distinct source polarization with respect to the other first radiations. The location on the object is illuminated with a portion of each of two or more of the radiation patterns, the location producing multiple object radiations, each object radiation produced in response to one of the multiple radiation patterns. Multiple measured values are produced by detecting the object radiations from the location on the object due to each pattern separately using one or more detector elements. The location on the object is estimated based on the multiple measured values. |
| US09696131B2 |
Adaptive fluoroscope location for the application of field compensation
Compensation for a field-perturbing element in a magnetic tracking system for locating a probe is achieved by creating a reaction field model while the field-perturbing element is in known positions. A magnetic field location sensor is disposed between the field-perturbing element and magnetic field generators of the tracking system. Magnetic field readings from the location sensor and from a magnetic field sensor on the probe are taken while the field-perturbing element is present. The position of the field-perturbing element is estimated from the location sensor readings, and a predicted reaction field calculated from the reaction field model. A compensated measurement is obtained by subtracting the predicted reaction field from the field detected by the location sensor. The readings from the probe sensor are adjusted using the compensated measurement in order to calculate the true position of the probe. |
| US09696130B1 |
Garment property determination using robotic mannequin
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for garment property determination are disclosed. One or more movable portions of a mannequin are adjusted, thereby causing the mannequin to change from a first size to a second size. Signals are received from one or more sensors of the mannequin, and pressure readings applied to at least one location on an exterior surface of the mannequin are determined from the signals. Data that correlates at least a first pressure reading with the first size of the mannequin and that correlates at least a second pressure reading with the second size of the mannequin are stored. |
| US09696129B2 |
CMM with modular functionality
An articulated arm CMM system comprises an articulated arm comprising a plurality of articulated arm members, a measuring probe at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end, the base comprising a docking portion. The articulated arm CMM system also includes a plurality of feature packs configured to electronically connect to the articulated arm via the docking portions and provide additional electronic functionality. |
| US09696127B2 |
Method and system for detecting improvised explosive devices or the like
The present disclosure relates to method and system for detecting improvised explosive devices or the like. According to the present disclosure, the method is of the image-correlation type and involves continuously delivering current images representative of said path followed by a vehicle, in replacing some of said current images with pre-recorded earlier images taken at the same point, and in displaying said current images and said replacement earlier images in succession in order to detect said explosive devices. |
| US09696126B2 |
Detonator system confirmation
A signal is injected into a wired series of detonators to obtain a reflected signal which represents a validated status of the system. The reflected signal is compared to a second reflected signal, generated in a similar way, some time later; to detect factors which affect the validated status of the system. |
| US09696122B2 |
Antiballistic article and method of producing same
A light weight pre-stressed antiballistic article including a monolith ceramic plate/tile bonded to a thin lightweight thermal expansion material with an adhesive, characterized, in that the thermal expansion material has a thermal expansion coefficient at least 50% higher than the ceramic plate/tile, and the thermal expansion material is bonded to either the front face, back face or both faces of the ceramic plate/tile at a bonding temperature of between 50° C. and 250° C. with adhesive and subsequently cooled, whereby upon cooling, the bonded thermal expansion material contracts to a greater extent than the ceramic plate/tile, exerting compression stress on the ceramic plate/tile. |
| US09696121B1 |
Lightweight ballistic enclosure
An enclosure includes an enclosure body having an enclosure cavity, the enclosure body formed from a first material, and at least one ballistic tolerant plate disposed within the enclosure cavity to form a plurality of channel enclosures within the enclosure cavity, the at least one ballistic tolerant plate formed from a ballistic tolerant material. |
| US09696120B1 |
Shock transfer armor
An armor system includes a plate operably connected to a plunger, one or more solid bars of brittle material operably contained within a channel or tube, wherein the armor system is configured so that upon impact of a blast shock wave upon the plate, the plate transfers the blast shock wave to the plunger and then to the contents of the channel. Optionally, the channel also contains HFRM. |
| US09696113B2 |
Implement holster
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide a holster for a weapon, tool, or other implement. The holster comprises a backing that may be combined with one or more interchangeable shell components (i.e., covers) to at least partially encase the implement. The backing includes a recessed portion, and a retention membrane is coupled to the backing to form a cavity with the recessed portion. The membrane is arranged to flex partially into the cavity when the implement is encased within the holster. |
| US09696111B2 |
Auxiliary device mounting system for firearms
A mounting system includes a rail system. The rail system can include a plurality of powered rails and at least one control rail. The rail system can be disposed on a firearm, extending along the barrel toward a front of the firearm. The front or forward direction of the firearm extends from the trigger toward the distal end of the barrel. The rail system can extend along the barrel forward of the trigger, stock, and firearm handle. |
| US09696110B2 |
Firearm support brace
A firearm support brace has an attachment facility operable to removably connect securely to the mounting portion, an arm extending downwardly and rearwardly from the mounting portion, an extension extending from the arm and having an end away from the arm, and a saddle element connected to the end of the extension, such that the firearm is stabilized by positioning the saddle against the upper arm of a user adjacent to the elbow of the user while the barrel is aligned for sighting by the user. The attachment facility may include a first clamp portion connected to the arm, and a second portion removably connected to the first clamp portion. The attachment facility may define a cylindrical aperture. The attachment facility may be rotatable with respect to the firearm about a rotation axis parallel to a barrel axis defined by the barrel. |
| US09696107B1 |
Multi-element one piece crossbow frame
A multi-element one piece reverse draw style crossbow frame preferably includes a riser element, an AR style stock receiver tube element, a barrel element, a foot stirrup element, a first limb pocket element and a second limb pocket element, which are molded as a single piece of material. A first limb and a second limb are attached to the riser element. A first cam is pivotally retained on a distal end of the first limb and a second cam is pivotally retained on a distal end of a second limb. The barrel element preferably includes an opening for a trigger box, stock mounting points, an integrated finger guard, accessory mounting points and the like. A multi-element one piece dual stirrup crossbow frame preferably includes a barrel element, a riser element, a first foot stirrup element and a second foot stirrup element, which are molded as a single piece of material. |
| US09696106B2 |
Crossbow apparatus and kit therefore
The present invention is a miniature crossbow apparatus expressly adapted for use as a toy or amusement device in launching toy projectiles. The crossbow apparatus may be provided in kit form such that the user may develop construction skills and satisfaction by assembling the crossbow apparatus from provided constituent parts. The crossbow apparatus preferably includes at least one feature of a captive axleless rotating trigger feature, an armed bolt (projectile) retention feature, an integrated spare bolt (projectile) retention feature, a grip comprised of O-rings feature, and a crossbow arm anti-rotation feature. The crossbow apparatus further preferably is provided with a crossbow stand (holder) that doubles a target device. |
| US09696105B2 |
Cable guard for compound bow
A cable guard for a compound bow deflects cables of the compound bow away from the path of an arrow and away from a plane in which a string of the compound bow travels to prevent interference between the cables and the arrow and string. The compound bow includes a riser and spaced apart limbs extending from the riser. The cables and the string extends between the limbs. The cable guard comprises a frame for attachment to the compound bow. A first bearing is supported by the frame and extends along an axis. A second bearing and a third bearing each extend along a respective axis transverse to the axis of the first bearing. The second bearing and the third bearing each present a bearing surface with the bearing surface of the second bearing spaced from and facing the bearing surface of the third bearing for receiving the cable therebetween. |
| US09696102B2 |
Methods of firearm operations
A firearm includes a frame to which a barrel and slide are slideably mounted and in which a magazine is slideably received. A bumper telescoped on a push rod slideable with the slide pushes a shell in the magazine onto a pivotal carrier. Locking wings pivotally mounted to the barrel are cammed in troughs of a cam block as the barrel and the slide slide parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel relative to the cam block, so that lock tabs are removably received in locking recesses in the slide to removably lock the barrel and slide together. A trigger is slideably mounted to the frame for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel for pivoting a sear lever engagable with a biased striker and moving a safety from an interfering position relative to the striker. |
| US09696101B2 |
Conversion set for a firearm and method for converting a firearm
A conversion set for a firearm having a grip and a slide locked by a moveable barrel and including an ejecting opening is disclosed. To permit timely opening of the slide when using a replacement barrel which does not lock the slide, the conversion set for use of a replacement barrel which does not lock the slide includes a jacket which may be connected to the slide in a detachable, form-fitting manner. The jacket has a defined mass for the predetermined movement of the slide following a shot being fired. |
| US09696094B2 |
Cooling unit
A cooling unit includes a tank having an inlet port and a discharge port for refrigerant, first and second radiators connected to the tank, the first and second radiators each having a flow path, an inlet chamber defined in the tank for supplying the refrigerant flowing therein from the inlet port to the first radiator, a discharge chamber defined in the tank for discharging the refrigerant cooled in the second radiator to the discharge port, and a reservoir in which bubbles generated in the refrigerant are collected, the reservoir being provided between the inlet chamber and the discharge chamber in the tank. |
| US09696092B2 |
Furnace cooling panel monitoring system
A furnace cooling panel monitoring system utilizes individual cooling panel data to produce critical monitoring data. An exemplary cooling panel monitoring system utilizes the input from a plurality of temperature sensors configured to accurately measure the temperature change of cooling fluid flowing through each individual panel. The change in temperature from the inlet to the outlet of a cooling panel along with the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the panel can be used to calculate the a heat energy dissipation rate of the cooling panel, or heat flux. The flow rate through individual panels is determined by K-values or resistance to flow constants for a given cooling panel. The heat energy dissipation rate for individual panels can be provided to a user through a computer implemented monitoring program in real time. Alerts may be initiated by the computer implemented monitoring program when a threshold value has been exceeded. |
| US09696091B2 |
Superimposed zones process heating
Embodiments of the present invention include a heating method and apparatus in which a plurality of heated regions is superimposed in order to improve energy density control. |
| US09696089B2 |
Grain drying apparatus using exhaust heat of combine harvester
Disclosed is a grain drying apparatus installed in a combine harvester. The grain drying apparatus using exhaust heat of a combine harvester according to the present invention comprises: an intake duct one end of which is connected to an exhaust port of the combine harvester and the other end of which outputs the hot air discharged from the exhaust port; a filter unit located at the other end of the intake duct for removing harmful components from the hot air; and an exhaust duct connected to the other end of the filter unit to supply the hot air from which the harmful components are removed to a grain selection pan of the combine harvester. |
| US09696085B2 |
Refrigerator
There is disclosed a refrigerator including a case having a storage chamber provided therein; a lighting device provided in the storage chamber to light an inner space of the storage chamber, a first door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the storage chamber, an auxiliary storage chamber (50) provided in the first door to define a storage space, the auxiliary storage chamber (50) accessible through an opening formed in the first door, a second door (30) rotatably coupled to the first door in the same direction as the first door, a front panel attached to a front surface of the second door (30), the front panel formed of a transparent material, an evaporation treatment unit evaporated on an overall back surface of the front panel to transmit lights partially, a variable transparency film (120) attached to a back surface of the evaporation treatment unit provided in the front panel to get transparent when the power is supplied, a frame unit of the second door (30) on which the front panel is mounted, with an opening having a corresponding size to an opening provided in the first door, an insulation panel provided in the frame unit of the second door (30), distant from the front panel, a power supply unit for supplying an electric power to the variable transparency film (120) and the lighting device, a proximity sensor provided in the second door (30) to sense a user's approaching, and a control unit for controlling the power supply unit to simultaneously operate the variable transparency film (120) and the lighting device based on a sensing signal of the proximity sensor. |
| US09696081B2 |
Bubble-type snowflake maker
Disclosed is an improvement of a bubble-type snowflake maker. The interior of a machine body of a main machine is provided with accommodating space for disposing a blower that is used to send out wind power towards an air outlet pipe and an air outlet; a pump transports bubble water to a bubble head along a flexible bubble water pipe; a tail end of the air outlet pipe is sleeved with a cloth sleeve extending outwardly, and the bubble head of the bubble water pipe is disposed in the air outlet pipe; the air outlet is outwardly connected to a spray pipe having an inner pipe, and the air outlet pipe and the cloth sleeve extend into the pipe; the inner diameter of the inner pipe of the spray pipe is greater than the outer diameter of the air outlet pipe; and an inner annular toothed edge radially extends inwardly along a tail end of the inner pipe of the spray pipe. Wind power generated by the blower is blown to the interior and exterior of the cloth sleeve through the air pipe and the air outlet separately, so that the bubble water exudes from a surface of the cloth sleeve to form bubbles, and the wind power is used to blow the bubbles to fly away, so as to form artificial snowflakes. |
| US09696080B2 |
Composite bubble-type snowflake maker
Disclosed is a composite bubble-type snowflake maker, including: a main machine, an air pipe, and a sprayer. The interior of a machine body of the main machine is provided with accommodating space, so as to enable a blower to send out wind power towards an air outlet, and enable a pump to outwardly transport bubble water along a bubble water pipe. An inlet of the air pipe is connected to the air outlet, so as to enable an outlet to be far away from the main machine, and a tail end of the bubble water pipe extends outwardly along the air pipe, so as to be connected to a bubble head. One end of a sprayer body of the sprayer is connected to the outlet of the air pipe, and the other end is provided with an air outlet pipe and a plurality of air outlet holes at an outer circumference of the air outlet pipe. A tail end of the air outlet pipe is sleeved with a cloth sleeve extending outwardly, and the bubble head of the bubble water pipe is disposed in the air outlet pipe, so as to outwardly deliver the bubble water. Wind power generated by the blower is blown to the interior and exterior of the cloth sleeve through the air pipe and the sprayer body, so that the bubble water exudes from a surface of the cloth sleeve to form bubbles, and the wind power is used to blow the bubbles to fly away, so as to form artificial snowflakes. |
| US09696079B2 |
Rotational ice maker
An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece. |
| US09696077B2 |
Dual capillary tube / heat exchanger in combination with cycle priming for reducing charge migration
A refrigerator appliance including a multi-capacity compressor and a refrigerant circuit with two conduits and pressure reducing devices arranged in parallel between an evaporator and a condenser. Refrigerant can flow through one, both or none of the conduits and pressure reducing devices. The appliance also has a heat exchanger in contact with either one pressure reducing device, or one conduit between the pressure reducing device and the valve system. The appliance also includes a controller for priming the compressor above a nominal capacity for a predetermined or calculated duration at the beginning of an ON-cycle. |
| US09696076B2 |
Method of controlling one or more fans of a heat rejecting heat exchanger
A method of controlling a fan of a vapor compression system is disclosed. The vapor compression system includes a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of a gas cooler or a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in a refrigerant circuit. The fan is arranged to provide a secondary fluid flow across the heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of an air flow. The method allows the electrical energy consumption of the fan to be reduced without risking instability of the vapor compression system. |
| US09696074B2 |
Controlling refrigeration compression systems
A refrigerant compression system and method for controlling a refrigerant compression system are described. In some aspects, the refrigerant compression system includes a compressor system having a plurality of compression stages, a plurality of quench valves, a first suction temperature control circuit associated with a first quench valve, a second suction temperature control circuit associated a second quench valve, and a discharge temperature control circuit associated with a plurality of the quench valves. Quench valve settings are determined based on evaluation of one or more outputs from the suction temperature control circuits and the discharge temperature control circuit. |
| US09696069B2 |
Ejector
An ejector has a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, and an outlet. A primary flowpath extends from the primary inlet to the outlet and a secondary flowpath extends from the secondary inlet to the outlet, merging with the primary flowpath. A motive nozzle surrounds the primary flowpath upstream of a junction with the secondary flowpath. The motive nozzle has a throat and an exit. In one group of embodiments, an effective area of the exit is variable. In others, the needle may extend downstream from a flow control portion or may have an upstream convergent surface of a flow control portion. |
| US09696066B1 |
Bi-fuel refrigeration system and method of retrofitting
A bi-fuel refrigeration system and method of retrofitting a refrigeration system for the same. The system includes an engine in energy supplying relation to a refrigeration unit, said engine running off a constant predetermined amount of gaseous fuel and a variable amount of distillate fuel. An electronic control unit generates control signals to dictate the ratio of gaseous to distillate fuel is used by the engine. An actuator is structured to provide isochronous control of the system, and is accordingly disposed in flow adjusting relation to the distillate fuel intake to variably adjust the amount of distillate fuel injected into the engine. The method of retrofitting includes at least inserting a gaseous fuel supply and mixer into the air supply line, inserting an electronic control unit for isochronous control of the system, and inserting an actuator for isochronous control of the amount of distillate fuel used in the system. |
