Document Document Title
US09811169B2 Flexible array substrate, display panel having the same, keyboard assembly, and electronic device thereof
The present application discloses a flexible array substrate comprising a flexible display portion comprising a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines intersecting each other; a flexible circuit bonding portion abutting the flexible display portion for bonding circuit parts; and a plurality of first connection lines for transmitting first signals to the plurality of first signal lines. Each of the plurality of first connection lines connects with a corresponding first signal line, and extends from the flexible display portion to the flexible circuit bonding portion. Each of the plurality of first connection lines crosses over at least one other first signal line within the flexible display portion.
US09811168B2 Apparatus for performing gesture recognition and control based on ultrasonic positioning
An apparatus for performing gesture recognition and control based on ultrasonic positioning is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmitter module for providing an original ultrasonic signal; an ultrasonic receiver for receiving an reflected ultrasonic signal corresponding to the original ultrasonic signal; a computing module for computing a frequency shift within a time period from the original ultrasonic signal being transmitted to the reflected ultrasonic signal being received, and converting the frequency shift into a gesture characteristic signal; a gesture database for providing reference gesture characteristic signals, and control signals corresponding to the reference gesture characteristic signals respectively; and a gesture recognition and control module for comparing the gesture characteristic signal with the reference gesture characteristic signals in the gesture database, and selecting a corresponding control signal from the data base according to a comparison result.
US09811158B2 System and method for calibrating eye gaze data
A system and method are provided for calibrating an eye gaze tracking system. The method comprises obtaining gaze data; obtaining at least one key point corresponding to a portion of media content being displayed; linking the gaze data to the at least one key point; and generating one or more calibration parameters by comparing gaze data with associated ones of the at least one key point.
US09811157B2 Method for gaze tracking
A method for gaze tracking achieves high performances at the same time requiring both limited processor engagement and reduced power, so as to be particularly but not exclusively fit for mobile uses is described. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a digital video stream of a face through a camera, wherein eyes or pupils are identified in corresponding boxes in the spatial domain, the size thereof being function of the face position and orientation relative to said camera, the content of the boxes being the input for the further calculations; transferring the content of the boxes to the frequency domain; applying to the boxes transferred to the frequency domain one or more sparse zones, covering together a fraction of the boxed area transferred to the frequency domain, and a filtering kernel, at least partially overlapping the sparse zones; performing a multiplication between the frequency data within each sparse zone and the kernel, combining the results in a single value for each sparse zone; and repeating the above steps obtaining for each frame said single value, fluctuation of the single value being representative of gaze direction changes along time.
US09811156B2 Portable device including index display region and method for controlling the same
A portable device including an index display region and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. A method for controlling a portable device includes displaying a first layer from among a plurality of layers on a first display region located at a front surface of the portable device; displaying an index of the plurality of layers on a second display region located at a lateral surface of the portable device; determining a user-viewed display region from among the first display region and the second display region; detecting a first control input to the first display region; and controlling the first layer displayed on the first display region in response to the first control input when a user gazes at the first display region, or controlling the index displayed on the second display region in response to the first control input when the user gazes at the second display region.
US09811153B2 Eye imaging in head worn computing
Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for imaging, recognizing, and tracking of a user's eye that is wearing a HWC. Aspects further relate to the processing of images reflected from the user's eye and controlling displayed content in accordance therewith.
US09811151B2 System and methods for preventing interruptions due to battery drain during streaming media sessions between devices
A cloud server intermediates in a streaming media session from a source to a receiving device for a media content. Upon determining that time remaining to complete the streaming media session for the media content is greater than time of remaining battery power for the source, the cloud server redirects the streaming media session to the receiving device. The cloud server may detect that the remaining source battery power is below a threshold and obtain a compressed data file, compressing at least a remaining portion of the media content in response to determining that time remaining to complete the streaming media session is greater than time of remaining battery power for the source. The cloud server may send or receive a pointer along with the compressed data file that indicates a position within the media content at which to resume the streaming media session.
US09811150B2 System and method for controlling idle state exits to manage DI/DT issues
A method for managing a processor, the processor comprising a common supply rail and processor cores being connected to the common supply rail, wherein each processor core comprises a core unit, wherein the method comprises detecting idle state exits indicated by the core units; and delaying a command execution of at least one of the core units indicating an idle state exit when the number of idle state exits exceeds a predetermined threshold idle state exit number may reduce voltage droops due to several processor cores leaving the idle state at the same time.
US09811149B2 Information processing apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium, and information processing method
An information processing apparatus includes a first controller, a second controller, and a shared memory. The first controller outputs a transition signal that indicates a transition to a power-saving mode in which power consumption is reduced compared to a normal mode. The second controller outputs instruction information that indicates an instruction provided from the first controller before the transition signal is output on the basis of the transition signal output from the first controller. The shared memory is connected to the first controller and the second controller to be shared, and stores the instruction information output from the second controller even after a transition is made to the power-saving mode.
US09811142B2 Low energy processor for controlling operating states of a computer system
Embodiments of a method that allow the adjustment of performance settings of a computing system are disclosed. One or more functional units may include multiple monitor circuits, each of which may be configured to monitor a given operational parameter of a corresponding functional unit. Upon detection of an event related to a monitored operational parameter, a monitor circuit may generate an interrupt. In response to the interrupt a processor may adjust one or more performance settings of the computing system.
US09811139B2 Apparatus and method for power supply
An apparatus and a method for power supply are provided. The apparatus for power supply includes a main power circuit, an auxiliary power circuit and a power switching control circuit. The main power circuit is configured to generate a main power suitable to be provided to a first load and a second load for use. The auxiliary power circuit is configured to generate an auxiliary power suitable to be provided to the second load for use. The power switching control circuit is configured to detect a voltage difference between the main power and the auxiliary power and determine whether the apparatus meets a normal power supply condition, so as to select one of the main power and auxiliary power as a power source of the second load.
US09811137B2 Method for controlling a land transport vehicle, land transport vehicle, ground equipment and transport system
A land transport vehicle includes a traction motor; a capture device for contact with a power supply segment of an external power supply device and for connection to the traction motor; a communication unit to communicate with ground equipment associated with the power supply segment in a vicinity of which the land transport vehicle is currently traveling; an onboard controller connected to the communication unit; and an onboard power supply device for connection to the traction motor, the onboard controller being adapted to a) regulate the power supplied to the traction motor, b) receive a signal indicating an end of a zone with an external power supply, and c) command, after receiving the signal indicating the end of a zone, a transition from a power demand from the external power supply device toward a power demand from the onboard power supply device to power the traction motor.
US09811132B2 Power management for battery-powered devices
A system comprises: a power hub; a charging battery electrically connected to the power hub; a plurality of battery-powered electronic devices electrically connected to the power hub; and a power distribution controller within the power hub. The power distribution controller shares power between the plurality of battery-powered electronic devices based on: which tasks, from multiple pending tasks on the plurality of battery-powered electronic devices, are selected for completion; a power requirement for each of the tasks that have been selected for completion; a priority of the tasks, from the multiple pending tasks on the plurality of battery-powered electronic devices, that have been selected for completion; and a quantity of amp-hours that are available to charge batteries on the plurality of battery-powered electronic devices.
US09811127B2 Twin server blades for high-density clustered computer system
A high performance computing system with a plurality of computing blades has at least one computing blade that includes one or more computing boards and two side rails disposed at either side of the computing board. Each side rail has a board alignment element configured to hold the computing board within the computing blade, so that a top of the computing board is coupled to, and adjacent to, a portion of the board alignment element.
US09811125B2 Hard drive tray device
A hard drive tray device applied in a server is provided. The server includes a housing. The hard drive tray device includes a rail member and a tray. The rail member is disposed at the inner wall of the housing. The tray is slidably engaged with the rail member so as to slide between an expanded position and a closed position relative to the housing. The tray includes a base for carrying two storage devices. The base has a hollow portion. The storage devices are respectively located at two sides of the hollow portion. When the tray slides to the expanded position, one of the storage devices and at least a part of the hollow portion are located outside the housing.
US09811124B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
Disclosed are a mobile terminal and controlling method thereof. The mobile terminal including components capable of executing a first function, executing a second function and displaying an execution screen associated with the second function on a touchscreen. The mobile terminal components are further capable of determining whether the mobile terminal has been tilted by an amount that exceeds a first threshold, and when it is determined that the mobile terminal has been tilted by an amount that exceeds the first threshold, displaying the execution screen associated with the second function and an execution screen associated with the first function, determining whether a touch input to the touchscreen occurs while the execution screen associated with the second function and the execution screen associated with the first function are displayed, and displaying the execution screen associated with the first function when it is determined that the touch input has occurred.
US09811122B2 Package on packages and mobile computing devices having the same
A package on package may include: a first printed circuit board (PCB); a bottom package which includes a first chip die and a second chip die attached to the first PCB; a top package which includes a second PCB and a third chip die attached to the second PCB, and is overlaid over the bottom package; and/or first stack connection solder balls and second stack connection solder balls which are electrically connected between the first PCB and the second PCB, and are formed only around two sides facing each other among sides of the bottom package.
US09811121B2 Liquid-resistant acoustic device gasket and membrane assemblies
A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device includes an acoustic device positioned in a housing, a gasket compressed between the acoustic device and the housing, and a liquid-resistant membrane. The liquid-resistant membrane is disposed such that it is isolated from a non-uniform compressive distribution resulting from compression of the gasket. The liquid-resistant membrane may be uncompressed by compression of the gasket or compressed by a different compressive force than the gasket. For example, the liquid-resistant membrane may not be positioned between the gasket and the acoustic device, may be separated from the gasket, may be mounted to a shelf of the gasket or within a gap defined by the gasket, mounted to a stiffener positioned within the gasket, and mounted using other similar configurations.
US09811120B2 Flexible display device
A flexible display device includes a flexible display panel and a first outer member having a groove pattern. The groove pattern includes a flat surface and inclined portions connected to the flat surface and symmetrical with each other.
US09811118B2 Secure assembly for a docking station
Disclosed is a docking station having a secure assembly including a chassis, a tray at least partially covering the chassis, a port block slidably connected to the tray, the port block configured to translate between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position, a drivetrain connected to the chassis, a fastener connecting the port block to the drivetrain, an access hole in the chassis. The fastener is accessible via the access hole when the port block is in an open position. The fastener is inaccessible via the access hole when the port block is in a closed position inhibiting disassembly of the docking station.
US09811112B2 Adaptive clock delay compensation
A system includes a CPU, a serial interface, and an adaptive clock delay compensator. The adaptive clock delay compensator is configured to generate a clock signal at a first frequency, detect an edge on a data signal, and count the number of clock cycles of a counter clock to measure the delay between an edge of the clock signal and the detected edge on the data signal to produce a first delay value. The CPU is configured to convert the first delay value to a different clock domain at a second frequency to produce a converted delay value, and initiate a data transfer operation using the second frequency as a clock signal. The adaptive clock delay compensator is configured to generate a delayed clock signal at the second frequency to the serial interface that is delayed from the clock signal at the second frequency by the converted delay value.
US09811111B2 Generating clock on demand
A clock generation system for an integrated circuit (IC) chip (e.g., a microcontroller) is disclosed that allows digital blocks and other components in the IC chip to start and stop internal clocks dynamically on demand to reduce power consumption.
US09811099B2 Predictive power distribution system for a marine vessel
This invention relates to a system for reducing frequency and/or voltage variations in the power distribution system. The system comprises a power control unit being connected to at least one power generator and at least one consumer, power control system being adapted to monitor the measured load in the system from said at least one power generator and the power consumption from said at least one consumer, and a prediction allocating system for adapted to receive information from, each consumer related to the planned or predicted power consumption and to calculate expected power consumption of the system, and feeding the allocated power consumption to a motor generator system (MGS) controller.
US09811094B2 Unmanned aerial vehicle and flying method thereof
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes a fuselage, a plurality of rotors, and a sensor, wherein the fuselage includes a control module and a signal processing module, and the control module is connected the arms, which is used to control the rotation of arms. The sensor is configured to the fuselage of the UAV, which is used to detect the rotation change value of the UAV. The signal processing module is connected with the sensor and the control module, which is used to receive and analyze the signal of the sensor, and the control module controls the following flying of the UAV.
US09811093B2 Flight trajectory compensation system for airspeed variations
A method and apparatus for controlling a flight of an aircraft. An undesired change in an airspeed for the aircraft is identified. A number of commands for a flight control system associated with a wing of the aircraft are identified in response to the undesired change in the airspeed. The number of commands is configured to cause the flight control system to maintain a lift of the aircraft for a desired trajectory.
US09811087B2 Method for controlling a vehicle and a vehicle guidance system
A method or system for controlling a vehicle comprises entering a programming mode or a guidance mode based on user input to a switch. The user can enter a guidance program in accordance with a predetermined sequence of inputs of the switch by the user, where readiness for each successive input is indicated by a light source. A guidance mode is managed for guiding a vehicle in accordance with the entered guidance program. An encoder or sensor can sense a steering angle of a steering system. The steering angle is controlled in accordance with the guidance program if the system or the data processor is operating in a guidance mode.
US09811086B1 Vehicle management system
Systems, methods, and vehicles for taking a vehicle out-of-service are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, data indicative of one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle is configured to provide a vehicle service to one or more users of the vehicle service. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, an existence of a fault associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining, by the computing devices, one or more actions to be performed by the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the existence of the fault. The method includes performing, by the computing devices, one or more of the actions to take the autonomous vehicle out-of-service based at least in part on the fault.
US09811080B2 Measuring performance of an appliance
A method that measures performance of an information appliance comprises a test module receiving, from a client, and recording a request for processing of a sample data by an information appliance. The test module sends the sample data received from the client to the information appliance for processing. If a request to a backend application is present, the test module also sends the request to the backend application for processing and receives and records a response from the backend application. The test module sends the response from the backend application to the information appliance for processing. A generated correlation ID is used to update a performance data table with start time and a stop time of a response for transaction sample data processed by the information appliance.
US09811078B2 Method for providing instruction on setup changeover work in component mounting system, and component mounting system
A component mounting system derives work instruction information defining setup changeover work necessary to change an arrangement state of parts feeders from a current arrangement state to a first arrangement state for producing a first substrate type based on current feeder arrangement information corresponding to the current arrangement state and first feeder arrangement information corresponding to the first arrangement state. The work instruction information includes a plurality of pieces of unit work information. Each of the pieces of the unit work information includes kind information indicating a kind of execution operation and feeder state information indicating states before and after execution of work on the parts feeder targeted in the setup changeover work. The pieces of unit work information are displayed on the display screen so as to be arranged in work sequence to be executed.
US09811075B2 Production system
A production system includes a production facility and a portable operation terminal connectable to the production facility through a wireless communication. A connection state is brought between the production facility and the portable operation terminal by sending a connection request signal for a connection request to the production facility from the portable operation terminal, and sending a connection permission signal for responding to the connection request signal to the portable operation terminal from the production facility according to a predetermined condition, and it is permitted that the operation input to a control processing portion of the production facility from the portable operation terminal in the connection state.
US09811074B1 Optimization of robot control programs in physics-based simulated environment
A disclosed system includes a physically plausible virtual runtime environment to simulate a real-life environment for a simulated robot and a test planning and testing component to define a robotic task and generate virtual test cases for the robotic task. The test planning and testing component is further operable to generate virtual test cases for the robotic task, determine a control strategy for executing the virtual test cases, and create the physics-based simulated environment. The system further includes a robot controller operable to execute the virtual test cases in parallel in the physics-based simulated environment, measure a success of the execution, and store training and validation data to a historical database to train a machine learning algorithm. The robot controller may continuously execute the virtual test cases and use the machine learning algorithm to adjust parameters of the control strategy until optimal test cases are determined.
US09811073B2 Machine tool with thermal displacement correction
A machine tool includes a shaft load measuring unit measures a load of the main shaft motor. When a measured load of the main shaft motor exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that a tool is brought into contact with a work. Detection and correction of thermal displacement of the main shaft are performed by comparing a reference time and a measured time for the tool to reach the work.
US09811066B1 Throttle functionality of haptic controller
Example implementations may relate to a haptic hand-holdable controller configured with throttle functionality. An example device may take the form of a haptic controller, which senses tactile information and provides force feedback. The haptic hand-holdable controller may implement a throttle where a motor varies feedback to the hand-holdable controller to simulate a throttle.
US09811061B1 Method for management and optimization of hydropower generation and consumption
An optimization and management system using a global linearization approach and mixed integer linear programming to perform the dispatch and to schedule a river system for ten days forward while subject to real world, hourly physical, biological, environmental, and recreational constraints. The optimizer system uses a combination of slack variables and stitching methods to approximate a highly nonlinear optimization problem, thereby generating realtime generation schedules to promote to the management authority.
US09811059B2 Wireless network of low power sensing and actuating motes
Embodiments include a wireless mote network having a plurality of motes, wherein each of the plurality of motes includes a processing unit in communication with a communications device. Each of the motes includes at least a sensor configured to monitor an environmental condition in an area around the mote or an actuator configured to control one or more external systems. The wireless mote network also includes a central communications device configured to communicate with one or more of the motes within a range of the central communications device and a controller configured to communicate with the central communications device, to receive one or more signals indicative of the environmental condition of one or more of the plurality of motes, and to transmit one or more control signals indicating an operation of the actuator to one or more of the plurality of motes.
US09811055B2 Timepiece
A timepiece includes a dial plate, and a solar battery which is disposed on a rear side of the dial plate. The dial plate is provided with grooves or ridges. The grooves or the ridges have portions where inclination angles with regard to a normal line of the dial plate are different, and due to this, light which is transmitted through the dial plate is incident from a plurality of directions with angles which are different with regard to the solar battery.
US09811050B2 CRUM chip and image forming device for communicating mutually, and method thereof
An image forming device is provided. The device includes a main body which includes a main controller controlling operations of the image forming device, a consumable unit mounted on the main body to enable communication with the main controller, and a CRUM chip which is provided in the consumable unit and stores usage information of the consumable unit and characteristics information The main controller and the CRUM chip transmit and receive signals which include data and integrity detection data between each other. The integrity detection data is generated by accumulating and reflecting integrity detection data included in a previous signal.
US09811049B2 Cartridge and image forming apparatus
A cartridge includes a rotating body, a blade that extends in an axial direction of the rotating body and is disposed on the rotating body, a supporting member that is fixed to the blade and configured to support the blade in such a manner that the blade protrudes toward the rotating body in a shorter direction crossing the axial direction, a frame body including a placing surface that supports the supporting member, and a fixed portion that is disposed on the placing surface via the supporting member and fixed to the frame body. The supporting member includes a cut portion extending in the axial direction. The fixed portion includes a deformed portion deformed by given energy, and the deformed portion engages with the cut portion so that movement of the supporting member with respect to the frame body is restricted.
US09811046B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearer, a toner image forming device, a transfer device, a transfer bias power source, and a cleaner. The toner image forming device is to form a toner image on the image bearer. The transfer device contacts a surface of the image bearer to form a transfer nip between the transfer device and the image bearer. The transfer bias power source is to output a transfer bias to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium in the transfer nip. The cleaner is disposed downstream from the transfer nip in a direction of rotation of the image bearer, to electrostatically attract and remove toner from the surface of the image bearer to a surface of the cleaner. The transfer bias includes an alternating current component.
US09811038B2 Image heating apparatus having a discriminating portion for discriminating whether an endless belt is broken
An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt, a temperature raising portion, a first detecting portion configured to detect the temperature of the endless belt at a widthwise central portion, a controller configured to control energization to the temperature raising portion depending on an output of the first detecting portion, a second detecting portion configured to detect the temperature of the endless belt at a widthwise one end portion, an air blowing portion configured to blow air depending on an output of the second detecting portion to cool the widthwise one end portion of the endless belt, and a discriminating portion configured to discriminate whether or not the endless belt is broken on the basis of the output of the second detecting portion when the air blowing portion is operated while effecting the energization to the temperature raising portion.
US09811036B2 Belt device and image forming apparatus including same
An endless rotatable belt device including an endless rotatable belt, a scale tape bonded on the belt, at least one optical sensor to detect a scale pattern, and auxiliary tape to cover at least one of the first end and the second end of the scale tape of the belt. The scale tape has a first end and a second end and includes at least one scale pattern. The auxiliary tape has a lower surface friction coefficient than the surface friction coefficient of the scale tape.
US09811033B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus therewith
A fixing device includes a pressure mechanism and a pressure adjustment mechanism. The pressure mechanism includes a pressing member holding one of the pressure member and the heating member and a biasing member biasing the pressing member in a direction toward or away from the other of the pressure member and the heating member. The pressure adjustment mechanism includes an eccentric cam. The pressure adjustment mechanism uses one of small-diameter and large-diameter parts formed in the outer peripheral surface of the eccentric cam to allow the pressure mechanism to give the nip pressure, and uses the other of them to allow the pressure mechanism to release the nip pressure. When the large-diameter part is used to allow the pressure mechanism to give or release the nip pressure, the eccentric cam constantly receives reaction force urging it to rotate in a direction toward the small-diameter part.
US09811031B2 Fixing device capable of enhancing durability of endless belt and image forming apparatus incorporating the same
A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. An opposed rotary body is pressed against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A belt holder contacts and supports each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. The belt holder is isolated from the opposed rotary body with a first interval interposed therebetween in the axial direction of the endless belt.
US09811028B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system and image forming method
An image forming apparatus in which tension is applied to a recording medium during secondary transferring includes an image carrier, a first rotating member, a second rotating member, a tension releasing device, a voltage applier, a voltage measuring device, a nip width adjuster and a controller. The second rotating member sandwiches the image carrier with the first rotating member to from a nip. The tension releasing device releases the tension. The voltage measuring device measures the voltage between the first rotating member and the second rotating member applied by the voltage applier. The nip width adjuster adjusts a width of the nip. The controller controls the nip width adjuster so that a difference between a first voltage which is measured in a state where the tension is released and a second voltage which is measured in a state where the tension is applied within a predetermined range.
US09811024B2 Developer supply container
A developer supply container 1 detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus 201 includes a developer accommodating portion 2 capable of accommodating a developer, a discharge opening 4a for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion 2 toward the developer supplying apparatus 201, a pump portion 3a for effecting a discharging operation through the discharge opening 4a, a communicating portion 4d provided at a position contacting the discharge opening 4a and capable of storing a constant amount of the developer, and a regulating portion 7 capable of taking a developer flow regulating state in which the flow of the developer into the communicating portion 4d and a developer flow non-regulating state in which the entering of the developer is not regulated, the regulating portion 7 taking the developer flow regulating state in a discharging operation of the pump portion 3a, wherein the regulating portion 7 is provided with an air flow path 7g for communicating between the communicating portion 4d and the pump portion 3a.
US09811020B2 Stabilizing polymers to control passive leaking of functional materials from delivery members
A delivery member for use in an image forming apparatus. The delivery member has a support member and a first layer disposed on the support member. The first layer includes a cross-linked elastomeric matrix, a stabilizing polymer comprising a polysiloxane backbone, and a functional material. Coating mixtures for preparing such delivery members having a first layer. Image forming apparatuses containing such delivery members.
US09811016B2 Toner
A toner comprising a toner particle comprising a binder resin that comprises a crystalline resin, wherein the toner satisfies the following formulas (1) and (2) in DSC measurement of the toner, 50.0≦Tt≦80.0  formula (1) 0.00≦ΔHT′t-3/ΔH≦0.20  formula (2) where Tt [° C.] is the peak temperature of the endothermic peak P1, ΔH [J/g] is the endothermic quantity from a temperature lower than T′t by 20.0° C. to a temperature higher than T′t by 10.0° C. when T′t [° C.] is the peak temperature of the endothermic peak P 2, and ΔH T′t-3 [J/g] is the endothermic quantity from a temperature lower than T′t by 20.0° C. to a temperature lower than T′t by 3.0° C.
US09811010B2 Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive base and a single-layer-type photosensitive layer on the conductive base. The photosensitive layer contains a binder resin, a charge generation material, a hole transport material, a fluorine-atom-containing electron transport material, and fluorine-atom-containing resin particles. An amount of the charge generation material in the photosensitive layer is 0.5% by weight or more and less than 2.0% by weight. The charge generation material has a distribution that satisfies Formula (1): 30≦a/b in a thickness direction of the photosensitive layer where a and b are as defined in the specification, and b may be 0. The fluorine-atom-containing electron transport material has a distribution that satisfies Formula (2): 30≦c/d in the thickness direction of the photosensitive layer where c and d are as defined in the specification, and d may be 0.
US09811009B2 Electrophotographic member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus
The present invention provides an electrophotographic member in which an increase in resistance is small even in use at low temperature and which contributes to the formation of a high quality electrophotographic image, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus using this electrophotographic member as a charging member or a developer carrying member. Therefore, the electrophotographic member of the present invention is an electrophotographic member including an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer, wherein the electro-conductive layer includes a urethane resin and an ion-conductive agent, the urethane resin has, between two adjacent urethane bonds, a structure represented by formula (1) and at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a structure represented by formula (2) and a structure represented by formula (3), and the ion-conductive agent contains a particular anion.
US09811008B2 Image forming method, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
An image forming method in which a surface layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a compound having a specific structure in an amount of 0.1% to 10% by mass based on the total mass of the surface layer, and in a charged region of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member charged in a charging step, a non-image forming region in which an electrostatic latent image is not formed is not irradiated with destaticizing light or is irradiated with reduced destaticizing light.
US09811007B2 Lithographic apparatus and method of cooling a component in a lithographic apparatus
A lithographic apparatus includes a component and a local cooler to apply a local cooling load to the component. The local cooler has a gas passageway including a flow restriction upstream of the component and configured to direct a flow of gas exiting the flow restriction to cool a surface of the component.
US09811004B2 Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus which transfers a pattern of a reticle onto a substrate, the apparatus including a convey unit configured to convey the substrate while chucking and holding a lower surface of the substrate, and a control unit configured to control a conveyance condition of the convey unit so that a conveyance acceleration is lower when the convey unit conveys the substrate in a vertical direction with downward acceleration than when the convey unit conveys the substrate in the vertical direction with upward acceleration.
US09810996B2 Optical imaging device with thermal attenuation
An optical imaging device, in particular for use in microlithography, includes a mask device for receiving a mask having a projection pattern, a projection device with an optical element group, a substrate device for receiving a substrate and an immersion zone. The optical element group is adapted to project the projection pattern onto the substrate and includes a plurality of optical elements with an immersion element to which the substrate is at least temporarily located adjacent to during operation. During operation, the immersion zone is located between the immersion element and the substrate and is at least temporarily filled with an immersion medium. A thermal attenuation device is provided, the thermal attenuation device being adapted to reduce fluctuations within the temperature distribution of the immersion element induced by the immersion medium.
US09810994B2 Systems and methods for high-throughput and small-footprint scanning exposure for lithography
The present disclosure provides a lithography system comprising a radiation source and an exposure tool including a plurality of exposure columns densely packed in a first direction. Each exposure column includes an exposure area configured to pass the radiation source. The system also includes a wafer carrier configured to secure and move one or more wafers along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, so that the one or more wafers are exposed by the exposure tool to form patterns along the second direction. The one or more wafers are covered with resist layer and aligned in the second direction on the wafer carrier.
US09810990B2 Chemical treatment for lithography improvement in a negative tone development process
A material layer is formed over a substrate. A negative tone photoresist layer is formed over the material layer. An exposure process is performed to the negative tone photoresist layer. A post-exposure bake (PEB) process is performed to the negative tone photoresist layer. After the exposure process and the PEB process, the negative tone photoresist layer is treated with a solvent. The solvent contains a chemical having a greater dipole moment than n-butyl acetate (n-BA).
US09810987B2 Substrate treatment method, computer storage medium and substrate treatment system
A substrate treatment method includes: a polymer separation step of phase-separating a block copolymer into a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophobic polymer; and a polymer removal step of selectively removing the hydrophilic polymer from the phase-separated block copolymer, wherein in the polymer removal step, the hydrophilic polymer is removed by: irradiating the phase-separated block copolymer with an energy ray; then supplying a first polar organic solvent having a first degree of dissolving the hydrophilic polymer, being lower in boiling point than water and capable of dissolving water, and not dissolving the hydrophobic polymer, to the block copolymer; and then supplying a second polar organic solvent having a second dissolving degree lower than the first dissolving degree, being higher in boiling point than water, and not dissolving the hydrophobic polymer, to the block copolymer.
US09810986B2 Method for producing a fiber having a pattern on a surface thereof
A method for producing a fiber having a pattern on a surface thereof, the method including forming a resin composition layer having a linear first pattern using a resin composition; and forming a second pattern on the resin composition layer. The second pattern may be formed by forming a thin film of a block copolymer comprising at least two block chains different from each other in surface free energy on the resin composition layer and subjecting the block copolymer to microphase separation. Alternatively, the second pattern is formed by adhering particles onto the resin composition layer.
US09810983B2 Polymer, chemically amplified positive resist composition and patterning process
A positive resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having both an acyl or alkoxycarbonyl group and an acid labile group-substituted hydroxyl group exhibits a high contrast of alkaline dissolution rate before and after exposure, a high resolution, a good pattern profile and minimal edge roughness.
US09810982B2 Photoresist polymers and photoresist compositions
A photoresist polymer comprising a first repeating unit including a halogen donor group and a second repeating unit including a protecting group connected by a sulfide bond.
US09810981B2 Pattern formation method, etching method, electronic device manufacturing method, and electronic device
A pattern formation method includes step (i) of forming a first negative type pattern on a substrate by performing step (i-1) of forming a first film on the substrate using an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, step (i-2) of exposing the first film and step (i-3) of developing the exposed first film in this order; step (iii) of forming a second film at least on the first negative type pattern using an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition (2); step (v) of exposing the second film; and step (vi) of developing the exposed second film and forming a second negative type pattern at least on the first negative type pattern.
US09810980B1 Graphoepitaxy directed self assembly
Graphoepitaxy directed self-assembly methods generally include grafting a conformal layer of a polymer brush onto a topographic substrate. A planarization material, which functions as a sacrificial material is coated onto the topographic substrate. The planarization material is etched back to a top surface of the topographic substrate, wherein the etch back removes the polymer brush from the top surfaces of the topographic substrate. The remaining portion of the polymer brush is protected by the remaining planarization material below the top surface of the topographic substrate, which can be removed with a solvent to provide the topographic substrate with a conformal polymer brush below the top surface of the topographic substrate. The substrate is then coated with a block copolymer and annealed to direct self-assembly of the block copolymer. The methods mitigate island and/or hole defect formation.
US09810974B2 Tripod for photographing apparatus
A tripod for a photographing apparatus is provided. The tripod includes a plurality of legs, a bracket, to which the legs are coupled, a support that is coupled to the bracket, and contact members, each of which defines an upper end portion of the corresponding leg. Each contact member includes a first surface provided at an upper end of the contact member and defining a first angle with a longitudinal axis of the leg, and a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second angle with the first surface. The first surface and the support contact each other when the corresponding leg is in a folding state, and the second surface and the support contact each other when the corresponding leg is in an unfolding state.
US09810973B2 Omnidirectional bracket for cameras and accessories
A mechanical camera bracket for mounting different accessories to the camera is disclosed that ensures a positive lock through the central hub from which extend a first arm and a second arm, allowing for accessories to be attached and detached without having to remove the entire bracket. The central hub has a clamping knob and defining a common axis about which the first arm and second arm rotate. A first bushing and second bushing are rotatable about the common axis in tandem with the first arm and second arm. The first bushing and second bushing each have a first ramp coupled to a first pressure cup in a first ball head camera mount and a second pressure cup in a second ball head camera mount. The clamping knob is configured to move the ramps along the common axis, thus urging the pressure cups against the ball heads.
US09810972B2 Robot specimen photography mount
A robot specimen photography mount includes a base, a cradle support assembly extending upwardly from the base, and a cradle rotatably supported by the cradle support assembly. A rotation motor is mounted on the cradle. A specimen mount is rotatably mounted on the rotation motor. The specimen mount has a vacuum opening formed therein. A vacuum conduit is in fluid communication with the vacuum opening. A method of operating the photography mount is also disclosed.
US09810971B2 Configurable compact motorized dolly
There is disclosed a compact motorized dolly including an elongated casing incorporating a power source and at least one drive motor, a first circular wheel rotably affixed to the distal end of the elongated casing and the at least one drive motor such that actuation of the at least one drive motor causes the first circular wheel to turn, and a device mount secured to the compact motorized dolly such that a device mounted to the device mount moves along with the compact motorized dolly when the drive motor is activated.
US09810969B2 Lens driving apparatus
To provide a lens driving apparatus that drives a lens in its optical axis-direction without inclining it, and a lens driving apparatus that drives a bobbin in the optical axis-direction smoothly without increasing the frictional force between a ball arranged between the bobbin and a cover, and the bobbin and cover while maintaining high driving power. The lens driving apparatus comprises the polygonal cylindrical bobbin that houses the lens, the box-shaped cover that receives the bobbin, a drive unit that moves the bobbin in the optical axis-direction of the lens, and a support unit that supports the bobbin.
