| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09703659B2 |
Customer support using virtual machines
A customer support system includes at least one subsystem to communicate with a customer about a problem with a customer information handling system (IHS), wherein the customer IHS includes a plurality of first customer IHS data. The plurality of first customer IHS data is received from the customer and used to create a virtual IHS having substantially the same characteristics as the customer IHS. A problem with the customer IHS is then diagnosed using the virtual IHS. |
| US09703657B1 |
System and method for reliable non-blocking messaging for multi-process application replication
A system, method, and computer readable medium for reliable messaging between two or more servers. The computer readable medium includes computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system. Primary applications runs on primary hosts and one or more replicated instances of each primary application run on one or more backup hosts. The reliable messaging ensures consistent ordered delivery of messages in the event that messages are lost; arrive out of order, or in duplicate. The messaging layer operates over TCP or UDP with our without multi-cast and broad-cast and requires no modification to applications, operating system or libraries. |
| US09703655B1 |
Recovery after data loss in a reliable distributed computing system
Real system devices (RSD's) emulate virtual system devices (VSD's); system elements can use RSD's and manipulate VSD's, while users can only use VSD's. Identifying when RSD's have erroneous data. Providing a mapping of RSD's to VSD's, to recover a maximum set of VSD's. Providing a mapping of VSD's to RSD's, to recover a specified most valuable VSD. Reconstructing VSD's from RSD's having erroneous data, and coordinating with a user's assistance to couple RSD's in an order allowing data recovery. Metadata is maintained coupling data identifiable on VSD's with corresponding data on RSD's; it is possible to trace connections between RSD's and VSD's even without complete data. |
| US09703653B2 |
Cloud system management apparatus, cloud system, reallocation method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, a cloud system management apparatus includes an estimator, a detector, a determination processor, and a reallocator. The estimator is configured to estimate breach information based on quality information representing a quality level to be achieved by a service process operating in any one of server devices in a cloud system. The breach information represents a degree by which the service process is incapable of achieving the quality level. The detector is configured to detect a failure of each server device. The determination processor is configured to determine, to reallocate at least one first service process operating on a first server device whose failure is detected, a second server device having a smaller sum of the breach information on at least one second service process operating on the second server device. The reallocator is configured to reallocate the first service process to the second server device. |
| US09703649B2 |
Automatic failover and failback between primary and secondary storage systems
A method for managing a secondary storage system, the method may include performing a failover update, by the secondary storage system, of a status of at least one secondary path that couples a host computer to the secondary storage system thereby causing the host computer to prioritize sending IO requests to the secondary storage system over sending the IO requests to a primary storage system; wherein the failover update is triggered by a determination made by the secondary storage system that (a) the secondary storage system is, when making the determination, at an acceptable synchronization level with the primary storage system, and (b) the primary storage system is disconnected from the host computer; receiving, from the host computer, IO requests; and responding, by the secondary storage system, to the IO requests. |
| US09703647B2 |
Automated policy management in a virtual machine environment
A method for providing object policy management. The method includes accessing a distributed computer system having a plurality of nodes, and initiating a new object policy object backup protection for a new object. The method further includes processing a list of object attributes available for the new object policy, and processing the list to generate an object management policy. The new object is then processed in accordance with the object management policy. |
| US09703645B2 |
Data recovery technique for recovering data from an object storage service
A system and method for recovering data backed up to an object store are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes identifying an address space of a data set to be recovered. A set of data objects stored by an object-based system is identified that corresponds to the address space and a selected recovery point. The identified set of data objects is retrieved, and data contained in the retrieved set of data objects is stored to at least one storage device at a block address determined by the retrieved set of data objects to recreate the address space. In some embodiments, the set of data objects is retrieved by providing an HTTP request and receiving the set of data objects as an HTTP response. In some embodiments, the set of data objects are retrieved based on the data objects being the target of a data transaction. |
| US09703644B1 |
Methods for generating a synthetic backup and for consolidating a chain of backups independent of endianness
Systems and methods for generating synthetic backups and for consolidating a chain of related backups. The chain of related backups is merged on the fly to create a backup stream. A block allocation table (BAT) may be identified for each backup to be consolidated into a synthetic backup, and BAT entries from each backup may be merged or combined to create a new BAT table associated with the synthetic backup. The data included in the related backups may be reformatted on the fly from big endian to little endian or vice versa. The backup stream is stored on a target device or volume. |
| US09703642B2 |
Processing of tracked blocks in similarity based deduplication of snapshots data
Embodiments for processing tracked blocks in a data storage implemented with data deduplication by a processor. Input snapshot data is partitioned into changed tracked blocks. The changed tracked blocks are grouped into enclosing similarity units. Similarity units that contain at least one input changed tracked block are processed for deduplication. |
| US09703633B2 |
Circuits, apparatuses, and methods for correcting data errors
One example apparatus includes a first circuit configured to receive first and second data words, to correct one or more errors in the first data word, to merge the corrected first data word and the second data word responsive to a control signal to generate a final merged data word, and to provide the final merged data word to a write circuit. The apparatus also includes a second circuit configured to also receive the first and second data words, to preliminarily merge the first and second data words responsive to the control signal to generate an initial merged data word, to generate an initial parity code for the initial merged data word, to correct the initial parity code, and to provide the corrected parity code to the write circuit. |
| US09703629B2 |
Approach to correct ECC errors using duplicate copies of data
Devices and methods implemented therein in are disclosed for correcting errors in data. The method comprises determining that a first copy of data and a second copy of data include errors uncorrectable by an error correction code (ECC) engine. The ECC engine is modified based on determining that the first copy of data and the second copy of data include errors uncorrectable by the ECC engine and using the modified ECC engine, the first copy of data and the second copy of data are processed to correct the errors in the first and second copy of the data. |
| US09703623B2 |
Adjusting the use of a chip/socket having a damaged pin
An electronic system comprises: a pin sensor; and an integrated management module, wherein the integrated management module: identifies a location of a damaged connector between a semiconductor chip and a hardware socket, wherein the location of the damaged connector is described by one or more readings from the pin sensor, and wherein the damaged connector prevents a particular signal from being supplied to the semiconductor chip via the hardware socket; identifies the particular signal as an input for a particular semiconductor function; determines whether the semiconductor chip provides the particular semiconductor function; and adjusts a use of the semiconductor chip based on whether or not the semiconductor chip uses the particular signal to provide the particular semiconductor function. |
| US09703619B2 |
Determining an availability score based on available resources of different resource types in a storage system to determine whether to perform a failure operation for the storage system
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining an availability score based on available resources of different resource types in a storage system to determine whether to perform a failure operation for the storage system. Information is maintained indicating availability of a plurality of storage system resources for a plurality of resource types. An availability score is calculated as a function of a number of available resources of the resource types. Information on the availability score is transmitted to a failure manager. The failure manager uses the transmitted availability information to determine whether to initiate a storage system failure mode for the storage system. |
| US09703618B1 |
Communication between a software program that uses RPC with another software program using a different communications protocol enabled via proxy
One example method includes receiving a message from a first software program using a first communication protocol and identifying a second software program that is an intended recipient of the message. The example method further includes identifying a second communication protocol associated with the intended recipient, where the second communication protocol is incompatible with the first communication protocol such that the first software program and the second software program cannot communicate directly with each other. Finally, the example method includes transmitting the message to the second software program using the second communication protocol. |
| US09703617B2 |
Automated transfer of user data between applications utilizing different interaction modes
Software that preserves information provided by a user in a first application utilizing a first interaction mode for use by a second application utilizing a second interaction mode, by performing the following steps: (i) generating a natural language log describing an interaction between a user and a first application, where the user interacts with the first application utilizing a first interaction mode; (ii) analyzing the natural language log using natural language processing to determine first user data; and (iii) utilizing the first user data by a second application, where the user interacts with the second application utilizing a second interaction mode different from the first interaction mode, and where the second application does not receive the first user data from the user via the second interaction mode. |
| US09703614B2 |
Managing a free list of resources to decrease control complexity and reduce power consumption
Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for searching a social network for media content. Aspects include identifying one or more available resources for execution by the processor, determining a maximum number of resources the processor can utilize in executing an instruction group, and grouping the one or more available resources into one or more resource groups, wherein each of the one or more resource groups has a size equal to the maximum number. Aspects also include receiving a request from a decode logic for a number of resources for execution and dispatching one of the one or more resource groups in response to the request by providing the number of resources for execution to the processor and sending remaining resources in the one of the one or more resource groups to a recycle queue. |
| US09703613B2 |
Multi-core dynamic workload management using native and dynamic parameters
A dynamic scheduler is provided that schedules tasks for a plurality of cores based upon current operating characteristics for the cores. The current operating characteristics include a predicted leakage current for each core based upon an analytical model. |
| US09703610B2 |
Extensible centralized dynamic resource distribution in a clustered data grid
A centralized resource distribution is described where the decision portion of partitioning data among cluster nodes is made centralized while the actual mechanics to implement the partitioning remain a distributed algorithm. A central distribution coordinator is used to create an extensible central strategy that controls how the data will be partitioned across the cluster. The work to implement this strategy is performed by all of the members individually and asynchronously, in accordance with a distributed algorithm. The central strategy can be communicated to all cluster members and each member can perform the partitioning as it relates to itself. For example, in accordance with the distributed algorithm, one node may decide that it needs to obtain a particular partition in light of the central strategy and carry out the necessary steps to obtain that data, while other nodes may be asynchronously performing other individual partition transfers relevant to those particular nodes. |
| US09703607B2 |
System and method for adaptive configuration of software based on current and historical data
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for adaptive configuration of software based on current and historical data. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed, which comprises receiving first data that reflects a first status of an execution of a software task. The method further comprises determining, based on the first data, a first set of configurations to be provided for the execution of the software task, wherein each configuration of the first set of configurations is associated with a weight that reflects a statistic measurement of a prior status of an execution of the software task when the configuration is provided, and wherein the first set of configurations are ranked based on the weights. The method also comprises providing, based on the ranking, at least one of the first set of configurations for the execution of the software task. |
| US09703605B2 |
Fine-grained heterogeneous computing
A heterogeneous computing system described herein has an energy-efficient architecture that exploits producer-consumer locality, task parallelism and data parallelism. The heterogeneous computing system includes a task frontend that dispatches tasks and updated tasks from queues for execution based on properties associated with the queues, and execution units that include a first subset acting as producers to execute the tasks and generate the updated tasks, and a second subset acting as consumers to execute the updated tasks. The execution units includes one or more control processors to perform control operations, vector processors to perform vector operations, and accelerators to perform multimedia signal processing operations. The heterogeneous computing system also includes a memory backend containing the queues to store the tasks and the updated tasks for execution by the execution units. |
| US09703604B2 |
Configurable thread ordering for throughput computing devices
A data processing apparatus and method processing data are disclosed. Execution circuitry is configured to execute multiple threads to perform data processing on input data by reference to at least one coordinate value of points in a reference domain. Thread allocation circuitry is configured to specify a selected point in the reference domain for each thread of the multiple threads respectively in order to allocate the data processing by specifying for each thread the at least one coordinate value of the specified point for that thread. Each thread accesses the input data with reference to its selected point in the reference domain and an order in which points in the reference domain are allocated to threads for data processing is configurable in the thread allocation circuitry. |
| US09703602B1 |
Burst throttling for multi-tenant storage services
Burst throttling methods may be used manage computing resources of a data storage service. Tokens may represent I/O operations executed by a customer of the data storage service. A global token bucket may contain a set of tokens representing the overall I/O operation capacity of the data storage service. Additionally, a work token bucket may contain a set of tokens for a given logical volume maintained by the data storage service. When I/O request are received tokens may be charged the global token bucket and the work token bucket. Furthermore, if there is sufficient capacity the data storage service may charge a reduced number of tokens to the work token bucket. |
| US09703600B2 |
Automated creation of executable workflow
A computing device receives information describing one or more workflow components. The computing device determines whether at least one executable step can be determined for each of the one or more workflow components. The computing device provides an indication of whether at least one executable step can be determined for each of the one or more workflow components. |
| US09703593B2 |
Apparatus and method for memory overlay
A memory overlay apparatus includes an internal memory that includes a dirty bit indicating a changed memory area, a memory management unit that controls an external memory to store only changed data so that only data actually being used by a task during overlay is stored and restored, and a direct memory access (DMA) management unit that confirms the dirty bit when the task is changed and that moves a data area of the task between the internal memory and the external memory. |
| US09703587B2 |
Administering virtual machines in a distributed computing environment
In a distributed computing environment that includes hosts that execute a VMM, with each VMM supporting execution of one or more VMs, administering VMs may include: assigning, by a VMM manager, the VMMs of the distributed computing environment to a logical tree topology, including assigning one of the VMMs as a root VMM of the tree topology; and executing, amongst the VMMs of the tree topology, a scatter operation, including: pausing, by the root VMM one or more executing VMs; storing, by the root VMM in a buffer, a plurality of VMs to scatter amongst the other VMMs of the tree topology; and sending, by the root VMM, to each of the other VMMs of the tree topology a different one of the VMs stored in the buffer. |
| US09703585B2 |
Method for live migration of virtual machines
A method and system for an assisted live migration of virtual machines are provided. The method monitoring, by an advisory server, at least a workload of physical machines in a datacenter; determining if at least one physical machine is overloaded based on the monitored workload; for each of the at least one physical machine determined to be overloaded, selecting at least one virtual machine resides in the respective physical machine, wherein the selection is based at least on a current load of the virtual machine; and initiating a live migration of the selected virtual machine when the current load is lower than a comfort load level. |
| US09703582B1 |
Share access of allocated storage space via in-memory file system between virtual machines
A method or network system able to efficiently redistribute information, data, and/or context between virtual machines (“VMs”) using an in-memory file system (“IMFS”) is disclosed. After requesting memory access by an application program, a process of VM using IMFS is able to forward the memory allocation request from a VM kernel operating under a VM environment to an emulator. The emulator, which operates between the VM kernel and the hypervisor, again redirects the memory allocation request to the hypervisor for storage allocation. The hypervisor subsequently allocates at least a portion of storage space in the IMFS in accordance with the memory allocation request. |
| US09703581B2 |
Managing unallocated server farms in a desktop virtualization system
Methods and systems for managing the allocated and unallocated server farms in a desktop virtualization system are provided herein. A server farm management device may store and maintain one or more unallocated server farm thresholds for the desktop virtualization system. The current number of unallocated server farms may be determined in response to a trigger or according to a predetermined schedule. When the number of unallocated server farms falls below a threshold, one or more new unallocated server farms may be created using the available servers in the desktop virtualization system. Thresholds may relate to overall number of unallocated server farms in the desktop virtualization system, as well as to the numbers of unallocated server farms of certain types or having certain characteristics. |
| US09703580B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and communication data output method
An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to collect data received and transmitted between a plurality of virtual machines within a physical apparatus, the plurality of virtual machines running on the physical apparatus; and a communication unit configured to output the data collected by the processor to an external apparatus. |
| US09703579B2 |
Debug environment for a multi user hardware assisted verification system
Technologies for debugging hardware errors discovered during hardware assisted software verification processes are provided. For example, in one embodiment, a concurrent emulation debug environment including a concurrent emulation system, an emulation trace module and a model state module is provided. The concurrent emulation system includes an emulator and an emulation control station configured to allow simultaneous emulation of multiple electronic designs. The model state module is configured to record the state of the electronic designs during emulation and the emulation trace module is configured to capture trace data associated with the emulation. A backup and capture module is also disclosed that is configured to store the recorded state and the captured trace data for use during a hardware debug process. |
| US09703578B2 |
Providing class loading for JAVA™ applications
A mechanism for providing class loading for a JAVA application is disclosed. A method of the invention includes retrieving, by a processing device, a JAVA class file. The method also includes identifying, by the processing device, a class dependency for the JAVA class file. The method also includes determining, by the processing device, a probability that the JAVA class file is to be loaded into a cache based on the identified class dependency. The method further includes loading, by the processing device, the JAVA class file into the cache based on the probability determined for the JAVA class file. |
| US09703577B2 |
Automatically executing application using short run indicator on terminal device
Provided are a method and system for executing an application installed in a device, the device and a recording medium thereof. The method includes: receiving a mapping request signal for requesting a mapping between application execution information and a short run indicator, acquiring the application execution information from an execution starting point of the application up to the receiving of the mapping request signal; generating mapping information comprising a mapping of the acquired application execution information with the short run indicator; and storing the mapping information in at least one of the device and an external device. |
| US09703574B2 |
Overflow detection and correction in state machine engines
State machine engines are disclosed, including those having an inter-rank bus control system, which may include a register. The state machine engine may include a plurality of configurable elements, such that each of the plurality of configurable elements comprises a plurality of memory cells. These cells may analyze data and output a result of the analysis. The IR bus control system may halt a write operation of data to be analyzed by the cells based, at least in part, on one or more conditions. |
| US09703571B2 |
Server function switching device, method and program, and thin client system and server device
Provided is a thin client system that automatically allows two types of user terminals, a network-boot-type user terminal and a screen-transfer-type user terminal, to share the same execution environment. A screen-transfer/network-boot switching system serves as a server function switching device used in the thin client system, including a server function switching section and a terminal process proxy execution section. The server function switching section accepts a connection request from the user terminal, and determines attribute of the user terminal. If the user terminal is the network-boot-type user terminal, the boot image transfer section transfers a boot image to the user terminal. If the user terminal is the screen-transfer-type user terminal, the boot image transfer section transmits a boot image to the terminal process proxy execution section. Moreover, the terminal process proxy execution section transmits screen information to the user terminal. |
| US09703568B2 |
Live initialization of a boot device
Embodiments of the present invention are provided that include executing, by a processor, a software stack received from a first boot image, and retrieving and executing, by the processor, a second software stack. A writeable boot device such as a storage device with a removable medium is detected, and the second software stack is saved by replacing, on the writeable boot device, the first boot image with a second boot image comprising the second software stack. The second software stack is saved upon detecting the boot device having no boot image. |
| US09703566B2 |
Sharing TLB mappings between contexts
In some implementations, a processor may include a data structure, such as a translation lookaside buffer, that includes an entry containing first mapping information having a virtual address and a first context associated with a first thread. Control logic may receive a request for second mapping information having the virtual address and a second context associated with a second thread. The control logic may determine whether the second mapping information associated with the second context is equivalent to the first mapping information in the entry of the data structure. If the second mapping information is equivalent to the first mapping information, the control logic may associate the second thread with the first mapping information contained in the entry of the data structure to share the entry between the first thread and the second thread. |
| US09703565B2 |
Combined branch target and predicate prediction
Embodiments provide methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable media associated with predicting predicates and branch targets during execution of programs using combined branch target and predicate predictions. The predictions may be made using one or more prediction control flow graphs which represent predicates in instruction blocks and branches between blocks in a program. The prediction control flow graphs may be structured as trees such that each node in the graphs is associated with a predicate instruction, and each leaf associated with a branch target which jumps to another block. During execution of a block, a prediction generator may take a control point history and generate a prediction. Following the path suggested by the prediction through the tree, both predicate values and branch targets may be predicted. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09703563B2 |
Detecting cross-talk on processor links
A first of a plurality of data lanes of a first of a plurality of processor links is determined to have a weakest of base performance measurements for the plurality of data lanes. A switching data pattern is transmitted via a first set of the remainder processor links and a quiet data pattern is transmitted via a second set of the remainder processor links. If performance of the first data lane increases vis-à-vis the corresponding base performance measurement, the first set of remainder processor links is eliminated from the remainder processor links. If performance of the first data lanes decreases vis-à-vis the corresponding base performance measurement, the second set of remainder processor links is eliminated from the remainder processor links. The above operations are repeatedly executed until an aggressor processor link that is determined to decrease performance of the first of the plurality of data lanes is identified. |
| US09703561B2 |
Thread transition management
Various systems, processes, products, and techniques may be used to manage thread transitions. In particular implementations, a system and process for managing thread transitions may include the ability to determine that a transition is to be made regarding the relative use of two data register sets and determine, based on the transition determination, whether to move thread data in at least one of the data register sets to second-level registers. The system and process may also include the ability to move the thread data from at least one data register set to second-level registers based on the move determination. |
| US09703558B2 |
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for setting an output mask in a destination writemask register from a source write mask register using an input writemask and immediate
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing in a computer processor generation of a predicate mask based on vector comparison in response to a single instruction are described. |
| US09703557B2 |
Vector galois field multiply sum and accumulate instruction
A Vector Galois Field Multiply Sum and Accumulate instruction. Each element of a second operand of the instruction is multiplied in a Galois field with the corresponding element of the third operand to provide one or more products. The one or more products are exclusively ORed with each other and exclusively ORed with a corresponding element of a fourth operand of the instruction. The results are placed in a selected operand. |
| US09703550B1 |
Techniques for building code entities
Described are techniques for building a code entity. A plurality of configuration files are selected in accordance with a target and target variant. The target identifies hardware and software platform information about an environment in which the code entity is to be configured for execution. The target variant identifies a software build variation for a particular target. One or more build phases are performed using the plurality of configuration files selected in said selecting. The code entity is generated as an output of performing the one or more build phases where the code entity varies with the target and target variant. |
| US09703547B2 |
Computing program equivalence based on a hierarchy of program semantics and related canonical representations
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for computing program equivalence based on a hierarchy of program semantics and related canonical representations are provided herein. A method includes defining a program semantic representation for a first program; generating a search query based on said semantic representation for the first program; executing said search query against an index of multiple programs to determine a set of candidate programs among the multiple programs, wherein said index comprises a program semantic representation defined for each of the multiple programs; and identifying one or more programs among the set of candidate programs that match the first program by performing one or more comparisons, across the set of candidate programs, of a canonical representation associated with each program in the identified set of candidate programs to a canonical representation associated with the first program. |
| US09703546B1 |
Monitoring application states for deployment during runtime operations
Interaction between development environments and runtime environments to ensure that underlying process components are in an acceptable state before deploying application updates. A deploy state monitor in a development environment interacts with runtime values in executing applications to manage deployment requests and states of executing applications. |
| US09703541B2 |
Entity action suggestion on a mobile device
Systems and methods are provided for suggesting actions for entities discovered in content on a mobile device. An example method can include running a mobile device emulator with a deep-link for a mobile application, determining a main entity for the deep link, mapping the main entity to the deep link, storing the mapping of the main entity to the deep link in a memory, and providing the mapping to a mobile device, the mapping enabling a user of the mobile device to select the deep link when the main entity is displayed on a screen of the mobile device. Another example method can include identifying at least one entity in content generated by a mobile application, identifying an action mapped to the at least one entity, the action representing a deep link into a second mobile application, and providing a control to initiate the action for the entity. |
| US09703539B2 |
Viral application distribution
Viral application distribution facilitates distribution of an application among users and increases likelihood of downloading the application by the users. A first device may receive information of an application from a second device through a short-range communication channel. The information may comprise identification information of the application without any personally identifiable information of the second device to protect privacy of a user of the second device. A version of the application that is compatible with the first device is determined by searching a catalog using the identification information of the application. The compatible version of the application may then be downloaded or obtained by the first device. Location-based viral distribution may also be performed between devices that visit a location, even at different times. |
| US09703532B1 |
Dynamically updating class instances based on class definition changes
A device may detect a modification of a class, included in program code, from a first class definition to a second class definition that is different from the first class definition. The device may create a relationship indicator that references the second class definition and that indicates that the class has been modified. The device may store an association between the class and the relationship indicator. The device may access an instance of the class associated with the first class definition. The device may detect the association between the class and the relationship indicator based on accessing the instance of the class. The device may update the instance of the class, using the second class definition, based on detecting the association between the class and the relationship indicator. |
| US09703530B2 |
Systems and methods for computing mathematical functions
Mathematical functions are computed in a single pipeline performing a polynomial approximation (e.g. a quadratic approximation, or the like) using data tables for RCP, SQRT, EXP or LOG using a single pipeline according and opcodes. SIN and COS are also computed using the pipeline according to the approximation ((−1)^IntX)*Sin(π*Min(FracX, 1.0−FracX)/Min(FracX, 1.0−FracX). A pipeline portion approximates Sin(π*FracX) using tables and interpolation and a subsequent stage multiplies this approximation by FracX. For input arguments of x close 1.0. LOG 2(x−1)/(x−1) is computed using a first pipeline portion using tables and interpolation and subsequently multiplied by (x−1). A DIV operation may also be performed with input arguments scaled up to avoid underflow as needed. Inverse trigonometric functions may be calculated using a pre-processing stage and post processing stage in order to obtain multiple inverse trigonometric functions from a single pipeline. |
| US09703529B2 |
Exception generation when generating a result value with programmable bit significance
A data processing system performs processing operations upon input operand(s) having a programmable bit significance. Exception generating circuitry generates exception indications representing exceptions such as overflow, underflow and inexact in respect of a result value having the programmable bit significance. |
| US09703524B2 |
Privacy protection in collective feedforward
Personal audio systems and methods are disclosed. A personal audio system includes a processor to generate a personal audio stream by processing an ambient audio stream in accordance with an active processing parameter set, a circular buffer memory to store a most recent snippet of the ambient audio stream, and an event detector to detect a trigger event. In response to detection of the trigger event, a controller may extract audio feature data from the most recent snippet of the ambient audio stream and transmit the audio feature data and associated metadata to a knowledgebase remote from the personal audio system. |
| US09703522B2 |
Playback control based on proximity
Embodiments described herein provide for detecting movement in proximity to a playback device and responsively modifying the audio that is output from one or more playback devices. In an example implementation, a playback device detects, via one or more proximity detectors of a playback device while the playback device is playing back given media via one or more speakers, presence of an object in proximity of the playback device. After detecting the presence of the object, the playback device pauses playback of the given media. After pausing playback of the given media, the playback device receives, via a network interface of the playback device from a controller device, a command to resume playback of the given media. After receiving the command to resume playback, the playback device resumes playback of the given media. |
| US09703519B2 |
LED display modules for large-format LED displays
LED display modules for large-format displays are disclosed. The LED display module includes a matrix of LEDs, with each LED having an anode and a cathode, and an LED drive circuit having electrical connections defined by rows and columns that electrically connect to the LEDs in the LED matrix. Groups of adjacent rows are arranged in parallel and groups of adjacent columns are arranged in parallel, thereby defining super pixels each having an array of four or more LEDs, wherein the LEDs in a given super pixel cannot be individually activated. The modules can be combined to form the large-format display. |
| US09703517B2 |
External device screen targeting
Techniques for external device screen targeting are described. In one or more implementations, location information of a mobile computing device is calculated based on a distance between the mobile computing device and multiple signal transmitters having predefined locations. In addition, a compass heading of the mobile computing device is identified that indicates an orientation of the mobile computing device. The location information and the compass heading of the mobile computing device is then applied to correlate with display-location data of an application for interaction with one or more objects displayed on a display device. |
| US09703514B2 |
Smart mobile tag printing system and tag printing method for the same
A smart mobile tag printer includes a memory unit, a NFC transfer module, a control and communication module, and a printing unit. The memory unit stores a first related information corresponding to a tag serial number of the first data set. The NFC transfer module reads a first data set from a NFC identification tag. The control and communication module downloads a second data set from a database of the back-end server to the memory unit according to the tag serial number when the control and communication module is connected with the back-end server according to a server address value of the first data set. The printing unit prints out a combination of the first data set and the first related information, or prints out a data containing the second data set. |
| US09703512B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
There are provided an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium storing a program for achieving the image processing apparatus and the image processing method. The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit configured to store a plurality of processing modules for processing a plurality of types of PDLs; a determination unit configured to determine a type of PDL of a print job; and a processing unit configured to perform processing of enabling at least one processing module corresponding to the determined type of PDL, interpreting a rendering command described in the PDL of the print job by using the at least one processing module that is enabled, and generating page data. The processing unit does not reserve work memory for PDL processing for a type of PDL other than the type of PDL determined by the determination unit. |
| US09703509B2 |
Authorizing or printing negotiable instrument
A method of authorizing a negotiable instrument includes automatically receiving a request for the instrument, identity data identifying a requester, and a location of a requester. If the location is within location range for the identity data, a verification code is transmitted to the client. An input code is received from a personal mobile device at a location. If the input code matches the verification code and the device is near the requester, a reference code of the negotiable instrument is transmitted to the client and is stored. A method of performing a financial transaction indicated by the instrument includes automatically receiving the reference code, receiving identifying data of a bearer of the negotiable instrument; determining whether the received identifying data correspond to a request for the instrument; and, if so, producing a transaction record corresponding to the request and invalidating the reference code. Systems are also described. |
| US09703504B2 |
Storage system, recording medium storing data rebalancing program, and data rebalancing method
A storage system includes a plurality of storing devices configured to store data, a cache memory configured to hold data, an access control unit configured to make an access to any one of the plurality of storing devices when an access request for reading of target data or writing of the target data is made from an information processing terminal, and to store the target data in the cache memory, and a writing unit configured to write the target data stored in the cache memory in the storing device which has not stored the target data among the plurality of storing devices. |
| US09703500B2 |
Reducing power consumption by migration of data within a tiered storage system
Mechanisms identify one or more first storage devices in a first tier of the tiered storage system that may be placed in a minimal power consumption state and identify one or more data segments stored on the one or more first storage devices that are most likely to be accessed during a period of time in which the one or more first storage devices are in the minimal power consumption state. The mechanisms migrate the one or more data segments to one or more second storage devices in one of the first tier or a second tier of the storage system and place the one or more first storage devices in the minimal power consumption state. Access requests to the one or more data segments are serviced by the one or more second storage devices while the one or more first storage devices are in the minimal power consumption state. |
| US09703499B2 |
Communication device, RFID system, and recordable medium having data writing program recorded thereon
A communication device (3) performs contactless communication with an RF tag (8) that is provided with a nonvolatile memory (82) having a plurality of blocks serving as units of data erasure. The communication device (3) includes a specifying unit (303) that specifies, from among blocks to which a writing range belongs, a divided block that includes data outside the writing range when data is written into the nonvolatile memory, a backup processing unit (304) that backs up original data of the specified divided block, a storage unit (36) that stores backup data that includes the original data, and a writing processing unit (305) that writes the update data into the divided block that was initialized when the backup data is stored. |
| US09703491B2 |
Using history of unaligned writes to cache data and avoid read-modify-writes in a non-volatile storage device
Systems, methods and/or devices are used to enable using history of unaligned writes to cache data and avoid read-modify-writes in a non-volatile storage device. In one aspect, the method includes (1) receiving a plurality of input/output (I/O) requests including read requests and write requests to be performed in a plurality of regions in a logical address space of a host, and (2) performing one or more operations for each region of the plurality of regions in the logical address space of the host, including (a) determining whether the region has a history of unaligned write requests during a predetermined time period, and (b) if so: (i) determining one or more sub-regions within the region that are accessed more than a predetermined threshold number of times during the predetermined time period, and (ii) caching data from the determined one or more sub-regions. |
| US09703489B2 |
Information processing system, information processing device, information processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing information processing program for performing information processing using non-contact communication with a data storage medium
Provided is an information processing system to improve enjoyment in information processing using data obtained in non-contact communication. The information processing system includes a dedicated figure, a non-contact communication unit, a processing unit, and a first storage unit. The dedicated figure is configured to store data and has a non-contact communication function. The non-contact communication unit is configured to read data from the dedicated figure by using the non-contact communication function of the dedicated figure. The processing unit performs figure data processing based on the data read by the non-contact communication unit. The first storage unit stores the number of times of execution of the figure data processing. Processing details of the figure data processing performed by the processing unit depend on the number of times of execution stored in the first storage unit. |
| US09703482B2 |
Filter appliance for object-based storage system
A framework for performing transformations of logical storage volumes in software is provided. This framework interposes on various operations that can be performed on a logical storage volume, such as input/output (IO) operations, via one or more filters, which may be implemented by an appliance that is inserted into the data path of the operations issued to the logical storage volume. |
