Document Document Title
US10185969B1 Systems and methods for monitoring advertisements
A system for monitoring advertisements has a camera that is positioned to capture an image of an advertisement. The camera is coupled to a control module that controls operation of the camera and wirelessly transmits data defining the camera's images to a server. At any time, a user may contact the server to view images of the advertisement captured by the camera in order to verify the condition of the advertisement. The control module is configured to control the camera in order to automatically capture images at certain times, such at the start and end of an ad term, as well as from time-to-time during the ad term. Also, a user may initiate an image capture event from a remote location to view the current state of the advertisement in real time without actually traveling to the location of the advertisement.
US10185968B2 Mi2Cent live video streaming PPV striker vs. puncher combat sports betting app methodology platform
A wagering method and a system operating on at least one central server enabling betting among Mi2Cents (M2C) Subscribers, the system comprising: at least one computing system; at least one data processor; a platform; a wager at the at least one central server, a first member using a first user interface device in communication with the at least one central server; a means for receiving at the at least one central server at least one response to the wager by at least one of a plurality of M2C Subscribers; a means for publishing the at least one response at the least one central server; a percentage payment using M2C Methodology; and a means for crediting an account of the first member with a percentage payment that is integrated into M2C Live Fight Promotion Events individual combat fight round purse split amounts between two combat fighters; wherein the percentage payment is based on M2C Subscriber's bet on a winner of any given fight round before and after the round has ended; wherein the computer comprises a tangible, non-transitory computer readable media comprising machine-readable executable code operable on the at least one central server.
US10185962B2 Store item return process
A system for transporting merchandise returned by a customer from a customer service area or a retail store to a back storage area of a retail store comprises a customer facing device for use by a retail store customer to enter return merchandise data; a scanning device for identifying the returned merchandise; and at least one conveyor belt at the retail store for transporting the returned merchandise from the customer service area to the back storage area.
US10185957B2 Software pin entry
A card reader configured to read a smart card can be detachably connected to a mobile computing device. When the card reader is attached to the mobile device, an application installed on the mobile computing device permits the mobile device to communicate with the card reader in order to process transactions.Security measures can be used on the mobile device to prevent theft of a PIN during software PIN entry of a payment transaction. The mobile device can prevent the keypad or other input interface from displaying feedback. The mobile device can also prevent passcodes from being stolen by displaying media encoded with digital rights management (DRM) and by managing the media and user inputs at a secure server.A mobile device can securely communicate with a card reader for a payment transaction using asymmetric or symmetric encryption.
US10185956B2 Secure payment card transactions
Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.
US10185953B2 System and method for reporting a lost payment card
A system and method for registering a payment card so that if the payment card is lost, a replacement payment card can quickly and easily be reported, and shipment of a replacement payment card can be initiated. The location to which the replacement payment card is to be shipped can be specified, and an estimate can be received for its time of arrival at that location. The estimated time of arrival of the replacement card can be updated with real time information.
US10185952B2 Contactless enablement of device
A method is disclosed. The method includes performing a contact transmission of data between a contact interface on a portable device and a first POS (point of sale) terminal with a contact chip reader in a contact payment transaction. The method also includes receiving a command from a payment processing network via an authorization response message through the contact interface on the portable device while the portable device is in contact with the first POS terminal, and then enabling a contactless interface of the portable device based on the command.
US10185951B2 Merchant card exchange facilitator system
Systems and methods are provided for managing authorization and device configuration to facilitate the usage, sale and transfer of merchant cards in various manners that enable one or more authorized users to store information representative of one or more of such merchant cards in a user-specific mobile electronic wallet.
US10185948B2 Systems and methods to generate a location dependent alert in a mobile device of a user
A mobile device having a position determination device and a mobile application configured, in response to the location of the mobile device determined by the position determination device, to: predict a transaction based at least in part on the location of the mobile device; select, based at least in part on the location of the mobile device, a first account for the transaction from a plurality of accounts identified by the identification information; and provide, via the user interface, an alert identifying the first account, before a user of the mobile device begins to make the transaction. The prediction can be made based on a location pattern relative to the location of a transaction terminal and/or the detection of short-range wireless signals of the transaction terminal.
US10185946B2 Facilitating presentation of content relating to a financial transaction
Systems, methods and computer-readable media for facilitating the provision of content associated with a financial transaction are disclosed. The content may be identified by a requestor of the financial transaction or any party to the financial transaction. The content may also be generated by a service provider system that executes the financial transaction. A content location identifier that identifies a location where the content is stored may be identified or generated and may be included in or otherwise provided in association with a debit or credit instruction. The content location identifier may facilitate access to the content by any of a variety of systems or users.
US10185945B2 Multifunction point of sale system
A point of sale system capable of operating in an indicia-reading mode or a verification mode is disclosed. In the indicia-reading mode, the point of sale system configures its illumination, imaging, and processing to read indicia as part of a normal checkout process. If triggered by a user or by an event, the point of sale system may operate in a verification mode. In the verification mode, the point of sale system enables the necessary illumination, imaging, and processing to verify an item. This verification includes illuminating the item in a way that causes a noticeable response from a security mark (or marks) on the item. An image of the response may be captured and processed to authenticate/verify the item. The point of sale system may then respond to the verification and/or may store the image/results as a record of the verification.
US10185944B2 POS peripherals controlling device, mobile host device, and control method thereof
Provided is a POS peripherals controlling device including: a wireless communication unit; an interface part including at least one interface unit; and a controller determining whether data received from a mobile POS host device through the wireless communication unit includes control data for controlling at least one POS peripheral connected through the interface part, when the received data includes control data, checking a target POS peripheral where the control data is to be delivered among the at least one peripheral, and transmitting control data included in the received data to the checked POS peripheral through a first interface unit connected to the checked target peripheral among the at least one interface unit, wherein the control data is generated by the mobile POS host device and is generated in a format corresponding to the target peripheral that is to receive the control data.
US10185942B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a memory to store instructions, and one or more processors to execute the instructions and cause the image processing apparatus to function as a count unit and a determination unit. The count unit counts an image object of gray in an input image as a color pixel, wherein the count unit does not count an image object of white in the input image as a color pixel. The determination unit determines whether the input image is a color document based on a number of color pixels counted by the count unit.
US10185941B2 Method and apparatus for providing a gift using a mobile communication network and system including the apparatus
The present disclosure provides a method for providing an electronic gift (e-gift), the method including providing information about products to a messenger of a user terminal, selecting at least one e-gift icon, which corresponds to a product to be provided as a gift, when the at least one e-gift icon is selected, displaying a settlement page, which corresponds to the at least one selected e-gift icon, when a settlement corresponding to the at least one selected e-gift icon is finished by the displayed settlement page, transmitting the at least one selected e-gift icon to at least one receipt terminal connected via the messenger, and when the at least one selected e-gift icon is accepted at the at least one receipt terminal, providing the product information of the at least one selected e-gift icon to the at least one receipt terminal.
US10185939B2 Process for performing transactions
The disclosure relates to a process for performing transactions among a number of participants, in which every participant has a unique pseudonym assigned to him and the assignment of a pseudonym to a participant and the participant's transaction data are stored on a notary server.
US10185929B2 Method and apparatus for managing physician profile and healthcare appointment services
Method and apparatus for the collection and management of healthcare practitioner profile information prior to inclusion in a hospital directory of affiliated practitioners or insurance provider directory of participating practitioners. Healthcare practitioners (e.g., physicians) enter and communicate changes to their profile data to a central database to increase their compliance and decrease the frequency of providing updated or incomplete information in a hospital or insurance provider directory. The profile data can be credentialed according to rules specific to each hospital or insurance provider, prior to inclusion in the directory. The directory may further provide online booking of available appointment times for affiliated physicians from multiple practice groups. The online booking process can simultaneously be available on multiple websites of a hospital, insurance provider, physician practice group and/or centralized provider (aggregator).
US10185925B2 Generating business rule model
A method, apparatus and program product for generating a business rule model. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating a business rule model, comprising: extracting from source code of an application system a business flow executed by the source code, the business flow comprising a plurality of business procedures that are executed in an order; analyzing parts in the source code that are associated with various business procedures among the plurality of business procedures, building rule metadata describing business rules followed by various business procedures; and generating a business rule model followed by the business flow on the basis of the order and the rule metadata. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating a business rule model. Accordingly, a business rule model may be automatically generated from source code of an application system without manual manipulation.
US10185923B2 Filtering values in a closed menu for integrated data capture
Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and graphical user interfaces for facilitating filtering values in a closed menu for integrated data capture are provided. Integrated data capture workflows are initiated from within an electronic medical record (EMR). Time ranges associated with data from the EMR are received. Data is gathered from the EMR to make available to case report forms. Values associated with the data are presented in closed menu for the time ranges. Selections of the values are received. Case report forms are populated with the selected values.
US10185922B2 Methods and system for managing recycling of recyclable material
A method and system for managing a recycling entity is included. The method includes obtaining entity data associated with at least one entity. The at least one entity is operable to recycle a quantifiable measure of recyclable material. The method also includes obtaining resource data associated with resources associated with carrying out recycling, applying the entity data and the resource data to a model for determining an allocation of the resources so as to form at least one record, and generating, as a function of the at least one record, reports for allocating the resources.
US10185920B2 Method and system for automating passenger seat assignment procedures
A method and system may provide automated passenger seat assignment procedures for an airline. A server device may determine passengers for a departing flight who are eligible to receive seat assignment notifications. When an eligible passenger is next in a standby or upgrade queue, the server device may transmit an electronic communication such as an email, short message service (SMS) message, push notification, etc., to the passenger's network-enabled device. The electronic communication may indicate that a seat assignment is available and may provide instructions for accepting or declining the available seat assignment. If the user accepts, for example, by transmitting an electronic reply message to the server device accepting the available seat assignment, the server device may transmit an electronic boarding pass to the user corresponding to the available seat assignment.
US10185919B2 Functional portable device for event access and delivery
The utility of a portable consumer device is extended by allowing account holders the ability to gain entry into access-controlled venues using a portable consumer device that is associated with an account that was used to purchase the admission or tickets to the event at the access-controlled venue. Merchandise or other goods and services may be pre-purchased by the consumer. Pre-purchasing may occur at the time that the price of admission is paid or before entry into the venue. The portable consumer device may be validated at the entrance to the access-controlled venue. After the consumer's entry into the venue, an arrival notification alert may be triggered to provide additional goods or services. For example, when a consumer successfully enters the venue using the consumer portable device, the pre-purchased items may be delivered to the consumer location at a specific time.
US10185915B2 Analysis of evaluations from internet media
Embodiments relate to supporting analysis of evaluations found on the internet. An aspect includes acquiring evaluation information comprising evaluations of each a first plurality of evaluation targets made by any of a plurality of evaluators. Another aspect includes generating consensus information regarding an evaluation of a predetermined evaluation target by determining a coincidence between a dispersion degree of evaluations with respect to the predetermined evaluation target and a central value of dispersion degrees of evaluations with respect to individual ones of the first plurality of evaluation targets. Another aspect includes generating distinctiveness information regarding the evaluations made by a predetermined evaluator by determining coincidence between a dispersion degree of evaluations made by the predetermined evaluator and a central value of dispersion degrees of evaluations made by individual ones of the plurality of evaluators. Yet another aspect includes outputting the consensus information and the distinctiveness information.
US10185912B2 RFID extended operation range system, apparatus and method
The problem to solve is how to extend the operating range of small stackable RFID tags when they are placed in an undesirable orientation. Disclosed is an RFID tag that operates in two modes whereby in a first mode the tag has a short range and in a second mode the tag has a long range. The tag is converted from the first mode short range device into the second mode long range device by placing it close to a coupling device. That is in the second mode the tag becomes a two part RFID tag system (1400) capable of communicating with an interrogator antenna (1407).
US10185911B1 Dynamically interactive RFID tag with optical control
A radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag is provided for receiving and reflecting electromagnetic energy at select frequency bands of visible and infrared wavelengths. The RFID tag includes an electrically conductive backplane; a dielectric substrate disposed on the backplane; a light guide film (LGF) disposed on the substrate, and metamaterial elements. The LGF has an exposed surface segregated into domains. The metamaterial devices are disposed on a domain. Each device is tuned to respond to a corresponding frequency among the select frequency bands.
US10185902B2 Image processing apparatus that converts image data from line sequence to block sequence, image processing method, and storage medium
An apparatus that performs image processing on input image data in parallel in units of block according to an aspect of the invention includes a derivation unit configured to derive a memory size used in conversion processing of converting data alignment sequence in the image data from a line sequence into a block sequence which is executed before rendering of the image data and a memory size used in the conversion processing which is executed after the rendering of the image data, a determination unit configured to determine a timing for executing the conversion processing based on the derivation results, and a conversion unit configured to execute the conversion processing at the determined timing.
US10185901B2 Image processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium with variable image density
Provided is an image processing apparatus including a print image generation section that generates print image data to be supplied to a printing device by executing a rasterizing process and an additional process for printing on print data, and an image density calculation section that executes the rasterizing process on the print data without the additional process and calculates image density information used in control of an image forming process in the printing device from raster image data generated through the rasterizing process to process the print data at a speed higher than a speed in print image generation section, wherein a difference in a processing speed between the print image generation section and the image density calculation section causes image density information of a page prior to a page of the print image data printed by the printing device to be supplied to the printing device.
US10185899B2 Re-ranking item recommendations based on image feature data
An apparatus and method to adjust item recommendations are disclosed herein. A first image attribute of a query image is compared to a second image attribute of each of a plurality of inventory images of a plurality of inventory items to identify the inventory items similar to the query image. Item recommendations comprising the identified inventory items in a first listing order are provided for display at a remote device. A second listing order of the identified inventory items is determined based on a user preference for a particular one of the identified inventory items. At least the second listing order is provided to the remote device for re-display of the item recommendations in accordance with the second listing order.
US10185892B1 Automatic large-scale imaging device diagnostics
Diagnostics may be performed on imaging devices such as digital cameras that are provided in large numbers, or mounted in arrays or networks, by providing imaging data captured from such devices to a machine learning system or classifier that has been trained to recognize anomalies based on imaging data. The machine learning system or classifier may be trained using a training set of imaging data previously captured by one or more imaging devices that has been labeled with regard to whether such imaging devices encountered any anomalies when the imaging data was captured, and if so, which anomalies were encountered. Additionally, a perceptual score which represents the quality of a given image or imaging data may be calculated and used to rank or define the image or imaging data in terms of quality, or determine whether the image or imaging data is suitable for its intended purpose.
US10185889B2 Terminal device, diagnosis system and computer readable medium for identification and analysis of image unevenness
A terminal device includes: an acquiring unit that acquires image information; a displaying unit that displays the image information acquired by the acquiring unit; a receiving unit that receives an analysis position of image-quality unevenness from the image information displayed by the displaying unit; a detecting unit that detects pitch information by performing frequency analysis of the image information received by the receiving unit; a controlling unit that controls the displaying unit to display the pitch information detected by the detecting unit; and a storing unit that stores, as history information, the image information and the pitch information in association with the analysis position. The controlling unit controls the displaying unit to display the analysis position stored in the storing unit.
US10185886B2 Image processing method and image processing apparatus
A method includes obtaining a plurality of images that are continuously captured, detecting a first region indicating a feature value corresponding to a license plate, in a region that indicates a feature value corresponding to a vehicle and that is included in a first image among the plurality of images, based on a feature value of each of the plurality of images, determining a second region in the plurality of images, the second region indicating a feature value corresponding to a license plate, at least a part of the second region overlapping the first region in an image different from the first image, and outputting the second region as a license plate region.
