| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09996543B2 |
Compression and optimization of a specified schema that performs analytics on data within data systems
A system optimizes performance of analytics and includes at least one processor. The system analyzes a specification of an analytic produced in accordance with a schema, where the specification indicates a set of conditions for members of a population to determine the analytic. The system compresses the specification by modifying constructs within the specification to produce a compressed specification of a reduced size and complying with the schema, where modifying the constructs within the specification includes removing duplicate portions, combining logical conditions, and removing portions with unused data. The system further performs the analytic based on the compressed specification. Embodiments further include a method and computer program product for optimizing performance of analytics in substantially the same manner as the system. |
| US09996538B2 |
Effects application based on object clustering
A system in accordance with the present invention may include one or more processors, memory that receives instructions from the one or more processors according to a clock operating at a frequency, one or more programs stored in the memory, with instructions to: access media content; analyze the media content according to meta data, media characteristics, or other media-related data; and, create a media content object cluster according to the meta data, the media characteristics, or the other media-related data. |
| US09996537B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic narrative creation
A clustering module in communication with a processor and a memory may be configured to receive a dataset comprising a plurality of media elements each comprising metadata and organize the plurality of media elements into a plurality of clusters based on the metadata, the plurality of clusters being organized into a clustering tree. A narrative module in communication with the processor and the memory may be configured to create a narrative comprising a plurality of the media elements arranged into a narrative sequence, the narrative sequence being structured according to the clustering tree and for a predetermined duration, thereby transforming media elements into a narrative. |
| US09996531B1 |
Conversational understanding
Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, mediums, and systems for managing a conversation. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented input interface is provided to receive an input comprising information in natural language. A dialog manager is configured to determine an intent of the input, determine information to fulfill the intent, and identify one or both of information available to the dialog manager or information that is unavailable to the dialog manager. A conversational understanding document documents the intent and the identified information. An output interface forwards the conversational understanding document towards a task completion handler separate and distinct from the dialog manager. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09996518B2 |
Inserting new elements in a tabular data structure
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method to quickly insert new rows or columns in a tabular data structure (such as a spreadsheet, or a table). The user expands a row height (or a column width). The expanded row (or column width) is automatically displayed with proposed divisions (for example, represented with dashed lines). The user indicates acceptance of the proposed divisions. The expanded row (or column) is automatically divided into multiple rows (or columns) as indicated by the proposed divisions. |
| US09996515B2 |
Collaboration using multiple editors or versions of a feature
A system is provided in which access to documents and collaboration across varied platforms and feature versions is supported. A conversion and merge services is described that enables a client device to display documents irrespective of the original file format and re-integrate into the original document the modifications of the displayed document. The displayed document (as a whole or in parts) can be imported and converted to the file format of the original document before the changes are compared and merged into the original document. A set of application programming interfaces are also provided that perform certain tasks, such as highlight, comment, or format. |
| US09996513B2 |
Flexible analytics-driven webpage design and optimization
In an approach for selecting a version of a webpage to present to a user, a processor receives a request to access a webpage from a device, wherein the webpage includes a plurality of versions of the webpage. A processor receives information about the device. A processor determines a version of the webpage to present, based on the information about the device and a predefined goal associated with the webpage. A processor causes the version of the webpage to be presented. |
| US09996511B2 |
Free form website structure design
Website structure creation. A site navigation structure sketch is created by a free-form drawing using a drawing tool being executed on a computing device. The site navigation structure sketch is stored in pixel form, and processed by transforming the site navigation structure sketch by vectorizing the sketch into a predefined structured representation. A site navigation structure is created based on the predefined structured representation, and the site navigation structure is integrated into a web portal site structure. |
| US09996510B2 |
Document extension in dictation-based document generation workflow
An automatic speech recognizer is used to produce a structured document representing the contents of human speech. A best practice is applied to the structured document to produce a conclusion, such as a conclusion that required information is missing from the structured document. Content is inserted into the structured document based on the conclusion, thereby producing a modified document. The inserted content may be obtained by prompting a human user for the content and receiving input representing the content from the human user. |
| US09996503B2 |
Signal processing method and device
A method for processing an audio signal, including: sound is converted to an analog audio input signal and converted into a digital audio signal; a windowed time domain signal is obtained and then a twiddled signal is obtained; the twiddled signal is pre-rotated and then an FFT is performed; an in-place fixed rotate compensation is performed on the FFT signal and then an post-rotated is performed; a quantized signal is obtained and then wrote into a bitstream for transmitting or storing. |
| US09996502B2 |
High-dimensional systems databases for real-time prediction of interactions in a functional system
Computerized techniques can be used for algorithmically determining the composition of elements in a functional system represented in n-dimensional space using a logical data model. Functional attributes can be assigned to an element corresponding to a data entity in a logical data model that comprises at least two fields ordered by a set of interrelationships among at least two elements in the underlying functional system, the interrelationships corresponding to functional properties of a process converting a set of input elements to a set of output elements |
| US09996495B2 |
Advanced PCI express board assembly
An advanced PCI Express board assembly is intended for efficiently placing more electronic components or modules having a large height (up to 8.57 mm) in comparison with traditional PCI Express add-in boards. This assembly comprises two PCBs connected together. The first one has the minimum possible sizes. This PCB includes a PCI Express male edge connector and is intended to be plugged in to motherboard female PCI Express connector. The second PCB is parallel to first one and is located in the middle of the space (slot) defined for one add-in PCI Express board. This position makes possible to place high electronic components or modules on the both sides (top and bottom) of the second PCB. |
| US09996491B2 |
Network interface controller with direct connection to host memory
A network interface device for a host computer includes a network interface, configured to transmit and receive data packets to and from a network. Packet processing logic transfers data to and from the data packets transmitted and received via the network interface by direct memory access (DMA) from and to a system memory of the host computer. A memory controller includes a first memory interface configured to be connected to the system memory and a second memory interface, configured to be connected to a host complex of the host computer. Switching logic alternately couples the first memory interface to the packet processing logic in a DMA configuration and to the second memory interface in a pass-through configuration. |
| US09996489B2 |
Memory aggregation device
The invention relates to a memory aggregation device for storing a set of input data streams and retrieving data to a set of output data streams, the memory aggregation device comprising: a set of first-in first-out (FIFO) memories each comprising an input and an output; an input interconnector configured to interconnect each one of the set of input data streams to each input of the set of FIFO memories according to an input interconnection matrix; an output interconnector configured to interconnect each output of the set of FIFO memories to each one of the set of output data streams according to an output interconnection matrix; an input selector; an output selector; and a memory controller. |
| US09996486B2 |
Data transfer rate adjustment
A storage device may be configured to adjust a frequency of a clock signal. The clock signal may be associated with a data transfer rate of data to be communicated between a controller and a memory of the storage device. In some implementations, the frequency maybe adjusted responsive to at least one of a supply voltage provided to the storage device, a temperature of the storage device, or a physical characteristic of the storage device. |
| US09996482B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and storage medium
When an instruction to access a web server of an external device connected via a local interface is acquired from a user, access destination information for accessing the web server via the local interface is acquired. Based on the acquired access destination information, communication is performed with the web server of the external device via the local interface. |
| US09996480B2 |
Resilient device authentication system with metadata binding
A resilient device authentication system for use with one or more managed devices each including a physical unclonable function (PUF), comprises: one or more verification authorities (VA) each including a processor and a memory loaded with a complete verification set (CVS) that includes hardware part-specific data associated with the managed devices' PUFs and metadata, the processor configured to create a limited verification set (LVS) through one-way algorithmic transformation of hardware part-specific data together with metadata from the loaded CVS so as to create a LVS representing both metadata and hardware part-specific data adequate to redundantly verify all of the hardware parts associated with the LVS; and one or more provisioning entities (PE) each connectable to a VA and including a processor and a memory loaded with a LVS, and configured to select a subset of the LVS so as to create an application limited verification set (ALVS). The system may also comprise one or more device management systems each connectable to a PE and to managed devices and including a memory configured to store an ALVS. The VA may also be configured to create a replacement LVS. |
| US09996477B2 |
Asynchronous drive telemetry data notification
A method is disclosed that includes, generating, by a controller of a storage device, telemetry data associated with the storage device and stored in a memory device of the storage device. The method further includes determining, by the controller, a telemetry data loss warning condition indicating that a portion of the telemetry data is predicted to be overwritten in the memory device by more recent telemetry data. In response to determining the telemetry data loss warning condition, the controller transmits, to a host device, an asynchronous event notification indicating the telemetry data loss warning condition. |
| US09996470B2 |
Workload management in a global recycle queue infrastructure
Presented herein are methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and devices for integrating a workload management scheme for a file system buffer cache with a global recycle queue infrastructure. Methods for allocating a certain portion of the buffer cache without physically partitioning the buffer resources are disclosed which include: identifying a workload from a plurality of workloads; allocating the buffer cache in the data storage network for usage by the identified workload; tagging a buffer from within the buffer cache with a workload identifier and track each buffer; determining if the workload is exceeding its allocated buffer cache; and wherein determining the workload is exceeding its allocated percentage of buffer cache, enabling the workload's exceeded buffer to be available to scavenge; determining if the workload is exceeding a soft-limit on the allowable usage of the buffer cache, and wherein determining the workload is exceeding its soft-limit, degrading the prioritization of subsequent buffers, preventing the workload from thrashing out buffers of other workloads. |
| US09996469B2 |
Methods for prefetching data and apparatuses using the same
The invention introduces a method for prefetching data, which contains at least the following steps: receiving a first read request and a second read request from a first LD/ST (Load/Store) queue and a second LD/ST queue, respectively, in parallel; obtaining a first cache-line number and a first offset from the first read request and a second cache-line number of a second offset from the second read request in parallel; obtaining a third cache-line number from a cache-line number register; obtaining a third offset from an offset register; determining whether an offset trend is formed according to the first to third cache-line numbers and the first to third offsets; and directing an L1 (Level-1) data cache to prefetch data of a cache line when the offset trend is formed. |
| US09996457B2 |
Efficient buffering for a system having non-volatile memory
Systems and methods are disclosed for efficient buffering for a system having non-volatile memory (“NVM”). In some embodiments, a control circuitry of a system can use heuristics to determine whether to perform buffering of one or more write commands received from a file system. In other embodiments, the control circuitry can minimize read energy and buffering overhead by efficiently re-ordering write commands in a queue along page-aligned boundaries of a buffer. In further embodiments, the control circuitry can optimally combine write commands from a buffer with write commands from a queue. After combining the commands, the control circuitry can dispatch the commands in a single transaction. |
| US09996456B2 |
Solid-state disk, and user system comprising same
The inventive concept relates to a user system including a solid state disk. The user system may include a main memory for storing data processed by a central processing unit; and a solid state disk for storing the selected data among data stored in the main memory. The main memory and the solid state disk form a single memory hierarchy. Thus, the user system of the inventive concept can rapidly process data. |
| US09996450B2 |
Transferring application software between virtual machines
A method and apparatus for testing application software for installation on hardware platforms. A software tool is qualified using a tool qualifier module running on a first virtual computer system having a configuration that comprises a processor of first processor type and a first virtual machine emulating a processor of second processor type. A benchmark performance is established for the first virtual machine. A second virtual computer system has a configuration that comprises a processor of third type and a second virtual machine emulating the processor of the second processor type. The second virtual machine is verified using a qualifier module to determine whether its performance is consistent with the benchmark performance to form a qualified second virtual machine. After the tool has been qualified, the tool is transferred from the first virtual machine to the qualified second virtual machine without needing to be requalified. |
| US09996448B2 |
Breakpoint insertion into kernel pages
A method includes, with a hypervisor, receiving a first request from a guest to write a first piece of data to a first memory location within a kernel code page. The method further includes determining that the first request triggers a violation based on a kernel protection mechanism, and in response to determining that the first request triggers the violation, determining that the first piece of data includes a breakpoint. The method further includes, in response to determining that the first piece of data includes the breakpoint, copying a second piece of data currently stored at the first memory location to a second memory location within non-guest writeable memory and overwriting the first memory location with the first piece of data. |
| US09996446B2 |
User experience diagnostics with actionable insights
The performance of computer system responses to user requests is measured and evaluated in the context of physical computing resource operation. Diagnostic information related to computer system performance is selectively provided based the measured performance and physical computing resource operation. |
| US09996443B2 |
User action duration
In one implementation, a system for user action duration includes a monitor engine to monitor a number of async operations to be loaded on a user interface, a detection engine to determine a repeating async operation from the number of async operations that has a pattern of repeating timeouts, a removal engine to remove the repeating async operation from the number of async operations, and a calculation engine to calculate a total time for the remaining number of async operations based on a total timeout of each of the remaining number of async operations. |
| US09996435B2 |
Reliability scheme using hybrid SSD/HDD replication with log structured management
In one embodiment, a method of managing data includes storing a first copy of data in a solid state memory using a controller of the solid state memory, and storing a second copy of the data in a hard disk drive memory using the controller. Write requests are served substantially simultaneously at both the solid state memory and the hard disk drive memory under control of the controller. In another embodiment, a system for storing data includes a solid state memory, at least one hard disk drive memory, and a controller for controlling storage of data in both the solid state memory and the hard disk drive memory. Other methods, systems, and computer program products are also described according to various embodiments. |
| US09996434B2 |
Data mirror volume verification
For volume verification, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a data mirror that generates volume pairs of first and second volumes by mirroring track data from first volumes stored by a first device to second volumes as mirrored track data stored by a second device. The apparatus includes an activity monitor that monitors update activities for volume pairs and identifies volume pairs having substantial residual counts of update activities as indicated by a pre-determined residual count threshold. The apparatus includes a data verifier that selects one or more identified volume pairs for evaluation, compares the track data in the first volume to the mirrored track data in the second volume, and if a match discrepancy is determined, then re-copies the track data from the first volume to the second volume so as to correct and repair the mirrored track data in the second volume. |
| US09996431B2 |
Architecture and apparatus for advanced arbitration in embedded controls
A method of arbitrating conflicting outputs in a redundant control system. Execution data of a task executed by each controller in the redundant control system is recorded. The execution data includes an initial timestamp of each execution stream, identification of critical functions in each execution stream, and parameter values used by the critical functions. A path executed by each controller is identified based only on the critical functions executed for each execution stream. The recorded execution data of each executed path is applied to an arbitration module. An output result from one of the respective controllers selecting, by an arbitration module, based on the recorded execution data of each executed path. The output result of the selected controller is communicated to a next module for further processing. |
| US09996427B2 |
Parallel backup for distributed database system environments
The capability to perform data backup and restore within a distributed database system environment is provided. The embodiments includes initiating a backup operation of a database distributed across a plurality of nodes, and coordinating synchronization of the backup operation within and among the plurality of nodes for parallel, local data dumping with transactional consistency to a single point in time. |
| US09996426B1 |
Sparse segment trees for high metadata churn workloads
Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing data storage services of a storage system are described. In one embodiment, a first file representing a first full backup including data and metadata describing the data is cached as a first segment tree having a plurality of layers of nodes in a tree hierarchy. A second file representing an incremental backup of the first full backup is cached as a second segment tree in the cache memory device. The second segment tree describes changes of the data and the metadata of the incremental backup in view of the data and the metadata of the first full backup without caching any of nodes of the first segment tree again. The first and second segment trees are collectively used to represent a second full backup based on the incremental backup and the first full backup. |
| US09996425B2 |
System and method for agentless backup of virtual machines
A system and method is disclosed for performing agentless backup of a virtual machine using a temporary attached virtual disk. An example method includes creating a virtual machine disk in a datastore, loading a software application in the virtual machine disk, the software application being configured to collect metadata relating to at least one application executing in an operating system of the virtual machine, communicatively coupling the datastore to the virtual machine, collecting the metadata relating to the at least one application executing in the operating system of the virtual machine, generating a snapshot of the virtual machine, and storing a backup of the virtual machine in a backup archive based on the snapshot. |
| US09996424B2 |
Splitting a clone having snapshots from a parent
A method, system, and program product is provided for splitting a clone object from a parent object when the clone object includes at least one snapshot. A mapping is created of a source data block from the parent object to a destination data block in the clone object. A creation generation in the mapped source data block is compared to an isolate generation in the destination data block in the clone object. Inherited data blocks in the clone object are isolated from the parent object, based on the creation generation differing from the isolate generation. The destination block is updated with the mapping information. |
| US09996418B2 |
Error-correction encoding and decoding
A data encoding method includes storing K input data symbols; assigning the symbols to respective symbol locations in a notional square array, having n rows and n columns of locations, to define a plurality of k-symbol words in respective rows; encoding the words by encoding rows and columns of the array dependent on a product code having identical row and column codes, each being a reversible error-correction code of dimension k and length n=2n′, thereby to define a codeword, having n2 code symbols corresponding to respective locations of the array, of a quarter product code defined by CQ={X−XT−(X−XT)F: X∈C} where X is an n by n-symbol matrix defining a codeword of the product code, XT is the transpose matrix of X, and (X−XT)F is a reflection of matrix (X−XT) in the anti-diagonal thereof. |
| US09996414B2 |
Auto-disabling DRAM error checking on threshold
An aspect includes a method for auto-disabling dynamic random access memory (DRAM) error checking based on a threshold. A method includes receiving data at a DRAM from a memory controller and executing error checking logic based on the data. The error checking logic detects an error condition in the data and it is determined, at the DRAM, whether detecting the error condition in the data causes an error threshold to be reached. The error checking logic is disabled at the DRAM in response to determining that detecting the error condition in the data causes the error the error threshold to be reached. The error condition is communicated to the memory controller in response to determining that detecting the error condition does not cause the error threshold to be reached. |
| US09996411B1 |
In-channel memory mirroring
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, program products, and systems for improving DIMM level memory mirroring. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to configure a first memory module device of a pair memory module devices to receive a set of read and write operations and configure a second memory module device of the pair of memory module devices to receive only write operations of the set of read and write operations. Embodiments of the present invention can, responsive to detecting a failure, reconfiguring the first and the second memory module device to set the first memory module device to receive only write operations of the set of read and write operations and the second memory module device to receive read and write operations of the set of read and write operations. |
| US09996406B2 |
Machining program processing apparatus
To provide a machining program processing apparatus capable of preventing an increase in the program correction time or does not let the program correction time go to waste. A machining program processing apparatus includes: a grammar checking unit executing grammar check of a machining program; a transmission processing unit transmitting the machining program to an external device; and a deletion processing unit deleting the machining program, wherein, when a transmission request of the machining program including a grammar error is received, the transmission processing unit confirms whether the transmission is to be permitted or not. |
| US09996404B2 |
Message cache management for message queues
A method and apparatus for message cache management for message queues is provided. A plurality of messages from a plurality of enqueuers are enqueued in a queue comprising one or more shards, each shard comprising one or more subshards. A message cache is maintained in memory. Enqueuing a message includes enqueuing the message in a current subshard of a particular shard, which includes storing the message in a cached subshard corresponding to the current subshard of the particular shard. For each dequeuer-shard pair, a dequeue rate is determined. Estimated access time data is generated that includes an earliest estimated access time for each of a plurality of subshards based on the dequeuer-shard pair dequeue rates. A set of subshards is determined for storing as cached subshards in the message cache based on the earliest estimated access times for the plurality of subshards. |
| US09996402B2 |
System and method for implementing scalable adaptive reader-writer locks
NUMA-aware reader-writer locks may leverage lock cohorting techniques and may support reader re-entrancy. They may implement a delayed sleep mechanism by which a thread that fails to acquire a lock spins briefly, hoping the lock will be released soon, before blocking on the lock (sleeping). The maximum spin time may be based on the time needed to put a thread to sleep and wake it up. If a lock holder is not executing on a processor, an acquiring thread may go to sleep without first spinning. Threads put in a sleep state may be placed on a turnstile sleep queue associated with the lock. When a writer thread that holds the lock exits a critical section protected by the lock, it may wake all sleeping reader threads and one sleeping writer thread. Reader threads may increment and decrement node-local reader counters upon arrival and departure, respectively. |
| US09996400B2 |
Multi-CPU system and multi-CPU system scaling method
In an asymmetric multi-CPU system on which a plurality of type of CPUs with different data processing performance and power consumption are mounted in groups for each type, a plurality of forms of combination of the types and numbers of CPUs are defined in such a way that the maximum numbers of the overall data processing and power consumption very by stages. Then, the system performs a control of allocation of the data processing to the CPU identified by the form selected from the definition information according to the data processing environment, in order to reduce unnecessary power consumption according to the data processing environment, such as data processing load, and to easily achieve the required data processing performance. |
| US09996398B2 |
Application processor and system on chip
An application processor includes a first core and a second core. The first core is configured to implement a scheduler which monitors a workload of a task of the first core, and the first core is further configured to implement an idle checker which determines whether the second core is idle. |
| US09996394B2 |
Scheduling accelerator tasks on accelerators using graphs
An application programming interface is provided that allows programmers to encapsulate snippets of executable code of a program into accelerator tasks. A graph is generated with a node corresponding to each of the accelerator tasks with edges that represent the data flow and data dependencies between the accelerator tasks. The generated graph is used by a scheduler to schedule the execution of the accelerator tasks across multiple accelerators. The application programming interface further provides an abstraction of the various memories of the accelerators called a datablock. The programmer can store and use data stored on the datablocks without knowing where on the accelerators the data is stored. The application programming interface can further schedule the execution of accelerator tasks to minimize the amount of data that is copied to and from the accelerators based on the datablocks and the generated graph. |
| US09996393B2 |
Dynamic virtual processor manager
A method, program product, and system is provided for dynamic virtual processor management in a computer having a plurality of concurrent multi-threaded physical processors. A workload is assigned to a first virtual processor manager pool based on a virtual processor manager mode of the first virtual processor manager pool. A current utilization ratio and a response time ratio for the workload are calculated. The workload is dynamically moved to a second virtual processor manager pool based on either the current utilization ratio or the response time ratio exceeding a configurable threshold. The workload is dynamically moved between virtual processor manager pools to realize target performance metric requirements. |
| US09996390B2 |
Method and system for performing adaptive context switching
Exemplary embodiments provide a method for managing a transaction for a memory module in a computer system. The memory modules have latencies. A busyness level of the memory module for the transaction is determined. A projected response time for the transaction is predicted based on the busyness level. In some embodiments whether to perform a context switching for the transaction is determined based on the projected response time and context switching policies. The context switching may be performed based on this determination. |
| US09996389B2 |
Dynamic optimization of workload execution based on statistical data collection and updated job profiling
Embodiments presented herein provide techniques for optimizing parallel data flows of a batch processing job using a profile of the processing job. An application retrieves a job profile for a processing job. The processing job has a plurality of processing stages specified in an execution profile. The job profile includes statistical data for at least one of the processing stages obtained during prior executions of the job. The application modifies properties of the execution profile based on the job profile to optimize the execution of the job. The application executes the processing job with the modified execution profile. |
| US09996387B2 |
Context switching for computing architecture operating on sequential data
A data stream processing unit (DPU) and methods for its use and programming are disclosed. A DPU includes a number of processing elements (PEs) arranged in a physical sequence. Each datum in the data stream visits each PE in sequence. Each PE has a memory circuit, data and metadata input and output channels, and a computing circuit. The metadata input represents a partial computational state that is associated with each datum as it passes through the DPU. Each computing circuit implements a finite state machine that operates on the data and metadata inputs as a function of its position in the sequence and a data context, producing an altered partial computational state that accompanies the datum. When the data context changes, the current state of the finite state machine is stored, and a new state is loaded. The processing elements may be collectively programmed to perform any desired computation. |
| US09996384B2 |
Virtual machine homogenization to enable migration across heterogeneous computers
Described is a technology by which a virtual machine may be safely migrated to a computer system with a different platform. Compatibility of the virtual machine may be checked by comparing the virtual machine's capabilities against those of the new platform. To ensure compatibility, when created the virtual machine may have its capabilities limited by the lowest common capabilities of the different platforms available for migration. Computer systems may be grouped into migration pools based upon similar capabilities, and/or a virtual machine may be mapped to certain computer systems based upon capabilities needed by that virtual machine, such as corresponding to needed performance, fault tolerance and/or flexibility. |
| US09996383B2 |
Handling disk state inheritance for forked virtual machines
Techniques for handling inheritance of disk state when forking virtual machines (VMs) are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive a request to fork a child VM from a parent VM. In response, the computer system can take a disk snapshot of the parent VM, where the disk snapshot results in a child disk for the child VM, where the child disk is a delta disk that points to a parent disk of the parent VM, and where the parent disk serves as the parent VM's current running point. The computer system can then determine whether the parent disk is a delta disk. If so, the computer system can copy the content of the parent disk to the child disk, traverse a disk hierarchy associated with the parent disk to identify a base disk above the parent disk in the hierarchy, and cause the child disk to point directly to the base disk. |
| US09996382B2 |
Implementing dynamic cost calculation for SRIOV virtual function (VF) in cloud environments
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing dynamic cost calculation for a Single Root Input/Output Virtualization (SRIOV) virtual function (VF) in cloud environments. A management function periodically queries the SRIOV adapter for activity statistics for each assigned virtual function. The management function builds a usage heuristic based on the resource usage statistics. The management function calculates dynamic cost for the SRIOV VF based on the resource usage statistics. Calculated dynamic costs for the SRIOV VF are provided to a virtual function user and users are enabled to scale their VF resources. The VF resources are selectively scaled-up and scaled-down responsive to user input based upon VF resource usage. |
| US09996380B2 |
System for managing and scheduling containers
A task definition is received. The task definition indicates at least a location from which one or more software image can be obtained and information usable to determine an amount of resources to allocate to one or more software containers for the one or more software image. A set of virtual machine instances in which to launch the one or more software containers is determined, the one or more software image is obtained from the location included in the task definition and is launched as the one or more of software containers within the set of virtual machine instances. |
| US09996373B1 |
Avoiding overloading of network adapters in virtual environments
An approach for avoiding overloads of network adapters. The approach receives one or more requests from one or more virtual machines, wherein the one or more requests are directed to one or more network adapters. The approach determines whether a first network adapter of the one or more network adapters is saturated. Responsive to a determination that the first network adapter is saturated, the approach sends a first busy event to a first virtual machine of the one or more virtual machines. |
| US09996372B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system and program
An information processing apparatus includes a time determination processor which determines a time for acquiring state information on an operation system, from the operation system, on the basis of a processing status of tasks executed by the operation system, the processing status being acquired from the operation system, an information acquisition processor which acquires the state information and stores the state information in a storage, at the determined time for acquiring state information, and an information reply processor which sends back the state information stored in the storage, when an acquisition request for the state information is received from any of one or a plurality of monitoring apparatuses which monitor the operation system. |
| US09996371B2 |
Virtual switching method, related apparatus, and computer system
A virtual switching method, a related apparatus, and a computer system are provided. The method includes receiving a first message sent by a source node, where the first message is used to request a first virtual machine to perform switching processing on to-be-switched data, where the to-be-switched data is sent from the source node to a target node and at least one of the source node and the target node is a second virtual machine; and determining a second message according to an address of the target node contained in the to-be-switched data and a configured port mapping table, and sending the second message, where the second message is used to instruct the target node to acquire the to-be-switched data from a storage device of a hardware layer. |
| US09996360B2 |
Transaction abort instruction specifying a reason for abort
A TRANSACTION ABORT instruction is used to abort a transaction that is executing in a computing environment. The TRANSACTION ABORT instruction includes at least one field used to specify a user-defined abort code that indicates the specific reason for aborting the transaction. Based on executing the TRANSACTION ABORT instruction, a condition code is provided that indicates whether re-execution of the transaction is recommended. |
| US09996355B2 |
Parsing-enhancement facility
An instruction for parsing a buffer to be utilized within a data processing system including: an operation code field, the operation code field identifies the instruction; a control field, the control field controls operation of the instruction; and one or more general registers, wherein a first general register stores an argument address, a second general register stores a function code, a third general register stores length of an argument-character buffer, and the fourth of which contains the address of the function-code data structure. |
| US09996354B2 |
Instruction stream tracing of multi-threaded processors
A method and apparatus for tracing instruction streams for a multi-threaded processor are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a last thread register configured to store a thread index that indicates a last executed thread, a tracing memory configured to store, within each of a plurality of storage locations, state information corresponding to a dispatch cycle for a multi-threaded processor, and a tracing control module configured to provide the state information to the tracing memory. The state information includes instruction information and a previous thread index. The state information may also include a flip bit that is used to determine a current insertion point within the tracing memory. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein. |
| US09996352B1 |
ROM-code programmable digital signal processor
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a processor that includes selectively enabled features are described. According to one embodiment, a processor includes a plurality of processing routines embedded within the processor that when executed cause the processor to implement corresponding processor features. The processor includes a processor engine configured to determine whether a processing routine of the plurality of processing routines is enabled based, at least in part, on a corresponding value in a control register. The processing engine is configured to selectively execute the processing routine based, at least in part, on whether the value indicates that the processing routine is enabled. |
| US09996351B2 |
Power management of branch predictors in a computer processor
A computer processor includes a branch prediction unit that includes a local branch predictor and a global branch predictor. Managing power consumption in such a computer processor includes, for each of a plurality of branch instructions: performing, by the local branch predictor, a local branch prediction; performing, by each of the global branch predictors, a global branch prediction; determining to utilize the local branch prediction over the global branch predictions as a branch prediction for the branch instruction; incrementing a value of a counter; determining whether the value of the counter exceeds a predetermined threshold; and if the value of the counter exceeds the predetermined threshold, powering down at least one of the global branch predictors and configuring the branch prediction unit to bypass the powered down global branch predictor for branch predictions of subsequent branch instructions. |
| US09996345B2 |
Variable length execution pipeline
In an aspect, a pipelined execution resource can produce an intermediate result for use in an iterative approximation algorithm in an odd number of clock cycles. The pipelined execution resource executes SIMD requests by staggering commencement of execution of the requests from a SIMD instruction. When executing one or more operations for a SIMD iterative approximation algorithm, and an operation for another SIMD iterative approximation algorithm is ready to begin execution, control logic causes intermediate results completed by the pipelined execution resource to pass through a wait state, before being used in a subsequent computation. This wait state presents two open scheduling cycles in which both parts of the next SIMD instruction can begin execution. Although the wait state increases latency to complete an in-progress algorithm, a total throughput of execution on the pipeline increases. |
| US09996344B2 |
Customized runtime environment
Methods, systems, and computer program products for creating a customized runtime environment are described. One or more runtime environment capabilities are determined based on a profile. One or more runtime bundles corresponding to the one or more runtime environment capabilities are identified and the identified runtime bundles are assembled. |
| US09996342B2 |
Automatic detection of potential merge errors
In an approach to detection of potential merge errors when merging source code, a computer detects a source code merge process start. The computer compares at least one change made to a main stream of source code to a child stream. The computer determines whether one or more of the at least one change made to the main stream are not included in the child stream. Responsive to determining one or more of the at least one change made to the main stream are not included in the child stream, the computer determines the one or more of the at least one change made to the main stream that are not included in the child stream were removed from the child stream during a software development activity. The computer flags one or more files of the child stream corresponding to the one or more of the at least one change. |
| US09996340B2 |
Identifying user managed software modules
A computer program product for identifying user managed software modules includes program instructions for: receiving a request for a directed load of a software module into memory, wherein the request includes an address; storing the software module at the address in the received request; adding a name and an address range of the stored software module to a data structure identifying software modules that have been loaded into memory via directed loads; receiving a query that includes an input module name or an input address range; and responsive to determining that the input module name or input address range of the received query is not stored in one or more data structures identifying one or more software modules that have been loaded into memory without directed loads, searching the data structure identifying software modules that have been loaded into memory via directed loads for the respective query. |
| US09996333B2 |
Apparatus and method for automating the installation and configuration of infrastructure
Provided are an apparatus for automating the installation and configuration of infrastructure. The apparatus comprises, an installation information management module which receives installation information of an open-source solution and manages the installation information in a tree structure based on a parent-child relationship, an environment setting management module which receives environment setting information of equipment and manages the environment setting information in a tree structure based on a parent-child relationship, and an installation package management module which generates an installation package and an installation automation script using the installation information and the environment setting information. |
| US09996331B1 |
Customized application state transition
An example method for managing application deployment in a cloud environment may maintain a state machine. The state machine may include a plurality of application states, a plurality of state operations, and relationships among the plurality of application states and the plurality of state operations. In response to a client request for performing a deployment operation on an application in the cloud environment, the method may retrieve a current state of the application in the cloud environment. In response to a determination that the deployment operation is allowed based on the state machine and the current state, the method may generate a deployment plan based on a blueprint associated with the application. The blueprint defines how to perform the deployment operation in the cloud environment. |
| US09996329B2 |
Translating atomic read-modify-write accesses
