Document Document Title
US09983641B2 Tunable two phase liquid cooling thermal management method and apparatus
Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with tunable pumped two-phase liquid cooling thermal management are disclosed. In embodiments, a tunable cooling apparatus may include a thermoelectric cooler device, TEC, that has a hot side and a cold side, where the cold side is to cool the coolant in route to an inlet manifold of the cold plate before the coolant enters the inlet manifold, and the hot side may be to warm the coolant in route from an outlet manifold of the cold plate after the coolant flows through the cold plate and exits the outlet manifold and or vice versa. In embodiments, the coolant may be either in a liquid state or in a vapor state. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09983635B2 Control buttons for notebooks and convertible devices
A keyboard or keyboard unit comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and a front edge. An array of keys is disposed on the upper surface. One or more control buttons are disposed on the front edge, wherein the control buttons are configurable to provide a first functionality such as mouse button functionality. A user is able to depress the one or more control buttons by moving a thumb in a direction generally perpendicular to the front edge. The keyboard is able to couple with a display unit to provide a tablet form factor wherein the one or more control buttons are accessible in the tablet form factor. The control buttons are configurable to provide a first functionality such as a mouse button for a notebook form factor, and to provide a second functionality such as controls suitable for a tablet for a tablet form factor.
US09983634B2 Keyboard lifting structure
A keyboard lifting structure includes a base, a cover frame covering the base and providing multiple openings, key caps coupled to the base by respective linking mechanisms, driving devices disposed in the base at one side relative to the respective key caps with respective slides thereof respectively abutted against the linking mechanisms of the key caps, and a lifting mechanism disposed between the cover frame and the base for lifting or lowering the cover frame relative to the base and simultaneously causing the driving devices to move the key caps upwardly out of the cover frame or downwardly into the inside of the respective openings of the cover frame.
US09983627B1 Hinge for a computing device with two display devices
A computing device may include a first housing and a second housing attached by one or more hinges. The first housing may house a first set of components, including a first display device. The second housing may house a second set of components, including a second display device. The one or more hinges may enable the first housing and the second housing to be placed at an angle of between about 0 degrees to about 360 degrees relative to each other. When the first housing is placed at an angle of about 180 degrees relative to the second housing, the one or more hinges may pull the first housing and the second housing towards each other, resulting in a gap between a first edge of the first housing and a second edge of the second housing of 2 millimeters or less.
US09983625B2 Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
A watch-type mobile terminal includes: a terminal body; a sensor unit disposed on one surface of the terminal body, configured to determine whether the watch-type mobile terminal has been worn or not, and including a light emitting portion for emitting light of a first intensity at first time intervals, and a light receiving portion for sensing reflected light; and a controller configured to control the light emitting portion to emit light of a second intensity at second time intervals between the first time intervals, wherein the controller calculates a pressure value applied to the terminal body based on an optical amount of light incident onto the light receiving portion, and generates a specific control command based on the pressure value.
US09983624B2 Wearable propping display apparatus 2
The disclosed apparatus is a display panel (with electronic display) made wearable by suspending it from an operator's neck (or shoulder) by a strap and including a prop to push the display panel away from the operator's stomach/chest and into his comfortable view without using of his hands. The bottom end of the prop makes contact with the operator using an interface designed to provide lateral tipping stability and sliding stability in all directions. The display distance from the operator's face may be adjusted by adjusting the strap length. The prop may include an adjustable extension to better position the display. The apparatus may include only electromagnetic communication for computer remote control, may receive television, may connection to multiple sources with a separate telecommunication housing, may include various accessory holders, may include display panel back side controls or may include computer equipment.
US09983619B2 Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus according to embodiments includes a display that includes a planar display surface on which an image is displayed, a cover member that includes a curved operation surface being a target for a touch operation, and a touch sensor that detecting the touch operation with respect to the operation surface. Between the cover member and the display, a clear resin body is arranged that is a transmission body that fills a space between the cover member and the display so that the space is not hollow.
US09983615B2 Marina power pedestal splitter cord and electrical distribution system including the same
A splitter cord for use with a power pedestal including a plurality of receptacles, the splitter cord includes a plurality of branch circuits each having a first end including a connector structured to electrically connect to one of the plurality of receptacles, a second end electrically connected to a common node, and a current regulator electrically connected between the first and second ends and being structured to control current flowing through said branch circuit such that current exiting said one receptacle is substantially equal to current entering said one receptacle, and a stem circuit having a first end including a connector structured to electrically connect to a device or vehicle receptacle and a second end electrically connected to the common node. A sum of currents flowing through the plurality of branch circuits is equal to current flowing through the stem circuit.
US09983609B2 Electrical energy distribution network in a transport vehicle, such as an aircraft, and an electrical installation in an aircraft
An electrical energy distribution network in a transport vehicle, such as an aircraft, includes nodes to which at least one power supply source and at least one equipment can be connected by external links. The nodes are interconnected by internode links forming at least one mesh in a meshed network, each mesh being polygonal of order higher than or equal to three, at least one node of each mesh being an active node controlled by a management unit. The active nodes include switches and transmit physical operating characteristics measurements to the management unit, which configures the active nodes according to said measurements so as to enable each equipment to receive power supply via the meshed network. Flexibility in configuration of the electrical energy distribution network is thus achieved.
US09983593B2 System and method for vehicle communication, vehicle control, and/or route inspection
In a system and method for communicating data between first and second vehicles, a first electronic component in the first vehicle is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform.
US09983591B2 Autonomous driving at intersections based on perception data
Systems, methods, and devices for predicting a driver's intention and future movements of a proximal vehicle, whether an automated vehicle or a human driven vehicle, are disclosed herein. A system for predicting future movements of a vehicle includes an intersection component, a camera system, a boundary component, and a prediction component. The intersection component is configured to determine that a parent vehicle is near an intersection. The camera system is configured to capture an image of the proximal vehicle. The boundary component is configured to identify a sub-portion of the image containing a turn signal indicator on the proximal vehicle. The prediction component is configured to predict future movement of the proximal vehicle through the intersection based on a state of the turn signal indicator.
US09983590B2 Wide-view LIDAR with areas of special attention
A system and method include scanning a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device through a range of orientations corresponding to a scanning zone while emitting light pulses from the LIDAR device. The method also includes receiving returning light pulses corresponding to the light pulses emitted from the LIDAR device and determining initial point cloud data based on time delays between emitting the light pulses and receiving the corresponding returning light pulses and the orientations of the LIDAR device. The initial point cloud data has an initial angular resolution. The method includes identifying, based on the initial point cloud data, a reflective feature in the scanning zone and determining an enhancement region and an enhanced angular resolution for a subsequent scan to provide a higher spatial resolution in at least a portion of subsequent point cloud data from the subsequent scan corresponding to the reflective feature.
US09983589B2 Bump detection and effect reduction in autonomous systems
In one embodiment, a control system for a base station includes a first transceiver configured to receive a first signal and send a second signal to an agricultural vehicle. The first signal indicates at least an acceleration of the vehicle, a current velocity of the vehicle, and a location relative to a terrain where the vehicle experienced the acceleration, and the second signal indicates a vehicle target velocity. The control system includes a controller configured to determine a bump severity value based on the acceleration and the current velocity of the vehicle, mark an area indicative of the bump on a map of the terrain when the bump severity value exceeds a threshold, and automatically generate the second signal when the vehicle enters the area. The target velocity is based on a proximity of the vehicle to the bump, the bump severity value, or some combination thereof.
US09983587B2 Control of a personal transporter based on user position
An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.
US09983585B1 Method and apparatus for operation of a remote sensing platform
The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for determination of a control policy for a rigid body system, where the rigid body system comprises a sensor and a plurality of actuators designed to maneuver the rigid body system and orient the sensor toward a plurality of defined vertices, such as geographic points on the earth surface. A processor receives input data describing an initial state of the rigid body system and further receives a plurality of candidate vertices for potential targeting by the sensor. The processor additionally receives an intrinsic value for each vertex, reflecting the relative desirability of respective vertices in the plurality of vertices. The processor determines an appropriate control policy based on the vertices, the intrinsic values, and the rigid body system through a formulation of the determination process as an optimization problem which actively considers various constraints during the optimization, such as maneuvering and observation constraints.
US09983584B2 Method and apparatus for developing a flight path
A method of developing a flight path for precision flying over an area of interest, the method including, in an electronic processing device, determining coordinate and elevation data relating to an area of interest, using the coordinate and elevation data to determine a flight path including precision paths corresponding to precision flying trajectories and non-precision paths interconnecting at least some of the precision paths, and generating path data at least partially indicative of the flight path, the path data being useable in generating control signals for at least partially controlling operation of the aircraft, in use.
US09983581B1 Artificial intelligence augmented reality command, control and communications system
A method and system comprises a plurality of electronically controlled distributed devices and a supervisory node. The supervisory node comprises a communications interface, a processor, and a display. The supervisory node is configured to communicate with the plurality of electronically controlled distributed devices via the communications interface. The supervisory node is adapted to receive sensor information, to receive functionality information and device status information, to determine useful life prognostics from the functionality information, to obtain human defined policy and strategy directives, to assess the useful life prognostics and device status information based on the human defined policy and strategy directives to provide device assessments, to construct device commands for the plurality of electronically controlled distributed devices based on the device assessments using the processor, and to communicate the device commands to the plurality of electronically controlled distributed via the communications interface.
US09983579B2 Drone having a support housing an antenna
The invention relates to a rotary-wing drone (10) comprising a drone body comprising an electronic board controlling the piloting of the drone, a wireless communication module and a plurality of connection arms, the wireless communication module being connected to a communication antenna (46), a plurality of propulsion units (36) mounted at the end of respective connection arms (34), and at least one drone body support (38) adapted to maintain the drone body remote from the ground. The drone body support (38) comprises an antenna housing (44) for holding the communication antenna.
US09983577B2 Method of monitoring a degradation of a device on board an aircraft including the determination of a counting threshold
A method for monitoring degradation of an onboard device of an aircraft, implemented by a computer, the degree of degradation of the onboard device being defined by an abnormality score formed by the counting of occurrences of abnormalities noted by a control system of the device, the monitoring method comprising a step of comparing an abnormality score obtained for an observation sequence of given length (n, t) with a decision threshold (ks) and a step of issuing an alarm in the event of the decision threshold (ks) being reached or exceeded, the decision threshold (ks) being determined automatically for a given probability of alarm Pa, corresponding to the probability that an alarm will be issued during the monitoring method whereas the onboard device is sound, by means of the following steps: a step of obtaining an abnormality score (r) on at least one reference sequence corresponding to flights of the aircraft without degradation and with a length (m, tc) equal to a plurality of lengths (n, t) of observation sequences; a step of adjusting a discrete probability law making it possible to find the abnormality score (r) obtained on the reference sequence; a step of calculating the decision threshold (ks) such that, by applying the adjusted discrete probability law during the previous step to an observation sequence having the given length (n), the probability of an abnormality score higher than or equal to the decision threshold (ks) occurring is less than the given alarm probability Pa, or an elementary probability that is a function of Pa in the case where a confirmation strategy is used.
US09983573B2 Programmable controller
To decode a file name set to a PLC to the same name even if a plurality of external devices using different character-code sets are connected to the PLC, the PLC includes a system unit that actuates the control file using a multilingual character-code set A, a character-code conversion table that associates character codes relating to a plurality of character-code sets with one another for every character, and a character-code management unit that converts description of the name of the control file between the description relating to the multilingual character-code set A and that relating to the local character-code set A using the character-code conversion table when the name of the access-target control file is transferred between the external device using the local character-code set A and the system unit.
US09983571B2 Tele-presence robot system with software modularity, projector and laser pointer
A remote control station that accesses one of at least two different robots that each have at least one unique robot feature. The remote control station receives information that identifies the robot feature of the accessed robot. The remote station displays a display user interface that includes at least one field that corresponds to the robot feature of the accessed robot. The robot may have a laser pointer and/or a projector.
US09983559B2 Updating and utilizing dynamic process simulation in an operating process environment
A simulation system that includes interconnected simulation blocks which use process models to perform simulation activities for a process plant is integrated into a process control environment for the process plant in a manner that makes the simulation system easy to use and easily updated for on-line process simulation. The disclosed simulation system enables future predicted values as well as the current predicted values of process parameters produced by the simulation system to be made available for performance evaluation as well as to guide plant operations. Additionally, the simulation system is connected to the operating process plant to receive various on-line process plant measurements, and uses these measurements to automatically update the process models used in the simulation system, to thereby keep the simulation system coordinated with the actual operating conditions of the process plant.
US09983558B2 Control systems state vector management using co-processing and multiport ram
An integrated state vector management system for control systems includes a plurality of co-processors configured to generate and utilize state vector data. The integrated state vector management system further includes state vector module communicatively connected to each of the plurality of co-processors. The state vector module includes a state vector memory containing at least three memory buffers for storing three datasets of state vector data. The state vector module further includes a state vector memory control logic communicatively coupled to the state vector memory. The state vector control logic is configured to provide read and write control to the state vector memory. The state vector memory control logic includes at least a write pointer controller and a read pointer controller.
US09983557B2 Adaptive thermal control and power budget
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for performance management are provided. The apparatus may be an electronic device. The electronic device detects a change of form factor mode or ambient wind using a detection circuit or at least one sensor. The change of form factor mode may include at least one of folding the electronic device, unfolding the electronic device, rolling the electronic device, changing a flexible shape of the electronic device, or equipping a cover on the electronic device. A set of thermal control parameters may be determined based on the detected change. The set of thermal control parameters may be retrieved from a lookup table or calculated using a mathematical model. The electronic device adjusts the performance based on the set of thermal control parameters.
US09983541B2 Positioning features for electrical contacts of a replaceable unit of an electrophotographic image forming device
A replaceable imaging basket for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a frame having a positioning slot that is open at a top of the frame for receiving a replaceable unit. An electrical connector is positioned on an inner side of the frame adjacent to the positioning slot. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact on a front of the electrical connector that faces the positioning slot. The electrical connector includes a pair of outer guides and a pair of inner guides on opposite sides of the electrical contact. The inner guides are spaced inward from the outer guides. A top portion of a front surface of each of the outer guides tapers rearward away from the positioning slot as they extend upward. A top portion of a rear surface of each of the inner guides tapers forward toward the positioning slot as they extend upward.
US09983532B2 Image forming apparatus with density measuring portion
An image forming apparatus includes: a roller arranged in a position between a drive roller and an idle roller and downstream from the drive roller in a rotation direction of an intermediate transfer belt while pressing an outer surface of the belt; and a density measuring portion arranged between the drive roller and the roller applying pressure. The density measuring portion optically detects the density of a test patch formed on the outer surface and in a given position of a width direction of the belt. The density measuring portion includes: an optical sensor provided above the outer surface of the belt; and a support member abutting on an inner surface of the belt in a position in which the support member faces the optical sensor across the belt in the rotation direction.
US09983530B2 Determination apparatus for determining type of recording medium and image forming apparatus using the same
An apparatus for determining a type of a recording medium is provided. A detection unit detects a characteristic value indicating a physical characteristic of a recording medium. A measurement unit measures a moisture content correlated with a moisture content of the recording medium. A determination unit determines the type of the recording medium based on the moisture content and the characteristic value. The determination unit may correct the characteristic value using the moisture content or correct a rule for determining the type of the recording medium using the moisture content unit, and determines the type of the recording medium in accordance with the corrected characteristic value or the corrected rule.
US09983526B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.
US09983524B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing portion is provided with a fixing roller, a heating roller having a heat source, a fixing belt stretched between the fixing roller and the heating roller, and a pressurizing roller that is brought into pressure contact with the fixing roller across the fixing belt and forms a nip portion into which a sheet of paper is conveyed between the fixing belt and the pressurizing roller. The fixing portion is further provided with a pad that has a contact surface portion in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt, and a biasing member that biases the pad in a direction in which the contact surface portion is brought into pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt. The pad is configured so as to pivot about the rotating shaft of the heating roller.
US09983522B2 Fixing device
A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.
US09983521B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus
Provided is a fixing device including a belt that generates heat by an action of a magnetic field to fix an image to a medium by the heat, a magnetic field generating unit that generates a magnetic field which heats the belt, a heat generation control member that includes a first magnetic body which is changed from ferromagnetism to paramagnetism at a Curie temperature, and suppresses heat generation of the belt, a sensor that is disposed in a first space, measures a temperature of an object present on the belt side, and is heated by an action of a magnetic field, and a second magnetic body that is disposed in a second space.
US09983518B2 Intermediate transfer belt, image forming apparatus and image forming method
An intermediate transfer belt, configured to receive a toner image formed by developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member with a toner, includes a base layer and an elastic layer. The elastic layer has an irregular surface formed with spherical particles, and the spherical particles include flexible particles having 0.1 MPa to 30 MPa of compressive strength and 15% to 50% of restoring ratio at the time of 10% deformation. Image forming apparatus. Image forming method.
US09983516B2 Roller for electrophotography and production method thereof, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A roller for electrophotography that has a low electric resistance value and that is still further reduced in contaminating property of other member is provided. The roller includes an electro-conductive mandrel and a surface layer having an electro-conductive foam. The electro-conductive foam includes a vulcanized product of an unvulcanized rubber composition including an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and a hydrin rubber. The vulcanized product has a matrix-domain structure having a sea phase and an island phase, contains ethylene oxide of 8.0% by mass or more and 20.0% by mass or less based on a total amount of the vulcanized product, and has a spin-spin relaxation time T2 of 750 μs
US09983511B2 Image forming apparatus having reverse developer feeding
A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member includes a developer carrying member, first and second accommodation chambers to accommodate developer, and a feeding screw provided in the first accommodation chamber to feed the developer. In addition, a developer accommodation portion accommodates the developer to be supplied to the first accommodation chamber and is sealed by a sealing member. A controller executes an operation in a mode in which after the developer accommodating portion starts to be unsealed at the sealing member, the feeding screw is initially rotated for a predetermined period in a direction opposite to a normal direction in which the feeding screw is rotated during the image forming operation, and after elapse of the predetermined period, the feeding screw is rotated in the normal direction.
US09983507B1 Developer cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing the same
A developer cartridge includes a housing including a developer discharger having a developer outlet, and a container extending from the developer discharger, a movable member located in the container and movable in a direction of changing a volume of the container, and a flexible containing member configured in a bag shape having at least one open end connected to a wall of the container and another end connected to the movable member.
US09983506B2 Replaceable unit for an image forming device having magnets of varying angular offset for toner level sensing
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet are detectable by a magnetic sensor when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. A polarity of the first magnet is oriented opposite a polarity of the second magnet relative to the shaft. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir.
US09983500B2 Optical writing device and image forming device
An optical writing device performing optical writing with a light-emitting element, performing light amount switching, and including: a unit estimating a first value corresponding to a current amount for causing the element to emit a first light amount immediately after the switching; a unit supplying to the element, from immediately after the switching, a current amount corresponding to a first digital value acquired by quantizing the first value; a unit estimating a time amount through which a current amount for keeping the element emitting the first light amount increases from the current amount for causing the element to emit the first light amount immediately after the switching to a current amount corresponding to a second digital value greater than the first digital value by one step; and a unit supplying to the element, when the time amount elapses after the switching, the current amount corresponding to the second digital value.
US09983496B2 Bio-based acrylate and methacrylate resins
Methacrylate resins of at least one bio-based methacrylate monomer, where the monomer includes a rosin or isosorbide moiety obtained from natural sources, can be used in toner, carrier coating or both.
US09983494B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor having an overcoat layer and a cleaning unit that includes a cleaning blade, a tip of which contacts with the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the toner contains a toner particle which contains a binder resin containing a crystalline polyester resin, a colorant and a release agent, and an external additive, and the toner satisfies the following Expression: 2≤tan δP1≤2.5, wherein tan δP1 represents a maximum value of a mechanical loss tangent existing in a range where a complex elastic modulus is from 1×106 Pa to 1×108 Pa, which is measured at an angular frequency of 6.28 rad/sec and a strain amount of 0.3%.
US09983493B2 Toner for developing electrostatic images
The present invention is to provide a toner which is able to inhibit the occurrence of fog, which is excellent in intermittent endurance, and which is excellent in followability during toner transfer and is thus excellent in top edge part uniformity in solid pattern printing. Disclosed is a toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising colored resin particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, and an external additive, wherein static and kinetic friction coefficients obtained by measuring, using a 3-mm-diameter stainless-steel ball as a contactor, a 55-mm-diameter disk-shaped pellet obtained by pressing 4 g of the toner at 9 MPa for one minute, are 0.220 to 0.320 and 0.190 to 0.270, respectively, and a difference calculated by subtracting the kinetic friction coefficient from the static friction coefficient is 0.010 to 0.090.
US09983487B2 Rapid exchange device for lithography reticles
Provided is a method and apparatus for moving and exchanging reticles within a vacuum lithographic system with minimum particle generation and outgassing. In an example of the method, a first arm of a rotational exchange device (RED) receives a first baseplate holding a first reticle. A second arm of the RED supports and buffers a second baseplate. The first and second baseplates are located substantially equidistant from an axis of rotation of the RED.
US09983484B2 Illumination optical unit for EUV projection lithography
An illumination optical unit for EUV projection lithography serves to illuminate an object field with illumination light. A transmission optical unit images field facets in a manner superposed on one another into the object field via illumination channels, which each have assigned to them one of the field facets and one pupil facet of a pupil facet mirror. The superposition optical unit has at least two mirrors for grazing incidence, downstream of the pupil facet mirror. The mirrors for grazing incidence produce an illumination angle bandwidth of an illumination light overall beam, composed of the illumination channels, in the object field. The bandwith is smaller for a plane of incidence parallel to the object displacement direction than for a plane perpendicular thereto. The result can be an illumination optical unit, by which a projection optical unit can be adapted to a configuration of an EUV light source for the illumination light.
US09983483B2 Illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
An illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a light source to produce projection light beam, and a first and a second diffractive optical element between the light source and a pupil plane of the illumination system. The diffractive effect produced by each diffractive optical element depends on the position of a light field that is irradiated by the projection light on the diffractive optical elements. A displacement mechanism changes the mutual spatial arrangement of the diffractive optical elements. In at least one of the mutual spatial arrangements, which can be obtained with the help of the displacement mechanism, the light field extends both over the first and the second diffractive optical element. This makes it possible to produce in a simple manner continuously variable illumination settings.
US09983479B2 Fabrication of high efficiency, high quality, large area diffractive waveplates and arrays
An apparatus and method for fabricating high quality one- or two-dimensional diffractive waveplates and arrays that exhibit high diffraction efficiency and capable of inexpensive large volume production. A generally non-holographic and aperiodic polarization converter for converting the polarization of a coherent input light beam of a visible wavelength into a pattern of continuous spatial modulation at the output of the polarization converter. A photoresponsive material characterized by an anisotropy axis according to polarization of the light beam is exposed to a polarization modulation pattern and coated subsequently with an anisotropic material overlayer with ability of producing an optical axis orientation according to and under the influence of the anisotropy axis of the photoresponsive material layer. The diffractive waveplates are obtained when exposure time of photoresponsive material layer exceeds an order of magnitude the time period that is known to produce spatially homogeneous orientation of the anisotropic overlayer.
US09983474B2 Photoresist having sensitizer bonded to acid generator
The present disclosure is directed to a photoresist and a method of performing a lithography process using the photoresist. The photoresist contains a polymer and a photo-acid generator. The photo-acid generator contains a sensitizer component, an acid generator component, and a bonding component that bonds the sensitizer component to the acid generator component. The bonding component may be either a single bond or a conjugated bond. The lithography process may be an EUV lithography process or an e-beam lithography process.
US09983470B2 Light source device and projector
The invention relates to a light source device including a solid-state light source, a collimator lens which a light beam emitted from the solid-state light source enters, an afocal optical system which includes a light collecting optical system and a collimating optical system and which the light beam having been transmitted through the collimator lens enters, a lens integrator which the light beam having been transmitted through the afocal optical system enters, a polarization splitting element which the light beam having been transmitted through the lens integrator enters, and a wavelength conversion element which a first polarization component split by the polarization splitting element from the light beam enters. At least one of the light collection optical system and the collimating optical system includes a lens formed of quartz.
US09983460B2 Throwable light source for synchronization with a camera and network for operating the same
A light source suitable for being thrown or projected into an airborne trajectory for the purpose of illuminating a subject or environment; and a throwable light source capable of receiving a signal over a wireless network in order to illuminate a subject in synchronization with a throwable camera on the network; and throwable light sources capable of receiving respective signals over a wireless network in order to illuminate a subject in synchronization with a throwable camera on the network.
US09983459B2 Tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lens and system
A tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction (TAG) lens and system are provided that permit, in one aspect, dynamic selection of the lens output, including dynamic focusing and imaging. The system may include a TAG lens and at least one of a source and a detector of electromagnetic radiation. A controller may be provided in electrical communication with the lens and at least one of the source and detector and may be configured to provide a driving signal to control the index of refraction and to provide a synchronizing signal to time at least one of the source and the detector relative to the driving signal. Thus, the controller is able to specify that the source irradiates the lens (or detector detects the lens output) when a desired refractive index distribution is present within the lens, e.g. when a desired lens output is present.
US09983457B2 Complex spatial light modulator and holographic 3D image display device having the same
A complex spatial light modulator includes a polarization-phase modulator for separating an incident beam into a first beam having a first polarization and a first phase, and a second beam having a second polarization and a second phase, and for outputting the first beam and the second beam; and a beam synthesizer including a prism structure formed of an optical anisotropic material having a first refractive index with respect to the first beam having the first polarization and having a second refractive index, different form the first refractive index, with respect to the second beam having the second polarization, where the beam synthesizer combines the first beam and the second beam.
US09983452B2 Method for detecting substrate crack, substrate, and detection circuit
A method for detecting a substrate crack, a substrate, and a detection circuit. A non-closed test line having an opening is peripherally disposed along an edge of a glass substrate of a TFT substrate. Whether an edge of the TFT substrate has a crack or chip can be determined by measuring whether the test line is on or off. In this way, a detection omission can be avoided, detection efficiency is improved, and after the TFT substrate is used to assemble a liquid crystal module or the liquid crystal module is used to assemble a complete device, whether the edge of the TFT substrate in the liquid crystal module has a crack or chip can also be detected.
US09983444B2 Display device and electronic device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a switching liquid crystal unit, a controller, and a display. The switching liquid crystal unit includes first and second polarizing layers, first and second substrate units, and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate unit includes a first substrate provided between the polarizing layers, inner electrodes provided between the first substrate and the second polarizing layer, an insulating layer provided between the first substrate and the inner electrodes, and outer electrodes provided between the first substrate and the insulating layer. The second substrate unit includes a second substrate provided between the first substrate unit and the second polarizing layer, and a counter electrode provided between the second substrate and the first substrate unit. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the substrate units. The controller controls potentials of the electrodes. The display emits light including a parallax image.
US09983443B2 Display device
A display device may include a floating electrode, a common-voltage electrode, a transistor, and a pixel electrode. The floating electrode may be electrically floating. The common-voltage electrode may be electrically connected to a voltage source. The pixel electrode may be electrically connected to the transistor. A first portion of the pixel electrode may overlap neither of the floating electrode and the common-voltage electrode in a direction perpendicular to at least one of the pixel electrode and an image display side of the display device. A second portion of the pixel electrode may overlap the common-voltage electrode. A third portion of the pixel electrode may overlap the floating electrode.
US09983442B2 Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; an alignment layer disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a reactive mesogen included in the liquid crystal layer and represented by Chemical Formula 1.
US09983441B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a polymer layer that controls the alignment of liquid crystal molecules on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate. The polymer layer is formed by polymerizing one or more radical-polymerizable monomers added to the liquid crystal layer. At least one of the radical-polymerizable monomers is a compound represented by P-Sp1-Z2-A1-(Z1-A2)n1-Z3-Sp2-P. In an example encompassed by the formula, P represents a radical-polymerizable group. Sp1 and Sp2 each represent a direct bond or an alkylene group. A1 represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group. A2 represents a phenylene group. Z1, Z2, and Z3 may be the same or different. At least one of Z1, Z2, and Z3 represents a direct bond, or an —NRCO— group or —CONR— group. R represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 linear alkyl group or alkenyl group. n1 is 0 or 1.
US09983439B2 Display device
According to one embodiment, a wavelength converter includes a microlens which condenses excitation light, a reflective layer which is opposed to the microlens and includes an aperture, and a wavelength conversion element which is opposed to the microlens via the reflective layer, absorbs the excitation light, and emits emission light whose wavelength is different from that of the excitation light.
US09983437B2 Display device including an optical modulator
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a display panel including a display surface, which displays an image by selectively reflecting light entering the display surface, and an illuminating device including an optical modulator provided on a display surface side of the display panel and including a plurality of portions in a major surface thereof and a light source provided on a side surface of the optical modulator, and the illuminating device illuminates the display panel at a predetermined brightness specific for each respective portion with the light entering the optical modulator from the light source.
US09983436B2 Backlight module and display device
The present invention belongs to the field of display technology, and particularly relates to a backlight module and a display device. The backlight module comprises a reflecting layer and a diffuser plate arranged opposite to each other, wherein a light source is arranged between the reflecting layer and the diffuser plate, a light-exiting surface of the light source faces the reflecting layer, and light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflecting layer to reach the diffuser plate and exits from the diffuser plate after being diffused therein. By inversely arranging an LED light source or other light sources between the diffuser plate and the reflecting layer in the backlight module, a thickness of the whole backlight module can be smaller under a condition of fixed light mixing distance, the emergent light from the backlight module is more uniform, and the cost is reduced.
US09983434B2 Transflective liquid crystal display panel and transflective liquid crystal display device
Disclosed is a transflective liquid crystal display panel and transflective liquid crystal display device. The transflective liquid crystal display panel includes: an array substrate which is provided thereon with a plurality of sub-pixel areas, each of the sub-pixel areas including a transmissive area and a reflecting area; and a polarizer arranged at an outer surface of the array substrate and having a first surface facing a backlight source. An area of the first surface, which corresponds to the reflecting area, is at least partly provided therein with a reflecting layer. The present disclosure achieves the technical effect of preventing the light emitted by a backlight source from being absorbed by the polarizer in the reflecting process, thus avoiding light loss and consequently improving the utilization rate of the backlight source. The display panel and the display device provided by the present disclosure are simple in structures, which greatly reduces the production cost thereof.
US09983431B2 Display device wherein a width center of a light-shielding portion is displaced from a width center of a light-shielding layer portion
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first light-shielding portion and a second light-shielding portion arranged at a first pitch in a first direction, and a light-shielding layer including a first portion overlapping the first light-shielding portion and a second portion overlapping the second light-shielding portion in planar view, a width center of the second light-shielding portion being displaced from a width center of the second portion in the first direction, an opening portion being located between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion and the second portion being arranged at a second pitch different from the first pitch in the first direction.
US09983429B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates with liquid crystal sandwiched therebetween. A first blue, a red, a green, and a second blue color filters are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and arranged in a first direction. First to third light blocking films are respectively disposed between the first blue and the red color filters, between the red and the green color filters, and between the green and the second blue color filters. A distance Lr between a first central line of a part of the first light blocking film and a second central line of a width the second light blocking film is larger than a distance Lg between the second central line and a third central line of a width of the third blocking film.
US09983427B2 Sealed transparent liquid crystal display assembly
A sealed, transparent electronic display assembly is disclosed. The assembly preferably contains a front and a rear transparent panel. The assembly also preferably has a spacer element that is positioned around a perimeter of, and sandwiched between, the front and rear transparent panels, thereby providing a gaseous seal. The transparent electronic display panel is positioned between the front and rear transparent panels. In an exemplary embodiment, a two way light guide would be used within the assembly.
US09983425B2 Display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a pixel electrode and a common electrode provided thereon; a second substrate formed of a resin material; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; an optical film facing the liquid crystal layer with the second substrate being provided between the optical film and the liquid crystal layer; and a conductive layer facing the second substrate; wherein the optical film is provided between the conductive layer and the second substrate.
US09983421B2 Component mounting line and component mounting method
A component mounting line includes a first and a second component mounting devices. The first component mounting device adheres anisotropic conductive members to a region of a part of one side and a region of the other side of the substrate, temporarily crimps electronic components onto the region of the part of the one side and the region of the other side to which the anisotropic conductive members are adhered, and mainly crimps the electronic components onto the region of the other side. The second component mounting device adheres the anisotropic conductive members to remaining regions of the one side of the substrate, temporarily crimps the electronic components onto the remaining regions of the one side to which the anisotropic conductive members are adhered, and mainly crimps the electronic components onto the region of the part of the one side and the remaining regions of the one side.
US09983416B1 Eyeglasses temple
An eyeglasses temple includes a curved section and a support section coupled to the curved section. The curved section includes a metal member, upper and lower plastic members for wrapping the metal member, and a connector installed to an inner side of the support section and proximate to an eyeglasses frame. The metal member is made of a flexible iron material, the upper and lower plastic members are made of silicone and nylon respectively, and the support section is made of nylon. With the metal member made of a flexible iron material, the upper plastic member made of silicon, the lower plastic member made of nylon, and the support section made of nylon, the eyeglasses temple has a higher strength, and provides a friction between the eyeglasses temple and a wearer's ear to prevent the eyeglasses from sliding down or falling out from the wearer's nose bridge and ears.
US09983415B2 Eyeglass frame system where lenses can move from one frame to another
The current invention is a detachable eyeglass frame system that will provide consumers a way to take their single pair of prescription lenses out of their manufacturers frames and place them into another set of the same manufacturer's frames but, of different color and/or style. The eyeglass frame system comprises an eyeglass frame including a front section removably secured to a horizontal bar. The horizontal bar is removably secured along the upper end of the front section by one or more fasteners, such as magnets. By lifting the Removable Horizontal Bar from Frame Rear, lenses easily slide out of their current frames and easily slide into their other frames.
US09983413B1 Display apparatus and method of displaying using context and focus image renderers and optical combiners
A display apparatus and method of displaying, via the display apparatus. The display apparatus includes context image renderer for rendering context image; focus image renderer for rendering focus image; exit optical element; and optical combiner for optically combining projection of the rendered context image with projection of the rendered focus image to create visual scene. The optical combiner includes first semi-transparent reflective element; and a second semi-transparent reflective element. The context image renderer is arranged in a manner that projection of rendered context image is incident upon first semi-transparent reflective element and reflected towards exit optical element therefrom. The focus image renderer is arranged in a manner that projection of rendered focus image is incident upon first semi-transparent reflective element and reflected towards second semi-transparent reflective element, and then reflected towards first semi-transparent reflective element, from where projection thereof is allowed to pass through towards exit optical element.