| US09703481B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a display in a portable terminal
A method and apparatus configured to control a display in a portable terminal includes sensing that the flexible display is bent, dividing the flexible display into a main screen and a sub screen, and outputting first information through the main screen and outputting second information through the sub screen. |
| US09703479B2 |
Input method and device using same
An input method for use in a device, includes: receiving character input information; determining, based on the character input information, an inputted character and time information associated with an input operation; and selecting a state of the inputted character according to the time information and at least one predetermined time threshold value. |
| US09703475B2 |
Input apparatus
An input apparatus capable of informing an operator of an execution state of a motion, executed based on pressing of keys and buttons after a predetermined period, through the keys and buttons pressed is provided.An input apparatus 1 has a touch sensor 11 configured to detect a contact, a load detection unit 12 configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor 11, a tactile sensation providing unit 13 configured to vibrate the touch face, and a control unit 15 configured to control the tactile sensation providing unit 13 when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit 12 continuously satisfies a predetermined standard for a predetermined period such that a tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face. |
| US09703471B2 |
Selectively coordinated audio player system
A selectively coordinated audio playback system is disclosed. The audio playback system includes multiple audio players serving, receiving and rendering audio content audio content. A controller is in communication with the audio players and controls the audio content provided on each audio player. The controller includes a touchscreen user interface to receive user inputs and is configured to selectively coordinate the audio content from the multiple audio players according to gestures detected via the touchscreen interface. |
| US09703469B2 |
Distinguishing between impulses and continuous drag operations on a touch-sensitive surface
A touch-sensitive surface for a computer animator to create or modify a computer-generated image includes processes for differentiating between click and drag operations. The included processes also beneficially reduce input errors. When a touch object (e.g., finger or stylus) touches the drawing table, information regarding the duration of the touch and the movement of the touch are used to determine whether the touch input represents a (graphical user interface) click or a drag operation. |
| US09703468B2 |
Unified desktop independent focus in an application manager
Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface or “desktop” across two devices are provided. More particularly, a unified desktop is presented across a device and a computer system that comprise a unified system. The unified desktop acts as a single user interface that presents data and receives user interaction in a seamless environment that emulates a personal computing environment. To function within the personal computing environment, the unified desktop includes a process for docking and undocking the device with the computer system. The unified desktop presents a new user interface to allow access to functions of the unified desktop. |
| US09703461B2 |
Media content creation
A method and apparatus for creating media content. The method comprises recording a video; while the video is being recorded, automatically analyzing the content of the video; and creating media content by editing the video, assisted by the results of the content-analysis. A user may not need to select in advance (that is, before the video is recorded) the type or format of media content to be created. |
| US09703460B2 |
Intelligent rendering of webpages
An indication to render a webpage is received. The webpage includes two or more frames and the two or more frames are rendered in a first order. A second order from a user is received. The webpage is rendered. The two or more frames of the webpage are rendered in the second order. |
| US09703455B2 |
Overlay maps for navigation of intraoral images
Methods and systems for viewing images. One system includes a source of images, a computer, and a screen. The computer is configured to generate a graphical user interface or GUI. The GUI includes a first window in which one or more of the images are displayed. The GUI is displayed on the screen and the graphical user interface module generates an output or modifies the GUI in response to user input (e.g., tap, click, etc.). In response to the input, the graphical user interface generates an image-navigation map. The image-navigation map is displayed in a foreground of the first window and the one or more images are in displayed in a background of the first window. The image-navigation map includes one or more thumbnail images of at least one of the one or more images. |
| US09703454B2 |
Method and device for adding menu item to ANDROID menu
A method and device for adding a menu item of a third-party application to a local menu of a mobile phone without modifying an ANDROID platform code includes, receiving a request for opening a local menu, where the request carries a menu identifier (ID), and creating a local menu corresponding to the menu ID, obtaining according to the menu ID, in a stored correspondence between a menu item of a third-party application and the menu ID, a menu item of a corresponding third-party application, and adding the menu item of the third-party application to the local menu, and displaying the local menu to which the menu item of the third-party application is added. |
| US09703449B1 |
System and method of posting coded messages on social networks
The present invention relates generally to a system and method of posting coded messages using a software application program comprising computer executable instruction code configured for displaying a transformed display, which mimics the social network but also includes the most recent message posts from a user's social network wall and including at least one radial button for selecting at least one coded icon corresponding to at least one decoded message; receiving a selection of the at least one coded icon corresponding to the at least one decoded message; converting the selected at least one coded icon into the corresponding decoded message and posting in realtime the decoded message or icons on the user's wall within the application program or a link reference in one or more authorized social networks. |
| US09703445B2 |
Dynamic, optimized placement of computer-based windows
A computer system displays a first window corresponding to an aspect of a first executing program in a first display area on one or more display devices. The computer system identifies an activity of a second program. The computer system determines whether the activity of the second program meets a threshold of priority. In response to determining that the activity meets the threshold, the computer system manipulates the first window such that the display area can be distributed, at least partially, between the first window and a second window corresponding to the activity of the second program. The computer system displays the second window with the first window within the display area. |
| US09703444B2 |
Dynamic distribution of client windows on multiple monitors
A multi-user computer system may distribute user windows across multiple monitors. Some of the user windows may span two or more monitors. Some user windows may share a monitor. Each user window may be associated with a set of user input devices for each user. The user window configuration may be changed on the fly by an administrative user, who may reposition, rotate, scale, or perform other changes to the windows. |
| US09703443B2 |
Method and system for creating a free-form visual user interface element
A method of creating a free-form visual user interface element includes receiving a command to associate a visual representation of at least one of a set of graphical user interface controller attributes with a free-form visual element, generating instructions defining the at least one of the set of graphical user interface controller attributes, and adapting the instructions to a data structure embodying the free-form visual element. The method also includes attaching the adapted instructions to the data structure to form a free-form visual user interface element. |
| US09703441B2 |
Touch screen device, touch screen display device using the same, and driving method thereof
Disclosed is a touch screen device. The touch screen device includes a touch screen panel configured to include a plurality of driving electrodes, which are disposed in parallel in a first direction, and a plurality of sensing electrodes which are disposed in parallel in a second direction, and a touch circuit unit configured to, when a touch type of a previous touch sensing period is a finger touch, sequentially apply a driving pulse to a plurality of second driving electrodes but not to a plurality of first driving electrodes among the plurality of driving electrodes, and receive a plurality of sensing signals based on the driving pulse from the plurality of sensing electrodes. |
| US09703437B2 |
Touch panel and display device
The present disclosure provides a touch panel and a display device. The touch panel includes a glass substrate and a conductive film arranged on the glass substrate. The conductive film includes a base material and a conductive layer arranged on the base material. The conductive layer includes first conductive patterns and second conductive patterns, each of which includes a plurality of meshes formed by conductive wires crossing each other. The first conductive patterns are each of an X-shaped structure and arranged in an array form, and the second conductive patterns are each formed at a region surrounding by the adjacent first conductive patterns, arranged adjacent to and insulated from the first conductive pattern, and arranged in an array form. |
| US09703435B2 |
Touchpad combined with a display and having proximity and touch sensing capabilities to enable different functions or interfaces to be displayed
A touch-sensitive and far-field or proximity sensitive touchpad combined with a display, wherein the touchpad is formed as a touchstrip that is concealed inside the display, wherein a first function or interface such as a menu is enabled when an actuating device reaches a threshold distance from the touchpad, wherein a second function or interface is enabled when the actuating device makes contact with the touchpad, and wherein the first function may or may not continue after contact is made with the touchpad. |
| US09703434B2 |
Touch sensing device and display device including the same
A touch sensing device includes a touch sensing panel and a sensing signal controller. The touch sensing panel includes sensing electrodes arranged in a matrix. The sensing signal controller is connected to the touch sensing panel via signal transfer wiring. Each sensing electrode includes a first conductive layer and holes formed in the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes nano wire. |
| US09703422B2 |
Sensor-based ESD detection
A touch sensitive device that detects the occurrence of an electrostatic discharge event on the device by analyzing one or more ESD sensors located in various locations on the touch sensitive device is provided. A touch controller can scan touch nodes on the touch sensitive device while simultaneously scanning one or more ESD sensors to detect if a possible ESD event has occurred during the acquisition of a touch image. If an ESD event has occurred during the acquisition of touch data, the touch controller can act to either ignore the data, or compensate the data to account for effects on the touch data caused by the ESD event. |
| US09703416B2 |
Touch circuit, touch panel and display apparatus
There is provided a touch circuit, a touch panel and a display apparatus. In the touch circuit, an input module (01) is used for pulling up the potential of a first node (P1), a reset module (02) is used for pulling down the potential of the first node (P1), a pull-up module (03) is used for pulling up the potential of a control signal output terminal (OUT), a pull-down module (04) is used for pulling down potentials of the first node (P1) and the control signal output terminal (OUT), a touch signal output control module (05) is used for controlling a touch signal output terminal (TX) to choose to output a high-frequency signal (TH) or a common voltage signal (VCOM) so as to achieve the function of outputting a touch signal by the touch circuit. |
| US09703408B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjusting a touch recognition area in a touch interface
An apparatus and method are provided for adjusting a touch recognition area on a touch interface. The method includes displaying an item on a screen of a terminal; sensing an approach area according to an approach of a user input object to the touch interface; determining an approach direction of the user input object, based on the approach area; and adjusting a touch recognition area of the item, based on the approach direction. |
| US09703394B2 |
Unlearning techniques for adaptive language models in text entry
In some examples, a method includes outputting a graphical keyboard (120) for display and responsive to receiving an indication of a first input (124), determining a new character string that is not included in a language model. The method may include adding the new character string to the language model and associating a likelihood value with the new character string. The method may include, responsive to receiving an indication of a second input, predicting the new character string, and responsive to receiving an indication of a third input that rejects the new character string, decreasing the likelihood value associated with the new character string. |
| US09703390B2 |
Hand-held electronic device
A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device. |
| US09703385B2 |
Data services based on gesture and location information of device
With the addition of directional information and gesture based input in a location based services environment, a variety of service(s) can be provided on top of user identification or interaction with specific object(s) of interest. For instance, when a user gestures at or points at a particular item, or gestures at a particular location or place, this creates an opportunity, e.g., an advertising opportunity, for anyone having an interest in that particular item or place to communicate with the user regarding that item or related items at a point in time when the user's focus is on the particular item. User context for the interaction can also be taken into account to supplement the provision of one or more interactive direction based services. |
| US09703384B2 |
Information display device, information display system and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for displaying types of information in accordance with order of display priority set in descending order of relevance to determined activity state of user
An information display device includes a device body, a display section that displays information, a motion detection sensor provided in the device body, an information acquiring section that acquires a plurality of types of information, an action detection section that detects a predetermined action of a user from output data of the sensor, and a display control section that selectively displays, in the display section, the plurality of types of information acquired by the information acquiring section in a set order every time the action detection section detects the predetermined action of the user. |
| US09703381B2 |
Multimodal haptic device including a thermal and tactile display unit, system, and method of using the same
A multimodal haptic device operating as a closed-loop system, the device including a pipeline configured to allow a closed-loop flow of a fluid medium, a manifold operatively connected to the pipeline, the manifold having a pump and a valve to control and regulate a flow of the fluid medium along the pipeline, and a display unit operatively connected to the pipeline, the display unit having a tactile display and a valve operatively connected to the tactile display for regulating an efflux of the fluid medium from the tactile display into the pipeline. |
| US09703379B2 |
Systems and methods for multimedia tactile augmentation
The present disclosure described methods and systems for multimedia tactile augmentation. At least one method includes identifying media content loaded on a first computer, locating instructions stored on a second computer (said instructions corresponding to the content), initiating playback of the content, and synchronizing the instructions with the content. Said method further includes parsing and converting the instructions into one or more electrical signals, driving one or more haptic feedback devices with the electrical signals in synchronization with the playback of the content, and presenting the content to the user. The haptic feedback devices provide physical stimulation to a user accessing the content. |
| US09703376B2 |
Manipulation system operable by eyewear type terminal device
Provided is a manipulation system that is capable of coping with a manipulation that deals with many selectable setting values in an easy way using an eyewear type terminal device. The eyewear type terminal device includes a view capturing part, a screen display part, a screen creation part that creates a screen on which selection items are arranged and display such a screen on the screen display part, a fixation point detection part, a sample data cutting out part cut out sample data from the front vision field image, and a communication part, the image forming apparatus performs an operation based on the selection item that is received from the eyewear type terminal device and identify a setting value candidate treated as the selection item based on the sample data for transmission to the eyewear type terminal device. |
| US09703371B1 |
Obtaining input from a virtual user interface
A virtual user interface in a 3D environment is projected onto a display object, such as an open hand. An operating object, such as a stylus or a second hand with an index finger extended, may be used to select input features of the projected user interface. In one scenario, for example, a telephone keypad may be projected onto the open hand and the index finger may be used to select a particular number on the keypad. Images of the hands may be segmented to produce contours of the finger and open hand, and these contours are used to determine the location of the finger relative to the open hand. |
| US09703363B2 |
Power supply module and power supply system with sequential smart activation/deactivation based on load
The present disclosure provides a power supply module and a power supply system. The power supply module is used as a first power supply module in a computing system which further includes a second power supply module. The first power supply module and the second power supply module are cascaded in sequence. The first power supply module is in a power supplying state and the second power supply module is in an off state. The first power supply module itself is capable of automatically determining whether to turn on another power supply module or not, without any human intervention. In this way, the power distribution board can be simplified, or even eliminated, in which case the individual power supply modules can be connected by wire to reduce the cost. |
| US09703361B2 |
Memory control apparatus, memory control method, information processing apparatus and program
There is provided a memory control apparatus including a deciding unit deciding, among a first main storage apparatus that is a main storage apparatus with low power consumption and a second main storage apparatus with power consumption higher than the power consumption of the first main storage apparatus as memory devices of multiple CPU cores, whether the second main storage apparatus is capable of being suspended, and a power managing unit suppressing a power supplied to the second main storage apparatus and at least one of the multiple CPU cores in a case where the deciding unit decides that the second main storage apparatus is capable of being suspended. |
| US09703356B1 |
Battery state detection by use of voltage in a shared power system background
A method and apparatus is provided wherein a server is powered by a battery connected to a charging circuit. The voltage output by the battery is monitored and when it falls below a threshold, a determination is made that the battery is being depleted. In response to the determination, the server is brought into a reduced power consumption state or a data saving state. |
| US09703355B2 |
Method, devices and systems for dynamic multimedia data flow control for thermal power budgeting
Methods and devices for managing data flows for concurrent multimedia applications executing on a device including a SoC, in response to determining that a temperature or power consumption exceeds a threshold are disclosed. A lowest priority data flow may be identified. A data flow path associated with the identified lowest priority data flow may be traced. A multimedia parameter of any hardware module along the data flow path may be reduced. When the temperature or power consumption no longer exceeds the threshold, a highest priority data flow among the multimedia applications that has had the multimedia parameter reduced may be identified. A data flow path for a data flow associated with the identified highest priority data flow may be traced. The multimedia parameter may be restored to an original value along the traced data flow path for the data flow associated with the identified highest priority data flow. |
| US09703353B2 |
Method and electronic device for reducing current consumption by the electronic device
An electronic device and a method for reducing current consumption in the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a communication processor configured to collect an event associated with operation of an application while an application processor is in a sleep state, and a communication interface configured to transmit a message corresponding to the collected event to an external electronic device. |
| US09703351B2 |
Method and apparatus for power control
Embodiments of the present invention relate to limiting maximum power dissipation occurred in a processor. Therefore, when an application that requires excessive amounts of power is being executed, the execution of the application may be prevented to reduce dissipated or consumed power. |
| US09703346B2 |
Firmware interface with backup non-volatile memory storage
Generally, this disclosure provides systems, devices, methods and computer readable media for a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) with durable storage to provide memory write persistence, for example, in the event of power loss. The system may include a processor to host the firmware interface which may be configured to control access to system variables in a protected region of a volatile memory. The system may also include a power management circuit to provide power to the processor and further to provide a power loss indicator to the firmware interface. The system may also include a reserve energy storage module to provide power to the processor in response to the power loss indicator. The firmware interface is further configured to copy the system variables from the volatile memory to a non-volatile memory in response to the power loss indicator. |
| US09703345B2 |
Electronic device and power management control method
A power management method and associated electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a power management circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit is powered by a power path. The power management method includes detecting whether the control circuit is powered, forwarding a control authority of the power path to the control circuit when the control circuit is powered, and forwarding the control authority to the power management circuit when the control circuit is not powered. |
| US09703337B2 |
Thermal model optimisation
A method for controlling the temperature of a component is disclosed. The component is part of a drive configured to drive an electrical machine via an electrically conductive member. The method comprises determining a value of an attribute of the electrically conductive member; configuring a model to calculate the temperature of the component, the model being configured based on the determined value of the attribute of the electrically conductive member; using the model to calculate the temperature of the component; and if the calculated temperature of the component does not meet a predetermined temperature condition, issuing a command to control the operation of the drive such that the temperature of the component is changed to meet the predetermined temperature condition. |
| US09703336B2 |
System and method for thermal management in a multi-functional portable computing device
Various embodiments of methods and systems for optimizing processing performance in a multi-functional portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. Depending on how the PCD is being used, the temperature limit associated with the touch temperature of the PCD may be variable. As such, a preset and fixed touch temperature limit based on a “worst use case” scenario can unnecessarily limit the quality of service (“QoS”) provided to a user under different use case scenarios. Accordingly, embodiments of the systems and methods define and recognize different device definitions for the PCD which are each associated with certain use cases and each dictate different temperature thresholds or limits subject to which the PCD may run. |
| US09703331B1 |
Board fastener for securing a data storage device in an information handling system
A board fastening apparatus includes an anchor and a key connected by a flexible tether. The anchor may include a pedestal and a collar. The pedestal may be configured to engage a free edge of a data storage board. The pedestal may define a channel for receiving a pin from the key. The collar may be configured to engage a via form in a mounting board or other substrate. The fastening device key may include a base, a pin, and a pull tab. The pin may be affixed to a first surface of the base and configured to insert into the channel defined by the pedestal. With the anchor affixed to the mounting board and the storage board's free edge engaged by the pedestal, inserting the pin into the channel places the base partially overlying the storage board to restrain movement of the free edge in the vertical direction. |
| US09703329B2 |
Driver device detection
A device dock of a vehicle may receive a one-time key over a data connection between the device dock and a vehicle computing system (VCS), and send the one-time key over a location-identifying connection to a nomadic device placed within proximity to the dock, to cause the nomadic device to send the one-time key to the VCS to integrate with the VCS as a driver device. The VCS may receive, from a nomadic device in a device dock, via a data connection between the VCS and the nomadic device, a one-time key provided from the VCS to the device dock over a data connection between the VCS and the device dock, and responsive to receipt of the one-time key from the nomadic device, integrate the nomadic device with the VCS as a driver device. |
| US09703328B2 |
Hinge assemblies for computing devices
A hinge assembly of a computing device may be provided, for example. The hinge assembly may include a first hinge member and a second hinge member. The first hinge member may include a first mounting plate attached to a first gudgeon member via a first tongue portion. The second hinge member may include a second mounting plate attached to a second gudgeon member via a second tongue portion. The first and second mounting plates may be shaped so that they can be stacked in parallel along an axis such that the first and second gudgeons may be aligned perpendicular to the axis to allow a pintle member to be inserted through the first and second gudgeons and such that the first and second tongue portions may be spaced apart along the axis. |
| US09703326B2 |
Electric shock protection device and portable electronic device including the same
Provided is an electric shock protection device disposed between a human body contactable conductor and an internal circuit unit of an electronic device. The electric shock protection device includes: a sintered body where a plurality of sheet layers stacked; an electric shock protection unit including at least one pair of inner electrodes disposed spaced a predetermined interval apart from each other inside the sintered body and a pore disposed between the inner electrodes; and at least one capacitor layer configured to pass communication signals flowing from the conductor. |
| US09703325B2 |
Coverglass fracture detection
This application relates to methods and apparatus for detecting and characterizing the formation of cracks in a display cover. Various types of sensors can be used to accomplish the described embodiments. For example, a touch sensor can be utilized for detection and characterization purposes. Alternatively, a crack detection specific sensor or sensors can be added to a device. In some embodiments, when formation of a crack is detected, a device having a sensor that detects a crack can adjust its behavior depending upon how the crack is characterized. For example, the device can be configured to notify a user of the device of any or all systems of the device that will be affected by the detected crack. In some embodiments, crack characterization data can be sent to a device manufacturer to improve subsequent device models. |
| US09703318B2 |
Surrounding member with covering structure, electronic device having the surrounding member with covering structure, and method of assembling the surrounding member with covering structure
A surrounding member with covering structure, an electronic device having the surrounding member, and a method of assembling a surrounding member are disclosed. A case of the electronic device includes a through hole. The surrounding member includes a first fastener, a second fastener, and a supporter. The first fastener passes through the through hole and is attached to the case. The second fastener and the supporter cover a lateral wall of the case. Therefore, the surrounding member can be assembled to the case even without using an adhesive and the surrounding member will not detach from the case easily. Moreover, because the surrounding member is attached to the case by passing through the though hole and cover the lateral wall of the case, the surrounding member is also adopt for an electronic device with narrow frame. |
| US09703308B2 |
Method for distributing an energy flow over a predetermined period of time to a cluster of a plurality of devices taking into account constraints relating to the energy to be delivered to the devices, a computer program for performing such a method and a system therefor
Method for distributing an energy flow to a cluster of a plurality of devices taking into account constraints relating to the energy to be delivered to the devices, comprising the steps of: A. gathering flexibility information of the respective devices in the cluster, combining the flexibility information of the devices of the cluster into flexibility information for the cluster, B. determining accumulated energy to be delivered in function of time over the predetermined period of time, C. supplying the determined accumulated energy to the cluster by obtaining, from the flow of energy, power in function of time based on the determined accumulated energy to be delivered in function of time, determining priority for power for all devices in the cluster and distributing the obtained power among the devices of the cluster. |
| US09703305B2 |
Power circuit
A power circuit includes an input terminal to which an input voltage is applied; a control element which generates an output voltage obtained by regulating the input voltage; an output terminal from which the output voltage is output; a discharge circuit which discharges by extracting an electric charge from the control element on a side of the output terminal; a drive circuit which generates a drive current for causing the discharge circuit to operate using power of the control element on the side of the input terminal; a detection circuit which detects the output voltage; and a discharge control circuit which decreases a current value of the drive current to a current value enabling the discharge circuit to continuously operate in a case where the detection circuit detects that the output voltage reaches a setup voltage by an operation of the discharge circuit. |
| US09703304B2 |
Voltage booster circuit, semiconductor device, and voltage booster circuit control method
A voltage booster circuit includes a reference voltage generation circuit that generates a first potential and supplies the first potential to a first potential line; a booster section that supplies a second potential to a second potential line, the second potential being boosted from the first potential; a booster control section, connected to the second potential line, that controls the booster section in accordance with the second potential; a switch connected to the first potential line and the second potential line; and a control circuit that controls the switch in accordance with a potential difference between the first potential and the second potential. |
| US09703303B2 |
Charge pump LDO with secondary sensing for low power need based refresh
A voltage regulation system includes a voltage regulator configured to output a control signal indicating whether a voltage based on output of the voltage regulator is lower than a specified value. A charge pump is configured to output a voltage and a charging current. A pump monitor is configured to receive the control signal and the output voltage of the charge pump, and activate the charge pump when the control signal indicates the voltage based on output of the voltage regulator is lower than a specified value and the output voltage of the charge pump is lower than a threshold value. |
| US09703301B1 |
Methods and control systems of resistance adjustment of resistors
Embodiments include methods, computer systems and computer program products for controlling resistance value of a resistor in a circuit. Aspects include: retrieving, via a controller, a set of parameters of the resistor from a non-volatile memory in the circuit, detecting, via the controller, an operating temperature of the resistor during circuit operation in field using a temperature sensor, generating, by the controller, a temperature difference between the operating temperature detected and a target temperature at which the resistor has a target resistance value, producing, by the controller, a control signal responsive to the temperature difference generated, and transmitting the control signal to a temperature regulator placed adjacent to the resistor to adjust the resistance value of the resistor. The resistance value of the resistor varies in response to temperature changes around the resistor according to a temperature coefficient of the resistance of the resistor. |
| US09703300B2 |
Temperature regulation circuit
A temperature regulation system configured to regulate a temperature of the device may include first and second temperature-dependent current sources that are configured to generate first and second currents, respectively. The system may also include amplifiers configured to apply respective first and second amplification factors to the respective first and second currents to generate respective first and second intermediate currents. The system may also include a heater configured to generate heat based on the first and second intermediate currents and positioned such that the generated heat affects the device. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to adjust the first and second amplification factors such that changes in the first and second currents, resulting from changes in temperature of the first and second current sources, result in changes to the heat generated by the heater to maintain an approximately equal temperature of the device. |
| US09703299B2 |
Economizer controller plug and play system recognition with automatic user interface population
An economizer controller system having a plug and play recognition approach with an automatic user interface population mechanism. A check may be made for sensors connected to the controller. The control type of the sensors may be determined. The menu structure may be repopulated based on the control type. The user interface may then be updated. This approach may be repeated as needed. |
| US09703296B2 |
Integrated systems facilitating wire and cable installations
Pulling eyes are provided with integrated wiring systems suitable for installing conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may include body portions that define interior cavities that are sized to snugly engage outside portions of the conductors or cables. The body portions are sized to be deformably crimped onto the outside portions of the conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may also include head portions joined to the body portions, with the head portions defining apertures for receiving a strength member for installing the conductors or cables. These apertures place the interior cavities in communication with the exteriors of the pulling eyes. |
| US09703292B2 |
Automatic traveling vehicle system, control method and program
According to one embodiment, a limited section controller includes a traffic information update unit, a determination unit, a standby position setting unit, and a traveling restart setting unit. The traffic information update unit updates delay information of the traveling vehicle near the junction. The determination unit determines whether to permit the traveling vehicle to pass based on whether there is the traveling vehicle in the limited section. The standby position setting unit sets a standby position of each of the traveling vehicles of a limited number or less present in a standby section. The traveling restart setting unit determines an approach direction into the limited section. |
| US09703288B1 |
System and method for aerial system control
A method for controlling an aerial system, including: receiving a video, selecting a region of the video, controlling a touch-sensitive display to display the region of the video, receiving a drag input from the touch-sensitive display, receiving a second video, selecting a second region of the second video based on the drag input, controlling the touch-sensitive display to display the second region of the second video, and moving the aerial system based on the drag input. |
| US09703283B2 |
Adapting the dynamics of at least one robot
A first robot and at least one further second robot are provided to run through a plurality of positioning ranges during operation. A dynamic behavior and/or a load characteristic value of the robot in at least one first positioning range can be adapted to a dynamic behavior and/or a load characteristic value in at least one second positioning range of the robot and/or a dynamic behavior and/or a load characteristic value of the first robot in at least one first positioning range is adapted to a dynamic behavior and/or a load characteristic value of the second robot in at least one second positioning range. |
| US09703282B2 |
Portable manipulation command input device and apparatus equipped with manipulation command input device
A portable manipulation command input device, including a sub-console panel attachable to and removable from an automatic lathe apparatus main unit, and includes an input unit to receive input of a manipulation command to the automatic lathe apparatus main unit, a display unit to display information on the automatic lathe apparatus main unit, and a radio communication unit to communicate with the automatic lathe apparatus main unit. The sub-console panel includes a detection unit and a control unit formed with the automatic lathe apparatus main unit. The detection unit includes a radio ID tag and a radio ID reader detecting the sub-console panel being placed within a predetermined range of the automatic lathe apparatus main unit. Depending on a detection result by the detection unit, the control unit allows or restricts manipulations of the automatic lathe apparatus main unit, and allows display of the information even when restricting the manipulations. |
| US09703279B2 |
Handheld field maintenance device with improved user interface
A handheld field maintenance tool is provided. The handheld field maintenance tool includes a process communication module configured to communicate with a field device. The handheld field maintenance tool also includes a display and a user input device. A controller is coupled to the process communication module, the user input device and the display and is configured to generate a listing of task-based field maintenance operations on the display and receive a user input selecting a task-based field maintenance operation. The controller is configured to automatically traverse a menu of the field device using a fast-key sequence relative to the selected task. A method of creating a task-based field maintenance operation is provided. A method of interacting with a field device menu is also provided. |
| US09703277B2 |
Method and apparatus to track changes in an industrial controller
A method and apparatus for tracking changes in an industrial controller is disclosed. A project for the industrial controller is developed that includes multiple components. Each of the components may be arranged at varying levels. Authorized personnel are able to access the components, or a portion thereof, within the industrial controller to change settings and or programming of the industrial controller. As each change is made, the industrial controller maintains a log of the changes. The change may initially be recorded in each module and/or at each level of the project. The change is then rolled up to a top level of the project. A revision log at the top level of the project stores each of the changes within the industrial controller. The industrial controller may then access the revision log to determine whether any action needs to be taken within the industrial controller. |
| US09703269B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting snooze interval in mobile device
A method and an apparatus for easily setting a snooze interval in a mobile device are provided. In the method, the mobile device receives an event for setting a snooze function, outputs, when receiving the event, a plurality of display regions respectively corresponding to a plurality of snooze intervals, and selects one display region of the plurality display regions. Then the mobile device sets the snooze function with a specific snooze interval corresponding to the selected one display region. |
| US09703267B2 |
Method and apparatus for visually authenticating photos
A method for visually authenticating photos comprises: calculating a first digital signature based on photo data corresponding to a photo to obtain first signature data, and storing the first signature data; and when a picture is displayed, implementing signature verification based on the picture data corresponding to the picture and the first signature data, and displaying an authentic mark with the picture when the signature verification succeeds. An apparatus for creating and assigning photos and an apparatus for visually authenticating photos are also disclosed. |
| US09703266B2 |
Independent fiber-optic reference apparatuses and methods thereof
A reference management apparatus includes a reference signal housing, a fixed length propagation device, an oscillator device, and a reference management computing device. The reference signal housing having a propagation signal output and a propagation signal input. The fixed length propagation device is coupled between the propagation signal output and the propagation signal input. The reference signal management computing device is coupled to the oscillator device and the propagation signal input. The reference signal management computing device also comprises at least one of configurable hardware logic configured to implement or a memory coupled to the processor which is configured to be capable of executing programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to: detect a start and an end of a transmission of at least one pulse signal through the fixed length propagation device; measure propagation time of the at least one pulse signal through the fixed length propagation device; and utilize the measured propagation time for managing a reference signal. |
| US09703265B2 |
Measurement apparatus and measurement method
To provide a measurement apparatus and measurement method capable of shortening the measurement time, a measurement apparatus 10 includes: an acquisition section 21 that acquires the data of a plurality of slots; a setting unit 12 that sets measurement items for each slot; an additional time table 23 that stores additional time set in advance for each measurement item; a measurement period setting section 22 that sets a measurement period for measuring the data of a slot by adding additional time before and after time assigned to the slot; and a measurement section 30 that measures the characteristics of the data of the slot in a measurement period. |
| US09703262B2 |
Annual or perpetual calendar mechanism and timepiece comprising the same
In an annual or perpetual calendar mechanism, a day-of-the-month wheel includes a notch. At each actuation of a lever, a first pawl finger effects an actuation of one step, on one of the teeth of the day-of-the-month wheel. Upon actuation of the lever at the end of a month of fewer than 31 days, a second pawl finger effects, in the notch, an actuation of the day-of-the-month wheel by a whole number of steps. The notch is positioned between two consecutive teeth among the teeth of the day-of-the-month wheel. The day-of-the-month wheel has a peripheral edge which forms the profiles of its teeth as well as the notch. |
| US09703261B2 |
Low volume precision bellows
A bellows is provided for fluid storage and displacement used in precise fluid indication in a capillary tube. The bellows is made of a housing made of flexible, watertight material. The housing is made up of an upper portion, a lower portion, and an outer accordion formed portion. The accordion formed portion has a length/and is sealingly connected along a periphery between the upper and lower portions. At least one entry/exit port is formed on at least one of the portions thereof. At least one of the upper and lower portions extends from a periphery of the accordion formed portion substantially within the housing so as to reduce the storage volume. |
| US09703260B2 |
Methods and apparatus for coherent holographic data channels
Methods and devices for coherent holographic data channel techniques. Coherent techniques for data detection generally include homodyne and heterodyne detection. Techniques for quadrature homodyne detection, resampling quadrature homodyne detection, n-rature homodyne detection, and spatial wavefront demodulation. Coherent detection techniques in turn enable coherent channel modulation techniques such as phase modulation (including binary phase shift keying, or BPSK; phase quadrature holographic multiplexing, or QPSK; and quadrature amplitude modulation, or QAM). Coherent detection may also enable or improve the performance of other channel techniques such as partial response maximum likelihood (PRML), the various classes of extended PRML, and of noise-predictive maximum likelihood (NPML) detection. |
