| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09804887B2 |
Process scheduling and execution in distributed computing environments
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for scheduling and executing user-restricted processes within distributed computing systems. More specifically, certain embodiments of the present invention describe systems and methods by which runtime requests to execute user-restricted processes may be received, processed, and scheduled via a user application of an enterprise system or other distributed computing system. Requests may be received via transaction pages of user applications to schedule and execute user-restricted processes. The user application, a process scheduler, and/or other components within the distributed computing system may determine user contexts associated with the requests, and may determine whether or not the requested processes may be scheduled and executed. Such processes may include, for example, report generation processes, processes to initiate system functions, and/or processes to perform system maintenance within the distributed computing environment. |
| US09804884B2 |
Computer system and maintenance method of computer system
A communication system includes a control device configured to calculate a packet forwarding path and set a flow based on the packet forwarding path in a node, and a plurality of nodes configured to forward a received packet based on a flow set by the control device. The control device, when receiving a detour instruction, calculates a new packet forwarding path which detours a detour target node and sets a flow based on the new packet forwarding path in the plurality of nodes on the new packet forwarding path. |
| US09804883B2 |
Remote scoped synchronization for work stealing and sharing
Described herein is an apparatus and method for remote scoped synchronization, which is a new semantic that allows a work-item to order memory accesses with a scope instance outside of its scope hierarchy. More precisely, remote synchronization expands visibility at a particular scope to all scope-instances encompassed by that scope. Remote scoped synchronization operation allows smaller scopes to be used more frequently and defers added cost to only when larger scoped synchronization is required. This enables programmers to optimize the scope that memory operations are performed at for important communication patterns like work stealing. Executing memory operations at the optimum scope reduces both execution time and energy. In particular, remote synchronization allows a work-item to communicate with a scope that it otherwise would not be able to access. Specifically, work-items can pull valid data from and push updates to scopes that do not (hierarchically) contain them. |
| US09804879B2 |
Performing server migration and dependent server discovery in parallel
Performing server virtual machine image migration and dependent server virtual machine image discovery in parallel is provided. Migration of a server virtual machine image that performs a workload is started to a client device via a network and, in parallel, an identity is continuously discovered of a set of dependent server virtual machine images corresponding to the server virtual machine image being migrated to the client device. In response to discovering the identity of the set of dependent server virtual machine images, a server migration pattern of the discovered set of dependent server virtual machine images is generated for the workload. A level of risk corresponding to migrating each dependent server virtual machine image of the discovered set of dependent server virtual machine images to the client device is calculated based on the server migration pattern of the discovered set of dependent server virtual machine images for the workload. |
| US09804878B2 |
Using a status indicator for a merge operation for writing data associated with a virtual machine
A virtual machine may be identified. A status indicator associated with a last volume of a series of volumes of a virtual disk that is associated with the virtual machine may be received. The virtual machine may be executed to write new data to the last volume of the series of volumes or a previous volume of the series of volumes in view of the status indicator that is associated with the last volume of the series of volumes of the virtual disk. |
| US09804876B2 |
Hypervisor-driven hibernation
A system and method for hibernating virtual machines (VMs) are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a computer system that executes a hypervisor and a virtual machine (VM) determines that the virtual machine is to be put to sleep, wherein the determining is performed without involvement of a guest operating system hosted by the virtual machine. In response, the hypervisor stops a first virtual processor of the VM and persists the state of the first virtual processor. |
| US09804870B2 |
Instruction-set support for invocation of VMM-configured services without VMM intervention
A processing core comprising instruction execution logic circuitry and register space. The register space to be loaded from a VMCS, commensurate with a VM entry, with information indicating whether a service provided by the processing core on behalf of the VMM is enabled. The instruction execution logic to, in response to guest software invoking an instruction: refer to the register space to confirm that the service has been enabled, and, refer to second register space or memory space to fetch input parameters for said service written by said guest software. |
| US09804867B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing virtual machine in mobile communication system using an edge cloud management controller
Methods and apparatus are provided for managing a Virtual Machine (VM) in a mobile communication system. Upon receiving a VM provisioning request message from a 3rd party entity, an Edge Cloud-Radio Access Network (EC-RAN) VM control command message, indicating that the Edge Cloud Management Controller (ECMC) commands a VM provisioning, is transmitted to an Edge Cloud Manager (ECM). An EC-RAN VM control command Ack message is received, including information indicating whether a VM host, which the EC-RAN VM control command message targets, accepts or rejects the EC-RAN VM control command message, and including a VM instance ID allocated to the VM host. A VM instance corresponding to the VM instance ID is registered and a status of the VM instance is set as an allocation status, after the EC-RAN VM control command Ack message is received from the ECM. |
| US09804863B2 |
Efficient sharing of artifacts between collaboration applications
A method can include evaluating each of a plurality of collaborative systems, using a processor, for suitability hosting an artifact according to at least one attribute of the artifact. A first collaborative system can be selected from the plurality of collaborative systems according to the evaluation. The artifact can be stored in the first collaborative system. |
| US09804862B2 |
Translatable texts identification in in-context localization utilizing pseudo-language and an external server
Software-as-a-service system and methods for assisting translators by utilizing in-context localization with a localization editor that permits the translator to easily view how their translations appear on the application interface without having to navigate between different screens (e.g. between the translation input interface, and the screen that displays how it will appear to the viewer). Pseudo-language that comprises extra language with special identifiers is added to a localizable application in place of the original text. The pseudo-language is identified in the runtime, after which it is mapped and replaced with the original text or their translations. An external server is used to generate the pseudo-language based on source texts, and to do the matching by communicating with the application being translated while it is being run with the activated pseudo-language. The translated software comprises a web-based application, content websites and non-web related software, such as mobile applications, desktop software. |
| US09804858B2 |
System for re-enumeration of USB 3.0 compatible peripheral devices
Described herein is a system comprising a peripheral device that is connected to a host device over a bus compatible with USB 3.0. The host device comprises a reduced functionality USB host controller configured to perform a set of one or more preprogrammed functions from the USB 3.0 specification, and a universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter (UART) configured to sample USB response data received from the peripheral device over the bus. |
| US09804853B2 |
Apparatus and method for compressing instruction for VLIW processor, and apparatus and method for fetching instruction
Provided are an instruction compression apparatus and method for a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor, and an instruction fetching apparatus and method. The instruction compression apparatus includes: an indicator generator configured to generate an indicator code that indicates an issue width of an instruction bundle to be executed in the VLIW processor, and a number of No-Operation (NOP) instruction bundles following the instruction bundle; an instruction compressor configured to compress the instruction bundle by removing at least one of NOP instructions from the instruction bundle and the NOP instruction bundles following the instruction bundle; and an instruction converter configured to include the generated indicator code in the compressed instruction bundle. |
| US09804850B2 |
Methods, apparatus, instructions and logic to provide permute controls with leading zero count functionality
Instructions and logic provide SIMD permute controls with leading zero count functionality. Some embodiments include processors with a register with a plurality of data fields, each of the data fields to store a second plurality of bits. A destination register has corresponding data fields, each of these data fields to store a count of the number of most significant contiguous bits set to zero for corresponding data fields. Responsive to decoding a vector leading zero count instruction, execution units count the number of most significant contiguous bits set to zero for each of data fields in the register, and store the counts in corresponding data fields of the first destination register. Vector leading zero count instructions can be used to generate permute controls and completion masks to be used along with the set of permute controls, to resolve dependencies in gather-modify-scatter SIMD operations. |
| US09804848B2 |
Instruction and logic for processing text strings
Method, apparatus, and program for performing a string comparison operation. The apparatus includes execution resources to execute a first instruction. In response to the first instruction, the execution resources store a result of a comparison between each data element of a first and second operand corresponding to a first and second text string, respectively. |
| US09804845B2 |
Apparatus and method to preclude X86 special bus cycle load replays in an out-of-order processor
An apparatus including first and second reservation stations. The first reservation station dispatches a load micro instruction, and indicates on a hold bus if the load micro instruction is a specified load micro instruction directed to retrieve an operand from a prescribed resource other than on-core cache memory, where the specified load instruction comprises a load instruction resulting from execution of an x86 special bus cycle. The second reservation station is coupled to the hold bus, and dispatches one or more younger micro instructions therein that depend on the load micro instruction for execution after a number of clock cycles following dispatch of the first load micro instruction, and if it is indicated on the hold bus that the load micro instruction is the specified load micro instruction, the second reservation station is configured to stall dispatch of the one or more younger micro instructions until the load micro instruction has retrieved the operand. |
| US09804844B2 |
Instruction and logic to provide stride-based vector load-op functionality with mask duplication
Instructions and logic provide vector load-op and/or store-op with stride functionality. Some embodiments, responsive to an instruction specifying: a set of loads, a second operation, destination register, operand register, memory address, and stride length; execution units read values in a mask register, wherein fields in the mask register correspond to stride-length multiples from the memory address to data elements in memory. A first mask value indicates the element has not been loaded from memory and a second value indicates that the element does not need to be, or has already been loaded. For each having the first value, the data element is loaded from memory into the corresponding destination register location, and the corresponding value in the mask register is changed to the second value. Then the second operation is performed using corresponding data in the destination and operand registers to generate results. The instruction may be restarted after faults. |
| US09804840B2 |
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. |
| US09804836B2 |
Medical device nucleus architecture
A medical software package stored on a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium is disclosed. The medical software package can include a plurality of software components programmed to provide one or more functionalities to one or more medical monitoring devices, where each software component is programmed to run independently as a daemon, where each software component is programmed to be modified without recompiling unchanged software components, where the software components are programmed to communicate to each other through at least one of the software components, and where the software package is hardware agnostic and operating system agnostic. A medical device including a tangible, non-transitory storage device storing a medical software package comprising a plurality of modular software components programmed to provide medical device functionality is also disclosed. |
| US09804835B2 |
Dynamic pacing for service upgrades
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance the upgrade process with respect to software service deployments. In at least one implementation, a user interface to an administrative portal for administering an initial deployment of a software service is presented and a notification that an upgrade is available is surfaced therein. In response to a selection of the notification in the user interface, upgrade controls are surfaced in the user interface for controlling a pace of the upgrade with respect to service components of the initial deployment. The upgrade is then applied incrementally to the service components based least in part on the pace of the upgrade specified via the upgrade controls. |
| US09804833B2 |
Small/medium business application delivery platform
Purchase, dissemination, configuration, or provisioning of applications to a mobile device is enabled. The systems can comprise devices that receive indications from a small to medium sized businesses of a need for an application, obtain the application from an independent software vendor, configure the application for utilization on the mobile device, and thereafter dispatches the application to the mobile device. |
| US09804823B2 |
Shift significand of decimal floating point data
A decimal floating point finite number in a decimal floating point format is composed from the number in a different format. A decimal floating point format includes fields to hold information relating to the sign, exponent and significand of the decimal floating point finite number. Other decimal floating point data, including infinities and NaNs (not a number), are also composed. Decimal floating point data are also decomposed from the decimal floating point format to a different format. For composition and decomposition, one or more instructions may be employed, including a shift significand instruction. |
| US09804818B2 |
Musical analysis platform
A platform or system is disclosed for performing musical analysis to detect musical properties in received live or pre-recorded audio data. The analysis can include a synchronous analysis for generating estimated one or more transitory musical properties and an asynchronous analysis for generating one or more aggregate musical properties which can be applied to the transitory musical properties to generate confirmed musical properties, which can be stored as metadata associated with an audio file. In some cases, live audio data can be received, recorded, dynamically analyzed to provide realtime metadata (e.g., to a display), then the realtime metadata can be analyzed to provide confirmed, updated, or validated metadata. In some cases, initial analysis (e.g., dynamic analysis) can determine chord estimates, usable in further analysis (e.g., offline analysis) to estimate a musical key, which can then be applied to the chord estimates to determine the most likely chord estimates and determine chord progressions. |
| US09804816B2 |
Generating a playlist based on a data generation attribute
An example method involves determining an attribute associated with an audible version of a news story, wherein the attribute indicates a manner in which data representing the audible version of the news story was generated; using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to generate a playlist of a news program that includes the audible version of the news story; and transmitting the generated playlist to a client device. |
| US09804815B2 |
Device and method for generating audio data, and device and method for playing audio data
An apparatus and method for generating audio data and an apparatus and method for playing audio data may be disclosed, in which the apparatus for playing the audio data may extract a descriptor related to a multichannel audio signal from a bitstream generated by the apparatus for generating the audio data, and play the multichannel audio signal, based on the extracted descriptor, and the descriptor may include information on an audio signal included in the multichannel audio signal. |
| US09804808B2 |
Method for controlling printing apparatus, storage medium, and printing apparatus for communicating with a charge server to perform charging control related to printing
A printing apparatus determines whether a charging function is set to be enabled. If the charging function is set to be enabled, the printing apparatus prohibits use of a direct wireless communication mode. |
| US09804804B2 |
Clustered storage network
A data storage network is provided. The network includes a client connected to the data storage network; a plurality nodes on the data storage network, wherein each data node has two or more RAID controllers, wherein a first RAID controller of a first node is configured to receive a data storage request from the client and to generate RAID parity data on a data set received from the client, and to store all of the generated RAID parity data on a single node of the plurality of nodes. |
| US09804802B2 |
Application transparent continuous availability using synchronous replication across data stores in a failover cluster
Disclosed herein is a system and method for automatically moving an application from one site to another site in the event of a disaster. Prior to coming back online the application is configured with information to allow it to run on the new site without having to perform the configuration actions after the application has come online. This enables a seamless experience to the user of the application while also reducing the associated downtime for the application. |
| US09804801B2 |
Hybrid memory device for storing write data based on attribution of data stored therein
A method of processing data in a memory system including a control unit and a hybrid memory device having a first memory and a second memory, includes; receiving first write data, storing the first write data in the first memory and assigning a first group state from among a plurality of group states to the stored first write data in response to first attribution information, completing a data processing operation in the memory system directed to the stored first write data that changes the attribution information associated with the stored first write data by monitoring of the first attribution information using an operating system running on the memory controller, and changing the first group state assigned to the stored first write data to a second group state from among the plurality of group states, the second group state having a different priority than a priority for the first group state. |
| US09804798B2 |
Storing checkpoint file in high performance storage device for rapid virtual machine suspend and resume
A method of enabling “fast” suspend and “rapid” resume of virtual machines (VMs) employs a cache that is able to perform input/output operations at a faster rate than a storage device provisioned for the VMs. The cache may be local to a computer system that is hosting the VMs or may be shared cache commonly accessible to VMs hosted by different computer systems. The method includes the steps of saving the state of the VM to a checkpoint file stored in the cache and locking the checkpoint file so that data blocks of the checkpoint file are maintained in the cache and are not evicted, and resuming execution of the VM by reading into memory the data blocks of the checkpoint file stored in the cache. |
| US09804797B1 |
Using dynamic I/O load differential for load balancing
The subject disclosure is generally directed towards load balancing between storage processors based upon dynamic redirection statistics, in which load balancing includes changing a preferred path/a mounted file system from one storage processor to another. In one example, load balancing technology compares a current delta of directed and redirected I/O counts to a previous delta. If the result turns from negative to positive, that is, redirection is becoming prevalent, a load balancing threshold may be changed based upon the current delta value. Load balancing is thus based on the latest trend of I/O redirection. |
| US09804789B2 |
Methods and apparatus to apply a modularized virtualization topology using virtual hard disks
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed to apply a modularized virtualization topology using virtual hard disks. An example modularized virtualized computing environment includes a processor, a hypervisor, a virtual machine deployed by the hypervisor, and a plurality of virtual hard drives, each virtual hard drive encapsulating one respective logical functionality or one logical data set, the virtual hard drives cooperating to implement an overall functionality or service. |
| US09804788B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring information between different streaming protocols at wire speed
The present invention provides a mechanism for fast routing of data in a Storage Area Network. A protocol interface module (PIM) interfaces with outside networks and the storage devices, such as over fiber channel (FC). The PIM encapsulates received data into a streaming protocol, enabling storage processors to direct data to/from the appropriate physical disk in a similar manner to the directing of network messages over the Internet or other network. |
| US09804786B2 |
Sector translation layer for hard disk drives
An apparatus having a memory and a controller is disclosed. The memory may have a write head and sectors in tracks. The controller may have a sector map and a translation map and may be configured to (i) receive a write command having a logical block address and a range value, (ii) examine the sector map to find a sector sequence (a) marked free, (b) about to reach the write head and (c) at least as long as the range value, (iii) write new data in the sector sequence, (iv) update the translation map to associate the logical block address of the write command with a physical address of the written sectors and (v) update the sector map according to the sectors written. Each entry in the sector map generally corresponds to a respective sector and indicates whether the respective sector contains valid data or is free. |
| US09804785B2 |
Nonvolatile memory adaptive to host boot up routine
A nonvolatile memory that stores boot data from a host learns which data is boot data by monitoring read commands received from a host during a powering up operation. Boot data is then arranged in a manner that makes subsequent reading of the boot data faster when it is accessed during a subsequent powering up operation. |
| US09804784B2 |
Low-overhead storage of a hibernation file in a hybrid disk drive
A hybrid drive and associated methods provide low-overhead storage of a hibernation file in the hybrid hard disk drive. During operation, the hybrid drive allocates a portion of solid-state memory in the drive that is large enough to accommodate a hibernation file associated with a host device of the hybrid drive. In addition to the erased memory blocks that are normally present during operation of the hybrid drive, the portion of solid-state memory allocated for accommodating the hibernation file may include over-provisioned memory blocks, blocks used to store a previous hibernation file that has been trimmed, and/or non-dirty blocks. |
| US09804783B1 |
Hierarchical host controller for SSD device
A command is received from a host. It is determined which paths in a plurality of paths are enabled. The type of command and the length associated with the command, if applicable, are determined. A path to use to perform the command is selected from the plurality of paths based at least in part on (1) which paths are determined to be enabled and one or more of the following (2a) the type of the command or (2b) the length associated with the command. The selected path is used to perform the command. |
| US09804782B1 |
Fully scalable command execution unit
A setting associated with a number of command execution units to enable is received at a host controller. The host controller is used to configure a plurality of command execution units so that the number of command execution units specified by the setting are enabled. The enabled command execution units are used to process one or more commands associated with storage. |
| US09804773B2 |
Multi-touch based drawing input method and apparatus
The disclosure is a method and device for drawing a figure in correspondence to an input made with a first input tool and a second input tool to the terminal including an input unit capable of detecting physical touch and electrical input according to the present invention includes detecting a touch input made with the first and second input tools to the input unit; displaying at least one line movable according to contact points of the detected input on a display unit of the terminal; receiving a selection command based on the electrical input made with at least one of the first and second input tools; and displaying one of the at least one line as the line of which at least one of length and direction is fixed. |
| US09804769B2 |
Interface switching method and electronic device using the same
An electronic device, comprising a touch screen configured to display a circular operation area and a display area; a storage unit configured to store a plurality of applications; and a processing unit coupled to the touch screen and the storage unit, wherein the touch screen receives a touch operation on the circular operation area, the processing unit enables the touch screen to display a circular menu on a periphery of the display area according to the touch operation, and the circular menu includes a plurality of icons corresponding to the applications. |
| US09804768B1 |
Method and system for generating an examination report
Method for conducting an examination of an object including specific tasks using a computer and software that when executed, performs the method. Designated content areas, e.g., icons, representing segments are displayed on a touch screen of the computer. When a content area representing a segment is tapped, content areas representing a respective sub-segment are displayed. When a content area representing a sub-segment is tapped, designated content areas representing a respective task are displayed. When a content area representing a task is tapped, instructions to enable performance of the task by the user is displayed. Data entry relating to performance of the task on the object or a condition, property or characteristic of the object needed to complete the task is then accepted then stored in a memory component. A report is generated from the entered data and includes generating text and/or graphics from completion of performance of each task. |
| US09804766B2 |
Electronic device and method of displaying playlist thereof
A user interface method employed by an electronic device displays a folder playlist playable by an application, on a touch screen and detects a touch selecting one folder in the displayed folder playlist. A touch gesture is detected comprising a continuous movement of a touch and performs a sorting operation using a name representation of a storage path of a folder where the touch is detected, in response to the continuous movement of the detected touch gesture. |
| US09804765B2 |
Controlling method of screen lock and electronic device supporting the same
A method and apparatus for a configurable screen lock are disclosed herein, including receiving a request to release the screen lock while the electronic device is in a screen lock state, and in response to the request, displaying on a display a screen lock setting screen enabling adjustment of at least one execution condition of the screen lock. |
| US09804764B2 |
Method and device for displaying information arranged in lists
In a method for displaying information, a portion of a list is displayed on a display area, which includes a plurality of list entries, and the displayed portion of the list is changed by a first operator action of a user, the entries of the list being run through consecutively by the first operator action. By a second operator action multiple list entries are skipped so as to reach a list entry that is not contained in the displayed portion of the list entries that were displayed while performing the second operator action. In a device for displaying information, the above method steps are implementable. |
| US09804763B2 |
Mobile terminal and user interface of mobile terminal
A mobile terminal including a display, and a controller coupled to the display, the controller configured to display information on the display, scroll the displayed information in response to a touch and moving input applied on the display in a direction, and refresh the displayed information if the touch and moving input is released subsequent to the scrolling of the displayed information. |
| US09804757B2 |
Graphical user interface and data transfer methods in a controlling device
A smart device is provided with a main remote control application that may be configured using information obtained from a QR code. The main remote control application may present images of original remote controls corresponding to devices which are controllable by the configured main remote control application. In connection with a presented image of an original remote control, the display may present icons that are representative of a subset of the buttons of the original remote control. The user interface also allows a user to select amongst the images of the original remote controls to change which appliances are to be controlled via the user interface. A pop-up remote control widget may also be provided which may be invoked without switching to the main remote control application provisioned on the smart device. |
| US09804756B2 |
Comparative data analytics and visualization tool for analyzing traffic performance data in a traffic management system
A comparative traffic data analytics framework and visualization tool utilizes multiple data processing functions to manipulate traffic information from a plurality of sources and enable users to configure comparative analyses in a dashboard-style format for arterial and intersection performance monitoring and management. The comparative visualization tool provides a plurality of user-configurable functions to view corridor travel and delay times, an animated map, overall network statistics, and intersection performance using a graphical user interface to guide decision-making processes for traffic management in an arterial transportation network. |
| US09804753B2 |
Selection using eye gaze evaluation over time
Various embodiments relating to selection of a user interface object displayed on a graphical user interface based on eye gaze are disclosed. In one embodiment, a selection input may be received. A plurality of eye gaze samples at different times within a time window may be evaluated. The time window may be selected based on a time at which the selection input is detected. A user interface object may be selected based on the plurality of eye gaze samples. |
| US09804749B2 |
Context aware commands
A client device identifies a current context of an application and sends that context to a command component on a server. The client device receives a set of commands that are valid for that context and displays the commands on the client device. When a user input is received changing the context, a new command set can be locally computed based on the set of commands received from the server, or the new context can be sent to the server to receive the new command set. |
| US09804747B2 |
Techniques to manage access to organizational information of an entity
Techniques to manage access to organization information for an entity are described. An apparatus may include a presentation component operative to present an organizational chart on a presentation area. The organizational chart may comprise multiple nodes associated with members of an organization, and connections between the nodes representing hierarchical relationships between the nodes. A security component may be communicatively coupled to the presentation component. The security component may be operative to receive a request to modify a characteristic of the organizational chart from an operator, access security settings for the operator, and authorize the operator to modify a characteristic of the organizational chart. Authorization may be granted, for example, when the operator is a delegate and a permission level for the delegate allows a modification operation associated with the modify request. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09804746B2 |
Actionable user input on displayed items
There is provided a method in an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, the method comprising detecting a user input directed at an item displayed on a display and determining whether the user input is a first user input or a second user input, wherein the first user input is different in at least one respect from the second user input. If the item is linked to one or more additional items and the detected user input is the first user input, the method comprises selecting the item and the one or more additional items as a group of items, for performing an action on the group of items. If the detected user input is the second user input, the method comprises selecting the item for performing the action on the item and no other item. There is also provided an electronic device comprising processing circuitry which is configured to carry out the method. |
| US09804742B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A mobile terminal and a touchscreen and a method of controlling the mobile terminal may be provided. The mobile terminal may cause the touchscreen to display a first item; cause the touchscreen to display a first indicator on at least part area of the first item upon receiving a first input of the first item; and cause the touchscreen to display a second item upon receiving a second input of the first indicator. Furthermore, the first item can be changed into the second item by expanding the first item. Additionally, the first item and the second item indicate items for executing a specific application. The second item has a bigger size than a size of the first item, and the second item displays first information associated with execution results of the specific application. |
| US09804740B2 |
Generating context-based options for responding to a notification
A user of a programmable device has a context that may be evaluated and compared to a context of a notification generated by the operating system or an application running on the programmable device. The comparison may be used to generate one or more optional responses to the notification that may allow additional functionality beyond dismissing the notification or opening a corresponding event entry. |
| US09804737B2 |
Learning user interface
Provided herein are method, apparatus, and computer program products for facilitating a learning user interface. The interface may be presented as a plurality of dynamic icons representing a plurality of items. The interface may further be facilitated by receiving a profile identifier and by accessing, via a processor, profile data associated with the profile identifier. The interface may be facilitated by determining, via the processor, a visual bias for at least one of the dynamic icons relative to another of the dynamic icons based on the profile data and may be facilitated by applying the visual bias, via the interface, to the at least one of the dynamic icons. Multiple interfaces may be applied to the same or different screens. |
| US09804736B2 |
Modifiable contextual help content provided in-line within an application
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing contextual content along with elements within an application are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes icon logic configured to generate, in response to detecting a selection of a page element, an icon that indicates whether contextual content associated with the page element is available. The page element is a display element of a graphical user interface (GUI) for an application. The apparatus includes context logic configured to generate a context panel in response to detecting an input associated with the icon. The context logic is configured to generate the context panel with a first tab and a second tab. The first tab includes a description of the page element and the second tab includes a set of comments from users about the page element. |
| US09804735B2 |
Frameworks, devices and methods configured for enabling transition of content in a user interface between a map-bound layer and a map-unbound layer
Described herein are frameworks, devices and methods configured for enabling display for facility information and content, in some cases via touch/gesture controlled interfaces. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for allowing an operator to conveniently access a wide range of information relating to a facility via, for example, one or more wall mounted displays. While some embodiments will be described herein with particular reference to that application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts. |
| US09804733B2 |
Dynamic cursor focus in a multi-display information handling system environment
Plural applications present visual information at plural windows with a cursor focus at one of the windows to direct inputs to the application presenting information at the window. In response to inputs at another application associated with another window, cursor focus changes to the other application and then automatically returns to the first application and window without a user command. Automated management of cursor focus is supported with sensors that detect conditions proximate a display that presents visual information and with user settings, such as a press and hold at an application that a user desires to retain cursor focus on an automated basis. |
| US09804731B1 |
Emissive surfaces and workspaces method and apparatus
A conferencing arrangement and method for sharing information within a conference space, the arrangement comprising a common presentation surface positioned within the conference space, the common presentation surface including a presentation surface area, a common presentation surface driver, a system processor linked to the driver, the system processor receiving information content and presenting the information content via the common presentation surface and a user interface device including a device display screen and a device processor, the device processor programmed to provide a dynamic interface via the device display screen that is usable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface area for sharing information content and to automatically modify the interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces as the number of distinct sharing spaces is altered. |
| US09804727B2 |
Flexible display of visual content on multiple display devices
Mechanisms to allow a user to flexibly display visual content on multiple display devices connected to a computer. Each of the multiple displays may be configured to display a portion of visual content from a computer desktop or from an external content source. Each portion of visual content to be outputted may first be enhanced, such as via magnification, before being displayed on one of the multiple display devices. The user may be provided with a first control that enables the user to adjust a portion of visual content displayed on a first display device independently of a portion of visual content displayed on a second display device. A second control may also be provided that enables the user to adjust the portion of visual content displayed on the second display device independently of the portion of visual content displayed on the first display device. |
| US09804726B1 |
Comparative graphical data representation
A user interface is provided for allowing a user to interact with a graphical display. Quantitative data is initially displayed in a graphical format representing absolute values. A comparative graph is also made available, either automatically or in response to user input; the comparative graph presents each data entry according to its relative value as compared with one specific baseline entry. |
| US09804725B2 |
Touch panel and touch type input device
A touch panel that includes a film having piezoelectric properties, the film having a first principal plane and a second principal plane. A divided electrode is on the first principal plane, and a uniform ground electrode is on the second principal plane and arranged opposite to the divided electrode on the first principal plane. |
| US09804723B2 |
Touch panel and display device with touch panel
An electrostatic capacitive coupling type touch panel including an input region having four sides, a peripheral region around the input region, terminals formed in the peripheral region along a first side of the input region, wirings formed in the peripheral region along second, third and fourth sides of the input region, and the input region having X and Y electrodes crossing. The wirings are connected between corresponding X or Y electrodes and wiring terminals plurality of terminals. A dummy wiring, which is not connected to any of the X electrodes or Y electrodes, is provided outside the wiring formed in a farthest position from the input region, and the dummy wiring extends through the peripheral region along the second, third and fourth sides of the input region, and electrically connects to at least one dummy wiring terminal. |
| US09804722B2 |
Fast scanning for mutual capacitance screens
In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a touch. The apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a first plurality of electrode lines and a second plurality of electrode lines. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor controller coupled to the touch sensor. The touch sensor controller is operable to apply a respective voltage pulse simultaneously to each of the first plurality of electrode lines, measure a respective signal at each of the second plurality of electrode lines, and detect a touch based on the measurement of the respective signals. |
| US09804721B2 |
Fast multi-touch stylus and sensor
A stylus and touch sensitive device are disclosed. The stylus includes a stylus transmitter for transmitting a stylus signal. The touch sensitive device includes row conductors, each of which is associated with a row transmitter and a row receiver. The row transmitter is adapted to simultaneously transmit row signals, each on its associated row conductor, each of the row signals being orthogonal to each other of the plurality of row signals transmitted on each other of the row conductors. The row receiver is adapted to detect the stylus signal. Column conductors are provided, each associated with a column receiver that is adapted to detect the presence of each of the row signals transmitted by the row transmitter and the stylus signal. |
| US09804720B2 |
OLED touch display panel
The present disclosure provides an OLED touch display panel, including a TFT array substrate, an OLED element and a touch array. The touch array includes: a first touch line extending along a first direction and disposed in the same layer with a gate line; a second touch line extending along a second direction, intersecting with the first touch line and disposed in the same layer with a data line; and a touch sensing electrode disposed in the same layer with a lower electrode of the OLED element, spaced from the lower electrode and electrically connected with the second touch line via a contact hole in a planarizing layer. The OLED touch display panel has better display effect and/or accuracy of touch detection. |
| US09804718B2 |
Context based peripheral management for interacting with an information handling system
A device manager at an information handling system analyzes end user interactions with peripheral devices to prioritize the peripheral devices based upon applications and display devices. The device manager monitors end user interactions with the information handling system to suggest a peripheral device for an end user to use based upon applications executing at the information handling system and the display device through which the end user interacts. For example, capacitive stylus and totem devices are suggested to aid interactions with capacitive mat display devices. |
| US09804715B2 |
Touch panel, manufacturing method thereof, display device, and electronic apparatus
A touch panel includes: a wire substrate and a cover substrate joined to each other, wherein the wire substrate includes a sensor electrode; a plurality of signal wires that are electrically connected to the sensor electrode and extend along a circumference of the sensor electrode; and a first light blocking layer that covers at least a signal wire disposed closest to the sensor electrode of the plurality of signal wires, and wherein the cover substrate includes a second light blocking layer that faces a continuous region including an outer edge region of the first light blocking layer and a signal wire disposed so as to be the most distant from the sensor electrode. |
| US09804709B2 |
Vector fill segment method and apparatus to reduce display latency of touch events