Various systems and methods for translating atomic read-modify-write accesses are described herein. In one example, a method includes determining that a machine instruction of a first language specifies an atomic read-modify-write access. The method includes generating machine instructions of the second language to perform an atomic access for the address if the address is aligned. The method includes generating machine instructions of a second language to acquire a global lock if the address is unaligned. Additionally, the method includes generating machine instructions of the second language to perform a non-atomic access for the address if the address is unaligned. Also, the method includes generating machine instructions of the second language to release the global lock if the address is unaligned. |
| US09996328B1 |
Compiling and optimizing a computer code by minimizing a number of states in a finite machine corresponding to the computer code
Methods and systems for compiling codes from programming languages into programming languages are disclosed. An example method may include acquiring a first code written in a first language. The method allows generating, based on the first code, a first deterministic finite state machine (DFSM). The method includes optimizing the first DFSM to obtain a second DFSM. The method includes generating, based on the second DFSM, a second code. The second code can be written in a second language. Generating the first DFSM includes parsing the first code into a first abstract syntax tree (AST), translating the first AST into a first non-deterministic finite state machine (NFSM), and converting the first NFSM into the first DFSM. Generating the second code includes translating the second DFSM into a second NFSM, translating the second NFSM into a second AST, and recompiling the second AST into a second code. |
| US09996327B2 |
Method, program, and system for code optimization
Method, program and system for code optimization. A sign assignment instruction with identically sized packed decimal format input and output operands is detected where the sign assignment instruction assigns a value of zero to a packed decimal data value input operand having a value of negative zero. If the input operand to the sign assignment instruction does not result from an add or subtract operation, or the value of the input operand is not greater than a value prior to that operation, the possibility that the value of the input operand of the sign assignment instruction is negative zero is checked when the input operand and the output operand have identical addresses. An instruction is generated and inserted for executing the sign assignment instruction only when there is the possibility that the operand value is negative zero. |
| US09996326B2 |
Layered vector architecture compatibility for cross-system portability
An application that includes intrinsics defined in one architecture is to execute without change on a different architecture. Program code that depends on vector element ordering is obtained, and that program code is part of an application including one or more intrinsics. The one or more intrinsics are mapped from a first system architecture for which the application was written to a second system architecture. One or more operations of the program code are then converted from a first data layout to a second data layout. The application, including the mapped intrinsics and the converted data layout, is to be executed on a processor of the different architecture. |
| US09996319B2 |
Floating point (FP) add low instructions functional unit
An example processor includes a register and an ADD low functional unit. The register stores first, second, and third floating point (FP) values. The ADD low functional unit receives a request to perform an ADD low operation and, responsive to the request: adds the first FP value with the second FP value to obtain a first sum value; rounds the first sum value to generate an ADD value; adds the first FP value with the second FP value to obtain a second sum value; subtracts the ADD value from the second sum value to generate a difference value; normalizes the difference value to obtain a normalized difference value; rounds the normalized difference value to generate an ADD low value; and sends the ADD low value to an application. |
| US09996318B2 |
FIFO memory having a memory region modifiable during operation
A FIFO memory having a modifiable memory region; the FIFO memory being configured as a linear memory and as a circular buffer; the FIFO memory having a state machine that contains a new base value and a new top value for definition of a memory region allocated in the future, the lower boundary of which region is defined by the new base value and the upper boundary of which is defined by the new top value, and the state machine is configured in such a way that in a read mode and/or a write mode of the FIFO memory, the allocated memory region of the FIFO memory is modifiable by shifting the base pointer to the new base value, and/or by shifting the top pointer to the new top value. |
| US09996313B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for limiting output volume of a media presentation device
Volume limiting systems and methods are operable to limit volume output from media presentation devices. An exemplary embodiment detects a sound using a microphone, wherein the sound corresponds to an audio output of at least one controlled media presentation device, and wherein the microphone is remotely located from the at least one controlled media presentation device; compares a level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit; generates a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and communicates the volume output limit command to the media presentation device. The media presentation device then reduces a volume level of its audio output. In some instances, volume may be limited during user specified periods. |
| US09996298B2 |
Memory move instruction sequence enabling software control
A processor core of a data processing system, in response to a first instruction, generates a copy-type request specifying a source real address and transmits it to a lower level cache. In response to a second instruction, the processor core generates a paste-type request specifying a destination real address associated with a memory-mapped device and transmits it to the lower level cache. In response to receipt of the copy-type request, the lower level cache copies a data granule from a storage location specified by the source real address into a non-architected buffer. In response to receipt of the paste-type request, the lower level cache issues a command to write the data granule from the non-architected buffer to the memory-mapped device. In response to receipt from the memory-mapped device of a busy response, the processor core abandons the memory move instruction sequence and performs alternative processing. |
| US09996296B2 |
Electronic control unit and method for rewriting data
An electronic control unit includes: a nonvolatile memory capable of erasing data in units of erasure blocks and also writing data in units of write blocks smaller than the erasure blocks; and a processor. In response to a data rewrite request from outside, the processor of the electronic control unit erases data in a portion of the nonvolatile memory in units of erasure blocks and writes data into the portion of the nonvolatile memory in units of write blocks. The amount of data sent to the electronic control unit from outside is thereby decreased and the time needed to rewrite data in the nonvolatile memory is reduced. |
| US09996280B2 |
Data register copying for non-volatile storage array operations
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for data register copying for a non-volatile storage array. An apparatus may include an array of non-volatile storage cells. A set of write buffer data registers may be configured to store target data for a program operation for an array. Write buffer data registers may communicate target data to corresponding columns of an array. A set of shadow data registers may be configured to receive target data from peripheral circuitry for an array. A portion of target data received by a shadow data register may be copied to a corresponding write buffer data register while the shadow data register receives the portion of the target data. |
| US09996279B2 |
Integrity protection for system management mode
Various embodiments are directed to providing integrity protection for a system management mode. During initialization, a hash value of a system management mode control routine may be determined. Subsequently, during operation, the hash value may be compared to a hash value of a system management mode control routine to be executed. The system management mode control routine to be executed may be determined to be authentic if the hash values are the same. |
| US09996278B2 |
Memory device, control method for the memory device, and controller
During normal power operation, an erased free block is prepared in nonvolatile memory so that at least one erased free block is continuously available as a standby block. If a power failure occurs, volatile data and its address conversion information are written into the standby block in the nonvolatile memory. |
| US09996275B2 |
Calculating cutover time in a copy-free transition of storage objects
A transition tool estimates a cutover time in a copy-free transition of storage objects. The transition tool determines how many storage objects of each type of storage object there are to transition from a source storage system to a destination storage system. The transition tool can measure an operation time for both the source storage system and the destination storage system. The transition tool can estimate an export duration using the source storage system operation time, the number of each type of storage object, and a number of operations for that type of storage object. The transition tool can estimate an import duration using the destination storage system operation time, the number of each type of storage object, and a number of operations for that type of storage object. A total cutover time can then be calculated from the export and import durations. |
| US09996271B2 |
Storage controller and method of operating the same
A storage controller includes a co-access pattern mining unit configured to detect co-access patterns of data co-accessed during a particular time duration and to generate co-access groups including a plurality of pieces of data complying with the co-access patterns. The storage controller further include a co-access group matching unit configured to select a co-access group matched with read-requested data, among the generated co-access groups, and a data placement unit configured to store the data included in the selected co-access group in a pre-fetch buffer. |
| US09996269B2 |
Low-latency signature/hash calculation of a stream of data blocks
Method including receiving first and second identification data relative to data blocks to be transmitted via data bus between processor and system memory. Listening data transmitted via data bus to detect block data corresponding to the first or second identification data; storing in a first location of temporary storage a first data block transmitted via bus and corresponding to first identification data; storing in a second location of temporary storage a second data block transmitted via bus and corresponding to the second identification data. The storing of the first and second data blocks being performed without disturbing transfer of the first and second data blocks via data bus. When the first and/or second data blocks are stored in the temporary storage activating their respective signature calculator connected to the location of the temporary storage to compute a signature of the data block, and storing the signature in a result memory. |
| US09996262B1 |
Method and apparatus to abort a command
Systems and methods are disclosed to abort a command at a data storage controller, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a data storage controller configured to receive an abort indicator from a host device, generate an abort tracking indicator at a receiving unit configured to receive commands from the host device, monitor to determine when the selected command is received at the receiving unit based on the abort tracking indicator, and abort the selected command when the selected command is received at the receiving unit. In some embodiments, the data storage controller may generate an abort tracking indicator at a completion unit configured to notify the host device of completed commands, and monitor for the selected command at the completion unit based on the abort tracking indicator. |
| US09996258B2 |
Suggestion selection during continuous gesture input
A computing device includes at least one processor and at least one module operable by the at least one processor to output, for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, receive an indication of a first gesture portion, and determine, based on the first gesture portion, at least one candidate string. The at least one module may be further operable to output, for display at a first location of a display device, the at least one candidate string, receive an indication of a second gesture portion that traverses a location that corresponds to the at least one candidate string, wherein the first gesture portion and the second gesture portion are included in a single continuous gesture, select, based on the second gesture portion, the at least one candidate string, and output, for display at a second location of the display device, the at least one candidate string. |
| US09996256B2 |
Method for erasing electronic handwriting on a clipboard
A method for erasing electronic handwriting on a clipboard includes: the coordinates of each handwriting point of the electronic handwriting are made to correspond to writing pressure on the clipboard and are stored, and the color depth of each handwriting point is made to be proportional to the writing pressure at the handwriting point; the coordinates of each erase point, on the clipboard, contacted by the eraser are made to correspond to erasing pressure applied to the clipboard by the eraser via the erase points; determining whether the coordinates of the erase points are the same as one of the coordinates in the handwriting points, and if so, then determining the color depth at that erase point according to a first non-negative rule; otherwise, the color depth at the erase point is the background color depth of the clipboard. |
| US09996255B2 |
Touch screen finger tracing device
A portable electronic device includes a touch display configured to sense contact with a finger or stylus, a speaker, and a processing system that communicates with the touch display and the speaker. The device is configured to display a symbol using a set of trace indicator line segments comprising a trace direction indicator and a trace termination indicator and to highlight a region of a first of the trace indicator line segments. The device is configured to detect user touch input at multiple locations on the touch display and determine whether the first trace indicator line segment has been traced from the highlighted region to the termination indicator in a direction corresponding to the trace direction indicator, and in response, to draw and maintain a color line corresponding to the detected user touch input at the multiple locations. |
| US09996253B2 |
Gaming machine and image alteration control method of gaming machine
A display area of a selection image becomes larger when two locations corresponding to the selection image on a touch panel are pressed simultaneously by hands of a player and a space between the hands is widened while the hands maintain a state of contact to the touch panel. This enables touch panel operability to be diversified. |
| US09996246B2 |
Device and method for displaying execution result of application
Provided are a device and method for displaying association information associated with a first application and a second application. The method may include: presenting a list of applications executable by the device; receiving a user input of moving an icon of the first application, in the presented list of the applications, to an icon of the second application; obtaining the association information associated with the first application and the second application by using at least one piece of preset data corresponding to the icon of the first application, in response to the received user input; and presenting the obtained association information in a periphery of the icon of the second application. |
| US09996241B2 |
Interactive visualization of multiple software functionality content items
Interactive visualization of multiple software functionality content items is provided. A variety of content items may be associated with each other according to one or more association attributes. A visualization presentation of one or more of the content items may be displayed in a visualization interface. Organization of content items may be made in association with a visualization ordering based on one or more logical attributes. An ordered navigation interface component may be provided to allow navigation of the displayed content items in a moving visualization such that a focused on content item may be displayed in a main or primary display position. Users may interact with each content item displayed in the visualization interface to include providing edits, comments, feedback, and the like. |
| US09996240B2 |
Device associated with a vehicle and having a spelling system with a delete button and/or list selection button
The present invention relates to a vehicle-associated device, with an operating unit by means of which at least alphanumerical characters and/or symbols can be selected and assembled to form a character or function group, and with a display device by means of which, using a display unit 1, selectable characters and/or symbols can be displayed in at least one selection field 2, and selected characters, symbols, a character or function group can be displayed in at least one input field 3, wherein the device is set up (a) in order to display, on the display unit, immediately adjacent to a character or symbol dialed in by means of the operating unit and displayed in a selection field 2, a delete switch area 4 which can be activated by means of the operating unit for deleting at least the most recently selected character or symbol displayed in an input field 3, and/or (b) in order to display, immediately adjacently to a character or symbol dialed in by means of the operating unit and displayed in a selection field 2, a list selection switch area 5, which can be retrieved by means of the operating unit in order to retrieve a selection list. |
| US09996238B2 |
Device and method for generating at least one computer file for producing a graphic interface of an electronic equipment, and related computer program product
A device for generating at least one computer file for producing a graphic interface of an electronic equipment, and related computer program product are disclosed. In one aspect, the generating device includes a creation module for creating a formalized description of the graphic interface in the form of software requirements, each requirement being associated with a graphic object of the graphic interface and being created from a list of resources, and a generation module for generating, from the formalized description, the computer file from among a source code and descriptive documents of the computer code, the source code being designed to be compiled in executable code to produce the part of the graphic interface. The creation module includes a filtering capability configured to select, in particular as a function of the corresponding graphic object, only some resources from among the list of resources. |
| US09996235B2 |
Display control of an image on a display screen
Methods, computer program products, and systems, for example, for controlling display of an image on a display screen includes, for example, receiving, by one or more processor, data regarding a user selected area relative to a first portion of an image displayed on a display screen to define a second portion of the image, at least a portion of the second portion of the image being outside the first portion of the image displayed on the display screen, and automatically controlling, by the one or more processor, display of the second portion of the image on the display screen based on the user selected area of the image to generally maximize display of the second portion of the image within the display screen. |
| US09996233B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for navigating user interface hierarchies
An electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface, a display, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts displaying a lower-level user interface that is part of a user interface hierarchy, where the hierarchy includes at least three levels, including the lower-level user interface, an intermediate-level user interface and a higher-level user interface. The device also, while displaying the lower-level user interface, detects an input on a portion of the device that is associated with user interface hierarchy navigation and, in response to detecting the input, in accordance with a determination that the input meets first transition criteria, the device replaces display of the lower-level user interface with display of the intermediate-level user interface and in accordance with a determination that the input meets second transition criteria, the device replaces display of the lower-level user interface with display of the higher-level user interface. |
| US09996232B2 |
Creating multiple cursors for duplicated entry
A computer processor receives a selection to create a duplicate cursor in addition to a default cursor. The computer processor determines a first position corresponding to a default cursor, and the computer processor stores information about the first position. The computer processor determines a second position in which to create the duplicate cursor, and the computer processor stores information about the second position. The computer processor receives data input for the first position corresponding to the default cursor. The computer processor recalls the information of the first position and the information of the second position, and the computer processor duplicates the data input, which is received, at the first position and at the second position. |
| US09996231B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating framed graphical objects
An electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface, a display, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface displays a graphical object inside of a frame on the display, and detects a gesture. Detecting the gesture includes: detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface while a focus selector is over the graphical object, and detecting movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface. In response to detecting the gesture: in accordance with a determination that the contact meets predefined intensity criteria, the device removes the graphical object from the frame; and in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meet the predefined intensity criteria, the device adjusts an appearance of the graphical object inside of the frame. |
| US09996228B2 |
Smooth transition of video playback with page flip animation
A computer implemented method enables smooth transition of video playback with page flip action within a digital magazine. The method comprises steps of monitoring a user's interactions with a video content item displayed on a current page of the digital magazine. Upon detecting a user flipping the current page to a next page, the video content item is paused, a graphics resource used for rending the video content item is disabled and a current video frame of the video content item is captured. In response to the user flipping the current page to the next page, the graphics resource is enabled for rending the page flip action, a modified current page with portions of the next page are gradually displayed to the user, while the captured video frame is continuously displayed on the current page until the page flip action is finished. |
| US09996226B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A mobile terminal can include a touchscreen; and a controller to display first, second and third icons respectively having first, second and third sizes; in response to a first touch input on the first icon, display a screen of a first application; in response to a second touch input on the first icon, display a change indicator overlapping the first icon; in response to a third touch input on the change indicator, transition the first icon into a widget object; in response to a fourth touch input on the widget object, increase the size of the widget object and decrease sizes of the second and third icons while the size of the widget object increases, display changing preview information of the first application within the widget object; and in response to a fifth touch input on the widget object, display the screen of the first application. |
| US09996220B2 |
Multi-zone interface switching method and device
Disclosed is a multi-zone interface switching device, comprising: a special-effect adding module configured for establishing a special effect information list using a plurality of set special effect zones, a special effect style and a special effect frame number of each special effect zone, and providing the special effect information list to the special-effect calculating module; a special-effect controlling module configured for sending, upon receiving an instruction to perform an interface switching operation, the special-effect calculating module a notification to calculate a switching picture; and a special-effect calculating module configured for calculating, after receiving the notification to calculate a switching picture sent by the special-effect controlling module, a switching picture to be displayed in each special effect zone using the special effect information list in the special-effect adding module. Also disclosed is a multi-zone interface switching method. With the disclosure, it is possible to provide an interface switching solution with natural transition and rich forms. |
| US09996219B2 |
Display control apparatus, method and program, and storage medium storing program
A system control unit displays, on a display unit, a menu screen corresponding to an operation mode designated through a mode change-over switch, and sets various conditions for the operation mode according to operation on an operation unit. The system control unit displays a predetermined menu item in a selected state on an initially opened menu screen. When a menu screen subjected to setting change is opened, the system control unit displays a menu item subjected to setting change last time in the selected state. A table indicating a menu item to be displayed in the selected state is stored in a nonvolatile memory. |
| US09996217B2 |
Contextual determination of emotion icons
A method, computer program product, and system for contextual determination of emotion icons. The method includes, for a particular user, determining an emotion icon to automatically input into a message, based on a class of the user, a current mood of the user, and the recipient of the message. The determined emotion icon is then inserted into the message. |
| US09996214B2 |
Device and method of unlocking device
A device and a method of unlocking a device are provided. The method of unlocking a device includes: determining whether an input tool of the device is separated from the device, when a disabled screen of the device is enabled; selecting one user interface from among a plurality of user interfaces for unlocking the device on the enabled screen of the device, based on the determination result; displaying the selected user interface on the screen of the device; and receiving a touch input with respect to the displayed user interface. The plurality of user interface include a user interface for receiving a touch input by the input tool and a user interface for receiving a touch input by a body part of a user. |
| US09996212B2 |
User terminal apparatus and controlling method thereof
A user terminal apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a display which displays a screen, a storage which stores at least one template for defining a layout according to which a plurality of application windows is arranged on the screen, a user interface which receives a user command, and a controller which controls the display to arrange and display the plurality of application windows based on a template selected by the user command from among the at least one template on the screen. |
| US09996202B2 |
Electronic device including ITO electrode pattern and manufacturing method thereof
An electronic device having an electrode pattern for a touch sensor is provided. The electronic device include a touch sensor; and a touch key that is formed at a position corresponding to the electrode pattern for the touch sensor and corresponds to a touch region. The electrode pattern is an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) pattern. |
| US09996201B2 |
Touch panel having improved visibility and method of manufacturing the same
A touch panel having improved visibility is provided. The touch panel includes a window part, at least one ultraviolet (UV) resin layer attached to a bottom surface of the window part, and a display part including a touch sensor film module attached to a bottom surface of the at least one UV resin layer such that the UV resin layer prevents refractions and reflections of light. |
| US09996200B2 |
Touch screen, display device and manufacturing method thereof usable for realizing 3D display
Embodiments of the invention relate to a touch screen, a display device and manufacturing method thereof being usable for realizing 3D display. The touch screen comprises: an upper substrate and a lower substrate cell-assembled; and liquid crystal, filled between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, wherein the upper substrate comprises: an upper transparent substrate and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the upper transparent substrate, i.e. on a side of the upper transparent substrate facing the lower substrate; the lower substrate comprises: a lower transparent substrate and a first sensing electrode layer, an insulating layer and a second sensing electrode layer sequentially disposed on the lower transparent substrate, i.e. on a side of the lower transparent substrate facing the upper substrate, wherein the first sensing electrode layer comprises a plurality of first sensing electrodes, the second sensing electrode layer comprises a plurality of second sensing electrodes that cross over the first sensing electrodes, and the insulating layer is configured to insulate the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes, to thus form touch sensing capacitors. |
| US09996197B2 |
Camera-based multi-touch interaction and illumination system and method
A method, system and apparatus is provided for controlling and interacting within an interaction volume and/or surface of a computer. The method, apparatus and system is optionally employed together with, or even be integrated into, data projectors of all types and its fixtures/stands, and used together with flat screens (LCD, plasma, OLED, rear-projection screen and so forth) to render such display systems interactive. The apparatus incorporates a camera covering the interaction area from either a very short distance or from a larger distance to determine the lateral positions (X, Y) and even capturing the pose of the finger(s), hand(s) or other interacting object(s), which optionally include the determination of “touch” and “hovering”. |
| US09996194B1 |
Touch screen self-capacitance foreign matter detection
A method for touch screen self-capacitance foreign matter detection for a capacitive touch screen is disclosed. By iteratively performing methods of self-capacitance scanning and foreign matter scanning foreign matter may be detected. |
| US09996192B2 |
Array substrate, method for repairing touch line, and display panel
An array substrate, a touch line repairing method as well as a display panel are provided. The array substrate includes a plurality of touch electrodes, a plurality of touch lines, a first repairing line, a second repairing line and at least one third repairing line. The touch lines and the touch electrodes are in one-to-one correspondence and are electrically connected. The first repairing line and the second repairing line are arranged in the same layer, and are not arranged in the same layer with the touch lines. The first repairing line and the second repairing line intersect each touch line. The at least one third repairing line is arranged in the same layer with the touch lines, and intersects the first repairing line and the second repairing line. The repairing lines can be used for repairing the disconnected touch lines, so that the production yield is enhanced. |
| US09996190B2 |
Pressure-based input method for user devices
Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to a pressure-based input method for user devices. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a user device can receive an output from a pressure sensor. The output can include parameters associated with a pressure applied to the pressure sensor by a user. The user device can analyze the output to determine a command to be executed by the user device. The user device can execute the command. |
| US09996189B2 |
Detecting a tool used on a touch screen
Detecting a tool used on a touch screen. In accordance with a method embodiment of the present invention, a cell value is accessed for each cell of a touch sensing device. The cell value indicates a force applied to the cell. A touch area sample count is determined as a count of how many of the cells have a cell value above a noise floor. A touch area weight is determined as a sum of all cell values for the cells having a cell value above the noise floor. An object touching the touch sensing device is identified based on the touch area sample count and the touch area weight. The object's touch indication may be rejected if the object is not identified. The identity of the object may be reported to a software application. |
| US09996188B2 |
Touch substrate and fabrication method thereof and display apparatus
A touch substrate is provided, comprising a touch region. The touch region includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer which are provided on a base substrate (1) and are insulated from each other; the first electrode layer includes a plurality of sensing electrodes (4) provided along rows and columns and a first connection portion (8); the second electrode layer includes a second connection portion (2); adjacent sensing electrodes (4) in a same row are connected with each other by the first connection portion (8); adjacent sensing electrodes (4) in a same column are connected with each other by the second connection portion (2); the first connection portion (8) and the second connection portion (2) cross with each other and insulate from each other; a side of the first electrode layer away from the second electrode layer is provided with connection wires (7) connected with the sensing electrodes (4), and the connection wires (7) are configured to transmit a touch drive signal or a touch detection signal; and the connection wires (7) are led out from a same side of the touch substrate. A fabrication method of the touch substrate and a display apparatus are provided to realize a non-frame or narrow-frame design. |
| US09996183B2 |
Touch-sensitive device and method for driving the same
A touch-sensitive device comprises: a touch-sensing carrier panel; a driving signal line and a inductive signal line; a touch-sensitive circuit connected with the driving signal line and the inductive signal line; an array of first electrodes and an array of second electrodes located on the touch-sensing carrier panel; a first switch having an end connected to the array of the first electrodes and the other end connected to the corresponding driving signal line and the corresponding inductive signal line; and a second switch having an end connected to the array of the second electrodes and the other end connected to the corresponding driving signal line and the corresponding inductive signal line, wherein each of the first switch and the second switch is adapted to switch between a respective driving signal line and a respective inductive signal line such that the array of first electrodes is connected with one of the driving signal line and the inductive signal line and the array of second electrodes is connected with the other one of the driving signal line and the inductive signal line. The present disclosure also provides a method for driving the above touch-sensitive device. The present invention may perform the signal conversion by switches such that the first electrodes and the second electrodes are switched between the connections to the inductive signal lines and the connections to the driving signal lines by performing signal switching by switches, so as to achieve the double side touch sensing. |
| US09996180B2 |
Determining process to be executed based on direction of surface in which vibration-applied surface faces and application state
An information processing apparatus (2000) includes a plurality of surfaces. A vibration detection unit (2020) detects a vibration applied to the information processing apparatus (2000). An operation surface detection unit (2040) detects an operation surface, which is a surface to which a vibration is applied, based on the vibration detected by the vibration detection unit (2020). An apparatus state detection unit (2060) detects a state of the information processing apparatus (2000). An application state detection unit (2080) detects a state of an application. A process determination unit (2100) determines a predetermined process to be executed, based on the operation surface detected by the operation surface detection unit (2040), the state of the information processing apparatus (2000) detected by the apparatus state detection unit (2060), and the state of the application detected by the application state detection unit (2080). |
| US09996177B2 |
Conductive film, touch panel and display device employing same, and evaluation method for electrically conductive film
First and second wiring patterns which are formed on both surfaces of a base have first and second patterns which are different from each other, respectively, and are superimposed as a composite wiring pattern on a pixel array pattern. A plurality of spectrums in a two-dimensional Fourier space of transmittance image data of the pixel array pattern and the composite wiring pattern are excluded from a plurality of spectrums in a two-dimensional Fourier space of transmittance image data of a composite pattern of the pixel array pattern and the composite wiring pattern to extract a plurality of spectrums of only noise and moire generated by interference between the pixel array pattern and the composite wiring pattern. The sum of all of the extracted plurality of spectrums is calculated and an extraction quantitative value of the moire and the noise calculated from the sum is in a predetermined range. |
| US09996172B2 |
Target setting apparatus
A target setting apparatus sets a target correcting a sight line detection portion to detect a sight line of a subject person. A deviation between a position of the target and a position detected as a center of the sight line detected by the sight line detection portion when the subject person is estimated to be gazing at the target is regarded as a detection error and applied to a correction. The target setting apparatus includes: a sight line range estimation portion that estimates a sight line range; a candidate point extraction portion that extracts a candidate point for the target from the sight line range; a candidate point evaluation portion that evaluates appropriateness of the candidate point as the target by using a plurality of indices; and a target setting portion that determines whether or not to set the candidate point as the target. |
| US09996171B2 |
Method for using a two-dimensional touchpad to manipulate a three-dimensional image
A method manipulates a 3D image in three dimensions using two-dimensional gestures on a touchpad. The method moves the 3D image within an x-y plane in the direction of a multiple-finger linear gesture. A number of fingers used for the multiple-finger linear gesture is programmed in an instinct library associated with the touchpad. The method detects a multiple-finger linear gesture on a mutual capacitance touchpad and rotates the 3D image in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture about an axis in the x-y plane perpendicular to the multiple-finger linear gesture. The method also rotates the 3D image about the x-y plane in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture at a speed proportional to the speed of the multiple-finger linear gesture. |
| US09996164B2 |
Systems and methods for recording custom gesture commands
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for recording a custom gesture command. In an aspect, at least one camera of a user device captures the custom gesture command, wherein the custom gesture command comprises a physical gesture performed by a user of the user device, a user interface of the user device receives user selection of one or more operations of the user device, and the user device maps the custom gesture command to the one or more operations of the user device. |
| US09996162B2 |
Wearable sensor system for providing a personal magnetic field and techniques for horizontal localization utilizing the same
A wearable sensor system is disclosed that provides a measurable magnetic field that changes horizontally within the range of motion of human limbs. The wearable sensor system includes a magnetic sensing device, and one or more magnet devices that provide the measurable magnetic field with a strength exceeding the Earth's magnetic field. To this end, the magnetic sensing system provides a “personal” magnetic field about a user, with that magnetic field traveling with the user and overpowering adjacent interfering fields. The wearable sensor system may include a sensor arrangement that measures a strength of the personal magnetic field and field direction to perform horizontal localization, and may send a representation of a same to a remote computing device to cause an action to occur. Some such actions include output of pre-recorded or synthesized musical notes, for example. |
| US09996161B2 |
Buttonless display activation
In one example, a method includes determining, by a first motion module of a computing device and based on first motion data measured by a first motion sensor at a first time, that the mobile computing device has moved, wherein a display operatively coupled to the computing device is deactivated at the first time; responsive to determining that the computing device has moved, activating a second motion module; determining, by the second motion module, second motion data measured by a second motion sensor, wherein determining the second motion data uses a greater quantity of power than determining the first motion data; determining a statistic of a group of statistics based on the second motion data; and responsive to determining that at least one of the group of statistics satisfies a threshold, activating the display. |
| US09996159B2 |
Arrangement, method and computer program for controlling a computer apparatus based on eye-tracking
A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request. |
| US09996153B1 |
Haptic interaction method, tool and system
The current technology concerns an improved method for communicating and processing motion output signals from haptic, wearable devices to the host system that runs, manages and modifies a type of an application. |
| US09996151B2 |
Detecting eye movement based on a wearable detection apparatus
A contact lens type line-of-sight detection apparatus has a shape such that it is wearable on an eyeball of a user. Furthermore, in the line-of-sight detection apparatus, a plurality of light-emitting sections that output light and a plurality of light-receiving elements that receive light reflected by an eyeball surface. The light-receiving elements receive light that has been output from the light-emitting sections and reflected by the eyeball surface and output light-receiving signals according to amounts of light received. The signal processing unit detects a line of sight of the user based on the light-receiving signals of the light-receiving elements. The present technology can be applied to a contact lens type line-of-sight detection apparatus or a display apparatus. |
| US09996146B2 |
Information processing apparatus
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a power supply part and a voltage compensating circuit. The power supply part is configured to supply electric power to a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The voltage compensating circuit is configured, when the first electronic device is connected to the information processing apparatus, to increase a voltage output from the power supply part and to switch a power supply path for supplying the output voltage to the second electronic device from a first power supply path to a second power supply path including a step-down element so as to decrease the increased output voltage and to supply the decreased output voltage to the second electronic device. |
| US09996143B2 |
Apparatus and method for selectively disabling one or more analog circuits of a processor during a low power state of the processor
A disable module may be coupled to an analog circuit of an electronic circuit. The disable module may detect an input voltage that is supplied to the analog circuit, and may disable (such as by powering off) the analog circuit if the input voltage is below a reference value. The reference value may be set at a voltage level at or below a maximum voltage that may be present across a transistor in the analog circuit. Accordingly, the analog circuit may be disabled without damage to the transistors of the analog circuit. The disable module may detect whether the input voltage is below the reference value level by comparing the input voltage to a reference voltage. The electronic circuit may include a voltage regulator, and the voltage regulator may include the analog circuit. |
| US09996141B2 |
Storage device and electronic device using the same
The disclosure storage device provides a hard disk drive (HDD) module, the HDD module includes a plurality of HDD units, and each the HDD unit include a plurality of HDDs, a switching unit, and a plurality of indication units. The switching unit configured for operating in a first state or a second state. Each indication unit is configured to electrically couple to the switching unit. When the switching unit outputs a first state signal, the switch control circuit outputs a first control signal to turn off the corresponding indicating control circuits. When the switch control circuit operates in the second state, the switch control circuit outputs a second control signal to turn on the corresponding indicating control circuits. An electronic device using the same is also provided. |
| US09996140B2 |
Electronic device, image processing apparatus, and device control method
According to an embodiment, provided is an electronic device that includes: an energy generation unit that generates electrical power; an accumulating unit that accumulates therein the electrical power generated by the energy generation unit; and a network control unit that includes: a first function unit that performs network response processing; a second function unit that performs network response processing with a relatively smaller processing load than the network response processing performed by the first function unit; and a third function unit that controls the electrical power supply to the function units. The third function unit stops the electrical power supply to the first function unit in a predetermined standby operation mode that is standby for a network response request, and supplies the electrical power to the second function unit directly from the energy generation unit bypassing the accumulating unit. |
| US09996136B2 |
Data transform method and data transformer
A data transform method and a data transformer. The method includes: importing a data transform rule; acquiring from the data transform rule a source data definition, a destination data definition and a data transform rule definition; predicting resource energy consumption parameters of a data transform node server according to the source data definition, the destination data definition and the data transform rule definition; and deploying a resource energy consumption optimization policy of the data transform node server according to the predicted resource energy consumption parameters of the data transform node server. |