US10185883B2 Mobile terminal and method for controlling same
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of a new type of user input, comprising: a backside input unit including a plurality of buttons and exposed to the backside of the mobile terminal; a memory for storing relationships between combinations of the plurality of buttons and control instructions of the mobile terminal and biometric information; a sensor unit, arranged on the backside of the mobile terminal and adjacent to the backside input unit, for sensing a user's bio signal; and a control unit for, upon receiving a user input in accordance with a particular combination of the plurality of buttons, controlling the sensor unit to sense the user's bio signal, and authenticating the user using the sensed bio signal and the stored biometric information.
US10185882B2 Method for synthesizing Arabic handwritten text
Systems and associated methodology are presented for Arabic handwriting synthesis including accessing character shape images of an alphabet, determining a connection point location between two or more character shapes based on a calculated right edge position and a calculated left edge position of the character shape images, extracting character features that describe language attributes and width attributes of characters of the character shape images, the language attributes including character Kashida attributes, and generating images of cursive text based on the character Kashida attribues and the width attribues.
US10185876B2 Detection apparatus, detection method, and lithography apparatus
A detection apparatus includes an image pickup unit and a processor which detects a position of a mark using a two-dimensional image of the mark. The processor generates a one-dimensional signal having a plurality of peaks by accumulating images included in a detection region, detects peaks in which differences between values of the peaks and a reference value are equal to or larger than a threshold value and peaks in which differences between values of the peaks and the reference value are smaller than the threshold value from among the plurality of generated peaks and obtains a failure region in the mark, resets the detection region such that the differences between the values of the detected peaks and the reference value become smaller than the threshold value, generates a one-dimensional signal by accumulating images included in the reset detection region, and detects a position of the mark.
US10185873B2 Method and a device for tracking characters that appear on a plurality of images of a video stream of a text
The tracking method comprises, for at least a first image of the text having at least a first line of characters: applying a prediction of a movement to which the text is subjected between the first image and a second image of the video stream, the movement prediction being applied to at least one second line of characters of the second image; determining at least one alignment hypothesis for aligning the first line with the second line after applying the movement prediction; estimating for each alignment hypothesis, a geometrical transformation between the first line and the second line resulting in that alignment; and evaluating a character match metric for each alignment hypothesis, the metric being evaluated from signatures calculated on the characters of at least one line of the first image and signatures calculated on the characters of at least one line of the second image put into correspondence with the characters of said at least one line of the first image after applying the geometrical transformation associated with the alignment hypothesis.
US10185872B2 Partial overlap and delayed stroke input recognition
An optimal recognition for handwritten input based on receiving a touch input from a user may be selected by applying both a delayed stroke recognizer as well as an overlapping recognizer to the handwritten input. A score may be generated for both the delayed stroke recognition as well as the overlapping recognition and the recognition corresponding to the highest score may be presented as the overall recognition.
US10185871B2 Vehicle imaging system, vehicle imaging method and device, program, and recording medium
A system includes a laser displacement sensor which is provided on a shoulder of a roadway, emits a laser beam which scans a roadway space in a height direction thereof, receives a beam reflected by an object which is present in the roadway space, and measures a distance up to a reflection point on the object, at which the laser beam was reflected; and a vehicle window detection device that detects a window of the vehicle based on the distance measured by the laser displacement sensor. The vehicle window detection device detects the window of the vehicle based on a change in a distance in a horizontal direction from the laser displacement sensor to the reflection point after the vehicle in the roadway space was detected.
US10185870B2 Identification system and identification method
An identification method includes: sensing movement data; capturing multiple feature data from the movement data; cutting the first feature data into a plurality of first feature segments, dividing the first feature segments into a plurality of first feature groups, and calculating multiple first similarity parameters of the first feature groups respectively corresponding to a plurality of channels; making the first feature groups correspond to the channels according to the first similarity parameters; simplifying the first feature groups corresponding to the channels respectively by a convolution algorithm to obtain a plurality of first convolution results corresponding to the first feature groups; simplifying the first convolution results corresponding to the first feature groups respectively by a pooling algorithm to obtain multiple first pooling results corresponding to the first feature groups; and combining the first pooling results corresponding to the first feature groups to generate a first feature map.
US10185867B1 Pressure detection and measurement with a fingerprint sensor
A circuit, system, and method for measuring or detecting pressure or force of a fingerprint on an array of electrodes is described. Pressure or force may be measured or detected using a processed image of the fingerprint, or by measurement of capacitance of deformed variable capacitors.
US10185866B2 Optical fingerprint sensor package
Disclosed are optical sensors, optical fingerprint sensor packages, and methods for forming same. An optical sensor comprises: a substrate; an image sensor disposed over the substrate; a light source disposed over the substrate; a light guide disposed over the image sensor; and, an encapsulant disposed over the light source, wherein the encapsulant is coupled to the light guide and comprises a surface positioned to reflect light emitted from the light source and direct the reflected light into the light guide.
US10185862B2 Finger print sensor and manufacturing method thereof
A fingerprint sensor device and a method of making a fingerprint sensor device. As non-limiting examples, various aspects of this disclosure provide various fingerprint sensor devices, and methods of manufacturing thereof, that comprise a substrate comprising a dielectric layer and a wiring pattern embedded in and exposed from the dielectric layer.
US10185860B2 Evaluating images
A method for evaluating an output pattern printed on a medium is described. A reference pattern is stored. The output pattern is printed on the medium based correspondingly on the stored reference pattern. A scan based instance of the output pattern is rendered, which has a set of features at least corresponding to the printed output pattern and zero or more features additional thereto. A difference image, having the zero or more features of the rendered scan instance, is computed based on a comparison of the rendered scan instance to the stored reference pattern. Upon the zero or more features including at least one feature, the computed difference image is evaluated in relation to a proximity of at least one feature to locations pixels of the reference pattern.
US10185859B2 Cluster computing of bar code data
A reading system including: a primary reader for reading an information bearing device (IBD) having encoded IBD data provided therein for packetizing the encoded data and processing a first data packet of the packetized encoded data and transmitting a second data packet of the packetized encoded data; at least one auxiliary reader for receiving and processing the second data packet and the transmitting the processed second data packet; and wherein the processed first and second data packets are combined to produce decoded IBD data.
US10185857B2 Devices, systems, and methods for reading barcodes
Devices, systems, and methods obtain a sequence of images, track a label-candidate area in the sequence of images, and read a value of a barcode of interest in the label-candidate area in an image in the sequence of images.
US10185855B2 Using a defect pattern in an image sensor to verify license entitlement
A mobile device may include a camera assembly, a processor, memory, and a barcode-reading application. The camera assembly may include an image sensor. Pixels in a predetermined location of the image sensor may be defective pixels that provide the same output values regardless of actual characteristics of incident light. The barcode-reading application may be stored in the memory. The barcode-reading application may be executable by the processor to enable at least one enhanced mode of operation of the barcode-reading application conditional upon confirming that the image sensor comprises the defective pixels in the predetermined location.
US10185854B2 Medical article tracking using hybrid isolated magnetic dipole probe with energy pattern control
A system and method for tracking medical articles located in a container includes a hybrid isolated magnetic dipole (“IMD”) probe that provides an activating EM energy RF field having a magnetic near field at least as great as the electric near field, both of which cover the entire interior of the container. The probe comprises a main element having capacitive coupling across at least one slot and spacing above a ground plane to thereby form an isolated electric field and an equally strong or stronger magnetic field that fills the interior of the container to activate RFID tags therein. A dual system is provided for larger containers. A dynamic impedance tuning system controls the probe impedance for increased efficiency in transferring power to the interior of the container. Beam steering is provided with the IMD probe.
US10185848B2 Emphasizing equipment based on an equipment tag
For emphasizing equipment based on an equipment tag, a processor receives a given equipment reference code for a given equipment instance. The processor further identifies one or more equipment tags in the image. Each equipment tag corresponds to a unique equipment reference code. The processor identifies a given equipment tag corresponding to the given equipment reference code in the image. In addition, the processor emphasizes the given equipment instance in the image presented on the display.
US10185845B2 Card reader and magnetic information recording medium processing device
A card reader may include a conveyance passage; an optical sensor; a first circuit board; a second circuit board; a first cover member; a second cover member; a first frame; and a second frame comprising a conveyance face on a second direction side of the card conveyance passage. The first frame may include a first transmission hole, and the first frame may be attached with one of the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The second frame may include a second transmission hole, and the second frame may be attached with the other of the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The first cover member may be fixed to the first circuit board so as to cover the entire light emitting element; and the second cover member may be fixed to the second circuit board so as to cover the entire light receiving element.
US10185844B2 Security device for data component
A security device for preventing the use of a data sending/receiving component having a connector and positioned in a computer housing includes a locking member. The locking member has a sidewall defining an interior space. A plurality of tabs extends from the sidewall towards an end of the locking member. The tabs are deflectable relative to the sidewall. The tabs of the locking member have a deflected condition in which the tabs extend a first angle from the sidewall to allow for movement of the locking member into the data sending/receiving component in a first direction and an installed condition in which the tabs extend a second angle greater than the first angle to prevent removal of the locking member from the data sending/receiving component. The locking member is incapable of returning to the deflected condition once in the installed condition by accessing the end of the locking member.
US10185840B2 Conditional disclosure of individual-controlled content in group contexts
Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for interactive assistant modules to safely access and provide restricted content in group contexts. In various implementations, a dialog between a first individual and an interactive assistant module may be determined to be sensorially perceivable by at least a second individual. Restricted content that is to be automatically incorporated into the dialog by the interactive assistant module may be identified. In various implementations, access to the restricted content may be controlled by the first individual. In various implementations, the restricted content may be conditionally incorporated into the dialog in response to a determination that the second individual is authorized to perceive the restricted content.
US10185839B2 Content distribution method, content distribution apparatus, and storage medium
A content distribution method including: receiving, from a terminal, first information indicating an attribute of a user of the terminal, transmitting, to the terminal, second information relating to the attribute of the user of the terminal based on the first information, receiving, from the terminal, the second information and third information indicating a location of the terminal, and transmitting a content that is selected from among a plurality of contents based on the received second information and the received third information.
US10185838B1 Methods to impede common file/process hiding techniques
A processor-based method to defeat file and process hiding techniques in a computing device is provided. The method includes generating one of a path permutation, a symlink, or an address, for a path to open or obtain status of a tool or function in a library in a mobile computing device and making an open or status call for the tool or function, using the one of the path permutation, symlink or address. The method includes avoiding a pattern match and blocking, by an injected library, of the open or status call, the avoiding being a result of making the open or status call using the path permutation, symlink or address.
US10185837B2 System and method for encapsulating and enabling protection through diverse variations in software libraries
A flexible software library in which the software modules are defined as an abstract intermediate representation. The flexible library allows security transformation and performance attribute selections to be made by the end-user, rather than the library creator. Furthermore, since the flexible library contains an abstract representation of the software modules, the library can also be provisioned to contain an arbitrary number of named instances, representing specific sets of values for security and performance decisions, along with the corresponding native object-code resulting from those decisions. This permits distribution of software modules in a completely platform-independent manner while avoiding the disclosure of proprietary information, such as source-files.
US10185833B2 Compliance method for a cyber-physical system
The present invention provides for analysis of cyber-physical systems with relation to compliance requirements such as regulatory compliance, maintenance compliance and safety compliance. Generally, the invention provides for a set of paths from an initial state to an end state, and analyzing the paths to determine which ones contain a violation state. Based on the resultant paths test scripts are generated. Additionally, other compliance related procedures can be performed utilizing the path analysis.
US10185831B2 Method and system for detecting vulnerabilities of communication protocol software
According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a system for detecting vulnerabilities of communication protocol software, including: a field selection module selecting message fields of a communication protocol of an industrial control system; a value set configuration module configuring first value sets with respect to the respective message fields selected by the field selection module; a test case generation module generating first test cases by Cartesian product of the first value sets; a test module generating first code coverage data by testing the communication protocol software of the industrial control system based on the first test cases; and a code coverage analysis module analyzing the first code coverage data, wherein the field selection module selects concentration message fields which influence the first code coverage data among the message fields according to an analysis result of the code coverage analysis module.
US10185827B1 Circuitry to facilitate verifying the integrity of a computing platform
Circuitry to facilitate verification of the integrity of a target instance of a computing platform is described. Specifically, a processor can include circuitry to measure execution parameter values during an execution of a portion of a software image, wherein the execution parameter values represent a sequence of execution states that the target instance of the computing platform passes through while executing the portion of the software image. During operation, a software image can be generated that, when executed at the target instance of the computing platform, verifies integrity of the computing platform. Next, the software image can be sent to the target instance of the computing platform. The processor at the target instance of the computing platform can execute the software image, thereby enabling the verification of the integrity of the target instance of the computing platform.
US10185824B2 System and method for uncovering covert timing channels
A system detects a covert timing channel on a combinational structure or a memory structure. The system identifies the events behind conflicts, and constructs an event train based on those events. For combinational structures, the system detects recurrent burst patterns in the event train. The system determines that a covert timing channel exists on the combinational structure if a recurrent burst pattern is detected. For memory structures, the system detects oscillatory patterns in the event train. The system determines that a covert timing channel exists on the memory structure if an oscillatory pattern is detected.
US10185819B2 Extension configuration and interaction
Techniques for extension interaction with applications are described. Generally, an extension represents functionality for extending, modifying, customizing, and/or supplementing native functionality of an application. Techniques discussed herein provide a common extension platform that enables an extension to interact with multiple different applications utilizing components of the platform. The common extension platform, for instance, exposes a set of common extension application programming interfaces (APIs) that provide a common interaction surface between extensions and applications.
US10185815B1 Method for robotic devices to authenticate users
The present invention proposes a method for robotic devices to accurately identify authorized users. Biometric data of users is supplied to the system through biometric scanners. Biometric profiles of authorized users are identified to the system during an initial set-up phase. Subsequently, users provide biometric data to the system through the scanners in order to be authenticated. Received data is compared to the original stored profiles, and when a match is found, that user is authenticated. In another aspect of the invention, a time-activated memory storage process is utilized to prevent malicious attempts to overcome the authentication process. Memory cells become writable in successive time slots, after which point the memory cells are converted to read-only. If a user is authenticated during a particular time slot, their biometric data is written in the available memory cell. If no user is authenticated, the available memory cell is written with junk data. In this way, used memory cells may not be altered by a malicious attack. Furthermore, a loyalty metric is established for each user and stored in a loyalty index. The loyalty metric of each user is increased with each successful authentication. Functions of the robotic device may be assigned minimum loyalty requirements such that users must have had a number of successful past authentications in order to access some of the functions of the device.
US10185814B2 Computational systems and methods for verifying personal information during transactions
Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that carry out accessing at least one persona that includes a unique identifier that is at least partly based on a first user's device-identifier data and the first user's network-participation data; verifying the persona by comparing the first user's device-identifier data and the first user's network-participation data of the unique identifier to a second user's device-identifier data and the second user's network-participation data; and presenting the persona in response to a request for personal information.
US10185813B2 Orientation aware authentication on mobile platforms
Systems and methods may provide for receiving an authentication input and determining an authentication orientation of a mobile platform during entry of the authentication input. In addition, a determination may be made as to whether to validate a user based on the authentication input and the authentication orientation of the mobile platform. Platform orientation may also be used to detect malware.
US10185812B2 Pill dispenser
A pill dispenser is disclosed that includes a housing defining an opening, a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening, a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing, an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing, and a processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism and the identifying camera.