US09983406B2 Display apparatus and operating method of display apparatus
An operating method of a display apparatus includes calculating a range of a movement of a user based on eye movement information indicating movements of eyes of the user; and adjusting a stereoscopic depth of a three-dimensional (3D) image based on the range of the movement.
US09983404B2 Light deflecting device
A light deflecting device which suppresses a vibration caused by swing of a light deflecting unit and transmitted to a fixed unit and prevents noise from being made on a housing to which the fixed unit is attached, including a light deflecting unit having paired beams on both sides of a movable unit having a light reflecting unit and a coil, and a fixed unit to which the light deflecting unit is swingably fixed through the beams and which includes a magnetic field forming unit, swings the movable unit with the beams as torsional rotation axes by an electromagnetic force generated by a driving current flowing to the coil and a magnetic field formed by the magnetic field forming unit, and a counter swing member in the fixed unit to be swung in a reverse phase to the light deflecting unit so it is opposed to the light deflecting unit.
US09983397B2 Aperture scanning fourier ptychographic imaging
Certain aspects pertain to aperture-scanning Fourier ptychographic imaging devices comprising an aperture scanner that can generate an aperture at different locations at an intermediate plane of an optical arrangement, and a detector that can acquire lower resolution intensity images for different aperture locations, and wherein a higher resolution complex image may be constructed by iteratively updating regions in Fourier space with the acquired lower resolution images.
US09983393B2 Catoptric imaging device for drill measuring
A catoptric imaging device for drill measuring comprising a laser guide, an imaging unit for converting optical image into image information, and processing the image information to obtain a drill measure, a catoptric assembly including a first conical surface, and a second surface including a frustoconical surface, wherein the first surface is arranged relative to the laser guide to reflect a cone beam onto an cross section of the drill to be measured, and wherein the smallest diameter of the frustoconical surface is larger than the largest diameter of the first surface to receive the cone beam reflections and reflect them towards the imaging unit, and wherein the imaging unit is arranged to receive an optical image from the frustoconical surface reflections to obtain a drill measure.
US09983388B2 Optical image capturing system
An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force. The fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.
US09983386B2 Optical image capturing system
A six-piece optical lens for capturing image and a six-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis includes a first lens with refractive power, a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power, a fourth lens with refractive power, a fifth lens with refractive power and a sixth lens with refractive power. At least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the six lens elements is aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US09983385B2 Optical imaging lens
Present embodiments provide for an optical imaging lens. The optical imaging lens comprises a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, and a fourth lens element positioned in an order from an object side to an image side. By controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements and designing parameters satisfying at least one inequality, the optical imaging lens may exhibit better optical characteristics and an enlarged field angle, and the total length of the optical imaging lens may be shortened.
US09983383B2 Infrared large-format telecentric laser marking F theta lens
An Fθ lens for infrared large-format telecentric laser marking is disclosed, including a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element arranged sequentially along the propagation direction of an incident ray. The first lens element is a negative biconcave lens element including a first curved surface and a second curved surface. The second lens element is a positive meniscus lens element including a third curved surface and a fourth curved surface. The third lens element is a positive meniscus lens element including a fifth curved surface and a sixth curved surface. The fourth lens element is a plane lens adapted to play a role in protecting other lens elements. The first to third lens elements are arranged around a same axis along the propagation direction of the incident ray. The first to sixth curved surfaces are arranged sequentially along the propagation direction of the incident ray. The above Fθ lens for infrared large-format telecentric laser marking can be used as an Fθ lens for infrared laser marking, which can meet the telecentric requirement of the large-format laser marking, and control the volume of the lens within an acceptable and applicable range, to achieve miniaturizing of the whole optical system.
US09983376B2 High-data-rate electrical interconnect cables
High-data-rate interconnect cables are disclosed, wherein electrical data signals are transmitted in a conductor assembly made of a thin metal layer surrounding a cylindrical support member. The cylindrical support member can be a high-resistivity conductor or a dielectric, such as a glass optical waveguide that supports the transmission of optical signals. The cylindrical support member can also be a core conductor that supports the transmission of electrical power and low-frequency auxiliary signals. The high-data-rate interconnect cables are self-equalizing, so that a data link transmission system that employs the high-data-rate interconnect cable does not require active equalization.
US09983375B2 Surface light emitting semiconductor laser element
A surface light emitting semiconductor laser element, comprises a substrate, a lower reflector including a semiconductor multi-layer disposed on the substrate, an active layer disposed on the lower reflector, an upper reflector including a semiconductor multi-layer disposed on the active layer, a compound semiconductor layer having a first opening for exposing the upper reflector and extending over the upper reflector, and a metal film having a second opening for exposing the upper reflector disposed inside of the first opening and extending over the compound semiconductor layer, wherein the metal film and the compound semiconductor layer constitute a complex refractive index distribution structure where a complex refractive index is changed from the center of the second opening towards the outside. A method of emitting laser light in a single-peak transverse mode is also provided.
US09983373B2 Optical module
The disclosure provides an optical module, including a housing, a circuit board and a light conducting structure; a portion of the light conducting structure is disposed in the housing, another portion of the light conducting structure juts out from the housing; the circuit board is provided with a light source, and the light conducting structure is configured to conduct light emitted by the light source to an outside of the housing. The optical conducting module in the optical module can conduct light emitted from the optical module to outside of the optical module. The optical module allows the state inside the optical module to be conducted to and displayed in the outside of the optical module with optical signals as propagation medium. The state inside the optical module can be directly learned from the outside of the optical module housing, thereby extending application scenarios of the optical module.
US09983371B2 Optoelectronic transducer with integrally mounted thermoelectric cooler
An apparatus and method of assembly are described that provide improved mechanisms for cooling an optoelectronic transducer in a fiber optic system. The apparatus includes a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) secured to the optoelectronic transducer for removing heat from the optoelectronic transducer in response to instructions from a TEC driver, as well as a microcontroller electrically connected to the TEC driver for monitoring temperature and communicating with the TEC driver to selectively activate and deactivate the TEC at least partially based on the monitored temperature and/or other measured/detected data to effect a more efficient cooling mechanism for optoelectronic transducers, such as VCSELs. In addition, the user may be able to configure the system to maintain the optoelectronic transducer within a user-defined range of temperatures. In this way, a longer life and better performance of the optoelectronic transducer may be achieved, and datacenter costs related to cooling and/or maintenance may be minimized.
US09983366B2 Field installed optical fiber connector for jacketed fiber cable and termination method
An optical fiber connector includes a housing configured to mate with a receptacle, a collar body that includes a fiber stub and a mechanical splice device, a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing, and a boot. The backbone includes at least one guide channel to facilitate wrapping strength members of an optical fiber cable around the backbone and a cable jacket clamping portion to clamp the cable jacket of the cable. The boot actuates the cable jacket clamping portion of the backbone upon attachment to the backbone.
US09983362B2 High density optical packaging header apparatus
The inventive high density optical packaging header apparatus, in various embodiments thereof, provides configurable, modular, and highly versatile solutions for simultaneously connecting multiple optical fibers/waveguides to optical-fiber-based electronic systems, components, and devices, and is readily usable in a variety of applications involving highly flexible and modular connection of multiple optical fibers/waveguides assembled in a header block configuration to optical-fiber-based system/component backplanes, while providing advantageous active and passive alignment features.
US09983360B2 Plug-in fiber coupling unit, fiber coupling system and method for coupling optical fibers to integrated optical waveguides
The present invention relates to a method, as well as a fiber coupling unit, for coupling optical fibers to optical waveguides that are integrated into a substrate. The coupling unit features a contact surface for contacting the surface of the substrate with the integrated waveguides, as well as trench structures for accommodating optical fibers. The end faces of inserted fibers and/or a raised structure on the edge of the contact surface form a coupling or stopping face for the end face of the substrate with the integrated waveguides. At least one opening is produced in the contact surface and designed for accommodating a mechanical connecting element in a form-fitting fashion or guiding a mechanical connecting element parallel to the contact surface and perpendicular to the coupling or stopping face in a form-fitting fashion. Alternatively, the contact surface may also be rigidly connected to a connecting element protruding from the contact surface. The proposed method and the proposed fiber coupling unit, the coupling substrate of which consists of a glass or polymer material, make it possible to cost-effectively realize the coupling of optical glass fibers to integrated waveguides with minimal effort.
US09983359B2 Polarization-insensitive optical transceiver
An integrated circuit that includes a wavelength-filter layer stack (which may include silicon oxynitride) and an optical substrate (such as a silicon-on-insulator platform) is described. During operation, an optical signal received from an optical fiber or an optical waveguide is wavelength filtered into a set of wavelength-filter optical waveguides by an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer (such as an Echelle grating and/or an array waveguide grating) in the wavelength-filter layer stack. Then, wavelength-filtered optical signals are optically coupled to the optical substrate, where they are received using photodetectors. Alternatively, modulators in the optical substrate modulate wavelength-filtered modulated optical signals, which are then optically coupled to the set of wavelength-filter optical waveguides in the wavelength-filter layer stack. Next, the wavelength-filtered modulated optical signals are combined using the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, and the resulting optical signal is output to the optical fiber or the optical waveguide.
US09983357B2 Optical demultiplexer
An optical demultiplexer that separates, for each signal wavelength, signal light a plurality of wavelengths of which is multiplexed, the optical demultiplexer including: an antireflection film disposed at on an incident surface of a glass block; filters disposed on an emission surface of the glass block, the filters transmit light of a wavelength predetermined for each signal wavelength included in the signal light and reflect light of a wavelength other than the transmitting wavelength toward the incident surface; and a reflection film disposed on the incident surface of the glass block, wherein processing to reduce reflection of the reflection light into the glass block is applied on an optical path of the reflection light reflected by the filter disposed at an end away from the antireflection film.
US09983355B1 Step couplers for planar waveguides
An optical coupler can be provided for coupling a light beam into a waveguide. The optical coupler can include a stepped structure, such as to reduce difficulties during manufacture, reduce expenses associated with manufacture, and additionally, to provide an increased acceptance angle of the optical coupler. The waveguide can include a guiding region where a cladding thickness can be increased relative to a coupling region, such as to reduce losses due to evanescent outcoupling in the guiding region.
US09983354B1 Complementary plasmonic device and method
Methods and devices for a plasmonic circuit are described. A planar plasmonic device is configured with a controlling gate structure and when coupled to a complementary plasmonic device, a switching circuit can be realized. Also, by varying the properties of the complementary plasmonic device, the circuit can also operate as an amplifier. By use of combinations of this plasmonic circuit element, more advanced circuits and logic functions can be arrived at.
US09983352B2 Optical fiber having a cladding layer doped with metal nano-particles, coreless optical fiber, and method for manufacturing same
The present invention relates to an optical fiber for an SPR sensor, characterized in that the optical fiber is comprised of a core layer and a cladding layer surrounding the core layer, and the cladding layer is doped with metal nanoparticles.
US09983351B2 Slim waveguide coupling apparatus and method
In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide and below a depression in a top surface thereof. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure.
US09983348B2 Backlight unit, liquid crystal display device comprising same, and game machine
A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device includes: a light source; a first light guiding panel which guides light emitted from the light source; a second light guiding panel which is disposed behind the first light guiding panel and is provided to be movable so as to be selectively disposed at a position of being overlapped with a predetermined area of the first light guiding panel in a back and forth direction and at a position of not being overlapped with the predetermined area in a back and forth direction; and a driving part which provides a driving force for moving the second light guiding panel.
US09983344B2 Display device
A display device includes a display panel and a backlight unit which is disposed below the display panel, provides light to the display panel, and includes a light guide member including a light emission surface, a reflection surface, and a plurality of side surfaces which connect the light emission surface to the reflection surface, where the plurality of side surfaces includes a first side surface which receives light and a second side surface facing the first side surface in a first direction, a light source which provides the light to the first side surface, an optical path adjustment member disposed on the light guide member and including a flat portion, a plurality of protruding portions protruding from the flat portion in a direction of the light guide member, and a light blocking layer disposed on the plurality of protruding portions, and a prism sheet disposed on the flat portion.
US09983343B2 Decorative lighting apparatus
A decorative lighting apparatus includes: a light source; an elongated outer lens; and a housing, wherein: the outer lens includes: a surface protrusion having a surface that is the light emitting surface and both sides; a back protrusion having a back and both sides; a first connection part, one end thereof in a short-side direction being connected to one side of the protrusions; and a second connection part, one end thereof in a short-side direction being connected to the other side of the protrusion; the housing is fixedly attached to the other end in the short-side direction of each of the first and second connection parts; the light source is arranged to be opposite to one section of the back protrusion; and a width of both sides of the surface protrusion is greater than a width of a surface of the surface protrusion.
US09983341B2 Component illumination apparatus, systems, and electronic devices and methods of manufacturing and using the same
Apparatus for illuminating one or more components of an electronic device having a visual display (e.g., a backlit display), such as one or more keys of keyboards, one or more interface ports, or one or more external surfaces are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a component illumination apparatus has a visual display and a light guide optically coupled to the visual display and that is adapted to illuminate one or more components external to the visual display. Methods of component illumination and illumination systems are described, as are other embodiments.
US09983340B2 Light emitting panel assemblies
An optical assembly includes a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and at least one input edge for receiving light from at least one light source, and a pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides for producing a light output distribution from a light emitting surface area of the panel member. Different sets of the optical deformities within the pattern each having at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating through the panel member in respective different directions from multiple regions of the light emitting surface area of the panel member.
US09983335B2 Film element
The invention concerns a film element having a replication layer (43), wherein an optically active surface structure (27) is shaped in a first surface of the replication layer. The surface structure is formed in at least a first region of the film element (35) by a first diffractive surface relief (46) comprising a plurality of successive elements following a first envelope curve (47), wherein the elements respectively comprise an element surface (48) arranged substantially parallel to a base surface and at least one flank adjoining the adjacent element surface or surfaces, the element surfaces (48) of adjacent elements are spaced in a direction perpendicular to the base plane, with a first optical spacing or a plurality of the first optical spacing, wherein the first optical spacing is between 150 nm and 800 nm, preferably between 150 nm and 400 nm. The first envelope curve (47) has a spatial frequency of between 100 L/mm and 2000 L/mm and an optical depth of more than 450 nm and the relief shape and the spatial frequency of the envelope curve (47) are so selected that the incident light is diffracted into one or more first directions to represent a first item of information, the color value of which is further determined by the first optical spacing.
US09983331B2 Quasi-optical waveguide
A quasi-optical waveguide apparatus includes a waveguide having a chamber formed by a substantially cylindrical body and configured to propagate terahertz radiation. A plurality of windows are included wherein each window is coupled to a respective end of the waveguide such that the chamber is substantially sealed from the ambient atmosphere. The plurality of windows are transparent to the terahertz radiation.
US09983326B2 Electromagnetic receiver tracking and real-time calibration system and method
An electromagnetic (EM) receiver system for measuring EM signals. The EM receiver system includes a survey EM transmitter for generating survey EM signals within a first frequency range; a tracking EM transmitter for generating tracking signals within a second frequency range; and a receiver section including a receiver that measures both the survey EM signals and the tracking signals.
US09983325B2 Reflectivity and fracing
A system and method allows determining the movement of subsurface fluids, gases or solids in the subsurface structure of interest. This allows quantitatively determining the results of surface and subsurface equipment and materials changes. These simple observations may result in significant improvements in field efficiency.
US09983322B2 Compact seismic source for low frequency, humming seismic acquisition
A compact seismic source for seismic acquisition generating a humming signal includes a casing and a low-frequency reciprocating drive. The casing defines a fluid tight chamber and comprises a first casing section and a second casing section of roughly equal mass. The drive is disposed within the fluid tight chamber and, in operation, reinforces the natural reciprocating oscillation of the first and second casing sections relative to one another at a low seismic frequency. In one aspect, this action omni-directionally radiates the low frequency, humming seismic signal. On another aspect, the compact seismic source is substantially smaller than the wavelength of the low seismic frequency. Such a compact source may be deployed to omni-directionally radiate a low frequency, humming seismic signal during a seismic survey.
US09983319B2 Detection layer comprising perovskite crystals
The present disclosure relates to a detection layer on a substrate. For example, a detection layer may include perovskite crystals of the type ABX3 and/or AB2X4. A may include at least one monovalent, divalent or trivalent element from the fourth or a higher period in the periodic table and/or mixtures thereof. B may include a monovalent cation, the volumetric parameter of which is sufficient, with the respective element A, for perovskite lattice formation. X may be selected from the group consisting of anions of halides and pseudohalides. The layer may have a thickness of at least 10 μm.
US09983316B2 Radioactive material assaying
A method of assaying potentially radioactive material comprises selecting a plurality of samples from a material mass on a site (200). In a sequence of steps (104, 106, 108, 110, 112), an activity measurement based on a gross count of each of the samples (212) in the plurality of samples is performed on the site (200), and the activity measurement is compared with one or more activity thresholds in order to categorize the radioactive material for disposal purposes. The threshold(s) and/or activity measurement are based on an assumed parameter set. In a further step (114), sample x from every y of the plurality of samples is selected, where x
US09983312B2 Systems and methods for remotely determining a battery characteristic
Included are embodiments for remotely determining a battery characteristic. Some embodiments include searching for a first wireless signal that identifies the energy storage device and, in response to receiving the first wireless signal, determining a current charge level of the energy storage device. Some embodiments include receiving a second wireless signal from the energy storage device, determining from the second wireless signal, whether the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches a predetermined threshold, and in response to determining that the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches the predetermined threshold, sending, by the computing device, an alert indicating the current charge level.
US09983311B2 Modular systems and methods for determining crop yields with high resolution geo-referenced sensors
Systems, and methods for controlling a modular system for improved real-time yield monitoring and sensor fusion of crops in an orchard are disclosed. According to some embodiments of the invention, a modular system for improved real-time yield monitoring and sensor fusion may include a collection vehicle, a modular processing unit, a volume measurement module, a three-dimensional point-cloud scanning module, an inertial navigation system, and a post-processing server. As the collection vehicle travels through an orchard, the volume measurement module calculates volume measurements of the windrow, the three-dimensional point-cloud scanning module assembles point-clouds of each plant in the orchard, and the inertial navigation system calculates geodetic positions of the collection vehicle. The modular processing unit may fuse the collected data together and transmit the fused data set to a post-processing server. The post-processing server may process the geodetic position data for errors which may be used for geo-referencing the fused data.
US09983310B2 Position measurement apparatus
A position measurement apparatus includes a measurement head, a controller and a light transmission section. The measurement head includes a light projecting lens and a light receiving lens. The controller includes a light emitting section, a light emission circuit controlling the light emitting section, a light receiving section, and a pixel data processing circuit detecting a position of light received in the light receiving section, and outputting positional information to a calculation section calculating a position of an object to be measured. The light transmission section includes an optical fiber transmitting light from the light emitting section to the light projecting lens, and an image fiber with incidence and emission end faces, in which end faces of plural cores are two-dimensionally arrayed in the incidence end face and the emission end face, the image fiber transmitting light converged by the light receiving lens to the light receiving section.
US09983309B2 System and method for increasing resolution of images obtained from a three-dimensional measurement system
A system uses range and Doppler velocity measurements from a lidar system and images from a video system to estimate a six degree-of-freedom trajectory (6DOF) of a target. The 6DOF transformation parameters are used to transform multiple images to the frame time of a selected image, thus obtaining multiple images at the same frame time. These multiple images may be used to increase a resolution of the image at each frame time, obtaining the collection of the superresolution images.
US09983308B2 Method and apparatus for locating the surface of solid growth culture media in a plate
A method for locating the surface of a solid growth culture medium in a plate in a plate work position, the plate work position including a sensor and having a datum level fixed in one dimension (z), the method including: placing the plate in the plate work position; using the sensor to sense the medium surface for the positioned plate and measuring the distance to the medium surface; and referencing the measured distance to the datum level to determine a surface positional reference, relative to the datum level, in one dimension (z) for the surface of the medium in the positioned plate.
US09983307B2 Method for providing information about at least one object in a surrounding region of a motor vehicle and system
A method for providing information about at least one object in a surrounding area of a motor vehicle of a vehicle fleet is provided. The information in the motor vehicle is detected and, together with position data of the motor vehicle is transmitted and provided to a traffic information collection device. The information having at least one first geographic location of the object and a second geographical position of the object is provided and the second geographical position is determined and provided depending on the first geographical position.
US09983306B2 System and method for providing target threat assessment in a collision avoidance system on a vehicle
A system and method for providing target selection and threat assessment for vehicle collision avoidance purposes that employ probability analysis of radar scan returns. The system determines a travel path of a host vehicle and provides a radar signal transmitted from a sensor on the host vehicle. The system receives multiple scan return points from detected objects, processes the scan return points to generate a distribution signal defining a contour of each detected object, and processes the scan return points to provide a position, a translation velocity and an angular velocity of each detected object. The system selects the objects that may enter the travel path of the host vehicle, and makes a threat assessment of those objects by comparing a number of scan return points that indicate that the object may enter the travel path to the number of the scan points that are received for that object.
US09983300B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for living object protection in wireless power transfer applications
Systems, methods, and apparatus for living object protection in wireless power transfer applications are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for detecting objects in a detection area of a wireless power transfer system is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of radar transceivers. The apparatus comprises at least one processor configured to receive radar data from the plurality of radar transceivers, detect an object in the detection area based on the received radar data, and adjust the detection area. The apparatus is configured to adjust the detection area based on at least one of a type of chargeable vehicle present, an amount of power being wirelessly transferred by the wireless power transfer system, an alignment of a vehicle with the wireless power transfer system, or a speed of the object approaching the detection area.
US09983296B2 Data processing apparatus, radar apparatus, and data processing method
A data processing apparatus that can set the magnification factor according to the distance from the antenna is provided so that the display of objects close to the antenna is easier to see and with which the changes in the settings of the magnification factor is easy. The buffer memory stores the digital signals converted by the A/D converter in association with the distance and azimuth with respect to the antenna. The digital filter filters the digital signals read from the buffer memory. A digital filter is provided that converts a value of data of interest, of digital data stored in the memory, to a value based on values of the data of interest to be processed and peripheral data in a periphery of the data of interest, and the digital filter changes a range of the peripheral data used for a filter processing according to the distance from the antenna to the data of interest.
US09983295B2 Direct sampling of received signals in radar
It is common practice in modern radar to utilize some type of downconversion to an intermediate frequency or baseband before analog-to-digital conversion takes place. Several microwave components are needed for this downconversion process, including a tunable local oscillator, bandpass filters, amplifiers, and other signal conditioning devices. The present invention eliminates many microwave components in the radar receiver by sampling the received signal directly, without downconversion or mixing. The manipulation of the received signals that was formerly done with microwave hardware is now done in a digital signal processor. In addition to simplifying the receiver hardware, this invention will also lead to better utilization of the frequency band, less interference from adjacent bands, improvements in system reliability and stability, reduction in system operation and maintenance costs, and will facilitate future system modifications and upgrades.
US09983294B2 Radar system
A stationary object decision processing unit 14 decides whether range R and Doppler frequency fd corresponding to peaks detected by the peak detection processing unit 13 satisfy geometric positional relationships between a radar and a stationary object. If they satisfy the geometric positional relationships, it recognizes that the object associated with the peaks is a stationary object. Thus, even if the number of peaks detected by the peak detection processing unit 13 increases, it can accurately decide whether the object associated with the peaks is a stationary object or not with a small amount of calculation.
US09983293B2 Method and system for locating an acoustic source
A method and a system are provided, in which acoustic signals received by distributed acoustic sensors are processed in order to determine the position of a source or sources of the acoustic signals. The method and system are able to determine the position of several acoustic sources simultaneously, by measuring the corresponding several acoustic signals. Furthermore, the strength of the acoustic signal or signals can be determined. The location of the acoustic source may be overlaid on a map of an area being monitored, or be used to generate an alarm if perceived to correspond to a threat or an intrusion, for example in a pipeline monitoring application. Alternatively, the method and systems can be used to monitor a hydraulic fracturing process.
US09983292B2 Method and system for multipath reduction for wireless synchronizing and/or locating
A method for determining an instantaneous phase difference between time bases of at least two location anchors for a desired point in time (t), each of the location anchors having transmitting and receiving access to a joint broadcast transmission medium and a respective time base for measuring time, wherein a first of the location anchors broadcasts a first broadcast message at least twice; the first location anchor and at least a second of the location anchors receive the first broadcast messages; the second location anchor broadcasting a second broadcast message at least twice; and the second location anchor and at least the first location anchor receive the second broadcast messages. The location server calculates the instantaneous phase difference from a determined first and second clock model functions and from a time elapsed between a reference point in time and the desired point in time t.
US09983287B2 System and method for estimating a quantity of interest of a dynamic artery/tissue/vein system
The invention relates to a system and method for estimating a quantity of interest from perfusion data resulting from the acquisition of a plurality of a patient volumes or stations. Such a method may include a step for triggering the output of said quantity of interest in the form of a consolidated map by means of an adapted man-machine interface.
US09983284B2 MRI with dixon-type water/fat separation and prior knowledge about inhomogeneity of the main magnetic field
A method and an apparatus for MR imaging of at least two chemical species having different MR spectra enables Dixon water/fat separation in cases in which a large field-of-view is required. The method includes the steps of: a) generating at least one echo signal by subjecting a body placed in the examination volume of a MR device to an imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients; b) acquiring the at least one echo signal; c) separating signal contributions of the at least two chemical species to the at least one acquired echo signal on the basis of a spectral model and prior knowledge about the spatial variation of the main magnetic field Bo in the examination volume; and d) reconstructing a MR image from the signal contributions of at least one of the chemical species.
US09983283B2 Accelerated MRI using radial strips and undersampling of k-space
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods to effect accelerated MR image reconstruction for undersampled data acquisitions with radial strip acquisitions of k-space are described. The improved MR image reconstruction is performed by acquiring k-space data in accordance with a data acquisition pattern which comprises a plurality of strips leaving a plurality of undersampled areas therebetween that do not have another undersampled area in a diametrically opposed position of k-space. The acquired k-space data is then used to generate an MR image.
US09983281B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, bed device and RF coil device
MRI apparatus includes a first radio frequency (RF) communication unit, a second RF communication unit, an image reconstruction unit and a table for loading an object. The first RF communication unit obtains a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal detected by an RF coil device, and wirelessly transmits a digitized NMR signal via an induced electric field. The second RF communication unit receives the NMR signal via the induced electric field. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs image data based on the NMR signal. The table includes a supporting unit which detachably supports the first RF communication unit to the second radio communication unit so that an interval between the first and second RF communication units enables RF communication via the induced electric field.
US09983277B2 Core sample holder
A sample holder that can withstand high pressures and temperatures is disclosed. The sample holder can be used to subject a geological sample to the same temperature and pressure that the sample would experience in its native underground environment. The sample holder provides a mechanism for hydrostatically confining the rock core sample to simulate the below ground pressure, while simultaneously allowing fluid to be directed through the core, as needed. The material used for the housing of the sample holder, specifically ceramic zirconia, and the mechanism by which the end fixtures are mounted in the housing, e.g., a square thread or modified square thread, allow for operation at higher pressures and temperatures than is offered by currently available systems. The sample holder can be used to analyze rock core samples via NMR spectroscopy or MRI.
US09983276B2 Downhole all-optical magnetometer sensor
Various systems and methods for implementing and using a downhole all-optical magnetometer include downhole all-optical magnetometer sensor, including optical receiving ports that receive light pulses, a depolarizer that depolarizes received light pulses, and a polarizer that polarizes depolarized light pulses from the depolarizer. The sensor further includes a vapor-filled cell through which polarized light pulses from the polarizer are directed, wherein interactions between vapor and a magnetic field within the vapor-filled cell alter at least some of the polarized light pulses, and an optical transmitting port that directs altered light pulses from the vapor-filled cell out of the sensor.
US09983275B2 Method for measuring three-dimensional magnetic fields
Method for sensing an external magnetic field using a magnetic sensor cell including: a magnetic tunnel junction including a reference layer having a reference magnetization oriented parallel to the plane of the reference layer, a sense layer having a sense magnetization, and a tunnel barrier layer between the sense and reference layers. A field line is configured for passing a field current for providing a sense magnetic field adapted for aligning the sense magnetization. The sense layer magnetization is orientable between a direction parallel to the plane of the sense layer and a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sense layer when the sense magnetic field is provided. The external magnetic field includes an in-plane component oriented parallel to the plane of the sense layer and an out-of-plane component perpendicular to the plane of the sense layer. The method includes sensing the out-of-plane component; and sensing the in-plane component.
US09983273B2 Magnetic field detecting sensor and magnetic field detecting apparatus using the same
A magnetic field detecting sensor includes a bridge circuit which is connected to multiple magnetoresistive effect elements and is capable of outputting a differential voltage between specified connection points, a magnetic field generating conductor for providing the magnetoresistive effect elements with a magnetic field in a direction opposite to that of the detection magnetic field by disposing a magnetic body near the center of the bridge circuit, a differential operation circuit which the differential voltage is input in and makes a feedback current flow to the magnetic field generating conductor, wherein the feedback current generates the magnetic field in a direction opposite to that of the detection magnetic field in the magnetic field generating conductor, and a voltage converting circuit for outputting the feedback current as a voltage value. The magnetic field generating conductor and the magnetoresistive effect elements are formed in the same stacked body.
US09983269B2 Apparatus and method for estimating life of energy storage device and energy storage system
A life estimating apparatus estimating a residual life that is of a usable accumulated residual period of an energy storage device, the life estimating apparatus includes: a relational expression acquisition unit that acquires a relational expression, in which a resistance value of a DC resistance or an AC resistance of the energy storage device at an accumulated use period elapsed time point that is of an accumulated value of a use period of the energy storage device is given by an expression including a term of a function of the accumulated use period; and a residual life estimating unit that estimates the residual life of the energy storage device using the acquired relational expression. When a value in which the resistance value in the relational expression is differentiated by the accumulated use period twice becomes a positive value, the relational expression acquisition unit sets the accumulated use period to a relational expression acquisition period, and acquires the relational expression obtained from a relationship between the resistance value and the accumulated use period up to the relational expression acquisition period elapsed time point.
US09983262B1 Built-in self test controller for a random number generator core
A device includes one or more random number generator (RNG) cores (e.g., true random number generator cores) and a built-in self-test controller (BIST) configured to perform various fault tests on each RNG core. The tests include a stuck-at-1 fault test, a stuck-at-0 fault test, and a transition delay fault test. For those RNG cores that have multiple ring oscillators, each individual ring oscillator is fault tested by the BIST controller. For those RNG cores that have a multi-tap inverter chain configuration, the individual taps may be tested by the BIST controller. The RNG core also may comprise a bi-stable cell which can be tested by the BIST controller as well.
US09983258B2 ATE digital channel for RF frequency/power measurement
A method for testing using an automated test equipment (ATE) is disclosed. The method comprises capturing a radio frequency (RF) signal using a digital port on automated test equipment, wherein the RF signal is transmitted from a device under test (DUT) to be tested by the automated test equipment. It also comprises sampling the RF signal at a high sampling rate using a digital channel associated with the digital port. Further, it comprises generating a discrete signal using results from the sampling. Finally, it comprises determining a frequency and amplitude of the RF signal using the discrete signal.
US09983257B2 Test line patterns in split-gate flash technology
The present disclosure relates to a substrate having test line letters that are used to identify a test line on an integrated chip, while avoiding contamination of high-k metal gate processes, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, an integrated chip is disclosed. The integrated chip has a semiconductor substrate. A test line letter is arranged over the semiconductor substrate. The test line letter comprises a positive relief that protrudes outward from the semiconductor substrate in the shape of an alpha-numeric character. One or more dummy structures are arranged over the semiconductor substrate. The one or more dummy structures are proximate to a boundary of the test line letter.
US09983255B2 Apparatus for testing dielectric breakdown voltage
A test fixture for testing a material according to a particular test procedure. A metallic base and four non-conductive side panels are affixed along a periphery of the base to form an internal cavity, and a non-conductive top cover is hingedly connected to one side panel. A metallic bottom electrode has an upper surface for holding a test material and a lower portion installed into a first aperture in an upper surface of the base. A metallic top electrode has a lower portion with a lower surface for contacting the test material and an upper portion extending out of a cover aperture in the top cover when the lower surface is in contact with the test material. A voltage source is coupled to perform the testing via a terminal on the base and the upper portion of the top electrode.
US09983252B2 Systems and methods for testing resistance based on customer specific wires
Aspects of the present disclosure involve a testing device/apparatus configured to test various issues caused by or otherwise associated with pinched wires when two halves of a hot half tool are assembled.
US09983245B2 Method and apparatus for recognizing a manipulation on an electrical line
A method for recognizing a manipulation of at least one electrical line includes determining a parameter that is dependent on a resistance and a capacity, a resistance and an inductivity, or a resistance, a capacity, and an inductivity of the electrical line; comparing the determined parameter to a reference parameter to provide a comparison result; and recognizing a manipulation of the electrical line based on the provided comparison result.
US09983237B2 Lightning current measuring device and lightning current measuring method
A lightning current measuring device is provided with: a polarized light separation element which separates light output from a sensor fiber into horizontal and vertical components having orthogonal planes of polarization, a Faraday rotation angle calculation unit calculating a Faraday rotation angle through arc-sine processing of a digitized signal of the difference between the horizontal and vertical components converted to a signal through photoelectric conversion after separation by the polarized light separation element, amplifiers which amplify the horizontal and vertical components converted to a signal through photoelectric conversion after separation by the polarized light separation element, a Faraday rotation angle calculating unit which calculates a Faraday rotation angle based on a digitized signal of the difference between the amplified horizontal and vertical components, and current value conversion units converting current values based on the calculated Faraday rotation angles.
US09983235B2 Method and device for measuring currents or magnetic fields using hall sensors and their offset-corrected measurement values
The present invention relates to a method and a device for measuring currents or magnetic fields using at least one Hall sensor, which is operated with spinning current technology. In addition to first sample values for calculating a spinning current measurement value (6), second sample values are formed from the digitally converted sensor signals (1) of the Hall sensor in the method. The second sample values are formed over shorter periods of time (9) and are corrected with an offset, which is calculated from the spinning current measurement value (6) and the first sample values. In addition to the precise spinning current measurement value (6), fast offset-corrected measurement values (10) of the magnetic field or current are obtained using the method and the associated device, without elaborate calibration or additional analog circuitry expenses.