| US09696061B2 |
Heat pump water heater appliance
The present subject matter provides a heat pump water heater appliance with a mounting assembly for coupling a compressor to a plate within a casing of the heat pump water heater appliance. The mounting assembly includes a post that extends through a foot of the compressor and a fastener that extends through the bracket and the plate into the post in order to secure the bracket and the post together. An attachment mechanism secures the post and the foot of the compressor together. |
| US09696053B2 |
Thermal image sensor and air conditioner
A thermal image sensor and an air conditioner in which temperature data of significant pixels selected from all the pixels in an immediately preceding step are acquired by a thinning scanner, a human probability for each of the significant pixels is generated by a human probability generator, weight values for all the pixels are generated from the human probabilities for the significant pixels by a pixel weight calculator, and pixels having a larger weight value are selected, as the significant pixels to be used in the next step, by an all-pixel sorter, thereby assigning a larger number of pixels to a region in which there is a high probability that a person is existing while the number of significant pixels used in total is kept constant. |
| US09696051B2 |
Air conditioner
An air conditioner includes: a stepped portion provided on a side of an outlet of an air passage wall; an air passage extension having a rotary shaft in the outlet, the air passage extension being rotatable in an opening direction about the rotary shaft to bring a rear end into abutment with the stepped portion in such a manner that the air passage extension integrates with the air passage wall to form a curved surface of a predetermined curvature; and a rotary mechanism configured to cause the air passage extension to rotate in such a manner as to bring the rear end into abutment with the stepped portion when the air conditioner is put into operation. |
| US09696050B2 |
Evaporative humidifier and indoor climate controlling system comprising the same
The invention relates to an evaporative humidifier including a water reservoir, a wick unit and a fan unit. The wick unit is configured to absorb water from the water reservoir. The fan unit is arranged within a fan housing and configured to force an air flow to flow through the wick unit. The fan housing comprises a top cover unit defining at least one annular air outlet at an outer part adjacent a circumference of the top cover unit. One of the main advantages of this invention is that the evaporative humidifier has an optimal air flow path and can operate in a low noise. The invention also relates to an indoor climate controlling system using such an evaporative humidifier. |
| US09696049B2 |
Modular ductwork decontamination assembly
A modular ductwork assembly decontaminates an air stream circulating within a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The assembly includes one or more of (a) an ionizing module for removing particulates from the air stream, (b) a sterilization module for neutralizing airborne pathogens present in the air stream, (c) an ozone treatment module for neutralizing pathogens or odoriferous or gaseous constituents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air stream, optionally (d) baffles for slowing and disrupting the flow rate and promoting turbulence in the air stream traveling through the modules, optionally (e) a fan module for directing a treated air stream, optionally (f) an ozone sensor, optionally (g) a monitoring or ozone control means, and optionally (h) a means of delivering and repurposing generated ozone. Each of the modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules. |
| US09696046B2 |
Modular air handling unit
An air handling unit has a first modular cabinet comprising a first profile, a second modular cabinet comprising a second profile that is complementary to the first profile, and the first profile comprises an alignment feature. An air handling unit has a heat exchanger cabinet comprising a first profile, a blower cabinet comprising a second profile complementary to the first profile, a first connector system disposed at least partially on each of the heat exchanger cabinet and the blower cabinet, and the first connector system is operable to releasably secure the first profile to the second profile. An air handling unit has a first modular cabinet comprising a first portion of a first connection system and a second modular cabinet comprising a second portion of the first connection system. A component of the first portion may be least partially received within the second portion. |
| US09696045B2 |
Air conditioner and control method of air conditioner
An air conditioner including: a converter circuit that is on an electronic substrate and converts an alternating current to a direct current; an inverter circuit that is on the electronic substrate and converts a direct current converted by the converter circuit to an alternating current to operate a motor that drives a compressor; an inverter control circuit that is on the electronic substrate and drives the inverter circuit; and a temperature detector that detects an outside air temperature input to the inverter control circuit, wherein the inverter control circuit includes a locked energization control unit, and the locked energization control unit performs AC locked energization or DC locked energization on the motor in accordance with the outside air temperature detected by the temperature detector. |
| US09696044B2 |
Air conditioner units and methods for providing make-up air
Air conditioner units and methods for providing make-up air are provided. An air conditioner unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger and a bulkhead. The air conditioner unit further includes a vent aperture defined in a rear wall of the bulkhead. The air conditioner unit further includes a dehumidification system, the dehumidification system including an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly. The evaporator assembly is configured for removing heat from outdoor air flowing therethrough. The evaporator assembly is in fluid communication with the vent aperture for flowing outdoor air from the evaporator assembly through the vent aperture. The condenser assembly is configured for adding heat to outdoor air flowing therethrough. The condenser assembly is spaced from the vent aperture for flowing outdoor air from the condenser assembly into the outdoor portion. |
| US09696036B2 |
Gas turbine combustion chamber tile having effusion cooling holes including straight and offset sections
The present invention relates to a combustion chamber tile of a gas turbine with a plate-like basic element which is provided with at least one effusion cooling hole extending through the basic element from a surface of one side to the other side, with the effusion cooling hole being designed, from the one side of the basic element and beginning from an inlet opening, substantially at right angles to the surface over part of its length, wherein the effusion cooling hole inside the basic element has a straight section and is then provided with an offset section. |
| US09696033B2 |
Gas regulator fitting
The aim is to provide a gas control valve in which the specified desired value range can be subsequently shifted easily in order to optimize the range of settable temperatures for the heating device without exceeding the device- and/or installation-specific admissible use conditions. To this end, a setting element (17) which serves to change the position of a temperature-sensitive element (8) and thus to actuate a switch for activating a valve has a threaded part (12) that is screwable into the housing (1) of the gas control valve. In this case, the two are connected together in a rotationally secure manner via a releasable locking mechanism, wherein a tubular latching part (14) that is firmly connected to the threaded part (12) is arranged between the pot-like setting element (17), partially surrounding the threaded part (12) with a recess (18), and the threaded part (12). By way of a stop element (16) that protrudes from the end side, the latching part (14) projects into a guiding contour (19) which is formed by an end-side aperture located in the setting element (17). |
| US09696029B2 |
Method for erecting a boiler, module and boiler comprising the module
The method for erecting a boiler includes erecting a main structure, providing preassembled modules defining a boiler section, installing the modules outside the main structure. |
| US09696023B2 |
Electric connecting member and LED lamp using the same
An electric connecting member and an LED lamp using the electric connecting member are provided. The electric connecting member is used for the electric connection between a light source substrate and a driving board of the LED lamp, and comprises an input terminal and an output terminal. The LED lamp comprises the driving board and the light source substrate. The output terminal is provided on the driving board of the LED lamp. The input terminal is disposed upon the light source substrate and is electrically connected to the light source substrate. The output terminal comprises two contacts, and one end of each of the two contacts is electrically connected to the driving board respectively. The input terminal comprises two connection heads which are respectively provided corresponding to the two contacts. One end of each of the two connection heads is electrically connected to the light source substrate respectively. |
| US09696021B2 |
Hanger bar for recessed luminaires
A hanger bar assembly for a recessed luminaire is disclosed. The hanger bar assembly includes a first hanger bar member having a first attachment structure disposed on an end thereof, and a second hanger bar member having a second attachment structure disposed on an end thereof, the second hanger bar member being adjacent to the first hanger bar member. The first and the second attachment structures each include a first wall having a first fastener aperture and a second wall having a second fastener aperture, the first and second fastener apertures being formed about a common central longitudinal axis. |
| US09696020B2 |
Runway fixture ring
A method and device for easily installing and removing an airport light on a runway using a fixture ring having a base ring; an annular lip operatively connected to and extending radially inwardly from the base ring; a lift bar operatively connected to the annular lip and extending from one side to the diametrically opposite side of the annular lip; and a pair of extractors, operatively connecting the lift bar to the annular lip to cause the lift bar to move up and down relative to the annular lip. |
| US09696019B2 |
LED lighting structure
In accordance with various embodiments, planar light sheets are conformed to interior volumes of housings to produce predetermined spatial optical characteristics such as luminous intensity distributions. |
| US09696018B2 |
Light emitting diode luminaire compatible for both top mounting and wall mounting
A light emitting diode luminaire compatible for both top mounting and wall mounting comprises a mounting adapter body suitable to top mounting and wall mounting of the luminaire, a power source for power supply to the luminaire, a radiator, a light source plate, a sucking plate and/or an arm; the mounting adapter body comprises a mounting adapter bracket centered thereof, the mounting adapter bracket can not only be connected to the sucking plate but also connected to the arm. Under the cooperation between the long striped mounting adapter body and the sucking plate and/or arm, the same luminaire can be applicable to a variety of different ways of mounting, with only a few components rather than a complete set of components changed. Thus, not only the procedure and time of production are simplified, but the production cost is greatly reduced. |
| US09696016B2 |
Lighting device and corresponding method
A lighting device may include a channel-shaped elongated profiled body including a light permeable material and having a mouth portion, and a light radiation source assembly arranged at the mouth portion and including a support board having one or more electrically powered light radiation sources, e.g. LED light radiation sources, thereon facing profiled body. Mouth portion of profiled body includes shoulder formations arranged sidewise of said mouth portion, with support board abutting against said shoulder formations. |
| US09696014B2 |
Radiation emitting element and a method of providing it
A radiation emitting element comprising a radiation transmissive element having a first refractive index, a first surface, a second, opposite surface, a radiation emitter adapted to emit radiation of a predetermined wavelength into the radiation transmissive element, and a plurality of radiation controlling elements, wherein each radiation controlling element comprises: a first liquid having a second refractive index, a second fluid having a third refractive index being lower than the second refractive index, the second refractive index being closer to the first refractive index than the third refractive index, means for altering a shape of the first liquid between two modes wherein: • in a first mode, the first liquid being in contact with the first surface at a first surface part, and an interface between the first liquid and the second fluid, at the first surface part, is not parallel to the first surface part and • in a second mode, a surface of the second fluid, at the first surface part, is at least substantially parallel to the shape of the first surface part, wherein the first liquid has a transmittance of at least 10% at the predetermined wavelength. |
| US09696013B2 |
Illumination system multi-layered wavelength-converting device
An illumination device includes a solid-state light-emitting element, and a wavelength-converting device with a transmissive substrate, a phosphor layer and a reflective optical layer. The transmissive substrate has a refraction coefficient ns greater than an ambient refraction coefficient namb. The phosphor layer is disposed over a side of the transmissive substrate and the reflective optical layer is disposed over a side of the transmissive substrate opposite to the phosphor layer. The reflective optical layer has an effective refraction coefficient nr. The relation between ns, namb and nr is given by nr>2(namb2)/ns. |
| US09696012B2 |
Embedded LED assembly with optional beam steering optical element, and associated products, and/or methods
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to laminated LED arrays, products including such laminated LED arrays, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, LEDs may be disposed on a flexible sheet and chained together in an array. An optional beam steering optical element may be used to help redirect the light, even when the LED arrays are disposed on a curved surface and/or at an angle that is not parallel to the intended observer's line of sight. Doing so advantageously makes it possible to ensure that a substantial portion of the axis of the light produced by embedded LEDs coincides with the front-to-rear axis of a vehicle, while still allowing for different angles of the back light for different implementations. Such techniques advantageously may be used in connection with Center High Mount Stop Lamps (CHMSLs); tail lights for cars, trucks, and other vehicles; and/or the like. |
| US09696008B2 |
Reflector for directed beam LED illumination
The present disclosure provides systems and techniques for directing light into one or more light beams which converge into an aggregate beam. In certain example embodiments, the present disclosure provides a reflector having one or more reflective curved surfaces for reflecting and focusing light from one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) into one or more light beams, which make up an aggregate light beam. In certain example embodiments, the reflective curved surfaces are paraboloid surfaces. |
| US09695993B2 |
Long distance high intensity LED light with adjustable focus
The present invention provides a lighting device including (i) one or more LED chips positioned on one or more LED chip bases; (ii) one or more lens bases each of which includes one or more lenses, said lens comprises coatings for changing color temperature of the light produced by said LED chips and transmitted through said lens; and (iii) a motion transmission system to change the position of said lens bases relative to said LED chip bases, wherein each of said lenses is placed along the light path of one or more LED chips, and said lens changes the light beam cone angle of light emitted from said LED chips to produce long distance high intensity illumination. In one embodiment, the lens bases can be moved in a direction parallel to the optical axes of said lens, or moved on a plane that is parallel to said LED chip bases. |
| US09695989B2 |
Plastic lamp base with zigzag electrical conductor and light bulb using the same
A plastic lamp base includes an insulated body defining therein an enabling channel which extends from a bottom end thereof. Also, the insulated body defines therein an auxiliary channel which extends from a mounting end thereof to communicate with the enabling channel. The enabling channel and the auxiliary channel are filled with a conductive plastic to form a zigzag electrical conductor, which has one end exposed at the bottom end of the insulated body and has an opposite end exposed at the mounting end of the insulated body and electrically connected to one contact of an LED component. A ground electrical conductor, being electrically insulated from the zigzag electrical conductor, has one end exposed at the outer surface of the insulated body and has an opposite end exposed at the mounting end of the insulated body and electrically connected to the other contact of the LED component. |
| US09695987B2 |
Ball tap
In a ball tap 1, a valving element 3 includes a valve part 10 provided with a contact projection part 9 that can come into close contact with a valve seat 7 when the valving element 3 is closed, and a flange part 11 having a circular ring shape in plan view which continues downward from the rim of the valve part 10 and is slidable like a piston in the secondary side flow passage 5, and the left and right half circumferences of the upper surface of the flange part 11 have bilaterally symmetrical shapes curved downward in arch shapes, and the left and right lower limit portions of the upper surface of the flange part are set so as to be positioned at the same heights as those of the lower end edges of drainage ports 8. |
| US09695985B2 |
Fluid delivery system and method
A fluid supply system adapted for vacuum and pressure cycling of fluid, including a transfer vessel adapted to supply a process canister with fluid drawn from a bulk canister under a vacuum, wherein delivery of fluid from the transfer vessel to the process canister is accomplished with positive pressure. A method is also disclosed of delivering fluid, including drawing fluid under vacuum from a bulk canister and pressurizing the transfer vessel to effect dispensing of the fluid into a process canister for delivery to a location of use. |
| US09695981B2 |
Image recognition for personal protective equipment compliance enforcement in work areas
A method comprises receiving one or more images of a person from one or more image capture devices in response to an input, identifying one or more items of personal protective equipment in the one or more images, determining the positioning of the one or more items of personal protective equipment relative to the person in the one or more images, and verifying compliance with personal protective equipment standards based on the one or more identified items of personal protective equipment and the positioning of the one or more items of personal protective equipment. |
| US09695980B2 |
Method and system for configuring a monitoring device for monitoring a spatial area
A failsafe monitoring device for monitoring a spatial area comprises at least one image recording unit. A three-dimensional image of the spatial area is recorded and a representation of said three-dimensional image is displayed in order to configure the monitoring device. A configuration plane is defined using a plurality of spatial points which have been determined within the three-dimensional image. Subsequently, at least one variable geometry element is defined relative to the configuration plane. A data record which represents a transformation of the geometry element into the spatial area is generated and transferred to the monitoring device. |
| US09695978B2 |
Heat exchanger fin stock lubrication system