US10185811B2 Pill removal detection from pill package
Technologies are generally provided for a pill dispensing device to track removal of a pill from a pill package. The device may include circuits printed/embedded on a composite sheet configured to be locally or completely flexible/stretchable with a multitude of slits corresponding to locations of pill containing cavities of the pill package. Composite sheet may include embedded rigid sections and be flexible near the slits. Additionally, top and/or bottom plates may further provide structural rigidity to achieve desired flexible behavior of the composite sheet. Electronic circuits printed/embedded on or in the composite sheet may detect removal of a pill from the pill package through the slits. Slits may include electrical contacts configured to switch a circuit corresponding to each slit between an active and an inactive state. Upon removal of the pill, the contacts may separate or touch each other, opening or closing the circuit corresponding to the expanded slit.
US10185806B1 Systems and methods for wireless prescription advertising
A medical information system informs prescribers of medically related drug information when preparing a prescription. The point of prescribing messaging system can assist physicians in selecting alternative medications when prescribing medication for patients. The system may include a point of prescription application configured to access and display messages concerning alternative suggested medications of different sponsors in response to an associated selected medication to inform prescribers of the alternative suggested medication for presenting the prescriber with the option of generating an electronic prescription with the alternative suggested medication. A data structure maintained by the system containing associations between a selected trigger medication and a target alternative suggested medication may optionally include additional conditions that control the display of messages such as the gender, age, and/or diagnosis of the patient, the date of the prescription, and/or the region in which the prescription is being made.
US10185803B2 Systems and methods for classifying, prioritizing and interpreting genetic variants and therapies using a deep neural network
Described herein are systems and methods that receive as input a DNA or RNA sequence, extract features, and apply layers of processing units to compute one ore more condition-specific cell variables, corresponding to cellular quantities measured under different conditions. The system may be applied to a sequence containing a genetic variant, and also to a corresponding reference sequence to determine how much the condition-specific cell variables change because of the variant. The change in the condition-specific cell variables are used to compute a score for how deleterious a variant is, to classify a variant's level of deleteriousness, to prioritize variants for subsequent processing, and to compare a test variant to variants of known deleteriousness. By modifying the variant or the extracted features so as to incorporate the effects of DNA editing, oligonucleotide therapy, DNA- or RNA-binding protein therapy or other therapies, the system may be used to determine if the deleterious effects of the original variant can be reduced.
US10185802B2 Method for design and customization of a multiphase electric motor
A method for designing and customizing a multiphase motor provides reduced modeling and customization time by utilizing a lumped parameter model (LPM) of the multiphase motor. In addition, during the design process, environmental factors, monitoring results of multiphase motors used in the field, market requirements, and the particular application for which the multiphase motor is to be used are all taken into account by the design method. Thus, by considering such factors together with the LPM of the multiphase motor allows the method of the present invention to optimize the overall design of the multiphase motor so that is achieves high reliability, high efficiency, and low cost.
US10185801B2 Adaptive power grid generation
A method may include obtaining a design including cells and a power grid. The method may further include dividing the design into tiles, determining a voltage budget for a tile, calculating a voltage drop for each cell of the tile based on determining an activity factor for the cell and a peak current consumed by the cell, determining, for each cell of the tile and based on the power grid, an affected vicinity for the cell including one or more neighboring cells affected by a current drawn on the cell, determining an affected vicinity for the tile based on the affected vicinity for each cell of the subset, calculating a voltage drop for the tile based on the voltage drop for each cell of the affected vicinity for the tile, and detecting a voltage deviation when a difference between the voltage budget and the voltage drop exceeds a threshold.
US10185795B1 Systems and methods for statistical static timing analysis
Electronic design automation systems, methods, and media are presented for characterizing on-chip variation of circuit elements in a circuit design using statistical values including skew, and for performing statistical static timing analysis using these statistical values. One embodiment models delay characteristics under certain operating conditions for circuit elements with asymmetric (e.g., non-Gaussian) probability density functions using normalized skewness. The modeled delay can then be used to perform various timing analysis operations.
US10185792B2 Method for predicting slagging production position and slagging production possibility in furnace
The present disclosure relates to a method for predicting a slagging production position and a slagging production possibility in a furnace, the method including: the analyzing step of analyzing physical compositions of two or more kinds of coal; the phase diagram producing step of producing a phase diagram on the basis of the physical components of the two or more kinds of coal analyzed in the analyzing step; the deriving step of simulating the situation generated when the two or more kinds of coal are co-fired on the basis of the produced phase diagram; and the characteristic analyzing step of analyzing the characteristics in the furnace in the co-firing process of the two or more kinds of coal.
US10185790B2 Modeling of crop growth for desired moisture content of targeted livestock feedstuff for determination of harvest windows using field-level diagnosis and forecasting of weather conditions and observations and user input of harvest condition states
A modeling framework for evaluating the impact of weather conditions on farming and harvest operations applies real-time, field-level weather data and forecasts of meteorological and climatological conditions together with user-provided and/or observed feedback of a present state of a harvest-related condition to agronomic models and to generate a plurality of harvest advisory outputs for precision agriculture. A harvest advisory model simulates and predicts the impacts of this weather information and user-provided and/or observed feedback in one or more physical, empirical, or artificial intelligence models of precision agriculture to analyze crops, plants, soils, and resulting agricultural commodities, and provides harvest advisory outputs to a diagnostic support tool for users to enhance farming and harvest decision-making, whether by providing pre-, post-, or in situ-harvest operations and crop analyzes.
US10185787B1 Tool for accurate onsite model visualization that facilitates environment interaction
In one embodiment, accurate onsite model visualization is provided by utilizing a user's location and orientation in the physical environment to control a view of a CAD model (and optional aligned point cloud), enabling the user to perceive the relationship between model data and locations in the physical environment. Instead of augmenting a view of the physical environment with virtual features, the user navigates within a virtual environment (consisting of the CAD model and optional point cloud) based on their movements in the physical environment. Based on such navigation, the user may determine when they have moved to a location in the physical environment that they would like to interact with (e.g., a location to mark), and interact with such location based on related model data.
US10185783B2 Data processing device, data processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
According to one embodiment, a data processing device, includes: a request receiver, a buffer, a first circuitry and a second circuitry. The request receiver receives a write request containing a first key and first data. The buffer temporarily buffers the first data contained in the write request. The first circuitry, according to a buffering status of the first data in the buffer, reads second data which is partial data of the first data that is not read yet out of the first data buffered in the buffer and generates a second key according to a position of the second data in the first data, based on the first key. The second circuitry associates a data structure containing the second data with the second key and adds the data structure into a data structure set whose elements are associated with second keys.
US10185777B2 Merged and actionable history feed
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for merging versions and activities associated with a file into a history feed and displaying the history feed on a user interface of a client computing device. In one aspect, a file is identified and activities associated with the file are also identified. It may be determined whether the file has at least one activity. When it is determined that the file has at least one activity, at least one actionable history element for the at least one activity is generated. Additionally, the generated history elements are merged to generate a history feed. The history feed is displayed on a user interface. The history feed may be displayed with an application that has opened the file.
US10185776B2 System and method for dynamically controlled rankings and social network privacy settings
A system, method, and media for dynamically controlling rankings and privacy settings for a social network is presented. Upon receipt of an electronic communication from a second user of the social network directed to a first user of the social network, determining whether the first and second users of the social network are connected and determining whether the second user has been blocked from electronically communicating with the first user. in response to determining that the second user is not blocked, executing a ranking process on the second user, based on privacy level settings criteria pre-specified by the first user. The privacy level settings criteria includes preferred attributes of communicating users and a threshold ranking score and the ranking process compares the attributes of the second user to the privacy level settings criteria. Upon satisfying the threshold ranking score, the social network allows the electronic communication from the second user to be conveyed to the first user of the social network.
US10185771B2 Method and system for scheduling web crawlers according to keyword search
A method and a system for scheduling web crawlers according to keyword search. The method comprises: a scheduling end receiving a task request command sent by a crawling node; the scheduling end acquiring a secondary download link address from a priority bucket, generating tasks, adding the generated tasks into a task list, acquiring keyword link addresses from a dynamic bucket, deriving derivative link addresses of the quantities of pages corresponding to the keyword link addresses, generating tasks of the quantities of the pages according to the derivative link addresses of the quantities of the pages, adding the tasks of the quantities of the pages into the task list, acquiring a keyword link address from a basic bucket, generating tasks, adding the generated tasks into the task list, and the scheduling end returning the task list to the crawling node. By adjusting the quantities of the tasks allowed to be added from a virtual bucket, the quantities of scheduled link addresses of different types are flexibly adjusted. In addition, by crawling popular keywords more frequently, data miss is prevented, and repeated crawls of unpopular keywords is reduced.
US10185770B2 System and method for presenting multiple sets of search results for a single query
A system and method for presenting search results is provided. The method includes submitting a query to a server and receiving from the server, in response to the query: a comprehensive list of search results that satisfy the query, and multiple position vectors, each position vector identifying a respective ordered subset of the search results in the comprehensive list. The method further includes storing the comprehensive list and the multiple position vectors, receiving a user-made selection identifying a subset of the multiple position vectors, and displaying a subset of the search results in the comprehensive list in accordance with the user-made selection.
US10185769B2 Presenting images as search results
In one embodiment, accessing a set of characters of a search query currently entered into a text entry box; compiling a first set of search results based on the set of characters currently entered into the text entry box, wherein the compiling is re-executed responsive to changes to the set of characters entered into the text entry box; associating an image with each search result from the first set of search results; and presenting the first set of search results as a first set of images adjacent to the text entry box.
US10185768B2 Systems and methods for addressing a media database using distance associative hashing
A system, method and computer program utilize a distance associative hashing algorithmic means to provide a highly efficient means to rapidly address a large database. The indexing means can be readily subdivided into a plurality of independently-addressable segments where each such segment can address a portion of related data of the database where the subdivided indexes of said portions reside entirely in the main memory of each of a multiplicity of server means. The resulting cluster of server means, each hosting an addressable sector of a larger database of searchable audio or video information, provides a significant improvement in the latency and scalability of an Automatic Content Recognition system, among other uses.
US10185767B2 Systems and methods of classifying content items
A method of classifying content items utilizes user-generated playlists. A content item is included in playlists from a plurality of distinct users. A server system receives, from respective users of the plurality of distinct users, respective playlist titles for the playlists. In accordance with a determination that the respective playlist titles from a threshold number of the plurality of distinct users specify a first attribute, the server system assigns the first attribute to the content item. The server system receives a request, from a first user via an application that is executing on a client device that is distinct from the server system, for content having the first attribute. In response to receiving the request, the server system selects the content item according to the first attribute and delivers the selected content item for playback to the first user.
US10185759B2 Distinguishing event type
An example computer-implemented method to determine if an event was triggered by an action performed by a client synchronization module begins with receiving an event from an operating system. The event can be associated with a content item. The computer can then compare the event to a log. The log can describe one or more recent actions performed by a client synchronization module. The computer can then determine whether the event was triggered by a recent action in the log. When the event is triggered by a recent action in the log, the computer can ignore the event. When the event is not triggered by a recent action in the log, the computer can process the event.
US10185757B2 Non-uniform multi-row text file loading
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for metadata driven loading a non-uniform multi-row text file. A non-uniform multi-row text file may comprise one or more disparate rows, such as a first row with a name field, an address field, and an age field and a second row with an occupation field, a marital status field, and a gender field. The non-uniform multi-row text file may be evaluated by generating task execution code for tasks identified within a profile for a file type of the non-uniform multi-row text file (e.g., dynamically generate structure query language commands may be executed based upon the task execution code). Responsive to processing the task list, parsed output data for the non-uniform multi-row text file may be generated based upon result data for the tasks. The parsed output data may be outputted into a staging area, such as a staging table, for client access.
US10185755B2 Orchestration of data query processing in a database system
In one embodiment, a method receives a query for data in a database system and calls a plurality of engines to analyze information for the query. A calculation graph is generated from at least a portion of the plurality of engines where each of the at least a portion of the plurality of engines add a node to the calculation graph based on analyzing of the information for the query. Then, the method executes the query by calling the nodes of the calculation graph. Each node uses metadata added to the node from a respective calculation engine to perform a calculation for the node. Then, a result of the query is output based on the respective calculations performed by the nodes.
US10185753B1 Mining procedure dialogs from source content
An embodiment of the invention may include a method, computer program product and computer system for human-machine communication. The method, computer program product and computer system may include a computing device that maps linguistic data of source content to a vector. The computing device may cluster the linguistic data of source content. The computing device may determine a plurality of segments based on the mapped linguistic data and the clustered linguistic data. The computing device may transform a segment of the plurality of segments into representative data, the representative data is a function of the remaining plurality of segments.
US10185752B2 Mining association rules in the map-reduce framework
In each iteration of the process of mining association rules from transaction data by a cluster of computing systems, each mapper node in the cluster receives a split of the transaction data. Each mapper node scans the split to count an absolute support value of each candidate itemset for current search level(s), and passes the candidate itemsets and their support values to reducer nodes in the cluster. The number of reducer nodes will be determined adaptively based on the number of the candidate itemsets and the number of maximum available resource nodes in the cluster. Each reducer node combines the absolute support value of each candidate itemset, and finds frequent itemsets among them using a minimum support threshold. For each frequent itemset it finds, the reducer node creates association rule(s) satisfying a minimum confidence threshold, and exports all discovered frequent itemsets and association rules to a file system for storage.
US10185751B1 Identifying and ranking attributes of entities
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for query analysis. Queries are identified in query data, and an entity-descriptive portion and a suffix are determined in each query. Query counts are determined for a number of times that the respective queries occur in the query data. Based on the query counts, an entity-level count is estimated, which represents a number of query submissions that include the particular suffix and are considered to refer to a first entity. The entity is determined to be a particular type of entity. A type-level count is determined, which represents a number of query submissions that include the first suffix and are estimated to refer to entities of the particular type of entity. A score is assigned to the particular suffix based on the entity-level count and the type-level count.
US10185743B2 Method and system for optimizing reduce-side join operation in a map-reduce framework
The present invention provides a system and method for optimizing reduce-side join operation in a map-reduce framework. The system and method executing one or more map operations on the second data structure, grouping the data tuples to a single region of the second data structure, providing the grouped data to a single reducer and, selecting one of scan approach and a look-up approach by one or more reducers based on region key count value and pre-determined conditions of the user.
US10185741B2 Smart navigation services
Techniques for smart navigation are presented. The techniques can include receiving, at a navigation service and via the internet, a request for a network resource, where the request includes command data provided by a navigation client, and where the command data includes an entity name and a keyword. The techniques can include obtaining, from at least one database of the navigation service, a network locator corresponding to the entity name and the keyword. The techniques can further include providing, in response to the receiving and via the internet, the network locator.
US10185739B2 Automatic search and replacement functionality within a computing application
Disclosed herein is an integration of automatic search functionality into a business application. The application is monitored for an instance wherein the user is initiating an activity that involves an expenditure. Upon detection of such an activity, a query is automatically generated based on information related to the expenditure. The query is communicated to a search component, from which corresponding search results are eventually received. Finally, at least some information related to the search results is displayed to the user. In one embodiment, assuming the user's express or implicit approval, auto-generation of data and/or modification of business process flow are facilitated based on the search results.
US10185738B1 Deduplication and disambiguation
Systems and methods for deduplication and disambiguation are disclosed. In example embodiments, a server accesses stored information about a first entity and stored information about a second entity. The server determines, based on the accessed stored information about the first entity and the accessed stored information about the second entity, a set of information items known about both the first entity and the second entity. The server computes, based on the set of information items, a probability that the first entity corresponds to the second entity by computing one or more expressiveness scores corresponding to a value of a first information item and a value of a second information item from the set of information items. The server provides, as a digital transmission, an output representing the computed probability.