US09983231B2 Deep-etched multipoint probe
A multipoint probe for establishing an electrical connection between a test apparatus and a test sample, the multipoint probe comprising a base defining a top surface and a plurality of traces provided on the top surface, each trace individually interconnecting a contact pad and a contact electrode for establishing the electrical connection to the test sample, each trace comprising a wide portion connected to the contact pad and a narrow portion connected to the contact electrode; the first top surface comprising first intermediate surfaces, each interconnecting a pair of neighboring traces at their respective wide portions, and second intermediate surfaces, each interconnecting a pair of neighboring traces at their respective narrow portions, and the first intermediate surfaces being provided on a first level and the second intermediate surfaces being provided on a second level above the first level relative to the base.
US09983230B2 Probe pin and manufacturing method thereof
A probe pin according to an embodiment of the present invention has a two-piece structure consisting of a pogo pin part and a barrel part, in which the pogo pin part includes an upper plunger having an outside contact point at an upper end, a lower plunger having an outside contact point at a lower end, and a spring portion composed of one or more springs and connected to a lower end of the upper plunger and an upper end of the lower plunger; and the barrel part has a cylindrical shape surrounding a portion of the pogo pin part and has a barrel-fixing spring portion protruding on an outer side of the barrel part to apply elasticity outward.
US09983225B2 Optical-mechanical vibrating beam accelerometer
Systems, devices, techniques, and methods are disclosed for an opto-mechanical vibrating beam accelerometer. In one example, a system is configured to couple a laser into optical resonance with opto-mechanically active (OMA) anchors suspending a proof mass; lock frequencies of the laser to optical resonances of the OMA anchors, resulting in a modulated laser coupled with the OMA anchors; demodulate a photocurrent that detects the modulated laser coupled with the OMA anchors to detect at least an amplitude or a phase of the modulated laser; lock a frequency of the modulated laser to dynamically track instantaneous resonance frequencies of mechanical modes of the OMA anchors through changes to the amplitude or phase of the modulated laser induced by coupling of the modulated laser to the OMA anchors; and measure an acceleration based on instantaneous resonance frequencies of the OMA anchors through changes to the amplitude or phase of the modulated laser.
US09983224B2 Motion direction determination and application
This disclosure provides devices, computer programs and methods for determining a motion direction. In one aspect, a mobile device includes sensors for measuring acceleration data. The mobile device also includes a processor and a memory that implement a motion direction estimation module configured to determine a primary axis of motion. The motion direction estimation module also determines a motion direction along the primary axis. The determination includes fitting the acceleration data, or data derived therefrom, to a bimodal distribution. A first peak of the bimodal distribution corresponds to a first motion direction along the primary axis, and a second peak corresponds to a second motion direction opposite the first. The motion direction estimation module is configured to estimate the motion direction based on the bimodal distribution. In some implementations, the motion direction estimation module selects the motion direction corresponding to the higher of the peaks as the estimated motion direction.
US09983222B2 Automatic process and automated device for preparing and analysing a plurality of cell suspensions
The present invention relates to a process for preparing and analyzing a plurality of cell suspensions (5) comprising at least the following successive steps: (a) loading a plurality of bottles (4) onto a reception plate (6), each bottle (4) comprising a cell suspension (5) to be analyzed; (b) loading a plurality of analysis containers (32, 34, 36) onto the reception plate (6); and (c) taking a sample of a cell suspension (5) from a bottle (4) and depositing this sample in an analysis container (34, 36); wherein step (c) is repeated for each bottle (4) to be analyzed. Step (c) of taking a sample of a cell suspension from a bottle (4) and depositing this sample in an analysis container (34, 36) comprises at least one step of breaking up the cell clusters by virtue of pipetting distribution means (20).The invention also relates to an automated device for implementing this process.
US09983218B2 Indole and indoline derivatives and methods of use thereof
The present application relates to indole and indoline derivatives of formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), or (VI) wherein a, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z are as defined in the specification. The present application also relates to compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating disease conditions using such compounds and compositions, and methods for identifying such compounds.
US09983213B2 Identification of subjects being susceptible to anti-angiogenesis therapy
The present invention relates to a method for identifying a subject being susceptible to anti-angiogenesis therapy based in determining the amount of a cardiac troponin in a sample of the subject and comparing the amount to a suitable reference amount. Also encompassed by the present invention are kits and devices adapted to carry out the method of the present invention.
US09983203B2 Method for protein analysis
Provided are methods for protein analysis in which proteins to be analyzed are displayed on a population of discrete and dispersible structures, such as beads or other particles, for subsequent affinity reactions and analysis/detection. The proteins to be analyzed may be provided as denatured protein samples in the presence of a denaturing agent.
US09983200B2 Compositions and methods for predicting age of onset of a lysosomal storage disease or a disease associated with a lysosomal defect
The present invention features diagnostic compositions and methods for predicting the age of onset of a lysosomal storage disease or a disease associated with a lysosomal defect in subject.
US09983199B2 Arrangement for detection of hemolysis
The following invention relates to a device for visual detection of hemolysis in a whole blood sample from a pierceable container, said device comprising at least one visible detection compartment and a transfer passage connected to said visible detection compartment, said device further comprising means for passing through the container to the interior of said container for accessing the whole blood and permitting transfer of a volume of plasma from said sample to said detection compartment via said transfer passage, wherein said device further is arranged with a separation device for separating plasma from blood cells within said whole blood sample before said plasma reaches the detection compartment, said device further being arranged with means providing a capillary action for generating a capillary force urging said volume of plasma to be transferred through the separation device to said detection compartment.
US09983195B2 Engineered three-dimensional breast tissue, adipose tissue, and tumor disease model
Described are three-dimensional, engineered, biological breast tissues, adipose tissues, and tumor models, including breast cancer models.
US09983192B2 Method and device for assigning a blood plasma sample
A device and method for assigning a blood plasma sample to a class from a predetermined set of classes are presented. The set of classes comprises a good class, a lipemic class, a hemolytic class and an icteric class. For assignment to one of the classes, the blood plasma sample is exposed to light and measurement values dependent on transmitted or scattered light power are evaluated in order to carry out an assignment.
US09983186B2 Optical computing device having tunable detector with non-planar semiconductor structure
An optical computing device including a detector having a non-planar semiconductor structure is provided. The detector may include one or more structures having structure characteristics that may be optimized to respond to and weight predetermined wavelengths of light radiated from a sample that are related to characteristics of the sample. The detector may include an array of the one or more structures, wherein each of the structure units may be individually addressable to program or tune the detector to respond to and weight a spectra of light and generate an output signal based on the weighted spectra of light that is proportional to the characteristics of the sample.
US09983172B2 Mass determination using ion mobility measurements
A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing an algorithm or relationship that relates the ion mobilities of an analyte ion through three gases of different polarizability to the mass of the analyte ion; measuring the ion mobilities of an analyte ion through first, second and third different drift gases; and using the measured ion mobilities and said algorithm or relationship to determine the mass of the analyte ion. Embodiments of the invention enable the mass of an analyte to be determined without having to know the specific properties of the analyte ion.
US09983168B2 Gel electrophoresis and transfer combination using conductive polymers and method of use
A precast gel and membrane combination unit for use in gel electrophoresis and membrane transfer for protein analysis, and method of use. Transparent electrically conductive polymer plate(s) house an electrophoresis gel and immunoblotting membrane. The gel and membrane are positioned between two plates of conductive polymers or plates having an electrically conductive layer or film. During the electrophoresis step, electric current moves proteins through the gel allowing for protein separation. Then, without removing or reorienting the gel or apparatus, the electrical contacts are switched to allow the flow of electricity to run perpendicularly through the gel via the conductive polymers, which will allow the proteins to transfer to the membrane housed in the same precast gel and membrane combination unit. The apparatus allows the user to visualize the steps of protein separation and protein transfer without transferring the gel between electrophoresis and transfer steps.
US09983167B2 Multichannel potentiostat analyzer system and methods
The present disclosure outlines a device having a multi-channel potentiostat circuit and a microcontroller for controlling the multi-channel potentiostat circuit. The multi-channel potentiostat circuit includes a counter electrode, a reference electrode, and a first switch between the counter electrode and the reference electrode. The multi-channel potentiostat circuit also includes a plurality of measurement circuits coupled to respective second switches. The microcontroller can configured to provide a first signal to the multi-channel potentiostat circuit to control the first switch, wherein a state of the first switch changes an operating mode of the multi-channel potentiostat circuit. The microcontroller is also configured to provide a second signal to the multi-channel potentiostat circuit to control at least one of the second switches to couple at least one of the plurality of measurement circuits to a working electrode.
US09983165B2 Nitrogen oxide decomposition material and use thereof
The present teaching rekates to providing a NOx decomposition agent having an excellent NOx decomposition rate. The NOx decomposition agent containing a perovskite oxide represented by ABx-1MxO3, wherein A represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of La, Sr, Mg, Ca and Ba, B represents Mn, M represents a combination of one or more first metal elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W and Ce, and one or two second metal elements selected from the group consisting of Ca and Mg, and x represents a number greater than or equal to 0 and less than 1.
US09983162B2 Method and device for detection of bioavailable drug concentration
The present invention is directed to an electrochemical sensor involving an electrode and a coating that surrounds the electrode, the coating comprising a structural component, a water immiscible solvent, a resistance decreasing component, and an ion exchange component, wherein the coating selectively partitions an electrochemically active drug from a fluid or vapor sample whereby an electrochemical signal within the coating can be measured using the electrode. Devices and methods for using this electrochemical sensor are also disclosed.
US09983161B2 Analyte sensors and methods of using same
Provided are sensors for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample fluid. In certain embodiments, the sensors include conductive particles and exhibit improved uniformity of distribution of one or more sensing chemistry components, increased effective working electrode surface area, and/or reduced entry of interfering components into a sample chamber of the sensor. Methods of using and manufacturing the sensors are also provided.
US09983158B2 Apparatus for sensing at least one parameter in water
Apparatus (2) for sensing at least one parameter in water, which apparatus comprises: (i) a conductivity sensor (6) for sensing conductivity in the water; (ii) a dissolved oxygen sensor (4) for sensing dissolved oxygen in the water; (iii) a glass substrate (14); and (iv) the conductivity sensor (6) and the dissolved oxygen sensor (4) are fabricated on the glass substrate (14) using photolithography and etching.
US09983154B2 Method for inspecting a pattern of features on a semiconductor die
The present disclosure is related to a method for detection of defects in a printed pattern of geometrical features on a semiconductor die, the pattern comprising an array of features having a nominal pitch, the method comprising determining deviations from the nominal pitch in the printed pattern, and comparing the printed pattern with another version of the pattern, the other version having the same or similar pitch deviations as the printed pattern. According to various embodiments, the other version of the pattern may a printed pattern on a second die, or it may be a reference pattern, obtained by shifting features of the array in a version having no or minimal pitch deviations, so that the pitch deviations in the reference pattern are the same or similar to the pitch deviations in the printed pattern under inspection.
US09983152B1 Material characterization using ion channeling imaging
A system and method of characterizing a work piece, comprising: scanning an ion beam across an exposed surface of a work piece, the ion beam causing the emission of secondary electrons at multiple imaging points of the scan, the number of secondary electrons emitted varying at different ones of the multiple imaging points; detecting the emitted secondary electrons at each of the multiple imaging point to form an image, the brightness of each point in the image being determined by the number of secondary electrons detected at a corresponding imaging point on the work piece; determining grain boundaries in the work piece using the differences in brightness at different points in the image, the grain boundaries defining multiple grains; directing a charged particle beam toward one or more analysis points within one or more of the grains, the number of the one or more analysis points within each grain being less than the number of imaging points within the same grain; and detecting emissions from the work piece sample at each analysis point; and determining the composition or crystal structure of one or more grains based on the detected secondary emissions.
US09983151B2 Ultralow-dose, feedback imaging with laser-Compton X-ray and laser-Compton gamma ray sources
Ultralow-dose, x-ray or gamma-ray imaging is based on fast, electronic control of the output of a laser-Compton x-ray or gamma-ray source (LCXS or LCGS). X-ray or gamma-ray shadowgraphs are constructed one (or a few) pixel(s) at a time by monitoring the LCXS or LCGS beam energy required at each pixel of the object to achieve a threshold level of detectability at the detector. An example provides that once the threshold for detection is reached, an electronic or optical signal is sent to the LCXS/LCGS that enables a fast optical switch that diverts, either in space or time the laser pulses used to create Compton photons. In this way, one prevents the object from being exposed to any further Compton x-rays or gamma-rays until either the laser-Compton beam or the object are moved so that a new pixel location may be illumination.
US09983150B2 Fluid sensor comprising a composite cavity member
A fluid sensor (10) comprises a core (27) defining a fluid flow path (21) and a cavity member (30) located externally of the core. The cavity member (30) comprises an electrically-conductive composite material including a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. The cavity member (30) is configured so as to provide confinement for an electromagnetic field and the core (27) is configured so as to permit transmission therethrough of electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of the electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field may be a radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field. The fluid sensor (10) may be used in the measurement of the composition and/or flow characteristics of fluid in the fluid flow path (21).
US09983146B1 Inspection of seal for high altitude balloons
Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and techniques for inspecting seals for high altitude balloons. In one example, a system may include a reflective surface, a translucent material on the reflective surface, and a movable light source configured to move along the reflective surface and provide light to the reflective surface. The light is provided such that it is reflected from the reflective surface and through the translucent material in order to backlight a balloon envelope seal for inspection. A method for inspecting a balloon envelope seal may include placing balloon envelope material on a table, forming a seal between portions of the material, moving a light over the seal, shining light onto a reflective portion of the table below the seal to backlight the seal, and inspecting the seal using the backlighting of the seal.
US09983143B2 Method and apparatus for rapidly cooling a gem
A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space.
US09983138B2 Explosives detection using optical spectroscopy
A method for determining whether a sample includes a nitrate-based explosive comprises receiving the sample and selecting an area of interest on the sample. Then, at least a portion of the area of interest is interrogated with an optical source to produce a spectrum with an amplitude. The amplitude of a first portion of the spectrum is compared to a first predetermined threshold to determine if the sample includes a nitrate. After determining that the sample includes a nitrate in the area of interest, the amplitude of a second portion of the spectrum is compared to a second predetermined threshold to determine if the sample includes a secondary indicator. Then, an indicator is activated based on the determinations.
US09983134B2 Systems and methods for imaging and processing tissue
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, a method for imaging tissue, for example, includes the steps of mounting the tissue on a computer controlled stage of a microscope, determining volumetric imaging parameters, directing at least two photons into a region of interest, scanning the region of interest across a portion of the tissue, imaging a plurality of layers of the tissue in a plurality of volumes of the tissue in the region of interest, sectioning the portion of the tissue, capturing the sectioned tissue, and imaging a second plurality of layers of the tissue in a second plurality of volumes of the tissue in the region of interest, and capturing each sectioned tissue, detecting a fluorescence image of the tissue due to said excitation light; and processing three-dimensional data that is collected to create a three-dimensional image of the region of interest. Further, captured tissue sections can be processed, re-imaged, and indexed to their original location in the three dimensional image.
US09983129B2 Early detection of cell activation by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy
Disclosed are methods, systems, and apparatuses for rapidly detecting a cellular interaction, such as ligand:receptor interactions. For example, the disclosed methods and systems can be used to detect a cellular interaction within 15 minutes to 75 minutes. This allows cells to be used as biosensors to detect cell activating agents in a sample.
US09983125B2 Detection of terahertz radiation
The present invention relates to a system for detecting terahertz radiation, a camera device, and a method for detecting terahertz radiation.
US09983123B2 Absorption analyzer
The invention relates to analytical chemistry, in particular, to the spectral absorption analysis with a differential method of measuring concentrations of mercury and benzene vapors.The invention is aimed at creation of an absorption analyzer, which allows to determine the content of mercury and benzene in the carrier gas, with improved analytical performance for benzene.The aim is achieved with an absorption analyzer, which comprises optically coupled components: a photodetector, an analytical cell, a modulator of radiation polarization and a spectral lamp containing a discharge cavity located between magnet poles and connected with means of electric discharge excitation, buffer gas and mercury placed into the spectral lamp, as well as a gas system connecting a sampling port of the analyzer with an input port of the analytical cell by gas communications, wherein the gas system comprises at least three gas channels connecting the sampling port of the analyzer to the input port of the analytical cell via a gas channels selector, while at least one of these gas channels comprises means for removing the benzene from the gas stream, at least one comprises means for removing mercury from the gas stream, at least one is permeable for mercury, at least one is permeable for benzene and at least one has different permeability rates for mercury and benzene.
US09983122B1 Aqueous solution constituent analyzer
Technology is provided for an aqueous solution constituent analyzer. The analyzer includes an ultraviolet light emitting diode (LED) with a current source providing variable current thereto. A spectrometer is positioned for receiving light from the LED transmitted through an aqueous solution. A controller receives radiant flux data for a plurality of wavelengths and determines, based on the radiant flux data, a usable number of the plurality of wavelengths that satisfies a relative uncertainty threshold. The controller can increase the current to the LED if the usable number of wavelengths is less than a minimum threshold and calculate a concentration of a constituent of interest in the solution. The controller can also determine a peak wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths having the greatest intensity value, and decrease the current level to the LED if the peak wavelength has an intensity value greater than a saturation value for the spectrometer.
US09983121B2 Photonic sensor tracking
A device and method for tracking a spectral response. The device and method including inputting light to a waveguide medium having a plurality of perturbation sensors disposed in a spaced relationship in the waveguide medium; receiving a plurality of signals reflected from the plurality of perturbation sensors; retrieving from the received signals, data representing a plurality of signal values, each signal value comprising at least a magnitude value and a wavelength value; identifying within the plurality of signal values, at least a first signal value and a second signal value, being in an overlap state; estimating, for at least some of the plurality of perturbation sensors, an expected signal value; associating each expected signal value with a respective signal value from the plurality of signal values; updating each expected signal value with the associated signal value.
US09983120B2 Colorimetry method and colorimetry apparatus
An imaging section that detects the amount of light separated by a wavelength tunable interference filter to acquire a spectroscopic image (imaging device and light amount acquisition section) detects the amount of light successively separated for three wavelengths to acquire spectroscopic images for producing a combined image. A display controller causes a display section to display a combined image based on the spectroscopic images for producing the combined image. A specified position detection section identifies based on user's operation a specified position where a colorimetry result is to be outputted. The imaging section detects the amount of light successively separated for a plurality of wavelengths by the wavelength tunable interference filter to acquire spectroscopic images for colorimetry corresponding to the plurality of wavelengths. A colorimetry section measures the color in the specified position by using the amount of light obtained from each of the spectroscopic images for colorimetry.
US09983118B1 Wafer holding apparatus
A wafer holding apparatus for fixing a wafer having a central portion and a circumference portion includes a holding platform, a lift stage, and a fixing device. The holding platform has a hole structure and a support rib protruding inwardly from an inner wall of the hole structure. The lift stage includes a support platform and a driving arm connected to the support platform for driving the support platform to ascend or descend. When the support platform ascends to a support position to support the wafer, the central portion is flat on the support platform to make the circumference portion flat on a top surface of the support rib in a surface contact manner. The fixing device is for fixing the circumference portion to the top surface of the support rib. After the circumference portion is fixed to the support rib, the lift stage descends to a retracted position.
US09983117B1 Devices and systems for image-based analysis of test media
Devices and systems for image-based analysis of test media are disclosed herein. An example device includes four side panels connected together so as to form a tubular rectangle, a floor panel that covers an opening of the tubular rectangle, the floor panel having a raised test bed that receives a test medium, a top panel that having an optical lens that aligns with the raised test bed when the top panel covers another opening of the tubular rectangle. The optical lens is aligned with an aperture that extends through the top panel. The four side panels, the floor panel, and the top panel forming an optic chamber when joined together. The device also includes a light source that illuminates inside the device.
US09983115B2 System and method for monitoring particles in a fluid using ratiometric cytometry
A particle detection system with a detection mechanism that includes detectors positioned to detect two different ranges of fluorescence produced by particles in the fluid in a flow chamber. Each of the detectors is arranged to generating a trigger signal whenever fluorescence is detected. The system and related method enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of blue-green algae monitoring by utilizing imaging flow cytometry combined with particle analysis and the measurement of the ratio of each particle's phycocyanin to chlorophyll b detected by using the two detectors configured for detection of two different fluorescence ranges, one associated with the phycocyanin and the other associated with the chlorophyll b. Captured images are be used in comparison to known images of a library of images using a support vector machine classifier.
US09983114B2 Methods and systems for monitoring loading of an air filter
Methods and systems for estimating the loading of an air filter are disclosed herein. The method includes receiving upstream mass air flow data indicative of a mass air flow on an upstream side of an air filter (i.e., the “dirty side of the filter”), receiving downstream air pressure data indicative of an air pressure on a downstream side of the air filter (i.e., the “clean side of the filter”), and receiving downstream temperature data indicative of a temperature on the downstream side of the air filter. The method also includes determining a differential pressure (ΔP) across the air filter indicative of a loading of the air filter based on the upstream mass air flow data, the downstream air pressure data, and the downstream temperature data.
US09983113B2 Particle counter
Provided is a particle counter including: a light source; a light superimposition unit configured to superimpose light beams; an irradiation optical system configured to irradiate a fluid in a flow passage with one of a plurality of light beams from the light source; a detection optical system configured to make a part of scattered light beams by a particle in the fluid enter the light superimposition unit; a reference optical system configured to split another one of the plurality of light beams into a plurality of reference light beams and makes the reference light beams enter the light superimposition unit; and a counting unit configured to count the particles on the basis of detection signals corresponding to an interference light beam received by a light receiver. The interference light beam is generated by interference between the scattered light beam and one of the reference light beams at the light superimposition unit, and is received by the light receiver corresponding to the reference light beam.
US09983099B2 Analytical instrument with temporal control of ion mobility spectrometer control parameters
An ion mobility spectrometer analytical instrument, including an ion mobility spectrometer, a swab interface, and a desorber assembly. The desorber assembly includes a heat transfer device configured to heat a desorber, as well as a supply configured to direct gas through the desorber. The instrument further includes a drift tube, high voltage device arrayed, at least in part, proximate to the drift tube, wherein the high voltage device is configured to change a polarity of a voltage applied to the drift tube and have an absolute voltage of about 500 to 1500 volts. The instrument further includes a reactant supply unit adapted to supply reactant during a sample substance analysis, and a control unit.
US09983096B2 Fuel metering valve actuator initiated built in test
Systems and methods for monitoring fuel actuation system health are described herein. A method for monitoring fuel actuation system health may comprise: moving a metering valve from a first position to a second position; detecting a first travel distance of the metering valve; storing the first travel distance of the metering valve to memory to generate a first travel distance history; and determining a level of degradation of the fuel actuation system based on at least the first travel distance history.
US09983095B2 Optical fiber characteristic measuring device
An optical fiber characteristic measuring device of the present invention includes a light source, an optical divider, an optical waveguide, a first separator, a second separator, a first interferer, a second interferer, and a calculator. The light source is configured to generate a frequency modulated continuous wave of light. The optical divider is configured to divide the frequency modulated continuous wave of light into first and second divided-waves of light. The optical waveguide is configured to guide the first divided-wave of light to one end of an optical fiber to be measured. The first separator is configured to separate a backscattered light generated by Brillouin scattering of the first divided-wave of light in the optical fiber to be measured into a first scattered light, which is a linearly polarized light, and a second scattered light, which is a linearly polarized light perpendicular to the first scattered light.
US09983088B2 Engine ventilation system diagnostics using pressure measurement
A system comprising an engine including a chamber; an air intake coupled to the engine; a pressure sensor disposed in fluid communication with the air intake and disposed between the air intake and the chamber; and a processor configured to determine a breach in a ventilation system of the chamber in response to the pressure sensor.
US09983087B2 Methods and systems to determine rotor imbalance
A system is presented. The system includes a stator component, a rotor component rotating inside the stator component, a plurality of features disposed on the periphery of the stator component or the rotor component, and a processing subsystem for determining at least one of an amount of rotor imbalance and an orientation of the rotor imbalance at least based upon feature-to-feature speed variation of the plurality of features.
US09983084B2 Pressure sensing assembly for structural health monitoring systems
A pressure sensing assembly includes: a substrate; a pressure sensor on the substrate; a package, the substrate and the pressure sensor being embedded in the package; and a pressure adapter, with a first interface, external to the package and having a first area, and a second interface, coupled to the pressure sensor and having a second area, different from the first area. The pressure adapter is configured to transfer a force between the first interface and the second interface so that a pressure on the second interface is different from a pressure on the first interface.
US09983083B2 Climate control pressure plug with sensor
A sensor-plug for insertion into a drier bottle of an automotive condenser. The sensor-plug is a unitary piece and positioned within the drier bottle to eliminate the use of a separate sensor on the opposite side of the condenser.
US09983076B2 Solar battery wireless load cell adapter
An adapter for a load cell in a rod pump system includes an outer shell including a mounting portion configured to attach to the load cell on a polished rod, a power supply configured to provide power to the adapter and the load cell, the power supply including a solar panel on the outer shell, a cable configured to connect to the load cell, the adapter configured to provide power to the load cell via the cable, and the adapter configured to receive a load signal from the load cell via the cable, a signal processor configured to receive and process the load signal and to output load signal data representative of a load experienced by the load cell, and a wireless transmitter to transmit the load signal data.
US09983071B2 Tendon actuator unit
A tendon actuator unit comprises a housing; a pulley disposed within the housing, the pulley comprising a screw-like groove about a predetermined portion of an outer surface of the pulley configured to accept a predetermined length of a cable; a motor disposed in or proximate to the housing and operatively in communication with the pulley; one or more online cable sensors; one or more sensor rollers; and one or more conduit force sensors.
US09983069B2 Measuring apparatus and measuring method
A measuring apparatus includes a light source unit configured to generate probe light, a bifurcating unit configured to cause Brillouin backscattered light occurring from the probe light to bifurcate into first light, which propagates through a first optical path, and second light, which propagates through a second optical path, a delay unit configured to delay one of the first light and the second light, an optical multiplexer configured to multiplex the first light and the second light to generate multiplexed light, and a coherent detector configured to perform homodyne detection of the multiplexed light and to output a difference frequency obtained as a result of the detection as a phase-difference signal.
US09983068B2 Overheat detection circuit and semiconductor device
Provided is an overheat detection circuit that is capable of quickly outputting an overheated state detection signal in an overheated state without outputting an unintended erroneous output caused by disturbance noise, such as momentary voltage fluctuations in the power supply. The overheat detection circuit includes: a temperature sensor; a comparison section; and a disturbance noise removal section configured to output an overheated state detection signal to an output section after a predetermined delay time has elapsed. The delay time is reduced in proportion to temperature.
US09983067B2 Overheat detection circuit and semiconductor device
Provided is an overheat detection circuit configured to accurately detect a temperature of a semiconductor device even at high temperature and thus avoid outputting an erroneous detection result. The overheat detection circuit includes: a PN junction element, being a temperature sensitive element; a constant current circuit configured to supply the PN junction element with a bias current; a comparator configured to compare a voltage generated at the PN junction element and a reference voltage; a second PN junction element configured to cause a leakage current to flow through a reference voltage circuit at high temperature; and a third PN junction element configured to bypass a leakage current of the constant current circuit at the high temperature.
US09983063B1 Multispectral imaging via coded aperture
Mechanisms for identifying energy received from a scene are provided. A coded aperture in an optical system receives energy from a scene. The coded aperture comprises a plurality of wavelength filter sets arranged in a predetermined pattern. Each wavelength filter set is configured to transmit energy in a corresponding wavelength band of a plurality of different wavelength bands. The coded aperture transmits the energy toward a detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements. The detector array generates sensor data that quantifies energy received by each detector element. The sensor data is processed based on the predetermined pattern to identify spatial locations of energy in each corresponding wavelength band with respect to the scene.
US09983059B2 Device and method for wavelength variation of at least one light source for derivative spectroscopy
Disclosed is a spectroscopy device, including an analysis zone for receiving a sample; at least one light-emitting diode arranged to emit a light beam towards the analysis zone, having a luminous intensity spectral profile in a working wavelength interval; unit for varying with time the luminous intensity spectral profile emitted by the diode in the working wavelength interval of the diode; a detector, arranged to receive, during a variation with time of the luminous intensity spectral profile emitted by the diode, the light beam emitted by the diode and having crossed the analysis zone, and supplying a detection signal of the light beam emitted by the diode and received by the detector, in the form of a signal which depends on at least one characteristic representative of the luminous intensity spectral profile of the light-emitting diode. Application to derivative spectroscopy.
US09983057B2 Optoelectronic arrangement
An optoelectronic arrangement includes an optoelectronic semiconductor chip, a wavelength-converting element and a detector component, wherein the optoelectronic arrangement is configured to emit light with a first peak wavelength and to emit light with a second peak wavelength, the first peak wavelength is in the visible spectral range and the second peak wavelength is in the non-visible spectral range or the first peak wavelength is in the non-visible spectral range and the second peak wavelength is in the visible spectral range, and the optoelectronic arrangement emits the light whose peak wavelength is in the non-visible spectral range into a target area, and the detector component is configured to detect light backscattered from the target area and the peak wavelength of which is in the non-visible spectral range.
US09983056B2 Optimization of the laser operating point in a laser absorption spectrometer
An operating value of a first laser parameter of a laser device in a laser absorption spectrometer is optimized. The wavelength of laser device emitted light is adjusted by the first or a second laser parameter. The laser absorption spectrometer comprises a light intensity detector measuring the laser light intensity from the laser device. For each of multiple values of the first laser parameter: the light intensity detector measures light intensity obtained across a range of second laser parameter values, and an extremum in the light intensity measure and a peak position for the extremum are identified. A range of first laser parameter values is identified within the values of the first laser parameter for which there is a continuous trend in changes to the identified peak position with changes to the first laser parameter. The first laser parameter operating value is set to be within the identified range.
US09983049B2 Electronic coaster for estimating calorie consumption
The present disclosure discloses an electronic coaster for estimating amount of calories consumed by a user, through a beverage present in a beverage holder. The electronic coaster comprises at least one weight sensor to measure weight of a beverage holder comprising a beverage and a computing unit to receive the measured weight from the at least one weight sensor, determine weight of the beverage based on the received weight, identify beverage type and a predefined calorific value corresponding to the beverage type, determine change in weight from the weight of the beverage and estimate total amount of calories consumed by a user based on the change in weight and the predefined calorific value.
US09983046B2 Fluid tank
A fluid tank (1) of the type comprising at least two fluid-receiving chambers (2, 3) separated from each other by a partition (4), level detection means (5) for detecting the level of fluid in the first chamber (2), level detection means (10) for detecting the level of fluid in the second chamber (3), and signal emission means (20) for emitting a warning signal as a function of the level detected by said level detection means (5, 10). At least a portion of the level detection means (5) for detecting the level of fluid in the first chamber (2) is common to at least a portion of the level detection means (10) for detecting the level of fluid in the second chamber (3).
US09983045B2 Inductive sensor
An inductive sensor device for sensing the level of a liquid within a reservoir. The inductive sensor device includes a rotor pivotally connected to an overmold housing. Further, an inductive coupler is mounted to the rotor. Moreover, a float is connected to the rotor to pivot the inductive coupler by the at least one receiving coil to determine the level of liquid within the reservoir.
US09983043B2 Positioning apparatus for a liquid level sensor
A positioning apparatus for a liquid level sensor includes a liquid level sensor support, such as a generally horizontal platform, having an aperture for receiving at least a portion of the liquid level sensor. An arm extends from the support and has an aperture for receiving a liquid outlet tube extending from an outlet of a liquid pass-through device. A hollow socket is spaced apart from the arm and removably attachable to the outlet of the liquid pass-through device. The apparatus maintains the relative position and orientation of the liquid level sensor to the liquid outlet tube extending from the outlet of the liquid pass-through device.
US09983039B2 Flow sensing device with temperature compensation
A device (12) that uses a temperature coefficient pre-calibrated for the device for measuring a flow within the device. The device includes a differential pressure sensor (80) configured to generate a differential pressure signal responsive to a differential pressure within a flow path (16) and a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature near the differential pressure sensor. A differential amplifier amplifies differential pressure signals from the differential pressure sensor. A processor receives signals from the differential pressure sensor, amplified signals from the differential amplifier, and signals from the temperature sensor. The amplified signals are corrected based upon at least a predetermined temperature coefficient, and the processor calculates a flow rate based on the corrected representation of the differential pressure.
US09983038B2 Airflow measuring device
A housing defines a bypass passage and a sub-bypass passage. The bypass passage draws a part of air flowing through an interior of a duct. The sub-bypass passage is branched from the bypass passage to draw a part of air flowing through the bypass passage. A flow sensor is equipped in the sub-bypass passage to cause heat transfer with air, which passes through the sub-bypass passage, and to generate an electric signal according to a flow quantity of air in the duct. An intake-air temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature in the duct. A moisture sensor is configured to measure a humidity in the duct. The flow sensor and the multiple sensors are equipped in the sub-bypass passage and are located along a direction of flow of air in the sub-bypass passage.
US09983033B2 Fouling resistant flow metering system
Appurtenances added to a pipe mitigate the effects of upstream valves, sluice gates or pipe elbows to condition the pipe flow for accurate flow rate detection by a reverse propeller meter. Further appurtenances allow the reverse propeller meter to be used in extreme debris situations such as weeds, vines and moss present in many canal systems. The system provides an electronic signal that indicates flow rate and accumulated flow volume, or the signal can be transmit to a central headquarters for remote gate control or canal automation.
US09983030B2 System and method for sensing many fiber sensors using time-division multiplexing and wavelength division multiplexing
A system and method for discriminately measuring the response of a plurality of spatially separated fiber sensors positioned along an optical fiber using a sweep of electromagnetic radiation. Each fiber sensor affects the transmission of a particular wavelength of electromagnetic radiation and the particular wavelength affected by a given fiber sensor is dependent on at least one environmental property of the given fiber sensor. By detecting the particular wavelength affected by a given sensor, it is possible to determine the environmental property of the given sensor.
US09983029B2 Integrated optical encoder for tilt able rotatable shaft
Examples of the disclosure enclose an optical target on an encoder and sensors inside a single integrated module, wherein the encoder and the sensors are coupled to the same rigid body to maintain optical alignment between the sensors and the optical target on the encoder. Further, the module itself may be hermetically sealed to protect the optical path (e.g., from a light source to the optical target to the sensors) from contamination due to outside dirt, debris, or light sources internal/external to the device that might further interfere with alignment and/or proper sensing. Because the integrated module results in smaller variations in the alignment between the optical target and the sensors, the dynamic range of the sensors may be reduced, resulting in less power consumption and, potentially, longer battery life for the device. The use of an integrated module can also enable relaxed manufacturing requirements for the optical sensor and/or the optical target.