A method of generating a mask overlay for a display corresponding to a touch path, the method including receiving touch path data including touch points corresponding to the touch path, generating vertex points of a vertex array corresponding to the touch points, generating a polygon for a set of the vertex points to define edges of the touch path, determining start and stop edges of the polygon for a row of pixels, generating a list of bin offset values corresponding to the row and including bin offsets for indicating the edges by incrementing a bin offset for each of the start edges, and by decrementing a subsequent bin offset for each of the stop edges, generating an accumulator value corresponding to each of the pixels, determining whether the accumulator values are greater than or equal to zero, and generating the mask overlay by determining whether respective accumulator values is greater than zero. |
| US09804708B2 |
Information processing apparatus and display control method
An information processing apparatus including a coordinate calculation unit configured to calculate a coordinate of a touch position detected by a touch input unit for inputting information of a position on a display, a counter configured to count a counter value when the touch position is detected, the counter value being acquired from the coordinate calculation unit, a synchronization unit configured to synchronize the counter with a timer before the coordinate calculation unit calculates the coordinate, a coordinate correction unit configured to acquire time information from the timer and correct the calculated coordinate using the time information and the counter value of the counter synchronized with the timer, and a drawing unit configured to perform a drawing process of the display using the corrected coordinate. |
| US09804702B2 |
Refreshing method of background signal and device for applying the method
A refreshing method of background signal for a device includes the steps of: obtaining one or more touched coordinate pairs; obtaining a refreshing area according to the touched coordinate pair and a measuring breadth; and refreshing a background signal of the refreshing area. The refreshing area is determined by extending a distance of measuring breadth from a center point corresponding to the touched coordinate pair along the orthogonal directions. Accordingly, the refreshing area is sufficient to address the situation where the user draws a line continuously from the touched coordinate pair if the measuring breadth is determined properly. Therefore, the method may satisfy the needs of the user and reduce the refreshing time of an active area of the device. In addition, a device for applying the method is provided as well. |
| US09804697B2 |
Double-layer touch screen and method for making the same
The present invention discloses a double-layer touch screen, comprising: a transparent cover glass; a first transparent embossed adhesive layer; a first conductive layer embedded in the first transparent embossed adhesive layer and including a plurality of first conductive strips extending along a first direction, the first conductive strip is formed by intersection of conductive wires; a second transparent embossed adhesive layer; a second conductive layer embedded in the second transparent embossed adhesive layer and including a plurality of second conductive strips extending along a second direction, wherein the second conductive strip is formed by intersection of conductive wires; and a transmission reinforcement layer. The double-layer touch screen uses the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer to replace ITO layer used in conventional touch screen. This type of double-layer touch screen can ensure light transmittance and conductivity and reduce cost due to the cheaper material, without additional etching technique. |
| US09804695B2 |
Cursor control apparatus and method for the same
Disclosure is related to a cursor control apparatus and a method for controlling the cursor. The cursor control apparatus essentially includes a light-emitting unit for emitting lights, a housing having a light passage thereon, a light-sensing unit and a control unit. The lights are emitted to outside the apparatus via the light passage. The light-sensing unit then receives the reflected lights from a surface via the passage, especially the lights reach a plurality of sensing cells arranged in an array. The control unit is used to control the energy of the emitting lights, and control the light-sensing unit to receive the lights. After that, the energy received by every sensing cell in an interval can be computed and find the spatial interference difference of energy. The difference is made to determine a moving direction, for example the cursor's movement with the movement of user's finger around the light passage. |
| US09804694B2 |
Control system, mouse and control method thereof
A control system, a mouse and a control method thereof are provided. The control system comprises a dongle and the mouse. The dongle is wiredly connected to a host and has a first light source for emitting a first light. The mouse is wirelessly connected to the dongle and has a transmitter, a second light source for emitting a second light, an optical sensor and a processor. The optical sensor senses the first light at a first time interval to generate a first sensing signal and then also, senses the second light at a second time interval to generate a second sensing signal. The processor generates a first control signal and a second control signal according to the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal, respectively, and transmits them to the dongle via the transmitter so that the host receives the first and second control signals via the dongle. |
| US09804689B2 |
Handheld pointer device and pointer positioning method thereof
A pointer positioning method for a handheld pointer device includes: capturing a first frame containing a reference point when the handheld pointer device updates a first tilt angle presently used to a second tilt angle; computing a first pointing coordinate according to the image position of the reference point in the first frame and the first tilt angle; computing a second pointing coordinate according to the image position of the reference point in the first frame and the second tilt angle; capturing a second frame containing the reference point to compute a third pointing coordinate according to the image position of the reference point in the second frame and the second tilt angle; generating a cursor parameter for controlling a display position of a cursor on a display apparatus according to the first pointing coordinate, the second pointing coordinate, and the third pointing coordinate. |
| US09804688B2 |
Light tracing method and apparatus thereof
Disclosure is related to a light tracing method, and an apparatus thereof. According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is such as an optical indexer. The method for determining a moving direction is performed based on an optical constructive or destructive interference pattern made by reflected lights received by a sensor chip. In particular, the coherent light may be preferably used in order to enhance the interference effect. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes firstly the sensor pixels in the sensor chip receiving the reflected light, and calculating the energy. Next, within a time slot, the energy state of each sensor pixel can be calculated. A moving vector may be determined from a difference between the binary energy states of the adjacent sensor pixels. The binary energy state is based on a comparison between every sensor pixel and a statistic average within the sampling time slot. |
| US09804686B2 |
Wearable display and method of controlling the wearable display generating a user interface according to that of an external device
A Head Mount Display (HMD) and a method for controlling the HMD are disclosed. The method includes detecting an external device in an image captured by the HMD, recognizing at least one component from a first User Interface (UI) of the external device, the at least one component including a keypad or a window for outputting data corresponding to an input signal to the keypad, generating a second UI including the recognized at least one component, displaying the second UI in the HMD, wherein the at least one component of the first UI being displayed on the external device is overlaid with the displayed second UI using the image from which the external device is detected, and displaying data corresponding to an input signal currently received at the external device on the second UI in the HMD. |
| US09804679B2 |
Touchless user interface navigation using gestures
An example method includes displaying, by a display (104) of a wearable device (100), a content card (114B); receiving, by the wearable device, motion data generated by a motion sensor (102) of the wearable device that represents motion of a forearm of a user of the wearable device; responsive to determining, based on the motion data, that the user has performed a movement that includes a supination of the forearm followed by a pronation of the forearm at an acceleration that is less than an acceleration of the supination, displaying, by the display, a next content card (114C); and responsive to determining, based on the motion data, that the user has performed a movement that includes a supination of the forearm followed by a pronation of the forearm at an acceleration that is greater than an acceleration of the supination, displaying, by the display, a previous content card (114A). |
| US09804673B2 |
Touch sensitive device
A method of making a touch-sensitive data entry screen of the kind arranged to provide haptic response to a user via at least one electromechanical exciter coupled to the screen, comprising analyzing the mechanical and electromechanical coupled system represented by the data entry screen and the at least one exciter, and selecting values of parameters of the coupled system to provide a required displacement and acceleration of the screen at low frequency in response to human touch. |
| US09804669B2 |
High resolution perception of content in a wide field of view of a head-mounted display
Introduced herein are various techniques for displaying virtual and augmented reality content via a head-mounted display (HMD). The techniques can be used to improve the effectiveness of the HMD, as well as the general experience and comfort of users of the HMD. An HMD may increase and/or decrease the resolution of certain areas in digital content that is being viewed to more accurately mimic a user's high resolution and low resolution fields of view. For example, the HMD may monitor the user's eye movement to identify a focal point of the user's gaze, and then increase the resolution in an area surrounding the focal point, decrease the resolution elsewhere, or both. Predictive algorithms could also be employed to identify which areas are likely to be the subject of the user's gaze in the future, which allows the HMD to present the regionally-focused content in real-time. |
| US09804658B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
Power supply of ECUs connected to a communication network is optimally controlled so that power consumption is reduced. A transceiver/receiver converts a message of a differential signal received via a CAN bus into a digital signal. A select circuit determines whether the converted message is in a CAN format or a UART format. If it is in the UART format, the select circuit outputs a message to the UART circuit. A UART circuit determines whether the message matches a UART format. If matched, an ID determination circuit determines whether the input message is specifying a CAN ID of its own ECU. If it is the CAN ID of the ECU, the ID determination circuit outputs an enable signal to turn on a regulator and supply power to an MCU and an actuator. |
| US09804657B2 |
System and method for controlling temperature in an information handling system
Systems and methods for controlling temperature in an information handling system is provided. In certain embodiments, a method may include receiving a desired threshold value, determining if a current real-time system value exceeds the desired threshold value, determining if a power shedding mode is enabled, if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjusting power supplied to the information handling system, and if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjusting a fan speed of a cooling fan associated with the information handling system. |
| US09804656B2 |
Micro-architectural energy monitor event-assisted temperature sensing
Methods and apparatus relating to micro-architectural energy monitor event-assisted temperature sensing are described. In one embodiment, at least one of a plurality of slices of a computational logic or at least one of a plurality of sub-slices of the computational logic are powered down or powered up based on a comparison of a temperature value, that is determined based on one or more micro-architectural events, and a threshold value. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US09804653B2 |
Electrical distribution system for an aircraft
Electrical distribution system for an aircraft comprising at least one electrical supply path comprising at least one power unit capable of opening or closing the connection between at least one electrical energy source and at least one device of the aircraft. The system comprises protection cards (2b, 2n) each comprising at least two microcontrollers each capable of sending a command to each power unit of the electrical supply paths protected by each protection card and, among the set of microcontrollers of the protection cards, at least two microcontrollers are provided with a communication and computation function with all of the microcontrollers of the protection cards (2b, 2n). |
| US09804651B2 |
Power adapter and electronic device
An electronic device includes a battery, a detecting unit, a comparing unit, a control unit and a charging circuit. The detecting unit is electronically connected to a universal serial bus (USB) interface to detect and determine whether or not the connecting device is a power adapter. The comparing unit outputs a level signal depending upon the comparing unit comparing a input signal received by the USB interface with a voltage threshold. The control unit controls the battery either to be charged by the connecting device through the charging circuit or the battery to supply power to the connecting device through the USB interface according to the level signal. |
| US09804650B2 |
Supply voltage node coupling using a switch
An apparatus includes a first node configured to provide a first supply voltage to a first device and a second node configured to provide a second supply voltage to a second device. The apparatus further includes a bus configured to communicatively couple the first device and the second device. The apparatus also includes a switch configured to couple the first node and the second node. |
| US09804641B2 |
Programmable controller
A programmable controller includes forward switching units and backward switching units. The forward switching units electrically disconnect forward communication wirings if a module is mounted on a slot connector, and electrically short-circuits the forward communication wirings if no module is mounted on the slot connector. The backward switching units electrically disconnect backward communication wirings if the module is mounted on the slot connector, and electrically short-circuits the backward communication wirings if no module is mounted on the slot connector. |
| US09804638B2 |
Substantially transparent hinged substrate apparatus
In various embodiments, a transparent hinged substrate apparatus integrated into a portable computer may address common deficiencies associated with space limitations on student desktop surfaces. The transparent hinged substrate apparatus may utilize, in some embodiments, a transparent substrate that is positioned between the display side and the keypad side of a portable computer. The transparent hinged substrate apparatus may be movable into multiple positions including one position that covers the keypad side of the portable computer without touching any of the keys of the keypad. Thus, the keypad surface may now be used as a work surface using the same physical space occupied by the portable computer. |
| US09804637B2 |
Portable display device
A portable display device including a display unit, the display unit including a light-emitting surface that displays an image and a non-light-emitting surface opposite to the light-emitting surface; a drive unit, the drive unit controlling the display unit; and a flexible film, the flexible film electrically connecting the display unit and the drive unit, wherein the drive unit includes a first surface on which the flexible film is disposed, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and wherein the portable display device is embodied in a first folding mode in which the flexible film is bent in such a way that the non-light-emitting surface and the second surface face each other, or a second folding mode in which the flexible film is bent in such a way that the light-emitting surface and the first surface face each other. |
| US09804635B2 |
Electronic device and method for controlling displays
An electronic device and a method for controlling displaying of information in the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a first display formed on at least a portion of a body of the electronic device, and a second display formed on at least a portion of a cover functionally connected to the body and including a transparent display area. |
| US09804634B2 |
Peripheral interface circuit at host side and electronic system using the same
A peripheral interface circuit at host side and an electronic system using the same is disclosed. The peripheral interface circuit has a bus clock signal generator and a data register. The bus clock signal generator outputs a bus clock signal based on a host clock signal to be conveyed to a peripheral device via an interface bus as a reference for the peripheral device to output data. The data register receives the data output from the peripheral device and retrieved at the host side in accordance with the host clock signal. The bus clock signal generator adjusts the bus clock signal based on how the host clock signal is phase-asynchronous to the data output from the peripheral device and retrieved at the host side in accordance with the host clock signal. |
| US09804633B2 |
Indirect clock measuring and media adjustment
A method for indirectly measuring the clock rate of a media rendering subsystem, in a media rendering device that has a separate hardware clock for rendering the media, by using the rate at which data requests are made of the CPU in the media rendering device and using the CPU clock to provide additional accuracy in measuring the clock rate. |
| US09804631B2 |
Method and device for generating an adjustable bandgap reference voltage
A circuit includes a first PMOS transistor that includes a first PMOS source coupled to a first input node, a first PMOS gate, and a first PMOS drain. A second PMOS transistor includes a second PMOS source coupled to a second input node, a second PMOS gate, and a second PMOS drain coupled to the second PMOS gate. A first resistor coupled between the first PMOS source and a ground node. A first diode element coupled between the first resistor and the ground node and a second diode element coupled between the second PMOS source and the ground node. A third PMOS transistor includes a third PMOS gate, a third PMOS source coupled to a supply node, and a third PMOS drain coupled to the first input node. A fourth PMOS transistor includes a fourth PMOS gate coupled to the third PMOS gate, a fourth PMOS source coupled to the supply node, and a fourth PMOS drain coupled to the second input node. |
| US09804628B2 |
Reference voltage generator
A reference voltage generator includes a depletion NMOS transistor of a first conductivity type for causing a constant current to flow, and an enhancement NMOS transistor of the first conductivity type diode-connected to the depletion NMOS transistor to generate a reference voltage. A resistor surrounds the periphery of the depletion NMOS transistor and the periphery of the enhancement NMOS transistor. A diode is connected in series to a constant current source and provides a voltage that controls current flowing through the resistor when the environment temperature is lower than a preset temperature. The reference voltage generator can operate under a given preset temperature environment because a voltage consumed in the resistor becomes approximately constant in accordance with the voltage provided from the diode. |
| US09804625B2 |
System, method, and data packets for messaging for electric power grid elements over a secure internet protocol network
Systems, methods, and messages of the present invention provides IP-based messages associated with the grid elements, wherein each IP-based message includes an internet protocol (IP) packet that is generated autonomously and/or automatically by the grid elements, intelligent messaging hardware associated with the grid elements, at least one coordinator, and/or a server associated with the electric power grid and its operation, energy settlement, and/or financial settlement for electricity provided or consumed, transmitted, and/or curtailed or reduced. The IP packet preferably includes a content including raw data and/or transformed data, a priority associated with the IP-based message, a security associated with the IP packet, and/or a transport route for communicating the IP-based message via the network. |
| US09804624B2 |
Electrical vehicle battery charger mounted on lamp post
The present invention relates to an electric distribution appliance (100) suitable for distributing electrical power to a mobile device such as an electric vehicle, said appliance comprising a central part (102), a lower part (104) and an upper part (106), where each of said lower part (104) and said upper part (106) are mounted in such a way that they can be removed from said central part (102), said electric distribution appliance being adapted for being mounted to an existing lamp post (135). |
| US09804623B2 |
Decentralized controls and communications for autonomous distribution networks in smart grid
Technologies are generally described for addressing the bidirectional power flow conflict incurred by power surpluses produced from a number of households' on-location energy generation units (e.g., solar) in power distribution networks. A micro grid composed of households in a neighborhood may be considered as a generating- or consuming-resource entity at different time periods. The approach may be formulated as a power balance computation such that power balance may not be achieved within the micro grid itself, and therefore power sharing (or redispatching) among micro grids is operated, before requesting power from the macro grid, i.e., the fuel-based conventional grid. Enhancement of renewable energy utilization and reduction in the amount of data packet traffic in exchange of information and control messages via uplink and downlink transmissions throughout an overlay multi-tier communications network infrastructure may be taken into consideration in example implementations. |
| US09804620B2 |
Regulator circuit, method, and corresponding power supply system
A track regulator circuit includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal, an output stage with an output terminal for applying an output signal to a load, an error amplifier coupled to the input terminal, and a feedback resistor between the output terminal and the error amplifier for transferring to the error amplifier a feedback signal indicative of the output signal. The error amplifier is configured for driving the output stage as a function of the difference between the input signal and the output signal so that the output signal tracks the input signal. The circuit includes a current generator coupled to the feedback resistor for injecting into the feedback resistor a soft-start current to unbalance the error amplifier, with the intensity of the soft-start current gradually ramping down to zero. |
| US09804619B2 |
USB power supply apparatus
A USB power supply apparatus supplies electric power to a USB power reception apparatus. A bus line connects the output of the power supply circuit and the USB power reception apparatus. A switch is provided on a path of the bus line. A feedback circuit feedback controls the power supply circuit such that the output voltage VOUT of the power supply circuit approaches a reference voltage VREF. A controller adaptively controls the reference voltage VREF based on an electrical state of the USB power supply apparatus. |
| US09804618B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling a segmented circuit
The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a surgical instrument. The method includes connecting a power assembly to a control circuit, wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a source voltage, energizing, by the power assembly, a voltage boost convertor circuit configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage, and energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, one or more voltage converters configured to provide one or more operating voltages to one or more circuit components. |
| US09804615B2 |
Low power bias scheme for mobile storage SOC
A voltage regulator, an active circuit, and a passive circuit is used. The active circuit is used to supply a reference signal as an input to the voltage regulator during a higher power mode. The passive circuit is used to supply a second reference signal as the input to the voltage regulator during a lower power mode, wherein the lower power mode consumes less power than the higher power mode. |
| US09804614B2 |
Bandgap reference circuit and method for room temperature trimming with replica elements
A method and circuit for trimming a bandgap reference are described. The bandgap reference circuit comprises a first diode which is arranged in series with a first resistor between a reference point and a reference potential VSS. The circuit also comprises a second diode which is arranged in series with a second resistor and a third resistor between the reference point and the reference potential VSS. In addition, the bandgap reference circuit comprises a trimming network, wherein a bandgap reference voltage VBG CORE is provided at a midpoint between the trimming network and the current source. The circuit also comprises an operational amplifier. The method (700) comprises measuring a first diode voltage across a replica element of the first diode; determining a first resistance of a replica element of the first resistor; and setting a resistance of the trimming network using the first diode voltage and the first resistance. |
| US09804610B2 |
Thermostat user interface
A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a body having a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The current temperature and setpoint temperature are graphically displayed as prominent tick marks over a range of background tick marks on the electronic display. Different colors can be displayed to indicate currently active HVAC functions, and different intensities of colors can be displayed to indicate an amount of heating or cooling required to reach a target temperature. The setpoint temperature for the device can be altered by user rotation of the rotatable ring, and the programmed schedule can be displayed to the user and altered by the user by virtue of rotations and inward pressings of the ring. Initial device set up and installation, the viewing of device operation, the editing of various settings, and the viewing of historical energy usage information are made simple and elegant by virtue of the described form factor, display modalities, and user input modalities of the device. |
| US09804605B2 |
Position identification device and mobile robot provided with same
Position identification means (7) for estimating the position of a mobile robot (1) includes a laser distance sensor (6) that measures a distance from the mobile robot (1) to an object, means for recognizing an object from data of the measured distance from the mobile robot (1) to the object and map data, travel area storage means (12) for storing a travel area of the mobile robot (1), specified area storage means (13) for storing a specified area that is separate from the travel area of the mobile robot (1), and object determination means (14) for determining whether an object is present within the travel area of the mobile robot (1) that is stored in the travel area storage means (12). |
| US09804602B2 |
Package management system for robotic vehicles
Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes a package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for recognizing an individual human shopper. The system includes circuitry for receiving data indicative of a location of the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment. The system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle to the location of the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment. In an embodiment, the package management system includes circuitry for issuing an alarm upon detection of an unauthorized removal or attempted unauthorized removal of a consumer item from the secure portion of the robotic vehicle. |
| US09804601B2 |
Inferring state of traffic signal and other aspects of a vehicle's environment based on surrogate data
A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode can obtain sensor data from one or more sensors observing one or more aspects of an environment of the vehicle. At least one aspect of the environment of the vehicle that is not observed by the one or more sensors could be inferred based on the sensor data. The vehicle could be controlled in the autonomous mode based on the at least one inferred aspect of the environment of the vehicle. |
| US09804600B1 |
Systems and methods for ground plane estimation
Example systems and methods for estimating a ground plane are provided. An example method may include determining an orientation of a body of a robotic device with respect to a gravity aligned reference frame. The method may also include determining the location of one or more contact points between the robotic device and a ground surface. The method may also include determining a ground plane estimation of the ground surface based on the determined orientation of the robotic device with respect to the gravity aligned reference frame and the determined locations of the one or more contact points. The method may also include determining a distance between the body of the robotic device and the determined ground plane estimation. The method may also include providing instructions to adjust a position and/or orientation of the robotic device based on the determined distance and the determined ground plane estimation. |
| US09804598B2 |
Autonomous mobile body
According to an autonomous mobile body of the present invention, a self-position recognizing section (42a) of a cleaning robot (1) includes a clustering section (42ab) for (i) grouping distance measurement points of each of a plurality of obstacles into clusters, the distance measurement points having been measured by use of a beam emitted from the sensor section (41) and (ii) recognizing the each of the plurality of obstacles. |
| US09804596B1 |
Pet security monitoring
An electronic monitoring system is described that receives data indicating a location of a wireless beacon device that has been detected by a beacon monitoring device, and an identifier that is associated with the wireless beacon device, wherein the identifier corresponds to a mobile asset associated with a property. A location of the wireless beacon device is determined to be outside of an area that defines permissible locations of the mobile asset. Based on the determination, the electronic monitoring system determines to dispatch a robotic device to the location of the wireless beacon device. A particular robotic device to dispatch is identified based on the determination to dispatch a robotic device to the location of the wireless beacon device. A command is transmitted to the particular robotic device that instructs the particular robotic device to navigate to the location of the wireless beacon device. |
| US09804595B1 |
Control system for communicating with and controlling operations of a vehicle
A control system for a vehicle using a primary three axis orientation sensor and a reference three axis orientation sensor spaced apart from the primary sensor. At least one auxiliary control can be used for thrust. A wearable processor can be configured to receive the primary sensor signal and the reference sensor signal. The reference sensor signal can use a conditioning formula and the wearable processor can filter the conditioned signals using a Kalman filter. The filtered signals can form merged signals and apply operator configurations on wrist reference locations to the merged signals. Operation commands can use the merged signals to control the vehicle with four channels of control to a transmitter that communicates with the vehicle. |
| US09804585B2 |
Computer program and method for evaluating a crankshaft
A method for evaluating a crankshaft. The method comprises receiving data related to a three dimensional scan of the crankshaft, generating a crankshaft computer model based on the data, and determining whether the crankshaft is suitable for machining into a machined crankshaft based on the crankshaft computer model. |
| US09804581B2 |
Method for synthesis of multi-fidelity simulation models using functional operators
Methods for synthesis of simulation models using functional operators. A method includes parsing a functional model, receiving a functional operator for a function within a simulation component of the functional model, receiving a structural template of the functional operator from a functional operator structural template library, mapping a plurality of functions according to the structural template of the functional operator to update the simulation component, and generating a simulation model with the updated simulation component. |
| US09804580B2 |
Feasible tracking control of machine
A method for controlling an operation of a machine determines a feasible region for states of the machine and states of the reference trajectory defined by constraints of the machine, constraints on a reference trajectory and constraints on bounds of a tracking error and selects a subset of the feasible region, such that for any state of the machine and any state of the reference trajectory within the subset, there is an admissible control maintaining the state of the machine within the subset for all admissible future states of the reference trajectory determined by the model and the constraints of the reference trajectory. Next, an admissible control action for controlling the operation of the machine is selected such that the state of the machine remains in the subset for all admissible future states of the reference trajectory. |
| US09804575B2 |
Multiplex control device
In one embodiment, a multiplex control device includes three or more control modules to execute same operations for same input signals, and a majority decision module to output an output signal that matches majority of output signals outputted by the control modules. Each control module includes an input module to convert an input signal into an input value, a first determination module to obtain input values from input modules of respective control modules to determine whether majority of input values among the obtained input values match, an operation executing module to execute an operation using the matched input value to generate an output value, a second determination module to obtain output values from operation executing modules of respective control modules to determine whether majority of output values among the obtained output values match, and an output module to convert the matched output value to generate an output signal. |
| US09804574B2 |
Electronic timepiece and control method of electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece and control method of an electronic timepiece prevent system shutdowns due to a voltage drop, and increase opportunities to acquire time information. An electronic timepiece 1 has a reception module 50 that receives satellite signals; a storage battery 24 that supplies drive power; a voltage detection circuit 74 that detects the voltage of the storage battery 24; a temperature detector 67 that detects temperature; a reception command unit that instructs receiving satellite signals; and a reception controller that executes a reception process to receive satellite signals in response to a command from the reception command unit. The reception controller executes the reception process when the detected battery voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold set for the detected temperature, and does not execute the reception process when the reserve power is less than the threshold. |
| US09804573B1 |
Use of redundancy in sub-ranging time-to-digital converters to eliminate offset mismatch issues
A time-to-digital converter utilizes both coarse and fine quantizers and addresses mismatch by using redundant bits in the coarse time representation and the fine time representation. The redundant bits are compared and if the redundant bits are the same, no mismatch correction is required but if the redundant bits are different a correction is applied to correct the redundant portion of the coarse time information. The redundant portion includes the most significant bit generated by the fine quantizer and the least significant bit of the coarse quantizer. The correction adds to or subtracts from the redundant information. |
| US09804562B2 |
Image forming apparatus including duct member for cooling
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a duct member, and a board. The housing has a support plate extending in a vertical direction. The duct member is attached to the support plate and has a first air duct through which air sent by a blower passes. The board has an element that is mounted thereon and generates heat when energized, and has a part supported by the duct member so as to cover an outer surface of the first air duct. |
| US09804560B2 |
Cartridge, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes (i) a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member; (ii) a first drive transmission member capable of receiving a rotational force originated by the main assembly; (iii) a second drive transmission member capable of coupling with the first drive transmission member and capable of transmitting the rotational force received by the first drive transmission member to the developing roller; and (iv) a coupling disconnection member including a force receiving portion capable of receiving the force originated by the main assembly, and an urging portion capable of urging at least one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member by the force received by the force receiving portion to separate one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member from the other, thereby disconnecting the coupling. |
| US09804559B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a moving member configured to move a cartridge
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a cartridge including a supported portion, a moving member configured to move to the apparatus main body and thereby move the cartridge, the moving member moving to the apparatus main body so as to be in an external position and an internal position, a main body side positioning portion provided on the apparatus main body and configured to, when the moving member is in the internal position, support the supported portion, and an upward inclination portion provided on the apparatus main body and inclined upwardly from a movement direction in which the moving member moves from the external position to the internal position. The upward inclination portion causes the cartridge to move upward with respect to the moving member in a process in which the moving member moves from the external position to the internal position. |
| US09804554B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable first coupling provided at a side surface of an engaging portion with a taper surface, and a unit detachably mountable in a second direction crossing with the first direction. The unit includes a second coupling, a driven member and a releasing member. The second coupling includes at an end portion thereof a portion-to-be-engaged engageable with the engaging portion to transmit the driving force, and the driven member receives the driving force from the second coupling. When the unit is disengaged from the main assembly, the releasing member is moved in the second direction in contact with the taper surface to move the first coupling away from the second coupling to effect disengagement between the engaging portion and the portion-to-be-engaged. |
| US09804552B2 |
Cleaning blade, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning blade that contacts a cleaning target member having a cleaning target surface which moves, and cleans the cleaning target surface, includes a blade body; and a blade protrusion that is present at an end portion of a lower surface of the blade body near a distal end surface of the blade body, has a shape protruding outward in a thickness direction with respect to the lower surface, and has an inclined surface being a surface continued from the distal end surface and inclined outward in the thickness direction with respect to the lower surface and inward in a height direction with respect to the distal end surface from an end of the distal end surface near the lower surface. At least a portion of the incline surface is a contact surface that contacts the cleaning target member. |
| US09804549B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum configured to bear a developer image, a developing apparatus having a developing roller that bears developer and a developing blade that regulates the amount of the developer on the developing roller, and a detection portion that detects information on the amount of the developer stored in the developing apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs a discharging operation for discharging a coating agent, applied to a developing roller in an unused state, from the developing apparatus to the photosensitive drum, while varying an operational condition for the discharging operation varied based on the information. |
| US09804546B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a primary heat generator and a secondary heat generator to heat an endless belt and a temperature detector, disposed opposite the secondary heat generator, to detect a temperature of the endless belt. The secondary heat generator includes an inboard edge and an outboard edge disposed outboard from the inboard edge in an axial direction of the endless belt. The secondary heat generator has an inboard length defined between a center of a detection span of the temperature detector and the inboard edge in the axial direction of the endless belt. The secondary heat generator further has an outboard length defined between the center of the detection span of the temperature detector and the outboard edge in the axial direction of the endless belt. The secondary heat generator defines a ratio of the outboard length to the inboard length that is greater than 7/3. |
| US09804544B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a roller, an endless belt, and a heat generating member disposed in a space inside the endless belt, extending in a width direction of the endless belt, and pressing the endless belt against the roller. A sheet is passed through a nip formed between the roller and a portion of the endless belt pressed by the heat generating member, such that an image on the sheet is fixed thereto. The heat generating member includes first and second heat generating portions that are adjacent to each other along the width direction and independently operable from each other. A boundary of the first and second heat generating portions extends in a direction inclined with respect to a sheet conveying direction. |
| US09804543B2 |
Image forming apparatus having fixing device that responds to request when using decolorable ink
An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device. |
| US09804539B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus provided with a fixing apparatus including an infrared irradiation unit for irradiation of a recording medium, on which a liquid developer including a colorant and a cationic polymerizable monomer having a C—H bond is placed, with infrared light, and an ultraviolet irradiation unit for irradiation of the liquid developer with ultraviolet light, wherein when a peak wavelength due to the C—H bond in an infrared absorption spectrum of the cationic polymerizable monomer is defined as λ1 and a half-value wavelength at which a spectral radiant energy density of infrared light emitted from the infrared irradiation unit is 50% (when two of such half-value wavelengths are present, a half-value wavelength at a longer wavelength) is defined as λ2, the peak wavelength λ1 is located at a shorter wavelength than the half-value wavelength λ2. |
| US09804537B2 |
Image forming apparatus that ensures highly accurate positioning on photoreceptor drum of primary transfer roller
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a plurality of photoreceptor drums, a plurality of developing devices, a frame, an intermediate transfer unit, a secondary transfer roller, first positioning portions, and second positioning portions. The secondary transfer roller forms a secondary transfer nip portion with the first roller where the toner images are transferred to a sheet. The first positioning portions are arranged at the intermediate transfer unit and the frame. The first positioning portions position the intermediate transfer unit in a second direction inside the apparatus main body. The second positioning portions are arranged at the intermediate transfer unit and the apparatus main body. The second positioning portions position a distal end side in the mounting direction of the intermediate transfer unit in a third direction inside the apparatus main body. The third direction intersects with the first direction and the second direction. |
| US09804523B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A control portion switches first and second modes based on information which influences a toner charging amount. In the first mode, a driving input to the developer bearing member is stopped in response to image formation completion before or at the same time when a trailing end of a charging area reaches the development position, and an application of the development voltage is stopped after the trailing end reaches the development position. In the second mode, The driving input to the developer bearing member is stopped in response to image formation completion before or at the same time when the trailing end reaches the development position, and the application of the development voltage is stopped at a timing after the trailing end reaches the development position and earlier than that in the first mode, or at the same time when the trailing end reaches the development position. |
| US09804521B2 |
Image forming apparatus operable in plural speeds and having selective control of separation between image bearing member and belt
A positional relationship between a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt during a period from the start of the driving of the photosensitive drum to the start of image formation, or during a period of the end of the image formation to the stop of the driving of the photosensitive drum enters a separating state in a case where the image formation is executed when the process speed is a first speed, and enters a contacting state in a case where the image formation is executed when the process speed is a second speed. |
| US09804519B2 |
Method for producing toner