| US09996130B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a connection interface
An electronic device is provided including a processor; a connection unit including a power supply terminal and an identification terminal; a first switch coupled to the power supply terminal and the processor; a second switch coupled to the identification terminal and the processor; and an interface control circuit configured to control an amount of current supplied to the processor by opening or closing each of the first switch and the second switch in accordance with voltage that is applied to at least one of the power supply terminal and the identification terminal by an external device connected to the connection unit. |
| US09996128B2 |
Parallel redundant power distribution
Systems and methods are provided for reliable redundant power distribution. Some embodiments include micro Automatic Transfer Switches (micro-ATSs), including various components and techniques for facilitating reliable auto-switching functionality in a small footprint (e.g., less than ten cubic inches, with at least one dimension being less than a standard NEMA rack height). Other embodiments include systems and techniques for integrating a number of micro-ATSs into a parallel auto-switching module for redundant power delivery to a number of devices. Implementations of the parallel auto-switching module are configured to be mounted in, on top of, or on the side of standard equipment racks. Still other embodiments provide power distribution topologies that exploit functionality of the micro-ATSs and/or the parallel micro-ATS modules. |
| US09996125B2 |
Externally latching drive tray and drive removal mechanism
A drive-removal mechanism may include, but is not limited to: at least one rotatable member; and at least one drive-engaging member operably coupled to the at least one rotatable member, wherein the drive-removal mechanism is detached from at least one drive to be removed. A drive enclosure may include, but is not limited to: at least one drive-receiving member including at least one drive-receiving channel; and at least one drive-removal mechanism including: at least one rotatable member; and at least one drive-engaging member operably coupled to the at least one rotatable member, wherein the drive-removal mechanism is configured to at least partially remove at least one hot swappable drive from the at least one drive-receiving channel. |
| US09996123B1 |
Computer device
A computer device includes a holding structure, a motherboard module and a cover plate. The holding structure includes a holder and a frame. The holder includes a supporting face and an end edge. The frame is connected to the supporting face and arranged adjacent to the end edge. The frame includes an opening and a top bar. The motherboard module, including I/O ports disposed in the opening, is installed on the supporting face. The cover plate covers the opening, a bottom portion of the cover plate is detachably connected to the end edge with a positioning structure, a top portion of the cover plate is detachably connected to the top bar with a fastening structure, the cover plate includes through slots, and the I/O ports are inserted through or disposed corresponding to the through slots respectively, so that the computer device facilitates easy and flexible assembly. |
| US09996116B2 |
Hinge mechanism and portable electronic device thereof
A hinge mechanism includes a shaft, a first connecting member pivoted to the shaft and connected to a first body, a second connecting member fixed to the shaft and connected to a second body, a limiting frame, a rail base, a pin movably disposed through a slot of the limiting frame, and an elastic member connected to the pin and abutting against the first connecting member for driving the pin against the rail base. The limiting frame is fixed to the first connecting body and pivoted to the shaft. The rail base is fixed to the shaft and has first, second, third arc-shaped rails and a transition rail. When the first body rotates an expanding angle relative to the second body in a first rotating direction, the pin moves along the first arc-shaped rail to the transition rail and abuts against a first stopping end surface of the transition rail. |
| US09996109B2 |
Identifying gestures using motion data
In one example, a method includes determining, by a processor (104) of a wearable computing device (102) and based on motion data generated by a motion sensor (106) of the wearable computing device, one or more strokes. In this example, the method also includes generating, by the processor and based on the motion data, a respective attribute vector for each respective stroke from the one or more strokes and classifying, by the processor and based on the respective attribute vector, each respective stroke from the one or more strokes into at least one category. In this example, the method also includes determining, by the processor and based on a gesture library and the at least one category for each stroke from the one or more strokes, a gesture. In this example, the method also includes performing, by the wearable device and based on the gesture, an action. |
| US09996108B2 |
Bi-stable hinge
An information handling system includes a flexible display screen, first and second display platforms, and a bi-stable hinge. The flexible display screen is movably mounted to the first and second display platforms. The bi-stable hinge is mounted to the first and second display platforms and couples the first display platform to the second display platform. The bi-stable hinge locks the first and second display platforms in an open position and snap closes the first and second display platforms from the open position to a closed position in response to the bi-stable hinge being stressed in a first direction. |
| US09996103B2 |
System and method for employing a controlled-modification current time value
A method for employing a controlled-modification current time value is presented. In the method, the current time value is maintained. Also, requests for modification of the current time value are received. The requests are processed so that the requested modification associated with one of the requests is immediately incorporated into the current time value, and so that the requested modification associated with another one of the requests is not immediately incorporated into the current time value. |
| US09996097B2 |
Constant voltage generating circuit
A constant voltage generating circuit includes an ED-type reference voltage supply that generates a predetermined constant voltage by using a first transistor of depletion-type and a second transistor of enhancement-type that are connected in series between a power supply terminal and a ground terminal, and a third transistor a source of which is connected to an output terminal for the constant voltage, a drain of which is connected to the power supply terminal or the ground terminal, and a gate of which is connected to a connection node between the first transistor and the second transistor. |
| US09996089B2 |
Flow sensor devices and systems
A flow rate assembly can include a fluid flow interface portion having a front facing wall and a back facing wall. The flow interface portion can include an inlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, an outlet passage within the fluid flow interface portion, at least one inlet aperture extending through the front facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the inlet passage, and at least one outlet aperture extending through the back facing wall of the fluid flow interface portion into the outlet passage. In some cases, the fluid flow interface portion includes a plug forming at least a portion of the inlet passage. |
| US09996088B2 |
Rotary valve
A valve opening setpoint corrector and a correction table storage are provided in a flow rate controlling valve. A correction table indicating valve opening correction values corresponding to combinations of amounts of opening of a valve and front-back differential pressures across the valve is stored in the correction table storage. In the valve opening setpoint corrector a correction value acquirer acquires, from the correction table, the valve opening correction value α that corresponds to the inputted measured value of the valve and front-back differential pressure across the valve and sends it to the setpoint corrector, as a correction value that takes into account the amount of twist in the valve rod. The setpoint corrector corrects, by the correction value taking into account the amount of twist in the valve rod, the valve opening setpoint from the air conditioning controller, sending this corrected valve opening setpoint to the valve opening controller. |
| US09996085B2 |
Automatic guiding system for analyzing pavement curvature and method for the same
An automatic guiding system for analyzing pavement curvature in or on an autonomous mobile device comprises an image acquisition module, a pavement curvature analysis module, a posture sensing module, and a pavement curvature database. The image acquisition module collects pavement curvature images as the autonomous mobile device moves. The pavement curvature analysis module processes the pavement curvature images, and extracts contour information of the pavement curvature images. The posture sensing module continuously senses the posture of the autonomous mobile device. The pavement curvature database is configured to stores the contour information and the posture. |
| US09996077B2 |
Uniformity correction by ablation at different track locations along a tire bead
A system and method for reducing the magnitude of one or more harmonica of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire involves selective removal of tire material at one or more track/area locations along first and second bead profiles. Selective removal may occur via ablation at the bead seat, low flange and/or high flange zones to correct for a selected number of harmonic of such parameters as radial, lateral and tangential force variation. Ablation pattern are calculated and implemented on first and second tire beads to achieve desired levels of force reduction at selected angular locations (within the expanse from 0-360 degrees along each tire bead). Ablation patterns may be calculated for implementation at fixed or varied tire rotational speeds and/or fixed or varied levels of laser power. |
| US09996076B2 |
Control apparatus, control program, and recording medium
The present invention uses a simple structure to precisely control a position of a rotator. A controller (1) sends a pulse for controlling rotation of a work (34) to a servo driver (2), and the work (34) is rotated by a motor (31) according to a reduction ratio as prescribed of a decelerator in which the motor (31) is driven by the servo driver (2) using a pulse quantity of the pulse for indicating an instruction position. The controller (1) includes a counting range determining part (132), and the counting range determining part (132) determines a counting range of an instruction position counter (21a) for counting the pulse quantity. The counting range determining part (132) multiples a prescribed pulse quantity of each turn of the motor (31) by a reciprocal of the reduction ratio and a correction value, and determines the correction value which enables a multiplication result to be an integer. |
| US09996073B2 |
Method for operating a plant for producing tablets
A method for operating a plant to produce tablets that has at least one rotary press and one computer system, wherein the computer system contains operating and control software for controlling and monitoring the operation of the rotary press, and wherein the rotary press is designed for installing different types of rotors, wherein a record adapted to the respective rotor type is saved in a memory and communication component on the rotors, and before the rotor type is initially operated, the record is read out and is saved in the computer system to automatically adapt the operating and control software and user interface to the rotor type. |
| US09996071B2 |
Moveable slider for use in a device assembly process
A system for use in a device assembly process to aid in performing at least one device assembly operation is disclosed. The system may comprise: a moveable slider moveably coupled to a slider base to move components of the device in the assembly process; and an electronics module coupled to an end portion of the slider base. The electronics module may comprise: a driver to provide driver output to the moveable slider; and a controller that includes the driver to transmit control signals through the driver to control movement of the moveable slider. The moveable slider may move components of the device in the assembly process in which at least one device assembly operation is performed. |
| US09996070B2 |
Programmable logic controller
A programmable logic controller includes control units. In the programmable logic controller, the control units are installed in such a manner that side surfaces of adjacent ones of the control units have an interval therebetween. In the programmable logic controller, the control units are configured in such a manner that the interval between the side surfaces of adjacent ones of the control units can be set according to an installation environment of the programmable logic controller. |
| US09996063B2 |
Transmitter
There is provided a transmitter. The transmitter includes: a display portion; an first input receiver configured to receive a first selecting operation for selecting one of setting items and a second selecting operation for selecting one of setting values; and a second input receiver configured to receive a switching operation for sequentially switching the setting values of the selected setting item, wherein the second input receiver is rotated in a first rotation direction or in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction; and a first controller configured to display the setting values of the selected setting item on the display portion such that the setting values are sequentially switched in a forward direction or a backward direction when the second input receiver is rotated in the first rotation direction or the second rotation direction by the switching operation. |
| US09996053B2 |
Nano- and micro-replication for authentication and texturization
Embodiments herein relate to forming nano- and/or micro-replication directly embossed in a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy comprising a metal alloy by superplastic forming of the bulk solidifying amorphous alloy at a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the metal alloy. |
| US09996052B2 |
Cartridge capable of being inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus
A cartridge that can be inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact, and a first pressed section and a second pressed portion configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section, and is configured to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body. |
| US09996050B2 |
Image forming apparatus and cartridge used for the same
An image forming apparatus includes a movement member arranged to move a cartridge and is movable between a first position for disposing the cartridge at a position where image formation is possible and a second position where the cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the movement member. At least one coupling provided in the cartridge is, when the movement member is at the first position, moved to a drive position where the coupling is arranged to engage with a drive member to rotate at least one rotating member, and while the movement member is being moved from the second to first positions, the at least one coupling is at an inclined position. |
| US09996036B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of reducing image banding
Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holding member that has an outer circumferential surface in which a radius length from a center in the image holding member varies to be the longest N times and the shortest N times during one rotation of the image holding member wherein N is an integer of 2 or more, and that holds a latent image while being rotated, a developing member that develops the latent image of the image holding member with a developer, a rotation unit that rotates the developing member by a number of an integer multiple of the N during the one rotation of the image holding member, and an output unit that outputs a developer image of the image holding member to a recording medium. |
| US09996029B2 |
Image forming apparatus with removable residual toner accommodating portion
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a door; a discharging portion provided in the main assembly and provided with a first opening for discharging toner; and a toner receptor detachably mounted to the door to accommodate the toner, the toner receptor being provided with a second opening cooperative with the first opening to form a toner flow passage, wherein the receptor is movable, in a state that it is mounted on the door, between a contacting position in which the receptor contacts the discharging portion such that the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening and a spacing position in which the receptor is spaced from the discharging portion, and wherein the receptor mounted on the door is movable between the contacting and the spacing positions in a direction inclined with respect to a contact plane of the discharging portion relative to the receptor. |
| US09996025B1 |
Cartridge, image forming apparatus and image forming method
According to one embodiment, a cartridge is provided with a case and a transportation member. The case includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a passage. The first chamber communicates with a discharging port and accommodates a developing agent. The second chamber is positioned distant from the discharging port compared to the first chamber and accommodates a toner. The passage allows the discharging port to communicate with the second chamber. The transportation member transports the toner, which is supplied to the passage from the second chamber, toward the discharging port. |
| US09996022B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
An adjustment method of an optical scanning device, in which an uppermost position at an incident surface of the image forming lens, through which a light beam being deflected and scanned passes, and a lowermost position at the incident surface of the image forming lens, through which a light beam being deflected and scanned passes, are detected in a height direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction in an effective range corresponding to a latent image formation target range on the scanning target surface, and a center height between the uppermost position and the lowermost position is allowed to approximately coincide with a height of a bus line of the image forming lens at the incident surface of the image forming lens. |
| US09996021B2 |
Optical writing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
An optical writing device and an image forming apparatus incorporating the optical writing device. The optical writing device includes two or more light sources, a pixel clock generator to measure a scanning speed of one of the two or more light sources and generate a pixel clock of a cycle corrected according to the measured scanning speed, a pulse data generation and output unit to generate pulse width data and shift data for the pixel clock generated by the pixel clock generator to output the generated pulse width data and the generated shift data for each one of the two or more light sources, and a plurality of image pulse generation and output units to generate an image pulse. In the optical writing device, the plurality of image pulse generation and output units are supplied with the pixel clock in common. |
| US09996010B2 |
Illumination optical assembly for projection lithography
An illumination optical assembly for projection lithography serves for illuminating an object field, in which an object to be imaged is arrangeable. The object field has a scan length along an object displacement direction. The illumination optical assembly has two facet mirrors for the reflective guidance of illumination light towards the object field. Second facets of the second facet mirror serve for guiding a respective illumination light partial beam into the object field. The second facet mirror is a pupil distance from a pupil plane of the illumination optical assembly that is closest adjacent to the second facet mirror. The second facets are arranged in a grid, wherein at least one grid constant of the grid is predefined by the pupil distance and by the scan length. This results in an illumination optical assembly which achieves an illumination of predefined pupil sections that is relatively homogeneous. |
| US09996008B2 |
Photoresist pattern trimming methods
Provided are methods of trimming photoresist patterns. The methods involve coating a photoresist trimming composition over a photoresist pattern, wherein the trimming composition includes a matrix polymer, a free acid having fluorine substitution and a solvent, the trimming composition being free of cross-linking agents. The coated semiconductor substrate is heated to cause a change in polarity of the resist polymer in a surface region of the photoresist pattern. The photoresist pattern is contacted with a developing solution to remove the surface region of the photoresist pattern. The methods find particular applicability in the formation of very fine lithographic features in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. |
| US09996007B2 |
Polymer for preparing resist underlayer film, resist underlayer film composition containing the polymer and method for manufacturing semiconductor device using the composition
Provided are a polymer used for a manufacturing process of a semiconductor and a display, a resist underlayer film composition containing the polymer for a manufacturing process of a semiconductor and a display, and a method for manufacturing semiconductor device using the composition, and more specifically, the polymer of the present disclosure simultaneously has optimized etching selectivity, planarization characteristic, and excellent thermal resistance, such that the resist underlayer film composition containing the polymer is usable as a hard mask for a multilayer semiconductor lithography process. |
| US09996006B2 |
Resist sensitivity and profile improvement via acid anion control during field-guided post exposure bake
Methods disclosed herein provide apparatus and methods for applying an electric field and/or a magnetic field to a photoresist layer without air gap intervention during photolithography processes. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processing chamber configured to apply an electric field to a substrate via a non-gas phase intermediate medium. Methods described herein include dissociation of a photoacid generator to generate anions and cations. The anions may be moved within the photoresist layer by the electric field to more precisely control the speed and location of acid generation and regeneration processes. |
| US09996005B2 |
Reflective optical element and optical system for EUV lithography
In order to reduce the negative influence of reactive hydrogen on the lifetime of a reflective optical element, particularly inside an EUV lithography device, there is proposed for the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelength region a reflective optical element (50) having a reflective surface (60) with a multilayer system (51) and in the case of which the reflective surface (60) has a protective layer system (59) with an uppermost layer (56) composed of silicon carbide or ruthenium, the protective layer system (59) having a thickness of between 5 nm and 25 nm. |
| US09996004B2 |
EUV photopatterning of vapor-deposited metal oxide-containing hardmasks
A vacuum-integrated metal oxide-containing hardmask formation process and related vacuum-integrated hardware that combine steps of film formation by vapor deposition and optical lithography results in direct photopatterning of metal oxide-containing hardmasks at substantially reduced cost relative to current approaches. |
| US09996000B2 |
Test pattern layout for test photomask and method for evaluating critical dimension changes
Aspects of the present invention relate to a test photomask and a method for evaluating critical dimension changes in the test photomask. Various embodiments include a test photomask. The test photomask includes a plurality of cells having a varied density pattern. The plurality of cells include a first group of cells arranged along a first line, the first group of cells having a first combined density ratio. The plurality of cells also include a second group of cells arranged along a second line, the second group of cells having a second combined density ratio. In the plurality of cells, the second combined density ratio for the second group of cells is equal to the first combined density ratio of the first group of cells. The varied density pattern is configured to substantially neutralize fogging effects. |
| US09995998B2 |
Method and apparatus for integrated circuit layout
A method includes receiving a layout of an integrated circuit (IC) device, the layout having an outer boundary and an inner boundary thereby defining a first region between the outer boundary and the inner boundary and placing a first plurality of dummy patterns in the first region, wherein the first plurality of dummy patterns is lithographically printable. The method further includes performing an Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) process, the first plurality of dummy patterns being position within the first region in such a way that prevents sub-resolution assist features from being inserted into the first region by the OPC process. |
| US09995997B2 |
Seamless emission tile quilt
A multi-layer display screen capable of being tiled without a visible gap between tiled screens and methods of using said device are described herein. In one embodiment, a system includes a light generator configured to produce light and a multi-layer screen with a plurality of layers. The multi-layer screen can be configured to permit the light from the light generator to propagate therethrough. The plurality of layers can include an opaque region layer having a plurality of opaque regions and a first layer comprising one or more abutted layers disposed within a common plane, the abutted layers spaced apart by a gap, wherein the gap is coincident with the opaque region. |
| US09995994B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes a main mirror holder rotating between a mirror down position in an image pickup optical path and a mirror up position outside the image pickup optical path in accordance with drive of a mirror driving unit, which drives in accordance with rotation of a motor, a sub mirror holder being supported by the main mirror holder to abut against the main mirror holder positioned at the mirror up position, and a driving pin rotating in accordance with the drive of the mirror driving unit and rotating the main and sub mirror holders. The driving pin includes an abutting part that abuts against the mirror driving unit while the mirror driving unit drives. The abutting part is provided with a reduction structure to reduce a bound of the sub mirror holder when the main mirror holder reaches the mirror up position. |
| US09995989B2 |
Shutter device and image-capturing apparatus
A shutter device includes: a substrate having an opening; a first light-shielding member that moves from a first position outside the opening of the substrate to a second position outside the opening to shield the opening, the second position being different from the first position; a second light-shielding member that partly shields the opening while moving from the first position to the second position; a first moving member that has a protrusion moving along a hole provided in the substrate to move the first light-shielding member; a second moving member that is coupled to the second light-shielding member and moves together with the second light-shielding member; and a third moving member, located outside a movement range of the protrusion during the second light-shielding member being located in the first position, that is coupled to the second light-shielding member and moves together with the second light-shielding member. |
| US09995988B2 |
Shake correction apparatus
A shake correction apparatus includes: a stationary portion (21) having coils (22S, 22L, 23S, 23L, 24S, 24L) arranged; a movable portion including magnets (52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d) opposed to the coils and an imaging element; a supporting member for movably supporting the movable portion to the stationary portion along a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of light entering into the imaging element; means for detecting a position of the movable portion; and means for controlling current flowed into the coils based on output of the detection means, the coils including at least three coil pairs when two coils opposed to each other along the plane orthogonal to the optical axis are paired, driving forces of two coils forming each coil pair being different. |
| US09995987B1 |
Composite particles and method for making the same
A composite particle is provided that includes a base particle and a plurality of hydrophilic oligomeric groups extending from an exterior portion of the base particle, the base particle including a cross-linked polyurea and at least one of a pigment and a dye. The cross-linked polyurea may form a network throughout the base particle. A method of making the composite particle includes providing either a solution containing a dye or a dispersion containing a pigment in a water-dispersible polyfunctional isocyanate dissolved in a water-miscible solvent, forming an emulsion of the solution/dispersion in water, agitating the emulsion while the polyfunctional isocyanate is converted into a cross-linked polyurea, and separating the composite particle containing the cross-linked polyurea and the dye/pigment from the emulsion. |
| US09995984B2 |
Transflective liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
Disclosed are a transflective liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof. The transflective liquid crystal display device includes: a first surface electrode (103), a first pixel electrode (107), a second surface electrode (113) and a second pixel electrode (112) located in transmissive regions (A); the first surface electrode (103) and first pixel electrode (107) are located between a first substrate (102) and a liquid crystal layer (110), the second surface electrodes (113) and the second pixel electrodes (112) are located between a second substrate (104) and the liquid crystal layer (110). The device further includes: a third surface electrode (104), a reflection layer (105) and a third pixel electrode (108) located in reflective regions (B); the third surface electrode (104), the reflection layer (105) and the third pixel electrode (108) are located between the first substrate (102) and the liquid crystal layer (110). The liquid crystal layer (110) in both the transmissive region (A) and the reflective region (B) of the display device have an equal thickness, thereby drastically reducing the process difficulty of the device while guaranteeing the same phase retardations in both transmissive region and reflective region. |
| US09995980B2 |
LCD panel and LCD device
An LCD panel and an LCD device are provided. The LCD panel includes a first substrate, which includes a first metal layer, a first insulating layer, an active layer, a second metal layer, a second insulating layer, a color barrier layer, a first transparent conductive layer, a planarization layer, and a second transparent conductive layer electrically connected with the first transparent conductive layer sequentially formed. The first metal layer includes scanning lines. Black matrices are arranged on positions corresponding to scanning lines and corresponding to channels. |
| US09995978B2 |
Display device
To improve the reliability of a display device.The display device includes a display portion, an input unit, and a lead-out wiring portion which connects the display portion and the input unit to each other. In addition, the input unit includes a first terminal group in which a plurality of first terminals are arranged. In addition, the lead-out wiring portion includes a plurality of first lead-out wirings connected to the plurality of first terminals. In addition, a first end-portion wiring, which is formed in an end portion of an array, among the plurality of first lead-out wirings, includes a first main line which extends along an extending direction of a neighboring first lead-out wiring, a first bypass line which extends along the first main line, and a first branch portion and a second branch portion which connect the first main line and the first bypass line to each other. |
| US09995970B2 |
Manufacturing method of a liquid crystal device comprising an alignment film formed under reduced pressure
The object can be achieved by the following structure. A material whose value of fracture toughness is greater than or equal to 1.5 [MPa·m1/2] is used for a base substrate and a counter substrate which hold a liquid crystal material therebetween; a first sealant containing liquid crystal contaminants at less than or equal to 1×10−4 wt % is provided so as be in contact with the liquid crystal material and to surround the liquid crystal material seamlessly; the second sealant is provided to surround the first sealant; and the base substrate and the counter substrate which hold the liquid crystal material therebetween using the first sealant and the second sealant are bonded with a bond strength of greater than or equal to 1 [N/mm2]. |
| US09995969B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including a first alignment film, a second substrate including a second alignment film opposed to the first alignment film, and a liquid crystal layer held in a cell gap between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer is formed of a liquid crystal material having a viscosity of 20 mPa*s or more under a condition of 65° C. The cell gap is greater than or equal to 2.3 μm and smaller than or equal to 3.3 μm. |
| US09995968B2 |
Alignment device and manufacturing method for polymer stabilized vertical alignment liquid crystal panel
A manufacturing method for a polymer stabilized vertical alignment (PS-VA) liquid crystal panel includes: forming a first substrate of PS-VA liquid crystal panel, the first substrate including a common electrode; forming a second substrate of the PS-VA liquid crystal panel, the second substrate including a pixel electrode; forming a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer containing negative liquid crystal molecules and ultraviolet-curable resin; applying an electrical voltage that exceeds a rotation threshold of the liquid crystal layer to the common electrode and the pixel electrode; and reciprocally moving an ultraviolet light source, which is composed of at least two ultraviolet light sources that are distributed parallel to each other in a first direction and respectively extend in a second direction, in such a direction as to have accumulation of ultraviolet light received by the ultraviolet-curable resin of the liquid crystal layer homogenized. |
| US09995966B2 |
Display panel and display apparatus having retardation film with grid
A display panel and a display apparatus are disclosed, the display panel including: a first substrate; a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates; and a retardation compensation layer including a grid pattern which is provided on one or more of the first and second substrates, and is configured to compensate for optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer and includes a first parameter in a first direction and a second parameter in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A structure for compensation for optical retardation is provided within the display panel to replace a conventional viewing angle compensation film, and thus the panel manufacturing process is shortened and a cost reduction is achieved. |
| US09995964B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and display device
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel and a display device. The liquid crystal display panel comprises a first substrate and a second substrate assembled in an aligned manner, and further comprises a reflecting layer, a light wavelength conversion layer and a quantum dot layer; the reflecting layer is provided on the second substrate, the quantum dot layer is provided on the first substrate or the second substrate, and the reflecting layer and the quantum dot layer are arranged in a direction from the second substrate to the first substrate; the light wavelength conversion layer is made from an upconversion material and provided between the reflecting layer and the quantum dot layer. The above liquid crystal display panel has a higher utilization of ambient light, and thus has higher brightness and contrast ratio. |
| US09995962B2 |
Backlight unit and display apparatus including the same
A display apparatus includes a display panel displaying an image using a light and a backlight unit generating the light, providing the light to the display panel and including a plurality of light source units generating the light and a plurality of light source substrates arranged in a first direction and disposed on the plurality of light source substrates where the plurality of light source substrates have a zigzag shape, and the plurality of light source units are disposed at predetermined areas of bending portions of the zigzag shape. |
| US09995960B2 |
Connector, light source module including the connector, and light source module array including the light source module
A connector, a light source module including the connector, and a light source module array including the light source module array are provided. The connector includes a first connection part configured to connect to a first wire inserted thereto; a second connection part configured to connect to a second wire inserted thereto, the first and second connection parts being disposed to face in opposite directions; a housing covering the first and second connection parts; and a push button configured to be actuated by an external force applied thereto to release a connection of the first connection part to the first wire and a connection of the second connection part to the second wire. |
| US09995959B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus comprises a display panel and a reflection member. The display panel comprises an array of pixels, the array having a quadrangular shape. The reflection member is disposed in a position not to overlap at least a portion of the array when viewed in a normal direction substantially perpendicular to a major surface of the display panel, the reflection member being configured to reflect light that is emitted from the display panel in a direction slanted with respect to the normal direction. The combination of light emitted from the display panel in the normal direction and the reflected light is configured to form an image having a shape other than a quadrangular shape. |
| US09995956B2 |
Integrated fully-sealed liquid cryatal screen and manufacturing process for same
A manufacturing process for an integrated fully-sealed liquid crystal screen is disclosed. Components sequentially arranged are adhered to each other into a whole by a solid ultraviolet flexible adhesive, the components comprising a screen protecting glass, a liquid crystal screen set, a support frame and a rear glass cover plate and an edge lighting type backlight module being nested in the support frame. The touch and display integrated screen manufactured by the process is fully-sealed, waterproof, damp-proof and ultrathin, all gaps of the screen protecting glass or the touch screen set, a liquid crystal display screen set and the side lighting type backlight module are eliminated, the image definition is improved, and also the brightness can be reduced to achieve a remarkable energy-saving effect. |
| US09995954B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A conductive film stuck to a transparent conductive film of a liquid crystal panel is protruded along a display surface and the protruded part is formed as non-adhesive so that the protruded part is not stuck to the members other than the liquid crystal panel. The protruded part contacts with a conductor on the front frame side so as to electrically connect the transparent conductive film of the liquid crystal panel and the front frame. When the liquid crystal panel moves, the conductive film can move in a direction in parallel to the display surface by following the liquid crystal panel, which prevents deterioration of the conductive film. Therefore, no excessive force works on the stuck part between the transparent conductive film and the conductive film. It solves the exfoliation issue of the conductive film, and the transparent conductive film can be electrically connected to the front frame stably. |
| US09995951B2 |
Methods of patterning and making masks for three-dimensional substrates
The present invention provides a method of making a mask for patterning a three-dimensional substrate. A mandrel includes a form machined in a surface corresponding to a shape of the substrate. A layer of material is deposited in a first region of the form and a metal layer is deposited in a second region of the form. A portion of the mandrel is subsequently removed. The present invention also provides a method of patterning a three-dimensional substrate with a mask. |
| US09995947B2 |
Prosthesis and method for widening the palpebral fissure of an individual's eye
A prosthesis capable of being worn on the eye of a wearer having a convex surface and a concave surface. The prosthesis is configured to widen the natural palpebral fissure of a wearer's eye. The prosthesis may have an aperture widening zone located on the convex surface and including an area of increased surface friction. A method of widening the natural palpebral fissure of a wearer's eye is also provided. |
| US09995944B2 |
Optical stacks for sparkle reduction
Optical stacks including a grating structure that generates diffraction in two in-plane dimensions. The optical stacks may include two gratings, which may be one-directional or two-directional, or may include a single two-directional grating. The optical stacks include particles selected to give controlled diffusion of light. The optical stacks are suitable for reducing sparkle in displays. |
| US09995942B2 |
Autostereoscopic 3D display device
An autostereoscopic 3D display device according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be configured to set the width of a viewing diamond to a/n times (where a and n are natural numbers satisfying the condition: a |
| US09995940B2 |
Laminated alignment structure for eyecup assemblies in a virtual reality headset
An eyecup assembly includes an electronic display element of a head-mounted display (HMD), a transparent plastic frame, an eyecup of the HMD, and a coupling interface. The plastic frame is laminated to the electronic display element and includes a center portion and a peripheral portion. The center portion includes an optical component and the peripheral portion including at least two protruding alignment structures. The eyecup includes alignment structures coupled to the at least two protruding alignment structures on the frame. The coupling interface interfaces with an alignment system. The alignment system is configured to align the eyecup assembly to the electronic display by adjusting a position of the electronic display relative to the eyecup so that a test image displayed by the electronic display after transmission through the optical component in the frame and an aperture of the eyecup is within a threshold value of a reference image. |
| US09995939B2 |
Optical stack and optical system
Integral optical stacks and optical systems including the integral optical stack are described. The integral optical stack may include first and second lenses, a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer curved about two orthogonal axes, and a quarter wave retarder. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically biaxial at at least one first location on the at least one layer away from an optical axis of the optical stack and substantially optically uniaxial at at least one second location away from the optical axis. |
| US09995938B2 |
Spectacle lens for a display device that can be fitted on the head of a user and generates an image
A spectacle lens for a display device can be fitted on the head of a user and generate an image. The spectacle lens can be constructed with several shells including an outer shell and an inner shell which is joined to the outer shell, wherein a curved channel shell, which includes a curved first reflecting surface and a curved second reflecting surface, is arranged between the outer and inner shell. The light guiding channel includes at least one section of the channel shell and the two reflecting surfaces on which the light bundles are reflected for guiding from the coupling-in section to the coupling-out section. |
| US09995934B2 |
Spectacle lens for a display device that can be fitted on the head of a user and generates an image, and display device with such a spectacle lens
A spectacle lens for a display device that can be fitted on the head of a user and generate an image guides light bundles of pixels of the generated image, which are coupled into the spectacle lens via the coupling-in section of the spectacle lens, in the spectacle lens by reflections on the rear side and a reflecting surface lying opposite this to the coupling-out section and coupling them out of the spectacle lens via the coupling-out section. A splitter layer reflects a portion of light bundles reflected by the rear side towards the rear side and transmits a portion, wherein after reflection on the rear side the reflected portion strikes the splitter layer again and there, once again, is partially reflected towards the rear side and partially transmitted. The transmitted portions strike the facets are coupled out of the spectacle lens through the splitter layer and the rear side. |
| US09995931B2 |
Method for correcting contour distortions of lenses
An imaging device is implemented that corrects contour distortion of the telephoto and wide-angle ends of zoom lens and a reflex lens where the way the contour is distorted significantly differs between the centerward and receding directions. A UHDTV imaging device with a landscape aspect ratio such as 16:9 uses a high-power zoom lens or a reflex lens, obtains type information and aperture ratio information of the lens, obtains and stores coma aberration information of the lens, and individually and independently calculates the amounts of left and right horizontal contour correction in proportion to a distance from the center of a screen (h−H/2), based on the obtained type information and aperture ratio information of the lens and the stored coma aberration information, and individually and independently performs left and right horizontal contour correction, using one of multi-stage horizontal contour correction, multi-stage vertical contour correction, and multi-stage oblique contour correction. |
| US09995930B2 |
Focusing device comprising a plurality of scatterers and beam scanner and scope device
A focusing device includes a substrate and a plurality of scatterers provided at both sides of the substrate. The scatterers on the both sides of the focusing device may correct geometric aberration, and thus, a field of view (FOV) of the focusing device may be widened. |
| US09995924B2 |
Three-dimensional position information acquiring method and three-dimensional position information acquiring apparatus