US09983028B2 Measurement method and encoder device, and exposure method and device
There is provided an encoder device to measure a relative moving amount between a first and second members. The encoder device includes: a reflective-type diffraction grating on the first member; a light source unit to radiate a measuring light; a first optical member on the second member; a first and second reflecting units on the second member that cause first and third diffracted lights generated via diffraction of the measuring light and having orders different from each other to come into the diffraction grating respectively, and cause second and fourth diffracted lights generated via diffraction of the first and third diffracted lights respectively to come into the first optical member; photo-detectors configured to detect interference lights between two diffracted lights and other light beam respectively; and a measuring unit to obtain the relative moving amount by using detection signals from the photo-detectors.
US09983027B2 Proximity sensor module with light reflector
A proximity sensor may be mounted below a display cover layer in an electronic device. The proximity sensor may have a light source that emits light and a detector configured to detect reflections of the emitted light from nearby external objects. The light emitted from the light source may pass through a lens along an axis towards external objects. The light source and the detector may be mounted in a proximity sensor housing having openings that are aligned with the light source and the detector. A reflector may be mounted to the proximity sensor in a configuration that bridges the opening over the light source. The reflector may be formed from a strip of metal or a strip of prism structures. Some of the light from the light source reflects from the reflector at a non-zero angle with respect to the axis and enhances proximity sensor performance.
US09983018B2 Electronic apparatus and control method thereof
Provided herein is control method of an electronic apparatus, comprising: identifying a line region from a driving-related image data of a vehicle; generating a line information corresponding to a lane where the vehicle is located from an image data of the identified line region portion; generating a position information of a lane where the vehicle is located, using at least one of the generated line information and the lane information of a road where the vehicle is located; and performing a driving-related guide of the vehicle using the generated lane position information.
US09983014B2 Travel route guide device, travel route guide system, travel route guide method and program
A travel route guide device includes a travel route calculation unit that calculates a travel route from a current position to a destination based on current position information, destination information, and a remaining amount of power of an electric vehicle, and information on a remaining power amount recovery facility. The travel route guide device includes a region division unit that divides a region including the travel route calculated by the travel route calculation unit into a plurality of local regions. The travel route device includes a constraint condition determination unit that determines a constraint condition for a monitoring variable. The travel route device includes a recalculation determination unit that monitors the monitoring variable corresponding to the local region including a position of the electric vehicle, and requests the travel route calculation unit to calculate the travel route when a value of the monitoring variable deviates from the constraint condition.
US09983011B2 Mapping and facilitating evacuation routes in emergency situations
Systems and methods for indicating an emergency exit path upon detection of a fire in a building structure. The systems and methods may include detecting a signal indicating presence of the fire in the building structure and determining an evacuation situation is present based on a risk assessment. In response to determining the evacuation situation is present, the systems and methods may include mapping the emergency exit path out of the building structure based on an identified location of the fire and an identified location of a person in the building structure, and operating a plurality of lighting devices in the building structure to indicate the emergency exit path out of the building structure.
US09983007B2 Performance monitoring systems and methods
We have disclosed systems and methods for portable performance monitoring of an individual during a physical activity. The systems and methods may include a portable sensor component configured to be carried by the individual during the physical activity and configured to obtain movement data for the athlete individual during the physical activity. The systems and methods may also include a portable output component configured to be carried by the individual during the physical activity and configured to provide an output to the individual during the physical activity. The systems and methods may further include a portable processing component in communication with the portable sensor component and the portable output component, where the portable processing component is configured to be carried by the individual during the physical activity. The portable processing component may be configured to identify movement of the individual during the physical activity.
US09983005B1 Optical accelerometer
Methods and apparatus optically measure acceleration, without Sagnac-effect corruption, without requiring slow light and without moving parts. Each optical accelerometer includes at least one measurement cell and at least one reference cell. Two optical signals traverse the cells in opposite directions around a figure-8-configured optical path and then interfere to produce an output signal. The reference cells have different indices of refraction than the measurement cells. Acceleration differentially affects speeds of the optical signals traversing the measurement and reference cells through differentially affecting the indices of refraction of the measurement and reference cells. These differences are evident in changes in the interference in the output signal, thereby enabling measurement of the acceleration. Several embodiments, including optical bench, vertical slab multi-pass, toroidal prism, planar waveguide, cylindrical waveguide, wound waveguide and optical fiber, are described.
US09983002B2 Enhancing geolocation using barometric data to determine floors at a location
Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for determining floors at a geographic location using barometric air pressure sensors in a mobile phone. An exemplary method includes identifying a first height associated with a location based on a client device. The first height indicates an entry level of the client device at the location. Using information regarding an amount of outside air pressure at the location, a pressure sensor in the client device is calibrated. A pressure offset for the location is calculated. The pressure offset identifies a difference between air pressure readings inside the location and the amount of outside air pressure at the location. Using the calibrated pressure sensor, a second height associated with the location is determined based on readings from the calibrated pressure sensor and the pressure offset. The second height indicates a different level at the location that the client device is currently on.
US09983000B2 Method and device for determining the thickness of a brake disk
A method for determining the thickness of a brake disk of a pneumatic-tired vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle or a commercial vehicle, including the steps of applying an ultrasonic measuring head on the brake disk, without dismounting the wheel associated with the brake disk; and carrying out an ultrasonic measurement for determining the thickness of the brake disk.
US09982999B2 Metrology method
An interferometric method for profiling the topography of a sample surface comprises: (i) a first interferometric profiling step at a first magnification M1 to produce a map comprising pixels with planar (X,Y)-coordinates corresponding to the area of the sample surface, (ii) identifying pixel(s) which meet or exceed a Cut-Off Threshold, and meet or exceed a parameter NNAP; (iii) identifying pixel(s) for which no z-coordinate has been recorded; (iv) generating a Low Magnification Frame File (LMFF) which comprises the (X,Y) coordinates of the pixels derived from steps (ii) and (iii); (v) a second interferometric profiling step at a second magnification M2, wherein M2>M1, wherein only selected regions of the sample surface are analysed, said selected regions comprising the features associated with the (X,Y)-coordinates of the pixels in the Low Magnification Frame File; and further comprising a step selected from: (vi) analysing the output of the second interferometric profiling step to differentiate between an intrinsic defect and an extrinsic defect; (vii) assessing whether said sample surface meets one or more quality control standard(s) and/or one or more target property or properties; and (viii) assessing whether said sample surface is suitable as a surface for subsequent coating.
US09982997B2 Laser measurement system and method for measuring 21 GMEs
A laser measurement system for measuring up to 21 geometric errors, in which a six-degree-of-freedom geometric error simultaneous measurement unit and a beam-turning unit are mounted on either the clamping workpiece or the clamping tool, while an error-sensitive unit is mounted on the remaining one, the beam-turning unit has several switchable working postures and multi-component combinations in its installation state, it can split or turn the laser beam from the six-degree-of-freedom geometric error simultaneous measurement unit to the X, Y, and Z directions in a proper order, or the beam-turning unit can split or turn a beam from the error-sensitive unit to the six-degree-of-freedom geometric error simultaneous measurement unit. The present invention is of simple configuration and convenient operation. Up to 21 geometric errors of three mutual perpendicular linear motion guides are obtained by a single installation and step-by-step measurement.
US09982992B2 Dimension measuring system using track reference targets to define left and right top-of-rail elevations
A dimension measuring system includes a target positioning system mounted on a railroad track's parallel rails. The target positioning system includes two targets positioned at fixed positions in a first plane perpendicular to the rails, and another two targets positioned at fixed positions in a second plane perpendicular to the rails and spaced-apart from the first plane. A laser-based distance measuring device measures vector distances to the four targets. A processor, coupled to the laser-based distance measuring device, determines an elevation of each of the rails in the first plane and second plane using the vector distances and the fixed positions of the targets in the first and second planes. The elevation of each the rails in the first and second planes define a top-of-rail reference plane used by the processor when dimensions of an object above the top-of-rail reference plane are to be measured.
US09982991B2 Method for controlling a distance between two objects, inspection apparatus and method
A broadband spectroscopic analysis is used for controlling a distance (d) between a miniature solid immersion lens (SIL, 60) and a metrology target (30′). An objective lens arrangement (15, 60) including the SIL illuminates the metrology target with a beam of radiation with different wavelengths and collects a radiation (709) reflected or diffracted by the metrology target. A mounting (64) holds the SIL within a distance from the metrology target that is less than the coherence length of the illuminating radiation (703). A detection arrangement (812, 818) produces a spectrum of the radiation reflected or diffracted by the metrology target. The distance between the SIL and the metrology target or other target surface can be inferred from spectral shifts observed in the detected spectrum. Servo control of the distance is implemented based on these shifts, using an actuator (66).
US09982983B1 Hydrogen-propelled bullet and a method of making thereof
A hydrogen-propelled projectile for using with a firearm eliminates cleaning the firearm and a method of making the projectile eliminates storing explosive propellant. The projectile has a cylindrical brass body closed at top and sealed at bottom with a primer and a brass seal. When the projectile is used with the firearm, the primer ignites hydrogen in the presence of oxygen, producing water vapor and energy that propels projectile toward a target. To make the projectile a salt water solution is electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen. A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is then fed to a loader. The loader fills up the projectile, attached at a gas outlet, with gas by exerting pressure on gas using a load piston and channeling gas to the projectile. Finally, the loader seals the projectile with the primer by pressing a primer ram and affixing the primer at bottom of the projectile.
US09982977B2 Payload delivery system with forward folding stabilizer for cartridges
This disclosure provides for payload delivery systems and cartridges and methods that incorporate the payload delivery systems. The payload delivery system can comprise a stabilizer having a longitudinally cut side wall defining a series of vanes that are folded forward in the pre-launched configuration. Cartridges that include the payload delivery system are disclosed, which can be used to deliver payloads such as solid projectiles, shot of all sizes, powders, gels, liquids, and other payloads to exploit their specific function.
US09982976B1 Paint arrow and game
The present invention teaches an arrowhead of foam, having a front aperture leading to a front cavity: the front cavity is either an injectable paint cavity or a partial spherical shape, the aperture formed by the bisection of the cavity with the front end of the arrowhead and smaller in diameter than the cavity. The cavity diameter may be such that the resilience of the foam secures a paintball therein. The rear end of the arrowhead has a second aperture dimensioned and configured to secure an arrow shaft therein on a threaded connector. The arrowhead has a shock absorber mechanism and other details which provide for extreme cushioning of impact.
US09982973B2 Water penetrating dart
A water penetrating blowgun dart is provided. The blowgun dart has a funnel removably attached to a tail end of the dart shaft so that upon contact with a water surface, the funnel moves from an engaged configuration to a disengaged configuration. The tail end may provide a slot for snugly receiving an eye, wherein the tail end and the eye have cooperating grooves so that when in the engaged configuration, the eye and tail end are secured with a filament that slightly protrudes from the flush outer surface of the shaft and eye. The protruding filament frictionally engages the funnel in the engaged configuration so that the funnel remains engaged with the shaft prior to hitting the water's surface.
US09982971B2 Shooting training control system having penable/closable booth type shooting line
The present invention relates to a shooting training control system having a plurality of shooting lines arranged in parallel to each other to allow a plurality of shooters to be located thereon to conduct shooting and a shooting control room for controlling shooting training of the plurality of shooters, the shooting training control system including: isolation covers disposed on the respective shooting lines, forming isolation spaces from the ground to allow the shooters to be located therein, and having both sides isolated from the adjacent shooting lines thereto; opening and closing means for opening and closing each isolation cover from the ground; and switching means disposed in the shooting control room to control the opening and closing means, so that each isolation cover is open and closed to open and close the isolation space formed therein.
US09982964B1 Holster for a handgun
A holster for carrying a handgun inside a wearer's beltline. In one embodiment, the holster includes a body-interface-surface (BIS) having a body-side (BS) and a gun-side (GS). A rigid mold is interfaced with the BIS. In another embodiment, the BIS may include a gun-lock region. A clip may be interfaced with the rigid mold. Other embodiments include methods of making and using a holster.
US09982960B2 Bullpup crossbow
In some embodiments, a crossbow comprises a stock and a bow portion comprising at least one limb and a string. In some embodiments, an accessory comprises a grip and a stirrup.
US09982959B2 Monolithic noise suppression device for firearm
A noise suppression device for use with a firearm includes a body including an outermost external surface of the noise suppression device and an internal portion and a core seamlessly connected to the internal portion of the body, wherein the noise suppression includes no joints, no seams, or any formerly separate pieces within the body or the core, and the core includes a structure of a plurality of holes defined by a framework of a connecting structure that connects to the internal portion of the body. Optionally, the core can include one or more baffles or one or more chambers.
US09982958B1 Jig for manufacturing of firearm lower receiver
An improved jig for manufacturing a firearm lower receiver is comprised of a power tool mount; an adapter; a guide plate with plate screws; a rear support with mounting screws; a front support; and at least one of a carriages with at least one locating pin. A guide plate is disposed below the top surface of a lower receiver in conjunction with an adapter. The jig is a universal fitment and includes a bearing to support a rotary tool and at least one guiding feature can be used to facilitate in the guidance of the rotary tool without placing the rotary tool in direct contact with any of the guidance features. A removable locating pin is situated a long the front and rear takedown pin holes of a firearm receiver that is not threaded and is provided with at least one of a pull, string or other handle.
US09982953B2 Electric vehicle battery pack spacer
An example battery pack spacer includes a base and at least one rib extending laterally from the base. The rib is configured to turn flow of a coolant through a battery pack.
US09982952B2 Heat exchanger header
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger header, wherein said header includes a lower portion (3) having two longitudinal edges (7), an upper portion (4) forming a cover, and at least one flange (9, 10, 30). According to the invention, said flange (9, 10, 30) has a profile (11, 17, 37) that enables the longitudinal edges (7) of the header, which are provided at least locally folded, to be received at the flanks (12, 19, 38) thereof, so as to simultaneously crimp the flange (9, 10, 30) onto said cover (4) and retain the cover (4) on said lower portion (3).
US09982951B2 Main heat exchanger and a process for cooling a tube side stream
A process for cooling a tube side stream in a main heat exchanger is described. The process comprises: a) supplying a first mass flow of a tube side stream to a first zone of individual tubes in the tube bundle; b) supplying a second mass flow of the tube side stream to a second zone of individual tubes in the tube bundle, the second zone being offset from the first zone; c) supplying a refrigerant stream on the shell side for cooling the first and second mass flows; d) removing the evaporated refrigerant stream from the warm end of the main heat exchanger; and, e) adjusting the first mass flow of the tube side stream relative to the second mass flow of the tube side stream to maximise the temperature of the removed evaporated refrigerant stream.
US09982946B2 Optical monitoring system for observing internal conditions in the tuyere zone of a blast furnace
The invention relates to an optical monitoring system (26) for monitoring operating conditions in a tuyere zone of a blast furnace. This system comprises a light deflecting device (40) with a peep sight (28) arranged in a first face (46) of the light deflecting device (40) and an optical sensor (30) arranged in a second face (48) of the light deflecting device (40). A light deflector (41) is arranged within the light deflecting device (40) for directing incident light from the tuyere zone towards the peep sight (28) and towards the optical sensor (30). The light deflecting device (40) comprises a housing (56) with a spherical body (60) rotatably arranged therein. The spherical body (60) comprises three passages: a first passage (62) which is, when the light deflecting device (40) is connected to the rear portion of the blowpipe (18), facing the tuyere for allowing incident light from the tuyere zone to enter the spherical body (60); a second passage (70) facing the peep sight (28); a third passage (72) facing the optical sensor (30). The first, second and third passages (62, 68, 72) are configured so as to meet each other within the spherical body (60). The light deflector (41) is arranged within the spherical body (60) at the intersection of the first, second and third passages (62, 68, 72). Furthermore, the light deflecting device (40) comprises an opening (76) in a third face (50) of the housing (56) for accessing the spherical body (60) for allowing rotation of the spherical body (60) within the housing (56). The spherical body (60) comprises a socket (78) facing the opening (76) in the third face (50). The opening (76) is a guiding slot (86) whose width is substantially the same as a diameter of the socket (78).
US09982945B2 Molten metal transfer vessel and method of construction
The invention relates to systems for transferring molten metal from one structure to another. Aspects of the invention include a transfer chamber constructed inside of or next to a vessel used to retain molten metal. The transfer chamber is in fluid communication with the vessel so molten metal from the vessel can enter the transfer chamber. A powered device, which may be inside of the transfer chamber, moves molten metal upward and out of the transfer chamber and preferably into a structure outside of the vessel, such as another vessel or a launder.
US09982944B2 Pivot mechanism for furnace head
In a dental furnace or dental press furnace comprising a furnace base (14) which is provided with a supporting surface for at least one dental restoration part, a furnace head (12) is provided which is connected to the furnace base (14) via a joint device (16) attached to the furnace base (14) and which is pivotable relative to the furnace base (14) via said device. Pivoting takes place about a pivot axis (40) which extends substantially parallel to the supporting surface, as well as a motor (42) which acts on the joint device (16) for the pivotable movement of the furnace head (12). The pivot axis (40) extends outside of the furnace head (12) and outside of the joint device (16).
US09982938B2 Refrigerator and method for controlling the same
A method for controlling a refrigerator may comprise controlling at least one of a temperature and humidity of at least one storage area of the refrigerator based on first storage information, receiving, from a second refrigerator different from the refrigerator, second storage information of the second refrigerator, and controlling at least one of the temperature and the humidity of the at least one storage area of the refrigerator based on the received second storage information.
US09982932B2 Refrigeration appliance with an ice container
A refrigeration appliance has a refrigerator compartment container and an ice container for providing ice. The refrigerator compartment container delimits a refrigerator compartment. A receiving niche for receiving the ice container is formed in an exterior of the refrigerator compartment container. The receiving niche has an opening to the refrigerator compartment, wherein an opening of the ice container and the opening of the receiving niche are aligned flush with one another. The ice container has a container outer wall, a container inner wall and a thermal insulation, which is arranged between the container inner wall and the container outer wall.
US09982931B2 Systems and methods for controlling refrigeration cycles of sorption reactors based on recuperation time
A control system is used for controlling the equalization of pressure between absorbing and desorbing reactors. In a first reaction cycle in a desorbing reactor a gaseous reactant is desorbed from a solid sorbent and concurrently in an absorbing reactor the gaseous reactant is absorbed on a solid sorbent. In a second reaction cycle, absorption and desorption are reversed in the reactors and at least a portion of the gaseous reactant desorbed from in the desorbing reactor is transferred to the absorbing reactor in an equalization process under computer control. The computer control may detect the demand on the system and adjust the amount of time for the equalization process to increase the efficiency of the system.
US09982927B2 Refrigerator and method of controlling the same
Provided are a refrigerator and a method of controlling the refrigerator. The method includes driving a refrigerating cycle that includes a first evaporator and a second evaporator by activating a compressor and simultaneously supplying cold air to a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment by supplying refrigerant to the first and second evaporators according to the driving of the refrigerating cycle. The method may further include preventing the refrigerant from being introduced into the second evaporator by more than a first prescribed amount by increasing, for a first prescribed amount of time, a flow rate of the refrigerant supplied to the first evaporator; and preventing the refrigerant from being introduced into the first evaporator by more than a second prescribed amount by increasing, for a second prescribed amount of time, a flow rate of the refrigerant supplied to the second evaporator.
US09982926B2 Cooling system and refrigerator including a cooling system
A cooling system and a refrigerator including a cooling system are provided. The cooling system may include a linear compressor including a reciprocating piston and a cylinder that accommodates the piston and having an outer circumferential surface, into which a refrigerant may be introduced, a refrigerant filter device provided in the linear compressor to filter the refrigerant introduced into one or more gas inflow of the cylinder, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the linear compressor, and a dryer that removes foreign substances or oil from the refrigerant condensed in the condenser. The dryer may include a dryer body including a refrigerant inflow, through which the refrigerant condensed in the condenser may be introduced, and a refrigerant discharge, through which the refrigerant may be discharged, and an adsorption filter accommodated in the dryer body to filter the oil in the refrigerant introduced through the refrigerant inflow.
US09982924B2 Ejector and heat pump apparatus
An ejector includes an atomization mechanism that is disposed at an end of a first nozzle and that atomizes a working fluid in a liquid phase while maintaining the liquid phase. The atomization mechanism includes an orifice and a collision plate. When the collision plate is orthographically projected onto a projection plane, in a projection of the collision plate, at least one point on a contour of the collision surface is disposed closer to a reference point than a second reference line, which is a line including the collision end point and perpendicular to the first reference line.
US09982919B2 Cooling system with low temperature load
A system includes a flash tank, a load, a first compressor, a second compressor, and a liquid injection line. The flash tank stores a refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant from the flash tank to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load. The second compressor compresses the refrigerant from the first compressor. The liquid injection line is coupled to the flash tank and to the second compressor and sends a liquid refrigerant from the flash tank to mix with the refrigerant from the first compressor before the refrigerant from the first compressor is received by the second compressor.
US09982917B2 Solar racking system adapted for suspended ballasting
A solar rack for supporting a solar panel, said solar rack including a pair of support frames, each support frame including a front member, a bottom member, and a rear member, wherein the front member, the bottom member, and the rear member cooperate to form a triangularly shaped structure; and a trough including two ends and a base, each end of the trough is configured to be attached to a portion of each of the support frames to form a support upon which the solar panel is disposed, the support having bottom surfaces, wherein the base of the trough is configured to be offset with respect to the bottom surfaces of the support.
US09982916B2 Device for the concentration of solar radiation, comprising an inflatable concentrator cushion
The invention relates to a device for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber, comprising an inflatable concentrator cushion, which comprises a cover film element comprising a light-permeable entry window for coupling in solar radiation and a reflector film, which sub-divides the concentrator cushion into at least two hollow spaces, for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber, comprising a pivoting apparatus, by means of which the concentrator cushion can be pivoted, in particular about its longitudinal axis, and comprising a retaining apparatus secured (mounted) to the pivoting apparatus for retaining the concentrator cushion, which retaining apparatus comprising an upper longitudinal member extending in the longitudinal direction of the concentrator cushion, suspending the absorber, wherein the upper longitudinal member is arranged on a substantially air-tight closed upper passage opening of the concentrator cushion.
US09982913B2 Hot air blower
A hot air blower, according to the present invention, which can have the advantage of allowing the inside of a combustion body assembly (40) to be easily opened during a failure since the hot air blower has a structure for maintaining a coupled state when a service cover (80) is closed, and for rotating to an upper side only when the service cover (80) is opened.
US09982908B2 Air conditioner
According to one embodiment, a ceiling-embedded air conditioner includes a main body incorporating a heat exchanger, a decorative panel attached to a lower edge of the main body and including a discharge port discharging air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger to a room, and a drain pan including a thermal insulating member and a synthetic resin member coating the thermal insulating member. The drain pan includes a recess for receiving drain water produced in the heat exchanger, a communication port provided on a periphery of the recess and communicating with the discharge port of the decorative panel, and a wall standing between the periphery of the recess and the communication port. The wall is composed of the synthetic resin member.
US09982903B1 HVAC system with predictive free cooling control based on the cost of transitioning into a free cooling state
A heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system for a building includes, a chiller, a heat exchanger separate from the chiller, and a controller. The chiller is configured to provide mechanical cooling for a cooling load in the building when the HVAC system operates in a mechanical cooling state. The heat exchanger is configured to provide free cooling for the cooling load in the building when the HVAC system operates in a free cooling state. The controller is configured to predict outside air temperature and transition the HVAC system from operating in the mechanical cooling state to operating in the free cooling state in response to a determination that the predicted outside air temperature will be less than the free cooling temperature threshold for at least the minimum free cooling time.
US09982899B2 Displacement-induction neutral wall air terminal unit
An induction-displacement neutral wall air terminal unit includes a housing defining a supply airflow path, a connected return airflow path, and a heating airflow path separated from the supply and return airflow paths by at least one interior wall. The unit also includes a plurality of induction-type nozzles located within the supply airflow path, that are deliver a ventilation air flow stream into the supply air flow path. The nozzles induce a return air flow stream through the return air flow path that mixes with the ventilation air flow stream to form a supply air flow stream delivered to a supply air outlet. A heating element is disposed within the heating airflow path to heat air within the heating air flow path. A plurality of fans may be placed within the heating airflow path to increase the overall heating capacity of the unit.
US09982894B1 Electronic control assembly for an appliance
An electronic control assembly for an appliance can include features that provide for ergonomic assembly of the electronic control assembly, as well as a sturdy fit and feel when the electronic control assembly is fully assembled. Electronic control assembly can include features that reduce the number of fasteners, such as e.g., screws, required to assemble electronic control assembly.
US09982893B2 Combustor arrangement including flow control vanes
A combustor assembly (17) including guide vanes (44) located between an inner cylinder (24) and a flow sleeve (25). Each guide vane (44) includes a circumferentially angled flow directing portion (60) adjacent to a leading edge (46). The leading edge (46) of at least one guide vane (44) can be located radially inward along the longitudinal axis (54) relative to the leading edge (46) of at least one other of the guide vanes (44). The length of the guide vanes (44) may vary, and the circumferential spacing between a first pair of the guide vanes (44) can be different from a spacing between a second pair of the guide vanes (44).
US09982884B2 Methods of melting feedstock using a submerged combustion melter
Methods of maximizing mixing and melting in a submerged combustion melter (SCM) are described. One method includes melting an inorganic feedstock in an SCM using an arrangement of two or more submerged combustion (SC) burners, the SCM having a length (L) and a width (W), a centerline (C), a north side (N) and a south side (S), and operating the arrangement of SC burners such that a progressively higher percentage of a total combustion flow from the SC burners occurs from SC burners at progressively downstream positions in the SCM. Other methods include operating the N and S SC burners with more combustion flow than the central burners. Other methods include strategic placement of fuel lean SC burners and fuel rich SC burners.
US09982883B2 Vaporization system
The present invention makes it possible to reduce the size of a vaporization system by eliminating the need for conduits in the vaporization system, without it being necessary to form a flow path in order for a supply rate controller to be mounted inside a vaporizer, and is formed by a vaporizer that vaporizes a liquid material; a supply rate controller that controls a supply rate of the liquid material to the vaporizer; and a manifold block inside which an internal flow path is formed, and that has a device mounting surface on which both the vaporizer and the supply rate controller are mounted, wherein, as a result of the vaporizer and the supply rate controller being mounted on the device mounting surface, they are connected together via the flow path.
US09982882B2 Boiler wall protection block, boiler wall protection element, assembly of such element and a ferrule, a boiler wall provided with such assembly, method for furnishing a boiler inner wall and a boiler wall protection sub-block
A boiler tube protection block, comprising an essentially parallellogram shaped body (11), an annular cut-out at all four corners, with the cutting point of two adjacent sides as a center. An assembly of a boiler protection block and a ferrule (21) with a radius essentially corresponding to the central annular hole of the block. A boiler, and a method for furnishing a boiler inner wall, comprising applying protection blocks against the wall, and arranging ferrules through at least the annular cut-outs.
US09982880B2 Table lamp with emergency escape function
A table lamp with emergency escape function is provided to include a holder having a depositing part for putting a high temperature safety glove and a space part for depositing a printed circuit board; an arm fixedly deposited on the holder; a frame mounted onto the arm; a lighting module held on the arm and fixed by the frame; and a smoke lampshade having an opening and covering onto the frame to shade light source of the lighting module. User may quickly and conveniently catch the smoke lampshade, the high temperature safety glove, and utilize the lighting module as a lighting device. The printed circuit board is equipped with a sensing module and a blue tooth device, the sensing module detects surrounding environment where the table lamp is putted, and the blue tooth device transmits unusual signal detected by the sensing module to an outside signal receiving device.
US09982879B2 LED lighting apparatus having a plurality of light emitting module sections interlocked in a circular fashion
The present disclosure is directed to a light emitting diode (LED) light module. In one embodiment, the LED light module includes a plurality of light sections and a plurality of open sections formed by a plurality of heat sink fins between the plurality of light sections, wherein each one of the plurality of light sections is adjacent to two different light sections of the plurality of light sections.
US09982868B2 Phosphor-containing member and light emitting device containing thereof
A phosphor-containing member includes a base portion made of a diffuse reflective ceramic, and a plurality of phosphor portions each containing a phosphor and made of a ceramic. The plurality of phosphor portions are disposed directly on an upper surface of the base portion and are spaced apart from each other. A light emitting device includes the phosphor-containing member and a light source that is spaced apart from the phosphor-containing member and configured to irradiate light for exciting the phosphors on an upper surface of each of the phosphor portions.
US09982863B2 Light distance-adjustable vehicle lamp device
The instant disclosure illustrates a light distance-adjustable vehicle lamp including a lens unit, a light emitting group and a datum axis. The lens unit includes a first focus, a second focus, a lens focus and an optical axis. The light emitting group includes a first light emitting unit and a second light emitting unit. The first light emitting unit includes a first light source center, a first axis and a first light emitting surface, the first light emitting unit corresponds to the first focus of the lens unit. The second light emitting unit includes a second light source center, a second axis and a second light emitting focus. The datum axis passes through the lens focus and the second light emitting unit.
US09982862B2 Light guiding element and light module
Light guiding elements having a light guiding section extending between a light entrance surface for coupling in light and a light exit surface for coupling out light from the light guiding element through the light exit surface. The light exit surface extends along an exit surface longitudinal direction. The light guiding section has at least a first and a second lateral surface extending from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface such that light can be guided by total internal reflection from the light entrance surface to the light exit surface. The form of the light entrance surface differs from that of the light exit surface. The light guiding section has a roof section extending toward the light exit surface in which the first and the second lateral surfaces taper toward each other with respect to the exit surface longitudinal direction.
US09982858B2 Modular headlamp assembly having a high beam module
A modular headlamp assembly includes a low beam headlamp module, a high beam headlamp module, and front turn/parking lamp module. The low beam headlamp module and the high beam headlamp module are supported by a reflector carrier. Each of the high and low beam headlamp modules includes a heat sink and mounting assembly with a heat sink portion bisecting a reflector member. The reflector carrier is adjustably fastened to a housing to allow for adjustment of the high and low beam headlamp modules within the modular headlamp assembly.
US09982857B2 Vehicle lights including moisture management apparatuses
A light with improved moisture control for a vehicle. The light has a housing and a lens, the housing and the lens forming a light interior. The light also includes a lamp that is at least partially enclosed within the light interior. A vent duct is included and extends through the housing from the light interior to an exterior of the light. An anti-humidity fan is present within the vent duct and is operable to move moisture from the light interior to the exterior of the light and thereby prevent fogging of the light lens.
US09982852B2 Light slide system and method
A light installation system and method is described. The system employs a channel, at least one set of lights, at least one mount, and a wire housing tube. The at least one set of lights are configured to fit partially within the wire housing tube, and extend out of the wire housing tube via a series of exit holes arranged equidistant from one another on the bottom of each wire housing tube. Each of the wire housing tubes is configured to be placed in carefully spaced segments within the channel(s). The channel is configured to be mounted, via the at least one mount, to the gutter or soffit portion of a building structure. The wire housing tube is configured to rapidly and easily slide into the channel when decorating, and be removed from the channel quickly when taking down the at least one set of lights.
US09982836B2 User terminal clamp
A user-terminal clamp that receives a user terminal of a satellite communications system, wherein the clamp clamps to a roof of a structure in either of two orthogonal orientations. The clamp includes a frame having a pair of movable clamping members that are actuated by a handle. The frame includes slots or channels that receive ribs that are disposed on the underside of the user terminal.
US09982835B2 Roller brush mounting assembly
A mounting assembly 10 for mounting a roller brush 12 onto an operating apparatus includes a mounting structure 14 configured to be mountable on the operating apparatus. The mounting structure has a through hole for receiving an idle shaft 16 that is sized to be engageable within a blind hole 42 formed in the adjacent end hub 32 of the brush 12. The idle shaft 16 is resiliently loaded in the direction toward the brush hub 12 by a loader assembly 18 which includes a compression spring 16 acting against retaining ring 48 engaged with the idle shaft 16.
US09982834B2 Methods and apparatus for a suspension system
Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for a space-saving suspension system. In various embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a fine suspension device, a coarse suspension device, and a mechanical assembly. In various embodiments, the fine suspension device is arranged at an angle greater than zero degrees from the z-axis. In various embodiments, the mechanical assembly is coupled to the fine suspension device and a payload, such that when a force is exerted on the mechanical assembly by the payload, an applied force is transmitted to the fine suspension device.
US09982822B2 As-molded plastic unit cell structures
Methods and apparatus are described for producing welded assemblies of plastic parts for use in fluid flow applications. A unit cell structure is disclosed for use in an assembly. One embodiment is an as-molded plastic unit cell structure for use in fabricating welded fluid flow assemblies, the cell structure comprising a hollow tubular body portion having opposed first and second axial ports, a first hollow tubular portion extending axially from a first end of the tubular body portion and defining the first axial port, the first hollow tubular portion having a tube or pipe end configured for welding to another plastic part in a fabrication process for an assembly, and wherein the first tubular portion has a length in a range of 1 mm to 40 mm.
US09982818B2 Shape memory alloy sealing ring and assembly
A shape memory alloy (SMA) sealing ring is deformed to provide a shape between a radially inner sealing portion and radially outer sealing portion thereof which has at least one peak and at least one trough. When the shape memory behavior of the SMA is activated, this shape provides a sealing connection between a first and second member.
US09982813B2 Swage fitting
A swage fitting for connection of tubes by axial swaging includes a fitting body having a generally cylindrical body and an internal axial bore. A swage end of the fitting body includes a tapered inner surface that compresses a tapered outer surface of a sleeve into the tube when the fitting body is swaged to the sleeve and the tube. An adapter end of the fitting body may be fastened by a permanent or separable connection to another part.
US09982812B2 Multilayer flexible tube and methods for making same
A multilayer flexible tube includes an inner layer including a melt processable fluoropolymer, wherein the fluoropolymer includes a copolymer of a poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and a hexafluoropropylene (HFP); and an outer layer including a melt processable polymer having a shore hardness less than a shore hardness of the inner layer. Further provided is a method of making the multilayer flexible tube.