A method for producing a toner containing a toner particle containing a binder resin, a colorant and a crystalline substance, wherein the method includes the steps of: (I) setting a temperature of a dispersion, in which a coloring particle is dispersed with an aqueous medium, to TA(° C.), which is higher than the higher of a crystallization temperature Tc(° C.) of the crystalline substance and a glass transition temperature Tg(° C.) of the coloring particle, the coloring particle containing the binder resin, the colorant and the crystalline substance; (II) cooling the dispersion from the TA to a temperature equal to or lower than the Tg at a cooling rate of at least 5.0° C./min after the step (I); and (III) holding the dispersion in a temperature from Tg−10 to Tg+10 for at least 30 min after the step (II). |
| US09804516B2 |
Toner, developer, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
A toner includes a base particle; and an external additive covering the base particle. The toner includes a tetrahydrofuran (THF)-insoluble component having a glass transition temperature determined from a DSC curve when heated for the second time of from −50° C. to 10° C. and an average circularity not greater than 0.98, and satisfies the following relation: Bt−0.025×Ct≦1.80 wherein Bt represents a BET specific surface area [m2/g]; and Ct represents a coverage [%] of the external additive covering the base particle. |
| US09804514B2 |
Method for producing toner
Provided is a method for producing a toner, the method including a treatment process of treating a coloring particle including a binder resin, a colorant, a crystalline polyester, and a wax in an aqueous medium,wherein, the peak temperature of a crystallization peak (Pp) in the crystalline polyester is denoted by Tp (° C.) and the peak temperature of a crystallization peak (Pw) in the wax is denoted by Tw (° C.), the Tp and Tw satisfy a specific relationship, and the treatment process has a specific cooling step. |
| US09804511B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor, electrophotographic apparatus comprising the same, and package of electrophotographic photoreceptor
In a negatively-chargeable laminate-type electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charge generation layer and another charge transport layer are arranged on a conductive substrate directly or via an intermediate layer. The charge transport layer contains at least a hole-transporting substance, an electron-transporting substance and a binder resin; the mass ratio (RPN) [% by mass] between mass (P) of the hole-transporting substance and mass (N) of the electron-transporting substance is represented by the following equation (1), and satisfies the following equation (2): RPN=(N/(P+N))×100 (1) 1≦RPN≦40 (2); and when a voltage of +6 kV is applied to the photoreceptor for 5 seconds via a resin sheet having a thickness of 50 μm and a surface resistivity of 2×107 Ω/cm2, the surface potential difference (ΔVo) and half-tone potential difference (ΔVh) between before and after the voltage application are both 15 V or less. |
| US09804510B2 |
Interferometer system, lithography apparatus, and article manufacturing method
Provided is an interferometer system that irradiates an object to be measured with measuring light to thereby measure the position of the object to be measured. The interferometer system includes a laser light source; an interferometer configured to separate laser light emitted from an emission opening of the laser light source into the measuring light and reference light; and an optical path protecting member configured to surround an optical axis such that the laser light passes through the inside thereof and of which one opening is in contact with the emission opening. |
| US09804509B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
In a lithographic projection apparatus, a liquid supply system maintains liquid in a space between a projection system of the lithographic projection apparatus and a substrate. A sensor positioned on a substrate table, which holds the substrate, is configured to be exposed to radiation when immersed in liquid (e.g., under the same conditions as the substrate will be exposed to radiation). By having a surface of an absorption element of the sensor, that is to be in contact with liquid, formed of no more than one metal type, long life of the sensor may be obtained. |
| US09804500B2 |
Optical imaging arrangement with simplified manufacture
An optical imaging apparatus includes an optical element support sub-structure and an auxiliary support sub-structure. The optical element support sub-structure is configured to support an optical element and has a first temporary support interface arrangement. The optical element is configured to form part of a group of optical elements of the optical imaging apparatus configured to transfer, in an exposure process using exposure light, an image of a pattern of a mask onto a substrate. The auxiliary support sub-structure is configured to support an auxiliary component and has a second temporary support interface arrangement. The auxiliary component is configured to execute, during the exposure process, an auxiliary function of the exposure process other than transferring the image of the pattern onto the substrate. |
| US09804498B2 |
Filtering lead from photoresist stripping solution
A photoresist stripping tool includes a reservoir configured to contain photoresist stripping solution and a Pb filter comprising a filter element with Tin (Sn) exterior surfaces. A semiconductor wafer fabrication system includes a semiconductor wafer attached to the photoresist stripping tool that strips photoresist from the semiconductor wafer. A photoresist stripping processes includes stripping photoresist from a leaded semiconductor wafer with photoresist stripping solution within the photoresist stripping tool, filtering Lead Pb from the photoresist stripping solution with the Pb filter, and stripping photoresist from a lead-free semiconductor wafer with the filtered photoresist stripping solution. |
| US09804494B2 |
Method for creating topographical patterns in polymers via surface energy patterned films and the marangoni effect
Using a broadband light source and a photomask, surface energy gradients can be directly transferred into polymer films. The Marangoni effect causes high surface energy regions to rise upon heating the film. This leads to the formation of three-dimensional topography that can be locked in by quenching the polymer by cooling. |
| US09804492B2 |
Method for forming multi-layer film and patterning process
A method for forming multi-layer film on substrate, which includes steps (1) forming under layer film on substrate by applying under layer film material containing resin having repeating unit represented by the general formula (1) or (2) in which fluorene structure is contained, and curing the same by heat treatment, (2) forming metal oxide film on the under layer film by applying metal oxide film material selected from titanium oxide film material, zirconium oxide film material, and hafnium oxide film material, (3) forming hydrocarbon film on metal oxide film by applying hydrocarbon film material, and (4) forming silicon oxide film on the hydrocarbon film by applying silicon oxide film material. There can be provided a method for forming multi-layer film that can reduce reflectance, and useful for a patterning process with high dimensional accuracy of dry etching. |
| US09804491B1 |
Systems and methods for forming contact definitions
In one embodiment, a mask set for use in fabricating thin film tunneling devices includes a first photomask configured to form bottom electrodes of the devices, the first photomask comprising a first alignment mark including multiple corner markers, and a second photomask configured to form a continuous top layer of the devices, the second photomask comprising a second alignment mark including a corner marker configured to be aligned with one of the corner markers of the first photomask, wherein a degree of overlap between the bottom electrodes and the continuous top layer depends upon the corner marker of the first photomask with which the corner marker of the second photomask aligns. |
| US09804485B2 |
Light source device, lighting apparatus, and projector
A light source device includes a light source, a fluorescent layer, a diffusive reflector, a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a light separating and synthesizing unit. The light separating and synthesizing unit divides light coming from the light source into a first light and a second light. The first light passes through the first lens unit to enter the fluorescent layer. The second light passes through the second lens unit to enter the diffusive reflector. The size of a spot of the second light on the diffusive reflector is greater than the size of a spot, of the first light on the fluorescent body layer. |
| US09804483B2 |
Projector and method of controlling projector
A projector includes a manipulation detecting unit that performs a manipulation detecting process on the basis of captured image data of an imaging unit, and a correction control unit that performs a distortion correcting process on the basis of the captured image data. An imaging control unit sets an image-capturing resolution of the imaging unit to resolutions different from each other between a case where the manipulation detecting unit performs the manipulation detection process and a case where the correction control unit performs the distortion correcting process. |
| US09804481B2 |
Lens accessory, lens apparatus, and image pickup apparatus
A lens accessory (1) is detachably attached to a lens barrel (2), and includes a first holder (104) and a second holder (105) for holding the lens barrel, an operation member (102) that moves at least one holder of the first holder and the second holder between a first position and a second position, and a biasing mechanism (110) that applies a biasing force to the at least one holder so as to hold the lens barrel, the biasing mechanism includes a first biasing member and a moving member that moves the at least one holder from the first position to the second position according to an operation of the operation member via the first biasing member, and when the at least one holder contacts the lens barrel, the first biasing member is displaced by the moving member. |
| US09804480B2 |
Imaging apparatus stand
An imaging apparatus stand includes a first member having an L shape, a second member similarly having an L shape, an adjustment section which raises and lowers the first member, and a third member rotatably coupled to a portion of the second member provided extending at right angle to the second member. The first member includes a stage provided extending at right angle thereto. On the stage, a tablet terminal is placed such that its camera section is directed downward. The adjustment section raises and lowers the first member, i.e., the stage by an operation knob being operated. The third member functions as a leg portion for making the imaging apparatus stand self-supporting. On the lower surface of the stage of the first member, a lighting device using an LED as a light emitting element is provided. |
| US09804476B2 |
Optical parametric generator
An optical parametric generator comprises a seed laser feeding an optical system. The seed laser is arranged to provide a seed beam at either a signal frequency of a signal wave or an idler frequency of an idler wave. Further, the optical parametric generator comprises a pump laser of a defined type feeding the optical system. The pump laser emits ultra-short optical pulses as a pump wave. In addition, the optical parametric generator comprises a second order non-linear crystal of a defined type arranged in the optical system. The defined type of the crystal and the defined type of the pump laser are selected so that the signal wave or the idler wave are locked in an edge of the pump wave. |
| US09804475B1 |
Radio-frequency loss reduction in photonic circuits
In photonic integrated circuits implemented in silicon-on-insulator substrates, non-conductive channels formed, in accordance with various embodiments, in the silicon device layer and/or the silicon handle of the substrate in regions underneath radio-frequency transmission lines of photonic devices can provide breaks in parasitic conductive layers of the substrate, thereby reducing radio-frequency substrate losses. |
| US09804465B2 |
Method for detecting defects of TFT array substrate
Disclosed is a method for detecting defects of a TFT array substrate. The method comprises steps of: positioning an abnormal area of the TFT array substrate; separating the abnormal area from other areas of the array substrate; and treating the abnormal area as such that multiple layers in the abnormal area can be revealed one by one, and detecting the revealed layers to determine a defective layer in the abnormal area. |
| US09804450B2 |
Liquid crystal display
Provided is a liquid crystal display capable of reducing a texture by increasing a liquid crystal control ability. The liquid crystal display includes a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The first electrode includes a horizontal extension forming a boundary between adjacent subregions and a vertical extension connected to the horizontal extension, and the horizontal extension includes a portion which has a largest width at a position proximate to the vertical extension, and which has a smaller width at a position farther from the vertical extension. |
| US09804449B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a lower electrode and a plurality of upper electrodes opposed to the lower electrode formed in the first substrate. At least one first upper electrode and at least one second upper electrode of the plurality of upper electrodes are formed in each of the plurality of pixels. Each of the first upper electrodes has a plurality of slits that extend in a first direction, each of the second upper electrodes has a plurality of slits that extend in a second direction which is different from the first direction, and the first and second upper electrodes are electrically isolated from each other. |
| US09804447B2 |
Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes: a lower panel in which a plurality of pixel areas is defined; an upper panel opposite to the lower panel and in which the plurality of pixel areas is defined, where each pixel area is divided into domains; a first alignment layer on the lower panel and photo-aligned to have sub alignment portions corresponding to the domains, respectively; and a second alignment layer on the upper panel and photo-aligned to have sub alignment portions corresponding to domains, respectively, where one of the sub alignment portions of the first alignment layer has no pretilt and remaining of the sub alignment portions of the first alignment layer has different pretilt directions, and one of the sub alignment portions of the second alignment layer has no pretilt and remaining of the alignment portions of the second alignment layer has different pretilt directions. |
| US09804441B2 |
Electronic device optical sensing system with stray light suppression
An electronic device display may have an active area with an array of pixels and an inactive area. A light-transmitting window may be formed in the inactive area. A light-sensing component such as an ambient light sensor may be mounted within the housing in alignment with the window. Opaque masking material may be provided on one or more layers of the display in the inactive area and may have an opening for the window. Backlight structures in the display may generate backlight illumination for pixels in the active area. Stray portions of the backlight illumination may be blocked using a stray light absorption layer on one of the layers of the display such as a layer other than the layer on which the opaque masking material is formed. The stray light absorption layer may have an opening aligned with the window. |
| US09804433B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel of improving color washout
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel of improving color washout, setting different alignment angles in the sub pixel areas of different colors (the included angle between the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules and the branch electrode of the pixel electrode). Then, the alignment angle of the red sub pixel area is the largest, and the alignment angle of the green sub pixel area is smaller, and the alignment angle of the blue sub pixel area is smallest. Thus, it is possible to respectively modulate the transmittance-voltage curves and the brightness-voltage curves of the lights of different colors to optimize the white dot chromaticity for satisfying the optical specification and compensate the losing transmittance of the blue light in the panel for improving the color washout problem. |
| US09804431B2 |
Optical film and display device including the same
An optical film includes: a light-transmissive matrix having a plate shape; a plurality of first rods having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the light-transmissive matrix and disposed at a first inclination angle in the light-transmissive matrix; and a plurality of second rods having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the light-transmissive matrix and disposed at a second inclination angle in the light-transmissive matrix. The first inclination angle is different from the second inclination angle. |
| US09804427B2 |
Film-attaching apparatus
A film-attaching apparatus comprising a base, a substrate bearing member configured to bear a substrate and a film bearing member configured to bear a film; the film bearing member is rotatable between a closed position and an open position; the film bearing member at the closed position has a bearing surface in opposite to that of the substrate bearing member such that a first portion of the film is contacted with a first portion of the substrate; and the substrate bearing member is movable in translational motion along a direction of the bearing surface of the substrate bearing member upon the film bearing member being at the closed position such that the bearing surfaces of the substrate bearing member and of the film bearing member are movable with respect to each other to attach a second portion of the film onto a second portion of the substrate. |
| US09804423B2 |
On-chip optical polarization controller
An example optical polarization controller can include a substantially planar substrate and a waveguide unit cell formed on the substantially planar substrate. The waveguide unit cell can include a first out-of-plane waveguide portion and a second out-of-plane waveguide portion coupled to the first out-of-plane waveguide portion. Each of the first and second out-of-plane waveguide portions can respectively include a core material layer arranged between a first optical cladding layer having a first stress-response property and a second optical cladding layer having a second stress-response property. The first and second stress-response properties can be different such that each of the first and second out-of-plane waveguide portions is deflected by a deflection angle. |
| US09804421B2 |
Method for determining at least one optical design parameter for a progressive ophthalmic lens
A method for determining at least one optical conception parameter for a progressive ophthalmic lens intended to equip a frame of a wearer, depending on the visual behavior of the latter. The method comprises the following steps: a) collecting a plurality of behavioral measurements relating to a plurality of gaze directions and/or positions of the wearer during a visual task; b) statistically processing said plurality of behavioral measurements in order to determine a zone of use of the area of an eyeglass fitted in said frame, said zone of use being representative of a statistical spatial distribution of said plurality of behavioral measurements; and c) determining at least one optical conception parameter for said progressive ophthalmic lens depending on a spatial extent and/or position of the zone of use. |
| US09804420B2 |
Attachable front for eyeglasses
A removable attachment for eyeglasses, where the attachment, when mounted on a parent pair of eyeglasses, substantially completely covers the front and periphery of the parent frame, such that the combination appears to be a pair of dedicated sunglasses instead of ordinary eyeglasses with an attachment. The attachment is held to the parent eyeglasses by magnets. The bridge of the attachment includes ball joints that allow the attachment to fold for storage while not in use. |
| US09804417B2 |
Wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses and related compositions and methods
Silicone hydrogel contact lenses having ophthalmically acceptable surface wettabilities are obtained from pre-extracted polymerized silicone hydrogel contact lens products having relatively large amounts of removable or extractable materials. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses can be obtained from non-polar resin based contact lens molds and without surface treatments or an interpenetrating polymeric network of a polymeric wetting agent. Related lens products, polymerizable compositions, and methods are also described. |
| US09804411B1 |
Adhesion structures for eyeglass frames
A skin contact pad for eyeglass frames that helps increase the friction between the skin and the eyeglasses. The skin contact pad has a body with a face surface that touches the skin of a person wearing the eyeglasses. Concavities are formed on the skin contact pad. Each of the concavities has a concave surface defined within an encompassing base. The encompassing base of each concavity is independent and complete. As the concavities move across skin, the skin bulges slightly into the concavities. As the skin moves under the concavities, the bulges move and a slight suction is created within the concavities that bias the skin contact pad toward the skin. The bias that is created helps hold the eyeglasses in place on the head of a user. |
| US09804410B2 |
Method and apparatus for design and fabrication of customized eyewear
Eyewear can include lenses having perimeters that are customized for an intended wearer. The perimeter of the lenses can be determined based on anatomical features of the wearer's face, field of vision, or other parameters specific to that individual. The perimeter may also be configured to accommodate one or more of: a component configured to be coupled to the eyewear, an item configured to be worn by the wearer in conjunction with the eyewear, or a projected line of sight of the wearer. A provisional lens perimeter obtained may be modified in curvature and/or size to arrive at a desired final lens perimeter, based for example on stylistic preferences or to accommodate external elements affecting the perimeter and/or curvature of the lens. Customized lenses can be fabricated based on the determined lens perimeters. The customized lenses can be assembled into completed eyewear that is customized for a wearer, for example having shapes, sizes, and designs not otherwise possible. |
| US09804409B2 |
Optical image capturing system
A six-piece optical lens for capturing image and a six-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis includes a first lens with refractive power, a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power, a fourth lens with refractive power, a fifth lens with refractive power and a sixth lens with refractive power. At least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the six lens elements is aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09804407B2 |
Image shake correction apparatus having exposed damping member and installation region of damping member overlapping with ball or sphere contact surface in an optical axis direction
An image shake correction apparatus includes a first fixing member; a movable member configured to correct the image shake, and configured to hold an optical element; a plurality of spherical members that are movable; a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force through the spherical member in the optical axis direction; a second fixing member that is disposed on the opposite side of the optical axis direction; and a plurality of damping members disposed in the second fixing member that suppresses vibration resulting from movement of the movable member. Either one of the first fixing member or the movable member includes a contact surface configured to make contact with the spherical member, and the maximum movable range of the contact surface overlaps with at least a portion of the installation region of the damping member in the optical axis direction. |
| US09804398B2 |
Head-mounted perfume dispenser apparatus
A head-mounted display includes a playback processor which plays back a moving image from first time until second time, a box for placing a container containing a perfume inside, a filled section which is temporarily filled with the perfume and emits the temporarily filled perfume according to starting playback of the moving image, and a tubular vent hole which is in contact with a nose of a user when the user wears the head-mounted display. |
| US09804397B2 |
Using a freedom reflective and lens optical component for augmented or virtual reality display
Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data in a time-sequential manner, a light modulator configured to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data, a substrate to direct image information to a user's eye, wherein the substrate houses a plurality of reflectors, a first reflector of the plurality of reflectors to reflect transmitted light associated with a first frame of image data at a first angle to the user's eye, and a second reflector to reflect transmitted light associated with a second frame of the image data at a second angle to the user's eye. |
| US09804395B2 |
Range calibration of a binocular optical augmented reality system
The disclosure includes a system and method for calibrating a binocular optical see-through augmented reality display. A calibration application renders one or more images of a virtual object on the one or more displays of the human interface device, and receives a user input to adjust a position of the one or more images on the one or more displays. In response to the input, the calibration application identifies a first and second boundary of a target range surrounding a real-world object at a first and second depth, respectively. The calibration application determines a first and second disparity corresponding to the first and second boundary and may record the disparities in relation to the depth of the real-world object. |
| US09804394B2 |
Sedentary virtual reality method and systems
Method and devices for creating a sedentary virtual-reality system are provided. A user interface is provided that allows for the intuitive navigation of the sedentary virtual-reality system based on the position of the users head. The sedentary virtual-reality system can render a desktop computing environment. The user can switch the virtual-reality system into an augmented reality viewing mode or a real-world viewing mode that allow the user to control and manipulate the rendered sedentary environment. The modes can also change to allow the user greater situational awareness and a longer duration of use. |
| US09804393B1 |
Virtual reality headset
In a general aspect, a virtual reality headset can include a goggle portion having a chassis including left, right, top and bottom sides. The chassis can be open at a first end and a second end. The first end can be configured for placement against or near a user's face. The second end can be configured to receive an electronic device including a display. The goggle portion can also include a lens frame assembly disposed within the chassis and disposed between the first end and the second end. The headset can also include an enclosure flap hingably coupled with the goggle portion at a first end of the enclosure. A second end of the enclosure flap can be removably attachable to the chassis to secure the electronic device in the VR headset. The goggle portion and the enclosure flap can be a unitary structure formed from a single precision-cut sheet. |
| US09804385B2 |
Object detector and sensing apparatus
An object detector and a sensing apparatus are provided. The object detector includes a light source, a light deflector configured to deflect light emitted from the light source, and a photodetector configured to detect the light that is deflected by the light deflector and then is reflected at an object, where the light deflector includes a plurality of reflection planes that rotate on a rotation axis, the reflection planes are oblique to the rotation axis and are rotationally symmetrical about the rotation axis, and the light that is emitted from the light source enters the light deflector in a direction parallel to the rotation axis. The sensing apparatus includes the object detector, and a monitoring controller configured to determine whether an object is present, and obtain movement information of the object including at least one of moving direction and moving speed of the object. |
| US09804383B2 |
Electrowetting device with multi layer support plate
An electrowetting element comprising a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid. A support plate includes an electrode and, located between the electrode and the first fluid, a first layer and a second layer. The first layer comprises an inorganic material and the second layer comprises an organic material. The first layer is in contact with the second layer and between the second layer and the first fluid. |
| US09804379B2 |
Follow-up fixed focus system
A follow-up fixed focus system includes a fixed focus device, and the second end of the fixed focus device is in contact with a sample plate; when the sample plate has a small protrusion, the second end of the fixed focus device is pushed by the protrusion of the sample plate. When the sample plate has a small depression, the second end of the fixed focus device is in contact with the sample plate all the time under the action of self gravity of an observation device, so that the imaging distance between an object lens and the sample plate is kept unchanged. |
| US09804378B2 |
Arrangement for light sheet microscopy
An arrangement for light sheet microscopy including illumination optics with an illumination objective for illuminating a sample, located in a medium on a sample carrier aligned with respect to a plane reference surface, with a light sheet. The arrangement also includes detection optics with a detection objective. The arrangement further includes a separating layer system with at least one layer separating the medium from the illumination and detection objectives. The separating layer system contacts the medium by a base surface aligned parallel to the reference surface. A correction lens system, with at least one correction lens serving to reduce those aberrations which occur as a result of the oblique passage of illumination light and/or of light to be detected through interfaces of the separating layer system, is arranged between illumination objective and separating layer system and/or between detection objective and separating layer system. |
| US09804369B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power, a second lens unit having negative refractive power, a third lens unit having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit does not move and at least the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit move. A distance between adjacent lens units varies during zooming. In the zoom lens, a lens configuration of the first lens unit, a lens configuration of the second lens unit, a focal length of each lens unit, a focal length of the zoom lens at a wide-angle end, and a lateral magnification of the second lens unit during focusing on an infinite-distance object at the telephoto end are appropriately set based on predetermined conditions. |
| US09804363B2 |
Optical lens
An optical lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens arranged sequentially along an optical axis from an magnified side to a minified side. A center thickness of the first lens is TH1, a center thickness of the second lens is TH2, a center thickness of the third lens is TH3, a center thickness of the fourth lens is TH4, a center thickness of the fifth lens is TH5, and an effective focal length of the optical lens is EFL, wherein the optical lens fits at least one of the following conditions: (1) 0.52<(TH1+TH2+TH3)/EFL<1.0; (2) 0.5<(TH3+TH4+TH5)/EFL<0.65; and (3) (TH1+TH2+TH3)/(TH3+TH4+TH5)>1.20. The optical lens can reduce aberration and has high resolution. |
| US09804351B2 |
Optical receptacle and optical module
This optical receptacle has first optical surfaces via which light outputted by respective light-emitting elements is inputted, a second optical surface whereby light inputted via said first optical surfaces is outputted towards an end face of a light-transporting body, a third optical surface whereby light inputted via the first optical surfaces is reflected towards the second optical surface, a plurality of first concavities formed in the surface where the second optical surface is located, and a plurality of second concavities formed in the surface where the first optical surfaces are located or a surface opposite the surface where the first concavities are located. The first concavities and the second concavities are laid out opposite each other so that the central axes thereof coincide. |
| US09804345B2 |
Optical-module member, optical module, and electronic device
An optical module-member is provided, including: a layer-shaped optical waveguide; a light-emitting unit substrate including an insulating substrate, light-emitting element-mounting portions where light-emitting elements are configured to be mounted so as to be optically connected to the optical waveguide, and driving element-mounting portions which are electrically connected to the light-emitting element-mounting portions where driving elements for driving the light-emitting elements are configured to be mounted; and a light-receiving unit substrate which is separated from the light-emitting unit substrate, the light-receiving unit substrate including: an insulating substrate, light-receiving element-mounting portions where light-receiving elements are configured to be mounted so as to be optically connected to the optical waveguide, and signal amplification element-mounting portions which are electrically connected to the light-receiving element-mounting portions and where signal amplification elements for amplifying a signal from the light-receiving element are configured to be mounted. |
| US09804344B2 |
Optical fiber with connector
An optical fiber with a connector includes a first connector and a plurality of optical fibers attached to the first connector. The first connector includes: at least one fiber-shaped member; and a ferrule including a first end surface and a second end surface arranged in a first direction, and a holding portion holding the optical fibers and the fiber-shaped member. In the holding portion, a plurality of fiber insertion holes extending from the first end surface in the first direction is formed such that the optical fibers and the fiber-shaped member are insertable thereinto. One end of the optical fiber and one end of the fiber-shaped member are held by the holding portion in a state of being inserted into the fiber insertion hole. The optical fiber extends to the outside of the ferrule. The other end of the fiber-shaped member is located inside the ferrule. |
| US09804341B2 |
Optical receptacle
An optical receptacle includes a fiber stub having an optical fiber with a core and cladding, a ferrule with a through-hole fixing the optical fiber, and a bonding agent fixing the optical fiber in the ferrule, and a holder holding the fiber stub. The optical fiber is disposed inside the through-hole over an entire region of the optical fiber, and includes a portion in which a core diameter and a fiber outer diameter decrease gradually toward an end surface of the ferrule on a side opposite to a side to be optically connected to a plug ferrule. The bonding agent is filled into a space between the optical fiber and an inner wall of the through-hole. |
| US09804339B2 |
Optical connector and medical device
An optical connector for coupling to a counter-connector mechanically and optically, a portion of an optical transmission line transmitting an optical signal being disposed in the optical connector, includes: a first outer case through which the optical transmission line is inserted and that covers an incidence end or an emitting end of an optical signal through the optical transmission line; a cover plate that is permeable to an optical signal and seals a tip end side coupled to the counter-connector in the first outer case; and a coating film made of amorphous carbon that is disposed on a surface on the tip end side of the cover plate. |
| US09804337B2 |
Managed fiber connectivity systems
A communications connection system includes a fiber optic adapter module configured to receive multiple fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic adapter module includes one or more media reading interfaces. Each media reading interface is configured to read physical layer information stored on one of the fiber optic connectors received at the adapter module. Certain types of media reading interfaces extend between an internal passage of the adapter module and an external surface of the adapter module. |
| US09804334B2 |
Fiber to chip optical coupler
An optical coupler for coupling an optical fiber to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is presented. The optical coupler comprises a first curved mirror included in a first substrate layer of the PIC and at a first predefined lateral distance from an optical transceiver associated with the PIC; a second curved mirror included in a second substrate layer and placed at a second predefined lateral distance from the optical fiber; and a spacer located between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer. |
| US09804333B1 |
Coarse wavelength division multiplexing device
A coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) device includes a supporting frame, a collimating lens, focusing lenses, a supporting block, and a light splitter. The supporting frame includes first frame portion with collimating lens and a second frame portion with focusing lenses arranged in an array along an extending direction of the second frame portion. The supporting block includes a first sidewall facing the first frame portion and a second sidewall facing the second frame portion. The light splitter includes a mirror on the first sidewall and a plurality of filters on the second sidewall, the filters being arranged in an array along an extending direction of the second sidewall. The filters correspond to the focusing lenses. |
| US09804323B2 |
Light conversion device and manufacturing method thereof, and light source unit including the light conversion device
A light source unit includes a light guide plate which includes a front surface and a rear surface which are opposite to each other and a side between and connecting the front surface and the rear surface, a light conversion device on the side of the light guide plate; and a light source which generates and supplies light to the light conversion device. The light conversion device includes, a sealed tube, a light conversion member within the sealed tube and a space other than an area in the tube which is occupied by the light conversion member, defined in the tube. |
| US09804319B2 |
Quantum dot films, lighting devices, and lighting methods
Light-emitting quantum dot films, quantum dot lighting devices, and quantum dot-based backlight units are provided. Related compositions, components, and methods are also described. Improved quantum dot encapsulation and matrix materials are provided. Quantum dot films with protective barriers are described. High-efficiency, high brightness, and high-color purity quantum dot-based lighting devices are also included, as well as methods for improving efficiency and optical characteristics in quantum dot-based lighting devices. |
| US09804318B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device includes an LED, a light guiding member, and a mask member. The light guiding member has a cut to provide a directivity to light emitted from the LED. The cut is provided at a position corresponding to the LED on an emission surface side of the light guiding member. The mask member is disposed on an emission surface side of the cut to block the light emitted from the LED. |
| US09804317B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes an image display panel, a light source device, and a control device. The light source device includes a light source that emits light and a light guide member arranged on the back surface side of the panel as seen from the display surface, receives the light via its side surface with respect to its surface facing the panel, and has divided areas arranged in a direction in which the light travels. Each area includes a light modulation layer brought in a light transmission state or in a light scattering state. The control device brings the layers in the scattering state in respective scattering control periods temporally different from each other. When bringing a light modulation layer in the scattering state, the control device controls the light source device with a drive pattern based on a distance between the side surface and the corresponding area. |
| US09804313B2 |
Methods for producing phase-difference film and circularly polarizing plate involving simultaneous reduction of clip pitch on one side and increase of clip pitch on another side
Provided is a method capable of producing a retardation film being excellent in axial accuracy, showing small changes in retardation and dimensions at the time of its heating, and having a slow axis in an oblique direction with high production efficiency. The production method for a retardation film of the present invention includes: holding left and right end portions of a film with left and right variable pitch-type clips configured to have clip pitches changing in a longitudinal direction, respectively; preheating the film; causing the clip pitches of the left and right clips to each independently change to obliquely stretch the film; reducing the clip pitches of the left and right clips to shrink the film in the longitudinal direction; and releasing the film from being held with the clips. |
| US09804312B2 |
Window for display device and display device including the same
A window for a display device and a display device including the same are provided. The window for the display device includes: a window substrate having a first groove in a display area transmitting an image and a second groove in a non-display area adjacent to the display area; a polarizing film in the first groove; and a printed layer in the second groove. |
| US09804311B2 |
Higher transmission light control film comprising a transmissive region and an absorptive region each having a different index of refraction
A light control film, and light collimating assemblies and liquid crystal displays incorporating such light control films are described. The light control film includes alternating transmissive and absorptive regions, where the refractive index of each transmissive region is greater than the refractive index of each absorptive region. The absorptive regions form interfaces at angles that are close to the perpendicular to the light control film. A portion of the incident light intercepting the absorptive region undergoes Total Internal Reflection, and is transmitted through the film. The axial brightness of light passing through the film is increased, the brightness is more uniform within the viewing angle, and the viewing cutoff angle is sharpened. |
| US09804306B2 |
Color filter substrate and display panel including the same
A color filter substrate comprises an insulating substrate and a color filter layer including a blue color filter and a green color filter spaced apart from each other on the insulating substrate, wherein the blue color filter includes first metal particles having a first mean diameter, and the green color filter includes second metal particles having a second mean diameter larger than the first mean diameter. |
| US09804303B1 |
Systems for tunable nanocube plasmonic resonators and methods for forming
The present disclosure is directed to systems for tuning nanocube plasmonic resonators and methods for forming tunable plasmonic resonators. A tunable plasmonic resonator system can include a substrate and a nanostructure positioned on a surface of the substrate. The substrate can include a semiconductor material having a carrier density distribution. A junction can be formed between the nanostructure and the substrate forming a Schottky junction. Changing the carrier density distribution of the semiconductor material can change a plasmonic response of the plasmonic resonator. |
| US09804302B2 |
Liquid crystal lens structure and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal lens structure is disclosed, comprising a first substrate and a second substrate each having oppositely arranged sides, a first side and second side. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which first side of the first substrate and second side of the second substrate are proximate to the liquid crystal layer. A first transparent conductive layer is disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer. A second transparent conductive layer is disposed on the second side of the second substrate, in which the second transparent conductive layer comprises a circular opening and a circular electrode in the circular opening. Thus, the invention can provide better response time and improve efficiency of the liquid crystal lens structure. |
| US09804298B2 |
Ophthalmic lens material
An ophthalmic lens material includes dopamine methacrylamide, a hydrophilic monomer, a cross-linking agent, and a photoinitiator. The dopamine methacrylamide has a mass percentage of about 0.5% to about 10% of a total mass of the ophthalmic lens material. The hydrophilic monomer has a mass percentage of about 88.95% to about 99.494% of a total mass of the ophthalmic lens material. The cross-linking agent has a mass percentage of about 0.001% to about 1% of a total mass of the ophthalmic lens material. The photoinitiator has a mass percentage of about 0.005% to about 0.05% of a total mass of the ophthalmic lens material. |
| US09804293B1 |
UAVs for the detection and tracking of intense tornadoes
A method for detecting tornadogenesis in a mesocyclone, and to monitor and track intense tornadic mesocyclones. The method includes flying a UAV above the mesocyclone for an extended period of time and detecting transition to tornadic stage. This further intensification is indicated by transition in a core structure of the mesocyclone to include the presence of an eye. The UAV can be a Global Hawk aircraft and can include a number of sensors and detectors, such as an imaging camera for providing imaging data of the mesocyclone-core structure, an infrared detector for detecting changes in heat in the mesocyclone-core structure, a radar detector for detecting wind magnitudes and direction in the mesocyclone-core structure, dropsonde sensors for measuring temperature, pressure, relative humidity and wind direction in the mesocyclone-core structure, etc. The UAV can relay the storm parameter data to a satellite for subsequent downlinking to receiving stations at the Earth's surface. |
| US09804292B2 |
Term by term gain calibration of triaxial propagation measurements