Embodiments according to this disclosure include methods and systems for lubricating sheet metal stock by wiping a controlled amount of lubricant onto the surfaces of the sheet metal with strips of material, such as felt, saturated with the lubricant. The lubrication methods and systems disclosed herein can also provide for control of the pressure at which the lubricant is delivered, the volume of lubricant delivered, and the frequency lubricant is delivered to the felt strips. The lubricant is delivered to the felt strips at a number of locations and the felt material is configured to naturally wick the lubricant from the injection sites to the spaces between injection sites to substantially saturate the entire strip. |
| US09695976B2 |
Traffic signal mounting bracket
A traffic signal mounting bracket for mounting a traffic signal on a post. The mounting bracket has a base, a cable, and a traffic signal attachment portion. The base is spaced apart from the post to maintain separation between the back of the base and the post. The cable is secured against rotation in a channel on the back of the base and extends rearwardly from the back of the base to loop around a post and is clamped between the front of the base and clamping blocks releasably attached thereto. |
| US09695974B2 |
Resealing suction cup holding system
A resealing suction cup mounting system and method wherein an arm pivotably connected to the suction cup is able to rotate in the direction of the suction cup and in so doing provide an impact force to be applied to the suction cup that cause a resealing action to occur. The impact force having a component that is perpendicular to the interface between the suction cup and a surface the suction cup is mounted to. |
| US09695973B2 |
Attachment mechanism
An attachment mechanism is used to quickly and easily attach or detach an accessory or piece of equipment to or from an existing structure. The attachment mechanism generally has a slot to receive a structure, a retention member to hold the structure in place when it is desired to have the mechanism attached to the structure and a release mechanism to release the structure when it is desired to release the mechanism from the structure. |
| US09695971B2 |
Device and method for installing a compact pipe within a pipeline
A device for installing a compact pipe (CP) within a pipeline includes an adapter (4) comprising means for releasably connecting a connecting piece to the adapter (4), and means for fixing the adapter (4) to a first end of the compact pipe (CP). |
| US09695967B2 |
Connection apparatus
A connection apparatus for establishing a vacuum-tight connection, in particular a flange connection, between at least two components of a vacuum arrangement, having a first coupling element for coupling to the one component and a second coupling element for coupling to the other component. The first coupling element and the second coupling element are coupled to one another via a pivotable operating lever and the connection apparatus is adjustable by pivoting the operating lever from a first position in which the coupling elements have a larger spacing from one another into a second position in which the coupling elements have a smaller spacing from one another. |
| US09695965B2 |
Integral valve
A valve comprising a shoulder, a movable check member having a wall facing the shoulder and a coupling member. The movable check member is adapted to prevent fluid passage through or out of the valve when in contact with the shoulder. The coupling member is adapted to displace the movable check member away from the shoulder responsive to the pressure being applied on the wall exceeding a predetermined threshold. The coupling member is further adapted to retract and maintain the movable check member secured against the shoulder responsive to the fluid flow pressure at the wall dropping below the threshold. |
| US09695964B2 |
Duct coupler for post-tensioned concrete member
An embodiment is directed to a duct coupler for joining two segments of conduit. The duct coupler includes a coupler body. The coupler body is generally tubular and has an inner diameter generally corresponding to the outer diameter of a section of conduit measured at an annular locking rib positioned on the section of conduit. The duct coupler further includes one or more protrusions formed on the interior surface of the coupler body. Each protrusion is generally wedge shaped. The one or more protrusions are positioned to engage with at least one annular locking rib to retain the section of conduit within the coupler body. The duct coupler further includes a body gasket. The body gasket is generally tubular and positioned on the interior surface of the coupler body. The body gasket is positioned to form a seal between the inner wall of the coupler body and the outer wall of the section of conduit. |
| US09695956B2 |
Spectral analysis based detector for a control valve
Systems and methods for diagnosing components of a control system are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the spectral content of various signals originating from a control valve is used to detect periodic patterns that can correspond to valve problems. |
| US09695949B2 |
Method and system of a valve
Valves. At least some of the example valves include: a valve body; a valve housing; and a piston that defines a proximal end and a distal end, the piston disposed in a piston bore of the valve housing. The valve defines a closed orientation by a first rotational orientation of the valve housing relative to the valve body, and the valve defines an open orientation by a second rotational orientation of the valve housing distinct from the first rotational orientation. |
| US09695948B2 |
Vacuum valve
A vacuum valve with a housing having a valve seat, a closure member which, in a closed position, is pressed against the valve seat, and a manual actuator, by which the closure member is displaceable in a linear manner and which includes a screw transmission, which is actuatable by a rotational element and has a first driving part connected to the rotational element and a second driving part connected to the closure member. The driving parts have mating external and internal threads. A closing spring acts between the valve housing and the closure member. The first driving part is displaceable relative to the valve housing parallel to the closing direction, and with the closure member in the open position, the closure member is held against displacement in the closing direction by a supporting stop against which a stop face of the rotational element or of the first driving part abuts. |
| US09695946B2 |
Electrically actuated valve with a ball sealing element
A valve (100) including a housing (101) has a fluid inlet (102) and a fluid outlet (205). The valve (100) includes a vibrating element (206) adapted to vibrate when energized. The valve (100) also includes an amplifying plate (207) that is coupled to the vibrating element (106). The amplifying plate (207) includes a fluid passage (208). The fluid passage (208) provides fluid communication between the fluid inlet (102) and the fluid outlet (205). The valve (100) also includes a sealing ball (209) located between the fluid inlet (102) and the amplifying plate (207). The sealing ball (209) is adapted to seal the fluid passage (208). |
| US09695945B2 |
Fine control gas valve
A fine control gas valve is disclosed. The valve has a tee having first and second tee runs co-axially aligned on a longitudinal axis, and a tee branch oriented non-parallel to the longitudinal axis. A rotatable hand operator member cooperates with a threaded member and a sleeve to enable a valve to be adjustably positioned within the tee. Indicia on the valve may be used to help a user understand how a fluid flow through the valve will be affected by adjustments made by the rotatable hand operator member. |
| US09695943B2 |
Combined seal ring with encoder and rolling bearing unit with encoder
A slinger has a substantially L-shaped cross-section and includes a rotating cylindrical portion and a rotating circular ring portion. An inner circumferential surface of the rotating cylindrical portion is a stepped cylindrical surface in which a large-diameter portion formed at a portion close to the rotating circular ring portion and a small-diameter portion formed in the remainder are continuously connected by a stepped portion. The encoder supported by the rotating circular ring portion is formed by solidifying and securing a molten permanent magnet material in a state that a molding die collides with the stepped portion. An outer diameter of a hub is defined as φD, an inner diameter of the small-diameter portion in a free state is defined as φd1, and an inner diameter of the encoder in a free state is defined as φd2, a relationship of φd1≦φd2<φD is satisfied. |
| US09695940B2 |
Bidirectional lift-off circumferential shaft seal segment and a shaft seal including a plurality of the segments
A circumferential shaft seal segment includes a radial outer face, a radially inner face, a first axial face extending from the radial outer face to the radial inner face and a second axial face axially spaced from the first axial face and extending from the radially outer face to the radially inner face. The seal has a bleed slot in the radially inner face extending from the first axial face toward the second axial face, and there are first and second recesses in the radially inner face in communication with the bleed slot that extend from circumferentially opposite sides of the bleed slot. |
| US09695934B2 |
Nozzle and nozzle assembly configured to minimize combined thermal and pressure stress during transients
In a nozzle and a nozzle assembly, for use in a pressure vessel, stress analysis is used to determine areas of stress concentration. The nozzle is configured to reduce these stress concentrations. |
| US09695928B2 |
Transmission lubrication system
The system comprises an oil pump driven in conjunction with an output shaft of a transmission, a first oil path for supplying oil discharged from the oil pump to a lubrication system of the transmission, a second oil path arranged in parallel with the first oil path to guide the oil from the oil pump to a heat exchanger, and a valve inserted on an upstream side of the heat exchanger in the second oil path. The valve opens at a first set pressure to conduct the oil from the oil pump to the second oil path. The oil is supplied to the first oil path in a low vehicle speed area below the first set pressure, so that oil supply necessary for the lubrication system can be ensured. The oil is supplied to the second oil path in a high vehicle speed area over the first set pressure. |
| US09695927B2 |
Motor-gearbox assembly
A motor-gearbox assembly includes a housing, a motor, and a gearbox. The housing includes a first alignment mechanism and a second alignment mechanism. The first alignment mechanism is at a first end of the housing and the second alignment mechanism is at a second end of the housing. The motor is mechanically positioned within the housing in accordance with the first alignment mechanism. The gearbox is mechanically positioned within the housing in accordance with the second alignment mechanisms to mechanically couple to the motor. |
| US09695920B2 |
Agricultural vehicle transmission
A continuously variable transmission for an agricultural vehicle, the transmission comprising a transmission casing and transmission components, the components including: an input shaft drivable by a prime mover, first and second output drive shafts for connection to driven wheels of the vehicle, a mechanical transmission branch which transfers torque mechanically from the input shaft to the first and second output shafts, and a further transmission branch having at least one continuously variable motor, wherein the first and second output drive shafts are additionally driven by the at least one motor so as to provide the first and second output drive shafts with continuously variable drive. |
| US09695919B2 |
Power transmission apparatus for vehicle
A power transmission apparatus may include a first input shaft including at least one input gear, a second input shaft, at least one input gear. a first output shaft, more than two speed gears engaged respectively with the at least one input gear, at least one synchronizer operably connecting the more than two speed gears to the first output shaft selectively. a second output shaft, at least one speed gear engaged respectively with the at least one input gear, a reverse speed gear rotatably disposed on the second output shaft, at least one synchronizer operably connecting the at least one speed gear or the reverse speed gear to the second output shaft selectively, an idle shaft, and first and second idle gears fixedly disposed on the idle shaft and engaged respectively to one input gear on the first input shaft and the reverse speed gear. |
| US09695916B2 |
Differential member
Provided is a differential member that is used in a surgical instrument, which may be manually operated to perform laparoscopic operations or various surgical operations, to receive an input of two or more rotation motions or translation motions and output a single rotation motion or translation motion. |
| US09695913B2 |
Multiple speed transmission
A family of transmission gearing arrangements produces nine forward and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of various combinations of three clutches or brakes. Each transmission gearing arrangement includes a front shiftable gearing arrangement configured to establish a variety of speed ratios between an intermediate shaft and an input shaft. These speed ratios include a reverse speed ratio, a zero speed ratio, two underdrive ratios, and a direct ratio. Each transmission also includes a rear shiftable gearing arrangement configured to selectively establish particular speed relationships among the input shaft, the intermediate shaft, and an output shaft. |
| US09695912B2 |
Cycloid transmission with an adjustable ring
Examples are provided that describe a cycloid transmission with an adjustable ring. An example cycloid transmission includes a disc and a motor shaft attached to the disc. The motor shaft is capable of rotating the disc around an outer ring of rollers. The outer ring of rollers surrounds the disc. As the disc is rotated, contact is made between the disc and the outer ring of rollers. A cycloid transmission also comprises an adjustable ring that is interposed between the motor shaft and the disc. A circumference of the adjustable ring can be adjusted in order to cause expansion of a radius of the disc. This expansion will result in increased contact of the disc with the outer ring of rollers and thereby lower backlash during rotation of the disc. |
| US09695911B2 |
Oil seal cap and eccentric oscillation-type gear device including the same
The present invention provides an oil seal cap that can be attached to a part to be closed without any laborious and time-consuming step and can achieve an efficient oil passage operation such as an oil changing operation. An oil seal cap 30 includes: a body part 31 having a first hole 31a passing therethrough; a port part 32 provided on the body part 31 inside an outer circumferential part of the body part 31 when viewed in the passing-through direction of the first hole 31a, the port part 32 having a second hole 32a passing therethrough and extending in the same direction as the passing-through direction of the first hole 31a; and a plug member 33 configured to block the second hole 32a, the plug member 33 being removably mounted on the port part 32. The second hole 32a is opened, through the first hole 31a, toward a side opposed to a side where the port part 32 is provided on the body part 31; and a surface of the body part 32 is provided with a locking part 38a projecting with respect to the surface. |
| US09695909B1 |
Leaf chain
A leaf chain includes a plurality of chain units each having two pins, around which first and second alternate inner plates between outer plates are mounted. The plates form respective apertures where the pins penetrate. Each chain unit has bushings located in the apertures of the first and second inner plates, and first washers disposed between any two adjacent bushings and between the bushings and the outer plates. There are connecting plates located at an outer side of the outer plates and tightly engaged with the pins to prevent the outer plates from being deformed because of a concentration of large force in the outer plates during the transmission. The outer plates have a loose engagement with the pins to prevent the pins and inner plates from being worn away. The first washers help the sealing effect to maintain the preferable stability and transmissibility and prolong the operating life. |
| US09695906B2 |
Method for fabricating a belt with treated tension members with envelope layer and belt thus produced
A method for fabricating a belt with upstream treatment of a tension member. The belt comprises a belt body made of a polymeric material having elastic properties, having a top ply as belt backing and a substructure having a force transmission zone, and a tension member embedded into the belt body. The tension member has been treated with crosslinked polymer; in an upstream stage of the belt fabrication method, voids in the tension member are filled at least partly with crosslinked polymer and the tension member is sealed with an envelope layer of crosslinked polymer, this being done, in a single treatment stage or in at least two treatment stages, by wetting of the tension member with an overall treatment mixture comprising at least one prepolymer, at least one crosslinker and at least one solvent or dispersion medium, and then drying of the treated tension member. |
| US09695899B2 |
Multi-stage shock absorber
A jounce control damping system with an elongated housing containing a damping medium, a primary piston assembly, a moveable outer piston assembly, and a movable inner piston assembly disposed at least partially within the outer piston assembly. The primary piston assembly provides a first compression damping force. The inner piston engages the primary piston assembly and provides a second compression damping force when moved in a compression direction. After the inner piston assembly moves a given distance, the outer piston assembly is moved in the compressive direction and provides a third compression damping force. |
| US09695896B2 |
Drive and associated method
A motorized vehicle has a plurality of left wheels and right wheels. The vehicle includes a first motor adapted for powering at least two of the plurality of left wheels and a second motor adapted for powering at least two of the plurality of right wheels. The vehicle also includes a first power transferring device for transferring power from the first motor to a left wheel, a second power transferring device for transferring power from the second motor to a right wheel, a third power transferring device for transferring power from the first left wheel to a second left wheel, and a fourth power transferring device for transferring power from the first right wheel to a second right wheel. The vehicle also includes a first braking mechanism for the first of the left wheels and a second braking mechanism for the second of the left wheels. |
| US09695885B2 |
Auxiliary drive wheel-side differential unit for four-wheel drive vehicle
A movable sleeve of a second clutch is provided between a cylindrical ring gear and a cylindrical shaft of a differential case of a differential gear unit. In a disconnect mode in which a propeller shaft is disconnected from rear wheels, the cylindrical ring gear is disconnected from the differential case by the movable sleeve of the second clutch. Thus, in the disconnect mode, a fully differential state of the differential gear unit is prevented. |
| US09695879B2 |
Guide mechanism for connecting component, and coupling structure and processing apparatus using the guide mechanism
A guide mechanism for a connecting component guides a second connecting component when connecting a first connecting component and the second connecting component to each other. The guide mechanism includes a guide member and an urging member. The urging member urges the guide member and continues to contract until the second connecting component reaches a connection complete position. The guide member includes rotational shafts, inner guide pieces, and outer guide pieces. The rotational shafts are provided on both sides of the second connecting component. The inner guide pieces are rotated about the rotational shafts from first initial positions to first regulating positions. The outer guide pieces are rotated about the rotational shafts from second initial positions to second regulating positions such that the rotation of the outer guide pieces is coupled with the rotation of the inner guide pieces. |
| US09695878B2 |
Plug-in propshaft assembly tool
A plug-in constant velocity (CV) joint is assembled to a powertrain component using a power tool. The CV joint and powertrain component connect via a splined shaft coupling with a snap ring interlock. External bi-directional thrust features on the joint and component engage first and second arms of the power tool after the splined shaft coupling is partially inserted by hand. The arms are relatively movable along a longitudinal direction, and an actuator selectively applies a compression force to the bi-directional thrust features adapted to fully insert the splined shaft coupling and engage the snap ring interlock. The power tool monitors the compression force to detect the full insertion. The actuator automatically applies a predetermined expansion force to the bi-directional thrust features to verify engagement of the snap ring interlock, wherein the predetermined expansion force is less than a force sufficient to disengage the snap ring interlock. |