US09982811B2 Flexible chimney hose liner
A flexible hose liner is provided having a cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis from as first end to a second end. First and second sleeves form the cylindrical body by separate continuous ribbons having a plurality of convolutions formed in a helical pattern along the cylindrical body from the first end to the second end. A ring is formed in each revolution about the longitudinal axis of the continuous ribbon of the first and second sleeves. A plurality of rings form the cylindrical body, each ring has a first convolution and an ending convolution such that a mechanical connection is formed between the ending convolution of a preceding ring and the first convolution of a succeeding ring. The mechanical connection of the between the rings of the first sleeve being different from the mechanical connection of the rings of the second sleeve.
US09982809B2 Composite tubing and method for making and using same
A composite tube includes an inner layer including a silicone polymer, wherein the inner layer has a surface that defines a central lumen of the composite tube; an adhesive layer adjacent to the inner layer, wherein the adhesive layer includes an adhesive silicone material including a silicone polymer and an adhesion promoter, and an outer layer adjacent to the adhesive layer, wherein the outer layer includes a thermoplastic polymer having a functional group that forms a chemical bond with the adhesion promoter of the adhesive silicone material.
US09982805B2 Device for passing pipes or cables through an opening in a building
The invention relates to a device for passing pipes or cables through an opening in a building. Said device comprises a sleeve-like housing that has an axial passage channel that is open at its opposite ends; bristles that are mounted on the walls of the passage channel in such a way that they are opposite each other and that are extended inwards in such a way that they mesh with one another in order to close the passage channel; and flexible strips of material that are mounted in the passage channel and that are coated with an intumescent material.
US09982792B2 Tube coupling device having valve member
A tube coupling device having a check valve contains: a coupling body and a valve assembly. The coupling body includes a tubular member and a circular connecting seat, the tubular member is hollow to flow water, and the coupling body also includes an isolation sleeve for covering on an inner wall of the tubular member, such that the isolation sleeve separates the water from the tubular member, and the isolation sleeve has a flow channel for flowing the water. The locking set is disposed between the tubular member and the isolation sleeve and includes a protruded rib extending inwardly around the tubular member and retained between the isolation sleeve and the tubular member. The locking set also includes a retaining groove formed on the isolation sleeve and retaining with the protruded rib, and the retaining groove engages with the protruded rib and covers three sides of the protruded rib.
US09982786B2 Valve with adjustable hard stop
Embodiments of valves having adjustable hard stops and methods of use thereof are provided herein. The adjustable valve includes a valve body including an inlet and an outlet; a valve member that is moveable between a fully closed position and a fully open position to selectively allow or prevent flow from the inlet to the outlet; and an adjustable hard stop to limit the fully open position of the valve to an adjusted fully open position.
US09982776B2 Method for protecting clutch for dual clutch transmission
A method for protecting a clutch for a Dual Clutch Transmission may include an input step of receiving an input of a temperature of a clutch, and a gear shift pattern changing step of changing a preset gear shift pattern and operating to perform gear shift in a vehicle speed region that secedes from a vehicle speed of the preset gear shift pattern when the temperature of the clutch is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature.
US09982774B1 Hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission
A hydraulic control system for a motor vehicle transmission includes a pressure regulation subsystem and a manual valve assembly in fluid communication with the pressure regulation subsystem. The manual valve assembly is moveable between at least park, neutral, drive, and reverse positions. A default disable valve assembly is in fluid communication with the manual valve assembly, a default disable solenoid valve assembly, and a default select valve assembly. A one-way valve may be provided to permit hydraulic fluid to flow to a second-priority hydraulic circuit when in a default mode of operation. A combined main regulation and priority valve may be provided to pressurize line pressure as a first priority, pressurize the second-priority hydraulic circuit as a second priority, and to feed excess pressure to a decrease-pressure circuit as a third priority.
US09982771B2 Lightweight and compliant journal pin
An epicyclic gear system is provided. The gear system may comprise an annular gear centered about an axis, a star gear radially inward from the annular gear, a journal pin inside the star gear and comprising an internal bore with a recessed wall, and a sun gear radially inward from the star gear. A journal pin is also provided. The journal pin may include an internal bore formed along an axis of rotation of the journal pin, and a recessed wall of the internal bore with a diameter greater than the diameter of the internal bore.
US09982761B2 Tensioner with improved damping
In an aspect, a tensioner for tensioning an endless drive member on an engine, is provided, comprising a base that mounts to the engine, a tensioner arm that is pivotally connected to the base for pivotal movement about a tensioner arm axis, a pulley rotatably mounted to the tensioner arm for rotation about a pulley axis that is spaced from the tensioner arm axis, a tensioner spring and a damping member. The tensioner spring is positioned to urge the tensioner arm into an endless drive member. The spring has a first helical end and a second helical end. The first helical end is positioned to transfer force with a first spring end force transfer surface on the base and the second helical end is positioned to transfer force with a second spring end force transfer surface on the tensioner arm. The damping member is positioned in a surrounding relationship with the tensioner spring. The damping member includes a spring force adjustment member having a first end face and a second end face spaced from the first end face by a selected angular spacing. The damping member includes a first portion that contains the spring force adjustment member and that is generally rigid, and at least one second portion that is adjacent the first member and that is flexibly joined to the first member. The spring force adjustment member is positioned between one of the spring ends and one of the spring end force transfer surfaces on one of the base and the tensioner arm. The damping member is frictionally engaged with the other of the base and the tensioner arm during pivotal movement of the tensioner arm relative to the base.
US09982758B2 Transmission assembly for an aircraft and a helicopter
A transmission assembly for an aircraft, and a helicopter including such an assembly for controlling independently the speed of rotation of an engine and of a torque receiver.According to the invention, the assembly comprises a first inlet shaft (10a) configured to receive torque from a first engine (10), an outlet shaft (60a) configured to transmit torque to a torque receiver (60), a first transmission member (20) having at least two degrees of freedom and comprising first, second, and third movable portions, a first reversible electrical regulator machine (30), and a first reversible electrical balancing machine (40), wherein the inlet shaft (10a) is coupled to the first movable portion, the outlet shaft (60a) is coupled to the second movable portion, the first electrical regulator machine (30) is coupled to the third movable portion, and the first electrical balancing machine (40) is coupled in series with the inlet shaft or the outlet shaft (60a).
US09982753B1 Housing-rotatable planetary gear reducer for stand mixer
A housing-rotatable planetary gear reducer for stand mixer includes an immovable second planetary carrier and a rotatable second ring gear fixedly locked to a housing of the planetary gear reducer. Power from a motor is transmitted to the rotatable second ring gear and output via the housing, to which a mixer shaft is connected. The housing of the housing-rotatable planetary gear reducer is fully sealed and oil-leakproof, provided a lubricant oil level inside the planetary gear reducer is not higher than a normal oil level. Further, the housing-rotatable planetary gear reducer includes two tapered roller bearings arranged at a highest and a lowest position on the housing to provide two sufficiently spaced and stable support points capable of bearing axial and radial forces from the rotating mixer shaft. Therefore, lengthened support base and coupling can be omitted to enable reduced manufacturing cost, weight and volume of the planetary gear reducer.
US09982746B2 Two-part hub for a torsional vibration damper and method of making same
Two-part hubs for torsional vibration dampers are disclosed that have a main body made of a softer material than a seal nose and do not require a welded joint to join them together. The main body has a plate defining a front face and a back face, an annular core extending axially outward from the back face of the plate and defining an innermost, outer radial surface and a first bore through the main body, and an outermost, radial, elastomer-receiving surface spaced apart from the innermost outer radial surface by the plate. The seal nose is mated to the innermost, outer radial surface of the annular core and mechanically engaged with the main body for rotation together. Torsional vibration dampers that include the two-part hubs are also disclosed, as well as a front end accessory drive including the same, and methods of manufacturing the two-part hubs.
US09982740B2 Shock absorber
A shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder along a cylinder wall, the piston dividing the cylinder in a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber, which are filled with fluid. The shock absorber also includes cylinder and piston attachments for attachment to parts of a vehicle, the piston attachment and cylinder attachment moving towards one another in an inward movement and away from one another in an outward movement. Primary and auxiliary flow and valve arrangements allow fluid flow in between the first and second cylinder chambers to provide primary and auxiliary damping behavior of the shock absorber, respectively. The auxiliary flow and valve arrangement includes a first auxiliary flow and valve arrangement providing on outward movement a damping behavior showing a frequency dependency, and a second auxiliary flow and valve arrangement providing on inward movement a damping behavior showing a linear dependency.
US09982739B2 Shock absorber
A shock absorber includes a cylinder; a piston movable therein and dividing the cylinder in first and second cylinder chambers; a cylinder attachment for attachment to a first part of a vehicle and connected to the cylinder; and a piston attachment for attachment to a second part of a vehicle and connected to the piston. The piston attachment and cylinder attachment move towards one another on an inward movement and away from one another on an outward movement. The piston includes a first inward channel; a first inward valve to open the first inward channel on inward movement; a first outward channel; a first outward valve to open the first outward channel on outward movement; a second inward channel; a second inward valve to open the second inward channel on inward movement; a second outward channel; and a second outward valve to open the second outward channel on outward movement.
US09982738B2 Variable load control system in a hydraulic device
A hydraulic device includes a tubular housing, inside of which a rod is jointly attached to a piston separating upper and lower areas which hold hydraulic fluid so that, as the piston and rod move, the piston and the rod move together relatively and axially inside the tubular housing, displacing the hydraulic fluid inside the tubular housing, flowing from one of the upper and lower areas to the other of the upper and lower areas, and thus changing the respective volumes inside the upper and lower areas. The hydraulic device further includes a modular mechanism located inside the lower area that regulates shock absorption at a maximum level of compression of the hydraulic device, as well as in other relative positions.
US09982737B2 Device for rotary wing aircraft capable of providing information relative to the level of fatigue-related damage of said device
A device configured for insertion between two parts of a rotary wing aircraft that are likely to undergo a repeated relative movement. The device includes at least two frame elements intended to be mounted on at least one of the two parts of the aircraft, and at least one layer of elastomer positioned between the two frame elements, the at least one layer defined by a first surface belonging to the inner volume of the device, a second surface also belonging to the inner volume of the device, and an outer surface not belonging to the inner volume of the device. The inner volume of the device includes at least two independent pouches each positioned at a predetermined distance from the outer surface, each pouch being filled with a product capable of flowing outside its pouch when a crack has spread from said outer surface toward the pouch in question.
US09982735B2 Supplementary spring with axially extending contour elements
A spring element with a basic geometry which is concentric along the spring axis, including at least one elastomer, the basic geometry of which is concentric about the spring axis and including constrictions and/or widenings that are axially symmetrical along the spring axis.
US09982734B2 Composite coil spring
A composite coil spring includes a coil body that has a core and fiber layers impregnated with a polymer material. The fiber layers are wound around the core. The fiber layers extend around the coiled axis at oblique fiber angles. Each of the fiber layers includes a number of fibers that is a product of a common base number of fibers multiplied by a positive non-zero integer from a set of positive non-zero integers from 1 to 20. The positive non-zero integer of at least one of the fiber layers is different from the positive non-zero integer of at least one other of the fiber layers. At least one of the fibers layers is glass fibers and another of the fiber layers is carbon fibers, and each of an innermost fiber layer and an outmost fiber layer of the fiber layers is independently selected from glass fibers and carbon fibers.
US09982733B2 Force-limiting and damping device
A force-limiting and damping device has a body, a tapping element, and an elastic element. The body has a connecting segment and a holding segment. The connecting segment is formed on an end of the body and has a mounting hole. The holding segment is formed on the body opposite the connecting segment. The tapping element is connected to the body to move relative to the connecting segment. The elastic element is mounted between the tapping element and the connecting segment to abut against the tapping element and to enable the tapping element to move relative to the connecting segment. The structural relationship between the connecting segment, the tapping element, and the elastic element may provide a delayed rebound and damping effect to the reaction force, and the applied force is continuously transferred to a tapping object. This may reduce noise and the loss of energy.
US09982729B2 Brake pad
A brake pad includes a backing plate that defines a first plane. A brake lining is attached to the backing plate, and has a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The first layer includes a first material, a first side fixed to the brake lining attachment surface and a second side opposite the first side. The second side defines a second plane non-parallel to the first plane. The second layer includes a second material, a first side and a second side. The first side of the second layer extends along the second side of the first layer and along the second plane. The second material is different from the first material. The third layer includes the first material, overlays and attaches to the second side of the second layer, and has a friction surface that is parallel to the first plane.
US09982726B2 One-way clutch device
Means for restricting the axial displacement of a clutch retainer (11a) with respect to a metal inner ring (3a) is configured so that the amount of processing of the inner ring (3a) is reduced. Semispherical concave engaging sections (22) are formed in the cam surface (6) of the inner ring (3a), and semispherical convex engaging sections (23) are formed on the inner-circumferential surface of a rim section (12b) of the clutch retainer (11a). The means for restricting the axial displacement of a clutch retainer (11a) with respect to a metal inner ring (3a) is achieved by engagement between the concave engaging sections (22) and the convex engaging sections (23) when the clutch retainer (11a) is assembled on the outer-diameter side of the cam surface (6).
US09982725B2 Electromagnetic clutch
An inner peripheral surface of an outer cylindrical tubular portion and an outer peripheral surface of an inner cylindrical tubular portion of a rotor are respectively shaped into a stepped form. A radial distance between the outer cylindrical tubular portion and the inner cylindrical tubular portion at a counter-armature side location is larger than that of an armature side location in the rotor. An outer peripheral surface of an outer cylindrical tubular portion and an inner peripheral surface of an inner cylindrical tubular portion of a stator are respectively shaped into a stepped form. A radial distance between the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical tubular portion and the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical tubular portion at the counter-armature side location is larger than that of the armature side location in the stator.
US09982722B2 Torque transfer in laterally engaging drive couplers exhibiting axial misalignment with driven couplers
The present invention relates to transferring torque between a first unit, which is typically a mobile machine or a robot, and a second unit, which is typically a fixed or stationary machine. The units are arranged such that a drive coupler of the first unit designed for delivering torque about a drive axis can engage the driven coupler, which belongs to the second unit and has a driven axis, along an engagement direction that is nearly perpendicular to the direction of the driven axis. A lateral displacement mechanism in provided is the first unit to achieve a first-order coaxial alignment between the drive and driven axes. Additional measures such as compliance mechanisms are provided for improving engagement, coupling and reducing the level of axial misalignment in the apparatus and methods of the invention.
US09982718B2 Tapered roller bearing
A tapered roller bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, tapered rollers, a cage, and a lubricant holding member. The cage is formed of resin. Since the cage is formed of resin, the tapered roller bearing can be downsized with contact between the cage and the lubricant holding member avoided.
US09982717B2 Bearing structure
An outer-ring-equivalent component having an annular raceway surface on which rolling elements roll is disposed on an outer circumference of a bearing. The bearing is, for example, a retainer-equipped roller. Between the bearing and a fixed member located apart from the bearing in an axial direction, a thrust washer is interposed so as to be movable in the axial direction. A gap forming device is provided which constantly forms a gap between the thrust washer and the outer-ring-equivalent component. For example, as the gap forming device, an axial width of the bearing is made larger than an axial width of the outer-ring-equivalent component.
US09982711B1 Adjustable ball joint
An adjustable ball joint with a locking member and a retaining cap. The locking member is rotationally fixed relative to the housing, and the retaining cap and locking member and configured to be rotationally fixed relative to each other. The retaining cap may include a protrusion that engages a detent in the housing that prevents rotation of the locking member. The housing may include multiple detents to allow for the locking member to have multiple configurations. Threaded fasteners may secure the locking member to the retaining cap.
US09982706B2 Method of manufacturing light rotor shaft for eco-friendly vehicles
A method of manufacturing a light rotor shaft for eco-friendly vehicles is provided which includes cutting a pipe material in a specified length to provide a pipe blank and forming the pipe blank to provide a first form having the first segment on a first side. The method further includes, forming a second form having the second segment by inserting and rotating a first side of a mandrel into the first side of the first form and concurrently hammer-forging the second side of the first form to form the second segment. The rotor shaft includes a third segment formed by inserting and rotating the second side of the mandrel into the first side of the second form to form the third segment.
US09982692B2 Air cylinder apparatus equipped with fall prevention mechanism, and fall prevention mechanism for air cylinder apparatus
An air cylinder apparatus equipped with a fall prevention mechanism, wherein the air cylinder apparatus includes a cylinder body and a piston rod which advances and retreats by supplying and discharging pressurized air to and from the cylinder body, and wherein the fall prevention mechanism includes a fixed member which is immovable with respect to the cylinder body; a plurality of brake members which are supported by the fixed member to be capable of coming into and out of contact with the fixed member; a biasing member which presses the plurality of brake members against the piston rod to lock the piston rod to the fixed member; and a lock-release air mechanism which holds, against a biasing force of the biasing member, the brake members in a non-contact position with the piston rod, the lock-release air mechanism operating by a pressurized air source that is common with that of the air cylinder apparatus.
US09982690B2 Digital hydraulic transformer and method for recovering energy and leveling hydraulic system loads
A hydraulic system that includes a rotating group with a plurality of fluid chambers and a plurality of valve sets that valve a corresponding one of the fluid chambers is disclosed. The hydraulic system may function as a hydraulic transformer. The hydraulic system may transfer energy between a high pressure fluid supply (e.g., from a pump), an accumulator, a hydraulic component (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic motor, and/or a hydraulic pump-motor), and/or an input/output shaft. The hydraulic system may include a single rotating group with a common axis. Each of the valve sets may include a first valve that fluidly connects to the pump, a second valve that fluidly connects to a tank, a third valve that fluidly connects to the accumulator, and a fourth valve that fluidly connects to the hydraulic component. The valves may have a valving period set to less than half or one-third of a rotational period of the rotating group. The valves may have a frequency of greater than 100 Hertz and may be digitally controlled.
US09982688B2 Mounting arrangement for variable stator vane
The present invention provides a mounting arrangement for mounting a variable stator vane within a gas turbine engine. The mounting arrangement comprises an inner shroud having a radially- and circumferentially-extending slot and at least one insert which, in use, is retained within said slot. The or each insert has at least one bore for receiving a spindle portion of the variable stator vane. The at least one insert is formed of a plastics material and/or the slot and the at least one insert each have a respective axial cross section with a respective first width (axial dimension) which is greater than and radially inwards from a respective second width, the first width of the at least one insert being greater than the second width of the slot and there being a smooth transition between the respective first and second widths.
US09982686B2 Turnbuckle dampening links
An elastomeric dampening link including two or more interconnected dampening bushings mounted around corresponding ones of two or more adjustable length turnbuckles linked to devices and elastomeric dampening link includes at least one bar connecting adjacent ones of the dampening bushings. Clamping bands of clamp may be clamped around each of the dampening bushings. Bar may be in tension between the dampening bushings. Each of the turnbuckles may include a rod disposed in a corresponding one of the dampening bushings and having distal hollow internally threaded first end, first eyelet mounted on the first externally threaded shank adjustably screwed into internally threaded first end. One of the bushings may be substantially solid, have a rectangular slot extending inwardly from an annular surface of bushing, and the rod may have six sided surface with two opposite sides slidingly engaging and fitting snugly in the slot. Turnbuckles and links may be used to actuate variable stator vanes.
US09982683B2 Bushing seal for use in a pump
A device is disclosed including a shaft seal made with thermoplastic material formed as a hollow cylinder with an inside diameter and an outside diameter. The hollow cylinder may have multiple passages through the thermoplastic material between the inside diameter and the outside diameter. The multiple passages between the inside diameter and the outside diameter allow fluid under pressure to pass between the inside diameter and the outside diameter through the multiple passages.
US09982681B2 Externally programmable fan
A fan comprising: (a) an impeller, (b) a motor connected to the impeller so that during operation the motor drives the impeller to move a fluid; (c) an instrumentation assembly that includes one or more components for controlling one or more operations of the fan; (d) an interface in communication with the instrumentation assembly; wherein the interface is configured so that one or more programs, one or more signals, or both can be input into the fan after a final assembly of the fan so that the fan can be configured to perform a desired function at the time of installation into a final product, reconfigured for a different purpose than originally programmed, or both.
US09982680B2 Fan operation detection
Inputting an input resistance to an operational amplifier. Detecting whether a number of fans are in operation based on the input resistance to the operational amplifier by driving a number of resistors connected in series in a fan circuit associated with the number of fans.
US09982679B2 Ceiling fan
A ceiling fan comprising a motor system. The motor system is mounted around a motor shaft. The motor shaft couples to a downrod for suspending the ceiling fan from a structure. The motor shaft and motor are encased by a motor housing. The motor housing comprises hub arms for mounting a plurality of blade holders. The blade holders coupled to a plurality of blades rotatable about the motor during operation. The downrod comprises a wire disk mounting guy wiring to the downrod. A retention rod is utilized internal of the motor and downrod as a secondary retention method. An electrical connector is internal of the motor shaft and electrically couples to the stator to power the motor.
US09982678B2 Blower housing, especially for a combustion air blower of a vehicle heater
A blower housing, especially for a combustion air blower of a vehicle heater, includes a first housing area (14) with a delivery channel, which extends in a ring-shaped manner around a housing axis (A) and is open on an axial side, and a second housing area (16) for accommodating a blower motor (20). The second housing area (16) includes a housing wall (18), which is elongated in the direction of the housing axis (A) and surrounds a space accommodating the motor. A connection area (26) is provided in a central longitudinal area of the housing wall (18) in the direction of the housing axis (A) on an outer side of the housing wall (18) for establishing an electric connection with an actuating device (38).
US09982675B2 Method for controlling the power of a pump device and pump device
A method for controlling the power limit of a pump device includes controlling the power limit of the pump device on the basis of a pump media temperature Tm and an ambient temperature Ta measured inside a control box of the pump device. A pump device, in particular a centrifugal pump, is driven by a motor. The motor is controlled by a control box wherein temperature sensors for measuring a media temperature Tm and an ambient temperature Ta are arranged in the control box so as to control the power limit of the pump device depending on the measured media temperature Tm and an ambient temperature Ta.
US09982674B2 Electrical machine and methods of assembling the same
A fluid circulating assembly includes a fan impeller having an inlet ring and a rear plate that define a central chamber. The fluid circulating assembly includes an electrical machine having a rotor assembly, a stator assembly, and a housing. The electrical machine is coupled to the rear plate of the impeller such that the electrical machine is positioned entirely outside the central chamber. The housing includes a plurality of fins on a side of the housing opposite the rear plate. The fins extend axially away from the stator assembly. The assembly includes a duct attached to the housing. The duct covers a portion of the fins and extends radially outward from the housing towards an outer edge of the rear plate. The duct is configured to channel air over the portion of the fins to facilitate cooling the electrical machine.
US09982668B2 Oil pumping apparatus
There is provided an oil pumping apparatus including: a connector; a first roller mounted on a first frame and being rotatable about a first axle, a load belt moveable over the first roller, having one end connected to the connector and having another end connected with a hanging frame; a second roller being mounted with the hanging frame and being rotatable about a second axle; a third roller being mounted on the first frame and being rotatable about a third axle; a driven belt being moveable over the second roller, the driven belt being fixed at one end, and having another end being connected with the third roller; a control system for the apparatus; and a motor.
US09982666B2 Vacuum pump system including scroll pump and secondary pumping mechanism
A vacuum pump system includes a secondary pumping mechanism incorporated into a stationary portion of a scroll pump. The stationary portion includes the stationary plate scroll of the scroll pump and defines a gas passageway in which the secondary pumping mechanism is disposed. The gas passageway is connected to a gas flow path through the scroll pump at a location upstream of an exhaust check valve of the scroll pump. The secondary pumping mechanism is displaceable within the gas passageway to draw residual gas in the compression stage upstream of the check valve into the gas passageway, and may pump the residual gas back out through the exhaust check valve, to evacuate residual gas from the compression stage.
US09982660B2 Lifting system and method for an inclined plane
Embodiments disclosed herein describe systems and methods for efficiently and effectively raising a carriage to create potential energy, and converting the potential energy into electric energy. In embodiments, the carriage may be raised utilizing multiple fulcrums, wherein the fulcrums are positioned off center from a first linear axis of the carriage. In embodiments, the fulcrums may be positioned equidistance from a second linear axis of the carriage.
US09982654B2 Wind turbine with an offset suction side
Wind turbine having a wind turbine tower, a nacelle provided on the wind turbine tower, a rotor hub rotatably mounted to the nacelle, and one or more wind turbine blades having a root end to be mounted to the rotor hub, a tip end, and pressure and suction sides connected to each other via a leading edge and a trailing edge. The wind turbine blade has a plurality of cross-sectional profiles arranged according to the surface of the suction side so that the surface of the suction side forms a line having a predetermined curvature which curves towards the pressure side of the wind turbine blade and/or forms an approximately straight line along at least part of the relative length. The line crosses each cross-sectional profile in that point on the pressure side where the maximum relative thickness of that profile perpendicular relative to its chord line is measured.
US09982653B2 System and method for reinforcing a weakened area of a wind turbine blade
The invention refers to a system and method for reinforcing a weakened area of a wind turbine blade whose interior comprises a box beam extending from the blade root to the blade tip and wherein said box beam comprises an open end at the blade root. The system is characterized by comprising a repair module (100) adapted for moving inside the box beam and transporting a reinforcement element (107) from the blade root to the weakened area; and by the repair module (100), which is adapted for applying the reinforcement element (107) onto a interior surface of the box beam in the weakened area.
US09982650B2 Ignition apparatus and ignition control method
Provided are an ignition apparatus and an ignition control method capable of suppressing occurrence of a defect caused by a charge unit, which may occur when ignition of a combustible mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine needs to be stopped. When a stop condition for stopping ignition of a combustible mixture in a combustion chamber (2) of an internal combustion engine (1) is satisfied, supply of plasma generation energy to an ignition plug (3) is stopped, and DC energy charged in a charge unit (42) is discharged.
US09982644B2 Fuel cut apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a fuel cut apparatus capable of improving air ventilation while blocking moisture from being infiltrated thereinto by selectively opening and closing an air vent corresponding to engine starting and engine stopping. The fuel cut apparatus includes: a housing; a motor installed at one side of the housing; a rotor rotated by the motor of the housing; and a cam member rotating in association with rotation of the rotor to switch on/off a contact switch, wherein one side of the housing is provided with an air vent, and the air vent is opened or closed by the cam member.
US09982642B2 Coupling device and fuel injector assembly
A coupling device for mechanically and hydraulically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine is disclosed. The coupling device includes a fuel injector cup having a central longitudinal axis and extending from an inlet side for hydraulically coupling to the fuel rail and an outlet side for engaging a fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector, and a collar element coupled to the fuel injector cup. The collar element includes at least one leg portion having a bridge section and at least one branch section extending radially away from the fuel injector cup. The branch section(s) are arranged radially outwardly of the bridge section and project beyond the bridge section in both (b) a tangential direction perpendicular to the radial direction and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and (b) a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.
US09982631B2 Method and thermal reactor for single-valve propulsion with multiple injections and combustions per rotation cycle
The injection speed of the injection valves in an internal combustion engine is increased by using a single injection valve configured to carry out multiple fuel injections and combustions per rotation cycle. The single-valve propulsion thermal reactor has a casing with upper and lower walls consecutively defining a sleeve for taking in a pressurized air flow, a combustion chamber, and a gas discharge nozzle. The thermal reactor has a single injection valve to inject fresh gas into the combustion chamber, and at least one valve to exhaust burnt gases, which extends about transverse axes. The valves are cylindrical and have multiple surfaces which have a circular cross-section and are separated by facets that define, by a rotation of the valves, the intake and discharge ports for the gases. Preferably, a thermal ignition tank is built into the combustion chamber.
US09982630B2 Turbofan bypass air cooled oil cooler fairings
A cooler assembly disposed in and cooled by an air stream according to one embodiment includes a cooler matrix and a fairing. The fairing assembly is disposed generally around the cooler matrix and includes side fairing-housings, first and second side fairing-housings being joined to one another at respective leading and trailing edges, the leading edges partially defining a cooler inlet and the trailing edges partially defining a cooler outlet, the first and second side fairing-housing trailing edges angled transversely toward each other to define a trapezoidal shape for the outlet.
US09982628B2 Exhaust system having a flow path liner supported by structural duct segments
The exhaust system (60) includes an exhaust flow path liner (62) surrounded and supported by a plurality of structural duct segments (64, 70). Pluralities of links (84) are secured to and extend between the duct segments (64, 70) and the liner (62). A duct end (88) of the link includes a lock member (96) having a diameter greater than a width of the stem (86). The lock member (96) is configured to be secured within a capture nest (98) defined between and within adjacent junction flanges (76, 80} of the structural duct segments {64, 70) when the segments (64, 70) are secured to each other to secure the segments (64, 70) together. A catch member (100) at an opposed end of the link (84) is secured to a capture node (102) at the exhaust liner (62).
US09982621B2 Method for operating an internal combustion engine, internal combustion engine and maintenance system for an internal combustion engine, self-executable computer program product and non-volatile storage medium
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a hardware structure including an engine control unit and a maintenance unit, an electronic engine identification module and an engine control program, the method having the steps: providing a computer program product via a network by which an engine identification and engine data are loaded together and are exchanged, wherein the computer program product is designed for uploading and/or downloading a maintenance software module by which the engine identification and the engine data are compiled; loading the computer program product onto a non-volatile storage medium; coupling the non-volatile storage medium to the maintenance unit of the hardware structure and executing the computer program product; exchanging the maintenance software module between the non-volatile storage medium and the maintenance unit; identifying the engine and compiling engine data by the maintenance software module and a hardware component of the hardware structure.
US09982619B2 Device and method for detecting abnormality in rotation phase detection device, and rotation position control device using same
It is intended to, when abnormality in either one of two rotation detection sections with different detection frequencies occurs, quickly and highly accurately detect the abnormality to favorably deal with abnormality occurring during low engine rotation. It is determined that abnormality is present in the rotation phase detection section, when an absolute value of difference between an actual VTC angle detected by a rotation phase detection section and an integrated value of a VTC change angle detected by motor rotation sensor 201 with the higher detection frequency than the frequency of detection of the actual VTC angle by the rotation phase detection section is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
US09982618B2 Control device for internal combustion engine
An engine includes a low-pressure delivery pipe that stores fuel to be injected from port injection valves, a feed pump that supplies the fuel to the low-pressure delivery pipe, a high-pressure delivery pipe that stores the fuel to be injected from in-cylinder injection valves, a high-pressure pump driven in response to rotation of the engine, and a fuel pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the fuel stored in the low-pressure delivery pipe. An engine ECU controls the feed pump based on a detection value from a fuel pressure sensor, and when the engine ECU executes an abnormality diagnosis of the fuel pressure sensor, the engine ECU increases a rotational speed of the engine to be higher than a rotational speed when the engine ECU does not execute an abnormality diagnosis of the fuel pressure sensor. This improves the accuracy of an abnormality determination of the fuel pressure sensor.
US09982615B2 Method for predefining a current in a solenoid valve
A method for predefining a current through a solenoid coil of a solenoid valve, a closing point in time of the solenoid valve being detected with the aid of a sensor, a sensor value being monitored, and, when a premature closing of the solenoid valve is identified based on the monitored sensor value, the current through the solenoid coil of the solenoid valve is increased.
US09982610B2 Control method of boosting apparatus
A control method of a boosting apparatus includes: driving the boosting apparatus according to driving maps pre-input to a controller, judging driving conditions of an engine, selecting a driving map pre-input to the controller and reflecting the driving conditions in the selected driving map, correcting the driving maps of the boosting apparatus based on the selected driving map and driving the boosting apparatus based on the corrected driving maps, and confirming whether variations in operating amounts of the boosting apparatus are generated and, when the variations are confirmed, correcting the operating amounts of the boosting apparatus and reflecting the corrected operating amounts in the driving maps. In particular, the controller controls an EGR valve according to driving conditions through operation of the boosting apparatus and thus controls the amount of EGR gas supplied to the engine.
US09982608B2 Engine
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an engine with reforming cylinders which are fuel reforming devices capable of supplying a reformed fuel according to the outputs of outputting cylinders. The engine is provided with the outputting cylinders for burning the fuel and the reforming cylinders which are the fuel reforming devices for reforming the fuel through the reciprocating motions of pistons. The amount of reformed fuel supplied to all the outputting cylinders is changed according to the outputs of the outputting cylinders while maintaining the amount of supplied fuel and the amount of suctioned gas, which are supplied into one reforming cylinder.
US09982606B2 Electric architecture with power storage cells
An architecture for providing power to an aircraft comprises a power supply. The power supply provides power to a plurality of components. An array has a plurality of storage cells. The plurality of storage cells includes capacitors which are charged by the power supply, and which selectively provide power to the components. The array is mounted on a fan case. An engine is also disclosed.
US09982605B2 Auxiliary component mount including a fusible region configured to break at a predetermined load
A mount for mounting a component to a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The mount may include a central portion that attaches to the component, and a flange circumscribing the central portion and extending to the gas turbine engine, the flange including a fusible region that breaks at a predetermined load. A method for protecting a component mounted to a gas turbine engine is also disclosed. The method may include attaching a mount to a casing of the gas turbine engine, the mount including a fusible region that breaks at a predetermined load. The method may further include attaching the component to the mount. The method may further include the fusible region breaking when the mount experiences the predetermined load, detaching the component from the casing of the gas turbine engine.
US09982603B2 Turbomachine sparkplug fixing assembly
Assembly comprising, on a turbomachine:—a combustion chamber (30) having a longitudinal axis (30a) and comprising: internal and external longitudinal walls (90) having a first opening (90a) substantially transverse to said axis (30a), an outer casing (110) having a second opening (110a) likewise substantially transverse to said axis (30a),—a turbomachine sparkplug (150),—a device (130) for radially securing the sparkplug (150), which device (130) comprises a sparkplug adapter (160) fixed toward a first end to the outer casing (110), facing the second opening (110a) and through which adapter and casing the sparkplug (150) in question passes, and a sparkplug guide (190) kept in contact with the external longitudinal wall (90), facing the first opening (90a) and through which the sparkplug (150) passes to emerge in the combustion chamber (30), the sparkplug (150) and the sparkplug guide (190) each having a screw thread (103, 105), the screw threads (103, 105) being screwed together so as to stabilize the sparkplug (150) radially to the axis (30a) of the combustion chamber (30) with respect to said external longitudinal wall (90), and—in this condition, the sparkplug (150) and the sparkplug guide (190) are mounted freely with respect to the outer casing (110) in a direction substantially radial to the axis of the second opening (110a).