A method for obtaining gain corrected triaxial electromagnetic propagation measurements with an offset correction includes deploying an electromagnetic logging tool in a subterranean borehole. The logging tool includes at least first and second axially spaced triaxial transmitters and at least first and second axially spaced triaxial receivers. A plurality of full tensor voltage measurements may be acquired and processed tensor term by tensor term to obtain a full tensor, gain corrected quantity. The processing may optionally include (i) removing a full tensor voltage offset from the acquired full tensor voltage measurements to obtain a corresponding plurality of offset corrected voltage tensors and (ii) processing the offset corrected voltage tensor term by tensor term to obtain the full tensor, gain and offset corrected quantity. |
| US09804289B2 |
X-ray scanning system and method
Systems and methods are provided for scanning an item utilizing an X-ray scanner in order to facilitate a determination of whether the X-ray radiation penetrated through the entirety of the scanned item. Various embodiments comprise a conveying mechanism, an X-ray emitter, a detector, and an X-ray penetration grid (XPG). The XPG may comprise a radiopaque grid that may serve as a reference for determining whether radiation passes through the scanned item, the grid oriented such that the grid members are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the direction of travel. Such orientation may minimize or eliminate “ghosted” radiation signals included in a visual display of the radiation received by the detector. A scanned item may be oriented with the XPG such that radiation emitted by the X-ray emitter that passes through a portion of the scanned item must also pass through the XPG before being received by the detector. |
| US09804288B2 |
Real-time, limited orientation sensor auto-calibration
A system method and computer-readable medium for correcting measurements obtained by a down hole tool for residual measurement errors is disclosed. A down hole tool having at least two directional field sensors is disposed in a borehole. The at least two directional sensors are substantially orthogonal to each other and to a longitudinal axis of the down hole tool. Measurements are obtained from the at least two directional sensors during rotation of the tool by at least 360 degrees around the longitudinal axis of the tool. Residual measurement errors are determined for the obtained measurements, and a quality level of the determined residual measurement errors selected. The determined residual measurement errors are applied to the obtained measurements when the determined residual measurement errors are consistent with the selected quality level. In various embodiments, the residual measurement errors are reduced from a first value that does not match the selected quality level to a second value that are consistent with the selected quality level. |
| US09804284B2 |
Ghost-suppression optimized seismic source and method
A marine seismic source includes source elements configured to emit waves having different frequencies while the source elements are towed at different predetermined depths, respectively. The predetermined depths are calculated such that water-surface reflections of the waves generated by a source element among the source elements interfere constructively with the waves generated by the source element and propagating toward an explored structure under the seafloor. The waves combine to yield a spike-like signature of the source. |
| US09804281B2 |
Migration velocity analysis method for VSP data
Vertical Seismic Profile (VSP) analysis is a technique commonly used to conduct geophysical surveys of subterranean features. The processing of a VSP includes several steps, usually including a final step of depth migration. In order to properly process and image VSP data using depth migration, a velocity model of the subsurface must be known or derived. A variety of criteria can be used to ascertain whether the velocity used for migration is accurate. |
| US09804280B2 |
Method and apparatus for tuning the rise time of the initial pulse of an air gun
An air gun intended for use in generating seismic energy impulses, i.e. acoustical waves, in a body of water that provides improved performance by adjusting the length of the firing chamber in order to tune the rise time from zero pressure to peak pressure and to increase or decrease the slope of the initial pulse. By selecting the length of the firing chamber, the rise time of the initial pulse is tuned to increase low frequencies and reduce objectionable high frequencies to help in mitigating damage to marine life and the marine environment and to provide greater penetration of the seismic signal through for example basalt and sub-basalt structures. |
| US09804279B2 |
Method for determining parameters of a reaction of a gamma quantum within a scintillator of a PET scanner
A method for determining parameters of a reaction of a gamma quantum within a scintillator of a PET scanner, comprising transforming a signal measured in the scintillator using at least one converter into an electric measurement signal, wherein the method comprises the steps of: obtaining access to a reference parameters memory (10) comprising reference signals represented in a time-voltage (Wt-v) coordinate system and in a time-amplitude fraction (Wt-f) coordinate system and having associated reaction parameters; sampling the electric measurement signal (S) measured in the time-voltage (PT-V) coordinate system and in the time-amplitude fraction (Pt-f) coordinate system; comparing results of the sampling (PT-V, PM) of the electric measurement signal (S) with the reference signals (Wt-V, Wt-f) and selecting reference shape parameters so that the reference (W) is best fitted to the results of the sampling (PT-V, PM) of the electric measurement signal (S); and determining the parameters of the reaction of the gamma quantum within the scintillator (1) for the electric measurement signal (S) based on pre-calibrated functions that determine the values of parameters of signal shape depending on the parameters of the reaction of gamma quantum within the scintillator. |
| US09804274B2 |
Hybrid TOF-PET/CT tomograph comprising polymer strips made of scintillator material
A hybrid TOF-PET/CT tomograph comprising a detection chamber, gamma radiation detectors, X-ray detectors and a movable X-ray source, wherein the gamma radiation detectors (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) and the X-ray detectors (170, 270, 370, 470, 570) surround the detection chamber (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) around the whole perimeter of the detection chamber (102, 202, 302, 402, 502), and wherein the gamma radiation detectors (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) are located closer to the longitudinal axis (115, 215, 315, 415, 515) of the detection chamber (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) than the X-ray detectors (170, 270, 370, 470, 570), and wherein the gamma radiation detectors (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) comprise polymer strips (151, 251, 351, 451, 551) made of a scintillation material having a density lower than the density of the X-ray radiation detectors (171, 271, 371, 471, 571). |
| US09804271B2 |
Adaptive GNSS power saving control
Methods and apparatuses are provided for a portable device to minimize power consumption of its measurement engine while maintaining a desired level of accuracy. One such method forms a control loop, in which a value of a metric indicating a difference between the current estimated accuracy and the desired level of accuracy is calculated and then filtered to produce one or more filtered values. Using the one or more filtered values and current values of one or more modifiable measurement parameters, new values for the one or more modifiable measurement parameters are generated and then used to take the next measurement. |
| US09804269B2 |
Providing real-time segment performance information
Providing real-time segment performance information is disclosed. In some embodiments, a segment associated with a user's current activity is determined based at least in part on at least a portion of location information recorded so far. In some embodiments, real-time segment performance information associated with the user's current activity on the segment is communicated. |
| US09804260B2 |
RF proximity sensor
A sensor has a strip resonator filter that energizes an emitter patch which emits an electric field out from the strip resonator filter (away from the strip resonator filter). The capacitance of the filter, or specifically the coupling capacitance and radiation pattern of the slotted patch, is altered when an object such as a finger is near the sensor. Resulting changes in a signal outputted by the filter can be used to determine how close the object is to the sensor. The strip resonator filter may be a half wavelength strip resonator coupled filter having three separate strips. The patch may have a slot and two accompanying strips. An arrangement of multiple sensors may detect the position of an object in two or three dimensions. |
| US09804255B2 |
Kalman filter for indoor positioning
A position estimation method for indoor positioning includes filtering an initial position estimate that includes a corresponding covariance that reflects the quality of the geometry of the reference points and a previous initial position estimate that includes a corresponding covariance that reflects the quality of the geometry of the reference points by a Kalman filter to generate an updated previous position estimate, analyzing the updated previous position estimate to determine if the value is outside of a range, and constraining the updated previous position estimate based on the value being outside of the range. |
| US09804253B2 |
System and methods for non-parametric technique based geolocation and cognitive sensor activation
The present invention relates to a geolocation system and method for a multi-path environment. The geolocation system comprises one or more emitters (201a . . . 201n), one or more sensors (202a . . . 202n) comprising at least one processor. A first processor (204) estimates angle of arrival (AOA) and time of arrival (TOA) from the signals received from said one or more emitters (201a . . . 201n). A second processor (205) determines clusters based on the (AOA) and (TOA) data. The system also comprises a central node (207) in communication with at least one sensor (202a . . . 202n) and configured to estimate geolocation of one or more emitters (201a . . . 201n) wherein, said second processor (205) clusters data for the one or more emitters (201a . . . 201n) by executing a non-parametric Bayesian technique and said central node (207) utilizes hybrid angle of arrival-time difference of arrival (AOA-TDOA) technique to determine geolocation of each of the emitters (201a . . . 201n). |
| US09804251B1 |
Fiber optic directional sensor with wide-field optical field expanding element and method
A fiber optic directional sensor has a substantially hemispherical dome surface and a substantially flat surface. The sensor is formed from a plurality of optical fibers fused to one another, and each optical fiber extends from the dome surface to the flat surface. One end of each optical fiber is substantially perpendicular to the sensor's dome surface, and the opposite end of the fiber is substantially perpendicular to the sensor's flat surface such that an end face of the fiber is substantially tangent to the dome surface, and another end face of the fiber is substantially tangent to the flat surface. The sensor further includes an optical element which expands the field of view of the sensor and chromatically controls the incoming light. Using the sensor, light from projectiles, such as missiles, bullets, and other weaponry, can be detected, and the locations of the projectiles can be determined. |
| US09804250B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for optical bore sight error measurement and correction
Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for determining bore sight error. An apparatus may include an optical lens and a collimated light source configured to emit a beam of collimated light having a first wavelength, where the beam of collimated light passes through the optical lens and parallel to an optical axis of the optical lens. The apparatus may further include a position sensitive detector configured to receive the beam emitted by the collimated light source, and identify a first position of the beam relative to the position sensitive detector. The apparatus may also include a processing device configured to generate a bore sight error metric based, at least in part, on the first position identified by the position sensitive detector. The bore sight error metric characterizes a difference between an actual position of a target object and a perceived position viewed by the optical lens. |
| US09804249B2 |
Dual-path analog to digital converter
Methods and apparatus for processing a signal comprise at least one circuit configured to generate a measured signal during a measured time period and a reference signal during a reference time period. Also included is at least one dual- or multi-path analog-to-digital converter comprising at least a first processing circuit configured to process the measured signal, at least a second processing circuit configured to process the reference signal, and a third processing circuit configured to process both the measured signal and the reference signal. |
| US09804247B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance system to acquire MR data of a slice of a volume segment within an examination subject
In a method and a magnetic resonance system to acquire MR data of a slice of a volume segment within an examination subject, a slice selection gradient is activated along a first direction that is orthogonal to the slice. An RF excitation pulse is radiated for selective excitation of the slice, a first phase coding gradient is activated along the first direction, and a second phase coding gradient is activated along a second direction. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. A readout gradient is activated along a third direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. MR data are acquired while the readout gradient is activated. A number of phase coding steps for the second phase coding gradient is determined depending on the first phase coding gradient. |
| US09804246B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data of a series of slice images associated with a region including a target region of an object, a first rest period specifying unit configured to specify a first rest period based on a change between images of the series of slice images, and a second rest period specifying unit configured to specify a second rest period shorter than the first rest period by tracking the target region on a plurality of slice images corresponding to the specified first rest period or a rest period enlarged from the first rest period. |
| US09804241B2 |
Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging
In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging, in order to enable improved saturation of magnetic resonance signals during an acquisition sequence, the acquisition sequence includes a readout block set with multiple readout blocks, a readout saturation pulse set with multiple readout saturation pulses, and an intermediate saturation pulse set with one or more intermediate saturation pulses, wherein the readout saturation pulse set is disjoint from the intermediate saturation pulse set, at least one readout block of the readout block set includes a readout saturation pulse of the readout saturation pulse set, and at least one intermediate saturation pulse of the intermediate saturation pulse set takes place between two successive readout blocks of the readout block set. |
| US09804240B2 |
Method and device for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
Starting with a magnetic resonance imaging system control sequence that has a radio-frequency (RF) pulse train to control the RF transmission system and a gradient pulse train, chronologically matching the RF pulse train, to control the gradient system, the gradient pulse train including a predetermined selection gradient pulse chronologically matched to a refocusing pulse of the RF pulse train, the execution capability of the control sequence is initially established using an execution capability criterion, in particular under consideration of a refocusing flip angle of the refocusing pulse. Modification of the refocusing pulse and/or of the selection gradient pulse takes place depending on the establishment of the execution capability of the control sequence. |
| US09804237B2 |
Body coil for magnetic resonance imaging
A body coil for magnetic resonance imaging includes one or more coil elements incorporated in a shell material. The body coil has a rectangular basic shape. Two opposing edge sections of the body coil may be pivoted along one pivot axis, respectively, relative to a middle section. For this purpose, movement elements that effect pivoting are arranged on an edge section side. |
| US09804226B2 |
Device for actively improved impedance synthesis
An impedance control device for tuning a device under test comprising: a first terminal port arranged for connecting a device under test, a second terminal port arranged for connecting a termination, a first signal path for a signal travelling between the first and the second terminal port, first coupling means arranged for picking up a part of the signal travelling in the first signal path, a second signal path arranged for receiving the part of the signal from the first coupling means, said second signal path comprising a correction circuit for adapting as a function of frequency the amplitude and phase of the received part of the signal, second coupling means arranged for coupling back into the first signal path an adapted signal outputted by the correction circuit, and an attenuator and phase shifter for applying attenuation and phase shifting on the signals travelling between the first and the second terminal port. |
| US09804220B2 |
Device testing and monitoring method thereof
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method including turning on a noise-measuring system for a device under test (DUT) with the DUT turned off; measuring a first phase noise caused by the noise-measuring system; turning on the DUT; measuring a second phase noise caused by the noise-measuring system and the DUT; and subtracting the first phase noise from the second phase noise to obtain a third phase noise caused by the DUT. |
| US09804218B2 |
Systems and methods for testing point to point contact of customer specific cables
Aspects of the present disclosure involve a testing device or apparatus configured to test PTP contacts of user-specified cables capable of transmitting electrical signals along a particular path between two points, such as between a transmitter and a receiver. |
| US09804217B2 |
EMC test bench comprising an item of equipment under test which is intended to be loaded on board an aircraft
An EMC test bench, includes an item of equipment under test to be loaded on board an aircraft, the item of equipment being subjected to EMC tests and delivering ARINC electrical interfaces as inputs and as output; an electrical interfaces device representative of an item of anti-lightning equipment and including an ARINC signals acquisition and/or generation card connected to the ARINC inputs and outputs of the item of equipment under test; a command and control rack for analyzing control signals originating from the electrical interfaces device including the ARINC signals acquisition and/or generation card, and a signals conversion system for protecting the command and control rack connected between the command and control rack and the electrical interfaces device. |
| US09804213B2 |
Capacitive sensor device
A capacitive sensor device comprises a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, and a processing system coupled to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to acquire a first capacitive measurement by emitting and receiving a first electrical signal with the first sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to acquire a second capacitive measurement by emitting and receiving a second electrical signal, wherein one of the first and second sensor electrodes performs the emitting and the other of the first and second sensor electrodes performs the receiving, and wherein the first and second capacitive measurements are non-degenerate. The processing system is configured to determine positional information using the first and second capacitive measurements. |
| US09804212B2 |
Energy management system
An energy management system controlling energy flowing into or out of a battery is provided. The energy management system includes a data receiving unit receiving load data and energy data; a total load amount calculating unit calculating the total amount of power consumption by using the received load data; an energy generation amount calculating unit calculating the total amount of power generation by using the received energy data; a comparator comparing the calculated total amount of the power consumption with the calculated total amount of the power generation; and a switch connecting the battery to a power supply according to a comparison result. |
| US09804211B2 |
Indicators for a power meter
A system for indicators of power meters. |
| US09804210B2 |
Authentication, authorization, and/or accounting of power-consuming devices
Systems and methods for authenticating, authorizing, and/or accounting for a power-consuming device to access a power source are described. A power access controller may manage the power source and authenticate and/or authorize the power-consuming device to access the power source based on, for example, a power profile of the power-consuming device. The power profile may indicate categories of devices for the power-consuming device, the manufacturer of the power-consuming device, and/or the device's expected power consumption. Accounting of an amount of power consumed by the power-consuming device may also be performed. |
| US09804209B2 |
Monitoring an electrical power supply network
A method and a device are provided for monitoring an electrical power supply network. A temporal frequency change value is determined for at least two sections or for at least two points of the power supply network. The frequency change value indicates the respective temporal frequency change of the network frequency. A conclusion is drawn regarding a possible islanding within the power supply network, and a warning signal which indicates the possible islanding within the power supply network is generated when the difference between the frequency change values, exceeds a predetermined frequency change threshold value. |
| US09804207B1 |
Internal voltage monitoring for integrated circuit devices
An integrated circuit (IC) is located on an IC chip and includes an integrated voltage regulator circuit that provides an internal supply voltage to the IC. A test mode signal can be received from an external pin of the IC chip. In response to the test mode signal, the IC can enter a test mode where the internal supply voltage is provided to components of the IC. Also in the test mode, voltage characteristics of the internal supply voltage are measured to produce an analog held value. The measurements occur in an analog domain and over a plurality of sample-and-hold windows. Upon completion of a measurement window, the analog held is converted to a digital value. The digital value is then stored in a memory circuit. The digital value is provided from the memory circuit to a reader device external to the IC. |
| US09804206B2 |
Method and a device for measuring parameters of an analog signal
A method for measuring parameters of an analog signal to determine times at which the analog signal (S) crosses predetermined voltage thresholds (VA, VB, VC, VD), the method comprising the steps of: splitting the analog signal (S) into a number of interim signals (SA, SB, SC, SD), the number of the interim signals corresponding to the number of the preset voltage thresholds (VA, VB, VC, VD); providing an FPGA system (10) comprising differential buffers (11 A, 11 B, 11 C, 11 D) with outputs connected to a number of sequences (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) of delay elements (21, 22, 23), the number of sequences of delay elements corresponding to the number of the preset voltage thresholds (VA, VB, VC, VD); inputting, to an input of each differential buffer (11 A, 11 B, 11 C, 11 D), one interim signal (SA, SB, SC, SD) and a reference voltage corresponding to a particular preset voltage threshold (VA, VB, VC, VD); reading, by means of vector generators (31 A, 31 B, 31 C, 31 D), assigned separately to each of the sequences (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) and connected to a common clock signal (CLK), current values of output signals of each of the delay elements (21, 22, 23) in the particular sequence (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) at the same moment for all vector generators and providing these values as sequence output vectors (WA, WB, WC, WD); and determining times at which the analog signal (S) crosses the predetermined voltage thresholds (VA, VB, VC, VD) on the basis of the values of the sequence output vectors (WA, WB, WC, WD) and the delays introduced by the delay elements (21, 22, 23). |
| US09804202B2 |
Current transducer with integrated primary conductor bar
An electrical current transducer is disclosed which includes a primary conductor bar for carrying the current to be measured, a magnetic core having a magnetic circuit gap, a magnetic field sensor having a magnetic field detector positioned in the magnetic circuit gap, and an insulating housing surrounding the magnetic core and magnetic field sensor. The primary conductor bar has connection terminal ends extending outside of the housing configured for connection to an external primary conductor. The primary conductor bar has a core passage section comprising a fuse portion configured for interruption of the primary conductor if a predefined electrical current is exceeded. The core passage section has a reduced width (W1) in comparison to the connection terminal ends extending outside of the housing thereby providing indents within which at least a portion of the magnetic core is positioned such that a central passage of the magnetic core has a width (W3) less than the width (W2) of the primary conductor connection ends. |
| US09804200B2 |
Digital oscilloscope comprising multiple data acquisition pathways
A digital oscilloscope comprises a sampling unit configured to sample an input signal received from an oscilloscope probe to produce a first stream of digital samples, a first acquisition system configured to store and process the stream of digital samples to produce a first data set, a second acquisition system configured to store and process the first stream of digital samples independent of the first acquisition system to produce a second data set, and a display system configured to concurrently display the first data set in a first format and the second data set in a second format different from the first format. |
| US09804194B2 |
Low resistance low wear test pin for test contactor
A contact for use in a test set which can be mounted to a load board of a tester apparatus. The contact, which serves to electrically connect at least one lead of a device being tested with a corresponding metallic trace on the load board, has a first end defining multiple contact points. As the test pin is rotated about an axis generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the contact, successive contact points are sequentially engaged by a lead of the device being tested. The test pin has a hard stop edge which engages a hard stop wall which limits its rotation movement. The bottom of the pin has a shallow convex curvature preferably with a flat region and the tip of the test pin has a chisel edge. |
| US09804193B2 |
Metrological scanning probe microscope
This invention relates to a metrological scanning probe microscope system combining an SPM which employs an optical lever arrangement to measure displacement of the probe indirectly with another SPM which measures the displacement of the probe directly through the use of an interferometric detection scheme. |
| US09804186B2 |
Liquid suction tool, liquid supply unit and automated analyzer
The liquid suction tool, liquid supply unit and automated analyzer can reduce an amount of the liquid remaining in the suction conduit while maintaining the strength of the suction conduit. The liquid suction tool 12 has a rod-like suction conduit 31 and a connecting member 32. The suction conduit 31 is inserted into the storage bag 21. A groove 34 is formed on a side surface of the suction conduit 31 to pass the liquid. |
| US09804185B2 |
Application method for automatic micro droplet array screening system with picoliter scale precision
This invention is related to high-throughput screening field, in particular to an application method for automatic micro droplet array screening system of picoliter scale precision. According to this invention, the fluid driving system and the capillary are fully filled with fluid of low thermal expansion coefficient as the carrier fluid to thoroughly empty air bubbles in the capillary; after that, immersing the sampling end of capillary into the oil phase that is mutually immiscible with aqueous sample to aspirate a section of oil phase into the capillary for isolation of aqueous sample and carrier fluid; once completed, immersing the sampling end of capillary into the sample/reagent storage tube to aspirate a certain volume of aqueous sample into the capillary; finally, moving the sampling end of capillary to the oil phase above microwells on microwell array chip, and pushing the sample solution in the capillary into microwells to form sample droplet. Quantitative metering of fluid and droplet generation according to this invention are provided with volume precision in picoliter, which can effectively minimize the consumption of sample/reagent, and save the testing cost during high-throughput screening. |
| US09804181B2 |
Automation tube positioning methodology
Methods and systems allow characterization of sample vessels and carriers in an automation system to determine any physical deviation from nominal positions. In response, an offset can be calculated and applied when positioning a carrier relative to a station, such as a testing or processing stations (or vice-versa). This may allow for precise operation of an instrument with a sample vessel on an automation track, while compensating for deviation in manufacturing and other tolerances. |
| US09804180B2 |
Incubation device and methods for automatic movement of a reaction vessel therein for an automatic analysis apparatus
An incubation device for an automatic analysis apparatus includes an incubation unit having a number of reception positions for reaction vessels, a first transfer arm having a gripping device for one or more reaction vessels, which is configured to move the gripping device into a first access region, a second transfer arm having a gripping device for one or more reaction vessels, which is configured to move the gripping device into a second access position. This allows a larger sample throughput of the automatic analysis apparatus with, at the same time, frictionless and reliable operation. To this end, the first and the second access regions do not overlap, and the incubation unit is mounted so that it can be moved in such a way that at least one of the reception positions reaches the first and the second access regions. |
| US09804177B2 |
Stimulus-responsive gel material
A stimulus-responsive gel material includes: a polymeric material containing as constituent components, a first monomer having a chemical structure represented by the following formula (1) and a second monomer having higher hydrophobicity than the first monomer; fine particles having an average particle diameter of 10 nm or more and 1000 nm or less; and a solvent, wherein the wavelength of a reflected light from the material changes according to the concentration of salt to come in contact with the material. In the formula (1), R is a substituent containing at least a carbon atom and a hydrogen atom, and when the number of carbon atoms in R is denoted by n and the number of oxygen atoms in R is denoted by m, n-m is an integer of 3 or more. |
| US09804173B2 |
Multiplexed assay kit to evaluate the efficacy of treatment for inflammatory bowel disease
Disclosed are methods for conducting diagnostic tests for the detection of the inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Also described are methods for monitoring a patient by administering tests of the present invention. Also described are methods for monitoring patient's treatment by administering tests of the present invention. Also described are methods for evaluating the effectiveness of a drug or a drug candidate by administering tests of the present invention to samples from patients, animal models, and cell cultures treated with a drug or a drug candidate. Also disclosed are methods for determining the usefulness of analytes, e.g. cytokines, for acting as diagnostic and monitoring markers for inflammatory bowel disease in the various methods of the invention. |
| US09804157B1 |
Screening assays to identify compounds which modulate T1R associated taste modalities which eliminate false positives
This invention relates to assays which screen for compounds that modulate taste elicited by the T1R2/T1R3 sweet taste receptor which include a novel counter screen to eliminate false positives. In addition, the invention contemplates assays which screen for compounds that modulate taste elicited by the T1R1/T1R3 umami taste receptor which include a novel counter screen to eliminate false positives. Preferably the assays are conducted in high throughput format thereby enabling the screening of many hundreds of different compounds whereby the counter screen significantly improves assay efficiency. Further, the invention relates to the use of the compounds identified in the subject screening assays to modulate T1R associated taste perception. |
| US09804154B2 |
Rapid test for urine albumin and urine creatinine
Disclosed herein is an immunochromatographic system for measuring albumin and creatinine in a urine sample and a reader that detects signals from the test cassette, calculates, and displays the results for albumin concentration, creatinine concentration, and albumin-creatinine ratio. |
| US09804152B1 |
Human ex vivo skin model and its use in methods of identifying modulators of skin inflammation
Provided are methods and systems for determining functional relationships between ex vivo skin models and an inflammatory skin condition. Also provided are methods and systems for identifying modulators of inflammation of skin, as well as the use of modulators identified by such methods or systems for the preparation of cosmetic compositions, personal care products, or both. |
| US09804150B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing data processing and control in a medical communication system
Methods and apparatus for providing data processing and control for use in a medical communication system are provided. |
| US09804148B2 |
Analyte sensor with lag compensation
In particular embodiments, methods, devices and systems including calibrating analyte data associated with a monitored analyte level received from an analyte sensor based on a reference measurement, determining a lag time constant associated with the calibrated analyte data, and performing lag correction of the calibrated analyte data based on the determined time lag constant are disclosed. |
| US09804147B2 |
Charging device for biological information measurement device and biological information measurement device charged using same
Certain implementations have a main body case having a contact face of a biological information measurement device on its surface, and a first non-contact charging portion composed of a charging coil disposed opposite the contact face with the biological information measurement device inside the main body case. In addition, some may have a controller that is connected to the first non-contact charging portion, and a display section that is connected to the controller. Upon completion of the charging of the biological information measurement device via the first non-contact charging portion, the controller connected to the display section may display on the display section that the biological information measurement device will be incapable of measurement for a specific length of time. |
| US09804141B2 |
Method for detecting organic and inorganic explosives
Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for releasing a sample from a carrier medium. A method of releasing a sample from a carrier medium comprises treating a sample on a carrier medium with a first organic reagent, wherein when the sample contains at least one inorganic salt, the first organic reagent binds to a cation of the inorganic salt to produce both a first volatile compound and an isolated anion of the inorganic salt; treating the sample on the carrier medium with a second organic reagent, wherein the second organic reagent reacts with the isolated anion to produce a second volatile compound; and releasing the treated sample from the carrier medium, wherein when the first and the second volatile compounds are produced, the releasing step releases at least one of the first and second volatile compounds from the carrier medium. |
| US09804139B2 |
Sensor element and gas sensor
A sensor element 101 of a gas sensor 100 includes a blocking portion 65 including an outer blocking layer 67 that is formed to cover, in an upper surface of a multilayer body, at least a part of an upper closest region 6a where an outer pump electrode 23 is not disposed and a distance up to a third inner cavity 61 is minimal. The outer blocking layer 67 does not have conductivity for one or more among various types of substances containing oxygen. The outer blocking layer 67 is disposed between a lead line 93 for the outer pump electrode and the upper surface of the multilayer body to provide insulation therebetween, and is disposed between an upper connector pad 91 and the upper surface of the multilayer body to provide insulation therebetween. A porous protective layer 24 covers the outer pump electrode 23. |
| US09804138B2 |
Measurement of total reactive nitrogen, NOy, together with NO2, NO, and O3via cavity ring-down spectroscopy
A sensitive, compact detector measures total reactive nitrogen (NOy), as well as NO2, NO, and O3. In all channels, NO2 is directly detected by laser diode based cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) at 405 nm. Ambient O3 is converted to NO2 in excess NO for the O3 measurement channel. Likewise, ambient NO is converted to NO2 in excess O3. Ambient NOy is thermally dissociated at 700 C to form NO2 or NO in a heated quartz inlet. Any NO present in ambient air or formed from thermal dissociation of other reactive nitrogen compounds is converted to NO2 in excess O3 after the thermal converter. The precision and accuracy of this instrument make it a versatile alternative to standard chemiluminescence-based NOy instruments. |
| US09804137B2 |
Method and device for calibrating an exhaust gas sensor
A method for calibrating an exhaust gas sensor arranged in a measurement chamber, includes providing a measurement chamber in or adjacent to an exhaust channel of an internal combustion engine. At the start of a calibration phase, exhaust gas present in the measurement chamber is displaced by a filling of the measurement chamber with calibration gas, and at the end of the calibration phase, exhaust gas diffuses into and/or is introduced into the measurement chamber. |
| US09804135B2 |
Chromatography apparatus and methods using multiple microfluidic substrates
An apparatus for chemical separations includes a first substantially rigid microfluidic substrate defining a first fluidic port; a second substantially rigid microfluidic substrate defining a second fluidic port; and a coupler disposed between the first and second substrates, the coupler defining a fluidic path in fluidic alignment with the ports of the first and second substrates. The coupler includes a material that is deformable relative to a material of the first substrate and a material of the second substrate. The substrates are clamped together to compress the coupler between the substrates and form a fluid-tight seal. |
| US09804133B1 |
Method to enable the use of larger injection volumes and to reduce extra-column effects in chromatographic separations
A method and apparatus for enabling larger injection volumes and for reducing extra column effects in chromatographic separations using focusing pre-columns placed upstream of the analytical, or preparative, column with applications in any chromatographic system where the requirement is that the focusing pre-column, placed upstream of the analytical column, allows larger injection volumes to be utilized and, by enabling efficient focusing of solutes onto the analytical column, results in a significant reduction of band broadening due to extra-column effects which act upstream of the analytical column. |
| US09804130B2 |
System and method for providing simulated ultrasound porosity waveforms
A system and method is disclosed for generating ultrasound results having a simulated level of porosity for a composite. Data for a set of composite coupons having different levels of porosity is obtained. An attenuation distribution function is fit to a back wall signal generated from the data for each coupon and a library of echo patterns based on such data is created. An interpolated attenuation distribution function is calculated based on an interpolation of two stored attenuation distribution functions having the closest porosity values to the selected level. A main attenuation distribution function value is assigned to one portion of a selected region in a zero porosity coupon and attenuation distribution functions values within a predetermined percentage of the main attenuation distribution function are assigned to other portions of the region. Waveforms associated with the portions are modified based on such values and selected echo patterns from the library. |
| US09804126B2 |
Apparatus and method for improved acoustical transformation
An acoustical transformer having a last matching section that includes a protective barrier of low permeability. The protective barrier is in contact with a test medium. In one embodiment, the protective barrier comprises one or more low permeability layers, such as a metallic foil or metallic coating(s) disposed on a low impedance layer such as polyimide, so that the low impedance layer and the protective barrier constitute the last matching section of the acoustical transformer. In other embodiments, the protective barrier comprises a fluoropolymer. A method for determining the thicknesses of the various layers of the acoustical transformer for enhanced performance is also disclosed. |
| US09804125B2 |
Device for compensating electromagnetic interferences during biomagnetic measurements
Invention, relates to the field of supersensitive biomagnetometry under presence of external electromagnetic interferences. In order to perform passive compensation of said interferences, design of device at the magnetometer input is proposed, comprising compensation elements and means for their moving including shifting, holding, and fixation units. In the basic embodiment, three short-closed wire contours are used which are orthogonally placed in space and independently moved up-down relative to the magnetometer or its input antenna. Contours are fixed in positions where minimum of external interference amplitude is achieved according to given field projection. Variants are proposed with cooling of meter and/or contours, location of contours inside the cryostat and their manufacturing from superconductors. |
| US09804123B2 |
Electrochemical sensor utilising a dual redox system contained within a single molecule
An electrochemical sensor utilizes a chemical compound which is not a macromolecule but rather is a single chemical compound of determinate structure, incorporating two redox systems which differ in their response to a species to be detected. In one form, one redox system displays a voltammetric wave which is pH dependent while another displays a voltammetric wave which is pH independent and acts as an internal reference. The sensor comprises a solid substrate, which may be carbonaceous, on which the compound is immobilized. The sensor may be incorporated into a tool to be suspended in a wellbore. |
| US09804122B2 |
Embedded noble metal electrodes in microfluidics
A technique relates to manufacturing a nanogap. An oxide layer is disposed on top of a substrate. A release layer is disposed in a pattern on top of the oxide layer. A patterned trench is etched into the oxide layer using the pattern of the release layer. A metal layer is disposed on the release layer and in the patterned trench. A polish removes the release layer, thereby removing both the release layer and a portion of the metal layer having been disposed on top of the release layer, such that the metal layer remaining includes a first metal part and a second metal part connected by a metal nanowire. The metal layer remaining is coplanar with the oxide layer. A nanochannel is formed in the oxide layer in a region of the metal nanowire. The nanogap is formed in the metal nanowire separating the first and second metal parts. |
| US09804121B2 |
Cephalopod proteins as proton conductors
The disclosed invention relates to novel materials and associated methods for conducting protons, such materials comprising cephalopod proton-conducting proteins such as reflectins. The protonic conductivity of such cephalopod proton-conducting proteins may be modulated by the application of an electric field. The invention further encompasses protonic transistors comprising a cephalopod proton-conducting protein channel. The transistors and related devices of the invention are amenable to use in biological systems for the sensing or manipulation of protonic flows within the biological system. |
| US09804120B2 |
Systems and methods for multiplexed electrochemical detection
Contemplated methods and devices comprise performing electrochemical sample analysis in a multiplexed electrochemical detector having reduced electrical cross-talk. The electrochemical detector includes electrodes that share a common lead from a plurality of leads. The sample, which may be a liquid sample, is introduced into one or more sample wells and a signal is applied to at least one of the electrodes. A response signal is measured while simultaneously applying a substantially fixed potential to each of a remainder of the plurality of leads. |
| US09804112B2 |
Selective characterization of material under test (MUT) with electromagnetic impedance tomography and spectroscopy
A method of extracting complex impedance from selected volumes of the material under test (MUT) combined with various embodiments of electrode sensor arrays. Configurations of linear and planar electrode arrays provide measured data of complex impedance of selected volumes, or voxels, of the MUT, which then can be used to extract the impedance of selected sub-volumes or sub-voxels of the MUT through application of circuit theory. The complex impedance characteristics of the sub-voxels may be used to identify variations in the properties of the various sub-voxels of the MUT, or be correlated to physical properties of the MUT using electromagnetic impedance tomography and/or spectroscopy. |
| US09804111B2 |
Impedance-based measurement device with a two-dimensional array of coils