A three-dimensional position information acquiring method includes acquiring a first image of a first optical image, acquiring a second image of a second optical image, and performing a predetermined computation using data of the first image and data of the second image, wherein acquisition of the first image is performed based on light beams having passed through a first area, acquisition of the second image is performed based on light beams having passed through a second area, the position of the center of the first area and the position of the center of the second area are both away from the optical axis in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, the first area and the second area respectively include at least portions that do not overlap with each other, and three dimensional position information about an observed object is acquired by the predetermined computation. |
| US09995923B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for spatial light modulator
A control apparatus includes a lens, an SLM presenting a modulation pattern on a modulation plane and outputting modulated light L2 for forming light spots P1 and P2 on a pupil plane of the lens, an imaging device imaging a fringe pattern image formed on a focal plane of the lens and generating image data Da indicating the fringe pattern image, a calculation unit calculating at least one kind of parameter among an intensity amplitude, a phase shift amount, and an intensity average from the image data Da, an analysis unit obtaining a deviation in relative positions of an optical axis of the lens and a reference coordinate of the modulation plane based on the parameter, and a changing unit changing an origin position of the reference coordinate so that the deviation in the relative positions is decreased. |
| US09995920B2 |
Light observation device, imaging device used for same, and light observation method
A light observation device has a light splitting optical system for splitting observation light of an observation object; an imaging lens for focusing split beams to form optical images thereof; an imaging device arranged at image formation positions of the two optical images and being capable of performing independent rolling readout in a pixel row group included in a region corresponding to the image formation position of one optical image and in a pixel row group included in a region corresponding to the image formation position of the other optical image; and a control unit for independently controlling the rolling readout in the one pixel row group and in the other pixel row group; the control unit performs control such that a direction of the rolling readout in the one pixel row group and a direction of the rolling readout in the other pixel row group are identical. |
| US09995914B2 |
Imaging lens
A compact low-cost imaging lens which provides brightness with an F-value of 2.5 or less and a wide field of view and corrects aberrations properly, meeting the demand for low-profileness. The imaging lens elements are arranged in the following order from an object side to an image side: a first lens with positive refractive power having a convex surface on the object side; a second lens with negative refractive power; a third lens with positive or negative refractive power having at least one aspheric surface; a fourth lens with positive refractive power; a fifth lens as a meniscus double-sided aspheric lens having a concave surface near an optical axis on the image side; and a sixth lens as a meniscus lens having a concave surface near the optical axis on the object side. The both surfaces of the fifth lens have pole-change points off the optical axis. |
| US09995913B1 |
Optical camera lens
The present disclosure relates to field of optical lens, and discloses an optical camera lens, which, from the object side to the image side, successively includes: an aperture, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth lenses; a curvature radius of an object-side surface of the second lens r3, a curvature radius of an image-side surface of the fourth lens r8, a total track length of the optical camera lens TTL, an image height IH, a curvature radius of an object-side surface of the fifth lens r9, a curvature radius of an image-side surface r10, a focal length of the integral optical camera lens f, focal lengths of the second, third, fourth lens f2, f3, f4 satisfy the relational expressions: −0.7 |
| US09995910B1 |
Optical assembly for a compact wide field of view digital camera with high MTF
An optical assembly for a point action camera or other compact digital camera having a wide field of view, includes multiple lens elements, including at least one lens element that has an aspheric lens surface. The optical assembly is configured to provide a field of view in excess of 120 degrees. The optical assembly has a modulation transfer function (hereinafter “MTF”) at the Nyquist frequency that is above 0.3 and a MTF at half Nyquist frequency that is above 0.5 across the wide field of view. |
| US09995907B2 |
Optical image capturing system
An optical image capturing system, sequentially including a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element from an object side to an image side, is disclosed. The first lens element has negative refractive power. The second through third lens elements have refractive power. The fourth lens element has positive refractive power. At least one of the image-side surface and the object-side surface of each of the four lens elements are aspheric. The optical lens elements can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09995904B2 |
Actuator driving device and camera module including the same
An actuator driving device includes: a linearizer configured to linearize a first signal, indicative of a displacement of a lens module, to generate a second signal; a position controller configured to generate a position control signal in response to the second signal and a control input signal indicative of a target location of the lens module; and a driver configured to drive an actuator in response to the position control signal. |
| US09995903B2 |
Lens device
Provided is a lens device, including: a lens barrel, a control unit mounted to the lens barrel; and a cable having one end connected to the control unit. In the lens device, a cable housing groove configured to house a part of the cable therein in such a manner that the part of the cable is wound around the cable housing groove from a radially outer side of the lens barrel is formed along a circumferential direction of the lens barrel so as to be exposed. |
| US09995900B2 |
Stacked optical fiber storage compartment
The present invention relates to a stacked optical fiber storage compartment formed to receive optical fibers, facilitate the connection of optical fibers and optical jumper cords, and facilitate the arranging and grouping of optical fibers. The stacked optical fiber storage compartment according to the present invention comprises: a compartment body including a main body portion having a receiving space and an open upper portion, and an opening and closing cover pivotably coupled on the main body portion to open and close the open upper portion of the main body portion; and an optical fiber connecting unit installed on the main body portion to receive and connect the respective optical fibers withdrawn from each of the tubes for optical cables extending into the compartment body. The optical fiber connecting unit comprises: a support plate mounted on the main body portion; connecting tube storing trays pivotably coupled through a hinge shaft to the support plate, and having optical connecting tube storing portions for connecting optical fibers; first and second keeping trays disposed at both sides of the respective connecting tube storing trays and including first and second keeping receiving portions that keep optical fibers or optical jump fibers and support same; and an optical fiber connecting unit installed on the support plate, and having an optical jump fiber when an optical fiber supported on the first keeping tray or the second keeping tray is jumped to a connecting tube storing tray from among the tube storing trays. |
| US09995899B2 |
Multi-fiber optical distribution cable for hallway installations
An optical fiber distribution or breakout cable for serving multiple customer premises in a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) building. The cable contains a number of bend insensitive fibers each having a different colored coating for identification. A jacket of a flame-retardant polymer compound is extruded to surround the fibers. The jacket is sufficiently opaque to hide the color coated fibers at least partially from view, and the outer diameter of the jacket is not more than about 3.5 mm. A procedure for installing the cable through a hallway of a MDU building so as to lessen any negative visual impact of the installation on observers nearby is also disclosed. |
| US09995893B2 |
Optical-electrical hybrid module
There is provided an optical-electrical hybrid module including a substrate on which a plurality of optical communication modules are arranged, the plurality of optical communication modules transmitting or receiving an optical signal through an optical fiber cable and performing conversion between the optical signal and an electrical signal. A shield case covering the optical communication modules includes a surface inclined in a direction away from a position in which the optical fiber cable is mounted to each optical communication module. |
| US09995890B2 |
Thermal management of a locker etalon in a transmitter optical subassembly
Thermal management of a locker etalon in a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA). In one example embodiment, a TOSA includes a case, a laser positioned within the case and electro-thermally connected to the case, a locker etalon positioned in the case and thermally connected to the case, and a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) positioned within the case and in thermal contact with both the laser and the locker etalon. |
| US09995884B2 |
Systems and techniques for improving insertion loss performance of multicore fiber connectors
Structures and techniques are described for aligning multicore optical fibers in a multicore optical fiber cable having a plurality of optical fiber cores, at least one end portion and a protective coating. The protective coating is removed from the end portion of the multicore fiber cable to create an exposed end portion of the multicore fiber. The exposed end portion of the multicore fiber is inserted into a guide hole defined longitudinally through a ferrule subassembly. The cores of the fiber are aligned rotationally, in a predetermined orientation, relative to the ferrule. Each fiber is biased within its respective guide hole in a predetermined orientation relative to the ferrule. The multicore fiber is bonded within the ferrule. The fiber is trimmed at the ferrule tip and the ferrule and fiber end faces are polished, so that a selected alignment of the multicore fiber is achieved. |
| US09995881B1 |
TSV compatible fiber array coupler for silicon photonics
Embodiments herein describe an apparatus for coupling a photonic chip with a plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first plurality of alignment features that correspond to a second plurality of alignment features associated with the photonic chip. Further, the apparatus comprises a plurality of grooves for receiving the plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of waveguides for transmitting or receiving an optical signal. The plurality of waveguides is optically coupled to the photonic chip, as well as the plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment, the plurality of waveguides is passively aligned with a second plurality of waveguides associated with the photonic chip. |
| US09995879B2 |
Dynamic spatial-mode allocation in an under-addressed optical MIMO system
The outage probability in an under-addressed optical MIMO system may be reduced by configuring a spatial-mode coupler at a transmitter and/or a spatial-mode separator at a receiver to dynamically change its spatial-mode configuration on a time scale that is shorter than the channel coherence time. Provided that the MIMO system employs an FEC code that has a sufficient error-correcting capacity for correcting the amount of errors corresponding to an average state of the MIMO channel established between the transmitter and receiver, this relatively fast dynamic change tends to reduce the frequency of events during which the number of errors per FEC-encoded block of data exceeds the error-correcting capacity of the FEC code. |
| US09995876B2 |
Configurable compact photonic platforms
Compact photonics platforms and methods of forming the same are provided. An example of a compact photonics platform includes a layered structure having an active region along a longitudinal axis, a facet having an angle no less than a critical angle formed at least one longitudinal end of the active region, and a waveguide having at least one grating coupler positioned in alignment with the angled facet to couple light out to or in from the waveguide. |
| US09995873B2 |
Single-mode large effective area optical fibers
Optical fibers having a large effective area are disclosed. Three main embodiments of the optical fiber allow for single-mode operation at wavelengths of 850 nm, 980 nm and 1060 nm, respectively and have a large effective area with low bend losses. The large effective area optical fiber is expected to be particularly useful for data center applications due to its ability to efficiently optically couple with photonic integrated devices. Integrated systems and optical communication systems that employ the optical fibers are also disclosed. |
| US09995872B2 |
Light mixing systems with a glass light pipe
An optical system is disclosed, which comprises a glass light pipe having an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the light pipe, and a polymeric light pipe optically coupled at its input surface to the output surface of the glass light pipe to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the glass light pipe, said polymeric light pipe having a textured output surface. A plurality of microlenses is optically coupled to said textured surface of the polymeric light pipe, and a projection lens is optically coupled to the output surface of the polymeric light pipe to receive light therefrom. |
| US09995871B2 |
Light-source device and liquid crystal display apparatus
A backlight 200 is provided with a frame body 9 that is in contact with a side surface of a light guide plate 5, and a non-light emitting region surrounding a light emitting region of a light emitting surface of an LED 60. The side surface of the light guide plate 5 and the LED 60 can be brought close to each other, while preventing a contact therebetween by means of the frame body 9. Furthermore, by means of the frame body 9, light emitted from the LED 60 is prevented from leaking out from between the light emitting surface of the LED 60 and the side surface of the light guide plate 5. Consequently, the ratio at which the light emitted from the LED 60 is inputted to the light guide plate 5 is increased, thereby improving luminance or power saving performance of the backlight 200. |
| US09995867B2 |
Light source, backlight module and display apparatus
The present disclosure provides a light source, a backlight module and a display apparatus. The light source includes: a light emitting diode chip; and a fluorescent powder layer arranged to face towards the light emitting diode chip and configured to receive a first light emitted from the light emitting diode chip and to emit a second light with a wavelength different from that of the first light, wherein the light emitting diode chip and the fluorescent powder layer are moveable with respect to each other such that quantity of fluorescent powder in the fluorescent powder layer excited by the light emitted from the light emitting diode chip increases or decreases. In the above solution, the light emitting diode chip and the fluorescent powder layer are movable with respect to each other, so as to adjust color temperature of backlight conveniently. |
| US09995866B2 |
Uniform illumination lighting module
A uniform illumination lighting module is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the uniform illumination lighting module comprises a first optical medium, a lower reflective surface disposed adjacent to a bottom boundary of the first optical medium, a concave reflective surface disposed adjacent to a side boundary of the first optical medium, and a light source, wherein at least a portion of the first optical medium is disposed between the light source and the concave reflective surface. In some embodiments, the uniform illumination lighting module further comprises a second optical medium disposed adjacent to a top boundary of the first optical medium. In preferred embodiments, the concave reflective surface is substantially parabolic and the light source is disposed at a parabolic focus of the concave reflective surface. |
| US09995865B2 |
Phase difference plate, circularly polarizing plate, and image display device
A phase difference plate including an optically anisotropic layer obtained by curing a composition (A) containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound with reverse wavelength dispersion and a polymerizable monomer, wherein the polymerizable liquid crystal compound with reverse wavelength dispersion has a main chain mesogen and a side chain mesogen bonded to the main chain mesogen in the molecule thereof; the main chain mesogen and the side chain mesogen are oriented in different directions, whereby a birefringence Δn of the optically anisotropic layer has reverse wavelength dispersion property; and retardations of a layer obtained by curing a composition (A0) in which the polymerizable monomer in the composition (A) is replaced by the polymerizable liquid crystal compound with reverse wavelength dispersion and retardations of the optically anisotropic layer satisfy specific relationship; and a circularly polarizing plate and a display device including the same. |
| US09995860B2 |
Enhanced, durable silver coating stacks for highly reflective mirrors
The disclosure is directed to a highly reflective multiband mirror that is reflective in the VIS-NIR-SWIR-MWIR-LWIR bands, the mirror being a complete thin film stack that consists of a plurality of layers on a selected substrate. In order from substrate to the final layer, the mirror consists of (a) substrate, (b) barrier layer, (c) first interface layer, (d) a reflective layer, (e) a second interface layer, (f) tuning layer(s) and (g) a protective layer. In some embodiments the tuning layer and the protective layer are combined into a single layer using a single coating material. The multiband mirror is more durable than existing mirrors on light weight metal substrates, for example 6061-Al, designed for similar applications. In each of the five layer types methods and materials are used to process each layer so as to achieve the desired layer characteristics, which aid to enhancing the durability performance of the stack. |
| US09995858B2 |
Frequency- and amplitude-modulated narrow-band infrared emitters
IR emission devices comprising an array of polaritonic IR emitters arranged on a substrate, where the emitters are coupled to a heater configured to provide heat to one or more of the emitters. When the emitters are heated, they produce an infrared emission that can be polarized and whose spectral emission range, emission wavelength, and/or emission linewidth can be tuned by the polaritonic material used to form the elements of the array and/or by the size and/or shape of the emitters. The IR emission can be modulated by the induction of a strain into a ferroelectric, a change in the crystalline phase of a phase change material and/or by quickly applying and dissipating heat applied to the polaritonic nanostructure. The IR emission can be designed to be hidden in the thermal background so that it can be observed only under the appropriate filtering and/or demodulation conditions. |
| US09995857B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for displaying an image using focal modulation
A system (100), apparatus (110), and method (900) for displaying an image (880). The light (800) in the image (880) is modified by a tuning assembly (700) to possess more than one focal point (870). Thus a single image (880) can include multiple depth regions (860). Each depth region (860) can be comprised of light (800) possessing a distinct focal point (870). The tuning assembly (700) can be implemented in the form a tunable lens (710), a tunable lens array (720), a movable lens (730), or a deformable mirror (740). |
| US09995855B2 |
Method and device for producing a lens wafer
A device for producing a lens wafer with a plurality of microlenses with an upper die and a lower die for embossing of the lens wafer from a fluid embossing mass which has been delivered between the dies, curing means for curing of the embossed lens wafer, characterized in that at least one release element for detachment of the cured lens wafer prior to curing can be located between the lower die and the upper die. |
| US09995854B2 |
Rearview assembly with applique
A rearview assembly for use in a vehicle. The rearview assembly includes a rearview device operably coupled with a carrier. The rearview device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate is disposed in front of the second substrate and includes a first surface and a second surface. The second substrate includes a third surface and a fourth surface. A bezel extends around a peripheral edge of the rearview device. A portion of the bezel extends behind the fourth surface of the second substrate. An applique is disposed over a front surface of the rearview device proximate the peripheral edge thereof. The applique includes an aesthetic design configured to closely match trim styling of an interior of the vehicle. A protective layer is disposed over the applique. |
| US09995851B2 |
Fabrication of lenses by droplet formation on a pre-heated surface
A lithography-free, mold-free, single-step method of fabricating high quality optical lenses by curing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) droplets on a pre-heated smooth surface allows lenses with different focal lengths to be made by varying the droplet volume and surface temperature. |
| US09995848B2 |
Adaptive placement of weather sensors in response to dynamic local conditions
One example of a computer-implemented method for adaptively placing weather sensors in response to dynamic local conditions includes obtaining a set of data indicating a dynamic local condition in a geographic location of interest and adaptively modifying a placement of a plurality of weather sensors in the geographic location of interest in response to the dynamic local condition. |
| US09995846B2 |
Ultrasonic cleaning of marine geophysical equipment
Various methods and apparatuses for facilitating cleaning of submerged geophysical equipment using sound waves transmitted at ultrasonic frequencies are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more transducers may be configured to transmit sound at one or more ultrasonic frequencies. The sound at ultrasonic frequencies may be transmitted in the vicinity of submerged geophysical equipment, such as a sensor streamer towed behind a survey vessel. Obstructions (e.g., barnacle larvae) adhering to surfaces of the geophysical equipment may be loosened or removed altogether when ultrasonic transmissions occur within its vicinity. The transducers used to transmit the ultrasonic frequencies may be implemented in various ways, such as being attached to a remote operated vehicle, a cleaning unit, or as being an integral component of the geophysical equipment. |
| US09995844B2 |
Method and system for geophysical modeling of subsurface volumes
Method and system are described for modeling one or more geophysical properties of a subsurface volume (102). The present disclosure provides method of modeling the subsurface comprising obtaining one or more subsurface volumes and performing at least two operations (104) on the subsurface volumes. A graph of operations is determined (106) based on each of the at least two operations in which the graph of operations includes a description of each of the at least two operations and a flow path for the each of the at least two operations (108). The graph of operation is stored (110). A specific operation within the graph of operations may then be identified (112). An additional operation may be created and connected to the graph of operations at a node associated with the specific operation to provide an additional branch to the graph of operations (114). |
| US09995840B1 |
Azimuthal minor averaging in a wellbore
A drilling rig apparatus is disclosed for improving geosteering control by reducing the amount of bandwidth necessary to convey log data to the surface in real time. A bottom hole assembly receives measurement data from azimuthal measurement sensors. The BHA sorts the measurement data into appropriate bins in a radial plot. The BHA selects a hemisphere for transmission of the measurement data in those bins for the selected hemisphere, instead of transmitting the data for all bins in the plot. The BHA may average the data in the bins for the selected hemisphere with the data of the mirroring bins in the non-selected hemisphere. The BHA transmits the measurement data to a surface controller, which mirrors the data transmitted to the corresponding bins in the non-selected hemisphere to reconstitute the full set of data for the radial plot, which is used for image log generation, geosteering and other control functions. |
| US09995838B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring the electrical impedance properties of geological formations using multiple simultaneous current sources
A system for measuring geological data is disclosed. The system includes several transceivers distributed over a geographical area. Each of the transceivers has at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. The transceivers are in communication with each other. The receivers are adapted to measure at least one electrical signal. The transmitters are adapted to inject an electrical current into a subsurface area. The transmitters operate simultaneously to inject the electrical current into the subsurface area simultaneously from a number of locations. |
| US09995835B2 |
System and method of implementing finite difference time domain models with multiple accelerated processing components (APCS)
Embodiments of a method for implementing a finite difference time domain modeling with multiple APCs are disclosed herein. The disclosed methods and systems overcome the memory capacity limitation of APCs by having each APC perform multiple timesteps on a small piece of the computational domain or data volume in a APC queued manner. The cost of transferring data between host and compute accelerator can then be amortized over multiple timesteps, greatly reducing the amount of PCI bandwidth required to sustain high propagation speeds. The APC queued nature of the algorithm achieves linear scaling of PCI throughput with increasing number of APCs, allowing the algorithm to scale up to many dozens of APCs in some embodiments. |
| US09995833B1 |
Nuclear medicine imaging systems and methods having a secondary mechanism for controlling a detector head
Nuclear medicine (NM) imaging system includes a detector assembly coupled to a gantry. The NM imaging system also includes a positioning sub-system having a motion controller and a detector motor. The positioning sub-system also includes a proximity sensor device (PSD) coupled to a detector head of the detector assembly. The PSD is configured to be activated. In response to being activated, the PSD is configured to transmit an output signal to stop the detector motor from moving the detector head toward the object. The NM imaging system also includes a secondary circuit that, in response to the PSD being activated, is configured to determine whether the detector head has stopped moving toward the object and, if the detector head has not stopped moving toward the object, is configured to disable the detector motor. |
| US09995826B2 |
Electronic distance meter
An electronic distance meter includes an optical unit which emits light to a target object and receives the light reflected by the target object with a light receiving element, a measuring unit which calculates a length of round-trip time taken for the light to make a round trip to the target object and measures a distance to the target object according to the round-trip time of the received light, a light receiving system which receives and condenses the light reflected by the target object, and an optical guide which guides the light condensed by the light receiving element to the light receiving system, including a multi-mode graded index fiber and a multi-mode step index fiber coupled with each other. |
| US09995824B2 |
Methods and system to assist search for lost and submerged objects
Devices and methods for aiding a large area search for submerged objects such as aircraft. A searcher transmits interrogation signals to be received by a device at the target object. The interrogation signals have a long range relative to that of returned signals. The target device responds with a ping signal modified to be more easily found by means of information contained in the interrogation signal. The information may be inherent in the nature of the received signal or data encoded and embedded by the searching device. The target device may use a microprocessor to do complex operations using the information from the interrogation signal and other information. Detection of a weak ping is facilitated by such means as being beamed in the direction of the interrogation, arriving at a predictable time, or having parameters adapted to values requested by the searcher. |
| US09995821B2 |
Active beam-forming technique for piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer array
An apparatus includes an array of pixels, each pixel including in-cell pixel logic and a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) element, each in-cell pixel logic being communicatively coupled with at least one adjacent pixel in the array. Transceiver electronics may operate the array in a selectable one of a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the array may generate a substantially plane ultrasonic wave. In the second mode, the array may generate, from at least one superpixel region, a focused beam of relatively high acoustic pressure, each superpixel region including at least one inner pixel disposed in a central portion of the superpixel region and at least a first group of outer pixels disposed in an outer portion of the superpixel region. The transceiver electronics may be configured to operate the array by configuring at least one in-cell pixel logic. |
| US09995820B2 |
Distance-measuring sensor and method for detecting and determining the distance of objects
A distance-measuring sensor (10) is provided for detecting and determining the distance of objects (18) in a monitored zone comprising a transmitter (12) for transmitting transmitted pulses; a receiver (20) for generating a received signal from the transmitted pulses remitted in the monitored zone; a first comparator unit (36a) for digitizing the received signal with reference to a first threshold; and a control and evaluation unit (30) which is configured to transmit a plurality of transmitted pulses via the transmitter (12), to collect the received signals thereupon generated by the receiver (20) in a histogram and to determine a received time point from the histogram and thus to determine a measured value for the signal transit time from the sensor (10) to the object (18). In this respect, a second comparator unit (36b) is provided for digitizing the received signal with reference to a second threshold, wherein the first comparator unit (36a), the second comparator unit (36b) and the control and evaluation unit (30) are configured to acquire three digital states of a respective section of the received signal with reference to the first threshold and to weight the contributions of the section to the histogram in dependence on the digital state. |
| US09995819B1 |
System and method for spherical object identification using radar
A computer-implemented method for processing radar return signals to identify spherical objects from within a cluster of objects, collects by a radar receiver, a plurality of radar return signals over N-point measurement windows corresponding to objects within the cluster of objects, the radar return signals corresponding to electronic pulses transmitted by a radar transmitter. The radar processor extracts radar cross section data from the collected plurality of radar return signals, and computes, based on the radar cross section data, a plurality of standard deviation values, each standard deviation value based on the radar cross section data corresponding to one of the N-point windows. The radar processor determines, based on analysis of the sequence of standard deviation values of the return signals, whether the object is a spherical object. |
| US09995816B2 |
Methods for indoor positioning and apparatuses using the same
The invention introduces a method for indoor positioning, executed by a processing unit of a first reference node, which contains at least the following steps. Broadcast signals of second reference nodes are listened. Signal measurements of the broadcast signals are obtained. Identification information is obtained from broadcast messages sent by the second reference nodes. A distance associated with each identification information is obtained. A MLM (Machine Learning Model) is updated according to the signal measurements and the distances, where the MLM describes a linear function between signal measurements and distances. |
| US09995815B2 |
Energy metering system and method for its calibration
An energy metering system includes a plurality of sensors arranged in proximity to circuit breakers of a distribution panel for sensing a magnetic field in the area of the circuit breakers and providing corresponding sensor data. The system further includes a data processing system for converting the sensor data of the plurality of sensors into electrical load information for a plurality of electrical circuits protected by corresponding circuit breakers. The system further includes a calibration unit configured to determine at least a reference voltage and a reference current of at least one circuit. The data processing system is configured to calibrate a relationship between the sensor data and the load information based on the reference voltage and reference current determined by the calibration device in a calibration mode of the energy metering system. |
| US09995811B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of an embodiment has a setting unit configured to set a pulse sequence having a pre-pulse for fat suppression and a pulse train for data acquisition for acquiring echo data for image reconstruction, the pulse sequence being provided with a plurality of dummy pulses between the pre-pulse for fat suppression and the head of the pulse train for data acquisition, a data acquisition unit configured to apply an RF pulse and a gradient magnetic field pulse based on the pulse sequence set by the setting unit to a test object so as to acquire the echo data, and an image generation unit configured to reconstruct an image of the test object from the acquired echo data, wherein an application time during which the plural dummy pulses are applied or flip angles of the plural dummy pulses can be adjusted. |
| US09995809B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance apparatus for creating at least two image data sets
In a method and a magnetic resonance apparatus for generating at least two parallel two-dimensional image data sets of an examination object a multi-coil array radiates a multiband radiofrequency pulse that excites at least two slices, which are phase encoded by a phase encoding gradient. Scan signals produced by the excited slices are detected using each coil of the multi-coil array. In one of the excitation or the phase encoding, the phase of the scan signal in at least one slice is modulated such that the phase of the scan signal therefrom differs from the phase of the other slices. Image data sets are reconstructed based on the modulation of the phase of the scan signal in at least one slice. |
| US09995806B2 |
Automated determination of the resonance frequencies of protons for magnetic resonance examinations
In a method and a magnetic resonance (MR) system for automated determination of the resonance frequency of a nucleus for magnetic resonance examinations, at least one MR signal is detected, and is Fourier-transformed into a spectrum composed of elements that can be represented as a vector. An analysis of the spectrum is conducted, wherein at least two cross-correlation coefficients of at least one model spectrum are determined by use of the measured spectrum. Prior to the analysis, a spectrum matrix having at least two vectors is determined from the spectrum, with each vector of the spectrum matrix being formed using all or some of the spectrum. |
| US09995799B2 |
System and method for magnetic characterization of induction heating wires
A system for magnetic characterization of an induction heating wire including a conductor having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposed from the first end, wherein the induction heating wire extends along a portion of the conductor and is electrically isolated from the conductor, an alternating current power source electrically coupled with the conductor to pass an electric current between the first end and the second end, a current sensor positioned to sense the electric current, a sensing wire including a first lead and an opposed second lead, wherein the sensing wire defines a first loop having a first polarity and a second loop having a second, opposite polarity, the second loop being connected to the first loop at a crossover, and wherein the induction heating wire extends through the first loop, and a voltage sensor positioned to sense a voltage across the first lead and the second lead. |
| US09995797B2 |
Angle sensor and method of measuring an angle of a magnetic field
The invention concerns an angle sensor and a method of measuring an angle of a magnetic field. The angle sensor is configured to measure a direction of a magnetic field in a plane, comprising a first magnetic field sensor having a first sensitivity direction and delivering a first voltage, a second magnetic field sensor having a second sensitivity direction and delivering a second voltage, a first current source supplying a first biasing current to the first magnetic field sensor, a second current source supplying a second biasing current to the second magnetic field sensor (2), and electronic circuitry configured to adjust the first biasing current and the second biasing current in such a manner that a sum of the first voltage and the second voltage equals 0. |
| US09995796B1 |
Identifying an arc-fault type in photovoltaic arrays
An apparatus, method, and system for detecting arc-faults in a photovoltaic array are disclosed. Further, the detection not only identifies that an arc-fault is present in the array, but also classifies whether the arc-fault is a series type arc-fault or a parallel type arc-fault. Upon determination of the specific type of arc-fault that is at issue, de-energizing the arc-fault specific to the type is selected and carried out. |
| US09995794B2 |
Methods for testing a battery and devices configured to test a battery
A method for testing a battery may be provided. The method may include: bringing the battery to a pre-determined voltage; determining a parameter of the battery, the parameter of the battery including at least one of an entropy of the battery at the pre-determined voltage or an enthalpy of the battery at the pre-determined voltage; and determining an ageing history of the battery based on the determined parameter. |
| US09995792B2 |
Battery state determination device determining a micro-short-circuiting tendency of a rechargeable battery
A battery state determination device, which determines a micro-short-circuiting tendency state, includes an impedance meter that applies an AC voltage or an AC current of a measurement frequency to a rechargeable battery, which is subject to determination, and measures complex impedance. The device further includes a detector that detects an absolute value of an imaginary axis component of the complex impedance. The device further includes a determiner that compares the absolute value of the imaginary axis component detected by the detector with a lower limit threshold value. The lower limit threshold value is set based on a measurement result of the absolute value of the imaginary axis component of the rechargeable battery in the micro-short-circuiting tendency state. When the absolute value of the imaginary axis component is smaller than the lower limit threshold value, the determiner determines that the rechargeable battery is in the micro-short-circuiting tendency state. |
| US09995789B2 |
Secure remote debugging of SoCs
Techniques for secure remote debugging of SoCs are described. The SoC includes an intellectual property (IP) block, a microcontroller, and a fabric coupled to the IP block and the microcontroller. The IP block transmits, via the fabric, information regarding events within the IP block to the microcontroller. The microcontroller executes firmware including a network stack and a remote debugger program. Using the firmware, the microcontroller provides the event information to a device external to the SoC. |
| US09995778B1 |
Sensor apparatus
An improved sensor apparatus for developing a signal related to an inductive sensor in a resonant circuit are disclosed. This improvement is realized by adding a known capacitance to the resonant circuit and comparing the resulting natural resonance frequency to the frequency without the known capacitance. In this way a measure of the resonant capacitance is developed to correct the sensor signal for the effect of any changes in that capacitance. One disclosed embodiment adds an electronically variable capacitance which is adjusted to yield a constant capacitance that produces a sensor signal insensitive to variations in the resonant circuit capacitance. The resonant capacitance measurement may also provide an indication of another sensor state, such as temperature or pressure, which may be used to further correct for temperature or pressure sensitivities in the sensor signal. The invention is extended by juxtaposing the inductance for capacitance in the sensor resonant circuit. |
| US09995776B2 |
Method and device for ascertaining an insulation resistance, and high voltage battery system having a device of this type
The invention relates to a method for ascertaining an insulation resistance (2) of a test object (3) to be examined, wherein a decoupling capacitor (4) having a first capacity, and a measuring capacitor (5) having a second capacity are connected in series with the test object (3) in such a way that the decoupling capacitor (4) and the measuring capacitor (5) form a low-pass with the insulation resistance (2) of the test object (3), wherein a predetermined voltage (9) is applied to the series connection, the measuring capacitor voltage (8) declining on the measuring capacitor (5) is ascertained, and, by means of an evaluation unit (7), considering the first capacity, the second capacity and the ascertained measuring capacitor voltage (8), the insulation resistance (2) of the test object (3) is determined. The invention also relates to a device (1) for ascertaining an insulation resistance (2) of a test object (3) to be examined, said device (1) having a circuit assembly, a measuring unit (6) and an evaluation unit (7). The invention further relates to a high-voltage battery system having a device (1) according to the invention for ascertaining an insulation resistance (2). |
| US09995770B2 |
Multidirectional semiconductor arrangement testing
One or more probe cards, wafer testers, and techniques for testing a semiconductor arrangement are provided. Testline arrangements are formed within scribe lines of a semiconductor wafer, in multiple directions, such as an x-direction and a y-direction. A wafer tester is configured to concurrently test the semiconductor arrangement in multiple directions using a multidirectional probe arrangement of a probe card. In some embodiments, a first pin arrangement of the multidirectional probe arrangement is mated with a first testline arrangement in a first direction, and a second pin arrangement of the multidirectional probe arrangement is mated with a second testline arrangement in a second direction. The wafer tester concurrently tests the semiconductor arrangement in multiple directions, such as in the first direction and the second direction, through the pin arrangements mated with the testline arrangements. |
| US09995768B2 |
Interconnection meter socket adapters
Interconnection meter socket adapters are provided. An interconnection meter socket adapter comprises a housing enclosing a set of electrical connections. The interconnection meter socket adapter may be configured to be coupled to a standard distribution panel and a standard electrical meter, thereby establishing connections between a distribution panel and a user such that electrical power may be delivered to the user while an electrical meter measures the power consumption of the user. An interconnection meter socket adapter may be configured to be coupled to a DC-AC converter, which may be coupled to various energy sources. As such, the energy sources are coupled to an electrical power system. In addition, a connector such as a flexible cable or flexible conduit containing insulated wires can be provided for connecting various energy sources and/or sinks. |
| US09995767B2 |
Universal container for device under test
In one embodiment, a universal test container can include a universal external electrical interface configured to couple to each of a plurality of different devices to test. In addition, the universal test container is configured to enclose each of the plurality of different devices to test. |
| US09995761B2 |
Method for simultaneous observation of three degrees of vibrational freedom using single heterodyne beam
A laboratory system has demonstrated the measurement of three degrees of vibrational freedom simultaneously using a single beam through heterodyne speckle imaging. The random interference pattern generated by the illumination of a rough surface with coherent light can be exploited to extract information about the surface motion. The optical speckle pattern is heterodyne mixed with a coherent reference. The recorded optical data is then processed to extract three dimensions of surface motion. Axial velocity is measured by demodulating the received time-varying intensity of high amplitude pixels. Tilt, a gradient of surface velocity, is calculated by measuring speckle translation following reconstruction of the speckle pattern from the mixed signal. |
| US09995758B1 |
Methods and systems for controlling oxidative stress in humans and animals
The present application describes methods and systems for measuring and controlling oxidative stress in animals and humans. The degree of oxidative stress can be measured directly by inducing all of the blood cells to produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) by exposure to an elevated concentration sulfide or other ROS inducing chemical and measuring the fluorescence intensity of a fluorescent dye or color intensity of dye that reacts with ROS. Oxidative stress can be reduced by reducing dietary sulfur, consumption of a methanogenic probiotic, or apheresis methods to replace ROS-positive blood cells with normal blood cells. Plasma oxidative stress can be compared in venous and arterial blood samples to evaluate small vessel disease. Oxidative stress can be increased by increasing dietary sulfur or the use of an intravenous method that exposes blood cells to an elevated blood concentration of sulfide or other ROS inducing chemical. |
| US09995751B2 |
Method for detecting at least one mechanism of resistance to glycopeptides by mass spectrometry
A method of detection, for at least one microorganism contained in a sample, of at least one marker of resistance to a glycopeptide, including the detection, by mass spectrometry, of at least one peptide or protein of the microorganism. Preferably, the glycopeptide is vancomycin. Preferably, the peptide is derived from a protein of type vanA, vanB, vanC, vanD, vanE, vanG, vanL, vanM or vanN. |
| US09995747B2 |
Specific monoclonal antibodies of the antigen M of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and use thereof in a diagnostic method