US09982599B2 Dual filtration particle separator
A gas turbine engine has a first particle separator stage including a surface for impacting air at outer periphery of an air flow passage, capturing impacted particles at the outer periphery, and routing captured particles towards a second particle separator stage. Air inward of the first particle separator stage passes towards a core of the engine. Cleaner air upstream of the second particle separator stage is utilized for an air function at a location other than the core engine. A particle discharge is disposed downstream of said second particle separator stage.
US09982593B1 Internal combustion butterfly engine
An internal combustion butterfly engine system includes a cylindrical housing; a first cylindrical snitch rotabably carried within the cylindrical housing and having a first tab and a second tab; a second cylindrical snitch rotabably carried within the cylindrical housing; a plurality of chambers; a plurality of spark plugs secured to the cylindrical housing and in gaseous communication with the plurality of chambers; a plurality of injectors secured to the cylindrical housing and in gaseous communication with the plurality of chambers; a bevel gear mechanism disposed within a center opening formed by the cylindrical housing, the first cylindrical snitch, and the second cylindrical snitch, the bevel gear mechanism is configured to cause the first cylindrical snitch to rotate in a direction opposite to a rotation of the second cylindrical snitch within the housing; and a ratchet and pawl mechanism disposed within the center opening and secured to the first cylindrical snitch and the second cylindrical snitch.
US09982591B2 Engine
An object is to provide an engine in which the exhaust manifolds capable of switching a dynamic pressure supercharging method and a static pressure supercharging method can be easily changed to the exhaust manifolds only of the dynamic pressure supercharging method or only of the static pressure supercharging method without replacing exhaust manifolds themselves. In an engine in which a plurality of independent exhaust manifolds is respectively connected to a supercharger, end parts of the exhaust manifolds are coupled to each other by one or more coupling pipes, an on/off valve that brings the exhaust manifolds into an independent state is provided each of in the coupling pipes, and the coupling pipe is configured such that a part including the on/off valve or the on/off valve is detachable from the exhaust manifolds.
US09982589B2 Intake manifold with an intercooler
An intake manifold for a charged internal combustion engine has an intercooler provided with coolant connectors that is disposed in an intake manifold housing. The intake manifold housing has at least two housing parts including a basic housing part. The intake manifold housing is provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet for charge air and is further provided with at least one passage for the coolant connectors of the intercooler. The intercooler is arranged between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet so as to be flowed through by the charge air. The intercooler is fastened in the basic housing part by a fastening device such that the intercooler separates at least on one side of the basic housing part the at least one inlet seal-tightly from the at least one outlet.
US09982583B2 Dosing valve for additives at risk of freezing, method for producing a dosing valve and motor vehicle
A dosing valve includes at least a valve housing with a duct, a valve body being movable in order to open and close the dosing valve and a spring exerting a spring force on the valve body and thus holding the valve body in a rest position. The spring is supported on at least one calibration body. The valve body, the spring and the at least one calibration body are disposed in the duct. The at least one calibration body is fastened in the valve housing at least by using a cohesive or material connection. A method for producing the dosing valve and a motor vehicle having the dosing valve are also provided.
US09982581B1 Reduction of pollutants from a combustion engine
Burning of hydrocarbon fuels in a combustion engine creates pollutants that include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and various hydrocarbons. Catalytic converter which is designed to reduce such pollutants relies on precious metal catalysts like platinum. There is an ongoing need to find more effective methods of pollution control as well as cheaper alternatives to precious metals. The solution proposed in this disclosure takes advantage of electrical characteristics of exhaust gases. Some of the pollutants in the exhaust gas exhibit positive electron affinity. Such pollutants are converted to negative ions by providing extra electrons. Many of the pollutants have charge distributions which facilitate electrical interactions with the ions. They are attracted to the ions to form clusters. Pollutant clusters formed as such are separated from the rest of the exhaust gas by electric and/or magnetic forces.
US09982579B2 Thermally compliant heatshield
A heat shield comprising a sidewall portion, a top portion, and a plurality of flexible tabs attached to the sidewall portion is described herein, in accordance with various embodiments. The top portion may comprise an aperture. The sidewall portion may extend at an angle between 80 degrees and 100 degrees from the top portion. The sidewall portion may bound a hexagonal void. The flexible tab may comprise an angle between 80 degrees and 100 degrees. The flexible tab may be fixed to the sidewall portion, wherein the flexible tab is configured to be attached to a fitting.
US09982578B2 Continuous variable valve duration apparatus and engine provided with the same
A continuous variable valve duration apparatus may include a camshaft, a first and second cam portions on which a cam is formed respectively, of which the camshaft is inserted thereto and of which relative phase angles with respect to the camshaft are variable, a first and second inner brackets transmitting rotation of the camshaft to the first and second cam portions respectively, a slider housing in which the first and second inner brackets are rotatably inserted, of which a relative position with respect to the camshaft is variable, and on which a control slot is formed, a cam cap rotatably supporting the first and the second cam portions and to which the slider housing is slidably mounted, a control shaft parallel to the camshaft and on which a control rod is eccentrically formed, an eccentric plate rotatably connected to the control rod and rotatably inserted into the control slot, a separation prevention pin disposed to inhibit the eccentric plate from being separated from the slider housing and a control portion selectively rotating the control shaft so as to controlling a position of the slider housing.
US09982577B2 Camshaft adjusting device
A camshaft adjusting device, wherein said camshaft adjusting device has a lubricant supply unit, wherein the lubricant supply unit has a filter device for filtering the lubricant, wherein the filter device has at least one lubricant inlet, at least one lubricant outlet and at least one filter path, wherein the lubricant inlet and the lubricant outlet are fluidically connected to each other by way of the filter path, and wherein an output shaft of the camshaft adjusting device has two wall sections, wherein the at least one filter path is configured in a filter volume between the two wall sections, and wherein the lubricant inlet is at a smaller distance from the axis of rotation than the lubricant outlet, and the filter path extends at least in sections in the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation.
US09982569B2 Method for operating a steam turbine plant
A method for operating a steam turbine plant including a steam turbine and a steam generator allows a power reserve to be provided whilst simultaneously maintaining a high level of efficiency in the normal mode of operation. The steam turbine plant includes a heat reservoir which is associated with the steam turbine, from which the steam is removed and is fed to the steam turbine. The steam is fed to the steam turbine when the steam generator is not in operation.
US09982567B2 Gas turbine engine mid-turbine frame tie rod arrangement
A gas turbine engine mid-turbine frame includes an annular case that has a hole. A tie rod with a first end extends through the hole. The first end includes a threaded portion. A nut is secured to the threaded portion to clamp the tie rod to the annular case. A tab washer is arranged between the nut and the annular case. The tab washer interlocks the nut to the case to prevent relative rotation therebetween.
US09982563B2 Sintered alloy and manufacturing method thereof
A sintered alloy includes, in percentage by mass, Cr: 10.37 to 39.73, Ni: 5.10 to 24.89, Si: 0.14 to 2.52, Cu: 1.0 to 10.0, P: 0.1 to 1.5, C: 0.18 to 3.20 and the balance of Fe plus unavoidable impurities; a phase A containing precipitated metallic carbide with an average particle diameter of 10 to 50 μm; and a phase B containing precipitated metallic carbide with an average particle diameter of 10 μm or less, wherein the phase A is randomly dispersed in the phase B and the average particle diameter DA of the precipitated metallic carbide in the phase A is larger than the average particle diameter DB of the precipitated metallic carbide of the phase B.
US09982562B2 Sintered alloy and manufacturing method thereof
A sintered alloy includes, in percentage by mass, Cr: 10.37 to 39.73, Ni: 5.10 to 24.89, Si: 0.14 to 2.52, Cu: 1.0 to 10.0, P: 0.1 to 1.5, C: 0.18 to 3.20 and the balance of Fe plus unavoidable impurities; a phase A containing precipitated metallic carbide with an average particle diameter of 10 to 50 μm; and a phase B containing precipitated metallic carbide with an average particle diameter of 10 μm or less, wherein the phase A is randomly dispersed in the phase B and the average particle diameter DA of the precipitated metallic carbide in the phase A is larger than the average particle diameter DB of the precipitated metallic carbide of the phase B.
US09982554B2 Turbine engine casing and rotor wheel
The invention relates to an assembly comprising a turbine engine casing and a bladed rotor wheel arranged therein. The casing presents an inside wall having a circumferential strip of abradable material. Facing the tips of the blades, the casing presents upstream the strip of abradable material, and downstream a circumferential groove. The strip of abradable material is defined downstream by the circumferential groove. The downstream end of the circumferential groove is in register with or downstream from the trailing edges of the blades. This arrangement optimizes the use of abradable material in the casings of the turbine engines.
US09982551B2 System for sealing an oil chamber from an adjoining exterior volume and turbo-machine provided with such a sealing system
A system for sealing an oil chamber from an adjoining exterior volume, and a turbo-machine including a sealing system. The system for sealing the oil chamber from the adjoining exterior volume, both of which are delimited by a mobile rotor in rotation about an axis and a part, fixed or mobile, includes: a first seal arranged between the rotor and the part; a second seal that is mounted between the rotor and the part and which is offset longitudinally relative to the first seal, to form with the first seal a sealing chamber delimited by the rotor, the part, and the two seals; and a mechanism for supplying gas to the sealing chamber, such that the gas can be compressed when the rotor begins to rotate, the chamber communicating with the oil chamber and/or the adjoining exterior volume via the first and second seals alone, respectively.
US09982545B2 Precipitation hardened martensitic stainless steel, manufacturing method therefor, and turbine moving blade and steam turbine using the same
The precipitation hardened martensitic stainless steel is characterized by containing, in percent by weight, 12.25 to 14.25% Cr, 7.5 to 8.5% Ni, 1.0 to 2.5% Mo, 0.05% or less C, 0.2% or less Si, 0.4% or less Mn, 0.03% or less P, 0.005% or less S, 0.008% or less N, 0.90 to 2.25% Al, the balance substantially being Fe, and the total content of Cr and Mo being 14.25 to 16.75%. A turbine moving blade and a steam turbine are manufactured by using this martensitic stainless steel.
US09982543B2 Partial cavity baffles for airfoils in gas turbine engines
An airfoil of a gas turbine engine having a hollow body defining at least one airfoil cavity therein, the hollow body defining an inner diameter and an outer diameter and a baffle positioned within the at least one airfoil cavity and extending over less than an entire length between the inner diameter and the outer diameter, the baffle configured to reduce the cross-sectional area within the at least one airfoil cavity. The at least one airfoil cavity includes a first portion having a length that is defined by an open cavity having a full cross-sectional area and a second portion having a length that is defined by a reduced cross-sectional area, the second portion being the length of the baffle within the at least one airfoil cavity.
US09982536B2 Method pertaining to a rock bolting configuration, a rock bolting configuration, a vehicle comprising a rock bolting configuration and a computer program product
The invention relates to a method pertaining to a bolting configuration (299) where a drilling unit and a bolting unit are arranged to be supported by a bottom carriage (330) via a respective top carriage (271; 272), wherein said bottom carriage (330) is arranged to be supported by a feed beam (230), relative to which said bottom carriage (330) is displaceable, wherein said top carriages (271; 272) are arranged to alternately be supported by said bottom carriage (330) to alternately be brought into operative engagement and hereby alternately be locked relative to said bottom carriage (330). The method comprises the step of: —said locking being performed by a locking configuration (350; 351) comprising at least one hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically displaceably arranged locking pin (350) adapted to be inserted into a locking hole (351) during locking, wherein said locking pin (350) is supported by said one top carriage (271; 272) and said locking hole (351) is arranged in said bottom carriage (330), or vice versa. The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising program code (P) for a computer (200; 210) to implement a method according to the invention. The invention also relates to a bolting configuration and a vehicle equipped with the bolting configuration.
US09982533B2 Method and apparatus for generating pulses in a fluid column
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for generating fluid pulses in a fluid column, such as within a well. Various described example fluid pulse generators each have a valve structure including a plurality of rollers rotatable around axes that are oriented perpendicular or otherwise angled with respect to the flow direction, the rollers being arranged to collectively at least partially obstruct the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit. The rotational positions of the rollers may be varied to change the degree of obstruction in the conduit, thereby to generate pressure pulses in the fluid column detectable at a location remote from the fluid pulse generator; these pressure pulses can be used to encode a signal received at the fluid pulse generator.
US09982531B2 Optical fiber distributed sensors with improved dynamic range
An apparatus for sensing acoustic waves below a surface of the earth includes an optical fiber disposed below the surface of the earth and having a series of sensing units along the optical fiber with each sensing unit having three or more reflectors and an optical interrogator in optical communication with the optical fiber. The reflectors in each sensing unit are positioned to provide a linearized response that approximates a sawtooth wave better than a sinusoidal wave to sense the acoustic waves in a desired dynamic range. The optical interrogator is configured to transmit an input light signal into the optical fiber and receive a reflected light signal from the optical fiber due to the input light signal in order to measure a strain on each sensing unit due to interaction with the acoustic waves and to determine a location of the sensing unit corresponding to the sensed strain.
US09982529B2 Communication system for transmitting information via drilling rods
A communication system for transmitting information via drilling rod linkages includes a drill drive, drilling rod linkages comprising a first drilling rod linkage and at least one second drilling rod linkage. The first drilling rod linkage comprises an electrical line, an upper end and a lower end which comprises a receptacle for a drill head. The second drilling rod linkage comprises at least one electrical line, an upper end and a lower end. A sensor and/or actuator is arranged at the lower end of the first drilling rod linkage and at the drill head and transmits data. A first communication unit and an electronics unit are arranged at a drive end. A further communication unit is arranged at the upper end of the first drilling rod linkage and at the upper and lower ends of the second drilling rod linkage. The first communication unit and the further communication units are radio modules which transmit/receive data.
US09982528B2 Telemetry system and method of operating the same
Methods and related apparatus pertaining to downhole and surface telemetry, such as a method in which a telemetry system is provided with a communication path formed with an electrically conductive transport medium coupled across a plurality of downhole nodes. Such method includes operating on the communication path with a multi-drop system that provides telemetry to the downhole nodes in a wellbore, including employing modulation in a master-slave arrangement using binary differential phase shift keying or differential quadrature phase shift keying.
US09982526B2 Method and apparatus for spectral noise logging
In the present invention that considerable advantage is to be gained in the provision of apparatus and methods for spectral noise logging that exhibit improved frequency resolution and thus sensitivity over those systems known in the art since this would allow for improved detection and characterization of fluid flow through, or behind, a casing of a well penetrating subsurface formations.
US09982521B2 Method for injecting low salinity water
A computer-implemented method for configuring operating conditions for at least one of desalination equipment and fluid injection equipment to be used in a low salinity waterflood on a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir is provided. The reservoir is penetrable by an injection well and a production well. The method comprises deriving an ion diffusion distance value from: a diffusion coefficient indicative of a rate of diffusion of ions through relatively permeable layers of the reservoir when the low salinity water is present therein; and a residence time value indicative of the time required for the low salinity water to pass from the injection well to the production well through the reservoir; comparing the thickness of the relatively permeable layers to the derived ion diffusion distance value; generating an indication of the effectiveness of performing a low salinity waterflood; and configuring said operating conditions based on the indication of the effectiveness.
US09982520B2 Oil recovery method
A method for recovering crude oil from a reservoir that is penetrated by at least one injection well, the method comprising: injecting an aqueous displacement fluid comprising a solution of a zinc salt in an aqueous base fluid into the reservoir from the injection well wherein the aqueous base fluid has a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration in the range of 200 to 250,000 ppmv (parts per million based on the volume of the aqueous base fluid), and a viscosity in the range of 1.00 to 2.00 centipoise (cP) at standard temperature and pressure; and wherein the aqueous displacement fluid has a dissolved zinc concentration in the range of 10 to 3,750 ppmv.
US09982515B2 Fusible, resettable lock open device
A locking apparatus for attaching to an end of a valve actuator includes an assembly body, the assembly body releasably securable to a valve actuator. The assembly body has a stem bore for receiving an actuator stem, and a plunger orifice through a sidewall of the assembly body. An immobilizer assembly has a plunger extending through the plunger orifice, and biased radially outward and moveable between a radially inner position where the immobilizer assembly extends over the stem bore, and a radially outer position where an inner end of the immobilizer assembly is radially outward of the stem bore. A segmented housing circumscribes the assembly body and is moveable between a first position where the plunger is in the radially outer position and a second position where the plunger is in the radially inner position. A fusible band selectively retains the segmented housing in engagement with the immobilizer assembly.
US09982514B2 Downhole paraffin melting tool
A downhole paraffin melting tool is provided, comprising a heating element housing having a cutting head and a heating element disposed within the heating element housing. A battery pack is disposed within a battery pack housing, wherein the battery pack is operatively connected to the heating element. A control board is disposed between the heating element and the battery pack, wherein the control board is adapted to control power delivered from the battery pack to the heating element. A top sub is connected to the battery pack housing, wherein the top sub includes a retrievable member. The battery pack, delivering power to the heating element through the control board, is adapted to maintain a predetermined temperature of the heating element during operation.
US09982511B2 Dirty fluid pressure regulator and control valve
A pressure regulator for dirty fluid service includes: a body having a chamber, a pair of supply sockets, and an outlet port, each socket and the port formed through a wall of the body; a pair of supply seal plates disposed in the supply sockets and having supply passages formed therethrough; and a sliding seal assembly disposed in the chamber. The sliding seal assembly includes: a seal carrier having a piston and a supply gland; and a supply seal disposed in the supply gland. The piston is disposed in a pilot portion of the chamber. The outlet port and sockets are located adjacent to a regulated portion of the chamber. The piston is operable to move the sliding seal assembly between a supply position and a second position in response to pressure differential between the pilot portion and the regulated portion.
US09982498B1 Fluid removal device and method
A fluid removal device removes fluid and mud from a borehole during a directional drilling operation, thereby resisting any tendency of the fluid and mud to exit the borehole through any weaknesses that may be present within the surrounding soil. The fluid removal device is secured to a directional drill, and moved through the borehole, perhaps simultaneously with a reamer or a pipe to be installed within the borehole. Fluid and mud are collected within the device. Increased pressure, for example, from compressed air, is used to bias the fluid and mud out of the device and out of the borehole.
US09982497B2 Mud containment apparatus having pneumatic seals
A mud containment apparatus has pneumatically energized seals for sealing against the outer surface of tubulars such as drill pipe. The mud containment apparatus can be quickly and efficiently positioned about a threaded connection existing between adjacent pipe sections. During separation of the threaded connection, the mud containment apparatus contains and saves drilling fluid, thereby preventing drilling fluid from uncontrolled splashing or spilling.
US09982494B2 Device arranged for attaching a pipe stem on a tubular body
An attachment device for an element is made to be arranged on a downhole tubular body, in which an end portion of a sleeve, which is arranged to surround a portion of the tubular body, comprises an attachment portion. The attachment portion comprises at least one clamping element arranged for axial displacement by the abutment of an abutment surface against a conical abutment portion of a surrounding adapter sleeve.
US09982492B2 Downhole swivel sub
The invention relates to a swivel sub for a string to be lowered into a wellbore and a method of operation in a wellbore, wherein such swivel sub is used and comprises: —a first end provided with connection means for connecting a bottom section of a string; —a second end provided with connection means for connecting an upper section of the string; —a first member, including the first end and a sleeve portion opposed to the first end; —a second member including the second end and comprising a section opposed to the second end and partially located within the sleeve portion; the first member and the second member being arranged to rotate relative to each other.
US09982491B2 Threaded joint for oil country tubular goods
A threaded joint for an oil country tubular goods includes pins each of which occupies a pipe end portion of a steel pipe for an oil country tubular goods, and includes an externally-threaded portion, a nose extending toward a pipe end side from the externally-threaded portion, and a shoulder forming a distal end of the nose; and a box including internally-threaded portions each forming a threaded portion by being threadedly joined with the externally-threaded portion, and shoulders brought into contact with the shoulders of the pins, wherein the pins and the box being joined to each other by the threaded joining so that portions between the threaded portions and the shoulders are brought into metal-to-metal contact with each other to thereby form seal portions at the contact portions, and the shoulders of the pins and the shoulders of the box forming shoulder faces are brought into contact with each other at the time of make-up of the threaded joint, and a ratio of a chamfer length of pin thread to a thread pitch is 1.0 or more to 3.0 or less.
US09982487B2 Wellbore drilling systems with vibration subs
A bottom-hole assembly includes a drill string extendable within a wellbore and a drill bit positioned at a distal end of the drill string. A vibration sub is positioned in the drill string axially adjacent the drill bit and includes one or more vibratory devices that impart vibration to the drill bit.
US09982486B2 Arrangement and down-the-hole drilling equipment for angular setting of a drill string
An arrangement for the angular setting of a drill string includes a first tubular member, a second tubular member, a plurality of control and actuator devices that can be shortened and lengthened in a longitudinal direction through the influence of a driving device, and remote controllers by which the control and actuator devices can be set selectively and independently of each other in a radially extended or radially withdrawn condition.
US09982484B2 Closure member control system
A closure member control system for roll down smoke and/or gas barrier system includes a closure member which, when closed, maintains a spool with the barrier wound thereon within a housing. On deployment, the closure member opens and is prevented from closing by one or more cords connected to the spool.
US09982483B2 Screen device
A screen apparatus X1 includes: a screen member 22; an inner guider 60 extending in a vertical direction of the screen member 22 and holding a side end 22a of the screen member 22 movably in the vertical direction of the screen member 22 while regulating a displacement of the screen member 22 in a lateral direction of the screen member 22; and an outer guider 50 extending in the vertical direction of the screen member 22 and having a recess 54 for accommodating the inner guider 60, wherein the outer guider 50 holds the inner guider 60 dismountably from the recess 54 in the lateral direction of the screen member 22.
US09982482B2 Battery-powered motorized window treatment having a service position
A battery-powered motorized window treatment for covering at least a portion of a window may be adjusted into a service position to allow for access to at least one battery that is powering the motorized window treatment. A headrail of the motorized window treatment may be adjusted to the service position to allow for easy replacement of the batteries without unmounting the headrail and without requiring tools. The motorized window treatment may comprise brackets having buttons that may be actuated to release the headrail from a locked position, such that the head rail may be rotated into the service position. The headrail easily rotates through a controlled movement into the service position, such that a user only needs one free hand available to move the motorized window treatment into the service position and change the batteries.
US09982474B2 Method and system for operating a closure panel of a vehicle
A method for operating a closure panel of a vehicle, comprising: using a processor, determining whether a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor located on a periphery of the vehicle have been sequentially activated to indicate an object moving across the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor; and, controlling the closure panel to open or close when the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor have been sequentially activated.
US09982471B2 Methods, systems, and products for detection of environmental conditions
Methods, systems, and products monitor environmental conditions in an enclosed environment, such as a garage or storage shed. If a dangerous environmental condition is determined, such as elevated carbon monoxide, an entry door may be opened. If further remedial measures are required, ignition of an internal combustion engine may be prohibited.
US09982467B2 Push-up device
A push-up device includes a case, a rod juts out from inside the case so as to adopt an advanced position, a rod biasing member biases the rod in a jutting out direction pushing the rod out from inside the case, a lock mechanism that includes a slide cam that moves together with the rod in the jutting out direction and a rotation cam that is relatively rotatable with respect to the slide cam about the axis of the rod, with the lock mechanism positioned between the case and the rod, and locking the rod in a retracted position in the case by the rotation cam engaging with the slide cam and rotating due to the rod being pressed in against biasing force of the rod biasing member, and a rotation cam biasing member that biases the rotation cam toward the jutting out direction.
US09982466B2 Vehicle door latch device
A vehicle door latch device includes: a base fixed to a door; a latch pivotally supported on the base, and configured to be rotatable in association with opening and closing of the door, the latch having a cam portion on an outer periphery thereof; a detection lever pivotally supported on the base by a shaft, the detection lever having a detecting portion, which slides along the cam portion in association with rotation of the latch, and a cam surface, the detection lever being configured to be rotatable, by the detecting portion sliding along the cam portion, to a position corresponding to a rotational position of the latch; and a detection switch configured to detect open and closed states of the door by being turned ON and OFF by coming into contact with and separating from the cam surface in association with rotation of the detection lever.
US09982464B2 Security device with multiple control states
A security device is provided including a security lock configured to retain an object when locked, a receiver configured to receive a security code transmission, and processing circuitry configured to transition the security lock between a locked state and unlock permissive state based on receipt of a security code. The security lock may initially be set to the unlock permissive state. At the first instance in which a security code is received, the processing circuitry may transition the security lock to a key permissive mode in which the security lock transitions to a locked state and in response to a subsequent receipt of the security code the security lock transitions to the unlock permissive state.
US09982463B2 Blocking structure of anti-fire door lock
A blocking structure of an anti-fire door lock includes a latch set, a blocking pin set and a blocking base, wherein the latch set comprises a lock base and a latch that pivotally connected to the lock base. The blocking pin set disposed in an accommodating hole of the latch comprises a blocking pin and an elastic member, and the blocking base comprises a constraining slot. The elastic member is used for pushing the blocking pin to move and making the blocking pin to lodge into the constraining slot to prevent an anti-fire door from being opened.
US09982462B2 Release structure of smart lock
A release structure of a smart lock includes a circuit unit, a drive unit, and a release element. The circuit unit and the drive unit are placed in a housing, and the drive unit is electrically connected to the circuit unit. The drive unit includes at least one push arm pivotally connected to a rotation pivot and enclosing the same. The release element is placed on the rotation pivot and includes at least one flexible arm placed corresponding to the push arm. The push arm is driven by the drive unit to rotatably contact the at least one flexible arm and cross it, so that the drive unit becomes idle. Accordingly, components in the drive unit are prevented from damages, and a lifespan of the smart lock is prolonged.
US09982461B1 Deadbolt and passage lock adapter
A system that includes a lock adapter assembly configured to be installed on a door. The lock adapter includes a motor assembly comprising a motor configured to provide a rotational force, one or more cords configured to convert the rotation force from the motor into a linear force, a deadbolt lock actuator configured to match to an existing torque blade of a deadbolt lock mounted in the door, a passage lock actuator configured to match to an existing torque blade of a passage lock mounted in the door, and one or more latch spool configured to transfer the linear force from the one or more cords to the deadbolt lock actuator, the passage lock actuator, or combination thereof.
US09982459B2 Door improvements and data mining via accelerometer and magnetometer electronic component
An electronic door lock including a magnetometer, an accelerometer, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a status of a door with respect to a door frame using data provided by the accelerometer and magnetometer which collectively generate acceleration data, velocity data and positional data of the door. The processor provides data to a user interface or an alert device indicating one or more of: door open angle, prep-less door position, an acceleration alert, a door position alert, door sag, door frame rub, and triangulation of an intruder.
US09982455B2 Side mounted privacy lock for a residential door
A door lock includes a latch assembly positioned at least partially within the door and movable between an engaged position in which the door is held in a closed position and a disengaged position in which the door is movable from a closed position to an open position. An outside spindle is rotatable about an axis and an inside spindle is rotatable about the axis to move the latch assembly between the engaged position and the disengaged position. A locking plate is movable along the axis between a locked position in which the outside spindle is fixed and an unlocked position in which the outside spindle and the inside spindle are each rotatable and a privacy lock actuator positioned on the inside of the door and movable in a direction substantially normal to the axis to move the locking plate between the locked position and the unlocked position.
US09982453B2 System for extracting a pool cleaning robot
A system for extraction of a pool cleaning robot from a pool, the system may include a base for receiving the pool cleaning robot; and at least one out of (a) an interface device and (b) a pool cleaner electrical power cable winding drum; wherein the interfacing device comprises an interfacing device portion that extends beyond and below the base during a part of the extraction of the pool cleaning robot from the pool; and wherein the pool cleaner electrical power cable winding drum is configured to wind and unwind a power cable of the pool cleaning robot during the part of the extraction of the pool cleaning robot from the pool.
US09982452B2 Pool cleaner
A pool cleaner having a coarse filter and a fine filter. The coarse filter removes large pieces of debris. The fine filter removes fine particles from the water. In an embodiment, the fine filter is a filter bag made from a cloth material. In an embodiment, the coarse filter is a mesh grating with small holes. In an embodiment, the fine filter is supported by a rigid mesh placed downstream from the coarse filter.
US09982451B2 Hot tub floater with outwardly extending bristles
Devices and methods for sanitizing hot tubs and the like are provided. The devices and methods generally incorporate a hot tub floater which releases a sanitizing agent into the water contained in the hot tub. The hot tub floater has bristles on an outer surface. The devices and methods provided have the advantages of being as convenient, inexpensive, and simple as current hot tub floaters, but do not cause unnecessary noise or damage, and can aid in protecting the hot tub against non-biological contaminants.
US09982449B1 Pool circulation system
A pool circulation system has a water intake device that is attached to an intake port with an intake hose. The water intake device includes an intake housing that defines an inner chamber; a plurality of apertures; an outer screen that fits over the intake housing to cover the plurality of apertures; and a hose attachment fitting for attaching the intake hose. A deadweight anchor is attached to the water intake device for holding the water intake device on the bottom of the swimming pool.
US09982447B2 Mobile safety platform with integral transport
In some embodiments, a mobile safety platform includes a protective enclosure coupled to a frame of a wheeled transport. The wheeled transport is configured to raise the protective enclosure so that the wheeled transport can relocate the protective enclosure and to lower the protective enclosure so that the protective enclosure and/or deck is deployed on a substrate. In at least one embodiment, the wheeled transport is configured to raise and to lower the protective enclosure utilizing a lifting and lowering mechanism, such as a hydraulic system. In at least one embodiment, the lifting and lowering mechanism is configured, when deployed, to transfer at least some of the weight of the transport to the protective enclosure and/or deck. In at least one embodiment, the wheeled transport comprises a trailer. In other embodiments, the wheeled transport can be a motor vehicle including an engine.
US09982446B2 Frame mounted hydrodemolition system for treating large inclined wall surfaces
A steeply inclined surface is hydrodemolished by providing a staging platform and a rig that includes a base frame defining a planar footprint within the frame. The rig is suspended from the platform by a cable such that frame is coplanar with the surface and the incline of the surface causes the rig to lean against it. Rails are provided on the surface to restrain spurious lateral movement of the rig. The rig is positioned on the surface and nozzles mounted on a trolley within a travelling carriage on the frame travel in two dimensions to hydrodemolish the surface within the footprint. The rig is moved vertically along the rails and laterally along the platform to reposition the rig to work a new section of the surface in conjunction with other rails that are also mounted on the surface.
US09982445B2 Insulated concrete form and method of using same
The invention comprises a connector for a pair of opposed spaced concrete forming panels. The connector comprises an elongate spacer member having flanges formed thereon intermediate a central portion thereof and each opposite end thereof. A portion of at least one end of the spacer member is sized and shaped to selectively engage an elongate panel bracing member. A composite insulated concrete form and a method of using the insulated concrete form are also disclosed.
US09982443B2 Suspension work platform hoist system with communication and diagnostic system
A suspension work platform hoist system for raising and lowering a work platform is provided. The system incorporates at least one hoist attached to the work platform and in electrical communication with a hoist control system has a data transmitter to transmit data to a remote location, a data receiver to receive data from the remote location, and/or a monitoring and diagnostic system to monitor and record at least one of a plurality of operating characteristics of the hoist. The hoist control system may further include a safety lock out system that requires authentication of an operator prior to the hoist control system causing movement of the hoist system.
US09982441B2 Composite acoustic damping batten
A composite acoustic damping batten suitable for interposition between first and second building elements, the composite acoustic damping batten comprising at least two resilient portions, each resilient portion comprising a first face and a second face, the first and second resilient portions of the at least two resilient portions being conjoined such that the first face of the first resilient portion and second face of the second resilient portion are spaced apart from each other forming opposing external surfaces of the composite acoustic damping batten; wherein the first face of the first resilient portion is configured for securable contacting engagement with the first building material; and the second face of the second resilient portion is configured for securable contacting engagement with the second building material.
US09982440B2 Integrated fiber cement and foam as insulated cladding with enhancements
An integrated fiber cement and foam cladding system is provided that incorporates foam or similar light weight material to improve the insulation capacity of the cladding system. The system includes at least a fiber cement layer and a foam layer disposed on the backside of the fiber cement layer. The system improves the R-value of the building, a measure of the building's resistance to transferring heat or thermal energy.
US09982439B2 Roof paver locking system and methods for installing pavers
An apparatus and methods lock together pavers on a roof deck to reduce uplift pressure and increase stability and strength in a variety of environmental conditions. More specifically, a paver lock apparatus is placed in grooves on the top side of a multiple of pavers and locked to a stationary object, such as the roof or a pedestal placed on the roof underneath the deck. Roof pavers are manufactured with grooves on the paver surface to hold the paver lock apparatus. The pavers are loose laid on paver pedestals and the paver lock apparatus is laid into the grooves of multiple adjacent pavers and locked into place by connecting the paver lock apparatus to the paver pedestal.
US09982436B2 Non-penetrating roof mount for a membrane roof
A mounting assembly for a membrane roof has a metal base plate coated on both sides with material compatible to heat weld, a plurality of openings spaced around an outer periphery, one further hole within the pattern having a bolt passing upward through the hole, and a first sheet of roofing membrane material having length and width dimensions smaller than those of the metal base plate, heat welded over the bolt head.
US09982431B2 Modular frame structure
A modular frame structure (1) of a partition wall made of glass panes, or other pane material, or pane (7), comprises: —a side assembly (2) to form at least one of the lower side, or base, of the frame structure (1), or the upper side, or cross bar, of the frame structure (1), or a mount, or column member arranged between the base and the cross bar, of the frame structure (1); —said side assembly (2) comprising—a track (3) suitable to firmly connect to the ceiling or the floor or a support structure, said track (3) having body extending along a preset first longitudinal extent (X-X); —said assembly further comprising a telescopic section bar (4), suitable to be connected to said track (3); —said telescopic section bar (4) forming at least one invitation and coupling seat (5) and being suitable to receive a coupling section bar (6) secured to said pane (7); —said invitation and coupling seat (5) being defined by a sliding and resting wall (8) that, with an edge (9) thereof, defines a seat opening (10) through which the seat (5) opens to the outside of said telescopic section bar (4); —said invitation and coupling seat (5) being defined by a bottom wall (11) comprising a snap-coupling device seat (12) in which a snap-coupling device (18) is received with a base portion (17) thereof so that a body portion (19) thereof projects cantilever in said invitation and coupling seat (5) and, facing said sliding and resting wall (8), forms therewith a coupling slit (20) that, in disengaging conditions, has reduced dimensions going towards said seat opening (10); —said body portion (19) of said snap-coupling device (18) having a shape and a material allowing an elastic deformation thereof to snap-receive said coupling section bar (6) in said coupling slit (20) so that an undercut (16) provided for in said coupling section bar (6) is coupled by the mutual action of the snap-coupling device (18) and the sliding and resting wall (8).