US09810968B2 Wavelength conversion device and projector
A wavelength conversion device including a main body and a transparent element is provided. The main body has at least one wavelength conversion region, a containing recess portion, and a stop portion. The containing recess portion and the stop portion encircle a closed slot. The transparent element is disposed in the closed slot to construct a light penetration region. The stop portion stops the transparent element along a radial direction of the main body. Moreover, a projector using the wavelength conversion device is also mentioned.
US09810967B2 Method and apparatus for generation of coherent frequency combs
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for generating frequency combs. A non-linear optical medium may generate new optical waves centered at frequencies differing from the input waves, while retaining the input wave properties. In the case when a parametric mixer is used to generate frequency combs with small frequency pitch, the phase correlation of the input (seed) waves can be achieved by an electro-optical modulator and a single master laser. In the case when a frequency comb possessing a frequency pitch that is larger than frequency modulation that can be affected by an electro-optic modulator, the phase correlation of the input (seed) waves is achieved by combined use of an electro-optical modulator and injection locking to a single or multiple slave lasers.
US09810965B2 Optical module
An optical module includes an optical modulator that includes a cutout portion and a first terminal projecting to the inside of the cutout portion, and is configured to perform optical modulation by using an electrical signal input to the first terminal; a driver, at least a part of the driver being housed inside the cutout portion, that is configured to generate an electrical signal; an electrode pattern that extends from the driver inside the cutout portion, and is configured to transmit the electrical signal generated by the driver; and a flexible board having flexibility, one end of the flexible board being electrically connected with the first terminal inside the cutout portion, another end of the flexible board extending in the direction away from the driver, the flexible board being connected with the electrode pattern and configured to input the electrical signal transmitted by the electrode pattern to the first terminal.
US09810964B2 Electro-optic modulator having identical forward and backward electro-optic response
An electro-optic modulator includes a waveguide of a nonlinear optical material and an electrode line for generating an electrical field in a modulating region of the waveguide when a voltage is applied to the electrode line, thereby modulating light passing through the waveguide. Therein, the forward electro-optic response of the modulating region is the same as the backward electro-optic response; and the electro-optic response has a band-pass or a low-pass characteristic. A distance measuring device includes a light source emitting light, and such an electro-optic modulator arranged such that the emitted light passes through the electro-optic modulator in a first direction before being emitted from the distance measuring device, and after being reflected from a target passes through the electro-optic modulator in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.
US09810959B2 Liquid crystal display including a mainpixel electrode
A liquid crystal display including first and second substrates with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The first substrate includes a semiconductor layer electrode electrically connected to a first source line on a first side of a position where the semiconductor layer intersects with a gate wire in a second direction, and to a contact portion on a second side of the position. A contact portion is arranged nearer the gate line than the main pixel electrode. The main pixel electrode extends from the contact portion in the second direction and is located nearer the second side than the first side. The contact portion is connected to the main pixel electrode only by a first portion of the main pixel electrode.
US09810955B2 Array substrate and display device
An array substrate comprising a plurality of sub-pixel unit pairs and a display device are provided. Each sub-pixel unit pair comprises two adjacent sub-pixel units located in a same row. Two sub-pixel units in a same sub-pixel unit pair are mirror-symmetrical with respect to each other in structure, and a first common electrode forming an opaque region is arranged between said two sub-pixel units.
US09810954B2 Display panel with primary spacer and secondary spacer and method for manufacturing the same and display device
A display panel and a method for manufacturing the same and a display device are disclosed, the display panel comprises an array substrate (10) and a cell-assembled substrate (20) arranged oppositely to the array substrate (10), spacers spaced from each other are arranged between the array substrate (10) and the cell-assembled substrate (20), the spacers comprise a plurality of primary spacers (31); and M, in number, of the primary spacers (31) are provided per unit area in a peripheral region of the display panel, N, in number, of the primary spacers (31) are provided per unit area in a central region of the display panel, and M is greater than (>) N. The display panel can avoid the breakage of the spacers in the peripheral region of the display panel or the breakage of the orientation layer on the spacers.
US09810950B2 Method for producing liquid crystal display device with favorable voltage holding ratio reliability and reduced image sticking
The present invention provides a method for producing a liquid crystal display device which can produce a liquid crystal display device with favorable voltage holding ratio reliability and reduced image sticking. The method is for producing a liquid crystal display device, which is a horizontal alignment-mode liquid crystal display device including a drive substrate provided with paired electrodes and a counter substrate, the method including: an application step of applying an alignment film material to the surface of each of the drive substrate and the counter substrate; a photo-alignment treatment step of irradiating the applied alignment film material with light; a post-baking step of baking the alignment film material having been subjected to the photo-alignment treatment to form an alignment film on the surface of each of the drive substrate and the counter substrate; and an additional irradiation step of irradiating the alignment films with light, the alignment film material containing a polymer with a (meth)acrylic backbone and a photo-functional group that undergoes a dimerization or cross-linking reaction by photo-irradiation, the additional irradiation step irradiating the alignment film formed on the surface of the counter substrate with an irradiation dose higher than the irradiation dose for the alignment film formed on the surface of the drive substrate.
US09810947B2 Liquid crystal based optoelectronic device
The invention provides a liquid crystal based optoelectronic device, including an upper substrate and a lower substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, and a pair of indium tin oxide nano-whisker layers formed on the inner surfaces of the upper substrate and the lower substrate, wherein the indium tin oxide nano-whisker layer is used as an alignment layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.
US09810945B2 Light guide plate and surface illumination device
A light guide plate has a light input end surface from which light is introduced, a light output surface that outputs light spread in a planar manner externally, a flat main light guiding body including the light output surface, a light conducting portion that has a maximum thickness greater than the thickness of the main light guiding body and includes the light input end surface, a first slanted surface provided on the light conducting portion on at least one of a surface near the light output surface and a surface opposite thereto, the first slanted surface inclined from a first location that is thicker than the main light guiding body toward the outer surface of the main light guiding body, and a plurality of first pattern elements provided on the light conducting portion on at least one of a surface near the light output surface and a surface opposite thereto.
US09810944B2 Techniques for dual modulation with light conversion
Techniques for driving a dual modulation display include generating backlight drive signals to drive individually-controllable illumination sources. The illumination sources emit first light onto a light conversion layer. The light conversion layer converts the first light, such as blue or ultraviolet light, into second light, such as white light. The light conversion layer can include quantum dot materials. Liquid crystal display (LCD) modulation drive signals are generated to determine transmission of the second light through individual color subpixels of the display. These LCD modulation drive signals can be adjusted based on one or more light field simulations to account for non-uniform, spatial color shifts. Alternatively, one or more light field simulations based on a uniformity assumption determine intermediate LCD modulation drive signals. A compensation field simulation, using backlight drive signals, is then used to adjust the intermediate LCD modulation drive signal for color correction.
US09810937B2 Transparent display panel and color filter substrate thereof
A transparent display panel and a color filter substrate are proposed. The color filter substrate includes a substrate, a color resistant layer disposed on a color resistant section of the substrate, a transparent material layer disposed on a transparent section of the substrate and comprising transparent units, a protective layer disposed on both of the color resistant layer and the transparent material layer, and an electrode layer disposed on the protective layer. Users can see components behind the transparent display panel easily and clearly.
US09810934B2 Display device
A display device includes a bottom chassis, a mold frame coupled to the bottom chassis, a display panel having curvature and disposed on the mold frame, and a light source disposed on the bottom chassis and configured to supply light to the display panel. The mold frame includes a base unit having a corner portion that has a lower height than a side portion and a protrusion bent and extending from the base unit.
US09810933B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of common electrodes arranged so as to counter pixel electrodes extending in the row direction on a substrate. First and second voltage supply lines to supply first and second voltages to the common electrodes are connected with the common electrodes through a first switch circuit. A second switch circuit is arranged between the first voltage supply line and signal lines to switch a connection between the first voltage supply line and the signal lines. A gate open circuit is connected to scan lines to simultaneously supply a signal to switch on the pixel electrodes to all the scan lines. In case the power supply of the liquid crystal display device is turned off, a control circuit starts the power OFF driving operation to set the potential of the pixel electrode and the common electrode to substantially same by switching the first and second switch circuits.
US09810929B2 Thermochromatic display device
A thermochromatic display device includes a first electrode sheet, a second electrode sheet and a plurality of thermochromatic elements. Each of the thermochromatic elements includes a sealed enclosure, an insulation layer and a first heating element. The first heating element includes a carbon nanotube film including a number of carbon nanotube linear units and a number of carbon nanotube groups. Each carbon nanotube linear unit includes a number of first carbon nanotubes substantially oriented along a first direction, and are spaced from each other and substantially extending along the first direction. The carbon nanotube groups are combined with the carbon nanotube linear units by van der Waals force.
US09810917B2 Passive damping for optical image stabilization
Passive dampers (e.g., a viscoelastic material such as a silicon gel) may be applied at one or more locations within an actuator module between a moving component (an optics assembly) and a fixed component (e.g., a cover attached to a base). The passive dampers act to passively dampen the motion of the optics assembly on the XY plane within the actuator module during optical image stabilization (OIS) of the optics assembly when subjected to external excitation or disturbance, and may also provide Z (optical) axis damping and impact protection. Process control and automation manufacturing and assembly methods for an OIS voice coil motor (VCM) actuator module including passive dampers are described, as well as design elements that provide for the integrity and reliability of the passive dampers over the life cycle of the actuator module.
US09810916B2 Reticle with reduced transmission regions for detecting a defocus condition in a lithography process
A reticle for a semiconductor lithography process includes a glass plate having regions with a reduced optical transmission factor. The regions may include arrays of elements comprising defects such as cracks or voids which are formed by laser pulses. The regions may be adjacent to openings in an opaque material at the bottom of the reticle to shield the openings from a portion of the light which illuminates the reticle from the top. As a result, the light which exits the reticle and is used to pattern a substrate has an asymmetric intensity. This allows the substrate to be patterned with an inspection mark which indicates whether a defocus condition exists, and whether there is a positive or negative defocus condition. Related methods use a reticle to form a pattern on a substrate and for adjusting a focus condition using a reticle.
US09810906B2 External user interface for head worn computing
An external user interface adapted to control a head-worn computer includes a housing with a mechanical attachment system adapted to secure the housing to a steering wheel of a vehicle, a programmable quick launch software application button mounted on the housing and adapted to activate a pre-designated software application on the head-worn computer, and a button mounted on the housing and adapted to remove all content from being displayed in the head-worn computer when activated.
US09810904B1 Fresnel lens assembly having varying facet angle
A head mounted display device includes a display panel and a lens assembly mounted so that an optical axis of the lens assembly intersects the display panel. The lens assembly includes a lens body having a surface facing the display panel and defining Fresnel prisms. A Fresnel prism of the Fresnel prisms has a first facet angle when viewed in a first cross-section and has a second facet angle when viewed in a second cross-section parallel to the first cross-section. The first facet angle is different than the second facet angle.
US09810902B1 Opening angle measurement of an oscillating MEMS mirror
A device disclosed herein includes a feedback measuring circuit to measure a signal flowing through a movable MEMS mirror. Processing circuitry determines a time at which the signal indicates that a capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror is substantially at a maximum capacitance. The processing circuitry also determines, over a window of time extending from the time at which the signal indicates that the capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror is substantially at the maximum to a given time, a total change in capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror compared to the maximum capacitance. The processor further determines the capacitance at the given time as a function of the total change in capacitance, and determines an opening angle of the movable MEMS mirror as a function of the capacitance at the given time.
US09810901B2 Apparatus and method for driving and measuring a MEMS mirror system
The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving and measuring a MEMS mirror system, the MEMS mirror system having a mirror pivotable around an axis by a driving coil and exhibiting a resonance frequency, having a pulse generator and a measuring unit, each electrically connected to the coil. The pulse generator is preferably configured to feed a modulated pulse signal, comprised of pulses separated by intervals and having a modulation frequency different from the resonance frequency, to the coil. The measuring unit is preferably configured to measure a value of a signal output by the coil during an interval of the modulated pulse signal. In a further aspect of the invention a method is provided for driving and measuring the MEMS mirror system.
US09810899B1 Illumination of an electrowetting display
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to arrangements and techniques that provide for using a wavelength specific illumination for illuminating a display, for example an electrowetting display. The electrowetting display comprises a first substrate and a second substrate. A plurality of pixel regions is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The electrowetting display further comprises a first fluid within the pixel regions and on the first substrate. The first fluid comprises one or more dyes and a second fluid is disposed on the first fluid. The second fluid is substantially immiscible with the first fluid. An illumination layer is included between the first substrate and the second substrate. The illumination layer comprises one or more LEDs and at least one of the LEDs produces light at a specific wavelength corresponding to a wavelength of absorption of one of the one or more dyes.
US09810896B2 Microscope device and microscope system
A microscope device includes an illumination optical system that illuminates a specimen with a light sheet, and a stereo image capturing device that captures images of the specimen in a plurality of different directions in which a resolution based on a triangulation method in a Z direction orthogonal to a direction of one or a plurality of light sheets formed on the specimen by the illumination optical system is less than a thickness in the Z direction of light sheet illumination that comprises the one or the plurality of light sheets.
US09810894B2 Tracking and characterizing particles with holographic video microscopy
In-line holography to create images of a specimen, such as one or more particles dispersed in a transparent medium. Analyzing these images with results from light scattering theory yields the particles' sizes with nanometer resolution, their refractive indexes to within one part in a thousand, and their three dimensional positions with nanometer resolution. This procedure can rapidly and directly characterize mechanical, optical and chemical properties of the specimen and its medium.
US09810892B2 Optical lens fabrication
Optical lenses and methods for manufacturing optical lenses are disclosed herein. Lenses having a reduced aperture size are also disclosed herein along with methods for making the same. The optical lenses disclosed herein can be made having improved optical properties. The lenses can be used in optical microscopes, including optical microscopes with a shorter optical path relative to conventional optical microscopes.
US09810891B2 Dual light source enhanced integration system
A dual light source enhanced integration system is provided. The system comprises: a first light source and a second light source with overlapping spectra; a light integrator configured to integrate light and having a first light entrance face and a second light entrance face; and, a beamsplitter system configured to about equally distribute light from each of the first light source and the second light source to each of the first light entrance face and the second light entrance face, such that the light from each of the first light source and the second light source is about equally combined at each of the first light entrance face and the second light entrance face.
US09810885B2 Imaging-optical system, stereo camera apparatus, and in-vehicle camera apparatus
A retro-focus type imaging-optical system is disclosed. The imaging-optical system comprises, in order from an object side to an image side a first lens group, an aperture stop, and a second lens group. The first lens group includes, in order from the object side, a positive first F lens group and a negative first R lens group. The first F lens group includes a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface on the object side. The first R lens group includes a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface on the object side and a positive lens. The second lens group includes, in order from the object side, a positive second F lens group and a second R lens group, and the second F lens group includes a positive lens element having a convex meniscus shape on the image side.
US09810883B2 Photographic optical system
The present invention discloses a photographic optical system which includes a first lens (focal length f1), a second lens (focal length f2), a third lens (focal length f3), a fourth lens (focal length f4), a fifth lens (focal length f5), a sixth lens (focal length f6) and a seventh lens (focal length f7). The photographic optical system disclosed in the present invention by optimizing rationally face shape, distributing focal power, selecting optical material, is designed as a big relative aperture photographic optical system, and can provide the imaging performance in low illumination environment.
US09810882B2 Optical lens
An optical lens includes seven lenses. An first lens has a negative refractive power: an second lens, an third lens, an fifth lens, an sixth lens and an seventh lens have refractive powers respectively, and the fourth lens has a positive refractive power. One of the second lens and the third lens has a positive refractive power, and the other has a negative refractive power. One of the fifth lens and the sixth lens has a positive refractive power and the other has a negative refractive power. An object-side surface of the first lens has a refractive rate R1, an image-side surface of the first lens has a refractive rate R2, and |R2/R1|≦0.01.
US09810879B2 Imaging lens assembly
An imaging lens assembly is disclosed in the present disclosure. The imaging lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a stop; a first lens having a positive refractive power, a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a second lens having a negative refractive power and a convex and meniscus shaped image-side surface; a third lens having a negative refractive power, an image-side surface being concave at a paraxial region and being convex and meniscus shaped at a peripheral region, and an object side-surface being concave at the paraxial region; the image-side surface of the third lens having an inflection point. At least one of the surfaces of three lenses is aspheric, f is a focal length of the imaging lens assembly; f1 is a focal length of the first lens and the imaging lens assembly satisfying following condition: 0 < f ⁢ ⁢ 1 f < 1.0 .
US09810875B2 Adjustable mounting arrangement for an object to be positioned precisely relative to a base
An adjustable support assembly for an object to be accurately positioned relative to a base, in particular for a secondary mirror of an optical mirror telescope, has at least one support structure connected to the base and to the object. The support structure has at least two struts extending in a non-parallel manner relative to each other, where each strut has associated therewith a drivable actuator element in such a way that the actuator element applies a force onto the strut that deflects the strut transversely to the longitudinal extension thereof. The support structure may be supported in an articulated manner relative to the base.
US09810874B2 Lens driver
A lens driver which has a high driving effectiveness and a compact form, and which does not require a precise assembling and a assembling time. It comprises: a lens holder which holds the lens; a first coil which is arranged on outer circumference of the lens holder so that the lens holder acts towards a direction orthogonal to direction of the optical axis of the lens; a magnet which is arranged on the outer circumference of the first coil and which faces the first coil at a defined distance; a magnet holder which is arranged on the outer circumference of the lens holder to hold the magnet; an upper spring and a lower spring which connect the lens holder and the magnet holder; a second coil which is arranged at a position corresponding to the magnet and spaced from the magnet at a defined distance in the direction of the optical axis, and which makes the lens holder act towards a direction orthogonal to direction of the optical axis of the lens; and a fixation member for fixating the second coil, on the fixation part, holes are opened that can be passed through by the end of the second coil, and the opening size of the hole is greater than the winding size of the second coil, and the end of the second coil passes through the hole and extends from the inner circumference of the second coil towards the outer circumference.
US09810872B1 Fiber clamp with attachment accessory nub and receptacle
Technology for securing a line, such as a fiber optic line, to a structure, such as a utility pole. In one aspect, a clamp is provided. The clamp includes a body, a first nub located at a first position on the body, and a first receptacle located at a second position on the body, wherein the first receptacle is connectable with a second nub that is secured to a pole-mount, and the first nub is connectable with a second receptacle that is secured to an aerial drone.
US09810870B2 Optical fiber terminal fixing tool for winding optical fiber and optical fiber winding method
An optical fiber terminal fixing tool includes: a disc-shaped substrate having a plate surface; a holding surface which is provided on the plate surface and interposes the terminal portion of the optical fiber between the holding surface and the first flange portion; and a protrusion which continues in a circumferential direction with a larger diameter than an outer diameter of the first flange portion in an outer circumferential portion on the plate surface while protruding toward the bobbin in a state where the fixing tool is mounted on the rotating shaft of the optical fiber winding machine.
US09810869B2 Slidable telecommunications tray with cable slack management
A fiber optic telecommunications device includes a rack for mounting a plurality of chassis, each chassis including a plurality of trays slidably mounted thereon and arranged in a vertically stacked arrangement. Each tray includes fiber optic connection locations and a cable manager coupled to the tray and also coupled to the chassis, the cable manager for routing cables to and from the fiber optic connection locations and defining a plurality of link arms pivotally connected such that the manager retracts and extends with a corresponding movement of the tray, wherein the link arms pivot relative to each other to prevent cables managed therein from being bent in an arc having a radius of curvature less than a predetermined value, each link arm defining a top wall, a bottom wall, and two oppositely positioned sidewalls, each link arm defining an open portion along at least one of the sidewalls and an open portion along the top wall for receiving cables therein, the open portions along the top wall and the at least one of the sidewalls communicating with each other.
US09810867B2 Connector assembly
In accordance with one embodiment, a connector assembly, for instance a connector assembly for an optical waveguide, includes a dielectric connector housing including a housing body that defines a mating end configured to mate with a complementary connector along a mating direction. The connector assembly further includes at least one latch arm supported by the housing body. The at least one latch arm can define outer surface and an opposed inner surface that faces an outer surface of the housing body. The connector assembly further includes an unlocking element supported by the housing body. The unlocking element can define an inner surface that faces the outer surface of the at least one latch arm. Movement of the unlocking element from a first position to a second position can cause the at least latch arm to deflect from a locked position to an unlocked position.
US09810866B2 Cable-equipped connector
A cable-equipped connector, in which a composite connector comprises a conversion element that converts optical signals and electrical signals, a circuit board in which circuit components for transmitting electrical signals are provided to a plated-shaped substrate and to which the conversion element is electrically connected, and a housing that houses the conversion element, the circuit board and the ends of electrical cables; wherein in the housing, the ends of the electrical cables are isolated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the connection with the mating electrical connector, from at least either one of the conversion element or the circuit components of the circuit board by a separator of the housing or the substrate of the circuit board.
US09810862B2 Free space optical (FSO) system
A detector configuration for use in a free space optical (FSO) node for transmitting and/or receiving optical signals has a plurality of sensors for detecting received optical signals. The system may be configured to modify or alter the light at the plurality of sensor to optimize different system functions.
US09810859B2 Traceable networking cables with remote-released connectors
Disclosed are traceable remote-release networking cables with telltales at their ends to facilitate tracing of the cables and their ends, such as, for example, in data rooms that can include hundreds of individual networking cables. Some cables include conductive wire transmission line(s). Other cables include one or more fiber-optic transmission lines.
US09810857B2 Fiber optic cable demarcations inhibiting movement of optical fibers relative to strength members, and related assemblies and methods
Fiber optic cable demarcations inhibiting movements of optical fibers relative to strength members, and related cable assemblies and methods, are disclosed. By bonding optical fibers to strength members with a bonding agent received into at least one cavity, a demarcation may be formed inside the cable jacket at a cable jacket interface. The at least one cavity may be disposed within a cable jacket of a fiber optic cable and at the cable jacket interface. The demarcation may bond at least one optical fiber and at least one strength member together to inhibit longitudinal movement of the at least one optical fiber relative to the at least one strength member. In this manner, the demarcation may inhibit optical fiber movement within the fiber optic connector, which may cause tensile forces and/or buckling of the optical fiber resulting in optical fiber damage and/or optical attenuation.
US09810856B2 Strain relieved adapter for a jacketed cable and boot
An adapter for a fiber optic connector has provides strain relief for a jacketed cable connected to the adapter and the connector. The adapter preferably has two portions that act together to engage the jacketed cable and a boot that applies pressure to the adapter to secure the adapter. The two portions of the adapter may also be rotatably connected to one another. The boot has a projection that cooperates with an optical component to seal the adapter and optical component from outside particulates.
US09810854B2 Optical fiber holding component, receptacle-equipped pigtail, patch cord, and optical module
An optical fiber holding component includes a ferrule; an optical fiber including a front end portion which is inserted into the ferrule and is fixed thereto, and includes a rear end side drawn to an outside from a rear end of the ferrule; a holder which surrounds part of the optical fiber drawn from the rear end of the ferrule and holds a rear end portion of the ferrule; and a case including a press-fitted region press-fitted to a front end side portion of the holder which is located at a position closer to a front end side than to a rear end surface position of the ferrule, the case including a covering portion situated closer to a rear end side than to the press-fitted region, the covering portion having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the holder and surrounding the holder.
US09810851B2 Multi-fiber connector for use with ribbon fiber optic cable
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a multi-fiber fiber optic connector having a connector body, a multi-fiber ferrule supported at a distal end of the connector body, a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction and a spring push retaining the spring and the ferrule within the connector body. The spring push including oppositely positioned spring support shelves that provide spring seating and provide spring stability during side loading.
US09810849B2 Apparatus and methods for use with optical rotating joint
A method and apparatus for operating an optical rotating joint (2); comprising: routing optical signals through an optical rotating joint (2) by using a first optical circulator (64) on a first side of the optical rotating joint (2) to receive an optical signal and direct the optical signal onward to a first side of the optical rotating joint (2), and using a second optical circulator (93) on a second side of the optical rotating joint (2) to receive the optical signal from the second side of the optical rotating joint (2) and direct it onwards. The signals may be sensor control signals or sensor output signals to/from a plurality of sensors (26, 28, 30), for example camera sensors. The apparatus may further comprise one or more wavelength division multiplexers (68, 94) and/or wavelength division demultiplexers (66, 95).
US09810848B2 Apparatus and methods for use with optical rotating joint
A method and apparatus for operating an optical rotating joint (2); comprising: providing redundancy for camera sensor signals to be passed through an optical rotating joint (2) by: (i) passing signals from a plurality of camera sensors (28, 30) via an optical changeover switching arrangement (70) to the optical rotating joint (2); and/or (ii) passing signals for a plurality of camera sensors (28, 30) toward the camera sensors (28, 30) from the optical rotating joint (2) via an optical changeover switching arrangement (70). The signals may be sensor control signals or sensor output signals to/from a plurality of sensors (26, 28, 30), for example camera sensors. The apparatus may further comprise one or more wavelength division multiplexers (68, 94) and/or wavelength division demultiplexers (66, 95).
US09810847B1 Methods and systems to form optical surfaces on optical fibers
A method of forming an optical surface on an end portion of an optical fiber inserting the optical fiber through a ferrule bore of a ferrule so that the end portion extends past an end face on the ferrule. At least one laser beam is emitted from at least one laser and directed to the end face of the ferrule at a location spaced from the ferrule bore. The at least one laser beam is also directed at an angle relative to the end face of the ferrule so as to be incident on the end portion of the optical fiber after reflecting off the end face of the ferrule. The at least one laser is operated to cleave the end portion of the optical fiber, and the end face on the ferrule does not crack due to thermal expansion when the at least one laser is operated.
US09810846B2 Coupling methods and systems using a taper
Disclosed are optical devices for coupling radiation between an optical waveguide and an external medium. In one embodiment, an optical device is disclosed comprising a semiconductor die comprising an integrated optical waveguide core and an overlying optical waveguide comprising a waveguide taper and a waveguide facet. The overlying optical waveguide at least partially overlies the integrated optical waveguide core, and the waveguide facet is between about 1 μm and 200 μm from an edge of the semiconductor die. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising providing a substrate comprising an integrated semiconductor waveguide and forming on the substrate an overlying waveguide comprising a waveguide taper and a waveguide facet. The overlying waveguide at least partially overlies the integrated semiconductor waveguide. The method further includes cutting the substrate about 1 μm and 200 μm from the waveguide facet.
US09810844B2 Methods and apparatus related to a side-fire optical fiber having a robust distal end portion
An aspect of the present disclosure may include an apparatus having an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide may have a distal end surface non-normal to a longitudinal centerline of a distal end portion of the optical waveguide, wherein the distal end surface may define a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical waveguide and incident on the portion of the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal centerline. The apparatus may further include a capillary component which may have a first portion of an inner surface heat-fused to a portion of an outer surface of the optical waveguide. The apparatus may also include a reinforcement component which may have a proximal end surface disposed distal to the distal end surface of the optical waveguide such that the distal end surface of the optical waveguide and the proximal end surface of the reinforcement component may be separated by a non-zero distance, and wherein a portion of an outer surface of the reinforcement component may be heat-fused to a second portion of the inner surface of the capillary component.
US09810840B2 Integrated on-chip polarizer
A low loss high extinction ratio on-chip polarizer is disclosed. The polarizer includes an input waveguide taper having an outer waveguiding region that widens in the direction of light propagation along at least a portion of the taper length, and a core waveguiding region that narrows in the direction of light propagation along at least a portion of the taper length, so as to selectively squeeze out light of undesired modes into the outer regions while preserving light of a desired mode in the waveguide core. An integrated light absorber/deflector may be coupled to the outer waveguiding regions.
US09810833B2 Display apparatus having folded light guide member
A display device includes a curved display panel and a backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a light guide film and a light source unit. The light guide film defines: a light emission part thereof facing the display panel, a folding part thereof extending from the light emission part to be folded in a folded state of the light guide film, and a light incident part thereof extending from the folding part to face the display panel with the light emission part therebetween, The light incident part is extended at a first end thereof from the folding part and defines a light incident surface of the light guide film at a second end of the light incident part opposite to the first end thereof. The light source unit is overlapped with the light emission part and face the light incident surface.
US09810832B2 Illumination device, display device, and television receiving device
An illumination device includes: a light source; an optical sheet having a rectangular shape and imparting an optical effect on light from the light source; a display component having a rectangular shape and being provided on the optical sheet; and a frame member having a frame shape surrounding the optical sheet and, on at least one edge of the optical sheet, selectively and directly or indirectly pressing an area that is located relatively more towards a center of the edge of the optical sheet than both sides of the edge so as to secure said area to the display component.
US09810831B2 Backlight unit of high light coupling efficiency
A backlight unit of high light coupling efficiency including a light guide plate, a first light source component and a second light source component disposed beside two neighboring side walls of the light guide plate, and a heat dissipation element that contacts a first substrate of the first light source component and a second substrate of the second light source component simultaneously and is disposed on a bottom of the light guide plate. The backlight unit of the present disclosure can effectively dissipate heat generated during the operation of the light source components, thereby avoiding the mura phenomenon caused by a change of a light coupling distance due to the expansion of the light guide plate because of overheating.
US09810830B2 Backlight module
A backlight module including a back plate which includes a flat plate, first and second wedges respectively formed at both ends of the flat plate, and a plurality of third wedges formed between the first and second wedges on the flat plate, wherein an angle between a long inclined plane of the first wedge and a flat plate, an angle between a long inclined plane of the second wedge and a flat plate, and an angle between an inclined plane of the third wedge and the flat plate are obtuse angle, acute angle and acute angle respectively; a first light source assembly disposed on the first wedge; a second light source assembly disposed on the second wedge; and a plurality of third light source assemblies, wherein each third light source assembly is disposed on the corresponding third wedge.
US09810829B2 Backlight module, having a deformable layer, display module and display device
The present disclosure provides a backlight module, a display module and a display device. The backlight module includes a plurality of backlight components in connection. Each backlight component includes: a light guide plate; a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) provided on a light entering side of the light guide plate; a deformable layer provided on a light exiting side of the light guide plate. A thickness of the deformable layer is changeable under a pressure so as to deflect original light rays from at least a portion of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs.
US09810827B2 Display device
A backlight unit includes a light source having an emission region, a wiring board having the light source mounted thereon, a light guide plate having a side surface into which light from the light source enters, and a front surface from which the light exits, a light shielding adhesive tape adhering to the wiring board, and an optical sheet which overlaps with the front surface of the light guide plate. The front surface of the light guide plate includes an effective region serving as a planar light source and a light entering region ranging from the side surface to the effective region. The wiring board and the light-shielding adhesive tape each have a part positioned in the light entering region, and the optical sheet is arranged from the effective region to the light entering region. An end portion of the optical sheet overlaps with the light-shielding tape.
US09810822B2 Angular optical filtering element for angular filtering having controlled angular selectivity
According to one aspect, the invention relates to an angular optical filtering element (Ei) optimized for angular filtering about a given operating angle of incidence (θi, 1) in a given spectral band. The angular filtering element (Ei) comprises a first nanostructured, band-pass, spectral filter (11i, 301) and a second nanostructured, band-pass, spectral filter (12i, 302). Each of the first and second spectral filters comprises, respectively, in said spectral band, a first and a second central filtering wavelength that respectively has a first and second angular dispersion curve defined depending on the angle of incidence (θinc) on the optical filtering element (Ei), the curves of angular dispersion being secant about the operating angle of incidence (θi, 1) of the optical filtering element. The invention applies to the production of a selective angular filtering device and to a multidirectional optical detection system.
US09810812B2 Method for producing contact lenses with durable lubricious coatings thereon
The invention is related to a method for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses with a stable lubricious hydrogel coating thereon. A method of the invention comprises forming a plasma-reactive hydrophilic polymer hybrid base coating having reactive functional groups on a silicone hydrogel contact lens and heating the silicone hydrogel contact lens with the hybrid base coating in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble and thermally crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material to form a stable lubricious hydrogel coating thereon.
US09810808B2 Oscillation device and measurement apparatus using the same
An oscillation device includes a waveguide structure including a first conductor layer, a second conductor layer, and a semiconductor layer disposed between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer and having a gain of an electromagnetic wave, an antenna unit configured to radiate the electromagnetic wave, a first connecting portion configured to connect the waveguide structure and the antenna unit, and a second connecting portion configured to connect the waveguide structure and the antenna unit. A first connecting position of the first connecting portion and the waveguide structure and a second connecting position of the second connecting portion and the waveguide structure are different from each other in a resonance direction in which the electromagnetic wave that resonates the waveguide structure resonates.
US09810806B2 Electronic frame for use with coupled conduit segments
An electronic frame for use in a downhole component coupling mechanism includes: a first frame element including at least one retaining structure configured to retain an electronic component; and a second frame element configured to be disposed at the first frame element, the second frame element permanently joined to the first frame element to isolate the electronic component from downhole fluids and form the electronic frame, the electronic frame configured to be disposed in a coupling assembly of a first downhole component and a second downhole component and constrained axially by the coupling assembly.