US10185735B2 Distributed database system and a non-transitory computer readable medium
A distributed database system accesses data by using management information managed by another data store, and accelerates a timing to update a data record having high access frequency. Thereby the latest data can be easily acquired. A distributed database system according to one embodiment comprises a distributed database including a plurality of nodes that stores data, and a data management device that manages the data stored in the plurality of nodes. Each of the nodes comprises a data storage unit that stores the data related to a time stamp representing a time when the data is stored and a key identifying the data, a data update unit that updates the data, a data sending unit acquires the data stored in the data storage unit, and a data update promotion unit that requests the data update unit to update the acquired data when the acquired data is not latest data.
US10185734B2 Timestamp normalized counter data
A method including collecting, from a cable modem termination system (CMTS), counter data corresponding to usage of a network resource, wherein the counter data includes timestamp data, converting the counter data into timestamp normalized counter data by dividing the counter data among a plurality of buckets according to the timestamp data, and storing the timestamp normalized counter data.
US10185732B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes a first memory that stores information on plural websites and access rights of a user to the plural websites, in association with each other, an indexing unit that accesses each of the plural websites in accordance with the access rights of the user, and generates an index of content of the plural websites, a second memory that stores the index generated by the indexing unit in association with the user, a controller that controls such that a portal site representing an entry point to the plural websites is displayed, a receiving unit that receives, on the portal site, an input of search conditions for the plural websites from the user, and a searching unit that searches the index stored in association with the user in the second memory, in accordance with the input search conditions.
US10185723B2 Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image file naming rule is set by setting each of a plurality of items that configure a file name, and it is determined whether or not any one of the plurality of items satisfies a predetermined condition. If it is determined that none of the plurality of items satisfies the predetermined condition, an item including information that satisfies the predetermined condition is added to the file name.
US10185719B2 System for providing life log service and method of providing the service
A system for providing a life log service and a method of providing the life log service. The computing device for providing the life log service includes: a display which displays a map in a first display area and which displays like content in a second display area; and a processor including a content generator which generates the life content of a user based on a current position of the computing device, and a controller, which, in response to the generated live content, updates the second display area in real time to display the generated life content and updates the map in the first display area to display a path synchronized with the generated life content.
US10185716B2 Composite medium management system, information management server apparatus, composite access control creation apparatus, and program
Upon receiving a medium storage request from a client apparatus, an information management server apparatus according to an embodiment evaluates, based on at least one policy file read out based on at least one parent management ID in the medium storage request and user information in the medium storage request, whether medium storage responding to the medium storage request is possible. Upon evaluating that the medium storage is possible, the information management server apparatus creates composite access control which do not violate any management rules included in the at least one policy file.
US10185714B2 Smart terminology marker system for a language translation system
A terminology marker system integrates a terminology analytical component for quantifying the amount of linguistic noise found in the translation output as measured against a dictionary; further, correlating the noise measured on a continuous basis enables the analytical component to build terminology predictive models used in a feedback loop to upstream components of the supply chain to improve future translation of new content. The system also provides a smart terminology assessment component for assessing linguistic assets and improving the quality of those assets to assist in translation. The system also provides a smart terminology evaluation component that is able to analyze MT output to make smart decisions on reducing the amount of post editing corrections needed for delivering a persistent level of translation quality. The integration and configuration of the system component within a translation supply chain assists in delivering a reliable level of translation quality by reducing the linguistic noise across all components of the supply chain.
US10185711B1 Speech recognition and summarization
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving two or more data sets each representing speech of a corresponding individual attending an internet-based social networking video conference session, decoding the received data sets to produce corresponding text for each individual attending the internet-based social networking video conference, and detecting characteristics of the session from a coalesced transcript produced from the decoded text of the attending individuals for providing context to the internet-based social networking video conference session.
US10185710B2 Transliteration apparatus, transliteration method, transliteration program, and information processing apparatus
A transliteration processing device according to one embodiment includes a character string acquisition unit that acquires a first alphabetic character string representing by alphabet a first word written in a first language having a specified script and a second alphabetic character string representing by alphabet a second word written in a second language having a different script from the first language, a determination unit that makes a determination whether a first consonant element included in the first alphabetic character string and a second consonant element included in the second alphabetic character string have a predetermined correspondence, and determines whether the first word and the second word have a transliteration relationship based on a result of the determination, and an output unit that outputs, as a transliteration pair, the first word and the second word determined to have a transliteration relationship by the determination unit.
US10185697B2 Generating a transition signal for controlling memory data output
A memory device comprises an output buffer and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive a system clock signal at an input of the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to generate a data transition signal based on the system clock signal. The control circuit is configured to provide the data transition signal to the output buffer of the memory device. The output buffer is configured to output memory data based on the data transition signal.
US10185687B2 Interface circuit and packet transmission method thereof
A packet transmission method includes packaging a plurality of data in the form of a payload; storing information on whether the plurality of data are packaged in a header, the payload or a CRC area including a transmission error check code of the plurality of data; combining the header, the payload, and the CRC area with each other to generate a transaction layer packet; and outputting a packet including the transaction layer packet.
US10185681B2 Hybrid message-based scheduling technique
A hybrid message-based scheduling technique efficiently load balances a storage I/O stack partitioned into one or more non-blocking (i.e., free-running) messaging kernel (MK) threads that execute non-blocking message handlers (i.e., non-blocking services) and one or more operating system kernel blocking threads that execute blocking services. The technique combines the blocking and non-blocking services within a single coherent extended programming environment. The messaging kernel (MK) operates on processors apart from the operating system kernel that are allocated from a predetermined number of logical processors (i.e., hyper-threads) for use by an MK scheduler to schedule the non-blocking services within storage I/O stack as well as allocate a remaining number of logical processors for use by the blocking services. In addition, the technique provides a variation on a synchronization primitive that allows signaling between the two types of services (i.e., non-blocking and blocking) within the extended programming environment.
US10185679B2 Multi-queue device assignment to virtual machine groups
A system and method of device assignment includes receiving an assignment request to assign a device to a plurality of guest virtual machines. The plurality of guest virtual machines includes a first guest virtual machine with a first guest memory having a first physical address and a second guest virtual machine with a second guest memory having a second physical address. The method includes selecting a first bus address offset and a second bus address offset different from the first bus address offset. The method includes sending, to the first guest virtual machine, the first bus address offset, and sending, to the second guest virtual machine, the second bus address offset. The method includes updating a mapping to the first physical address to include the first bus address offset, and updating a mapping to the second physical address to include the second bus address offset.
US10185678B1 Universal offloading engine
Methods and apparatuses for offloading functionality in an integrated circuit are presented. Certain embodiments are described that disclose methods pertaining to implementation of a universal offload engine that can service several functional blocks, each configured to perform a different function. The offload engine can be iteratively implemented with a common interface to functional blocks. Work descriptors can be used between DMA engines and corresponding functional blocks to instruct the DMA engines how to transport data between memory locations and/or to reformat the data.
US10185676B2 Direct memory access controller and system for accessing channel buffer
A direct memory access (DMA) controller is provided. The DMA controller includes a processor interface configured to directly receive information representing a first operation sent by a processor to a buffer, and transmit data corresponding to the first operation stored in the buffer to the processor core or record data corresponding to the first operation in the buffer, and a buffer group connected to the processor interface, and including a plurality of buffers.
US10185674B2 Apparatus and methods for in data path compute operations
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for in data path compute operations. An example apparatus includes an array of memory cells. Sensing circuitry is selectably coupled to the array. A plurality of shared input/output (I/O) lines provides a data path. The plurality of shared I/O lines selectably couples a first subrow of a row of the array via the sensing circuitry to a first compute component in the data path to move a first data value from the first subrow to the first compute component and a second subrow of the respective row via the sensing circuitry to a second compute component to move a second data value from the second subrow to the second compute component. An operation is performed on the first data value from the first subrow using the first compute component substantially simultaneously with movement of the second data value from the second subrow to the second compute component.
US10185671B1 Broadcasting writes to multiple modules
A controller is configured to transmit a broadcast write request on at least one bus. The broadcast write request includes an address and a value. A first logic module determines that the broadcast write request is targeting the first logic module. The first logic module stores the value at a first addressed register specified by the register address. The second logic module determines that the broadcast write request is targeting the second logic module. The second logic module stores the value at a second addressed register specified by the register address. The first and second logic modules are connected to the at least one bus.
US10185669B2 Secure key derivation functions
Secure key derivation within a virtualized execution environment may involve a key derivation module executing within a platform layer of the execution environment. An application executing within an application layer of the execution environment may access the key derivation module in order to generate a cryptographic key according to a key derivation function. Instead of being returned to the application, the derived key may be stored within a secure storage area of the execution environment without being stored, even temporarily in the application layer, or other non-secure areas, of the execution environment. The application may receive a reference to the derived key usable by other cryptographic processes. The application may pass the key reference to a method of a cryptographic module and the cryptographic module may use the key reference to access the derived key from the secure storage for use in performing any of various cryptographic processes.
US10185667B2 Storage controller
There is described a storage controller, the storage controller having an array of entries, each entry associated with a partition of one or more partitions, wherein the controller comprises logic configured to identify a partition identifier of an entry and apply a policy to the entry based on or in response to the partition identifier.
US10185661B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a decoder configured to receive an extended mode register set (EMRS) code including specific information, and decode the received EMRS code to acquire the specific information; a peripheral controller configured to generate a control signal based on the specific information; and a peripheral region including a plurality of buffers, the plurality of buffers being configured to be controlled by the control signal, wherein the specific information includes information indicating an expected bandwidth of input data that is to be input to one of the plurality of buffers.
US10185658B2 Efficient implementation of optimized host-based garbage collection strategies using xcopy and multiple logical stripes
Systems, methods and/or devices are used for efficient implementation of optimized host-based garbage collection strategies using xcopy and arrays of flash devices. In one aspect, a method of managing a storage system having one or more storage devices includes a host-based garbage collection operation that includes identifying two or more logical stripes in accordance with data storage information stored at the host system, and enabling a process of coalescing valid data in the two or more logical stripes. Further, the use of an internal copy operation (e.g., xcopy), allows the host-based garbage collection operation to occur without transferring data back to the host, thus minimizing the number of I/O operations between the host and storage devices. Additionally, use of the host-based garbage collection operation allows more sophisticated garbage collection algorithms (e.g., matching the current workload) to be used, and ensures that multiple logical stripes are available to write data.
US10185656B2 Memory system and method for controlling nonvolatile memory
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including a plurality of blocks and a controller. The controller manages a garbage collection count for each of blocks containing data written by a host, the garbage collection count indicating the number of times the data in said each of the blocks has been copied by a garbage collection operation of the nonvolatile memory. The controller selects, as garbage collection target blocks, first blocks associated with a same garbage collection count. The controller copies valid data in the first blocks to a copy destination free block. The controller sets, as a garbage collection count of the copy destination free block, a value obtained by adding one to a garbage collection count of the first blocks.
US10185653B2 Integrated systems and methods for the transactional management of main memory and data storage
An integrated system for transactionally managing main memory and storage devices derived from the interfaces and methodologies historically associated with dynamic memory allocation. The methodology has a wide range of applicability including areas such as hardware storage devices (i.e. firmware), operating system internals (i.e. file systems) and end-user software systems.
US10185647B2 Debugging remote vertex code on test machine
The supporting of debugging of failed vertex code on a test machine. This debugging is made possible even though the vertex code failed while on a remote processing node, and is but one of multiple, and potentially innumerable vertices that run in a distributed environment. This represents a vast technical improvement over prior ad hoc methods for trying to debug a large distributed application, since time is not wasted on vertices that operated properly, but rather debugging is focused on the problem vertex. Even reproducing the failure is a huge technical step forward.
US10185646B2 Getting performance saturation point of an event driven system
A method and apparatus for regulating the input speed of events to an event processing system. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a rate of events being outputted by the event processing system and computing an event transmission rate to be used to transmit received events to the event processing system based on the measured rate of events. The method further includes receiving an event with a speed controller to be processed by the event processing system and transmitting the received event by the speed controller to the event processing system according to the computed event transmission rate.
US10185639B1 Systems and methods for performing failover in storage system with dual storage controllers
An example computer-implemented method for performing failover operations in a data storage system is described herein. The data storage system can include a first storage controller and a second storage controller for processing input/output (“I/O”) operations for the data storage system. The method can include, in response to a failure of the first storage controller, performing failover operations with the second storage controller, and processing the I/O operations with the second storage controller. The failover operations can include preparing a disk subsystem layer for I/O operations, preparing a device manager layer for the I/O operations, and preparing a network layer for the I/O operations. The disk subsystem, device manager, and network layers can be prepared for the I/O operations without dependencies. In particular, preparation of the network layer is not dependent on preparation of the disk subsystem layer or the device manager layer.
US10185633B2 Processor state integrity protection using hash verification
This disclosure is directed to processor state integrity protection using hash verification. A device may comprise processing circuitry and memory circuitry. The processing circuity may be triggered to enter a secure mode. Prior to entering the secure mode, the processing circuitry may determine a processor state of the processing circuitry and a hash of the processor state, and store them in secured memory within the memory circuitry. Prior to exiting the secure mode, the processing circuitry may compute an updated hash of the stored processor state and compare it to the previously stored hash. If the updated hash and stored hash are determined to be the same, then the processing circuitry may restore the processor state and normal operation resumes. If the updated hash and stored hash are determined to be different, then the stored processor state may be compromised and the processing circuitry may perform at least one protective action.
US10185627B2 Synchronized test master
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a synchronized test master are described. In one embodiment, a method periodically synchronizing test master data to a source database by, at a synchronization time: modifying the test master data to reflect changes to the source database since a last synchronization time; populating a transaction log with data manipulation operations performed on the source database since a last transaction time; and taking a snapshot of the test master data. Synchronization data is derived from the transaction log that includes a snapshot time for the snapshot and a modification time for each data manipulation operation in the transaction log. The method includes storing the synchronization data and snapshot for use in generating a test database that represents a point-in-time version of the source database.
US10185625B2 Data storage system and method by shredding and deshredding
A system and method for data storage by shredding and deshredding of the data allows for various combinations of processing of the data to provide various resultant storage of the data. Data storage and retrieval functions include various combinations of data redundancy generation, data compression and decompression, data encryption and decryption, and data integrity by signature generation and verification. Data shredding is performed by shredders and data deshredding is performed by deshredders that have some implementations that allocate processing internally in the shredder and deshredder either in parallel to multiple processors or sequentially to a single processor. Other implementations use multiple processing through multi-level shredders and deshredders. Redundancy generation includes implementations using non-systematic encoding, systematic encoding, or a hybrid combination. Shredder based tag generators and deshredder based tag readers are used in some implementations to allow the deshredders to adapt to various versions of the shredders.
US10185617B2 Adjusting failure response criteria based on external failure data
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and program products are disclosed for adjusting failure response criteria based on external failure data. A grouping module determines a group of a plurality of devices communicatively connected over a data network. Each device of the group is configured to send failure data to one or more other devices in the group in response to satisfying a failure criterion. A data module receives failure data from at least one device of the group. The failure data indicates that the at least one device of the group has satisfied a failure criterion. A reaction module dynamically adjusts one or more local failure criteria in response to receiving the failure data from the at least one device of the group.
US10185613B2 Error determination from logs
The present disclosure is related to devices, systems, and methods for determining errors from logs. An example device can include instructions to analyze a log of a log source, determine an error in the log, the error resulting from a user action with respect to the log source, and provide a portion of the log associated with the error to a user interface.