The invention relates to murine monoclonal antibodies corresponding to monoclonal antibodies secreted by cell lines of hybridomas denominated 3G8/C11 and 7G4/A12, and which react against the antigen M of hMPV. Said antibodies do not compete with each other for the binding site for binding to the antigen, nor do they impede the simultaneous binding thereof to the antigen. Said monoclonal antibodies can be used for tests for the detection, diagnosis and/or determination of infection by hMPV. |
| US09995746B2 |
Rapid dual direct fluorescent antibody assay for the identification of Bacillus antrhacis
In this application is described a method for rapidly and accurately identifying B. anthracis in a sample by simultaneously detecting the presence of cell wall antigen and capsule antigen in the same sample culture grown under capsule inducing conditions. Other uses and advantages of the method of the invention are described herein. |
| US09995745B2 |
Method of efficient extraction of protein from cells
Methods for producing a protein extract from cells, such as cells or cellular samples containing viral proteins, are provided. In general terms, the methods may involve: increasing the pH of the cells to a pH of at least about pH 10.0 to produce an intermediate composition, and then, in the presence of a non-ionic detergent such as a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, neutralizing the pH of the intermediate composition to produce the protein extract. Such methods can be used in conjunction with methods for detecting one or more target proteins in a sample, such as viral proteins. Systems, kits and compositions for practicing the subject methods are also provided. |
| US09995740B2 |
Method of determining temperature and method of detecting a target peptide
Disclosed is a method of determining whether a temperature of a sample has reached a predetermined temperature. The method comprises the steps of: mixing an albumin-containing sample with a peptide reagent comprising a peptide for temperature determination; heating the mixture; detecting an optical change of the mixture; and determining whether the temperature of the mixture has reached the predetermined temperature based on the detection result of the optical change. In the method, a dissociation constant (Kd) of binding of the peptide for temperature determination to albumin is 500 μM or more, and the peptide for temperature determination comprises a first labeling substance and a second labeling substance. |
| US09995736B2 |
Preparation and use of nucleated red blood cell simulating particles and hematology control mixtures
The present disclosure provides a nucleated red blood cell simulating particle, which may be leukocytes bound to a fluorescent-staining inhibitor capable of stably binding to the nucleus or a nucleic acid in a cell so as to reduce the binding capacity of the particles to a fluorescent dye during their detection. The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing nucleated red blood cell simulating particles, including the following steps: (a) obtaining purified leukocytes; (b) suspending the leukocytes in a cell treatment solution containing a fluorescent-staining inhibitor which stably binds to the nucleus or a nucleic acid in a cell, and (c) washing the obtained product. The present disclosure also provides a hematology control mixture containing the nucleated red blood cell simulating particles. In addition, the present disclosure describes the use of the nucleated red blood cell simulating particles and the hematology control mixtures comprising the same, for the quality control of a blood cell analyzer. |
| US09995732B2 |
Evaporative edge lithography of a liposomal drug microarray for cell migration assays
Lipid multilayer structures are formed by evaporating a solvent from each of a plurality of lipid solutions thereby form the lipid multilayer structures. Each lipid solution comprises the solvent and one or more lipids. Each lipid multilayer structure is a microstructure comprising one or more lipids. |
| US09995730B2 |
Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) Activity Reporter Cell Line
The present invention relates to the construction of a new hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) responsive reporter gene construct, the genetic constructs and vectors containing the same. Further, the present invention relates to a stable cell line comprising the HIF responsive reporter construct, as well as methods and uses of the inventive constructs and cell lines to identify modulators of HIF activity. |
| US09995726B2 |
Lubricant deterioration sensor and optical sensor
One object is to provide a lubricant deterioration sensor that can maintain accuracy of sensing the deterioration of a lubricant having low transmissivity and an optical sensor used therein for sensing the amount of received light. The lubricant deterioration sensor is used for determining deterioration state of a lubricant. The lubricant deterioration sensor includes an optical sensor having: an LED for emitting detection light; an oil entering gap in which the detection light passes through a lubricant to be inspected; a color sensor for sensing color information of the detection light having passed through the lubricant; and a logarithmic amplifier for logarithmically amplifying the detection value sensed by the color sensor and outputting the amplified detection value. |
| US09995725B2 |
Phase fraction measurement using light source adjusted in discrete steps
Disclosed herein is an apparatus including a structure containing a multiphase fluid and having a transparent window. A collimated light source emits light through the transparent window structure at a wavelength at which a component of a desired phase of the multiphase fluid is absorptive. A photodetector is positioned such that the emitted light passes through the multiphase fluid in the structure and out through the transparent window structure to impinge upon the photodetector. The photodetector has an actual dynamic range for light detection. Processing circuitry adjusts a power of the collimated light source in a series of steps dependent upon a relationship between an output level of the photodetector and a threshold to cause measurement of the emitted light over an effective dynamic range greater than the actual dynamic range. Properties of the multiphase fluid are determined as a function of the measured emitted light. |
| US09995721B2 |
Method for determining a performance index of a cooking utensil for a predetermined cooking temperature with the aim of assessing nutritional gain
Provided is a method for determining a performance index of a cooking utensil (1a, 1b, 11) for a predetermined cooking temperature with, the aim of assessing nutritional gain, said cooking utensil comprising a bottom (2a, 2b, 10) having a cooking surface (3a, 3b, 10a). The method comprises: a) bringing the cooking surface (3a, 3b, 10a) to said predetermined cooking temperature by using heating means (4), the heating of the surface resulting in a deformation of the bottom (2a, 2b, 10) b) determining a minimum quantity of fat (9, 9a, 9b) necessary to cover the entire cooking surface (3a, 3b, 10a) of the bottom (2a, 2b, 10) deformed in this way at said predetermined cooking temperature, by pouring the minimum quantity of fat (9, 9a, 9b) necessary to cover the entire cooking surface (3a, 3b, 10a) or by calculating said minimum quantity of fat (9, 9a, 9b) necessary to cover the entire cooking surface (3a, 3b, 10a) by recreating the cooking utensil (11) deformed in this way by means of a computer equipped with a computer assisted design software program, said minimum quantity of fat (9, 9a, 9b) making it possible to define the performance index of the cooking utensil (1a, 1b, 11) for a predetermined cooking temperature. |
| US09995716B2 |
Method for determining boiler tube cold side cracking and article for accomplishing the same
Disclosed herein is a scanning device for performing ultrasonic nondestructive testing of a tube, comprising a housing; the housing having bottom surface that is concavely curved with cavities to accommodate a waveguide assembly and an encoder assembly; where the waveguide assembly comprises a waveguide and a probe that are in communication with one another; the waveguide having at least one surface that is contoured to match an outer surface of the tube; where the waveguide facilitates the transmission of ultrasonic signals into the tube generated by the probe; and where the encoder assembly comprises a spring loaded wheel that contacts the tube; and where the encoder assembly provides a signal indicative of a location of the probe relative to a position on the tube as the scanning device is moved in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the tube. |
| US09995715B2 |
Electromagnetic transducer for exciting and sensing vibrations of resonant structures
A fluid properties measurement device, including a magnetically excited and sensed resonator and a resonator electromagnetic excitation assembly, including an excitation coil driven by an electrical network, electrically connected to the excitation coil. The excitation coil is positioned so that a varying magnetic field produced by the excitation coil will drive the resonator in a pattern of resonating movement that has predetermined characteristics. Also, an electromagnetic sensing assembly, including a gradiometric sense coil is positioned so that an electromagnetic field originating due to movement of the resonator in a pattern having the predetermined characteristics, will create a time-varying gradient across the sense coil. Finally, a signal sensing electrical network is electrically connected to the sense coil. |
| US09995711B2 |
Calibration of wear detection system
A method of wear detection of a coated belt or rope includes measuring an initial electrical resistance of one or more cords, strands or wires of the coated belt or rope. The initial electrical resistance is calibrated by repeating the measuring of initial electrical resistance and populating a database with the measured initial electrical resistance values. A true initial resistance is determined from the population of initial electrical resistances and subsequent measured values of electrical resistance of the one or more cords, strands or wires of the coated belt or rope. |
| US09995708B2 |
Chemical sensor with sidewall spacer sensor surface
In one implementation, a chemical sensor is described. The chemical sensor includes chemically-sensitive field effect transistor including a floating gate conductor having an upper surface. A dielectric material defines an opening extending to the upper surface of the floating gate conductor. A conductive sidewall spacer is on a sidewall of the opening and contacts the upper surface of the floating gate conductor. |
| US09995702B2 |
Slope-base compensation including secondary output signals
A biosensor system determines analyte concentration from analytic and/or secondary output signals. The biosensor system adjusts a correlation for determining analyte concentrations from output signals with one or more index functions extracted from the output signals. The index functions determine at least one slope deviation or normalized slope deviation from one or more error parameters. The slope-adjusted correlation between analyte concentrations and output signals may be used to determine analyte concentrations having improved accuracy and/or precision from output signals including components attributable to bias. |
| US09995701B2 |
Capacitive sensing apparatuses, systems and methods of making same
A sensor system can be configured to perform dielectric spectroscopy (DS). For example, the system can include a sensor configured to measure dielectric permittivity of a fluid in response to an RF input signal. Associated interface electronics can include a transmitter to drive the sensor with the RF input signal and a receiver to receive and process an RF output signal from the sensor in response to the RF input signal. |
| US09995696B2 |
Open-air crystallization plate cooler
This invention is intended to allow an experimenter to work at amenable temperatures while viewing and/or manipulating aqueous protein crystals or other specimens under a dissection microscope at close to 4° C. or other controlled temperatures. The invention provides a specimen stage chamber large enough to fit a multi-well plate containing the specimens. The temperature of this specimen stage chamber is controlled by transparent coolant circulated through its walls and through a transparent chamber beneath the specimen stage chamber, without blocking the light path of the microscope. An additional chamber cools the air above the specimen stage chamber. In one version of this apparatus, circulation of most coolants is replaced by an array of Peltier coolers. The apparatus is open to the air above, giving the experimenter direct access to the crystals for manipulation. The invention may have wider application for manipulation of other specimens under a microscope. |
| US09995691B2 |
Device and method for continuously inspecting containers
The present disclosure provides an inspection device for continuously inspecting fed containers, in particular bottles, said inspection device comprising a feed device configured to feed containers thereto in succession, at least one inspection unit, configured to inspect the fed containers, a discharge conveying device configured to discharge the inspected containers, and a throughput station for the containers, which is arranged between the feed conveying device and the discharge conveying device, wherein the throughput station comprises a conveyor arrangement with an individual drive and a plurality of conveying units, which are movable by means of the individual drive individually and independently of one another, the conveyor arrangement being configured to convey the containers from the feed conveying device to the discharge conveying device. |
| US09995689B2 |
Optical metrology using differential fitting
Parameters of a sample are measured using a model-based approach that utilizes the difference between experimental spectra acquired from the sample and experimental anchor spectra acquired from one or more reference samples at the same optical metrology tool. Anchor parameters of the one or more reference samples are determined using one or more reference optical metrology tools. The anchor spectrum is obtained and the target spectrum for the sample is acquired using the optical metrology tool. A differential experimental spectrum is generated based on a difference between the target spectrum and the anchor spectrum. The parameters for the sample are determined using the differential experimental spectrum and the anchor parameters, e.g., by comparing the differential experimental spectrum to a differential simulated spectrum, which is based on a difference between spectra simulated using a model having the parameters and a spectrum simulated using a model having the anchor parameters. |
| US09995688B2 |
Use of superhydrophobic surfaces for liquid agglutination assays
This invention relates to the use of thermodynamically incompatible surfaces in agglutination assays for the express purpose of using the sample as a key component of the detection instrument. Specifically, the invention relates to formation of a lense and a virtual container for rapid mixing via thermal energy by a sample liquid disposed on a superhydrophobic surfaces, and a subsequent specific analyte or overall protein concentration assay using particles agglutination for use in the industrial, environmental, and clinical laboratory test fields. |
| US09995686B2 |
Patch clamp technique with complementary Raman spectroscopy
Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is employed to obtain chemical data with respect to cells while electrophysiological data relating to cell membranes is obtained using the patch clamp technique. A SERS-facilitating assembly is coupled to a micropipette and is used in conjunction with a monochromatic light source for generating scattered light. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is employed to obtain the chemical data. Electrophysiological data is obtained using the same micropipette to perform the patch clamp technique. |
| US09995682B2 |
Cointegration of optical waveguides, microfluidics, and electronics on sapphire substrates
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide on a sapphire substrate. The first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide each include a core portion of gallium nitride (GaN), and a cladding layer laterally surrounding the core portion. The cladding layer includes a material having a refractive index less than a refractive index of the sapphire substrate. The method further includes etching a portion of the cladding layer to form a microfluidic channel therein and forming a capping layer on a top surface of the first optical waveguide, the second optical waveguide and the microfluidic channel. |
| US09995677B2 |
Silicon article inspection systems and methods
A method of inspecting a silicon article includes irradiating a silicon article with infrared radiation, transmitting a portion of the infrared radiation through the silicon article, and filtering the infrared radiation transmitted through the silicon article. Image data is acquired from the filtered infrared radiation and an image of the silicon article reconstructed from the image data. Based on the reconstructed image of the silicon article, one or more anomalies defined within the silicon article are identified. |
| US09995676B2 |
Method and device for the preparation and optical analysis of a solid sample subjected to a controlled environment, by multiple internal reflection infrared spectroscopy
A method of preparation and optical analysis of a solid sample by multiple internal reflection infrared spectroscopy comprising: obtaining a least one substrate that is transparent to infrared light and comprises at least a main front face and a main rear face; producing at least one solid sample on the main front face of the substrate; installing around at least one part of the sample an element comprising a chamber having an aperture that opens onto the solid sample and defines a leaktight interaction zone (Zi) in relation to the outside of the chamber; feeding the chamber with a fluid with controlled parameters to control the environment in the leaktight interaction zone; sending an infrared light beam through the substrate; and recovering the beam after it has undergone multiple internal reflections in the substrate. |
| US09995672B2 |
Fluid-borne microorganism particle detecting device and fluid-borne microorganism particle detecting method
A fluid-borne microorganism particle detecting device having a heating flow path wherein flows a liquid that includes a microorganism particle; a microwave emitting device for irradiating, with microwave radiation, the liquid that includes the microorganism particles within the heating flow path; an inspection flow path that is connected to the heating flow path; an excitation beam light source for emitting an excitation beam toward the inspection flow path; and a fluorescence detector for detecting fluorescent light emitted by microorganism particles in the inspection flow path that has been illuminated by the excitation beam. |
| US09995666B2 |
Resonant sensors for fluid properties measurement
A resonator that includes an elastic tube defining an interior surface and a conductor threaded through the elastic tube. Solid material fills space between the conductor and the elastic tube interior surface, such that motion of the conductor is directly transferred to the elastic tube. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic tube is electrically conductive and said solid material insulates said conductor from said elastic tube. |
| US09995665B2 |
Dynamic impact fatigue device
An impact fatigue device includes a striker rod assembly configured to reciprocally move between an upstream position and a downstream position. The striker rod assembly includes a striker rod slidingly mounted on a support member and a trigger located upstream of the striker rod and adapted to move downstream to engage the striker rod and propel the striker rod downstream. An actuator assembly is located upstream of the striker rod assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to releasably engage the trigger and to translate the trigger upstream. A reset mechanism is configured to releasably engage the striker rod and to move the striker rod from the downstream position to the upstream position. A method of operating the impact fatigue device is also disclosed. |
| US09995662B2 |
Single cell capture with polymer capture films
The present invention provides methods, systems, assemblies, and articles for capturing single cells with a polymer capture film. In certain embodiments, the polymer capture films comprise a plurality of individual channels with top and bottom openings, where the channels are dimensioned such that a single cell is: i) is captured inside the channel, partially or substantially occluding the channel, when negative pressure is provided to the bottom opening; or ii) is captured by the top opening, but does not enter the channel, when negative pressure is provided to the bottom opening. In some embodiments, the channels of the polymer capture film align with the wells of a multi-well chip such that the cell, or the contents of the single cell, may be transferred to a corresponding well. |
| US09995659B1 |
Wet gas lateral sampling system and method
A system for on-stream sampling of pressurized process gas such as natural gas or the like, said system optimized for use with pressurized process gas having liquid entrained therein, or otherwise referenced as “wet”. In the preferred embodiment, the probe tip is situated laterally from one side of the inner pipe wall to the other so as to span the entire inner diameter (ID) of the pipe, the probe tip having formed along its outer surface sample collection slot along the length of said outer surface, providing a “linear sample” of the fluid flow of the entire breadth of the flow, providing an accurate sample of even disassociated flow with entrained liquid particles and flow. Embodiments for continuous sampling, batch mode, spot sampling are provided, as well as an anti-vibration feature. |
| US09995658B2 |
Sampling point valve
The sampling point valve, with a valve body that is movable in a valve housing between a closed position and an open position of the sampling point valve, wherein the valve body has a sample fluid channel, characterized in that the valve body is made of a material with a high thermal conductivity coefficient, preferably metal, that a signal unit with an essentially pot-shaped housing part made of a material with a high thermal conductivity coefficient, preferably metal, is in contact with the valve body, and that the signal unit includes a signal button that can be advanced out of a housing by a shape memory spring device when this device is warmed. |
| US09995657B2 |
Test device for fluid specimens
This invention is related to a device for collection and test of fluid specimens, comprising a first cavity and a second cavity; wherein, the first cavity is located inside the second cavity; furthermore, the first and second cavities are interconnected; the said first cavity is available for mutual rotation with the second cavity to facilitate fluid to flow between them; the first cavity is provided with a first position and a second position inside the second cavity. The device of this invention can ensure adequate and uniform mixing of fluid inside the second cavity to facilitate further tests. |
| US09995656B2 |
Forensic device for collecting a sample
The present invention relates to a forensic device suitable for acquisition and storage of biological samples, comprising in an air tight container (1) a water soluble layer (10) which is adhered to a flexible layer (11) by a water impermeable adhesive layer (12), wherein the air tight container (1) comprises a cover (2) defining a storage compartment (3) and a base (4) having attached thereto a protrusion (5) which extends from the base (4) inside said storage compartment (3). Further, the present invention relates to the use of the forensic device to acquire and store a biological sample. |
| US09995652B1 |
Induction diagnostics for skip fire engines
A variety of methods, diagnostic modules and other arrangements for detecting air induction faults during operation of an internal combustion engine are described. In some embodiments, the intake manifold pressure is monitored with the intake pressure being read for each induction opportunity. Induction faults may be detected based at least in part on a comparison of the manifold pressure readings for sequential induction opportunities. In some embodiments, an induction fault is identified when the difference between the manifold pressure associated with an induction opportunity and the immediately preceding induction opportunity exceeds an induction fault threshold. |
| US09995646B2 |
Measuring arrangement with a measuring cell for detecting a process parameter and a housing surrounding the measuring cell
A measuring arrangement with a measuring cell for detecting a process parameter and a housing, surrounding the measuring cell at least radially, with the measuring cell being arranged in the axial direction at the front in the housing and a space between the measuring cell and the housing being sealed with a seal from the penetration of process medium, with the seal showing at least a first sealing element radially surrounding a measuring cell and a second sealing element radially surrounding the measuring cell, the second sealing element being distanced from the first sealing element in the axial direction and arranged in front thereof, and the housing showing at least one first section extending in the axial direction and at least one second section arranged thereat and extending in the radial direction between the sealing elements. |
| US09995645B2 |
Techniques for determining patient airway pressure
A ventilator is configured to assist a user with breathing, while eliminating the need for extraneous sensors and tubing normally found in prior art ventilators. The ventilator relies on a predetermined relationship between a measurable quantity associated with a compressed gas and the maximum pressure of that compressed gas upon delivery to the user. The measurable quantity may be mass flow rate of the compressed gas or pressure within a delivery lumen used to transport the compressed gas, among others. Based on the predetermined relationship, the control logic within the ventilator determines whether the pressure of compressed gas delivered to the user exceeds a maximum allowable pressure. When the maximum pressure is exceeded, the control logic initiates corrective action to reduce the pressure of the compressed gas. |
| US09995641B2 |
Force sensor with gap-controlled over-force protection
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a force sensor having flip-chip mounted force-sensing die having a force-sensing element fabricated on an unflipped top surface and an unflipped back surface being thinned so as to create a flexible diaphragm responsive to an externally applied force, wherein, when the force-sensing die is flipped and mounted, a predetermined space remains between the top surface of the force-sensing die and the mounting substrate it faces, the substrate presenting a deflection limitation for the deformation of the flexible membrane during a force event. In an illustrative embodiment, the force sensor may have a mechanical stop to precisely establish a predetermined deflection limitation. In some embodiments, the predetermined deflection limitation may advantageously limit the deflection of the flexible membrane so as not to deflect beyond a breaking point. |
| US09995640B2 |
Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing a thermocouple module
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, which can comprise a thermocouple input module. The thermocouple input module can be adapted to determine one or more calibration factors. The thermocouple input module can be adapted to store the calibration factors. The thermocouple input module can be adapted to apply the calibration factors to an incoming thermocouple voltage value to obtain an adjusted thermocouple voltage value. |
| US09995636B2 |
Temperature sensing system for switching device
A temperature sensing system for a switching device is provided The temperature sensing system includes a sensing device that is configured to sense a temperature of the switching device and a signal converter that is configured to output a digital signal having a frequency based on a voltage across the sensing device by a frequency variable method which receives the voltage across the sensing device which is a temperature sensing value when a current flows in the sensing device to convert a level of an analog signal into a frequency of the digital signal. An isolator is configured to be connected to an output terminal of the signal converter to isolate and transmit the digital signal output from the signal converter. The system also includes a controller configured to recognize the temperature from the frequency of the digital signal transmitted through the isolator. |
| US09995635B2 |
Thermal element
The invention relates to a thermal element comprising a shaft and a test prod arranged on one end of the shaft. The thermal element comprises a first conductor and a second conductor, which are manufactured from different conductor materials and which are in electrical contact on one contact point provided in the region of the test prod. The first conductor and the second conductor are embedded at least in sections in a material of the shaft. The contact point is additionally or alternatively to the shaft material shielded with respect to the outside space at least in sections by means of a shield formed by a shielding material, wherein the shielding material has a lower diffusion coefficient and/or a higher thermal conductivity than the shaft material. |
| US09995633B2 |
Method for detecting optical wavelength
An optical wavelength detecting device, the device including: a polarizer configured to transform an incident light into a polarized light; a detecting element configured to receive the polarized light and form a temperature difference or a potential difference between two points of the detecting element, wherein the detecting element includes a carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of carbon nanotubes oriented along the same direction, and angles between a polarizing direction of the polarized light and an oriented direction of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is adjustable; a measuring device electrically connected to the detecting element and configured to measure the temperature difference or the potential difference; a data processor electrically connected to the measuring device and configured to obtain the optical wavelength by calculating and analyzing the temperature difference or the potential difference. |
| US09995631B2 |
System and method to monitor semiconductor workpiece temperature using thermal imaging
An improved system for measuring the temperature of a plurality of workpieces in a rotating semiconductor processing device is disclosed. Because silicon has variable emissivity in the infrared band, a temperature stable, high emissivity coating is applied to a portion of the workpiece, allowing the temperature of the workpiece to be measured by observing the temperature of the coating. Further, by limiting the amount of coating applied to the workpiece, the effect of the coating on the intrinsic temperature of the workpiece and the surrounding semiconductor processing device may be minimized. The temperature of the workpieces is measured as the workpieces pass under an aperture by capturing a thermal image of a portion of the workpiece. In certain embodiments, a controller is used to process the plurality of thermal images into a single thermal image showing all of the workpieces disposed within the semiconductor processing device. |
| US09995630B2 |
Unevenness inspection apparatus and unevenness inspection method
An unevenness inspection apparatus includes circuitry that is configured to obtain a pickup image of a test object and modify a chroma value of a pixel in the pickup image to correct a gain of the pickup image associated with the pixel for generating a color unevenness inspection image. The circuitry is configured to generate a luminance unevenness inspection image based on the pickup image and calculate an evaluation parameter using both of the color unevenness inspection image and the luminance unevenness inspection image. The circuitry is configured to perform unevenness inspection using the calculated evaluation parameter, which is calculated based on unevenness visibility for both color and luminance. |
| US09995629B2 |
Static fourier transform spectrometer
A static Fourier transform spectrometer is disclosed that includes a beam splitter, a mirror device, and a collection optic. The beam splitter divides an input light beam into a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is reflected by the beam splitter and the second arm passes through the beam splitter, wherein the first arm extends to the converging optical unit without deflection after reflection at the mirror device, wherein the second arm extends to the converging optical unit without deflection after passing through the beam splitter, and wherein the collection optic merges the first arm and the second arm for interference. |
| US09995627B2 |
Raster optic device for optical hyper spectral scanning
A spectroscopic scanning device, a portable spectroscopic scanning system, and methods for using the spectroscopic scanning device are described that include at least one focusing element configured to collect light, a beam-steering element configured to direct a portion of the collected light from the at least one focusing element, and a detector configured to receive the directed light from the beam-steering element, wherein the beam-steering element is operable to successively select portions of light from a plurality of locations within its field of regard. |
| US09995625B2 |
Device for generating and detecting photo mixing-type continuous-wave terahertz using phase noise compensation method
An embodiment of the present invention provides a continuous-wave terahertz generation and detection device using a photomixing technique, the device including: first and second light source units configured to output continuous-wave laser light sources, which have single wavelength and different frequencies, to generate optical signals; a first electro-optic phase modulator configured to shift a frequency of the optical signal generated by the first light source unit, and a second electro-optic phase modulator configured to shift a frequency of the optical signal generated by the second light source unit; a first optical amplifier configured to receive and amplify the optical signal whose frequency is shifted by the first electro-optic phase modulator and the optical signal generated by the second light source unit, and a second optical amplifier configured to receive and amplify the optical signal whose frequency is shifted by the second electro-optic phase modulator and the optical signal generated by the first light source unit; an opto-electronic converter configured to convert the optical signal amplified by the first optical amplifier into a terahertz wave; a photomixer configured to mix the optical signal amplified by the second optical amplifier and the terahertz wave generated by the opto-electronic converter and convert the mixed signal into an electrical signal; a photodetector configured to combine the optical signals transferred from the first and second optical amplifiers and convert the combined optical signal into an electrical signal; and a filter unit configured to filter the electrical signal passing through the photodetector, wherein the electrical signal obtained through the photodetector is compared with the electrical signal obtained by the photomixer, and phase noise having the same frequency is removed. |
| US09995609B2 |
Single wrapped sensor flow meter
A signal processor receives a signal containing information about a sensor that is spirally wrapped at a known pitch or separation down a pipe having a flow; and determines a flow velocity based at least partly on the information contained in the signal received by applying an autocorrelation function that depends on a relationship between the time between a repeating pattern and the known pitch or separation of the spirally wrapped sensor. The signal processor provides a corresponding signal containing information about the flow velocity. The sensor includes a strain sensor, including a piezo-electric polymer strain sensor fabricated from PVDF, and/or two or more equally spaced spirally wound sensors. The determining includes correlating output signals of two or more equally spaced spirally wound sensors to determine a time delay, and determining the flow velocity based on the time delay and the known pitch or separation. |
| US09995607B2 |
Flow rate measuring unit and flow rate control unit
A flow rate measuring unit, comprising a housing, which is composed of at least two housing parts that can be connected to one another and in which a flow passage extends, which branches off into a measuring channel branch and at least one bypass channel branch, wherein a substrate comprising a sensor system is disposed in the measuring channel branch. According to the invention, the flow passage includes a channel widening chamber in which an insert plate stack composed of at least two insert plates is disposed, which each include at least one plate-longitudinal recess extending in the longitudinal direction as the measuring channel branch and/or as the bypass channel branch. The insert plates are provided as insert parts for the channel widening chamber. |
| US09995605B2 |
Pressure gauge
A Bourdon tube pressure gauge includes: a Bourdon tube; a rotary piece rotatably attached to a first shaft arranged near a tip of the Bourdon tube; a pointer including a second shaft arranged on a side facing an outer periphery of the fan-shaped portion of the rotary piece; a first permanent magnet provided on an outer peripheral surface side of a fan-shaped portion of the rotary piece; a second permanent magnet provided at the second shaft. An outer peripheral surface of the first permanent magnet and an outer peripheral surface of the second permanent magnet each has N pole and S pole alternately magnetized at equal pitches. A magnetic member configured to relax force by which the second permanent magnet is attracted to the first permanent magnet is provided across the second permanent magnet from the first permanent magnet. |
| US09995603B2 |
Position detector, and lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus including the position detector
A position detector, including: a scale including a pattern array formed cyclically in a movement direction, the scale being provided to a fixed member or a movable member; a detector including detection elements arranged in the movement direction, the detector being provided to the other; a generating unit that selectively generates, from signals received from the detection elements, a first signal obtained by a first combination of the signals or a second signal obtained by a second combination of the signals; an output unit that outputs the first or second signal received from the generating unit; and a switcher that switches over between the first and second signals as a signal to be generated, wherein the first signal changes within a first range, corresponding to a relative position; and the second signal does not change beyond a second range smaller than the first range, corresponding to the relative position. |
| US09995602B2 |
Time grating linear displacement sensor based on alternating light field
A time grating linear displacement sensor based on an alternating light field, comprising a fixed pole plate and a movable pole plate, wherein the upper part and the lower part of the fixed pole plate are respectively provided with a row of square fixed pole plate light-transmitting surfaces which are uniformly distributed; the upper part and the lower part at the rear of the fixed pole plate are respectively provided with one group of light-emitting devices; the upper part and the lower part of the movable pole plate are respectively provided with two semi-sinusoidal movable pole plate light-transmitting surfaces; and four light-sensitive receiving units are fixed on the movable pole plate, the photoelectric receiving surfaces of the light-sensitive receiving units covering the movable pole plate light-transmitting surfaces. The two groups of light-emitting devices respectively provide an alternating light field. The movable pole plate moves relative to the fixed pole plate. |
| US09995600B2 |
Multi-axis magneto-resistance sensor package
A system and method for providing a position and orientation sensor package having a reduced size in at least one dimension is disclosed. The position and orientation sensor package includes a dielectric substrate and a first magneto-resistance sensor chip attached to the dielectric substrate, the first magneto-resistance sensor chip including at least one magneto-resistance sensor circuit. The position and orientation sensor package also includes a second magneto-resistance sensor chip attached to the dielectric substrate and positioned adjacent the first magneto-resistance sensor chip, the second magneto-resistance sensor chip including at least one magneto-resistance sensor circuit. The position and orientation sensor package is constructed such that the at least one magneto-resistance sensor circuit of the first magneto-resistance sensor chip is oriented in a different direction than the at least one magneto-resistance sensor circuit of the second magneto-resistance sensor chip. |
| US09995599B2 |
Rotating sensing apparatus including a sensing plate with holes and a sensing magnet
A motor includes a rotating shaft, a rotor that surrounds the rotating shaft, rotates along with the rotating shaft, and includes a drive magnet, and a sensing unit that surrounds the rotating shaft, is disposed over the rotor, and detects rotation of the rotor, wherein the sensing unit includes a sensing plate that includes a plurality of holes that are formed along with an edge of the sensing plate, a sensing magnet that is mounted on the sensing plate and is disposed closer to the rotating shaft than the plurality of holes, a first sensor that is disposed over the sensing plate and detects a change in the sensing plate, and a second sensor that is disposed over the sensing magnet and detects a change in the sensing magnet. |
| US09995596B2 |
Spindle force actuator
An apparatus includes a circuit, a code modulator, and an actuator. The circuit is operable to detect displacements of a rotating object while in motion. The circuit is operable to detect a position of the displacements and to generate a signal associated therewith. The code modulator is operable to generate a modulated signal based on the position and the displacements. The actuator is operable to apply a force to the rotating object, wherein the force is based on the modulated signal. |
| US09995595B2 |
Method of detecting the reciprocal position between a cylinder and a piston a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder-piston unit, as well as cylinder-piston unit for implementing such method
A method for detecting the reciprocal position between a cylinder and a piston in a cylinder-piston unit, including the following phases: setup of a cylinder-piston unit featuring at least one tubular body (2) presenting at least one passing accommodation host (6); at least one moving body (5) which can be longitudinally shifted in the tubular body (2), featuring at least one reference area (5c) extending for a portion (5d) on the surface of the moving body (5); a detector (7) which can be accommodated in such passing accommodation host (6), oriented towards the moving body (5) and detecting the presence or absence of the reference area (5c) at one detection area (7c), and to generate at least one corresponding output electrical signal (s7), in response to detection of the reference area (5c); at least one elaboration and program control unit (8) receives as an input at least one of the output electrical signals (s7) and generates at least one electrical signal (s8) of detection; activation of the detector (7) (phase 100); elaboration by at least one of the elaboration and program control units (8) of at least one of the signals (s7) which are from the detector (7) (phase 200), the elaboration phase including a comparison (phase 220) between at least one of the output electrical signals (s7) and the respective maximum and minimum reference thresholds (Smax, Smin); based on the elaboration (phase 200), generating electrical signal of detection (s8) by at least one of the elaboration and program control units (8) (phase 300); the maximum and minimum reference thresholds (Smax, Smin) being periodically updated. |
| US09995591B2 |
Estimating a departure time for a plug-in electric vehicle
The disclosure includes a system and method for determining a departure time for a Plug-in Electric Vehicle (“PEV”). The method may include analyzing power meter data to determine that a connector of a control device is coupled to an inlet of the PEV. The method may include charging a battery set of the PEV with electricity. The method may include determining a next day of a next journey for the PEV based on clock data provided by a clock. The clock data may describe time information describing a present day and a category of the next day. The method may include analyzing history data associated with the category of the next day to determine a habitual time associated with the category of the next day. The method may include estimating that a departure time for the next journey is substantially equal to the habitual time. |
| US09995589B2 |
Path plan generating apparatus for mobile body
A path plan generating apparatus 10 corrects an RRT path plan that an RRT path plan generating section 22 has generated by processing based on the RRT algorithm, by a path plan correcting section 23 by processing based on the potential method. If the corrected path plan becomes a path plan with which interference between the mobile body 1 and an obstacle A is unavoidable, the apparatus 10 causes the RRT path plan generating section 22 to generate a new RRT path plan. |
| US09995580B2 |
Level
A level includes a top surface, a bottom surface parallel with the top surface, and a body accommodating at least one vial. The body has at least one through hole, at least one portion of the vial is exposed through the through hole, a close-ended locating hole is mounted at a side of the through hole, an opened-ended locating hole is mounted at another side of the through hole, and two sides of the vial are accommodated in the two locating holes respectively. A side of the opened-ended locating hole is mounted with a locating aperture so that a magnet is positioned in the locating aperture so as to fix the vial. |
| US09995579B2 |
Long base inclinometer with optical measurement
A tiltmeter to measure a variation in inclination of a structure from a given starting position. The tiltmeter has two pots, each pot contains an identical volume and identical height of an identical liquid. A communication device connects the two pots and allows the liquid to flow between the two pots by the principle of communicating vessels. Two optical measuring devices are provided, one optical measuring device per pot. Each optical measuring device measures a variation in height of the level of liquid in the associated pot. The optical measuring devices are fiber optic devices coupled to a common light source. |
| US09995574B2 |
CMM moving path adjustment assisting method and apparatus
A method is provided to assist adjustment for a movement path of a probe. A coordinate measuring machine includes a probe having a tip for detecting a surface of an object, and a movement mechanism for moving the probe, and measures a shape of the object by allowing the probe tip to scan the surface. A controller controls operation of the coordinate measuring machine by calculating a scanning path for allowing the probe tip to perform scanning movement and the movement path followed by the probe when the probe tip moves along the scanning path, setting control points on a line connecting each position of the probe tip and each corresponding position of the probe accepting a change in position of the control points by a user, and changing the movement path accordingly. An adjustment guide unit in the controller allows the control points to move collectively. |
| US09995572B2 |