| US09703254B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a dual-position developing device
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly to which a cartridge including a developing device for developing the latent image on an image bearing member is detachably mountable, and a transfer unit, detachably mountable to the main assembly separately from the cartridge, for transferring a developer image formed on the image bearing member. The transfer unit includes a developing device contact-and-separation mechanism for moving the developing device between a contact position, where the developer carrying member contacts the image bearing member, and a spaced position where the developer carrying member is spaced from the image bearing member. The developing device contact-and-separation mechanism includes an engaging member engageable with the cartridge and movable, with respect to the transfer unit, between a first position where the developing device is placed in the contact position and a second position where the developing device is in the spaced position. |
| US09703252B2 |
Power supply controlling device, power supply device, image forming apparatus, and power supply controlling method
A power supply controlling device includes: a direct-current power supply configured to output a direct-current voltage; an alternating-current power supply configured to output one selected from between a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating-current voltage onto the direct-current voltage and the direct-current voltage; a bypass capacitor configured to partially store therein an output from the alternating-current power supply and configured to, when the direct-current voltage is output from the direct-current power supply while no electric charge is stored therein, store therein a second direct current being a part of a first direct current output from the direct-current power supply in conjunction with the output of the direct-current voltage; and a power supply controlling unit configured to cause the direct-current power supply to control a level of the direct-current voltage based on a target value for the first direct current and a value indicating the second direct current. |
| US09703250B2 |
Rotating force transmitting mechanism and image forming apparatus
A rotating force transmitting mechanism has a rotating member supported on a base plate. The base plate is formed with a bearing part in a bottomed cylindrical shape protruded by extruding. The rotating member is formed with a cylindrical rotating shaft part capable of fitting to the bearing part. The rotating member is supported on the base plate such that the rotating shaft part rotates while sliding with the bearing part. |
| US09703248B2 |
Curling detection device, image forming apparatus, curling detection method, image adjustment method, recording medium storing a curling detection program, and recording medium storing an image adjustment program
A curling detection device includes an endless belt entrained around at least two rollers, a conveyance unit that conveys the endless belt by driving the rollers, an image forming unit that forms an image by transferring a toner image to either a surface of the endless belt directly or a recording medium on the endless belt, a pattern image forming controller that instructs the image forming unit to form lines of a curling detection pattern at predetermined intervals in a conveying direction of the endless belt and a predetermined angle against the conveying direction of the endless belt at a predetermined timing, a curling scanning unit that scans the curling detection pattern, and a detecting unit that detects a curling of the endless belt based on the interval of the curling detection pattern scanned by the curling scanning unit. |
| US09703246B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A differential correction data generating unit measures two density characteristics at a reference linear velocity and another linear velocity from scanned images of two test charts printed at the reference linear velocity and the another linear velocity, and generates differential correction data as a difference between correction amounts for the measured two density characteristics. A correction amount adjusting unit measures a density characteristic at the reference linear velocity from an adjustment toner pattern formed on an intermediate transfer member, and thereby adjusts a correction amount for the density characteristic at the reference linear velocity. A density characteristic of a printing image is corrected, (a) for the reference linear velocity, on the basis of the correction amount at the reference linear velocity, and (b) for the another linear velocity, on the basis of the correction amount at the reference linear velocity and the differential correction data. |
| US09703244B2 |
Image forming apparatus to correct a driving signal for driving a light source
An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor drum; an optical scanning device that drives a light source to scan a surface of the photoconductor drum and form a latent image on the surface; a developing device that develops the latent image; and a density detector to detect density variation of an image in a rotation direction of the photoconductor drum, the image being developed by the developing device. The optical scanning device includes a processing device that is capable of correcting a driving signal for driving the light source on a basis of an output signal of the density detector to adjust at least either one of a correction period and a correction strength of correction data for the driving signal for a rotation period of the photoconductor drum. |
| US09703243B2 |
Toner Cartridge
Printers are disclosed herein. An example printer includes a housing; a non-refillable toner container permanently affixed within the housing, the toner container having a capacity sufficient to store enough toner to print a first number of pages that corresponds to an expected useful life of the printer; and a processor responsive to an input to enable a second number of pages to be printed by the printer, the second number of pages being less than the first number of pages. |
| US09703239B1 |
Fixing device having a guide member with a recessed shape
A fixing device includes a heater, a heating rotary member, a pressure rotary member, and a guide member. The heating rotary member is rotated while being heated by the heater. The pressure rotary member is in pressure contact with part of an outer circumferential surface of the heating rotary member so as to be rotated and so as to form a pressure contact portion which allows a recording medium to pass therethrough. The guide member has a guide portion which guides a leading end of the recording medium toward part of the outer circumferential surface of the heating rotary member. The guide portion has a guide ending portion having a central portion and left and right end portions in a direction parallel to a rotational axis direction of the heating rotary member. The central portion is recessed relative to the left and right end portions. |
| US09703238B2 |
Image forming system
An image forming system includes: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet; one or more sheet carrying devices successively disposed on the downstream side of the image forming apparatus; and a control device that controls the image forming apparatus and the one or more sheet carrying devices based on a job that designates a page configuration containing a page order and sheet types, wherein the sheet carrying device includes a bypass conveyance path along which the sheet output from an upstream device is conveyed toward a downstream device, and a sheet tray unit that temporarily stores the sheet output from the upstream device and discharges the sheet toward the bypass conveyance path, and the control device divides the job into sheet types and determines a printing order of the divided sheet types and sheet types to be stored in the sheet carrying device. |
| US09703235B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus therewith
A developing device includes a developer container, a first stirring member, a second stirring member, and a developer carrying member. The second stirring member includes a second transport blade for transporting developer inside a second transport chamber, a regulating portion formed next to, on the downstream side of, the second transport blade in the transport direction of the developer inside the second transport chamber and formed by a transport blade that transports developer in the opposite direction to the second transport blade, a discharge blade formed next to, on the downstream side of, the regulating portion in the transport direction of the developer and transporting developer in the same direction as the second transport blade to discharge the developer through the developer discharge port, a first disk formed between the second transport blade and the regulating portion, and a second disk formed between the regulating portion and the discharge blade. |
| US09703232B2 |
Image forming apparatus that performs a contacting operation for contacting a developing member with an image bearing member
An image forming apparatus includes image forming portions each including an image bearing member, a charging portion, an exposure portion, a developing portion including a developing member, and a cleaning member; a contact-and-separation portion; a voltage source; and a control means. An operation is executed in a contact state of the developing member with the image bearing member at the image forming portion where the image is formed, in a separated state of the developing member from the image bearing member at the image forming portion where the image is not formed and in a state in which the image bearing members of the image forming portions where the image is formed and is not formed are driven. When the operation is continuously executed, the control means executes a contacting operation at the image forming portion where the image is not formed. |
| US09703227B2 |
Image forming apparatus with mirror adjustment unit
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a photoconductive drum, a light scanning unit, a reflection mirror, a support member, and a cam. The light scanning unit forms a light scanning beam with which the photoconductive drum is irradiated. The reflection mirror guides the light scanning beam toward the photoconductive drum. The support member supports both ends of the reflection mirror in a longitudinal direction. The cam is provided in the support member. The cam comes into contact with the reflection mirror in an intermediate portion of the reflection mirror in the longitudinal direction. The cam moves the intermediate portion in a plate thickness direction of the reflection mirror with respect to a support position by the support member. |
| US09703225B2 |
Semiconductive roller
A semiconductive roller (1) is provided, which is formed from a rubber composition and has an outer peripheral surface (4) irradiated with electron radiation in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, wherein the rubber composition contains a rubber component including an epichlorohydrin rubber and a diene rubber, the epichlorohydrin rubber being present in a proportion of 50 mass % to 80 mass %, a thiourea crosslinking agent and/or a triazine crosslinking agent, and a sulfur crosslinking component. |
| US09703224B2 |
Liquid developer
A liquid developer contains an insulating liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulating liquid. The toner particles have a resin and a coloring agent. The resin contains at least 5 mass % and at most 30 mass % of an aliphatic polyester resin and at least 70 mass % and at most 95 mass % of an aromatic polyester resin. A difference in acid value between the aliphatic polyester resin and the aromatic polyester resin is not less than 15 mgKOH/g and not more than 100 mgKOH/g. |
| US09703223B2 |
Toner, developer, and toner cartridge
The present invention provides a toner that includes a charge control agent containing one or two or more resorcin derivatives represented by the following formula (1), a colorant, and a binder resin. |
| US09703215B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor, method of producing same, and electrophotographic apparatus
An electrophotographic photoreceptor is provided that can achieve reductions in the amount of wear in the photoreceptor surface while producing an excellent image on a long-term basis. Also provided are a method of producing the electrophotographic photoreceptor and an electrophotographic apparatus. The electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate and being composed of a resin having a molecular structure optimized using molecular dynamic calculations that is a helical structure, and having a value for a ratio r/I between the diameter (r) and helix pitch (I) of the helical structure that ranges from 0.04 to 1.0. |
| US09703214B2 |
Lithography apparatus, lithography method, and article manufacturing method
Provided is a lithography apparatus which forms a pattern on a substrate that includes a detector configured to detect a mark formed on the substrate; a controller configured to obtain a displacement amount of a position of the mark from a reference position thereof based on an output of the detector; wherein the controller is configured to obtain a representative value of, with respect to each of a plurality of marks associated with each sample shot region on the substrate, a plurality of the displacement amount respectively obtained based on outputs of the detector with respect to a plurality of the sample shot region, and obtain information relating to a form of a shot region on the substrate based on a plurality of the representative value respectively obtained with respect to the plurality of marks. |
| US09703211B2 |
Sub-diffraction-limited patterning and imaging
A method for sub-diffraction-limited patterning using a photoswitchable layer is disclosed. A sample of the photoswitchable layer can be selectively exposed to a first wavelength of illumination that includes a super-oscillatory peak. The sample can be selectively exposed to a second wavelength of illumination that does not include the super-oscillatory peak. A region in the sample that corresponds to the super-oscillatory peak and is associated with the second transition state can optionally be converted into a third transition state. The region in the sample at the third transition state can constitute a pattern of an isolated feature with a size that is substantially smaller than a far-field diffraction limit. |
| US09703210B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A method and apparatus for cleaning the inside of an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed. In particular, a liquid supply system of the lithographic apparatus may be used to introduce a cleaning fluid into a space between the projection system and the substrate table of the lithographic apparatus. Additionally or alternatively, a cleaning device may be provided on the substrate table and an ultrasonic emitter may be provided to create an ultrasonic cleaning liquid. |
| US09703204B2 |
Light source apparatus, optical apparatus, exposure apparatus, device manufacturing method, illuminating method, exposure method, and method for manufacturing optical apparatus
An optical apparatus capable of illuminating an irradiation surface under a required illumination condition capable of achieving a high light efficiency while keeping a small light loss due to, for example, the overlap error of illuminating fields. The optical apparatus, which illuminates a first area with light from a light source while the first area is longer in a second direction intersecting a first direction than in the first direction, includes a collector optical member which is arranged in an optical path between the light source and the first area, and condenses the light from the light source to form a second area in a predetermined plane, the second area being longer in a fourth direction intersecting a third direction than in the third direction; and a first fly's eye optical member which is provided within the predetermined plane including the second area, and has a plurality of first optical elements guiding the light of the collector optical member to the first area. |
| US09703200B2 |
Photolithographic methods
Methods of forming an electronic device, comprising in sequence: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate comprising one or more layers to be patterned; (b) forming a photoresist layer over the one or more layers to be patterned, wherein the photoresist layer is formed from a composition that comprises: a matrix polymer comprising a unit having an acid labile group; a photoacid generator; and an organic solvent; (c) coating a photoresist overcoat composition over the photoresist layer, wherein the overcoat composition comprises a quenching polymer and an organic solvent, wherein the quenching polymer comprises a unit having a basic moiety effective to neutralize acid generated by the photoacid generator in a surface region of photoresist layer; (d) exposing the photoresist layer to activating radiation; (e) heating the substrate in a post-exposure bake process; and (f) developing the exposed film with an organic solvent developer. The methods have particular applicability in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. |
| US09703199B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing apparatus that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device and includes first, second and third processing units, includes forming a photosensitive film on the substrate by said first processing unit before exposure processing by said exposure device and applying washing processing to the substrate by supplying a washing liquid to the substrate in said second processing unit after the formation of said photosensitive film and before the exposure processing. The method also includes applying drying processing to the substrate in said second processing unit after the washing processing by said second processing unit and before the exposure processing and applying development processing to the substrate by said third processing unit after the exposure processing. Applying the drying processing to the substrate includes the step of supplying an inert gas onto the substrate, to which the washing liquid is supplied. |
| US09703197B2 |
High-sensitivity multilayer resist film and method of increasing photosensitivity of resist film
A resist film structure is provided, which allows a resist layer to have improved photosensitivity to EUV or electron beams without changing the photosensitivity of the resist material itself. A metal layer 1 with a thickness as small as a nanometer level is provided on a resist polymer layer 2 formed on a substrate 3. When the resist layer in this structure is exposed to light, the metal layer 1 produces a surface plasmon effect to enhance the irradiation to the resist film, so that the photosensitivity of the resist film is improved. |
| US09703191B2 |
Method of manufacturing color conversion substrate
A method of manufacturing a color conversion substrate includes preparing a substrate including a first pixel region, a second pixel region, and a third pixel region, forming a first color conversion portion corresponding to the first pixel region, forming a second color conversion portion corresponding to the second pixel region, and forming a third color conversion portion corresponding to the third pixel region. The providing the first color conversion portion includes providing a first color filter of a first color corresponding to the first pixel region, providing a first transparent pattern corresponding to the first pixel region, and providing a first pattern layer corresponding to the first pixel region and including a first material which converts light incident thereto into light of the first color, where the first transparent pattern is provided between the first color filter and the first pattern layer. |
| US09703190B2 |
Imprint method, imprint apparatus, and article manufacturing method
The imprint method includes changing the position of a detector that detects an alignment mark formed on a shot on a substrate; bringing a pattern formed on a mold into contact with an imprint material supplied on the shot on the substrate; and detecting the alignment mark using the detector after completion of the change in the position of the detector. Here, the contacting is started prior to completion of the change in the position of the detector. |
| US09703188B2 |
Agglutinat for pellicle, a pellicle using it and a method for evaluating pellicle
A pellicle is proposed in which the agglutinant layer which enable the pellicle to be adhered to a photomask is doped with a mechanoluminescent material so that the uniformness of the thickness of the agglutinant layer can be confirmed, when the pellicle is adhered to the photomask, by observing visually or by CCD camera for any irregularity in the pattern of the light emitted from the agglutinant layer. |
| US09703187B2 |
Pellicle and EUV exposure device comprising same
The present invention addresses the problem of providing a pellicle which has high EUV transmittance and high strength, while being not susceptible to damage by heat. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a pellicle which comprises a pellicle film that has a refractive index (n) of light having a wavelength of 550 nm of 1.9-5.0 and a pellicle frame to which the pellicle film is bonded. The pellicle film has a composition that contains 30-100% by mole of carbon and 0-30% by mole of hydrogen. The intensity ratio of the 2D-band to the G-band, namely (intensity in 2D-band)/(intensity in G-band) is 1 or less, or alternatively, the intensity in the 2D-band and the intensity in the G-band are 0 in the Raman spectrum of the pellicle film. |
| US09703185B2 |
Semiconductor light source driving apparatus and projection video display apparatus
Prior to a rising timing of a switching signal, a second FET is turned ON for a predetermined period according to a voltage switching signal. This allows a sum of a supply voltage of a first switching power source and a supply voltage of a second switching power source to be applied to a series circuit of a semiconductor light source, a drain-source of a first FET, and a current detecting resistor for a predetermined period before and after the rising timing of the switching signal. |
| US09703184B2 |
Dimmer and projector
A dimmer includes a pair of pivoting sections provided across an optical axis of a light beam and having pivot axes and a pair of light blocking sections held by the pair of pivoting sections and configured to pivot following pivoting of the pivoting sections to block the light beam. In a maximum light blocking state, positions in the optical axis direction of opposed ends on the optical axis side of the pair of light blocking sections are different from each other. In the maximum light blocking state, the opposed ends on the optical axis side of the pair of light blocking sections are arranged to overlap each other in a direction along the optical axis. |
| US09703181B2 |
Projector
A projector includes: an optical unit as an image projection device which forms and projects an image; a support member which supports the optical unit; an exterior casing which forms an exterior and houses the optical unit and the support member; and at least one of a foot portion and a handle which is provided on the support member and exposed outside the exterior casing and supports the support member. |
| US09703177B2 |
Lens barrel and camera
A camera includes a lens barrel including a first lens frame that supports a first lens and is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens barrel, a second lens frame that supports a second lens and is configured to move in an optical-axis direction which is parallel to the optical axis; a first lock member configured to connect with the first lens frame to restrict movement of the first lens frame; a second lock member configured to connect with the second lens frame to restrict movement of the second lens frame; a connection portion that connects the first lock member and the second lock member; and an actuator configured to move one of the first lock member and the second lock member and thereby control the first lock member and the second lock member to restrict the movement. |
| US09703161B2 |
Display device
The present invention is intended to control the color temperature of white exhibited by a liquid crystal display device. White is produced when light waves emitted through pixels associated with three colors of red, green, and blue have maximum intensities. The amounts of light emitted through the respective pixels are controlled by differentiating the shapes of the pixel electrodes disposed at the respective pixels from one another. Thus, the color temperature of white is controlled. Otherwise, the shapes of interceptive films disposed at the respective pixels are differentiated from one another in order to control light waves emitted through the respective pixels. Thus, the color temperature of white is controlled. The interceptive film may be shaped like the pixel electrode. Otherwise, the interceptive film may be realized with an interceptive pattern other than that of the pixel electrode or one of openings bored in a black matrix. |
| US09703158B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same
A liquid crystal display panel is disclosed and has data lines, scanning lines and pixel units. Each pixel units includes a first sub-pixel unit and a second sub-pixel unit. A top electrode of a first storage capacitor of the first sub-pixel unit is connected to a common electrode; a bottom electrode plate of the first storage capacitor is connected to a pixel electrode of the corresponding pixel unit. A top electrode of a second storage capacitor of the second sub-pixel unit is connected to a pixel electrode of the corresponding pixel unit; and a bottom electrode plate of the second storage capacitor is connected to the common electrode. |
| US09703156B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a TFT substrate having pixel electrodes and opposed electrodes formed and an opposed substrate, an external conductive film of a transparent electrode is formed on an outer surface of the opposed substrate, and an upper polarizing plate is arranged on the external conductive film. A portion of the external conductive film that is not covered with the upper polarizing plate is electrically connected to a ground potential through a conductive thermocompression bonding tape. The conductive thermocompression bonding tape is configured so that w3 |
| US09703150B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can be miniaturized while preventing display defects such as flicker. The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device including a wiring connected to an electrode to supply a common signal. The electrode includes a first electrode portion formed in a transparent conductive layer. The wiring is formed outside a display region and includes at least one of the first wiring portion and a second wiring portion and a third wiring portion facing the at least one of the first wiring portion and the second wiring portion. The first wiring portion, the second wiring portion, and the third wiring portion are respectively formed in a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer. |
| US09703149B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate, a counter-substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a columnar spacer. The array substrate includes a wiring including projection portion which form a dot pattern with light-blocking properties, and a first horizontal alignment film. The counter-substrate includes a second horizontal alignment film. The columnar spacer is disposed between the array substrate and the counter-substrate and is located within the dot pattern. |
| US09703147B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and motherboard
A liquid crystal display device filled with a liquid crystal according to one drop filling prevents the liquid crystal from penetrating between a sealant and a TFT substrate or a counter substrate so as to reduce bonding strength in a seal part. The seal part has a wall spacer around the periphery of the sealant. In a terminal-side seal part, a second sealant is formed outside the wall spacer while a second wall spacer is formed outside the second sealant. Thus, the sealant, the wall spacer, and the sealant are sequentially formed in a plan view of a motherboard including liquid crystal display panels to be separated. This configuration can prevent the liquid crystal from penetrating into the seal part according to an internal pressure. |
| US09703146B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and preparation method thereof
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel and a preparation method thereof. The liquid crystal display panel comprises: a first substrate having a display area and a sealant area, wherein the sealant area surrounds the display area; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a sealant frame disposed on the sealant area of the first substrate, wherein the sealant frame includes a plurality of corner portions and a plurality of strip portions, wherein the adjacent strip portions intersect at one of the corner portions; and these corner portions includes a plurality of first corner portions and a plurality of second corner portions. Each of the first corner portion includes an arcuate peripheral edge adjacent to the display area, and each of the second corner portion includes an angular peripheral edge adjacent to the display area. |
| US09703143B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display component, a plurality of light sources, a flat optical member, a rear side support member, and a reflective sheet. The light sources are disposed on a rear side of the display device relative to the display component. The light sources irradiate the display component with light. The light sources are arranged with respect to the rear side support member such that among light emitted towards the display component from an edge-side light source that is disposed closest to an edge portion of the rear side support member out of the light sources, light emitted at a brightness that is at least half of an maximum brightness of the edge-side light source reaches an edge portion of the flat optical member corresponding to the edge portion of the rear side support member. |
| US09703142B2 |
Surface light source device and liquid crystal display device
A surface light source device includes a plurality of LEDs for emitting a plurality of light having different colors, and a light guide body for mixing the colors of the plurality of light and emitting light having colors mixed. The light guide body includes a light incident portion for causing the plurality of light to be individually incident, and a light emitting portion provided beside the light incident portion and changing propagation angles of the plurality of light which is incident from the light incident portion and propagated into the light guide body to mix colors, thereby controlling a quantity of light emission from the light guide body and a light emitting position. |
| US09703141B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, display device, and manufacturing method of liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel, a display device and a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel comprises: a color filter (2) located on an array substrate (1), and the color filter (2) comprises a black matrix (21) and a color filter layer (22) having different color sections, wherein the different color sections of the color filter layer (22) have quantum dots (QDs) of different sizes respectively, and the QDs of different sizes can be excited to generate light of corresponding colors; a protective layer (3) located on the color filter; a liquid crystal layer (4) provided on the protective layer (3); a transparent protective plate (5) provided on the liquid crystal layer (4). |
| US09703139B2 |
Methods for trimming polarizers in displays
An electronic device is provided with a display such as a liquid crystal display mounted in an electronic device housing. The display has a layer of liquid crystal material sandwiched between an upper display layer such as a color filter layer and a lower display layer such as a thin-film-transistor layer. An upper polarizer is formed on the upper surface of the color filter layer. A lower polarizer is formed on the lower surface of the thin-film-transistor layer. To protect display layers such as a glass color filter layer substrate for the color filter layer from damage during polarizer trimming operations, a coating is deposited on a peripheral edge of the glass color filter layer substrate. The coating may be formed from an elastomeric polymer such as silicone and may remain in place or may be removed following trimming operations. |
| US09703133B2 |
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. |
| US09703131B2 |
Liquid crystal motherboard, manufacturing and cutting methods thereof, and liquid crystal panel obtained thereby
The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel motherboard, comprising providing materials that can form projections on a margin area of at least one of two substrates of the liquid crystal panel motherboard, and then fitting said two substrates to each other, so that the margin area of said at least one of the two substrates cannot be fit to a corresponding margin area of the other substrate seamlessly. The present disclosure also provides a method for cutting a liquid crystal panel motherboard, and a liquid crystal panel obtained from the liquid crystal motherboard. |
| US09703129B2 |
Component mounting apparatus
A component mounting apparatus that compresses a component to a transparent substrate on which the component is placed with a photocurable resin interposed therebetween. The component mounting apparatus includes: a receiving unit that includes a base member and a transparent member provided on an upper surface of the base member and receives a surface of the substrate, which is positioned below the component, on an upper surface of the transparent member; a pressing unit that presses the component against the substrate received by the receiving unit; and a light irradiation unit that irradiates the photocurable resin with light through the transparent member. |
| US09703127B2 |
Waveguide structure
A method comprising: providing a core comprising a layer of electro-optic dielectric material, a first layer of semiconductor material provided below the electro-optic material and a second layer of the semiconductor material provided above the electro-optic material, and electrodes, configured for applying voltages. The electro-optic dielectric material has a Pockels tensor containing at least one non-vanishing element rij where i≠j, and the electrodes comprise a first set of electrodes provided substantially in direct contact with the electro-optic dielectric material, and a second set of electrodes comprising at least an electrode provided substantially in direct contact with the first layer and at least an electrode substantially in direct contact with the second layer, wherein the sets of electrodes are configurable to apply in the electro-optic material, at least a substantially horizontal electrical field and at least a substantially vertical electrical field that are orientated substantially perpendicular relative to each other. |
| US09703126B2 |
Pockels cell driver circuit with inductances
The driver circuit contains a first line, which is to be connected to a first terminal of the Pockels cell (18; PC), and a second line, which is to be connected to a second terminal of the Pockels cell (18; PC), wherein the first line and/or the second line have/has an inductance (14, 15; 24, 25). |
| US09703123B2 |
Method and system to create custom, user-specific eyewear
Systems and methods for creating fully custom products from scratch without exclusive use of off-the-shelf or pre-specified components. A system for creating custom products includes an image capture device for capturing image data and/or measurement data of a user. A computer is communicatively coupled with the image capture device and configured to construct an anatomic model of the user based on the captured image data and/or measurement data. The computer provides a configurable product model and enables preview and automatic or user-guided customization of the product model. A display is communicatively coupled with the computer and displays the custom product model superimposed on the anatomic model or image data of the user. The computer is further configured to provide the customized product model to a manufacturer for manufacturing eyewear for the user in accordance with the customized product model. The manufacturing system is configured to interpret the product model and prepare instructions and control equipment for the manufacturing of the customized product. |
| US09703119B2 |
Compact folding architecture for head mounted device
An example of a hinge mechanism for a head mounted device is provided. Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to folding the head mounted device in a secure fashion for convenient storage and transportation. The head mounted device may have an asymmetrical shape with an enlarged and elongated first side arm. In this regard, the hinge mechanism allows the head mounted device to fold at an angle so as not to interfere with a second side arm of the head mounted device. The head mounted device may also implement a flexguard component configured to bend along with the hinge structure so as to protect internal components that become exposed due to the folding of the hinge. An axial cam system is also implemented to allow for the secure and comfortable folding and opening of the head mounted device. |
| US09703115B2 |
Optoelectronic apparatus and method of taking an image
An optoelectronic apparatus (10) is provided in a stationary mounting at a monitored zone (14) with objects (12) to be detected, wherein the apparatus has an image sensor (18) for generating shots of the objects (12); a receiving optics (16) associated with the image sensor (18) and with an adaptive lens (42) having a variable tilt; and an evaluation unit (20) for determining object information from a shot. The evaluation unit (20) is in this respect configured to derive the movement behavior of an object (12) to be taken from an external input signal (28) and to tilt the adaptive lens (42) during a shot of the object (12) such that the movement of the object (12) is compensated. |
| US09703111B2 |
Laser processing machine and focusing angle setting method of laser processing machine
A laser processing machine includes: a laser oscillator which emits laser light; a scanning unit which scans a processing target surface of a work by deflecting the laser light emitted from the laser oscillator; and a focusing unit which is disposed between the laser oscillator and the scanning unit and which focuses the laser light emitted from the laser oscillator. The focusing unit is set so as to focus the laser light at a second position that is more distant from a first position where the laser light is incident vertically than a third position that is farthest from the first position in the processing target surface of the work. |
| US09703110B2 |
Optical system and image projection apparatus having the same
An image projection apparatus includes a light source for emitting a light bundle, a display element forming an image by using the light bundle, and a projection system having: a lens unit refracting the light bundle so as to magnify and project the image and including first and second aspheric lenses, which are spaced from each other and change the refraction of the light bundle, and at least one spherical lens disposed between the first and second aspheric lenses; and a mirror for reflecting, toward the outside, the light bundle delivered by the lens unit. |
| US09703109B2 |
Three-dimensional image display device
A three-dimensional (3D) image display device includes a display panel including an upper substrate and a lower substrate, the display panel displaying a left eye image and a right eye image; a patterned retarder that applies first and second circular polarizations to the light corresponding to the left and right eye images, respectively; a conductive tape attached to the upper substrate to discharge static electricity from the display panel; a panel guide on which the display panel and the patterned retarder are mounted; an electrically conductive gasket disposed on the panel guide in contact with the conductive tape; and a top case disposed on the panel guide and the conductive gasket such that the conductive gasket electrically connects the conductive tape to the top case. |
| US09703107B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and three-dimensional display device
A three-dimensional display device of a parallax barrier system including a liquid crystal display device of an IPS system having a TFT substrate and an opposed substrate as well as a liquid crystal barrier panel of a TN system having a first substrate and a second substrate, in which the opposed substrate of the liquid crystal display device and the second substrate of the liquid crystal barrier panel are opposedly arranged by interposing a polarizer, the TFT substrate includes a pixel configured by a common electrode having a slit above a pixel electrode configured in a planar shape, and includes a first pixel in which an angle made by an alignment axis of the TFT substrate and a direction of a long axis of the slit is θ1 and a second pixel in which an angle made by the alignment axis of the TFT substrate and the direction of the long axis of the slit is θ2, θ1 and θ2 are in a relationship θ1=−θ2, the first pixel and the second pixel are arranged to switch in a first direction, and arranged to switch in a second direction, and the alignment axis of the TFT substrate and an alignment axis of the second substrate of the liquid crystal barrier panel coincide with each other or are orthogonal to each other. |
| US09703106B2 |
Parallax barrier, designing method thereof and parallax barrier type 3D display device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a parallax barrier, a designing method thereof and a parallax barrier type 3D display device. The parallax barrier comprises: a plurality of grating sheets, utilized to shield light, disposed in an arrangement direction and spaced apart from each other, wherein the plurality of grating sheets are divided into 2K identical grating sections each of which comprises two or more grating segments, each grating segment comprises one or more grating sheets with an identical grating pitch C, and the grating sheets included in different grating segments have different grating pitches, and the 2K grating sections are arranged symmetrically about a center line of the parallax barrier in the arrangement direction, and K is a natural number. |
| US09703105B2 |
Stereo display
A stereo display including a display panel and a light shieldable element is provided. The display panel has at least two sub-pixel regions. Each sub-pixel region is configured with at least a first pixel electrode to define a first sub-region. The light shieldable element is disposed in front of the sub-pixel regions. Each first pixel electrode has a first shieldable region shielded by the light shieldable element and a first non-shielding region exposed by the light shieldable element. The first shieldable region is closer to the scan line than the first non-shielding region. A horizontal direction is defined as a connection line of two eyes of a user watching the stereo display. A total length A of each sub-pixel region and a length B of the first shieldable region in a predetermined direction intersected to the horizontal direction comply with a relationship that (B/A)×100% is substantially from 1.61% to 47.9%. |
| US09703104B2 |
Electro-optical device comprising first, second, and third color beams having different incident angles relative to a light gathering element and electronic apparatus
As an electro-optical device, a liquid crystal device includes micro lenses ML each of which is provided as a light-gathering element for the corresponding one of pixels, and further includes a light-shielding portion. Red (R), green (G), and blue (B) beams enter the micro lens ML at angles different from one another. The light-shielding portion partitions off a first opening portion corresponding to a sub pixel, a second opening portion corresponding to a sub pixel, and a third opening portion corresponding to a sub pixel from one another. When the width of the first opening portion in the predetermined direction (X direction) is defined as L1 and when the width of the second opening portion or the third opening portion in the predetermined direction is defined as L2, a relationship of L1 |
| US09703102B2 |
Information processing device including head mounted display
[Problem to be Solved]The present invention has an objective to improve operability in information input in an information processing device that includes a head mounted display to enable head tracking display.[Solution]An information processing device includes a hand-held operation unit (10), a head mounted display (20), a first motion sensor (506 to 508) that can detect at least the orientation of the head of the operator, and an information processing unit (30) that executes a head tracking displaying process in which the first motion sensor is used, and a specific process corresponding to an indication of the operator identified by the motion of the operation unit, wherein the motion of the operation unit is detected using a second motion sensor (1603 to 1605) incorporated in the operation unit. |
| US09703101B2 |
See-through head or helmet mounted display device
A see-through head or helmet mounted display device (10) comprises a see-through member (18) having a see-through area (22). The see-through member (18) includes a plurality of display segments (20; 20a, 20b) for emitting visible light. The plurality of display segments (20; 20a, 20b) is provided within the see-through area (22) in a mutually spaced manner such that the see-through area (22) includes a see-through zone (24) between each pair of adjacent display segments (20; 20a, 20b). The see-through zone (24) allows visible light to pass through the see-through member (18). The see-through member (18) further includes a plurality of holographic optical elements (26; 26a, 26b) provided within the see-through area (22). Each holographic optical element (26; 26a, 26b) is associated with a respective display segment (20; 20a, 20b). Each display segment (20; 20a, 20b) is located in a focal plane of the associated holographic optical element (26; 26a, 26b) and each holographic optical element (26; 26a, 26b) is adapted to collimate the visible light emitted by the associated display segment (20; 20a, 20b). |
| US09703098B2 |
Lens module comprising at least one exchangeable optical element
An optical system has a housing with a mount and an opening to a receiving region, the receiving region being located within the housing and including the mount. At least one optical element is inserted into and removed from the receiving region through the opening, and at least one gas supply device provides a flow of gas in the receiving region. An associated method of inserting or removing an optical element into or from a receiving region in a housing is also disclosed. |
| US09703095B2 |
Light modulator for MEMS display
Electromechanical light modulators and backlight providing efficient, low cost and high performance displays. |