US09810805B2 Method and apparatus to detect a conductive body
Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to detect and locate conductive bodies and/or provide steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) steering operation. Tools can be configured with receiving sensors (310) arranged to cancel substantially a primary signal associated with a probe signal without rotating the receiving sensors to cancel the primary signal and to capture a secondary signal generated from a conductive body (301) below the earth's surface. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09810802B2 Method for managing the target location of a vessel
A method for managing a target location of at least a first vessel in a seismic survey involving at least one vessel, the first vessel performing a series of shoots according to a predefined set of shot points, called preplot. The method includes, during at least a part of the survey, computing an updated position of the center of the target location for the first vessel, using the trend, as a function of time, of a curve representing a time prediction shift for a shot point, for the first vessel, and depending on at least one parameter related to the capabilities of a vessel involved in the seismic survey.
US09810801B2 Method for swell effect and mis-tie correction in high-resolution seismic data using multi-beam echo sounder data
Provided is a method for swell effect and mis-tie correction in high-resolution marine seismic data using multi-beam echo sounder data, and more particularly, a method for swell effect and mis-tie correction in high-resolution marine seismic data using multi-beam echo sounder data capable of acquiring the high-resolution marine seismic data having the swell effect and the mis-tie effectively corrected by using the multi-beam echo sounder data including water depth data of a sea-bottom having high precision.
US09810799B2 Method for automatically assigning wireless seismic acquisition units to topographic positions
It is proposed a method for automatically assigning wireless seismic acquisition units to topographic positions, each wireless seismic acquisition unit includes a satellite navigation system receiver. The method has the following steps, carried out by an assigning device: obtaining topographic locations at which the wireless seismic acquisition units are expected to be laid; obtaining measured positions of the wireless seismic acquisition units, corresponding to or derived from position information provided by the satellite navigation system receivers when the wireless seismic acquisition units are installed on the ground, each near one of the topographic locations; and computing associations, each between one of the wireless seismic acquisition units and one of the topographic positions, as a function of a comparison between the measured positions and the topographic locations.
US09810794B2 Fabricating radiation-detecting structures
Methods for fabricating radiation-detecting structures are presented. The methods include, for instance: fabricating a radiation-detecting structure, the fabricating including: providing a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a plurality of cavities extending into the semiconductor substrate from a surface thereof; and electrophoretically depositing radiation-detecting particles of a radiation-detecting material into the plurality of cavities extending into the semiconductor substrate, where the electrophoretically depositing fills the plurality of cavities with the radiation-detecting particles. In one embodiment, the providing can include electrochemically etching the semiconductor substrate to form the plurality of cavities extending into the semiconductor substrate. In addition, the providing can further include patterning the surface of the semiconductor substrate with a plurality of surface defect areas, and the electrochemically etching can include using the plurality of surface defect areas to facilitate electrochemically etching into the semiconductor substrate through the plurality of surface defect areas to form the plurality of cavities.
US09810793B2 X-ray CT apparatus and data detection system for X-ray CT apparatus
According to one embodiment, a data detection system for an X-ray CT apparatus includes a data acquisition circuit and a connection structure. The data acquisition circuit includes at least one row of X-ray detection elements arrayed in a channel direction. The data acquisition circuit is configured to acquire data required for generating X-ray CT image data corresponding to the at least one row of the X-ray detection elements. The connection structure is configured to connect the data acquisition circuit with another data acquisition circuit directly or indirectly in a row direction.
US09810791B2 Radiation detector and method for manufacturing the same
According to the embodiment, a radiation detector includes an array substrate including a photoelectric conversion element, a scintillator layer formed on the photoelectric conversion element and converting radiation to fluorescence, and a moisture-proof layer including a surface-smoothing layer which is a continuous film formed to cover the scintillator layer and including at least an organic resin material as a main component and a moisture-proof layer which is a continuous film formed on a surface of the smoothed layer by direct film formation and consisting from inorganic material.
US09810788B2 Wide area positioning system
Positioning systems and methods for estimating an altitude of a receiver. In some embodiments, pressure and temperature information from a network of sensors is received by the receiver, and the pressure and temperature information from the network of sensors is used along with pressure information measured at a position of the receiver to estimate the altitude of the receiver.
US09810784B2 System and method for object position estimation based on ultrasonic reflected signals
A system for small space positioning comprises a transmitting element at a fixed and known location, which transmitting a modulated continuous wave, for example an ultrasonic wave, having a continuous carrier signal part and a base-band signal modulated thereon. The transmitting element transmits the modulated continuous wave over a range in which an object to be positioned may appear. A receiving element receives signals transmitted by the transmitting device and reflected by the object, and a position detection element determines a position of the object from analysis of both the carrier signal part and the base-band signal received from the reflected signal.
US09810783B2 Vehicle detection
In some examples, vehicle detection includes detecting a target vehicle that has at least one designated attribute, confirming that the detected target vehicle is within an unobstructed or partially obstructed line of sight of the first object, and confirming that the target vehicle has been detected within the unobstructed or partially obstructed line of sight of the first object.
US09810782B2 Vehicle radar system with image reflection detection
A radar system suitable for use on a vehicle and configured to detect a false radar-track arising from a reflection of a radar return from a target includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor outputs a first signal indicative of a first target in a first area proximate to a vehicle. The second sensor outputs a second signal indicative of a second target in a second area proximate to the vehicle and different from the first area. The controller receives the first signal and the second signal. The controller determines that the second target is a reflection of the first target when a reflection-line that bisects and extends orthogonally from a line-segment extending between the first target and the second target intersects with a reflection surface detected by the second sensor.
US09810779B2 Radar module and speed measuring device using same
To provide a radar module used for a speed measuring device or the like, in which dispersion of intensity distribution of electromagnetic waves emitted from the radar module via a lens is small, the radar module using a substrate with a plane antenna formed on a surface of the substrate includes: a lens having one end face that is plane and another end face that is spherical. In the radar module, a plane side of the lens is disposed to contact the plane antenna, and a spherical side of the lens is disposed in a remote field of the plane antenna.
US09810776B2 LIDAR scanner apparatus
A mechanical scanning system for the illuminating laser beam and return light in LIDAR imaging systems. The scanning system includes a flat mirror having reciprocating rotary motion around a horizontal axis for vertical scan of the illuminating laser beam and return light. The reciprocating rotary motion of the mirror is driven by a continuously rotating motor, a cam mounted on the motor and a follower connected to the mirror and driven by the cam. An encoder is connected to the mirror's shaft and provides position indication to the imaging control electronics.
US09810774B2 Short-range point defense radar
A multi-beam frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system designed for short range (<20 km) operation in a high-density threat environment against highly maneuverable threats. The multi-beam FMCW system is capable of providing continuous updates, both search and track, for an entire hemisphere against short-range targets. The multi-beam aspect is used to cover the entire field of regard, whereas the FMCW aspect is used to achieve resolution at a significantly reduced computational effort.
US09810773B2 Mitigation of anomalous propagation effects in radar
Disclosed is a method of mitigating the effects of anomalous propagation in a Radar system, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of returns from a plurality of transmit pulses; calculating a difference in magnitude between each of the plurality of returns and its successor; if one of the calculated differences indicates a first step change greater than a first predetermined threshold, calculating a first average magnitude of the returns received after the first step change, and replacing the returns received before the first step change with synthesised returns having a magnitude equal to the first calculated average magnitude.
US09810769B2 Device and method for displaying information, radar apparatus
This disclosure provides an information display device, which includes a sensor signal acquirer for acquiring a sensor signal indicating a content detected by a sensor, a signal processor for performing first signal processing and second signal processing different from the first signal processing, on the sensor signal, and a display unit for displaying on a screen image, first information of the sensor signal after the first signal processing, and partial information of second information of the sensor signal after the second signal processing in a different display mode from the first information, the partial information being different from the first information.
US09810762B2 Calculating mean wireless signal strengths using a gaussian process approach incorporating predictive standard deviations
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for providing outputs; e.g., location estimates, based on measurement bins (MBs) determined by a computing device. An MB can be associated with a wireless signal emitter (WSE), and can include a mean signal strength value (SSV) and a standard deviation of SSVs for each WSE associated with the MB. The computing device can designate a WSE. The computing device can determine a collection of the MBs associated with the designated WSE. The computing device can train a mean Gaussian process for the designated WSE based on the mean SSV and the standard deviation of SSVs of the collection of MBs. The mean Gaussian process can be associated with a covariance matrix having a diagonal entry based on a standard deviation of SSVs of an MB in the collection of MBs. The computing device can provide an estimated location based on the trained mean Gaussian process.
US09810761B2 Local area network assisted positioning
A method for assisting in locating a position of a mobile wireless device comprises: obtaining visible-station indications identifying base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the base stations comprising at least one cooperative terrestrial base station and at least one uncooperative WiFi terrestrial base station capable of bi-directional communications and configured to prevent data and/or voice communications with the mobile wireless device; sending, to an almanac processor, an indication of an approximate location of the mobile wireless device that comprises the visible-station indications; receiving an almanac of base stations comprising at least some of the visible-station indications and location indications indicating locations of the base stations visible from the mobile wireless device that correspond to the at least some of the visible-station indications; and determining a location of the mobile wireless device using the location indications.
US09810758B2 Method and system for concentrating magnetization of nuclear spins
Apparatuses and methods are provided for concentrating the magnetization of nuclear spins within a body, in one apparatus, a body having an electron spin moments and nuclear spin moments may subject to a polarizing magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field, such that a space-varied distribution of magnetic resonant frequencies of respective electron spin moments in the body is induced. The body may then be subject to a time-varying magnetic field configured to induce a spatial gradient of the electron spin magnetization such that concentrations of nuclear spin magnetization are induced. The body may be configured to receive a biological sample such that a concentration of nuclear spin magnetization may diffuse into the biological sample. The apparatus may further include a sensor configured to detect nuclear spin magnetization within the biological sample.
US09810756B2 Zero- and low-field transport detection system
A sensing apparatus for detecting and determining the magnitude of a static magnetic field has a first set of coils capable of producing a sweeping, quasi static, magnetic field when driven by a direct current and a second set of coils, for magnetic field modulation, positioned between the first set of coils capable of producing a low-frequency (audio), oscillating magnetic field when driven by an oscillating current. The magnetic fields induce a current through the semiconductor device which sampled to identify changes as a function of sweeping, quasi static magnetic field. To create an apparatus for detecting and identifying atomic scale defects in fully processed devices, a radio frequency circuit with a resonant component is added which provides an oscillating electromagnetic field in a direction perpendicular to that of the static magnetic field produced by the first set of coils.
US09810755B2 System and method for energizing a superconducting magnet
A system for energizing a main coil of superconducting magnet in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a cryostat comprising a housing. A first coil is positioned within the housing of the cryostat. Alternatively, the first coil may be positioned external to the housing of the cryostat. A second coil is coupled to the first coil and positioned external to the housing of the cryostat. The second coil is configured to inductively couple to the main coil. A controller is coupled to the first coil and the second coil and is configured to control the first coil and the second coil to induce current in the main coil.
US09810753B2 Wireless signal transmission in magnetic resonance systems
A method is described for the wireless signal transmission of a measurement signal and/or a control signal between two functional components of a MR system. The measurement signal and/or the control signal is encoded into a RF transmit signal with a predefined orbital angular momentum and this RF transmit signal is transmitted between transmit antenna arrangements of the functional components. In addition, the embodiments relate to a local coil and an orbital angular momentum transmit unit with which the method may be carried out, and also a MR system that has a local coil and an orbital angular momentum transmit unit of this type.
US09810749B2 Magnetic field measuring device with vibration compensation
A magnetic field measuring device with a holding body and a plurality of magnetoelectric cantilever sensors, each of which is designed to output one electrical voltage signal while it bends in the presence of a magnetic field, the cantilever sensors being non-positively connected or bonded to the holding body.
US09810747B2 Magnetic sensor and magnetic encoder
A magnetic sensor is provided with first and second magnetoresistive effect elements that can detect an external magnetic field. The first and second magnetoresistive effect elements include at least magnetization direction change layers where a direction of magnetization is changed according to an external magnetic field. The width W1 of a magnetization direction change layer in an initial magnetization direction of the magnetization direction change layer of the first magnetoresistive effect element, and the width W2 of a magnetization direction change layer in an initial magnetization direction of the magnetization direction change layer of the second magnetoresistive effect element have a relationship shown by formula (1) below. Sensitivity of the first magnetoresistive effect element to the external magnetic field is higher than that of the second magnetoresistive effect element. W1>W2  (1)
US09810746B2 Magnetic sensor
To provide a magnetic sensor which is reduced in power consumption without reducing magnetism detection sensitivity of a magnetoelectric transducing element. One end of a magnetoelectric transducing element is connected to an output electrode of a constant current circuit, and the other end thereof is connected to a power supply electrode on the positive side of one or plural signal processing circuits, and the like built in a magnetic sensor, whereby a connection relation of the magnetoelectric transducing element and the signal processing circuit is configured such that they are connected in series with a voltage source.
US09810723B2 Charge pump based over-sampling ADC for current detection
Techniques are presented for determining current levels based on the behavior of a charge pump system while driving a load under regulation. While driving the load under regulation, the number of pump clocks during a set interval is counted. This can be compared to a reference that can be obtained, for example, from the numbers of cycles needed to drive a known load current over an interval of the duration. By comparing the counts, the amount of current being drawn by the load can be determined. This technique can be applied to determining leakage from circuit elements, such as word lines in a non-volatile memory.
US09810722B2 Dual gap current sensor for multi phase conduction system
A three-phase current sensor for measuring currents running in three conductors of a three-phase conductor system includes at least a first magnetic measuring device. The magnetic measuring device includes a magnetic circuit provided with at least two gaps and a magnetic field sensor arranged in each gap of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic field sensors are positioned on both sides of a cavity sized to receive one of the three conductors. The gaps and thus the magnetic field sensors are positioned such that stray magnetic flux from an adjacent conductor has substantially equal amplitude passing through each of the sensors.
US09810720B2 System and method for monitoring a power line without connecting to ground
An improved system and method for monitoring power lines without connecting to ground is disclosed herein. An improved sensory assembly can comprise a first end, a second end, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, an analog to digital converter, and a sensory transceiver. The first end can be electrically connectable to a first phase of a power line. The second end can be electrically connectable to a second phase of the power line. The voltage sensor can be capable of measuring a voltage between the first phase and the second phase. The current sensor can be magnetically coupled to the power line. The analog to digital converter can be capable of receiving a first signal from the voltage sensor, and can be capable of receiving a second signal from the current sensor.
US09810715B2 High impedance compliant probe tip
A test probe tip can include a compliance member or force deflecting assembly and a tip component. The compliance member or force deflecting assembly can include a plunger component and a barrel component to receive the plunger component, wherein the plunger component is configured to slide axially inside the barrel component. The test probe tip can also include a spring mechanism within the barrel component to act on the plunger component, and a resistive/impedance element, e.g., a round rod resistor, coupled with the plunger component at one end and with the tip component at the opposite end.
US09810714B2 Probe pin and method for producing a probe pin
A probe pin (100, 100′) for electronic testing of semi-conductor elements is provided. The pin contains an electrically conductive core element (200) made up of a metallic alloy, and an electrically insulating jacket element (300) which surrounds the core element (200) over regions thereof. The core element (200) contains a distal contact section (210) for electrical contacting to a semi-conductor element. The metallic alloy of the core element contains at least 67% by weight rhodium, 0.1% by weight to 1% by weight zirconium, up to 1% by weight yttrium, and up to 1% by weight cerium. A method for producing a probe pin is also described.
US09810712B2 Physical quantity sensor, physical quantity sensor device, electronic equipment, and moving body
A physical quantity sensor includes: an oscillating body having a support section and a movable section which is connected to the support section through connection portions, in which the movable section has a first movable portion and a second movable portion; a first fixed electrode which is disposed to face the first movable portion; a second fixed electrode which is disposed to face the second movable portion; and a dummy electrode which is disposed to face the second movable portion so as not to overlap the second fixed electrode and has the same potential as potential of the oscillating body, in which the first fixed electrode is disposed such that a portion thereof overlaps the support section when viewed in a plan view.
US09810709B2 Flight time
Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself; etc.
US09810706B2 Vertical conveying device, laboratory sample distribution system and laboratory automation system
A vertical conveying device for the transport of sample container carriers having sample tubes received therein between a bottom level and a top level of a sample distribution system is presented. The vertical conveying device comprises a plurality of conveying surfaces which are movable along a circulating path. A sample distribution system having such a vertical conveying device and to a laboratory automation system having such a sample distribution system are also presented.
US09810704B2 Systems and methods for multi-analysis
Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.
US09810702B2 HDL-associated protein extraction and detection
Provided herein are compositions, systems, and methods for extracting and detecting at least one HDL-associated protein (e.g., ApoA1) from a sample (e.g., plasma or serum sample). In certain embodiments, a strong organic acid and hydrophilic organic solvent are mixed with the sample; after centrifugation, the supernatant is transferred to a second container where it is mixed with a non-polar organic solvent; after centrifugation, the lower aqueous layer is transferred to a third container; and then at least a portion of the transferred aqueous layer is subjected to a detection assay such that at least one HDL-associated protein is detected.
US09810701B2 Analysis of direct factor Xa inhibitors
The present invention relates to a method for detecting at least one direct factor Xa inhibitor in a sample other than citrate plasma, comprising the step of mixing a sample containing a factor Xa inhibitor with a composition containing factor Xa under conditions which allow the factor Xa to release a detectable substance from a chromogenic substrate.
US09810700B1 Fluorogenic calcium ion indicators and methods of using the same
The present disclosure provides fluorogenic compounds useful for preparing fluorescent calcium ion indicators, the fluorescent indicators themselves, and the use of the fluorescent indicators in methods of detection, discrimination and quantification of metal ions. The subject fluorogenic compounds and fluorescent ion indicators can include a chelating group based on a 2-aminophenoxyethylene glycol 2-aminoethyl ether, N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (PEGTA) moiety or precursor thereof where the phenyl group of the PEGTA is substituted with or fused with a fluorophore moiety of interest. The subject methods find use in the detection of intracellular calcium ions. Also provided are kits for use in practicing the subject methods.
US09810698B2 Neural proteins as biomarkers for nervous system injury and other neural disorders
The present invention identifies biomarkers that are diagnostic of nerve cell injury and/or neuronal disorders. Detection of different biomarkers of the invention are also diagnostic of the degree of severity of nerve injury, the cell(s) involved in the injury, and the subcellular localization of the injury.
US09810696B2 PGLYRP2 biomarker in idiopathic pneumonia syndrome
A method for characterizing the risk a subject will develop an autoimmune and/or alloimmune disease following tissue transplant includes obtaining a biological sample from the subject, wherein the subject has received the tissue transplant determining in the biological sample a level of at least one protein selected from Tables 1-4, comparing the measured level of the at least one protein to a control value, and characterizing a subject as at greater risk of developing an autoimmune disease and/or alloimmune disease if the level of at least one protein determined is increased or decreased compared to the control value.
US09810695B2 Markers for preeclampsia
This document provides methods and materials related to determining whether or not a pregnant mammal (e.g., a pregnant human) has preeclampsia. For example, methods and materials related to the use of urinary podocytes to determine whether or not a pregnant human has preeclampsia are provided.
US09810692B2 Methods for predicting the sensitivity of a subject to immunotherapy
The present invention relates to a method of assessing, predicting or monitoring the sensitivity of a subject having a tumor or cancer to an immunotherapeutic molecule acting on the subject's T cells, to a method of selecting an appropriate treatment of cancer, to a method of screening or identifying a compound suitable for improving the treatment of a cancer, and to the use of corresponding kits. The method of predicting or monitoring the sensitivity of a subject having a tumor to an immunotherapeutic molecule acting on the subject's T cells typically comprises a step a) of determining, in a biological sample from said subject, the expression level of soluble CD25 (sCD25) and, when the expression level is determined, a step b) of comparing at least said expression level to a reference expression level, thereby assessing whether the subject having a tumor is responsive or resistant to the immunotherapeutic molecule.
US09810690B2 Method for screening inhibitors of Ras
Provided herein are compositions, reactions mixtures, mutant Ras proteins, kits, substrates, and systems for selecting a Ras antagonist, as well as methods of using the same.
US09810684B2 Method for increasing number of stem cells in human or animal bodies
A method of evaluating an action includes (1) obtaining a first stem-cell data related to a subject before performing the action, (2) performing the action on the subject, (3) obtaining a second stem-cell data related to the subject after performing the action, and (4) identifying the effect of the action on the subject based on the first stem-cell data and the second stem-cell data. The subject may be a human or an animal. The action may be taking a drug or taking a nutrient or dietary supplement, which may include fucoidan. Each of the first and second stem-cell data may include the count of a type or types of stem cells and/or the percentage of the type or types of stem cells and may be obtained by the same method including counting cells using a cell counter or cell counting device such as flow cytometer.
US09810683B2 Use of live cell inteferometry with reflective floor of observation chamber to determine changes in mass of mammalian cells
The present invention provides optical systems and methods for determining a characteristic of a cell, such as cell type, cellular response to a biochemical event, biological state and the like. The methods typically involve using interferometry to observe membrane properties in a cell and then use this information to determine one or more characteristics of a cell. The methods of the invention are useful for applications such as drug screening as well as diagnostic techniques.
US09810680B2 Nanogap electronic detector for measuring properties of a biomolecule stretched in a nanochannel, and method thereof
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for measuring a property of an sample, the apparatus can manipulate, detect, and analyze the sample composed of single molecules, single small particles or single small samples of matter by drawing the sample into a nanofluidic channel and stretching the sample within the channel, passing the stretched sample through a gap having a width of less than or equal to 20 nm of a nanogap detector positioned inside or adjacent to the nanofluidic channel and measuring an output from the nanogap detector representative of the property of the sample.
US09810675B2 System and method for non-invasively and non-destructively authenticating bottled beverages
In one embodiment, authentication of a beverage is performed by forming an airtight seal with a bottle that contains the beverage, the bottle being sealed with a closure, applying a vacuum to the bottle to draw a sample from the closure that includes traces of the beverage, collecting the sample over time as the vacuum is applied to the closure, and performing testing on the collected sample.
US09810669B2 Techniques for quantification of samples
Techniques are described for quantification of molecules in a sample. Mass spectrometry is performed to obtain ionization intensities for precursor and product ions originating from a particular molecule. A first stet of precursor ions having the highest ionization intensities and originating from the particular molecule is determined. For each of the one or precursors in the first set, determined is a second set of one or more product ions that are fragments associated with said each precursor and have the highest ionization in intensities of product ions associated with said each precursor. An intensity sum is calculated for the particular molecule by adding ionization intensities of product ions included in the second sets for the one or more precursors in the first set. The intensity sum is compared to information included in a calibration standard. A quantity of the particular molecule in the sample is determined based on said comparing.
US09810663B2 Devices and methods for containing molecules
The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for containing molecules. In some embodiments, the device comprises a nanopore, a pore, and a cavity capable of entropically containing (e.g., trapping) a molecule (e.g., a biomolecule), e.g., for minutes, hours, or days. In certain embodiments, the method comprises urging a molecule into a cavity of a device by application of an electric field, and/or by deposition of fluids having different ionic strengths. The molecule may comprise, in some cases, nucleic acids (e.g., DNA). The molecule, when present in the cavity and/or the nanopore, may be capable of being analyzed, determined, or chemically modified. In some instances, a second molecule (e.g., a second molecule which interacts the first molecule) may also be urged into the cavity. In some embodiments, the interaction of the second molecule with the first molecule (e.g., the second molecule binding to or chemically modifying the first molecule) may be determined by, for example, a change in voltage measured across the device.
US09810661B2 Carbon nanotube biofet with a local amplifier in a system array for analysis of biomarkers and method of analysis of same
A bioFET cell for measuring a time dependent characteristic of an analyte bearing fluid includes a source, a drain, a semiconductive single wall carbon nanotube network layer extending between the source and drain electrodes and electrically coupled there between, a gate insulatively spaced from and disposed over and extending between the source and drain electrodes, a layer of at least one selected antibody disposed on and linked to the polymer layer to functionalize the semiconductive single wall carbon nanotube network layer to a selected target biomarker corresponding to the at least one selected antibody so that electron transport into the semiconductive single wall carbon nanotube network layer is facilitated, where the source, drain and gate electrodes with the carbon nanotube network layer form a defined channel through which the analyte bearing fluid may flow, and a high impedance source follower amplifier coupled to the source electrode.
US09810653B2 Integrated SMO gas sensor module
Miniature resistive gas detectors incorporate thin films that can selectively identify specific gases when heated to certain characteristic temperatures. A solid state gas sensor module is disclosed that includes a gas sensor, a heater, and a temperature sensor, stacked over an insulating recess. The insulating recess is partially filled with a support material that provides structural integrity. The solid state gas sensor module can be integrated on top of an ASIC on a common substrate. With sufficient thermal insulation, such a gas detector can be provided as a low-power component of mobile electronic devices such as smart phones. A method of operating a multi-sensor array allows detection of relative concentrations of different gas species by either using dedicated sensors, or by thermally tuning the sensors to monitor different gas species.
US09810650B2 Systems and methods for performing truncated-correlation photothermal coherence tomography
Photothermal imaging systems and methods are disclosed that employ truncated-correlation photothermal coherence tomography (TC-PCT). According to the example methods disclosed herein, photothermal radiation is detected with an infrared camera while exciting a sample with the chirped delivery of incident laser pulses (where the pulses have a fixed width), and time-dependent photothermal signal data is obtained from the infrared camera and processed using a time-evolving filtering method employing cross-correlation truncation. The cross-correlation truncation method results in pulse-compression-linewidth-limited depth-resolved images with axial and lateral resolution well beyond the well-known thermal-diffusion-length-limited, depth-integrated nature of conventional thermographic and thermophotonic modalities. As a consequence, an axially resolved layer-by-layer photothermal image sequence can be obtained, capable of reconstructing three-dimensional visualizations (tomograms) of photothermal features in wide classes of materials. Additional embodiments are disclosed in which the aforementioned systems and methods are adapted to photo-acoustic and acousto-thermal imaging.
US09810641B2 Systems and methods for measuring physical characteristics of semiconductor device elements using structured light
A method of determining a physical characteristic of an adhesive material on a semiconductor device element using structured light is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) applying a structured light pattern to an adhesive material on a semiconductor device element; (2) creating an image of the structured light pattern using a camera; and (3) analyzing the image of the structured light pattern to determine a physical characteristic of the adhesive material. Additional methods and systems for determining physical characteristics of semiconductor devices and elements using structured light are also provided.
US09810637B2 Plasmonic electricity
The present invention relates to detection systems and methods that detect fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence or phosphorescence signatures in the form of an electrical signal conducted and emitted from metallic containing surfaces. Thus, the present invention provides for detecting fluorescence digitally and directly without the need for expensive detectors.
US09810636B2 Induction device
A device for sustaining a plasma in a torch is provided. In certain examples, the device comprises a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along a radial plane of the torch. In some examples, the radial plane of the torch is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torch.
US09810635B2 Method of accurate thickness measurement of boron carbide coating on copper foil
A method is disclosed of measuring the thickness of a thin coating on a substrate comprising dissolving the coating and substrate in a reagent and using the post-dissolution concentration of the coating in the reagent to calculate an effective thickness of the coating. The preferred method includes measuring non-conducting films on flexible and rough substrates, but other kinds of thin films can be measure by matching a reliable film-substrate dissolution technique. One preferred method includes determining the thickness of Boron Carbide films deposited on copper foil. The preferred method uses a standard technique known as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICPOES) to measure boron concentration in a liquid sample prepared by dissolving boron carbide films and the Copper substrates, preferably using a chemical etch known as ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). Measured boron concentration values can then be calculated.
US09810634B2 Method for inhibiting self-absorption effect in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Provided is a method for inhibiting self-absorption effect of a LIBS, comprising ablating a to-be-measured sample via a pulse laser thereby generating plasma, and selectively stimulating the plasma using a wavelength-tunable laser beam enabling transition of particles in a ground-state in the plasma to high energy state as stimulated absorption, thereby improving a stimulated absorption transition efficiency of the particles in a ground-state, and preventing plasma spectrum from being influenced by self-absorption effect. The invention is capable of eliminating the self-absorption effect without introducing external interference, obtaining original characteristics of emission spectrum from the center of the plasma, and essentially inhibiting and finally eliminating the self-absorption effect of laser plasma by making use of intrinsic physical property of plasma.
US09810633B2 Classification of surface features using fluoresence
Provided herein is an apparatus, including a photon emitter configured to emit photons onto a surface of an article, a photon detector array configured to receive photons from surface features of the article; and a processing means configured for processing photon-detector-array signals corresponding to photons scattered from the surface features and photons fluoresced from the surface features, wherein the processing means is further configured for classifying the surface features of the article.
US09810632B2 Fluorescent substance detection system
In the present invention, a fluorescent substance detection system (S) for detecting fluorescent substances in any environment is provided. Said detection system (S) comprises at least one illumination unit (1) which emits light to said environment in order to excite said substances; detection units (2), at least at a number equal to the number of types of fluorescent substances, for detecting emissions coming from said excited fluorescent substances and bandpass filters (3), each connected to detection units (2) one by one, wherein bandpass filters (3) have a center wavelength matched to the center emission wavelength of corresponding fluorescent substance.
US09810631B2 Wavelength scanning apparatus and method of use thereof
A wavelength scanning apparatus that detects at least four different fluorescent emission wavelengths simultaneously or nearly simultaneously is described. The wavelength scanning apparatus includes a heating block having at least four sample wells, each sample well configured for receiving a sample, at least four excitation activation apertures, and at least four fluorescence emission discharge apertures. The wavelength scanning apparatus also includes an analysis scanner having at least four light sources, where the at least four light sources excite at least four fluorophores, at least four excitation light filters that filter out light except that of the desired excitation wavelength/s, at least four fluorescence emission light filters that filter out light except that of the desired fluorescent emission wavelengths, and at least four photodetectors to detect light of the desired fluorescent emission wavelengths.
US09810623B2 Quantification of a change in assay
The present invention relates to portable devices for point-of-care diagnostics that can perform measurements on a sample (e.g., blood, serum, saliva, or urine) and relay data to an external device for, e.g., data analysis. The device can comprise a paper-based diagnostic substrate and a base substrate that include electronic circuitry and electronic elements necessary for performing the measurements. The device can also comprise an antenna for near field communication with an external device. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of using these devices.
US09810621B2 Sample analyzer and method for replacing light source unit
Disclosed is a sample analyzer including: a transport apparatus configured to transport a sample rack holding a sample container; and a measurement apparatus body configured to measure a sample in the sample container held in the sample rack transported by the transport apparatus, wherein the transport apparatus includes a light source holding unit configured to detachably hold a light source unit, and the measurement apparatus body includes a detection unit configured to detect, via an analysis specimen containing the sample, light emitted from the light source unit held in the light source holding unit.
US09810618B2 Basophil analysis system and method
Provided herein are systems and methods for analyzing blood samples, and more specifically for performing a basophil analysis. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include: (a) staining a blood sample with an exclusive cell membrane permeable fluorescent dye; and then (b) using measurements of light scatter and fluorescence emission to distinguish basophils from other WBC sub-populations. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include performing a basophil cluster analysis of the blood sample, based on the combination of light scatter and fluorescence measurements.
US09810615B2 Calibration method for the brittle fracture assessment parameters for materials based on the Beremin model
A calibration method for brittle fracture assessment parameters for pressure vessel materials based on the Beremin model includes selecting at least two types of specimens of different constraints, and calculating the fracture toughness values K0 corresponding to 63.2% failure probability for each type of specimens at a same calibration temperature by using the respective fracture toughness data. The method proceeds by obtaining the stress-strain curve of the material at the calibration temperature, generating finite element models for each type of specimens, and calculating the maximum principal stress and element volume of every element at K=K0 in each model. A series of values of m are assumed to compute a group of σu values for each type of specimens, and then m˜σu curves are plotted for each type of specimens. Brittle fracture assessment parameters are then determined for the material according to the coordinates of the intersection of the m˜σu curves.
US09810608B2 Transparent frozen soil and preparation method and application thereof
The present invention discloses a transparent frozen soil, which is prepared from a fluorine-containing polymer, ice particles and a colorless pore fluid by steps of preparing materials, blending, vacuuming, and freezing. The fluorine-containing polymer is poly[4,5-difluoro-2,2bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dioxole-co-tetrafluoroethylene], with the refractive index of 1.31, and are particles with the particle diameter of 0.25-2.0 mm, and the density of 2.1-2.3 g/cm3. The present invention also provides the application of the above transparent frozen soil in the frozen soil directional blasting model test and the frozen soil road embankment model thaw-slumping test. The transparent frozen soil prepared by the present invention can well simulate the properties of natural transparent frozen sandy soil, is effectively used in model tests in the geotechnical engineering, with accurate measurement results, and can realize the visualization of the internal deformation of the soil body, and it is low in the expense, and simple in the operation.