Elevation angle estimating device and method for user terminal placement
A device and method for estimating the elevation angle of one or more objects surrounding a user terminal include a convex image-reflecting surface, a transparent sighting surface disposed above the convex image-reflecting surface, and an elevation limit marking formed on or in the sighting surface. The elevation limit marking generates a reflected image in the convex image-reflecting surface that defines an elevation angle above a horizon of the earth that the one or more objects in a field of view of the convex image-reflecting surface must remain below so that the user terminal has an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions. |
| US09995571B1 |
Method and apparatus to determine slider-level flatness as provided on a full carrier
Measuring surface features of a plurality of sliders including capturing an image of a surface of a slider bar using a large aperture interferometer, where the slider bar includes at least one slider of the plurality of sliders, and where the image includes surface height data for the slider bar surface and the included at least one slider. A bar height map is created of the slider bar based upon the surface height data of the captured image. Individual slider surfaces having individual slider height maps are identified, based at least in part of the number of sliders included on the slider bar. |
| US09995569B2 |
Six-degree-of-freedom displacement measurement method for exposure region on silicon wafer stage
A six-degree-of-freedom displacement measurement method for an exposure region on a wafer stage, the wafer stage comprises a coil array and a movable platform. A planar grating is fixed below a permanent magnet array of the movable platform. A reading head is fixed in a gap of the coil array. A measurement region is formed on the planar grating by an incident measurement light beam of the reading head. The reading head measures the six-degree-of-freedom displacement of the measurement region, so that the six-degree-of-freedom displacement of the exposure region is obtained through calculation. In the method, the six-degree-of-freedom displacement of the exposure region at any time is measured; the measurement complexity is reduced and the measurement precision is improved, and especially, the six-degree-of-freedom displacement of the exposure region can be precisely measured at any time even if the movable platform has high flexibility. |
| US09995566B1 |
Eyeline sighting device and related methods
An eyeline sighting device includes a base portion for placing the device on a working surface and a top portion for visual alignment. The top portion includes a frame, at least one level for adjusting the position of the frame relative to a horizontal plane, a first sighting element, and a second sighting element. The pilot's position is adjusted until the second sighting element is brought into alignment with the first sighting element along the pilot's line of sight. |
| US09995559B2 |
Anti-rocket system
A counter-flying object system comprising a sensor array including at least one active sensor configured to detect and track the flying object, and a missile launcher configured to launch an interceptor to intercept the flying object, wherein upon launching of the interceptor, the sensor array is configured to determine the location of the interceptor and send said object and interceptor locations to a control system, the control system being configured to provide mission data to the interceptor based on said object and interceptor locations for guiding the interceptor toward the flying object and activating a fragmentation warhead on or in the vicinity of said flying object when a lethality criteria is met. |
| US09995558B2 |
Weapon control system and control method thereof
A weapon control system includes a base, a frame rotatably coupled to the base and rotatable around a first rotation axis, a first actuator rotating the frame with respect to the base, a first weapon rotatably coupled to the frame and rotatable around a second rotation axis in a direction crossing the first rotation axis, a second actuator rotating the first weapon with respect to the frame, a rotating support rotatably coupled to the frame and rotatable around a third rotation axis in a direction crossing the first rotation axis, a third actuator rotating the rotating support with respect to the frame, a second weapon rotatably coupled to the rotating support and rotatable around a fourth rotation axis in a direction crossing the third rotation axis, a fourth actuator rotating the second weapon with respect to the rotating support, and an actuator controller controlling the first actuator, the second actuator, the third actuator, and the fourth actuator. |
| US09995556B2 |
Folding firearm and related methods
A firearm includes a receiver, a forearm pivotally attached to a distal end of the receiver, and a barrel having a barrel extension. A proximal end of the barrel and the barrel extension are secured within the forearm such that the barrel and barrel extension are pivotable with the forearm relative to the receiver between a first assembled position and a second folded position. The firearm further includes a locking mechanism for securing the forearm, barrel, and barrel extension to the receiver in the first assembled position. The forearm, barrel, and barrel extension may be secured to the receiver in the first assembled position for use of the firearm, after which the firearm may be folded for storage and/or transportation. |
| US09995555B2 |
Firearm barrel cleaning jag and apparatus using same
A firearm barrel cleaning jag is provided that includes a body defined by a longitudinal axis. A spear tip extends from a distal end of the body relative to an attachable end adapted to engage a cleaning rod. Ribs are provided circumferentially disposed around the body adapted to capture the lands of a gun barrel bore into which the jag is inserted. Each of the ribs has a helical notch formed into an outward face of each of the ribs. An annular residue collection channel axially separating each of the ribs. A firearm barrel cleaning apparatus is provided that includes a cleaning rod and a cleaning patch attached to the jag. By reciprocating the jag inside the rifled gun barrel via the attached cleaning rod, the cleaning patch removes residue from the rifled bore. |
| US09995549B1 |
Bolt hold open, fire selector and safety for kalashnikov style weapons
This disclosure describes embodiments of an apparatus which will be called a bolt hold open, fire selector and safety. This apparatus is for ambidextrously holding open the bolt of a Kalashnikov style firearm; for ambidextrously selecting whether the Kalashnikov style firearm will fire multiple rounds or a single round each time the user pulls and holds down the trigger on the firearm when the firearm contains an auto sear mounting pin; for ambidextrously selecting whether the Kalashnikov style firearm will fire a single round each time the user pulls and holds down the trigger on the firearm when the firearm does not contain an auto sear mounting pin; and for ambidextrously selecting whether the Kalashnikov style firearm will fire when the user pulls the trigger on the firearm. |
| US09995548B1 |
Rapid reloading system for removable ammunition magazines
A reloading system and method for reloading cartridges into a removable ammunition magazine of a gun. The reloading system has a storage container for holding a supply of cartridges. A plurality of parallel walls creates columns within the internal chamber that are capable of holding multiple cartridges in stacked configurations. Each of the columns holding cartridges supply the cartridges to a common loading chamber. A loading port is provided on the storage container that leads into the common loading chamber. The loading port and the common loading chamber are sized to receive at least a portion of a magazine. As the magazine is advanced into the loading chamber, the cartridges held in the loading chamber pass into the magazine. The magazine is then removed from the loading chamber, wherein the cartridges remain within the magazine. |
| US09995543B2 |
Charging handle with exhaust ventilation
A charging handle includes a shaft, a front end that is operably coupled to a firearm bolt carrier, and a head that is located on an opposite end of the shaft from the front end. One or more ventilation features may be located in a first half of the length of the shaft proximate to the front end of the charging handle to prohibit exhaust that travels from the front end along the upper surface and/or side surfaces of the shaft from reaching the rear of the firearm and/or the head of the charging handle. |
| US09995541B2 |
Method for forming a composite material, and heat sink
A method for forming a carbon-metal composite material for a heat sink, comprising the following steps: applying at least one layer comprising carbon particles and at least one layer comprising metal particles on top of one another; and fusing of the layers by irradiating the layers with laser radiation to form the carbon-metal composite material. The invention also relates to a heat sink having a shaped body that comprises a plurality of layers, each layer containing carbon particles in a metal matrix. |
| US09995538B2 |
Cleat arrangement for accessory installation to a heating or cooling system component
An energy recovery system includes a heating or cooling system and an accessory operably connected to the heating or cooling system, or to a component of the heating or cooling system. One or more accessory interlocking mechanisms are located at the housing interlocked with one or more complementary interlocking mechanisms located at the system or the component of the heating or cooling system to secure the accessory directly to the component. A method of securing an accessory to a heating or cooling system or a component of a heating or cooling system includes aligning one or more accessory interlocking mechanisms with one or more interlocking mechanisms. The accessory is urged toward an installed position by moving the accessory along a length of the one or more complementary interlocking mechanisms. The one or more accessory interlocking mechanisms are interlocked with the complementary interlocking mechanisms to secure the accessory. |
| US09995533B2 |
Cooling tower with indirect heat exchanger
A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section. The indirect evaporative heat exchange section includes a series of serpentine tubes, and an evaporative liquid is passed downwardly onto the indirect heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid is collected in a sump and then pumped upwardly to be distributed again across the indirect heat exchange section.An improved heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section including a series of serpentine tubes with run sections and return bend sections of both normal and increased height. A direct heat exchange section may be provided in the vertical spacing between run sections formed by the increased height return bends. |
| US09995530B2 |
Method for the capture of carbon dioxide through cryogenically processing gaseous emissions from fossil-fuel power generation
A cryogenic method for capturing carbon dioxide in the gaseous emissions produced from the fossil-energy combustion of solid, liquid, or gaseous fossil fuels in a power generation installation employing an OxyFuel mode of combustion. The method includes: producing essentially pure carbon dioxide under elevated pressure and at near ambient temperatures in a Carbon-Dioxide Capture Component from the carbon-dioxide content of at least a part of the gaseous emissions produced from fossil-energy fueled combustion in the Oxyfuel mode of combustion; separating atmospheric air in an Air Separation Component into a stream of liquid nitrogen and a stream of high-purity oxygen; supplying low temperature, compressed purified air to a cryogenic air separation unit (cold box) within the Air Separation Component; collecting low temperature thermal energy from coolers employed within the Carbon-Dioxide Capture Component and the Air Separation Component; and converting the collected thermal energy to electricity within a Thermal-Energy Conversion Component. |
| US09995527B2 |
Refrigerator having locking device for ice bucket and method for installing locking device for ice bucket
There is provided a refrigerator having a locking device for an ice bucket and a method for installing a locking device for an ice bucket. A refrigerator having a locking device for an ice bucket, comprising: a main body; a storage space within the main body; an ice space configured to be disposed inside the main body, and partitioned from the storage space, and having a front opening; an ice bucket comprising an ice storage part which stores ice generated within the ice space; and a cover member which is disposed in front of the ice storage part to cover a front of the ice space and configured to be slidably installed in the ice space; and a locking device configured to lock the ice bucket within the ice space to prevent the ice bucket from being drawn out of the ice space by itself. |
| US09995522B2 |
Ice bin and method of crushing ice using the same
An ice bin and a method of crushing ice using the same, in which the ice bin includes a case having an upper portion configured to store ice produced by an ice maker, and a dispensing port at one side of a lower end or surface of the case configured to dispense the ice; a transferring unit that transfers the ice from a lower portion of the case to the upper portion of the case; and a crushing unit configured to crush the ice transferred by the transferring unit and discharge the ice to the dispensing port, wherein the crushing unit selectively discharges the ice as ice cubes or as crushed ice. |
| US09995508B2 |
Systems for heating water used in hydraulic fracturing
A system for flameless heating of a fluid includes a hydraulic pump having an input shaft and a rotational power source coupled in torque-transmitting relationship with the input shaft of the hydraulic pump. A hydraulic fluid circuit is in fluid connection with an inlet port and an outlet port of the hydraulic pump. A water heat exchanger having a tank provided with water from a water source and a conduit provided with heated fluid from at least one of the hydraulic pump and the power source is arranged such that heat is transferred from the heated fluid in the conduit to the water in the tank. In one example, at least one valve in the hydraulic fluid circuit selectively limits output flow from the outlet port of the hydraulic pump, thereby providing resistance to pumping motion and heating the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic pump. |
| US09995495B2 |
System and method for HVAC condensate management
A HVAC system includes a cabinet configured as a duct, a coil assembly disposed within the cabinet, and at least one barrier configured to substantially segregate a low pressure zone associated with a downstream side of a heat exchanger of the coil assembly from a high pressure zone, wherein a leakage path is provided between the high pressure zone and the low pressure zone. |
| US09995494B2 |
Air conditioner and method for controlling the same
An air conditioner (AC) indoor unit includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet; a heat exchanger arranged inside the housing; a blower fan for sucking in air at the inlet to be subject to heat exchange with the heat exchanger, and discharging the heat-exchanged air out of the outlet; and an air flow control device for controlling an air flow discharged from the outlet by sucking in air around the outlet. The AC indoor unit may control the direction of a discharged air flow without a conventional blade structure, thereby increasing an amount of discharged air, reducing circulation noise, and enabling design differentiation. |
| US09995488B2 |
Combustion chamber and a method of mixing fuel and air in a combustion chamber
A combustion chamber including a first fuel injector and a second fuel injector, the first and second fuel injectors being arranged to inject fuel into a mainstream flow of air with the second fuel injector arranged downstream of the first fuel injector. A method of mixing fuel and air in a combustion chamber, including injecting fuel into a mainstream flow of air with a first fuel injector; injecting fuel into the mainstream flow of air with a second fuel injector, which is arranged downstream of the first fuel injector; injecting fuel into the mainstream flow with the first fuel injector such that the resulting mixture between the first and second fuel injectors has an equivalence ratio less than the lean flame stability limit; and injecting fuel into the mainstream flow with the second fuel injector such that a combustion zone is provided downstream of the second fuel injector. |
| US09995482B2 |
Gas burner assembly
A gas burner assembly includes a grate that defines a first internal fuel passage and a second internal fuel passage. A burner defines an inner burner ring and an outer burner ring. The first internal fuel passage of the grate extends to the inner burner ring, and the second internal fuel passage of the grate extends to the outer burner ring. A fuel chamber of the inner burner ring is contiguous with the plurality of flame ports of inner burner ring, and a fuel chamber of the outer burner ring is contiguous with the plurality of flame ports of outer burner ring. At least a portion of the fuel chamber of the outer burner ring is positioned directly below the fuel chamber of the inner burner ring. |
| US09995481B2 |
Method and apparatus for a dual mode burner yielding low NOx emission
A method and apparatus for a burner adapted to heat a furnace or other environment of use. In particular, a burner for providing a fuel gas in combination with an oxidant to effect controlled reaction of the fuel gas in a manner to reduce NOx emissions is described. Combustion of the fuel gas is shifted from the burner combustor to a location outside the burner once the temperature within the furnace/radiant tube has reached a sufficient level to complete combustion of the fuel gas. |
| US09995480B2 |
Burner
A burner includes a burner inlet and outlet. The burner also includes a primary conduit defining a flow channel extending along a burner axis for conveying a mixture of fuel and gas and a secondary conduit defining a flow channel disposed about the primary conduit for conveying gas. The primary conduit defines a flow channel extending to a primary conduit outlet within the burner substantially upstream of the burner outlet, whereby the secondary conduit downstream of the primary outlet defines a common conduit for flow from the primary and secondary conduits. A swirl generation device imparts a swirl to the flow of gas from the secondary conduit upstream of the primary conduit outlet. A venturi arrangement is provided in the vicinity of the primary outlet to act on the primary flow stream to impart a flow deviation. |
| US09995474B2 |
LED filament, LED filament assembly and LED bulb
A LED filament includes a frame; two metal electrodes, respectively disposed on two sides of the frame; a LED chip assembly, comprising a plurality of LED chips disposed inside the frame and electrically connecting to the two metal electrodes respectively; and a gel comprising phosphor, wrapping the LED chip assembly and parts of the metal electrodes inside the frame. |
| US09995473B2 |
LED lamp with a flexible heat sink
An LED lamp uses a flexible metal fabric as a heat sink. At least one light emitting diode is attached to a circuit board that is mounted on a heat conducting member. The flexible heat sink is attached to the heat conducting member, such that heat generated by the light emitting diode and circuit board is conducted to the flexible heat sink. The flexible heat sink can be deformed to fit in a variety of spaces. The flexible heat sink dissipates the heat generated by the LED lamp without the need for a fan. The flexible heat sink may be made from braided copper fabric. |
| US09995472B2 |
Arc modular LED light fixture
A modular lighting fixture includes a housing having a front panel, the front panel having a radius of curvature, and a plurality of LED modules disposed adjacent the front panel, each LED module having a heat sink, an LED source mounted to the heat sink, and a lens disposed over the LED source, the lens capable of refracting light emitted by the LED source into a desired distribution pattern. The plurality of LED modules produce a concentrated illuminated area at a pre-determined distance from the front panel as determined by the radius of curvature of the front panel. |
| US09995467B2 |
Light-emitting device and mount therefor
A light emitting device and a holder thereof are provided, the light emitting device comprises a light emitting module, a holder, and a heat dissipate member formed with fastening holes in a surface thereof. The light emitting module comprises a substrate, a light emitting package, and at least two contact pads. The holder comprises a body, a bracket, at least two terminals pressed against the corresponding contact pads, and at least two latching members. The body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a receiving opening and a plurality of fixing holes which penetrate through the top surface and the bottom surface. The receiving opening comprises an upper opening and a lower opening formed in the bottom surface of the body. The bracket is connected with the body and provided to the receiving opening for the light emitting module to abut against. By that the latching members are provided alongside the lower opening of the bottom surface of the body, when the light emitting module is assembled into the receiving opening, the latching members completely latch and fix the substrate into the receiving opening, so as to make the light emitting module not easily disengaged from the holder before the whole assembling is completed. |
| US09995464B2 |
Interior light and method of manufacture
An interior light, in particular for shelf or display case illumination, includes an adjustment unit, which has a lens; a main body, which has a cylindrical recess inside which a lighting means is arranged; at least one guide which is provided on the recess and extends parallel to a cylinder axis of the recess; and latch means which are arranged in the region of the recess and have a plurality of latching stages, the adjustment unit having mating latch means which can latch to the latch means and guide means for guiding the adjustment unit in the guide; the guide means being arranged in each case at different positions within the guide when the mating latch means latch to the different latching stages, and a different distance being set between the lighting means and the lens in each case. |
| US09995459B2 |
Laser stimulated white-light lighting system
The present invention discloses a laser stimulated white light lighting system, it includes a hemispherical reflector, a light-permeable board, a wavelength conversion layer, a reflective layer and plural heat-radiating structures, wherein the laser light emitted by a laser light source passes through a first light entrance hole of the hemispherical reflector and subsequently through the wavelength conversion layer to produce white light. With the implementation of the present invention, complex production process or equipment is not required thus reduce the system cost, the lighting system is capable of accurately outputting white light and promoting photon recycling effect to raise illumination efficiency. With the addition of a second light entrance hole, wavelength-division or angular division multiplexing can be carried out to raise the intensity of the output white light without increasing the etendue of the source light, thereby widening the range of application of the lighting system. |
| US09995457B1 |
Multicolor illumination for a single panel display source
A display system for providing multicolor light patches for illuminating display images includes at least one light source for providing a light, at least one light pipe having an input end and an output end for allowing the light to enter via the input end and exit via the output end, and at least one color interface coupled to the output end of the at least one light pipe. The at least one color interface includes at least one color material and each color material has a different color characteristic. Light passing through the color material creates an illumination patch associated with the color characteristic of the color material. The display system further includes an optical device coupled with the at least one color interface and configured to receive the illumination patches, combine the illumination patches, and cause a combined illumination patch to be projected as a display image. |
| US09995454B2 |
Lens for a light emitting diode
A lens for a light-emitting diode (LED) provides an even light pattern over a desired throw of light. An indentation on the top of the lens and a lens collector on the bottom are configured for a desired spread angle of light refracted an LED positioned on a circuit board below the light collector of the lens. One or more lenses may be formed in a lens unit for assembly with a circuit boards and molding into an LED module. The module may be used in sign cabinet and other lighting applications where LEDs are used as light sources. |
| US09995452B2 |
Light device, especially a headlight for motor vehicles
A light device, especially a headlight of motor vehicles, comprises at least one light unit (1), or a group (1a, 1b) of light units, at least one optical directing element (3, 2e, 3f), adapted to direct the light beam emitted by the light unit, or group of light units, to the required direction, and at least one output lens (4) for passage of at least a part of the light rays of the light beam or beams to create a light pattern (A, B, C) on the display surface (ZY). On the route of the light beam between the optical directing element and the output lens, there is at least one optical diaphragm element (11, 21, 31) containing a system of trim edges (13, 23, 33) to create the required shape of the cross-section of a part or parts of the light beam designed for transmission along the above-mentioned route. |
| US09995449B2 |
Method and apparatus for adhesively attaching a light collecting reflector to enable a solar light comprising a bendable strap and a light conveying means
A sheet metal stamped light collecting reflector assembly including a generally parabolic reflector at one end of a deformable strap which at its free end is adhesively secured to the peripheral edge of a photovoltaic solar array useful to charge a storage battery connected to power a light upon the sensing an ambient light below a predetermined level for collecting sufficient light emitted by a selected grid powered light source and reflecting same to supplement said ambient light to said predetermined light level. |
| US09995448B2 |
Front access battery compartment
An emergency lighting device includes a housing containing a high voltage connection. A light emitter is connected to the housing. A compartment in the housing having an opening is separated from the high voltage connection. A battery is positioned in the compartment and accessible through the opening. |
| US09995446B2 |
Grow light matrix system incorporating blade lighting system
A lighting system for stimulating plant growth. The system includes a first blade. The first blade includes at least some of the light fixtures in the first array of light fixtures. The system additionally includes a second blade. The second blade includes at least some of the light fixtures in the second array of light fixtures. The system moreover includes a support. The support configured to receive the first blade and connect the first blade to a power supply. |
| US09995444B2 |
Linear LED light housing
In embodiments of the present disclosure improved capabilities are described for a modular linear LED lighting system providing a flexible architectural slot lighting system with multiple configurations based on the same base body design with a performance of traditional lighting sources. The linear LED lighting system comprises at least one of a multiple attachment facility, multiple functional compartments, a linear series internal attachment facility, an end cap electrical interconnection facility, an adaptable optic facility, and a dimming facility. |
| US09995440B2 |
Color temperature tunable and dimmable solid-state linear lighting arrangements
A solid-state linear lamp comprises a co-extruded component, the co-extruded component comprising multiple photoluminescence portions corresponding to different color temperatures, a diffuser portion, and a top portion, where the photoluminescence portion, the diffuser portion, and the top portion are integrally formed into the co-extruded component. |
| US09995437B2 |
LED bulb
An LED light bulb has a light emitting bulb part 22 which comprises a central core 24 running from the top towards the bottom and which provides an open passageway at least at the top. The LEDs are mounted in thermal contact around the central core 24. This design provides an air flow to promote cooling of the LEDs. This in turn enables a reduced size and cost of the heat sink, or avoids the need for a heat sink altogether. |
| US09995433B2 |
Oil cleaner with heated evaporation surface, to remove water and volatiles
A circulating oil stream cleaner wherein oil to be cleaned is passed through filter medium to remove particulates carried by the circulating oil and through an evaporator unit having a flat, inclined, evaporation surface comprising a top surface of a heat conductive heating block with an electric heater probe therein and positioned closely beneath the heating surface and, with the circulating oil being conductively heated as it passes beneath the heating block, up a frontal end of the heating block and cascades onto and spreads as a film over and then off the heating surface of the heating block through an exit port of the evaporator unit; an evaporation chamber provided above the heating surface allows heated air to circulate over and convectively heat the film of oil and to escape with entrained water and volatiles. |
| US09995426B2 |
Furniture swivel and furniture including the same
A furniture swivel for rotatably coupling first and second furniture components is disclosed. The furniture swivel includes a base, a rotor, and a retainer. The base may have a lower end for connecting to a first furniture component and an upper end including a planar base bearing surface. The rotor may have an upper end having a first portion for connecting to a second furniture component, and a lower end including a planar rotor bearing surface in sliding contact with the base bearing surface to form a plane bearing absent rolling elements for supporting the rotor and the first furniture component on the base. The retainer may be coupled to the base for substantially inhibiting translation of the rotor relative to the base. |
| US09995425B2 |
Removable and reusable insulation wrap for pipe, hoses, and fixtures
A reusable insulation wrap for insulating and protecting an article, the wrap comprising a multilayer insulation member having a nylon protective layer adapted to be abrasion and moisture resistant to prevent damage to the other layers, a polymerized chloroprene stretchable layer adapted to resist moisture and having first and second edges and sized to closely encircle the article, a closed cell foam insulative layer, a foil reflective layer affixed to the closed cell foam adapted outside thereof, a flame retardant and an ultraviolet protectant in one of the layers and a hook and loop fastener adapted to cooperatively engage and maintain desired position on the article, whereby, the wrap is stretched around the article to fit snugly in place minimizing influence of the outside environment including temperature fluctuations, moisture, and debris on the article. |
| US09995423B2 |
Pipe repair kit
A pipe repair apparatus is provided. The pipe repair apparatus includes a cap. The cap includes a cylinder shape having a front edge forming an opening into the cap, a rear edge forming an opening into the cap, and at least a first side edge and a second side edge. The cap may further include a cap flange formed at the front edge having a first bend in a direction towards a central longitudinal axis of the cap and a second bend in a direction away from the central longitudinal axis of the cap. The cap is sized to fit over a pipe so that the first side edge overlaps the second side edge. A clamp secures the cap to the pipe. |
| US09995421B2 |
Vibration damper for vacuum pumps
In a vibration damper of a turbomolecular vacuum pump, a vacuum tightness function and a vibration damping function are both performed by one ore more toroidal rings made of an elastic material. The elastic rings assume a resting configuration while the vacuum pump is not operating and the damper is at atmospheric pressure, and they assume a compressed configuration while the vacuum pump is operating and the damper is under vacuum conditions. In the compressed configuration, the elastic rings are deformed due to a compression force. This deformation of the elastic rings prevents metal-to-metal contact between the vacuum pump and a vacuum chamber to which the pump is connected through the damper. |
| US09995416B2 |
Flexible pipe body layer and method of producing same
A flexible pipe body layer and method of producing a flexible pipe body layer are disclosed. The method includes coextruding an inner sub-layer and an outer sub-layer, wherein the inner sub-layer and outer sub-layer comprise a polymer, and wherein the inner sub-layer has a lower modulus of elasticity than the outer sub-layer. |
| US09995408B1 |
Forage gas relief valve device
A forage gas relief valve device for reducing pressure within a forage bag by releasing gases from within. The forage gas relief valve device includes a tubular insert, a support plate slidably disposed upon the tubular insert, a tubular housing engaged upon the support plate and a valve member disposed in the tubular housing to prevent outside gases from entering a forage bag containing foodstuff. |
| US09995403B2 |
Ball valve with dual sealing structure
A dual sealing ball valve comprises a valve body, conduit line connectors coupled to both sides of the valve body, a hollow ball disposed in the valve body, a sheet holder mounted on an inner circumferential surface of at least one of the conduit line connectors, a main sheet tightly contacting the ball around an inlet of the hollow ball, and an elastic sheet mounted on the front surface of the sheet holder. The sheet holder includes a sheet ring supporting the main sheet and the elastic sheet in a front direction, supporting the elastic sheet towards the main sheet, and pushed in the front direction by a pressurizing retainer and a sheet cap coupled to the sheet ring and contacting the main sheet to pressurize the main sheet in a rear direction and towards the elastic sheet. |
| US09995401B2 |
Valve wedge for a slide valve
Valve wedge for a slide valve including a rough cast metal wedge core encapsulated in a soft seal encapsulation and having two guide members projecting transversely in opposite directions, each of the guide members including a sideways projecting rib of the rough cast wedge core and a prefabricated wear and corrosion-resistant slide shoe arranged thereon, each rib having laterally opposite lateral surfaces and each shoe including two opposite lateral walls with inner surfaces, each shoe being fixedly vulcanized to the respective one of the ribs by means of soft seal encapsulation present between the rough cast wedge core and the shoe where the outer lateral surfaces of the ribs are finished surfaces and the opposite inner surfaces of each of the slide shoes is laterally rigidly supported by the corresponding outer lateral surfaces of the respective one of the ribs so that each rib laterally rigidly supports the respective one of the slide shoes. |
| US09995400B2 |
Thermally compensated valve trim component
A thermally compensated valve trim component for a fluid flow control device is provided. The valve trim component includes a base and a sleeve coupled to the base. The base is formed of a first material having a first thermal expansion coefficient, while the sleeve is formed of a second material having a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient. The valve trim component further includes a thermal compensating apparatus arranged within a gland defined between the base and the sleeve. The thermal compensating apparatus is formed of a third material having a third thermal expansion coefficient different from the first and second thermal expansion coefficients, such that the thermal compensating apparatus minimizes a resultant thermal expansion differential of the valve trim component. |
| US09995397B2 |
Coated seal housing
A seal housing is disposed to support an axially facing seal segment, and comprises a substrate and a coating. The substrate has an inner annular surface, an axially facing substrate surface, and a corner feature at an intersection of the inner annular surface and the axially facing substrate surface. The corner feature includes an annular notch in the inner annular surface, and a chamfer extending from the annular notch to the axially facing substrate surface. The coating is formed on the axially facing substrate surface and into the corner feature of the substrate, and has a coating surface, parallel to the axially facing substrate surface, that terminates at the inner annular surface and abuts the seal segment. |
| US09995396B1 |
Outwardly sealing pumping seal assembly
A seal assembly is for sealing between a shaft and a body rotatable about an axis extending through the shaft and includes an annular elastomeric sealing member disposeable within the body bore and coupleable with the shaft. The sealing member has a centerline coaxial with the shaft axis and a radially-outwardly extending, generally annular lip sealingly engageable with an inner circumferential surface of the bore or of a member disposed within the bore so as to define a seal interface. The sealing lip is configured to displace fluid within the sealing interface generally axially out of the interface when the hub rotates about the shaft. Preferably, the sealing member is coupled with an inner casing and disposed within an outer casing, the seal lip sealing against the outer casing inner surface, and a second sealing lip is coupled with the outer casing and seals against the inner casing outer surface. |
| US09995395B2 |
Brush seal
A brush seal includes a bristle part formed by multiple bristles attached to a stationary part between the stationary part and a rotational part that undergo relative motion by maintaining a space in between and a back plate to restrict the movement of the bristle part. Such brush seal for sealing a fluid between the stationary part and the rotational part includes the bristle part formed by the multiple bristles such that the multiple bristles arranged in a direction of pressure difference between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side are mutually fixed between a base end and a free end to form planar bristles, and these planar bristles are arranged continuously in layers in a circumferential direction to form a circular bristle part, wherein circumferential grooves are formed on the sliding surface of the bristle part on its free end side. |
| US09995391B2 |
Control method for preventing backward slipping of vehicle
A control method for preventing backward slipping of a vehicle includes a range detection step in which a controller detects a range position of a shift lever, a gradient comparison step in which the controller compares a gradient of a road with a predetermined reference gradient when it is determined that the position of the shift lever is the D range, a stop state check step where the controller checks a brake and a driving state of the vehicle when it is determined at the gradient comparison step that the gradient of the road is equal to or greater than the reference gradient, and an inter-lock implementation step in which the controller engages multiple gears on an identical shaft when it is determined at the stop state check step that the brake is on and the vehicle has stopped. |
| US09995389B2 |
Continuously variable transmission control device and control method
A continuously variable transmission (100), wherein pressure equalization control is performed to make line pressure (PL) equal to secondary pressure (Psec) when prescribed start conditions are satisfied. During pressure equalization control, a secondary pressure indicated value (Psec_co) is raised by a prescribed amount (S10), then a line pressure indicated value (PL_co) is gradually decreased (S30). If determination is made that line pressure is the same as the secondary pressure after secondary actual pressure (Psec) is lowered (S40), then the line pressure is controlled so that the secondary actual pressure (Psec) becomes the secondary pressure indicated value (Psec_co) (S50). At the start of pressure equalization control, if the difference (ΔPsec) found by subtracting the secondary pressure indicated value from the secondary actual value is negative (S120), then a primary pressure indicated value is corrected on the basis of the difference (S130). |
| US09995387B2 |
Hydrostatic traction drive system
A hydrostatic traction drive system of a mobile machine has a first hydraulic traction motor associated with a first vehicle side and a second hydraulic traction motor associated with a second vehicle side. The hydraulic traction motors are operated in an open circuit and are jointly supplied with hydraulic fluid by a single hydraulic pump. The first hydraulic traction motor is controlled by a first control valve and the second hydraulic traction motor is controlled by a second control valve. The first hydraulic traction motor and the second hydraulic traction motor are each variable displacement motors with an electrically variable displacement volume, and the first control valve and the second control valve are electrically actuatable control valves. |
| US09995383B2 |
Hydraulic system of vehicle transmission device
A hydraulic system of vehicle transmission device is provided. A heat exchanger configured downstream is used to cool working oil discharged from a torque converter, and the working oil is supplied, as lubricating oil, to a lubricating system hydraulic circuit. On the other hand, excess oil flowing out of a regulator valve for regulating line pressure returns to an input side of an oil pump through a recycle oil path. A bypass oil path is disposed in a manner of branching from the recycle oil path and connecting to an input side of the heat exchanger. A control mechanism is disposed, and when hydraulic pressure at the side of the recycle oil path is higher than that at the side of the heat exchanger, the bypass oil path is opened to guide oil at the side of the recycle oil path to the input side of the heat exchanger. |
| US09995380B2 |
Hydrodynamic starting element having a pump wheel which can be rotated relative to a housing
A hydrodynamic starting element for a drive train of a motor vehicle, having a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, wherein the turbine wheel is arranged on a drive side of the hydrodynamic starting element and the pump wheel is arranged on an output side of the hydrodynamic starting element, wherein a housing is fastened to the turbine wheel and wherein the housing extends from the turbine wheel in the direction of the output side and the housing at least partially encloses the pump wheel in the direction of the output side. |
| US09995376B2 |
Slide out drive assembly for enclosure
A drive assembly for a slide out in an expandable enclosure, the drive assembly comprising a beam attachable to the slide out, the beam having a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth thereon, the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth extending parallel to each other on opposite sides of the beam wherein the teeth in the first row of teeth are offset relative to the teeth in the second row of teeth and a drive gear having a first gear wheel engagable with the first row of teeth and a second gear wheel engagable with the second row of teeth, and an actuator coupled to the beam to selectively extend and retract the beam. |
| US09995375B2 |
Symmetry control for a continuously variable transmission device
A continuously variable transmission includes a radially inner race, having a first radially inner race structure and a second radially inner race structure spaced along an axis wherein at least one of the first radially inner race structure or the second radially inner race structure is axially movable. The transmission further includes a radially outer race, having a first radially outer race structure and a second radially outer race structure spaced along an axis wherein at least one of the first radially outer race structure or the second radially outer race structure is axially movable, planetary members in rolling contact with the radially inner races and the radially outer races, and an outer race assembly that includes a hydraulic cavity housing, a hydraulic cavity sealed between the hydraulic cavity housing and the first radially outer race structure to control axial movement of the first radially outer race structure. |
| US09995372B2 |
Transmission for a hydraulic hybrid vehicle, comprising a planetary gear train linked to a pump by a speed reducer
A transmission for a hydraulic hybrid motor vehicle includes a planetary gear train (30) capable of differential operation. The planetary gear train has a first element (32) linked to an internal combustion engine (34), a second element (40) linked to drive wheels (22) of the vehicle, and a third element (36) linked to a hydraulic pump (64). The transmission (1) further includes a hydraulic machine which drives the drive wheels (22) by way of a link between the third element (36) of the planetary gear train (30) and the hydraulic pump (64). This link includes a speed reducer (38, 60) that provides, when the whole of the planetary gear train is rotating at the same speed, a reduction in the speed of rotation of the pump relative to that of the internal combustion engine (34) that is greater than a value of approximately two. |
| US09995370B2 |
Coupling assembly and transmission assembly
A coupling assembly is provided for a transmission assembly, in particular for a multiple spider planetary gear transmission, wherein the transmission assembly has two speed-change gear units coupled to each other. A first shaft and a second shaft are coupleable with one of the speed-change gear units, wherein by blocking of one of the shafts two shifting stages of the transmission assembly are shiftable. A third shaft is provided as well as a first shifting element and a second shifting element, each of which couples the first shaft and the second shaft with the third shaft. A third shifting element is provided which can brake and/or block the third shaft. |
| US09995360B2 |
Bearing with spherical rotational damping
A damping bearing (34, 36) provides relative rotations between first and second subassemblies about a point (40). The first subassembly includes a fluid containment vessel (26, 26C, 26D) containing a fluid (32). The second subassembly includes a plunger (42) with a fluid deformation element (46, 46B) immersed in the fluid. The relative rotations are damped by viscosity of the fluid resisting motions of the fluid deformation element. Damping is especially effective in multiple planes containing a given line (23 or 43) through the point (40). The plunger may have rotational symmetry, and may be cylindrical about the given line. Lateral fluid bounding surfaces (50, 52, 52D) of the containment vessel may be spherical about the point, or may be shaped to provide clearance to the deformation element that varies with angular displacement between the first and second subassemblies to provide a predetermined damping profile. |
| US09995353B2 |
Modified actuator design to improve load distribution and damping
The present disclosure provides systems for mitigating brake vibration. In various embodiments, a brake force distribution arrangement may comprise: a member in operable communication with an actuator having at least two contact surfaces such that as one of the at least two contact surfaces moves in a direction of actuation of the actuator the other moves in a direction opposite to the direction of actuation of the actuator. |
| US09995350B2 |
Switchable one way clutch including selector bracket