US10185609B2 Virtual timer for data retention
Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for improving data retention using a virtual timer. A memory controller may use a raw bit error rate (RBER) to find an equivalent temperature-accelerated data age of a data item. The data age is computed by using the initial RBER of virtual timing data (VTD) as a virtual write in time of the data item compared to a present time using the current RBER of the VTD. When the data age is determined to exceed a data retention threshold, a data refresh is performed on the data item at the memory block on the memory device. The data age may be stored as virtual timing data on the memory block.
US10185602B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program product
An information processing apparatus includes a first memory, a determiner, and a controller. The first memory stores therein a current state of a system running on the information processing apparatus and a target state that is a post-transition state of the system. The determiner determines, upon receiving, from an event notifier, an event notice indicating that a condition for making transition to a specific state is satisfied, whether the current state and the target state match. The controller performs exclusive control when the determiner determines that the current state and the target state of the system do not match, the exclusive control preventing the system from making transition to the specific state.
US10185595B1 Program verification using hash chains
An example method includes partitioning a software application into two or more instruction blocks each containing one or more software instructions. The two or more instruction blocks are arranged in a sequence defining an order in which to execute the two or more instruction blocks. The method may also involve storing, in a first block of the two or more instruction blocks, a first identifier of the first block and storing, in a second block of the two or more instruction blocks, (i) a second identifier of the second block, (ii) the first identifier of the first block, and (iii) a one-way cryptographic hash of contents of the first block. The first block is adjacent to the second block in the sequence. The method may additionally include transmitting, to a computing device, the two or more instruction blocks for execution by the computing device in the defined order.
US10185587B2 Wait-free process request execution utilizing a dedicated helper thread
One embodiment provides a method, including: utilizing at least one processor to execute computer code that performs the steps of: receiving a system instruction from the at least one processor to perform an operation on a data structure; collecting, using at least one worker thread from a plurality of worker threads, a process request associated with the system instruction, wherein the plurality of worker threads perform operations within a computer system; placing the collected process request at a predetermined position on a state array, wherein the predetermined position is assigned to the at least one worker thread and wherein a helper thread is dedicated to the state array to execute requests placed within the state array; and executing the process request. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US10185582B2 Monitoring the progress of the processes executing in a virtualization environment
A host controller receives a request to perform an action in a virtual computing system. The host controller, creates a command to execute operations associated with the request and creates a job to monitor a progress of the operations of the command. As the command is executing the operations, the host controller receives an indication of the progress of the command execution, wherein the operations report the progress to the job each time an operation is completed.
US10185579B2 Dynamic multikeys for persistent objects
An object persistence mechanism is disclosed that enables the generation of software objects that have persistent data and a mutable key. A mutable key capability is advantageous in a variety of applications, such as monitoring a set of users and their login status on a plurality of media servers (e.g., an email server, an instant messaging server, a voice mail server, a video server, an audio-conferencing server, etc.). Implementations based on the Enterprise JavaBean specification are disclosed for three illustrative embodiments of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented in accordance with object persistence mechanisms other than Enterprise JavaBeans.
US10185578B2 Basic input/output system (BIOS) security display
Methods and systems for generating and using a BIOS security display include determining whether a change in a BIOS user setting is associated with security of an information handling system. When the BIOS user setting is associated with security, a security level for the BIOS may be calculated based on weighted security values for BIOS user settings. Security levels for boot phases may also be individually calculated. The security levels may be displayed in the BIOS to the user when the BIOS user setting is changed.
US10185573B2 Caching based operating system installation
An image of system software is installed by loading an executable image of the system software using a boot loader, where the executable image includes a kernel and a plurality of files used by the kernel. The kernel of the system software is executed to generate the image of the system software that includes a copy of the kernel. Generating the image of the system software involves the steps of generating a plurality of pointers that each point to a different one of the files, retrieving the files using the pointers, and storing a copy of the kernel and the files in a storage device from which the system software is to be booted as the image of the system software.
US10185572B2 Operating system load device resource selection
A method for booting is provided. A devices manager disables resources of a bootable device of a list of bootable devices having resource conflicts with a selected one of the list of bootable devices. The devices manager attempts to boot the selected bootable device. If the selected bootable device fails to boot, then the devices manager selects a next bootable device of the list of bootable devices for booting and repeats disabling resources and attempting to boot the selected next bootable device until one of the list of bootable devices boots or all bootable devices of the list of bootable devices fail to boot.
US10185568B2 Annotation logic for dynamic instruction lookahead distance determination
A processor having an instruction cache for storing a plurality of instructions is provided. The processor further includes annotation logic configured to determine a lookahead distance associated with an instruction and annotate the at least one instruction cache with the lookahead distance. The lookahead distance may correspond to a number of instructions that separates an instruction that references a register from the most recent register definition. The lookahead distance may indicate the shortest distance to a later instruction that references a register that this instruction defines.
US10185567B2 Multilevel conversion table cache for translating guest instructions to native instructions
A method for translating instructions for a processor. The method includes accessing a guest instruction and performing a first level translation of the guest instruction using a first level conversion table. The method further includes outputting a resulting native instruction when the first level translation proceeds to completion. A second level translation of the guest instruction is performed using a second level conversion table when the first level translation does not proceed to completion, wherein the second level translation further processes the guest instruction based upon a partial translation from the first level conversion table. The resulting native instruction is output when the second level translation proceeds to completion.
US10185566B2 Migrating tasks between asymmetric computing elements of a multi-core processor
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a multicore processor having first and second cores to independently execute instructions, the first core visible to an operating system (OS) and the second core transparent to the OS and heterogeneous from the first core. A task controller, which may be included in or coupled to the multicore processor, can cause dynamic migration of a first process scheduled by the OS to the first core to the second core transparently to the OS. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US10185562B2 Conflict mask generation
Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) technologies are described. A processing device can include a processor core and a memory. The processor core can generate a first bitmap comprising a plurality of bits, where the plurality of bits includes a first bit that represents a first memory location. The processor core can determine that the value of the first bit is equal to the value of a second bit in the first bitmap. The processor core can determine the location of the second bit in relation to the first bit in the first bitmap. The processor core can generate a second bitmap including a third bit indicating that the first bit is the last bit in the first bitmap with the same value as the second bit.
US10185561B2 Processor with efficient memory access
A method includes, in a processor, processing program code that includes memory-access instructions, wherein at least some of the memory-access instructions include symbolic expressions that specify memory addresses in an external memory in terms of one or more register names. A relationship between the memory addresses accessed by two or more of the memory-access instructions is identified, based on respective formats of the memory addresses specified in the symbolic expressions. An outcome of at least one of the memory-access instructions is assigned to be served from an internal memory in the processor, based on the identified relationship.
US10185559B2 Documentation notification
In one implementation, a record associated with an element of an application is maintained and a notification is generated when the record indicates a lack of documentation.
US10185558B2 Language-independent program composition using containers
An action sequence including a plurality of actions and a corresponding input dictionary are obtained. A first container, running an image for a first one of the actions implemented in a first programming language, is instantiated, and the image is executed on the input dictionary to obtain a first action result; the input dictionary is then updated with the first action result to obtain an updated input dictionary. A second container, running an image for a second one of the actions implemented in a second programming language, different than the first programming language, is instantiated, and the image is executed on the updated input dictionary to obtain a second action result; the updated input dictionary is further updated with the second action result to obtain a further updated input dictionary. The input dictionaries are independent of the programming languages.
US10185557B2 Enhanced metadata tracking in a change management system
A change management system generates change records corresponding to changes to tracked documents, and stores a master control file comprising metadata records that respectively correspond to the tracked documents and which comprise a tracked metadata field and a time field. Responsive to detecting that a change to a given document is of a predefined type, the tracked metadata field in the corresponding metadata record is modified, and the time field in that metadata record is updated accordingly. In response to a problem event, it is determined that the problem event relates to the given document, and, based on the time field, a subset of the change records is selected. Each change record in the subset corresponds to the given document. A problem change record is identified from the change records in the subset, and used to revert the given document to a state previous to the problem event.
US10185551B2 Firmware update
A separable computing system according to one example includes a display portion and a base portion. The display portion may include shared non-volatile memory to receive a base portion firmware update and a display portion private non-volatile memory to store the base portion firmware update. The display portion may further include a display portion embedded controller to send the base portion firmware update to a base portion embedded controller. The base portion may include and embedded controller to receive the base portion firmware update and a base portion private non-volatile memory to store the base portion firmware update.
US10185547B2 Techniques for distributed operation of secure controllers
Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for supporting the distributed execution of a task routine among multiple secure controllers incorporated into multiple computing devices. An apparatus includes a first processor component and first secure controller of a first computing device, where the first secure controller includes: a selection component to select the first secure controller or a second secure controller of a second computing device to compile a task routine based on a comparison of required resources to compile the task routine and available resources of the first secure controller; and a compiling component to compile the task routine into a first version of compiled routine for execution within the first secure controller by the first processor component and a second version for execution within the second secure controller by a second processor component in response to selection of the first secure controller. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US10185541B2 Playback device
A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.
US10185539B2 Audio control system and related methods
Some embodiments of the invention are directed to an audio production system which is more portable, less expensive, faster to set up, and simpler and easier to use than conventional audio production tools. An audio production system implemented in accordance with some embodiments of the invention may therefore be more accessible to the typical user, and easier and more enjoyable to use, than conventional audio production tools.
US10185538B2 Media content identification and playback
Systems, devices, apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for identifying and playing media content are provided. An example media-playback device for identifying and playing media content for a user traveling in a vehicle includes an audio identification engine and a media playback engine. Audio content is recorded and identified by comparison to media content databases. The audio content is identified and immediately played on the same device. Additional media content is selected for playback based on user listening preferences.
US10185537B2 Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems and methods
Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.
US10185525B1 Systems, processes, and computer program products for asymmetric imposition of images on printing sheets
A system and method provide efficiency in the placement of image objects onto a page space. Print jobs become more efficient in use of page space to minimize the amount of blank space left by maximizing the number of images per space available according to a process of defining columns and rows for each column. A column may be defined by the available image object with the largest width. Subsequent columns may be defined by the next objects with the next largest widths that fit within available page space. Once columns are defined, each column may define rows based on the image objects that maximize page space for each row. The process may reiterate for each column until no more image objects are available or the remaining available empty page space can no longer fit an object.
US10185520B2 Information processing apparatus and method for information processing apparatus for executing print driver maintenance operations
An information processing apparatus connected to a printing apparatus includes a database configured to associate and manage a command identifier and a maintenance command, an acquisition unit configured to acquire from the database the maintenance command corresponding to a command identifier designated by an application and acquired via a spooler according to a port monitor that functions based on an expansion file, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the acquired maintenance command to the printing apparatus according to the port monitor that functions based on the expansion file.
US10185519B2 Document processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium
A PrintTicket does not necessarily exist in each page of an XPS document. Regarding a page where no PrintTicket exists, the page is printed by referring to a PrintTicket in a higher hierarchical level. Here, when a plurality of XPS documents are combined, a user's intended print result may not be obtained when the PrintTicket in the higher hierarchical level to which the page refers changes before and after combining. Before a combining process is executed, print setting information of a page element is generated based on print setting information of an element in a higher hierarchical level than the page hierarchical level. A combined document is generated by combining a structured document including a page element to which the generated print setting information is added and another structured document including a page element to which the generated print setting information is added.
US10185518B1 Systems, processes, and computer program products for page ordering of print jobs
A system and method provide an improvement to ordering pages for a multi-page print job. In an exemplary embodiment, a user interface includes a layout control feature which when engaged, invokes an underlying process that computes which pages are to be initially imposed onto a sheet, and thereafter, based on an increment value assigned to one or more of the pages entries, automatically imposes pages (and their content) to the page order for the print job. Page entries may have different increment values and thus a non-sequential and/or heterogenous page output may result alleviating the user from having to individually manually assign each page to a print position in the print job.
US10185511B2 Technologies for managing an operational characteristic of a solid state drive
Technologies for managing an operational characteristic of a solid state drive include monitoring the operational characteristic to determine whether the operational characteristic satisfies a low threshold and a high threshold. If the operational characteristic does satisfy the low threshold, the solid state drive throttles high power memory accesses requests while not throttle low power memory access requests. If the operational characteristic satisfies a high threshold, the solid state drive is configured to throttle all memory accesses. The operational characteristic may be embodied as, for example, a temperature of the solid state drive.
US10185509B1 Secure storage device sanitization
Technologies are provided for secure sanitization of a storage device. A storage device can be configured to support an operational mode, into which the storage device is placed by default, and in which requests to cryptographically erase the storage device are rejected. The storage device can support a separate sanitization mode in which a request to cryptographically erase the storage device will be processed. Access to the sanitization mode can be restricted to trusted sources (such as a boot firmware of a computer connected to the storage device). The storage device can be configured to reject a command to place the storage device in the sanitization mode, unless the command is received during an initialization of the storage device. In at least some embodiments, the storage device can reject data access commands while it is in the sanitization mode.
US10185504B1 Reducing data transmitted during backup
A method for reducing an amount of data transmitted during a backup process is described. The method may include receiving input data to insert into a rating hash table during the backup process. The method may further include selecting, based on a hash function, a bucket of the rating hash table in which the input data will be inserted, the bucket including a plurality of blocks. The method may also include, in response to determining that the input data has already been inserted in one of the plurality of blocks, increasing a rating corresponding to the one of the plurality of blocks by a popularity rating increment. The method may additionally include, in response to determining that the input data has not already been inserted in one of the plurality of blocks, determining a first block with a smallest rating from the plurality of blocks.
US10185503B1 Consistency group fault tolerance
A fault tolerance computer implemented method, a computer program product, and a system for allowing asynchronous replication to continue with no lag increase due to RPA failure comprising: creating a consistency group (CG) on a first replication appliance and a shadow copy of the CG on a second replication appliance; sending input/output (IO data), via a splitter, to the CG in a first replication appliance; and sending IO data, via the splitter, to shadow copy of the CG on a second replication appliance.
US10185499B1 Near-memory compute module
Disclosed herein are systems having an integrated circuit device disposed within an integrated circuit package having a periphery, and within this periphery a transaction processor is configured to receive a combination of signals (e.g., using a standard memory interface), and intercept some of the signals to initiate a data transformation, and forward the other signals to one or more memory controllers within the periphery to execute standard memory access operations (e.g., with a set of DRAM devices). The DRAM devices may or may not be in within the package periphery. In some embodiments, the transaction processor can include a data plane and control plane to decode and route the combination of signals. In other embodiments, off-load engines and processor cores within the periphery can support execution and acceleration of the data transformations.
US10185498B2 Write buffer design for high-latency memories
A memory system includes a write buffer, a main memory having a higher latency than the write buffer, and a memory controller. In response to a write request indicating first data for storing at a write address in the main memory, the memory controller adds a new write entry in the write buffer, where the new write entry includes the write address and the first data, and updates a pointer of a previous write entry in the write buffer to point to the new write entry. In response to a write-back instruction, the memory controller traverses a plurality of write entries stored in the write buffer, and writes into the main memory second data of the previous write entry and the first data of the new write entry.
US10185496B2 System and apparatus for removing duplicate in data transmission
A reception-side apparatus determines whether or not data duplicating a part of received data from a transmission-side apparatus is stored in the first storage that stores first data which has been received, and notifies, when data duplicating a part of the received data is stored in the first storage, the transmission-side apparatus of prediction information on duplicate reception of the first data. A transmission-side apparatus compares, when the prediction information is received, second data to be transmitted and a part of the first data in a second storage that stores the first data which has been transmitted based on the prediction information, determines whether or not there is a first part of the first data matching the second data in the second storage, and transmits, when there is the first part of the first data in the second storage, outline information on the second data.