| US09703091B2 |
Magnification viewer lens
A magnification viewer lens device is provided that is used to magnify objects when viewed through the device. The device comprises a magnification lens housing supporting a magnification lens, whereby the housing is supported along its perimeter by an arm assembly. The arm assembly comprises an elongated arm and a clamp, whereby the arm assembly is rotatable relative to the housing and to the clamp. The clamp forms a rounded clamping member that is suitable for securing the device to a golf cart steering wheel or alternate support. The arm and the housing remains static relative to the hinge joints of the arm using friction hinges, while the housing supports a Fresnel lens for magnifying objects when viewed therethrough. In one embodiment, the housing is substantially rectangular and the arm and clamp are designed to secure the housing over the scorecard area of a golf cart steering wheel. |
| US09703085B2 |
Catadioptric imaging systems for digital scanner
Projection optical system for forming an image on a substrate and including an illumination relay lens and a projection lens each of which is a catadioptric system. The projection lens may include two portions in optical communication with one another, the first of which is dioptric and the second of which is catadioptric. In a specific case, the projection optical system satisfies 4 < β I β T < 30 , where βI and βT are magnifications of the first portion and the overall projection lens. Optionally, the projection lens may be structured to additionally satisfy 6 < β II β T < 20 , where βII is a magnification of the second portion. A digital scanner including such projection optical system and operating with UV light having a spectral bandwidth on the order of 1 picometer. Method for forming an image with such projection optical system. |
| US09703083B2 |
Zoom lens system
A zoom lens system includes a first lens group of negative refractive power and a second lens group of positive refractive power. The first lens group includes a first lens of negative refractive power, and the second lens group is disposed between the first lens group and a reduced side and includes in order from a magnified side to the reduced side a second lens of positive refractive power, a third lens of positive refractive power, a fourth lens of negative refractive power, and a fifth lens of positive refractive power. At least one of the first lens to the fifth lens is an aspherical lens having at least one aspherical surface. |
| US09703081B2 |
Projection zoom lens and projector
A projection zoom lens constituting a projection optical system of a projector, which projects an image displayed on a surface of an image display element on a projected surface, so as to magnify and display the image includes, in order from the projected surface side to the image display element side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group, wherein a refractive power of the fifth lens group is weaker than the refractive power of the first lens group, the refractive power of the second lens group, the refractive power of the third lens group, and the refractive power of the fourth lens group. |
| US09703075B2 |
Imaging lens
An imaging lens includes a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having negative refractive power; a third lens; a fourth lens having negative refractive power; a fifth lens having positive refractive power; and a sixth lens, arranged in this order from an object side to an image plane side. The first lens is formed so that a surface thereof on the object side has a positive curvature radius. The sixth lens is formed so that a surface thereof on the object side and a surface thereof on the image plane side have positive curvature radii. Each of the first to sixth lenses has an Abbe's number within a specific range. |
| US09703072B2 |
Wide-angle lens
Wide-angle lens comprising floating element (G2) and aperture stop (BL) comprising a group (G1) of ten lens elements with refractive power sequence arranged in a manner mirrored in sign with respect to the stop (BL), wherein lens elements having positive and negative refractive power are arranged alternately in the light direction upstream and downstream of the stop (BL) and the group (G1) is displaceable for the purpose of focusing. |
| US09703055B2 |
AAO-based light guiding structure and fabrication thereof
A light guiding structure is provided. The structure includes an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) layer and a fluoropolymer layer located immediately adjacent to a surface of the AAO layer. Light propagates through the AAO layer in a direction substantially parallel to the fluoropolymer layer. An optoelectronic device can be coupled to a surface of the AAO layer, and emit/sense light propagating through the AAO layer. Solutions for fabricating the light guiding structure are also described. |
| US09703051B2 |
Connector housing with press fit boot seal
A connector housing apparatus for allowing field engineers or technicians to run cable point to point, and to protect the connection in an environmentally sealed, crush resistant housing is provided. The connector housing apparatus includes a connector housing body, two sealing boots, two sealing elements, a fiber optic adapter, a fiber optic adapter insert that holds the fiber optic adapter and two fiber optic pigtails connected to two fiber optic cables. Each boot has two seal points. The first seal is between the fiber optic cable, the sealing element, and the tapered portion of the sealing boot. The second seal is between the interference lip on the sealing boot and the interference lip on the connector housing body. |
| US09703045B2 |
Systems and methods for laser frequency stabilization using an arbitrarily birefringent resonator
Systems and methods to stabilize a laser frequency include a birefringent resonator that introduces an arbitrary phase difference between two polarization components of the laser beam, a polarizing beam splitter to separate the two polarization components after the birefringent resonator, and a differential detector to monitor the separated two polarizations, based on which an error signal can be produced to control a servo to adjust the laser frequency or resonator resonance frequency accordingly. The birefringent resonator can comprise a fiber ring, a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator, or any other birefringent ring resonator. A servo can be included in the systems and methods to lock the laser frequency to the resonant frequency of the birefringent resonator or to lock the resonator resonant frequency to the laser frequency. One or more polarization controllers can also be employed to adjust the polarization state of the laser beam. |
| US09703044B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing
A system may include a first light source configured to generate a first beam of light at a first wavelength; a second light source configured to generate a second beam of light at a second wavelength; a third light source configured to generate a third beam of light at a third wavelength; and a fourth light source configured to generate a fourth beam of light at a fourth wavelength. The system may also include a thin-film filter, a first polarization beam splitter (PBS), a wave plate and a second PBS. The thin-film filter, the first PBS, the wave plate, and the second PBS may be configured to combine the first beam, the second beam, the third beam and the fourth beam into a combined beam of light. |
| US09703041B2 |
Multi-channel optical connector with coupling lenses
Optical connectors are provided for connecting sets of optical waveguides (110), such as optical fiber ribbons to each other, to printed circuit boards, or to backplanes. The provided connectors include a waveguide alignment member (105) for receiving and aligning a plurality of optical waveguides (110) such that central light rays of light exiting the plurality of optical waveguides propagate along a same incident direction (115) in a same incident plane XY. The optical connectors also include a light redirecting side that comprises a plurality of segments (130) forming a row of segments (130a, 130b, . . . ), each segment corresponding to a different optical waveguide. A first segment (130a) redirects light along a first redirected direction (140a) and a second segment (130b) redirects light along a second redirected direction (140b) different from the first redirected direction. Other segments redirect light to either a first redirected direction or a second redirected direction. The light is redirected to two or more rows of optical lenses (150). Also provided is a cable assembly that includes a provided connector and a plurality of optical waveguides permanently attached to the connector. |
| US09703035B2 |
Optical connector, method for manufacturing the same, and mold container for manufacturing the same
An optical connector connects: N (N is an integer of 3 to 14) single-mode fibers each including one core with a high refractive index in a cladding material with a low refractive index; to multi-core fiber including N cores with high refractive indexes in a cladding material with low refractive index such that the cores of the single-mode fibers are respectively optically coupled to cores of the multi-core fiber. The optical connector includes: quartz glass cylinder having a first end face to be in contact with the multi-core fiber and a second end face to be in contact with single-mode fibers; N glass fibers that are arranged in the quartz glass cylinder to extend from the first to second end face, the N glass fibers each including: a circular rod with high refractive index that has a constant outer diameter; and a low refractive index material that surrounds an outer periphery of the circular rod and has a constant thickness. |
| US09703034B2 |
Light guiding plate, backlight module and display device
The disclosure provides a light guiding plate comprising a main body and an extending plate. The main body comprises an incident surface, an illuminating surface adjacent with the incident surface, and a bottom surface opposite to the illuminating surface. The extending plate extends from the incident surface toward the direction away from the main body. The disclosure also provides a backlight module and a display device. |
| US09703033B2 |
Light guide plate with vfariable angled minute reflection projection, backlight module having the same, and display device having the same
A light guide plate includes a light exit surface, a reflection surface opposite to the light exit surface, and at least one light incidence surface connecting to the light exit surface and the reflection surface. The reflection surface includes a plurality of minute projection structures projecting toward interior of the light guide plate. Each of the minute projection structures includes at least two side faces coated with a high reflectivity material. The at least two high reflectivity material coated side faces form at least one included angle pointing toward the at least one light incidence surface. With the distance of the minute projection structure from the closest light source getting shorter, the at least one included angle formed thereby is getting smaller. |
| US09703032B2 |
Planar light source
A planar light source including a light guide plate (LGP) and a light source device is provided. The LGP includes a plate portion and at least one prism portion. The plate portion has a light incident surface, a reflective surface, a bottom surface, and a light exiting surface. The prism portion is disposed on the bottom surface of the plate portion, and has a first plane and a second plane. An included angle between the first plane and the bottom surface is smaller than an included angle between the second plane and the bottom surface, and a shortest distance between the first plane and the light incident surface is smaller than a shortest distance between the second plane and the light incident surface. The light source device is disposed adjacent to the light incident surface. The disclosure provides planar light source with good light uniformity. |
| US09703031B2 |
Light guide and lighting assembly with array of rotated micro-optical elements
A light guide includes opposed major surfaces and a light input edge extending therebetween. An array of micro-optical elements of well-defined shape at at least one of the opposed major surfaces corresponds to the light input edge. Each of the micro-optical elements in the array includes a longitudinal axis arranged within the range of angles relative to the light input edge. A path linearly extending along the light guide from the light input edge intersects at least a portion of the micro-optical elements in the array, at least one of the micro-optical elements along the path arranged with its longitudinal axis at a positive angle relative to the light input edge, and at least another one of the micro-optical elements along the path arranged with its longitudinal axis at a negative angle relative to the light input edge. |
| US09703026B2 |
Polarizing plate having a transparent substrate, an absorbing layer and a reflective layer and method of manufacturing the same
A polarizing plate having an excellent optical property and a method of manufacturing the same. The polarizing plate includes: a transparent substrate 11 transmitting light in a used bandwidth; an absorbing layer 12 having at least a metal-containing semiconductor layer containing a metal, the absorbing layer being arranged as a one-dimensional lattice shaped wire-grid structure having a pitch smaller than the wavelength of the light in the used bandwidth; a dielectric layer 13 arranged as a one-dimensional lattice shaped wire-grid structure having a pitch smaller than the wavelength of light in the used bandwidth; and a reflective layer 14 arranged as a one-dimensional lattice shaped wire-grid structure having a pitch smaller than the wavelength of light in the used bandwidth, wherein the absorbing layer 12, the dielectric layer 13 and the reflective layer 14 are layered on the transparent substrate 11 in this or reversed order. |
| US09703025B2 |
Polarizer and polarizing plate including same
Provided are a polarizer that resists red discoloration in a heat resistance test even when it has a small thickness, and a polarizing plate including the polarizer. The polarizer has a thickness less than or equal to 10 μm and a retardation Rpva variation within 0.2 nm/mm in the transmission axis direction. |
| US09703023B2 |
Microtiled prismatic cube corner articles
Cube corner articles such as retroreflective sheeting utilize multiple cube corner arrays in a tiled configuration, each tile containing one array of canted cube corner elements. The tiles may be long and narrow, and the array in each of at least two or three adjacent tiles, or even in every tile, may include at least one lengthwise groove that is parallel to an edge of the tile and parallel to a fixed in-plane axis. Each tile may have a width that is narrow (e.g. 0.2 to 5 mm), and equal to an integer multiple of a lengthwise groove pitch to avoid or reduce ineffective fragmented cube corners along the tile edge. Each array may have a plane of cant and a primary plane of entrance angularity, and the primary planes of entrance angularity for the multiple tiles may be more evenly distributed in azimuthal angle than the planes of cant. |
| US09703021B1 |
Actively modulated plasmonic devices
Embodiments include various plasmonic devices. The plasmonic devices may include: a conductor layer, an insulator layer, and a hybrid layer. The conductor layer may include an input segment, a manipulation segment, and an output segment. The conductor layer is disposed on a surface of a substrate. The insulator layer is disposed on a top surface of the conductor layer. The hybrid layer is disposed on top surface of insulator layer. The manipulation hybrid layer may include an input segment and a semiconductor segment, output segment on one or two or multiple sides of the active channel. When a positive gate voltage is applied between the conductor segment of the conductor layer and the semiconductor segment of the hybrid layer, the semiconductor segment is turned into accumulated semiconductor, surface plasmons polaritons (SPP) propagate along the insulator layer freely. When the gate voltage is negative, the semiconductor segment is turned into depleted semiconductor, and SPP propagation ceases. |
| US09703020B2 |
Broadband light absorber and display apparatus including the same
A broadband light absorber and a display apparatus including the same. The broadband light absorber includes a substrate and a pattern layer having a mesh structure including a plurality of openings, wherein any neighboring openings among the plurality of openings are non-uniform and wherein the plurality of openings comprise first openings haying a first size and second openings haying a second size different from the first size, the first openings and the second openings being alternately arranged in a first direction. |
| US09703018B2 |
Lens with an extended range of focus
The invention relates to a lens which has an extended range of focus, wherein the lens consists of a solid material, the optical surfaces of the lens are transparent and the lens has a focal power distribution. According to the invention, the focal power distribution FG of the lens (1), in relation to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis (10), changes as a function of the radial height r and of the azimuth angle phi of the aperture between a base value of the focal power FL not equal to zero and a maximum value FSmax. Hence, the focal power distribution emerges as FG(r,phi)=FL+FS(r,phi), with the spiral focal power component FS(r,phi)=FSmax(r)*w(phi), where FSmax(r) depends nonlinearly on the radius and w(phi) is a factor for the focal power component with a spiral profile. |
| US09703017B2 |
Optical lens, lens unit, imaging module, electronic device, optical lens production method, lens mold, and shape correction method for lens mold
An optical lens 11, which has a lens section with a refractive power, has concave marks 33, 35, 37, and 39 which are formed to be recessed on a surface of the lens section, in an effective optical lens surface which contributes to image forming of the lens section. A width of each of these concave marks 33, 35, 37, and 39 is equal to or greater than 0.05 μm and equal to or less than 14 μm, and a depth of recession of each concave mark is equal to or greater than 0.05 μm and equal to or less than 5 μm. |
| US09703014B2 |
Protective coating for optical elements
An optical element devices and method are described herein. An example optical device may include an optical element. The optical element may have an optical path material to allow a light to pass therethrough. The optical path material may have a first end portion with a first end surface, a second end portion with a second end surface, and a middle portion between the first and second end portions with an interior and an exterior surface. A coating may be disposed along the exterior surface and diffused into the optical path material. The coating may minimize leakage of the light from the interior through the exterior surface. |
| US09703011B2 |
Scratch-resistant articles with a gradient layer
Embodiments of this disclosure pertain to articles that exhibit scratch-resistance and improved optical properties. In some examples, the article exhibits a color shift of about 2 or less, when viewed at an incident illumination angle in the range from about 0 degrees to about 60 degrees from normal under an illuminant. In one or more embodiments, the articles include a substrate, and an optical film disposed on the substrate. The optical film includes a scratch-resistant layer and a refractive index gradient. In one or more embodiments, the refractive index includes a refractive index that increases from a first surface at the interface between the substrate and the optical film to a second surface. The refractive index gradient may be formed from a compositional gradient and/or a porosity gradient. |
| US09703007B2 |
Method of producing a seismic streamer cable
There is provided a solid seismic streamer cable for use in seismic surveying in marine environments. The streamer is characterized by a buffer layer 2 which is provided with a cut-out 50 and a sensor element arranged in the cut-out 50. There is also provided an associated hydrophone for integration into the seismic streamer cable. The hydrophone is characteristic in a split-element sensor base 10, 11 being suited for efficient mounting into the cut-outs 50 of the seismic cable. There is also provided an associated accelerometer for integration into the seismic streamer cable. The accelerometer is characteristic by a split-element sensor base 30, 35 for being efficiently arranged into the cut-outs 50 of the seismic cable. A method of producing a seismic streamer cable according to the invention incorporating a hydrophone or accelerometer according to the invention is also provided. |
| US09703006B2 |
Method and system for creating history matched simulation models
A method for matching production history to flow simulations includes identifying a plurality of parameters that control an objective function measuring the mismatch between a flow simulation response in a parameter subspace and a production history. A value is calculated for an objective function and for a static measurement at each of a plurality of experiments in the parameter subspace. These results are used to develop a mathematical relationship between one or more static measurements and the objective function. During subsequent adjustment of the simulation model, a target window in the objective function is identified, and flow simulations are performed for each modified model that is predicted from the static geologic measurement to produce an objective function within the window. An objective function of each flow simulation to the production history is calculated and the procedure is iterated until the objective function is within a target range. |
| US09703004B2 |
High throughput pulse height analyzer
A method and system for acquiring spectral information from an energy sensitive nuclear detector is disclosed. The method includes detecting nuclear radiation at a detection device and generating an electronic input pulse indicative of energy deposited in the detection device. The method further includes integrating the electronic input pulse at an integrating device to produce an integrated output signal and digitally sampling the integrated output signal of the integrating device at intervals to produce a stream of digital samples. The method further includes resetting the integrator synchronously with a sampling clock when a limit condition is reached. |
| US09703001B2 |
Method for automatic recognition of a mobile magnetic object
An automatic recognition method includes the calculation of an error representative of the difference between an estimate of the values of the magnetometer measurements when the positions, orientations and amplitudes of the magnetic moments of the P dipoles are equal to those determined, and the values of the magnetometer measurements taken. There is the selection of another system of equations linking each measurement of a triaxial magnetometer to the position, orientation and amplitude of the magnetic moment of P′ magnetic dipoles. The method includes the calculation of at least one distinctive feature of the object presented from the position, orientation, or amplitude of the magnetic moment of each dipole determined with the system of equations that minimizes the error calculated. The method includes the recognition of the magnetic object presented if the calculated distinctive features correspond to those of a known object, otherwise the lack of recognition of this object. |
| US09703000B2 |
Multi-vessel coil shooting acquisition
Methods for efficiently acquiring full-azimuth towed streamer survey data are described. The methods use multiple vessels to perform coil shooting. |
| US09702999B2 |
System and method for velocity analysis in the presence of critical reflections
A method is described for processing residual moveout in seismic image data gathers representing critical reflections. The method includes receiving seismic image data arranged as a function of an angle or offset parameter including a high-velocity-contrast event with post-critical. The method also includes applying a wavelet de-stretch filter to the seismic data to correct wavelet stretching. The method also includes applying a fan-filter to remove coherent noise in the one or more post-critical traces; picking residual moveout of the high-velocity-contrast event; adjacent-trace differencing to detect the impact of phase change at critical reflections in residual moveouts, and applying a median-filter to the residual moveout to reduce the impact of phase change of the high-velocity-contrast event in the one or more post-critical traces. The median-filtered and reconstructed residual moveout is used for improving a velocity model used for generating the seismic image gathers. |
| US09702998B2 |
Full-wavefield inversion of primaries and multiples in marine environment
Method for using the full wavefield (primaries, internal multiples and free-surface multiples) in inversion of marine seismic data, including both pressure and vertical velocity data (21), to infer a subsurface model of acoustic velocity or other physical property. The marine seismic data are separated (22) into up-going (23) and down-going (24) wavefields, and both wavefields are inverted in a joint manner, in which the final model is impacted by both wavefields. This may be achieved by inverting both wavefields simultaneously (25), or one after the other, i.e. in a cascaded approach (35→37, or 45→47), for the subsurface properties (26, 38, 48). |
| US09702991B2 |
System and method for performing seismic surveys with a controlled source using maximum-power sweeps
The output spectrum of a controllable swept-frequency acoustic source at a given frequency can be controlled by making the rate of change of frequency equal to the desired output power spectrum divided by the squared envelope amplitude of the source output signal, both measured at the time after the start of its frequency sweep at which the sweep frequency passes through the given frequency. The system and method can also be used to correct for propagation effects outside the source by dividing the desired spectrum by the propagation effect. The method can further be used either to obtain an output spectrum of a desired shape from a source operating at maximum output or to design a sweep of a minimum feasible duration that will result in an output spectrum of a specified shape and with a specified amplitude. |
| US09702990B2 |
Gain stabilization of radiation detectors via spectrum analysis
Prior to actual use in a downhole application, gamma spectrum shape for a gamma detector can be quantified, and a relationship established between detector gain and spectrum shape. Given this relationship, the shape of a gamma spectrum measured after downhole deployment of the detector within a wellbore, for example as part of a tool in a drill string, can be quantified and compared to the pre-established relationship to determine whether the detector gain has drifted due to temperature or operating time effects. Using this relationship, a gain-affecting voltage across the detector (e.g., the photocathode voltage across the photomultiplier tube) can be adjusted to compensate for such drifts and thus to compensate for variations caused by temperature or operating time. With such compensation applied to the detector, resulting gamma spectra reliably indicate actual differences in radiation levels, thus enabling an inference of the composition of the formation at various times/depths. |
| US09702988B1 |
Combined neutron and gamma-ray detector and coincidence test method
A method for detecting both gamma-ray events and neutron events with a common detector, where the detector includes a layer of semiconductor material adjacent one side of a glass plate and a Gd layer on an opposite side of the glass plate, between the glass plate and a layer of silicon PIN material to form an assembly that is bounded by electrodes, including a semiconductor anode on one side of the semiconductor layer, a cathode connected to the glass plate, and a Si PIN anode on a side of the Si PIN layer opposite the semiconductor anode. The method includes the steps of: (1) monitoring the electrical signal at each of the semiconductor anode and the Si PIN anode, and (2) comparing signals from the semiconductor anode and the SI PIN anode to differentiate between gamma-ray events and neutron events based on predetermined criteria. |
| US09702986B2 |
Moisture protection structure for a device and a fabrication method thereof
A moisture protection structure (10) used to protect a device (15) against moisture penetration. The device (15) has a first area (A1) at a first side (S1) for emitting or receiving radiation (RE;RR). The device (15) has a second side (S2) opposite to the first side (S1) attached to a supporting means (20). A lateral side (LS) of the device (15) is defined between a first perimeter delimiting the first area (A1) on the first side (S1) and a second perimeter delimiting a second area (A2) on the second side (S2). The moisture protection structure (10) includes at least one moisture-resistant layer (25) deposited on the first area (A1) and the lateral side (LS) of the device (15) and a moisture-resistant cover (30) arranged to cover the at least one moisture-resistant layer (25) at the first side (S1). The moisture-resistant cover (30) and the at least one moisture-resistant layer (25) are transparent for the emitting or receiving radiation (RE;RR). The moisture protective structure (10) further includes a pressurizing member (55;57;59) attached to the supporting means (20). The pressurizing member (55;57;59) includes an elastic deformable material (40;42) and it is arranged to exert a pressure on the moisture-resistant cover (30) towards the second side (S2) of the device (15). The pressure on the moisture-resistant cover (30) ensures that the first side (S1) of the device (15) is sealed against moisture penetration. |
| US09702985B2 |
Method for producing radiation detector
A method for producing a radiation detector comprising pluralities of first and second cells constituted by scintillators having different compositions for different detection sensitivity distributions of radiation energy, pluralities of light-receiving elements, and reflective layers, comprising a step of forming first and second cell arrays having at least m×n first and second cells via reflective layers from first and second scintillator plates, wherein m and n are natural numbers of 2 or more, which may be the same or different; a step of cutting the first and second cell arrays to obtain first and second single arrays each having at least m×1 first and second cells via reflective layers; a step of aligning the first and second single arrays with a light-receiving element array having at least m×2 light-receiving elements; and a step of adhering the first and second single arrays to the light-receiving element array. |
| US09702978B2 |
Methods for modeling multipath reflections of GNSS signals using a test installation and apparatuses for implementing test methods
A test installation for simulating multiple reflections of GNSS signals, the installation including a top screen that is semitransparent in a radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the top screen is substantially dome-shaped; a bottom screen that is reflective in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; the top semitransparent screen over the bottom reflecting screen; and a GNSS antenna connected to a receiver and located between the top screen and the bottom screen. |
| US09702976B2 |
Time of flight camera
A CW-TOF camera that uses a piecewise constant or linear discretized indicator function of first and second modulation frequencies of light that the camera transmits to illuminate a scene and a round trip time tR for light from and back to the camera for features in the scene to disambiguate wrapped phase shifts that the camera acquires for the features. |
| US09702973B2 |
Environment measurement system and environment measurement method
An environment measurement system according to the present invention is provided with a first unit comprising: a transmitter which is located undersea and transmits an acoustic wave in a designated direction a plurality of times; a first receiver which is located undersea and receives an acoustic wave reflected by a reflecting body at the sea surface or the seabed; a transmission direction setting unit which designates, to the transmitter, transmission directions specified in advance by a user, so as to cause the transmitter to transmit acoustic waves in the directions; a first necessary time measurement unit which, for each of the transmission directions, measures from the transmission and reception times of an acoustic wave a time necessary for the acoustic wave to return, as a necessary time, and outputs an average of the measured necessary time as an average necessary time for each of the transmission directions; a layer setting unit which partitions between the sea surface and the seabed into layers each extending horizontally, at intervals of preset distances; a simultaneous equations set-up unit which sets up simultaneous equations using the transmission directions, the necessary times and the layer thicknesses and taking average sound velocities in the respective layers as unknown variables; a simultaneous equations solving unit which solves the simultaneous equations; an initial parameter setting unit which sets initial values necessary for the simultaneous equations solving unit to solve the simultaneous equations, as parameter initial values; and a sound velocity profile output unit which creates a profile of sound velocities obtained by determining solutions acquired by the simultaneous equations solving unit to be average sound velocities in the respective layers and arranging the average sound velocities in the respective layers in order of depth, and outputs the profile. |
| US09702971B2 |
High-availability ISAR image formation
A system and method for high-availability inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR). In one embodiment a set of quadratic phase vectors, each corresponding to a different acceleration, is multiplied, one at a time, in a Hadamard product, with a 3-dimensional data cube, and a fast Fourier transform (FFT) is taken of the result, to form a 2-dimensional array. The two-dimensional array is made sparse by setting to zero elements that fall below a threshold based on a coherency metric, and the sparse arrays are stacked to form a sparse 3-dimensional image. Projections of the sparse 3-dimensional image are formed for presentation to an operator or an image exploitation system. |
| US09702969B2 |
Ultrasonic blood flow doppler audio with pitch shifting
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces audio Doppler from detected Doppler signals. The Doppler signals are detected in a band of frequencies which corresponds to the velocity of blood flow signals, and Doppler information is displayed based on the detected band of frequencies. The audio Doppler system produces Doppler audio in a frequency band which is shifted in pitch from the detected band of frequencies. The operator of the ultrasound system is provided with a user control by which the degree of pitch shifting can be controlled. The ultrasound system displays Doppler blood flow velocities referenced to a transmit Doppler frequency f0, with the audio Doppler being shifted in pitch from the frequencies corresponding to the blood flow velocities. |
| US09702965B2 |
Method and related mobile device for reference signal time difference based localization
Acquisition and tracking modes for a mobile device assisted multilateration based localization are disclosed. A relative time difference is determined between a positioning reference cell and at least two other detectable positioning cells. A reference signal of a positioning cell is detected to determine timing of a detectable positioning cell by either applying sliding window approach to acquire the positioning cell or a single window approach to track the positioning cell. The sliding window approach within a search window is applied to acquire the positioning cell when a coarse timing of the positioning cell has not yet been achieved. A single window approach is applied to track the positioning cell when a coarse timing of the positioning cell has been achieved or when the search window is not larger than a capture range capability of the mobile device. |
| US09702962B2 |
Method for providing vehicle information and terminal device applying the same
A vehicle information providing method and a terminal applying the same are provided. The vehicle information providing method includes communicably connecting to a Global Positioning System (GPS) mounted on a vehicle, receiving location information from the GPS and receiving vehicle information from a vehicle information system based on the received location information. Accordingly, the terminal may receive the location information of the vehicle inside the vehicle even though the terminal has no GPS. |
| US09702961B2 |
Emergency, security, and accessibility apparatus and methods
Systems, methods, means and computer program products for determining a position of an object in an environment are disclosed. Certain systems, methods, means and computer program products carry out position determination for asset tracking, emergency evacuations, navigation and other uses. |
| US09702957B2 |
Method for correcting orientation of magnetometer
A method for correcting an orientation of a magnetometer includes obtaining current position information through a global positioning system. A geomagnetic inclination angle list is queried according to the current position information to acquire a geomagnetic inclination angle δ corresponding to a current position. A deviation Δψ of an orientation is calculated according to the geomagnetic inclination angle δ and the orientation is corrected based on the deviation Δψ of the orientation. |
| US09702956B2 |
MRI methods and apparatus for flexible visualization of any subset of an enlarged temporal window
A method and apparatus for MRI retrospective reconstruction determines a period of minimal coronary artery motion within the acquired temporal window with a rotation angle optimized for a K-space four-dimensional (4D) volume by a segmented 4D radial stack-of-stars (SOS) acquisition during a temporal acquisition window (taw). Radial stacks of the image of an object are acquired by performing the radial (SOS) acquisition to determine a plurality of kz plane samples of the object, in which each kz plane is repeatedly determined during a sub-window of the temporal acquisition window. Consecutive volumes of kz centric slices of the image at each temporal sub-window of the temporal acquisition window are generated and summed to fill a 3D k-space volume. The radial (SOS) acquisition of the image is determined utilizing a customized rotation angle θ providing a uniform distribution of k-space spokes of the kz centric slices for each sub-window of the (taw). |
| US09702954B2 |
Pseudo-continuous asymmetric signal targeting alternating radio frequency (pASTAR) for magnetic resonance angiography
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect MR imaging based upon arterial spin labeling (ASL) using a tagging image and a control image. The tagging image is based upon applying a tagging pulse train including a plurality of saturation pulses to a tagging area followed by applying a first imaging pulse train to an imaging area; and the control image is based upon applying a control pulse train to a control area followed by applying a second imaging pulse train to the imaging area. The tagging area, the control area, and the imaging area are located at respectively different positions in relation to the object being imaged. |
| US09702951B1 |
Easily accessible deep-frozen NMR shim arrangement
An NMR apparatus includes a superconducting magnet coil system configured to generate a homogeneous magnetic field, and a helium (He) tank having an inner tube mechanically rigidly connected to the He tank and in which the magnet coil system is positioned. The He tank is configured to contain liquid helium to cool the magnet coils. A radiation shield has a radiation shield inner tube encompassing the He tank and spaced from the He inner tube to create a space between the He inner tube and the radiation shield inner tube to reduce an evaporation rate of the liquid helium. The NMR apparatus additionally includes a field shaping device with a magnetic material arranged in the space, in order to shim the homogeneous magnetic field. The field shaping device is fixed in the space so as to be in rigid mechanical contact with the He tank but without contacting the radiation shield. |
| US09702949B2 |
RF receiving coil and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including the same
Disclosed are an RF receiving coil, which is retained in an interior receiving space of a patient table and is extractable from the patient table, and an MRI apparatus including the same. The MRI apparatus includes a patient table having an interior space, and at least one Radio Frequency (RF) receiving coil integrated with the patient table and retained in the space, the RF receiving coil being movable outward of the patient table. |
| US09702942B2 |
Measurement device, semiconductor device and impedance adjustment method
A measurement device includes an electric current generation circuit and a monitor device. The electric current generation circuit supplies an electric current whose electric current amount monotonically increases during a setup period of time to the electric circuit including a power supply. The monitor device detects a voltage of the power supply via the electric circuit. A frequency of the detected voltage having a waveform is a frequency at which the impedance of the electric circuit becomes high. |
| US09702941B2 |
Method and devices for making available information for the purpose of performing maintenance and servicing of a battery
A method makes available information for the purpose of performing maintenance and servicing of a battery, which includes at least one battery module with an assigned module control device and a central control device, wherein at least one module control device has a non-volatile memory. The method comprises detecting and quantizing useful data of battery units, forming a histogram which has frequency values of the occurrence of specific values of the individual quantized useful data or values derived therefrom, transferring the histogram from the central control device to a module control device, and storing the histogram in the non-volatile memory of the module control device. Furthermore, a computer program and a battery management system are specified which are configured to execute the method, as well as a battery and a motor vehicle whose drive system is connected to a battery of this type. |
| US09702940B2 |
Method and circuitry to calculate the state of charge of a battery/cell
The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a current pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charge, measuring a voltage at the terminals of the battery, selecting a relationship of an open circuit voltage to an amount of charge in the battery using data which is representative of a state of health of the battery, calculating an open circuit voltage of the battery using the voltage measured at the terminals of the battery, a current applied to or removed from the battery and an impedance of the battery, and determining a state of charge of the battery using (i) the calculated open circuit voltage and (ii) the relationship of the open circuit voltage to the amount of charge. |
| US09702939B2 |
Battery charging and maintaining with defective battery monitoring
The present disclosure relates to a system for charging or maintaining a battery that includes power conversion circuitry configured to provide output power for charging or maintaining the battery. The system also includes electrical conductors coupled to the power conversion circuitry and configured to be coupled to the battery for charging or maintaining the battery. Additionally, the system includes control circuitry coupled to the power conversion circuitry and configured to monitor charging or maintaining of the battery. The control circuitry is further configured to determine whether the battery may be defective or failing based upon the output power and a time threshold. |
| US09702935B2 |
Packet based integrated circuit testing
Apparatus and method for testing an integrated circuit. An integrated circuit includes circuitry to be tested, scan chain logic, and a test adapter. The scan chain logic is configured to transfer test data to and test results from the circuitry. The test adapter is configured to extract the test data from a packet received from an automated test control system and to transfer the test data to the scan chain logic. The test adapter is also configured to receive the test results from the scan chain logic, and to packetize the test result for transmission to the automated test control system. |
| US09702933B1 |
System and method for concurrent interconnection diagnostics field
Methods and systems for concurrent diagnostics in a functional verification system are disclosed and claimed herein. The methods and systems enable testing the interconnections of a functional verification system while the system implements a hardware design. In one embodiment, a first emulation chip of the functional verification system generates an encoded data word comprising a data word and error correction code (ECC) check bits. The ECC check bits enable a second emulation chip receiving the encoded word to determine whether the data word was received without error. In another embodiment, test patters may be transmitted along the unused interconnections while the functional verification system implements a hardware design in other interconnections. In another embodiment, a dedicated pattern generator generates test patterns to transmit across the interconnection. During clock cycles in which the interconnection is not used to implement the hardware design, a multiplexer transmits the test pattern across the interconnection. |
| US09702930B2 |
Semiconductor wafer probing system including pressure sensing and control unit
A wafer probing system includes a probe card assembly having a plurality of individual probe structures configured make contact with a semiconductor wafer mounted on a motor driven wafer chuck, with each probe structure configured with a pressure sensing unit integrated therewith; and a controller configured to drive the probe card assembly with one or more piezoelectric driver units response to feedback from the pressure sensing units of the individual probe structures. |
| US09702929B2 |
Test apparatus
A judgment unit judges the pass/fail of DUTs. A power supply circuit has changeable characteristics, and supplies a power supply signal to the DUTs. A condition setting unit performs a pilot test before a main test for the DUTs, and acquires a test condition to be used in the main test. The condition setting unit executes: (a) measuring a first device characteristic value for each of multiple pilot samples sampled from among the DUTs while emulating a power supply characteristic close to what is used in a user environment in which the DUT is actually used; (b) measuring a predetermined second device characteristic value for each of the multiple pilot sample devices while emulating a power supply characteristic close to what is used in a tester environment in which the main test is performed; and (c) determining the test condition based on the first and second device characteristic values. |