US09810602B2 Method and system for measuring lens distortion
A method for measuring lens distortion, comprising: providing a test card having a dot matrix pattern of K×N dots, wherein the K and the N are both natural numbers (110); obtaining a distorted image of the test card after being distorted by a lens (120); establishing a planar coordinate system for the distorted image by using a dot at an upper left corner of the distorted image as a coordinate origin, a rightward direction from the origin as a positive direction of axis X, and a downward direction from the origin as a positive direction of axis Y (130); positioning a center dot of the distorted image and all non-center dots by scanning and searching, and determining coordinate values of the center dot and all the non-center dots in the planar coordinate system (140); and calculating a distortion amount of the distorted image by using the coordinate values of the center dot and all the non-center dots according to a distortion amount calculation equation for the distorted image, thereby obtaining a distortion amount of the lens (150). Also disclosed is a system for measuring lens distortion. The measurement method and system accelerates the image processing speed and improves the lens distortion measurement accuracy.
US09810595B2 Pipeline inspection apparatus
A pipeline inspection apparatus includes a main body. A sealing structure attached to the main body seals against an internal surface of the pipeline. An imaging module includes a camera and a light source. The light source is arranged to emit light in a direction towards the internal surface of the pipeline. The camera is arranged such that, in use, the camera captures image data of the internal surface of the pipeline. Control circuitry includes a power supply and memory for storing data captured by said camera, wherein the sealing structure forms a seal against the internal surface of the pipeline such that, in use, a fluid flowing along the pipeline applies a driving force to the pipeline inspection apparatus to propel the apparatus along the pipeline.
US09810593B2 Pedaling torque and power measuring device for a bicycle
A torque and power measuring device corresponding to the non-drive side cyclist leg, comprising a hollow shaft connecting the two bicycle crank arms with strain sensors arranged in the shaft surface. These sensors are connected to an electronic control unit housed inside the shaft, to which are also connected other different sensors to measure a plurality of interesting quantities (pedaling cadence, crank arm angular position . . . ). This electronic control unit picks the sensor signals up, stores them and performs pre-programmed software operations to later wirelessly output the result signals towards a receiving device for analysis and/or storage them, by means of an antenna located outside the shaft and anchored to the outer surface of the jointed crank arm with the shaft.
US09810591B2 System and method of analyzing athletic activity
Various sensor systems are described herein, including inserts having sensors thereon, which are configured to be received in an article of footwear. The inserts may be connected to a sole member of the footwear, or may function as a sole member. The sensors may be piezoelectric sensors in some configurations. The system may also include an electronic module that is overmolded into the sole structure and includes a connector for external access.
US09810585B2 Semiconductor device having a temperature circuit that provides a plurality of temperature operating ranges
A semiconductor device that may include at least one temperature sensing circuit is disclosed. The temperature sensing circuits may be used to control various operating parameters to improve the operation of the semiconductor device over a wide temperature range. In this way, operating specifications of a semiconductor device at worst case temperatures may be met without compromising performance at other operating temperatures. The temperature sensing circuit may provide a plurality of temperature ranges for setting the operational parameters. Each temperature range can include a temperature range upper limit value and a temperature range lower limit value and adjacent temperature ranges may overlap. The temperature ranges may be set in accordance with a count value that can incrementally change in response to the at least one temperature sensing circuit.
US09810583B2 Encoder circuit with feedback DAC
A temperature sensing system can include first and second temperature sensing circuits and a digitizing encoder. The first and second temperature sensing circuits can include respective devices with semiconductor junction areas. Temperature information can be determined from one or more characteristic signals measured from the temperature sensing circuits. A feedback circuit can be configured to provide one or more offset signals to the digitizing encoder. The one or more offset signals can correspond to components or characteristics of the first and second temperature sensing circuits. In an example, at least one of the first and second temperature sensing circuits can include an adjustable load circuit for use with the other of the first and second temperature sensing circuits.
US09810582B2 Temperature measuring board device and temperature measuring board thereof
A temperature measuring board for use in measuring an oven temperature of a reflow oven includes a modular substrate and a thermal compensation unit. The modular substrate includes a plurality of substrates assembled to each other. Each substrate has at least one first fixing portion, and at least one second fixing portion removably fixed to the first fixing portion of another substrate. A selected number of the substrates can be assembled to each other to form a desired shape of the modular substrate through engagement of the first and second fixing portions. The thermal compensation unit includes at least one surface-measured compensation member fixed to the modular substrate at a selected location.
US09810576B2 Variable wavelength optical filter module
A variable wavelength optical filter module according to the present invention includes a package, a variable wavelength optical filter, and a detector. The package includes a reflection part (reflecting faces) in the inside of the package. The variable wavelength optical filter is disposed in the inside of the package and includes a first reflecting plate and a second reflecting plate facing each other, with a clearance between the first reflecting plate and the second reflecting plate being variable. The detector is disposed in the inside of the package and detects a ray of light having passed through the variable wavelength optical filter. Then, the variable wavelength optical filter and the detector are disposed on the opposite side to the reflection part (reflecting faces). The ray of the light incident into the inside of the package via the variable wavelength optical filter enters the detector via the reflection part (reflecting faces).
US09810575B2 Tool to assist in paint matching
There are procedures typically used in auto body shops to assist in matching a proposed paint mix with that on undamaged portions of the vehicle. A test panel is taped to a stick and arranged next to the panel to be matched at a couple of angles. The present procedures are unrepeatable and often utilize two individuals. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a wand has a test panel portion with embedded magnets. The test panel is attracted to the test panel portion via the magnets and the wand holds onto the vehicle panel also via the magnets. The lower side of the test panel portion that sits against the vehicle has at least two flat surfaces at different angles so that the wand can be placed on the surface of the vehicle, or other surface, to assess the paint match from the different angles.
US09810567B2 Calibration-free continuous bin level sensor
A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.
US09810562B2 Brace bar for a vibrating meter
A brace bar (300, 400, 500, 600, 700) is provided. The brace bar (300, 400, 500, 600, 700) includes a brace bar body (302, 402, 502, 602, 702) with a perimeter, a first aperture (304a, 404a, 504a, 604a, 704a) and a second aperture (304b, 404b, 504b, 604b, 704b) in the brace bar body (302, 402, 502, 602, 702), and a gap (306, 406, 506, 606, 706) formed in the brace bar body (302, 402, 502, 602, 702) connecting the first aperture (304a, 404a, 504a, 604a, 704a) and the second aperture (304b, 404b, 504b, 604b, 704b) wherein the gap (306, 406, 506, 606, 706) is wholly contained within the perimeter of the brace bar body (302, 402, 502, 602, 702).
US09810561B2 Flow rate measuring apparatus
A flow rate measuring apparatus includes: a flow rate detecting device placed in an intake passage; a detection circuit for outputting an analog signal varying depending on the flow rate; a conversion circuit for converting the analog signal to a digital signal; a temperature detecting device for detecting an ambient temperature; and a correction circuit for primarily correcting the digital signal using a gain and/or an offset (correction coefficient) that can set the temperature coefficient in any appropriate way. The gain and/or the offset vary depending on the temperature coefficient set in any appropriate way and the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detecting device. Also, a plurality of the gains and/or the offsets are set depending on the flow rate, allowing the temperature characteristic error in flow rate measurement to be reduced.
US09810558B2 Pressure-based airflow sensing in particle impactor systems
Provided are systems and methods for accurate sensing of particle concentrations in fluids by employing a particle impactor system that allows for collection, growth and analysis of biological particles. The disclosed systems and methods make use of a pressure based flow sensor which permits the particle impactor system systems to accurately and reliably provide measurements of biological particle concentrations in the ambient environment. By incorporation of pressure sensors and pressure measurements into the flow measurement techniques, embodiments provide for the ability to use a particle impactor system to accurately measure environmental biological particle concentrations at a variety of atmospheric pressure conditions, such as at high altitude or with minimal perturbation from atmospheric weather conditions, without requiring recalibration or other adjustment of the sensors and control systems.
US09810556B2 Apparatus for measuring optical signals from multiple optical fiber sensors
There is described a sensor apparatus. It comprises an interrogator comprising a light source emitting pulses having a wavelength about an average wavelength; and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) arrangement. The arrangement comprises a FBG sensor array comprising a plurality of FBG sensors on an optical fiber and being for reflecting the pulses, thereby producing reflected pulses at each one of the FBG sensors. FBG sensors of a given FBG sensor array have a spatial separation therebetween which is sufficient to allow, at a receiver, a temporal discrimination between the reflected pulses produced by each one of the FBG sensors. The FBG sensor array has a spectral reflection window which comprises the average wavelength.
US09810554B2 Position measuring instrument
A position measuring instrument including a code carrier having first and second code tracks, each including an identical series of code elements, wherein each of the series of code elements has two subregions with complementary properties. A scanning unit having detectors for scanning code elements, wherein each of the code elements defines one corresponding code word, wherein each of the code words defines an absolute position in the measuring direction, and wherein the detectors form a corresponding scanning signal from each of the two subregions of the series of code elements. An evaluation unit generating one item of code information for each of the series of code elements from each corresponding scanning signal, and forming the corresponding code words from the one item of code information, wherein each of the code words is composed of N and K items of code information from successive code elements of the first and second code tracks, respectively, with N and K being greater than 1.
US09810548B2 Barometric calibration of user equipment
Techniques of barometric calibration of altitude determination by user equipments in a mobile communications network are discussed. In various embodiments, for a plurality of the user equipments, at least one subset of the user equipments is established. Barometric calibration data is determined for the established at least one subset and sent to the user equipments.
US09810545B2 Adaptive and personalized navigation system
Adaptive navigation techniques are disclosed that allow navigation systems to learn from a user's personal driving history. As a user drives, models are developed and maintained to learn or otherwise capture the driver's personal driving habits and preferences. Example models include road speed, hazard, favored route, and disfavored route models. Other attributes can be used as well, whether based on the user's personal driving data or driving data aggregated from a number of users. The models can be learned under explicit conditions (e.g., time of day/week, driver ID) and/or under implicit conditions (e.g., weather, drivers urgency, as inferred from sensor data). Thus, models for a plurality of attributes can be learned, as well as one or more models for each attribute under a plurality of conditions. Attributes can be weighted according to user preference. The attribute weights and/or models can be used in selecting a best route for user.
US09810540B1 Map reports from vehicles in the field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for assessing validity of a map using image data collected by a laser sensor along a vehicle path. The method may compile image data received from the laser sensor. The map subject to assessment may define an area prohibiting entry by a vehicle.
US09810539B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for correlating probe data with map data
A method is provided for partitioning probe data into a plurality of subsets, map matching a portion of the subsets and establishing a route based on the map-matched subsets of probe data. A method is provided that includes: receiving probe data points from a plurality of probes, where an uncertainty of the measurement of the probe data is a first distance; partitioning the probe data from the plurality of probes into subsets of probe data, where the subsets are created by ensuring each subset has probe data points that are at least two times the first distance apart from one another; performing map-matching on each subset of probe data; and establishing a route for each subset based on the map-matching of each subset of probe data. Establishing a route for each subset may include determining a route according to at least one of the shortest, fastest, or simplest routes.
US09810537B2 Method of previewing off-road trails and viewing associated health requirements and related system
A method of previewing off-road trails and viewing associated health requirements includes receiving selection of an off-road trail from a user, and displaying an overview of the selected off-road trail in response to receiving selection of the selected off-road trail from the user, the overview of the selected off-road trail indicating latitude and longitude coordinates associated with the selected off-road trail, elevation data associated with the selected off-road trail, and recommended minimum health guidelines associated with the selected off-road trail.
US09810532B2 Substrate treating apparatus and substrate treating methods
In a state of mapping sensors having been advanced into a carrier by a sensor advance/withdraw mover, a sensor lifting and lowering device moves the mapping sensors up and down. With this movement, the mapping sensors detect presence or absence of substrates in a horizontal direction crossing a fore-and-aft direction in which the substrates are moved into and out of the carrier, and a height sensor detects heights of the mapping sensors. Consequently, substrate heights are detected in two different locations in the fore-and-aft direction. Based on the substrate heights, a substrate condition acquiring unit acquires a tilt of each substrate relative to the horizontal in the fore-and-aft direction. The tilt of each substrate inside the carrier is acquired in advance, thereby to be able to prevent substrate damage due to contact between a hand of a substrate transport mechanism and the substrates.
US09810531B2 System, in particular a manufacturing system
A system for an installation and a method for operating a system, including stationary transceiver modules and a vehicle having a transceiver module, the individual transceiver module having a controllable light source and a light sensor, so that a data transmission is able to be carried out between the vehicle and the stationary modules.
US09810526B2 Method for measuring three-dimensional shape of silica glass crucible, and method for producing monocrystalline silicon
A method for measuring a three-dimensional shape of an inner surface of a vitreous silica crucible which enables the measurement of the three-dimensional shape of the inner surface of the crucible without contaminating the inner surface of the crucible, is provided. According to the present invention, a method for measuring a three-dimensional shape of a vitreous silica crucible, including a fogging step to form a fog onto an inner surface of the vitreous silica crucible, a three-dimensional shape measuring step to measure a three-dimensional shape of the inner surface, by measuring a reflected light from the inner surface irradiated with light, is provided.
US09810525B2 Bolt sensor
There is provided a bolt sensor which detects a fastened state of a bolt. The bolt sensor includes a sensor body including a through hole into which a shaft of the bolt is to be inserted, a light guide extending along an outer periphery of the sensor body, and a light source configured to emit light to the light guide based on output of the sensor body.
US09810523B2 Damage determination of V-shaped groove guide on roller V-shaped
A method for determining if a wire guide roller having a plurality of V-shaped grooves, each having a copper line thereon, arranged column-by-column on a periphery direction thereof is failed after slicing a plurality of wafers is disclosed. Based on the disclosed technical means, the efficacy may be achieved that a damage situation may be automatically examined and notified to maintain a yield in the slicing process in an online high speed environment.
US09810521B2 Displacement detection apparatus
A displacement detection apparatus capable of stably and accurately detecting the amount of displacement. The length of a polarization maintaining fiber for transmitting the light from a light source to a displacement detector is set not to be equal to a length obtained by dividing, by the wavelength of the light source, a product of an even integral multiple of a length, which is obtained by multiplying twice the length of a resonator by the refractive index of the resonator, and a beat length obtained by a difference between the propagation constants of two polarization modes. Alternatively, the length of the polarization maintaining fiber is set to be larger than a length, which is obtained by dividing, by the wavelength of the light source, a product of a coherence length and a beat length obtained from a difference between the propagation constants of two polarization modes.
US09810519B2 Arrangements for magnetic field sensors that act as tooth detectors
A variety of magnetic field sensor arrangements provide so-called “tooth detectors” using a simple low-cost magnet.
US09810513B2 Munition modification kit and method of modifying munition
An existing munition may be modified, using a modification kit, to provide enhanced fragmentation effects. The munition may be enclosed in an airframe, which also contains preformed fragments, and one or more adapters may be used to provide connections through the airframe. The adapters may be used to substitute for types of connectors already on the existing munition. The adapters may include one or more of an adapter for coupling a tail kit to a tail of the munition, an adapter for coupling a nose kit to a nose of the munition, and an adapter for coupling lugs to the munition. The adapters may engage couplers on the munition, and/or may engage the airframe. The modification of the existing munition may transform the existing munition into a fragmentation weapon, for example usable for height-of-burst detonation to spread fragments over a large area.
US09810502B2 Method and apparatus for firearm recoil simulation
A method and apparatus for firearm training simulator which simulates realistic recoil of conventional firearms. The method and apparatus incorporates a linear motor and controllable mass for generating recoil. One embodiment includes an adjusting system for adjusting the amount of recoil provided. Also provided are means for simulating semi-automatic and/or full automatic operation of firearms. One embodiment can include a laser emitter which simulates the path for a bullet fired from a firearm that the method and apparatus is simulating.
US09810501B2 Gun standoff device
A gun standoff device may include an elongated body having crenulations at a first end and an attachment mechanism at a second end. The crenulations at the first end may provide a plurality of radially disposed teeth about the circumference of the first end. The attachment mechanism may allow attachment of the elongated body to a gun barrel, a gun magazine, or other gun component.
US09810500B2 Electromechanical trigger guard protective enclosure
The electromechanical trigger guard protective enclosure is a safety device intended to prevent access to the trigger of any firearm with an accessory rail. The present invention has a keypad, which activates the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism either covers the trigger or slides open revealing the trigger for use. The protective enclosure is affixed to the accessory rail on a gun, ensuring that it is able to be used at all times, preventing any inability to properly enclose the trigger. This protective sheath allows for the weapon to remain loaded and ready to fire at all times, aiding greatly in times of self-defense.
US09810490B2 Device, method and plate heat exchanger
A device and a method for assessing a gasket pressure of a gasket arrangement between two adjacent heat transfer plates of a plate heat exchanger is provided. The gasket arrangement seals between adjacent heat transfer plates to define a flow channel between adjacent heat transfer plates, and the gasket arrangement is arranged to be exposed to a fluid passing through the flow channel. The device comprises a test object and a holder which are adapted to be arranged in a flow path of the fluid. The holder is arranged to hold the test object and the test object is arranged to be exposed to the fluid. The device is adapted to be arranged outside a space delimited by the adjacent heat transfer plates. The test object is arranged to be evaluated for an indirect assessment of the gasket pressure of the gasket arrangement.
US09810488B2 Device for cooling a film, comprising a lever system
The invention relates to a device for cooling a film (1) which can be produced in a film extrusion system in particular, comprising a housing (11) that has at least one channel (12), at least one inlet opening (13), and at least one outlet opening (14) through which a cooling gas (2) can flow and comprising an adjusting arrangement (10) with which the cooling gas (2) volumetric flow rate that can flow out of the outlet opening (14) and the temperature of the cooling gas (2) that can flow out of the outlet opening (14) can be adjusted. According to the invention, the adjusting arrangement (10) comprises a lever system which has a movable actuator (15) and a movable valve element (16), said actuator (15) acting on the valve element (16) such that an actuating effect of the valve element (16) is reinforced.
US09810485B2 Heat exchanger II
A heat exchanger comprises a stack of mutually spaced apart plates. The plates are separated by respective spacings therebetween. Alternate spacings respectively provide a flow path for a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger further comprises a first header for inflow of the first fluid and a second header for outflow of the first fluid. The first and second headers are connected to the plate stack by flexible tubular ducting means.
US09810476B2 Refrigerator
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator of which door is opened without interference by a structure positioned next to a side of the refrigerator. Since a main body and the door of the refrigerator are provided with hinge units, while the door is opening, the hinge units rotate in a direction in which the door rotates while protruding, and thus the structure positioned next to the side of the refrigerator is not positioned in a radius of rotation of the door, and the door may rotate without interference. In addition, hinge covers which move in conjunction with the movement of the hinge units are provided at one sides of the hinge units. When the hinge units protrude due to the opening of the door, since protrusions of the hinge units are provided not to be exposed by one ends of the hinge covers sliding.
US09810470B2 Manual ice maker and refrigerator comprising with the same
A manual ice maker and a refrigerator comprising the same are provided. The manual ice maker comprises: an ice making body being a frame formed with an opening, and provided with a first positioning hole in a front wall thereof, a second positioning hole in a rear wall thereof and a first limiting protrusion on an inner surface of the rear wall thereof; an ice making tray provided with a first shaft at a front end thereof and a second shaft at a rear end thereof, the first shaft rotatably supported in and extended out of the first positioning hole, the second shaft rotatably supported in the second positioning hole; and an ice removing assembly. The ice removing assembly comprises: a twisting member provided with a gear; and a press member movable between a first position and a second position in a vertical direction to drive the gear to rotate.
US09810465B2 Heat pump system for vehicle
A heat pump system for a vehicle delays the change of the direction of a directional valve for a given period of time and then conducts the change of the direction of the directional valve, upon receiving the mode change signal between an air conditioner mode and a heat pump mode, thus preventing the generation of the noise and vibration caused by the differential pressure of a refrigerant.
US09810463B2 Integrated air conditioning system and control device thereof
An integrated air conditioning system includes an indirect outdoor air cooler having a first heat exchanger for passing through indoor air as warm air, a second heat exchanger for passing through outdoor air, and piping and a pump for circulating a fluid through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; an air conditioner having an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser, for passing the indoor air to convert to cold air; a fan for passing the outdoor air through the second heat exchanger and the condenser; and a control device. The control device sets any mode from among a first mode for performing an individual operation of the indirect outdoor air cooler, a second mode for performing an individual operation of the air conditioner, or a third mode for performing a combined operation of the air conditioner and the indirect outdoor air cooler, to a current operation mode.
US09810458B2 Falling film evaporator
A falling film evaporator includes a heat transfer tube bundle with a heat medium channeled to an interior, a tank with a refrigerant inflow port having the heat transfer tube bundle disposed in the tank, a liquid refrigerant sprinkling part arranged to drop liquid refrigerant onto the heat transfer tube bundle, a vapor outlet tube extending from an upper part of the tank, a cover having a portion positioned in a location inside the tank and higher than the liquid refrigerant sprinkling part, and an impeding member provided between the liquid refrigerant sprinkling part and the cover at a different position than the vapor outlet tube along the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer tubes. The impeding part impedes the flow of refrigerant that flows between the liquid refrigerant sprinkling part and the cover and flows in the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer tubes.
US09810456B2 Heat pump apparatus
A heat pump apparatus (100) includes an evaporator (10), an electrochemical compressor (11), a condenser (16), a refrigerant delivery path (18), and a non-condensable gas return path (28). The non-condensable gas return path (28) is provided separately from the refrigerant delivery path (18), and is configured to communicate a discharge-side high-pressure space of the electrochemical compressor (11) with a suction-side low-pressure space of the electrochemical compressor (11) so as to return a non-condensable gas from the high-pressure space to the low-pressure space. The non-condensable gas is, for example, hydrogen gas.
US09810451B2 Oilfield application of solar energy collection
Solar energy is collected and used for various industrial processes, such as oilfield applications, e.g. generating steam that is injected downhole, enabling enhanced oil recovery. Solar energy is indirectly collected using a heat transfer fluid in a solar collector, delivering heat to a heat exchanger that in turn delivers heat into oilfield feedwater, producing hotter water or steam. Solar energy is directly collected by directly generating steam with solar collectors, and then injecting the steam downhole. Solar energy is collected to preheat water that is then fed into fuel-fired steam generators that in turn produce steam for downhole injection. Solar energy is collected to produce electricity via a Rankine cycle turbine generator, and rejected heat warms feedwater for fuel-fired steam generators. Solar energy is collected (directly or indirectly) to deliver heat to a heater-treater, with optional fuel-fired additional heat generation.
US09810450B2 Water heater
A water heater includes a burner generating combustion gas, a heat exchanger heating water which flows through the inside, through heat exchange with combustion gas generated in the burner, a fan supplying air to the burner, and a housing storing these components. The water heater has a water entry portion in a top plate of the housing. A water supply pipe for supplying water to the inside of the heat exchanger is connected to the water entry portion. The water entry portion is arranged to be included, in a plane view, in at least one component constituting the heat exchanger and an exhaust path for combustion gas which has passed through the heat exchanger. The component is made of a material having corrosion resistance against drainage water resulting from condensation of combustion gas.
US09810442B2 Controlling an HVAC system in association with a demand-response event with an intelligent network-connected thermostat
Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for carrying out a demand response (DR) event via an intelligent, network-connected thermostat associated with a structure. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat is operable to control an HVAC system. Control during a DR event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function comprising a combination of a first factor representative of a total energy consumption during the DR event period, a second factor representative of a metric of occupant discomfort, and a third factor representative of deviations of a rate of energy consumption over the DR event period.
US09810439B2 Energy exchange system for conditioning air in an enclosed structure
Certain Embodiments provide an energy exchange system that includes a supply air flow path, an exhaust air flow path, an energy recovery device disposed within the supply and exhaust air flow paths, and a supply conditioning unit disposed within the supply air flow path. The supply conditioning unit may be downstream from the energy recovery device. Certain embodiments provide a method of conditioning air including introducing outside air as supply air into a supply air flow path, pre-conditioning the supply air with an energy recovery device, and fully-conditioning the supply air with a supply conditioning unit that is downstream from the energy recovery device.
US09810437B2 Optimal energy saving for kitchen hood systems
Systems and methods optimize energy savings associated with a kitchen hood system. Embodiments of the present invention relate to adequately exhausting a gaseous substance while minimizing the devotion of unnecessary energy. An identification module identifies a plurality of parameters associated with the kitchen hood system. Each parameter has an impact on the overall efficiency of the kitchen hood system. A weighting module weights each parameter. A weight associated with each parameter is representative of a predicted impact each parameter has on the overall efficiency that the kitchen hood system operates relative to each other parameter. An incorporation module incorporates the weight of each parameter into a reduction factor. The reduction factor is representative of an overall impact that the plurality of parameters has on the overall efficiency that the kitchen hood system operates.
US09810433B2 Inclined fuel injection of fuel into a swirler slot
A combustor for a gas turbine is provided. The combustor includes a pre-combustion chamber having a center axis and a swirler which is mounted to the pre-combustion chamber. The swirler surrounds the pre-combustion chamber in a circumferential direction with respect to the center axis. The swirler has a bottom surface which forms a part of a slot through which oxidant/fuel mixture is injectable into the pre-combustion chamber, wherein the bottom surface is located in a bottom plane. The swirler further includes a fuel injector which is arranged to the bottom surface such that a fuel is injectable into the slot with a fuel injection direction, wherein a first component of the fuel injection direction is non-parallel to the normal (n) of the bottom plane.
US09810432B2 Method for premixing air with a gaseous fuel and burner arrangement for conducting said method
A method for premixing air with a gaseous fuel for being burned in a combustion chamber includes: guiding the air in an air stream along a burner axis through a coaxial air tube into a combustion chamber arranged at an end of said air tube; and impressing a swirl on the air stream by passing it through a first swirl device concentrically arranged within the air tube and comprising a plurality of radially oriented first blades. The method further includes: injecting gaseous fuel into the air stream at the first swirl device; and mixing said air in said air stream with the injected gaseous fuel in a first mixing zone arranged just after said first swirl device.
US09810430B2 Conjoined grommet assembly for a combustor
A conjoined grommet assembly for a combustor wall assembly of a gas turbine engine has a first grommet defining at least in-part a first dilution hole, and a second grommet defining at least in-part a second dilution hole. The first and second dilution holes are spaced closely together such that the first grommet is in contact with the second grommet.
US09810426B2 Smart candle platform and system
A Smart Candle Platform may be configured to produce candle light using a natural wax candle as its fuel source or any other fuel source capable of producing light, including liquid fuels if so configured. The outer shell, inner cover, top cover and base provides a beautiful exterior shell which does not melt but emulates the look of a traditional pillar candle. The outer shell may be changeable/replaceable allowing for style and or seasonal changes. A Smart Candle Platform having multiple interactive systems and sensors for production of natural light via a safe, controllable device which may communicate with other similar configured devices or smart devices having application software embedded therein i.e. a smart phone having an app. is disclosed. The Smart Candle Platform may be configured to allow for auto-extinguishment. The Smart Candle Platform may be configured to allow for the addition of smells or scents.
US09810423B2 Laser for steam turbine system
A steam turbine system uses a laser to instantaneously vaporize water in a nozzle within a turbine. This steam is then used to rotate the turbine. Thus, the turbine system does not require an external boiler. The steam turbine system may be used in either an open system, where the steam passing through the turbine is not condensed and reused, or a closed system, where the steam passing through the turbine is condensed and reused.
US09810422B2 Floating apparatus for fixing membrane cable for fan module lighting
A floating apparatus for fixing a membrane cable coupled to a fan gantry within an information handling system is disclosed. The floating apparatus includes a flange member with a horizontal planar portion and a vertical planar portion. The vertical planar portion is configured for insertion into an edge connector and includes and an overhang on the anterior side of the vertical planar portion most distal to the horizontal planar portion. The flange member is further configured to attach to a membrane cable and is connected to support members, which allow the floating apparatus to move in a plurality of alignment positions.
US09810416B2 Method for manufacturing a lamp-housing-type heat-sink, lamp-housing-type heat-sink, and LED lighting device
A lamp-housing-type heat-sink in an LED lighting device is provided, which is a hollow middle part formed monolithically by extending a high purity aluminum plate with a thickness of 0.5 mm to 5 mm and an aluminum content of above 95%. The heat-sink has a heat-sinking surface and housing body. A surface contact structure is formed between the heat-sinking surface and a circuit board, and several radiating holes are set on the housing body to form heat dissipation channels. A method for manufacturing the lamp-housing-type heat-sink in LED lighting device is also provided. The lamp-housing-type heat-sink uses fewer materials and costs less than conventional die-cast aluminum housing, while providing a higher thermal conductivity co-efficient.
US09810414B2 Lighting apparatus and lighting control system
Disclosed are a lighting apparatus and a lighting control system. The lighting apparatus includes a heat radiation frame, at least one light emitting device on the heat radiation frame, a diffusion frame provided on the heat radiation frame to protect the at least one light emitting device and diffuse a light emitted from the at least one light emitting device, and a support frame provided under the heat radiation frame and having a receiving space to receive at least one module. The module includes a wireless communication module to transmit or receive a control single of the at least one light emitting device. The power supply module is physically separated from the wireless communication module.
US09810411B2 Pistol mounted light and operation thereof
A flashlight for use with a pistol, the pistol having a trigger guard and a mounting rail. The flashlight includes an elongated housing having a clamping mechanism for mounting to the mounting rail, a light source at one end thereof, and paddle switches at an opposing end.
US09810410B1 LED light having LED cluster arrangements
An improved light-emitting diode (LED) light fixture can include a circuit board, multiple LED clusters, and a master power controller. The LED clusters can be arranged on the circuit board and can include at least seven LEDs electrically connected in series and a regulator circuit. The LEDs of an LED cluster can be arranged such that one LED is located at a central point of the LED cluster and the remaining LEDs are arranged in a circular geometry around the center LED. The master power controller can be coupled to the circuit board and can be configured to control power provided to the LED clusters.
US09810408B2 Portable lighting apparatus
A lighting apparatus has an upper hub, a base, a lower hub, and a pair of illumination devices that are pivotably supported at the upper hub, with each illumination device being pivotable up and down towards each other, as well as being rotatable. A telescoping shaft assembly has an inner shaft and an outer shaft, with the inner shaft telescopically received inside the outer shaft, the inner shaft having an upper end that is secured to the upper hub, and the outer shaft having a lower end that is secured to the base. A plurality of legs are connected to the lower hub and the base for pivoting motion therebetween.
US09810402B2 Light conversion substrate and light emitting package and automobile lamp including the same
Provided are a light conversion substrate intended for converting an excited beam into a conversion beam, and a light emitting package including the light conversion substrate, the light conversion substrate being implemented in a structure in which side parts of the light conversion substrate for converting a beam emitted from a light emitting element are formed to have different tapers so that uniform color distribution can be implemented all over the entire surface of the light conversion substrate upon packaging the light conversion substrate with the light emitting element.
US09810401B2 Luminescent trim light assembly
A vehicle trim light assembly is provided herein. The trim light assembly includes a substrate mated to a housing. A light source and luminescent structure are disposed within the substrate and housing. The light source provides light at a first wavelength. The luminescent structure is excited by light at the first wavelength thereby emitting light at a second wavelength through the housing to provide lighting to an occupant within the vehicle.
US09810400B2 Adjustable reflector device for light fixtures
An adjustable reflector device for light fixtures is disclosed. The device comprises a reflector sheet made of a resiliently flexible material with at least one reflective surface folded and flexed along two parallel pivot axes into a concave arrangement of one central section and two flexible wings behind a high-intensity discharge lamp, such that the degree of concavity of the reflector can be adjusted to a plurality of predetermined degrees relative to the lamp by flexing or bending the wings radially around the pivot axes without the use of tools, thereby allowing horticulturists in the field to adjust the geometry of the light beam emitted in order to provide plants positioned below the fixture with a uniform pattern of light radiation of different intensities as needed at different stages of plant growth.
US09810398B2 Optical device
An optical device (100) includes laser light sources (111 to 113), polarization films (121 to 123), and a stacked wave plate (130). The laser light sources (111 to 113) respectively output light of a different wavelength. The stacked wave plate (130) includes multiple wave plates (131 to 133) and induces a phase difference on polarization components of transmitted light. The polarization films (121 to 123) adjust the polarization direction of the light such that an angle between polarization directions of the light emitted by the laser light sources (111 to 113) and input to the stacked wave plate (130) becomes an angle that corrects an orientation angle difference that occurs at the stacked wave plate (130), consequent to differences in the wavelength of the light.