US09982424B1 Engaging device for overflow assembly
An overflow assembly includes an overflow pipe having a mounting end. Multiple engaging portions are defined in the outer periphery of the mounting end. Each engaging portion has an opening and a toothed section. The opening opens to the distal end of the mounting end and communicates with an L-shaped path. The toothed section is defined in one of insides of the path. A collar is rotatably mounted to the mounting end and a protrusion extends radially and inward from the inner periphery of the collar so as to be engaged with the toothed section. The collar is rotated by engaging the protrusion with the toothed section and contacts against the bathtub's wall. An O-ring is axially mounted to the collar. A cap having an overflow aperture is mounted to the collar. The collar is cooperated with the toothed section and no threads are needed.
US09982422B2 Fixture for a sink
A dual-purpose fixture for a sink or wash basin, incorporating both a water tap and a hand dryer. The water tap has a spout arranged to project over the basin of the sink, and the hand dryer incorporates two or more hand-dryer nozzles—at least one for each of a user's hands. The left-hand nozzle is located on the left-hand side of the spout and the right-hand nozzle is located on the right-hand side of the spout, specifically so that the spout acts as a dividing partition between the two hand-dryer nozzles. This encourages correct usage of the hand-dryer. The fixture may be fitted to a sink or wall-mounted above the sink.
US09982421B2 Diverter and method for manufacturing the diverter
In accordance with an embodiment, a diverter is provided that is configured for use in a fluid delivery apparatus. The diverter includes body portion and a channeling structure, wherein the channeling structure extends from the diverter. A fluid pressure adjustment structure is adjacent the channeling structure. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for holding a diverter in position is provided that includes placing the diverter adjacent a fluid channeling structure, wherein a gasket is positioned between the diverter and the fluid channeling structure and wherein the diverter is configured to have a cavity containing a pressure actuated position holding structure. A fluid is directed through the fluid channeling structure towards the pressure actuated position holding structure. The pressure within the cavity is reduced in response to the fluid flowing towards the pressure actuated position holding structure, wherein the reduced pressure helps hold the diverter in position.
US09982420B1 Shower rinse system and method
A controlled shower rinse system installed in a shower stall that mixes a selected medicated substance, like a medicated shampoo for example, with the water that flows from the conventional shower head of a facility's shower system. The rinse system including a programmable dispenser for regulating the introduction of the medicated substance to the shower system, a mixer, and a sensor that supplies an electrical control signal to the dispenser for causing operation thereof to effectively blend water from the shower system's supply line with the medicated product and directing the blended water through the shower system's shower head.
US09982415B2 Remote control system for work machines
Provided is a remote control system which controls a work machine from a remote place in order to improve safety and workability and to reduce fatigue of an operator. In the remote control system which controls the work machine from a remote place, a seat where the operator sits is driven to be inclined in conjunction with the machine, so that inclination information of the machine at the time of traveling is provided to the operator to be sensible and the safety and the workability are improved. On the other hand, a large inclined vibration caused by the work of the machine is not transferred to the operator since an inclination amount of the seat is kept when the machine is not traveling, so that the fatigue of the operator is reduced.
US09982408B2 Gear pair for a lifting vessel
A gear pair for a lifting vessel includes two gear units driving in opposite directions of rotation and configured for engagement in two tooth racks on a jack-up leg, respectively. Each gear unit includes a drive shaft for connection to a drive, an output shaft for connection to a drive pinion, a transmission housing, a planetary stage mounted in the transmission housing, and a torque support configured to enable support of the gear unit on the other gear unit. The torque support surrounds the transmission housing of the other gear unit in a pincer-like manner and contacts the transmission housing symmetrically with respect to a straight line connecting the output shafts of the gear units at two support points which in relation to a vertical plane extending through the output shaft of the other gear unit are located offset towards the gear unit having the torque support.
US09982397B2 Method for planning and implementation of soil compacting processes, especially for asphalt compacting
A method for planning and implementation of soil compacting processes using at least one soil compactor resulting in an efficient use of compactors and an improved compacting result. Under the method, a base region (B) to be compacted is defined, the relevant aspects of a soil compacting process are planned, and only then is the process implemented by moving at least compactor in the base region (B), according to the plan. The plan for the soil compacting process may include the quantity and course of compactor passes in the base region.
US09982395B2 High efficiency wet strength resins from new cross-linkers
Strengthening resins and methods for making and using same. The strengthening resin can include a polyamine partially cross-linked with a bridging moiety and having azetidinium ions. The bridging moiety can be derived from a functionally symmetric cross-linker. The functionally symmetric cross-linker can include a diisocyanate, a 1,3-dialkyldiazetidine-2,4-dione, a dianhydride, a diacyl halide, a dienone, a dialkyl halide, or any mixture thereof.
US09982390B2 Papermaking felt
There is provided a papermaking felt including: a base fabric layer including at least two layers of a first base fabric layer and a second base fabric layer, each of which is formed by spirally winding a band-shaped body. The first base fabric layer and the second base fabric layer are laminated together such that a direction of spiral winding of the first base fabric layer and a direction of spiral winding of the second base fabric layer are different; A magnitude of a displacement with respect to a cross-machine direction between two intersection points formed by a straight line that passes through intersection points of the side edges of the respective band-shaped bodies of the first base fabric layer and the second base fabric layer and has a minimum angle to the cross-machine direction and both ends of the papermaking felt is 2 cm or more.
US09982388B2 Fabric for a machine to produce a fiber web and method of producing a fiber web
A fabric for a machine to produce a fiber web, especially a paper-, board-, tissue- or pulp web, is formed of a flat woven base material having a top side and a bottom side, two terminal ends separated in a machine direction, folds formed in the flat woven base material being separated in the machine direction by the folding defining an inside between the two folded layers and an outside. The two terminal ends are located under the bottom side surface, wherein the two terminal ends one of are adjacent to each other or overlap each other, seam loops located at the folds characterized in that the fabric further has one, two or more sheet-like plies. Also a method to produce a fiber web, especially a paper-, board-, tissue- or pulp web is carried out with a machine that is provided with at least one such novel fabric.
US09982386B2 Rope structure with improved bending fatigue and abrasion resistance characteristics
A rope structure adapted to engage a bearing structure while under load comprises a plurality of fibers, a matrix, and lubricant particles. The plurality of fibers is adapted to bear the loads applied to the ends of the rope structure. The matrix surrounds at least a portion of some of the plurality of fibers. The lubricant particles are supported by the matrix such that at least some of the lubricant particles are arranged between at least some of the fibers to reduce friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers and at least some of the lubricant particles are arranged to be between the bearing structure and at least some of the plurality of fibers to reduce friction between the bearing structure and at least some of the plurality of fibers.
US09982385B2 Compositions and methods for embossing and debossing fabrics
The present invention provides methods for chemically embossing and debossing fabric. A composition comprising polyvinyl alcohol is applied to fabric in the shape of a design, and the fabric is dried. Upon the fabric drying, the surface of the fabric is embossed and/or debossed in the shape of the design. In particular embodiments, the composition comprises polyvinyl alcohol that is at least about 90% hydrolyzed. A kit for embossing and/or debossing fabric includes a composition comprising polyvinyl alcohol inside of a container, and one or more applicators.
US09982384B2 Drain pump and a clothes dryer having a drain pump
A drain pump and a clothes dryer having a drain pump are provided. The drain pump may include a pump motor; an impeller including a hub, an impeller shaft that extends from a center of the hub and is connected to a rotational shaft of the pump motor, and at least one blade that extends from an outer circumferential surface of the impeller shaft; a housing including an impeller hole, through which the impeller may pass, and a space in which the pump motor may be accommodated; and a pump case coupled to a bottom surface of the housing. The pump case may have a suction hole to suction in cleaning water. The suction hole may be defined at a position corresponding to the impeller, and the pump case may include a shaft shield that extends from an edge of the suction hole in a central direction of the suction hole or toward a central portion of the suction hole to cover a lower end of the impeller shaft.
US09982383B2 Water-saving washing machine and control method
A water-saving washing machine and a control method are provided. The washing machine includes a washing drum and an outer drum, where a circulating pipeline is arranged between an outer drum drainage outlet and an outer drum water inlet, a drainage pump and a main filter are arranged on the circulating pipeline, a pre-filter is further arranged on the circulating pipeline, the pre-filter is located between the drainage pump and the main filter, and a compactness of a filter screen of the pre-filter is lower than that of a filter screen of the main filter.
US09982379B2 Dyeing device and dyeing apparatus
A dyeing device adapted to move in a high pressure space having a fluid is provided. The dyeing device includes a magnetic dyeing shaft and a dye mixing chamber connected to the magnetic dyeing shaft. The magnetic dyeing shaft is configured to make a fiber product wind thereon, and the dye mixing chamber is configured to store dye, and the dye mixing chamber is adapted to let the fluid in the high pressure space flow through. A dyeing apparatus including the dyeing device is also provided.
US09982375B2 Thermocompression-bonding filament nonwoven fabric having excellent molding properties
Provided is a thermocompression-bonding filament nonwoven fabric, which is inexpensive, has excellent molding properties and design properties, and is suitable as surface materials for automotive acoustic absorbing materials. The thermocompression-bonding filament nonwoven fabric comprising a polyester-based resin having a melting point of 250° C. or more, wherein the filament nonwoven fabric has a weight of 20 to 80 g/m2, a sum of 5% tensile loads in a MD and CD per weight of 1.0 to 1.9 (N/5 cm)/(g/m2), and a 180° C. dry heat shrinkage of 3.5% or less in both the MD and CD, and is not mechanically interlaced.
US09982373B2 Article of footwear incorporating an upper with a shifted knit structure
An article of footwear includes an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes portions having courses aligned along different knitting directions, including a first knitting direction and a second knitting direction. The knitting direction of the courses transitions gradually from the first direction to the second direction. The knitting direction of the courses of the knitted component is configured to be aligned so as to distribute forces acting on the knitted component when the article of footwear is worn during a sport or athletic activity.
US09982359B2 Surface treatment method and surface treatment device
A surface treatment method includes: roughening a surface region of a substrate corresponding to a through hole provided to a masking plate by supplying a solvent to a solid electrolyte film from a second surface of a masking plate through the through hole, in a state where: a first surface of the solid electrolyte film is arranged directly on the surface of the substrate; and a first surface of the masking plate is arranged directly on a second surface of the solid electrolyte film, wherein the supplied solvent penetrates the solid electrolyte film, and dissolves the surface of the substrate.
US09982358B2 Abrasive tip blade manufacture methods
A method is provided for manufacturing a blade. The blade comprises an airfoil (100) having: a root end and a tip (106); a metallic substrate (102) along at least a portion of the airfoil; and an anodized layer (154). The method comprises roughening the tip to form protrusions (158′; 402′) and anodizing to form the anodized layer so that the protrusions form an abrasive (156; 400).
US09982356B2 Membrane template synthesis of microtube engines
Methods, structures, devices and systems are disclosed for fabrication of microtube engines using membrane template electrodeposition. Such nanomotors operate based on bubble-induced propulsion in biological fluids and salt-rich environments. In one aspect, fabricating microengines includes depositing a polymer layer on a membrane template, depositing a conductive metal layer on the polymer layer, and dissolving the membrane template to release the multilayer microtubes.
US09982355B2 Systems and methods for preventing thermite reactions in electrolytic cells
A method of monitoring an electrolytic cell including detecting information indicative of a thermite reaction, comparing the information indicative of a thermite reaction to a threshold, generating a thermite response signal according to the comparison, and reacting to the thermite response signal by adjusting the operation of the electrolytic cell.
US09982354B2 Aseptic and odorless nitric oxide generator
An aseptic and odorless nitric oxide generator according to the present invention removes harmful materials such as ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and the like, which are generated during discharge from a high-voltage discharge unit, by contacting the same with respective catalysts at a catalytic reaction unit, reduces noise, which is generated in a discharging process, by using a sound-absorbing material provided inside an exhaust pipe, and receives measured data from respective sensors provided inside the exhaust pipe so as to allow a control unit to execute and automatically operate a feedback control, thereby supplying and circulating indoors the air containing aseptic and odorless high-quality nitric oxide, and thus is very appropriate for the nitric oxide absorption by a person residing indoors through the mouth, the skin and a breathing process.
US09982352B2 Production of dihydrogen by conversion of overhead gases resulting from a synthesis
A chemical conversion process includes a synthesis step (10) that takes, as input, reactants that include at least dihydrogen and carbon monoxide and that gives, as output, a synthetic compound such as an engine fuel, water and overhead gases, a step of recovering all or some of the overhead gases resulting from the synthesis step and a step of producing dihydrogen, in particular electrochemically (14), by a conversion of the overhead gases recovered in the recovering step.
US09982349B2 Method for making electrically-conductive articles
A method for making electrically-conductive articles utilizes a non-aqueous metal catalytic composition that includes: (a) a silver complex comprising reducible silver ions, (b) a silver ion photoreducing composition, (c) a photocurable component, non-curable polymer, or combination of a photocurable component and a non-curable polymer, and (d) nanoparticles of a semi-conducting metal oxide in an amount of at least 0.1 weight %. This composition can be disposed on a substrate, uniformly or in a patternwise fashion. The composition can be dried and then exposed to suitable radiation to reduce the reducible silver ions to silver particles that can then be electrolessly plated with a metal to provide an electrically-conductive article.
US09982348B2 Method of forming patterned metal unit, and patterned article formed with the same
A method of forming a patterned metal unit on an article. The method includes the steps of: providing an article that has an insulating surface; transferring a catalyst layer onto the insulating surface of the article, the catalyst layer including a catalytic material; removing a part of the catalyst layer to form a patterned catalyst layer; and forming a patterned metal layer on the patterned catalyst layer by an electroless plating technique to obtain a patterned metal unit that is constituted by the patterned catalyst layer and the patterned metal layer.
US09982346B2 Movable liner assembly for a deposition zone in a CVD reactor
A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor comprises a deposition zone, a substrate carrier and a liner assembly. The deposition zone is constructed so as to have a positive pressure reactant gases fixed showerhead introducing reactant gas supporting thin film CVD deposition. The substrate carrier movably supports a substrate and the liner assembly within the deposition zone and is heated so as to be subjected to a CVD process. The liner assembly partly encloses selected portions of the deposition zone, particularly portions of the substrate carrier and thereby enclose a hot zone surrounding a substrate to be processed so as to retain heat in that zone but allows gas flow radially outwardly toward walls of a surrounding cold-wall reactor with exhaust ports surrounding the deposition zone that exhaust spent reactant gases. The liner assembly is a sink for solid reaction byproducts while gaseous reaction byproducts are pumped out at the exhaust ports. The liner assembly is linearly movable away from the fixed showerhead.
US09982344B2 Thermally stable volatile precursors
A method of forming a thin film on a substrate which includes a step of contacting a surface with a precursor compound having a transition metal and one or more alkyl-1,3-diazabutadiene ligands is provided. The resulting modified surface is then contacted with an activating compound.
US09982342B2 Zn—Mg alloy-coated steel sheet with excellent blackening resistance and excellent adhesion
The present invention relates to a Zn—Mg alloy-coated steel sheet with excellent blackening resistance and excellent coating adhesion and to a method for manufacturing same. Provided are a Zn—Mg alloy-coated steel sheet with excellent blackening resistance and excellent adhesion and a method for manufacturing same, the steel sheet comprising: a substrate steel sheet; a Zn—Fe intermetallic compound layer formed on the substrate steel sheet; a first Zn—Mg coating layer formed on the Zn—Fe intermetallic compound layer and comprising a Zn—Fe intermetallic compound in which the content of Zn is 95% by weight or higher; a second Zn—Mg coating layer formed on the first Zn—Mg coating layer and comprising a Zn—Mg intermetallic compound in which the content of Zn is 80 to 95% by weight; and an oxide film formed on the second Zn—Mg coating layer and comprising a metallic oxide.
US09982341B2 Modular vaporizer
An improved vaporizer for vaporizing a process fluid is provided. The vaporizer may be assembled from stacked plates and may include one or more plenums with a relatively large wall-area-to-cross-sectional-flow-area ratio. The vaporizer may be equipped with one or more heating elements configured to heat the plenums above the vaporization temperature of the precursor. At least some of the plenums may be heated above the vaporization temperature, but below the Leidenfrost temperature, of the precursor. Multiple stacked plate arrangements may be ganged together in series to achieve complete vaporization, if necessary. The vaporizers may be easily disassembleable for cleaning and maintenance.
US09982339B2 Film-forming mask, film-forming device, and film-forming method
A mask comprises a mask substrate having a protruding section in an opening end surface of an opening, having an acute angle defined by θ1 and θ2 of no more than 43°, and having a height from a film-formation surface on the substrate to a tip section of the protruding section greater than the thickness of the film to be formed on the film-formation surface.
US09982332B2 Hardface coating systems and methods for metal alloys and other materials for wear and corrosion resistant applications
The present disclosure relates generally to hardface coating systems and methods for metal alloys and other materials for wear and corrosion resistant applications. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to hardface coatings that include a network of titanium monoboride (TiB) needles or whiskers in a matrix, which are formed from titanium (Ti) and titanium diboride (TiB2) precursors by reactions enabled by the inherent energy provided by the process heat associated with coating deposition and, optionally, coating post-heat treatment. These hardface coatings are pyrophoric, thereby generating further reaction energy internally, and may be applied in a functionally graded manner. The hardface coatings may be deposited in the presence of a number of fluxing agents, beta stabilizers, densification aids, diffusional aids, and multimode particle size distributions to further enhance their performance characteristics.
US09982330B2 Nickel titanium alloys, methods of manufacture thereof and article comprising the same
Disclosed herein is a shape memory alloy comprising 48 to 50 atomic percent nickel, 15 to 30 atomic percent hathium, 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum; with the remainder being titanium. Disclosed herein too is a method of manufacturing a shape memory alloy comprising mixing together to form an alloy nickel, hafnium, aluminum and titanium in amounts of 48 to 50 atomic percent nickel, 15 to 30 atomic percent hafnium, 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum; with the remainder being titanium; solution treating the alloy at a temperature of 700 to 1300° C. for 50 to 200 hours; and aging the alloy at a temperature of 400 to 800° C. for a time period of 50 to 200 hours to form a shape memory alloy.
US09982329B2 Aluminum casting alloy
An aluminum casting alloy contains the following alloy components: Si: 3.0 to 3.8 wt.-%, Mg: 0.3 to 0.6 wt.-%, Cr: 0.05 to <0.25 wt.-%, Fe: <0.18 wt.-%, Mn: <0.06 wt.-%, Ti: <0.16 wt.-%, Cu: <0.006 wt.-%, Sr: 0.010 to 0.030 wt.-%, Zr: <0.006 wt.-%, Zn: <0.006 wt.-%, Contaminants: <0.1 wt.-%, and is supplemented to 100 wt.-% with Al, in each instance.
US09982326B2 Solvent extraction of scandium from leach solutions
A method for isolating scandium values is provided. The method includes extracting scandium values from a leachate with an organic solvent, thereby obtaining a scandium-loaded organic solvent, wherein the leachate contains iron and scandium ions, and wherein the organic solvent contains a primary amine. The scandium values are then stripped from the scandium-loaded solvent with a stripping solution containing an acid and a salt.
US09982324B2 Rare earth element compositions obtained from particulate material comprising kaolin and methods for obtaining such compositions
A method for obtaining rare earth element compositions may include providing a dispersed aqueous suspension of a particulate material including at least one rare earth element compound and kaolinite. The method may further include adding to the suspension a selective flocculation polymer that facilitates separation of at least a portion of the at least one rare earth element compound from the kaolinite by flocculating the kaolinite and allowing particles of the rare earth element compound to be or remain deflocculated. The method may also include allowing the suspension containing the polymer to separate in a selective flocculation separator into layers including a flocculated product layer and a deflocculated layer containing the portion of the at least one rare earth element compound. The method may further include extracting each of the separated layers from the separator. The rare earth element compound may include La2O3, CeO2, Nd2O3, or Y2O3.
US09982321B2 Systems and methods for monitoring metal recovery systems
Various embodiments provide a leaching solution monitoring module comprising a first leaching solution distribution system interface, a flow meter in fluid communication with the first leaching solution distribution system interface, the flow meter in fluid communication a 3-way pressure regulator, and a second leaching solution distribution system interface in fluid communication with the 3-way pressure regulator.
US09982319B2 Method for press-hardening steel
A method for press-hardening steel in which a steel sheet composed of a hardenable steel alloy can either be preformed in a cold state, then transferred to a tool that has the contour of the preformed component and in it, after a preceding heating step that produces a complete austenitization, is cooled in this tool at a speed greater than the critical hardening speed so that a quench hardening of the preformed component is achieved, or a sheet blank composed of a steel with a composition that permits a press hardening is heated to a temperature above the austenitization temperature and is then hot-formed and at the same time, cooled at a speed that is greater than the critical hardening speed so that hardening is produced; and the hardening is produced in that the austenitic structure is converted into an essentially martensitic structure, possibly with a residual quantity of austenite.
US09982318B2 High-strength galvanized steel sheet having excellent formability and crashworthiness and method of manufacturing the same
A galvanized steel sheet has formability and crashworthiness, consists of 0.03% to 0.13% C, 1.0% to 2.0% Si, 2.4% to 3.5% Mn, 0.001% to 0.05% P, 0.0001% to 0.01% S, 0.001% to 0.1% Al, 0.0005% to 0.01% N, and 0.0003% to 0.01% B on a mass basis; and optionally contains at least one selected from the following A-C: A: at least one selected from the group consisting of 0.0005% to 0.1% Ti and 0.0005% to 0.05% Nb on a mass basis; B: at least one selected from the group consisting of 0.01% to 1.0% Mo, 0.01% to 2.0% Ni, and 0.01% to 2.0% Cu on a mass basis; and C: 0.001% to 0.005% Ca on a mass basis; the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and a microstructure containing a tempered martensitic phase and a bainitic phase such that the sum of an area fraction of the tempered martensitic phase and an area fraction of the bainitic phase is 30% or more, the area fraction of the tempered martensitic phase is 30% or more in the absence of the bainitic phase, wherein a distance of closest approach of the tempered martensitic phase is 10 μm or less and contents of C, Mn, and B satisfy (1): (% Mn)+1000×(% B)≥35×(% C)  (1).
US09982317B2 Systems and methods for acid recycle
Methods and systems for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass are disclosed. An acid solution between 1% to 1.6% sulfuric acid is applied to the biomass. The biomass is subjected to an elevated temperature to cause the production of xylose, glucose, and furfural. Adjustments to temperature, acid concentration, and time can generate at least 80% or 90% of theoretical xylose, 45% or 50% of the theoretical glucose, and less than 4000 ppm of furfural in the xylose liquor. A portion of the resulting xylose liquor may be separated from the glucan solids. The xylose liquor, still highly acidic, can be recycled to reduce subsequent acid loading requirements. Makeup acid solution is added to the xylose liquor and subsequent biomass to ensure a proper solids to liquids ratio. The biomass is again treated to higher temperatures to yield sugars. The process may be repeated for each subsequent cycle.
US09982315B2 Process including a carbonation step
The invention relates to a process for the removal of contaminants from a liquor, the process comprising: introducing a metal or ammonium hydroxide into the liquor; introducing the liquor into a reaction vessel; bubbling a carbon dioxide gas comprising at least 25% carbon dioxide through the liquor within the reaction vessel; and separating the precipitate formed by the carbonatation of the metal hydroxide from the liquor, the precipitate comprising at least some of the contaminants from the liquor; wherein, on average, the liquor is resident within the reaction vessel for a period of no more than about 60 minutes. The invention also relates to a process for the removal of contaminants from a liquor, the process comprising: introducing a metal or ammonium hydroxide into the liquor and bubbling a carbon dioxide gas comprising at least 25% carbon dioxide through the liquor to form a precipitate by carbonatation in a period of no more than about 60 minutes. The carbonatation processes may be included in sugar refining or water softening and/or decontamination processes. A use of a carbon dioxide gas comprising at least 25% carbon dioxide in a carbonatation process for removing contaminants from a hydroxide-treated liquor is also provided, wherein the process forms a precipitate in a period of no more than about 60 minutes.
US09982313B2 Compositions and methods for detection of herpes simplex virus 1 and 2
Methods for the rapid detection of the presence or absence of Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in a biological or non-biological sample are described. The methods can include performing an amplifying step, a hybridizing step, and a detecting step. Furthermore, primers, probes targeting the genes for HSV-1 viral DNA polymerase B (HSV-1 Pol) and HSV-1 thymidine kinase C (HSV-1 TK), and also target the genes for HSV-2 thymidine kinase C (HSV-2 TK) and HSV-2 glycoprotein B (HSV-2 gB), along with kits are provided that are designed for the detection of HSV-1 and/or HSV-2.
US09982312B2 Microbial assay
A method of detecting genetic material deriving from Chlamydia trachomatis comprising detection of a specified nucleic acid sequence, optionally using specific primers and probes and optionally in combination with the detection of genetic material deriving from Pectobacterium atrosepticum as an internal control; and related products and kits.
US09982310B2 Detecting neoplasm
Provided herein is technology relating to detecting neoplasia and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods, compositions, and related uses for detecting premalignant and malignant neoplasms such as pancreatic and colorectal cancer.
US09982309B2 Method for treating cell proliferation related disorders
Methods of treating and evaluating subjects having neoactive mutants of IDH (e.g., IDH1 or IDH2).
US09982307B2 Methylation biomarkers for breast cancer
Different combinations of methylation status based biomarkers can be used to test for breast cancer with high sensitivity and high specificity.
US09982306B2 Somatic mutations in ATRX in brain cancer
We determined the sequence of ATRX and DAXX in 447 cancers from various sites. We found mutations most commonly in pediatric glioblastoma multiformae (GBM) (11.1%), adult GBM (6.5%), oligodendrogliomas (7.7%) and medulloblastomas (1.5%); and showed that Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT), a telomerase-independent telomere maintenance mechanism found in cancers that have not activated telomerase, perfectly correlated with somatic mutations of either gene. In contrast, neuroblastomas, and adenocarcinomas of the ovary, breast, and pancreas were negative for mutations in ATRX and DAXX. Alterations in ATRX or DAXX define a specific molecular pathway that is closely associated with an alternative telomere maintenance function in human cancers.
US09982299B2 Markers for brain damage
Methods to identify markers for brain damage using fresh brain tissue and methods and compositions for detecting these markers are disclosed.
US09982298B2 Process and kit for determining in vitro the immune status of an individual
The present invention relates to a process for determining in vitro the immune status of an individual according to which: (a) a blood sample from the individual is provided, (b) at least two reagents specific to at least two products of expression of at least two target genes are provided; (c) the expression of said at least two target genes is determined, and (d) the expression of said at least two target genes respectively is compared with a reference expression, with a change in the expression of said at least two target genes relative to their reference expression indicating that the individual's immune status has changed, and a correlation between the expression of said at least two target genes with their reference expression indicating that the individual's immune status is normal; as well as a kit for determining said immune status of the individual.
US09982295B2 Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal genetic condition using cellular DNA and cell free DNA
Disclosed are methods for determining at least one sequence of interest of a fetus of a pregnant mother. In various embodiments, the method can determine one or more sequences of interest in a test sample that comprises a mixture of fetal cellular DNA and mother-and-fetus cfDNA. In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining whether the fetus has a genetic disease. In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining whether the fetus is homozygous in a disease causing allele when the mother is heterozygous of the same allele. In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining whether the fetus has a copy number variation (CNV) or a non-CNV genetic sequence anomaly.
US09982294B2 Sequencing by orthogonal synthesis
A method for sequencing includes steps of (a) providing first and second nucleic acid templates, wherein the two templates have different sequences; (b) extending a first primer bound to the first template using a first polymerase species and a first set of nucleotide analogs; (c) extending a second primer bound to the second template using a second polymerase species and a second set of nucleotide analogs, wherein the first polymerase species is different from the second polymerase species and wherein the first set of nucleotide analog is different from the second set of nucleotide analog, (d) detecting the first and second primer extension products; and (e) repeating steps (b) through (d), thereby determining the different sequences of the first and second templates.
US09982293B2 Amplification and analysis of selected targets on solid supports
Methods are provided for multiplexed amplification of selected targets and analysis of the amplified targets. In preferred aspects the amplification and analysis take place on the same solid support and preferably in a localized area such as a bead or a feature of an array. Targets are circularized by hybridization to probes followed by ligation of the ends of the target to form a closed circle. The targets are then used as template for extension of an array bound probe resulting in extended probes having multiple copies of the target. The extended probes can then be analyzed. The methods may be used for genotyping, sequencing and analysis of copy number.
US09982292B2 Detecting chemical and biological agents using textile-based sensors
Methods and systems for detecting chemical and biological agents using oligonucleotide aptamers. A sensor includes a detection aptamer that has a binding domain for the chemical or biological agent, and is bound to fibers of a textile such as a patch or article of clothing. The detection aptamer can be stabilized and enhanced through a stabilization agent such as trehalose or through binding to a nanoparticle which is then bound to the fiber. Binding of the chemical and biological agent of interest to the detection aptamer can be reported to the user or wearer of the textile in a variety of ways, including visually and electrically.
US09982288B2 Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA/VII screening and treatment method
Provided is a rapid screening method for detecting mucopolysaccharidosis IVA and mucopolysaccharidosis VII. Biological samples containing glycosaminoglycans are enzymatically digested to converts chondroitin 6-sulfate into ΔDi-6S. ΔDi-6S is assayed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy analysis. Elevated ΔDi-6S, and thus elevated chondroitin 6-sulfate present in the sample, indicates a likelihood that the test subject is afflicted with mucopolysaccharidosis IVA or mucopolysaccharidosis VII.
US09982283B2 Saccharide solution production system, saccharide solution production method using biomass raw material, and alcohol production method using biomass raw material
Provided is a biomass hydrothermal decomposition system which includes: a biomass supply unit that supplies a biomass raw material; hydrothermally decomposing the biomass raw material using pressurized hot water; a hydrothermal decomposition unit that dissolves lignin components and hemicellulose components in the pressurized hot water; a biomass solid fraction discharge unit that discharges a biomass solid fraction from the hydrothermal decomposition unit; an enzymatic liquefaction tank that is in connection with the biomass solid fraction discharge unit, and in which the discharged biomass solid fraction is introduced, and an enzyme is supplied to the biomass solid fraction to liquefy the biomass solid fraction; and a discharge unit that discharges the liquefied biomass solid fraction.
US09982281B2 Microorganisms for producing 1,3-butanediol and methods related thereto
Provided herein is a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) pathway and comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,3-BDO pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,3-BDO. In some embodiments, the pathway includes reducing equivalents from CO or hydrogen. In certain embodiments, a 1,3-BDO pathway proceeds by way of central metabolites pyruvate, succinate or alpha-ketoglutarate. Also provided herein is a method for producing 1,3-BDO, includes culturing such microbial organisms under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,3-BDO.
US09982278B2 CRISPR enabled multiplexed genome engineering
Described herein are methods and vectors for rational, multiplexed manipulation of chromosomes within open reading frames (e.g., in protein libraries) or any segment of a chromosome in a cell or population of cells, in which various CRISPR systems are used.
US09982269B2 Mortierella alpine uracil auxotroph with URA5 gene knocked out through homologous recombination, and construction method thereof
It relates to a Mortierella alpine ATCC32222 uracil auxotroph strain and a construction method thereof. In the present invention, Mortierella alpine ATCC32222 is used as a material and undergoes gene knockout through an Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic manipulation technology, to obtain the Mortierella alpine uracil auxotroph. The method is of great significance for the basic theoretic researches of the oil producing fungus Mortierella alpine ATCC32222 and product development.
US09982268B2 Vectors for cloning
A vector for transformation into a host cell is described comprising a toxic gene encoding a product that is lethal to the host cell, wherein the toxic gene comprises: an essential sequence region whose integrity is necessary in order for the encoded toxic gene product to be lethal to the host cell; an inessential sequence region whose integrity is not essential in order for the encoded toxic gene product to be lethal to the host cell; a regulatory sequence inserted in-frame into the inessential sequence region; and a cloning site within the essential sequence region for insertion of a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the regulatory sequence and the cloning site are positioned so as to allow the regulatory sequence to be operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence when the nucleic acid sequence is inserted into the cloning site.
US09982264B2 Antisense compositions and methods of making and using same
The present invention provides pharmaceutical formulations for oral administration of antisense oligonucleotides, such as antisense oligonucleotides against SMAD7. The pharmaceutical formulations can be used to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
US09982262B2 Neutral nucleic acid ligands
The invention generally relates to isolated nucleic acid ligands that are neutral under physiological conditions.
US09982261B2 Antisense antiviral compounds and methods for treating a filovirus infection
The present invention provides antisense antiviral compounds, compositions, and methods of their use and production, mainly for inhibiting the replication of viruses of the Filoviridae family, including Ebola and Marburg viruses. The compounds, compositions, and methods also relate to the treatment of viral infections in mammals including primates by Ebola and Marburg viruses. The antisense antiviral compounds include phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMOplus) having a nuclease resistant backbone, about 15-40 nucleotide bases, at least two but typically no more than half piperazine-containing intersubunit linkages, and a targeting sequence that is targeted against the AUG start site region of Ebola virus VP35, Ebola virus VP24, Marburg virus VP24, or Marburg virus NP, including combinations and mixtures thereof.
US09982260B2 Identification of structurally similar small molecules that enhance therapeutic exon skipping
This invention relates, e.g., to a method for enhancing exon skipping in a pre-mRNA of interest, comprising contacting the pre-mRNA with an effective amount of a compound such as, for example, Perphenazine, Flupentixol DiHCl, Zuclopenthixol or Corynanthine HCl, or a compound which shares a similar 2-D structure and activity level with one of these compounds, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, or isomer of the compound, and, optionally, with an antisense oligonucleotide that is specific for a splicing sequence in the pre-mRNA Methods for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are disclosed.