The device for the impedance-based probing of materials described herein comprises a two-dimensional array of coils (1) and a measurement unit (4) adapted to determine, for each coil (1), a parameter indicative of its impedance. A pulse generator (3) is able to generate current pulses in each coil (1). The circuitry drives and senses the coil array through row and column lines (rp1 . . . rpN1, cp1 . . . cpN2, c21 . . . csN2) in order to minimize the number of required components. The device can, in particular, be used for probing concrete. |
| US09804108B2 |
Multi-phase metering device for oilfield applications
This application is related to a system and methods for sampling fluids and gases using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. Specifically the system is related to an improved metallic pipe design for use at oil and gas well heads that includes integral coils for transmitting an NMR pulse sequence and detecting NMR signals and can be used as a component of an NMR instrument. The methods are related to obtaining and analyzing NMR spectra in stationary and flowing states. |
| US09804105B2 |
Systems and methods for determining water-cut of a fluid mixture
Provided in some embodiments are systems and methods for measuring the water content (or water-cut) of a fluid mixture. Provided in some embodiments is a water-cut sensor system that includes a T-resonator, a ground conductor, and a separator. The T-resonator including a feed line, and an open shunt stub conductively coupled to the feed line. The ground conductor including a bottom ground plane opposite the T-resonator and a ground ring conductively coupled to the bottom ground plane, with the feed line overlapping at least a portion of the ground ring. The separator including a dielectric material disposed between the feed line and the portion of the ground ring overlapped by the feed line, and the separator being adapted to electrically isolate the T-resonator from the ground conductor. |
| US09804095B2 |
Test set for a photometric measuring device, and photometric measuring method for a sample liquid
The invention relates to a test set (1) for a photometric measuring device, comprising a mixing container (2) which has a filling opening (3) and comprising a metering container (8) which can be sealingly inserted into the filling opening (3) of the mixing container (2) and which contains a liquid reagent (13) in a closed cavity (9). The cavity (9) has a closure plunger (11), which can be moved axially in the cavity (9), at a first end of the metering container (8), said closure plunger generating a specifiable filling pressure in the reagent (13), and the metering container (8) has a closure membrane (10) at a second metering container and which can be inserted into the mixing container (2). According to the invention, the closure membrane (10) is equipped with a predetermined breaking point (20) which breaks open when the filling pressure is exceeded in a defined manner as a result of an axial movement of the closure plunger (11), said predetermined breaking point (20) of the closure membrane (10) being formed as a linearly extending material taper of the closure membrane (10), wherein the taper is arranged eccentrically in the region of an opening (24) in the base (23) of the substantially cylindrical metering container (8). |
| US09804093B2 |
Ultrasensitive SERS flow detector
The invention provides an apparatus and methods for label-free, chemical specific detection in flow for high throughput characterization of analytes in applications such as flow injection analysis, electrophoresis, and chromatography. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) flow detector capable of ultrasensitive optical detection on the millisecond time scale has been developed. The device employs hydrodynamic focusing to improve SERS detection in a flow channel where a sheath flow confines analyte molecules eluted from a capillary over a planar SERS-active substrate. Increased analyte interactions with the SERS substrate significantly improve detection sensitivity. Raman experiments at different sheath flow rates showed increased sensitivity compared with the modeling predictions, indicating increased adsorption. At low analyte concentrations, rapid analyte desorption is observed, enabling repeated and high-throughput SERS detection. The flow detector offers substantial advantages over conventional SERS-based assays such as minimal sample volumes and high detection efficiency. |
| US09804091B2 |
Assay test card
The present invention relates to the use of surfaces that exhibit different surface energies wherein the difference in surface energies is configured to disrupt capillary laminar flow of a fluid travelling between the two surfaces. The invention further relates to the use of such surfaces in assay methods including a device utilising same. |
| US09804090B2 |
Energy store system and state detection system including the energy store system
An energy store system, including at least one cell element situated in a cell region having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte system that is situated between the anode and the cathode and that is particularly at least partially liquid, the anode, the cathode and/or the electrolyte system being configured so that, as a function of a charging or discharging process of the cell element, functioning material is situated in the electrolyte system, and the functional material situated in the electrolyte system being ascertainable qualitatively and/or quantitatively. Because of such an energy store system, operating states of an energy store or a cell may be ascertained particularly simply and accurately. Also described is a related state detection system. |
| US09804084B2 |
Optical gas sensor
A system includes a sensor body that has a folded optical waveguide configured in a “U” shape, wherein the waveguide is configured to convey infrared energy from one end of the waveguide to the other end of the waveguide. |
| US09804080B2 |
Color sensor and electronic device having the same
A color sensor with a plurality of optical sensors in which the number of terminals for connection with the outside can be reduced. The color sensor includes a plurality of optical sensors each provided with a photoelectric conversion element and an optical filter over a light-transmitting substrate. The optical filters in the plurality of optical sensors have light-transmitting characteristics different from each other. The plurality of optical sensors is mounted over an interposer including a plurality of terminal electrodes for electrical connection with an external device. The interposer includes a wiring having a plurality of branches for electrical connection between the terminal electrode for inputting a high power supply potential to the plurality of optical sensors and a wiring having a plurality of branches for electrical connection between the terminal electrode for inputting a low power supply potential to the plurality of optical sensors. |
| US09804077B2 |
Device and method for monitoring corrosive environment
Provided is a device for monitoring corrosive environment including at least one passage structure having an opening and configured to control intrusion of a corrosive substance present in an atmosphere; and a sensor unit having a metal film that is disposed inside the passage structure. The metal film inside the passage structure corrodes by the corrosive substance intruding from the opening to the passage structure. During the monitoring, an electric resistance value of the metal film varies depending on expansion of the corroded region of the metal film. Thus, the device for monitoring corrosive environment measures the electric resistance value of the metal film with suppressing fluctuation of the measured values. This allows a corrosion level of the environment installed with electric and electronic apparatuses to be evaluated for a long term and in an accurate manner. |
| US09804076B2 |
Use of detection techniques for contaminant and corrosion control in industrial processes
Industrial fluids may be monitored at the site of each industrial fluid by introducing a sample of the industrial fluid into a device employing a detection technique for detecting at least one composition within the sample. The detection technique may be or include surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviolet light (UV) spectroscopy, UV spectrophotometry, indirect UV spectroscopy, contactless conductivity, laser induced fluorescence, and combinations thereof. In one non-limiting embodiment, a separation technique may be applied to the sample prior to the introduction of the sample into the device for detecting the composition. |
| US09804073B2 |
Gas sensor
Gas sensors are provided that are fashioned such that there is an increased flow over the sensor element. In this way, a good measurement dynamic is achieved even when these gas sensors are exposed to exhaust gases having a low flow speed. |
| US09804072B2 |
High temperature heating system
A heating system for use in mechanical testing at scales of microns or less includes a stage heater. The stage heater having a stage plane, and a stage heating element distributed across the stage plane. Two or more support mounts are on opposed sides of the stage plane. A first bridge extends from the stage plane to a first mount of the two or more support mounts, and a second bridge extends from the stage plane to a second mount of the two or more support mounts. The first and second bridges provide a plurality of supports between the stage plane and two or more support mounts to accordingly support the stage plane. In another example, the heating system includes a probe heater configured to heat a probe as part of mechanical testing. |
| US09804071B2 |
Sample cooling device, autosampler provided with the same, and sample cooling method
There are provided a sample cooling device capable of effectively removing moisture in the air inside an accommodating chamber where a sample container is accommodated, and of preventing a problem caused by occurrence of frost, an autosampler provided with the same, and a sample cooling method. A first driving process of setting a set temperature of a dehumidifier section to at or below the freezing point, and a second driving process of stopping driving of the dehumidifier section or of raising the set temperature of the dehumidifier section to above the freezing point after the first driving process is performed over a predetermined period of time are performed. Thus, the set temperature of the dehumidifier section may be made to at or below the freezing point by the first driving process, and moisture in the air inside the accommodating chamber may be made to temporarily attach to the dehumidifier section as frost and then be melted by the second driving process and be collected as water. |
| US09804068B2 |
Particle separation and concentration using spiral inertial filtration
A spiral inertial filtration device is capable of high-throughput (1 mL/min), high-purity particle separation while concentrating recovered target particles by more than an order of magnitude. Large fractions of sample fluid are removed from a microchannel without disruption of concentrated particle streams by taking advantage of particle focusing in inertial spiral microfluidics, which is achieved by balancing inertial lift forces and Dean drag forces. To enable the calculation of channel geometries in the device for specific concentration factors, an equivalent circuit model was developed and experimentally validated. Large particle concentration factors were achieved by maintaining either average fluid velocity or Dean number throughout the entire length of the channel during the incremental removal of sample fluid. Also provided is the ability to simultaneously separate more than one particle from the same sample. |
| US09804067B2 |
Observation and photography apparatus
An observation and photography apparatus that has a polishing mechanism attached thereto. The polishing mechanism is provided with a turntable with a perpendicular rotation shaft, a polishing cloth for polishing the surface of a sample attached to the bottom surface of the turntable, and a polishing-fluid spraying nozzle disposed below the polishing cloth for spraying polishing fluid containing polishing material upward to we the polishing cloth. |
| US09804066B2 |
Simultaneous acquisition of biometric data and nucleic acid
Systems, methods, and kits are disclosed for collection, labeling and analyzing biological samples containing nucleic acid in conjunction with collecting at least one ridge and valley signature of an individual. Such devices and methods are used in forensic, human identification, access control and screening technologies to rapidly process an individual's identity or determine the identity of an individual. |
| US09804062B2 |
Apparatus and method for testing multiple samples
The invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously injecting fluids into a plurality of samples of porous media, comprising: a plurality of holders for the samples of porous media, each holder comprising a sleeve and first and second platens, the first platen having an inlet for an injection fluid and the second platen having an outlet for a produced fluid, and the samples of porous media being arranged, in use, in each of the holders such that the first platen and second platen of each holder contact a first and second end of the sample of porous medium respectively, the inlet of each first platen being in fluid communication with an injection line for injecting fluid into the sample of porous medium arranged in the holder, the outlet of each second platen being in fluid communication with a dedicated effluent line for removing fluid produced from the sample of porous medium arranged in the holder, on-line and/or off-line analytical means for analyzing the fluids injected into each of the samples of porous media, on-line and/or off-line means for analyzing the fluids removed from each of the samples of porous media. A method of simultaneously injecting injection fluid into the samples of porous media is also provided. |
| US09804060B2 |
Crash barrier
A crash barrier for implementing a collision with a vehicle has a front to be moved toward the vehicle when the collision is implemented. The front side has a predetermined width and a predetermined height. The front side further has a selected surface region that takes up at most a 50% part of a width of the front side. A volume region of the crash barrier behind the surface region has a greater level of rigidity than a surrounding region of the crash barrier. Therefore, in the event of an impact against the vehicle, a greater level of rigidity acts in the selected surface region than in a surrounding region. |
| US09804058B2 |
Method of facilitating visual detection of a crack in a component of a gas turbine engine
A component of a gas turbine engine comprises a substrate, a corrosion resistant top layer, and an intermediate corrodible layer disposed between the corrosion resistant top layer and the substrate. When corroding, the intermediate layer has a color contrasting with a color of the top layer. A method of detecting a crack when it penetrated the top layer in a component of a gas turbine engine having a corrosion resistant top layer and an intermediate corrodible layer comprises, in sequence, observing that at least one area of the component has a color contrasting with that of the top layer; determining that the color of the at least one area is a result of corrosion of the intermediate corrodible layer; and determining that the top layer has a crack as a result of determining corrosion of the intermediate layer. A method of facilitating crack detection in a component is also presented. |
| US09804054B2 |
System and method for predetermining the onset of impending oscillatory instabilities in practical devices
A system for early detection of onset of oscillatory instabilities in practical devices is described. The system consists of a measuring device, an instability detection unit and a control unit. The measuring device is configured to generate signals corresponding to the dynamics happening inside the practical device. The instability detection unit is configured to diagnose the stability of the practical device from the signals that are generated by the measuring device. Further, the control unit is configured to control various operating parameters in the practical device based on the information obtained from the instability detection unit. |
| US09804049B2 |
Pressure detection device and intake pressure measurement apparatus using the same
In a pressure detection device which is provided in an intake pressure measurement apparatus, a detection space surrounded by an outer wall portion is formed in a housing, and an inner wall portion is formed integrally in the detection space such that both end portions are connected to the outer wall portion. The inner wall portion has a cylindrical shape, and a sensor storage portion is formed between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. In the sensor storage portion, a pressure sensor is disposed in a region with the least influence of thermal stress at a position closer to the inner wall portion than the outer wall portion. |
| US09804048B2 |
Pseudo differential pressure sensing bridge configuration
Apparatus and associated methods relate to generating a signal indicative of a differential pressure using a first absolute pressure sensor and a second absolute pressure sensor, each having a positive relation transducer configured to generate an electrical signal that increases in response to increasing pressure and a negative relation transducer configured to generate an electrical signal that decreases in response to increasing pressure. The first and second positive relation transducers of the first and second absolute pressure sensors, respectively, are electrically connected as a first leg of a Wheatstone bridge at a first output node. The first and second negative relation transducers of the first and second absolute pressure sensors, respectively, are electrically connected as a second leg of a Wheatstone bridge at a second output node. Both positive and both negative relation transducers are connected to a first and a second bias node of the Wheatstone bridge, respectively. |
| US09804046B2 |
Pressure sensor with support structure for non-silicon diaphragm
A pressure sensor and methods of making a pressure sensor are described. In preferred embodiments, the pressure sensor is designed for low-pressure and high-sensitivity applications. In some embodiments, the pressure sensor comprises: a frame made from a single-crystal silicon starting material, the frame surrounding a cavity; a diaphragm that covers the cavity, the diaphragm constructed from a separate layer of material deposited on the single-crystal silicon starting material; a support structure that spans the diaphragm wherein the support structure is formed from the single-crystal starting material; and, a piezoresistor formed across an intersection of the frame and the support structure. |
| US09804042B2 |
Load sensor and load detecting device
A load sensor is provided with a seat mounting hole between both end parts of a rectangular plate-like main body portion of a load receiving member. A plurality of strain detecting elements the resistance value of each of which changes depending on the amount of strain of the main body portion are disposed around the seat mounting hole. In plan view of the load receiving member, the center point of the seat mounting hole is offset from the center point of the arrangement of the plurality of strain detecting elements toward a part of the load receiving member that has relatively high rigidity. |
| US09804041B2 |
Sensor device and electronic device
A sensor device that includes a film composed of, for example, PLLA; and electrodes for extracting an output voltage from the PLLA film. The electrodes are located on main surfaces of the PLLA film such that the electrodes face each other with at least a portion of the PLLA film being interposed therebetween. The PLLA film has a first side which is fixed, and a second side which is opposite to the first side and is a movable portion. Each of the electrodes is configured to extract an output voltage resulting from an effect of piezoelectric constant d14 provided by shear deformation caused by displacement of the movable portion in a direction parallel to the main surfaces of the PLLA film, whereby an operation involving friction or the like can be sensed. |
| US09804040B2 |
Sensor and a method of making the same
The present invention provides a sensor including a tactile sensor and bending sensor and a method of making the same, of which the manufacturing cost is low, the production efficiency is high and the sensor sensitivity is improved. The present invention relates to a sensor including a tactile sensor and bending sensor composed of an elastomer containing a magnetic filler and a magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic change caused by deformation of the elastomer; and a method of making the same, of which the viscosity of the mixed solution of the thermosetting elastomer precursor solution with the magnetic filler is adjusted to a specified range. |
| US09804034B2 |
EVSE with cordset handle temperature measurement
A circuit measures temperature in a charging handle 150 of an electric vehicle charging station (EVSE) 100. A temperature sensor is connected between a control pilot line 115 and ground line G in the charging handle of the EVSE. The control pilot line transmits a square wave signal CP having positive and negative portions, to an electric vehicle, according to the SAE J1772 standard. A temperature monitor 300 in the EVSE, coupled to a pilot signal measurement circuit 230 in the EVSE, measures the negative portions of the square wave signal resulting from the temperature sensor conducting current in response to changes in temperature in the handle. Temperature measurement of the charging handle is achieved without significant added cost or complexity, by reusing existing components in the EVSE, with little or no modification required to EVSE electronics, and minimal modification of the handle. |
| US09804028B2 |
External cavity laser source
A tunable laser source that includes multiple gain elements and uses a spatial light modulator in an external cavity to produce spectrally tunable output is claimed. Several designs of the external cavity are described, targeting different performance characteristics and different manufacturing costs for the device. Compared to existing devices, the tunable laser source produces high output power, wide tuning range, fast tuning rate, and high spectral resolution. |
| US09804025B2 |
Spectrometry device and image forming apparatus
A printer incorporating a spectrometry device includes a spectroscope that includes a light receiving optical system including a light receiver which receives reflected light from a range of measurement in a medium, a distance sensor that detects the distance between the medium and the spectroscope, and a reflecting mirror driver and an optical path adjuster that adjust the optical path of the reflected light which is incident on the light receiving optical system from the range of measurement according to the distance detected by the distance sensor. |
| US09804022B2 |
System and method for hitch angle detection
A hitch angle detection system is provided herein. Ultrasonic transducers are disposed on a rear vehicle structure and are configured to transmit ultrasonic waves in a rearward vehicle direction. An ultrasonic reflector is disposed on a trailer and is configured to reflect incident ultrasonic waves back toward the corresponding ultrasonic transducers. A processor is configured to derive distance measurements between the ultrasonic transducers and the ultrasonic reflector and determine a hitch angle based on the derived distance measurements. |
| US09804019B2 |
Method and device for measuring the length and weight of a body
A method and device for simultaneously measuring the mass and the height of a body, wherein the measurement of the body mass is carried out by measuring the deformation of at least one deformable element, during which a scale platform is lowered, and the height measurement is realized as an absolute distance measurement relative to the scale platform, so that the distance measurement is subject to an error equal to the amount by which the scale platform is lowered. The error-prone distance measurement is converted by a correction factor into a height measurement value the absolute value of which corresponds to the averaged lowering of the scale platform. |
| US09804016B2 |
Fuel dispenser flow meter having vapor pressure correction arrangement
A method and apparatus for improving the accuracy of fuel flow meters by compensating for the presence of vapor bubbles generated within the flow meter. The method comprises measuring the temperature of the fuel flowing through the meter and using an algorithm or static lookup table to determine a vapor compensation factor based on that temperature. Because the tendency of fuel to vaporize depends largely on seasonal variations in fuel temperature, applying a temperature-dependent vapor compensation factor promotes year-round accuracy of the flow meter output. |
| US09804015B2 |
Liquid level sensing device having a support tube housing a circuit board and a processor to be fillable with liquid
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for liquid level detection. The method may include providing a circuit board including a plurality of horizontally mounted emitter/receiver pairs arranged vertically along the circuit board within a liquid containment area. The method may further include determining, using one or more processors associated with the circuit board, if liquid is present between each of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs based upon, at least in part, data received from one or more of the plurality of emitter/receiver pairs. |
| US09804014B2 |
Oil level gauge mounting structure
An oil level gauge mounting structure includes an oil level gauge, a dipstick insertion hole, a peripheral wall, and an opening portion. The oil level gauge includes a grip portion and a dipstick. The grip portion has a finger insertion hole which defines a finger insertion direction for the finger insertion hole and into which a finger of an operating person is to be inserted from the finger insertion direction for the finger insertion hole. The peripheral wall surrounds the grip portion from directions except the finger insertion direction for the finger insertion hole so as to define an insertion recess portion to receive the grip portion in a state in which the dipstick is inserted in the dipstick insertion hole. The opening portion is open in the finger insertion direction for the finger insertion hole in the state in which the dipstick is inserted in the dipstick insertion hole. |
| US09804012B2 |
Vehicle traveling information recording device
The vehicle traveling information recording device of the present invention comprises a camera unit for acquiring image information relating to outside of a vehicle; a recording unit for recording the image information from the camera unit; an abnormality detection unit for detecting an abnormal vehicle state; an auxiliary data detection unit for acquiring auxiliary data when the abnormality detection unit has detected an abnormality; and a control unit for combining the auxiliary data with the image information in the recording unit when the abnormality detection unit has detected the abnormality, and recording image information after the combination related to abnormality detection. |
| US09804004B1 |
Fluid quality sensor and cover assembly
A sensor assembly is provided for detecting a concentration of a fluid. The sensor assembly includes a sensing unit and a cover assembly. The sensing unit includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal into a sensing volume and a receiver configured to receive the signal after the signal passes through a portion of the sensing volume. The cover assembly at least partially encloses the sensing volume and is substantially impermeable to a gas portion of the fluid. The cover assembly includes apertures defined therein which are permeable to the gas portion of the fluid. A first plurality of apertures are defined along a top surface of the cover assembly. |
| US09803999B2 |
Proximity sensor monitor
The present invention generally relates to proximity sensor monitors and proximity monitor systems incorporating proximity sensor monitors. A proximity sensor monitor measures the impedance or other electrical characteristics of a proximity sensor component to determine the presence of a target. The proximity sensor monitor performs this measurement independently of a separate proximity sensor. The proximity sensor monitor is configured to compensate for differences between the measurement frequency of the proximity sensor monitor and the driving frequency of the proximity sensor. |
| US09803998B1 |
Absolute position sensor with fine resolution
An absolute position sensor having a detector with a plurality of Wiegand wire sensors that each have a pair of Hall sensors bracketing or straddling the Wiegand wire used by a processor in interpolating relative ratios of signals from the bracketing Hall sensors in not only providing increased fine position determination between magnets but also providing coarse position count increment or decrement verification. Such an absolute position sensor provides increased fine position determination accuracy while also enhancing increment and/or decrement error prevention and/or correction during position sensor operation. |
| US09803983B2 |
Inertial sensor aided heading and positioning for GNSS vehicle navigation
An apparatus and method for providing an improved heading estimate of a mobile device in a vehicle is presented. First, the mobile device determines if it is mounted in a cradle attached to the vehicle; if so, inertia sensor data may be valid. While in a mounted stated, the mobile device determines whether it has been rotated in the cradle; if so, inertia sensor data may no longer be reliable and a recalibration to determine a new relative orientation between the vehicle and the mobile device is needed. If the mobile device is mounted and not recently rotated, heading data from multiple sensors (e.g., GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer) may be computed and combined to form the improved heading estimate. This improved heading estimate may be used to form an improved velocity estimate. The improved heading estimate may also be used to compute a bias to correct a gyroscope. |
| US09803982B2 |
Heading estimation for determining a user's location
Technologies for determining a user's location by a mobile computing device include detecting, based on sensed inertial characteristics of the mobile computing device, that a user of the mobile computing device has taken a physical step in a direction. The mobile computing device determines a directional heading of the mobile computing device in the direction and a variation of an orientation of the mobile computing device relative to a previous orientation of the mobile computing device at a previous physical step of the user based on the sensed inertial characteristics. The mobile computing device further applies a Kalman filter to determine a heading of the user based on the determined directional heading of the mobile computing device and the variation of the orientation and determines an estimated location of the user based on the user's determined heading, an estimated step length of the user, and a previous location of the user at the previous physical step. |
| US09803981B2 |
Optical passive resonator gyro with three beams
The general field of the invention is that of passive resonator gyros comprising an injection laser emitting an initial optical beam at a first frequency and a fiber optic cavity. The gyro according to the invention operates with three optical beams at three different optical frequencies. A first beam is injected in a first direction of rotation, the second and the third beam are injected in the contrary direction. The gyro includes three slaving devices maintaining each optical frequency at a specific mode of resonance of the cavity. The gyro includes means for measuring the frequency differences existing between the different frequencies. Combined together, these differences are representative of the length of the cavity and the angular rotational velocity of the cavity along an axis perpendicular to its plane. |
| US09803976B2 |
Methods and apparatus for measurement or monitoring of wall thicknesses in the walls of pipes or similar structures
A method and an apparatus for guided-wave tomographic measurement or monitoring of wall thicknesses of the walls of pipes and similar structures are disclosed. The method is characterized in that use is made of transducers (205) preferably positioned in at least two groups of a plurality of transducers (305′-305″) arranged in a spaced apart pattern on the external surface of the structures, the transducers individually transmit ultrasound signal into the pipe wall 204, in that each ultrasound signal propagates within the pipe wall 204 from the transmitting transducer and is received at one or several receiving transducers, and the received ultrasound signal is converted to an electrical signal by the receiving transducers and recorded by the transceiver (20). Measurements are performed by using a further plurality of transducers (406, 506) that are placed apart from the two groups of a plurality of transducers (305′-305″). There is also disclosed a method for guided-wave tomographic measurement or monitoring of wall thicknesses in the walls of pipes and similar structures producing a set of measurement data by using the apparatus. |
| US09803975B2 |
Handheld apparatus for quantifying component features
A handheld device and method using the device, the device comprising a sensor receiving light from within a field of view (FOV) to generate a plurality of consecutive images of the FOV, a structured light source that is controllable to generate a plurality of light patterns, the source arranged to project at least one light patterns into the FOV where at least a portion of a pattern reflects from an object and is captured by the sensor and a processor to receive images, the processor programmed to control the source to project a pattern into the FOV, locate the pattern in at least one of the generated images, locate discontinuities in the pattern and use the discontinuities to measure at least one dimension. |
| US09803974B2 |
Method and installation for measuring the glass distribution in containers
A method for measuring the distribution of the thickness of glass in glass containers at a high temperature comprises: selecting at least one inspection area of the containers, so that the thickness relationship of the glass as a function of the infrared radiation intensity is homogeneous over the whole inspection area, measuring, for each inspection area the glass thickness of the container in at least one movement point belonging to the inspection area, by means of a contactless point-like thickness measurement system, measuring by means of a sensor sensitive to infrared radiation, which is emitted by the container, determining, for each inspection area, a relationship between the measurement of the thickness taken at the measurement point and the infrared radiation, and from the relationship and the relevant infrared radiation of each inspection area, determining the glass distribution of the container over each inspection area. |
| US09803972B2 |
Optical configuration for measurement device
A scanning probe is provided for use with a coordinate measuring machine. The scanning probe includes a rotary position detection configuration which outputs X and Y position signals indicative of a rotation of a stylus coupling portion about a rotation center, and an axial position detection configuration which outputs a Z position signal indicative of the position of the stylus coupling portion along the axial direction. The Z position signal is substantially insensitive to motion of the axial detection deflector in at least one direction that is transverse to the axial direction. The X, Y and Z position signals may be processed to determine a 3D position of a contact portion of the stylus, which may include utilizing the Z position signal in combination with known trigonometry of the scanning probe to remove axial motion cross coupling components from the X and Y position signals. |
| US09803970B2 |
Device to determine the diameter of the conductor of a wire
A wire-processing device includes a first advancing device, a cutter head, and a second advancing device. The first advancing device pulls the wire out of a wire store and advances according to the desired length of wire to be cut. After the wire is cut through by the cutter head, the wire-ends of the wire-length are processed. The wire-processing device is provided with a device to determine the diameter of the conductor of the wire including an input coupler that generates in the wire a wire signal, and wherein the wire signal can be sensed by an output coupler which generates an input signal which is interpreted by a signal processor, wherein the cutters of the cutter head touch the conductor and change the input signal when cutting into the wire. |
| US09803969B2 |
Metrology device and method of communicating with portable devices
A system is provided for communicating between a 3D metrology instrument and a portable computing device via near field communications. In one embodiment, the metrology device is an articulated coordinate measurement machine (AACMM), a laser tracker, a laser scanner or a triangulation scanner, and the portable communications device is a cellular phone or a tablet. The portable device may use the NFC to establish longer range communications modules, to change or establish settings and parameters or control the metrology device. |
| US09803967B2 |
Ultra-portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine
In some embodiments, an articulated arm coordinate measurement machine can include a plurality of transfer members and a plurality of articulation members connecting the plurality of transfer members to each other to measure an angle between the transfer members. The machine can additionally include at least one coordinate acquisition member positioned at an end of the articulated arm. Further, the machine can include a harness connected to at least one of the group consisting of the transfer members and the articulation members to support at least a portion of the weight of the transfer members and the articulation members. The harness can also be configured to mount to a human. |
| US09803963B1 |
Swing blade broadhead
A swing blade broadhead preferably includes a shank base, a plurality of swing blades, a bullet nose and a plurality of fasteners. The shank base includes an arrow shaft shank, a blade shoulder and a blade base. The blade base preferably includes a plurality of outer flat surfaces and a circular sector formed between two adjacent outer flat surfaces. Each swing blade includes a blade portion and a pintle roll. The blade portion preferably includes a base portion and a tail portion. The pintle roll is formed on one end of the base portion to receive a fastener. The circular sectors are sized to receive an outer perimeter of the pintle roll. A plurality of tapped holes are formed in blade shoulder to threadable receive the plurality of fasteners. The bullet nose includes a plurality of counter bored holes to receive the plurality of fasteners. |
| US09803960B2 |
Full ballistic shields
A full ballistic shield that can be carried by hand by an individual to protect that individual from bullets and the like in both the bottom portion of the body and the upper portion of the body, including the head and shoulders. The upper portion of the shield is a clear, unframed plastic plate that enhances the field of view of the user and provides extra protection. |
| US09803957B2 |
Firearm storage apparatus
A firearm storage apparatus comprising a base including a first groove, a first storage panel removeably supported within the first groove, the first storage panel including a plurality of slots that traverse a face of the first storage panel and a plurality of adjustable straps, each strap mated to the first storage panel through two of the slots and adjustable in position along the first storage panel and adjustable in degree of tightness to secure a firearm to the first storage panel. |
| US09803954B2 |
Compressed gas personal protection device
A hand carryable, non-lethal personal protection device using compressed gas for operation. In some embodiments the device uses the compressed gas to create and shoot a vortex of air at the target. In other embodiments, the compressed gas can be used to shoot a burst of atomized water at the attacker. In still other embodiments the device uses the compressed gas to shoot ammunition, such as a ring airfoil, O-ring, bean bag, or other non-lethal blunt trauma munitions at the target. In still further embodiments, the device is modular in its construction, and can be used to apply the compressed gas to various different attachments. |
| US09803953B1 |
Mechanical paintball gun
A mechanical paintball gun has a first operation chamber and a second operation chamber for receiving a firing piston and a hammer, respectively. The firing piston and the hammer move simultaneously between a first position status and a second position status. The second operation chamber is connected with a high-pressure gas source and has a normally closed valve pack. When the hammer moves to the second position status, the valve pack becomes open and allows high-pressure gas to pass therethrough to enter the first operation chamber for shooting paintballs. The second operation chamber contains therein a slidable member and a resistance device. The slidable member is linked with the hammer, and the slidable member pushes the resistance device. With the resistance device slowing down the slidable member to delay a cycle time of a shooting process, paintballs can be fed in time to enable continuous and stable shooting. |
| US09803951B1 |
Boyancy device for a hunting bow
A float apparatus for preventing the loss of a bow accidentally dropped in a body of water, the apparatus including a hydrostatic valve, a camshaft, a plunger, a gas cartridge and a bladder, all of which are operatively coupled to one another by a valve frame contained within a housing. When a bow having the float apparatus attached thereto is submerged, the hydrostatic valve automatically rotates the camshaft when the float apparatus reaches a desired depth. As the camshaft rotates, it presses against the plunger causing it to pierce the gas cartridge thereby releasing a gas. The gas is then directed through the valve frame into the bladder thereby inflating the bladder and causing the bow to float. |
| US09803943B2 |
Firearm magazine guidance and ejection device
A firearm magazine guard unit including an attachment unit affixed to the firearm magazine guard unit, a magazine ejection unit rotatively affixed to the firearm magazine guard unit, where a portion of the magazine ejection unit is in contact with the magazine when the magazine is inserted into the firearm magazine guard unit. |
| US09803938B2 |
Cooling assemblies having porous three dimensional surfaces
Cooling assemblies including a porous three dimensional surface such as a heat sink are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cooling assembly includes a heat transfer substrate having a surface, a thermally conductive fin extending from the surface, a metal mesh bonded to a surface of the thermally conductive fin, and sintered metal particles bonded to the metal mesh and the surface of the thermally conductive fin. The metal mesh defines a macro-level porosity, and the sintered metal particles define a micro-level porosity. In another embodiment, a cooling assembly includes a heat transfer substrate having a surface, a thermally conductive fin extending from the surface of the heat transfer substrate, and sintered metal particles bonded to the surface of the thermally conductive fin. An average diameter of the sintered metal particles increases from a base of the thermally conductive fin to a top of the thermally conductive fin. |
| US09803931B2 |
Handpiece with slim driving part of direct cooling type
The handpiece includes; an outer housing of a bar shape; a cylindrical core inserted into the outer housing and having an air hole and a water hole; pipes respective inserted into the air hole and the water hole of the core; a rotor made with a cylindrical magnetic material and inserted into the core; cylindrical support rings forcedly fit to both sides of transfer shafts of the rotor; a pair of bearings respectively disposed at the front side and the rear side of the support rings; a coupling disposed in front of the rotor; a front housing joined to the front of the outer housing; a front cap disposed at the rear of the core; a rear cap disposed at the rear of the front cap and having a power supply terminal disposed at one side thereof; and a rear housing joined to the rear of the outer housing. |
| US09803925B2 |
Thermal shielding system
A thermal shielding system for thermally shielding a batch space of high-temperature furnaces includes at least one shielding element. The shielding element has an encasing wall formed of refractory metal sheet(s) and a ceramic material accommodated in the wall. The ceramic material is present in a particulate and/or fibrous structure and it is based on zirconium oxide (ZrO2) |
| US09803921B2 |
Alignment film drying system and a method for drying alignment films
An alignment film drying system and a method for drying alignment films are proposed. The alignment film drying system is used for drying an alignment film coated on a substrate. The alignment film drying system includes a plurality of magnetrons. The alignment liquid is coated on one side of the substrate facing the plurality of magnetrons and is heated through electromagnetic radiation produced by the plurality of magnetrons. The dried alignment liquid forms an alignment film having a uniform thickness, which ensures that the display effect of LCDs is better. |
| US09803919B2 |
Method for drying a humid polymer powder and device suitable for said method
An apparatus (1) and method for drying polymer powders is described. The apparatus has an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for the polymer powder, heat registers (5) installed in the interior space (4) and lines (7) for a heated gas (6a) for drying the polymer powder. The lines open into the interior space (4) and are connected to heat exchangers (9) for heating gas (6). The heat exchangers (9) are connected to a plant for the preparation of 1,2-dichloroethane (15) and/or for the preparation of vinyl chloride from 1,2-dichloroethane so that thermal energy from the plant can be utilized for heating the gas (6). The method comprises treatment of a polymer powder with a heated gas (6a) in the drying apparatus (1). |
| US09803918B2 |
Method and system of dehydrating a feed stream processed in a distillation tower
The present disclosure provides a method of dehydrating a feed stream processed in a distillation tower. The method may include (a) introducing a feed stream comprising a first contaminant stream into a distillation tower; (b) forming a solid from the feed stream in a controlled freeze zone section of the distillation tower; (c) feeding a second contaminant stream into the feed stream outside the distillation tower; and (d) removing water from the feed stream with a second contaminant stream by feeding the second contaminant stream. |
| US09803917B2 |
Integrated process for NGL (natural gas liquids recovery) and LNG (liquefaction of natural gas)