| US09702927B2 |
Test pattern generation device, fault detection system, test pattern generation method, program and recording medium
A test pattern generation device for generating a new test pattern keeping the feature of original test patterns. The test pattern generation device includes a logic value generation unit for generating a new logic value by referring given logic values of a first bit, a second bit and a third bit and by keeping or reversing a logic value of the second bit, wherein a logic value of the first bit is the same with a logic value of a given initial test pattern or a new test pattern generated by the test pattern generation device based on the initial test pattern, wherein a logic value of the second bit is the same with a logic value of the initial test pattern, and wherein a logic value of the third bit is the same with a logic value of the initial test pattern or the new test pattern. |
| US09702906B2 |
Non-permanent termination structure for microprobe measurements
A structure and method of facilitating testing of an electronic device (device under test or DUT) using a non-permanent and reusable structure to terminate contact pads and contact pin holes on a surface of the DUT. |
| US09702902B2 |
Printed circuit board comprising an electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor
A printed circuit board (P) has an evaluation device (E) and an electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor, wherein the electrode configuration has at least two electrodes, one arranged above the other and spaced apart from each other, which each are formed by portions of at least one electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board (P), and wherein at least one electrode of the electrode configuration is coupled with the evaluation device (E) via a conductor path of the printed circuit board (P). Furthermore, an electric handheld device may have at least one such printed circuit board (P). |
| US09702899B2 |
Pedometer with lag correction
Systems, methods and computer-readable storage mediums are disclosed for a pedometer with lag correction. In some implementations, a method comprises: determining, by a first pedometer of an electronic device, a first step count based on sensor data provided by a motion sensor of the electronic device; determining, by a second pedometer of the electronic device, a second step count based on a window of the sensor data; responsive to determining that a step was detected by the second pedometer, determining a third step count based on the window of sensor data; and determining a corrected step count based on the third step count. |
| US09702896B2 |
Acceleration sensor
An acceleration sensor is provided. The acceleration sensor contains a first electrically conductive element and a second electrically conductive element. An electrically insulative element is connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element, where at least a portion of the first electrically conductive element and at least a portion of the second electrically conductive element make contact with the electrically insulative element. At least one electrically conductive spring is located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element. |
| US09702894B2 |
Monolithic z-axis torsional CMOS MEMS accelerometer
The present invention discloses a monolithic z-axis torsional CMOS MEMS accelerometer, it includes a matching frame, two anchors, a first comb structure, a second comb structure and a proof mass. With the implementation of the present invention, the capacitance sensitivity of Z+ direction and Z− direction sensing signals by the accelerometer can be improved. On the other hand, due to the feasibility of applying micromachining etch processes from the top side, the ease and the yield of production are both promoted. |
| US09702892B1 |
Thermal air data (TAD) system
Embodiments relate to a system and vehicle for controlling the flight of a vehicle without the need to use pressure sensors. The system includes a plurality of pairwise thermal air data (TAD) sensors being controlled to have a constant temperature during heat dissipation into the atmosphere by each sensor. The system includes at least one processor configured to measure power for maintaining the constant temperature to calculate an angle of attack, a sideslip and a free stream vehicle velocity at infinity to control flight of a vehicle. |
| US09702889B2 |
Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device
The present invention discloses a MEMS device. The MEMS device includes a substrate, a proof mass, a frame spring and an anchor. The proof mass is connected to the substrate through the frame spring and the anchor. The proof mass includes a proof mass body, a proof mass frame surrounding the proof mass body, a linking element connecting the proof mass body to the proof mass frame, and a stopper between the proof mass body and the proof mass frame in a displacement direction to limit the displacement of the proof mass body. The stopper is connected to the proof mass frame as a part of the proof mass and contributes to the mass quantity of the proof mass. |
| US09702885B2 |
Recombinant deamidated gliadin antigen
The present invention provides a method for determining whether a subject is suffering from celiac disease by contacting a sample of bodily fluid from the subject, with an antigen formed from a hexamer of a gliadin fusion protein immobilized on a solid support. The gliadin fusion protein of the antigen includes a recombinant deamidated gliadin linked to a tag such as Glutathione-S transferase (GST) protein. The antigen is prepared by immobilizing the gliadin fusion protein on the solid support. The antigen can further include tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) cross-linked to the gliadin fusion protein. When tTG is present, the tTG and recombinant deamidated gliadin are mixed together prior to immobilization to the solid phase. |
| US09702883B2 |
Peptides, devices, and methods for the detection of anaplasma antibodies
The invention provides populations of isolated peptides useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Anaplasma antigens. The peptide populations comprise peptides derived from immunogenic fragments of the Anaplasma Outer Membrane Protein proteins. The invention also provides devices, methods, and kits comprising the populations of isolated peptides useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Anaplasma antigens and the diagnosis of anaplasmosis. Methods of identifying the particular Anaplasma species infecting a subject using the peptide populations of the invention are also disclosed. |
| US09702880B2 |
Antisense RNA for treating cancer and inhibition of metastasis and vectors for antisense sequestration
Provided is the use of antisense RNA and methods for the treatment, diagnosis and prophylaxis of cancer comprising administering said antisense RNA, particularly miRs 15 and 16 to a patient in need thereof. |
| US09702878B2 |
Method for the prognosis and treatment of cancer metastasis
The present invention relates to a method for the prognosis of bone metastasis in triple negative (including basal-like) breast cancer or, alternatively, ER+ breast cancer (including luminal A and B) which comprises determining if the c-MAF gene is amplified in a primary tumor sample. Likewise, the invention also relates to a method for determining the tendency to develop bone metastasis with respect to metastasis in other organs, which comprise determining the c-MAF gene expression level, amplification or translocation. The invention also relates to a method for predicting early bone metastasis in a subject suffering breast cancer. The invention also relates to a c-MAF inhibitor as therapeutic agent for use in the treatment of triple negative (including basal-like) breast cancer metastasis or, alternatively, ER+ breast cancer (including luminal A and B) metastasis. The invention relates to kits for predicting bone metastasis and predicting the clinical outcome of a subject suffering from bone metastasis. Finally, the invention relates to a method for typing of a subject suffering breast cancer and for classifying a subject from breast cancer into a cohort. |
| US09702877B2 |
BCR-ABL variants
A splice variant of bcr-abl mRNA that produces BCR-ABL protein with a truncated C-terminus and its role in resistance to treatment with kinase inhibitors is disclosed. Vectors for expressing the truncated gene product are provided as well as recombinant cells that express the truncated gene product from a cDNA construct. Also provided are methods compositions and kits for detecting the BCR-ABL splice variant. Additionally, methods for screening BCR-ABL kinase domain inhibitors which rely on the recombinant cells and methods of predicting likelihood for resistance of a CML patient with a BCR/ABL translocation respond to treatment with one or more BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors are also disclosed. |
| US09702873B2 |
System for trapping, interacting and modifying single protein molecules using a double-nanohole structure
Molecules or particle having a hydrodynamic radius as small as 3.5 nm can be trapped using a double-nanohole structure defined in a metal film or other metallic layer. Application of a suitable optical radiation flux to the double-nanohole structure can provide a folding and/or binding of protein molecules that can be identified based on changes in optical transmission. Varying nanohole transmissions can thus be associated with trapping, binding and unfolding of biological particles. The double-nanohole defines cusps, but such cusps can be defined in other ways as well. |
| US09702872B1 |
Rapid diagnostic test device by driven flow technology
A rapid diagnostic test device uses driven flow technology to significantly expedite the testing time of a sample. The rapid diagnostic test device can be used to analyze liquids, such as some body fluids, by using labeled molecular affinity binding, such as immunochromatography. The test device can detect an analyte, such as an antibody or antigen, which may indicate a particular condition, the presence of a particular drug, or the like. The device includes a cover and base that combine to form an internal cavity for receiving a test strip. Compression bars in the cover and a compression cushion in the base sandwich a conjugate pad of the test strip to accelerate chemical mixtures to flow from the conjugate pad of the test strip toward fixed sites along the strip from which readings are taken. |
| US09702871B1 |
System and method for detecting components of a mixture including a valving scheme for competition assays
Examples are described including measurement systems for conducting competition assays. A first chamber of an assay device may be loaded with a sample containing a target antigen. The target antigen in the sample may be allowed to bind to antibody-coated beads in the first chamber. A control layer separating the first chamber from a second chamber may then be opened to allow a labeling agent loaded in a first portion of the second chamber to bind to any unoccupied sites on the antibodies. A centrifugal force may then be applied to transport the beads through a density media to a detection region for measurement by a detection unit. |
| US09702867B2 |
Methods for monitoring physiological status of a body organ
The present invention provides method for monitoring physiological status of an organ in a subject by monitoring morphological changes over time in transplanted tissue on an eye of the subject. |
| US09702866B2 |
Glatiramer acetate human monocytic cell line-based potency assay
The present invention relates to a method to determine the potency of a batch of glatiramer acetate comprising stimulating human monocytic cell line cells with an effective amount of interferon (IFNγ), exposing the cells to a batch of glatiramer acetate, and determining the expression of the monocyte anti-inflammatory cytokine sIL-1Ra or the viability of the cells induced by glatiramer acetate. |
| US09702861B2 |
Cantilevered probe detector with piezoelectric element
A disclosed chemical detection system for detecting a target material, such as an explosive material, can include a cantilevered probe, a probe heater coupled to the cantilevered probe, and a piezoelectric element disposed on the cantilevered probe. The piezoelectric element can be configured as a detector and/or an actuator. Detection can include, for example, detecting a movement of the cantilevered probe or a property of the cantilevered probe. The movement or a change in the property of the cantilevered probe can occur, for example, by adsorption of the target material, desorption of the target material, reaction of the target material and/or phase change of the target material. Examples of detectable movements and properties include temperature shifts, impedance shifts, and resonant frequency shifts of the cantilevered probe. The overall chemical detection system can be incorporated, for example, into a handheld explosive material detection system. |
| US09702858B1 |
Dynamic recipe control
Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances. |
| US09702856B2 |
System and method for rapid analysis of polymer additives
The subject technology is directed to a CO2-based chromatography system and method for rapid determination of the levels and/or the presence or absence of polymer additives (PAs) leachable or extractable from packing materials or implantable medical devices. |
| US09702855B2 |
Acoustic interface device
A system is provided including an acoustic interface device, configured for coupling to a transducer and to a specimen, the acoustic interface device comprising a material composition having a shear wave attenuation coefficient αS of at least about 5 dB/cm when subjected to an acoustic signal at a frequency between about 200 to 500 kHz. The acoustic interface device may be formed of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®), a perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), polycarbonate (Lexan®), or polyether ether ketone (PEEK). Methods of using the acoustic interface device with a transducer for ultrasonic measurement of a specimen are also disclosed. |
| US09702854B2 |
Photoacousticbracket, photoacoustic probe and photoacoustic imaging apparatus having the same
In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a photoacoustic probe includes: at least one optical fiber irradiating laser to a target; an ultrasonic probe collecting a photoacoustic signal generated by the target having absorbed the laser; and a fluid-type light reflector reflecting laser reflected, scattered, or deflected from the target. |
| US09702853B2 |
Method for monitoring conveyor belt splices
The present invention provides a method for detecting defects in conveyor belt splices having magnetically permeable metal cords embedded therein as the conveyor belt advances through a conveyor system, said conveyor belt having at least one splice, wherein a first set of magnetically permeable metal cords coming from a first side of the splice extend into a second side of the splice and have ends which are embedded in the second side of the splice, wherein a second set of magnetically permeable metal cords coming from the second side of the splice extend into the first side of the splice and have ends which are embedded in the first side of the splice. |
| US09702852B2 |
NMR systems and methods for the rapid detection of analytes
This invention features systems and methods for the detection of analytes, and their use in the treatment and diagnosis of disease. |
| US09702847B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting a substance in bodily fluid
Various devices, systems and methods for determining a parameter of and/or detecting chemical and biological substances in bodily fluid are described herein. A device or system may include a substrate. An active sensor having an electrical characteristic and/or a control sensor may be disposed on the substrate. In certain variations, a differential between a first signal from the active sensor, and a second signal from the control sensor may be used to determine a parameter of the chemical or biological substance in the sample of bodily fluid. |
| US09702843B2 |
Biosensor incorporating protein-immobilized membrane and method of immobilizing protein in biosensor
The present invention relates to a protein-immobilized membrane (14) including a cell membrane homologous layer (14A) and a protein (14B) immobilized to the cell membrane homologous layer (14A), where the protein contains cytochrome or a cytochrome complex. The present invention also relates to a method for forming a protein-immobilized membrane (14), and an enzyme-immobilized electrode and a biosensor (X1) provided with a protein-immobilized membrane (14). Preferably, the cell membrane homologous layer (14A) may contain a phospholipid polymer, and the protein (14B) may be CyGDH including an α subunit having a glucose dehydrogenase activity and cytochrome C having a function of electron transfer. |
| US09702839B2 |
Integrated devices to facilitate quantitative assays and diagnostics
Devices are described for providing quantitative information relating to a sample. Example devices include a flexible substrate, a sample receiver at least partially formed in or disposed on the flexible substrate, electronic circuitry and at least one indicator electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry. The flexible substrate includes at least one paper-based portion, at least one elastomeric portion, or at least one plastic portion. The electronic circuitry and the at least one indicator are at least partially formed in or disposed on the flexible substrate. The electronic circuitry generates an analysis result based on an output signal from the sample or a derivative of the sample. The at least one indicator provides an indication of the quantitative information relating to the sample based at least in part on the at least one analysis result. |
| US09702838B2 |
Method for evaluation testing of material for internal combustion engine
A sample composed of a nickel-based metal is immersed in a corrosive solution (aqueous solution containing an acid and sodium chloride). The sample that has been immersed in the corrosive solution is exposed to a flame of engine oil, and further heated. By immersing the sample in the particular corrosive solution, a Ni-enriched phase which is deficient in additional elements and in which the Ni concentration increases is formed in a surface layer region of the sample. By exposing the sample having the Ni-enriched phase to the flame of the engine oil, components in the engine oil are activated and brought into contact with the sample to form a low-melting point phase in the surface layer region of the sample. By heating the sample having the low-melting point phase to melt the low-melting point phase and resolidifying the low-melting point phase, particles and the like can be formed depending on the type of material of the sample. The ease of the generation of particles can be evaluated by using simple equipment instead of an engine for testing. |
| US09702837B2 |
System for measuring glass transition temperature of a polymer
A system for measuring glass transition temperature of a polymer can include a cell having a closed bottom and a peripheral wall extending from the bottom, a sample holder having a first supporting pin and a second supporting pin spaced apart from the first supporting pin, a loading probe in the cell for selectively contacting a polymer sample disposed on the sample holder, a temperature probe in the cell, a heater in the cell, a temperature sensor, a source of pressure, a source of gas in communication with the cell, and a data acquisition system operably connected to the loading probe, the temperature probe and the source of pressure. The first and second supporting pins and the loading probe in the cell provide a three-point flexural bending assembly for measuring bending of the polymer sample under varied conditions of temperature and pressure in the presence of a gas. |
| US09702835B1 |
Cross sectional depth composition generation utilizing scanning electron microscopy
A method for generating cross-sectional profiles using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) includes scanning a sample with an electron beam to gather an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum for an energy level to determine element composition across an area of interest. A mesh is generated to locate positions where a depth profile will be taken. EDS spectra are gathered for energy levels at mesh locations. A number of layers of the sample are determined by distinguishing differences in chemical composition between depths as beam energies are stepped through. A depth profile is generated for the area of interest by compiling the number of layers and the element composition across the mesh. |
| US09702833B2 |
Device and method for the nondestructive testing of tires by tomography
A device for testing a tyre (2) for representing tomographical images of sections of a casing of the tyre includes a source (11) of ionizing radiation arranged outside the tyre (2) and a detector (12) for receiving the radiation. The detector (12) is situated opposite the source (11) with respect to at least one section of the casing. The axis (X-X) of the tyre runs parallel to a sectional plane (P) passing through the focus (F) of the source (11) and the detector (12). The tyre and the source-detector assembly are moved with rotational motion relative to one another about an axis of rotation (Z-Z) perpendicular to the sectional plane (P), according to a predetermined angular excursion range. The detector (12) is disposed in a central internal zone (20) of the tyre (2) during the testing cycle. |
| US09702829B1 |
Systems and methods for wafer surface feature detection and quantification
Interferometer systems and methods for providing improved defect detection and quantification are disclosed. The systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure may detect surface defects on patterned or bare wafer surfaces and subsequently quantify them. In certain embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure, amplitude maps of the wafer surfaces are obtained and are utilized in addition/alternative to phase maps for wafer surface feature detection. Furthermore, local one-dimensional and/or two-dimensional unwrapping techniques are also disclosed and are utilized in certain embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure to provide height and depth information of the detected defects, further improving the detection capabilities of the measurement systems. |
| US09702828B2 |
Pinhole inspection apparatus for can bodies
The present invention provides a pinhole inspection apparatus for can bodies including a rotary plate having a penetrating through hole, a movable plate provided on a stationary frame opposite the rotary plate, a can body holding member that holds a can body, a photodetector that detects light leaking inside the can body, and a light source that irradiates an outer circumferential surface of the can body with light. The movable plate includes a ring plate attached to a front surface of a piston member, which has a penetrating hole in a central portion thereof, via a joint member. The ring plate is provided with a shield member formed by an annular member that is formed concentric to the penetrating hole. The shield member is brought into sliding contact with the rotary plate by a pressure application mechanism. |
| US09702826B2 |
Method of inspecting a surface of an object and optical system for performing the same
A method of inspecting a surface of an object includes providing a laser beam irradiated in a first direction substantially parallel to the surface of the object, adjusting a diameter of the annular laser beam, reflecting the annular laser beam toward the surface of the object in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, in a primary reflection, and reflecting the primarily reflected laser toward an inspection region of the object, in a secondary reflection. An incident angle of the annular laser beam with respect to the surface of the object may be determined by the diameter of the annular laser beam. |
| US09702823B2 |
Optical systems and methods for biological analysis
An instrument for processing and/or measuring a biological process contains an excitation source, a sample holder, an optical sensor, an excitation optical system, and an emission optical system. The sample holder is configured to receive a plurality of biological samples. The optical sensor is configured to receive an emission from the biological samples. The excitation optical system is disposed along an excitation optical path and is configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to the biological samples. The emission optical system is disposed along an emission optical path and is configured to direct electromagnetic emissions from the biological samples to the optical sensor. The instrument further contains a plurality of filter assemblies configured to be interchangeably located along at least one of the optical paths. The plurality of filter components includes a first filter assembly characterized by a first optical power and a first filter having a first filter function, the first filter function characterized by at least one of a first low-pass wavelength or a first high-pass wavelength. The second filter assembly is characterized by a second optical power and a second filter having a second filter function, the second filter function comprising at least one of a second low-pass wavelength that is different than the first low-pass wavelength or a second high-pass wavelength that is different than the first high-pass wavelength. |
| US09702822B2 |
Digital assays with a reporter for amplicon length
Digital assay system, includes methods, apparatus, and compositions, for distinguishing and measuring different types of templates according to the different lengths of corresponding amplicons, which may be amplified by the same pair of primers. The system may include a length-sensitive reporter generating luminescence that varies according to amplicon length. The system may, for example, be utilized to identify, distinguish, and/or quantify wild-type and mutant/variant templates, processed and unprocessed template, a target template and a primer dimer, or the like. |
| US09702817B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing of engine components
Method and apparatus testing engine component, for blockage of one or more through-holes in a portion of a wall. The method including (i) providing a supply of test fluid, (ii) causing or permitting flow of test fluid to occur from first to second region, (iii) illuminating the second region with electromagnetic radiation to cause scattering of electromagnetic radiation by material exiting substantially non-blocked through-holes in wall portion having passed therethrough from the first to second side, (iv) detecting said scattering of electromagnetic radiation from said substantially non-blocked through-holes; and (v) comparing said detected scattering of electromagnetic radiation from said substantially non-blocked holes with known pattern of through-holes in component wall portion to determine the presence and/or location and/or identity of any blocked or partially blocked through-holes in component wall portion. |
| US09702814B2 |
Systems and methods of infrared detection of coal mine polar gas
An infrared detection device can be used to detect coal mine polar gas. The detection device can include a central processor and a gas pool assembly having a moveable optical window. The moveable optical window can include a stationary pool body and a moveable pool body inserted into the stationary pool body. |
| US09702808B2 |
Method and apparatus for bulk microparticle sorting using a microfluidic channel
Methods and apparatuses for sorting and isolating individual microparticles (e.g., cells) by bulk sorting groups of microparticles into groups containing one or more microparticle having a desirable characteristic (e.g., a label such as a florescent label, shape, size, etc.), and then sorting the individual microparticles with this desired characteristic individual particles. |
| US09702807B2 |
Measurement of serum lipoproteins
Although a more accurate estimate of a person's risk of cardiovascular disease can be made on the basis of the number of lipoprotein particles per unit volume in the person's blood, current methods all rely on measuring the mass of lipoprotein cholesterol per unit volume. It has been discovered that a rapid and accurate lipoprotein particle count can be obtained by photometry. A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the number of lipoprotein particles in a sample using photometry. |
| US09702806B2 |
Hematology systems and methods
Aspects and embodiments of the instant disclosure provide a particle and/or intracellular organelle alignment agent for a particle analyzer used to analyze particles contained in a sample. An exemplary particle and/or intracellular organelle alignment agent includes an aqueous solution, a viscosity modifier, and/or a buffer. Embodiments also encompass systems, compositions, and methods for analyzing a sample containing particles. Particles such as blood cells can be categorized and counted by a digital image processor. A digital microscope camera can be directed, for example using certain focusing techniques, into a flowcell defining a symmetrically narrowing flowpath in which the sample stream flows in a ribbon flattened by flow and viscosity parameters between layers of sheath fluid. Blood cell images can be collected and analyzed using dynamic range extension processes and systems. |
| US09702805B2 |
Airborne-substance detection device and cartridge used in same
An airborne-substance detection device includes a cartridge and an optical detector. The cartridge includes: an inflow plate having formed therein a micropore that allows inflow of a microparticle-containing gas; a trapping plate disposed opposite the micropore and having the ability to capture the microparticles on a surface facing the micropore; and a main body in which the inflow plate and the trapping plate are installed, and in which a channel is formed that channels the gas to the micropore. The optical detector optically detects the microparticles captured on the trapping plate. The trapping plate is disposed on the outermost side of the cartridge, and is configured from a light transmissive member. The optical detector detects the captured microparticles on the trapping plate from the back side of the trapping plate. |
| US09702802B2 |
Filter bypass
There is described a filter arrangement for a particle detector for detecting particles in an environment. The particle detector can include one or more sensors for analyzing fluid in a detection region to produce sensor output. The filter arrangement includes structure defining flow paths, for conveying fluid from the environment towards the detection region, including a first flow path, which includes a filter, and a second flow path bypassing the filter. There is also provided a mechanism for controlling relative flow rates of fluid through the first flow path and the second flow path and a controller configured to receive the sensor output corresponding to at least two relative flow rates and apply logic thereto to generate an output indicative of a condition of the filter. |
| US09702801B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for measuring surface materials
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a particulate monitoring system. The system includes a vehicle. A wake conditioner is mounted in the vehicle. A sample inlet is placed in communication with an engineered vehicle wake that will be produced by the wake conditioner when the vehicle is in motion. |
| US09702797B2 |
Supporting apparatus and torsion test measuring device using same
A supporting apparatus includes a supporting assembly including a fixed member, a mounting member fixed to the fixed member and a lifting assembly. The mounting member includes a mounting portion having a first side, a second side opposite and parallel to the first side, and a top side coupling the first side with the second side. The lifting assembly includes a support member slidably attached to the first side of the mounting portion, a lifting member slidably attached to the second side of the mounting portion, at least one fixed pulley attached to the top side of the mounting portion, a connecting member arranged on the at least one fixed pulley, and coupling the support member with the lifting member, and one or more weight elements attachable to the lifting member. |
| US09702795B2 |
Apparatus and method for producing specimens for electron microscopy
The invention provides methods and devices for preparing frozen vitrified samples for transmission electron microscopy. By reducing the volume of sample from microliter scale to picoliter scale, the requirement for blotting of excess fluid is minimized or eliminated. |
| US09702793B2 |
Variable volume sample capture device
Improvements in a variable volume capture device are disclosed to capture a variable amount of sample. The variable amount is controlled by a linear actuator that produces a variable and adjustable stroke length that capture the programmed amount of fluid in the syringe barrel. Air or other supernatant fluid can be separated and expelled at this point. The captured fluid is then dispensed out of the syringe barrel for further testing and analysis. The capture device is then able to drain or flush the sample. Valves located on each side of the syringe barrel allow for sample collecting, dispensing and draining to ensure that the capture device is free to collect new samples. The variable volume capture device can have changeable syringe and barrel diameters and lengths to accommodate larger or smaller ranges of samples. |
| US09702790B2 |
Wheel service machine with compact sensing device
A wheel service machine and a method for servicing a wheel, such as a tire changer or a wheel balancer for a vehicle wheel, comprises a rotary mounting including a shaft to which the wheel is mounted, a frame work for carrying at least the rotary mounting, and a sensing device mounted to the frame work, for determining geometrical dimensions of the wheel, or parts of the wheel. The sensing device comprises a carrier element and a first sensing unit for sensing the wheel and a computing device for determining the geometrical dimensions of the wheel based on the data received from the sensing device, the first sensing unit being mounted on the carrier element. The wheel service machine further comprises a drive element for enabling a pivotal movement of the sensing device, wherein the drive element is a micro stepper motor. |
| US09702786B2 |
Method for identifying the edges on a camshaft target
Process for identifying edges on a camshaft target (30) having a plurality of teeth on the periphery thereof, the plurality of teeth forming a series of M edges when the camshaft rotates through one revolution, the process including the following steps: calculating, for each of the M edges, the characteristic: CP ( j ) = [ ∑ i = 1 N P ( j - i + 1 ) + ∑ i = 3 N 4 N - 1 P ( j - i ) ∑ i = N 3 N - 1 P ( j - i ) ] N ≥ 1 P(i) denoting the angular distance between the edge i and the preceding edge, during the movement of the camshaft target, calculating, during an edge detection, an index: CT ( k ) = [ ∑ i = 1 N T ( k - i + 1 ) + ∑ i = 3 N 4 N - 1 T ( k - i ) ∑ i = N 3 N - 1 T ( k - i ) ] N ≥ 1 T(i) denoting the time elapsed since the appearance of the edge i−1 to the edge i, comparing the index CT(k) with each of the CP(j), determining the position of the camshaft. |
| US09702782B2 |
Method and system for detecting a leak in a fuel system
It is proposed a method for detecting a leak in a fuel system of a combustion engine comprising a fuel tank. The method is such that it comprises the steps of: obtaining a first set of data comprising at least a pressure data measured in the fuel system at a first time; adding energy to fluids contained in the fuel system, said energy being produced or wasted by means already present on board the vehicle for other purposes; obtaining a second set of data comprising at least a pressure data measured in the fuel system at a second time; determining the presence/absence of a leak in said fuel system by calculating a predetermined function on the basis of said first and second sets of data. |
| US09702779B2 |
Engine control device
In order to solve a problem that in an internal combustion engine in which abnormal combustion (knocking or an accidental fire) of an engine is detected from an ion signal, the setting of an abnormal combustion determination threshold value under a transient condition in which an engine operating state abruptly changes is difficult to thereby cause erroneous determination, the present invention is an engine control device provided with an ion signal detection means for detecting ions generated during combustion, and provided with an abnormal combustion determination means for determining knocking or an accidental fire according to an ion signal detected by the detection means, the engine control device being characterized by being provided with an in-cylinder temperature estimation means for estimating the in-cylinder temperature in a normal combustion cycle under a current operating condition of the engine, and by setting the knocking determination threshold value or accidental fire determination threshold value of the ion signal on the basis of the estimated in-cylinder temperature information. Consequently, it becomes possible to accurately detect abnormal combustion even under a transient operating condition. |
| US09702776B2 |
Sensor device for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and method for producing a sensor device
A sensor device for measuring a measurement variable characterizing a rotation state of a shaft portion of a motor vehicle, in particular a steering axle of the motor vehicle, is disclosed. The sensor device includes a holder which can be connected to the shaft portion of the motor vehicle, a magnetic stator portion which is arranged on the holder and which is constructed for conducting magnetic flux from a magnet towards a magnetic sensor and which has an annular radial base element, which is axially supported with the axial front side thereof on the holder, and a fixing element for fixing the stator portion at least in an axial direction to the holder from the axial rear side thereof which is opposite the front side, wherein the holder has at least one welding rib, via which the holder is connected to the fixing element by friction welding. |
| US09702775B2 |
Torque measurement flexplates
A torque measurement flexplate (20) includes a substantially planar body (54) which defines a plurality of circumferentially distributed axial through apertures (22), a radial web (24) extending between each pair of adjacent axial apertures (22). The flexplate (20) further defines a plurality of circumferentially distributed axial outer fastening holes (26) for attachment to an output member. The flexplate (20) includes a strain sensor (28) for measuring the shear strain field on the flexplate (20). The flexplate (20) defines a recess (30) in which the strain sensor (28) is located, the recess (30) being defined in an axial surface (32) of one of the radial webs (24) such that, in use, the sensor (28) lies at least proximate to one of the local neutral axes (34) relating to one of a plurality of unwanted strains (36) to which the flexplate (20) is subject in use. |
| US09702762B2 |
Calibration and image processing devices, methods, and systems
In part, the invention relates to systems and methods of calibrating a plurality of frames generated with respect to a blood vessel as a result of a pullback of an intravascular imaging probe being pullback through the vessel. A calibration feature disposed in the frames that changes between a subset of the frames can be used to perform calibration. Calibration can be performed post-pullback. Various filters and image processing techniques can be used to identify one or more feature in the frames including, without limitation, a calibration feature, a guidewire, a side branch, a stent strut, a lumen of the blood vessel, and other features. The feature can be displayed using a graphic user interface. |
| US09702761B2 |
System and method for temperature monitoring in a room
A method for monitoring a temperature of a survey surface in a room. The method includes: providing a number of temperature sensors coupled to the survey surface; receiving from the number of temperature sensors respective temperature values; applying an extrapolation model to the received temperature values and extrapolating an extrapolated thermographic scan of the survey surface; and monitoring the temperature of the survey surface on the basis of the extrapolated thermographic scan. |
| US09702760B2 |
Optical module, electronic apparatus, and method of driving optical module
A spectrometry apparatus includes a wavelength variable interference filter emitting light of various predetermined wavelengths; a roll shutter imaging element having pixels accumulating electric charges when exposed to light, and forming one frame by photodetection for each pixel block including pixels with a predetermined time delay for each pixel block, in which the imaging element accumulates electric charges in a photodetection period, and outputs a detection signal in response to the accumulated electric charges in a non-photodetection period; and a spectroscopic controller controlling the wavelength change driving of the emitted light of the wavelength variable interference filter. For the one frame, the spectroscopic controller starts the wavelength change driving at an end timing of the photodetection period of a final pixel block for which the photodetection process is performed at the end. |
| US09702756B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus including an optical component and an optical fiber component is provided. The display may include an optical component including a sensor, and an optical fiber component configured to transmit the electromagnetic transmission being incident on a front frame, to the sensor. A display apparatus may transmit light being incident from the outside to a sensor of an optical unit through an optical fiber unit, and transmits light being outputted from the sensor of the optical unit to the outside through the optical fiber unit. |
| US09702754B2 |
Inspection apparatus, and abnormality detection method
In general, according to one embodiment, an inspection apparatus includes a disposition; a vibration detector configured to output a signal corresponding to vibration of the inspection object; a determination module configured to determine presence/absence of abnormality of the inspection object and configured to Fourier-transform an output result of the vibration detector at a time when the inspection object is disposed on the disposition section, to create vibration information indicative of vibration power of a characteristic frequency of each of structural elements of the disposition section, and to determine presence/absence of abnormality of the inspection apparatus, based on the vibration information; and a transmission module configured to transmit an output signal of the vibration detector to the determination module. |
| US09702751B2 |
Dual measurement tank with nested structure
Disclosed is a dual measurement tank comprising a first tank with an open top defining a first tank volume and a second tank defining an open top and defining a second tank volume that is smaller than the first tank volume. The second tank is disposed inside the first tank so that when fluid is pumped into the top of the second tank until such fluid overflows, the fluid overflow flows into the first tank. The dual tank is placed on a scale to measure the weight of the water in the two tanks where such weight is converted to a volume. |
| US09702748B2 |
Graphene-based magnetic hall sensor for fluid flow analysis at nanoscale level
A method of detecting a particle comprises magnetizing a particle using an AC magnetic field; generating an AC voltage in a sensing device having a conductive substantially 2-dimensional lattice structure from the magnetized particle; superimposing a DC magnetic field on the generated AC voltage in the sensing device; and measuring an AC Hall voltage at the sensing device. |
| US09702745B2 |
Characterizing multiphase fluid flow
A method and apparatus for determining multiphase flow characteristics inside production equipment containing at least two fluids. A pulse of heat from a heat source adjacent to the production equipment is provided, and a thermal response to the pulse is measured at each of a plurality of temperature sensors located adjacent to the production equipment. The thermal response measurement includes a time constant obtained from a measured decline in the temperature after the pulse of heat has been provided. The measured thermal responses are used to determine parameters of a fluid contained in the production equipment in proximity to each of the temperature sensors. The determined fluid parameters are in turn used to determine multiphase flow characteristics. |
| US09702742B2 |
Circuit assembly and method for plausibility checking of sensor signals
A circuit assembly for plausibility checking of sensor signals, which can be generated by at least two separate sensor elements, includes at least one evaluation and control unit which receives the sensor signals via at least one interface unit and evaluates the received sensor signals for generating sensor data. A first evaluation and control unit is configured to receive the sensor signals of a first sensor element and to generate first sensor data from the first sensor signals. The first evaluation and control unit is configured to provide the generated first sensor data via at least one interface unit to a second evaluation and control unit, which receives and evaluates the sensor signals of a second sensor element to generate second sensor data. The second evaluation and control unit compares the generated second sensor data and the generated first sensor data to each other and inspects them for plausibility. |
| US09702740B2 |
Measuring instrument with connecting coupling
A measuring instrument includes at least a measuring element and a sealing fitting having a two-part design that provides structural improvements with regard to permanent tightness and in service conditions under vibration and temperature. |
| US09702737B2 |
Sonar system and method using arrays of optical ring resonator sensors
An optical ring resonator sensor array module for a passive SONAR system. The module includes a supporting structure; a silicon substrate mounted on the supporting structure, and a top plate mounted over the silicon structure. The silicon substrate includes an optical waveguide having an input and an output and a plurality of optical ring resonators distributed across the silicon substrate to form a two-dimensional pattern. Each optical ring resonator is positioned adjacent to the optical waveguide and each has a different predetermined diameter. The top plate includes a plurality of diaphragms, one for each of the plurality of optical ring resonators. The diaphragms are distributed on the top plate such that each of the plurality of diaphragms is positioned over an associated one of the plurality of optical ring resonators. In addition, each of the diaphragms is configured to flex in response to externally applied acoustical pressure. |
| US09702732B2 |
Process variable transmitter with loop-powered wireless transceiver