| US09695866B2 |
Method for manufacturing composite double-metal fracture splitting connecting rod
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite double-metal fracture splitting connecting rod, comprising the steps of: providing a moveable spacer at a large end of a mold cavity of a connecting rod, to divide the mold cavity into two separate parts; casting a connecting rod body and a connecting rod cap with material for the main body of the connecting rod; removing the spacer from the mold cavity when the majority of the material is solidified, then injecting material for a fracture splitting region into an empty mold cavity obtained after the removal of the spacer, and metallurgically bonding the two types of material to form a composite double-metal casting; then, separating the connecting rod body from the connecting rod cap by a fracture splitting apparatus along preset fracture surfaces; and positioning and accurately assembling through engaged staggered structures on the two fracture surfaces. |
| US09695861B2 |
Split nut compression fastener system
A fastener system is provided. The fastener system includes a pair of nuts having a beveled end and opposed flats, a nut housing having a cavity, the cavity including an end wall with an aperture and a tapered interior portion to engage the beveled end, and opposing internal flats to engage the nut flats, a resilient member to urge the beveled ends against the tapered portion; and retaining element. The nuts may include tapered thread edges to accommodate damaged male threads, or cutting thread edges to repair damaged male threads. |
| US09695854B2 |
Adjustable and lockable turnbuckle
An adjustable and lockable turnbuckle may include an elongated body having internal threading within a first end thereof. The turnbuckle may include a first extension rod having external threading configured to mate with the internal threading at the first end of the elongated body. The turnbuckle may include a first jam nut having internal threading and a skirt. The internal threading of the first jam nut may be configured to mate with the external threading of the first extension rod to tighten the first jam nut against the first end of the elongated body so that the skirt of the first jam nut is positionable about the first end of the elongated body. A first aperture may extend through the elongated body, the first extension rod, and the skirt of the first jam nut. Moreover, a first pin may be positioned within the first aperture. |
| US09695853B2 |
High energy absorption joint
Joints and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The joint may include a first component including an indentation formed therein having a width, a second component, an adhesive layer disposed between the first and second components, and a fastener extending through the indentation. The fastener may join the first and second components and have a head with a width greater than a minimum width of the indentation. The method may include forming an indentation having a width in a first component, applying an adhesive to one of multiple components, and stacking the components. The indentation may form a bond gap between two components. A fastener may be inserted having a head with a width greater than the width of the indentation into the indentation to join the components. The indentation may space the components apart to provide a larger bond gap for the adhesive. |
| US09695851B2 |
Panel
The invention relates to a panel including an upper side, an underside, a basic body, complementary locking means, which are provided in pairs on mutually opposite panel edges, and at least one pair of locking means having a receiving hook and an arresting hook. The receiving hook has a hook periphery and a receiving recess. The arresting hook has an arresting recess, an arresting shoulder, a transverse-joint surface and a vertically acting arresting contour. The receiving hook also has a transverse-joint surface and a form-fitting contour. The arresting hook also has a horizontal locking surface on its arresting shoulder. The receiving hook also has a horizontal locking surface in the receiving recess and contains a receiving opening. |
| US09695847B2 |
Storage and delivery of supplemental power
A power train and related vehicle are described for storage and delivery of supplemental power. A power conversion device may receive power from an engine or other component of a vehicle and may provide power to an energy storage device. A supplemental power device may receive power from the energy storage device and provide power to a supplemental power coupling via a one-way power transfer device. The supplemental power coupling may provide the power from the supplemental power device, as received via the one-way power transfer device, to a crank shaft or other component of the vehicle. |
| US09695840B2 |
Reversible hydraulic pressure converter employing tubular valves
The reversible hydraulic pressure converter (1) employing tubular valves includes a medium-pressure stage (44) consisting of a medium-pressure cylinder (2) and a double-acting medium-pressure piston (3) the position of which is sent to a control computer of the converter (19) by a piston position sensor (14), the cylinder (2) and the piston (3) forming two medium-pressure chambers (5) that can be placed in communication with a medium-pressure inlet-outlet circuit (15) by at least one tubular valve (12), the converter (1) also including two high-pressure cylinders (9) each cooperating with a high-pressure piston (8) of smaller diameter and defining two high-pressure chambers (11) that can be placed in communication with a high-pressure inlet-outlet circuit (16) by at least one tubular valve (12), each of the various tubular valves (12) cooperating with an independent valve actuator (13). |
| US09695839B1 |
Submersible pump water jetter
An apparatus and method for cleaning containers using water within the container and a submersible pump exhibiting a nozzle. Air may be injected into the pumped water to increase its pressure as it exists the nozzle. |
| US09695836B2 |
Fly wheel
Provided is a fly wheel, including: a fly wheel body provided with a receiving part in which air is filled and mounted on driving shaft; a blade radially coupled to the fly wheel body, including a ventilation passage formed therein to be communicated with the receiving part and a puncturing part formed on an outer race thereof to be communicated with the ventilation passage, and generating thrust by discharging the air filled in the receiving part to the puncturing part at the time of rotating the driving shaft; and a check valve installed on the fly wheel body and being opened and closed by a pressure difference between the receiving part and the outside. |
| US09695835B2 |
Side channel liquid ring pump and impeller for side channel liquid ring pump
A liquid ring pump is provided. The liquid ring pump is designed to reduce the overall envelop of the ring pump. The liquid ring pump includes a housing and an impeller. The housing defines an impeller cavity. The impeller cavity has an inlet port and a discharge port. The impeller is positioned within the impeller cavity for rotation about a central rotational axis. The impeller includes a central hub defining a conical outer surface and a plurality of angularly spaced apart main vanes extending radially outward from the conical outer surface relative to the central rotational axis. The inlet and discharge ports may be located on a same side of the impeller housing. |
| US09695828B2 |
Air delivery device
The present invention concerns an air delivery device with an impeller mounted rotationally about the axis of rotation, designed for essentially axial intake of air and essentially radial expulsion of air relative to the axis of rotation, and which is arranged in a housing that has at least one intake opening and at least one blowing opening. |
| US09695822B2 |
Adjustable core turbocharger
A turbocharger is provided herein. The turbocharger includes a housing and an adjustable core at least partially circumferentially surrounded by the housing, the adjustable core having a turbine rotor coupled to a compressor rotor via a shaft. The turbocharger further includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the adjustable core configured to adjust an axial position of the housing relative to the adjustable core in response to adjustment commands. |
| US09695815B2 |
Pump device and method for controlling the same
A pump device and method for stabilizing a suction flow rate irrespective of an outside air temperature. The method includes: outputting a drive signal for driving a motor at a rotation speed for discharging gas of the reference flow rate from the suction port of the pump main body; measuring a temperature of gas discharged from the suction port or a temperature of the pump main body by a temperature sensor attached to the pump main body; calculating an actual flow rate of the gas discharged from the suction port based on a temperature signal relating to the temperature of the gas included in an output of the temperature sensor; and correcting the drive signal such that the actual flow rate equals the reference flow rate and outputting the corrected drive signal to the motor. |
| US09695814B2 |
Evacuating a chamber
A method and apparatus for reducing undesirable noise generated by a vacuum pumping system. The vacuum system operates to reduce the pressure in a chamber to a first pressure value. The system then detects that the pressure at the vacuum pump system's inlet is about to change to a second higher pressure and, in response, the speed of a booster pump in the vacuum pump system is reduced below the rated speed for the pump. When the pressure at the vacuum pump's inlet is above the second pressure, the speed of the booster pump is increased to the rated speed. Thus, the booster pump is slowed down prior the pump system becoming exposed to a rapid increase in inlet pressure. |
| US09695810B2 |
Linear compressor
A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor may include a shell having a refrigerant inlet, a cylinder provided within the shell, a piston that reciprocates within the cylinder to compress a refrigerant, a motor assembly that provides a drive force to the piston, a support provided for the magnet assembly, to support an end of a permanent magnet, and a frame engaged with the cylinder to support the motor assembly, and that includes a contact to absorb impact when the piston collides against the support. |
| US09695809B1 |
Air pump capable of twist-locking engagement
An air pump capable of twist-locking engagement includes a body housing, a head housing, a leakproof ring, an elastic sleeve, a pushing member and an end cap. The body housing has a cam section formed as a tube having a quarter-round section. The head housing has an opening segment. The head housing and the body housing are rotatably coupled with the leakproof ring arranged therebetween. The elastic sleeve is located at the opening segment of the head housing. The pushing member is located at one end of the elastic sleeve and received in the cam section. The end cap is screwed to the opening segment for pressing against and positioning the elastic sleeve. By a twisting operation of the air pump, the cam section can be turned to engage or release an air valve of an article to be inflated. |
| US09695806B2 |
Method of controlling gaseous fluid pump
A method of controlling a fluid pump. The pump has a plurality of oscillating pistons that travel along a central axis of a piston sleeve. A plurality of pistons is of similar mass within a piston sleeve are provided, and adjacent pistons are positioned to be 180 degrees apart in phase oscillations. An electric coil is provided for each piston, and the position of adjacent pistons is determined. The current to one of the electric coils for a piston is adjusted to maintain the 180 degree difference in phase between oscillations of adjacent pistons. |
| US09695803B2 |
Wind direction adjustable blade type vertical axis wind turbine
The present invention relates to a wind direction adjustable blade type vertical axis wind turbine that is configured to allow blades to be automatically swung, thereby making more efficient use of wind power. The wind turbine includes: a rotating shaft adapted to be rotated by means of wind power; an upper plate adapted to be coupled to the upper portion of the rotating shaft; a lower plate adapted to be coupled to the lower portion of the rotating shaft; a plurality of blades disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate; and swing motion units disposed between the top end of each blade and the upper plate and between the underside end of each blade and the lower plate in such a manner as to form the center of rotation of each blade, while allowing each blade to be rotatable in accordance with the wind direction. |
| US09695801B1 |
Wind turbine
A wind turbine having at least two blades mounted to a blade retainer and a load shaft connected to the blade retainer, such that movement of the blades due to wind causes rotation of the load shaft. The wind turbine includes a frame assembly surrounding the turbine assembly. The frame assembly includes a plurality of vanes to direct wind inside the frame assembly and towards the blades of the turbine assembly. The vanes have a half circle shaped leading edge pointing to an outside perimeter of the frame assembly. The half circle leading edge has two ends and the vanes have a side extending from each of the ends of the half circle that come together to form a trailing edge. |
| US09695800B2 |
Wind turbine blade with plurality of longitudinally extending flow guiding device parts
A wind turbine blade with a plurality of flow guiding device parts attached to a profiled contour on a pressure side of the blade is described. The longitudinally extending flow guiding device parts are grouped together to form a first flow guiding device group in the transition region of the blade. |
| US09695795B2 |
Pressure exchange noise reduction
Various aspects of the technology provide for reducing noise and vibration in a pressure exchanger for high pressure fluid handling equipment such as a desalination system, by disposing grooves between a seal surface and a port. The groove reduces a hammer effect in moving high pressure fluid to a low pressure port and moving low pressure fluid to a high pressure port. Reduction in the hammer effect, in addition to reducing noise, reduces vibration that can cause deterioration of high pressure fluid handling equipment. |
| US09695793B2 |
Corona ignition system for an internal combustion engine and method for controlling a corona ignition system
A corona ignition system for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising a oscillating circuit, which contains an ignition electrode, a high-frequency generator, which is connected to the oscillating circuit, in order to produce an AC voltage to excite the oscillating circuit, a converter in order to produce an input voltage for the high-frequency generator from an on-board supply voltage, a voltage controller to stabilize the input voltage produced by the converter for the high-frequency generator, and a control unit for controlling the high-frequency generator, wherein the control unit communicates an imminent load change of the converter to the voltage regulator, before the load change occurs as a result of activation or deactivation of the high-frequency generator. A method for controlling a corona ignition system is also described. |
| US09695792B2 |
System and method for operating an ignition system
A system and method for mitigating the possibility of missing ignition coil commands is presented. In one example, one or more ignition coils may not be charged and/or discharged during a cylinder cycle in response to the absence of a voltage pulse forming at least a portion of an ignition coil command. |
| US09695784B2 |
Fuel management system for variable ethanol octane enhancement of gasoline engines
Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency or the engine. |
| US09695778B2 |
Tandem thrust reverser with multi-point actuation
One embodiment includes a pivot thrust reverser comprising a first tandem pivot door subassembly comprising an inner panel and outer panel connected. A second tandem pivot door subassembly is included comprising an inner panel and outer panel connected. Also included are a first actuator located on a first side of an attachment location to pivot the first tandem pivot door subassembly, a second actuator located on a second side of the attachment location to pivot the second tandem pivot door subassembly, and a third actuator located substantially radially opposite the attachment location to pivot both the first tandem pivot door subassembly and the second tandem pivot door subassembly. The first tandem pivot door is configured to be pivoted from stowed to deployed by the first actuator and the third actuator, and the second tandem pivot door is configured to be pivoted from stowed to deployed by the second actuator and the third actuator. |
| US09695777B2 |
Series parallel waste heat recovery system
The present invention relates to a waste heat recovery system including a first heating line, a second heating line, and a valve section. The first heating line in a working fluid circuit includes a first heat exchanger operatively connected to transfer heat energy to a working fluid. The second heating line in the working fluid circuit includes a second heat exchanger operatively connected to transfer heat to the working fluid. The valve section is selectively controllable to provide a first configuration in which the first heat exchanger and second heat exchangers are operatively connected to the working fluid circuit in parallel and a second configuration in which the first heat exchanger and second heat exchanger are operatively connected to the working fluid circuit in series. |
| US09695772B2 |
System and method for adjusting fuel injection parameters during transient events to reduce particulate emissions
A system according to the present disclosure includes a fuel control module and at least one of a desired air per cylinder (APC) module and a predicted manifold absolute pressure (MAP) module. The desired APC module determines a desired amount of airflow to each cylinder of an engine. The predicted MAP module predicts a pressure within an intake manifold of the engine at a future time. The fuel control module selectively adjusts a fuel injection parameter of the engine based on at least one of: a change in the desired air per cylinder from a first time to a second time; and a change in the predicted manifold pressure from the first time to the second time. |
| US09695767B2 |
Control device and control method for internal combustion engine
An ECU acquires a fluid temperature, a coolant temperature and a soak time, and determines whether vapors have been produced in a fuel supply device on the basis of a vapor production prediction map. When the ECU determines that vapors have been produced in the fuel supply device, the ECU reduces a feedback gain. Subsequently, the ECU predicts a vapor production time, and, when the ECU determines that a vapor production end time has been reached, executes normal feedback control. |
| US09695766B2 |
Control apparatus for vehicle
A control apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine, a dog clutch and a friction clutch. The dog clutch is configured to transmit power or interrupt transmission of power in a power transmission path that transmits power of the engine to a drive wheel. The dog clutch includes a synchromesh mechanism. The friction clutch is configured to transmit power or interrupt transmission of power in the power transmission path between the engine and the dog clutch. The control apparatus includes: an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to, when the synchromesh mechanism is operated in order to engage the dog clutch in a state where the vehicle is stopped and the friction clutch is released, increase a rotation speed of the engine as compared to when the synchromesh mechanism is not operated. |
| US09695760B2 |
System and method for improving energy efficiency of a vehicle based on known route segments
A method/system for maintaining the energy efficiency history of predicted route segments in a database, providing adaptive feedback to hybrid vehicle controls, and displaying the energy efficiency history to the driver. As the vehicle travels on a route, the system stores energy efficiency information for route segments. The system may include sensors, a memory, and a processor to learn energy efficiency information based on how fuel and battery power are used over a route segment and/or route. The method/system may utilize energy efficiency information to adjust a start/stop engine threshold of a hybrid vehicle. When the processor predicts that the vehicle will travels on the predicted route segment again, the vehicle may optimize powertrain parameters such as the start/stop engine threshold during traveling on the predicted route segment and/or before reaching the predicted route segment. |
| US09695759B2 |
Injection device and internal combustion engine having a heating device