US09810394B2 Vehicular signal and daytime running light assemblies with uniform illumination
A vehicular signal assembly that includes an inner chamber defined by a substrate comprising LED light sources and spaced apart, corresponding Fresnel lenses; and an outer chamber defined by the Fresnel lenses and an outer lens comprising optical elements. The outer lens can have a width of at least 12 mm. Further, each LED source emanates incident light directly through the chambers to produce a light pattern with a contrast ratio of 3:1 or less, e.g., a daytime running light pattern. Each LED source can also emanate incident light directly through the corresponding Fresnel lens an outer lens to produce the daytime running light pattern.
US09810389B2 Planar optical member and daylighting device
A daylighting device of the present invention is provided with a planar optical member 1 and a support member. The planar optical member 1 is provided with a planar structure body which has a plurality of linear bodies 3 formed of optically transparent materials which are arrayed substantially in parallel and a plurality of binding members which are arranged in a direction which intersects with the plurality of the linear bodies 3 and which bind the plurality of the linear bodies 3 in a state of being arrayed substantially in parallel. The linear bodies 3 have reflective surfaces which reflect light which is incident to the linear body 3 along a direction which intersects with a length direction of the linear body 3 and refractive surfaces which refract the light.In at least a part of a planar structure body, the orientations of reflective surfaces of at least some of the linear bodies out of the plurality of linear bodies 3 substantially match and the orientations of the refractive surfaces of at least some of the linear bodies substantially match.
US09810376B2 Method and system for storage and transport of liquefied petroleum gases
A method for storage and transport of LPG on LPG carriers, in particular two cargoes of different LPG types on same shipment, having reliquefaction units in which vaporized gases are condensed and then returned into at least one cargo tank for the respective LPG cargo type. The method is further comprising: using the reliquefaction units, at a minimum one running, as to condense vapour from the first cargo type; passing the condensed vapour through a heat exchanger; simultaneously flowing vapour from the second cargo type through the heat exchanger as to condense vapour by means of heat exchanging with the condensed vapour; and returning the condensed vapours leaving the heat exchanger back into the respective cargo types. The present invention is also disclosing a system for storage and transport of LPG on LPG carriers.
US09810373B2 Filter device
A filter device may include a filter housing and a filter element defining a longitudinal axis disposed in the filter housing. The filter element may be configured to be penetrated by a fluid flow in a radial direction from a raw end to a pure end of the filter element. A water separator may be disposed at the pure end of the filter element and arranged axially spaced from the same. The water separator may have a hydrophobic and annular diaphragm extending in an axial direction of the filter element configured to be penetrated by the fluid flow from a raw end of the water separator in a radially outward to a radially inward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis to separate water from the fluid flow.
US09810370B2 Desk mount for computer display(s)
Apparatus and method for positioning a computer workstation relative to a work surface, the apparatus including a base, wherein the base includes at least one attachment mechanism located on a bottom surface of the base, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism is configured to affix the base to the work surface; a support column that extends upward from the base; a display mount movably coupled to the support column such that the display mount is configured to move in a first range of travel relative to the base; and a keyboard tray movably coupled to the support column such that the keyboard tray is configured to move in a second range of travel relative to the base.
US09810367B2 Equipment leveler
A leveling device and an apparatus that utilizes the leveling device are described. The leveling device includes a main body, a rod rotatably coupled with the main body, an elevator block rotatably coupled with the rod and slidably coupled with a base block of the main body, and an elevator pin slidably coupled with the base block of the main body and slidably coupled with a sloped surface of the elevator block. A rotation of the rod causes a linear movement of the elevator block, which, in turn, causes a movement of the elevator pin in a direction that is perpendicular to the movement of the elevator block.
US09810364B2 Gripping apparatus and devices for plugging of pipes, orifices or connecting
A gripping apparatus for use in gripping a pipe, for holding forces, or restraining relative movement. The pipe defines an inside radius. The gripping apparatus has an outer surface where the outer surface defines a transition surface or a curve. In certain embodiments the transition surface or curve has a radius less than or equal to the inside radius of the pipe.
US09810360B2 Quick coupling for connecting during fluid flow in a hydraulic circuit
A coaxial coupling 10 includes a female coupling half 50 and a male coupling half 130. The coupling 10 is used in a hydraulic circuit 100 that includes a multistage hydraulic pump 101 and a hydraulic machine 102. The coupling is used in the circuit 100 to connect components when the pump is running. The coupling halves have a disconnected configuration (FIG. 1), a connection initiation configuration (FIG. 2), and a fully connected configuration (FIG. 3). Coupling half 50 includes a manually actuated restrictor 1 that signals the pump 101 to move to a low flow condition independently of load demand from the machine 102 in the connection initiation configuration. This reduces the forces required to move the coupling halves from the connection initiation configuration to the fully connected configuration.
US09810359B2 Pipe coupling
Each gripper washer 22 is disposed between a gasket retaining ring 18 and an end connector 14. The gripper washers 22 can be any size and dimension, and made from any material, including but not limited to plastic, polyvinyl chloride, or metal. The gripper washers 22 are a washer-like structure, typically a metallic structure that comprises an interior diameter, a concentric inner periphery and an exterior periphery 24. Each gripper washer 22 is disposed between a gasket retaining ring 18 and an end connector 14, such that the exterior periphery 24 of the gripper washer 22 is in contact with, or in close proximity to, the shoulder 20 of the gasket retaining ring 18.
US09810358B2 Male push lock pipe connection system
A pipe for connecting to a similar adjacent pipe. The pipe has a male end with a plurality of rigid fingers extending from within and out of at least one exterior circumferential groove disposed on its exterior surface. On the female end is at least one interior circumferential groove sized and positioned to receive the plurality of rigid fingers from a corresponding exterior circumferential groove on the male end of an adjacent pipe. The number of exterior circumferential grooves on the male end typically corresponds to the number of interior circumferential grooves on the female end. When the male end of the pipe inserts into the female end of a similar adjacent pipe, the plurality of rigid fingers is received within a corresponding interior circumferential groove on the female end, thereby preventing the male end of the pipe from being withdrawn from the female end of the similar adjacent pipe.
US09810357B2 Lightweight, high flow hose assembly and method of manufacture
A hose assembly, preferably a garden hose assembly, including a fabric jacketed tube that is lightweight, durable and versatile. The tube is radially expandable when pressurized by a fluid, such as water, but does not increase in length. The two layer construction of the hose assembly allows for storage in relatively compact spaces, similar flow rates, approximately one-half the weight, and improved maneuverability when compared to conventional hose constructions. In one embodiment the jacket is formed around the tube in a continuous process that welds a fabric, preferably using hot air, into the jacket. The welded joint forms a region of jacket that is preferably about twice the thickness of the rest of the jacket. This thicker region results in a stiffer section of jacket that makes the hose more controllable and consistent in use.
US09810356B2 Separation preventing device of fluid pipe, and pipe joint
A separation preventing device that prevents separation of a fluid pipe in a pipe axis direction, includes a main body externally fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the fluid pipe and has a recess portion facing the outer peripheral surface; a locking member housed in the recess portion in a tiltable manner and is able to bite into the outer peripheral surface of the fluid pipe; a pressing member provided in the main body member and presses the locking member so as to bite into the outer peripheral surface of the fluid pipe; and an interposition member interposed between the locking member and the pressing member, wherein the interposition member is equipped with a tapered surface coming into contact with an outer surface of the locking member, and is housed in the recess portion in a state of having an acceptable movement value of a predetermined width in the pipe axis direction of the fluid pipe.
US09810353B2 Method of making a composite tube to metal joint
A method for making a metal to composite tube joint including selecting an elongated interior fitting constructed with an exterior barrel, reduced in exterior diameter to form a distally facing annular shoulder and then projecting still further distally to form an interior sleeve having a radially outwardly facing bonding surface. Selecting an elongated metal outer sleeve formed proximally with a collar constructed for receipt over the barrel and increased in interior diameter and projecting distally to form an exterior sleeve having a radially inwardly facing bonding surface cooperating with the first bonding surface to form an annulus receiving an extremity of a composite tube and a bond bonding the extremity of the tube to the bonding surfaces.
US09810349B2 Modular conduit system
Modular conduit systems in which a plurality of tubular link components are interconnected to form a continuous conduit. Each adjacent pair of tubular link components has a ball-and-socket joint that enables the pair of tubular link components to be pivoted with respect to each other. The ball-and-socket joint consists of a ball attached to a first one of the pair of adjacent tubular link components and a socket attached to a second one of the pair of adjacent tubular link components, where the ball is positioned within the socket. The amount of friction between the ball and the socket is adjustable, so that the amount of force required to pivot the pair of tubular link components with respect to each other, which is dependent upon the amount of friction between the ball and the socket, is variable.
US09810347B1 Torpedo power cable attachment hardware
A guide system for securing a torpedo pre-set power cable to move within a torpedo tube is provided. The guide system includes a longitudinal keeper and a guide assembly. The longitudinal keeper secures the power cable and includes a protrusion. A channel of the guide assembly connects to a Torpedo Mount Dispenser such that the channel receives the protrusion with the keeper sliding within and along a length of the channel. An alternate channel connects to a torpedo tube land and is configured to pivot to a stowed position and a deployed position where the channel is configured to receive the protrusion of the keeper such that the keeper slides within and along a length of the channel. When using each of the channels, the power cable can move within the torpedo tube when the protrusion of the keeper with the secured power cable slides within each channel.
US09810343B2 Pressure compensated flow tube for deep set tubular isolation valve
The annular space surrounding a flow tube in a subsurface safety valve is sealingly isolated at opposed ends of the flow tube and pressure compensated to the tubing pressure. The subsurface safety valve is inserted and aligned in an outer housing so that hydraulic operating connections are sealingly aligned with opposite hand split ring seals that are properly compressed when the safety valve is secured in its surrounding housing. The assembly is then able to meet high pressure, heavy debris, and marine environment service requirements for subsea conditions with minimal reconfiguration for what would otherwise serve as a borehole subsurface safety valve.
US09810341B2 Actuating device
An actuating device for displacing a control device, such as a valve, gate valve, or the like, particularly for use in oil or gas production systems. The actuating device includes at least one torque motor having an electric drive and a thread drive that is rotatable by the electric drive. The actuating device also includes a threaded spindle, a screw nut, a torque control/regulation device, and a position detection device. The threaded spindle is axially displaceable to displace a flow control device between an advanced position and a retracted position. The torque motor is connected to the screw nut in a rotationally-fixed manner and the position detection device is assigned to the threaded spindle to determine the axial position thereof.
US09810340B2 Device for opening or closing a seal set of a valve
A device for opening or closing a seal seat of a valve arranged in a pipe for liquid or gaseous media includes a one-time only activation of the valve using a shape memory actuator. The shape memory actuator changes its external shape abruptly when a transformation temperature is reached that is dependent upon its alloy composition. The transformation temperature can be generated by a controllable electrical heating device of the device.
US09810336B2 Subsea BOP control system with dual-action check valve
A subsea hydraulic system comprises a dual (or dual action) check valve on a port for connection to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The check valve provides backpressure to flow in either direction. This keeps hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system, and seawater out. If flow needs to return to the ROV, it may flow out the port, subject to a selected back pressure.
US09810330B2 Valve for handling air supply to squeezing pads in a lift head
The present invention relates to a valve to be used when blowing air into squeezing pads from a high pressure blower such as a side duct blower, said valve comprising a valve chamber comprising a primary set of openings with a first opening connected to said high pressure blower and a second opening connected to said squeezing pads, whereby air can be transferred through said valve chamber between said squeezing pads and said high pressure blower, said valve chamber further comprising a third opening, whereby air from said first opening can pass through said third opening, and where air not passing through said third opening passes through said second opening, said valve further comprising a valve spool for blocking said third opening and thereby changing the amount of air passing through said third opening. The valve spool for blocking said third opening comprises a limiter element, wherein said limiter element and/or said third opening has a varying diameter along its longitudinal axis, where the limiter element is adapted to be inserted along its longitudinal axis in said third opening, and where the extent of insertion of said limiter element changes the amount of air passing through said third opening. The invention further relates to a lift head with the above valve.
US09810326B2 Steam valve
A steam valve of an embodiment includes a casing, a valve rod, a valve element, and a valve seat. At the casing, the steam flows from an inlet into an inner space, and flows out of an outlet. The valve rod is accommodated in the inner space. The valve element is coupled to the valve rod at the inner space. The valve seat is fixed to the casing at the inner space, and includes a part where the valve element is in contact by moving together with the valve rod along an axis of the valve rod. Each of the valve seat and the casing includes a plane facing via a gap at a downstream side than a part where the valve seat and the valve element are in contact at the inner space. The valve seat has a cover part which covers the gap at the inner space.
US09810325B2 Component seal
A mechanical seal includes an elastomeric member, a spring biasing device, a longitudinally floating first member having a seal face, a longitudinally non-floating second member and a longitudinally floating third member. The elastomeric member is in sealing engagement with the first member, second member and third member and the spring biasing device is longitudinally positioned between the first member and the second member. One of either the first member or the second member is provided with at least one protruding male portion and the other member of either the first member or the second member is provided with corresponding female portion into which the male portion locates.
US09810319B2 Control apparatus for automatic transmission
In an apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission connected to a prime mover mounted on a vehicle, having a torque converter equipped with a lock-up clutch, when predetermined operating conditions of the vehicle are satisfied at drive-off, a lock-up clutch engaging circuit is formed through a hydraulic supply circuit. Next it is determined whether engage-position sticking malfunction of the lock-up clutch has occurred based on a ratio of an input rotational speed of the automatic transmission relative to an output rotational speed of the prime mover and a change rate of the output rotational speed of the prime mover when the lock-up clutch engaging circuit has been formed, and fail-safe control is then implement when the sticking is determined.
US09810315B1 Vehicle and system of controlling a vehicle transmission
A vehicle includes a transmission having a fluid pump, a high pressure fluid circuit, a low pressure fluid circuit, and an accumulator. The vehicle also includes a controller that is programmed to, in response fluid demand exceeding a capacity of the pump, isolate the low pressure circuit from the pump. The controller is also programmed to, in response to vehicle speed exceeding a threshold while the low the pressure circuit is isolated from the pump, discharge the accumulator into the high pressure circuit.
US09810314B2 Rotary shifter assembly
A shifter assembly for changing gears in a vehicle transmission, including a housing and a shift rod rotatably supported in the housing. The shift rod is selectively movable between a plurality of radial positions. A disc is in rotational communication with the shift rod for concurrent movement between the radial positions. The disc defines a plurality of gates each having respective first and second ends. A plurality of solenoids are disposed in the housing adjacent the disc. Each of the solenoids has a plunger selectively movable between a first position spaced from the disc and a second position disposed within one of the gates. The gates are spaced equally from each other and are radially aligned about a common reference circle. Rotation of the shift rod is selectively limited by at least one of the plungers in the second position engaging at least one of the ends of the gates.
US09810313B2 Power transmission apparatus
A power transmission apparatus including a transmission, a case that accommodates the transmission, a counter drive gear to which power from the transmission is transmitted, a counter driven gear that meshes with the counter drive gear, and a drive pinion gear that is disposed and spaced apart in an axial direction from the counter driven gear and that rotates together with the counter driven gear, the power transmission apparatus.
US09810309B2 Reverse gear intermediate shaft supporting structure of transmission
A supporting structure for a reverse countershaft of a transmission includes a transmission case, a partition wall and a boss, wherein the transmission case, the partition wall and the boss are formed integrally; a reverse idler gear installation space is provided between a side, close to a transmission main case, of the partition wall and the boss; and the partition wall is provided with a second reverse countershaft supporting hole and an auxiliary case countershaft supporting hole which are not concentric. In supporting structure for the reverse countershaft of the transmission, multiple ribs are used to support the boss of the reverse countershaft, the boss of the reverse intermediate shaft is cast until reaching the rear auxiliary case partition wall, and in combination with machining work, the reverse idle wheel space is milled by a disc milling cutter.
US09810303B2 Stator cone clutch
A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including a turbine shell; a stator at least partially located between the impeller and the turbine; and including a body portion with at least one stator blade and a first frusto-conical surface; a stator cone clutch including the first frusto-conical surface and a flange including a second frusto-conical surface; and a first thrust bearing axially disposed between the stator cone clutch and the impeller shell. In a stator locked mode: the body portion and the flange are non-rotatably connected; and the stator cone clutch is arranged to urge the first thrust bearing against the impeller shell in a first axial direction.
US09810298B2 Rotary seals
A rotary seal comprising: a shaft with a chromium oxide coating provided at a seal contact area; wherein said coating has a hardness of at least 55 Rockwell-C. The coating may have a surface roughness parameter (Ra) of between 0.2 and 0.4 circular. The coating may have a thickness of at least 0.1 mm. The coating layer forms part of a rotary seal with a flexible seal element that is biased into contact with the surface of the coating. The flexible seal element may be biased against the shaft by a spring to increase the pressure of the flexible seal element against the coating. The coating is preferably deposited by a plasma spray process.
US09810297B2 Hydraulic auto-tensioner for engine accessory
A hydraulic auto-tensioner for an engine accessory is provided where a sleeve fit-in hole is formed at an upper surface of a bottom portion of a cylinder accommodating a hydraulic oil, a lower end portion of a sleeve is press-fitted in the sleeve fit-in hole, and a lower end portion of a rod is slidably inserted in the sleeve to define a pressure chamber inside the sleeve. A lower end face of the sleeve is in abutment with a divided bottom surface of the sleeve fit-in hole to trap burrs produced when the lower end portion of the sleeve is press-fitted into the sleeve fit-in hole between the divided bottom surface of the sleeve fit-in hole and the lower end face of the sleeve, so that burrs are prevented from mixing into the hydraulic oil.
US09810289B2 Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicles
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 changed torque, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first rotation shaft selectively connected to a transmission housing, a second rotation shaft, a third rotation shaft selectively connected to the transmission housing, a fourth rotation shaft directly connected to the input shaft, a fifth rotation shaft selectively connected to the second rotation shaft, a sixth rotation shaft, a seventh rotation shaft selectively connected to the input shaft, and selectively connected to the fifth rotation shaft or the sixth rotation shaft, and an eighth rotation shaft directly connected to the output shaft.
US09810278B2 Leaf spring, leaf spring group, and compressor
A leaf spring (100) comprises at least two spring arms (120, 130) and an inner fixing hole (110). The at least two spring arms (120, 130) are evenly distributed around a center of the inner fixing hole (110); each spring arm is of the same structure, and an outer fixing hole (122) is disposed at an outermost end of each spring arm. Further provided are a leaf spring group and a compressor. The leaf spring group comprises multiple leaf springs, and the compressor comprises the leaf spring group. The provided leaf spring has a structure of multiple concentric circular arms or a structure of concentric vortex arms, and the leaf spring has smaller equivalent mass, so that the rigidity and inherent frequency requirements can be met without the need of increasing the mass of the components, thereby reducing the product mass and saving the cost.
US09810277B2 Friction material for brake pads and related brake pads
A friction material is disclosed comprising a binding composition based on a hydraulic binder and its use in brake pads and industrial applications.
US09810274B2 Secondary brake for commercial vehicle using MR fluid
A secondary brake for commercial vehicles using Magnetorheological (MR) fluid may include a rotor coupled to a transmission output shaft to be rotated together, a stator configured to be disposed between the rotor and a body of a transmission and having a cavity into which the MR fluid is filled and a portion of the rotor is received, and a stator coil provided in a portion of the stator and applying a magnetic field to the MR fluid so that braking torque is generated due to a shear resistance characteristic of the MR fluid.
US09810272B1 One-way clutch
A one-way clutch, including: a load rotor, a driving member, and at least one self-locking gripper. The load rotor is spool-shaped and includes two circular contact races, one race at each end of the rotor. The driving member includes a plurality of inward facing cams on an inner circumference arranged to rotate co-axially with the load rotor. The cams rotate within the space separating the two load rotor races. When in a locking position each gripper presses against both load rotor races and a cam over area-to-area contacting surfaces. Rotation of the load rotor and driving member are locked in the first direction when one or more grippers are in the locking position. The driving member is rotatable independent of the load rotor in the second, free-wheeling direction. During free-wheeling rotation centrifugal force acts to disengage the grippers from the load rotor, thus reducing or eliminating friction.
US09810269B2 Constant velocity joint in the form of a counter track joint
A constant velocity joint comprises an outer joint part with a longitudinal axis and first and second outer ball tracks. The outer joint part comprises an attachment side and an aperture side. An inner joint part has a longitudinal axis and first and second inner ball tracks. with a torque transmitting ball 14 in each pair of tracks, and a ball cage 15 with cage windows 18 in which the balls 14 are held. In each angular position of the constant velocity joint 11 an opening angle is enclosed between an outer tangent and an inner tangent at the ball. At least one of the first and second pairs of tracks is designed such that, within a small articulation angle range comprising at least the joint central plane, at at least an articulation angle, an opening angle amounts to zero, and within a greater articulation angle range, an aperture-side opening angle of a first pair of tracks widens in the opposite axial direction relative to the aperture-side opening angle of a second pair of tracks.
US09810264B2 Method of forming a bearing component
A method of forming a component includes heating the component to a burnishing temperature above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and burnishing a surface of the component while the component is at the burnishing temperature to densify the surface. The burnishing process at an elevated temperature may be integrated into other processes, such as the sintering or heat treating processes.
US09810259B2 Thrust bearing
A thrust bearing includes: a top foil formed of top foil pieces which face a thrust collar; a back foil formed of back foil pieces which support the top foil pieces; and a base plate including support areas which support the back foil pieces. A support area includes an inclined surface defined by a first boundary line and by a second boundary line disposed on a trailing side of the first boundary line in the rotational direction of the thrust collar. The height of the inclined surface gradually increases from the first boundary line to the second boundary line. In addition, a back foil piece is disposed within the inclined surface which is formed continuously from the first boundary line to the second boundary line.
US09810248B2 Control fluid power apparatus and related methods
Control fluid power apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example control fluid power apparatus includes a first housing having a first piston defining a first chamber and a second chamber, where the first chamber receives a control fluid and the second chamber receives a process fluid from a process system. The first chamber is oriented above the second chamber when the control fluid power apparatus is coupled to a control valve assembly. A second housing has a second piston defining a third chamber and a fourth chamber, where the third chamber receives the control fluid and the second chamber receives the process fluid. The third chamber is oriented above the fourth chamber when the control fluid power apparatus is coupled to the control valve assembly.
US09810243B2 Switching valve
A switching valve includes a spool, a first cylinder port that communicates with the piston side chamber, a second cylinder port that communicates with the rod side chamber, a bridge passage having a first opening which is adjacent to the first cylinder port and a second opening which is adjacent to the second cylinder port, a regeneration passage formed in the spool to connect the second cylinder port communicating with the rod side chamber to the first cylinder port in accordance with a switching position of the spool, and a first communication port and a second communication port formed in the spool to communicate with the regeneration passage. The first communication port communicates with the second opening of the bridge passage, which is adjacent to the second cylinder port, and the second communication port communicates with the second cylinder port in accordance with the switching position of the spool.
US09810241B2 Low profile pump with the ability to be mounted in various configurations
A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.
US09810237B2 Exhaust-gas turbocharger
An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) comprising a compressor (2); a turbine (3); and a bearing housing (4), in which there is arranged a bearing cartridge (5), secured against axial displacement and twisting; and a single fixing element (6) securing the bearing cartridge (5) both against axial displacement and also twisting in the bearing housing (4). Also a method for assembling a bearing cartridge (5) in a bearing housing (4) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger (1).
US09810236B2 Fan blade with flexible airfoil wing
A fan assembly is disclosed that includes one or more fan blades, each fan blade having a flexible airfoil wing. A curved, flexible wing is connected to a main spar element located between the upper and lower portions of the curved, flexible wing element. The curved, flexible wing forms the entire upper surface of the wing, the entire leading edge of the wing, and a portion of the lower surface of the wing.
US09810234B2 Fan impeller
A fan impeller for the conveyance of a gaseous fluid includes several blades arranged with constant angular spacing around a rotation axis. At least one blade has a boundary zone and an inner zone, together with a bead extending between them along a curved path and/or the boundary zone is determined by a first blade surface and the inner zone is determined by a second blade surface, which are arranged with varying geometry.
US09810229B2 Methods and systems for detecting compressor recirculation valve faults
Methods are provided for identifying degradation in components of a compressor recirculation valve (CRV). One method may include inferring degradation of the CRV based on adaptation of a compressor surge line outside an expected range.
US09810228B2 Centrifugal compressor diffuser control
A centrifugal refrigerant compressor system includes an impeller connected to a shaft. A diffuser is arranged on a downstream side of the impeller and is configured to regulate refrigerant flow exiting the impeller. A magnetic bearing supports the shaft. A sensing element is configured to produce an output relating to a shaft condition. A controller is configured to receive the output and determine an undesired impeller operating condition based upon the shaft condition. The controller is configured to command the diffuser to a desired state in response to the undesired impeller operating condition.
US09810225B2 Turbine for turbocharger and method for assembling turbocharger
A turbocharger is of reduced size and easy to assemble. A rotor blade upstream flow channel space has a cylindrical portion that is gradually reduced in the downstream direction of exhaust gas flow corresponding with a reduction in volume of the scroll chamber. A back plate is formed so as to swell out toward the rotor blade gradually in the downstream direction corresponding with the reduction in volume of the scroll chamber. The back plate, at a termination end thereof, approaches the rotor blade and reaches a position adjacent to a leading edge of the rotor blade whereby the flow channel space disappears substantially at this termination end.
US09810223B2 Electric pump
An electric pump includes a motor rotor provided in a first end region in the axial direction of a rotary shaft, a pump rotor provided in a second end region in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and a pump housing supporting the rotary shaft. The pump housing has a first housing portion for accommodating the pump rotor and a second housing portion having a blocking portion. The first housing portion has a suction port for drawing in fluid and a discharge port for discharging the drawn-in fluid.
US09810222B2 Fluid pump comprising a positive-locking clutch for a motor vehicle
A fluid pump (10) for a motor vehicle comprising a pump rotor (20) for pumping a fluid, a shaft (12) for driving the pump rotor (20) and a clutch (16) for the switchable coupling of the shaft (12) to the pump rotor (20). The clutch (16) is designed to connect the shaft (12) to the pump rotor (20) in a positive-locking manner and to separate said shaft from said pump rotor.
US09810220B2 Method of transporting rotating equipment modularization
A module for an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project is described. The module comprises machinery disposed on a baseplate. The baseplate is coupled with a support structure via adjustable, self-leveling chocks. The chocks maintain a level baseplate surface regardless of whether or not the underside of the baseplate and the support structure are parallel. The chocks reduce and/or eliminate the transfer of the deflection forces from the support structure to the baseplate.
US09810217B2 Vehicle and a method of reducing sound produced by a liquid fluid pump
A vehicle and a method of reducing sound produced by a liquid fluid pump are disclosed. A pump is activated when a predetermined event is detected. A control valve of the pump is operated in one of an initial and a standard mode when the pump is activated. The control valve is operable to allow a gaseous fluid to vent out of the pump when in the initial mode corresponding to the pump being in a first phase. The control valve is operable to allow a liquid fluid to move through the pump when in the standard mode corresponding to the pump being in a second phase. A solenoid of the control valve is energized and de-energized, at a calibrated frequency, in a sequence when in the initial mode to reduce the sound in the pump during the initial mode.
US09810216B2 Vane pump unit
A vane pump unit assembled into a housing includes a rotor; a plurality of vanes; a cam ring; a first plate; a second plate; a connecting bar that has a first end portion fixed to the first plate, and a second end portion which protrudes from the second plate; and a clip that prevents the second plate and the cam ring from slipping out of the connecting bar. Before the clip is assembled into the housing, the retaining of the clip is positioned at least either between the first plate and the cam ring or between the second plate and the cam ring, in a place where a gap is formed. After the clip is assembled into the housing, the housing interposes the first plate, the cam ring, and the second plate in the axial direction, and the first and second plates are in close contact with the cam ring.
US09810215B2 Internal gear pump
Provided is an internal gear pump requiring fewer machining steps, allowing inexpensive manufacture, and offering high safety from the standpoint of function. The internal gear pump 1 comprises: a trochoid 4 in which an inner rotor 3 having a plurality of outer teeth is eccentrically and rotatably accommodated in an outer rotor 2 having a plurality of inner teeth, the outer teeth meshing with the inner teeth, and in which a suction-side chamber for suctioning liquid and a discharge-side chamber for discharging liquid that has been suctioned into the suction-side chamber are formed in between the inner teeth and outer teeth; a casing 5 in which is formed a recess 5a for accommodating the trochoid 4; and a cover 6 for closing off the recess 5a of the casing 5. At least some of the casing 5 is a body injection-molded from a resin composition. The invention also comprises a groove 5d in a portion of the recess 5a of the casing 5 in which the outer periphery is sealed, with a sealing ring 13 installed therein, and bushings 7 made from sintered metal that are provided integrally during injection molding in bolt fixing hole portions.
US09810210B2 Peristaltic pump
The invention provides a peristaltic pump. The pump has a cavity for receiving a rotor and a flexible conduit, the rotor engaging the flexible conduit to displace fluid therein. A conduit retainer mechanism is provided for engaging the flexible conduit to assist with retention of the conduit in the cavity against displacement resulting from engagement between the conduit and the rotor. The conduit retainer mechanism including first and second jaws opposite to one another, defining between them a passageway for receiving the conduit, wherein one of the first and second jaws are spring biased to resiliently engage the conduit.
US09810206B2 Quick connector for hydraulic hose coupling
A hydraulic fluid line coupling system is disclosed. The coupling may include a female fitting, a male fitting, first and second elastomeric seals between the female fitting and male fitting, and a cylindrical collar surrounding the female fitting, male fitting, and first and second elastomeric seals.
US09810205B2 Pump systems and associated methods for use with waterjet systems and other high pressure fluid systems
High pressure pump systems with reduced pressure ripple for use with waterjet systems and other systems are described herein. A pump system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes four reciprocating members operably coupled to a crankshaft at 90 degree phase angles. The reciprocating members can include plungers operably disposed in corresponding cylinders and configured to compress fluid (e.g., water) in the cylinders to pressures suitable for waterjet processing, such as pressures exceeding 30,000 psi.
US09810204B2 Floating wind turbine platform structure with optimized transfer of wave and wind loads
A structure of a floating, semi-submersible wind turbine platform is provided. The floating wind turbine platform includes three elongate stabilizing columns, each having a top end, a keel end, and an outer shell containing an inner shaft. Each stabilizing column further includes a water entrapment plate at its keel cantilevered in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stabilizing column. The floating wind turbine platform also includes three truss members, each truss member including two horizontal main tubular members and two diagonal tubular members. The truss members connect the stabilizing columns to form a triangular cross-section. An elongate wind turbine tower is disposed over the top end of one of the three stabilizing columns such that the longitudinal axis of the tower is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stabilizing column.
US09810202B2 Arrangement and method to rotate the hub of a wind turbine
An arrangement and a method of rotating a hub of a wind turbine are provided. A wind turbine includes a hub mounted to a nacelle, whereby the hub is rotatable around an axis of rotation in respect to the nacelle. A rotor blade is arranged at the hub that leads to a torque around the axis of rotation of the hub. A counter weight is attached to the hub, whereby the counter weight has a mass that leads to a counter-torque around the axis of rotation. The counter-torque interacts with the torque during the installation of a second rotor blade to the hub. The counter weight is mounted to the hub by a mechanical arrangement that is rotatable in respect to the hub around the axis of rotation of the hub. The mechanical arrangement and the counter weight are rotatable in respect to the hub into a certain predetermined position.
US09810200B2 Method for controlling a profile of a blade on a wind turbine
The invention regards an apparatus or method for controlling the profile of a blade on a wind turbine having at least a first blade and a second blade, the first blade comprise at least one first sensor system adapted to determine a first blade state and the second blade comprise at least one second sensor system adapted to determine a second blade state, wherein the profile of the second blade is controlled based on the determined first blade state and the determined second blade state.
US09810197B2 Apparatus for moving blades of a wing turbine and wind turbine including the same
An apparatus for moving blades of a wind turbine is provided. The apparatus for moving blades for a wind turbine includes: wire connectors formed at a plurality of blades; and a pair of wires that are attachable and detachable to and from first to third wire connectors so as to connect the first and second wire connectors formed at first and second blades and a third wire connector formed at the third blade.
US09810190B2 Method and apparatus for executing engine autostart in a powertrain system employing multiple torque generating devices
A powertrain system is described, and includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine configured to generate propulsion torque responsive to a driver torque request. A method for operating the powertrain system includes determining, in response to a request to execute an engine autostart operation, whether a driveline torque sag may occur. The method further includes forgoing executing the engine autostart operation when it is determined that a driveline torque sag will occur during the execution of the engine autostart operation.
US09810186B2 Direct injection multipoint nozzle
Provided is an injector (30) having a plurality of injector modules (44) that include a spray cup having a chamber and a plurality of radial air passages for directing air radially into the chamber, and a pressure swirl atomizer attached to the spray cup and having a fluid passage for directing fluid axially into chamber and an air passage for directing air axially into the chamber. By providing radial and axial air flow and axial fuel flow into the chamber, the fuel may be mixed to prevent local hot spots that lead to high NOx emissions, and a stable flame may be maintained without autoignition and flashback. The axial air flow also prevents recirculation zones from forming at a base of the spray cup, provides improved atomization and enhanced combustion.