US10185491B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for determining whether to scroll or enlarge content
An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more intensity sensors displays content. While a focus selector is over the content, the device detects a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, the gesture including a contact on the touch-sensitive surface and movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focus selector on the display. In response to detecting the gesture, when the contact has an intensity below a selection intensity threshold, the device scrolls the content on the display in accordance with the movement of the focus selector on the display. In response to detecting the gesture, when the contact has an intensity above the selection intensity threshold, the device displays an enlarged representation of a portion of the content corresponding to the location of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface.
US10185490B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus and an information processing method in which movement processing of the projected image is executed when first operation information indicating that change of instruction coordinates is within a predetermined range is not acquired, the movement processing of the projected image being based on second operation information involving transit from an instruction as to a first position to an instruction as to a second position on the projected image, and image processing of the projected image based on the second operation information is executed in a case where the first operation information has not been acquired, the second operation information being acquired after the first operation information.
US10185488B2 Device and method for displaying information
Discussed herein is an information processing device that displays information in an effective manner on a display screen of the device. A portion of the total data is displayed on the screen when the total data exceeds the amount of data that can be displayed on the screen at a given time. The information processing apparatus characterizes the portions of data as already-read data portions and unread data portions, based on a speed of a scrolling operation performed when the corresponding data portion is displayed on the device. Further, the apparatus also provides a visual indication for each already-read data portion on the display screen of the device. Thus, a user can correctly identify data portions that have been already read and data portions that are yet to be read.
US10185487B2 Direction based content navigation
Methods and systems for providing and interfacing with content are disclosed. An example method can comprise providing an interface and receiving an interaction with the interface. The interface can be updated with a first element if the interaction is in a first direction. The first element can provide information based on user data. The interface can be updated with a second element if the interaction is in a second direction.
US10185483B2 Display control of objects on display
A display control apparatus includes a display and a controller. The display displays a screen on which a target image and a processing image are arranged, the target image representing processing-target data, the processing image being an image for which a process to be performed on the processing-target data has been determined. The controller performs, in a case where an operation for moving the target image toward a position where the processing image is displayed has been received as a touch operation through the screen, control such that the processing image is moved toward a position where the target image is displayed.
US10185482B2 Display control device, information display method, and information display system
In the case where entertainment information is acquired as information to be displayed on an instrument panel display 1 when an object indicating driving information is displayed on the instrument panel display 1, an object indicating the entertainment information is moved from the outside of a screen of the instrument panel display 1 to the inside of the screen, and the object indicating the driving information and the object indicating the entertainment information are displayed such that all or part of the object indicating the entertainment information passes behind the object indicating the driving information during the movement.
US10185481B2 Electronic device, computer readable memory, and process execution method
A storage part stores therein correspondence table in which a displayed information use process and an execution instruction operation for instructing execution of the displayed information use process are registered in association with each other. When a screen operation identification part identifies that, subsequent to a selection operation for selecting information displayed on a display screen, the execution instruction operation has been performed on the display screen, the process execution part executes the displayed information use process associated with the execution instruction operation in the correspondence table, with use of the information selected by the selection operation.
US10185479B2 Declassifying of suspicious messages
Handling a message comprises: classifying an incoming message for a recipient, storing the classified message and providing a notification to the recipient, wherein the notification includes summary information about the classified message and an interface that allows the recipient to operate on the classified message.
US10185476B2 Content presentation and augmentation system and method
A computerized system and method are presented that creates implicit content on a mobile device by monitoring and recording input from sensors on the device. Metadata from the implicit content and from user-created content is then analyzed the purpose of event identification. Using the metadata and event identification, the content is created into clusters, which can be confirmed by the user as actual events. Events can then be grouped according to metadata and event information into a presentation grouping. Presentation groupings can be presenting using a map and timeline interface. The system augments content concerning an event by searching for related content. Users viewing the presentation grouping can add additional user content. The system can also add content from users that attended the same event.
US10185474B2 Generating content that includes screen information and an indication of a user interaction
A device may activate a screen capture mode and may record screen information provided via a touch screen display associated with the device based on activating the screen capture mode. The device may detect one or more user interactions with the touch screen display in association with the screen information. The one or more user interactions may include a touch gesture. The device may deactivate the screen capture mode and may generate content including the screen information and an indication of the one or more user interactions. The indication may be overlaid on the screen information.
US10185470B2 Menu screen display method and menu screen display device
Methods and apparatus provide for acquiring menu display instructions from a user, and generating and outputting the operating system menu screens for display.
US10185466B2 Selecting menu for an object in a graphical user interface (GUI) environment
Provided is a method applied to a computer system including a display device and a pointing device for operating a pointer displayed in a display region of the display device in accordance with an operation by a user. In the method, a position of the pointer is stored as a first position in response to receipt of a first operation performed by the user, a first menu including multiple items is displayed at a position corresponding to the first position, a position of the pointer is stored as a second position in response to receipt of a second operation performed by the user, and a second menu is displayed, being changed from the first menu based on a distance between the first position and the second position, wherein the second menu includes the plurality of items.
US10185461B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus including: a control unit to generate a display image including running images of one or more applications each containing one or more operation device images attaining predetermined functions; an output unit to display the display image generated by the control unit; and an input unit to accept an operation performed on the operation device image contained in the running image, wherein the control unit extracts the functions associated with the operation device images equal to or smaller than a predetermined maximum count and contained in the running image of the application, based on priority levels of the functions associated with the operation device images contained in one or more applications, and generates the display image including the running image containing the operation device images associated with the extracted functions.
US10185455B2 Mobile computing device for fleet telematics
A mobile computing device for fleet telematics including a display and a controller configured to present at least one telematics application to a user. In an exemplary embodiment, the application is a verified inspection application, and the device includes an RF coil for an RFID reader that substantially extends along a perimeter of a housing for the device. In a related embodiment, the device includes an indicator light disposed along a perimeter edge of the housing, generally adjacent to the RF coil, the indicator light providing a user an indication of how to orient the device in order to enable the RF coil to interact with an RFID tag. The device can be configured such that the indicator light is only enabled when the inspection application is running. The device can include a flashlight and/or a digital camera, where the device is similarly programmed such that the flashlight and/or camera can only be enabled when the inspection application is running.
US10185453B2 Pressure sensor and display device including the same
A pressure sensor including a first conductor located in a pressure sensing region including a first sensing region and a second sensing region; and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor, the second conductor forming capacitance with the first conductor. The first conductor includes a first conductive part located in the first sensing region and a second conductive part located in the second sensing region. The area ratio of the second conductive part with respect to the second sensing region is different from the area ratio of the first conductive part with respect to the first sensing region.
US10185445B2 Determining touch signals from interactions with a reference plane proximate to a display surface
A reference plane generating unit generates a reference plane of light parallel to a display surface. For example, the reference plane generating unit projects a plane of infrared light parallel to a plane including the display surface. When a pointer, such a stylus or a finger, breaks the reference plane, light is reflected from the reference plane, with at least a portion of the reflected light directed toward an image capturing unit. Based on the reflected light captured by the image capturing unit, the image processing unit determines a position of the pointer in the reference plane and determines a touch signal corresponding to the determined position of the pointer. The touch signal is communicated to a processing unit, such as a mobile device, that performs an operation corresponding to the determined touch signal.
US10185444B2 Uniformity correction method for low cost and non-rectangular touch sensor matrices
A method includes storing a set of touch sense values corresponding to a measured characteristic of at least one unit cell of a plurality of unit cells of the touch array and accessing a correction matrix that defines an active region and an inactive region of the touch array. The inactive region is surrounded by the active region. The method further includes modifying touch sense values of a first subset of the plurality of unit cells that are partially within the active region defined by correction values of the correction matrix.
US10185440B2 Electronic device operating according to pressure state of touch input and method thereof
An electronic device operating based on a touch input includes a touch screen for receiving the touch input; and a controller for determining a pressure state corresponding to the touch input, when the pressure state satisfies a first pressure condition, controlling the touch screen to display information relating to the touch input, and, when the pressure state satisfies a second pressure condition, performing a function corresponding to the touch input. A method of controlling an electronic device based on a touch input includes determining a pressure state of a touch input; when it is determined that the pressure state satisfies a first pressure condition, displaying information relating to the touch input; and when it is determined that the pressure state satisfies a second pressure condition, performing a function corresponding to the touch input.
US10185438B2 Processing method for implementing high resolution outputs of a capacitive touch pad on a low-end single-chip microcomputer
A processing method for implementing high resolution output of a capacitive touch pad on a low-end single-chip microcomputer. The low-end single-chip microcomputer device comprises a master control single-chip microcomputer unit (MCU), a self-checking capacitance sensing module and a capacitive touch pad. The master control single-chip microcomputer module controls the self-checking capacitance sensing module to obtain source data acquired by the self-checking capacitance sensing module from the capacitive touch pad, then the source data are subjected to touch position computing by the master control single-chip microcomputer to obtain an original coordinate data of a touch point, and then a coordinate position can be obtained through an optimizing computation processing.
US10185437B2 Touch screen panel, interface circuit, and information processing apparatus
A touch screen panel comprising a first electrode substrate equipped with a first electrode and a second electrode formed on a first transparent conductive film of the first electrode substrate, a second electrode substrate equipped with a third electrode and a fourth electrode formed on a second transparent conductive film of the second electrode substrate, an interface circuit that receives electrical signals from the first to the fourth electrodes and process the signals, and connecting portions that connect to the interface circuit, the interface circuit includes a member configured to make an impedance of a wiring path formed on the side where the connecting portion is provided and connected to one of the first to the fourth electrodes higher than an impedance of wiring paths connected to remaining electrode.
US10185432B2 Touch detection at bezel edge
This relates to a method of extrapolating proximity information to generate a border column or row of touch nodes (also known as touch pixels) and then fitting an ellipse to the contact patch including the extrapolated border touch nodes. Additionally, a contact can be identified as a thumb based on both its major axis and its distance to an edge of the touch sensing surface.
US10185430B2 Touch control display device and a preparation method thereof
As in a touch control display device of the present invention, when second electrodes are formed, the second electrodes are connected in series respectively in the horizontal row direction and in the vertical column direction, so as to form a cross network with rows and columns insulated from one another, namely to form a touch control sensing layer. By integrating a touch control function into organic light-emitting diodes, a compact structure of the device is achieved, there is no need to set up a separate touch control component, the light emitting efficiency is high, and the respond speed is fast. As in a preparation method of the touch control display device of the present invention, second electrodes are formed into such a structure that the second electrodes are connected in series respectively in the horizontal row direction and in the vertical column direction, therefore, when organic light-emitting diodes are prepared, a touch control function can be integrated therein at the same time by means of technically mature photo-etching and etching techniques, which is a simple preparation method with low process cost.
US10185426B2 Display apparatus with touch detection function and electronic apparatus
A display apparatus with a touch detection function includes: a substrate; a display area including a plurality of pixels; a touch detection electrode including a plurality of small electrode portions; a plurality of wiring portions electrically coupling the small electrode portions to a terminal portion formed; and a plurality of drive electrodes forming capacitance between the drive electrodes and the touch detection electrode. The small electrode portions each include one conductive thin wire in which one first thin wire segment and one second thin wire segment are coupled in a first direction, the first thin wire segment makes a first angle with respect to the first direction, the second thin wire segment makes a second angle with respect to the first direction, and the wiring portions each include the one first thin wire segment and the one second thin wire segment that are coupled in the first direction.
US10185425B2 Organic electroluminescence module, smart device, and lighting apparatus
This organic electroluminescence module is provided with: an organic electroluminescent element in which an organic luminescence function layer is provided between a pair of electrodes; a luminescent element driving circuit unit that is connected to the pair of electrodes and controls luminescence of the organic electroluminescent element; and a touch position detection circuit unit connected to a detection electrode at both ends thereof, which is one of the pair of electrodes, in a touch position detection direction, wherein one of the both ends of the detection electrode is set as an input end and other is set as an output end, and the touch position detection circuit unit performs touch position detection by detecting, at the output end, electrical signals inputted from the input end.
US10185422B2 Touch control structure of an AMOLED display screen
The present invention discloses a touch control structure of an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display screen which is disposed on a display screen substrate, the touch control structure comprises a transmitting structure and a receiving structure that are mutually inductive, the transmitting structure further comprises a first encapsulation film, a first patterned electrode and a second encapsulation film, wherein the first encapsulation film is formed on an organic light-emitting diode device disposed on the display screen substrate, the first patterned electrode is formed on the first encapsulation film, and the second encapsulation film is formed upon the first patterned electrode; the receiving structure further comprises a flexible polymer foil sheet and a second patterned electrode formed on the flexible polymer foil sheet, wherein the flexible polymer foil sheet is adhered to the second encapsulation film, and the first patterned electrode and the second patterned electrode are oppositely disposed. By configuring the transmitting structure and the receiving structure that are mutually inductive, the present invention significantly simplifies the manufacture process, reduces the cost, and can also achieve flexible touch control.
US10185420B2 Display panel and display device with narrow bezel
A display panel and a display device are disclosed. The display panel includes at least two types of signal lines, at least two types of connection lines and a driver chip. At least two types of signal terminals are provided on the drive chip. The at least two types of signal terminals are electrically connected to the at least two types of signal lines through corresponding types of the connection lines, respectively. In the at least two types of signal terminals, at least a part of a first type of signal terminals and at least a part of a second type of signal terminals are alternately and separately arranged. The display panel and the display device have a frame with reduced size.
US10185412B2 Positioning indicator and position indication method
A position indicator is provided, which includes a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure applied to a tip of the position indicator. The position indicator further includes a storage configured to store the pressure as one type of digital data and to store at least one other type of digital data. The position indicator also includes a receiver configured to receive a command signal transmitted from a position sensor, and a control circuit configured to select one or more types of digital data in the storage based on the command signal. The position indicator includes a transmitter configured to transmit the selected one or more types of digital data to the position sensor.
US10185410B2 Manual device including a removable endpiece for a capacitive screen
A manual device comprising a body and a removable endpiece including a pad for a capacitive screen, the removable endpiece being assembled to the body by a bayonet connection, the pad and at least a portion of the body being electrically in contact with each other.
US10185404B2 Data input device for information processing apparatus
A device for inputting data into an information processing apparatus using a communication cable. The device includes a sensing field including signal lines. The sensing field generates one or more signals when an object is proximate thereto. The device further includes at least one processor connected to the signal lines. The processor receives the signals and generates data based on the signals. The device additionally includes a port in communication with the processor for data output. The port is configured to connect to the cable and communicate the data over the cable to the information processing apparatus. The device includes a light source configured to illuminate keyboard symbols corresponding to areas of the sensing field. The device also includes an exterior surface covering the sensing field and obscuring the keyboard symbols from visibility unless the light source is providing illumination.
US10185403B2 Information handling devices with touch-based reflective display
Devices, methods and products are described that provide information handling devices with touch-based reflective display. One aspect provides a method including: providing a first configuration for one or more areas of a touchable control area of an information handling device, said first configuration comprising a designation of one or more areas of said touchable control area, said one or more areas providing both reflective display and accepting touch-based input, wherein said reflective display substantially only draws power when the display contents are changed; ascertaining a power state; updating said first configuration for said one or more areas of said touchable control area associated with the ascertained power state.
US10185400B2 Gesture control device with fingertip identification
A gesture-control interface is disclosed, comprising a camera, an infrared LED flash, and a processor that identifies the finger motion in the image.
US10185399B2 Image processing apparatus, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus including a memory, and a processor configured to make a display device display an image captured by an image capturing device, measure a time for which a hand region remains still when detecting the hand region in a first specific shape corresponding to a designation operation of designating a part in the image, identify the part designated by the designation operation when the time for which the hand region remains still reaches a predetermined time, and make a display device display an image resulting from execution of predetermined image processing for the identified part when at least one of a hand region in a second specific shape and a specific movement of a hand region is detected in the image captured by the image capturing device.