The invention relates to an integrated process and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas and recovery of natural gas liquids. In particular, the improved process and apparatus reduces the energy consumption of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) unit by using a portion of the already cooled overhead vapor from a fractionation column from an NGL (natural gas liquefaction) unit to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux for fractionation in the NGL unit and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, or by cooling, within the NGL unit, a residue gas originating from a fractionation column of the NGL unit and using the resultant cooled residue gas to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux/feed for fractionation in the NGL and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the LNG unit and rendering the process more energy-efficient. |
| US09803914B2 |
Beverage dispensing system with machine vision
A refrigerator is provided which includes a cabinet. A first compartment and second compartment are disposed within the cabinet. A first door provides access to the first compartment and a second door provides access to the second compartment. A beverage dispensing system is operatively connected to the cabinet. A machine vision system associated with the beverage dispensing system. The machine vision system has an imaging device. |
| US09803910B2 |
Refrigerator and method of manufacturing metal photocatalyst filter of the refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage room formed therein, a door that opens and closes the storage room, a filter module, and a cool air circulation fan that circulates cool air through the filter module. The filter module includes a metal photocatalyst filter and a UV LED module for radiating UV rays to the metal photocatalyst filter. The metal photocatalyst filter has photocatalysts made of one of ZnTiO2, CuTiO2, AgTiO2 or FeTiO2 coated on a filter base. The filter module may allow the entire storage room to be uniformly subject to antibiosis and sterilization at a relatively low cost. |
| US09803909B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator is able to store food at a low temperature and to effectively remove bacteria of the food stored in a storage room, to maintain the storage room clean. |
| US09803908B2 |
Rapid freezing of ice cubes comprising method, device, product and uses
The invention relates to a method for rapid freezing of ice cubes by means of a higher dispensing rate and contact freezing, the cube being produced in 7 minutes with a water consumption equivalent to the volume of the cubes, thereby not wasting a single drop of water. A conventional condenser and compressor store cold in a store where the cold produced is maintained at a constant temperature of −30° C., and a gel that absorbs the cold from the medium is pumped as far as the ice-tray, where it runs into the spaces separating the cells where the cubes are formed in order then to return via a downward conduit to the cold store, continuing the cycle, and a series of dispensing devices meter out the water necessary into the cells where a contact-freezing process is initiated. |
| US09803901B2 |
Vaporizing refrigerant charging tool with visual inspection window
Gas vaporizer for flashing liquid to vapor received from a source prior to introduction into a compressor or the like, such as in air conditioning or refrigeration systems. In certain embodiments the vaporize includes an adapter member for connection to a liquid source, a connector member having a plurality of flow passages for facilitating the transfer of heat to fluid present therein to vaporize the same, a body portion providing visual access such as via one or more sight glasses to an internal chamber therein for visual confirmation that liquid has been vaporized, and a hose connecting member for connection to a point of destination such as a compressor. In certain embodiments, the connector has an axial bore containing a high thermal conductive material. |
| US09803898B2 |
Air conditioner with selectable supplemental compressor cooling
An outdoor unit (ODU) for an air conditioning system includes a baffle or other airflow direction control such that the cooling air from a condenser is at least partially directed over the compressor to provide air movement around the compressor to assist in thermal transfer of heat from the compressor. In one system, curvilinear frustoconical baffles are positioned in a conventional barrel-type outdoor unit to direct airflow toward the compressor before being discharged from the unit. When any of the ODUs is part of a heat pump system for providing heating and cooling, a retractable or movable air diverting system is employed when in the heating mode to prevent airflow through the condenser from reaching the compressor. |
| US09803894B2 |
Dual-stage enthalpy-increasing air-conditioning system
A dual-stage enthalpy-increasing air-conditioning system comprises a compressor (1), an outdoor heat exchanger (3), a first throttle component (8) and an indoor heat exchanger (11), wherein the components are connected via pipelines; the system also comprises a flash evaporator (6) and a second throttle component (7); a first connecting port of the flash evaporator (6) is connected with a first connecting port of the first throttle component (8); a second connecting port of the first throttle component (8) is connected with the indoor heat exchanger (11); a second connecting port of the flash evaporator (6) is connected with an air supplementing port of the compressor (1); a third connecting port of the flash evaporator (6) is connected with a first connecting port of the second throttle component (7); a second connecting port of the second throttle component (7) is connected with the outdoor heat exchanger (3). |
| US09803891B2 |
Solar selective coating having high thermal stability and a process for the preparation thereof
The present invention describes an improved multilayer solar selective coating useful for solar thermal power generation. Solar selective coating of present invention essentially consists of Ti/Chrome interlayer, two absorber layers (AlTiN and AlTiON) an anti-reflection layer (AlTiO). Coating deposition process uses Ti and Al as the source materials, which are abundantly available and easy to manufacture as sputtering targets for industrial applications. The present invention allows deposition of all the layers in a single sputtering chamber on flat and tubular substrates with high absorptance and low emittance, thus making the process simpler and cost effective. The process of the present invention can be up-scaled easily for deposition on longer tubes with good uniformity and reproducibility. The coating of the present invention also displays improved adhesion, UV stability, corrosion resistance and stability under extreme environments. |
| US09803889B2 |
Method of and system for flame sensing and diagnostic
A method of determining presence of a flame in a furnace of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The method comprises determining, using a controller, whether a processor signal (G) is active, responsive to a determination that the processor signal (G) is active, determining, using the controller prior to assertion of a flame-test input control signal, an output state of a first comparator, responsive to a determination that the output state of the first comparator is high, determining, using the controller prior to assertion of the flame-test input control signal, an output state of a second comparator, and responsive to a determination that the output state of the second comparator is low, transmitting, using the controller, a notification that a flame is present. |
| US09803886B2 |
Instantaneous water-heating dispensing device and heating module thereof
The present invention discloses a water dispensing device including a water tank and at least one heating module. Each heating module includes a body and a heating plate, the body includes a groove, an input terminal located one end of the groove and connected the water tank, an output terminal located other end of the groove, and a plurality of ribs. The ribs formed on the bottom surface of the groove and the height is less than a depth of the groove, two arms of the ribs connect the sidewalls of the groove, and the density of the arrangement is decremented from the input terminal to the output terminal. The heating plate is covered the groove and doesn't contact the ribs, and the surface of the heating plate which is deviated from the groove has a plurality of heating units, be used to convert the power into the heat energy. |
| US09803885B2 |
Drive mechanism for movable member of air conditioner
A drive mechanism is configured to drive a movable member of an air conditioner. The drive mechanism includes a motor, a pinion secured to a rotating shaft of the motor, a rack meshing with the pinion, and a guide. The rack has a driven portion directly or indirectly linked to the movable member. The guide is arranged to guide the rack so that the driven portion can travel in a curved path. The guide has a tube part through which the rack passes. |
| US09803881B2 |
Method for controlling air output volume
A method for controlling air volume including: 1) inputting a target air volume into a microprocessor control unit of a motor controller; 2) starting a motor by the motor controller and allowing the motor to work in a steady state under a rotational speed; 3) recording the torque and rotational speed in the steady state, establishing a functional relation formula Q=F (T, n, V) for calculating the air volume, and calculating an air volume in the steady state; 4) comparing the target air volume with the calculated air volume; 5) re-recording a steady torque after the motor falls on a new steady state under an increased or reduced rotational speed, and recalculating the air volume in the new steady state; and 6) repeating steps 4) and 5) to adjust the rotational speed until the calculated air volume is equal or equivalent to the target air volume. |
| US09803878B2 |
Portable air conditioner
A portable air conditioner (10) that has a loading chamber (30) substantially separated from a heat-transfer chamber (32) within a housing (20). Heat-transfer cells (40) for holding a phase-changeable, frozen substance such as ice (3), have an open end that is accessible from the loading chamber (30) and have cell housings (42, 44) disposed within the heat-transfer chamber (32). An air-flow mechanism (62) causes air to be drawn in through at least one air-intake opening (60), circulated among the heat-transfer cells (40) and urged outwardly of the unit housing (20) through at least one air-outlet opening (70, 72). |
| US09803874B2 |
Traction bearing and rod joint from the sliding shelf set
Traction bearing and rod joint to anchor a sliding shelf set to an oven door, the bearing (1) being made of engineering plastic, stainless steel or another compatible material, and is designed to be installed on the internal glass or surface of the counter door (P) of the stove (F1) by fitting into an orifice. The locking of the bearing (1) in this orifice is held by the provision of a beveled skirt (7) and a collar (6), both applied on the outer surface of the bearing (1). The tensile bearing has a longitudinal slot (2) and a channel (4) that communicate with each other to allow docking and rotation of the end (E) of a rod (H) of the set of shelves (PD) when the door (P) of the oven (F1) is opened or closed. |
| US09803873B2 |
Oven range appliance
An oven range appliance including a chamber liner defining a cooking chamber, as well as a cabinet enclosing the chamber liner in cooking chamber, is provided. The cabinet includes a side panel positioned at a first side of the cabinet defining a cooling channel between the chamber liner and the side panel of the cabinet. A diverter panel is provided extending from the side panel towards the chamber liner. The diverter panel blocks a flow of cooling air from the cooling channel at a location proximate a back side of the cabinet to increase a flow of cooling air from the cooling channel at a location proximate the front side of the cabinet. |
| US09803859B2 |
Oxygen enrichment of atmospheric air using relative motion
The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for continuously providing an oxygen-enriched gas/air using a relative motion of selected surface(s) of an apparatus (such as fossil-fueled combustion device/vehicle) relative to an atmospheric air with a speed exceeding a threshold value for, e.g., improving combustion, exhaust and related properties of the apparatus. An oxygen-enriched gas/air layer can be formed along/near each aforementioned surface from the atmospheric air due to pushing the atmospheric air along the surface(s) during that relative motion and collected by corresponding collector gate(s) located inside the apparatus near/adjacent to the corresponding surface. The apparatus can be an object (e.g., a vehicle) moving through the atmospheric air with a relative speed exceeding the threshold value. Alternatively, the apparatus can be a stationary object (e.g., a power generator) while the atmospheric air, having a desired speed exceeding the threshold value, is moved/blown toward the stationary object. |
| US09803852B1 |
Illuminated headset
The illuminated headset is a headphone that is adapted for listening to audio sources, which provide electrical signals, which are converted to audible sound by the speakers in the headphone. The headphone is enhanced with an illumination system. The illumination system comprises a plurality of LEDs and a phosphorescent material. The plurality of LEDs is used to illuminate the cable, the left speaker, and the right speaker. The phosphorescent material is used to form the headband, the left speaker housing, and the right speaker housing. The illuminated headset comprises a headset, a master cable, a jack, a clasp, a left cable, and a right cable. |
| US09803843B2 |
Retractable lighting fixture
Disclosed is a retractable lighting fixture having a retractable LED lighting layer. One or more optical layers (40, 240A/B, 340A/B, 440) may optionally be provided over the LED lighting layer (30, 230, 330, 430). The optical layer(s) and the LED lighting layer may optionally be movable relative to one another between at least being in an expanded spaced relation to one another and a compressed relation to one another. One or more LEDs (34, 134, 234A/B, 334A/B, 434) on the LED lighting layer may be individually controllable and such LEDs (34, 134, 234A/B, 334A/B, 434) may be selectively extinguished when they are in a retracted position. |
| US09803841B2 |
Lighting system with customized intensity and profile
A lighting and energy conservation system for low temperature applications includes LEDs as a light source. The LEDs are provided in a modular LED light fixture. The fixture includes a frame supporting a reflector having a plurality of elongated channels. Mounting strips are removably installed in each of the elongated channels, and LEDs are mounted on each of the mounting strips. A separate power control device is associated with each of the mounting strips, so that a total light output intensity and profile of the fixture can be individually customized by selectively adjusting the power control device for each of the mounting strips. |
| US09803837B2 |
White-light LED modules
A white-light LED module is disclosed. The white-light LED module includes a substrate, and a red-light LED chip string, a blue-light LED chip string, and a green-light LED chip string arranged on the substrate. The red-light LED chip string, the blue-light LED chip string, and the green-light LED chip string are connected in parallel. A number of blue LED chips within the blue-light LED chip string equals to the number of green LED chips within the green-light LED chip string. The number of red LED chips within the red-light LED chip string is as double as the number of blue LED chips and the green LED chips. In this way, the light mixture performance of the red, green and blue LED chips may be enhanced. |
| US09803836B1 |
Decorative skin for surface mount light fixture
In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a light fixture assembly comprises a surface mount light fixture. The surface mount light fixture comprises a trim having a first shape. The trim comprises an outer trim perimeter and an inner trim perimeter. The inner trim perimeter defines an orifice through which light is emitted, wherein the outer trim perimeter includes a chamfered edge. The light fixture assembly further includes a skin having a second shape similar to the first shape and configured to at least partially cover the trim. The skin includes an outer skin perimeter configured to surround the outer trim perimeter, an inner skin perimeter configured to surround the inner skin perimeter, and a raised coupling feature configured to grip the chamfered edge of the trim. The skin is coupled to the trim via the engagement of the raised coupling feature and the chamfered edge. |
| US09803832B2 |
Lighting device with a phosphor body spaced apart from a light source
In various embodiments, a lighting device is provided. The lighting device includes at least one light source for emitting primary light, at least one phosphor body which is illuminatable by the primary light and is spaced apart from the at least one light source, and at least one light scattering body which is situated optically downstream of the phosphor body in a light propagation direction of the primary light that is uninfluenced by the phosphor body. The lighting device is designed in the case of an intact phosphor body to generate an illumination pattern by light generated by the phosphor body, and otherwise to generate a light emission pattern by light generated by the at least one light scattering body. The light emission pattern differs from the illumination pattern. |
| US09803831B2 |
Backlight module and display device
The present invention provides a backlight module and a display device. The backlight module includes a back plate; a light-emitting chip formed on the back plate and capable of emitting light rays of a first color; a packaging entity made of a light-transmitting material and configured to package the light-emitting chip onto the back plate; and a phosphor layer formed in the packaging entity and consisting of phosphors doped in the packaging entity. The phosphor layer is configured to convert a part of light rays among the light rays of the first color emitted from the light-emitting chip into light rays of a second color, so as to be mixed with the remaining, unconverted light rays of the first color to form white backlight. |
| US09803829B2 |
Light distribution lens
A lens for light emitting lamps that use light emitting elements such as LEDs, etc., is provided. The lens has a specific surface shape for light-distribution control to achieve desired light distributions, as well as a light emitting device using said lens. On the lens surface of the light emitting side which has a double-peak shape to obtain a light distribution characteristic having long and short two axes, by possessing a straight-line part in the surface shape of the light emitting side viewed on the lens short-axis cross section, a desired smoothly-diffused light distribution having a longitudinal direction with a certain width is obtained. The lens may be designed to have a surface of the light emitting side comprising a collection of straight lines parallel to the lens short-axis cross section, or to have a continuous curved surface comprising a collection of straight lines parallel to the lens short axis. |
| US09803822B1 |
Vehicle illumination assembly
A vehicle reflective assembly is provided herein. The reflective assembly includes a lens and a housing attached to the lens. The lens includes a reflective assembly portion. A base layer having reflective characteristics is disposed on the lens in the reflective assembly portion. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on the base layer and is configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted by a light source. A reflective layer is disposed on the photoluminescent structure and has one or more reflective beads configured to reflect a first portion of incident light directed towards the reflective assembly portion and allow a second portion of the incident light to pass therethrough. The second portion of the incident light includes the excitation light therein. |
| US09803821B2 |
Vehicle-mounted headlamp
A vehicle-mounted headlamp using an LED includes a projector lens projecting the LED light to the vehicle front. A light distribution member forming a low-beam lamp light distribution includes: a first incident surface through which the LED light emitted frontward enters; a first reflecting surface disposed on an optical axis such that a projector lens side edge overlaps an LED side focus of the projector lens; a second incident surface and a second reflecting surface disposed on an upper side of the optical axis such that the LED light emitted upward enters through the second incident surface and is reflected frontward by the second reflecting surface; and a third incident surface and a third reflecting surface disposed on the upper side of the optical axis such that the LED light emitted downward enters through the third incident surface and is reflected frontward by the third reflecting surface. |
| US09803816B2 |
Street lighting device
In various embodiments, a street lighting device with a first light source for illuminating the street plane from above is provided. The device may include a second light source located at a closer position to the street plane than said first light source; a sensor sensitive to the occurrence of conditions of reduced ambient visibility; and a controller connected to said sensor and capable of activating said second light source in the presence of said conditions of reduced ambient visibility. |
| US09803813B2 |
Low-profile light fixture integrated with an architectural panel
A lighting unit includes an architectural panel having an overall thickness that is measured between a first surface that is configured to be exposed to light output by the lighting unit and a second surface that is opposite the first surface, and a light fixture embedded in the architectural panel. The light fixture includes a solid state light source, an optic, a power supply and a driver circuit that at least partially embedded in the recess of the panel. The light fixture is configured to output light in an output direction extending out away from the first surface of the panel. The light fixture extends from the first surface of the panel in a direction opposite the output direction by a distance that is less than the overall thickness of the architectural panel. |
| US09803812B2 |
Guide for strand of electric lights
A guide for a strand of electric lights having a plurality of light elements spaced along an electric conductor. The guide includes a tubular body having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an oblong shaped passage extending through the tubular body from the inlet end to the outlet end. The passage dimensioned to slidably receive the light elements in a way that causes the light elements to be generally oriented along a major width of the passage as the light elements pass through the tubular body. |
| US09803811B2 |
Method for producing high-quality light
The present invention provides a method for producing high-quality light, wherein this high-quality light producing method consists of a plurality of particularly-designed process steps based on the sensitivity of human eyes and the melatonin suppression. So that, research and development engineers of lighting devices are able to manufacture a high-quality lighting unit or module through this novel method. Moreover, a variety of experimental data have proved that, the high-quality lighting unit produced by using this novel method is able to perform the advantages of high SRI (Spectrum Resemblance Index) and low MLT (Melatonin) suppression rate. |
| US09803808B2 |
Optic holder with integrated light premixer
Optical systems including an optic holder with integrated light premixer are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical system includes a lens holder adapted for holding at least one lens, said lens holder comprising a hollow waveguide extending from a proximal end adapted to receive light from a light source to a distal end, wherein said hollow waveguide comprises a reflective optical surface for reflecting at least a portion of the light received from the light source so as to direct the reflected light to said distal end of the waveguide. In some embodiments, the lens holder may be configured to receive a plurality of nested lenses optically coupled to said distal end of the waveguide. |
| US09803806B2 |
Light tube and power supply circuit
A replacement light tube for replacing a fluorescent light tube includes a bulb portion extending between a first end and a second end, the bulb portion comprising a support structure, a plurality of white light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an elongate light-transmissive cover. The support structure has a first surface extending between the first end and the second end. The plurality of LEDs are supported by the first surface and arranged between the first end and the second end. The elongate light-transmissive cover extends between the first end and the second end and over the first surface of the support structure. A first end cap and a second end cap are disposed on the first end and the second end, respectively, each configured to fit with a socket for a fluorescent light tube. A power supply circuit is configured to provide power to the plurality of LEDs. The plurality of LEDs are arranged to emit light through the elongate light-transmissive cover and at least a portion of the power supply circuit is packaged inside at least one of the end caps. |
| US09803803B1 |
System for compressed gas energy storage
Embodiments provide systems and methods for taking power from an electric power grid and converting it into higher-pressure natural gas for temporary storage. After temporary storage, the higher-pressure natural gas may be expanded through an expansion engine to drive a generator that converts energy from the expanding natural gas into electrical power, which may then be returned to the electric power grid. In this way, the disclosed systems and methods may provide ways to temporarily store, and then return stored power from the electric power grid. Preferably, the components of the system are co-located at the same natural gas storage facility. This allows natural gas storage, electrical energy storage, and electrical energy generation to take place at the same facility. |
| US09803799B1 |
Multi-functional support pole and rotation telescopic control structure thereof
A multi-functional support pole and a rotation telescopic control structure thereof are provided. The multi-functional support pole includes a base, a first rigid tube, a second rigid tube, a third rigid tube, a rotation telescopic control assembly, a vertical rotation folding control assembly, and an apparatus mounting portion to realize the functions of a 360-degree horizontal rotation, an up-down extension, a vertical rotation angle adjustment, and so on. The size of the support pole is reduced after folding. The whole support pole is mainly composed of rigid tubes to improve the structural strength of the support pole and the stability of use. |
| US09803798B1 |
Support frame
A support frame may be mounted to a corresponding support platform. The support frame may include an elongate rigid column including a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. A platen bracket may be connected to the elongate rigid column nearer the proximal end than the distal end. A support platen may be connected to the platen bracket. A flanged sleeve may be coaxially received on the elongate rigid column nearer the distal end than the proximal end. The flanged sleeve may include a sleeve portion slidably received on the elongate rigid column and a mounting flange extending from the sleeve portion. The mounting flange may be configured to interface with the support platform. A guide sleeve may be coaxially received on the elongate rigid column between the platen bracket and the flanged sleeve. The guide sleeve may be configured to maintain the platen bracket and the flanged sleeve in a spaced apart orientation when the support frame is mounted to the corresponding support platform. |
| US09803795B2 |
Telescoping rail mounting assembly and multiple display mount system
A multiple display mount system that offers easy and efficient, independent lateral and vertical adjustment of each individual display. The system includes a base, a vertical member extending upwardly from the base, and a pair of arms extending laterally outward on opposing sides of the vertical member. A pair of display interfaces is operably coupled to a separate one of the arms. Each of the display interfaces can enable the electronic display received thereon to be tilted about a generally horizontal tilt axis extending through the electronic display, and/or enable the electronic display received thereon to be pivoted about a generally vertical axis extending through the electronic display. The arms may be pivotally connected to the vertical member to enable positioning of the displays, and the displays may be separately vertically positionable relative to the vertical member. |
| US09803793B2 |
Method for laterally moving industrial machine
A method for laterally moving an industrial machine is provided. The method may include: supporting the industrial machine on a pair of rail elements configured to be positioned laterally below and support the industrial machine, the rail elements allowing the industrial machine to be moved laterally from a first operative position to a second, maintenance position. A pair of linear actuators configured to laterally move the industrial machine from the first, operative position to the second, maintenance position. |
| US09803789B2 |
Coupling formation of a pipetting channel of a pipetting device for coupling of a pipette tip thereto
The present invention relates to a coupling formation of a pipetting channel of a pipetting device for coupling of an implement, for instance a pipette tip, or a laboratory instrument, laboratory tool or the like, thereto, wherein the coupling formation surrounds a pipetting channel section which extends along a pipetting channel axis which defines an axial direction, wherein the coupling formation additionally has, at its free longitudinal end, a pressure-imparting orifice into which the pipetting channel section opens and has, at its radially outer surface which surrounds the pipetting channel axis and extends principally in axial direction and in peripheral direction about the pipetting channel axis relative to the pipetting channel axis, a coupling projection which yields in the radial direction, which is characterized in that the coupling projection is provided so as to be essentially undeformable but radially movable on a spring arrangement which is elastic in radial direction. |
| US09803783B2 |
Hand tightened hydraulic fitting
This disclosure relates generally to hose couplings useful for mining applications, more particularly to a fluid coupling capable of generally fully tightened by hand, including a visual lock for visual indication and safety when in a hand-tightened position. The coupling generally includes a male portion, a female portion, a retaining member and a locking member. The male portion passes through the retaining member, and the retaining member threadingly engages the female member. The locking member prevents unthreading of the retaining member from the female member. |
| US09803780B2 |
Sealing panel for cooling appliance coil cleaning
A planar sealing panel member for cleaning the condenser coils of a cooling appliance. This member has at least one hole in its surface to accommodate a hose supplying compressed air. It also has affixation means on its surface so as to hold the sealing panel against the cooling appliance adjacent the opening(s) holding the condenser coils to form a substantially sealed enclosure along with the appliance structure within which the coils reside when cleaned using compressed air. |
| US09803776B2 |
Lock device and valve device
Provided are a valve device free of changes in the position of the valve member caused by external force and fluid pressure, and a lock device for the valve device. The lock device has a tubular member fitted to the rotating part of the valve device so that the member is movable along the axis of the rotating part in both directions, wherein the member has a protrusion on its inner circumferential face along its axis, and the protrusion engages with or disengages from recesses in an outer circumferential face of a holder of the rotating part formed along its axis when the member moves in either direction; or the member has recesses in its inner circumferential face formed along its axis, and the recesses engage with or disengage from a protrusion on the outer circumferential face of the holder along its axis when the member moves in either direction. |
| US09803775B2 |
Double action float valve
The double action float valve is connected to a single pipe and a tank and controls both the filling and discharge of the tank. The double action float valve utilizes a valve body, an obturator positioned within the valve body, a unidirectional device, and a float connected to the obturator. When the inflow pressure from the pipe is greater than the outflow pressure of the tank, the tank is filled until the float reaches a predetermined level. When the outflow pressure of the tank is greater than the inflow pressure, the double action float valve is automatically reconfigured to discharge the fluid from the tank into the pipe. |
| US09803774B2 |
Flow control valve having a motion conversion device
A motion conversion device is disclosed for converting motion in one direction into motion in another direction. The motion conversion device may include a single-acting cylinder hydraulically or pneumatically coupled to a double-acting cylinder such that movement of the single-acting cylinder along an axis causes movement of the double-acting cylinder along a non-parallel axis. The single-acting cylinder may be mechanically coupled to another single-acting cylinder such that movement of one of the single-acting cylinders in a direction causes movement of the other one of the single-acting cylinders in an opposite direction. In this way, the single-acting cylinders may cooperate to provide reciprocal motion of the double-acting cylinder. Also disclosed is a valve incorporating a motion conversion device for the purpose of moving a closure member between an open position and a closed position. Furthermore, a method for operating a valve closure member with a motion conversion device is disclosed. |
| US09803763B2 |
Pipe comprising a pressure relief valve
A pipe is provided for transporting a viscous fluid, including a pressure relief valve provided with a sealing element which separates the inside of the pipe from a discharge line and is designed to release the discharge line in the event of predetermined excess pressure. A surface of the sealing element, facing a Miler chamber of the pipe, is associated with the pipe in such a manner that the surface is flown around by a flow of the viscous fluid circulating through the pipe when in operation, and the sealing element is fixed in the closed position by a rod, the rod being displaced by the predetermined excess pressure such that the thus connected sealing element releases the discharge pipe. |
| US09803761B1 |
Flapper check valve bumper
A check valve includes a housing, a flap, a hinge, at least one post, and at least one tubular bumper. The hinge allows the flap to rotate relative to the housing between a fully open position and a closed position. The at least one post is disposed at or near the periphery of the housing supporting the hinge and extending axially relative to the housing from the housing. The at least one tubular bumper is movable with the flap and configured to contact the at least one post when the flap pivots to the fully open position. |
| US09803758B2 |
Spool and body architectures for three-position directional control valves
A directional-control valve is typically comprised of a valve spool that slides linearly within a valve body. The valve body typically includes five internal ports, which are covered or exposed as the spool slides within the body. The typical five-internal-port architecture precludes certain combinations of port connectivity when the spool is in the center position. For example, when the spool is in the center position, providing connectivity between the actuator ports, while simultaneously providing fluid isolation of the supply and exhaust ports, is not directly achievable with a standard five-port architecture. This application describes three embodiments that enable the aforementioned port connectivity when the spool is in the center position. |
| US09803757B2 |
Auto-switching tee joint, device and method for washing and drying clamps
The present disclosure discloses an auto-switching tee joint, including a transitional tube, a first inlet tube, a second inlet tube and an outlet tube. The first inlet tube and the second inlet tube are disposed at two ends of the transitional tube, and the outlet tube is connected at a side wall of the transitional tube. In the transitional tube, there is provided with a switching ball which is movable freely. Both the first inlet tube and the second inlet tube have a bell-mouth which faces the transitional tube. The switching ball has a diameter larger than a minimum inner diameter of the bell-mouth and larger than an inner diameter of the outlet tube. The present disclosure further provides a device for washing and drying clamps which adopts the above auto-switching tee joint and can accomplish the washing and drying of clamps, save costs and improve working efficiency. |
| US09803748B2 |
Hydraulic arrangement for supplying a consumer
A hydraulic arrangement for supplying a consumer or actuator includes a first supply device that has at least one pump with an adjustable delivery volume. The hydraulic arrangement further includes a second supply device that is connected in parallel to the first supply device. The second supply device includes a loadable accumulator and a digitally regulated switching valve arrangement. |
| US09803742B1 |
Stacked planetary gear assembly with improved lubrication
A radially stacked planetary gear assembly provides improved lubrication fluid flow to the planet gear bearings of an outer planetary gear set which is especially important when the housing or outer planetary gear carrier is stationary. The assembly includes radially aligned or stacked inner and outer planetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having planet gears in constant mesh with the sun and ring gears wherein the ring gear of the inner gear set is also the sun gear of the outer gear set and the outer carrier is the assembly housing. The sun gear is disposed on a transmission shaft having lubrication passages which aligns with pluralities of radial openings in a hub housing. A circular plate or guide adjacent one side of the housing includes channels which align with the openings and functions as a lubrication director, channeling lubrication from the transmission shaft and the pluralities of radial openings in the housing hub to the outer bearings, shafts and planet gears. |
| US09803738B2 |
Laminated sprocket assembly
A laminated sprocket assembly is provided formed of a plurality of layers that are connected together. Each of the layers is a stamped sheet metal layer having a plurality of spaced apart teeth located around a periphery thereof. The teeth in the plurality of connected layers are aligned. At least one of voids, channels, openings, or recesses are located in or between at least some of the layers for receiving and holding lubricating oil. This reduces noise and wear. |
| US09803735B2 |
Normally engaged turbine clutch
A torque converter includes a housing, a turbine shell, and a spring. The housing includes an impeller shell and a cover. The turbine shell includes a clutch portion. The spring is disposed axially between the cover and the turbine shell, and is arranged for urging the turbine clutch portion into driving engagement with the impeller shell. In an example embodiment, the spring is a diaphragm spring. In an example embodiment, the turbine shell is arranged for sealing to and driving engagement with a transmission input shaft. In some example embodiments, the torque converter includes a bearing disposed axially between the cover and the turbine shell, and arranged for rotationally disconnecting the spring from the cover. In an example embodiment, the bearing is a ball bearing or a needle roller bearing. |
| US09803733B2 |
Rotation device and power supply system
A rotation device includes an output shaft, at least one rotatable rotary plate member arranged so that its rotation axis and the output shaft are coaxial, at least one weight member fixed to the rotary plate member, for biasing position of the center of gravity from the rotation axis of the rotary plate member, and at least one clutch mechanism arranged between the rotary plate member and the output shaft, for separating the rotary plate member and the output shaft with each other at a predetermined rotation angle. The clutch mechanism connects the rotary plate member with the output shaft when the center of gravity of the weight member descends, and separates the rotary plate member from the output shaft when the center of gravity of the weight member rises. |
| US09803732B2 |
Hard stop assembly for a joint adapted for more than a single revolution
A rotating joint assembly such as an interface device in a master device or remote manipulator for a puppeteering device or other mechanical system operating in response to operator input and requiring more than 360 degrees of rotation. The rotating joint assembly includes a hard stop assembly that limits the rotation of its rotating component(s) to a predefined maximum amount of rotation such as to less than two full revolutions, e.g., some rotation amount between 360 and 720 degrees. The hard stop assembly includes a Geneva drive body or driven wheel with a hard stop body rigidly coupled with the Geneva drive body to rotate it between a disengaged position (during the first revolution) and one of two engaged positions by rotation of an inner ring (at some point during the second revolution in either direction). |
| US09803731B2 |
Actuator device having cam and follower and controller configured to employ rate-based methodology to identify positioning of follower on cam at predetermined location
An actuator device having a motor driven cam, a follower coupled to an output member and driven by the cam, and a controller for controlling operation of the motor. The cam has a first cam surface, a second cam surface and a lift portion between the first and second cam surfaces. The controller is configured to identify a predetermined point on the lift portion as the follower is moved relative to the cam along the lift portion toward the second cam surface. The controller identifies the predetermined point based on a rate of change in the position of the output member along an output member axis as a function of the rotational position of the cam about a cam axis. The controller controls operation of the motor based on the predetermined point to position the follower on the second cam surface. |
| US09803724B2 |
Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting torque of the engine, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first shaft, a second shaft, a third shaft, a fourth shaft directly connected to the input shaft, a fifth shaft selectively connectable to the second shaft, a sixth shaft, a seventh shaft selectively connectable to the fourth shaft, and an eighth shaft selectively connectable to at least one of the second shaft and the seventh shaft, and directly connected to the output shaft. |
| US09803716B2 |
Torsional compensator based on magnetic reluctance
A torsional compensator for an internal combustion engine is provided. The torsional compensator comprises a rotor portion and a stator portion. The rotor portion is in driving engagement with an output of the internal combustion engine. The first rotor portion comprises at least one of first magnetic array and a first ferromagnetic array. The stator portion is disposed about the rotor portion. The stator portion is coupled to at least one of the internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a compensator housing. The stator portion comprises at least one of a second magnetic array and a second ferromagnetic array. In response to rotation of the rotor portion within the stator portion, a magnetic reluctance force is generated. The magnetic reluctance force applies a torque to the output of the internal combustion engine to dampen a torque ripple of the internal combustion engine. |
| US09803712B2 |
Brake monitoring
Monitoring a brake that includes first and second braking surfaces and a magnetizing device that, in response to the electric current supplied to them, are arranged to generate a magnetic field that is arranged to move the braking surfaces from a closed state, in which the braking surfaces are connected to each other, to an open state, in which the braking surfaces are separated from each other. Determining the electric current of the brake as the braking surfaces begin to move from the closed state to the open state, determining the maximum electric current of the magnetizing device of the brake in the open state, determining the condition of the brake as a current ratio from the electric current measured as the braking surfaces start to move to the maximum electric current. |
| US09803710B2 |
Electric disc brake
An electric disc brake is disclosed. An electric disc brake comprises a caliper housing configured to include a cylinder at which a piston is installed to be reciprocally movable by a brake hydraulic pressure, an adjuster arranged inside the piston, a pushrod provided inside the cylinder, an actuator configured to decelerate a rotational force according to an activation of a motor to output the decelerated rotational force through an output gear so as to pressurize the piston, and a ramp unit installed inside the cylinder and configured to receive the decelerated rotational force from the actuator to pressurize the pushrod to the piston so as to prevent rotation of the pushrod. |
| US09803702B2 |
Hydraulic actuating device for actuation of at least one friction clutch and at least one gear setting element in a motor vehicle
A hydraulic actuating device for a friction clutch and a gear setting element has a power unit for pressure generation by use of an electrically driven pump. Gear setting and clutch actuating sections are hydraulically connected to the power unit. A detenting device with a blocking element is associated with a piston of the clutch setting cylinder, which is operatively connected with the friction clutch and can be hydraulically loaded on opposite sides. The blocking element is resiliently biased into a blocking setting preventing piston movement and is movable by an actuator from the blocking setting into a release setting permitting piston movement. The pump is reversible in order to load the piston on one or the other side for an actuating movement. The control unit coordinates activation of the pump and actuator in order to disengage or engage the friction clutch. |
| US09803699B2 |
Slip clutch assembly