A selector bracket assembly for a one way clutch assembly comprising an annular body portion having: first and second radial surfaces; an inner circumferential surface, connecting the first and second radial surfaces; at least one cutout portion; at least one axially extending post adjacent to the at least one cutout portion; and, an outer circumferential surface including a plurality of radially outward extending tabs; and, at least one actuator pin disposed radially outward of the inner circumferential surface and arranged for engagement with the selector bracket assembly to lock a one way clutch. A switchable one way clutch assembly having said selector bracket, or at least two selector brackets for making selectable the following states: free wheel or locked in both the first and second opposing circumferential directions; locked in first and free wheel in second circumferential direction; and, free wheel in first and locked in second circumferential direction. |
| US09995346B2 |
Clutch disc
The invention relates to a clutch disk (1) for a friction clutch, comprising a disk-shaped main part (2) with a support element (5), which support element (5) has an outer circumference (6) over which multiple receiving areas (7) for wing-like friction components (8) are distributed, the friction components (8) being connected to the support element (5), and each friction component (8) has a first friction lining (12) and a second friction lining (13), and the first friction linings (12) are arranged on first friction lining supports (14), the first friction lining supports (14) are connected to a spring element (16) and the spring elements (16) are connected to the support element (5), and the second friction linings (13) are arranged on second friction lining supports (15), and furthermore the spring elements (16) are arranged between the first and the second friction lining supports (14, 15) and the second friction lining supports (15) are directly connected to the support element (5). |
| US09995337B2 |
Steered shaft support structure
A rack bushing supported by an annular elastic member in a housing includes a bushing body and a flange portion extending outward in a radial direction from a first axial end of the rack bushing. The flange portion is positioned at a step portion of an inner periphery of the housing. The bushing body includes a second axial slit extending from a second axial end to a middle portion in an axial direction. A gap that communicates with the second axial slit is formed between the inner periphery of the housing and an outer surface of the bushing body. A recessed groove (communication passage) of the flange portion allows a first space, disposed on a housing-end side with respect to the rack bushing in the housing, to communicate with the gap. |
| US09995332B2 |
Fastening device for tamper-proof fastening, and component arrangement
A fastening device for fastening a first component to a second component in a tamper-proof manner, includes a screw having an actuation region that can be at least partially arranged in a receptacle of the first component; and a threaded region that is connected to the actuation region and can be connected to the second component in a retaining manner. In addition, the screw includes a security projection which adjoins the actuation region, and is arranged on the side of the actuation region facing away from the threaded region and has latching element that engages with a counter latching element of a covering device of the fastening device, wherein the covering device at least partially covers the receptacle. |
| US09995330B2 |
Remotely controllable fastening device
A remotely controllable fastening device for the detachable connection of components has a longitudinal axis and at least one fastening body for insertion into a fastening base, wherein the fastening body has an anchor which is insertable into the fastening base, wherein, for the form-closing and/or frictional anchoring of the fastening device in the fastening base, the anchor is moveable in at least a first direction, and wherein, for the disengaging of the fastening device, the anchor is respectively moveable in a second direction which is contrary to the first direction, and wherein the anchor is connected with a drive which is remote operatable and which is provided for operation with a fluid and which is internally arranged, the anchor being moveable by the drive in at least the second direction. |
| US09995325B2 |
Locking clamp
A locking clamp for use in a cable system for stretching a sheet across a surface and maintaining it under tension, the locking clamp having a base member defining a first grasping surface; an elongate tongue member rotatively coupled to a first portion of the base member and defining a second grasping surface, and a locking member that is rotatively coupled to a second portion of the base member and that is configured to selectively rotate the tongue member to urge at least a portion of the second grasping surface of the tongue member into engageable contact with the first grasping surface of the base member. The base member of the locking clamp also has a hook configured to removably engage a cable of a tensioning system. |
| US09995324B2 |
Pressure compensation device and housing component
A pressure compensating device includes a diaphragm and a holding element. The holding element has a bearing surface facing the diaphragm. A cohesive or materially-bonded connection is formed at the bearing surface between the diaphragm and the holding element. The diaphragm is fixed to the bearing surface of the holding element by the cohesive connection. A cover which is fixed to the holding element has at least one first receiving device or receptacle at least partly receiving the diaphragm. The cover presses the diaphragm at least partly onto the cohesive connection and presses the cohesive connection onto the bearing surface of the holding element. A housing component having a pressure compensating device and a control unit having a housing are also provided. |
| US09995316B2 |
Blower assembly and method
A blower assembly having a housing and a cross flow fan rotatably mounted to the housing. Rotation of the fan drives fluid flow through the housing and produces an eccentric vortex of fluid flow in the housing. The fan has a circular blade support that induces fluid flow with rotation of the fan which interacts with the eccentric vortex. The circular blade support has at least one flow interrupter configured and arranged to rotate through the interaction of the eccentric vortex and the flow induced by the circular blade support to disrupt the interaction between the eccentric vortex and the flow induced by the circular blade support. In this manner, the at least one flow interrupter reduces the effect of the unstable vortex-blade support interaction on the airflow through the blower assembly which stabilizes the air loading on the blower assembly motor and reduces noise. |
| US09995315B2 |
Ceiling fan motor housing and cover side fixing structure
A ceiling fan motor housing and cover side fixing structure includes a motor housing, a cover and a stator. The motor housing includes a rotor and plural side guide holes formed on a sidewall. The cover includes plural fixing holes formed at an edge of a top circular flange, and the side guide holes opposite to the fixing holes are fixed by plural passing-through fixing members, so that the motor housing and the cover are combined for accommodating the stator to simplify the overall assembly of the ceiling fan motor effectively, and provide a convenient way of combining the motor housing and the cover without increasing the width. Further, the wire winding space of the stator in the motor housing and the cover of the ceiling fan motor is increased for convenient assembling. |
| US09995311B2 |
Centrifugal fan
A centrifugal fan is provided that includes a main plate configured to be rotated about a rotational axis, a shroud, having a suction opening, and a plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction between the main plate and the shroud to allow air suctioned in through the suction opening to flow from a front edge to a rear edge of each blade. Assuming a first cross section, a second cross section, a third cross section, and a fourth cross section of each blade sequentially taken at layers from the shroud to the main plate, a front edge of the first cross section is located farther from the rotational axis than a front edge of the fourth cross section, and a rear edge of the first cross section is located closer to the rotational axis than a rear edge of the fourth cross section. |
| US09995309B2 |
Vacuum system
A vacuum pump includes at least one vacuum port for releasably connecting the vacuum pump with at least one recipient an elastomeric seal for sealing the vacuum port against atmosphere a diaphragm gland provided on a vacuum side of the vacuum port and at least one of at least one suction channel and at least one suction opening provided between the elastomeric seal and the diaphragm gland. |
| US09995308B2 |
Electric machine powered by exciting armature
The invention relates to an electric rotary machine including: a shaft of a rotor rotating about an axis, a fan carried by the shaft of the rotor, and a motor for driving the fan, allowing modulation of the relative rotational speed of the fan in relation to the shaft of the rotor. |
| US09995306B2 |
Method and system for fluid flow control in a fluid network system
A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluid network system by fluid machines includes obtaining a respective current flow rate associated with each fluid machine, obtaining a current fluid machine speed of each fluid machine, obtaining desired flow rates in the system, and determining a new fluid machine speed for each fluid machine based on the current fluid machine speed and a change in the fluid machine speed required to obtain the desired flow rates. The change in fluid machine speed is determined by minimizing a total fluid machine power which is a function dependent of the change in the fluid machine speed, the minimization being performed with constraints for flow rate, fluid machine pressure and fluid machine speed. The method include controlling the speed of the fluid machines according to the new fluid machine speeds such that the minimum total fluid machine power in the system is attained. |
| US09995305B2 |
Fluid flow apparatus, fan assembly and associated method
A fluid flow system is provided. The system includes a rotation producing device, a first fluid flow device coupled to the rotation producing device and a second fluid flow device coupled to the rotation producing device and spaced from the first fluid flow device. |
| US09995304B2 |
Centrifugal fan and impeller thereof
A centrifugal fan includes an impeller. The impeller includes a hub, a plurality of connecting structures, an annular structure and a plurality of blades. The hub includes a circumferential surface. The connecting structures are disposed on the circumferential surface of the hub at intervals. Any adjacent two of the connecting structures define a first minimum distance on the circumferential surface. At least two first minimum distances are not equal. The annular structure is connected to the connecting structures. The blades are disposed on the annular structure at intervals. |
| US09995302B2 |
Motor driven compressor
A motor-driven compressor includes an electric motor, a drive circuit, a modulation method controller, a temperature measuring section, a high-temperature (HT) stop controller, and a high-temperature (HT) stop temperature setting section. The high-temperature (HT) stop controller stops the electric motor when the temperature measured by the temperature measuring section is higher than or equal to a predetermined high-temperature (HT) stop temperature. When the modulation method is the three-phase modulation, the HT stop temperature setting section sets the HT stop temperature to a three-phase high-temperature (HT) stop temperature. When the modulation method is the two-phase modulation, the HT stop temperature setting section sets the HT stop temperature to a two-phase high-temperature (HT) stop temperature, which is higher than the three-phase HT stop temperature. |
| US09995301B2 |
Vane pump and vane pump manufacturing method
A vane pump includes a rotor; a plurality of vanes; a cam ring; and a pump body having an accommodating concave portion accommodating the cam ring. The cam ring includes a ring fitting portions formed in a plurality of regions on an outer circumference and a ring small-diameter portions formed on the outer circumference so as to have an outer diameter smaller than those of the ring fitting portions. The accommodating concave portion has a body fitting portion to which the ring fitting portions is fitted and a body large-diameter portions formed on the inner circumference in a plurality of regions so as to have an inner diameter lager than that of the body fitting portions. |
| US09995297B2 |
Pump system
The invention relates to a pump system comprising a positive-displacement pump module, preferably a screw pump, a drive module which can be exchanged separately from the positive-displacement pump module, said drive module comprises an electric drive motor and a frequency converter associated therewith for controlling or adjusting a drive motor speed, control means comprising a controller for producing an adjustment variable (Ys) for the frequency converter in accordance with a reference variable (W) and a first actual operational parameter (X) and logistic means associated with the controller, and reference variable defining means for providing the reference variable (W) for the control means. According to the invention, the control means are provided in a control module separately from the drive module, and the drive module can be exchanged separately from the control module, and the drive module does not have a designed and/or controlled controller for producing the adjustment variable (Ys). |
| US09995293B2 |
Method for controlling a pump
A method for automatic mutual alternation between an arbitrary number of pumps by the control of each individual pump, which makes use of a start condition for a state change from an inactive state of the pump into an active state of the pump to be performed, as well as makes use of a stop condition for a state change from the active state into the inactive state to be performed. The method includes a sub method (Find start condition) that includes the step of, after a predetermined stage, arbitrarily changing the start condition of the individual pump within predetermined limits. |
| US09995290B2 |
Cryogenic pump with insulating arrangement
A cryogenic pump configured for pressurizing a cryogenic fluid is provided. The cryogenic pump includes a warm end portion adapted to not contact cryogenic fluid during operation of the pump and including one or more driving components. The cryogenic pump includes a cold end portion adapted to contact cryogenic fluid during operation of the pump and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet. An insulating arrangement including an insulator plate is arranged between the warm end portion and the cold end portion and defines a first air gap between the cold end portion and the insulator plate. |
| US09995288B2 |
Solid-state motor and associated systems and methods
Described herein is a motor comprising a first rotatable member and an anchor, spaced apart from the first rotatable member. The motor also comprises a belt, in tension about the first rotatable member and the anchor. The belt is co-rotatably engaged with the first rotatable member. Further, the belt is made from a shape-memory alloy. Additionally, the motor comprises a thermal regulation device, positioned between spaced-apart first and second portions of the belt. The thermal regulation device is also configured to concurrently cool the first portion of the belt to contract the first portion of the belt and heat the second portion of the belt to expand the second portion of the belt. Concurrent contraction and expansion of the first and second portions of the belt cause rotation of the belt. |
| US09995285B2 |
Method for operating a solar thermal power system with an economizer recirculation line
A solar thermal power system includes a solar receiver, and a thermal energy storage arrangement having thermal energy storage fluid to be circulated through the solar receiver to store thermal energy. The system includes a multistage steam turbine operable on variable pressure steam generated by a steam generator arrangement, by utilizing the thermal energy storage fluid. The arrangement includes an economizer section, an evaporator section, and a superheater section communicably configured to utilize the heat of the hot thermal energy storage fluid to generate and supply the variable pressure steam to the turbine. The system includes a recirculation line configured around the economizer section to recirculate the heated water to an inlet of the economizer section, increasing pressure range of the variable pressure steam in the arrangement. |
| US09995280B2 |
Joint structure and wind power generation device
A joint structure includes a clutch unit interposed between a shaft joint and a shaft body which is one of an output shaft of a speed increaser and an input shaft of a power generator. The clutch unit includes: a shaft coupling portion rotating integrally with the shaft body; a joint coupling portion rotating integrally with the shaft joint; and a one-way clutch provided between the shaft coupling portion and the joint coupling portion. The one-way clutch makes a connection integrally rotatably between the shaft coupling portion and the joint coupling portion in a state in which a rotation speed of the output shaft is higher than that of the input shaft, and releases the connection between the shaft coupling portion and the joint coupling portion in a state in which the rotation speed of the output shaft is lower than that of the input shaft. |
| US09995279B2 |
Wind turbine blade, wind turbine and method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade
A wind turbine blade includes one or more electric powered modules powered by light beams so as to provide a galvanic separation between the electric powered modules and a lightning protection system in a wind turbine blade. The modules have a power supply converting an energy source in the form of light beams to electrical power for the one or more modules. A wind turbine and a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade are also disclosed. |
| US09995273B2 |
Method and an apparatus for providing a tapered edge on a sheet comprising a fibrous material
The invention provides a method of providing a tapered edge on a sheet comprising a fibrous material, comprising moving the sheet while carrying out the following steps: —moving the sheet past a freezing device, which sheet is provided with a substance embedding the fibrous material, at least at a first edge of the sheet, which substance is in a non-solid state at room temperature, in particular at 20 degrees Celsius, and cooling the first edge using the freezing device, so that the substance at the first edge becomes solid, —moving the sheet past a machining device while the substance is solid from the cooling using the freezing device, and —machining, during the step of moving the sheet past a machining device, the first edge with the machining device to provide a first tapered edge. |
| US09995267B2 |
Ignition apparatus
An ignition apparatus includes an adjuster. The adjuster adjusts, according to at least one of a primary voltage and a secondary voltage detected by a voltage detector, at least one of an application timing and an application level of auxiliary electrical energy to an ignition coil while main electrical energy is applied to a spark plug by the ignition coil. The application timing includes whether the auxiliary electrical energy is applied to the ignition coil. |
| US09995263B1 |
Flushing of fuel nozzle assembly or component using a solution following ultrasonic cleaning
Fuel nozzle assemblies are flushed after ultrasonic cleaning. In one embodiment, a method includes: cleaning a fuel nozzle assembly by ultrasonic cleaning; and after the ultrasonic cleaning, flushing the fuel nozzle assembly using a solution, the fuel nozzle assembly comprising a valve located in an interior of the fuel nozzle assembly, the solution flowing through the interior of the fuel nozzle assembly, and the flowing of the solution controlled by the valve. |
| US09995261B2 |
Dynamic seal for fuel injector needle check
A fuel injector includes an injector body defining a liquid fuel passage, a gaseous fuel passage, and a first guide bore; a gaseous fuel check guided within the first guide bore between a retracted position and an advanced position to selectively open and block, respectively, fluid communication between the gaseous fuel passage and a gaseous fuel nozzle outlet; and a sleeve seal seated within the first guide bore, the sleeve seal having an inner surface defining a sleeve seal bore therethrough, and at least a portion of the gaseous fuel check is disposed within the sleeve seal bore; an outer surface of the sleeve seal including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being disposed closer to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve seal bore along a radial direction than the second portion. |
| US09995256B2 |
Charge-air cooler with plenum partition
An engine includes a cylinder block defining a bank of cylinders having physically adjacent first and second cylinders. The engine also has a gas compressor configured to pressurize an ambient airflow for delivery to the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The engine additionally has intake valves configured to control delivery of the pressurized airflow as a first airstream to the first cylinder and a second airstream to the second cylinder for combustion therein. A firing interval for the two adjacent cylinders results in the first airstream temporally overlapping the second airstream. A charge-air cooler is configured to cool the pressurized airflow prior to delivery thereof to the first and second cylinders and includes a cold-side plenum for discharging the pressurized airflow toward the first and second cylinders. A partition in the cold-side plenum is configured to separate the first airstream from the second airstream and thereby minimize interference therebetween. |
| US09995254B1 |
Device used with the air induction tube of an internal combustion engine after the air filter and before the throttle body
Provided is a device used in the air induction tube of an internal combustion engine after the air filter and before the throttle body, and in particular to a device used to separate an air flow into a plurality of segments. The device can be made of two pieces. Each piece is initially a flat plate. A slit is formed half way through each plate and the corners are cut off or clipped. Each plate is then formed to have two generally curved portions. The pieces are joined via the slits resulting in the device. The pieces are generally perpendicular to each other at their intersection. The device is fitted into the air induction tube upstream of the throttle body, whereby it separates the air flow into distinct segments. The curved walls can be slightly compressed when inserted into an induction tube to hold the assembly in place. |
| US09995246B2 |
Thrust reverser for nacelle of aircraft turbofan
A thrust reverser for a nacelle of an aircraft turbojet engine includes at least one movable thrust reverser cowl, a means for locking the cowl, a variable section outlet nozzle, and at least one actuator including an actuator rod. The thrust reverser is provided with a resilient coupler comprising a body which is rigidly connected to the thrust reverser cowl and a resilient return and abutment device that engages with the actuating rod of the actuator such as to resiliently return the nozzle to a neutral position. The return device is calibrated such that, when the cowl is unlocked, the return device opposes the relative movement of the actuating rod relative to the cowl, such as to enable the movement of the cowl and the nozzle, and when the cover is locked, the actuator drives the actuating rod against the return device to enable the movement of the nozzle. |
| US09995245B2 |
Variable immersion lobe mixer for turbofan jet engine exhaust and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a mixer for a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes forming a forward end and an aft end of the mixer, and forming an annularly undulating contour that defines a plurality of core immersion lobes and a plurality of bypass immersion lobes between the forward end and the aft end. The plurality of bypass immersion lobes includes a first bypass immersion lobe and a second bypass immersion lobe. The first bypass immersion lobe has a first crown contour line extending from the forward end to the aft end of the mixer, and the second bypass immersion lobe has a second crown contour line extending from the forward end to the aft end of the mixer. The first crown contour line is different than the second crown contour line. |
| US09995243B2 |
Engine cover
An engine cover for covering an engine including: a cover body configured to cover the engine from above; and at least one fixing part projecting from the cover body toward an engine side and being configured to be attached to the engine side, wherein the cover body and the fixing part are integrally formed of an urethane foam, and the fixing part has an infirm portion formed at a periphery thereof so that the fixing part is configured to be deformed toward a specific direction due to the infirm portion upon input of a load to the cover body. |
| US09995242B2 |
Method for modifying surface of piston for internal combustion engine, and piston for internal combustion engine
There is provided a piston with a surface modified layer for an internal-combustion engine by a method using a particle to be ejected made of iron-based alloy having a diameter of 20 to 200 μm, a thermal conductivity of 30 W/m·k or less at 25° C., and a specific gravity of 7.5 g/cm3 or greater. The method includes: first treatment for ejecting the particle onto a surface of a piston made of aluminum-silicon alloy or aluminum-copper-based alloy in a space in which oxygen exists at arc height value of 0.07 to 0.13 mm (N), second treatment for ejecting the particle onto the surface of the piston in a space in which oxygen exists at arc height of 0.13 to 0.22 mm (N), and heating treatment applying to the piston for 1.5 hours or longer at 170 to 190° C. in a space in which oxygen exists. |
| US09995238B2 |
Methods and system for transitioning between fuel injection windows
Methods and systems for simultaneously operating port fuel injectors and direct fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, different duration port fuel injection windows are provided to maximize fuel injection amount and improve accuracy of an amount of fuel injected during a cylinder cycle via port and direct fuel injectors. |
| US09995232B2 |
Method and system for operating an engine start-stop system in a vehicle
A method to control engine start-stop in a vehicle is provided. The method includes outputting via a controller an engine command to auto-start the engine based on detection of a predetermined vehicle condition affecting fuel economy of the vehicle, detection of a shift from neutral to another gear position, and whether a predetermined time threshold has expired following the shift in response to detection of a presence of an engine auto-stop mode and a neutral gear position. The predetermined vehicle condition may be a movement of the vehicle in a reverse direction. The predetermined vehicle condition may be a battery parameter being outside of predetermined range. The predetermined range may be based on a battery state of charge, a battery temperature, a battery voltage, or a battery load current. The predetermined vehicle condition may be a HVAC component activation. |
| US09995230B2 |
Engine control device
In an engine control device, an automatic engine stop control section automatically stops an engine operating when an automatic engine stop condition is satisfied. An engine start control section supplies electric power to a starter to drive the starter when receiving an initial engine start intention signal transmitted from a push starter and when an automatic engine start condition has been satisfied. An engine start completion detection section detects whether the engine start of the engine has finished. An automatic engine stop permission section permits the automatic engine stop control section to stop the engine operating when the automatic engine stop permission section detects that the engine start has finished at a timing when the engine start control section has started the engine after receiving an initial engine start intention detection signal transmitted from the push starter. |
| US09995228B2 |
Engine exhaust system
Methods and systems are provided for flowing exhaust gas in an exhaust system of an engine. In one example, a method may include flowing a first portion of exhaust gas to a turbine, from the turbine to at least one aftertreatment device, then from the at least one aftertreatment device to atmosphere, and flowing a second portion of exhaust gas to the at least one aftertreatment device, bypassing the turbine, then from the aftertreatment device to atmosphere, during a second condition. The method may also include, during a second condition, flowing a third portion of exhaust gas to the at least one aftertreatment device, from the at least one aftertreatment device to the turbine, and then from the turbine to atmosphere, and flowing a fourth portion of exhaust gas to the at least one aftertreatment device, and then from the at least one aftertreatment device to atmosphere, bypassing the turbine. |
| US09995226B2 |
Control device for vehicle
A control device causes the engine to start with a throttle valve being set to a first throttle position when required power required in an engine is smaller than a first threshold value and a detected fuel pressure detected by a low-pressure fuel sensor is lower than a second threshold value. The control device causes the engine to start with the throttle valve being set to a position larger than the first throttle position when the required power is smaller than the first threshold value and the detected fuel pressure is higher than the second threshold value. With this structure, a control device for a vehicle can be provided which allows intermittent operation of the engine with reduced variation in air-fuel ratio. |
| US09995224B2 |
System for supplying pressured air installed in an aircraft turbine engine including sealing means
A system for supplying pressurized air installed in an aircraft turbine engine, configured to supply pressurization air to a portion of the aircraft for using compressed air from pressurization air collected from a portion for collecting compressed air, characterized in that it comprises a collection port formed on a casing of the compressed air collection portion, a collection member coupled to the collection port, a through port of the collection member formed on a casing of a compartment of the turbine engine, said casing being subjected to small movements relative to the casing of the compressed air portion, the collection member crossing the through port with a freedom of movement relative to the latter during said small movements, a high-pressure space crossed by the collection member, located between the casing of the compressed air collection portion and the casing of the compartment. |
| US09995221B2 |
Staged fuel and air injection in combustion systems of gas turbines
A gas turbine that includes: a combustor coupled to a turbine that together define a working fluid flowpath; a compressor discharge cavity; a staged injector; stator blade airfoils extending between inboard and outboard sidewalls; and a first and second coolant flowpath. The first coolant flowpath includes: an intake section connected to the compressor discharge cavity and a downstream port formed through the inboard sidewall; an outtake section including a downstream port connected to the staged injector and an upstream port formed through the outboard sidewall; and a cooling circuit through the airfoil. The second coolant flowpath includes: an intake section connected to the compressor discharge cavity and a downstream port formed through the outboard sidewall; an outtake section that comprises a downstream port connected to the staged injector and an upstream port formed through the inboard sidewall; and a cooling circuit through the airfoil. |
| US09995216B1 |
Disc turbine engine
A disc turbine engine includes a multi disc engine in which each disc engine includes a turbine blade, and low-pressure compressor blade, a high-pressure compressor blade and a bearing that runs the disc engine freely around a shaft. Each disc engine has its own cooling system, the compressor's blades act as cooling fins for the turbine blade, and air bleeding from the high-pressure compressor to the lower pressure compressor through a hollow turbine blade. Cooling the nozzle is by attaching the nozzle to the guide fan and by air bleeding through the hollow body. There is no stator in between the disc engine and no large shaft is required because the power produced by each turbine blade is consumed by its own compressor. The weight and cost of this engine will be less than other engines at the same thrust output. |
| US09995213B2 |
Asymmetrically-shaped combustion chamber for opposed-piston engines
A combustion chamber for an opposed-piston engine has an elongated asymmetrical shape in longitudinal section that runs along a chamber centerline, between diametrically-opposed openings of the combustion chamber through which fuel is injected. The asymmetry apportions combustion chamber volume to provide additional clearance on a side of the chamber centerline toward which swirl is directed, thereby giving a fuel plume space to swing without hindrance in response to swirl. |
| US09995212B2 |
Free piston engine
An internal combustion engine for providing a linear reciprocating movement of an output shaft along a longitudinal axis. The engine has a double sided cylinder that is bounded by an engine head at each side of the cylinder. An exhaust unit is positioned at each side of the cylinder. A piston is positioned within a cylinder inner space and freely slides with respect to the cylinder along the longitudinal axis. Two piston rods are aligned with the longitudinal axis. Each piston rod is connected at a different side of the piston. Each of the piston rods has exhaust openings. |
| US09995207B2 |
Multi-stage turbocharger system
A turbocharger system comprises a first relatively small high-pressure (HP) turbocharger and a second relatively large low pressure (LP) turbocharger. The turbine of the LP turbocharger is connected in series downstream of the turbine of the HP turbocharger. A first exhaust bypass flow passage provides a bypass flow path around the HP turbine. A second exhaust bypass flow passage provides a bypass flow path around the LP turbine. A rotary valve is located at a junction of the first and second bypass flow passages and a first exhaust gas flow passage. The rotary valve comprises a valve rotor which is rotatable selectively to permit or block flow to the LP turbine and to permit or block flow to the first and second bypass paths. |
| US09995200B2 |
Temperature control device for engine
A temperature control device for the engine may include an air heater configured to heat air introduced into a throttle valve by a flow of engine cooling water, and a valve apparatus configured to cut off the flow of the engine cooling water passing through the air heater at a set temperature range or more, without being supplied with a separate control signal. |
| US09995198B2 |
Engine device for work vehicle
An engine device for a work vehicle, in which an exhaust purification unit can be placed on an engine in the neighborhood of the final process in the assembly work of the engine, thereby improving the assembly workability of the engine. The engine device includes a first case that removes particulate matter in the exhaust gas of the engine and a second case that removes nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas of the engine and connects the first case to the second case via a urea mixing pipe. The first case and the second case are integrally adhered by means of clamping bodies, and, thereby forming an exhaust purification unit, and the exhaust purification unit is configured to be supported by the engine via the clamping bodies, and in a detachable manner. |
| US09995197B2 |
Ammonia adsorption amount estimation apparatus, ammonia adsorption amount estimation method, and exhaust gas purification system for internal combustion engine
Embodiments of the present disclosure may estimate the amount of ammonia adsorbed in an SCR catalyst as accurately as possible. The ammonia adsorption amount is calculated by integrating the quantity of ammonia supplied to the SCR filter, the quantity of ammonia consumed in reduction of NOx in the SCR catalyst, and the quantity of ammonia desorbed from the SCR catalyst. In the calculation, a differential pressure change rate defined as the increase in a converted differential pressure value per unit increase in the filter PM deposition amount is referred to. The ammonia desorption quantity is calculated in such a way that the calculated value of the ammonia desorption quantity is made smaller when the differential pressure change rate is smaller than a predetermined threshold than when the differential pressure change rate is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold. |
| US09995196B2 |
Method of operating an aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine
A method and system for operating an aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A value of a storage efficiency for the lean nitrogen-oxide trap is determined. A value of an exhaust gas temperature is measured upstream of the lean nitrogen-oxide trap. An electric heated catalyst enabling condition may be fulfilled if the storage efficiency of the lean nitrogen-oxide trap is smaller than a threshold value thereof and the value of the exhaust gas temperature upstream of the lean nitrogen-oxide trap is greater than a lower threshold value and less than an upper threshold value. The electric heated catalyst is activated if the enabling condition is fulfilled. An inhibition enabling condition may be fulfilled if the value of storage efficiency is less than a second threshold value and the electric heated catalyst is deactivated and a denitrification of the lean nitrogen-oxides trap is started. |
| US09995192B2 |
Crankcase ventilation device for vehicle
The present invention relates to a crankcase ventilation device for a vehicle and, more specifically, to a crankcase ventilation device for a vehicle, which: prevents a back flow of blow-by gas to a new air inflow valve according to a rise in pressure and a rise in a flow rate inside a crankcase; prevents deterioration in the inside of an engine due to unburned fuel contained in the blow-by gas and minute particles of engine oil, generation of sludge, and an engine failure; and minimizes contamination of an intake system by providing a new air inflow control valve having a nozzle and a diaphragm, so as to block a back flow of the blow-by gas to a new air inflow hose due to an excessive rise in pressure inside the crankcase during a process for re-circulating and re-burning the blow-by gas discharged from the crankcase of the vehicle. |
| US09995190B2 |
Contact heater
A contact heater comprising a heating member and a contact surface, where the contact surface is adapted for abutment towards a portion of an engine, gearbox, or similar, which is to be heated. The heating member comprises at least one PTC element and connection means for electrical energy supply, and the contact surface constitutes a portion of a contact element which is releasably connected to the heating member by connection means.The contact heater is suitable for use on an engine, for example an automobile engine, an engine block, a sump, a gearbox or a part of the transmission system for a vehicle. |
| US09995188B2 |
Oil control device for fully variable hydraulic valve system of internal combustion engine
The present invention relates to a valve train mechanism and a fuel supply system of internal combustion engine, and particularly relates to an oil control device of a hydraulic fully variable valve system of the internal combustion engine. This device connected with the hydraulic valve system of internal combustion engine, the device consists of a housing, a rotary valve, a hydraulic accumulator and a transmission mechanism. The rotary valve, the hydraulic accumulator and the transmission mechanism are installed in the housing. The rotary valve consists of a rotary valve shaft and a rotary valve sleeve. The hydraulic accumulator consists of an accumulator piston, an accumulator spring, an end cover, a sealing seat ring and a rubber gasket and is installed in the cavity at one end of the housing. An accumulator chamber is provided between the rotary valve and the hydraulic accumulator. The transmission mechanism consists of a transmission gear, a gear shaft and a cross slide coupling. The transmission gear is installed on the gear shaft, while the gear shaft is connected with the rotary valve shaft through the cross slide coupling. The present invention can replace a high-frequency solenoid valve, it is applicable to use with hydraulic fully variable valve system of single-cylinder and multi-cylinder internal combustion engines. And the present invention has the advantages of simple structure, reliability, good manufacturability and low cost. |
| US09995185B2 |
Valve timing control device for internal combustion engine
A valve timing control device 1 has a lock mechanism 30 which limits a relative rotation of a vane rotor 20 with respect to a housing 10 by engaging a lock plate 31 that is accommodated slidably in a radial direction with an engagement groove 32 of the vane rotor 20 by biasing force of a spring 33 in the housing 10. The lock plate 31 is provided with a plurality of penetrating holes 35 which are opened on a circumferential direction side surface of the lock plate 31. |
| US09995184B2 |
Arrangement for coupling two components that can move relative to each other in a switchable valve train component for an internal combustion engine
An arrangement for coupling two components that can move relative to each other in a switchable valve train component for an internal combustion engine is provided, with a coupling element (3) that can be moved for coupling the components with a flattened coupling surface (5) for contacting a corresponding locking contour. The locking contour has recesses (7) in which the coupling element (3) can engage so that it can move in contact with the locking contour for coupling with its coupling surface (5) in a position slightly rotated relative to a predetermined coupling position. |
| US09995182B2 |
Installation support structure for a steam condensation system
A support structure for a condensation system is disclosed having a pair of tube bundles connected at its respective upper ends to steam distribution lines for introducing steam into the tube bundles. The lower ends of the tube bundles are connected to condensate collectors for receiving condensate from the tube bundles and the tube bundles are arranged in a V shape such that the steam distribution lines of a pair of tube bundles are further apart from one another than are the condensate collectors of the pair of tube bundles. |
| US09995176B2 |
Device for transferring oil between two repositories rotating relative to each other, and propeller turbomachine for an aircraft with such a device
The device (20) comprises two outer and inner concentric rings (22, 23), one of which is connected to an oil supply from one of the repositories, the other ring being connected to the other repository, the oil flowing between said rings, and bearings between the rings in order to change repositories between the two rings. According to the invention, the device (20) further comprises a flexible means (31) forming a shock absorber, provided between a first of said rings and an intermediate ring (41) that is separated from a second of said rings by said bearings (25), said flexible means (31) defining a deformable sealed chamber (32) in which oil travels between the two repositories. |
| US09995174B2 |
Planetary gear system arrangement with auxiliary oil system
A gas turbine engine has a fan, first and second compressor stages, first and second turbine stages. The first turbine stage drives the second compressor stage as a high spool. The second turbine stage drives the first compressor stage as part of a low spool. A gear train drives the fan with the low spool, such that the fan and first compressor stage rotate in the same direction. The high spool operates at higher pressures than the low spool. A lubrication system is also disclosed. |
| US09995171B2 |
Cooling passages for a mid-turbine frame
A mid-turbine frame for a gas turbine engine includes an outer frame case and an inner frame case. At least one spoke connects the outer frame case to the inner frame case. The spoke includes an inlet passage with at least one branch that extends in an axial direction. |
| US09995167B2 |
Turbine blade monitoring
A blade monitoring system and method for a turbine assembly comprising rotating blades (14), the system comprising at least one sensor (10, 12) for transmitting a signal towards said rotating blades and detecting a time-varying return signal therefrom, and one or more processors (20) configured to calculate the time derivative of said return signal, generate a phase variation signal for said time derivative, determine minima points within said phase variation signal and measure said signal at said minima points so as to identify data representative of respective minimum path lengths, each said minimum path length corresponding to the returned signal as each respective blade passes said sensor, and generate, using said minimum path lengths, a time series of data representing the returned signal from individual blades as they pass the sensor. |
| US09995166B2 |
Turbomachine including a vane and method of assembling such turbomachine
A vane for a turbomachine includes a pressure surface and a suction surface opposite the pressure surface. The pressure surface and the suction surface define a width therebetween. The vane also includes a first end. The first end includes a distal portion, a proximal portion, a pressure surface first portion, and a suction surface first portion. At least one of the pressure surface first portion and the suction surface first portion slope away from the other of the pressure surface first portion and the suction surface first portion such that the width increases from a first end minimum width at the proximal portion to a first end maximum width at the distal portion. |
| US09995163B2 |
Halo seal attached secondary seal cover arrangement
A seal sub-assembly may comprise a spacer, at least one secondary seal, and a secondary seal cover. At least a portion of the at least one secondary seal are located axially between the spacer and the secondary seal cover. The spacer is attached to the secondary seal cover. The spacer may comprise a first flange and a second flange. The at least one secondary seal may be located axially in line with and radially inward from the first flange. At least a portion of the secondary seal cover may be located axially in line with and radially inward from the second flange. |
| US09995160B2 |
Airfoil profile-shaped seals and turbine components employing same
An airfoil profile-shaped seal is disposable between an inside surface of a hollow airfoil body and a seal support. The seal includes an elongated member defining a generally closed curve having a generally straight portion, a generally curved portion, and having a solid cross-section across and along the length of the elongated member. When the seal is disposed in an airfoil profile-shaped groove of a seal support adjacent to the inner surface of the hollow airfoil body, and a fluid pressure on one side of the seal is greater than a fluid pressure on the other side of the seal, portions of the seal engage the inner surface of the hollow airfoil body and a surface of the groove to form a seal to inhibit leakage of fluid from the one side to the other side. |
| US09995159B2 |
Blade retaining ring for an internal shroud of an axial-flow turbomachine compressor