An injection device for an internal combustion engine is proposed having at least one injection valve system for injecting fuel into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and at least one heating device for pre-heating fuel injected by the injection valve system, the injection valve system including a first injection valve for injecting fuel in the direction of a first inlet opening of a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and a separate, second injection valve for injecting fuel in the direction of a second inlet opening of the combustion chamber. |
| US09695756B2 |
Fuel supply control apparatus for bi-fuel internal combustion engine, and method of switching fuel in bi-fuel internal combustion engine
When switching the fuel to be used for engine operation from gasoline to CNG, in a state where CNG is supplied experimentally to one cylinder serving as a judgment object and gasoline is supplied to other cylinders, whether or not CNG can be supplied to the cylinder serving as a judgment object is judged based on an amount of change ΔPc in fuel pressure inside a CNG delivery pipe (Step S13 to Step S16). When it is judged that a gas fuel can be supplied to all cylinders (Step S19: YES), the fuel to be used for engine operation is switched from the liquid fuel to the gas fuel (Step S20). |
| US09695752B2 |
Engine-induced aircraft cabin resonance reduction system and method
A system method of reducing engine induced aircraft cabin resonance in an aircraft includes sensing a parameter representative of current aircraft flight conditions, and sensing a parameter representative of current engine operating conditions of at least one of a first turbofan gas turbine engines or a second turbofan gas turbine engine. In a control system, the parameter representative of current aircraft flight conditions and the parameter representative of current engine operating conditions are processed to supply a variable inlet guide vane (VIGV) offset value. The VIGV offset value is applied to a VIGV reference command associated with one of the first or second turbofan gas turbine engine, to thereby cause the VIGVs of one of the first or second turbofan gas turbine engine to move to a more closed position. |
| US09695749B2 |
Compressed air injection system method and apparatus for gas turbine engines
This invention relates to electrical power systems, including generating capacity of a gas turbine, and more specifically to augmentation of power output of gas turbine systems, that is useful for providing additional electrical power during periods of peak electrical power demand. |
| US09695742B2 |
Vehicle drive device
A vehicle drive includes a speed change mechanism connected to a rotary electric machine; an output member connected to the speed change mechanism and wheels; an engagement device changes a state of engagement between an input member connected to an engine and the speed change mechanism; a hydraulic pump driven by the engine or the rotary electric machine; a first pressure control device that controls pressure supplied from the pump and supplies the pressure to the speed change mechanism; a second, separate hydraulic pressure control device that controls the pressure supplied from the pump and supplies the pressure to the engagement device; and a case that houses the rotary electric machine, speed change mechanism, engagement device, and pump. At least the engagement device is housed in a space formed by the case, and the second hydraulic pressure control device is provided at a part of the case forming the space. |
| US09695737B2 |
Prechamber system
A prechamber system for an internal combustion engine has a prechamber, a fuel introduction device, a dead space which connects the fuel introduction device to the prechamber. A channel is provided which connects the prechamber to the dead space. |
| US09695736B2 |
Cooling device for internal combustion engine and failure diagnosis method for cooling device for internal combustion engine
An ECU sets a leakage flow rate flowing through a radiator circulation passage in a closed state of a thermostat valve, calculates an estimated temperature of coolant water in the radiator circulation passage based on a set leakage flow rate and a detected water temperature of an engine-side coolant water temperature sensor, and performs a failure diagnosis for the thermostat valve based on a difference between the calculated estimated temperature and the detected water temperature of the radiator-side coolant water temperature sensor. The leakage flow rate during operation of the electric pump is set to be a larger value as compared to the leakage flow rate during stopping of the pump. As a result, a diagnostic can be prevented by improving an accuracy of failure detection for the thermostat valve. |
| US09695735B2 |
Thermostat valve with coolant stoppage function
The invention relates to a thermostat valve for a cooling system of an internal combustion engine with a coolant stoppage function, comprising a first bypass valve element and a second bypass valve element, a main valve element to be arranged in a counterpart to a connection to a coolant radiator, and a crossmember to be arranged between an engine outlet and an engine inlet, which crossmember forms a valve seat for the first bypass valve element and the second bypass valve element, wherein, on its outer side, the crossmember has a collar which forms an axial supporting region for the counterpart and which is loaded in the axial direction by a compression spring, with the result that the collar is forced in the direction of the counterpart. |
| US09695734B2 |
Internal combustion engine fluid-metering valve assembly
A fluid-metering valve assembly for use in a coolant regulator of an internal combustion engine cooling system may include a main body and a metering member. The main body is configured to be rotatably secured within an internal chamber of the coolant regulator. A fluid passage is formed through the main body, and is defined, at least in part, by a metering edge of the main body. The metering member is formed proximate to the metering edge of the main body, and is configured to allow variable doses of fluid to be metered into or out of the coolant regulator as the main body is rotated within the coolant regulator. The metering member includes one or more linear features formed into the main body. |
| US09695733B2 |
Heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of a first fluid using a second fluid
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of a first fluid using a second fluid, wherein the heat exchanger has a base for separating the first fluid from the second fluid, said base having a sealing region. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a partition for separating the first fluid from the second fluid, wherein the at least one partition is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the base, wherein the at least one partition forms a fluid duct for the first fluid. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a housing. In the sealing region between the base and the housing, there is arranged a sealing element which is pressed in a fluid-tight manner against the base and against the housing. |
| US09695732B2 |
Diagnostic device
A diagnostic device for an exhaust gas purification system that has a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), a diesel particulate filter, and an exhaust pipe injection device. The device includes a sensor for detecting a temperature of the DOC, a first calculation unit for converting an integration time of the detected temperature between regeneration intervals into a thermal history time with respect to a predetermined set temperature, and calculating a degree of degradation of the DOC based on this thermal history time, a second calculation unit for calculating a quantity of heat generated in the DOC based on the detected temperature during a forced regeneration execution period, and calculating another degree of degradation of the DOC based on the quantity of heat generated; and a diagnosis unit for diagnosing a degradation state of the DOC based on the degrees of degradation entered from the first and second calculation units. |
| US09695730B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying device
An exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes an oxidative catalyst and a filter that are disposed in an exhaust gas path of an engine; a fuel injecting device that injects fuel according to a fuel injection pattern; and a control device that estimates a deposition amount of a particulate matter and sets the fuel injection pattern. When the fuel injection pattern including post-injection is set to recover the filter, the fuel injection pattern is set such that a post-injection amount is reduced as the deposition amount increases. |
| US09695727B2 |
System and method for adaptive aftertreatment control of NOx
System and method of treating exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and adaptive control of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injection. Adaptive control of DEF injection includes intentionally underdosing the injected DEF based on an amount of DEF determined by an electronic control unit as an amount needed to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) to a compliance threshold. Since underdosing prevents ammonia (NH3) slip from occurring due to low levels of DEF, a sensor accurately senses NOx present in the exhaust gas at an output of an SCR chamber. An electronic control unit increases the amount of injected DEF based on the sensor. |
| US09695726B2 |
Metering arrangement and method for operating a metering arrangement
A method and arrangement for controlling heating and thawing of a metering arrangement with a metering device for the feeding of a reducing agent solution for the exhaust gas after treatment in an exhaust system. The metering device is connected with a supply container for the reducing agent solution via at least one pipe. At least one heating device is provided for the heating of at least one component of the metering arrangement. At least one first component of the metering arrangement is assigned a first heating device, which can be operated separately from a second heating device provided for the heating of at least a second component of the metering arrangement. |
| US09695722B2 |
Urea common rail
An exhaust after-treatment system includes an exhaust treatment component, a tank for holding an exhaust treatment fluid, and an exhaust treatment fluid dosing system. The dosing system includes a fluid distributor providing exhaust treatment fluid under pressure to a plurality of dosing modules that dose exhaust treatment fluid into the exhaust stream and a return for returning unused exhaust treatment fluid to the tank. A valve is positioned between the fluid distributor and the return and is configured to allow a flow of exhaust treatment fluid from the return to the fluid distributor before being returned to the tank during a purge operation. A controller is configured to open the valve and allow communication between the return and the fluid distributor during the purge operation such that unused exhaust treatment fluid drains during the purge operation. |
| US09695721B2 |
Water cooled exhaust manifold
A modular exhaust manifold includes a plurality of exhaust manifold segments coupled together along a common axis. Exhaust manifold segments include a water jacket tube defining a liquid coolant passage around each of the plurality of exhaust manifold segments. The internal combustion engine also includes a coupling assembly for joining adjacent exhaust manifold segments. The coupling assembly includes a plurality of annular sealing devices configured to fit within a first set of grooves formed on an end portion of a first exhaust manifold segment. The coupling assembly also includes a spacing collar configured to attach to the end portion of the first exhaust manifold segment and couple with a fixed radial flange formed on an adjacent end portion of a second exhaust manifold segment to join the first exhaust manifold segment and the second exhaust manifold segment. |
| US09695720B2 |
Method of regenerating exhaust gas post-processing apparatus in engine-driven generator, and regeneration apparatus
In a continuous regeneration type exhaust gas post-processing apparatus equipped with an oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF), reliably removing particulate matter (PM) deposited to the DOC for maintaining the activity performance of DOC. The present invention relates to a method of forcibly regenerating a continuous regeneration type exhaust gas post-processing apparatus installed in an engine-driven generator equipped with a generator body driven by a diesel engine. When the engine is in a predetermined light load running state during forced regeneration in which intake gas to the engine is restricted to increase a temperature of exhaust gas, a heater actuated with electricity generated by the generator body switches ON in order to increase a load on the engine and thus a DOC inlet temperature of the exhaust gas post-processing apparatus to a burning temperature of PM deposited in the DOC or more. |
| US09695718B2 |
Silencer
A silencer comprises a casing, an inlet pipe for introducing an exhaust into the casing, and an outlet pipe for discharging the exhaust out of the casing. A lid is provided at an exhaust inflow side opening of the outlet pipe and arranged to close the exhaust inflow side opening. The lid has an exhaust inlet for flowing the exhaust into the outlet pipe, a valve body for opening and closing the exhaust inlet, and at least one communication hole formed separately from the exhaust inlet. The valve body is configured to be rotationally movable about a rotation axis of the valve body inside the outlet pipe. The at least one communication hole is provided closer to the rotation axis of the valve body than the exhaust inlet. |
| US09695717B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
A control device for an engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism. The control device performs learning a holding control amount of a hydraulic valve when actual valve timing is held at a fixed timing in each of spring and non-spring regions, and an updating. The updating includes updating the control amount for the non-spring region whenever the control amount for the spring region learned drops below the control amount for the non-spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the non-spring region being less than or equal to the control amount for the spring region, and/or updating the control amount for the spring region whenever the control amount for the non-spring region learned exceeds the control amount for the spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the spring region being greater than or equal to the control amount for the non-spring region. |
| US09695716B2 |
Multi-mode variable cam timing phaser
A variable camshaft timing device can operate using pressure generated by camshaft torque energy to transfer fluid from one working chamber to another work chamber or operate via an external fluid pressure source to fill one working chamber while simultaneously exhausting an opposing working chamber or operate using both modes simultaneously. The mode of the variable camshaft timing device is determined by the position of the control valve. The lock pin is controlled by fluid from one of the working chambers. |
| US09695712B2 |
Attachment boss and fan case
A boss for attachment of an auxiliary device to a fan case of an engine includes a pedestal including a plurality of accumulated layers of reinforcement fibers and a matrix combining the reinforcement fibers together, the pedestal including a bottom face in a shape capable of being in close contact with an outer periphery of the fan case; and an embedded body embedded in the pedestal and including a combining structure combinable with the auxiliary device. |
| US09695701B2 |
Air bleed system for an axial turbomachine
The present application relates to a bladed stator of a turbomachine compressor, configured to straighten an annular stream of the turbomachine. The stator includes at least one annular wall configured to define the annular stream, a row of blades extending radially from the annular wall and means of pressurizing in communication with the annular stream. The means of pressurizing are configured to pressurize a chamber which is separated from a lubrication housing by a labyrinth seal. The means of pressurizing comprise at least one passage extending through the thickness of the annular wall and connecting with the annular stream. The means of pressurizing further includes at least one scoop in communication with the passage and the annular stream. The scoop is open upstream so as to capture the dynamic pressure of the annular stream. |
| US09695693B2 |
Insert with an external surface which is part of at least one aerodynamic profile of a turbomachine test blade
The invention relates to an insert for a turbine engine test vane including the insert and a vane body. The insert includes at least two external surfaces. The insert is configured to fit into the vane body, such that the external surfaces are vane aerodynamic surfaces each forming part of a vane aerodynamic profile. |
| US09695692B2 |
Threaded shank, connection assembly and gas turbine engine for improved fatigue life of threads
A threaded shank for engaging with a threaded further component is provided herein, the further component having a cylindrical first thread with a uniform first thread pitch and a uniform first thread angle, the threaded shank including a second thread with a uniform second thread pitch and a uniform second thread angle and including a third thread with a uniform third thread pitch and a uniform third thread angle along an axial expanse of the third thread. The first thread angle and the second thread angle and the third thread angle being substantially identical, the first thread pitch and the second thread pitch and the third thread pitch being substantially identical, wherein the second thread and the third thread are spaced apart axially by a thread-free region, a second thread helix and a third thread helix have an axial offset to one another. |
| US09695688B2 |
Round-shaft chisel arrangement, a retaining ring for a round-shaft chisel arrangement, a set with a clamping sleeve and a retaining ring, and a method for securing a round-shaft chisel in a tool holder
The present invention relates to a round-shaft chisel arrangement with a chisel, comprising a chisel shaft and a chisel tip, a clamping sleeve and a retaining ring. The present invention further relates to a retaining ring for such a round-shaft chisel arrangement and a set comprising a clamping sleeve and a retaining ring. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for securing a round-shaft chisel against axial displacement in a chisel retainer. |
| US09695685B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting and communicating failure of integral surge suppression in drive systems for downhole equipment
Systems and methods for providing notifications to monitoring systems that are remotely located from a well upon failure of a surge suppressor in a drive system for equipment used in the operation of the well. In one embodiment, an ESP system is installed in a well. A VSD having a surge suppressor is coupled between a power source and the ESP system. The surge suppressor is monitored to detect a failure of its surge suppression capabilities. In response to detecting a failure, a notification is provided to a monitoring system that is located remotely from the well. The notifications may be provided via phone call, email, text message or other means. The surge suppressor may also provide a local indication of the failure. The VSD may be configured to continue operation despite the failure of the surge suppression capability. |
| US09695674B2 |
Subsea dosing pump
A system is described for injecting small controlled amounts of fluid, such as de-emulsifier, into a flowing line at high pressure, in a high-pressure environment such as a subsea environment. The system is connected to the flowing line by tubing lines. It is enclosed either in a high-pressure vessel able to withstand high external pressure or in a vessel that is pressure-matched with the environment. The system is able to inject a controlled volume of fluid into the flowing line at relatively low injection rates. |
| US09695671B2 |
Method and system for plugging a well and use of explosive charges in plugging wells
A method is for plugging a well wherein the well, at least along a longitudinal section to be plugged, is provided with one or more pipe bodies forming a radial boundary between the well and a surrounding formation. The method includes (D), lowering a flow-through string into the well and, by the flow-through string, supplying a fluidized plugging material along the longitudinal section in the well, and at least within the innermost of said one or more pipe bodies in the well. The method, before step (D), also comprises (A), lowering one or more explosive charges into the well and onto the longitudinal section to be plugged, and detonating one or more of said explosive charges so as to extend the diameter of one or more of said pipe bodies at one or more places along the longitudinal section to be plugged. A system is for plugging a well. |
| US09695668B2 |
Millable plugging device