US10185397B2 Gap sensor for haptic feedback assembly
An electromagnetic actuator provides haptic feedback in a computing device. The electromagnetic actuator includes an actuator gap between the moveable actuator plate and the actuator. A gap sensor measures the actuation gap between the force plate and the actuator. The gap distance between the moveable actuator plate and the actuator may vary due to various environmental or user factors. The amount of haptic feedback provided to a user may be made consistent by adjusting the force exerted by the actuator on the actuator plate in response to measured variations in the gap distance.
US10185393B2 Waveguide display with spatially switchable grating
A near-eye-display (NED) includes an eye tracking system and a waveguide display. The eye tracking system tracks locations based on a location of the user's eyes. The waveguide display includes a light source, an output waveguide and a controller. The output waveguide includes a dynamic output grating that outputs an expanded image light to the tracked eyebox locations. The decoupling grating is a 2D array of spatially switchable liquid crystal (LC) pixels including an active subset of LC pixels emitting light to regions within the tracked eyebox locations. The decoupling grating dynamically out-couples the expanded image light to the tracked location based on switching instructions generated and provided by the controller.
US10185389B2 Posture measuring device, posture measuring method, image processing device, image processing method, and image display system
An image display system 100 includes an attachment position error measuring function which measures deviation between reference axes of a head action tracking device 200 (x, y, z) and reference axes of the user (xw, yw, zw), i.e., an attachment position error of the head action tracking device 200, and an attachment position error absorbing function which corrects, based on the attachment position error, posture information about a posture of the head of the user detected by the head action tracking device 200. An image drawing device 300 therefore renders, based on precise posture information, an image accurately following a motion of the head of the user.
US10185384B2 Reducing power by vacating subsets of CPUs and memory
A system has one or more primary power regions having restrictions indicating that the primary power regions are not to be placed in an offline state. The system also includes one or more secondary power region that can either be parked or off-lined into a limited state having limited functionality in that functionality is removed from the one or more secondary power regions when placed in a limited state. At least one interrupt is allocated to one of the primary power regions, based on interrupt characteristics.
US10185383B2 Power supply manageable wearable device and power supply management method for a wearable device
A power supply manageable wearable device includes: a power management module connected to the microphone interface, a control module and a function module that are connected to the power management module respectively; wherein the control module monitors whether a user instruction includes a voice communication instruction; if the user instruction includes the voice communication instruction, the power management module is enabled to supply power to a microphone and output a first voltage to supply power to the control module; or otherwise, the power management module is enabled to cut off power supply to the microphone and output a second voltage to supply power to the control module and the function module, or output a first voltage to supply power to the control module and output a second voltage to supply power to the function module. The wearable device has the advantages of convenient use and low cost.
US10185382B2 Multiple voltage identification (VID) power architecture, a digital synthesizable low dropout regulator, and apparatus for improving reliability of power gates
Described is an apparatus comprising: first and second processing cores; and a PCU which is operable to: generate a first VID for an off-die regulator external to the apparatus, the first VID resulting in a first power supply for the first processing core; and generate a second VID different from the first VID, the second VID resulting in a second power supply for the second processing core. Described is an apparatus comprising: a plurality of power-gate transistors controllable by a digital bus, the plurality of power-gate transistors operable to provide a first power supply to a processing core, and to receive a second power supply as input; an ADC to receive the first power supply and to generate a digital output representative of the first power supply; and a controller to receive the digital output representative and to generate the digital bus for controlling the plurality of power-gate transistors.
US10185379B2 Systems and methods for usage of secondary power supplies in computing environments based on risk and cost assessments
Systems and methods for usage of secondary power supplies in computing environments based on risk and cost assessments are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes determining a risk value to a primary power source of a need to utilize a secondary power source for powering a plurality of computing devices. The method includes using the secondary power source to power a portion of the computing devices based on the determined risk value.
US10185375B2 Thermal bus bar
An example method includes positioning a thermal bus bar into a bus bar support channel of a cooling wall, the cooling wall comprising a plurality of thermal bus bars. The positioning comprises removably connecting first portions of at least two dripless connectors coupled to a fluid flow path of the thermal bus bar to second portions of the dripless connectors coupled to coolant transport lines that receive and return coolant from a coolant source. The method further includes flowing coolant received from the coolant transport lines through the fluid flow path and returning the coolant to the coolant transport lines. The thermal bus bar is positioned while coolant provided by the coolant transport lines is flowing through other thermal bus bars of the cooling wall.
US10185374B2 Storage drive riser
A storage drive riser may include a riser board. The riser board may include an edge connector, a storage drive connector to operably engage with a storage drive, and a retention aperture. The retention aperture may be longitudinally aligned with the storage drive connector. The storage drive riser may also include a storage drive retainer to insertably engage with the retention aperture and to retain the storage drive to the riser board with a retention protrusion.
US10185373B1 Compact tool-less general purpose graphic processing units (GPGPU) carrier
A computing device is provided with a slot that includes a first locking element and a second locking element configured to receive a removable general purpose graphic processing unit (GPGPU) carrier. The GPGPU carrier includes a bracket for securing a first GPGPU in a first receiving space, and second GPGPU in a second receiving space. The bracket also includes a first latching mechanism configured to secure the first locking element of the slot, and a second latching mechanism configured to secure the second locking element of the slot. The GPGPU carrier also includes a frame secured to the bracket. The frame includes a first end with a first guide slot, and a second end with a second guide slot. The first and second guide slots are configured to enable the GPGPU carrier to adjust from a first position to a second position while secured within the slot.
US10185371B1 Orientable computing device
A computing device can include a chassis; a circuit board coupled to the chassis; a processor operatively coupled to the circuit board; and memory accessible by the processor; where the chassis includes a first end, an opposing second end, a first side that includes feet, and an opposing second side that includes feet, and where at least one of the first end and the second end includes an electrical component that is positioned closer to one of the first side and the second side.
US10185369B1 Electronic device with hinge structure and method for manufacturing signal connection unit thereof
An electronic device with a hinge structure is provided, including a first member and a second member. The first member includes a signal connection unit. The signal connection unit includes a plurality of conductive elements and a plurality of spacers. The conductive elements include a first conductive element and a second conductive element. The first conductive element includes a first annular portion and a first extending portion. The second conductive element includes a second annular portion and a second extending portion. The spacers include a first spacer and a second spacer. The first spacer separates the first annular portion from the second annular portion. The second spacer abuts the second annular portion. The second member is connected to the first member, and is adapted to be rotated relative to the first member.
US10185368B2 Staged snap hinge with adjustability
Systems and methods are disclosed for rotationally coupling housing portions of an information handling system. An information handling system includes a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The information handling system also includes a hinge assembly coupling the first and second housing portions, the hinge assembly comprising a first snapping band with a bi-stable structure having an engaged and a disengaged position, the first snapping band configured to engage when the first and second housing portions are rotated at a first angle, and a second snapping band with a bi-stable structure having an engaged and a disengaged position, the second snapping band configured to engage when the first and second housing portions are rotated at a second angle. In addition, the information handling system includes a flexible display coupled to the first housing portion and the second housing portion.
US10185366B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes an acoustic component, a first housing component including the acoustic component in the inside and including a cut in a first surface located on an outer side, the cut allowing passage of sound toward the acoustic component or sound emitted from the acoustic component, and a second housing component which is removably attached to a side of the first surface of the first housing component and includes a projection introduced in the cut in a second surface opposed to the first surface. An elastic material is located to close at least a part between an inner surface of the cut and a surface of the projection.
US10185363B2 Electronic device
A sturdy electronic device is provided. A reliable electronic device is provided. A novel electronic device is provided. An electronic device includes a first board, a second board, a display portion having flexibility, and a power storage device having flexibility. The first board and the second board face each other. The display portion and the power storage device are provided between the first board and the second board. The display portion includes a first surface facing the power storage device. The first surface includes a first region not fixed to the power storage device. The first region overlaps with a display region of the display portion.
US10185362B2 Information processing apparatus, method, and program product for displaying information unividedly
An information processing apparatus includes a first display unit and a second display unit, a processor, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code controls a screen display of the first display unit and a screen display of the second display unit, detects an instruction to slide a screen display of at least one of the first display unit and the second display unit, and slide the screen display of at least one of the first display unit and the second display unit in response to detecting the instruction.
US10185357B2 Waterproof apparatus
A waterproof apparatus includes a case having a communication hole that allows an inside and an outside of the case to communicate with each other, and a waterproof cap that closes the communication hole, wherein a first contact surface and a second contact surface extend in the communication hole and at different levels, wherein the waterproof cap includes a plate-like first elastic member that is longer than the communication hole in a long-side direction of the communication hole, and a second elastic member attached to a surface of the first elastic member, the surface facing the communication hole, and wherein when the first elastic member that is in a bent state is brought into contact with the first contact surface, the waterproof cap is retained on an inner wall of the communication hole with a restoring force exerted by the first elastic member.
US10185356B2 Information input device, information input method, and information input program
For input devices of mobile apparatuses placing more importance on the portability and mobile apparatuses placing more importance on display unit such as displays, it is possible to provide an input device and an input method which can easily be operated by a user even if an input unit in the apparatuses is small. The input device includes: an input unit formed by first vibration detection units which detect vibration transmitted via a body of a user holding the input device when a part of the user's body is brought into contact, and a second vibration detection unit; and an input information identification module which calculates a detection time difference between the moment when the vibration is directed by the first vibration detection units and the moment when the vibration is directed by the second vibration detection unit and outputs a code signal corresponding to the time difference.
US10185353B2 Electronic display with mount-accessible components
An electronic display where various electrical components may be removed from a housing of the display and serviced or replaced without having to demount the display. The electronic display may include an electronic image-producing assembly in electrical communication with a backplane. Various electrical components (e.g., electronic assemblies) may be removably connected to the backplane using self-guiding electrical connectors. An access opening through a wall of the housing may be provided to facilitate removal of an electrical assembly through the housing while the display remains mounted to a vertical surface.
US10185350B2 Multi-processor system and method for internal time synchronization and event scheduling of multiple processors
Embodiments of a multi-processor system and method for synchronization and event scheduling of multiple processing elements are generally described herein. In some embodiments, timing marks are provided to the processing elements and a start-timer command is broadcasted to the processing elements after an initial timing mark. The start-timer command instructs the processing elements to initiate an internal time reference after receipt of a next timing mark. Each of the processing elements maintains a copy of the internal time reference which may be used for synchronized event scheduling.
US10185342B2 Configurable charge controller
A configurable charge converter may include an adaptive low-dropout regulator. The adaptive low-dropout regulator may include a headroom detection circuit and a power supply controller. The headroom detection circuit may monitor a voltage drop across a field effect transistor (FET) and cause a programmable power supply to increase or decrease an output voltage accordingly. In some aspects, the configurable charge converter may include an adaptive low-dropout regulator and a buck/boost converter. The output power of the configurable charge controller may be provided by the adaptive low-dropout regulator, the buck/boost converter, or by both the adaptive low-dropout regulator and the buck/boost converter operating in combination.
US10185341B2 Semiconductor devices having voltage generators using weighted combination of feedback voltages
A voltage generator which generates an internal voltage based on a varying voltage derived from the internal voltage includes a feedback control circuit configured to variably transmit the varying voltage responsive to a control signal to generate a feedback voltage. A voltage generation circuit is configured to generate the internal voltage based on the feedback voltage.
US10185340B2 Apparatus and method for distributing power-up power dissipation
A connection device for connecting a load to a power supply, comprising at least first and second current control devices arranged in parallel between the power supply and the load, and a controller arranged to switch the current control devices on in sequence for temporally overlapping on periods.
US10185339B2 Feedforward cancellation of power supply noise in a voltage regulator
A voltage regulator that provides feedforward cancellation of power supply noise is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a process tracking circuit that receives a supply voltage and generates a proportional voltage. A tracking capacitor is coupled to the process tracking circuit and generates an injection voltage based on the proportional voltage. An Ahuja compensated regulator generates a regulated voltage. The injection voltage is provided on a feedback path of the Ahuja compensated regulator.
US10185336B2 Receiver and method for controller receiver
A receiver includes a bias current source, a comparator and an output circuit. The bias current source is powered by a first voltage source, and generates a bias current according to a second voltage source. The first voltage source is higher than the second voltage source. The comparator, coupled to the bias current source, compares two input signals to generate a comparison signal according to the bias current. The output circuit is powered by the second voltage source, and generates an output signal according to the comparison signal. The output signal and the second voltage source belong to the same power domain.
US10185326B2 Vehicle operation control system
A vehicle control system includes an operation manager controller electrically coupled to an operator controller of a vehicle and to a local vehicle control system of the vehicle. The operation manager controller receives an operator command from the operator controller and can regulate the operator command to control operation of the vehicle.
US10185323B2 System and method to reduce vehicle resource depletion risk
A system to reduce vehicle resource depletion risk which includes a memory, controller, efficiency module, mobile computing device, and fleet vehicle. The memory includes executable instructions. The controller executes the instructions. The controller communicates with an efficiency module. The efficiency module causes a fleet vehicle to optimally perform a rideshare task. The mobile computing device generates first location data and communicates the first location data to the controller. The fleet vehicle includes a vehicle system and a vehicle controls device and can communicate with the controller. The vehicle system generates second location data. The vehicle controls device commands the fleet vehicle to perform a rideshare task. The instructions enable the controller to: receive the first and second location data; perform the efficiency module to produce an output being partially based on the first and second location data and instructs the vehicle to perform a rideshare task; and communicate the output.
US10185317B2 Automated agriculture system
A system for performing an agricultural operation on a field, the system including a host vehicle, two or more autonomous agricultural machines configured for performing the said agricultural operation; and a control subsystem for path planning and controlling the movement of each autonomous agricultural machine relative to the host vehicle in the performance of the agricultural operation. The control subsystem is configured to dynamically re-plan the movement of one or more of the autonomous agricultural machines in response to a detected failure of an autonomous agricultural machine as indicated by its position relative to its planned path.
US10185316B2 System and method for drone connectivity and communication over a cellular network
Disclosed herein is a system and method for drone connectivity using cellular networks for out of line-of-sight applications and tracking drones during flight. The present invention may be modular, allowing users to program customizable modes for one or more microprocessors of the system. In one embodiment, a system comprises a drone configured with a processor, a cellular modem and a flight controller, the processor connected to the cellular modem and connected to the flight controller via serial connections; a cloud server; a remote control device, and wherein the system is configured for communication from the remote control device to the cloud server via internet communication, and from the cloud server to the drone via a cellular network in communication with the cloud server and the cellular modem, the system providing a communication network for the delivery and routing of data between the remote control device and the drone.
US10185311B2 Methods and apparatus to design collaborative automation systems based on data distribution service middleware
Methods and apparatus to design collaborative automation systems based on Data Distribution Service middleware are described, which include a clustered automation platform having one or more control servers connected to a local area control network, and a plurality of self-contained process interface systems configured to receive electrical signals from one or more field instruments and forward resulting data via an uplink to a local area input/output network. The clustered automation platform also includes an input/output processing and inferential modeling server connected to the local area input/output network and configured to process input/output signals of the plurality of self-contained process interface systems. The clustered automation platform also includes real-time data distribution service control middleware configured to interconnect one or more process control applications, the one or more input/output processing and inferential modeling servers, the one or more control servers, the plurality of self-contained process interface systems, and one or more HMIs.