A stator of a low-pressure compressor of an axial-flow turbomachine. The stator includes an annular row of stator blades including radial extremities which pass through the openings of an internal shroud, and which include radial retaining slots having tapers formed by hooks. The stator includes a ring for retaining the blades on the internal shroud. The ring is curved circumferentially in order to be inserted into a plurality of retaining slots and exhibits the form of a strip having an arched transversal profile which is in abutment against the tapers, in such a way as to maintain the ring in the interior of the slots. The shroud includes an annular layer of abradable material made from silicone, which encloses the ring in such a way as to block the curvature of the arched profile of the ring in order to prevent it from disengaging from the tapers of the slots. |
| US09995155B2 |
Locking member
A lock apparatus securing a blade to a hub, the lock apparatus comprising a planar element having a spring actuable between an expanded position and a compressed position without deviation from the plane of the element, wherein in the expanded position of the spring the planar element is partly located in a slot provided in the blade, the spring being compressible to its compressed position to disengage the planar element from the slot. |
| US09995153B2 |
Method for manufacturing a part coated with a protective coating
A method for manufacturing a part coated with a protective coating includes: forming a protective coating across all or part of the surface of a part, wherein the part includes a refractory alloy including a niobium matrix containing metal silicide inclusions, wherein the protective coating is formed by a pack carburization method from a cement including: i. a mixture A of (NbxTi1-x)3M3CrSi6 and M0.6Cr0.4Si where M denotes Fe, Co or Ni and x is between 0 and 1, or ii. a mixture B of M′Si, NbSi2 and Nb4M′4Si7 where M′ denotes Fe, Co or Ni. |
| US09995138B2 |
Device for sinking a shaft and method for sinking a shaft
A device and method for sinking a shaft during a sinking cycle, in which a support unit is moved once and a boring unit is moved at least twice by means of support cylinders and displacement cylinders. Due to such configuration, an efficient sinking operation is obtained. |
| US09995136B2 |
Simulating downhole flow through a perforation
A perforation test target is provided. The perforation test target includes a metal plate and a core sample adhered to the metal plate at one end. The perforation test target further including a first sleeve adhered to the core sample, where a flow impedance of each of a plurality of portions of the first sleeve is based on a predetermined impedance map. |
| US09995132B2 |
External hollow antenna
A beacon assembly located at a downhole end of a drill string proximate a boring tool. The beacon assembly transmits data to an above-ground receiver. The beacon has a housing with a housing wall located between its sensors, such as gradiometers, accelerometers, and other orientation sensors, and an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly has a protective covering made of electromagnetically transparent material. |
| US09995129B2 |
Drilling automation using stochastic optimal control
An example method for drilling automation may comprise generating a model of a drilling system based, at least in part, on a first set of downhole measurements. The model may accept drilling parameters of the drilling system as inputs. A rate of penetration for the drilling system may be determined based, at least in part on the model. The model may be simulated using a first set of values for the drilling parameters, and a control policy for the drilling system may be calculated based, at least in part, on the rate of penetration and the results of the simulation. A control signal to the drilling system may be generated based, at least in part, on the control policy. |
| US09995123B2 |
System and method for stimulating a well
A system for stimulating a well with an annulus formed by a string and a wellbore, wherein the system includes an injection assembly, a normally closed injection valve, a normally open flow activated bottom valve, a sand control element, a mechanically operated sand control valve, a releasable anchor configured to be set in the wellbore downstream from the sand control valve. |
| US09995121B2 |
Selective removal of silica from silica containing brines
This invention relates to a method for selective removal of silica and silicon containing compounds from solutions that include silica and silicon containing compounds, including geothermal brines. |
| US09995113B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating a wellbore
A method and apparatus generally concerning the treatment of hydrocarbon-bearing formations adjacent a wellbore. In one embodiment, fracturing jobs are performed through the use of subs disposed in a casing string having profiles that interact with profiles formed on retractable keys of a tool. |
| US09995108B2 |
Permeable lost circulation drilling liner
A layer of permeable material is positioned on an area of lost circulation lithology in a wellbore. An example of the permeable material includes a planar member with perforations that is rolled into and retained in an annular configuration. The permeable material is lowered into the wellbore adjacent the area of lost circulation and allowed to unroll and expand radially outward against walls of the wellbore. The wellbore wall along the area of lost circulation lithology can be reamed out so the layer of permeable material is out of the way of a drill bit. Applying a bridging agent on the interface where the permeable material contacts the wellbore wall forms a flow barrier. |
| US09995106B2 |
Hydraulically released running tool for setting a whipstock anchor before cementing therethrough
A running tool for a subterranean tool releases hydraulically. When used with a whipstock and anchor, the running tool can be dovetailed to the whipstock ramp to allow transmission of torque and downward force on the whipstock when positioning. An upward force can be transmitted to the whipstock from collet that is supported by a ball seat. The anchor is set and a passage opened through the anchor before cementing. The running tool is then released and a passage is opened for cementing. Release of the running tool results from shifting the ball seat that supports the collet. Cement can then bypass the seated ball and back through the ports in the ball seat. Removal of the running tool is assured by applying an upward force without needing rotation or other string manipulation that can be difficult in a deviated borehole. |
| US09995100B1 |
Tamper-evident sealing device for wells
A tamper-evident sealing device for use with a ground well (such as, for example, a water well, gas well, oil well, or the like) has been developed which takes the form of a UV-resistant, micro-perforated polymer plastic device that can be easily sealed over a well cap by applying heat. Should an unauthorized individual attempt to gain access to the well, he/she will necessarily have to break through the sealed, ventilated plastic layer, thus leaving behind indications of the tampering. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a conventional well cap as used in prior art well structures remains in place, with the plastic protective covering of the present invention sealed directly over the cap. |
| US09995098B2 |
Choke control tuned by flow coefficient for controlled pressure drilling
A computerized control is used in controlling a choke when drilling a wellbore with a drilling system. The computerized control obtains a measured value of a parameter in the drilling system and controls the parameter in the drilling system using the choke. The computerized control obtains indications of an error between a set point of the parameter and the measured value of the parameter in the drilling system, a flow coefficient character of the choke, and a current position of the choke. Based on these indications, the computerized control then determines a position adjustment for the choke and adjusting the parameter in the drilling system by applying the position adjustment to the choke. |
| US09995095B2 |
Power tong interlock system
A power tong assembly includes a power tong and an interlock system operably coupled to the power tong. The power tong is configured to grip and rotate a tubular segment in a first direction to make-up a threaded connection with the tubular segment and in a second direction to break-out the threaded connection with the tubular segment. The interlock system is configured to selectively allow the power tong to rotate the tubular segment in one of the first direction and the second direction unrestricted while restricting the power tong to rotate the tubular segment in the other of the first direction and the second direction at a limited speed. |
| US09995094B2 |
Powered milling clamp for drill pipe
A powered clamp for transmitting torque to a drill pipe comprises an outer housing disposed around an axial central passage and connected to a plurality of carrier guides defining a plurality of radial slots. An inner housing defines a coaxial central passage, is rotatably connected to the outer housing, and defines a plurality of actuator slots having a spiral configuration relative to the centerline axis. A carrier is slidably disposed in each slot between the carrier guides and has a carrier pin extending into a respective one of the actuator slots. At least one powered linear actuator is connected between the outer and inner housing to selectively rotate the housings relative to one another. This rotation causes the carriers to move radially inward and outward as the carrier pins travel along the actuator slots, selectively gripping and releasing the drill pipe. |
| US09995093B1 |
Wireline riser tensioner system and method
A wireline riser tensioner system includes a set of tensioning units arranged about a first well with at least one tensioning cable connected to a first and a second tension ring of the first and second wells, respectively. Both wells can be serviced using the same set of tensioning units. The at least one tensioning cable is routed through a plurality of sheaves. If not being serviced, the first or the second well might serve as an anchor. |
| US09995092B2 |
Fracturing liquid delivery hose for recovery of shale oil and gas, and manufacturing method and co-extrusion mold thereof
A fracturing liquid delivery hose for recovery of shale oil and gas, and manufacturing method and co-extrusion mold thereof are provided. The method includes extrusion of a cover layer with a first adhesive layer and an inner lining layer with a second adhesive layer, formation of an enhancement layer, heating and pressurizing for bonding between the cover layer and the enhancement layer and between the inner lining layer and the enhancement layer, so that the formed fracturing liquid delivery hose has resistance at least to high pressure and chemical corrosion. The cover layer and the inner lining layer can use different types of materials. |
| US09995089B1 |
Method and apparatus for efficient bi-rotational drilling
A system for connecting drill pipe to facilitate bi-rotational drilling and methods of bi-rotational drilling using the system are described. The system includes a rotatable sleeve disposed on the end of one pipe joint and a guide on the other pipe joint in which both sleeve and guide have mating threads to pull the joint together and pipe end structures to prevent rotation when the joints are pulled together. |
| US09995088B2 |
Cutting elements comprising sensors, earth-boring tools comprising such cutting elements, and methods of forming wellbores with such tools
An earth-boring tool includes a cutting element comprising a hard material and at least one of a signal generator configured to provide an electromagnetic or acoustic signal to an interface between a surface of the hard material and a surface of a subterranean formation, and a sensor configured to receive an electromagnetic or acoustic signal from the interface. A method of forming a wellbore includes rotating the earth-boring tool within a wellbore and cutting formation material with a cutting element, transmitting a signal through the cutting element to an interface between the cutting element and the formation material, and measuring a response received at a sensor. A cutting element includes a transmitter oriented and configured to dispense a signal to an interface between the cutting surface and a surface of a formation and a sensor oriented and configured to measure a signal from the interface. |
| US09995083B2 |
Covering for architectural opening including thermoformable slat vanes
A covering for an architectural opening including a support tube and a panel operably connected to the support tube and configured to be wound around the support tube. The panel includes a support sheet and at least one vane or slat connected to the support sheet. The at least one vane includes a vane material operably connected to a first side of the support sheet and a support member operably connected to the vane material and configured to support the vane material at a distance away from the support sheet when the panel is in an extended position with respect to the support tube. |
| US09995081B1 |
Spacer element for a double glazed article
A spacer element for a double glazed article, a kit for assembling the spacer element, and a double glazed article including the spacer element. The spacer element includes a frame section. The frame section has a first substantially planar mounting surface located on a first side of the frame section for mounting a first sheet of glass on the spacer element at a periphery of the first sheet of glass. The frame section also has a second substantially planar mounting surface located on a second side of the frame section opposite the first side, for mounting a second sheet of glass on the spacer element at a periphery of the second sheet of glass. The spacer element also has a cavity located in-between the first and second mounting surfaces for accommodating a lock and/or roller mechanism of the double glazed article at a periphery of the double glazed article. |
| US09995071B2 |
System and method for inhibiting window sash drift
A system and method for inhibiting inadvertent movement of a window sash out of a fully open position. Brake shoes travel in the guide tracks as the window sash is moved between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A stop is mounted within the guide tracks. The brake shoe and the stop contact and interconnect when the window sash is moved to its fully open position. The brake shoe is separable from the stop when a closing force is manually applied to the window sash that acts to move the window sash away from its fully open position. The force applied must exceed a threshold level. In this manner, the window sash will remain in its fully open position and will not inadvertently drift closed due to gravity, vibrations or contact with another window sash. |
| US09995068B2 |
Casing device and electronic equipment
A door locking device includes: a pivot end wall portion extending from a pivot end side of a door 131, and having a first through-hole formed therein; an opposed wall portion 20 being opposed to the pivot end wall portion when the door 131 is closed, and having a second through-hole 23A, 23B formed therein; a key cylinder including a movable element 33 configured to be displaced in accordance with unlocking/locking operation; and a pivot hook 40A, 40B configured to interlock with the movable element 33. When the door is unlocked, the pivot hook 40A, 40B retreats to an inner side of the door 131 with respect to the first through-hole, whereas when the door is locked, the pivot hook enters the second through-hole 23A, 23B via the first through-hole to keep the door 131 and a door 132 closed. |
| US09995055B1 |
Adaptable tent system with interconnecting member
An adaptable tent system is described. The adaptable tent system may include a base system having a rigid surface defining a perimeter edge and a canopy including a flexible membrane with a membrane edge and a canopy fastener, the canopy fastener extending along and fixably attached to the membrane edge, the canopy fastener adapted to mate with an interconnecting member fastener. The tent system may also include an interconnecting member including an interconnecting member body, an attachment member, and the interconnecting member fastener. The attachment member may be attached to the base member, so that the interconnecting member and base member are fixably attached together. The interconnecting member fastener may be configured to mate with any one of a plurality of different canopy fasteners so that when the canopy fastener and the interconnecting member fastener are mated, the interconnecting member and the canopy are connected. |
| US09995054B1 |
Pool enclosure anchor kit
Disclosed is an anchor kit for pool enclosures. The anchor kit includes top and bottom gripper plates secured to a hollow pool enclosure frame creating a solid I-beam. The gripper plates and ground anchors are permanently installed. Upon the event of a wind storm, an adjustable tie down is placed between the gripper plate and an anchor installed in the earth. The assembly effectively prevents lifting of the frame during the wind event. |
| US09995052B1 |
In-floor pool cleaner collar with venturi assembly
A device is configured for use in a swimming pool structure, the swimming pool structure including a pool and a circulation system having a piping assembly and a pump for cyclically communicating water through the piping assembly. The device includes a collar configured to be coupled directly to the piping assembly. The collar includes an upstream bottom and a downstream top. The collar includes a lower inlet at the bottom of the collar for fluid communication with the piping assembly. The collar includes an opening at the top of the collar which leads to a chamber within the collar, the chamber for holding an insert. The collar includes an upper inlet at the top of the collar for fluid communication with the pool. The collar includes a truncated open-ended cone carried downstream from the lower inlet. |
| US09995050B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating over a two-wire power cable between an external power supply and a self-propelled robotic swimming pool cleaner
A robotic pool cleaner includes a housing with an interior chamber. A filter within the interior chamber filters water drawn through a water inlet provided in a bottom portion of the housing. Filtered water is discharged through a discharge port provided in a upper portion of the housing. Rotatably-mounted supports attached to the housing support and guide the cleaner on the pool surface. An electric motor mounted in the chamber is configured to move the cleaner on a pool surface. A pool cleaner controller electrically connected to the electric motor controls movement of the cleaner and receives communication signals transmitted by a remote power supply over a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors. The pool cleaner controller is configured to provide uninterrupted electric power to the electric motor while the pool cleaner controller also receives pulsed communication signal from the remote power supply over the two-wire cable. |
| US09995049B2 |
Swim spa with plenum arrangement at head end
A method of operating a swimming pool with a circulating water flow. The method including the steps of discharging a jet of water and splitting the flow of water. The discharging step including the discharging of a jet of water from an outlet at a head end of the swimming pool into a swimming compartment, whereby the jet of water flows in a primary flow path toward a foot end of the swimming compartment. The splitting step including the splitting of the flow of water to define two circuitous flow paths, each said flow path having a return flow path flowing within said swimming compartment in a direction generally opposite to said primary flow path back toward said head end. |
| US09995048B1 |
Handheld concrete finisher
A handheld concrete finisher is disclosed for finishing concrete from an upright or standing position. The concrete finisher includes a concrete finishing tool, a handle assembly, a multi-axis pivot assembly attached between the handle assembly and the concrete finishing tool, and a control mechanism that allows an operator to selectively prevent the handle assembly from pivoting or rotating about one of the pivot axes. The multi-axis pivot assembly allows the operator to pivot the handle assembly both side to side and backward and forward relative to the concrete finishing tool, and to prevent the handle assembly from rotating while still allowing the handle assembly to pivot side to side. The finishing tool is detachable and can be any one of a number of tools for preparing concrete, based on the job requirements. The handle assembly can be adjusted for the operator's height and/or to extend the operator's reach. |
| US09995047B2 |
Construction board installation robot
A construction board installation robot comprises a frame with attached devices to securely hold and subsequently affix to a substructure a construction board, a robotic system consisting multiple joints and links to position the frame, and a cart containing ancillary equipment needed for the completion of the desired task and the ability to move and position the entire assembly under its own power. Positioning is determined dynamically utilizing a series of laser scanners and optical sensors. To assist a laborer with the mounting of boards, the arm and cart are capable of being easily maneuvered either through the use of integrated sensors that direct the actuation of the arm and/or cart wheels as determined by the push or pull of the operator on the device, a method of remote control, and/or independently with control software. |
| US09995039B2 |
Two-piece track system
A fire-rated receiver channel includes at least one intumescent or other fire-resistant material strip. The receiver channel can nest with a framing member, such as metal tracks, headers, header tracks, sill plates, bottom tracks, metal studs, wood studs or wall partitions, and placed at a perimeter of a wall assembly to create a fire block arrangement. In other arrangements, a track assembly includes two nested tracks, an inner track and outer track. The assembly is designed so that the outside width of the outer track is equal to or less than the outside width of the inner track to present a substantially flush external surface for attachment of exterior sheathing elements when the assembly is used in an external wall. |
| US09995035B1 |
Support for foundation strap
A holdown connection assembly for attachment to a form used to make a concrete foundation includes a holdown including an elongate plate member having an upper section with a plurality of holes sized and shaped to receive fasteners to attach the holdown to a wood frame member supported by the concrete foundation. A lower section extends from the upper section and is configured to be at least partially embedded in the concrete foundation when the holdown is attached to the wood frame member. A support is configured to be mounted to the holdown to attach the holdown to the form. The support includes a wire member engageable with the holdown for locating the holdown relative to the form when the support is mounted to the holdown and attached to the form. |
| US09995033B2 |
Wastewater-lifting system
A wastewater-lifting system is provided. The wastewater-lifting system includes at least one bulky-material-collecting vessel for wastewater loaded with bulky materials which is guided therethrough, a liquid-collecting vessel for the wastewater which is freed from bulky materials and precleaned in the bulky-material-collecting vessel, and with a wastewater shaft for accommodating the bulky-material-collecting vessel and the liquid-collecting vessel. The liquid-collecting vessel and the wastewater shaft have at least one common wall surface. The liquid-collecting vessel defines a closed-off space with only a partially covered base surface in the wastewater shaft, and is equipped for this purpose with at least one wall surface independent of the wastewater shaft. |
| US09995030B1 |
Spill reducing toilet water retaining mat
A retaining mat is suitably sized to stabilize a toilet while the toilet is being replaced or installed. The mat prevents damage to adjacent tile, carpet, wood, or other flooring during toilet replacement. The mat includes an encircling retaining lip so as to form a catch basin to receive any water which may escape from the toilet. |
| US09995029B2 |
Flush toilet having rim slot of varying width
To provide a flush toilet in which: a circulating flow can be formed to uniformly circulate over a waste receiving surface while flushing; localized changes in external appearance of a toilet main body can be inhibited; and impression of a left-right symmetrical external shape can be conveyed to users so that design characteristics thereof are favorably preserved. A rim portion in a flush toilet includes a slit opening portion formed between an upper edge portion of the waste receiving surface formed to be left-right asymmetrical and a rim inside wall formed to be left-right symmetrical. The slit opening portion is formed such that a slit gap on one side, to which a connecting water conduit is directed, is smaller than a slit gap on the other side. A circulating flow is formed on the waste-receiving surface by flush water spouted from the slit opening portion having the different slit gaps. |
| US09995028B2 |
Toilet bowl washing system
A washing system includes a bidet pipe system, an angled gasket used in the bidet pipe system, a cover used in the washing system with bidet pipe, which is compatible with a sanitaryware product, a cover used in the washing system without bidet pipe, which is compatible with the sanitaryware product, a washing system inner body, a washing system outer body part, a sealing element, a screw for fixing the outer body of the system to the sanitaryware product, a part for fixing the outer body of the system to the sanitaryware product, an element providing sealing between the sanitaryware product and the outer body, and a part for connecting the bidet system to the clean water pipe. |
| US09995024B2 |
Mixer tap
A mixer tap comprises a hollow tap body (10) made of a plastic material, a mixing cartridge (30) housed in a cartridge seat (32) made in the tap body, a cartridge support base plate (60), housed in a base plate seat (62) made in the tap body under the seat cartridge, a control cartridge seat (40) operationally connected to the mixing cartridge (30), and a water outlet tube (80) which extends from a side opening (24) of the tap body (10). The tap further comprises a shell casing (90) comprising a body portion (92) which covers the tap body (10) and a tube portion (94) which covers the water outlet tube (80). |
| US09995017B1 |
Excavator implement length and angle offset determination using a laser distance meter
A framework comprises a laser distance meter (LDM), first and second laser reflectors at respective nodes, and an excavator including a chassis, a linkage assembly (LA) including a boom and stick, an implement including the nodes and tilting about axis TA, an implement sensor generating signal θtilt, and architecture. The LDM generates LDM distance signals DLDM and LDM angle of inclination signals θINC between the LDM and the laser reflectors. The architecture comprises LA actuators and a controller programmed to determine the TA relative to horizontal based on θtilt and execute an iterative process to curl the excavating implement and create bucket angles, align the LDM and the first node to determine a set of rotated IDV, align the LDM and the second node to determine a set of rotated IPV, and determine implement dimensions between the nodes based on the set of rotated IDV and IPV. |
| US09995016B1 |
Excavator limb length and offset angle determination using a laser distance meter
A framework comprises a laser distance meter (LDM), reflector, and excavator comprising a chassis, linkage assembly (LA), boom and stick sensors, implement, and control architecture. The LA comprises a boom and stick defining LA positions. The LDM is configured to generate a DLDM and θINC between the LDM and the reflector at a node, and the control architecture comprises actuator(s) and a controller programmed to execute at successive LA positions an iterative process (comprises generating θB, generating θS, and calculating a height H and a distance D between the node and the LDM based on DLDM and θINC), build a set of H, D measurements and a corresponding set of θB, θS for n LA positions, and execute a linear least squares optimization process based on the H, D set and corresponding set of θB, θS to determine and operate the excavator using LB, LS, θBBias, and θSBias. |
| US09995014B2 |
Self healing salt water barrier
Geocomposite articles that can provide a barrier against high conductivity water e.g., ocean water, are described and their method of manufacture, for waterproofing surfaces that contact high conductivity water. The geocomposite article mat includes a woven or non-woven geotextile sheet or mat containing a powdered or granular partially cross-linked acrylamide/acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer across its entire major surface(s). The powdered or granular copolymer has an unexpectedly high free-swell when hydrated with High Conductivity water, such as ocean water. A liquid-impermeable cover sheet is adhered to the upper major surfaces of the filled copolymer-carrying geotextile to provide a primary high conductivity water barrier layer that, if ruptured, is sealed by the swell of an underlying layer of water-insoluble, partially cross-linked acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer. |
| US09995008B2 |
System and method for controlling vibratory effort on asphalt mat
A system for controlling a vibratory effort on an asphalt mat includes a screed having a screed frame, a screed plate, and a vibratory mechanism. The screed plate and the vibratory mechanism are mounted on the screed frame and the vibratory mechanism is configured to vibrate the screed frame. The system further includes a sensor mounted on the screed frame, and configured to generate signals indicative of a vibrating parameter of the screed frame. The system further includes a controller in communication with the sensor and the vibratory mechanism. The controller is configured to receive the vibrating parameter, and further compare the vibrating parameter to a threshold parameter. The threshold parameter is the decoupling point of the screed frame. The controller is further configured to control the vibratory mechanism to reduce the vibrating parameter when the vibrating parameter exceeds the threshold parameter. |
| US09995004B2 |
Paper product with bleed-through resistant and show-through resistant qualities
A sheet of material that reduces or eliminates the incidence of bleed-through and show-through, thereby enabling a user to prepare artwork, sketches, designs, etc. on both sides of the sheet of material, without the incidence of bleed-through or show-through. The sheet of material includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and an adhesive material positioned between the first and second substrates to operatively join the first and second substrates to each other. The adhesive material acts as a moisture barrier, thereby preventing ink or moisture from passing therethrough and saturating the second substrate when ink or moisture is applied to the first substrate and vice versa. The adhesive also serves as a light barrier, thereby reducing or eliminating show-through on the second substrate when ink or moisture is applied to the first substrate and vice versa. Multiple sheets of material may be bound into a sketch book or pad. |
| US09995003B2 |
Wet paper friction material
Disclosed herein is a wet paper friction material for vehicles. The wet paper friction material comprises: a matrix containing a hardwood pulp in an amount of about 40 to 50% by weight; a spherical silica in an amount of about 16 to 21% by weight; a friction modifier in an amount of about 5% by weight or less but greater than 0% by weight; and a filler constituting the remaining balance of the wet paper friction material, and all the % by weights are based on the total weight of the wet paper friction material. |
| US09995001B2 |
Acrylamide-based polymer, paper strength agent, and paper
The acrylamide-based polymer is produced by polymerizing a polymer component including (meth)acrylamide, a quaternary ammonium-based monomer, and (meth)allylsulfonic acid salt, but not including either a crosslinkable monomer containing nitrogen or a tertiary amino-based monomer. |
| US09994995B2 |
Steel cord and method of manufacturing rubber product
Steel cords have a stranded structure in which a plurality of sheath strands is intertwined around the outer circumferential surface of a core strand. The outer circumferential surface of the core strand is covered by a cushioning material made of nonwoven fabric or a resin film. |
| US09994992B2 |
Washing machine
Disclosed herein is a washing machine, which includes a clutch unit provided to be able to selectively transmit power generated from a drive unit to a drum and a pulsator. The clutch unit includes an outer shaft that is connected to the drum at an upper side thereof and rotates the drum, an inner shaft that is located in the outer shaft, is connected to the pulsator at an upper side thereof, and rotates the pulsator, and a one-way bearing that is installed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The one-way bearing selectively transmits a rotating force from the outer shaft to the inner shaft according to a rotating direction of the outer shaft. With this configuration, it is possible to simplify a structure of the clutch unit and to use space efficiently. |
| US09994991B2 |
Washing machine
A full-automatic washing machine includes: a first control part, a receiving part, a body display part arranged on an upper panel, and a remote controller separated from the body display part. The remote controller includes: setting keys for setting operating information of a washing operation, a second control part, an information display part and a transmitting part. The second control part displays operating information set by the setting keys through the information display part, and transmits the operating information by the transmitting part to the receiving part through wireless communication. A mode display part of the body display part is illuminated in a color such as blue corresponding to the reception of the operating information until the washing operation starts when the first control part receives the operating information. |
| US09994985B1 |
Compacting machine, positioning device and positioning method
A compacting machine for compaction a fabric including a feed roller, a retarding roller and a blade element configured to introduce the fabric to be treated between the feed roller and the retarding roller. The compacting machine also comprises a positioning device provided with at least one drive member configured to move one of the rollers with respect to the other of the rollers. |
| US09994979B2 |
Lightweight, cut and/or abrasion resistant garments, and related protective wear
The present invention relates to a cut and/or abrasion resistant garment that is lightweight, has improved comfort, flexibility and pliability, and is particularly suitable for use as hosiery products such as stockings, pantyhose and tights, or for protective coverings for the arms of the wearer. |
| US09994977B2 |
Ballistic resistant thermoplastic sheet, process of making and its applications
Woven fabrics are formed from high tenacity fibers or tapes that are loosely interwoven with adhesive coated filaments, to composite articles formed therefrom, and to a continuous process for forming the composite articles. |
| US09994976B2 |
Method for manufacturing commingled yarn, commingled yarn, wind-up article, and, woven fabric
Provided is a method for manufacturing a commingled yarn that is capable of keeping a high level of dispersion of the continuous reinforcing fiber and the continuous resin fiber, moderately flexible, and less likely to cause fiber separation, and a commingled yarn a wind-up article and a woven fabric. The method for manufacturing a commingled yarn includes commingling a thermoplastic resin fiber having a treatment agent for the thermoplastic resin fiber on a surface thereof, and a continuous reinforcing fiber having a treatment agent for the continuous reinforcing fiber on a surface thereof, and heating the commingled fibers at a temperature in a range from a melting point of the thermoplastic resin composing the thermoplastic resin fiber, up to 30K higher than the melting point. |
| US09994973B2 |
Fibers and Nonwovens with improved mechanical and bonding properties
The present invention relates to fibers, particularly to as-spun fibers, having improved properties, in particular improved bonding performance and mechanical properties. In particular, the present invention relates to fibers comprising a metallocene random copolymer of propylene and one or more comonomers, said metallocene random copolymer having a broader molecular weight distribution. The present invention further relates to nonwovens comprising such fibers and to a process for producing such fibers and nonwovens. The fibers and the nonwovens of the present invention are characterized by improved properties, in particular improved bonding performance and mechanical properties, when compared to the prior art fibers and nonwovens. |
| US09994967B2 |
Copper film with large grains, copper clad laminate having the same and manufacturing method of copper clad laminate
The present invention provides a copper film with large grains, where, at least one surface, more than 50% area of the copper film is [100]-oriented grains, and the average size of [100]-oriented grains is more than 150 μm. The grains on the copper film have large grain sizes and high preferred orientation, so that the copper film is provided with excellent properties such as flexibility, stability and electro-migration resistance. A copper foil laminate with the above-mentioned copper film is also herein provided. |
| US09994963B2 |
Outlet seal for the cathode bars of an aluminum electrolytic cell
Sealing devices are provided as configured for use with cathode devices of an electrolytic cell for production of aluminum. In particular, the seals are specifically configured to provide an outlet seal for the cathode bars. The sealing devices are made of a material that is elastic, gas-proof, and heat-proof, and can create a hermetic seal around the cathode bar in such a way as to be able to move synchronously or asynchronously with the movement of the cathode bar as it undergoes thermally induced movement during aluminum production. |
| US09994957B2 |
Preliminary treatment method for workpiece
Provided is a preliminary treatment method for a workpiece capable of shortening a cycle time by preventing a nodule from being formed on a carbon film. The preliminary treatment method for the workpiece is performed before a carbon film is formed on a surface of a workpiece W. A bias voltage is applied to the workpiece W disposed in a treatment space S maintained at a predetermined vacuum degree while an oxygen gas is supplied to the treatment space S before a material gas is supplied to the treatment space S, oxygen plasma is generated along the surface of the workpiece W, and oxygen, hydrogen, or water stuck to the surface of the workpiece W is removed. |
| US09994950B2 |
Method for depositing a piezoelectric film containing AIN, and a piezoelectric film containing AIN
A method for depositing a piezoelectric film may be provided containing AlN on a substrate by means of magnetron sputtering of at least two targets—of which at least one target contains aluminum—within a vacuum chamber, into which a mixture of gases containing at least reactive nitrogen gas and an inert gas is introduced, and during which magnetron sputtering the unipolar pulse mode and the bipolar pulse mode are alternately used. A film may be provided containing AlN of formula AlXNYOZ, where (0.1≤X≤1.2); (0.1≤Y≤1.2) and (0.001≤Z≤0.1). |
| US09994947B2 |
Method for producing defect-free threads for large diameter beta solution treated and overaged titanium-alloy bolts
A method for producing a Ti-6Al-4V article, includes providing a work piece of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy having a beta-transus temperature; subjecting the work piece to a beta solution heat treatment process in a furnace with a vacuum at a temperature above the beta transus; quenching the work piece in the furnace using high pressure inert gas following the subjecting of the work piece in the beta solution heat treatment process; and subjecting the work piece to an overage heat treatment process in the furnace with a vacuum to overage the work piece following the quenching of the work piece. The work piece can be a bolt blank that is further manufactured into a titanium bolt with pre-machined wave form threads and wave form rolling process utilized to manufacture threads into the bolt blank. |
| US09994944B2 |
Steel for cold forging/nitriding, steel material for cold forging/nitriding, and cold-forged/nitrided component
A steel for cold forging/nitriding has, by mass percent, C: 0.01 to 0.15%, Si≤0.35%, Mn: 0.10 to 0.90%, P≤0.030%, S≤0.030%, Cr: 0.50 to 2.0%, V: 0.10 to 0.50%, Al: 0.01 to 0.10%, N≤0.0080%, and O≤0.0030%, further according to need a specific amount of one or more elements selected from Mo, Cu, Ni, Ti, Nb, Zr, Pb, Ca, Bi, Te, Se and Sb, with the balance being Fe and impurities, and further satisfying the conditions of [399×C+26×Si+123×Mn+30×Cr+32×Mo+19×V≤160], [20≤(669.3×logeC−1959.6×logeN−6983.3)×(0.067×Mo+0.147×V)≤80], [140×Cr+125×Al+235×V≥160] and [90≤511×C+33×Mn+56×Cu+15×Ni+36×Cr+5×Mo+134×V≤170] are excellent in cold forgeability and machinability after cold forging. |
| US09994937B1 |
Mo-Si-B manufacture
A method for controlling the formation of molybdenum solid solution in Mo—Si—B composites which comprises processing at 1400° C. or less to minimize, if not prevent, the silicon from going into solid solution in the molybdenum. |
| US09994933B2 |
Copper alloy sheet and method for producing same
A copper alloy sheet has a chemical composition containing 0.7 to 4.0 wt % of Ni, 0.2 to 1.5 wt % of Si, and the balance being copper and unavoidable impurities, the copper alloy sheet having a crystal orientation which satisfies I{200}/I0{200}≥1.0, assuming that the intensity of X-ray diffraction on the {200} crystal plane on the surface of the copper alloy sheet is I{200} and that the intensity of X-ray diffraction on the {200} crystal plane of the standard powder of pure copper is I0{200}, and which satisfies I{200}/I{422}≥15, assuming that the intensity of X-ray diffraction on the {422} crystal plane on the surface of the copper alloy sheet is I{422}. |
| US09994929B2 |
Processes for producing tantalum alloys and niobium alloys
Processes for the production of tantalum alloys and niobium are disclosed. The processes use aluminothermic reactions to reduce tantalum pentoxide to tantalum metal or niobium pentoxide to niobium metal. |
| US09994925B2 |
Cold work tool material, cold work tool and method for manufacturing same
Provided is a cold work tool material capable of reducing dimensional changes which occur, due to heat treatment, in the longitudinal direction of the material during quenching and tempering. This cold work tool material is drawn through hot working, has an annealed structure including carbides, and is used after being quenched and tempered, wherein, in the annealed structure which is formed in a cross section parallel to a drawing direction due to the hot working of the cold work tool material, the standard deviation in the degree of orientation of carbides Oc, as determined by equation (1) below, is 6.0 or more for carbides having a circle equivalent diameter of 5.0 μm or greater as observed in the annealed structure in the cross section at right angle to a direction perpendicular to the drawing direction. Oc=D×θ . . . (1), where D represents the circle equivalent diameter (μm) of the carbide, and θ represents the angle (rad) between the major axis of an approximate ellipse of the carbide and the drawing direction. A cold work tool using the cold work tool material and a method for manufacturing the same are also provided. |
| US09994924B2 |
Method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass
Methods and systems for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass including hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, including exploding the biomass cells to devolatilize the biomass, hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce a liquid component including hemicellulosic sugars and a solid component including less than 10% hemicellulose, separating the liquid and solid components, vaporizing the cellulose in the solid component, and condensing the cellulosic sugar vapors. The methods and systems may vaporize the cellulose in a continuous steam reactor at a temperature of about 400-550° C. and a pressure of about 1-3 bara. Electromagnetic and/or electroacoustic treatment such as ultrasound and/or microwave treatment may be applied to the biomass immediately before or during cellulose hydrolysis. |
| US09994921B2 |
Compositions, methods and kits to detect herpes simplex virus nucleic acid
The disclosed invention is related to methods, compositions, kits and isolated nucleic acid sequences for targeting Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) nucleic acid (eg. HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 nucleic acid). Compositions include amplification oligomers, detection probe oligomers and/or target capture oligomers. Kits and methods comprise at least one of these oligomers. |
| US09994920B2 |
Genetic loci associated with soybean cyst nematode resistance and methods of use
Various methods and compositions are provided for identifying and/or selecting soybean plants or soybean germplasm with resistance or improved resistance to soybean cyst nematode. In certain embodiments, the method comprises detecting at least one marker locus that is associated with resistance to soybean cyst nematode. In other embodiments, the method further comprises detecting at least one marker profile or haplotype associated with resistance to soybean cyst nematode. In further embodiments, the method comprises crossing a selected soybean plant with a second soybean plant. Further provided are markers, primers, probes and kits useful for identifying and/or selecting soybean plants or soybean germplasm with resistance or improved resistance to soybean cyst nematode. |
| US09994919B2 |
Floury 2 gene-specific assay in maize for floury (fl2) trait introgression
The disclosure concerns compositions and methods for determining the zygosity of corn plants containing one or more floury2 (fl2) mutations. In embodiments, the disclosure concerns a gene specific PCR-based molecular (KASPar®) assay for identifying the floury2 trait in plants. In certain embodiments, compositions and methods are disclosed for determining the zygosity of corn plants with respect to the fl2 allele. In particular embodiments, the assay may be used for fl2 germplasm identification, accelerating introgression and molecular breeding programs in corn and other plants. |
| US09994917B2 |
Methods to detect and genotype crytococcus species
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of genotyping a C. gattii sample, which can include forming a plurality of mixtures for nucleic amplification. The method can include amplification of specific sequences within the C. gattii genome that can provide definitive genotype information to distinguish between one or more types or subtypes of C. gattii. |
| US09994913B2 |
Methods and compositions for detecting and treating drug resistant AKT mutant
Methods for identifying or diagnosing AKT inhibitor resistant cancers and methods an compositions for treating. |
| US09994912B2 |
Materials and methods for assessing progression of prostate cancer
Methods of distinguishing and identifying a patient with aggressive/indolent, prostatic adenocarcinoma comprising contacting a sample from the patient with a set of detectably labeled probes under hybridization conditions and determining the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in the sample; sets of probes for use in such methods; and kits comprising a set of probes and instructions for distinguishing or identifying a patient as having aggressive/indolent, prostatic adenocarcinoma. |