The present invention relates to a millable plugging device for use in a well pipe. The device includes an inner mandrel and an outer housing provided radially outside at least parts of the inner mandrel. A sealing assembly is provided radially outside the inner mandrel, where the sealing assembly is configured to be brought from a run state to a set state by a relative axial displacement between the inner mandrel and the outer housing. The millable plugging device has a first center axis and the second mandrel section has a second center axis which is displaced parallel in relation to the first center axis. Rotation of the inner mandrel in the set state is bringing a third mandrel section of the mandrel to a locked state, in which further rotation of the inner mandrel is prevented. |
| US09695667B2 |
Apparatus and method for deploying an electrically operated pump in a wellbore
An electrical submersible pump system includes an electric motor operably coupled to a fluid pump which includes first and second fluid ports. The first and second ports are selectively operable as a fluid intake and a fluid discharge of the fluid pump with reversal of a direction of rotation of the fluid pump. Valves in the system are controllable to selectively direct fluid discharge of the fluid pump to an inflation volume of the inflatable packer and toward the surface in a wellbore tubing. The valves are further controllable to vent pressure in the inflation volume to deflate the packer. |
| US09695663B2 |
Combination fluid pumping sub and hanger lockdown tool
A tool for retaining an activator ring of a hanger within a wellhead assembly during a fluid pumping process includes an annular fluid pumping sub body having an end selectively coupled with a supply of fluids and a distal end selectively coupled with the hanger. An outer ring assembly circumscribes and rotates relative to the fluid pumping sub body. A retainer ring circumscribes the fluid pumping sub body and selectively abuts the activator ring. A plurality of biasing assemblies that are selectively compressible are located between the outer ring assembly and the retainer ring, so that when the fluid pumping sub body is coupled with the hanger, an axial lockdown force is maintained on the activator ring by the biasing assemblies during the fluid pumping process. |
| US09695660B2 |
Well bore casing mill with expandable cutter bases
A casing mill for downhole casing milling has multiple elongated cutter bases hingedly connected to a main body by a plurality of positioning arms. An operating mechanism within the main body of the casing mill, actuated by fluid flow, moves the cutter bases to an extended position. Multiple cutters fixed to the cutter bases are then positioned to engage a casing end surface. Preferably, the cutters are arranged in vertically spaced apart rows, such that when one row is worn out in the milling process a visual indication is seen at the surface, as the casing mill drops to the next row of cutters. |
| US09695658B2 |
Pulling tool
A pulling tool for latching onto an object, such as a plug, downhole in a wellbore includes a base element extending in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end for being connected to a wireline tool to a distal end adapted to engage the object, and a latching mechanism encircling the base element and being movable in the longitudinal direction between a deactivated position and an activated position, having a piston sleeve, a key element for latching onto the downhole object, the key element being slidably received inside the piston sleeve and extending from an end of the piston sleeve towards the distal end of the base element, and a piston spring forcing the piston sleeve in the longitudinal direction towards the proximal end of the base element. |
| US09695657B2 |
Downhole latch assembly
An assembly and method of latching an upper completion mandrel to a lower completion receptacle that is located downhole to prevent or limit movement between the mandrel and the receptacle. The method includes lowering the mandrel having a latch assembly carried by the mandrel to a first position relative to the receptacle, raising the mandrel to position the latch assembly in a second position relative to the receptacle, and lowering the mandrel to position the latch assembly in a third position relative to the receptacle to limit upward and downward movement of the mandrel relative to the receptacle. |
| US09695655B2 |
Control method and apparatus for well operations
A method of controlling the annular pressure in a well during a well construction operation. The operation comprises pumping a fluid down a tubing located within the well and extracting the fluid that flows back through an annulus within said well and surrounding the tubing. The method comprises defining a set pressure pref, determining a desired extraction flow rate qc of fluid from said annulus in dependence upon the set pressure pref and a pumped flow rate into the annulus, and configuring an extraction path to achieve said desired extraction flow rate. |
| US09695653B2 |
Method of conversion of a drilling mud to a gel-based lost circulation material to combat lost circulation during continuous drilling
A method of conversion of a water-based mud to a gel-based LCM quickly to control lost circulation in a lost circulation zone in a wellbore during continuous drilling with a drilling mud, the drilling mud comprises a volcanic ash, water, a de-foamer, a pH buffer, and a polymer. The method comprises the steps of entering the lost circulation zone, determining a lost circulation volumetric flow rate, metering a first amount of a binder into the drilling mud to create a binder containing mud, pumping the binder containing drilling mud into the wellbore, and suspending metering of the first amount of the binder to the drilling mud after a pre-defined regulating period of time effective to permit the binder containing drilling mud to create a gel-based LCM operable to alter the lost circulation zone. |
| US09695651B2 |
Apparatus and method for use in slim hole wells
An apparatus and method for providing a tubular connection in the form of a liner tieback connection or a liner hanger in a slim hole well as found in deep wells. When installing the casing sections, a first casing section having a profiled surface distinct from a surface of an adjacent casing section is provided. A liner is run into the first casing section and a part of a portion is radially expanded to morph against the inner surface of the first casing section at the profiled surface and form a sealed joint. Various arrangements of profiled surfaces are provided. The liner may also have a profiled surface. By adapting the casing section to receive the liner directly, a slim hole well construction is achieved. |
| US09695645B2 |
Downhole electrical connector
An electrical connector assembly positionable in a wellbore includes an upper longitudinal member having an electrical conductor disposed therein; a lower longitudinal member having an electrical conductor disposed therein; a telescoping electrically conductive assembly; and an electrical contact member disposed around and movably contacting the electrical conductor of the lower longitudinal member and movably contacting an inner surface of the upper longitudinal member. The assembly further includes an outer housing including a telescoping portion. |
| US09695643B2 |
Pipe mat and method for using same for collecting fluids draining from drill pipe
A pipe mat for use with a tubing tray for receiving, organizing and storing drill pipe tripped out of a drill string on a drilling rig has a plurality of substantially parallel and spaced-apart support rails to form a plurality of drain channels disposed between adjacent pair of support rails. A plurality of substantially parallel and spaced-apart nub rails is disposed on the plurality of support rails. The nub rails are substantially orthogonal to the support rails, thereby forming a lattice structure having openings disposed between the nub rails that are in communication with the drain channels. A plurality of spaced-apart pipe nubs extend upwardly from the nub rails, which hold a drill pipe in place when an end of the drill pipe is placed onto one of the pipe nubs. A method for collecting fluids draining from drill pipe uses the pipe mat with the tubing tray. |
| US09695640B2 |
Drill head for a drill and drill
A drill head is provided with three main cutting edges each having a straight direction of extension with a predominant radial direction component. The directions of extension limit two adjacent main bore dust discharge sectors, each spanning a main sector angle. Three drill head cutting legs each forming a main cutting edge where the three main cutting edges have different lengths along their directions of extension. Concentric ring shaped removal areas overlap at least partially such that a triple removal area coverage is provided in an outer ring zone and a double removal area coverage is provided in an inner ring zone. |
| US09695632B2 |
Spool housing for a window covering
A device for aid in feeding a cord through an opening wherein a U-shaped trough wall is provided at the inlet end of the opening to help collect and consolidate any loose ends of the cord. |
| US09695630B1 |
Attic insulation cover
An attic-insulation cover designed to cover access doors leading into attic spaces, such as pull down stairs, scuttle holes and vertical attic doors includes an attic insulation flange or border for placement over the attic opening frame, the attic insulation flange having a first top end and a second bottom end, an attic insulation jacket having a top wall, parallel side walls, parallel end walls and a bottom panel; and a closure device at the second bottom end of the attic-insulation flange for connecting the attic insulation flange and the attic insulation jacket. |
| US09695628B2 |
Vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit including pump-out tube protection ring and/or cap and methods for making same
A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) assembly is provided with a protective ring surrounding a portion of a glass pump-out tube extending beyond an outer surface of one of the glass substrates that form the vacuum insulated glass assembly. The vacuum insulated glass assembly may further include a laminated glass substrate in which a hole is formed to accommodate the protective ring and/or pump-out tube portion, wherein the protective ring protects the glass pump-out tube from damage during a lamination process. In addition, a cap may be provided over the laminated substrate to cover the hole in the laminated substrate and further cover the protective ring and sealed pump-out tube. |
| US09695620B2 |
Apparatus and method for rotating tube adjustment and visually indicating spring force in a door operator or closer
An apparatus for adjusting the force in a door operator or closer includes a tube rotatable about a longitudinal axis and a coil spring therein connected to door operator/closer. A fixed adjusting screw extends along the longitudinal axis of the housing through the coil spring and a spring collar is threaded onto the adjusting screw and rotatable with the tube. The spring collar bears on the distal end of the spring to vary the spring compression upon rotation of the housing and thereby vary force applied by the door operator or closer. The housing has an opening though which the spring is visible, and the tube has markings indicating the degree of spring compression. An indicator is moveable along and visible outside the housing to indicate the compression of the spring. |
| US09695619B2 |
Galley cart bay door latch
A galley cart bay door latch system serves to secure catering or galley carts, as are used on commercial aircraft, within the aircraft's galley. The system relies on two substantially horizontally disposed latch levers to secure the galley door which in turn restrains a galley cart in position within the galley. The ends of the latch levers are received in a recess formed in the door to secure the door. Raising the latch lever releases the door and positively pushes the door outwardly. The latching configuration allows the doors to be slammed shut without the need to further manipulate the latch levers. |
| US09695608B2 |
Reconfigurable residential unit
A “future-enabled” rowhouse or similar residential unit is provided that may include a site-adaptable chassis for a rowhouse or similar residential unit construction that can be easily adjusted to varying site conditions (e.g., lot widths and depths) at the time of construction and that allows for cost-effective future reconfiguration of building systems and space configuration over the life of the building. |
| US09695605B2 |
Battery powered concrete vibrator
A battery powered concrete vibrator is provided with a vibration head; a brushless DC motor disposed in the vibration head; a drive shaft disposed in the vibration head, rotatably disposed through the brushless DC motor, and operatively driven by the brushless DC motor, the drive shaft including a lengthwise groove on an outer surface, thereby rendering the drive shaft unbalanced; and a groove-shaped vibration member put on the drive shaft. The drive shaft can impart rotation to the vibration member. |
| US09695598B2 |
Simulated log siding
Simulated log siding is formed of an engineered cementitious composite. Single or dual flanges on each log piece is used to apply siding units to a surface. Some siding members are molded into a three dimensional configuration to appear as a structural wood log. Individual end pieces and molded tail clusters when used with the siding provide the appearance of the characteristic stacked or staggered corners of a log structure. |
| US09695597B2 |
Installation system for wooden boards
A board assembly for mounting to one or more support structures of a ceiling, deck, floor, or wall. The board assembly includes a board and a mounting member. The board has a length along a longitudinal direction, and first and second side channels that extend lengthwise along the board. The mounting member has first and second flanges biased inwardly toward one another. The first and second flanges are configured to be received inside the first and second side channels, respectively, of the board and to press inwardly on the board to limit movement and warping by the board. A plurality of the board assemblies may be included in a kit. Such a kit may also include a plurality of clip members configured to removably couple the board assemblies to the support structure(s). The mounting member may be constructed from aluminum or an aluminum alloy. |
| US09695594B2 |
Ridge vent
An illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a ridge vent having a longitudinally-extending top panel, a longitudinally-extending first side, a longitudinally-extending second side, and a first end. The longitudinally-extending top panel is bendable along a longitudinally-extending axis. The longitudinally-extending first side is composed of a longitudinally-extending first arcuate side panel having a concave shape directed toward the ridge vent interior. And the longitudinally-extending second side is composed of a longitudinally-extending second arcuate side panel having a concave shape directed toward the ridge vent interior. |
| US09695590B2 |
Subfloor component and method for manufacturing same
A subfloor component comprises an insulating foam panel having first and second opposing faces and a plurality of intersecting grooves in the first face to define, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals having at least one wall extending toward the second face, a moisture-resistant layer formed on the first face of the panel that conforms to the pedestals, and a hardboard layer on the second face of the panel. |
| US09695582B2 |
Drainage fitting for a cistern
A drainage fitting (1) for a cistern, including a valve body (2) with a sealing element (4), which cooperates with a valve seat (3), and a float (5), wherein the valve body (2) is movable with the sealing element (4) from the valve seat (3) along a movement axis (B) from a rest position into a flushing position and from the flushing position into the rest position. Furthermore the drainage fitting comprises a full and a part volume control unit which onto the valve body. |
| US09695576B2 |
Wear assembly for loader bucket
A wear assembly for a loader bucket. The wear assembly includes a first side plate coupled to the side wall and a second side plate spaced apart from the first side plate, coupled to the side wall. The wear assembly includes a top plate disposed on the first side plate and the second side plate. Further, the top plate has a first end disposed proximal to the side wall and a second end distal from the side wall. The wear assembly includes a shroud member disposed adjacent to the second end of the top plate and coupled to the first side plate. The wear assembly also includes a wear plate disposed adjacent to the first end of the top plate in front of the shroud member. The wear plate is detachably coupled to an upper surface of the top plate. |
| US09695573B2 |
Trenching system with hydraulically adjustable hub
A system for uncovering a trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine and a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched with a saw blade contained therein. The blade is supported on a hub which is slidably movable relative to the frame by operation of a linear actuator, which may be a hydraulic cylinder or the like. The vertical location of the blade within the frame is continuously adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench. A monitoring system is provided to monitor the vertical location from an operator station. |
| US09695568B2 |
Permanent shallow frost protected footing foundation for a building and method for constructing a foundation including a permanent shallow frost protected footing
A permanent frost protected shallow foundation footing for a building is assembled from a plurality of form parts arranged in a chain that is partially below ground level to form a foundation perimeter. The form parts are made of a lightweight material such as insulating foam material shaped as an elongated sectional unit with an overhang part overhanging a cavity part of an interior cavity. The interior cavity has an opening for receiving a concrete pour concurrent with a concrete pour of a floor. Open ends of the assembled sectional units abut each other in end-to-end alignment to form an elongated cavity inside the perimeter chain of form parts that is filled with concrete. The overhang part may have a foot shape that fits inside the interior cavity of another form part that may also have a foot shape for compact storage or transport prior to assembly. |
| US09695564B2 |
System for removing floating waste and method for removing floating waste using the same system
Disclosed is a system for removing floating waste which includes a storage filter support that has a conical shape and tapers to a lower end thereof when it is installed for use and a storage filter that is inserted into the storage filter support from above. The system further includes a pump and an internal impeller when the system is a model to be used in water with zero velocity. Alternatively the system further includes an internal impeller and a speed increaser when the system is a model to be used in water with a velocity that is not zero. The speed increaser is installed in the storage filter support and drives the internal impeller. |
| US09695562B2 |
Snow vaporization assembly
A snow vaporization assembly includes a vehicle that has a cab and a box. The cab has a front side and the box has a top side. A collection unit is attached to the vehicle and the collection unit collects snow while the vehicle is driven. A vaporizing unit is positioned within the box and the vaporizing unit is in fluid communication with the collection unit. The vaporizing unit converts the snow collected by the collection unit into steam. The vaporizing unit expels the steam from the vehicle. |
| US09695556B2 |
Sealing panel device
A sealing panel device for use with a guillotine well having a length, width, and depth is provided. In some embodiments the device may comprise an elongate panel having a length and width that is greater than the length and width of the guillotine well. A first arm and a second arm may be coupled to the elongate panel. The first arm may comprise a width greater than the width of the guillotine well and a depth greater than the depth of the guillotine well. The second arm may comprise a width greater than the width of the guillotine well and a depth greater than the depth of the guillotine well. A sealing gasket may be coupled to the elongate panel, first arm, and second arm which may extend around the guillotine well when the device is positioned over the guillotine well of a Modular Causeway Systems section. |
| US09695554B2 |
Composite railway sleeper
A composite railway sleeper (1; 50; 100) comprising an outer coating shell (2; 51; 101) made of composite plastic material and a shaped structural core (3; 52; 102), made of a material comprising at least concrete contained within said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101), wherein said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101) presents in the upper outer face (2a; 51a; 101a) two distinct and opposite groups of grooves (4; 53) suitable to receive the angular guide plates (G) belonging to pre-assembled elastic type fastening systems (64) for the connection of two respective rails (R) with said railway sleeper (1; 50; 100). |
| US09695550B2 |
Process to improve the convertability of parent rolls