US09810184B2 Air filter device, especially for a motor vehicle
An air filter device is provided with a filter housing and a filter element arranged in the filter housing. A frame part is connected to the filter element and frames the filter element at least over sections thereof circumferentially. The frame part is provided with an air duct receptacle that is adapted to receive an air duct. The frame part is arranged at least partially on an exterior side of the filter housing. The filter element is fastened by the frame part on the filter housing.
US09810180B2 EGR cooling structure
The EGR cooling structure includes a cylinder block having cylinders, and a cylinder head into which exhaust gas exhausted from the cylinders is collected. An exhaust emission control device is provided for purifying the exhaust gas exhausted from the cylinder head, and an EGR pipe is provided through which EGR gas of a part of the purified exhaust gas is introduced into an intake system. An EGR cooler is provided in the EGR pipe and cools the EGR gas with the cooling liquid. An exhaust gas passage leading from the cylinders to the exhaust gas purification device is curved when seen from a side, and the EGR cooler is disposed in the space surrounded by the cylinder block, the cylinder head, and the exhaust gas purification device.
US09810177B2 Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine and related components and methods of manufacturing and implementing an internal combustion engine and related components. The internal combustion engine includes a base, a cylinder block mounted onto the base, a cylinder head mounted onto the block, and a structural overhead member mounted onto the cylinder head, such that the cylinder head is positioned between the cylinder block and the structural overhead member. At least one through-bolt positioned in a through-bolt opening, the through-bolt opening extending from the base to the structural overhead member through the cylinder block and the cylinder head to couple the base, the cylinder block, the cylinder head and the structural overhead member together.
US09810172B2 Control device for internal combustion engine
An objective of the present invention is to stabilize the fuel injection amount for each cylinder and to execute fuel injection control accurately in a single-pressure-feed dual-injection type alcohol fuel injection system. An engine includes two injection valves and and a single-pressure-feed dual-injection type fuel supply system. The fuel supply system is configured such that fuel is injected sequentially in two cylinders during the pressure-feed-interval period from the execution of one fuel pressure-feed operation to the execution of the next fuel pressure-feed operation. If the alcohol concentration in the fuel is higher than a predetermined determination value γ at a startup operation time, an ECU executes only a cylinder injection for the first of the two cylinders described above, and executes both an intake passage injection and a cylinder injection for the second cylinder. Thus, even if the fuel pressure decreases due to the fuel injection for the first cylinder, the required fuel injection amount can be reserved for the second cylinder.
US09810171B2 Method for determining an offset of a manifold pressure sensor
Methods and systems are provided for determining an offset of a manifold pressure sensor. In one example, an engine method may include indicating degradation of the manifold pressure sensor based on a sensor offset, the sensor offset based on a manifold pressure measured at a first throttle angle, a barometric pressure at a second throttle angle, a reference manifold pressure at the first throttle angle and reference barometric pressure, and the reference barometric pressure. Further, the method may include adjusting an output of the manifold pressure sensor by the determined sensor offset.
US09810168B2 Control apparatus for vehicle and control method for engine
A control apparatus for a vehicle includes: an inter-vehicle distance control unit that performs an inter-vehicle distance control with respect to a preceding vehicle; an engine stop-start unit that stops the engine when an engine stop condition is satisfied and starts the engine when an engine start condition is satisfied; a vehicle stop state maintenance unit that maintains a braking force for stopping the vehicle; the engine stop-start unit stops the engine, by activation of the vehicle stop state maintenance unit in the case where the vehicle is stopped by the inter-vehicle distance control unit; and an engine operation control unit that, in the case where the inter-vehicle distance control unit is set to be active in the vehicle stop state, maintains the operation state of the engine before the inter-vehicle distance control unit is set to be active.
US09810164B2 Prime mover control device for work vehicle
A prime mover control device for a work vehicle, includes: a rotation speed control unit that controls a rotation speed of a prime mover in correspondence to an operation quantity of an accelerator operation member; a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of cooling oil used to cool a brake; and a speed limiting unit that limits a maximum rotation speed of the prime mover by setting a lower limit for the maximum rotation speed when the temperature of the cooling oil detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than a predetermined temperature, compared to a limit set when the temperature of the cooling oil detected by the temperature detection unit is lower than the predetermined temperature, wherein: a maximum vehicle speed is limited by limiting the maximum rotation speed of the prime mover by the speed limiting unit.
US09810163B2 Multiple element firing strategy for cryogenic pump
A pump has a plurality of pumping elements, each being independently responsive to an actuation signal from a controller. The controller is programmed to maintain a desired pressure at the pump discharge, monitor the fluid pressure at the pump discharge, compare the fluid pressure with the desired fluid pressure to determine a pressure error, provide commands to sequentially actuate the pumping elements when the pressure error is within a threshold range, and provide commands to actuate more than one of the plurality of pumping elements simultaneously, such that more than one pumped amounts of fluid are delivered simultaneously at the pump discharge, when the pressure error droops outside of the threshold range.
US09810161B2 Variable valve lift diagnostic systems and methods using cam phaser differential oil pressure
A diagnostic system for a vehicle includes a difference module, a Fourier module, and a fault module. The difference module determines pressure differences for a camshaft revolution based on differences between: first pressures within first chambers of a camshaft phaser measured during the camshaft revolution, wherein the first pressures within the first chamber control advancement of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an engine; and second pressures within second chambers of the camshaft phaser measured during the camshaft revolution, wherein the second pressures within the second chamber control retardation of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft of the engine. The Fourier module performs a Fourier Transform (FT) based on the pressure differences to produce FT data. The fault module, based on the FT data, selectively indicates that a fault is present in a variable valve lift mechanism that is actuated by the camshaft.
US09810159B2 Method and apparatus for controlling gas turbine combustor
An apparatus for controlling a gas turbine combustor having a diffusion combustion burner and a premix combustion burner comprising: a rotating speed detector for detecting a rotating speed of gas turbine, a recorder for recording the detected value of the rotating speed of gas turbine detected by the rotating speed detector, an arithmetic unit for calculating a change with time of the rotating speed of gas turbine in accordance with details of the detected value of the rotating speed of gas turbine recorded in the recorder, and a fuel control unit for judging a starting situation of reduction in the rotating speed of gas turbine on the basis of the change with time of the rotating speed of gas turbine calculated by the arithmetic unit and controlling respectively a fuel flow rate for the diffusion combustion burner to be fed to the diffusion combustion burner installed in the gas turbine combustor and a fuel flow rate for the premix combustion to be fed to the premix combustion burner.
US09810152B2 Gas turbine combustion system
The invention concerns a gas turbine combustion system, including a gas turbine. The gas turbine includes at least one compressor, at least one combustion chamber for generating working gas, wherein the combustion chamber connected to receive compressed air from the compressor, at least one turbine connected to receive working gas from the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber consists of an individual can-combustor or comprising a number of can-combustors arranged in an annular can-architecture, wherein the can-combustor having at least one premixed burner. The ignition of the mixture starts at the premixed burner outlet and the flame is stabilized in the region of the premixed burner outlet by means of a backflow zone. The can-combustor comprising a number of premixed burners arranged uniformly or divided at least in two groups within the can-combustor.
US09810150B2 Heat exchanger assembly
A heat exchanger assembly for a gas turbine engine including a frame, including a non-planar outer wall, a non-planar inner wall spaced radially inward from the non-planar outer wall to form a frame cavity therebetween, an inlet side extending between the non-planar outer wall and the non-planar inner wall, an inlet passage extending through the inlet side, an outlet side extending between the non-planar outer wall and the non-planar inner wall opposite the inlet side; an outlet passage extending through the outlet side, and a continuous non-planar core disposed within the frame cavity and in flow communication with the inlet passage and the outlet passage.
US09810146B2 Calcium sulfate looping cycles for sour gas combustion and electricity production
A calcium looping combustion process for sour gas combustion comprising a system that includes several reaction zones. The system is configured to provide oxygen transfer media production, generation of a syngas product stream, and in-situ H2S removal from the sour gas. The system is also configured such that the calcium-based transfer media and the calcium-based oxygen carrier are reproduced via reactions in another reaction zone, and recirculated in the system.
US09810144B2 Process for the crystallisation of a water-soluble compound
A process for the crystallisation of a water-soluble compound is disclosed. The process comprises (a) providing, in a crystallisation vessel, a solution of the water-soluble compound in a mixture of water and a solvent in which the water-soluble compound has a lower solubility than in water; (b) passing vapor phase of the mixture through a sorption zone containing a water vapor sorbent to selectively adsorb water from the vapor phase; (c) recycling a part of the vapor phase to the crystallisation vessel or withdrawing vapor phase depleted in water from the process and adding solvent to the crystallisation vessel; (d) allowing solid crystals of the water-soluble compound to precipitate from the solution; and (e) discharging precipitated solid crystals of the water-soluble compound from the crystallisation vessel and discharging a solution of non-crystallised water-soluble compound in water-solvent mixture from the crystallisation vessel.
US09810141B2 Internal combustion engine
An object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine that suppresses a blow-by phenomenon in an overlap period, while allowing for formation of a favorable swirl flow in a combustion chamber. In the internal combustion engine, a housing space is formed in an opening of an exhaust port to the combustion chamber to be more recessed in a cylinder head than an exhaust port-side ceiling surface. A bevel portion of an exhaust valve is placed in the housing space in a valve closed state of the exhaust valve. A valve contact surface is formed on an inner wall surface of the housing space. With regard to an effective passage width of an effective passage that is defined as a linear virtual passage extended from the combustion chamber through the housing space to inside of the exhaust port in a section extended from an intake port side to a bore wall surface side of an exhaust port side, the housing space is formed such that the effective passage width in any location in an intake side space is made smaller than the effective passage width in a corresponding location in an exhaust side space in a slight lifting state of the exhaust valve.
US09810140B2 Combustion chamber of direct injection diesel engine having inducers
The present disclosure relates to a combustion chamber of a diesel engine, which has a recessed combustion bowl to mix fuel injected from an injector with air, the combustion chamber including: a cylinder head which has the injector mounted thereto and is positioned at an upper side of the combustion bowl; a cylinder block which is positioned at a lower side of the cylinder head; and a piston which moves upward and downward in the cylinder block and faces the cylinder head, in which a plurality of radial inducers is provided on a bottom surface of the cylinder head around the injector.
US09810139B2 Method for operating a compression ignition engine
A method for operating a compression ignition engine includes forming a combustible mixture by mixing generally homogeneously a first fuel and air and introducing this mixture into the at least one cylinder, compressing the combustible mixture with the piston in a compression stroke, injecting a second fuel to the combustible mixture at an injection-time of the second fuel during the compression stroke but before start of combustion, and continuing the compression stroke until combustion starts at those locations in the at least one cylinder where concentration of the second fuel is highest and/or the temperature of the mixture is the highest. Emission of the cylinder and/or mechanical stress of the cylinder caused by the combustion are monitored, and if emissions and/or mechanical stress are above respective predetermined thresholds, individually for the cylinder, the amount and/or the timing of the second fuel injected, and/or temperature of the cylinder charge is changed.
US09810137B2 Vehicle cooling circuit
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle cooling circuit for cooling a temperature-increasing device, in particular a battery, by means of a coolant conducted in a coolant circuit, wherein the coolant circuit has a heat exchanger configured as an evaporator via which the coolant circuit is coupled to a cooling medium circuit. In accordance with the present disclosure, the chiller is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger in the direction of flow of the coolant in the coolant circuit. Furthermore a bypass valve is arranged in the coolant line such that the coolant can be conducted fully or partially past the chiller.
US09810136B2 Coolant-control valve
A coolant-control valve that performs initialization learning using a stopper and provides an efficient structure by an initialization learning stopper within an actuator which drives a valve body. The coolant-control valve is equipped with a rotor driven to control a flow rate of coolant for cooling an engine, a casing that houses the rotor, and a rotary drive device that drives the rotor. Control means of the rotary drive device have an initialization learning function of an operating range of the rotor. The rotary drive device is equipped with a motor and a reduction gear. The operating range of the rotor is restricted by the operating range of an output gear among power transmission elements in the reduction gear. A groove of the output gear and a fixed-angle stopper inserted into the groove are restricting means for use during initialization learning by the control means.
US09810135B2 Cooling fan device for vehicle
This cooling fan device for a vehicle comprises: a fan shroud which is shaped as a box accommodating a radiator and/or a condenser, and which has an opening in the front side in the travel direction of the vehicle and a fan coupling surface in the rear side in the travel direction; at least two cooling fans disposed in the fan coupling surface, the cooling fans having center axes vertically separated from each other by a predetermined distance; and a shield rib extending downward from the top of the fan coupling surface, protruding toward the radiator and/or the condenser, and having a top end and a bottom end, the shield rib being provided to the fan coupling surface between the adjacent cooling fans. The top end and/or the bottom end of the shield rib have a cutout section allowing air to pass between the adjacent cooling fans.
US09810133B2 Engine device for work vehicle
A engine device for a work vehicle, in which an engine, a first case, and a second case can be constituted in the same vibration structure, and exhaust gas path structure between the engine and the second case can be constituted in such a manner as to reduce costs. The engine device for a work vehicle according to the present invention of the instant application includes the first case for removing particulate matter in exhaust gas of the engine and the second case for removing nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas of the engine, and configured to connect the first case to the second case via a urea mixing pipe. The engine, the first case, and the second case are integrally adhered, and the engine, the first case, and the second case are configured to be integrally vibrated in a swingable manner.
US09810132B2 Catalyst deterioration diagnosis apparatus
A catalyst deterioration diagnosis apparatus includes an upstream side air-fuel ratio detector, a downstream side air-fuel ratio detector, an air-fuel ratio variation integrator that integrates the output variations of the respective air-fuel ratio detectors when a diagnosis running condition is satisfied, and a determiner that determines catalyst deterioration when the output variation integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector exceeds a predetermined integration ending threshold, and further when a ratio between the output variation integrated value of the two detectors exceeds a predetermined determination threshold. The air-fuel ratio variation integrator holds the integrated values when the diagnosis running condition becomes unsatisfied before the integrated value of the upstream side air-fuel ratio detector reaches the integration ending threshold. The air-fuel ratio variation integrator resumes the integration using the held values as initial values when the diagnosis running condition is satisfied later again.
US09810131B2 Work vehicle
Regarding a work vehicle configured to include an engine mounted on a travelling machine body and an exhaust gas purification device arranged in an exhaust gas path of the engine, it is an object to prevent the regeneration control of the exhaust gas purification device from being executed against an operator's will. The work vehicle of the present invention includes a regeneration switch 329 configured to cause the regeneration control of an exhaust gas purification device 50 to be executed. First, when a cumulative drive time of an engine 5 has passed in a prescribed time or longer, a regeneration control request warning is displayed on a meter panel 246. Then, only when a regeneration switch 329 is manually operated by an operator after the display of the regeneration control request warning on the meter panel 246, the regeneration control of the exhaust gas purification device 50 is started.
US09810130B2 Generator for internal combustion engine
The present disclosure relates to a generator for an internal combustion engine. The generator for an internal combustion engine includes: a heat protector configured to cover an exhaust manifold in which exhaust gas flows to absorb heat energy emitted from the exhaust manifold; and a thermoelectric module configured to be disposed on the heat protector to generate electric energy from heat energy absorbed by the heat protector.
US09810113B2 Engine lubrication heating system
A lubrication distribution system for an engine is disclosed. The system includes a source of lubricant for the engine and at least one feed line fluidly connected to the source of lubricant. The feed line includes a wall defining a passageway and an orifice. The feed line terminates at the orifice, and lubricant flows through the passageway and exits the feed line through the orifice. The feed line also includes a heating element contained substantially within the wall of the feed line and located at or directly upstream of the orifice. The heating element is selectively activated to heat the lubrication flowing through the passageway and exiting the orifice.
US09810107B2 Intermediate phase adjustment apparatus of CVVT
An intermediate phase adjustment apparatus of a CVVT includes check valves provided to prevent backflow of oil when the oil moves from one chamber to another chamber in order to secure a parking position of a lock pin in a CVVT of which an advance chamber and a retard chamber are formed between a rotor and a stator, and an oil inlet portion formed at the stator to correspond to inlet portions of the check valves, wherein an oil inlet portion provided at one chamber is formed larger than an oil inlet portion provided at the other chamber by a predetermined size, and the open angles of the check valves for making oil to flow into a chamber are increased, thereby preventing an offset occurrence by a cam torque.
US09810103B2 Method and device for generating electrical energy
The invention relates to a method and a device for generating electrical energy in a combined system consisting of a power plant and an air handling system. The power plant comprises a first gas expansion unit connected to a generator. The air handling system comprises an air compression unit, a heat exchange system, and a fluid tank. In a first operating mode, feed air is compressed in the air compression unit and cooled in the heat exchange system. A storage fluid is generated from the compressed and cooled feed air and is stored as cryogenic fluid in fluid tank. In a second operating mode, cryogenic fluid is removed from fluid tank and is vaporized, or pseudo-vaporized, at superatmospheric pressure. The gaseous high pressure storage fluid generated is expanded in the gas expansion unit. Gaseous natural gas is introduced into the heat exchange system (21) to be liquefied.
US09810102B2 System and method for generating electric energy
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for implementing the method so as to alleviate the disadvantages of a reciprocating combustion engine and gas turbine in electric energy production. The invention is based on the idea of arranging a combustion chamber outside a gas turbine and providing compressed air to the combustion chamber in order to carry out a combustion process supplemented with high pressure steam pulses.
US09810094B2 Steam turbine forced air cooling system, equipment, and steam turbine equipped with it
The invention offers a steam turbine forced air cooling system, its method, and a steam turbine provided with the system, the system being of an inexpensive and simple device configuration and improving a cooling effect by the use of an easy-to-get device.Suction is applied to the steam introduction side of an HP turbine 4 or an IP turbine 9 by the use of cooling air suction ejectors 27, 28 which use a compressed medium other than steam as a drive source. The cooling air is then introduced from the steam exhaust portion of the steam turbine into the inside of the steam turbine and is discharged from the ejectors 27, 28 to the atmosphere.
US09810091B2 Smart active clearance control between a rotor blade and a shroud
A method is provided for calibrating an active clearance control system for a plurality of turbine engines. During this method, a squeeze test is performed between a tip of a rotor blade and a shroud. Results of the squeeze test are applied to adjust a gap between the tip and the shroud. The performance of the squeeze test and the application of the results may be individually performed for each of the turbine engines.
US09810087B2 Reversible blade rotor seal with protrusions
A sealing structure for a gas turbine engine includes a rotor that has a rim with slots and a cooling passage. The rotor is rotatable about an axis. First and second blades are arranged in the slots and respectively including first and second shelves facing one another within a pocket that is in fluid communication with the cooling passage. The first and second shelves form an opening. A reversible seal is arranged within the pocket and has a body that is configured for operative association with the first and second blades in any of four orientations to seal the opening in a second condition. The seal includes first and second protrusions respectively extending from first and second faces opposing one another. The first protrusions supported on the rim in a first condition.
US09810084B1 Gas turbine engine turbine vane baffle and serpentine cooling passage
An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes pressure and suction side walls joined to one another at leading and trailing edges. The pressure and suction side walls surround an airfoil cavity and provide an exterior airfoil surface. A baffle is arranged in the airfoil cavity and includes a supply hole. Ribs extend from the pressure and suction side walls into the airfoil cavity and engage the baffle. The ribs are configured to provide a serpentine cooling passage between the baffle and at least one of the pressure and suction side walls. The serpentine cooling passage has first and second passes joined by a bend. The ribs form a film cooling cavity between the first and second passes. The supply hole fluidly connects the baffle to the film cooling cavity. Film cooling holes extend through at least one of the pressure and suction side walls. The film cooling holes are in fluid communication with the film cooling cavity.
US09810081B2 Cooled conduit for conveying combustion gases
A conduit through which hot combustion gases pass in a gas turbine engine. The conduit includes a wall structure having a central axis and defining an inner volume of the conduit for permitting hot combustion gases to pass through the conduit. The wall structure includes a forward end, an aft end axially spaced from the forward end, the aft end defining a combustion gas outlet for the hot combustion gases passing through the conduit, and a plurality of generally radially outwardly extending protuberances formed in the wall structure. The protuberances each include at least one cooling fluid passage formed therethrough for permitting cooling fluid to enter the inner volume. At least one of the protuberances is shaped so as to cause cooling fluid passing through it to diverge in a circumferential direction as it enters into the inner volume.
US09810079B2 Cyclonic dirt separating turbine accelerator
A dirt separator assembly for a gas turbine engine comprises a cyclonic accelerator in flow communication with compressor discharge air, the accelerator having a plurality of passages, each passage having an inlet, an outlet and at least one vent located in the passage, a plurality of turning vanes disposed along each of the passages, the passage turning tangentially between the inlet and the outlet, the accelerator passages decreasing from a first cross-sectional area to a second cross-sectional area and said turning vanes inducing helical swirl of compressed cooling air, and, at least one vent located in the accelerator passages for expelling dust separated from the swirling compressed cooling air.
US09810077B2 Fan blade attachment of gas turbine engine
A fan blade includes a root including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface connected to the front surface and the rear surface, and a second side surface connected to the front surface and the rear surface. The front surface engages the first side surface and the second side surface by one or more blunted surfaces, and the rear surface engages the first side surface and the second side surface by one or more blunted surfaces. A blade extends from the root.
US09810074B2 Segmented turbine blade squealer tip and cooling method
Gas turbine engine blade squealer tips incorporate cooling slots formed in the suction side rail downstream of the leading edge for directing cooling gas flow along an inside edge of the squealer tip pressure side rail. Some embodiments incorporate a tip fin on the suction side rail proximal a cooling slot. Segmented suction side rail embodiments abrade opposing turbine casing abradable surfaces prior to potential contact with the pressure side rail, reducing likelihood of pressure side rail friction heating. During turbine engine operation cooler pressure side rails reduce likelihood of squealer tip erosion.
US09810073B2 Turbine blade having swirling cooling channel and cooling method thereof
A turbine blade includes a cooling channel through which cooling air is passed, and a swirl portion provided at an entrance of the cooling channel so as to form a swirl flow in the cooling air. The turbine blade may increase cooling performance of a root unit, improve the stiffness of the root unit, and increase the internal heat transfer efficiency of a blade unit.
US09810068B2 Rotary engine with cam-guided rotor
A rotary engine includes a housing having a working cavity, a shaft, the shaft having an eccentric portion, a rotor having a first axial face, and a second axial face opposite the first axial face, the rotor disposed on the eccentric portion and within the working cavity, the rotor comprising a first cam on the first axial face, the first came having an eccentricity corresponding to the eccentricity of the eccentric portion of the shaft, and a cover integral with, or fixedly attached to, the housing, the cover comprising a plurality or rollers, each roller engaged with the cam, wherein the cam guides the rotation of the rotor as the rotor rotates within the working cavity and orbits around the shaft.
US09810065B2 Controlling an output of a mining system
Controlling an output of a mining system. The control includes receiving, at a processor, a first signal associated with a position of the shearer, determining, using the processor, the position of the shearer based on the first signal, receiving, at the processor, a second signal associated with a load of a conveyor, and determining, using the processor, the load of the conveyor based on the second signal. The method further includes determining, using the processor, an output of the mining system based on the position of the shearer and the load of the conveyor and controlling a speed of the shearer based on the output of the mining system.
US09810062B2 Reservoir and completion quality assessment in unconventional (shale gas) wells without logs or core
Embodiments herein relate to a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a formation including collecting and analyzing a formation sample, drilling operation data, and wellbore pressure measurement, estimating a reservoir and completion quality, and performing an oil field service in a region of the formation comprising the quality. In some embodiments, the formation sample is a solid collected from the drilling operation or includes cuttings or a core sample.
US09810055B2 Horizontal directional drilling area network and methods
A drilling area network hub is located proximate to a drill rig and includes an uphole transceiver in bidirectional communication with a downhole transceiver by utilizing the drill string as an electrical conductor. Certain information is collected including rig-based and/or location information. At least one field report is generated based on the certain information to characterize at least one of an inground operation, an operational condition of the downhole transceiver, an operational condition of the uphole transceiver, and an operational condition of the drill rig. A drilling area network server receives the field report from the Internet at a remote location and can generate a custom report and/or recommended actions based on field data. Region specific parameters can be applied to the operation of a drilling system. The drilling area network hub can transfer data logs to the remote location according to assigned priorities.
US09810054B2 Hydraulic load sensor system and methodology
A technique facilitates monitoring of load forces at various locations along a well string. The technique enables determination of loading based on measurement of hydraulic pressures, and the technique may be used to determine axial loading along a variety of downhole completions. A compensating piston may be disposed in a fluid chamber between a housing and a mandrel of one of the completions. The mandrel is slidably received in the housing and the fluid chamber is coupled with a sensor gauge via a pressure communication passage to facilitate accurate measurement of loading via the hydraulic pressures in the fluid chamber. The load forces may be monitored during, for example, landing of an uphole completion into a downhole completion. The sensor gauge also may be used for monitoring other pressures along the overall completion.
US09810053B2 Boring tool control using remote locator
A drilling system performs underground boring using a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground under control of the drill rig to form an underground bore. A monitoring arrangement, forming part of the system, includes a detection arrangement at the drill rig for monitoring at least one operational parameter to produce a data signal relating to at least one of a utility to be installed in the underground bore, the drill rig and the boring tool. A portable device forms another part of the system for receiving the data signal relating to the operational parameter for use by the portable device. A communication arrangement, for example using telemetry, transfers the data signal from the drill rig to the portable device. The operational parameter may be monitored for the purpose of preventing equipment failure.
US09810052B2 Multilateral wells placement via transshipment approach
A multilateral well placement methodology is provided for hydrocarbon reservoirs utilizing transshipment network optimization to best fit productivity conditions in the reservoir. Multilateral well trajectories are generated which ensure contact with hydrocarbon rich pockets in the reservoir. Different levels of branching for lateral wells are also permitted.
US09810050B2 Enhanced coal-bed methane production
Methods and systems for enhanced recovery of coal bed methane. A method includes generating a diluent gas mixture comprising N2 and CO2 in a semi-closed Brayton cycle power plant, injecting at least a portion of the diluent gas mixture into a coal bed, and recovering a mixed production gas comprising methane from the coal bed.
US09810045B2 Connection conditions for modeling fluid transport in a well system environment
In some aspects, flow path connection conditions are generated for a flow path intersection in a one-dimensional fluid flow model. The one-dimensional fluid flow model represents a flow of well system fluid in a well system environment. The flow path connection conditions conserve fluid momentum among three or more flow path branches that meet at the flow path intersection. Fluid flow is simulated in the fracture network by operating the one-dimensional fluid flow model based on the connection condition.
US09810043B1 Self-setting casing protector
A self-setting casing protector secured to a slip type casing elevator for grabbing a casing tubular and running the casing tubular into and out of a wellbore having two C-shaped setting plates each with a plurality of fastening holes; a plurality of support tubes positioned between aligned fastening holes; a plurality of bolts each penetrating pairs of fastening holes and a support tube, the second C-shaped setting plate simultaneously engaging (i) two aligned slip setting segments, and (ii) two aligned die retainers. As the slip type casing elevator is hoisted, the casing tubular drops while attached to the first C-shaped setting plate setting the casing tubular in the slip type casing elevator while simultaneously (i) protecting each casing tubular as it is sequentially lowered into or pulled from the wellbore, and (ii) protecting an upsetting box with premium connections as the tubular is run into and out of a wellbore.
US09810036B2 Pressure actuated frack ball releasing tool
In a fracking context the object that will ultimately block a passage in an isolation device is introduced into the zone with the bottom hole assembly. The object is not released until the guns fire to create a pressure spike in the borehole that triggers the object retaining device to release the object. The retaining device is placed in close proximity to the isolation device and its setting tool to allow a larger object and passage in the isolation device to be used. If the guns misfire, the object is not released and comes out with the guns. The replacement guns can be pumped in because the passage in the isolation device has stayed open during the misfire. Direct and indirect object release in response to pressure created from the firing of the guns is contemplated.
US09810032B2 Cable spools with sheaves
A spooling system for deploying cable, hose, and/or umbilical connections may include a drum, an air motor, a sheave having one or more sensor, and an electronic control unit coupled to an electro-pneumatic drive for controlling the system. The sensors may provide information to the electronic control unit, such as a measured line tension and/or a length of cable, hose or umbilical connection that has been deployed, and the information may be displayed on the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit also may allow an operator to rotate the reel, stop rotation of the reel, increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the reel, increase or decrease pressure and/or line tension, and/or select between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation.
US09810028B2 EM gap sub assembly
An improved gap sub assembly that can withstand the rigors of directional drilling, while still being cost effective and easy to deploy at the drill site. Embodiments can be assembled by sliding a mandrel into a housing without any threading or clocking, filling the gap between the housing and mandrel with an electrically isolating material, and curing the electrically isolating material to mechanically couple the housing and mandrel. In some embodiments, the interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the mandrel comprise a plurality of complimentary axial sections having staggered diameters so that a constant dielectric gap is maintained. In some embodiments, the interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the mandrel comprise non-overlapping right- and/or left-handed helical grooves that, when filled with a cured electrically insulating material, forms a complex 3D shear resistance mechanism optimized to resist torsion or twisting.
US09810024B2 Drill system
A drill system, a machine, and a method of operating the same, are disclosed. In one aspect, a machine includes a machine frame coupled to at least one ground engaging element, a power source configured to generate a power output for driving the at least one ground engaging element, and a cabin structure coupled to the machine frame and having an overhead portion configured to provide overhead protection to an operator. The machine further including a boom coupled to the overhead portion of the cabin structure and a drill assembly moveably coupled to the boom.
US09810023B2 Climbing system
A climbing system for inhibiting a ladder from tipping includes a ladder that may be climbed. A platform is provided and the platform may be positioned on a support surface. The ladder is removably coupled to the platform such that the platform inhibits the ladder from tipping.
US09810021B2 Thermal expansion and contraction system
A thermal expansion and contraction system secures cables to a ladder rung. The thermal expansion and contraction system includes a cable grip secured to the ladder rung. The cable grip includes a protective grommet for holding cables to the ladder rung, a metal plate and wire forms to secure the protective grommet to the metal plate. The thermal expansion and contraction system also includes a cable divider secured to the ladder rung to maintaining separation of cables and a cable containment clamp secured to the ladder rung.
US09810018B1 Cord safety device for window coverings
An elastic cord device for use in combination with a window covering device of the type comprising a pulley, a plurality of lift cords, a head rail, the lift cords used to raise and lower a window covering material. The elastic cord device can have a spiral helical shape. The elastic cord device is exposed and accessible so that the elastic cord device can be pulled to raise and lower the window covering material.A window covering device comprising an elastic cord device, a head rail, a pulley, window covering material and lift cords; the elastic cord device is used to operate the window covering.
US09810015B2 Window frame system for vacuum insulated glass unit
A window assembly may include a vacuum insulated glass unit and a frame assembly. The vacuum insulated glass unit may include first and second glass substrates defining a space therebetween that is at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. One of the first and second glass substrates may include a vacuum port extending outward therefrom. The vacuum port may define a passage in communication with the space. The frame assembly supports the glass unit and may include a base member and a glazing member. The base member and the glazing member cooperate to define a slot in which an edge portion of the glass unit is received. The glazing member may include a cavity receiving the vacuum port.
US09810010B1 Post for swinging and cantilever gates
A hinge for a swinging gate includes a base plate, a hinge base pivotally secured to the base plate and a mounting member connected in spaced apart relation to the hinge base by an elongate bolt. A gate-engaging member is secured to the mounting member so that pivoting of the hinge base effects conjoint pivoting of the mounting member, the gate-engaging member and a gate that it engages. An upstanding post has a pair of laterally spaced apart T-shaped slots that extend along its height. A bolt disposed within a T-shaped slot is disposed horizontally and cannot rotate. The bolts housed in a T-shaped slot screw-threadedly engage apertures formed in the corners of the base plate to secure the base plate to the upstanding post. In a second embodiment, a cantilever gate supported by a trolley assembly is secured in cantilever relation to at least one upstanding post.
US09810007B2 Method for producing motor vehicle door locks with a rolling surface as a locking part contour
The invention relates to a method for producing motor vehicle door locks with the locking parts: a rotary latch and a pawl. Said latch and the pawl are stamped from rolled sheet metal defining vertical or approximately vertical edges with corresponding latch surfaces on the rotary latch and the pawl, and subsequently are provided with a covering while maintaining the catch surfaces. After stamping, the locking parts are bent in the region of the main latch and/or another latch resulting in the formation a contour which is void of stamped channels, and are then inserted into the lock housing box.