A slip clutch assembly includes a clutch carrier, a one-way clutch assembly, and a preloaded clutch assembly. The one-way clutch assembly has a portion fixed to the clutch carrier. The preloaded clutch assembly has a first clutch plate, a second clutch plate, and a resilient element. The first clutch plate is drivingly engaged with the carrier. The second clutch plate is arranged for driving engagement with a first portion of a transmission. The resilient element is for compressing the first and second clutch plates. In some example embodiments, the one-way clutch assembly has an outer race, an inner race, and a plurality of blocking elements. The outer race is fixed to the clutch carrier. The inner race is arranged to engage a second portion of the transmission. The blocking elements are selected from the group of rollers or sprags for selectively locking the outer race to the inner race and are disposed radially between the outer race and inner race. |
| US09803697B2 |
Coupling for supercharger
A coupling assembly arranged between an input shaft and a rotor shaft of a supercharger can include a first coupling, a second coupling, a central hub and a plurality of coupler pins. The first coupling can be mounted for concurrent rotation with the input shaft. The second coupling can be mounted for concurrent rotation with the rotor shaft. The central hub can be disposed intermediate the first and second couplings. The central hub defines central hub bores therein. A plurality of coupler pins can be received in the central hub bores. A first plurality of elastomeric inserts can receive first portions of the plurality of coupler pins. A second plurality of elastomeric inserts can receive second portions of the plurality of coupler pins. The first and second elastomeric inserts can provide dampening between (i) the first coupling and the central hub and (ii) the second coupling and the central hub. |
| US09803690B2 |
Maintenance-free slide bearing with a combined adhesive sliding layer
Slide bearings and methods of producing slide bearings are disclosed. The slide bearing has a metal support and a sliding layer. No other layer is in contact with the sliding layer. The sliding layer is applied directly to the metal support. The sliding layer comprises a mixture of at least two polymers P1 and P2, wherein P1 is a fluoropolymer. P2 is a non-fluorinated thermoplastic polymer. |
| US09803689B2 |
Bearing tools and process
Methods for manufacturing bearings and wear resistant surfaces usable in various downhole tools are described herein. A housing is provided. A laser configured for insertion into the housing, such as an inner diameter laser, is used to connect a fusible material to the inner surface of the housing or an insert disposed therein to form a hard facing layer on the inner surface. Simultaneously or independently, the laser can be used to connect the fusible material to the outer surface of a mandrel within the housing to form a second hard facing layer. The present methods thereby produce durable radial bearings having extended operational life, which can be produced within a bearing housing, or externally for transport and installation in existing bearing housings. |
| US09803688B2 |
Rolling bearing guide apparatus
A rolling bearing guide apparatus 1 has a guide rail 2, a slider main body 8, a rolling elements 16, and an end cap 9a, 9b that defines a turn passage 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d that turns the direction of movement of the rolling element 16. The apparatus is provided with a lubrication member 14 impregnated with lubricant, arranged between the slider main body 8 and the end cap 9a, 9b, and partly exposed inside the turn passage 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, enabling lubrication of the rolling element 16 for a long period of time and reducing efforts of maintenance. |
| US09803685B2 |
Crankshaft
It is common for crankshafts of internal combustion engines to have main bearing journals provided between each of the conrod bearing journals. However, to reduce engine friction, the fewest main bearing journals that can be used while still meeting the design targets is preferred. A crankshaft for an in-line, four-cylinder engine, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, has three main bearing journals. Bridges, one each located between first and second conrod bearing journals and between third and fourth conrod bearing journals. The bridges have a cross-section with at least two concavities to improve the strength of the bridge compared to, for example, a cylindrical bridge, without greatly increasing the mass of material used in the bridge. Furthermore, a locus of a centroid of cross sections through the bridge are not coincident with an axis of rotation of the crankshaft, but instead is displaced toward the nearer conrod bearing journal. |
| US09803684B2 |
Split ball sleeve
A rolling element shaft assembly includes a solid shaft having a first end and a second end, a tubular shaft configured to receive the shaft first end, and a bearing sleeve coupled to the solid shaft. The bearing sleeve includes a first portion defining a first edge, a second edge, and at least one first bearing aperture, and a second portion defining a third edge, a fourth edge, and at least one second bearing aperture. The first portion is configured to couple to the second portion about the solid shaft. The bearing sleeve further includes at least one first bearing disposed within the at least one first bearing aperture and at least one second bearing disposed within the at least one second bearing aperture. |
| US09803683B2 |
Pivotable sheath stop for a sheath, and corresponding bracket, guide rail, assembly, window lift, and mounting method
The invention relates to a sheath stop including: a hole through which a window lift cable is to pass; and a sheath abutment for locking the sheath of the window lift cable on one side of the sheath stop and wherein, on the other side of the sheath stop, the sheath stop includes a shaft provided so as to be mounted onto a bracket of the sheath stop such that the sheath stop has a freely rotatable mounting configuration on the bracket. The shaft extends transversely to the main orientation of the passage hole, and the passage hole has a partial side clearance that allows the cable a degree of bending freedom within a plane perpendicular to the shaft when the sheath stop freely pivots about the shaft. |
| US09803681B2 |
Cup holder
A portable beverage container holder having a tubular upper member having inner and outer walls concentric to each other. The tubular member has a top and bottom portion, the bottom portion having a diameter greater than the top portion forming a tapered tubular member. The top portion diameter is of sufficient size to receive a beverage container and preferably includes an insulated separate liner. The holder has a lower base having a top and bottom surface, preferably with a weight inside and surrounding sidewall. The bottom portion of the tubular member is mounted to the top surface of the base. The sidewall protrudes above the top surface of the base to form a circumferential channel surrounding the lower base to capture any spillage from the container. The bottom surface of the base element has mounted thereto a means for preventing the holder from sliding on a surface. |
| US09803676B2 |
Hollow metal screw and method of making
A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy. |
| US09803673B2 |
Constructive disposal applied in mechanical expansion fixer for metal structures or the like
“CONSTRUCTIVE DISPOSAL APPLIED IN MECHANICAL EXPANSION FIXER FOR METAL STRUCTURES OR THE LIKE”, which comprises a kit of pieces which form the mechanical expansion fixer (1), it has a hexagonal head (2) and a cylindrical body (3) endowed with full thread (4), has flat washer (5) and a jacket (6) in low-carbon steel; also on the head of the jacket (6) has a hexagonal (7) to ensure that the jacket does not rotate during mounting and tightening, which provides a wide contact area option to use the key that holds the fixer (A and B) in this way, it is not necessary to position it in the hole in a specific way, ensuring agility in the application; cone guided (8) is pre-assembled with the assembly being threaded in the thread base of the fixer (1), there is a unique locking system of guides (9), these guides fit into the openings or slots of jacket (10) and prevent the cone to rotate false in the jacket (6), as the head of the hexagon socket (7) when locked with a fixed key or star prevents this condition, this also applies in situations in which the level of friction between the fixer (1) and the base material is reduced, so there is a strong and rigid fixation between the metallic hollow profiles (11) and the fixer (1). |
| US09803671B2 |
Device for joining metal profiles
The invention relates to a device for joining metal profiles provided with longitudinal surface grooves, said device comprising: a metal support (1) that can be inserted into the ends of the grooves of the profiles to be joined; a chassis (2) supported on each end of said metal support (1), whereon a lever (4) provided with a projection (9) and a coaxial cam (8) pivots (5); and a resilient body (3) inserted between the support (1) and the chassis (2). When the lever (4) is rotated into the represented closing position thereof, the protrusion (9) penetrates said resilient body (3), expanding it transversely against the side walls of the respective groove, and the cam (8) simultaneously compresses the resilient body (3), expanding the device in a direction which is orthogonal to the previous direction. The device allows a rapid, manual and toolless assembly and disassembly of the profiles, aligned or at an angle, in order to form frames such as those used in supports for displaying graphics. |
| US09803670B2 |
Connection arrangement
A connection arrangement includes a housing body having a connection portion, at which in each case at least one housing bearing wedge having a bearing face which is oriented at a wedge angle to an assembly direction is formed on two opposing sides; a bearing portion; and a clamping face which is formed on the bearing portion being provided at a distance from the bearing face of the at least one housing bearing wedge. The connection arrangement further includes a connection body which can be positioned on the housing body in the region of the connection portion, on which connection body at least one connection bearing wedge is provided, which has a bearing face which is oriented at the same wedge angle to the assembly direction, the bearing faces of the housing bearing wedge and of the connection bearing wedge being in contact with one another when assembled. |
| US09803665B2 |
Machine control system having hydraulic warmup procedure
A control system for a machine is disclosed. The control system may have a bypass passage situated to allow fluid to bypass an actuator, and a warmup valve disposed within the bypass passage that is movable between flow-passing and-blocking positions. A controller is configured to move the warmup valve to the flow-passing position, fix a displacement position of the pump, compare the pressure of the fluid of the actuator with a threshold, and move the warmup valve to the flow-blocking position and reduce a pump outlet pressure when the pressure of the fluid is greater than the threshold. The controller may be configured to move the warmup valve to the flow-passing position, fix a displacement position of the pump, and adjust an input speed of the pump in response to the signal. |
| US09803663B2 |
Telescoping fluid porting tube
Provided is an electro-hydraulic control system (10) for controlling the movement of a third structure (18) of an engine using a power actuator (26) mountable to the third structure (18), a telescoping fluid porting tube (24) for porting a fluid to the power actuator (26) and a control valve (22) for controlling the flow of movement to effect the movement of the third structure (18). In this way, the third structure (18), such as a nozzle slat of an engine, may be moved via a compact and lightweight electro-hydraulic system. |
| US09803655B2 |
Airflow accelerating device and electronic apparatus
The present invention discloses an airflow accelerating device and an electronic apparatus. The airflow accelerating device comprises: a housing, having a chamber formed therein; at least one vibrating plate, disposed within the chamber; at least one division plate, fixed in the housing, for dividing the chamber into at least two sub-chambers, each of the at least two sub-chambers having at least one air outlet configured to transmit airflow generated by vibration of the vibrating plate to outside of the chamber. |
| US09803653B2 |
Heater pump
A heater pump includes a motor and a pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a pump housing having an inlet and an outlet. An impeller and a heater are disposed within the pump housing. The heater includes a heater housing having an inner wall, an outer wall, a lower wall and an upper wall forming a heating chamber. A heating element is disposed within the heating chamber. The inner wall defines an inlet channel connecting the impeller with the inlet of the water pump. Water flowing through the pump is heated by contact with the heater housing and/or the heating element. |
| US09803649B2 |
Axial or diagonal fan with trip edge on the rotor blade
An axial- or diagonal-fan has a fan wheel (34) having profiled rotor blades (32). Each blade has a suction or intake side (46), a portion located forward, with respect to the rotation direction (36), and having a leading edge (44), and a portion located rearward, with respect to the rotation direction (36), and having a trailing edge (92). Between said portions, on the intake side (46) of the respective rotor blade (32), a trip or separation edge (66) is provided, said trip edge having an S-shaped contour in a meridian cross-section. |
| US09803648B2 |
Retainer plate
A retainer plate is provided for retaining a dovetail root of a fan blade of a gas turbine engine in a corresponding axially-extending slot in the rim of a fan disc. In use, the plate locates in a cavity formed at an end of the slot such that a first side of the plate is arranged for contact with an axial end face of the dovetail root and an opposite second side of the plate is arranged for contact with an abutment surface of the cavity to limit axial movement of the root along the slot. The retainer plate is a unitary component and has a layered structure including a first layer at the first side of the plate, a second layer at the second side of the plate, and an intermediate layer between the first and the second layers. |
| US09803645B2 |
Cooling fan
A cooling fan includes a boss section (12) connected to a rotary drive source, a plurality of blades (13) protruding outward from the boss section in a radial direction, and a cylindrical ring member (14) configured to annularly connect the vicinities of end sections outside in the radial direction of the plurality of blades. The plurality of blades (13) protruding outward from the boss section (12) in the radial direction are connected by the cylindrical ring member (14) in the vicinity of the end section outside in the radial direction. An air inlet groove (16) is formed at an end section in an axial direction of an air suction side of the ring member (14). The air inlet groove (16) is disposed between front regions in the rotation direction of all of the blades (13) on the ring member (14) and front regions in the rotation direction of the blades (13) adjacent thereto. The air flowing from the outer circumferential side passes through the air inlet groove (16) of the ring member (14) and gradually changes a direction to be suctioned between the blades (13). |
| US09803643B2 |
Scroll-type compressor
A scroll-type compressor includes: a movable scroll including a low-stage movable tooth portion having a spiral shape and protruding from a first side of a movable substrate portion in an axial direction, and a high-stage movable tooth portion having a spiral shape and protruding from a second side of the movable substrate portion in the axial direction; and a shaft arranged to extend through the movable substrate portion and causing the movable scroll to undergo revolution motion. A low-stage compression mechanism and a high-stage movable compression mechanism are provided on opposite sides of the movable substrate portion in the axial direction. The numbers of curling of the low-stage movable tooth portion and the high-stage movable tooth portion are set to be one. |
| US09803641B2 |
Method for manufacturing anti-rotation ring of scroll type compressor and anti-rotation mechanism of the scroll type compressor
In a method for manufacturing an anti-rotation ring of a scroll type compressor, wherein the anti-rotation ring is provided in an anti-rotation mechanism for preventing a movable scroll from rotation on its own axis and made of a metal, the steps of the method include drawing a steel plate into a first intermediate body having a bottomed cylindrical shape, punching the bottom of the first intermediate body thereby to make a second intermediate body and ring forming the second intermediate body. |
| US09803639B2 |
Sectional sealing system for rotary screw compressor
A sectional sealing system for water-spray type screw rotor compressor that is configured to prevent the intermixing of coolant and working fluid from a compression chamber with lubricant used to lubricate at least a bearing system of a rotor. The sealing system may include suction side and discharge side sealing portions that are positioned about first and second shafts, respectively, of the rotor. The suction side sealing portion may include a first seal, a first labyrinth seal, and a second labyrinth seal, the first seal being in proximity to a suction side of the compression chamber. The discharge side sealing portion may include a plurality of first seals, a second seal, a first labyrinth seal, and a second labyrinth seal, the plurality of first seals of the discharge side sealing portion being in proximity to a discharge side of the compression chamber. |
| US09803637B2 |
Variable displacement hydraulic pump control
A system controlling pressure in a transmission including a variable displacement pump, a circuit carrying fluid from the pump to the transmission, a valve using fluid in said circuit to regulate pressure that controls displacement of the pump, a source of control pressure including an accumulator, a first spring acting with said source causing the valve to change the regulated pressure, and a second spring acting with feedback pressure from said circuit to oppose said change. |
| US09803632B2 |
Air compressor of weight-reduction type
An air compressor of weight-reduction type is disclosed, wherein the bearing and the main housing thereof are formed integrally, so that when the piston body conducts reciprocating motion within the cylinder at high frequencies, the bearing is firmly fixed on the main housing without nonfunctioning or falling off. Furthermore, the main housing and the cylinder thereof are made of plastic and formed integrally. The main housing is formed with a wind collecting hood to facilitate the air flow being introduced through the main housing for rapidly dissipating the heat generated by the bearing and the heat generated from the reciprocating motion of the piston body. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost of the air compressor can be reduced to achieve an economical design, and the weight of the air compressor can be reduced to facilitate the compressor being carried onto a vehicle. |
| US09803625B2 |
Coupling of a turbopump for molten salts
The invention relates to a device comprising at least one vertical pump (3) and at least one associated turbine (4) for transporting, over a level difference, a heat-transfer fluid brought to a high temperature, wherein the device further comprises a device for mechanically coupling the turbine (4) with the pump (3), comprising a gearbox (21) with a gimbal coupling (41) located on the turbine (4) side, allowing the mechanical energy produced by the turbine (4) to be reused to actuate the pump (3). |
| US09803619B2 |
Wind turbine blade and method of controlling the lift of such a blade
Wind turbine blade comprising a shape modifiable airfoil section that extends both chordwise and spanwise and has a not modified default shape, a conduit that extends from the inside of the blade towards the outside of the blade, and an outer part comprising a flow regulator that is located at the shape modifiable airfoil section and blocks the conduit when the shape modifiable airfoil section presents its default shape, and does not block the conduit when the shape modifiable airfoil section presents a modified shape. In the latter situation the conduit is opened to the outside of the blade and a device for exchanging a fluid between the inside and the outside of the blade is thus defined. |
| US09803616B2 |
Wind turbine having a plurality of airfoil rings and counter rotating generators
A wind turbine can include a first rotating ring and a second rotating ring. A first plurality of airfoils is pivotally secured between an interior rim and an exterior rim of the first rotating ring and disposed at a first angle of attack. A second plurality of airfoils is pivotally secured between an interior rim and an exterior rim of the second rotating ring and disposed at a second angle of attack. A generator is mounted between the first rotating ring and the second rotating ring and generates electricity in response to the first plurality of airfoils capturing the wind with the first angle of attack such that the first rotating ring rotates in a first direction and the second plurality of airfoils captures the wind with the second angle of attack such that the second rotating rings rotate in an opposite direction from the first rotating ring. |
| US09803612B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
A cylinder-inflow EGR gas amount is estimated, a misfire limit EGR gas amount is calculated on the basis of an engine operation state, and the misfire limit EGR gas amount is compared with the cylinder-inflow EGR gas amount to predict whether a misfire occurs. When the misfire is predicted, a misfire avoidance control is executed. Further, an actual misfire countermeasure effect amount in a case of the execution of the misfire avoidance control is calculated, and the actual misfire countermeasure effect amount is compared with a required misfire countermeasure effect amount to determine whether the misfire is avoidable when the misfire avoidance control is executed. If the misfire is unavoidable even if the misfire avoidance control is executed, a delay restriction value of an ignition timing to avoid the misfire is calculated, and the amount of a delay in the ignition timing is restricted using the delay restriction value. |
| US09803609B2 |
System and methods for improved starting of combustion engines
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a engine start system. In one aspect, the engine start system includes: a booster battery selectively connected in parallel with the primary batteries of the engine. The booster battery is disconnected when the battery voltage of the primary batteries is below a first target voltage. The booster battery is connected when the battery voltage of the primary batteries is at or above the second target voltage, or in response to an external input. |
| US09803608B2 |
Apparatus and method for vehicle voltage stabilization
Method for voltage stabilization during an engine starting event of a vehicle includes receiving, at a switch device module, an active Start_ON signal from a starter solenoid module indicating initiation of the engine starting event. At the switch device module, an auxiliary electrical energy storage device (ESD) is electrically coupled to one or more auxiliary loads within a predetermined delay since the active Start_ON signal was received. A primary ESD and a starter motor are electrically decoupled from the one or more auxiliary loads only after the auxiliary ESD has been electrically coupled to the one or more auxiliary loads. In response to a predetermined condition occurring while the primary ESD and the starter motor are electrically decoupled from the one or more auxiliary loads, the primary ESD and the starter motor are electrically coupled to the one or more auxiliary loads. |
| US09803605B2 |
Fluid injection assembly
A fuel injector assembly with a fuel injector and a coupling device is disclosed. The coupling device includes a fuel injector cup, a plate element, one or more screws and a wing clip. The plate element includes at least one through-hole for fixedly coupling the fuel injector cup with the plate element by the screw or screws respectively, so that the fuel injector cup, the plate element and the screw(s) are positionally fixed with respect to each other. The wing clip is arranged at least partly around the fuel injector and extends outward in a radial direction such that the screw or screws, respectively, are operable to block a movement of the fuel injector relative to the plate element in a first direction of the central longitudinal axis by mechanical interaction with the wing clip. |
| US09803603B2 |
Device for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine
The housing (18) of the fuel injection valve (10) of the device for intermittently injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprises a high-pressure inlet (34) with a conical sealing face (44). The high-pressure chamber (36) is disposed in the housing (18) from the high-pressure inlet (34). A cartridge-like, independent component (56) is inserted into the high-pressure chamber (36). Said component comprises the valve carrier (46), the non-return valve (48), the holding element (50), and preferably the filter body (52′). The valve carrier (46) is provided with a conical outer sealing face (69), by which the valve carrier rests against the conical sealing face (44). A fixing element (74) presses the supply line (16) against the valve carrier (46). |
| US09803601B2 |
Diesel engine
Provided are a gear case flange in which a passage hole is provided, a spacer fixed on the gear case flange, a supply pump fixed on the spacer, and a pump gear fixed on the drive shaft of the supply pump, and the pump gear is passed through the passage hole of the gear case flange, whereby the supply pump in a state of being fixed on the spacer can be detached in a state where the pump gear is fixed on the drive shaft. |
| US09803599B2 |
System for air supply to engine of a motor boat
The present invention is a system for air supply to the engine of a motor float comprising a bottom part and an upper part of the body defining the inner space of the float, in which a combustion engine is arranged, wherein the upper part of the body is in its front part provided with an air supply, characterized in that the combustion engine is arranged in the engine compartment and separated from the rest of the inner space of the float by means of a partition provided with a suction opening in its front part, wherein to provide the circulation of air in the inner space of the float a sealing rib extends from the front part of the partition towards the tip of the float, separating the air supply and suction opening from one another, wherein at least one rear pump for sucking the leaking water is arranged in the rear part of the inner space of the float. The main object of the invention is thus to use the interspace of the float to provide separation of water and air, when eventual separated water may be sucked away by a pump operating on any principle (electric, vacuum, etc.). |
| US09803598B2 |
Air intake system for engine
An air intake system for an engine is provided. The air intake system includes a first air intake conduit, a second air intake conduit, an exhaust conduit, and a valve. The first air intake provides air to the engine and includes a siloxane adsorber. The second air intake conduit provides air to the engine during regeneration of the siloxane adsorber. The siloxane adsorber is heated during regeneration. The exhaust conduit is selectively connected to the first air intake conduit downstream of the siloxane adsorber. The valve is configured to connect the first intake conduit to the exhaust conduit during regeneration of the siloxane adsorber. |
| US09803593B2 |
Flow rate control valve and fuel vapor processing apparatus including the same
A flow rate control valve includes: a valve casing forming a fluid passage; a valve seat provided in the fluid passage; a stepping motor; a valve guide stroke-controlled by the stepping motor via a feed screw mechanism; a valve body configured to be placed and separated on and from the valve seat; a connector connecting the valve guide and the valve body so as to allow them to move in an axial direction within a predetermined range; a valve spring biasing the valve body in a closing direction. When closing the valve body, ECU controls the motor to a closed state such that a connection between the valve guide and the valve body by the connector is released, with the valve body being seated on the valve seat, and the valve guide being situated at a non-contact position spaced away from the valve seat. |
| US09803589B2 |
Device for heating a fluid
A device heating a fluid and usable in a rocket launcher to pressurize a liquefied propellant. The device includes a first burner performing first combustion between a limiting propellant and an excess propellant; a first heat exchanger in which first burnt gas from the first combustion transfers heat to the fluid; at least one second burner into which both the first burnt gas and some limiting propellant are injected to perform second combustion between the limiting propellant and at least a portion of unburnt excess propellant present in the first burnt gas. The second burnt gas from the second combustion flows through a second heat exchanger to transfer heat to the fluid. Burnt gas from each combustion flows in respective burnt gas tubes within a common overall heat exchanger including the heat exchange units, the gas transferring heat to the fluid, the fluid flowing between the burnt gas tubes. |
| US09803587B1 |
Method of fabricating a bonded cascade assembly for an aircraft thrust reverser
A method of fabricating a bonded cascade assembly of a thrust reverser for an aircraft nacelle. The method may include inserting individual turning vanes between spaced apart elongated stiffeners at an aft end thereof and sliding the turning vanes toward a front frame piece attached to or integrally formed with forward ends of the elongated stiffeners. The elongated stiffeners may have inner and outer flanges for trapping and limiting radial movement of the turning vanes. The method may further include bonding the turning vanes to the structural frame with a structural adhesive and attaching a closeout cap to the aft ends of each of the elongated stiffeners. |
| US09803586B1 |
Secondary systems and methods of control for variable area fan nozzles
A control system for a variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) is disclosed. The VAFN may have a plurality of petals and may be for use with a gas turbine engine. The control system may include a primary system configured to acquire primary data indicative of an operating condition of the VAFN, a secondary system configured to acquire secondary data indicative of a current operating condition of the gas turbine engine, and a control module in operative communication with the primary system and the secondary system. The control module may be configured to: determine a nozzle area of the VAFN based at least in part on the primary data, adjust the determined nozzle area based on the secondary data, and position the plurality of petals according to the adjusted nozzle area. |
| US09803579B2 |
Method for adapting a common-rail injection system of an internal combustion engine
In a method for adapting at least one injector of an injection system, in particular of a common-rail injection system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, where injections take place based on a characteristics map with at least two input variables and at least one output variable, a transition is carried out into a learning mode in which only discrete values are permitted for one of the at least two input variables of the characteristics map. |
| US09803572B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling fuel vapor flow in an engine-driven generator
A portable engine-driven system comprising an engine having an air intake passage, a fuel tank operatively coupled to the engine, a valve, and a pressure regulator. The valve may be coupled between the fuel tank and the air intake passage and configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The first position may allow fuel vapor to flow between the fuel tank and the air intake passage and the second position may inhibit the fuel vapor from flowing between the fuel tank and the air intake passage. The pressure regulator may be positioned in line between the fuel tank and the air intake passage. |
| US09803567B2 |
System and method for detecting reciprocating device abnormalities utilizing standard quality control techniques
A system includes a controller configured to receive a signal acquired by the at least one knock sensor coupled to a reciprocating device, to sample the received signal, to analyze the sampled signal, and to utilize standard quality control (SQC) techniques to perform real-time diagnostics on the reciprocating device based on the analyzed signal. |
| US09803565B1 |
System and method for measuring quality of fuel
A system for measuring quality of fuel in an engine is disclosed. The system includes a fuel quality measuring unit and a controller in communication with the fuel quality measuring unit. The fuel quality measuring unit includes a first valve, a second valve, and a quality measurement sensor disposed between the first valve and the second valve. The controller is configured to determine whether the engine is running in a steady state condition, and identify a measurement window based on a pressure of the fuel at an inlet, an Intake Manifold Pressure (IMP), and the steady state condition. The controller is configured to control an opening and a closing of the first valve, the second valve, and a fuel metering valve during the measurement window. The controller is configured to determine the quality of the fuel captured between the first valve and the second valve by the quality measurement sensor. |
| US09803563B2 |
Fuel supply apparatus
A fuel supply apparatus includes a material fuel tank, a separator, a condenser, a first fuel tank, and a first storage device. The material fuel tank is to store a material fuel. The separator is to separate the material fuel supplied from the material fuel tank into a first fuel and a second fuel. The condenser is to condense the first fuel supplied from the separator through a primary-order recovery passage. The first fuel tank is to store the first fuel supplied from the condenser through a secondary-order recovery passage. The first storage device is provided in the secondary-order recovery passage to temporarily store the first fuel supplied from the condenser. |
| US09803555B2 |
Fuel delivery system with moveably attached fuel tube
A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine combustor is provided. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel tube and an attachment assembly. The fuel tube extends from a downstream injector (e.g., a late lean injector) towards a mounting ring of the combustor and is moveably attached to the mounting ring using the attachment assembly. Accordingly, the exemplary fuel delivery system may provide fuel to a downstream injector while accommodating a thermal expansion or contraction of the fuel tube along an axial direction of the combustor. |
| US09803553B2 |
Method to control electric starter generator for gas turbine engines
A gas turbine engine starting system including an electric start generator (ESG) free of temperature sensors and configured to provide torque to a gas turbine engine. A fuel metering module is configured to provide a quantity of fuel to the gas turbine engine, and an electronic control system (ECS). The ESG includes a plurality of subcomponents. The ECS is configured to predict a future temperature of the ESG, predict that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful, and provide the prediction that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful to an operator. The prediction of the future temperature of the ESG is based on a plurality of historical ESG thermal trending information and an input ambient temperature. The prediction that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful is based on the future temperature of the ESG. |
| US09803544B2 |
Heat exchanger for internal combustion engines
A heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine includes a first flow channel; a second flow channel arranged adjacent to the first flow channel; a line separate from the second flow channel; and a valve channel in which an adjustable valve element is disposed. The valve channel is arranged upstream of the first and second flow channels and an inlet channel is arranged upstream of the valve channel in a flow direction of exhaust gas. The valve element includes a baffle plate, the baffle plate having an end portion that extends diagonally in the valve channel with respect to the flow axis of the first flow channel. The valve element includes a flap that is pivotably mounted at the end portion of the baffle plate such that the flap is pivotable about an axis that extends in a direction of a width of a common housing. |
| US09803541B2 |
Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine includes a first low-pressure cylinder housing a first low-pressure piston, and a first high-pressure cylinder housing a first high-pressure piston, the first high-pressure cylinder being arranged in upstream fluid communication with the first low-pressure cylinder for providing exhaust gas into the first low-pressure cylinder. The internal combustion engine further includes a second low-pressure cylinder housing a second low-pressure piston, the second low-pressure cylinder being arranged in upstream fluid communication with the first high-pressure cylinder for providing compressed gas into the first high-pressure cylinder, and a second high-pressure cylinder housing a second high-pressure piston, the second high-pressure cylinder being arranged in downstream fluid communication with the first low-pressure cylinder for receiving compressed gas from the first low-pressure cylinder, and further arranged in upstream fluid communication with the second low-pressure cylinder for providing exhaust gas into the second low-pressure cylinder. |
| US09803538B2 |
Ducted combustion systems utilizing duct structures
A ducted combustion system is disclosed. The ducted combustion system includes a combustion chamber bound by a flame deck surface of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and by a piston top surface of a piston disposed within the internal combustion engine. The system includes a fuel injector including a plurality of orifices, the plurality of orifices injecting fuel into the combustion chamber as a plurality of fuel jets. The system includes a duct structure defining a plurality of ducts and disposed within the combustion chamber between the flame deck surface and the piston top surface, the plurality of ducts being disposed such that each of the plurality of fuel jets at least partially enters one of the plurality of ducts upon being injected into the combustion chamber. |
| US09803536B2 |
Auxiliary chamber type internal combustion engine
Auxiliary chamber type internal combustion engine has a main combustion chamber and an auxiliary chamber having an injection port through which the main combustion chamber communicates. The auxiliary chamber has a passage sectional area which is smoothly decreased toward the injection port. Further, the engine has a fuel injector injecting a fuel into the auxiliary chamber; an ignition plug igniting the fuel in the auxiliary chamber; and a swirl generating portion swirling a gas in the auxiliary chamber. The swirl generating portion swirls only the gas flowing into the auxiliary chamber from the main combustion chamber. |
| US09803533B2 |
Tractor with exhaust gas treatment unit
A tractor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, a hood that covers an engine, and an exhaust gas treatment unit. The exhaust gas treatment unit is placed laterally outside right or left side of the hood and behind the front wheel, and purifies exhaust gas from the engine. A circular cylindrical heat shielding plate covers an outer circumferential surface of the exhaust gas treatment unit. A plurality of vent holes are formed in a rear surface of the heat shielding plate, and are not formed in a region that lies on a front surface of the heat shielding plate and faces the front wheel. |
| US09803532B2 |
Predictive control of ammonia storage in a selective catalytic reduction device using connectivity information
A method for controlling a selective catalytic reduction device in an exhaust aftertreatment system of a vehicle includes monitoring vehicle connectivity information, and controlling ammonia storage in the selective catalytic reduction device based on the monitored vehicle connectivity information. Vehicle connectivity information is used to predict vehicle operating conditions along an estimated path of vehicle travel. The predicted vehicle operating conditions are used to predict profiles for vehicle exhaust gas parameters. Predicted profiles for exhaust gas parameters are used in determining ammonia storage setpoints for the selective catalytic reduction device. The ammonia storage setpoints are use in regulating an amount of ammonia producing dosing agent injected into the exhaust aftertreatment system, thereby controlling ammonia storage in the selective catalytic reduction device. |
| US09803526B2 |
Exhaust treatment apparatus and method
The present invention relates to an exhaust treatment apparatus (1) for an internal combustion engine (5). The apparatus includes a catalyst chamber (15) containing a catalyst (35). One or more exhaust gas inlets (11 A-D) are provided for supplying exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine (5) to the catalyst chamber (C). An exhaust gas outlet (21) for supplying exhaust gases from the catalyst chamber to a turbocharger (25). An injection nozzle (19) is provided for introducing a reductant (23) into the exhaust gases between the catalyst (15) and the turbocharger (25). The reductant (23) and the exhaust gases can undergo mixing as they pass through the turbocharger (25). The catalyst (15) can have a three-dimensional open structure to facilitate the flow of exhaust gases. The invention also relates to a method of treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine (5). |
| US09803525B2 |
Exhaust purification device and method of calculating NOx mass adsorbed in lean NOx trap of exhaust purification device
A method of calculating a nitrogen oxide (NOx) mass adsorbed in a lean NOx trap (LNT) of an exhaust purification device includes calculating a NOx mass flow stored in the LNT, calculating a NOx mass flow thermally released from the LNT, calculating a NOx mass flow released from the LNT at the rich air/fuel ratio, calculating a NOx mass flow chemically reacting with the reductant at the LNT, and integrating a value obtained by subtracting the NOx mass flow thermally released from the LNT, the NOx mass flow released from the LNT at the rich air/fuel ratio, and the NOx mass flow chemically reacting with the reductant at the LNT from the NOx mass flow stored in the LNT. |
| US09803520B2 |
Multi-mode variable cam timing phaser
A variable camshaft timing device can operate using pressure generated by camshaft torque energy to transfer fluid from one working chamber to another work chamber or operate via an external fluid pressure source to fill one working chamber while simultaneously exhausting an opposing working chamber or operate using both modes simultaneously. The mode of the variable camshaft timing device is determined by the position of the control valve. The lock pin is controlled by fluid from one of the working chambers. |
| US09803518B2 |
Hydraulic lash adjuster
In a lash adjuster used for a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine, there is known a lash adjuster constituted by inserting a cylindrical sleeve into a plunger cap for preventing air from entering a high-pressure chamber located at a lower portion of the lash adjuster. However, in the conventional lash adjuster, since the plunger cap is formed with two side holes which are different in height in the axial direction of the plunger cap, it becomes complicated to regulate the side surface the plunger cap which corresponds to a sliding surface. Therefore, it is problems to be solved by the present invention to provide a lash adjuster in which the side surface of the plunger cap can be easily regulated without disturbing the inflow and outflow of oil and whose machining cost can be kept low.The above problems can be solved by a hydraulic lash adjuster in which two or more cap side holes 27c are provided and all of them are disposed in a plane perpendicular to a shaft center of the body 21. |
| US09803516B2 |
System and method for preventing rotation of valve lifter
An internal combustion engine having a valve lifter assembly is disclosed. The internal combustion engine comprising an engine head having at least two wells adapted to receive at least one valve lifter, the at least one valve lifter includes a flat surface, at least one spacer installed within the engine head having a first surface, a hollow portion, and a second surface, the first surface is tapered with respect to a vertical axis of the at least one spacer, and a tie-bar plate for coupling the at least one spacer using head bolts. The at least one spacer and the at least one valve lifter are operatively arranged during operation in such a way that the flat surface of the at least one valve lifter faces the first surface of the at least one spacer to prevent rotation of the at least one valve lifter. |
| US09803511B2 |
Power generation using independent dual organic rankine cycles from waste heat systems in diesel hydrotreating-hydrocracking and atmospheric distillation-naphtha hydrotreating-aromatics facilities
Optimizing power generation from waste heat in large industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries by utilizing a subset of all available hot source streams selected based, in part, on considerations for example, capital cost, ease of operation, economics of scale power generation, a number of ORC machines to be operated, operating conditions of each ORC machine, combinations of them, or other considerations are described. Subsets of hot sources that are optimized to provide waste heat to one or more ORC machines for power generation are also described. Further, recognizing that the utilization of waste heat from all available hot sources in a mega-site such as a petroleum refinery and aromatics complex is not necessarily or not always the best option, hot source units in petroleum refineries from which waste heat can be consolidated to power the one or more ORC machines are identified. |
| US09803508B2 |
Power generation from waste heat in integrated crude oil diesel hydrotreating and aromatics facilities
A power generation system includes two heating fluid circuits coupled to multiple heat sources from multiple sub-units of a petrochemical refining system. The sub-units include an integrated diesel hydro-treating plant and aromatics plant. A first subset and a second subset of the heat sources includes diesel hydro-treating plant heat exchangers coupled to streams in the diesel hydro-treating plant and aromatics plant heat exchangers coupled to streams in the aromatics plant, respectively. A power generation system includes an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) including a working fluid that is thermally coupled to the two heating fluid circuits to heat the working fluid, and an expander to generate electrical power from the heated working fluid. The system includes a control system to activate a set of control valves to selectively thermally couple each heating fluid circuit to at least a portion of the heat sources. |