The present disclosure is directed toward a process for adjusting a papermaking process for producing parent rolls of convolutely wound web material having a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CD) coplanar and orthogonal thereto that improves the characteristics of the parent rolls of wound web material to improve downstream convertability. |
| US09695544B2 |
Dryer with air recirculation/heat exchange subassembly
A laundry dryer is provided with a modular air recirculation subassembly fitted beneath a rotatable drum of the dryer. The subassembly has an air recirculation passage provided between an air supply passage and an air exhaust passage of the dryer. The air recirculation subassembly further has a flow directing flap at the juncture of the air inlet passage and the air recirculation passage to direct the recirculation air flow toward a heater and away from an inlet end of the air supply passage. The air recirculation subassembly may include a filter positioned across the air recirculation passage upstream of the heater, which filter is removable through the air exhaust passage. The subassembly may further include a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the warmer air exiting the exhaust passage to the cooler air entering the air supply passage, and a recirculation air flow regulating flap. |
| US09695543B2 |
Laundry treating apparatus
The laundry treating apparatus includes a door to open and close the introduction port about a first rotational or a second rotational axis which is different from first rotational axis. A first switching unit is provided in the door to allow rotation of door about the first rotational axis, and a second switching unit is provided in the door to allow rotation of the door about the second rotational axis. A lock fixes a position of at least one of the first switching unit or second switching unit when the door opens the introduction port. As can be appreciated, the mechanism used for the laundry apparatus may be applicable to other home appliances or non-home appliances where two different rotational axes may be needed to open and close a door. |
| US09695542B2 |
Unitary spray nozzle for a washing machine appliance
A unitary nozzle for a washing machine appliance includes an inlet body and an outlet body that are integrally formed together. The outlet body defines an outlet conduit with a first cross-sectional area at an entrance of outlet conduit and a second cross-sectional area at an exit of the outlet conduit. A shape of the second cross-sectional area is substantially arcuate. A related method for forming a unitary nozzle of a washing machine appliance is also provided. |
| US09695541B2 |
Drum washing machine
A drum washing machine and a control method thereof. The drum washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub including a first tub part and a second tub part, a drum, an inlet provided at one side of the second tub part and supplying condensed water, and at least one flow path provided on one surface from among the inner surfaces of the second tub part opposite the drum and guiding flow of the condensed water to increase a contact area between the condensed water supplied from the inlet and the second tub part. The drum washing machine improves the structure of the tub to effectively inject condensed water, and may thus increase condensing efficiency. Further, the drum washing machine improves the structures of the tub and the drying duct, and may thus prevent accumulation of lint and lowering of performance of the drum washing machine. |
| US09695537B2 |
Control method of a laundry machine
A laundry machine and a control method thereof are provided in which laundering ability may be improved while also improving efficiency and noise/vibration. The laundry machine employs a plurality of drum motions by varying drum rotational speed, drum rotational direction, and drum starting and stopping point, to provide different motion of laundry items in the drum. |
| US09695535B2 |
Overlock sewing machine
A overlock sewing machine includes a switch limiting arm rockable integrally with a main shaft fixing operating arm and an arm including arms which are actuated by operating a threading switching knob to engage with the switch limiting arm to rock a rocking lever portion and being engageable with a slide plate to move the position of the slide plate to a sewing executable position upon operating the threading switching knob to the sewing executing position side. |
| US09695528B1 |
Multipurpose portable mini loom
Disclosed is a portable mini loom utilizing a base section having opposed first and second end edges defining an overall length, a first Ends Per Inch (EPI) zone disposed proximate the base first end edge and extending inwardly along a desired length of the base, and a second EPI zone disposed proximate the base second end edge and extending inwardly along a desired length of the base. Each EPI zone preferably utilizes three separate EPI arrays, of differing EPI, capable of permitting a weaver to select one of such EPI arrays to create a thread warp of a predefined EPI, such as, 8, 10 or 12 EPI. One array utilizes slots disposed along the ends of the base capable of receiving the warp thread. The other two arrays comprise separate sets of through holes disposed across the EPI zone each capable of receiving the warp thread. |
| US09695527B1 |
Universal hand loom kit for weaving and creating embellishments
A universal hand loom kit includes a peg board with an array of holes. Long pegs are provided each configured at one end to be releasably inserted into one of the holes in the peg board and having an exposed length when mounted on the peg board within the range of 2″-4″ or approximately 50 mm-102 mm. Short pegs are provided each configured at the one end to be releasably inserted into one of the holes in the peg board and having an exposed length when mounted on the peg board less than the length of the long pegs. A shuttle stick, a long needle weaver, a short tapestry needle and a comb are included. The kit can be used to create two dimensional woven tapestry-type products and three dimensional embellishments such as flowers, pompoms, tassels and fringes. |
| US09695518B2 |
Sealing glass for solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stacks
Solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack obtainable by a process comprising the use of a glass sealant with composition 50 to 70 wt % SiO2, 0 to 20 wt % Al2O3, 10 to 50 wt % CaO, 0 to 10 wt % MgO, 0 to 2 wt % (Na2o 1K2O), 0 to 10 wt % b2O3, and 0 to 5 wt % of functional elements selected from TiO2, ZrO2, ZrO2, F, P2O5, Mo03, FeO3, MnO 2, La—Sr—Mn—O perovskite (LSM) and combinations thereof. Preferably, the sealant is a sheet of E-glass fibers with a composition in wt % of 52-56 SiO2, 12-16AL2O3, 16-25 CaO, 0-6MgO, 0-2 Na2+K2O, 0-10 B2O3, 0-1.5 TiO2, O-1F. |
| US09695516B2 |
Graphite oxide and graphene preparation method
A graphite oxide and/or graphene preparation method includes providing a plasma electrolytic apparatus, wherein an electrolyte is provided and a graphite electrode is configured as a cathode of the plasma electrolytic apparatus; and providing a cathodic current so as to initiate a plasma electrolytic process at the graphite electrode to obtain graphite oxide and/or graphene. The graphite oxide and/or graphene can be synthesized through plasma electrolytic processing at relatively low temperature under atmospheric pressure within a very short period of time, without the need for concentrated acids or strong oxidizing agents. The present invention may prepare graphite oxide and/or graphene with plasma electrolytic process directly from graphite, without requiring any prior purification or pretreatment. This plasma electrolytic process of the present invention is quite promising and provided with advantages such as low cost, simple setup, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness. |
| US09695515B2 |
Substrate etch
An example provides a method including providing a substrate including an area having a plurality of pores and etching the area of the substrate to remove the plurality of pores to form a recess in the substrate. In some examples, the recess may form, at least in part, a device. |
| US09695512B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing system and semiconductor manufacturing method
In one embodiment, a semiconductor manufacturing system includes a film forming apparatus configured to form a film on a surface of a wafer. The system further includes a gas supply module configured to supply at least a type of source gas for the film into the film forming apparatus. The system further includes a measurement module configured to measure a discharge amount of an exhaust gas from the film forming apparatus. The system further includes a controller configured to calculate a value corresponding to a surface area of the wafer based on the discharge amount of the exhaust gas from the film forming apparatus, and to control a supply amount of the source gas to the film forming apparatus based on the value corresponding to the surface area of the wafer. |
| US09695510B2 |
Atomic layer deposition apparatus and process
An atomic layer deposition apparatus, including: a chamber with an internal volume; a fixture assembly to hold a substrate within the internal volume of the chamber; a plurality of gas injection ports to facilitate the introduction of gas; at least one precursor gas arrangement to introduce precursor gas into the internal volume; and at least one inactive gas dispersion arrangement to introduce inactive gas into the internal volume. The inactive gas dispersion arrangement is in the form of a primary dispersion member configured to concentrically focus the precursor gas towards a surface of the substrate. A modeling system for an atomic layer deposition apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US09695507B2 |
Automatic lithium target regenerating apparatus and automatic lithium target regenerating method
Provided are an automatic lithium target regenerating apparatus and an automatic lithium target regenerating method, which are equipped with a measurement function of a lithium film thickness of a lithium target, and may automatically regenerate the consumed lithium target by moving a vapor deposition source to the lithium target. An automatic lithium target regenerating apparatus (106) is allowed to automatically regenerate lithium of a lithium target. The automatic lithium target regenerating apparatus (106) includes a lithium vapor deposition unit (1) for vapor-depositing the lithium on the lithium target. The lithium vapor deposition unit (1) is allowed to vapor-deposit the lithium on the lithium target by moving to the lithium target side. |
| US09695505B2 |
Method of treating surfaces
Disclosed herein are methods of treating an article surface. The method comprises removing a metal oxide surface from the metal substrate to expose a metal surface; and delivering particles comprising a dopant from at least one fluid jet to the metal surface to impregnate the surface of the article with the dopant. The method also comprises delivering substantially simultaneously a first set of particles comprising a dopant and a second set of particles comprising an abrasive from at least one fluid jet to a surface of an article to impregnate the surface of the article with the dopant. |
| US09695504B2 |
High-temperature processing furnace and reinforcement fiber joining method
Arranged in the middle of an upper communication sleeve is a first shutter that is moved back and forth in a horizontal open-close direction to open and close a first communication path that makes the inside of a first bobbin chamber and the inside of a furnace body communicate with each other. Arranged in a middle of a lower communication sleeve is a second shutter that is moved back and forth in a horizontal open-close direction to open and close a second communication path that makes a second bobbin chamber and the inside of the furnace body communicate with each other. |
| US09695502B2 |
Process kit with plasma-limiting gap
Apparatus for processing substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a process kit comprising a shield having one or more sidewalls configured to surround a first volume, the first volume disposed within an inner volume of a process chamber; and a first ring moveable between a first position, wherein the first ring rests on the shield, and a second position, wherein a gap is formed between an outer surface of the first ring and an inner surface of the one or more sidewalls, wherein a width of the gap is less than about two plasma sheath widths for a plasma formed at a frequency of about 40 MHz or higher and at a pressure of about 140 mTorr or lower. |
| US09695501B2 |
Sapphire thin film coated substrate
A method to deposit a layer of harder thin film substrate onto a softer substrate. In particular, the present invention provides a method to deposit a layer of sapphire thin film on to a softer substrate e.g. quartz, fused silica, silicon and (toughen) glass. This combination is better than pure sapphire substrate. |
| US09695500B2 |
Mask frame assembly for thin layer deposition, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing display apparatus by using a mask frame assembly
A mask frame assembly including a frame including a first opening, a first mask including second openings that each has an area smaller than the first opening and a first surface having portions of the first surface connected to the frame. The mask frame assembly includes second masks disposed on a second surface of the first mask extending across the first opening in a first direction and arranged in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular. The second masks include pattern parts having a shape corresponding to the second openings. The pattern parts each include pattern holes configured to allow a deposition material to pass through. The second masks include a rib part disposed between the pattern parts. The rib part includes dummy holes each having an area greater than each of the pattern holes. The first mask is configured to block the deposition material passing through the dummy holes. |
| US09695499B2 |
Nanowire manufacturing kit having nanowire manufacturing substrate and nanowire adhesive film and nanowire manufactured using the same
Provided is a nanowire manufacturing substrate, comprising a grid base layer on a substrate and a grid pattern formed by patterning the grid base layer, the grid pattern being disposed to produce a nanowire on a surface thereof. According to the present invention, the width and height of the nanowire can be adjusted by controlling the wet-etching process time period, and the nanowire can be manufactured at a room temperature at low cost, the nanowire can be mass-manufactured and the nanowire with regularity can be manufactured even in case of mass production. |
| US09695498B2 |
Partially carbonitriding heat treated stainless steel ferrule and manufacturing method thereof
This invention relates to a partially carbonitriding heat treated stainless steel ferrule, having a first region with a first hardness and a second region with a second hardness, wherein the first region includes a nitrogen layer having a nitrogen concentration higher than a carbon concentration, and a carbon layer formed under the nitrogen layer and having a carbon concentration higher than a nitrogen concentration, so that the first hardness is greater than the second hardness. Thereby, partial heat treatment is effective at preventing rotational torque of the region, except for the portion to be heat treated, from increasing due to the total hardening. |
| US09695496B2 |
Method and device for avoiding surface defects caused by zinc dust in a continuous strip galvanising process
The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for avoiding surface defects, which are caused by zinc dust, on galvanized metal strip in continuous strip galvanization, in which metal strip which is to be galvanized and is heated in a continuous annealing furnace is moved through a furnace pipe in protective furnace gas and is immersed into a zinc bath, wherein the furnace pipe is provided with injection openings via which the front side and the rear side of the metal strip can be acted upon with protective furnace gas, and wherein extraction openings for extracting protective furnace gas loaded with zinc vapor are arranged adjacent to the injection openings. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that a multiplicity of the injection openings are configured and arranged in the furnace pipe in such a manner that the protective furnace gas streaming out of said injection openings is directed onto that surface of the metal strip which faces the respective injection opening with an angle of impact within the range of 70° to 110°, wherein the distance between the respective injection opening and at least one extraction opening assigned thereto is selected in such a manner that, at a predetermined or predeterminable flow velocity of the protective furnace gas emerging from the respective injection opening, an entraining of protective furnace gas, which occurs during movement of the metal strip, in the direction of the zinc bath is opposed. |
| US09695493B2 |
Steel strip having a low Si content
A dual phase or complex phase steel strip showing no tigerstripes. The steel strip having an ultimate tensile strength Rm classifying for 1000 MPa steel category, includes (in mass percent) C 0.09-0.19%; Mn 1.9-2.6%; Si at most 0.1%; Cr 0.4-0.8%; Mo at most 0.3%; Ni at most 0.4%; Al 0.02-1.3%; and optionally one or more of the following elements: Nb at most 0.08%; P equal to or more than 0.0005%; N equal to or less than 0.015%; Ti equal to or less than 0.1%; V equal to or less than 0.1%; B equal to or less than 0.01%; wherein the sum of Cr, Mo and Ni is at least 0.5%; the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities. |
| US09695491B2 |
Beneficiation process for low grade uranium ores
The disclosure relates to a beneficiation process for low grade uranium ore, wherein the process comprises a primary beneficiation stage comprising: wet scrubbing the low grade uranium ore to separate the low grade ore into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction; screening the fine fraction according to a size separation parameter to provide an undersize fraction and an oversize fraction, wherein the uranium predominantly reports to the undersize fraction; and separating the undersize fraction to produce an intermediate uranium concentrate. The intermediate uranium concentrate may be further processed in a secondary beneficiation stage to produce a high grade uranium concentrate. |
| US09695489B1 |
Gun barrel manufacturing methods
A method of forming a gun barrel is disclosed that includes applying one or more coatings to the gun barrel such as just a top coating, or a bond coating and then a top coating. The method may also include (before applying one or more coatings): threading an outer surface of the gun barrel proximate a first end of the gun barrel; threadedly coupling the first end of the gun barrel to a gun chamber; fixedly coupling the gun barrel to the gun chamber. The method may also include heat treating the coating layer(s), contouring the outer coating layer, applying a ceramic top coating to the contoured outer coating layer of the gun barrel, and/or sealing the gun barrel with a liquid metal sealer. |
| US09695484B2 |
Sugar products and fabrication method thereof
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sugar product and method for fabricating the same is provided. The method includes mixing an acid compound and lithium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, zinc chloride or iron chloride or lithium bromide, magnesium bromide, calcium bromide, zinc bromide or iron bromide or heteropoly acid to form a mixing solution, adding a cellulosic biomass to the mixing solution for a dissolution reaction, and adding water to the mixing solution for a hydrolysis reaction to obtain a sugar product. The present disclosure also provides a sugar product fabricated from the method. |
| US09695480B2 |
Method for the diagnosis of myeloid neoplasias and solid tumors
The present application relates to an ex vivo or in vitro method to determine the presence or absence of a mutation or a variation in the NF-E2 gene in a sample from a patient suffering from a myeloid neoplasm or solid tumor whereby said method comprises: a) obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the patient, b) detecting the presence or absence of a mutation in the nucleic acid sample comprising the NF-E2 gene or a fragment thereof, characterized in that the presence of the mutation is an indication of a myeloid neoplasm or solid tumor, whereby the mutation is determined by comparing the nucleic acid sequence obtained from the sample with SEQ ID NO:1 or the complement thereof. |
| US09695478B2 |
Methods and nucleic acids for the analyses of cellular proliferative disorders
The invention provides methods, nucleic acids and kits for detecting, or for detecting and distinguishing between or among liver cell proliferative disorders or for detecting, or for detecting and distinguishing between or among colorectal cell proliferative disorders. The invention discloses genomic sequences the methylation patterns of which have utility for the improved detection of and differentiation between said class of disorders, thereby enabling the improved diagnosis and treatment of patients. |
| US09695476B2 |