US09982259B2 Transthyretin allele selective UNA oligomers for gene silencing
This invention provides UNA oligomers for selectively inhibiting V30M TTR expression, which can be used in treating amyloidosis. The UNA oligomers can have a first strand and a second strand, each of the strands being 19-29 monomers in length, the monomers being UNA monomers and nucleic acid monomers. Embodiments include pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating or preventing TTR-related amyloidosis by administering a UNA oligomer to a subject.
US09982258B2 Methods for controlling pests using RNAi
The present invention relates to methods for controlling pest infestation using double stranded RNA molecules. The invention provides methods for producing transgenic cells expressing the double stranded RNA molecules, as well as compositions and commodity products containing or treated with such molecules.
US09982252B2 Mirac proteins
This disclosure relates to a method of generating conditionally active biologic proteins from wild type proteins, in particular therapeutic proteins, which are reversibly or irreversibly inactivated at the wild type normal physiological conditions. For example, evolved proteins are virtually inactive at body temperature, but are active at lower temperatures.
US09982250B2 Reversible surface functionalization
Some embodiments described herein relate to a substrate comprising a silane functionalized surface for reversibly immobilizing a biological molecule of interest, such as oligonucleotides, polynucleotides, or protein. Methods for immobilizing the biological molecule and the use in DNA sequencing and other diagnostic applications are also disclosed.
US09982245B2 Compositions for linking DNA-binding domains and cleavage domains
Disclosed herein are compositions for linking DNA binding domains and cleavage domains (or cleavage half-domains) to form non-naturally occurring nucleases. Also described are methods of making and using compositions comprising these linkers.
US09982239B2 Baculoviral DNA elements for the expression of recombinant proteins in a host cell
Reagents and methods are provided that allow for an improved expression of a recombinant protein. More specifically, the introduction of recombinant DNA elements into a host cell allows for the increased expression of a recombinant protein, an improvement of the correct folding of said protein and an increase in cell viability and proliferation of the host cell, These recombinant DNA elements can be introduced into host cells, for example, via a recombinant baculovirus, which has incorporated said elements. The recombinant DNA elements include nucleic acids encoding transcriptional regulators, such as IE-0 and IE-1, transcriptional enhancer elements, such as the homologous region (hr) and promoters.
US09982237B2 Compositions and methods for reprograming non-pluripotent cells into pluripotent stem cells
The invention provides a composition and a method for inducing pluripotency in non-pluripotent eukaryotic cells. The composition comprises chemical inducers of pluripotency (CIPs) including glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) inhibitors, TGFp receptor inhibitors, cyclic AMP agonists, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAH) inhibitors, and optionally an agent that promotes histone acetylation. The method comprises contacting a cell with the CIPs for a sufficient period of time to reprogram the cell into a pluripotent stem cell.
US09982232B2 Methods of generating cells with multilineage potential
The present invention relates to methods for generating mammalian multilineage-potential cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, comprising contacting mammalian somatic cells exhibiting a mature phenotype with PDGF-AB or functional derivative, fragment or mimetic thereof and Azacitidine or functional derivative or analog thereof for a time and under conditions sufficient to induce the transition of the somatic cells to cells exhibiting multilineage differentiative potential. Also provided are uses of said multilineage-potential cells, such as in promoting tissue repair and regeneration.
US09982230B2 Uniform dose pooled blood products
The disclosure provides methods of making a cell-containing product having a uniform amount of cells therein. The method comprises pooling red blood cells from a plurality of blood units, and inactivating any pathogen contained therein. A storage solution added to the cellular component results in a cell-containing product that is essentially pathogen and white blood cell free and has an extended shelf life of about 42 to about 100 days. The cell-containing product is further divided into units which comprise a uniform dose of RBCs per unit.
US09982228B2 Modified gram positive bacteria and uses thereof
The present invention relates to gram positive bacteria with increased stress resistance and/or improved storage characteristics. In particular, the invention relates to gram positive bacterium which accumulate intracellular trehalose. The gram positive bacterium according to the invention lack cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component (PtcC) activity. The gram positive bacterium may further lack trehalose 6-phosphate phosphorylase (TrePP) activity. The gram positive bacterium may further overexpress trehalose transporters. The invention further relates to compositions comprising such gram positive bacterium as well as methods and uses thereof.
US09982224B2 Cleaning composition having high self-adhesion and providing residual benefits comprising a cationic/nonionic surfactant system
A composition for treating a hard surface. The composition has: (a) at least one adhesion promoter; (b) at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: anionic, non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic, and combinations thereof; (c) mineral oil; (d) water; (e) optionally, at least one solvent; and wherein the composition is self-adhering upon application to a surface to be treated, and wherein the composition provides a wet film to said surface when water passes over said composition and surface.
US09982223B2 Amino silicone nanoemulsion
The present invention relates to amino silicone nanoemulsions. More specifically, the present invention relates to amino silicone nanoemulsions that may be used to protect surfaces from being soiled or wetted.
US09982221B2 Leuco triphenylmethane colorants as bluing agents in laundry care compositions
This application describes laundry care compositions that contain leuco colorants and their use in the laundering of textile articles. These types of colorants are provided in a stable, substantially colorless state and then may be transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes such as, for example, exposure to oxygen, ion addition, exposure to light, and the like. The laundry care compositions containing the leuco colorants are designed to enhance the apparent or visually perceived whiteness of, or to impart a desired hue to, textile articles washed or otherwise treated with the laundry care composition.
US09982211B2 Composition and method of forming the same
A composition comprises the reaction product of a dithiophosphate derivative and an amine. The reaction product is present in the composition in an amount of at least about 25 wt. %. The composition may include additional components. A method of forming the composition comprises the step of combining the dithiophosphate derivative and the amine to form the composition. A method of increasing thermal stability of a dithiophosphate derivative comprises the step of combining the dithiophosphate derivative and an amine. The dithiophosphate derivative can decompose to form hydrogen sulfide (H2S). However, the amine substantially prevents thermal decomposition of the dithiophosphate derivative. An example of the dithiophosphate derivative is 3-(di-isobutoxy-thiophosphorylsulfanyl)-2-methyl-propanoic acid. An example of the amine is ditridecyl amine. The composition can be used for a variety of applications. For example, the composition can be used as an antiwear compound/additive in lubricants, metalworking fluids, hydraulic fluids, etc.
US09982207B2 Diesel fuel based on ethanol
A diesel fuel based on ethanol is described, which comprises about 60 to about 90% (v/v) ethanol, up to about 20% (v/v) of a linear dialkyl ether with a chain length of about 10 to about 40 as well as mixtures thereof, and 0 to about 30% (v/v) combustion accelerator.
US09982202B2 Process for the start-up of hydrotreatment or hydroconversion units
The invention describes a process for start-up of a hydrotreatment or hydroconversion unit carried out in the presence of hydrogen, in at least 2 catalytic beds, process in which At least one bed contains at least one presulfurized and preactivated catalyst and at least one catalytic bed that contains a catalyst whose catalytic metals are in oxidized form, A so-called starting feedstock, which is a hydrocarbon fraction that contains at least 0.5% by weight of sulfur, lacking olefinic compounds and not containing an added sulfur-containing compound, passes through a first catalytic bed that contains said presulfurized and preactivated catalyst and then passes through at least one catalytic bed that contains a catalyst whose catalytic metals are in oxidized form, And the first presulfurized and preactivated catalyst bed reaches a temperature of at least 220° C.
US09982197B2 Dry distillation reactor and method for raw material of hydrocarbon with solid heat carrier
A dry distillation reactor for a raw material of hydrocarbon with a solid heat carrier is provided. An inner component with a pore path or a pore space is arranged inside the reactor to form a flow channel for the gas-phase product of the dry distillation. Also a dry distillation method using the dry distillation reactor is provided. The dry distillation method includes moving the reacting materials from top to bottom; moving a gas-phase product of the dry distillation along a designed path in the reactor; and finally leading same out through an outlet arranged in a central collecting channel for the gas-phase product of the dry distillation.
US09982195B2 Flame retardant, flame retardant composition and shaped body
Provided are a flame retardant which is good in dispersibility in an organic polymeric material, and does not lower, even after mixed with an organic polymeric material, material properties thereof; a flame retardant composition; and a shaped body. The flame retardant of the present invention includes magnesium hydroxide particles subjected to a surface treatment, the particles satisfying the following (A) to (D): (A) an average particle size is 2 μm or less according to a laser diffraction method; (B) a BET specific surface area is 3 to 15 m2/g; (C) a degree of mono-dispersion is 50% or more, the degree of mono-dispersion being represented by the following equation: Degree of mono-dispersion (%)=(average primary particle size [μm] of particles according to SEM observation/average particle size [μm] of particles according to laser diffraction method)×100; and, (D) just after 1 mL of a 0.1 M solution of nitric acid is dropwise added at a dropping rate of 0.1 mL/minute to a suspension obtained by adding 1.0 g of the flame retardant to 100 mL of an aqueous mixed solution containing 0.1% by weight of each of a wetting agent and an electrolyte, pH of the suspension is 9.0 or less according to a potentiometric titration.
US09982194B2 Liquid-crystalline media
The invention relates to liquid-crystalline media which can be used, in particular, for electro-optical displays having active-matrix addressing based on the ECB effect and for IPS (in-plane switching) displays or FFS (fringe field switching) displays.
US09982192B2 Red light emitting phosphor, method for producing the same and light emitting device package including the same
Disclosed are a phosphor, in particular, a red light emitting phosphor, a method for producing the same and a light emitting device package including the same. Provided is a red light emitting phosphor emitting light having a main absorption band in a blue wavelength range and a main peak in a red wavelength range, the red light emitting phosphor being represented by the following Formula 1. (Sr1−xEux)Lu2O4  [Formula 1]
US09982185B2 Methods and systems for preparing surfactant polyelectrolyte complexes for use in subterranean formations
Systems and methods for creating surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes at a well site are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a first solution comprising at least one surfactant and a second solution comprising at least one polyelectrolyte; using a stop-flow mixing apparatus at a well site to mix the first and second solutions to form one or more surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes; using a low-dose pumping apparatus at the well site to transfer the one or more surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes from the stop-flow mixing apparatus to a blending apparatus at the well site; using the blending apparatus to mix the one or more surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes with an aqueous base fluid to form a treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation at the well site.
US09982182B2 Drilling composition, process for its preparation, and applications thereof
The present invention relates to a drilling composition comprising: I) an organic phase comprising components i, from about 20 wt. % to about 99,999 wt. %, based on the total weight of components i. and ii., of at least one linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic, saturated hydrocarbon, ii. from about 0.001 wt % to about 25 wt. %, based on the total weight of components i. and ii., of at least one ester, II) from 0 to about 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, of water or aqueous phase, III) from 0 to about 60 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one additive, wherein the sum of the weight components I) to III) is 100 wt %, to a process for preparation of a drilling composition, to uses of a drilling composition, to a drilling system, to a process for making a borehole, to a process for conveying cuttings, to a process for treating a drill head, to a process for production of at least one of oil and gas.
US09982178B2 Compositions of chloro-trifluoropropene and hexafluorobutene
Provided are compositions, preferably azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and chlorotrifluoropropene, particularly 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233zd), and uses thereof of the compositions. The composition may be a heat transfer composition. The composition may be a blowing agent composition. The composition may be a solvent composition. The composition may be a sprayable composition.
US09982177B2 Slurry, polishing fluid set, polishing fluid, and substrate polishing method using same
A slurry includes abrasive grains and water, wherein the abrasive grains include tetravalent cerium hydroxide particles and produce light transmittance of at least 50%/cm for light with a wavelength of 500 nm in an aqueous dispersion with the content of the abrasive grains adjusted to 1.0 mass %. A polishing liquid includes abrasive grains, an additive and water, wherein the abrasive grains include tetravalent cerium hydroxide particles and produce light transmittance of at least 50%/cm for light with a wavelength of 500 nm in an aqueous dispersion with the content of the abrasive grains adjusted to 1.0 mass %.
US09982175B2 Abrasive articles and methods for forming same
An abrasive article can include a body including a bond material and abrasive particles contained within the bond material. The abrasive particles can include nanocrystalline alumina. The bond material can include an inorganic material including a ceramic.
US09982174B2 Binder compositions comprising lignin derivatives
The present disclosure provides an adhesive composition comprising derivatives of native lignin and an isocyanate-based binder such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. The present compositions may further comprise formaldehyde-based resins such as PF, UF, and MF. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that incorporating derivatives of native lignin in isocyanate compositions will reduce incidence of pre-curing.
US09982173B2 Polyurethane hot-melt adhesive having a low content of diisocyanate monomers and good cross-linking speed
A moisture-cured hot-melt adhesive can be formulated as a PUR-HM that is R-40 classification-free and stable during storage and processing, having a residual monomer content of less than 1 wt. % and having good cross-linking density and full-curing speed. The hot-melt adhesive is particularly suitable for vehicle construction in industrial manufacture, in particular of automobiles, in the textile or furniture industry or in the packaging industry.
US09982172B2 Moisture curable adhesive compositions
An adhesive composition for adhesively bonding floor coverings to a variety of substrates. The composition includes 0.2 to 10 weight percent of a plurality of irregularly shaped spacer particles of size 0.5 mm to 10 mm; 10 to 50 weight percent of a moisture curable polymer system; and 40 to 90 weight percent of additives for modifying physical properties of the composition. The adhesive has a composition such that, when cured, results in an elastomeric film of uniform thickness that exhibits controlled moisture vapor transmission and sound abatement properties. A floor structure and a method for constructing the floor structure using the adhesive composition are also provided.
US09982167B2 Precursor composite material, method for producing a precursor composite material, method for producing a composite material and use of a precursor composite material and of a composite material
A precursor composite material (60) is provided, having a layer sequence (50) comprising an adhesive layer (20), a carrier layer (10) on the adhesive layer (20), a release layer (40) on the carrier layer (10) and a parting layer (30) on the release layer (40), wherein the layer sequence (50) is arranged in such a way that the side of the adhesive layer (20) facing away from the layer sequence (50) is arranged at least in sub-regions on the side of the parting layer (30) facing away from the layer sequence (50). Further provided are a composite material, a method for producing the precursor composite material, a method for producing the composite material and a use of the precursor composite material and of the composite material.
US09982163B2 Waterborne shape memory polymer coatings
The present invention relates to shape memory polymers and waterborne coating materials and, more particularly, to waterborne shape memory polymer coatings.
US09982160B2 Urea (multi)-(meth)acrylate (multi)-silane compositions and articles including the same
Urea (multi)-(meth)acrylate (multi)-silane precursor compounds, synthesized by reaction of (meth)acrylated materials having isocyanate functionality with aminosilane compounds, either neat or in a solvent, and optionally with a catalyst, such as a tin compound, to accelerate the reaction. Also described are articles including a substrate, a base (co)polymer layer on a major surface of the substrate, an oxide layer on the base (co)polymer layer; and a protective (co)polymer layer on the oxide layer, the protective (co)polymer layer including the reaction product of at least one urea (multi) (meth)acrylate (multi)-silane precursor compound synthesized by reaction of (meth)acrylated materials having isocyanate functionality with aminosilane compounds. The substrate may be a (co)polymer film or an electronic device such as an organic light emitting device, electrophoretic light emitting device, liquid crystal display, thin film transistor, or combination thereof. Methods of making the urea (multi)-(meth)acrylate (multi)-silanes and their use in composite films and electronic devices are described.
US09982155B2 Photocurable electroconductive ink composition
[Problem] Provided is a photocurable electroconductive ink composition for screen printing which can provide printability, printing precision and adhesiveness on a substrate good enough for screen printing, and can show stable electroconductive properties.[Solution] A photocurable electroconductive ink composition for screen printing, comprising: (A) an electroconductive filler, (B) a photopolymerizable resin precursor consisting of an oligomer of urethane acrylate, monofunctional acrylate and polyfunctional acrylate, (C) an alkyd resin, (D) two or more photopolymerization initiators and (E) a polymer dispersant, in which the content of the electroconductive filler (A) is 70 to 90 mass % relative to the total mass of the photocurable electroconductive ink composition, and more than 50 mass % of the electroconductive filler is silver powder in a scale-like, foil-like or flake-like form having a particle diameter at 50 % particle size distribution of 0.3 to 3.0 μm, and the total content of the photopolymerizable resin precursor (B) is 10 to 24 mass % relative to the total mass of the photocurable electroconductive ink composition, and the content of the oligomer of urethane acrylate is 5 mass % or less relative to the total mass of the photocurable electroconductive ink composition, and the content of the alkyd resin (C) is 1 to 10 mass % relative to the total mass of the photocurable electroconductive ink composition.
US09982153B2 Ink set and recording method using the same
An ink set includes a reaction liquid containing coagulant; a first ink containing a color material; and a second ink containing a color material. The ink set is used for recording on a non-absorptive recording medium or a low-absorptive recording medium and for imparting the reaction liquid, the first ink, and the second ink to the recording medium in a superimposed manner in this order.
US09982147B2 Aqueous dip-coating composition for electroconductive substrates, comprising bismuth and a phosphorus-containing, amine-blocked compound
The present invention relates to an aqueous coating composition (A) comprising at least one cathodically depositable binder (A1) and optionally at least one crosslinking agent (A2), for at least partly coating an electrically conductive substrate with an electrocoat material, where (A) comprises a total amount of at least 30 ppm of bismuth, based on the total weight of (A), and additionally at least one phosphorus-containing compound (P) blocked with at least one amine of the general formula (I), to the use of (A) for at least partly coating an electrically conductive substrate with an electrocoat material, to a corresponding coating method, and to an at least partly coated substrate obtainable by this method.
US09982144B2 Silver-coated conductive particles, conductive paste and conductive film
Provided are highly reliable silver-coated conductive particles, which are prevented from an occurrence of migration, the silver-coated conductive particles in which: a tin layer is formed on a surface of each spherical base particle, and a silver plating layer is formed on a surface of the tin layer, and a surface of the silver plating layer is coated with a water repellent layer: the water repellent layer includes an organic sulfur compound that is mainly composed of a sulfide compound or a surfactant such as polyoxyethylene ethers: and a molded body that is formed by pressing the silver-coated conductive particles at a pressure of 14.7 MPa has a contact angle with water of 125 degree or more.
US09982140B2 Inorganic-organic hybrid oxide polymer and manufacturing method thereof
An inorganic-organic hybrid oxide polymer is provided. The polymer consists of an inorganic molecular cluster MxNyOz and an organic molecular polymer cluster OG, wherein the inorganic molecular cluster MxNyOz consists of a hybrid oxidation based on a first element M and a second element N and has a molecular formula MxNyOz, wherein x=0.01˜0.99, y=0.01˜0.99, z/(x+y)=0.01˜3.99, and the inorganic molecular cluster MxNyOz has a plurality of voids having an averaged characteristic dimension in a range between 0.2 nm˜30 nm and filled with the organic molecular polymer cluster OG, wherein the first element M and the second element N are respectively selected from a group consisting of an intermediate element, a metal element, a semiconductor element and a combination thereof and the first element M is different from the second element N.
US09982138B2 Hair color compositions comprising stable violet-blue to blue imidazolium dyes
Disclosed are hair color compositions comprising novel stable violet-blue to blue imidazolium azo compounds that have a simplified chromophore and high relative solubility in aqueous systems, and that are surprisingly stable under the conditions of use and storage. These compositions are useful for dyeing fibers such as hair and other keratinaceous materials. The compositions can optionally include an oxidant.
US09982128B2 Fibers, wipes, and methods
Fibers, which can be used for making wipes (e.g., antimicrobial wipes), wherein the include: an aliphatic polyester; an unreacted epoxidized fatty ester having greater than 4.7 wt-% oxirane oxygen, based on the total weight of the epoxidized fatty ester; wherein the aliphatic polyester and unreacted epoxidized fatty ester form a mixture.
US09982126B2 Resin composition for sealing electrical electronic parts, method of producing electrical electronic parts, and sealed electrical electronic parts
Provided is a sealant for electrical and electronic parts having excellent fire resistance and adhesiveness, and provided are a method for manufacturing a sealant for electrical and electronic parts suitable therefor and a resin composition for sealing electrical and electronic parts. A resin composition for sealing electrical and electronic parts containing: a polyester (A) obtained by copolymerizing a polyalkylene glycol component and/or a polylactone component; an epoxy resin (B); a polyolefin resin (C); and a phosphoric acid ester (D).
US09982125B2 Clear semi-crystalline articles with improved heat resistance
A clear, semi-crystalline, strain induced crystallized article comprising at least one polyester which comprises: (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising: i) 95 to 99.99 mole % of terephthalic acid residues; and ii) 0.01 to 5 mole % of isophthalic acid; and (b) a glycol component comprising: i) 4.9 to 10.2 mole % of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and ii) 89.8 to 95.1 mole % of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues, wherein the polyester is solid stated and has an inherent viscosity from 0.76 to 1.1 dL/g and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 90 to 110° C. The article has strain induced crystallinity from 15% to 35% when stretched at a draw ratio of 3 to 4 times at a temperature 10° C. above the Tg or from 23.2% to 35% when stretched at a draw ratio of 3.5 to 4.5 times at a temperature 20° C. above the Tg.
US09982124B2 Photocurable elastomer composition, gasket for hard disk drive, and hard disk drive
Disclosed is a photocurable elastomer composition that exhibits, when cured, excellent flexibility and barrier properties and has low compression set. The photocurable elastomer composition may comprise components (A) to (D) such that the mass ratio of the component (A) to the component (B) ((A):(B)) is from 25:75 to 75:25, and that the content of the component (C) is 50 mass % or less based on the total content of the components (A), (B), and (C).
US09982122B2 Polyolefin blend composition and articles made therefrom
The instant invention provides a polyolefin blend composition, process for producing the same, and articles made therefrom. The polyolefin blend composition according to the present invention comprises: (a) from 75 to 97 percent by weight of one or more random propylene copolymers having a DSC melting point in the range of from 120° C. to 160° C., and a melt flow rate (MFR) in the range of from 1 to 120 g/10 minutes; (b) from 3 to 25 percent by weight of one or more ethylene ?-olefin copolymers having a melt index (I2) in the range of from 100 to 1500 g/10 minutes, a density in the range of 0.860 to 0.910 g/cm3, and a molecular weight (Mw) in the range of from 10,000 to 50,000 g/mole, wherein said ethylene ?-olefin copolymer is homogenously branched copolymer, and wherein said ethylene ?-olefin copolymer is linear or substantially linear; (c) optionally from 5 to 15 percent by weight of one or more propylene ?-olefin interpolymers having a DSC melting point in the range of less than 110° C., a heat of fusion in the range of less than 50 Joules/gram, and a crystallinity in the range of from at least 1 percent by to 40 percent by weight, and a melt flow rate in the range of less than 80 g/10 minutes.
US09982120B2 Polypropylene compositions
The present disclosure relates to a heterophasic polypropylene compositions comprising 78-85% by weight of a propylene homopolymer or copolymer matrix with up to 2.0% by weight of ethylene units, 15-22% by weight of an elastomeric ethylene-propylene copolymer and a clarifying agent. The composition has an intrinsic viscosity of the xylene soluble fraction at room temperature of from 0.5 to 1.5 dl/g and a melt flow rate (230° C., 2.16 kg) of 0.5 to 10 g/10 min. The compositions of the present disclosure can be used to prepare sheets for thermoforming applications.
US09982119B2 Flame retardant resin composition and cable using the same
In a flame retardant resin composition containing a polyolefin resin, a silicone-based compound blended at a ratio of 1.5 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, a fatty acid containing compound blended at a ratio of 5 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, and an inorganic flame retardant blended at a ratio of 5 parts by mass or more and 40 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, the decomposition onset temperature of the inorganic flame retardant is lower than the decomposition onset temperature of the silicone-based compound.
US09982116B2 Tire rubber composition and pneumatic tire
Provided are a tire rubber composition capable of producing a pneumatic tire having excellent rigidity and wear resistance and a pneumatic tire using the same. The tire rubber composition includes 100 parts by mass of a diene rubber (A) and from 1 to 50 parts by mass of elastic microparticles (B), wherein the elastic microparticles (B) have a form of microparticles obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable oligomer or polymer (b1) in water or an organic solvent, or in the diene rubber (A), and have an average particle size of from 0.001 to 100 μm, the JIS A hardness of a cured product obtained by crosslinking the crosslinkable oligomer or polymer (b1) without use of water, the organic solvent or the diene rubber (A) is greater than 45, and the elongation of the cured product is 200% or greater.
US09982115B2 Process for preparing blends of cis-1,4-polybutadiene and syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene
A process for preparing a blend of cis-1,4-polybutadiene and syndiotactic 1,2 polybutadiene, the process comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in the presence of a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a polymerization mixture including cis-1,4-polybutadiene, and (ii) polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in the presence of a cobalt-based catalyst within the polymerization mixture including cis-1,4-polybutadiene to form syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and thereby produce a blend of cis-1,4-polybutadiene and syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene.
US09982111B2 One-part moisture-curable polyurethane composition
A one-part moisture-curable polyurethane composition according to the present technology comprises: a urethane prepolymer (A), a crosslinking agent (B), carbon black (C) and a catalyst (D). The crosslinking agent (B) is at least one type selected from the group consisting of isocyanurate of hexamethylene diisocyanate (b1), allophanate of hexamethylene diisocyanate (b2), a reaction product of hexamethylene diisocyanate with trimethylolpropane (b3), and a reaction product of hexamethylene diisocyanate with glycerin (b4). The content of the crosslinking agent (B) is from 8 to 20 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the urethane prepolymer (A).
US09982103B2 Polyimide and polyimide film comprising the same
This invention relates to polyimide, which includes amorphous silica particles having OH groups thereon and is thus highly heat-resistant, colorless and transparent, and to a polyimide film manufactured using the polyimide.
US09982102B2 Photocurable composition and method of manufacturing film using the composition
Provided are a photocurable composition having high filling property and capable of reducing a mold release force upon production of a film through the utilization of a photo-imprint method, and a method of manufacturing a film using the photocurable composition. The photocurable composition is a photocurable composition, including at least the following component (A) to component (C): (A) a polymerizable compound; (B) a photopolymerization initiator; and (C) a surfactant represented by the following general formula (1): Rf1-Rc-X.  (1)
US09982098B2 Performance APAO hot melt adhesives containing high melt flow rate hydrogenated styrene block copolymers
Adding a compatible high melt flow rate (MFR), low melt viscosity, hydrogenated styrene block copolymer to amorphous poly alpha-olefins (APAOs) results in adhesives that show acceptably high elongation and tensile strength, and which, when applied by different hot melt application methods onto elastic strands, result in personal hygiene article components that perform comparably to such components assembled using just styrene block copolymer components formulated with compatible tackifiers, processing oils and other additives.
US09982096B2 Flame retardant precursors, polymers prepared from such precursors, and flame resistant fabrics treated with such polymers
A composition comprises at least one condensed phosphorus compound. The condensed phosphorus compound is produced by reacting together in a condensation reaction a nitrogen compound and a phosphonium compound. A phosphorus-containing polymer is produced by reacting in a condensation reaction a hydroxyalkylphosphonium compound to produce an intermediate polymer and then oxidizing phosphorus atoms in the intermediate polymer to yield a polymer comprising phosphine oxide groups.
US09982095B2 Substituted organopolysiloxanes and use thereof
The invention relates to new compounds of Formula 1: wherein R, R1, are each independently hydrogen, a linear or branched C1-40 alkyl, C2-40-alkenyl or C2-40-alkynyl group, an aryl or C1-40-alkylaryl group; X is H, OH, O(Mn)1/n or R4 where M is a metal ion derived from a lanthanide, actinide, main group or transition metal and V is a substituted C1-40-alkyl, C2-40-alkenyl or C2-40-alkynyl group or an aryl group or C1-40-alkylaryl sulfide, sulfoxide, sulfone, amine or a polyalkyl amine or phosphine or other phosphorous containing group; R4 is a linear or branched C1-40 alkyl, C2-40-alkenyl or C2-40-alkynyl group, an aryl or C1-40-alkylaryl group; e is an integer from 0 to 2; f is an integer from 1 to 100; n is an integer from 1 to 4: the free valences of the silicate oxygen atoms are saturated by one or more of: silicon atoms of other groups of Formula 1, hydrogen, a linear or branched C1-12-alkyl group or by cross-linking bridge members or by polymer chains (R2)2Si(OR3)1O1/2 or (R2)2SiO2/2 or (R2)3SiO1/2 or R2qTi(OR3)mOk/2 or Al(OR3)3−pOp/2 or R2Al(OR3)2−rOr/2; where R3 is a linear or branched C1- 12-alkyl group; and R2 is a linear or branched C1-6-alkyl group; k is an integer from 1 to 4 and q is an integer from 0 to 3 and m is an integer from 0 to 3; such that m+k+q=4; p is an integer from 1 to 3; and r is an integer from 1 to 2: a, b, c and d are integers such that the ratio of a:b varies from 0.00001 to 100,000 and in the formula AaBbCcDd where A represents [O3/2SiCH2CH2S(O)e(CRR1)fS(O)eX], B represents [(O3/2SiCH2CH2S(O)e(CRR1)fS(O)eCH2CH2Si(O3/2)], C represents [O4/2Si] and D represents [O3/2SiV] both A and B are always present. The compounds are useful as scavengers for the removal of unwanted organic and inorganic compounds, for solid phase extraction, for solid phase synthesis, for catalysis, for metal ion abstraction and for the immobilisation of bio-molecules. In addition, the compounds have high chemical and thermal stability, fixed and rigid structures, are insoluble in organic solvents, high resistance to ageing, and can easily be purified and reused.
US09982093B2 Methods for producing nylon 7
Nylon 7 may be produced from biomass derived 6-carbon hydroxymethyl furan compounds as the raw material. The hydroxymethyl furan compounds may be homologated to form an aldehyde that may be aminated to produce an amino carbonyl compound. Hydrogenation/hydro-deoxygenation of the amino-carbonyl compound provides nylon 7.
US09982090B2 Method for manufacturing polydioxanone particles for filler
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing polydioxanone particles (PDO) for a filler, more particularly to a method for manufacturing polydioxanone particles, which includes a step of mixing a solution of polydioxanone dissolved in a perfluoroalcohol with a polymer emulsion containing a polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide terpolymer at a predetermined ratio to generate polydioxanone particles and then recovering the polydioxanone particles through aging and washing. The polydioxanone particles manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention can be favorably used as an injection for regenerating skin tissues.
US09982087B2 Method for producing compound
A method is provided for producing a compound, including a step of mixing a compound (1) having one or two leaving groups, a compound (2) having one or two boron atom-containing leaving groups, an organic base (P), and at least one selected from a phase transfer catalyst and an organic base (Q) larger in the number of carbon atoms than the above-mentioned organic base in the presence of a transition metal catalyst. The method thereby performs a coupling reaction between the above-mentioned compound (1) and the above-mentioned compound (2).
US09982083B2 Polyiso-urea
A composition for forming a polyiso-urea includes a capped polycarbodiimide and a polyol. The capped polycarbodiimide comprises the reaction product of a diisocyanate and a monoisocyanate in the presence of an oxygen scavenger and a carbodiimidization catalyst and in the absence of solvent, has 0.25 wt. % or less of free isocyanate groups, and is a liquid at 25° C. A polyiso-urea comprises the reaction product of the capped polycarbodiimide and the polyol.
US09982080B2 Photocurable composition and hard coating agent
A photocurable composition contains at least one ultraviolet absorber represented by Formula (1), and a hard coating agent including the photocurable composition. wherein R1, R2 and R3 may be the same as or different from each other and represent a branched or linear alkyl group with 1-20 carbon atoms and is substituted with a (meth)acryloyloxy group; the alkyl group may be substituted with a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group having 1-8 carbon atoms, or an acyloxy group having 1-8 carbon atoms; the alkyl group may be interrupted by an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a carbonyl group, an ester group, an amide group, or an imide group; and R4, R5 and R6 may be the same as or different from each other and represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1-12 carbon atoms.
US09982078B2 Copolymer containing residues of vinylbenzyl halide and vinylbenzyl alcohol and synthesis thereof, porous structure comprising the copolymer and production thereof, and porous carbon sphere
A copolymer, a method for producing the copolymer, a porous structure formed by the copolymer, a method for producing the porous structure, and a porous carbon sphere formed by carbonizing the porous structure are shown. The copolymer has a chemical structure of formula (1) or (2): wherein the molecular weight of the copolymer structure is 120,000 or less g/mole, m and t are both greater than 0, 8%≤p≤80%, y≥0, z≥0, and X is selected from —Cl, —Br and —I.
US09982077B2 High density rotomolding resin
The present disclosure provides high density polyethylene resins having good low temperature impact resistance. The resins are suitable for use in rotomolding application for large parts. The resin is a bi- or trimodal resin produced using solution phase polymerization in the presence of a single site catalyst.
US09982076B2 Supported bis phenolate transition metals complexes, production and use thereof
A catalyst system including the reaction product of a fluorided support, an activator, and at least a first transition metal catalyst compound; methods of making such catalyst systems, polymerization processes using such catalyst systems, and polymers made therefrom.
US09982071B2 Cyclic olefin compound having photoreactive group and photoreactive polymer
There are provided a novel cyclic olefin compound having a photoreactive group and a photoreactive polymer. The cyclic olefin compound is applicable to various photoreactions, such as of liquid crystal alignment layers and can be preferably used as a precursor of various organic compounds or polymers.
US09982058B2 Anti-JAG1 antibody compositions and methods for treatment of hepatic cancers
The present invention relates to methods of treating liver cancer using a Notch signaling inhibitor. Compositions and methods for the treatment of liver cancers are also provided.
US09982055B2 Antibody against the CSF-1R
The present invention provides antibodies specific for the CSF-1R, compositions comprising said antibodies and methods of treatment using such compositions.
US09982054B2 ST2 antigen binding proteins
Described herein are compositions and methods related to antigen binding proteins that bind to human ST2, including antibodies. In particular embodiments, the disclosure provides fully human anti-ST2 antibodies and deriviatives and variants thereof. Further provided are nucleic acids encoding such antibodies and antibody fragments, variants, and derivatives. Also, provided are methods of making and using such antibodies including methods of treating and preventing autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
US09982051B2 Reducing systemic regulatory T cell levels or activity for treatment of disease and injury of the CNS
A pharmaceutical composition comprising an active agent that causes reduction of the level of systemic immunosuppression in an individual for use in treating a disease, disorder, condition or injury of the CNS that does not include the autoimmune neuroinflammatory disease, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), is provided. The pharmaceutical composition is for administration by a dosage regimen comprising at least two courses of therapy, each course of therapy comprising in sequence a treatment session followed by an interval session of non-treatment.