| US09803506B2 |
Power generation from waste heat in integrated crude oil hydrocracking and aromatics facilities
A power generation system includes two heating fluid circuits coupled to multiple heat sources from multiple sub-units of a petrochemical refining system. The sub-units include an integrated hydrocracking plant and aromatics plant. A first subset and a second subset of the heat sources includes diesel hydro-treating plant heat exchangers coupled to streams in the diesel hydro-treating plant and aromatics plant heat exchangers coupled to streams in the aromatics plant, respectively. A power generation system includes an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) including a working fluid that is thermally coupled to the two heating fluid circuits to heat the working fluid, and an expander to generate electrical power from the heated working fluid. The system includes a control system to activate a set of control valves to selectively thermally couple each heating fluid circuit to at least a portion of the heat sources. |
| US09803504B2 |
Steam turbine
A steam turbine includes a boiler unit, first supply pipes, a second supply pipe, a plurality of valve units, a drain valve unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to control, before rotation of the turbine starts, an operation time and temperature of the auxiliary boiler so that the temperatures of the high-pressure turbine and the intermediate-pressure turbine are increased to the first setting temperature. The controller is configured to control, when the temperatures of the high-pressure turbine and the intermediate-pressure turbine are maintained at the first setting temperature, operation of the main boiler such that the temperature of the intermediate-pressure turbine reaches a second setting temperature while operation of the auxiliary boiler is interrupted, and control, when the temperature of the intermediate-pressure turbine is maintained at the second setting temperature, the operation of the main boiler such that steam is supplied only to the high-pressure turbine. |
| US09803498B2 |
One-piece fuel nozzle for a thrust engine
A nozzle formed of one piece for a jet engine includes a mixing tube, a fuel conduit integrally formed with the mixing tube, and an opening through the fuel conduit and directed radially into the mixing tube. |
| US09803497B2 |
Turbine engine stator wall covered in an abradable coating
An annular turbine engine stator portion including a structural support provided in succession with a bonding underlayer and with an abradable coating formed by a resin filled with microbeads, the bonding underlayer for fastening the abradable coating to the structural support being formed by fiber reinforcement made of long fibers having a peripheral portion of the reinforcement that is secured to the structural support and having a central portion thereof that is impregnated with the resin filled with microbeads while the abradable coating is being fastened to the structural support. |
| US09803495B2 |
Assembly
A bladed rotor assembly includes a bladed rotor and a rotor housing. The bladed rotor has a plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential array around an axis of rotation, and the rotor housing encircles the bladed rotor and has a radially inwardly facing surface. Each of the blades comprises a first, radially extending, edge, a second opposite, radially extending, edge, and a radially distal edge. The radially distal edge has a first end, a second end, and a center portion, with the first end adjoining the first, radially extending, edge, and the second end adjoining the second, radially extending, edge. A clearance between the radially distal edge and the radially inwardly facing surface is a first clearance at the first end, and decreases to a second clearance across the center portion. |
| US09803488B2 |
Turbine vane cooling arrangement
A vane includes a pair of airfoils that have a plurality of film cooling holes that extend through an exterior surface of the airfoils. Each plurality of film cooling holes break through the exterior surface at geometric coordinates in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z as set forth in Table 1. Each geometric coordinates is measured from a reference point on a leading edge rail of a platform of the vane. |
| US09803483B2 |
Rotor blade with edge protection
The invention relates to sheath for a blade that has a uniform assembly direction over the radial height of the sheath whether the blade has a straight or curved trajectory. This is achieved by the a sheath formed around the edge, having a first inner surface wherein a first tangential vector projected tangentially to the first inner surface in a direction away from the head portion in an longitudinal plain forms a first angle with the rotational axis that does not vary over the radial height of the sheath while a second tangential vector projected tangentially from any point of the second inner surface of the sheath in a direction towards the head portion intersects the first tangential vector. |
| US09803481B2 |
Reduced vibratory response rotor for a gas powered turbine
A rotor for a turbomachine includes a rim defining a base of a rotor, an airfoil shaped blade extending from said rim and defining a chord line and a bore extending from said rim opposite said airfoil shaped blade. The rim further includes at least one rail extending away from said airfoil shaped blade. |
| US09803479B2 |
End ring degradation pick support
In such fields as road milling, mining and trenching it is often desirable to engage and degrade tough materials such as asphalt, concrete and rock. To do so, degradation picks comprising hardened tips may be secured to an exterior of a rotatable drum so as to be repeatedly brought into contact with a surface of a material to be degraded. To secure such degradation picks to the rotatable drum, a toroidal body comprising an interior surface rigidly attachable to the rotatable body and an exterior surface comprising a plurality of bore holes disposed there around may receive a plurality of degradation picks secured within the bore holes. |
| US09803475B2 |
System and method for integrated wellbore stress, stability and strengthening analyses
Systems and methods for an integrated wellbore stress, stability and strengthening analysis are disclosed. An integrated geomechanical tool can be used to analyze and evaluate stress along the length of the wellbore to identify a safe drilling mud weight window and help identify troublesome zones in the wellbore. Fracture length may then be predicted in the identified troublesome zones by using a stress tensor calculated during the stress analysis. The calculated fracture length may be used to perform a strengthening analysis. After performing strengthening analysis, mud loss may be predicted based on predicted fracture size calculated during the stress, stability and strengthening analyzes. |
| US09803472B2 |
Systems and methods for self configuration of remote terminal units
A remote terminal unit (RTU) may control one or more operations a well device associated with a hydrocarbon well. The RTU may include a processor that sends one or more attributes regarding the RTU, the well device, the hydrocarbon well, or any combination thereof to a cloud-based computing system. The processor may then send model data including one or more instructions regarding cloud services to be performed by the cloud-based computing system based on data provided to the cloud-based computing system from the RTU. The processor may then send a request to perform one or more control actions for the operations of the well device to the cloud-based computing system, control the operations of the well device based on the control actions when an approval of the request is received from the cloud-based computing system, and send the data to the cloud-based computing system. |
| US09803470B2 |
Multi-use data processing circuitry for well monitoring
A circuit for processing data associated with a well may include a power port that receives an input voltage and a processor. The processor may receive data associated with one or more properties of the well and a well device configured to control a flow of hydrocarbons extracted from the well. The processor may also receive a value that corresponds to the input voltage. The processor may then operate in a first power mode when the value is not greater than a threshold, such that the first power mode may limit one or more processes performed by the processor to conserve power. |
| US09803468B2 |
Wellbore caliper with maximum diameter seeking feature
A wellbore caliper includes an actuator housing pivotally connected at one end to a well logging instrument housing and an actuator disposed in the housing and operable to extend and retract laterally extensible measuring arms. |
| US09803467B2 |
Well screen-out prediction and prevention
A method of monitoring an energy industry operation includes: collecting measurement data in real time during an energy industry operation; automatically analyzing the measurement data by a processor, wherein analyzing includes generating a measurement data pattern indicating the values of a parameter as a function of depth or time; automatically comparing the measurement data pattern to a reference data pattern generated based on historical data relating to a previously performed operation having a characteristic common to the operation; predicting whether an undesirable condition will occur during the operation based on the comparison; and based on the processor predicting that the undesirable condition will occur, estimating a time at which the undesirable condition is predicted to occur, and automatically performing a remedial action to prevent the undesirable condition from occurring. |
| US09803465B2 |
Pressure integrity testing system
An annular barrier system for proving a testable annular barrier arranged between a first metal casing or borehole and a second metal casing. The annular barrier system has a first annular barrier and a second annular barrier, each barrier including a tubular part made of metal extending in a longitudinal direction for mounting as part of the second metal casing, an expandable metal sleeve surrounding and connected with the tubular part and defining an annular barrier space, and a first fluid passage in the tubular part for letting fluid into the annular barrier space to expand the sleeve. The annular barrier system further includes a sensor, and when the expandable sleeves are expanded to abut the first metal casing or borehole, a first annular space is at least partly defined between the annular barriers. The sensor is arranged to determine a condition of the annular space in order to test the isolation ability of at least one of the annular barriers. |
| US09803464B2 |
Multi-sensor workflow for evaluation of water flow in multiple casing strings
A distance of a water flow path and a velocity of the water flow is calculated using pulsed neutron data and noise data. The two distance and velocity values are compared with each other to obtain a first calculated distance and a first calculated velocity. The distance of the water flow path and the velocity of the water flow are calculated using Doppler data. The distance and velocity values are compared with the first calculated distance and first calculated velocity to obtain a second calculated distance and velocity values. The distance of the water flow path and the velocity of the water flow are calculated using temperature data. The distance and velocity values are compared with the second calculated distance and velocity to determine a distance of a cement interface and a velocity of a water flow in the cement interface. |
| US09803463B2 |
Arrangement and method for monitoring of annulus volume
The present description is related to integrity monitoring of an annulus volume in a pipe. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to an arrangement and a method for determination of annulus free volume of a pipe. The monitoring can as an example be performed by use of a logical unit which controls the annulus testing by use of diffusion or gas feed, and also give input to calculation of the pipe's remaining lifetime. Further, the arrangement can as an example save and present results, allow for user specified settings and set off alarms it critical values are detected. |
| US09803462B2 |
Reducing axial wave reflections and identifying sticking in wireline cables
Techniques for axial vibration control of wireline tools and cables during logging operations. In undesirable cases the axial vibrations may lead to or exasperate the stick-slip problems of the logging tool. Control systems and strategies to minimize vibrations and techniques for identifying and inhibiting the sticking of the cable. A system includes a surface actuator and a sensor. The actuator generates an axial wave on the wireline cable which travels down the cable. If there is sticking of the cable, a reflection can also occur at the location of sticking. This shift in the transmission of the wave on the wireline cable is used to identify the onset and/or presence of sticking. |
| US09803461B2 |
Rig fuel management systems and methods
Systems and methods for managing fuel and electrical power supplied to a drilling rig during all phases of a drilling operation. The system includes a power source in electrical communication with the drilling rig, and an engine management module operatively associated with the power source and configured to monitor power consumption of the drilling rig and recommend methods to manage energy provided thereto. |
| US09803457B2 |
System and method for delivering treatment fluid
The current application aims at methods and systems for preparing a pump-ready treatment fluid, delivering the pump-ready treatment fluid to a location operationally coupled to a wellsite, providing the pump-ready treatment fluid to a pump; and pumping the pump-ready treatment fluid into a wellbore. In some embodiments, the treatment fluid is a fracturing fluid for conducting a hydraulic fracturing operation on a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. |
| US09803453B2 |
Apparatus for enhanced resonant over-pressured well fracturing
An apparatus for generating of vibrations for enhancing of forming at least one fracture having a required width r and length L in the formation surrounding a wellbore in the regime of resonance by means of applying vibrations to the formation which is undergoing pressurizing exceeding the fracture gradient pressure of the formation. |
| US09803452B2 |
Fluorous additives for use in a fluorous-based treatment fluid
A treatment fluid comprises: a liquid fluorinated compound; and at least one additive, wherein the additive: (A) comprises carbon and at least one fluorine functional group; and (B) is soluble or dispersible in the liquid fluorinated compound. A method of treating a portion of a well comprises: forming the treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into the well. |
| US09803451B2 |
Methods of designing and forming earth boring tools using a plurality of depth of cut values
Methods of designing an earth-boring tool are described, including calculating one or more performance parameters of the tool based on drilling conditions, a plurality of depth of cut values, and a set of values of other design variables. Methods of enhancing a performance parameter in the design of an earth-boring tool are also described, including calculating the performance parameter based at least partially on a plurality of depth of cut values and a first set of values of other design variables, calculating the performance parameter based at least partially on a second set of values of the other design variables different than the first set, and comparing the calculated performance parameters to determine which of the first and the second set is closer to a target range or value across a range of the plurality of depths of cut. Related methods of forming an earth-boring tool are also described. |
| US09803448B2 |
SIL rated system for blowout preventer control
A control system for a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) positioned in a lower stack, the lower stack releasably engaged with a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The control system includes a surface logic solver positioned at or adjacent the surface of the sea that generates commands for operating the subsea BOP, a first subsea logic solver attached to the LMRP and in communication with the surface logic solver so that the first subsea logic solver receives the commands from the surface logic solver, and a second subsea logic solver attached to a hydraulic control unit in the lower stack. The second subsea logic solver is in hydraulic communication with the subsea BOP, and the first subsea logic solver so that the second subsea logic solver receives the commands from the first subsea logic solver and implements the commands by activating the hydraulic control unit to operate the BOP. |
| US09803447B2 |
Asymmetrical button for ram-type blowout preventers
An asymmetrical ram button is provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a blowout preventer including such a button. Particularly, the blowout preventer may include an actuation assembly having the asymmetric ram button attached to a connecting rod coupled to a piston. The asymmetric body of the button can engage an internal shoulder of the ram such that a retraction force on the actuation assembly causes the asymmetrical ram button to load against the internal shoulder. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09803446B2 |
Lockdown mechanism and lockdown system for wellhead connector
A mechanical lockdown system for a subsea wellhead connector includes a lockdown member or plate that engages with a tie rod that is connected to the wellhead assembly. The lockdown system includes a support member that is permanently secured to an annular ring through which the tie rod passes. The lockdown system also includes a first handle and a second handle that are installed using a plunger or spring loaded system such that mechanical lockdown system can be easily moved from a lockdown open position to a lockdown engaged position as and when desired with minimal ROV interface. |
| US09803445B2 |
System and method to seal multiple control lines
A system in some embodiments includes sealing system including an energizing member that simultaneously seats a plurality of sealing elements about a plurality of control lines, respectively. Further embodiments provide a method including disposing a plurality of sealing elements about a plurality of control lines, respectively, and fastening an energizing member to simultaneously seat each of the sealing elements. |
| US09803442B2 |
Method employing pressure transients in hydrocarbon recovery operations
A method to induce pressure transients in fluids for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations by inducing the pressure transients in a fluid by a collision process. The collision process employs a moving object (103,203,303,403) that collides outside the fluid with a body (102,202,302,402) that is in contact with the fluid inside a partly enclosed space (101,201,301,401). Furthermore, the pressure transients must be allowed to propagate in the fluid. The fluid may be one or more of the following group: primarily water, consolidation fluid, treatment fluid, cleaning fluid, drilling fluid, fracturing fluid and cement. |
| US09803441B2 |
Seated hammer apparatus for core sampling
A retrievable core sampling assembly for latching to or relative to a rotatable tubular housing of a core sampling apparatus to allow the capture and retrieval of a core from a subterranean formation, the assembly comprising or including: a core catcher barrel for a core, the barrel being rotationally isolated from the tubular housing and cooperable with a core taking bit coupled to the rotatable tubular housing to retain a core, and a hammer for providing impact to the core taking bit along a longitudinal impact path that is or is substantially decoupled from the core catcher barrel so that when latched, rotation and impact of the core taking bit captures and passes core material from the formation to the core catcher barrel in manner that isolates a core in the core catcher barrel from rotation and impact forces. |
| US09803438B2 |
Expandable bullnose assembly for use with a wellbore deflector
A method includes introducing a bullnose assembly into a main bore of a wellbore, the bullnose assembly including a body and a bullnose tip actuatable between a default configuration, where a collet body forming part of the bullnose tip exhibits a first diameter, and an actuated configuration, where the collet body exhibits a second diameter different than the first diameter. The bullnose assembly is then advanced to a deflector arranged within the main bore and defining a first channel that exhibits a predetermined diameter and communicates with a lower portion of the main bore, and a second channel that communicates with a lateral bore. The bullnose assembly is then directed into either the lower portion of the main bore or the lateral bore based on a diameter of the collet body as compared to the predetermined diameter. |
| US09803436B2 |
Integrated casing drive
An integrated casing drive system combines a top drive having a rotary drive portion, a pipe handler having a casing gripper wherein the pipe handler is rotationally mounted to the top drive, and a selectively actuable casing drive lock for locking the rotary drive portion to the pipe handler. |
| US09803433B2 |
Dual member pipe joint for a dual member drill string
A dual member drill string having a plurality of dual member drill string sections for use in horizontal directional drilling operations. Each drill string section having an outer member and an inner member that is rotatable independently of the outer member. The outer member has a pin end and a box end. The inner member has a pin end disposed within the pin end of the outer member and a box end disposed within the box end of the outer member. |
| US09803432B2 |
Roller device
A roller device for incorporation into a wireline tool string for use in an oil or gas well has a body with rollers comprising captive bearings arranged on the outer surface of the body to rotate around more than one axis relative to the body, and wherein the rollers are arranged in at least one or more helix around the body. Each helix completes at least one full circumferential turn around the body. The rollers circumferentially overlap one another on the body, so that when the body engages the inner wall of the wellbore, the entire circumference of the body is supported by at least one roller. |
| US09803429B2 |
Extendable connection of electronic components
The present disclosure introduces methods and apparatus for connecting first and second downhole components. A first interface of a first subassembly is coupled to a first component. The first subassembly includes a first connector. A second interface of a second subassembly is coupled to a second component. The second subassembly includes a body and a second connector extendable from the body. The second connector remains communicably connected to the second interface by a conductor extendable from and retractable into the body, including when the second connector is extended away from the body and coupled to the first connector. |
| US09803427B1 |
Systems and methods for mounting a cutter in a drill bit
Rotary drill bits may include on or more cutting element assemblies which include a cutter and a mounting system. In one embodiment, the mounting system includes a housing, a first bearing component disposed within the housing, and a second bearing component associated with the cutting element. In certain embodiments, the bearing components may comprise a table of superhard material bonded with a substrate. In one or more embodiments, the bearing components may include bearing surfaces that are arcuate. For example, the bearing surfaces may be substantially spherical (a portion of a sphere). The bearing components may be arranged to act as a radial bearing as well as a thrust bearing for the cutting element, enabling the cutting element to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the cutter, relative to the housing, while also enabling the longitudinal axis of the cutter to be displaced (change angles) relative to the housing. |
| US09803426B2 |
Flex joint for downhole drilling applications
A technique facilitates drilling applications by providing a unique flex joint. In one embodiment, the flex joint has an adjustable bending stiffness while being much more compact than conventional flex joints. The flex joint also may be designed to de-couple bending moments from the tool joints and, in some applications, can operate as an active vibration and shock control sub by incorporating suitable sensors and a hydraulic actuator system. The design also enables incorporation of other features, such as electrical insulation features disposed above and/or below the flex joint. In some applications, the flex joint also may have an electrical feed through. |
| US09803420B2 |
Closing element for roller shutter and movable wall for roller shutter comprising the closing element
A closing element for roller shutters comprising a central portion designed to be arranged, in use, according to a closing plane of an access opening of a room to at least partly close the access opening, and at least two connecting portions located on opposite edges of the central portion, each of which designed for connection of the closing element with at least one other closing element. Each connecting portion extends about a respective axis and defines a cavity for housing a connecting bar. The connecting portion has an open profile so that the cavity is accessible transversely to the axis. |
| US09803418B2 |
Drop-down seal and building part
The invention relates to a drop-down seal for a building part comprising a housing (1), a sealing strip (2, 3) that can be raised and lowered in said housing (1), and a spring-loaded lowering mechanism (8), which causes automatic lowering of the sealing strip (2, 3) when the building part is closed. The lowering mechanism (8) is connected to a slide (4, 6), which protrudes beyond the housing (1) at one end and which activates the lowering mechanism (8) when the building part is closed. The slide (4, 5) applies a tension to the lowering mechanism (8). The drop-down seal according to the invention enables a one-sided triggering in tension, wherein the seal has a space-saving design. |
| US09803405B2 |
Adjustable snap-acting hinge
An adjustable snap-acting hinge is provided. The hinge includes a first articulated quadrilateral and a second articulated quadrilateral, which can move on a working plane and share a first lever and a second lever and are provided respectively with a plate for coupling to a first element and with a plate for fixing to a second element. A contrast element is associated with the coupling plate and can be arranged in at least one position for use, which lies between a first position in which the contrast element is arranged at a maximum distance from the point of the first lever, and a second position in which the contrast element is arranged at a minimum distance from the point of the first lever. The hinge also includes locking means for keeping the contrast element in the position for use. |
| US09803402B2 |
Vehicular handle device
A vehicular handle device includes: a handle base fixed to a vehicle and holding an operating handle; and a shaft component inserted into and attached to a bearing portion provided in the handle base. The shaft component is retained in the bearing portion while being restrained from moving in a slipping-out direction by a cantilever-shaped elastic piece formed on the handle base and configured to be elastically deformed to allow passage of the shaft component. The handle base is provided with a stopper protrusion portion which limits an elastic deformation range of the elastic piece by letting a free end portion of the elastic piece abut on a stopper surface. |
| US09803400B1 |
Springless ball and clutch locking mechanism
The invention relating to a locking mechanism is provided herein. The invention is composed of a pin adapted with a circumferential pin notch; a lock housing; a chamber with a chamber pin slot for receiving the pin and adapted to mate with the lock housing; a set of a given number of uniformly dimensioned ball bearings; a bearing housing adapted to fit inside the chamber, adapted to contain the ball bearings while enabling horizontal movement of the ball bearings and restraining vertical movement of the ball bearings, and adapted with a bearing housing pin slot for receiving the pin. When the pin is inserted into the chamber pin slot, the pin applies horizontal force to the ball bearings, which in turn deform the inside of the chamber. The ball bearings seat in the circumferential pin notch, locking the pin in place. |
| US09803399B2 |
Thermoplastic security seal with covered locking recess
A security seal includes a molded one piece body and a cover disc. The body has a cylindrical chamber for receiving the disc. A locking recess is formed in the body in communication with the chamber and defined in part by a locking shoulder. The cover is secured to the body in the chamber to enclose the locking recess. The disc is separated from the body when enclosing the chamber. A rotatable arm is attached to an extension member extending from the body via a hinge. The free end of the arm has an arrow shaped locking element attached that engages the recess locking shoulder when inserted into the recess. The locking element has a resilient tang member that is compressed by the locking shoulder and which tang member returns to its acquiescent state when fully inserted into the recess thereby locking the tang member in the recess. The cover has posts that extend through mating bores in the body, the protruding ends of the posts are deformed to preclude withdrawal of the posts from the bores to thereby lock the cover to the body. |
| US09803396B2 |
Dual action gravity latch
A dual action gravity latch device to secure a gate in a closed position comprising a latch assembly including a pivotal latch member movable between a latched and unlatched position, a keeper assembly including a striker pin to maintain the pivotal latch member in the latched position, a first and second actuator assembly each movable between a first configuration and a second configuration disposed on opposite sides of the gate to selectively engage the pivotal latch member such that when the second actuator assembly is in the first configuration and the first actuator assembly in the second configuration the pivotal latch member is in the unlatched position to allow the gate to be opened and when the first actuator assembly is in the first configuration and the second actuator assembly is in the second configuration the pivotal latch member is in unlatched position to allow the gate to be opened. |
| US09803393B2 |
Electrical mechanical locking device
An electrical mechanical locking device. A lock has an outer shell with an indentation. An inner body is rotatably housed within the outer shell. A contact pin is connected to the inner body. A printed circuit board frame is rigidly connected to the inner body. A printed circuit board is attached to the printed circuit board frame. A driver arm support bracket is rigidly connected to the printed circuit board frame. A lock microprocessor is connected to the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the contact pin. The lock microprocessor is connected to a key identification code verification database. An electrical actuator is electrically connected to the lock microprocessor. A driver arm is pivotally connected to the driver arm support bracket. The electrical actuator is connected to the driver arm. A jam plate is connected to the driver arm. A jam plate return spring is connected to the jam plate and the printed circuit board frame. A locking pin is covered by the jam plate and inserted into the outer shell indentation when the electrical mechanical device is locked. When the electrical mechanical device is unlocked the locking pin is not covered by the jam plate and rises clear of the indentation. A powered key includes a key microprocessor. A battery power source is electrically connected to the key microprocessor. The key microprocessor has access to key database that includes a programmable key identification code for identifying the key. The key also includes a contact tip for insertion into the lock and for making electrical contact with the lock contact pin. In a preferred embodiment the electrical actuator is a nitinol wire. |
| US09803391B2 |
Vehicle unlocking systems and methods
Example vehicle unlocking systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method detects a vehicle access device within a predetermined distance of a vehicle and determines a geographic location of the vehicle. The method also detects a time of day and determines previous door unlocking behavior associated with the vehicle access device. A vehicle access point is selected for unlocking based on the geographic location, time of day, and previous door unlocking behavior. |
| US09803389B2 |
Handle tray for fascia panel of an appliance
A domestic appliance for treating items may include a cabinet having a plurality of walls at least partly defining an interior chamber for treating items; a door assembly to enclose the interior chamber; a fascia panel attached to the door assembly, the fascia panel having a handle shell that at least partly defines a handle recess on the fascia panel, and the fascia panel having at least one fascia panel rib formed on an interior surface of the fascia panel opposite the handle shell; a handle tray having a main body and at least one finger extending from the main body, the at least one finger structured to be positioned adjacent to the at least one fascia panel rib. |
| US09803387B2 |
Pneumatic tent, especially star-shaped canopy tent
A pneumatic tent (1) with at least one pole (2) extending in final assembly position vertically from the mounting surface (8) and a dome-shaped tent cover (3) extending over the self-supporting pole (2) which is locked and tensioned with locking means (4) in relation to the mounting surface (8), wherein the pole (2) containing a pressurized filling gas is constructed as single or multiple layered and includes a controllable or adjustable illumination device (5) that is placed inside the pole (2). |
| US09803384B2 |
Safety barrier netting system
A system for substantially enclosing the periphery of a building top with a netting system which is easily and efficiently movable or reconfigurable during the building construction process comprises a lightweight netting system for extending above a completed work area or floor, a strong lightweight structural support system for the netting, wherein the structural support system is vertically adjustable via slidable engagement with brackets attached to the floors which are already completed, provides enhanced safety for workers and for pedestrians below by preventing passage of workers or debris through the netting and enhances efficiency of construction by providing an easily reconfigurable, inexpensive and lightweight system for providing such enhanced safety. |
| US09803381B1 |
Ramp and/or platform assembly
A support assembly suitable for use in a modular ramp and platform assembly is disclosed. Additionally, an interface between components of the platform assembly, including, for example, the interface between the ramp section and the deck or platform section is provided, and may include support flanges that operatively interact with one or more slots positioned on the platform section. |
| US09803379B2 |
Vibration damping floor system
A floor is disclosed having an upper contact surface disposed atop an upper subfloor, the upper subfloor having a void with a height that is defined by opposing sidewalls of the first subfloor, a top that is defined by a bottom surface of the upper contact surface, a bottom that is defined by a top surface of a lower subfloor, a width, and a length. A first resilient pad is disposed under compression within the void of the upper subfloor. The lower subfloor is disposed beneath and in contact with the upper subfloor. The lower subfloor has a void that is laterally offset from the void of the upper subfloor and a second resilient pad disposed within the void. A plurality of removable force transfer members are disposed within the void of the lower subfloor and above the second resilient pad for transferring vibrational forces and downward vertical forces to the second resilient pad. |
| US09803377B2 |
Height and slope adjustable pedestal
An elevating leveling pedestal having a base rotatably attached to a first coupling end to collectively create a height adjustment mechanism, a second coupling end non-rotatably attached to a first end of a non-threaded midsection of predetermined length with a second end non-rotatably attached to a head assembly to support, secure, and level a surface installed over a non-sloping or sloping sub-surface. Another embodiment comprising a height and slope adjustable pedestal that has its tilting mechanism on the bottom of the pedestal allowing the pedestal column to remain vertical and not skewed made using a single length of unthreaded piping, the rotatable device base having minimal surface threading, and the device base able to be locked in a zero or non-zero slope for supporting a structure above a fixed surface, and the method of using such a device. |
| US09803375B2 |
Mechanical locking system for panels and method of installing same
Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system including a flexible locking element in a locking groove which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically. |
| US09803374B2 |
Mechanical locking system for floor panels
Floor panels (1, 1′) are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system that may be locked with a vertical displacement of a first panel against a second panel. The locking system includes a flexible strip (6) that during locking bends upwardly or downwardly. The locking system includes a first (7a) and a second (7b) joint edge section with different locking functions. One section provides a horizontal locking and another section provides a vertical locking. |
| US09803372B2 |
Non-sequentially installed dry joint wall panel system
A wall panel system for attachment to a building surface includes a plurality of generally vertical supports, and a plurality of generally horizontal mounting rails interconnected with the vertical supports to define a panel mounting gridwork. The horizontal mounting rails have an upper mounting feature and a lower mounting feature, on a side opposite from the building surface. A plurality of panels each have a rear surface, an upper extrusion mounted to a top of the rear surface, and a lower extrusion mounted to a bottom of the rear surface. The upper extrusion mates with a corresponding lower mounting feature on the gridwork, and the lower extrusion mates with a corresponding upper mounting feature on the gridwork. The plurality of panels have a gap about a periphery thereof relative to any adjacent panels, whereby the panels can be non-sequentially mounted to the gridwork. |
| US09803368B1 |
Methods and systems of preparing and installing custom-made spiral staircases
Described herein are systems and methods of manufacturing a spiral staircase assembly for custom projects. A method may include coupling a plurality of stairs to a center column such that distances between adjacent stairs of the plurality of stairs deviates less than ½″ to meet code. A method may further include cutting the center column after coupling the plurality of stairs to the center column to form a first center column and a second center column. A method may further include welding a female column coupling to a first end of the first center column and welding a male column coupling to a first end of the second center column. The male column coupling is configured to couple to the female column coupling such that when the male column coupling is coupled to the female column coupling, distances between adjacent stairs of the plurality of stairs deviates less than ½″. |
| US09803366B2 |
Masonry reinforcement, dispenser for stripe-type masonry reinforcement, method to reinforce a masonry and method to produce a reinforcement stripe
The invention is related to a masonry reinforcement and to a dispenser therefore. The masonry reinforcement comprises a reinforcement strip that defines a strip plane and that is at least in one direction bendable. In the reinforcement strip multiple strip apertures are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the strip, each strip aperture comprising an aperture rim at the aperture rim or in the range of the aperture rim of some or all of the strip apertures rim serration members are arranged. The rim serration members are orientated inwardly. They can protrude out of the strip plane of the reinforcement strip in at least one direction. |
| US09803364B2 |
Light steel roof truss with structure of double continuous beam
A light steel roof truss with a structure of a double continuous beam includes structural beams (1) and structural columns (2). The structural beam (1) consists of a pair of continuous beams, and the structural column (2) is located between the two continuous beams through locating holes (4). Thereby the stability of a support structure of the roof truss is increased, and the supporting members of the roof truss can be connected conveniently. |
| US09803363B2 |
Building floor structure and process for forming same
A building floor structure and a process for constructing the building floor structure comprising two or more spaced-apart beams, each beam comprising an upwardly facing support surface on at least one side of the beam; and one or more frameworks positioned between and adjacent two of the two or more spaced-apart beams, each of the one or more frameworks having two side regions, each side region comprising a downwardly facing bearing surface adapted to be received on the upwardly facing support surface of the respective beam. |
| US09803362B2 |
Support framework for building casing, building casing, building structure and method for manufacturing thereof
A support framework (101) for building casings (200) using pultruded uprights, a building casing (200) and a building structure (300). A process for realizing and installation of the building structure (300), as well as manufacturing processes of the various components of the framework. |
| US09803360B2 |
Selectively adjustable architectural wall
Apparatus, systems, and methods for constructing and installing architectural walls that are secured to a floor and/or a ceiling and that that include an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may allow the architectural wall to be selectively adjusted horizontally relative to the floor and/or ceiling so that a vertical positioning of the wall may be achieved. The adjustment mechanism may also allow the architectural wall to fit securely to a floor and/or ceiling. |
| US09803358B2 |
Structural subfloor product and method of manufacturing same
A flooring product includes a first oriented strand board layer, an acoustic barrier layer, and a second oriented strand board layer, where the acoustic barrier layer is secured between the first and second oriented strand board layers to form the flooring product. The plurality of flooring products can be positioned adjacently to comprise a complete flooring assembly. Such a flooring assembly can be facilitated by including features along edges of the flooring product for securing or engaging one flooring product to adjacent flooring products. For example, the flooring product can be arranged with one edge as a tongue and an opposing edge as a groove, where the tongue of one flooring product can be fitted into the groove of an adjacent flooring product to secure or engage the two flooring products together. In another example, edges of the flooring products can be arranged to form lap joints upon engagement. |
| US09803349B2 |
Mechanical automatic urinal-toilet flusher and its mechanism thereof
This invention relates to a system for facilitating an automatic urinal toilet flushing comprising: a pipe (P) having an intermediate enlarged inner diameter area, said pipe comprising: first portion P1 having a first diameter d1; second portion P2 having a second diameter d2; a third portion P3 having a third diameter d3; wherein the first, the second and the third portions are sequential and the diameter d2 is greater than diameter d1 and diameter d3; a tapered forth portion P4 connecting the first portion P1 to the second portion P2; and a tapered fifth portion P5 connecting the second portion P2 to the third portion P3; a valve mechanism located within the pipe (P), the said valve mechanism comprising an inlet dual valve (1), an outlet dual valve (2) and a connecting rod connecting the inlet dual valve (1) and outlet dual valve (2); and an actuating mechanism that gets automatically actuated and upon actuation, operates the valve mechanism to perform a flushing operation. |
| US09803348B1 |
Electrically controlled flush
Various systems and methods are provided for electrically controlled flush applications. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an activation assembly configured to initiate a flush of a flush assembly based upon a position of the activation assembly. The activation assembly includes a position sensor that senses a transition from a neutral position to a first position and a restraint mechanism that prevents a return to the neutral position for a predefined period of time corresponding to the flush duration. In another embodiment, a flush activation assembly includes an activation control box with a position sensor that provides an indication that a cable anchor has transitioned from a neutral position to a first position to initiate a flush of the flush assembly and a restraint mechanism that prevents the cable anchor from returning to the neutral position in response to the indication from the position sensor. |
| US09803346B2 |
Passive fluid regulation system
The present invention provides a system for regulating fluid flow made up of a solenoid valve interposed on a fluid supply line; a light switch that controls a light; a transformer with a primary side and a secondary side, wherein the primary side is placed in intermediate electrical communication with the light switch and the light, wherein the secondary side is in electrical communication with the solenoid valve, and wherein the solenoid valve allows flow through the fluid supply line when the light switch is activated and prevents flow through the fluid supply line when the light switch is deactivated. |
| US09803341B2 |
Shovel management apparatus and shovel management method
A shovel management apparatus includes a temporary storing part and an abnormality information storing part. The temporary storing part temporarily stores detection information containing an operation input amount detected by an input amount detecting part of a shovel and physical amounts detected by a plurality of sensors in the shovel. The abnormality information storing part stores abnormality information. A controller performs an abnormality determination based on the detection information. The controller transfers, when an occurrence of an abnormality is determined at a first time, the detection information as the abnormality information, which is stored in a time period from a second time earlier than the first time to at least the first time, from the temporary storing part to the abnormality information storing part. |