A process variable transmitter includes transmitter circuitry for determining a process variable from a sensor signal produced using a process sensor. The transmitter circuitry has at least one operating parameter. The process variable transmitter also includes a wireless communication module configured to be powered by a two-wire process control loop. The wireless communication module is capable of communicating wirelessly with a general-purpose mobile device using a general-purpose wireless communication standard such that the wireless communication module can instruct the transmitter circuitry to change a value of the at least one operating parameter based on a wireless message received from the general-purpose mobile device. |
| US09702729B2 |
Sensor output change detection
A method includes acquiring a first data column output from a plurality of sensors, generating a model for estimating data from the plurality of sensors on the basis of the first data column, acquiring a second data column output from the plurality of sensors, obtaining an estimated data column corresponding to the second data column based on the model by using regularization for making an error between the second data column and the estimated data column sparse, and identifying a sensor in which a change occurred between the first data column and the second data column on the basis of the error between the second data column and the estimated data column. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also disclosed herein. |
| US09702728B2 |
Method of fabricating micro-glassblown gyroscopes
A method of making a Coriolis vibratory gyroscope with a three dimensional mushroom resonator element includes defining a cavity in a substrate wafer; bonding a cap wafer onto the substrate over the cavity from which cap wafer the resonator element will be formed; heating the substrate and cap wafer to generate a pressure build-up within the cavity; plastically deforming the cap wafer by the pressure build-up to form the mushroom resonator element having a perimeter around the mushroom resonator element; releasing the three dimensional mushroom resonator element at the perimeter by selectively removing material so that the perimeter of mushroom resonator element is free to vibrate; and disposing a layer of conductive material on the mushroom resonator element to form electrodes thereon for use in driving and sensing vibrations of the mushroom resonator element and its perimeter. A microgyroscope made by such a method is also included within the embodiments. |
| US09702724B2 |
Mapping application with transit mode
Some embodiments provide a mapping application that displays a transit map including a group of transit lines. The mapping application receives a request to display a transit route in the transit map. The mapping application also, in response to the received request, displays the transit route by modifying portions of transit lines along the route to emphasize the portions of the transit lines while modifying other transit lines not along the route to de-emphasize the transit lines not along the route. |
| US09702722B2 |
Interactive 3D navigation system with 3D helicopter view at destination
An interactive vehicle navigation system provides not only navigation instructions to arrive at a destination but also a three-dimensional (3D) animated preview that provides a realistic view of a specified destination, including three-dimensional imagery of recognizable landmarks in the surroundings at the destination. The point of view from which the 3D animated preview is generated is selected as to provide a vantage of the locale that avoids obstructions to the user's view, such as from a point of view that is higher than street level. |
| US09702715B2 |
Distributed energy management system and method for a vehicle system
A system and method for generating a trip plan for a vehicle system determine a first trip plan for a trip of a vehicle system from a first location to a second location over a first route that includes a first intersection with a second route. The first trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. An alternate trip plan that extends along the second route from the first intersection to the second location of the trip of the vehicle system also is determined. The first and alternate trip plans are determined prior to the vehicle system reaching the first intersection. Movement of the vehicle system is controlled according to the first trip plan prior to the vehicle system reaching the first intersection and then controlled according to the alternate trip plan responsive to the vehicle system deviating from the first trip plan. |
| US09702713B2 |
Map-based guide system and method
Provided is a computer system and methods for a map-based guide. A method includes but is not limited to receiving a request for the map-based guide; determining a location associated with the request; preparing a route in accordance with the location associated with the request and in accordance with at least one of a profit-motive and/or a goodwill factor; and transmitting the map-based guide. |
| US09702710B2 |
Driving support apparatus
A driving support apparatus 1 performs a driving support based on travel data obtained while a driver causes a vehicle to travel by a driving operation. The apparatus includes storage units 20 and 41 that store a vehicle speed at each position on a traveling route using the vehicle speed acquired when the driver causes the vehicle to travel by performing an acceleration or deceleration operation, and traveling control units 30, 31, and 43 that perform a traveling control based on the vehicle speed at each position stored in the storage units 20 and 41 and the current position of the vehicle. The traveling control units 30, 31, and 43 end the traveling control in a case where the vehicle speed of the vehicle becomes lower than a threshold value during the deceleration by the traveling control. |
| US09702709B2 |
Disfavored route progressions or locations
Adaptive route guidance can include analyzing route progressions associated with one or more routes based on multiple user preferences. The adaptive route guidance can provide one or more preferred routes based on the user preferences, which can be presented to a user for navigation purposes. |
| US09702708B2 |
Vehicle navigation system, method for controlling vehicle navigation system, and vehicle black box
Disclosed are a vehicle navigation system and a method for controlling a vehicle navigation system. The vehicle navigation system of the present invention comprises: a storage unit; a communication unit for receiving image data mapped with route guidance information from a vehicle black box provided in a vehicle; and a control unit for storing the received image data in a storage unit. The present invention can utilize the image data mapped with the route guidance information as reference data for determining details of an accident by storing the image data mapped with the route guidance information to confirm information including a destination of a driver of an accident vehicle when an accident happens. |
| US09702707B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing indoor navigation using optical floor sensors
An apparatus includes (i) an absolute position sensor coupled to a case, the position sensor including a light sensor, and circuitry configured to determine an identifier within a barcode, the individual bars of the barcode being sensed by the light sensor, and (ii) a motion sensor coupled to the case, the motion sensor including a first magnetic field sensor, a code wheel having two or more magnets positioned to rotate in unison with a wheel of the moveable object, and encoder circuitry configured to determine an amount of rotation of the wheel of the moveable object based on an output of the first magnetic field sensor. |
| US09702706B2 |
Facility wayfinding system
A facility wayfinding system is provided which includes an interactive public display device and a mobile device, running a mobile wayfinding application. The interactive public display device, which is situated at a first location within a facility, displays a facility map showing facility units, receives a user selection of a facility unit as a second location, and displays a route from the first location to the second location on the facility map. The mobile device also displays the facility map, displays a route from a start location to a destination location on the facility map, and updates the start location to the first location and the destination location to the second location by synchronizing with the interactive public display device. |
| US09702700B2 |
Fibre-optic interferometric measurement device comprising a ring resonator, gyrometer and inertial attitude or navigation unit comprising such a device
A fiber-optic interferometric measurement device (100) intended to measure a physical parameter (QR), includes: a wide-spectrum light source (103); a SAGNAC fiber-optic interferometer (110), in which there propagate two counter-propagating light waves (101, 102) including measurement elements (1140) sensitive to the physical parameter that results in a non-reciprocal phase difference Δφρ between the two light waves; and a detector (104) delivering an electric signal representative of the physical parameter. The measurement elements include a ring resonator (1143) in transmission mode including a first coupler (1141) and a second coupler (1142) respectively, which couple a first arm (111) and a second arm (112) respectively of the SAGNAC interferometer to the ring resonator, in such a way that the two light waves travel in opposing directions of travel (1143H, 1143AH). |
| US09702699B2 |
Functional element with a mass body displaced in a direction which intersects its main surface, electronic apparatus and mobile object
A functional element includes a first base body; a coupling section which is coupled to the first base body; a support body which extends from the coupling section; a mass body which is coupled to the support body; a drive electrode which is provided on a surface side that faces the mass body; a detection working electrode which extends from the support body; and a detection fixed electrode which is coupled to the first base body and faces at least a portion of the detection working electrode. The mass body can be displaced in a direction which intersects a main surface of the mass body. When a distance between the first base body and the mass body is referred to as d1 and a distance between the first base body and the detection fixed electrode is referred to as d2, a relation of d1>d2 is satisfied. |
| US09702697B2 |
Bias and scale-factor error mitigation in a Coriolis vibratory gyroscope system
One embodiment of the invention includes a CVG system. A plurality of electrodes electrostatically force a resonator into a periodic motion based on a drive axis forcer signal applied to a first set of the plurality of electrodes and a sense axis force-rebalance signal applied to a second set of the plurality of electrodes, and provides a sense axis pickoff signal and a drive axis pickoff signal. A gyroscope controller generates the drive axis forcer signal based on the drive axis pickoff signal and calculates an angular rate of rotation about an input axis based on the sense axis force-rebalance signal. The gyroscope controller modulates a predetermined disturbance signal component onto the sense axis force-rebalance signal and to control a modulation phase of the sense axis force-rebalance signal based on detection of the predetermined disturbance signal component in the sense axis force-rebalance signal to substantially mitigate bias and scale-factor error. |
| US09702695B2 |
Image processing device, charged particle beam device, charged particle beam device adjustment sample, and manufacturing method thereof
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that quickly and precisely measures or evaluates a distortion in a field of view and a charged particle beam apparatus. To attain the object, an image processing apparatus or the like is proposed which acquires a first image of a first area of an imaging target and a second image of a second area that is located at a different position than the first area and partially overlaps with the first area and determines the distance between a measurement point in the second image and a second part of the second image that corresponds to a particular area for a plurality of sites in the overlapping area of the first image and the second image. |
| US09702692B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for calibration of beam profilers
Embodiments generally describe systems, devices, and methods for focusing and calibrating beam profilers. A test object is provided that may include an internal housing rotatable within an external housing. The internal housing may house a light source, a collimator, a filter, and/or a diffuser. A plate may be mounted to the internal housing and may include a plurality of markings. In some embodiments, to focus a beam profiler, the test object may be positioned adjacent the converter plate of a beam profiler. Marker images may be captured and a focus quality may be assessed therefrom. A position of the converter, objective, and/or camera of the beam profiler may be adjusted based on the focus quality. To calibrate, images of the markings in several rotational positions may be captured and used for calibration. The markings may be rotated to several positions by rotating the internal housing relative to the external housing. |
| US09702691B2 |
Optical detection systems and methods of using the same
An optical detection system. The optical detection system includes a host node having (a) an optical source for generating optical signals, and (b) an optical receiver. The optical detection system also includes a plurality of fiber optic sensors for converting at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy to optical intensity information, each of the fiber optic sensors having: (1) at least one length of optical fiber configured to sense at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy; (2) a reflector at an end of the at least one length of optical fiber; and (3) a field node for receiving optical signals from the host node, the field node transmitting optical signals along the at least one length of optical fiber, receiving optical signals back from the at least one length of optical fiber, and transmitting optical signals to the optical receiver of the host node. |
| US09702686B2 |
Multiple measurement channel detector circuit for interferometers
A detector circuit for a multi-channel interferometer, typically as may be used in an optical coherence tomography device, comprising: a plurality of measurement channels (43) each comprising a measurement detector (31); and a balance channel (44) comprising a balance detector (30), each of the measurement detectors (31) and the balance detector (30) having a light sensitive area and an electrical output configured to output a signal indicative of the intensity of light incident on the light sensitive area, in which each measurement channel (43) is provided with a feedback circuit (40) comprising: a variable gain circuit (35) having an input for the signal from the measurement detector (31) and an output, the variable gain circuit (35) being configured to output at its output the signal received at its input with a variable level of gain; a difference circuit (38) having a first input for the output of the variable gain circuit (35), a second input for the signal from the balance detector (30) and an output, and being configured to output at its output a signal indicative of a difference of the signals at its first and second inputs; and a controller (36) for each variable gain circuit (35) configured to vary the variable level of gain dependent upon a low frequency component of the output of the difference circuit (38). |
| US09702684B2 |
Rotation angle detection device
Provided is a rotation angle detection device, having a magnet installed on a valve shaft, which magnetically detects a rotation angle of a valve shaft, the device being configured to include a plate member having a predetermined thickness which is fastened and fixed to one end of the valve shaft, wherein the magnet is molded to the plate member into a cylindrical shape having a height larger than the predetermined thickness. |
| US09702681B2 |
System and method for temperature compensation of measurement machine
A computing device connects with a measurement machine. The measurement machine includes a raster ruler and a measurement unit. The computing device reads environmental temperatures from a temperature sensor. Compensation coefficients of the standard workpiece and compensation coefficients of the raster ruler are calculated. The computing device calculates total compensation coefficients of the standard workpiece and the raster ruler. When the measurement machine measures an object workpiece, the computing device calculates a total error of the object workpiece according to the total compensation coefficients of the standard workpiece and the total compensation coefficients of the raster ruler. Coordinates of the object workpiece are calculated according to the total error and mechanism coordinates of each axis of the measurement machine. |
| US09702679B2 |
Frangible projectile
A frangible projectile includes a sintered mass of a plurality of copper or copper alloy plated iron or iron alloy core particles. |
| US09702677B2 |
Ammunition for providing a multilayer flowering upon impact
The disclosed ammunition is adapted for flowering into a plurality of sections upon impact with a body or object. The ammunition comprises a cylindrical casing, a charge disposed within the cylindrical casing and cylindrical projectile, defining a first portion within the casing and a second portion extending from the casing. The projectile comprises a projectile body and projectile jacket. The projectile jacket is disposed about at least a portion of the projectile body. The projectile body and/or the projectile jacket each define a leading end and a plurality of radially arrayed score lines formed therein, extending from the leading end. Upon impact, the projectile body and/or the projectile jacket flower into a plurality of radially arrayed sections, the sections being defined by the score lines formed in the projectile body and/or the projectile jacket. |
| US09702674B2 |
Method and apparatus for GPS-denied navigation of spin-stabilized projectiles
A method and apparatus is provided that provides accurate navigation for spin-stabilized projectiles in a GPS-denied environment using low cost measurement sensors, by application of flight dynamics in real-time state estimation algorithms. |
| US09702673B1 |
Projectile tail boom with self-locking fin
A tail boom for a gun-launched projectile includes a boom housing and a cap fixed to a rear end of the boom housing. A piston is translatable in the housing by the force of a compression spring. A plurality of fins are rotatably fixed to the boom housing. Each fin includes a protruding portion that extends into a translation path of the piston. The cap includes a guide bore for the piston stem to maintain alignment of the piston. The piston presses on the protruding portion of the fins, causing the fins to rotate about their hinge points into a deployed position. |
| US09702670B2 |
Countermeasure flares
Methods and devices for ejecting a grain assembly from a casing of a flare. Where a combustible material in the casing is ignited to eject the grain assembly and one or more of the following features are provided to the device: imparting a spin on the grain assembly after it is ejected from the casing, stabilizing a flight of the grain assembly or generating a thrust from an aft end of the grain assembly. |
| US09702667B1 |
Gun target system
A shooting target system includes a hub assembly a plurality of legs configured to removably engage with the plurality of leg fasteners of the housing; a plurality of arms configured to removably engage with the plurality of arm fasteners; a plurality of targets removably secured to the plurality of arms. The hub assembly includes a housing having a plurality of leg fastener joints; a shaft extending from the housing; and a hub rotatably secured to the shaft and having a plurality of arm fasteners. |
| US09702665B1 |
Ballistic shade system
The present invention relates to a ballistic shade system which provides a means for rolling up and down ballistic material and holding it in place during a ballistic event. |
| US09702664B2 |
Multilayered material sheet and process for its preparation
The invention relates to a multilayered material sheet comprising a consolidated stack of unidirectional monolayers of drawn polymer, whereby the draw direction of two subsequent monolayers in the stack differs. At least one monolayer comprises a plurality of unidirectional tapes of the drawn polymer, aligned in the same direction, whereby adjacent tapes do not overlap. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the multilayered material sheet, and to a ballistic resistant article comprising the multilayered material sheet. |
| US09702662B1 |
Electronic sighting device with real-time information interaction
The present invention relates to a sighting device, and specifically relates to an electronic sighting device with real-time information interaction. The sighting device comprises a field-of-view obtaining unit, a display unit; a sighting circuit unit, a sensor module, a positioning unit, and an interaction unit, wherein shooting vibration of a gun is judged by a vibration sensor in the sensor module, and then, the interaction unit is connected with internet or a remote display terminal to send the real-time information acquired by the sensor module and/or image information acquired by the field-of-view obtaining unit during shooting process to the internet or the remote display terminal, to achieve information collection and recording of each-time shooting by the electronic sighting device and achieve real-time interaction of the collected information with the internet or the remote display terminal. |
| US09702655B2 |
Cover kit for a firearm handguard
A system and method for a user's appendages when firing a weapon is described. One embodiment includes a cover kit for a firearm handguard. The kit has a base and an insert. The base has a longitudinal axis, an upright axis, a transverse axis, a socket, an exterior surface, and an interior surface. The insert has an insert body and a plug. The socket has a movable engagement prong shaped to engage a wall surface of a handguard slot. The plug has a prong engagement surface shaped to engage the engagement prong. The plug is shaped to apply a force on the engagement prong such that a distal portion of the engagement prong is flexed more than a proximal portion of the engagement prong. |
| US09702651B2 |
Firearm suppressor insert retained by encapsulating parent material
Methods and systems are provided for a sound suppressor adapted to be coupled to a firearm and including one or more inserts positioned within a body of the suppressor. In one embodiment, a sound suppressor comprises a unitary single-piece body, where an insert is positioned within the body and encapsulated by the body, the body and the insert forming one or more chambers, where the body and insert are bonded to one another via only interfacing surfaces of the body and insert. In this way, a more robust suppressor is constructed that is not vulnerable to the attrition that arises when using replaceable inserts bonded to the suppressor housing via welding. |
| US09702640B2 |
Baffle and baffle inserter for a tube with slots having sidewalls
Implementations of a tube, a baffle, and a baffle inserter are provided. In some implementations, the tube comprises one or more slots and a plurality of sidewalls that extend down from the outer surface of the tube into the tube on each elongated side of the slots. In some implementations, the baffle inserter comprises a baffle holder pivotably attached to a base at a first end where a portion of the base at the first end is slanted and a portion of the baffle holder is configured to rest on the slanted portion in a first position. In some implementations, to insert a baffle into the tube using the baffle inserter, the baffle is placed on the baffle holder in a first position and the baffle inserter is inserted inside the tube until the baffle contacts a stopper and pivots to a second position under a covered portion between two adjacent slots in the tube. |
| US09702638B2 |
Frame for a heat exchanger
A frame for a plate heat exchanger includes a head and a follower, a plurality of rib assemblies, and a plurality of tie bar assemblies. Each of the head and the follower includes a plurality of interlocking rib cutouts. Each rib assembly includes a pair of ribs. Each rib includes a first grip disposed at a first end of the rib, a second grip disposed at a second end of the rib, a first cradle disposed at the first end of the rib, and a second cradle disposed at the second end of the rib. Both the first cradle and the second cradle include a cradle bearing surface. Each tie bar assembly includes a tie bar, a nut, and a tie bar bearing surface to bear upon the cradle bearing surface. |
| US09702637B2 |
Heat exchanger, indoor unit, and refrigeration cycle apparatus
The heat exchanger includes heat exchange units. Each of the heat exchange units includes a plurality of plate fins and a plurality of flat tubes. The plate fins are arranged spaced apart from one another at intervals so as to allow air to flow therebetween. The flat tubes each have an L shape by bending and inserted through the plate fins so that a refrigerant flows therethrough in a direction in which the plate fins are arranged. The heat exchange units are combined to each other so as to form a rectangular shape. Thus, heat exchange can be efficiently performed by increasing the mounting area. |
| US09702636B2 |
High performance wick
A wicking apparatus includes a composite condenser membrane comprising a substrate layer, a vapor inlet end, a liquid discharge end, a plurality of cavities disposed in the substrate layer fluidly coupling the vapor inlet end to the liquid discharge end, and a nanoporous filler material disposed within the plurality of cavities. The nanoporous filler material has a first plurality of open pores with a maximum diameter in the range of 0.2 to 200 nanometers. The first end of the liquid conduit is fluidly coupled to the liquid discharge end of the composite condenser membrane. The wicking apparatus further includes a wick composite evaporator membrane comprising a substrate layer, a liquid inlet end, a vapor discharge end, a plurality of cavities disposed in the substrate layer fluidly coupling the liquid inlet end to the second end of the liquid conduit, and a nanoporous filler material disposed within the plurality of cavities. |
| US09702634B1 |
Waste heat recovery and optimized systems performance
Energy systems in different industrial applications including automotive applications experience between 20 to 50 percent of raw energy input as waste heat. in the form of hot exhaust gases, hot cooling water and lost heat from hot equipment surfaces including heated products. Continued efforts to improve systems energy efficiency, recovering waste heat losses provide attractive opportunities for reduced emission and less costly energy resources. This invention introduces other methods for higher performance of existing energy consuming systems by optimizing the performance of some of the system modules that contributes to the waste energy. in turn reduce energy consumption of these systems, reduces its operating cost, damages to the population health by reducing pollution improving the environment quality, and also reduces the cost of health care. Improving efficiency of the module's' which contribute large percentage of waste energy as by-product from the operation of these systems can improve the system efficiency. |
| US09702633B2 |
Entrochemical energy transfer system and a process for obtaining work from environmental thermal energy
An entrochemical energy transfer system and a related process for obtaining work from environmental thermal energy are disclosed. In one example, a plurality of linked entrochemical cells with nested chambers provides an aggregate thermal gradient of each entrochemical cell by transferring environmental thermal energy in and/or out of the plurality of linked entrochemical cells. The aggregate thermal gradient generated from the plurality of linked entrochemical cells can be utilized as an environmentally-friendly energy source for human needs. The entrochemical energy transfer system and the related process for obtaining work from environmental thermal energy utilize a set of entropy transfers from Earth's day and night thermal energy inflows and outflows. Furthermore, in one example, the process for obtaining work from environmental thermal energy involves two steps, each step resulting in entropic increases and transfers. |
| US09702631B2 |
Systems and methods to insulate components of industrial infrastructure
This specification relates to systems and methods to insulate components of industrial infrastructure, such as tank systems and valve boxes used in association with oil wells. According to some implementations, a system includes a component to contain an outflow associated with industrial infrastructure; a foam arranged to insulate an exterior area associated with the component; a moisture barrier arranged to protect the foam; and a support structure to protect the foam from the weight of the component. |
| US09702627B2 |
High temperature vacuum furnace heater element support assembly
An electrical insulating and heating element support assembly for a high temperature vacuum furnace having a threaded support rod for connecting a heating element to the insulated hot-zone support ring in an electrically non-connected position includes insulator sleeves and washers surrounding the rod in contact with a series of refractory metal washers which may include graphite and/or molybdenum as shielding liners used to protect electrical insulators from having electrical short path means due to deposition of conductive materials onto the non-conducting insulators, and the use of threaded nuts and bushings to anchor the rod and shielding arrangement within the furnace hot zone. The non-conducting insulators and washers are made from materials with high thermal and electrical resistance, such as preferably alumina or mullite, and radially surround the support rod and the heating element. The electrically non-connected shielding washers and nuts, and the rod can be made from graphite or molybdenum, and are designed to be easily disassembled in order to provide relatively easier maintenance service to the vacuum furnace. This design accomplishes the dual objective of supporting both the heating element and the high temperature insulation support ring while remaining electrically non-connected from the heating element. It also allows for variations in thickness of the furnace insulation and heating elements which is common for different furnace designs. This new stand-off assembly is designed to be easily disassembled in order to provide faster maintenance turnaround time and reuse of the stand-off hardware. Another equally important advantage of this design is the absence of holes in the support rod for the placement of pin retainers, and the elimination of the pin retainers, commonly found in prior art vacuum furnace heater element support assembly designs. |
| US09702626B2 |
Device and methods for rapid drying of porous materials
An apparatus and method for quickly drying porous materials. A sealable chamber is connected to a cold trap which is connected to a vacuum pump. A sample is placed inside the sealable chamber. The vacuum pump is turned on and air is evacuated through the cold trap to the vacuum pump. An infrared lamp may be used to heat the chamber and sample therein directly or heated air may be allowed to enter the sealable chamber. Air may be drawn directly from the sealable chamber to the vacuum pump bypassing the cold trap. Various parameters may be used to determine if the drying process is complete, including the degree of vacuum achieved in the chamber. |
| US09702624B2 |
Drying apparatus, printing apparatus, and drying method with temperature adjustment of medium
A drying apparatus includes: a heat drying section that heats a medium to which a liquid has been applied from a first surface side of the medium; a temperature adjusting section that adjusts a temperature of the medium from a second surface side of the medium, the second surface being on the opposite side to the first surface; and a control section capable of controlling the heat drying section and the temperature adjusting section. The control section controls the heat drying section and the temperature adjusting section individually in accordance with the type of the medium. |
| US09702623B2 |
Drying device for hollow fiber membrane
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a drying device capable of preventing entanglement of a hollow fiber membrane in a drying chamber and preventing diameter reduction and flattening of the hollow fiber membrane. This drying device includes the drying chamber having a heating means disposed therein, a guide roll that causes at least two hollow fiber membranes (A) to travel inside the drying chamber, and at least two winding bobbins disposed outside the drying chamber. The drying device simultaneously dries at least two hollow fiber membranes (A) in the drying chamber while winding one hollow fiber membrane (A) on one winding bobbin. A rotation speed control means is attached separately to each of the at least two winding bobbins. |
| US09702622B2 |
Turbo chiller and chiller system including the same
A turbo chiller and a chiller system are disclosed. The turbo chiller includes a compressor including an impeller for compressing a refrigerant and a motor for driving the impeller, a condenser configured to perform heat exchange between condensed water and the refrigerant introduced from the compressor, an evaporator configured to perform heat exchange between chilled water and the refrigerant discharged from the condenser, and an expansion valve disposed between the condenser and the evaporator. The compressor, the evaporator and the condenser are arranged to be stacked in a predetermined direction. |
| US09702619B2 |
Controlled, dynamic lighting of interior of appliance
An apparatus, system, and method of illumination relative to an appliance. A programmable controller activates one or more light sources automatically based on a trigger or sensed condition. The controller dynamically adjusts the one or more light sources in a closed loop fashion. |
| US09702618B2 |
LED lighting array system for illuminating a display case
An LED lighting array system includes discrete lighting modules spatially arrayed along a support member to provide illumination of items within a display case. The modules have a low overall height that results in them being mounted in a low-profile configuration at various locations along the support member. The modules include a housing with opposed first and second sets of side apertures, a plurality of internal reflecting surfaces associated with the apertures, respectively, an external lens, a multi-sided light engine and a group of side-emitting LEDs. During operation, a first portion of light generated by the side-emitting LEDs is discharged through apertures and the lens into the cooler to illuminate contents therein, while a second portion of light generated by the side-emitting LEDs is redirected by the reflecting surface through said apertures and the lens into the cooler. |
| US09702615B1 |
Internal cabinet support structure
A cabinet includes a shell having a top wall and first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicular from the top wall. The cabinet further includes a first compartment liner defining a first storage compartment. The cabinet further includes upper and lower support members provided on opposite sides of the first compartment liner and extending substantially parallel to the top wall. The cabinet further includes a first vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members that extends substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the first side wall. The cabinet further includes a second vertical support bar secured to the upper and lower support members that extends substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and between the first compartment liner and the second side wall. The first and second vertical support bars have an L-shaped cross-section. |
| US09702614B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a cabinet having a storage compartment, a door pivotably mounted to the cabinet to open or close the storage compartment, and the door may include a first door defining a front surface of the door, a door liner coupled to a rear surface of the first door, a basket holder mounted in a mounting recess provided in the door liner, the basket holder having a protrusion that protrudes out from the mounting recess, and a rear panel attached to a rear surface of the door liner, the rear panel having a through-hole configured to allow passage of the protrusion, and a basket mounted to the protrusion of the basket holder. |
| US09702610B2 |
Reefer container and power supply system for reefer container
A reefer container includes: a box-shaped container body; a load equipped in the container body; and a power receiving portion which is configured to receive power from an outside and to supply the power to the load. The power receiving portion includes a power receiving coil which is configured to contactlessly receive the power from the outside. |
| US09702609B2 |
Vessel cooling system and associated methods
A vessel cooling system may include a beverage holding device, having a bottom with a slit having a length. The system may also include a cooling device, having a convex top configured to be received by a concave bottom of a beverage vessel. The cooling device may have a top sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane, a bottom sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane affixed to the top sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane forming a cavity therebetween, and a shaped depression in the center of the convex top. The cooling device may further include a rigid portion, having a circumference, disposed on the bottom of the cooling device, a lip, having an upper surface with a plurality of raised ridges, formed on the circumference of the rigid portion and configured to contact the perimeter of the concave bottom of the beverage vessel, and coolant, that contracts as its temperature raises, contained within the cavity. |
| US09702608B2 |
Refrigerator including ice crushing member with power transmission units
A refrigerator includes a storage room, a door for opening and shutting the storage room, and an ice storage unit. The refrigerator also includes a crushing member, which is rotatably provided at the ice storage unit, and a driving unit, which provides rotational power for the crushing member and includes a rotary shaft to be rotated in a first direction. The refrigerator further includes a first power transmission unit, which is coupled with the rotary shaft and is rotated in a second direction, and a second power transmission unit, which is separably coupled with the first power transmission unit and transmits the power of the first power transmission unit to the crushing member. |
| US09702607B2 |
Air-conditioner system for vehicle and method for controlling same
The present invention relates to an air-conditioner system for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to an air-conditioner system for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same which can change a target superheat degree depending on variation in an amount of refrigerant discharged from a compressor, namely, gradually decrease the target superheat degree by stages as the amount of refrigerant discharged from the compressor decreases, and control an electronic expansion valve based on the target superheat degree dropping by stages, thereby preventing performance degradation of an air conditioner and stabilizing the system by restraining a change in the superheat degree in an area where an amount of refrigerant discharged from a compressor varies. |
| US09702601B2 |
Expansion valve and vibration-proof spring
An expansion valve includes a shaft for transmitting the drive force to a valve element and a vibration-proof spring, set between the body and the shaft, which generates the sliding friction by biasing the shaft. The vibration-proof spring includes a spring body of a hollow tube shape, a spring part, which is integrally formed with a side wall of the spring body, and a bulging portion formed on the spring part in a protruding manner such that the tip of the bulging portion is placed opposite to a part of the shaft. When the bulging portion abuts against the shaft inserted to the vibration-proof spring, the spring part is placed in a position along the spring body or is warped outwardly from the spring body, so that the elastically reactive force resulting from the warped spring part allows the shaft to slide in a stabilized manner. |
| US09702600B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving refrigeration and air conditioning efficiency
A method and apparatus for improving refrigeration and air conditioning efficiency for use with a heat exchange system having a compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion device, and circulating refrigerant. The apparatus includes is a liquid refrigerant containing vessel having a refrigerant entrance and a refrigerant exit with the vessel positioned in the heat exchange system between the condenser and the evaporator, and means for creating a turbulent flow of liquefied refrigerant. The apparatus further preferably includes a refrigerant bypass path to sub-cool a portion of the refrigerant within the vessel; a disk positioned at the liquid refrigerant entrance to develop a, low pressure area on the back side and create a turbulent flow of refrigerant entering the vessel; and a refrigerant valve incorporated into the refrigerant path downstream of the expansion valve and before the coil which develops a vortex that continues through the refrigerant coil. |
| US09702599B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving refrigeration and air conditioning efficiency
A method and apparatus for improving refrigeration and air conditioning efficiency for use with a heat exchange system having a compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion device, and circulating refrigerant. The apparatus includes is a liquid refrigerant containing vessel having a refrigerant entrance and a refrigerant exit with the vessel positioned in the heat exchange system between the condenser and the evaporator, and means for creating a turbulent flow of liquefied refrigerant. The apparatus further preferably includes a refrigerant bypass path to sub-cool a portion of the refrigerant within the vessel; a disk positioned at the liquid refrigerant entrance to develop a low pressure area on the back side and create a turbulent flow of refrigerant entering the vessel; and a refrigerant valve incorporated into the refrigerant path downstream of the expansion valve and before the coil which develops a vortex that continues through the refrigerant coil. |
| US09702598B2 |
Evaporator
An evaporator used in a car air conditioner satisfies a a relation of 0.9≦P1/P2≦1.1, where P1 is the passage cross sectional area of each portion of a refrigerant discharge passage of a refrigerant inlet outlet member of the evaporator, and P2 is the passage cross sectional area of a pipe which establishes communication between a second refrigerant passage of an expansion valve and a compressor. Preferably, relations of W1>W2 and H1>H2 are satisfied, where W1 and H1 are the internal width and height of an upstream end portion of a straight portion of an outward bulged portion of a third plate of the refrigerant inlet outlet member, and W2 and H2 are the internal width and height of a downstream end portion of the outward bulged portion. |
| US09702595B2 |
Thermoelectric devices and methods of manufacture
Thermoelectric devices are provided. In one embodiment, a thermoelectric device may include a glass wafer defined by conductive vias, a second wafer, and a plurality of metal film disposed between the glass wafer and the second wafer and against solid, conductive, integral, end surfaces of the conductive vias. A nanogap may be disposed between the metal film and the second wafer. The nanogap may have been created by applying a voltage extending between the conductive vias and the second wafer. Methods of forming the devices, along with methods of using the devices to transform heat energy to electricity, and for refrigeration, are also provided. |
| US09702593B2 |
Enclosure refrigerated by a hybrid compression/absorption refrigeration system
The present invention relates to an enclosure which is refrigerated and kept at a predetermined set temperature (Te), containing the evaporator (7) of a refrigerating unit (5). Said enclosure is characterised in that: same comprises a thermochemical system (9) the circuit of which is separate from that of the refrigerating unit and which includes a reactor (1) containing a reactive product capable of absorbing a gas, a condenser and an evaporator arranged in said enclosure (3), the reactive product and the gas being such as to be the subject, when placed in the presence of one another, of a reaction which has the effect of the gas being absorbed by the reactive product and, conversely, to be the subject of a desorption reaction of the gas absorbed by the reactive product when heat is applied thereto once the gas has been absorbed, the thermochemical system having two operating phases, namely a cold-production phase and a regeneration phase, said system comprising measurement (14) and control (19) means which only enable the thermochemical system (9) to enter the regeneration phase if the temperature of the condenser (17) thereof is below a predetermined threshold temperature (Ts). |
| US09702590B2 |
Method for operating a water heater appliance
A method for operating a water heater appliance includes obtaining a plurality of water temperature measurements over a period of time, determining at least one heated water draw event for the water heater appliance, and establishing a future operating schedule for the water heater appliance. The water heater appliance is operated according to the future operating schedule. |
| US09702589B2 |
Combustion apparatus having air intake preheater
The present invention relates to a combustion apparatus capable of reducing the combustion load of a burner and improving the combustion efficiency thereof. The combustion apparatus includes: a premixing chamber for premixing external air, introduced through an air supply inlet, with a combustion gas; a blower for supplying a mixed air premixed in the premixing chamber toward a burner; a combustion chamber for burning the mixed air by ignition of the burner; a heat exchanger for heat exchange with room heating water by using the combustion heat of the combustion chamber; an exhaust gas discharging part for discharging an exhaust gas having passed through the heat exchanger; and a duct through which the exhaust gas having passed through the exhaust gas discharging part is discharged outside, wherein the combustion apparatus includes an air intake preheater for heat exchange between the exhaust gas discharged to the duct through the exhaust gas discharging part and the air supplied to the premixing chamber through the air supply inlet, the air intake preheater including a channel-forming member in which a plurality of unit plates are stacked with a predetermined interval therebetween to form an exhaust gas channel and an air intake channel therein that are separated from each other, are adjacent to each other, and are alternately arranged. |
| US09702588B2 |
Air conditioning apparatus