US09810003B2 Impact resistant door retainer for vehicle glove box
An impact resistant releasable retainer is for a door, such as for covering a glove box or other vehicle storage compartment. A pawl retains the door closed and releases to allow the door to open. A pivotally mounted catch engages the pawl, such as within a notch, when the door is closed or moved in a forward direction, opposite the opening direction. An actuator moves the catch allowing the pawl to move, such as by engagement with the actuator following the engagement with the catch, for releasing the door to open. The catch otherwise remains secured to the pawl for preventing the inadvertent release of the door, such as during movement in the forward direction as the result of an impact.
US09810000B2 Electronic locking apparatus for a rollup door
A locking apparatus for a rollup door, comprising latch assembly including a latch, a release lever, a trigger, a cam and a solenoid. A housing that houses the latch assembly includes at least one opening that can removably receive a door striker member. The latch assembly includes a locked/unlocked status limit switch for detecting when the latch assembly is in an unlocked or locked position and an open/closed status limit switch for detecting when the striker member is disengaged from the latch assembly and door is (or can be) open or closed. The locking apparatus can be electronically unlocked or it can be unlocked manually by a user by actuating the solenoid which causes the latch to release the locked striker member.
US09809998B2 Lock
A lock comprises an upper casing and a base plate connected to each other; between the upper casing and the base plate there is an accommodation space in which the locking device is. The locking device consists of a locking hook coordinated with the receiving hole at the top surface of the upper casing and a control unit to control the movement of the locking hook. The locking hook has a hook portion which can access the bottom end of the receiving hole and a connecting portion controlled by the control unit. At the left side of the receiving hole which the hook portion faces to, there is a side plate comprising an inclined upper part and a vertical part at the lower end, and the inclined part tilt outward towards the top surface of the receiving hole for locking two zipper pull tabs together conveniently.
US09809996B2 System and method for assembling a door lock
A door lock assembly is configured for installation in a cross bore of a door. The lock assembly includes a lock housing including a disk portion having an outer perimeter and an inner wall extending from the disk portion and defining an annular space between the inner wall and the outer perimeter and a lock space inside of the inner wall. The inner wall is sized to fit within the cross bore and define an annular gap between the inner wall and the cross bore. A retention clip is removably attached to the lock housing and includes a retention portion that engages the cross bore to removably retain the lock housing within the cross bore without the use of fasteners.
US09809991B2 Pool cleaner with multi-stage venturi vacuum assembly
Some embodiments provide a pool cleaner having a housing including a bottom cover with a cover opening. A drive assembly is configured to drive one or more wheels. The pool cleaner further includes a supply mast, and a distributor manifold that receives water from the supply mast. A venturi vacuum assembly is in fluid communication with the distributor manifold, the venturi vacuum assembly designed to vacuum debris from a pool surface.
US09809978B2 Structural system and method using monolithic beams having improved strength
Exemplary embodiments include a structural system for replacing a standard beam. The standard beam has a weight per unit length, a depth in a load direction, a characteristic cross-sectional shape and a width in a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the load direction. The structural system includes a monolithic beam having the characteristic cross-sectional shape and the depth in the load direction. The monolithic beam may also have the weight per unit length. The monolithic beam includes first and second flanges connected by a transverse section. The first and second flanges extend in the cross direction and have first and second thicknesses, respectively, in the load direction. The flanges are not wider than the width in the cross direction. At least one of the flanges has the width in the cross direction. The thicknesses are different. The flanges and the transverse section are an integrated structure forming the monolithic beam.
US09809976B2 Beam clip with teeth
A saddle connector, having an inverted channel, engages a bulb of a beam in the grid of a suspended ceiling. The channel has hardened teeth staggered along the opposing walls of the channel. The teeth are forced into the bulb of the beam, one at a time, by the full force exerted by hand operated pliers.
US09809974B1 Adjustable deck tension tie
An adjustable deck tie bracket includes a front plate having an opening. Legs are on opposite sides of the front plate. A deformation zone connects a brace member to the front plate. The deformation zone has less resistance to bending than the brace member to facilitate rotation of the front brace by deformation at the deformation zone. To connect a deck to a house, a connector can be inserted through the front plate and secured to an anchor in the house. The orientation of the brace member is adjusted so it so extends to the bottom of a deck joist, thereby allowing flexibility in the vertical spacing between the connector and the deck joist. The legs are secured to opposite sides of the deck joist and the brace member is secured to the deck joist at a location that is spaced farther from the house than the legs.
US09809971B2 Architectural building block
An architectural building block including a generally triangular block having an outer wall, an inner wall disposed in substantially parallel configuration with respect to the outer wall and three side walls, each adjoining the outer wall and the inner wall. One of the side walls includes dual inverse mirror planes and each of the other two of which includes a single inverse mirror plane. At least one the side walls is configured to be positionable so as to mate with a side wall of an abuttingly disposed block, whereby curved structures may be constructed from a plurality of such blocks to form a dihedral angle between each set of two blocks. In one embodiment, the inner wall further includes at least one depression disposed on the inner wall of the block.
US09809969B2 Partitioned separator water treatment system with upflow filter
A system designed to control and filter runoff water in storm drains is presented. Drain water frequently carries trash, organic matter, suspended solids, hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients and bacteria collected from streets and parking lots into a storm drain inlet, which enters storm water drain pipe systems.The present invention supplies a series of baffle boxes inserted in the drain water stream with a final box possessing an upflow filter comprising filtration media and filter cartridges. The system can also support a storm flow bypass that directs high-flow storm runoff water directly to the outlet to protect the filter system.
US09809966B2 Handheld bidet
An ergonomically designed hygienic sprayer or bidet apparatus for use with pre-existing fixtures. The sprayer includes an angled portion with a sprayer head disposed on an underside of the angled portion, resulting in a flow of water from the sprayer head that is substantially between 30° and 60° relative to a longitudinal axis of a body portion of the sprayer. The sprayer also includes an actuator located on the same side of the sprayer as the sprayer head and slip-resistance surfaces. An optional mounting base for securely holding a hygienic sprayer in a manner that may disguise its presence or be more aesthetically pleasing. The mounting base is substantially the same size as the hygienic sprayer. The mounting base may be mounted or secured to multiple types of surfaces near the fixture with which the hygienic sprayer is used.
US09809965B1 Toilet having a built-in odor evacuating system
A toilet having a built-in odor evacuating system has a toilet body wherein a tank portion contains a module further comprised of a turbine member that is powered by a DC motor, and triggered by a motion sensor. The turbine member takes air from openings located inside a bowl portion of the toilet body, and pumps the air through a first pipe, forming part of the module. Once passed the turbine member, the air is directed into a second pipe directing the air into a “P” trap extending integrally from the bowl portion so that odors are blocked by water inside the bowl portion.
US09809964B1 Urine shield for a toilet
The urine shield for a toilet is a collapsible splatter guard that is adapted for use with a toilet. The urine shield for a toilet attaches to the toilet between the toilet rim and the toilet seat. When extended, the urine shield for a toilet extends the enclosed space formed by the toilet bowl by creating a first U shaped structure. The purpose of the urine shield for toilet is to contain the random sprays and splashes of urination. The urine shield for a toilet retracts into a pair of housings that is attached to the toilet rim and mounted within the toilet bowl perimeter. The pair of housings contains a cleaning fluid that cleanses the first U shaped structure when the urine shield for a toilet is not in use. The urine shield for a toilet comprises a shield and a pair of housings.
US09809962B1 Recreational vehicle holding tank drain clearing assembly
A recreational vehicle holding tank drain clearing assembly includes a tube having a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall. A first mating member is attached to the first and engages a first connecting member of a holding tank drain. A second mating member is attached to the second end and engages a drainage conduit. A cap is removably coupled to the second end of the tube. An air inlet is mounted on the cap and is fluidly coupled to the tube. A closure is mounted on the tube and is positioned in a first position preventing fluid movement through the tube or in a second position allowing fluid movement through the tube. Air is injected into the tube through the air inlet such that the air removes material trapped in the holding tank drain to increase flow from the holding tank through the holding tank drain.
US09809960B2 Underground water-storage vault and method for installing same
An underground water-storage system that includes a sump having a base and sidewalls that cooperate to define an open-topped box that defines a reservoir, a plurality of plastic water matrices each defining a void space for receiving water, and a lid. The sump and lid are formed of a reinforced geomembrane material and include welds and are prefabricated in a location remote from an installation site of the underground water-storage vault more than two days prior to installation.
US09809959B2 Retention system having double-ended expandable pin
A retention system is provided for use in connecting a replaceable tool to a work implement. The retention system may have a generally cylindrical pin with a first hollow end, and a second hollow end located opposite the first hollow end. The retention system may also have a first fastener configured to engage the first hollow end and cause the first hollow end to flare radially outward. The retention system may further have a second fastener configured to engage the second hollow end and cause the second hollow end to flare radially outward.
US09809957B2 Energy recovery method and system
The object of the present invention is to provide an inventive energy recovery method for a hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic cylinder (1), a pump (2), a tank (3), a supply conduit (4), a return conduit (5), and a hydraulic accumulator (7), the method comprises the steps of charging said hydraulic accumulator (7), and storing fluid in said hydraulic accumulator (7), wherein said energy recovery method comprises the step of directing fluid from said hydraulic accumulator (7) into an expanding chamber (8, 9) of said hydraulic cylinder (1) during an overrunning load condition.
US09809956B1 Multi-vehicle coordinated grade control system
A coordinated multi-vehicle grade control system and method includes receiving, by a first controller onboard a first work vehicle, a first grade control signal. The method and system also include receiving, by a second controller onboard a second work vehicle, a second grade control signal. Additionally, the method and system include orienting, by a first actuator of the first work vehicle, the first grading implement with respect to the first work vehicle according to the first grade control signal. Furthermore, the method and system include orienting, by a second actuator of the second work vehicle, the second grading implement with respect to the second work vehicle according to the second grade control signal. The second grade control signal is based, at least in part, on the first grade control signal to coordinate the orientation of the first grading implement with respect to the second grading implement along the grading pass.
US09809955B2 Control device for an implement system
A control device for an implement system of a machine is provided. The control device is mounted on a support. The control device includes a first gimbal rotatably coupled to the support. The control device also includes a second gimbal rotatably coupled to the first gimbal. The control device further includes a linear actuator having a first end and a second end. The linear actuator is fixed to the second gimbal from the first end. The control device further includes a handle attached to the linear actuator at the second end. The handle is configured to move in conjunction with rotational movements of the first gimbal and the second gimbal, and a linear movement of the linear actuator to control a movement of the implement system.
US09809954B2 Bulldozer
A bulldozer includes a blade, an engine, first and second exhaust treatment devices that treat exhaust from the engine, and an engine cover. The first exhaust treatment device is disposed in front of the engine and lower than a first upper surface of the engine. The second exhaust treatment device is disposed above the engine. The engine cover includes a second upper surface sloping forward and downward. The engine cover covers the engine and the first and second exhaust treatment devices. Longitudinal directions of the first and second exhaust treatment devices extend along a vehicle lateral direction. In a top view of the bulldozer, the second exhaust treatment device includes a portion overlapping the engine. As seen from a side of the bulldozer, a front edge of the second exhaust treatment device is positioned forward of a rear edge of the first exhaust treatment device.
US09809950B2 Two stage moldboard rail cleaner
A moldboard rail cleaner for removing debris from a rail of a work machine having a tilt frame housing defining a first cavity. The work machine has a wear insert positioned within the first cavity and adapted to slide along the rail as the rail moves along a rail axis. Further, a sub-housing may be coupled to the tilt frame housing and define a second cavity. Finally, a wiper is disposed at least partially within the second cavity, the sub-housing configured to bias the wiper into contact with the rail.
US09809949B2 Controlling crowd runaway of an industrial machine
A system for controlling the operation of an industrial machine during crowd runaway conditions. The system includes a controller that monitors and compares an actual crowd system state (e.g., an actual dipper position) with a requested crowd system state (e.g., a requested dipper position from the operator). If the controller determines that the crowd system is behaving contrary to requested crowd system behavior, the controller adjusts a crowd parameter, such as a crowd motor torque, to resolve the runaway condition.
US09809945B1 Method, apparatus, and kit for providing an adapter on earth moving equipment
A frame has a crosspiece with a pair of longitudinal branches, and is used for installing an adapter on earth moving equipment. This equipment has an implement support structure with one or more bearing plates for accommodating azimuthal rotation of a working implement. This working implement is removed from the implement support structure before attaching a frame there. The frame's crosspiece has walls that engage the bearing plates on the implement support structure. An adapter is rotatably mounted on the frame. Any one of a plurality of working accessories can be selected and installed on the adapter. For equipment that originally lacked bearing plates, a cross member with bearing plates is provided in a kit. The frame will then attach to the kit's cross member and to the implement support structure.
US09809943B2 Method for installing an elongate element in a stretch of water, and associated device and installation
A method for installation of an elongate element in a stretch of water, the method including reversible fastening of a connecting member (34) at a first end (16) of the elongate element (10); arranging the elongate element (10) in a substantially horizontal configuration; reversibly engaging the connecting member (34) in a retaining member (36); pivoting the elongate element (10) about a substantially horizontal axis to move the elongate element (10) into a substantially vertical configuration, while the connecting member (34) remains engaged in the retaining member (36); joint lowering of the retaining member (36), the connecting member (34) and the elongate element (10) in the stretch of water (12) with the help of a lowering line (152); detaching the connecting member (34) of the first end (16) of the elongate element (10), and joint raising of the retaining member (36) and the connecting member (34).
US09809940B2 Pneumatic fender and mouth piece metal for pneumatic fender
A pneumatic fender and a mouth piece metal with an open/close valve is biased by a resilient member toward a closing direction of a through hole formed on a dividing wall constituting a receiving chamber. A safety valve is isolated from a cavity of a fender bladder by a receiving chamber, thus allowing the safety valve to be able to be detached and attached while the pneumatic fender is in use. A confirmation test of a valve opening pressure of the safety valve is performed by opening a receiving chamber open/close valve and raising an internal pressure of a cavity of the receiving chamber to a pressure threshold (Pm) via a receiving chamber communication passage. Upon an internal pressure (P) of the cavity being less than the pressure threshold (Pm) and greater than a standard pressure (Pc), the open/close valve opens the through hole, thus allowing the safety valve to function.
US09809936B2 Substructure for an artificial lawn
A substructure (1) for an artificial lawn, comprising a top layer (4) of artificial grass fibers (5) and a substratum (2), which substratum comprises a number of individual layers, including a base layer (2), an intermediate layer (7) positioned on top of said base layer an a sand layer (3) positioned on top of said intermediate layer, wherein said sand layer comprises at least two sublayers, wherein the first sublayer (11) comprises a sand fraction having a particle size which is larger than the particle size of the sand fraction of the second sublayer (13).
US09809927B2 Device for embossing and/or perforating foils for tobacco goods
The device for embossing and perforating foils for tobacco goods includes: a pair of embossing rolls, one of the embossing rolls having teeth for perforating the foil, the counter roll to the embossing roll with the perforating teeth being a matrix roll which has recesses that correspond to the teeth on the patrix roll, both embossing rolls being arranged in a perforation device, and the device being designed in order to be operated directly or indirectly online in a machine for producing tobacco goods. The use of patrix-matrix embossing rolls allows for a large variety of perforations, the device having a control unit designed to control the exact position, size and arrangement of the perforations on the basis of the quality of the foil to be processed.
US09809918B2 Damper
Damper, in particular for washing machines with a spin cycle, with a housing having a central longitudinal axis and at least partially encompassing a housing interior by housing walls, a plunger displaceable in the housing along the central longitudinal axis, guided out of the housing and having at least one friction lining recess, fastening elements, arranged on open ends of the housing and the plunger, and at least one friction lining, arranged in the at least one friction lining recess and in frictional contact with opposite housing walls.
US09809916B2 Washing machine with balancer and control method thereof
Disclosed herein are a washing machine with a balancer to counterbalance unbalanced load produced during rotation of a drum and a control method thereof. The washing machine having a balancer to counterbalance unbalanced load produced during rotation of the drum seats a mass in a groove in the balancer before rotation of the drum possibly producing unbalance as in the spin-drying cycle begins, thereby efficiently maintaining balance of the drum. Accordingly, vibration in the drum may be reduced and product liability incident due to touch of the frame may be prevented.
US09809912B2 Vibration reduction mechanism for a sewing machine
Vibration reduction mechanism for a sewing machine. In one example embodiment, a vibration reduction mechanism for a sewing machine includes a rotational counterweight and a reciprocating counterweight. The rotational counterweight is configured to be coupled to a driveshaft of a sewing machine and is configured to be rotated by rotation of the driveshaft. The reciprocating counterweight is coupled to the rotational counterweight. A first portion of the reciprocating counterweight is configured to be rotated by the rotation of the rotational counterweight. A second portion of the reciprocating counterweight is configured to be substantially reciprocated along a length of a structure by the rotation of the rotational counterweight.
US09809911B2 Device for moulding fibrous material
A device for producing a 3 dimensional shaped consolidated product. The device includes a rotary drum, defined as a rotary conveyor with a peripheral surface extending in circumferential direction with at least one product shaping area in the form of a cavity on said peripheral surface, the peripheral surface is pervious to air at least in the product shaping area, at least one material feed device to feed a base material into the at least one cavity, a vacuum device designed to generate a negative pressure at least in the at least one cavity, whereby the generated suction is directed towards the interior of the rotary conveyor, and whereby downstream of the material feed device at least one consolidating device is located such that at least a part of the filled cavity is subjected to a consolidating treatment whereby the base material at least partly will adhere to neighboring material.
US09809905B2 Amorphous polyetherimide fiber and heat-resistant fabric
Provided are an amorphous polyetherimide fiber having not only a small single fiber fineness suitable for producing fabrics, and a fabric comprising the amorphous polyetherimide fiber. The fiber comprises an amorphous polyetherimide polymer having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of less than 2.5, and having a shrinkage percentage under dry heat at 200° C. of 5% or less, and a single fiber fineness of 3.0 dtex or less. The fiber may have a tenacity at room temperature of 2.0 cN/dtex or greater.
US09809904B2 Methods for retrieval of sequence-verified DNA constructs
In some embodiments, methods of recovering a sequence-verified target nucleic acid are provided. In some embodiments, such methods may include tagging each member of a nucleic acid library with a set of adaptor sequences; sequencing the tagged members of the nucleic acid library; and recovering the sequence-verified target nucleic acid from the tagged and sequenced members of the nucleic acid library using a dial-out selection method. In certain embodiments, the members of the nucleic acid library may be tagged with a second set of adaptor sequences.
US09809900B2 Crystal growth chamber with O-ring seal for Czochralski growth station
A growth chamber or a Czochralski crystal growth station has one or more re-sealable caps that are inserted into the chamber body. An O-ring seals the cap within its mating portion of the chamber body. The re-sealable caps facilitate re-use of the chamber body for a future crystal growth cycle.
US09809899B2 Treatment for electroplating racks to avoid rack metallization
A method of coating an electroplating rack used for supporting non-conductive substrates during a plating process. The method comprises the steps of contacting at least a portion of the electroplating rack with a plastisol composition, the plastisol composition having dispersed therein an effective amount of an additive; and heating the electroplating rack with the plastisol composition thereon to a suitable temperature and for a sufficient time to cure the plastisol and form a solid insulating coating on the electroplating rack. The coated electroplating rack may then be used for mounting non-conductive substrates for subsequent metallization steps.
US09809898B2 Electroplating and post-electrofill systems with integrated process edge imaging and metrology systems
Disclosed herein are electroplating systems for forming a layer of metal on a wafer which include an electroplating module and a wafer edge imaging system. The electroplating module may include a cell for containing an anode and an electroplating solution during electroplating, and a wafer holder for holding the wafer in the electroplating solution and rotating the wafer during electroplating. The wafer edge imaging system may include a wafer holder for holding and rotating the wafer through different azimuthal orientations, a camera oriented for obtaining multiple azimuthally separated images of a process edge of the wafer while it is held and rotated (the process edge corresponding to the outer edge of the layer of metal formed on the wafer), and image analysis logic for determining an edge exclusion distance, wherein the edge exclusion distance is a distance between the wafer's edge and the process edge.
US09809897B2 Metal plating apparatus and method using solenoid coil
A metal plating apparatus includes a chemical bath chamber, an anode disposed at a bottom portion of the chemical bath chamber, and a cathode disposed at a top portion of the chemical bath chamber. A solenoid coil is disposed within the chemical bath chamber between the anode and the cathode. The solenoid coil is arranged to apply a magnetic field during a metal plating process in a direction from the anode to the cathode.
US09809891B2 Plating method
Copper electroplating baths having a surface tension of ≦40 mN/m are suitable for filling vias with copper, where such copper deposits are substantially void-free and substantially free of surface defects.
US09809890B2 Arrangement of flow structures for use in high differential pressure electrochemical cells
The present disclosure is directed towards flow structures in electrochemical cells for use in high differential pressure operations. The flow structure on the low pressure-side of the cell has a larger surface area than the flow structure on the high-pressure side of the cell at the flow structure—MEA interface. The boundary of the high pressure flow structure is entirely within the boundary of the low pressure flow structure. A seal around the high pressure flow structure is also contained within the boundary of the low pressure flow structure. In such an arrangement, high fluid pressures acting on the electrolyte membrane from the high-pressure side of the cell is fully and continuously balanced by the flow structure on the low pressure-side of the membrane. Use of the low pressure flow structure as a membrane support prevents the rupture or deformation of the membrane under high stresses.
US09809886B2 Method of machining a gas turbine engine component
A method of machining a nickel containing alloy gas turbine engine component (34) comprises applying a material removal gas comprising gaseous carbon monoxide at a nickel carbonyl gas forming temperature such as 50 to 60° C. to a surface of the component to form a nickel carbonyl gas, and thereby remove a surface layer from at least part of the component.
US09809881B2 Method and apparatus for multizone plasma generation
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for plasma processing a substrate to form a film on the substrate and devices disposed thereon by controlling the ratio of ions to radicals in the plasma at a given pressure. A given pressure may be maintained to promote ion production using one plasma source, and a second plasma source may be used to provide additional radicals. In one embodiment, a low pressure plasma is generated in a processing region having the substrate positioned therein, and a high pressure plasma is generated in separate region. Radicals from the high pressure plasma are injected into the processing region having the low pressure plasma, thus, altering the natural distribution of radicals to ions at a given operating pressure. The resulting process and apparatus enables tailoring of the ion to radical ratio to allow better control of forming films on high aspect ratio features, and thus improve corner rounding, conformality of sidewall to bottom trench growth, and selective growth.
US09809880B2 Atomic layer deposition apparatus
An atomic layer deposition apparatus includes a first base plate on which a seat portion is defined to allow a substrate to be seated thereon, a second base plate disposed opposite to the first base plate, a first gas nozzle portion arranged on the second base plate, a second gas nozzle portion arranged on the second base plate to be spaced apart from the first gas nozzle portion and substantially parallel to the first gas nozzle portion, and a gas storage portion connected to the first gas nozzle portion and the second gas nozzle portion.
US09809878B2 In-line metallizer assemblies and part-coating conveyor systems incorporating the same
In-line metallizer assemblies can include an external rotating actuator exchange that can be operable to exchange one or more parts between a conveyor system and a vacuum chamber, and an internal rotating actuator exchange within the vacuum chamber that can be operable to receive the one or more parts from the external rotating actuator exchange, transition the one or more parts to a sputter coater integrated with the vacuum chamber for metallizing, and return metallized one or more parts to the external rotating actuator exchange such that the external rotating actuator exchange can return the metallized one or more parts to the conveyor system.
US09809876B2 Endblock for rotatable target with electrical connection between collector and rotor at pressure less than atmospheric pressure
An endblock for a rotatable sputtering target, such as a rotatable magnetron sputtering target, is provided. A sputtering apparatus, including one or more such endblock(s), includes locating the electrical contact(s) (e.g., brush(es)) between the collector and rotor in the endblock(s) in an area under vacuum (as opposed to in an area at atmospheric pressure).
US09809870B2 Process for separating and recovering metals
A process for treating spent catalyst containing heavy metals, e.g., Group VIB metals and Group VIII metals is provided. In one embodiment after deoiling, the spent catalyst is treated with an ammonia leach solution under conditions sufficient to dissolve the group VIB metal and the Group VIII metal into the leaching solution, forming a leach slurry. After solid-liquid separation to recover a leach solution, chemical precipitation and solids repulping is carried out to obtain an effluent stream containing ammonium sulfate (Amsul), ammonium sulfamate, Group VB, Group VIB and Group VIII metals. Following sulfidation, the Group VIII metal is fully removed and Group VB and Group VI metals are partially removed from the Amsul stream. In the additional steps of oxydrolysis and iron precipitation, an effective amount of ferric ion at a pre-select pH is added to form insoluble complexes with the Group VB and Group VIB metals, which upon liquid-solid separation produces an effluent ammonium sulfate stream containing less than 10 ppm each of the Group VB and Group VIB metals.
US09809866B2 Lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis without enzymes or acid catalysts
This specification describes a process of producing a monomeric sugar stream ligno-cellulosic biomass without enzymes or acid catalysts. This is accomplished by removing the water soluble C5 sugars from the ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstream, lowering the pH of the C5 solution with little or no addition of an acid, thermally treating the remaining ligno-cellulosic biomass, combining the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass with the low pH C5 solution and then exposing the mixture to an elevated temperature greater than 80° C. for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least some of the components of the ligno-cellulosic biomass. Preferably, the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass is subjected to a fiber shives reduction step to reduce the amount of long fiber shives.
US09809861B2 Method of evaluating inhibitory effect on damp-dry malodor
A method of evaluating inhibitory effect on damp-dry malodor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms which produce damp-dry malodor-causing substances and a test substance into contact with each other in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component; detecting expression of at least one kind of gene selected from a fatty acid desaturase gene and a β oxidation-related enzyme gene derived from the microorganisms; and thereby evaluating a damp-dry malodor inhibitory function of the test substance based on a change in expression amount of the at least one kind of gene.
US09809858B2 O-glycan pathway ovarian cancer signature
Biomarkers, methods, assays, and kits are provided for determining the prognosis of and treating a patient with ovarian cancer. Also disclosed are biomarkers, methods, assays, and kits for predicting the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy.
US09809856B2 Method for predicting risk of metastasis
The invention encompasses methods and compositions for predicting the risk of metastasis. In particular, the invention encompasses a method for correlating the level of expression of one or more nucleic acid sequences with a risk of metastasis.
US09809855B2 Characterization of molecules in nanofluidics
Methods are provided for characterizing a sample comprising polynucleotide sequences. The methods can comprise labeling nucleic acid molecules of the sample, translocating the plurality of labeled sample nucleic acid molecules though one or more fluidic nanochannels, detecting physical counts of signals from the labeled sample nucleic acid molecule, and determining a copy number of a genome or a fragment or fragments thereof in the sample.
US09809854B2 Biomarkers for disease activity and clinical manifestations systemic lupus erythematosus
This invention related to methods and assays for screening for, identifying, and predicting the severity and clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Specifically, this invention provides various biomarkers for the prediction of flares of the disease both in number and severity, as well as clinical manifestations of the disease, and methods of using these biomarkers to correctly subclassify patients with this disease, and prescribe appropriate treatment. The invention also provides for biomarkers of lupus disease activity, i.e., flares, as well as biomarkers for the prediction of future flares, and methods of using these biomarkers. The invention also provides, in these biomarkers, targets and methods for drug development and basic research for SLE.
US09809851B2 Systems and methods for sequencing in emulsion based microfluidics
Methods, libraries, and kits for nucleotide sequencing are provided.
US09809849B2 Methods and systems for pure dye instrument normalization
The present teachings relate to a method and system for normalizing spectra across multiple instruments. In an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises at least one reference instrument and a test instrument. Each instrument comprises at least one excitation filter and at least one emission filter arranged in pairs. Each instrument further comprises a pure dye plate comprising a plurality of wells. Each well contains a plurality of dyes where each dye comprises a fluorescent component. Fluorescent spectra are obtained from each instrument for each dye across multiple filter combinations to contribute to a pure dye matrix Mref for the reference instrument and pure dye matrix M for the test instrument. The pure dye spectra can then be multiplied by correction factors for each filter pair to result in corrected pure dye spectra, then normalized and the multicomponenting data can be extracted.
US09809846B2 Compositions, kits, uses and methods for amplified detection of an analyte
The invention provides compositions comprising rolling circle amplification sequences and hairpin sequences specifically designed for the accurate and highly sensitive detection of one or more analyte sequences. The invention further provides kits comprising them and methods for their use.
US09809845B2 Methods and reagents for amplifying nucleic acids
This disclosure related to methods and reagents for isothermal amplification of nucleic acid molecules. In some embodiments, methods are provided for amplification of a nucleic acid molecule from a biological sample. Additional embodiments include identification of a target nucleic acid molecule in a biological sample using the disclosed amplification methods.
US09809844B2 Method of DNA analysis using micro/nanochannel
Methods are provided for tagging, characterizing and sorting double-stranded biomolecules while maintaining the integrity of the biomolecules.
US09809843B1 High throughput measurement of DNA base lesion repair capacity
The invention pertains to methods for measuring DNA repair capacity of a test solution, for example, a cell lysate. The method can comprise incubating the test solution with a damaged DNA molecule and measuring the damaged DNA remaining at the end of the incubation. The damaged DNA used in the method comprises a marker attached to a first strand of the damaged DNA and a quencher attached to a second strand of the damaged DNA, characterized in that the quencher inhibits the release of a detectable signal from the marker when damaged DNA is in a double stranded form and the marker emits the detectable signal when at least a portion of the damaged DNA is in a single stranded form. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying one or more compounds from a plurality of compounds as an inhibitor of DNA repair mechanism.
US09809838B2 Methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in solution
Disclosed is a method for measuring the concentration of an analyte or analytes in a solution. Although the methods can be conducted using a number of different assay formats, in one embodiment, the assays are conducted in reaction vessels defined, at least in part, by the distal ends of fiber optic strands.
US09809835B2 Quantitative control of sialylation
The present disclosure is directed to the use of certain glycosyltransferase variants having N-terminal truncation deletions. Contrary to previous findings certain truncations were found to exhibit sialidase enzymatic activity, particularly a variant of human sialyltransferase (hST6Gal-I) with a truncation deletion involving the first 89 N-terminal amino acids of the respective wild-type polypeptide. A fundamental finding documented in the present disclosure is that there exists a variant of this enzyme which is capable of catalyzing transfer of a glycosyl moiety as well as hydrolysis thereof. Thus, disclosed is a specific exemplary variant of mammalian glycosyltransferase, nucleic acids encoding the same, methods and means for recombinantly producing the variant of mammalian glycosyltransferase and use thereof, particularly for sialylating in a quantitatively controlled manner terminal acceptor groups of glycan moieties being part of glycoproteins such as immunoglobulins.
US09809833B2 Pathways to adipate semialdehyde and other organic products
Recombinant microorganisms comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid sequence and capable of producing adipate semialdehyde are provided. Adipate semialdehyde may be produced in a synthesis pathway utilizing a single thiolase reaction. Adipate semialdehyde may also be produced from intermediates consisting of alpha, omega difunctional aliphatic organic molecules. Methods of using recombinant microorganisms to produce 6-aminocaproic acid, adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine and 1.6-hexanediol are also provided.
US09809832B2 Microbial biotransformation of aromatic acids to their reduced carbon aromatic acids
The present invention relates to a method for microbial fermentation and biotransformation of aromatic acids to aromatic acids with reduced carbon atoms of wide commercial importance using a culture of actinomycete species. Amycolatopsis sp or the mutant thereof is employed in the present invention to convert natural as well as synthetic aromatic acids to reduced carbon aromatic acids with wide applications. The said culture in the disclosed invention is adapted to grow at 37-46° C. to achieve the biotransformation of aromatic acid to reduced carbon aromatic acid is accomplished at 37-46° C. to obtain a higher yield of the product.
US09809830B2 Mutant NNK1 allele and its use
The present invention relates to a mutant NNK1 allele, especially a mutant carrying a mutation at position of amino acid 807 of the wild type sequence. The invention relates further to the use of said mutant allele to increase the fermentation rate in yeast, preferably in Saccharomyces. The mutant allele is especially useful to increase the xylose to ethanol fermentation rate.
US09809829B2 Genetically modified host cells and use of same for producing isoprenoid compounds
The present invention provides genetically modified eukaryotic host cells that produce isoprenoid precursors or isoprenoid compounds. A subject genetically modified host cell comprises increased activity levels of one or more of mevalonate pathway enzymes, increased levels of prenyltransferase activity, and decreased levels of squalene synthase activity. Methods are provided for the production of an isoprenoid compound or an isoprenoid precursor in a subject genetically modified eukaryotic host cell. The methods generally involve culturing a subject genetically modified host cell under conditions that promote production of high levels of an isoprenoid or isoprenoid precursor compound.
US09809828B2 Modified plant cell
We describe a plant cell which is modified by the inclusion of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a regulator of auxin signalling and which is adapted for expression in a gravity sensing cell.