Method for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The invention provides an in vitro method or assay for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis or prediction of the likelihood of its onset in a terrestrian mammal, comprising measuring the expression level of a marker in a sample obtained from said terrestrian mammal and comparing said expression level to the expression level of said marker measured in a sample obtained from one or more terrestrian mammals of the same species not affected by osteochondrosis, wherein the marker is ApoB-3G, and wherein an increase in the expression level of ApoB-3G is indicative of osteochondrosis. The invention also provides a diagnostic kit for use in said method, which comprises at least one agent, which binds specifically to the product of the gene of the respective marker and which can be used to determine the expression level of said marker, wherein the marker is ApoB-3G. |
| US09695471B2 |
Methods and apparatus for single molecule sequencing using energy transfer detection
Provided herein are systems and methods for nucleotide incorporation reactions. The systems comprise polymerases having altered nucleotide incorporation kinetics and are linked to an energy transfer donor moiety, and nucleotide molecules linked with at least one energy transfer acceptor moiety. The donor and acceptor moieties undergo energy transfer when the polymerase and nucleotide are proximal to each other during nucleotide binding and/or nucleotide incorporation. As the donor and acceptor moieties undergo energy transfer, they generate an energy transfer signal which can be associated with nucleotide binding or incorporation. Detecting a time sequence of the generated signals, or the change in the signals, can be used to determine the order of the incorporated nucleotides, and can therefore be used to deduce the sequence of the target molecule. |
| US09695468B2 |
Methods for droplet-based sample preparation
This disclosure provides microwell capsule array devices. The microwell capsule array devices are generally capable of performing one or more sample preparation operations. Such sample preparation operations may be used as a prelude to one more or more analysis operations. For example, a device of this disclosure can achieve physical partitioning and discrete mixing of samples with unique molecular identifiers within a single unit in preparation for various analysis operations. The device may be useful in a variety of applications and most notably nucleic-acid-based sequencing, detection and quantification of gene expression and single-cell analysis. |
| US09695467B2 |
Method for processing nucleic acids-containing fluids
A system and method for the processing of nucleic acids containing fluids involving manipulation of magnetically responsive particles contained therein are disclosed. In the system, a holder holds a plurality of containers containing the fluids, a heating device applies thermal energy to the fluids for incubation, and a separating device magnetically separates the particles. The heating and separating devices move into at least one operative position for processing the fluids and at least one inoperative position with respect to the containers, in which the containers are kept stationary at least during and in-between incubating the fluids and manipulating the magnetically responsive particles. |
| US09695464B2 |
Blood sample assay method
The invention provides an enzymatic method for measuring the concentration of one or more analytes in the plasma portion of a blood derived sample, containing a first and a second component, where said second component interferes with the measurement of said first component. The method includes: i) diluting the sample with a reagent mixture; ii) substantially removing blood cells; iii) using a reagent which serves to temporarily prevent reaction of the second component, to generate a blocked second component; iv) causing the selective reaction of a constituent of each analyte to directly or indirectly generate detectable reaction products, where one of the analytes is the first component; v) monitoring the detectable reaction product or products; vi) relating an amount of the detectable product or products and/or a rate of formation of the detectable product or products to the concentration of each analyte, where the concentration of at least the first component is related to a corresponding detectable reaction product by means of estimating an un-measurable (fictive) endpoint. Step iii) may be carried out at any stage up to and including step iv) but before steps v) or vi). The reagent of step iii) may be applied to the sample separately or may be included in a reagent mixture during steps i) or iv). A corresponding kit is also provided. |
| US09695462B2 |
Method for evaluation of drug efficacy of a medicine having a therapeutic or preventive effect against a disease related to EL activity and a method for screening an inhibitor of EL activity
The present invention is related to a method for evaluation of drug efficacy of a medicine having a therapeutic or preventive effect against a disease related to EL activity wherein phosphatidylinositol or lysophosphatidylinositol is used as an indicator. The present invention is also related to a method for screening an inhibitor of EL activity using phosphatidylinositol and a kit for use in the method. |
| US09695460B2 |
Method of analyzing L-tryptophan in biological samples, and kit used therein
Disclosed is a method for quantifying L-tryptophan involving a step for mixing a specimen, L-tryptophan oxidase, and water, a step for allowing the obtained reaction solution to stand a predetermined period of time in the presence of oxygen, and a step for measuring the reaction product resulting from action of enzymes present in the reaction solution after allowing to stand. Also disclosed are a kit used to quantify the L-tryptophan containing L-tryptophan oxidase, and an enzyme sensor using the L-tryptophan oxidase. This method, kit and enzyme sensor use an L-tryptophan-specific enzyme, so are capable of quantifying L-tryptophan even in the presence of other amino acids. |
| US09695453B2 |
Process for the production of hyaluronic acid in Escherichia coli or bacillus megaterium
A method of producing hyaluronic acid (HA) in Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium through episomal plasmid vectors wherein the gene is under the control of strong promoter T7, preferably under the control of strong promoter T7 of bacteriophage T7, and a system for the selection of stable bacterial strains producing high levels of hyaluronic acid, are provided. |
| US09695450B2 |
Desaturases and methods of using them for synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids
The amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of a Δ5-desaturase enzyme and a Δ8-desaturase enzyme are disclosed. The nucleic acid sequences can be used to design recombinant DNA constructs and vectors. These vectors can then be used to transform various organisms, including for example, plants and yeast. The transformed organisms will then produce polyunsaturated fatty acids. The amino acid sequences are useful for generating enzyme-specific antibodies that are useful for identifying the desaturases. |
| US09695449B2 |
Oil composition and method of recovering same
The present invention generally relates to oil compositions and methods of producing such oil compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oil composition recovered from a fermentation product as well as methods of recovering such oil compositions for use in various processes such as bio-diesel production as well as in various edible applications. |
| US09695448B2 |
Designer organisms for photobiological butanol production from carbon dioxide and water
The present invention provides a biosafety-guarded photobiological butanol production technology based on designer transgenic plants, designer algae, designer blue-green algae (cyanobacteria and oxychlorobacteria), or designer plant cells. The designer photosynthetic organisms are created such that the endogenous photobiological regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic process are used for synthesis of butanol (CH3CH2CH2CH2OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The butanol production methods of the present invention completely eliminate the problem of recalcitrant lignocellulosics by bypassing the bottleneck problem of the biomass technology. The photobiological butanol-production technology of the present invention is expected to have a much higher solar-to-butanol energy-conversion efficiency than the current technology and could also help protect the Earth's environment from the dangerous accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. |
| US09695443B2 |
Vector for the selective silencing of a gene in astrocytes
The present invention relates to a viral vector for silencing a gene specifically in astrocytes comprising: —an astrocyte-specific viral envelope protein, —a first nucleic acid sequence encoding a transcription activator and at least one target sequence of a neuron-specific miR under the control of an astrocyte-specific promoter, and—a second nucleic acid sequence encoding a RNA for silencing the gene under the control of a promoter inducible by the transcription activator. |
| US09695442B2 |
Targeted deletion of cellular DNA sequences
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for targeted deletion of double-stranded DNA. The compositions include fusion proteins comprising a cleavage domain (or cleavage half-domain) and an engineered zinc finger domain, and polynucleotides encoding same. Methods for targeted deletion include introduction of such fusion proteins, or polynucleotides encoding same, into a cell such that two targeted cleavage events occur. Subsequent cellular repair mechanisms result in deletion of sequences between the two cleavage sites. |
| US09695440B2 |
AXMI232, AXMI233, and AXMI249 toxin genes and methods for their use
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a toxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated toxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4-19, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1-3, as well as variants and fragments thereof. |
| US09695437B2 |
Constitutive photomorphogenesis 1 (COP1) nucleic acid sequence from zea mays and its use thereof
The present invention relates to an isolated COP1 nucleic acid sequence from a maize plant and the isolated COP1 nucleic acid sequence is named as ZmCOP1. The present invention also relates to a method of using the ZmCOP1 nucleic acid sequence to control the shade avoidance response of a crop plant for high density farming and yield enhancement. |
| US09695435B2 |
Gene for increasing the production of plant biomass and/or seeds and method for use thereof
A technique by which the production of plant biomass can be significantly increased is provided. A protein phosphatase 2C gene having 3 consensus sequences comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1-3 from the N-terminal side in such order is over-expressed. |
| US09695433B2 |
Polypeptides having beta-xylosidase activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-xylosidase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. |
| US09695431B2 |
Process for transformation in withania somnifera plants to increase secondary metabolite content
Described herein is a process of genetic transformation in W. somnifera by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation to overexpress squalene synthase gene (WsSQS) encoding WsSQS enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of squalene from farnesyl pyrophosphate. Increased withanolide level including withaferin-A, withanolide A and B and withanone is attained in transformed plant tissues. |
| US09695430B2 |
Method for improved protein production in filamentous fungi
The present invention relates to a method for genetically modifying a filamentous fungus host for improved protein production. The method comprises that a filamentous fungus host is genetically modified to overexpress or to be deficient of specific genes. The invention relates also to the modified hosts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for improved production or for producing an improved composition of proteins, such as cellulases, hemicellulases, other proteins involved in the degradation of lignocellulosic material, or other proteins, in a filamentous fungus host. |
| US09695427B2 |
Methods of producing testosteronan polymers using testosteronan synthase
Testosteronan, a heparosan analog having the structure [-4-D-GlcUA-α1,4-D-GlcNAc-α1-]n, is produced by testosteronan synthase, a single protein that is a dual-action catalyst that utilizes UDP-GlcUA and UDP-GlcNAc to synthesize a polysaccharide having the structure [-4-D-GlcUA-α1,4-D-GlcNAc-α1-]n. |
| US09695426B2 |
Biofuel production by recombinant microorganisms
Provided herein are metabolically-modified microorganisms useful for producing biofuels. More specifically, provided herein are methods of producing high alcohols including isobutanol, 1-butanol, 1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-phenylethanol from a suitable substrate. |
| US09695424B2 |
PDGF and VEGF aptamers having improved stability and their use in treating PDGF and VEGF mediated diseases and disorders
Aptamers having improved stability against nucleases that bind PDGF and aptamers that bind VEGF are provided. In addition, aptamer constructs comprising a PDGF aptamer and a VEGF aptamer are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aptamers and aptamer constructs are provided, as well as methods of treating conditions using the aptamers and aptamer constructs. |
| US09695422B2 |
Furin-knockdown bi-functional RNA
Compositions and methods to attenuate the immunosuppressive activity of TGF-β through the use of bi-functional shRNAs is described herein. The bi-functional shRNAs of the present invention knocks down the expression of furin in cancer cells to augment tumor antigen expression, presentation, and processing through expression of the GM-CSF transgene. |
| US09695419B2 |
Polynucleotides and polypeptide sequences involved in the process of bone remodeling
This invention relates, in part, to unique and newly identified genetic polynucleotides involved in the process of bone remodeling, variants and derivatives of the polynucleotides and corresponding polypeptides, uses of the polynucleotides, polypeptides, variants and derivatives, and methods and compositions for the amelioration of symptoms caused by bone remodeling disorders. Disclosed in particular are the isolation and identification of polynucleotides polypeptides variants and derivatives involved in osteoclast activity, validation of the identified polynucleotides for their potential as therapeutic targets and use of the polynucleotides, polypeptides, variants and derivatives for the amelioration of disease states and research purposes. |
| US09695413B2 |
RNA preparation method
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for preparing RNA ready for an enzymatic reaction more easily than conventional techniques. The present invention provides a reagent for RNA extraction from a biological sample which contains an alkali metal salt and a surfactant. |
| US09695409B2 |
Beta-lactamases with improved properties for therapy
This invention relates to, in part, compositions of beta-lactamases and methods of using these enzymes in, for example, gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) disorders such as C. difficile infection (CDI). |
| US09695407B2 |
Compositions and methods comprising cellulase variants with reduced affinity to non-cellulosic materials
The present disclosure relates to cellulase variants. In particular the present disclosure relates to cellulase variants having reduced binding to non-cellulosic materials. Also described are nucleic acids encoding the cellulase, compositions comprising said cellulase, methods of identifying cellulose variants and methods of using the compositions. |
| US09695406B2 |
Glucoamylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to glucoamylase variants having increased thermostability. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants. |
| US09695399B2 |
3D microphysiologic system
The present invention relates generally to a three-dimensional cell and tissue culture system for the female reproductive tract. In particular provided herein the system includes individual female reproductive cultures in a dynamic microfluidic setting or integrated using a microfluidic microphysiologic system. In some embodiments, the present invention provides ex-vivo female reproductive tract integration in a three dimensional (3D) microphysiologic system. |
| US09695398B2 |
Systems, methods and compositions for optimizing tissue and cell enriched grafts
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for the concentration of cells from a cell suspension into unprocessed tissue, such as adipose tissue. Also disclosed herein are systems for optimizing hydration of tissue and cell enriched grafts. |
| US09695387B2 |
Transparent extruded toilet soap
The present invention relates to extruded soap bars having improved transparency. Specifically, by balancing the amounts of C16 (palmitic acid) and C18 (stearic acid) fatty acids to have a ratio in the final bar of 1, substantially improved transparency is unexpectedly obtained. |
| US09695386B2 |
Intercalated bleach compositions, related methods of manufacture and use
The invention relates to compositions, methods of use, and methods of manufacture for an intercalated bleach compound and compositions thereof. The intercalated bleach compound has the formula Mx(OCl)y(O)m(OH)n where M is an alkaline earth metal such as magnesium, calcium or mixture thereof. The values of x and y independently equal any number greater than or equal to 1 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), and m and n independently equal any number greater than or equal to 0 (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), but m and n are not both 0. In addition, the molar ratio of the alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium or calcium) to hypochlorite is at least 3:1. In other words, x is ≧3y. The compounds exhibit excellent stability, little or no chlorine bleach odor, exhibit excellent pH buffering characteristics, and less reactivity with organic materials as compared to alternative chlorine bleach products. |
| US09695385B2 |
Surfactants based on monounsaturated fatty alcohol derivatives
Surfactant compositions comprising an alkoxylate, a sulfate, or ether sulfate of a C10-C12 monounsaturated alcohol are disclosed. The alkoxylate, sulfate, or ether sulfate may derive from undecylenic acid or undecylenic alcohol. Compared with their saturated analogs, the monounsaturated alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates are less irritating, making them valuable for personal care, laundry, cleaners, and other household applications. Microscopy studies show that the alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates have favorable phase behavior over a wide range of actives levels, expanding opportunities for products with greater compaction. When combined with cationic surfactants, the alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates exhibit synergy, and they have improved solubility compared with their saturated analogs. The surfactants find value for the personal care, laundry and cleaning, emulsion polymerization, agricultural products, oilfield applications, and specialty foams industries. |
| US09695384B2 |
Process for producing a glyceride composition
A process for the production of a composition comprising 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl glyceride (OPO) comprises: providing one or more palm oil stearin fractions comprising tripalmitoyl glyceride and having an iodine value between about 18 and about 40; interesterifying the one or more palm oil stearin fractions to form a randomly interesterified palm oil stearin; subjecting the randomly interesterified palm oil stearin to enzymic transesterification with oleic acid or a non-glyceride ester thereof using an enzyme having selectivity for the 1- and 3-positions of a glyceride; and separating palmitic acid or palmitic non-glyceride esters from the product obtained in (iii) to form a composition comprising OPO glyceride. |
| US09695374B2 |
Method for producing gas hydrate by reacting plurality of guest gases and water
The present invention provides a method for preparing gas hydrates by reacting a plurality of guest gases with water, wherein a first guest gas has a higher water solubility than that of a second guest gas, and the pressure of the gas hydrate formation condition of the second guest gas is lower than the pressure of the gas hydrate formation condition of the first guest gas.While the traditional gas hydrate production method, wherein a single guest gas is reacted with water, is unsatisfactory in terms of cost effectiveness and productivity, the present invention provides improved production yield of gas hydrates and enables an easy production of gas hydrates at lower pressure. |
| US09695372B2 |
Methods of producing organic products with photosynthetic organisms
Provided herein are compositions and methods for producing products by photosynthetic organisms. The photosynthetic organisms can be genetically modified to effect production, expression, or both, of products. The methods and compositions are particularly useful in the petrochemical industry. |