An air conditioning apparatus includes a casing having intake and blow-out ports, a partition member dividing an interior of the casing, a heat exchanger, and a centrifugal fan. The partition member has a fan entrance bored in opposition to the blow-out port. The centrifugal fan includes a bladed wheel mounted in the fan compartment such that a rotary shaft of the bladed wheel is oriented along the fan entrance and the blow-out port. The rotary shaft is disposed adjacent to a bladed wheel nearby lateral part of multiple lateral parts of the casing that are disposed along the opening direction of the fan entrance and the opening direction of the blow-out port. The blow-out port is at least partially disposed in a position adjacent to a blow-out port nearby lateral part of the multiple lateral parts of the casing and being opposed to the bladed wheel nearby lateral part. |
| US09702587B2 |
Water storage vessel assembly with coil support member
A coil support member is attached to a coil inside a water storage vessel and includes multiple openings, insertion portions and a non-insertion portion. The openings are arranged in a lengthwise direction, and together with surrounding sites prevent contact between mutually adjacent loops of the tube of the coil and suppress contact between an inner surface of the water storage vessel and an outer surface of the coil. The insertion portions are formed between the openings and are inserted into an intra-coil space located radially inward of the outer surface of the coil. The non-insertion portion is positioned in an extra-coil space located radially outward of the outer surface of the coil. The insertion portions have insertion body portions preventing contact between mutually adjacent loops of the tube, and engagement portions contacting the tube from the intra-coil space and maintaining an inserted state of the insertion body portions. |
| US09702586B2 |
Energy storage for PV water heater
A system for heating water includes a first tank containing water and a heater element for heating the water, a solar panel, a control circuit coupling the solar panel to the heater element, and a second tank. The control circuit couples power to the heater element in proportion to available sunlight. The maximum temperature of the water in the first tank is higher than the maximum temperature of the water in the second tank. Water is drawn from the system through the second tank. |
| US09702585B2 |
Tankless electric water heater
A tankless electric water heater system including a heating chamber having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a heating element connected to the heating chamber, a first temperature sensor disposed near the first end of the heating chamber, a second temperature sensor disposed near the second end of the heating chamber, a flow sensor configured to detect a flow of water and disposed near the heating chamber, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors, the flow sensor, and the heating element. The controller is configured to have a set point temperature, to detect temperature and flow data from the first and second temperature sensors, and the flow sensor, and to provide as output a power setting to the heating element. |
| US09702577B1 |
Dynamic determination of fan speeds
An updated operating speed for a fan of an air handler may be determined. The updated operating speed may depend on a target output volume for the air handler and an intermediate resistance value for a filter of the air handler. The intermediate resistance value may be determined by instructing the fan to operate at a first operating speed for a fixed period of time. During the fixed period of time, a pressure sensing system may sense an observed differential pressure measured across the filter. The observed differential pressure may correspond to the intermediate resistance value. The intermediate resistance value may be used to identify, from a set of filter loading values which may be retained in a filter loading data structure, the updated operating speed for the fan such that the air handler is capable of achieving the target output volume. |
| US09702576B2 |
Columnar air moving devices, systems and methods
An air moving system includes an air moving device including a housing member, a rotary fan assembly, and an opening for connection with an airflow duct, the housing including a plurality of air intake vents. A first volume of air can enter the housing through the opening and a second volume of air can enter the housing through the plurality of intake vents. The rotary fan assembly directs the first and second volumes of air. |
| US09702570B2 |
Bulkhead assemblies for air conditioner units
Air conditioner units and bulkhead assemblies for air conditioner units are provided. A bulkhead assembly includes a bulkhead which includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall along a lateral direction, and a rear wall extending laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The rear wall includes an indoor facing surface and an opposing outdoor facing surface. The bulkhead assembly further includes a vent aperture defined in the rear wall, and a vent unit. The vent unit includes a frame, a door, and a hinge rotatably connecting the door to the frame. The frame is positioned on one of the indoor facing surface or the outdoor facing surface and defines a frame aperture generally aligned with the vent aperture. The door is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. |
| US09702569B2 |
Method for the temperature control of components
A temperature-control system includes a temperature-control device (3), (n≧2) temperature-control assemblies (5, 5′) which are designed for conducting a temperature-control fluid (2) through a component (4) to be temperature-controlled, (n≧2) individual return line parts (7′, 7″) and (n≧2) return temperature sensors (8, 8′), a controller (9) having (n≧2) valves (10, 10′) and control elements (11, 11′) which are designed to adjust the respective associated valve (10, 10′), and a room temperature sensor (12) for determining and reporting an actual temperature (13) in an immediate environment of the component (4). |
| US09702568B2 |
Method and system for operating a water heater appliance
A method and system for operating a water heater appliance are provided. The method and system include initiating a vacation mode of the water heater appliance. An operating temperature of the water heater appliance is reduced from a normal operating temperature to a vacation operating temperature in the vacation mode of the water heater appliance. The method and system also include sanitizing the water heater appliance by raising the operating temperature of the water heater appliance from the vacation operating temperature to a sanitization operating temperature. |
| US09702567B2 |
Heater system
A heater having a combustion chamber. The heater includes a hopper and a chute extending from an outlet of the hopper to the combustion chamber. The heater includes a chute extending from the hopper to the combustion chamber, a screw extending through the chute into the hopper, and a drive connected to the screw for turning the screw in a direction in which the flight would, but for downward forces, lift the fuel. The heater has a vane rotatably attached to the screw that rotates downward along the screw in absence of upward forces counteracting gravity. The vane is cambered to produce upward forces when turning with the screw beneath an upper surface of the fuel. The vane is biased toward the upper surface of the fuel to level the upper surface of the fuel and prevent the fuel from rat holing and arching. |
| US09702566B2 |
Cooking exhaust hood ventilation system and related methods
Controlling an exhaust hood system having multiple hood sections each with an exhaust output having an associated damper, each exhaust output feeding to a common downstream fan, where damper position and fan speed control an exhaust flow rate through each hood section, involves monitoring at least one condition of each hood section and, based upon the monitoring, establishing a target flow rate for each hood section; based upon a sum of the target flow rates, establishing a fan speed; and monitoring an actual flow rate through each hood section and responsively controlling damper position to achieve the target flow rate for the hood section. Adjusting fan speed and damper position until damper position for at least one hood section achieves a predetermined open position, while at the same time each hood section satisfies its associated target flow rate, can reduce energy costs associated with system operation. |
| US09702557B2 |
Glow plug
A glow plug (1) provided with heat-producing coil (9) inside tube (7). When a vertical cross-section including a center axial line CL2 is observed, a specific cross-sectional region (21) satisfies a>b, where a (mm) is a length along a direction of an axial line CL1, and b (mm) is a length along a direction perpendicular to the axial line CL1. In addition, an inner appearance line (221) of the specific cross-sectional region 21 satisfies R>a/2 in a range positioned between predetermined points P1 and P3, wherein R (mm) is a curvature radius. Moreover, 0.100 |
| US09702554B2 |
Sorbents for coal combustion
Sorbent compositions containing iodine are added to coal to mitigate the release of mercury and/or other harmful elements into the environment during combustion of coal containing natural levels of mercury. |
| US09702551B2 |
Gas burner
A gas burner includes a burner base, a burner head and a cap. The cap is positioned on the burner head such that the burner head and the cap define a plurality of secondary air channels between the burner head and the cap. The plurality of secondary air channels is positioned above a plurality of flame ports. |
| US09702548B2 |
System for co-firing cleaned coal and beneficiated organic-carbon-containing feedstock in a coal combustion apparatus
A co-firing process is described using cleaned coal and processed biomass to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus. The coal feedstock comprises an aggregate blend of cleaned coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets. The total energy density is predetermined and can be similar to the coal component or higher than the coal component. The intracellular salt in the processed biomass is at least 60 wt % less for the processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock used to make the processed biomass pellets than that of the starting un-processed processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock. The cleaned coal has a sulfur content that is 50 wt % less than that of un-cleaned coal before it passed through the coal-cleaning sub-system. |
| US09702544B2 |
Boiler for domestic appliances and water heating systems with steam production for home and industrial use
A boiler for domestic appliances and water heating systems with steam production for home and industrial use includes: a container body configured to contain a liquid to be heated and vaporized, and defining an inner containment chamber having a containment volume; a heating device having a radiant heating surface, the heating device including at least one pair of radiant elements having respective radiant surfaces accommodated in the containment chamber, in parallel and spaced relationship, and designed to be immersed in the liquid to cause a convective motion of the liquid between the radiant surfaces. |
| US09702543B2 |
Method for controlling combustion gas output in direct steam generation for oil recovery
An apparatus, system, and method for controlling combustion gas output in direct steam generation for oil recovery. A direct combustion steam generator burns a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas mixture to produce combustion products including steam, CO2 and N2. Supplemental oxygen is separately supplied to the combustion steam generator to adjust the oxygen content of the oxygen-containing gas mixture during the combustion process in order to adjust the ratio of CO2 to N2 produced in the combustion products. |
| US09702542B2 |
Methods and apparatus for power recovery in fluid catalytic cracking systems
A co-generation process for a regenerator in an FCC system having a reactor and a regenerator includes the steps of introducing flue gas from the regenerator into a heating unit at a first location of the heating unit, and introducing an oxygen/fuel gas mixture into the heating unit at a second location of the heating unit apart from the first location, and combusting the oxygen/fuel gas mixture in the heating unit at the second location to form a hot combustion gas. The process further includes the steps of combining the hot combustion gas and the flue gas at a third location of the heating unit apart from the first location to produce heated flue gas, heating water and/or steam with the heated flue gas to produce a heated steam, and introducing the heated steam into a turbine to extract energy from the heated steam. |
| US09702540B2 |
Illumination system for mobile dispensing devices
A mobile dispensing device comprising at least three or more light sets with each light set having a different region associated with the device and at least one of the lights sets is configured to provide illumination when the device is in the act of dispensing and least one of the other light sets is configured to provide focused illumination when the mobile dispensing device is not involved in the act of dispensing. The device further being configured to read one or more inputs/sensors that are used to determine a lighting condition that either overrides, supplements or is implemented independently of any lighting condition associated with the detected motion and tilting angle of the device. |
| US09702532B1 |
Compact environmentally isolated cylindrical platform for optical components
A compact, environmentally isolated platform for mounting optical components, comprising a plurality of similarly shaped substantially flat plates, an enclosing structural element, and an interior structural element. The similarly shaped substantially flat plates are comprised of metal or composite material, define planes generally parallel to each other, are configured to receive mountable optical components, and have at least one aperture. The enclosing structural element is comprised of metal or composite material, is shaped to generally contain the plurality of similarly shaped substantially flat plates with an interior surface shaped to accommodate the perimeters of the plurality of similarly shaped substantially flat plates, and surrounds the perimeters of the plurality of similarly shaped substantially flat plates. The interior structural element is comprised of metal or composite material and passes through or connecting at least two of the plurality of similarly shaped substantially flat plates to provide structural support. |
| US09702531B2 |
Retrofit system and method for replacing linear fluorescent lamp with LED modules
A system for replacing linear fluorescent lamps with LED modules in a cabinet sign includes an LED module support structure. The LED module support structure may be attached to the raceways of the cabinet sign or to the sockets formerly used for mounting fluorescent lamps between the raceways. |
| US09702530B2 |
Base for an electrical lamp and a method of assembling a base for an electrical lamp
According to an aspect there is provided a base for an electric lamp which may be assembled in an efficient and convenient manner. The base comprises: a tubular enclosure (2) extending along an axial direction between a first and a second end portion of the enclosure, an insulator (4) attached to the first end portion of the enclosure such that a rotation of the insulator relative to the enclosure about the axial direction is prevented, the insulator having an inner portion (4b) facing towards an inner space of the enclosure, an outer portion (4a) facing away from said inner space and at least one channel for receiving an electrically conducting contact pin (5), the channel extending from the outer portion, through the insulator and leading into said inner space, and a housing (3) for accommodating electrical circuitry (11) for operating the electric lamp, wherein an end portion (5a) of the electrically conducting contact pin (5) has a lateral projection or recess being adapted to engage with an engagement portion (3 c) of the housing such that a separation between the insulator and the housing is prevented in at least said axial direction, and wherein the housing is attached to the inner portion of the insulator such that a rotation of the housing relative to the insulator about the axial direction is prevented, wherein a rotation of the housing relative to the enclosure is prevented. |
| US09702529B2 |
Multiple focus point light
A lamp unit with a relay lens that allows two different focus points. Two different optical altering elements are hence simultaneously in focus. The elements can be taken in and out of focus to allow different effects. |
| US09702526B2 |
Illumination device
An illumination device has plural LED light sources, a reflection plate that has plural openings facing the respective LED light sources, and plural lenses that faces the respective openings and that guides light emitted from the plural openings in a direction vertical to the openings. The reflection plate is placed between the plural LED light sources and the plural lenses, and converges the light emitted from the plural LED light sources. |
| US09702525B1 |
Obstruction lighting system
An obstruction lighting system includes a disc having a generally planar surface. A plurality of light emitting diodes are mounted to the planar surface of the disc, a central light emitting axis of the light emitting diodes being oriented generally perpendicularly away from the planar surface. A reflector is coupled to the disc, the reflector having an outer surface in the shape of a rotated conic section, the reflector further including a projecting portion. The outer surface of the reflector has an optical axis generally perpendicular to the central light emitting axis of the light emitting diodes. Furthermore, the projecting portion of the reflector blocks light emissions from the light emitting diodes in an upwardly direction from the obstruction lighting system. The disc and a lens retainer may be configured to block light emitted by the light emitting diodes from traveling in a downwardly direction from the obstruction lighting system. |
| US09702524B2 |
High color-saturation lighting devices
A lighting device including a blue solid state emitter, at least one yellow-green or green lumiphoric material, and at least one red or red-orange solid state emitter can simultaneously provide high color fidelity (e.g., high CRI Ra), high color saturation (e.g., high Qg), and high efficiency (e.g., lumens per watt). A subcombination of blue and yellow-green emissions is provided within one or more specified regions of a 1931 CIE chromaticity diagram. By providing sufficient green content, increased saturation can be active with relatively a short wavelength red or red-orange source while maintaining high color fidelity and efficacy. A mixture of green and yellow lumiphoric materials may be provided. |
| US09702521B2 |
Luminaire
Disclosed is a luminaire (100) comprising a chamber delimited by a body (110) defining a light exit surface of the luminaire; and an optical cavity (135) inside the chamber such that the chamber comprises a volume (112) delimited by the body and the optical cavity, wherein the optical cavity is delimited by a first parabolic mirror (120) and a second parabolic mirror (130) facing the first parabolic mirror, the second parabolic mirror comprising an aperture (132) facing the volume, the optical cavity comprising a light source (140) mounted inside said cavity; wherein the first parabolic mirror and the second parabolic mirror are shaped to create an image (12) of the light source in the volume. |
| US09702520B2 |
Automotive daytime running lights
Automotive daytime running lights, includes a light source and reflecting plates arranged on a light path of the light source. A substrate is arranged near the reflecting plates. A plurality of reflecting cups is formed on a surface of the substrate. Every reflecting plate faces a corresponding reflecting cup. The reflecting plates can rotate around light source to change the light exiting from the light source. The invention uses a laser source with reflecting plates to make the automotive daytime running lights have high visibility and be aesthetic in appearance. |
| US09702516B1 |
Light-emitting diode based recessed light fixtures
A light fixture includes a light module and a trim assembly, where the trim assembly is removably coupled to the light module. The light module includes a module assembly that accommodates a light source. Further, the light module includes an additional heat sink that is optionally coupled to the module assembly. The trim assembly includes a lens, a reflector, and a trim. In particular, the reflector is coupled to the trim by inserting tabs extending downwards and substantially perpendicular from a collar of the reflector into through slots on a top collar of the trim such that the lens is securely retained and disposed in between the reflector and the trim. |
| US09702515B2 |
Light-emitting device and method for compensating chromaticity of light-emitting device
An object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting device having a temperature compensation function implemented with simple circuitry, and a method of temperature compensation in such a light-emitting device. More specifically, the invention provides a light-emitting device and a method of temperature compensation using a light-emitting device, wherein the light-emitting device includes a substrate, a first LED chip which is arranged on the substrate, and which has a characteristic such that Δx and Δy, each representing an amount of displacement on an xy chromaticity diagram, both are negative as temperature rises, and a second LED chip which is arranged on the substrate, and which has a characteristic such that Δx and Δy, each representing an amount of displacement on an xy chromaticity diagram, both are positive as temperature rises. |
| US09702514B1 |
Bulb including removable cover
A three-way bulb including light emitting diodes is used to achieve a variety of light output colors and/or intensities. In some embodiments, the inputs to a three-way bulb are configured to perform other functions, such as power a motor. In some embodiments, a bulb including light emitting diodes includes a replicable cover and/or a replicable LED. This cover may be configured to project images or support a shade made of a heat sensitive material. |
| US09702506B2 |
LNG tank
An LNG tank as disclosed can include an inner shell of stainless steel and an outer shell spaced at a distance from the inner shell, the inner and outer shells defining an isolation space therebetween. A double-walled pipe of stainless steel connected to the LNG tank can include an inner pipe. The outer wall of the pipe can be connected to the inner shell by a bellows-like pipe fitting welded to the outer wall of the pipe(s) and to the inner shell of the tank. The inner pipe for extending into a tank room can be connected to a valve in a valve block, and the outer wall of the pipe extending into the tank room can be welded to the valve block to provide a continuous secondary barrier for the inner pipe between the inner shell of the tank and the valve block. |
| US09702505B2 |
Cryogenic fluid cylinder
A cryogenic fluid cylinder includes an inner vessel for holding cryogenic fluid, a cylindrically shaped outer vessel having a vertical longitudinal axis surrounds the inner vessel and forms an insulating space there between, and operating controls located on a top of the outer vessel. Customer or end user operating controls include a liquid-use valve for selectively dispensing liquid cryogen, a pressure-building valve for selectively controlling a pressure building circuit, and a gas-use valve for selectively dispensing cryogen gas. Supplier or maintenance personnel operating controls include an economizer regulator for selectively setting at least one desired pressure of the inner vessel, a vent valve for selectively venting cryogen fluid, and a vacuum pressure port for indicating vacuum pressure between the vessels. The end user controls are located on a front side of the outer vessel while the supplier controls are located on a rear side of the outer vessel. |
| US09702503B2 |
Multifunctional clip
A device configured for securing objects such as ornamental light strings to surfaces. The device includes a first clip with a bottom section, a first leg and a second leg, the first leg and second leg being perpendicular to the bottom section. The first clip comprises a pole adaptor attachment portion located on a bottom surface of the bottom section. A second clip including an arm projecting away from the pole adaptor attachment portion, such that at a distal end of the arm, a leg portion projects at an acute angle to a direction of the arm, and in a same direction of a distal end of the first leg. The leg portion is displaced in a space by a length of the arm, such that the leg portion projects at an acute angle to the pole adaptor attachment section. |
| US09702498B2 |
Method and system for manufacturing insulation block and insulation block
A method for manufacturing an insulation block, preferably an insulation plate, in which method the casting mold is adjusted to a desired size by moving at least one wall of the casting mold, the pre-expanded polystyrene, polypropylene or polyethylene beads are led to the casting mold, the pre-expanded polymer beads are steamed in the casting mold, and the formed finished insulation block is removed from the mold. In a method according to the invention at least one wall of the casting mold is moved during the steaming and/or during the cooling phase after the steaming. |
| US09702497B2 |
Retaining plate for a reinforcing strip
A retaining plate (30) made from a rigid material having tips on each of the two faces of same, the tips of each of the faces of a length of between 1 and 3 mm making an angle in the forward direction with the face of between 30° and 60°. The retaining plate is secured by the tips of one of the faces of same at the final end (28) of a first reinforcing strip (26) already positioned on the degraded portion of a pipe, and secured to the initial end (32) of a second reinforcing strip to be wound following the first reinforcing strip by the tips of the other face, said tips being tilted towards the initial end (32) of the second reinforcing strip. |
| US09702495B2 |
Multi-layered gas-filled bladder for accommodating changes in fluid characteristics within a fluid delivery system
An absorber for use in a fluid delivery system is disclosed which includes a housing defining an interior chamber, a connective fitting extending from the housing in fluid communication with the interior chamber for connecting the housing to the fluid delivery system, and at least one gas-filled bladder or cell disposed within the interior chamber of the housing to accommodate changes in fluid characteristics, such as, for example, pressure and volume, within the fluid delivery system, the gas-filled bladder or cell having a predetermined pre-charge pressure and a multi-layered flexible polymeric shell including a plurality of successive relatively thin polymeric shell layers to inhibit the formation of leak paths through the shell in the event that a single shell layer fails. |
| US09702493B2 |
Kit of parts for assembling a hose connection, a fuel dispensing unit having such a hose connection, and a method for assembling such a hose connection
Kits of parts for assembling a hose connection, fuel dispensing units having such a hose connection, and methods for assembling such a hose connection are provided. In one embodiment, a kit of parts is provided that includes a plurality of hose connection parts selectable from, first hose connection parts including one fluid inlet and one fluid outlet, second hose connection parts including two fluid inlets and one fluid outlet, and third hose connection parts including three fluid inlets and one fluid outlet, which kit of parts is suitable for assembly of a hose connection having at least a first and second fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, according to any one of three configurations. |
| US09702492B2 |
Line connector and line set for fluid media
A line connector for a urea-water solution in an SCR catalytic converter system. The line connector has two mutually separate flow paths for two fluid media, one for a functional medium and another for a temperature control medium for controlling the temperature of the functional medium. The line connector includes a connector body having a first connection for a first line conducting a functional medium, a second connection conducting a temperature control medium, and a third connection for a double line having an inner line and a coaxial outer line. The third connection has an inner connecting element with an inner passage and an outer connecting element with an outer passage. The connector body is formed in its interior such that the first and second connections merge separately from one another into the inner and outer passages, respectively, of the third connection. |
| US09702488B2 |
Screw connection device for fluid lines, in particular for motor vehicle fluid lines
A screw connection device for fluid lines having a coupling nut with an interior space and having an internal threading running over the circumference of the interior space, as well as having a connecting element with an external threading. A line end of a fluid line is accommodated in the coupling nut, wherein the line end exhibits an end shape. When the internal threading of the coupling nut is screwed to the external threading of the connecting element, a locating surface disposed in the interior space of the coupling nut is moved toward the back end of the end shape, or vice versa, respectively. A spring element is disposed between the locating surface and the back end of the end shape, running over the circumference of the fluid line. |
| US09702482B1 |
Two-piece U-shaped fairing
A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device including a fairing comprising a fairing body having a nose dimensioned to partially encircle an underlying tubular and a first arm and a second arm extending from the nose, wherein the nose, the first arm and the second arm are one integrally formed unit and the first arm and the second arm are spaced a distance from one another along their entire length so as to define a gap therebetween; and a securing element dimensioned to fit within the gap between the first arm and the second arm and secure the fairing to an underlying tubular. Methods for securing a U-shaped fairing to a tubular and manufacturing a U-shaped fairing are also disclosed. |
| US09702480B2 |
Valve switchbox
A switchbox for monitoring the position of a manual quarter-turn valve has a housing mountable to the valve to be monitored/controlled. A handle-driven shaft extends through the housing, with one end of the shaft couplable to the valve stem such that movement of the shaft moves the valve stem. One or more shaft position sensor switches interact with a cam on the shaft to signal shaft position and/or provide control signals. A plate coupled to the shaft articulates within a recess on the surface of the switchbox to limit motion of the valve to an operable range, such as between full ON and full OFF. The switchbox has a pair of lock tabs with lock apertures. A lock aperture in the plate is alignable with the lock tab apertures to receive a pin or padlock for locking the valve in a selected position. A potentiometer can be utilized in place of a switch as a shaft position sensor. The switchbox may be used with an original or new handle and may feature detents to allow a range of valve settings. |
| US09702475B2 |
Electromagnetically actuatable valve
An electromagnetically actuatable valve is described, for controlling fluids, having an inner pole and a magnetic armature, the inner pole having a first end face oriented to the magnetic armature, and the magnetic armature having a second end face oriented to the inner pole, a first contact line and a second contact line being present between the first and second end face when the inner pole and the magnetic armature come into contact with one another, and a damping volume being present between the first and second contact line when the inner pole and the magnetic armature come into contact with one another. |
| US09702471B1 |
Attachment for different air valve
An air valve connecting device or attachment includes a casing extended from a housing, a mouth engaged in the casing and having a compartment for engaging with either a US or French inflation valve, a follower slidably engaged in the casing and the housing and engageable with the mouth for compressing the mouth to grasp either of the inflation valves, a tube slidably engaged in the follower and extendible into the mouth, an actuator engaged in the housing and having a space for engaging with the follower, and the actuator includes a cam member for engaging with the follower and for forcing the follower to compress the mouth and to grasp either of inflation valves to the casing. |
| US09702470B2 |
Valve arrangement, apparatus and methods of operation thereof
A valve arrangement comprises first and second valves mechanically interconnected for synchronous operation with one another so as to be switchable by a single action between first and second fluid flow configurations. The first configuration provides a first path for first fluid to flow from a first inlet to a first outlet and a second path for second fluid to flow from a second inlet to a second outlet. The second configuration provides paths for first fluid to flow from the first inlet to both the first and second outlets while closing the path from the second inlet. In one application, the arrangement allows a convenient method of disinfecting a water-consuming appliance such as a shower. |
| US09702468B2 |
Seal system including water management feature
A seal system includes one or more corner seals and a sill seal attachable to the corner seal(s). The sill seal includes a horizontal portion, an outer flange depending from the horizontal portion, an oblique portion extending obliquely from the horizontal portion, and an inner flange extending upwardly from the horizontal portion. A wiper extends upwardly from the inner flange. The inner flange and oblique portion cooperate to form a trough. One or more weep holes are formed in the inner flange to allow for communication of water from the trough to the other side of the inner flange. |
| US09702462B2 |
Large diameter thermoplastic seal
A seal ring includes a weld and a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material has a weld elongation-at-break of at least 3%. The thermoplastic material can have a glass transition temperature of at least 100° C. The thermoplastic material with the weld can have a weld elongation-at-break of at least 3%. The seal ring can have a circumference of at least 0.62 meters. The seal ring can have a coefficient of friction of not greater than 0.45. |
| US09702455B2 |
Electronic shifting of a transmission
A recreational vehicle is provided including a power source, such as an engine or an electric motor, and a transmission having a variable gear ratio. A sub-transmission coupled to an output of the transmission includes a plurality of selectable gear configurations including at least one of a forward gear, a neutral gear, a reverse gear, and a park gear. An electronic controller is operative to electronically control the gear configuration of the sub-transmission. |
| US09702454B1 |
Gearbox shift lock
A fluid powered circuit for a gearbox and a method for protecting a gearbox are disclosed. The fluid powered circuit includes a control circuit operatively connected to a clutch engagement circuit. The fluid powered circuit is selectively operable to either flow a fluid from a fluid supply source to the clutch or vent the fluid to the atmosphere. The method for protecting the gearbox includes flowing the fluid from the fluid supply source to the fluid powered circuit, measuring the speed of the shaft, measuring the pressure of the fluid entering the clutch engagement circuit, and flowing the fluid from the fluid powered circuit to the clutch upon detecting one or more conditions. |
| US09702448B2 |
Differential having light weight bevel gearing
A differential for use in a vehicle drive train having a pair of rotary members including a gear case that is operatively supported in driven relationship with respect to the drive train and a pair of side gears mounted for rotation with a respective one of the rotary members in the gear case. The differential also includes a spider mounted for rotation with the gear case and at least one pair of pinion gears mounted for rotation with the spider and in meshing relationship with the side gears. The side gears have concave teeth flanks and the pinion gears have convex teeth flanks to increase power density through the differential. |
| US09702440B2 |
Powertrain for automatic transmission
The present invention relates to a powertrain for an automatic transmission. The powertrain for an automatic transmission consisting of an input shaft, an output shaft and first to third planetary gear sets comprises: first to seventh actuating elements constituting the first to third planetary gear sets; and shifting elements including first to fourth clutches and first and second brakes, wherein at least two of the shifting elements are actuated so that the first to seventh actuating elements are driven or restrained, thereby implementing eight forward speed and two reverse speed ratios. |
| US09702432B2 |
Damper isolator with magnetic spring
Damper-isolators are disclosed that have a hub defining a bore for receiving a shaft, a pulley body mated to the hub to collectively define a magnet track that is concentric about the bore, a damper assembly operatively disposed between the hub and a belt engaging portion of the pulley body, a first magnet positioned within the magnet track and connected to the hub for rotation therewith, and a second magnet positioned within the magnet track and connected to the pulley body for rotation therewith. The first magnet and the second magnet are positioned with like polarities facing one another. A front end accessory drive system having one of the damper-isolators is also disclosed. |
| US09702431B2 |
Damper
A damper includes a first, second, and third rotation member rotatable around a rotation axis, a first elastic portion interposed between the first rotation member and the second rotation member and elastically deformed by a relative rotation between the first rotation member and the second rotation member, a second elastic portion interposed between the second rotation member and the third rotation member and elastically deformed by a relative rotation between the second rotation member and the third rotation member, and a dynamic vibration absorber. The dynamic vibration absorber includes a rolling element that is positioned at an inner side relative to the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion in a radial direction of the rotation axis, and is rotatable relative to the second rotation member. |
| US09702428B2 |
Passive heave compensator
A passive heave compensator having: a main hydraulic cylinder, including a moveable piston having a piston rod extendible through the main hydraulic cylinder and a piston head to divide the main hydraulic cylinder between a gas phase above the piston head, and oil phase below the piston head; an upper connection point associated with the main hydraulic cylinder and a lower connection point associated with the piston rod; and an accumulator having a moveable separator to divide the accumulator between a gas phase above the separator, and an oil phase below the separator and being in communication with the oil phase in the main hydraulic cylinder; wherein an oil phase includes a magnetorheological substance, and that the passive heave compensator includes one or more electromagnetic controllers. In this way, operation of the one or more electromagnetic controllers can magnetize the magnetorheological substance to vary the viscosity of the oil phase, thus changing the degree of damping that can be provided by the passive heave compensator. |
| US09702417B2 |
Method of calibration of a hydraulically operated clutch of a continuously variable transmission using pressure between a hydrostatic pump and motor
A method of calibrating a hydraulically operated clutch in a continuously variable transmission of a vehicle, includes steps of filling the clutch as if for a shift, using a control signal value for achieving a test pressure, and determining a resulting change in a pressure condition in a hydrostatic power unit of the transmission. If the change indicates initial engagement, then a value representative of the signal value used is recorded. If greater than initial engagement is indicated, or the vehicle moved, then the clutch is emptied and tested using a lower test pressure. If initial engagement is not indicated, the clutch is emptied and refilled to a greater test pressure. An exemplary pressure condition is a difference in pressure in lines between a pump and motor of the power unit. During the calibration, the vehicle can be held stationary with a parking brake or the like. |
| US09702416B2 |
Linear sensor
The present invention uses a sensor to determine when a pressure plate and a clutch plate of a dual clutch transmission system are in contact with one another. The assembly includes a housing having a plurality of pistons connected to both the clutch plate and pressure plate. The pistons contain either magnets or couplers and are positioned adjacent one another separated by either a Hall effect sensor or an inductive sensor. As the pressure plates and clutch plates come into contact with one another the pistons move within the housing and said movement is detected by the sensor. The sensor determines if the pressure plate is in contact with the clutch plate and if the clutch plate or the pressure plate has traveled any linear distance. |
| US09702415B1 |
Wedge clutch with mutually supporting wedge plates and self-locking displacement assembly
A wedge clutch, including: a hub; an outer ring; a wedge plate between the hub and the outer ring; and a displacement assembly including a locking ring including a first axial stop, an engagement arm, a first resilient element urging the distal end in a first rotational direction. The slider ring is axially displaceable to: rotate the engagement arm in a second rotational direction to transition from a connect mode, in which the hub and the outer ring are non-rotatably connected, to a disconnect mode, in which the hub and the outer ring are rotatable with respect to each other; and for the connect mode, enable the first resilient element to rotate the engagement arm in the first rotational direction to contact the first axial stop to block displacement of the hub, with respect to the wedge plate, in the first axial direction. |
| US09702410B2 |
Machine arrangement
A machine arrangement comprising a crankshaft which is supported by at least one roller bearing including bearing rings and roller elements between the bearing rings, wherein the roller bearing is connected with a device for delivering of a lubricant to the area of rolling contact between the bearing rings and the roller elements. To improve the supply of lubricant to the roller bearing and to supply the right amount of lubricant in dependence of the temperature of the roller bearing, the device for delivering of the lubricant comprises a lubricant reservoir and a flow path from the lubricant reservoir to the area of rolling contact, wherein a valve element is arranged in the flow path for controlling at least one of a flow of lubricant and a pressure of lubricant in dependence of the temperature of at least one of the roller bearing and the valve element. |
| US09702408B2 |
Rolling-bearing cage
The present invention relates to a cage for a rolling bearing, in particular for a ball bearing, to a rolling bearing with a cage and to the use of a cage in a high-speed rolling bearing with a characteristic speed value n×dm>1,000,000 mm/min, in particular for industrial spindle-bearing applications and in the medical sector, in particular in dental technology. |
| US09702401B2 |
Combination thrust-bearing and radial bearing apparatuses
Embodiments of the invention relate to bearing apparatuses in which one bearing surface of the bearing apparatus includes diamond, while another bearing surface includes a non-diamond superhard material (e.g., silicon carbide). For example, a bearing apparatus may include a bearing stator assembly and a bearing rotor assembly. The bearing stator assembly and bearing rotor assembly each include a support ring and one or more superhard bearing elements generally opposed to one another. The bearing surface(s) of the rotor or stator may include diamond, while the bearing surface(s) of the other of the rotor or stator do not include diamond. Another bearing apparatus may include both thrust- and radial bearing components. The generally opposed thrust-bearing elements may include diamond, while the generally opposed radial bearing elements may not include diamond, but include a non-diamond superhard material, such as silicon carbide. |
| US09702396B2 |
Fasteners with dual skin depth washers
A fastener including a pin member with an elongated shank having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a cylindrical shank portion having an outer surface, a head located at the first end of the elongated shank, the head including a bearing surface located on the underside of the head, and a threaded portion located at the second end of the elongated shank. The fastener includes a washer installed on the pin member against the bearing surface of the head of the pin member. The washer includes an outer surface and at least one dielectric gasket layer located on the outer surface of the washer. |
| US09702395B2 |
Bonding lug washer
A washer includes a perimeter portion, a support edge adjoining the perimeter portion and defining a first plane, and a contact portion having a generally planar contact surface. The contact surface defines a second plane parallel to and spaced from the first plane. The contact portion further includes at least two apertures extending therethrough. The washer further includes a rim portion extending between the perimeter portion and the contact portion. The rim portion surrounds the contact portion and forms an angle with the first plane of between 6 and 20 degrees. The contact portion and the rim portion are integrally formed as one-piece. |
| US09702393B2 |
Pressure pad for screw and breakaway pressure screw
A fastener used to secure an electrical conductor includes a head, a shaft, and a pressure pad. The head has an inner surface for receiving a drive tool. The shaft has an outer surface including a threaded portion. The pressure pad can include a surface feature. The pressure pad can also be releasably, rotationally-fixed to the shaft through a breakaway portion. |
| US09702385B2 |
Machine tool assembly configured for swift disassembly
A machine tool assembly including a body component, a head component and a fastener. The body and head components respectively include a body hole and a head hole. The fastener is configured to secure the head component to the body component via insertion through the head hole and attachment to the body hole. The head hole includes a head fastener retention arrangement for preventing unintentional ejection of the fastener therefrom. |
| US09702383B2 |
Actuator