US09809821B2 Compositions and methods for efficacious and safe delivery of siRNA using specific chitosan-based nanocomplexes
There is disclosed a composition and a method for the efficient delivery of a therapeutic RNAi-inducing nucleic acid to cells both in vitro and in vivo through specific formulations of a non viral delivery system using chitosans. Particularly, the composition contains a nucleic acid and a specific chitosan that has the following physico-chemical properties: a number-average molecular weight between 5 kDa and 200 kDa, a degree of deacetylation between 80% and 95% and a chitosan amine to nucleic acid phosphate ratio below 20.
US09809820B2 Treatment of hyperhidrosis
The present invention relates to a composition for reducing sweating in humans, characterized in that said composition comprises a compound capable of reduction of ITPR2 protein function and reduction of levels of ITPR2 mRNA and/or ITPR2 protein, and optionally pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or excipients, as well as to methods of treatment and specific siRNA molecules and their use in therapy.
US09809815B2 Methods and compositions for diagnosis and treatment of cancer
The present invention relates to the identification of nucleic acid and amino acid sequences that are characteristic of tumor tissues such as ovarian tumor and lung tumor tissues and which represent targets for therapy or diagnosis of tumor diseases in a subject.
US09809810B2 Galvanotaxis assay for quantitative assessment of the metastatic potential of cancer cells
An apparatus and method for accelerating and/or inhibiting the migration of cells by applying a time-varying magnetic field to induce eddy currents that promote electrotaxis (galvanotaxis) of cells without the need for chemokines or glucose. The present invention can also be used to study and quantify the metastatic potential of different cell lines.
US09809809B2 Neurotoxins exhibiting shortened biological activity
The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical field. Specifically, it contemplates a polynucleotide encoding a neurotoxin polypeptide exhibiting a reduced duration of the biological effect in a subject, wherein said polypeptide comprises at least one E3 ligase recognition motif in the light chain, wherein said E3 ligase recognition motif is preferably a binding motif for the E3 ligase MDM2. The invention further pertains to polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide of the invention as well as polypeptides comprising one or more amino acid substitutions. Further encompassed by the present invention are vectors and host cells comprising the said polynucleotide, polypeptides encoded thereby and antibodies specifically binding to the polypeptides. Moreover, the invention relates to medicaments comprising said polynucleotides and polypeptides, as well as specific therapeutic applications thereof. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates methods for the manufacture of the polypeptides and medicaments.
US09809808B2 Antimicrobial agents
The present invention relates to endolysin variants comprising an endolysin to which a peptide stretch with membrane or LPS disrupting activity is fused. Moreover, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding said modified endolysin variant, vectors comprising said nucleic acid molecules and host cells comprising either said nucleic acid molecules or said vectors. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for producing said endolysin variant. Further, the present invention relates to said modified endolysin variant for use as a medicament, in particular for the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial infections, as diagnostic means, disinfectant or as cosmetic substance. The present invention also relates to the removal or reduction or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial contamination of foodstuff, of food processing equipment, of food processing plants, of surfaces coming into contact with foodstuff, of medical devices, of surfaces in hospitals and surgeries. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of said endolysin variant as a diagnostic means in medicinal, food or feed or environmental diagnostic. Finally, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said modified endolysin variant.
US09809807B1 Cellulase having improved enzymatic activity
A cellulase having improved enzymatic activity is disclosed. The cellulase comprises a modified amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the modification is a substitution of Tyrosine at position 161 with Histidine.
US09809805B2 Zinc binding fusion protein of glutathione S-transferase and metallothionein
The present invention relates to a new zinc binding fusion protein that is a fusion protein of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and metallothionein (MT), to which zinc bind, providing an efficacy in preventing or treating a ROS-related disease and heavy metal poisoning.
US09809804B2 Materials and methods for characterizing and using KASIII for production of bi-functional fatty acids
A mutant Bacillus subtilis, which does not express a functional KASIIIA and/or KASIIIB, and method of making; a mutant Rhodospirillum rubrum, which does not express a functional PhaC1, PhaC2, and/or PhaC3, and method of making; method of characterizing substrate specificity of KASIII; method of making mutant KASIII with altered substrate specificity and/or altered level of activity and nucleic acid, vector, host cell/organism, and mutant KASIII; an in vitro, high-throughput spectrophotometric method of assaying KASIII activity; and materials and methods for using KASIII for production of bi-functional fatty acids and the materials so produced.
US09809802B2 IBV strains and uses thereof
The present invention relates to novel infectious bronchitis virus strains and the uses thereof. The invention particularly relates to an inactivated or attenuated IBV, as well as to vaccine compositions comprising the same and the uses thereof to vaccinate avians. The invention also relates to nucleic acids, infected cells and methods for detecting the infectious bronchitis virus strains of the invention in any sample.
US09809801B2 Anti-mycobacterial vaccines
Provided herein are genetically modified arenaviruses suitable as vaccines against mycobacterial infections. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of mycobacterial infections. Specifically, provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, and methods of preventing and treating infections in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
US09809799B2 Methods for inactivating viruses during a protein purification process
The present application relates to novel and improved methods of achieving virus inactivation during a protein purification process.
US09809797B2 Enhanced generation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes by IL-21 mediated FOXP3 suppression
A method of carrying out adoptive immunotherapy by administering a subject an antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) preparation in a treatment-effective amount is described. In the method, the CTL preparation is preferably administered as a preparation of an in vitro antigen-stimulated and expanded primate CTL population, the CTL population: (i) depleted of FoxP3+ T lymphocytes prior to antigen stimulation; (ii) antigen-stimulated in vitro in the presence of interleukin-21; or (iii) both depleted of FoxP3+ T lymphocytes prior to antigen stimulation and then antigen-stimulated in vitro in the presence of interleukin-21. Methods of preparing such compositions, and compositions useful for carrying out the adoptive immunotherapy, are also described.
US09809796B2 Animal protein-free media for cultivation of cells
The present invention relates to animal protein-free cell culture media comprising polyamines and a plant- and/or yeast-derived hydrolysate. The invention also relates to animal protein-free culturing processes, wherein cells can be cultivated, propagated and passaged without adding supplementary animal proteins in the culture medium. These processes are useful in cultivating cells, such as recombinant cells or cells infected with a virus, and for producing biological products by cell culture processes.
US09809795B2 Extraction of nitrogen from organic materials through ammonification by mixed bacterial populations
The invention provides a process for producing ammonia or ammonium from an organic material by fermenting a medium comprising organic material in the presence of a mixed bacterial population capable of ammonification, wherein the fermenting is under conditions, and for a sufficient period of time, to produce a fermentation product that comprises ammonia or ammonium. The organic material includes nitrogenous compounds suitable for conversion to ammonia or ammonium.
US09809794B2 Materials and methods for achieving differential lysis of mixtures with the aid of alkaline lysis and pressure cycling technology (PCT)
The subject invention provides a two-step protocol using pressure cycling technology (PCT) and alkaline lysis for differential extraction of mixtures. In a preferred embodiment the procedure is used in forensic DNA applications such as, for example, DNA testing in the case of rape.
US09809793B2 Bioreactor vessel having an optical foam sensor
A bioreactor vessel has an optical foam sensor (36) with a foam contact surface for contacting the foam to be detected. The foam contact surface is an inner side of a window (38) transparent to light from the visible and ultraviolet spectral range in an outer wall of the bioreactor vessel (10). An outer side of the window (38) is coupled to an illumination and detection unit (52) with at least one first light source (56) of visible light and at least one photodetector (58) to detect light from the first light source (56) that is reflected in the bioreactor vessel (10). The foam contact surface has a titanium dioxide coating (44) superhydrophilizable by photoactivation with ultraviolet light and the illumination and detection unit (52) has at least one second light source (66) of ultraviolet light.
US09809788B2 Bar soap composition and method of manufacture
A soap bar composition comprising solid soap and an oil-in-water emulsion, wherein the emulsion comprises one or more surfactants and wherein the emulsion is dispersed within the solid soap.
US09809787B2 Detergent compositions comprising lipase
The present invention relates a method of obtaining a detergent composition comprising introducing (a) a lipase variant of a parent lipase which variant has at least 60% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, a substitution at a position corresponding to D254 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 and has lipase activity and (b) an anionic surfactant, wherein said composition has increased stability in comparison with a corresponding composition comprising the parent lipase.
US09809786B2 Rinse aid composition comprising a terpolmer of maleic, vinyl acetate and ethyl acrylate
Rinse aid compositions, methods of use, and methods of making said composition are disclosed. The rinse aid compositions can be solid or liquid. The rinse aid compositions comprise a defoamer, a sheeting agent, and a terpolyer of maleic, vinyl acetate, and ethyl acrylate. Preferred sheeting agents include one or more alcohol ethyoxylates. Preferred defoamer components include a polymer compound including one or more ethylene oxide groups. The solid rinse aid compositions are preferably substantially free of sulfate and sulfate-containing compounds.
US09809785B2 Use of amino carboxylate for enhancing metal protection in alkaline detergents
The invention includes ware detergent compositions which prevent buildup of precipitates and also surprisingly provides significant metal protection of items exposed to alkaline detergent composition. According to the invention alkaline ware detergents may include an effective amount of amino carboxylate. Surprisingly, detergents which included amino carboxylate also provided significant metal protection against corrosion, even when traditional corrosion inhibiting components are reduced.
US09809784B2 Laundry detergents and cleaning compositions comprising sulfonate group-containing polymers
The present invention relates to a detergent or cleaning composition, preferably a liquid laundry detergent composition, comprising a sulfonate group-containing copolymer, which is useful in improving anti-soil redeposition in high water hardness conditions and whiteness maintenance benefit of such detergent or cleaning composition. Processes for making and methods of using the detergent or cleaning composition are also encompassed by the present invention.
US09809783B2 Detergent composition comprising an acrylamide/maptac cationic polymer
Fabric care compositions comprising a cationic polymer, a silicone, and a surfactant system. Methods of making and using such compositions.
US09809781B1 Thermal fractionation of biomass of non-lignocellulosic origin for multiple high-quality biofuels
Methods for production of multiple biofuels through thermal fractionation of biomass feedstocks are described. The products of said methods are also described.
US09809777B2 Process for producing lubricants containing nanoparticles
The use of nanoparticles of a metal melting below 400° C., preferably bismuth, dispersed in a lubricant for providing a low coefficient of friction coating to interacting surfaces of machinery, such as a powertrain of a motor vehicle.
US09809774B2 Method of separating solids using bio-oils
A process for separating a solid having two or more components, at least one of which is lyophobic and at least one of which is lyophilic. The process comprises, in a single step, comminuting a mixture of the solid in a first liquid to which one of the components is lyophilic and to which the other component is lyophobic and in a second liquid which is immiscible with the first liquid and which will wet the lyophobic component to form agglomerates or floes of the lyophobic component and the second liquid in a mill having positive transport capability such that the mill causes the mixture to be transported therethrough. The second liquid comprises a bio-oil, bio-diesel or combination thereof. The agglomerates are then separated from the mixture. This process may be used for beneficiating a coal containing ash.
US09809772B2 Polysiloxane scrubbing liquid for removing tar-like compounds
Tar-like components can be removed from gas streams resulting from gasification of coal, waste or biomass by contacting the gas with a liquid organic aryl polysiloxane. The polysiloxane preferably contains alkyl groups and aryl groups, and is in particular a polymethyl polyphenyl polysiloxane. The gas comprises one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane.
US09809771B2 Carbonaceous substance gasification device and method
A carbonaceous substance dry powder gasification device and method, the device comprising from bottom to top a lower cooling and purification section (1), a gasification reaction section (2), a cooling reaction section (3) and an upper cooling and purification section (4); an initial cooling device is disposed at the connection between the cooling reaction section and the gasification reaction section; and a plurality of nozzles are circumferentially arranged in the gasification reaction section. The method comprises: a gasification reaction is conducted between a carbonaceous substance and an oxygenated gasifying agent to generate crude synthesis gas and ash; part of the crude synthesis gas and most of the ash go downstream for cooling and gasification, and the cooled and ash removed crude synthesis gas is transferred to subsequent processes, and the quenched ash is discharged through an ash outlet; the remaining crude synthesis gas and fly ash go upstream to mix with a cooling substance for cooling, and then are transferred to the cooling reaction section for reacting with the incompletely reacted carbon and added gasification agent; the crude synthesis gas and the fly ash are cooled and purified to remove the fly ash, and the clean low-temperature crude synthesis gas is transferred to subsequent processes. The method avoids ash blocking at an ash outlet in an upstream air-exhaust method, and also avoids overheating at the top in a downstream air-exhaust method, thus improving the carbon conversion rate.
US09809769B2 Fluidized bed biogasifier and method for gasifying biosolids
A fluidized bed biogasifier is provided for gasifying biosolids. The biogasifier includes a reactor vessel and a feeder for feeding biosolids into the reactor vessel at a desired feed rate during steady-state operation of the biogasifier. A fluidized bed in the base of the reactor vessel has a cross-sectional area that is proportional to at least the fuel feed rate such that the superficial velocity of gas is in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). In a method for gasifying biosolids, biosolids are fed into a fluidized bed reactor. Oxidant gases are applied to the fluidized bed reactor to produce a superficial velocity of producer gas in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). The biosolids are heated inside the fluidized bed reactor to a temperature range between 900° F. (482.2° C.) and 1700° F. (926.7° C.) in an oxygen-starved environment having a sub-stoichiometric oxygen level, whereby the biosolids are gasified.
US09809767B2 NOx removal method
The invention relates to mixtures comprising molecular hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides; to processes for removing at least a portion of the nitrogen oxides therefrom; to equipment useful in such processes; and to the use of such hydrocarbons for, e.g., chemical manufacturing.
US09809760B2 Method for producing a base oil having high weight percent total molecules with cycloparaffinic functionality and low weight percent molecules with multicycloparaffinic functionality
A method for producing a base oil having a high ratio of weight percent molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality to weight percent molecules with multicycloparaffinic functionality by hydroisomerization dewaxing a selected Fischer-Tropsch wax under hydroisomerization conditions including a hydrogen to feed ratio from about 712.4 to about 3562 liter H2/liter oil.
US09809758B2 Production of xylenes from syngas
This disclosure relates to the production of xylenes from syngas, in which the syngas is converted to an aromatic product by reaction with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and an aromatization catalyst. The Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and aromatization catalyst may be different catalysts or combined into a single catalyst. The aromatic product is then subjected to selective alkylation with methanol and/or carbon monoxide and hydrogen to increase its p-xylene content.
US09809757B2 Process for producing crude oil and bitumen products
Disclosed are processes for producing crude oil and bitumen products of relatively high quality from oil sand. The processes for producing the high quality crude oil and bitumen products involve a Phase I and/or Phase II extraction solvent. According to the Phase I process, a high quality bitumen-derived crude oil can be produced using a Phase I type solvent. According to the Phase II process, a substantial amount of the bitumen on the oil sand can be extracted using a Phase II type solvent, while producing a relatively dry tailings by-product. The Phase I and Phase II extraction processes can be carried out independently or in conjunction with one another.
US09809748B2 Liquid-crystalline media having homeotropic alignment
The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media (LC media) having negative or positive dielectric anisotropy, comprising a low-molecular-weight component and a polymerizable component. The polymerizable component comprises self-aligning, polymerizable mesogens (polymerizable self-alignment additives) which effect homeotropic (vertical) alignment of the LC media at a surface or the cell walls of a liquid-crystal display (LC display). The invention therefore also encompasses LC displays having homeotropic alignment of the LC medium without alignment layers. The invention discloses novel structures for self-alignment additives which have a certain position of the functional groups.
US09809747B2 Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display element using the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition in which various characteristics of a liquid crystal display element such as a dielectric anisotropy, a viscosity, a nematic phase upper limit temperature, and γ1, and a burn-in characteristic of a display element are not deteriorated, dropping mark is unlikely to be generated during preparation, a compound represented by liquid crystal composition Formula (I) suitable for a liquid crystal display element in which a discharging amount of the liquid crystal material stable in an ODF step is realized is contained, and a compound represented by General Formula (II) is contained by equal to or more than 15%, and a liquid crystal display element using the same.
US09809745B2 Phosphor and method for producing same
The object of the present invention is to provide an oxide-based phosphor comprising elements other than rare earth elements as light-emitting elements, with low material costs, while achieving high luminous efficacy. The means for achieving the object is a phosphor comprising the following (1) to (3): (1) zirconium oxide, (2) titanium, and (3) at least one element selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, selenium, boron, and silicon.
US09809744B2 Fluoride phosphor composite, method of manufacturing fluoride phosphor composite, white light emitting apparatus, display apparatus, lighting device, and electronic device
There is provided a fluoride phosphor composite including: fluoride phosphor core particles that may be expressed by the empirical formula AxMFy:Mn4+, wherein A may be at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs, M may be at least one selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge, and Sn, the composition ratio (x) of A may satisfy 2≦x≦3, the composition ratio (y) of F may satisfy 4≦y≦7, each fluoride phosphor composite particle may be coated with a Mn-free fluoride coating. The Mn-free fluoride coating may have a thickness less than or equal to 35% of the size of each fluoride phosphor composite particle.
US09809742B2 Hydraulic fracturing composition, method for making and use of same
A hydraulic fracturing composition includes: a superabsorbent polymer in an expanded state and configured to break in response to a breaking condition; a plurality of proppant particles disposed in the superabsorbent polymer prior to release of the plurality of proppant particles from the superabsorbent polymer in response to breaking the superabsorbent polymer; and a fluid to expand the superabsorbent polymer into the expanded state. The hydraulic fracturing composition can be made by contacting a superabsorbent polymer with a fluid to expand the superabsorbent polymer into an expanded state; and disposing a plurality of proppant particles in the superabsorbent polymer to make the hydraulic fracturing composition. A process for disposing a plurality of proppant particles in a fracture comprises: disposing a hydraulic fracturing composition in a downhole environment; forming a fracture in the downhole environment; disposing the hydraulic fracturing composition in the fracture; breaking the superabsorbent polymer after forming the fracture; and releasing the plurality of proppant particles from superabsorbent polymer to dispose the plurality of proppant particles in the fracture.
US09809741B2 Methods and compositions for stimulating the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations
Methods and compositions for stimulating of the production of hydrocarbons (e.g., formation crude oil and/or formation gas) from subterranean formations, and methods of selecting a composition for treating an oil or gas well. In some embodiments, the compositions are emulsions or microemulsions, which may include water, a terpene, and a surfactant.
US09809737B2 Compositions containing kiln dust and/or biowaste ash and methods of use
An embodiment comprises a method of treating a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising a kiln dust, biowaste ash, and water; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. Another embodiment comprises a method of cementing comprising: introducing a cement composition into a subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises a kiln dust, biowaste ash, and water; and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. Yet another embodiment comprises a method comprising: providing a spacer fluid comprising biowaste ash and water; introducing the spacer fluid into a well bore to displace at least a portion of a first fluid from the well bore; and introducing a cement composition into the well bore, wherein the spacer fluid separates the cement composition and the first fluid.
US09809733B2 Thermoplastic moulding composition with water-repellent properties
It was found that water-repellent thermoplastic moulding compositions, which comprise a) from 66 to 72% by weight of one or more styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers as component A, b) from 25 to 35% by weight of one or more polyacrylate rubbers as component B, c) from 1 to 5% by weight of one or more fluorine-containing polymer components C, selected from the group of polyvinyliden-difluoride and polyvinyliden-tetrafluoride, d) from 0.05 to 6% by weight of one or more further additives, which are different from C, as component D, where each of the % by weight values is based on the total weight of components A to D and these give a total of 100% by weight, have good replication properties and lead to highly water-repellent surfaces.
US09809727B2 Photo-latent titanium-oxo-chelate catalysts
A titanium-oxo-chelate catalyst formulation, comprising: (i) at least one compound of the formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 independently of each other are for example hydrogen, halogen, C1-C20alkyl, C6-C14aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted; or R1, R2 and R3 and/or R4, R5 and R6 and/or R7, R8 and R9 and/or R10, R11 and R12 together with the C-atom to which they are attached each form a C6-C14aryl group which is unsubstituted or substituted; or R1 and R2 and/or R4 and R5 and/or R7 and R8 and/or R10 and R11 together with the C-atom to which they are attached form a 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring; at least one chelate ligand compound of the formula (IIa), (IIb) or (IIc), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are defined as above for formula (I), is suitable as photolatent catalyst formulation for polymerizing compounds, which are capable to crosslink in the presence of a Lewis acid.
US09809717B2 Antimicrobial-coated medical articles
The disclosure provides polymers having antimicrobial activity and articles with the polymers coated thereon. The polymers include a first pendant group comprising a first cationic component, a second pendant group comprising a nonpolar component, and a third pendant group comprising an organosilane component. The disclosure also includes methods of coating medical device articles and body fluid-receiving substrates with the antimicrobial polymers. The methods further include the use of adhesion-promoting components.
US09809715B2 Anti-corrosion and/or passivation compositions for metal containing subtrates and methods for making, enhancing, and applying the same
A corrosion inhibition composition is disclosed comprising a cerium, a tungstate, a molybdate and silicate compounds. A corrosion inhibition composition is provided comprising a zinc oxide, a zinc hydroxide benzoate, a sodium benzoate, a molybdate and a silicate compound. A corrosion inhibition composition is provided comprising a zinc oxide, a zinc phosphate, a calcium silicate, an aluminum phosphate, a zinc calcium strontium aluminum orthophosphate silicate hydrate, a molybdate, and silicate compounds.
US09809713B2 Photoactivatable crosslinker compositions for surface modification
The invention describes novel compositions of crosslinkers that include at least two pendent photoactivatable groups, such as benzophenone moieties, and an initiator, such as acetophenone.
US09809704B2 Rubber composition and molded article
The rubber composition contains the following component (A), the following component (B), and the following component (C). The component (A) is an ethylene-α-olefin-nonconjugated polyene copolymer rubber containing an ethylene unit, an α-olefin unit, and a nonconjugated polyene unit, a number of carbon atoms of the α-olefin unit is 3 to 20, a limiting viscosity measured in 135° C. tetralin is 2.8 dl/g to 5 dl/g, a content of the ethylene unit is 70 mol % to 90 mol % (where a total of the content of the ethylene unit and a content of the α-olefin unit in the component (A) is 100 mol %), and a content of the nonconjugated polyene unit is 2 wt % to 20 wt % (where a total amount of the component (A) is 100 wt %); the component (B) is an organic peroxide; and the component (C) is a thermosetting prepolymer.
US09809703B2 Ethylene-based polymer compositions with improved viscosities
The invention provides a composition comprising a first composition comprising the following: A) a first ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer that has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) greater than 90,000 g/mole and a MWD less than, or equal to 3, each as determined by conventional GPC; B) a second ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer; and wherein the first composition has a number average molecular weight (Mn) less than 10,000 g/mole, as determined by conventional GPC; and wherein the α-olefin of first interpolymer is the same as the α-olefin of the second interpolymer.
US09809702B2 Hybrid sustainable composites and methods of making and using thereof
Composites containing one or more synthetic plastics, such as thermoplastics, one or more natural materials, such as plant/tree fibers, and biochar and/or torrefied material are described herein. The composite can contain additional additives, such as reinforcing agents and/or fibers, compatibilizers, etc. The composites have improved mechanical and/or physical properties, such as strength, impact strength, rigidity/modulus, heat deflection temperature, moldability/melt flow index, renewability, and lower cost compared to composites that do not contain the biochar and/or torrefied material. The presence of the biochar and/or torrefied material also serves to remove the odor often associated with natural fibers and other additives.
US09809701B2 Low density ethylene-based compositions with improved melt strength, output, and mechanical properties
The invention provides a composition comprising the following: A) a first ethylene-based polymer, formed by a high pressure, free-radical polymerization process, and comprising the following properties: a) a Mw(abs)/Mw(GPC)<2.2; and b) a MS versus I2 relationship: MS≧C×[(I2)D], where C=13.5 cN/(dg/min)D, and D=−0.55, c) a melt index (I2) from 0.1 to 0.9 g/10 min; and B) a second ethylene-based polymer; and wherein the second ethylene-based polymer has a melt index (I2) from 0.1 to 4.0 g/10 min.
US09809697B2 Crosslinking agent, crosslinked polymer, and compound
An object of the invention is to provide a crosslinking agent with which a crosslinked polymer that suffers little coloring with the lapse of time and shows excellent viscosity stability is obtained. The crosslinking agent of the invention includes a compound which contains two or more alkylhydrazide groups represented by the following general formula (1). (In formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms, and symbol * is a linking bond.)
US09809693B2 Method of dewatering in a continuous high internal phase emulsion foam forming process
A method for continuous High Internal Phase Emulsion (HIPE) foam production. A HIPE is produced then extruded onto a belt. After polymerization, a portion of the saturated aqueous phase is removed using a vacuum box. A nip insert is inserted under the vacuum box to raise the vacuum box leading to improved uniformity of the HIPE in the cross direction along the belt.
US09809688B2 Polyester sheet, polyester molded article, polyester resin masterbatch
There is prepared a polyester sheet having a surface layer in which 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of an ester compound, which is synthesized by using a polyvalent organic acid having three or more carboxyl groups and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol having eight or more carbon atoms, and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of inert inorganic particles having an average particle diameter of 2 to 15 μm, are blended into a polyethylene terephthalate-based polymer. Accordingly, the polyester sheet has a rational balance between sliding properties and transparency.
US09809685B2 Division of a polyarylene ether solution
Process for producing polyarylene ether beads from a polyarylene ether solution, comprising the steps of i) dividing the polyarylene ether solution into droplets, ii) transferring the droplets into a precipitation bath to form polyarylene ether beads in the precipitation bath which (A) comprises at least one aprotic solvent (component (1)) and at least one protic solvent (component (2)), (B) has a temperature of 0° C. to Tc, where the critical temperature Tc in [° C.] can be determined by the numerical equation Tc=(99−c)/0.61 in which c is the concentration of component (1) in the precipitation bath in [% by weight] and (C) has component (1) in concentrations of 5% by weight to cc, where the critical concentration cc in [% by weight] can be determined by the numerical equation cc=99−0.61*T in which T is the temperature in the precipitation bath in [° C.], where the percentages by weight are each based on the sum of the percentages by weight of component (1) and of component (2) in the precipitation bath.
US09809681B2 Method for forming a low viscosity polyarylene sulfide
A method for washing a polyarylene sulfide with a washing solution that contains a carefully controlled solvent content is provided. More particularly, the washing solution typically contains water (e.g., deionized water) in an amount of from about 30 wt. % to about 70 wt. % and an aprotic organic solvent in an amount of from about 30 wt. % to about 70 wt. %. Within such carefully controlled ranges, the present inventors have discovered that the polyarylene sulfide can retain a relatively high oligomer content, which in turn, helps minimize the melt viscosity.
US09809677B2 Polycarbonate composition and article comprising the same
Disclosed is a polycarbonate composition including (a) a branched polycarbonate comprising a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a trivalent or tetravalent branched repeating unit connecting the plurality of repeating units represented by Chemical Formula 1 to each other; and (b) a copolycarbonate comprising an aromatic polycarbonate-based first repeating unit, and aromatic polycarbonate-based second repeating units having siloxane bonds which include a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 4 and a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 5: The polycarbonate composition improves flame retardancy and chemical resistance while maintaining high impact strength and melt index.
US09809671B2 Process for producing hydrogenated block copolymer, hydrogenated block copolymer obtained by the process, and composition thereof
The present invention relates to a method for producing a hydrogenated block copolymer, including the steps of: (a) forming a block copolymer by allowing a living polymer having a specific structure to react with a tetra- or more functional silane coupling agent; (b) hydrogenating the block copolymer to form a hydrogenated block copolymer; (c) isolating the resultant hydrogenated block copolymer; and (d) deactivating a functional group in the silane coupling agent and/or an unreacted functional group present in a coupling agent residue in the block copolymer or the hydrogenated block copolymer prior to the step (c), in which the number of functional groups derived from the coupling agent in the hydrogenated block copolymer recovered in the step (c) is 1.5 or less per block copolymer molecule; a hydrogenated block copolymer obtained by the method; and a composition containing the hydrogenated block copolymer.
US09809668B2 Polymerizable compound, composition, polymer, optically anisotropic body, liquid crystal display device, and organic EL device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymerizable compound suitable as a material for optically anisotropic bodies having excellent optical properties, a composition containing the polymerizable compound, a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound, an optically anisotropic body formed of the polymer, and a liquid crystal display device including the optically anisotropic body.
US09809664B2 Bimodal propylene polymers and sequential polymerization
This invention relates to high porosity (≧15%) and/or low pore diameter (PD<165 μm) propylene polymers and propylene polymerization processes using single site catalyst systems with supports having high surface area (SA≧400 m2/g), low pore volume (PV≦2 mL/g), a specific mean pore diameter range (PD=1-20 nm), and high average particle size (PS≧30 μm).
US09809662B2 Polypropylene production processes
Processes for producing a polypropylene product by using a lower purity propylene stream. An operating parameter of the separation zone for a dehydrogenation zone effluent may be adjusted or controlled to lower the purity of the propylene stream produced by the separation zone. The reflux rate of propylene-propane splitter may be reduced. The duty of the reboiler for the propylene-propane splitter may be lowered. The number of stages in the propylene-propane splitter may be decreased.
US09809657B2 Low-viscosity concentrated solutions of alkaline earth metal alkoxides in aprotic solvents and processes for preparation thereof
A solution of a mixed alkaline earth alkoxide compound with an aluminum compound in an aprotic solvent, and methods of making and using them.
US09809647B2 Neutralizing anti-CCL20 antibodies
The present invention relates to novel humanized, chimeric and murine antibodies that have binding specificity for the human CC chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20). The present invention further relates to heavy chains and light chains of said antibodies. The invention also relates to isolated nucleic acids, recombinant vectors and host cells that comprise a sequence which encodes a heavy chain and/or a light chain of said antibodies, and to a method of preparing said antibodies. The anti-CCL20 antibodies of the invention can be used in therapeutic applications to treat, for example, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and cancer.
US09809644B2 Influenza hemagglutinin antibodies, compositions and related methods
Antibodies against influenza hemagglutinin, compositions containing the antibodies, and methods of using the antibodies are provided herein.
US09809643B2 Identification of antibodies specific for at least two different lyssaviruses
Described herein is a method of identifying a monoclonal antibody (or antigen-binding fragment thereof) that specifically binds a plurality of lyssaviruses for use in post-exposure rabies prophylaxis or in the treatment of clinical rabies. The method includes using a naïve antibody phage display library to screen for phage clones that bind whole recombinant rabies virus or cells expressing glycoprotein from multiple lyssaviruses (such as RABV, MOKV and WCBV) and/or specifically bind recombinant glycoprotein from different lyssaviruses.
US09809641B2 Lactoferrin fusion protein and method for preparation thereof
The present invention aims to provide a lactoferrin fusion protein, which is configured to retain the biological activities of natural lactoferrin, to have a significantly prolonged in vivo lifetime, and to be more clinically useful than natural and gene recombinant lactoferrin, as well as a method for preparation thereof, etc. The present invention provides a fusion protein formed with a protein or peptide comprising an FcRn-binding region and lactoferrin or a biologically active fragment or peptide of lactoferrin, which is represented by: (LF-s-Y)n or (Y-s-LF)n [wherein LF represents lactoferrin or a biologically active fragment or peptide of lactoferrin, represents the protein or peptide comprising an FcRn-binding region, s represents ally amino acid sequence of 0 to 10 residues, and n represents an integer of 1 to 10], or a variant thereof.
US09809636B2 Methods for increasing red blood cell levels comprising administering BMP9
In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for increasing red blood cell and/or hemoglobin levels in vertebrates, including rodents and primates, and particularly in humans.
US09809633B2 Reagents and methods for treating dental disease
Peptide-based reagents, compositions and oral care products containing the peptide-based reagents, and methods for using the peptide-based reagents, compositions, or oral care products to treat dental diseases such as periodontitis, tooth erosion, hypersensitivity, bacterial plaque, dental fluorosis, tooth decay, carries, tooth resorption, and gingival recession, are described.
US09809630B2 Enzyme-based protein separation and enrichment from soy meal, wheat meal, and other protein-rich materials derived from plant seeds, fruits and other biomass
The present invention is directed to enzyme based methods for separating protein from protein-rich materials derived from plant seeds, fruit, or other biomass and products made therefrom. The protein content in the resulting products is improved by separating and removing the carbohydrates from around the proteins in, for example, soybean meal. This removal is facilitated by the enzymatic hydrolysis of poly- and oligomeric carbohydrates into monosaccharides and other water soluble sugars. The present invention provides for the production of three streams of useful materials. The first is an enriched protein material comparable to the known SPCs but without significant quantities of undigestible oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. The second is an SPI made from the soluble protein in the hydrolysate which is valuable for high-quality feed, food and industrial uses. The third is the soluble saccharides and hydrolyzed carbohydrates (releasing sugars) that can be converted by fermentation to various valuable bioproducts.
US09809620B2 Prion disease-specific epitopes and methods of use thereof
Prion peptides comprising prion epitopes and fusions thereof, that display enhanced immunogenicity are described. Also described are methods of treating and diagnosing prion disease.