An actuator according to the present invention includes a telescopic body, a tank, a first opening/closing valve provided in a first passage that connects a rod side chamber to a piston side chamber, a second opening/closing valve provided in a second passage that connects the piston side chamber to the tank, a pump that supplies a fluid to the rod side chamber, a motor that, drives the pump, an exhaust passage that connects the rod side chamber to the tank, and a valve element provided in the exhaust passage, wherein a telescopic unit is formed by integrating the telescopic body, the first opening/closing valve, and the second opening/closing valve, a driving unit is formed by integrating the pump and the motor, and the telescopic unit and the driving unit are provided as separate bodies. |
| US09702377B2 |
Motor and pump assembly for mounting in a vehicle seat
The invention relates to a motor and pump assembly for mounting in a vehicle seat including a motor driven pump unit (3), a housing (9, 11) and a suspension arrangement for holding the motor driven pump unit within the housing, said motor driven pump unit having a longitudinal axis, characterized in that the suspension arrangement comprises: at least one helical compression spring (8) for holding said motor driven pump unit and balancing its weight, one end of the helical compression spring being connected to the housing and the other end being connected to the motor driven pump unit, at least one spiral spring (1), the inner end of which being connected to one axial end of the motor driven pump unit and an outer end portion of which being connected to the housing, wherein the spiral spring is located such that the spiral is centered around the longitudinal axis of the motor driven pump unit (3). |
| US09702376B2 |
Apparatus for compressing a wet gas flow
A method and apparatus for compressing a gas flowing comprising at least 0.1 vol % water, include a compressor containing N compression stages, in which each compression stage includes a compressing means and an exchanger directly or indirectly connected to a water-coolant circuit; and in which at least a first exchanger and a second exchanger, in first and second consecutive or non-consecutive compression stages, are connected in series to the water-coolant circuit. The exchangers, which are not connected in series to the water-coolant circuit, include at their water-coolant output a pressure drop device. |
| US09702374B2 |
Spiral pumping stage and vacuum pump incorporating such pumping stage
A spiral pumping stage includes both centripetal and centrifugal pumping channels, so that the gas is pumped from the periphery to the center of the pumping stage throughout a first group of pumping channels and it is pumped from the center to the periphery of the pumping stage throughout a second group of pumping channels. Thanks to this inventive arrangement, both the gas coming from a previous pumping stage or a main pump inlet arranged upstream the pumping stage according to the invention and the gas coming from the additional side inlet can be effectively pumped by the pumping stage according to the invention. |
| US09702370B2 |
Axial bearing for an electric drive
An electric drive for a domestic appliance includes a rotor and a shaft. An axial bearing retains the rotor on the shaft. The axial bearing has an axle hole, a multi-sided outer contour and an end face having a recess running centrally through the axle hole. The rotor includes a bearing seat that has a multi-sided inner contour corresponding to the multi-sided outer contour. The bearing seat has lateral notches. The recess ends at opposite ones of the lateral notches on opposite sides of the end face. |
| US09702369B2 |
Electric fan with impediment buffering
An electric fan includes a fan body having a fan shaft coupled to a fan motor. A fan motor bracket is connected to a fixing portion of the fan motor. A swivel shaft is coupled to the fan motor bracket. A sleeve is mounted around the swivel shaft and is coupled to an output shaft of a swivel motor. The sleeve includes an inner periphery having grooves. The swivel shaft receives an elastic element extending in a radial direction of the swivel shaft. A ball is mounted to an end of the elastic element. The ball is biased by the elastic element to be partially received in one of the grooves. If the fan body is impeded during the swiveling movement, the ball moves inward and compress the elastic element, disengaging the swivel shaft from the sleeve to reduce damage to the sleeve and the output shaft of the motor. |
| US09702368B1 |
Flexible blade configuration for efficiently moving fluid using a waving motion
A blade configuration for efficiently moving a fluid using a waving action. The blade configuration uses a flexible panel. A pocket depression is formed in the flexible panel. The pocket depression is closer to a rear edge than to a front edge. Consequently, the flexible panel has a first average slope from its front edge to the pocket depression and a second average slope from its rear edge to the pocket depression. The second average slope is greater than the first average slope. Due to the shape of the pocket depression and attachment to the framework, waving movement of the blade through the fluid causes vortices to be generated and shed in a manner causing the fluid which interacts with the flexible panel to flow mostly in the direction of the front edge of the flexible panel. This directs much of the displaced fluid out the front edge. |
| US09702361B2 |
Claw pump with relief space
In a pump chamber (12), a male rotor (20) having claw portions and a female rotor (24) having recesses into which the claw portions enter are secured to rotating shafts (18a and 18b), respectively. The female rotor is provided with hollows on an upstream side in the rotational direction of the female rotor relative to a plane L containing the rotating shafts. For the hollows, the disposed position, size and configuration are selected so that a compression pocket P and a discharge opening remain in communication with each other through the hollow throughout the time from when the compression pocket stops communicating with the discharge opening and separates from the discharge opening until the compression pocket gradually reduces to disappear, and so that the hollow stops communicating with the discharge opening at the same time as the compression pocket disappears. |
| US09702359B2 |
Pump casing
A new pump design is described. The pump features a casing with a continuous enclosure extending from a power end of the casing to a fluid end of the casing for housing the reciprocating assembly of the pump, which includes a crankshaft, a plurality of control rods coupled to the crankshaft, and a plurality of crossheads coupled to the control rods. A detachable lid is attached to the casing at the power end and the fluid end of the casing, and encloses the reciprocating assembly. An alignment plate oriented substantially parallel to a stroke axis of the pump maintains alignment of the crossheads. |
| US09702358B2 |
Temperature control for compressor
According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for cooling a coolant for a gas compressor includes a compressor to generate a flow of compressed gas, a dryer in fluid communication with the compressor, and a coolant circuit. The coolant circuit includes a accumulator to accumulate the coolant, a pump in fluid communication with the accumulator and the compressor to circulate the coolant through the coolant circuit, a first intercooler in fluid communication with the accumulator and the pump and structured to transfer heat from the coolant circuit to the compressed gas flow via the dryer, and a valve disposed between the accumulator and the first intercooler and structured to route at least a portion of the coolant through the first intercooler depending on a temperature of the coolant relative to prescribed low and high temperature limits. |
| US09702356B2 |
Device for providing a liquid additive
A device for providing a liquid additive includes at least one first pump chamber (3) for conveying the liquid additive, and a rotary drive. The first pump chamber is arranged around a drive axis of the rotary drive. Inside the first pump chamber, at least one seal is formed, which can be displaced from the rotary drive around the drive axis. The device has at least one second pump chamber, which is arranged along the drive axis adjacent to the first pump chamber. |
| US09702354B2 |
Compressor mounting system
A mounting system for an industrial compression system including a first component close-coupled to a second component includes a first support for the first component. The first support is configured to resist movement of the first component in a first direction substantially horizontal relative to the first component, a second direction substantially vertical relative to the first component, and an axial direction relative to the first component. The mounting system also includes a second support for the second component. The second support is configured to resist movement of the second component in a first direction substantially horizontal relative to the second component and a second direction substantially vertical relative to the second component, wherein the second support permits movement of the second component in an axial direction relative to the second component. |
| US09702352B2 |
Linear compressor and a spring assembly
A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a spring assembly. An inner back iron assembly is fixed to the spring assembly at a middle portion of the spring assembly. A driving coil is operable to move the inner back iron assembly in order to reciprocate a piston within a chamber of a cylinder assembly. A related spring assembly is also provided. |
| US09702351B2 |
Convection pump and method of operation
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to a convection pump. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a chamber, the chamber having an inlet at a first end of the chamber and an outlet at a second end of the chamber. The chamber further has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite to the second surface. A baffle having a substantially helical shape is disposed inside the chamber. A heating device is configured to heat the first surface of the chamber. A cooling device is configured to cool the second surface of the chamber. |
| US09702350B2 |
Valveless reciprocating compressor
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a compression cylinder configured to mount to a reciprocating compressor. The compression cylinder includes an intake port and a discharge port. The system also includes a piston assembly disposed within the compression cylinder. The piston assembly includes a piston, and a flow control member extending from the piston. The flow control member is configured to selectively block the intake port and the discharge port upon movement of the piston assembly relative to the compression cylinder. |
| US09702347B2 |
Wind turbine system for generating electrical power
The apparatus includes a wind turbine system for the collection of wind energy and the conversion thereof through staged-compression into highly compressed gas. The highly compressed gas is routed to a central tank, and then expanded into a plurality of concentric ring tanks, each storing gas at successively lower pressures. The cooling resulting from this expansion is utilized to cool hot compressed gas from an intermediate line of gas compressors, increasing the efficiency of the following compressors. This absorption of heat also improves the efficiency of the gas turbines driving electrical generators. The gas compressor in each wind turbine is located near ground level, and driven by a vertical shaft passing through the wind turbine support tower. One embodiment has conventional radially extending blades, and another embodiment has ducted blades to withstand higher winds. Both ground mounted and deep water adaptions for the wind turbines are disclosed. |
| US09702344B2 |
Control method for a floating wind turbine
A controller for a floating wind turbine is adapted to cause the wind turbine to extract energy from wave-induced motion of the turbine. The controller controls the rotor speed of the turbine by controlling the torque of the load presented to the rotor such that the rotor speed varies in response to wave-induced motion. |
| US09702340B2 |
Prime mover
A prime mover that is powered by the energy of a fluid is provided. Such a prime mover may include a first fairing, a second fairing spaced apart from the first fairing to define a gap therebetween and a blade assembly mounted on a shaft that extends between the first and second fairings. The first and second fairings each have a curved peripheral edge for directing a fluid into the gap. When the fluid flows into the gap it contacts the blade assembly to thereby rotate the blade assembly about an axis that is defined by the shaft. The prime mover may be mounted on a cell phone tower and used to generate electricity for powering components of the tower and/or for providing electricity to the power grid. |
| US09702335B2 |
Hydraulic wave energy converter
A hydraulic wave energy converter, for converting wave energy into high-pressure water energy, includes a rectangular upper floating body (1) floating on water surface, a cylindrical housing-shaped lower floating body (2) under water, a first cable (3), a second cable (4), a hanging rod (5), a ball hinged hook (6), a sea floor anchor pile (7), and other mooring facilities. A plurality of water hydraulic cylinders (8) are vertically fixed at two wider sides of the upper floating body (1) and are reliably connected with the lower floating body (2) through piston heads (27), piston rods (28) and piston rod seats (29). The hydraulic wave energy converter can convert the vertical component and the horizontal component of the wave motion into high-pressure water energy for impacting a hydraulic generator set to generate power, and is lower in cost, simple in maintenance and high in wave energy conversion efficiency. |
| US09702332B2 |
Ignition device
An ignition device includes a spark plug and an ignition coil. The spark plug is attached to a cylinder head such that a center electrode and a ground electrode project into a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, airflow is generated in a predetermined direction to the spark plug during a compression step. The ignition coil has a primary coil and a secondary coil. An output voltage of the secondary coil after interruption of energization of the primary coil is restricted to a predetermined voltage or less. The ground electrode has a leg portion extending from a housing of the spark plug and an opposing portion that extends in a direction intersecting with the leg portion and forms a gap by opposing the center electrode. The leg portion is attached to a position further upstream than the gap in a flow direction of the airflow during the compression step. |
| US09702329B2 |
Pump and common rail fuel injection system
A high-pressure pump may include a cylinder, a plunger reciprocally driven by an eccentric to pressurize a pump chamber in the cylinder, a rider mounted on the eccentric to allow relative rotation of the eccentric, the rider presenting a face to the plunger, a tappet supported on the face of the rider for transmitting reciprocal movement from the rider to the plunger, and rotatable bearing elements that support the tappet for relative transverse movement of the face of the rider during operation of the pump. The rotatable bearing elements may be at least partially recessed in a body of the tappet. A common rail fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine comprising a common rail for distributing fuel to a plurality of fuel injectors associated with combustion cylinders of the engine may include such a pump for delivering fuel at high pressure to the common rail. |
| US09702324B2 |
Protection of vehicle engine intake components
Vehicle engine systems and load path brackets for such systems are presented. The load path brackets can be positioned between an air intake system and a cylinder bank of an engine. In some embodiments, the load path brackets can be operatively connected to a surge tank at a first end and to a cylinder head cover at a second end. The load path brackets can be constructed, positioned, and/or oriented to absorb or transfer forces acting upon the engine system during impacts. For instance, the load path brackets can be arranged such that a longitudinal axis of a portion of load path bracket is positioned based on a predetermined force direction of a predetermined impact force. |
| US09702319B2 |
Flowmeter system
In one example embodiment, there is provided a flowmeter system. The flowmeter system includes a high temperature transferring part that collects external heat energy to transfer the heat energy; a low temperature transferring part that transfers heat energy of an intake pipe; a stirling engine that produces a power based on a temperature difference between the heat energy transferred from the high temperature transferring part and the heat energy transferred from the low temperature transferring part; and a flowmeter that is supplied with the power produced by the stirling engine to measure a flow rate of the intake pipe. |
| US09702313B2 |
Direct injection cross point switching for multiplexing control in an engine control system
An engine system may include a injectors, and an engine control unit (ECU) having a number of pins coupling to the injectors. The ECU may include an individual measurement circuit coupled to each pin, with each individual measurement circuit providing a respective individual output corresponding to the pin coupled to the measurement circuit. The ECU may also include subtraction circuits, each subtraction circuit having a respective pair of inputs and providing an output representative of a difference between respective input values appearing at the pair of inputs. The ECU may also include cross-point switches coupled between the measurement circuits and the subtraction circuits, and may determine the voltage difference between any two pins by selectively coupling the respective output of each of the two individual measurement circuits coupled to the two pins to a respective input of the pair of inputs of any subtraction circuit. |
| US09702312B2 |
Engine control strategy and feedback system
In at least some implementations, an engine control process includes an engine speed test and other steps. The engine speed test includes the steps of a) determining a first engine speed, b) changing the air/fuel ratio of a fuel mixture delivered to the engine, and c) determining a second engine speed after at least some of the air/fuel ratio changing event, Based at least in part on the difference between the first engine speed and the second engine speed it is determined if a change in the air/fuel ratio of the fuel mixture delivered to the engine is needed. If a change to the air/fuel ratio was indicated, the air/fuel ratio of a fuel mixture delivered to the engine is changed. |
| US09702310B2 |
Method for regenerating lean NOx trap of exhaust purification system provided with lean NOx trap and selective catalytic reduction catalyst and exhaust purification system
A method for regenerating a lean NOx trap (LNT) of an exhaust purification system having the LNT and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst includes determining whether a regeneration release condition of the LNT is satisfied; determining whether a regeneration demand condition of the LNT is satisfied; and performing regeneration of the LNT if the regeneration release condition of the LNT and the regeneration demand condition of the LNT are satisfied, wherein satisfaction of the regeneration release condition of the LNT is determined based on an NOx amount absorbed in the LNT, an NH3 amount stored in the SCR catalyst and temperature at an upstream of the SCR catalyst. |
| US09702304B1 |
Automatic engine braking and increased regenerative capacity hybrid vehicle
A system for providing deceleration in a hybrid vehicle having a hydraulic braking system and a regenerative braking system. The system includes a hydraulic braking sensor configured to determine a status of the hydraulic braking system. The system also includes a brake pedal unit configured to determine brake pedal data. The system also includes a battery configured to store energy generated by the regenerative braking system. The system also includes a processor configured to determine whether the hydraulic braking system is compromised. The processor is also configured to detect an emergency braking situation based on the brake pedal data. The processor is also configured to increase engine speed of the engine to induce engine braking, and increase the maximum charge limit of the battery to increase a regenerative braking capacity of the regenerative braking system when the hydraulic braking system is compromised and the emergency braking situation is detected. |
| US09702302B2 |
Methods and sensor module for controlling combustion emission parameters in a combustion system
Methods and a sensor module for use in controlling operation of a gas turbine system are provided herein. The sensor module is coupled within a combustion system and is configured to obtain an aspirated exhaust sample of exhaust flowing through an exhaust duct. The exhaust is generated by the combustion system. The aspirated exhaust sample is analyzed to determine a plurality of exhaust parameters. The sensor module also controls at least one combustion system parameter in a closed loop emission control (CLEC) system based on at least one of the plurality of exhaust parameters. |
| US09702298B2 |
Diagnostic method for a compressor recirculation valve
Methods are provided for identifying degradation in components of a compressor bypass valve (CBV). One method comprises commanding a periodic signal to the CBV and indicating degradation of a throttle of the CBV based on changes in pressure at an inlet of an intake throttle in response to the periodic signal. |
| US09702295B2 |
Twin scroll turbocharger in a variable displacement engine
Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine with variable displacement engine (VDE) operation coupled to a twin scroll turbocharger. One method comprises directing exhaust from a first outer cylinder and a first inner cylinder of four cylinders to a first scroll of the twin scroll turbocharger, directing exhaust from a second outer cylinder and a second inner cylinder of the four cylinders to a second scroll of the twin scroll turbocharger, and during a first condition, firing all four cylinders with uneven firing. |
| US09702294B2 |
Reducing turbocharged engine overheating
A method comprising in response to coolant loss in a turbocharged engine, deactivating one or more engine cylinders while limiting engine load of one or more active cylinders based on an engine speed, and a cylinder head temperature. |
| US09702291B2 |
Exhaust aftertreatment system with ammonia gas generator
An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a reductant tank, a reactor system, a storage tank, a first conduit and a second conduit. The reactor system may receive reductant from the reductant tank and may output a gas comprising ammonia. The storage tank may receive gas comprising ammonia from the reactor system and may store a volume of gas comprising ammonia. The first conduit may communicate gas comprising ammonia from the reactor system to a stream of exhaust gas. The first conduit may bypass the storage tank. The second conduit may communicate gas comprising ammonia from the storage tank to the stream of exhaust gas. |
| US09702289B2 |
Reversible waste heat recovery system and method
A waste heat recovery (WHR) system operates in a reverse mode, permitting using the WHR system to transfer heat to the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. In another configuration, a WHR system may operate in two modes. The first mode removes heat from exhaust gas of an engine to perform useful work. The second mode transfers heat to the exhaust gas. The benefit of this flexible system is that a WHR system is adaptable to rapidly heat exhaust gas at startup and during other conditions where the temperature of the exhaust gas is less than a predetermined operating range. Because of the ability to rapidly warm engine exhaust gas, an exhaust gas receiving system, such as an EGR or an aftertreatment system, may function to reduce the emissions of the engine more quickly. Because this system is reversible, it retains the capability of a conventional WHR system. |
| US09702287B2 |
Tank insert module, liquid tank
The invention relates to a tank insert module (1) for extracting liquid from a vehicle tank, comprising a basic body (2) composed of a plastic, on which basic body are arranged a liquid extraction device (23), which comprises an extraction opening (4) which can be assigned to the tank interior space, and at least one electric heating element (7), wherein the electric heating element (7) comprises a heating body (8) with an extrusion-coated plastic encapsulation (9). It is provided here that the plastic encapsulation (9) has a plastic which can be welded to the basic body, in particular high-density polyethylene, and/or the same plastic as the basic body (2), and also at least one filler material with high thermal conductivity, and is welded to the basic body (2) at at least one contact point (17). The invention also relates to a liquid tank for vehicles. |
| US09702286B2 |
Exhaust gas purification system and exhaust gas purification method
Provided is a system where a composite catalyst into which an LNT catalyst and an oxidation catalyst are combined, a catalyzed particulate filter, an injector configured to inject a urea water solution into an exhaust gas passage, and an SCR catalyst are arranged in this order in an upstream-to-downstream direction of the flow of the exhaust gas. |
| US09702285B2 |
Exhaust system
An exhaust system connected to an exhaust port of a substrate processing apparatus includes: a first exhaust trap having an exhaust input at an upper portion thereof and an exhaust output at a lower portion thereof and cooling a product produced in the substrate processing apparatus; a second exhaust trap installed at a downstream side of an exhaust flow with respect to the first exhaust trap, having an exhaust input at a lower portion thereof and an exhaust output at an upper portion thereof, and cooling the product; a storage unit installed between the first and second exhaust traps and storing the product cooled by the first and second exhaust traps; a first pipe connecting the exhaust port of the substrate processing apparatus and the first exhaust trap; and a second pipe connecting the first exhaust trap, the second exhaust trap and the storage unit. |
| US09702282B2 |
Crankcase ventilation system heater
A crankcase ventilation system having a heat transfer conduit included therein. The system includes a housing and a crankcase ventilation filter element within the housing, the crankcase ventilation filter element configured to separate oil and oil aerosol from blow-by gases from a crankcase. An oil inlet is configured to receive pressurized oil from a component of an internal combustion engine. The conduit is positioned within the housing. The conduit is positioned along a length of the housing and is configured to carry the pressurized oil from the oil inlet to a component of the crankcase ventilation system. The conduit is configured to transfer thermal energy from the pressurized oil to the housing. An oil outlet is configured to return the pressurized oil to the crankcase. |
| US09702281B2 |
Constant fresh air crankcase ventilation
A method and apparatus for providing constant fresh air ventilation to the engine crankcase are disclosed. The apparatus is adapted for use with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, an intake manifold and an air input attached to the manifold. The system includes an integrated vacuum actuator connected to the intake manifold, an actuator duct positioned between the vacuum actuator and the air input, an air-from-oil separator associated with the crankcase, a separator duct and separator control valve positioned between the separator and the intake manifold, and a bypass duct and bypass control valve between the separator duct and the actuator duct. The air input comprises an initial intake pipe and an intermediate intake pipe with the intermediate intake pipe being positioned between the initial intake pipe and the intake manifold. A fresh air control pipe and regulator assembly are attached to the intermediate intake pipe. |
| US09702273B2 |
Synchronously timed counterrotating cam and follower apparatus
Counterrotating cam and follower apparatuses (C-CAFA) capable of converting reciprocating to rotational motion, and visa versa, utilizing counterrotating cams cooperating with at least one reciprocating cam follower. Apparatus cam counterrotation is ensured to be synchronously timed without necessity of prior art stationary geartrains, by and through apparatus cam follower(s) combining with counterrotating cam surfaces acting as moving follower constraints, provided that disclosed structural limitations, including those regarding cam and follower surface interface engineering slop, multiple degree of freedom cams, rotating and reciprocating follower(s), and electromechanical limitations are met when specified. Optional apparatus usages include reciprocating mass balancer, differential to reverse and or multiply shaft rotations, and apparatus combinations with connecting rods, pistons, cylinders, and or engines. “Adequacy of Constraint and Newtonian Force Analysis, Cam and Follower Surface Kinematical Analysis, and Electromagnetic Cam Analysis” are applied to various disclosed embodiments to teach making, using, and correlation of disclosed apparatus structure to function. |
| US09702270B2 |
Hybrid Rankine cycle
A system using hybrid Rankine cycles is provided. The system includes a first Rankine cycle system using a first working fluid, the first system producing exergy loss and residual energy from at least one of turbine extraction, turbine condensation and boiler flue gas; and a second Rankine cycle system using a second working fluid to recover the exergy loss and residual energy. The second working fluid comprises a first stream and a second stream, wherein the first stream exchanges heat with the first system via at least one first heat exchanger, and the second stream exchanges heat with the first system via the at least one first heat exchanger and at least one second heat exchanger. A turbine of the first system is configured to allow the first working fluid to exit at a sufficiently high pressure and temperature to provide heat to the second system instead of expanding to a low pressure and temperature and discharging heat to ambient using a condenser. |
| US09702267B2 |
Engine structure assembly procedure
A method for centering an engine structure such as a bearing housing is provided which may be used for example, during assembly of a mid turbine frame or other engine case structure. The method according to one embodiment may include machining spokes with an outer case of the mid turbine frame in situ to eliminate stack-up and then applying the retaining device to retain the spokes with respect to the outer case, thereby assuring the co-axial relationship between the outer case and the bearing housing supported within the mid turbine frame. |
| US09702265B2 |
Rotating machine comprising a damping collar
A rotary machine including a stationary portion and a rotary portion; at least one bearing provided with a stationary ring and a rotary ring, the bearing being mounted between the stationary portion and the rotary portion in order to guide the rotary portion in rotation; and a damper collar interposed between the stationary ring of the bearing and the stationary portion. The damper collar includes a flexible strip having tongues cut out therein, and the flexible strip is shaped into a ring around the stationary ring of the bearing, the shaping of the strip into a ring causing the tongues to move outwards from the collar so that the free edges of the tongues come into contact with the stationary portion. |
| US09702264B2 |
Variable nozzle unit and variable geometry system turbocharger
Three or more attachment pins are arranged on a right lateral surface of a nozzle ring at intervals. All the attachment pins are placed outside support holes in the nozzle ring in radial directions of the nozzle ring. A guide ring is provided across right lateral surfaces of the attachment pins. A first side guide member to support a right lateral surface of a drive ring in away that allows the right lateral surface to be in sliding contact therewith is provided to the right of the guide ring. A second side guide member to support a left lateral surface of the drive ring in a way that allows the left lateral surface to be in sliding contact therewith is provided to the left of the guide ring. |
| US09702263B2 |
Rankine cycle device
A Rankine cycle device in the present disclosure includes an evaporator as a heater, an expander, a cooler, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a control device. The first temperature sensor detects a temperature of the working fluid flowing from an outlet of the heater to an inlet of the expander in the circuit of the working fluid. The second temperature sensor detects a temperature of the working fluid flowing from an outlet of the expander to an inlet of the cooler. The controller controls a number of rotation of the expander based on a difference between a detected temperature of the first temperature sensor and a detected temperature of the second temperature sensor. |
| US09702258B2 |
Adjustable transition support and method of using the same
A gas turbine engine which has at least a combustor section and a turbine cylinder section, wherein the combustor section includes a transition piece coupled to a vane carrier assembly, wherein the vane carrier assembly includes a plurality of holes that correspond with one or more holes of the transition piece, and wherein at least one of the pluralities of holes is adapted to receive a pin-type member therein for shifting the transition piece toward an upstream or downstream end. A system and method for shifting a transition piece in a gas turbine engine includes at least moving a pin-type member from a first position to a second position, where the movement shifts the transition piece in a direction towards an upstream end or a downstream end. |
| US09702255B2 |
Propeller with lightening strike protection
A propeller blade assembly including a propeller blade having a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a hub, and an electrically conductive band extending longitudinally on either or both of the leading edge and trailing edge. The electrically conductive band secured to the leading edge of the propeller serves as an entry point on the aircraft and conductive channel into the airframe thereby avoiding the potentially damaging effect of the lightening on the carbon fiber composite propeller. |
| US09702251B2 |
Cutting tool assembly including retainer sleeve with retention member
A cutting tool assembly includes a holder having a front face that defines a longitudinal bore extending at least partially through the holder, a cutting tool having a head portion, a shank portion and a collar portion therebetween all extending along a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool, a retainer sleeve substantially surrounding the shank portion and configured for being removably received in the longitudinal bore of the holder and an outwardly biasing retention member connected to the retainer sleeve and configured for cooperating with the longitudinal bore of the holder. |
| US09702250B2 |
Power shovel hoist machinery with auxiliary weight box
A power shovel including a tool for lifting, a machine house, a hoist drum, hoist drum machinery and an auxiliary weight box having a perimeter, the hoist drum and hoist drum machinery being at least partially disposed within the perimeter of the auxiliary weight box and the hoist drum being disposed outside of the machine house. |
| US09702248B2 |
Optical fluid model base construction and use
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to select a subset of sensor responses as inputs to each of a plurality of pre-calibrated models in predicting each of a plurality of formation fluid properties. The sensor responses are obtained and pre-processed from a downhole measurement tool. Each of the plurality of predicted formation fluid properties are evaluated by applying constraints in hydrocarbon concentrations, geo-physics, and/or petro-physics. The selection of sensor responses and the associated models from a pre-constructed model base or a candidate pool are adjusted and reprocessed to validate model selection. |
| US09702243B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring temperature using a magnetostrictive probe
Systems and methods for monitoring temperature distribution in downhole equipment using magnetostrictive probes. In one embodiment, an ESP motor has a stator with a rotor and shaft rotatably positioned within the stator. Magnetostrictive sensors are positioned within the motor. Each magnetostrictive sensor has a transducer, a probe, and electronic circuitry coupled to the transducer. The circuitry generates an initial electrical signal that is conveyed to the transducer. The signal passes through one or more coils in the transducer, generating magnetic fields that induce an acoustic signal in the probe. The acoustic signal propagates through the probe and waves are reflected from reflection points in the probe. The transducer senses the reflected acoustic waves and provides corresponding electrical signals to the circuitry, which determines timing intervals associated with the reflected waves and uses this information to determine temperatures at one or more locations in the probe (hence in the monitored equipment). |
| US09702242B2 |
Method and apparatus for in-well wireless control using infrasound sources
A system and method for downhole data communication using an infrasound wave generator and receivers. The infrasound waves have a low frequency and a wavelength that is much larger than the transverse dimensions of the well. When the infrasound waves are directed down the well, the well will act as a wave guide for low frequency excitations. The receivers are operatively connected to inflow valves and other downhole equipment, and receive the infrasound waves. If the waves are of a predetermined frequency, the receivers command the valves to open or close, or otherwise control downhole equipment. The infrasound waves can also be used to probe well geometry and to identify fluid properties within the well. |
| US09702238B2 |
Wellbore servicing methods and compositions comprising degradable polymers
Methods and compositions for use in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation are provided. In one embodiment, the method of servicing a wellbore may comprise preparing a wellbore servicing fluid comprising a degradation accelerator wherein the degradation accelerator comprises an alkanolamine, an oligomer of aziridine, a polymer of aziridine, a diamine, or combinations thereof; and placing the wellbore servicing fluid comprising a degradation accelerator into the wellbore, the subterranean formation or both wherein the degradation accelerator contacts the degradable polymer. |
| US09702237B2 |
Hybrid steam generation with carbon dioxide recycle
Systems and methods relate to recovering hydrocarbons by injecting into a reservoir outputs from two different types of steam generators along with carbon dioxide, enabling lower fuel consumption for such a hybrid-based approach versus either type of steam generator alone. One steam generator vaporizes water by thermal transfer from combustion with exhaust from the combustion remaining separated from the steam. Since this type of steam generator outputs a limited carbon dioxide concentration with the steam, at least part of the carbon dioxide injected comes from recycling the carbon dioxide separated out of production fluids recovered from the reservoir. Another steam generator produces the steam by direct water contact with combustion products to produce a resulting fluid including the steam and additional carbon dioxide. |
| US09702236B2 |
Heat-assisted steam-based hydrocarbon recovery method
A method for recovering subsurface hydrocarbons, including heavy oil or bitumen, wherein a downhole steam injection phase is followed by application of heat to the near-wellbore region of the reservoir, heat being applied only during periods without steam injection. The heat application can be achieved by any number of techniques including electrical heaters, radio frequency waves, electromagnetic waves and microwaves. Numerous advantages are possible by withholding heat application during the steam injection phase. While preferred for use with cyclic steam stimulation recovery techniques, the method can be applied with other steam-based recovery techniques. |
| US09702235B2 |
Method of improving mineral oil production by heating the formation and forming gel
A process for producing mineral oil from mineral oil deposits, in which the mineral oil yield is increased by blocking high-permeability regions of the mineral oil formation by injecting at least one formulation into the deposit, the formulation not being brought to a temperature at which the viscosity increases significantly until within the deposit, by injection of steam. The process can be used especially in the final stage of deposit development between water flooding and steam flooding of the deposits. |
| US09702230B2 |
Downhole perforator gun bypass tool
The present invention is for a downhole tool having a perforator gun portion disposed within a housing of the downhole tool for perforating an oil and gas formation. The downhole tool also includes a bypass passageway for directing fluid past the perforator gun portion in the downhole tool to permit fluid flowing into the downhole tool to flow out of the downhole tool to facilitate an oil and gas operation. Furthermore, the downhole tool is used in a method of performing the oil and gas operation in a wellbore by pumping fluid through the downhole tool. |
| US09702228B2 |
Porous structure for downhole fluid control applications and method of manufacture
An embodiment of a method of manufacturing a downhole fluid control apparatus includes generating, using a processor, a design for a metallic porous structure configured to be deployed with a fluid control device, the fluid control device configured to be disposed in a borehole in an earth formation and inhibit the flow of particulates between a flow conduit and at least one of the borehole and the formation. The method also includes applying an energy beam from an energy source to a granular metallic material, and additively forming the metallic porous structure based on the design as a single structure having a distribution of pores therein. |
| US09702227B2 |
Process for transporting extraction fluids such as for example natural gas, oil or water, and underwater vehicle for effecting said process
The process according to the invention, for transporting extraction fluids, such as, for example, natural gas, oil or water, comprises the following operations: (a) hydraulically connecting the underwater vehicle (1) to the head of an extraction well; (b) transferring and storing the extracted fluid, such as, for example, natural gas, oil or water, on the vehicle (1), subjecting said fluid to one or more of the following processes through plants installed onboard the same vehicle (1): b.1) mechanical, electrical or chemical separation; b.2) separation of the gases or more volatile fractions of the extracted fluid; b.3) separation of predetermined phases or substances from the rest of the extracted fluid; b.4) extraction and elimination of acid gases, such as, for example, carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulphide; b.5) re-injection into geological formations; (c) transporting the extracted fluid(s) subjected to one or more of the processes b.1-b.5) causing the underwater vehicle to advance in immersion. |
| US09702224B2 |
Well apparatus and method for use in gas production
A lower completion has a perforated region for the extraction of gas and a humidifying fin including a plurality of nozzles for injecting water droplets into the annulus surrounding the lower completion. Water droplets are mixed with the gas in the annulus surrounding the lower completion to reduce halite deposition by preventing dehydration of water within the wellbore and nearby gas reservoir. |
| US09702223B2 |
Subsea cooler
The present invention regards a subsea cooling unit comprising a first header pipe (48), a second header pipe (46) having its longitudinal axis substantially parallel with and in a distance from the first header pipe, and arranged between the first and second header pipe, at least one set of cooler coils (400); where the at least one set is formed such that the coils of the one set is arranged in one plane. |
| US09702219B2 |
Polymerizable ionic liquids for use in subterranean formation operations
A stabilization composition including a polymerizable ionic liquid (“PIL”) comprising a cationic group, an anionic group, and a polymerizable functional group, wherein the cationic group has a molecular mass in the range of about 20 g/mol to about 500 g/mol and the anionic group has a molecular mass in the range of about 30 g/mol to about 500 g/mol. |
| US09702218B2 |
Use of elastomers to produce gels for treating a wellbore
A method of treating an earthen formation that includes introducing a first amount of a first blocked isocyanate in a liquid phase into the earthen formation; introducing a second amount of a second blocked isocyanate in a liquid phase into the earthen formation; the second blocked isocyanate group having a lower unblocking temperature than the first blocked isocyanate group; introducing at least one active hydrogen compound into the earthen formation; and contacting the first and second blocked isocyanates and the active hydrogen compound to form an elastomeric gel. The combination of two blocked isocyanates provides a synergistic effect so that the curing time can be optimised in a manner unexpected from the properties of the individual blocked isocyanates. |
| US09702213B2 |
Marine riser system
The present disclosure generally relates to a riser system for coupling a surface platform to a wellhead and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a riser flange for coupling adjacent riser sections. A main tube of the riser system forms an annulus for fluid flow between the wellhead and the platform. A flange extends radially from each end of the main tube. The flange includes an offset outer face and a raised inner face. The flange further includes a plurality of bolt and auxiliary line holes distributed about the flange. The bolt holes are all located within the raised inner face of the flange. The bolt holes are angled with respect to the axis of the main tube. A transition between the main tube and riser flange is gradually tapered and convex. |
| US09702209B2 |
Elastic pipe control and compensation with managed pressure drilling
A method of regulating downhole pressure using managed pressure drilling may include calculating an elasticity of a drill string during a drilling operation using a torque and drag model included in a managed pressure drilling (MPD) control system and calculating a surge pressure and a swab pressure acting on the drill string during the drilling operation using a hydraulics model included in the MPD control system. The surge and swab pressures may be based on movement of the drill string and in accordance with the elasticity of the drill string. The method may further include determining a set point pressure using a real-time hydraulics model and the torque and drag model, and operating a MPD choke system based on the set point pressure to regulate a predetermined downhole pressure at a predetermined location in a wellbore. |