US10185308B2 Methods and systems to provide update information of a device description of a field instrument
Methods and systems to update information of a device description of a field instrument are described. In one example, a method involves comparing a host revision of the device description executed via a host application to an instrument revision of the device description of the field instrument, generating a character string of update information based on the comparison, the character string containing the update information, and displaying the character string via the host application.
US10185305B2 Controlling actuators
A control system for controlling actuators comprises a central processor, a plurality of actuators, and a plurality of servo systems for controlling the respective actuators. Each servo system is operable, independently of the central processor, to control a controlled parameter (Y) in accordance with a reference value (R). The servo systems and the central processor communicate via a non-deterministic communications system. The central processor and the servo systems provide, to the central processor via the non-deterministic communications system, offset signals representing offsets (R−Y) measured by the servo systems between reference R and actual Y values of the controlled parameter. The central processor compares the offsets (R−Y) measured by the respective servo systems one with another.
US10185302B2 Method for operating a gear cutting machine
A method for operating a gear cutting machine comprising the following steps: machining a first workpiece (1) in the machine, wherein the first workpiece (1) heats up due to the machining, determining at least one characteristic workpiece variable in the first workpiece (1) in the heated state, wherein a measuring device of the machine is used for the determination, determining a compensation on the basis of the at least one characteristic workpiece variable of the first workpiece (1) and at least one characteristic workpiece variable of a reference workpiece, wherein the characteristic workpiece variable of the reference workpiece is determined in the machine after a steady-state temperature has been reached, at least one compensation value is determined in the course of determining the compensation, adjusting of the machine setting by taking into account the at least one compensation value, and machining a further workpiece (2) in the machine.
US10185291B2 System and method for shutting down a field device
A diagnostic system and method for a field device implemented in a safety instrumented system includes detecting an occurrence of a safety event associated with the field device, overriding normal control of the field device to cause the field device to enter a safe state in response to the detected occurrence of the safety event, verifying the override of normal control of the field device, and transmitting a control signal to cause the field device to enter the safe state.
US10185290B2 Electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece includes a storage unit and a processor. The storage unit associates and stores local time information with a corresponding geographical position. The local time information corresponds to each of a plurality of predetermined geographical positions. The processor acquires local time information corresponding to a geographical position selected from the plurality of geographical positions, as update information of a predetermined region including the selected geographical position. When update information corresponding to a target position for setting local time is acquired, the processor sets the local time by referring to the acquired update information. When the update information corresponding to a target position for setting local time is not acquired, the processor sets the local time by referring to the local time information.
US10185289B2 Electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece that has a plurality of operation modes and uses a secondary battery as a power supply includes a 2 o'clock side information display unit that displays a residual quantity of the secondary battery, a navigation start switch that receives a user manipulation, and a control unit that decides an execution operation mode to be executed by the electronic timepiece among the plurality of operation modes according to the user manipulation received by the navigation start switch and switches display of a residual quantity of a battery in the 2 o'clock side information display unit according to the execution operation mode.
US10185286B2 Image forming apparatus and cartridge
An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive member, an exposing device, a cartridge attachable to and removable from the casing, a protruding portion protruding toward a removal path along which the cartridge is removed, and a guide portion disposed on the cartridge. The guide portion is configured to, when the cartridge is attached to the casing, guide a sheet toward the photosensitive member. The guide portion is movable relative to the cartridge between a guide position where the guide portion guides a sheet and a retracted position where the guide portion is retracted from the protruding portion when the cartridge is removed from the casing.
US10185285B2 Common media redrive system for both belt and hot roll fuser assemblies in an imaging device
A common media redrive system for use with either a hot roll fuser assembly and a belt roll fuser assembly installed an imaging device. The redrive systems includes an access door movable between a raised closed and a lowered open position. The access door has a media path channel and a deflector mounted over the channel. The deflector has a pivotable gate and includes upper and lower media guide members forming a media entrance and two exits for directing a media sheet from the fuser assembly exits to an output area and duplex path portion, respectively, via the gate and the first and second exits, respectively. A pair of media exit guide portions cantilever from the rear portion of the fuser assembly. The lower media guide members includes a pair of cutouts that receive the pair of media exit guide portions when the access door is in the closed position.
US10185282B2 Disassemblable imaging apparatus
A disassemblable imaging apparatus includes a photo sensing assembly, a toner cartridge, and at least one torsion spring. The photo sensing assembly includes a casing and a photosensitive drum. The casing has an accommodating space. The photosensitive drum is installed on the casing and located at a side of the accommodating space. The toner cartridge is detachably located in the accommodating space. The at least one torsion spring is located in the accommodating space. A part of the at least one torsion spring is installed on the casing, and another part of the at least one torsion spring presses a side of the toner cartridge facing away from the photosensitive drum for pushing the toner cartridge toward the photosensitive drum.
US10185279B1 Grounding device with electrically conductive cushion
An exemplary grounding device includes an electrically conductive planar member having a hollow, central opening. Arms extend from inner edges of the hollow, central opening of the planar member. Each arm is angled relative to a surface of the planar member and each arm includes a facing portion having an electrically conductive cushion attached thereto. Each arm is approximately the same size and is configured to contact a shaft extending through the hollow, central opening of the planar member to form an electrical connection between the planar member and the shaft. The electrically conductive cushion is between the arm and the shaft. A tab projection extends from an outer edge of the planar member. Each tab projection is in the same plane as the planar member.
US10185278B2 Relay connector fitting structure, electronic appliance, and image forming apparatus
An relay connector fitting structure has a connector, a relay connector, and a chassis. The relay connector is removably fitted with the connector. The chassis has a fitting surface. The chassis has, formed integrally with it, a first stopper restricting movement of the relay connector in a first direction, a second stopper restricting movement of the relay connector in a second direction, and an opposite surface stopper restricting movement of the relay connector to the side opposite from the fitting surface.
US10185277B1 Transmission device and transmission unit for photosensitive drum and drum unit having the transmission unit
The invention relates to a transmission device for engagement with a photosensitive drum having a drum axis, which includes a housing detachably attached to the photosensitive drum; a sleeve coupled with the housing and arranged coaxially to the drum axis; and a transmission unit having a shaft disposed to the sleeve and being rotatable about and movable along the drum axis relative to the sleeve. The shaft includes a first part, a second part and a bushing, each part has a body, the bodies of the first and second parts are detachably attached to each other, and the bushing is disposed outside the bodies of the first and second parts so that the first and second parts can be attached to each other firmly. Accordingly, the transmission device will not separate apart when it is driven to rotate.
US10185274B2 Motor connection detecting device, motor connection detecting method, image forming device, and conveyance device
A motor connection detecting device includes: a bipolar stepping motor; a motor driver adapted to control current to be supplied to the bipolar stepping motor; and a controller connected to the bipolar stepping motor and the motor driver. The controller detects voltage of regenerative current generated during motor ON time in which current flows in the bipolar stepping motor, and determines abnormal connection of the bipolar stepping motor. The detected voltage is voltage generated during a fast decay period according to a current attenuation method of the regenerative current.
US10185271B2 Sheet accommodating cassette and image forming apparatus including the same
A sheet accommodating cassette includes a sheet accommodating section, a sheet loading plate, and a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism includes a rotary shaft, a push-up plate, a coupling member, an actuator, and an urging member. The push-up plate lifts up and down the sheet loading plate by pivoting about the rotary shaft. Driving force is input from a cassette attachment section to the coupling member. The actuator projects from an end of the rotary shaft. The urging member urges the actuator in a direction in which the sheet loading plate pivots toward the lowered position.
US10185269B2 Image forming apparatus and method for forming an image
An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor drum; an optical scanner, having a light source, configured to scan the photoconductor drum with light to form a latent image; a developer configured to develop an image, based on the latent image; a cycle detector configured to detect a rotation cycle of the photoconductor drum, to produce a cyclic signal indicative of the rotation cycle; a density detector configured to detect density of the image; a measurer configured to measure the rotation cycle at each rotation, based on the cyclic signal; a generator configured to generate, based on the density, a correcting value for correcting intensity of the light, the correcting value having a correction cycle based on a measurement result of the measurer; and an adjuster configured to adjust the correction cycle based on the rotation cycle measured at each rotation, so that the correction cycle matches the rotation cycle.
US10185267B2 Integrated sensor and image forming apparatus therewith
An integrated sensor has a density detection sensor, a sensor board, and a potential sensor pattern. The density detection sensor detects the density of a toner image formed on a toner image carrying member. On the sensor board, the density detection sensor is mounted. The potential sensor pattern is provided on the sensor board, and detects the potential of the toner image.
US10185266B2 Image forming apparatus for reducing misdetections
After a predetermined period elapses since the start of use of a photosensitive member, if a calculated value calculated from a detection current between a charging unit and a photosensitive member is out of a predetermined range, a determining unit does not perform determination using a currently calculated value and, if the calculated value is within the predetermined range, the determining unit performs determination using the currently calculated value.
US10185261B1 Image forming apparatus and image forming method
In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus encompasses a heat roller, a lamp, a use amount acquisition section, a switching controller and a cycle controller. The heat roller heats a sheet printed with a toner image. The lamp heats the heat roller. The use amount acquisition section acquires a use amount of the lamp. The switching controller repeats a processing from a moment at which the lamp is charged until the lamp is charged next after the lamp is not charged in a predetermined control cycle. The cycle controller sets the cycle based on the use amount.
US10185255B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method for controlling a secondary transfer bias according to recording sheet type
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a toner image, a nip forming member contacting the image bearer to form a transfer nip, and a transfer power source. The transfer bias has a transfer peak value to electrostatically move toner from the image bearer to the recording sheet and an opposite-peak value to electrostatically move less toner from the image bearer to the recording sheet than the transfer peak value. An opposite-peak duty of the transfer bias is less than 50%. The opposite-peak duty is tr/T×100% where T is one cycle of the transfer bias and tr is a time period during which the transfer bias is on a side of the opposite-peak value relative to an offset voltage of the transfer bias in the one cycle T.
US10185253B2 Image forming apparatus having an inclined sheet guide
An image forming apparatus, having a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer belt located at a lower position with respect to the photosensitive drum to contact the photosensitive drum, a secondary transfer roller contacting the intermediate transfer belt, a first sheet tray located at a lower position with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to store a sheet, and a sheet guide to guide the sheet stored in the first sheet tray to a position between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller, is provided. The sheet guide is located between the intermediate transfer belt and the first sheet tray with regard to a vertical direction and has a curved section. A contact area between the secondary transfer roller and the intermediate transfer belt is located at a lower position with respect to an upper end portion of the curved section.
US10185247B1 Toner cartridge having a media feed roll assembly
A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner and an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. A rotatable media feed roll is positioned on an exterior portion of the housing to engage a corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device for forming a media feed nip with the corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device.
US10185245B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning blade that is in contact with the photoconductive member to form a nip portion and that is configured to remove an adhering substance adhering to the photoconductive member and an execution unit configured to execute a supply operation of forming a supply toner on the photoconductive member to supply the supply toner to the nip portion after completion of an image forming job of forming an image on one or a plurality of printing media in a series of operations and before the photoconductive member stops rotation. The execution unit sets the amount of supply toner such that the number of images formed at the image forming job and the amount of supply toner have a linear relationship.
US10185241B2 Image forming apparatus and voltage applying method
According to one embodiment, a charger charges a surface of an image carrier by discharge in a wide-angle. A charging bias voltage application section applies a charging bias voltage to the charger. An exposing device forms an electrostatic latent image in a charged image carrier. A toner carrier causes toner to adhere to the electrostatic latent image formed in the image carrier. A developing bias voltage application section applies the developing bias voltage to the toner carrier. In addition, the developing bias voltage application section changes the charging bias voltage in one step and changes the developing bias voltage applied to the toner carrier in multiple steps.
US10185240B2 Image forming apparatus with storage of cleaning blade contact pressure
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, a cleaning blade, an information storing member configured to store information on contact pressures of the cleaning blade to the image bearing member, an information input portion, and an executing portion configured to execute a toner supplying operation for supplying toner to the cleaning portion using a toner image formed on the image bearing member, in a period other than a period in which the toner image is formed on the image bearing member, for each predetermined number of image forming operations. On the basis of the information inputted to the input portion, the executing portion sets amounts of the toner supplied to the respective regions in the toner supplying operation.
US10185238B2 Carrier core material
A carrier core material is provided that is formed with ferrite particles which can uniformly adhere a coupling agent to the entire surface. A carrier core material is formed with ferrite particles, and the powder pH of the ferrite particles is equal to or more than 9. Here, the ferrite particles are preferably formed of Mn ferrite or Mn—Mg ferrite. The ferrite particles preferably contain 45 wt % or more but 65 wt % or less of Fe, 15 wt % or more but 30 wt % or less of Mn and 5 wt % or less of Mg.
US10185235B2 Measurement apparatus, lithography apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides a measurement apparatus that measures a position of an object, the apparatus including a detector configured to detect a mark formed on the object and generate a detection signal, and a processor configured to obtain the position of the object based on the detection signal, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the position of the object based on a portion of the detection signal that is limited based on information about a tolerance regarding a measurement precision for the object.
US10185234B2 Harsh environment optical element protection
Optical element protection systems for protecting optical elements and particularly reflective optical elements from degradation of their optical properties in harsh environments such as the environment inside a vacuum chamber of an EUV light source. The systems include the uses of combinations of materials in various layers where the materials are chosen and the layers are configured and arranged to extend the lifetime of the optical element without compromising its optical properties.
US10185231B2 Lithographic apparatus, a dryer and a method of removing liquid from a surface
A new way of drying and/or wetting a surface, such as a top surface of a substrate, is disclosed which is useful in immersion lithography. The surface is placed under a single phase extractor and a priming liquid is delivered between the single phase extractor and the surface. The single phase extractor is only activated after the priming liquid has been provided between the single phase extractor and the surface. Priming liquid is delivered to the single phase extractor during the whole of the drying and/or wetting process.
US10185228B2 Movable body drive method, movable body drive system, pattern formation method, pattern forming apparatus, exposure method, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
Positional information of a movable body in a Y-axis direction is measured using an interferometer and an encoder whose short-term stability of measurement values excels when compared with the interferometer, and based on the measurement results, a predetermined calibration operation for obtaining correction information for correcting measurement values of the encoder is performed. Accordingly, by using measurement values of the interferometer, correction information for correcting the measurement values of the encoder whose short-term stability of the measurement values excels the interferometer is obtained. Then, based on the measurement values of the encoder and the correction information, the movable body is driven in the Y-axis direction with good precision.
US10185227B2 Movable body drive method, movable body drive system, pattern formation method, pattern forming apparatus, exposure method, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
An immersion exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with light via a projection system and liquid, and includes a first stage system having a first movable body to hold a mask, a first detection system that detects a mark of the mask or of the first movable body, a first encoder system having first heads, a second stage system having a second movable body to hold the substrate, a second detection system that detects a mark of the substrate or of the second movable body, and a second encoder system having second heads. In each of an exposure operation and a detection operation by the first detection system, positional information of the first movable body is measured by the first encoder system. In each of the exposure operation and a detection operation by the second detection system, positional information of the second movable body is measured by the second encoder system.
US10185225B2 Lithography apparatus and article manufacturing method
A lithography apparatus includes a detector that detects an original-side mark image and a substrate-side mark image via a projection optical system, and a controller. The detector generates refocusable light field image data that includes the original-side mark image and the substrate-side mark image. The controller performs, based on the light field image data obtained from the detector, a refocus operation of reconstructing a plurality of images different in position in a focus direction and adjusts a position of at least one of the original holder and the substrate holder based on the plurality of images reconstructed by the refocus operation.
US10185211B2 Projection light source device
A projection light source device according to the present disclosure includes a light source, and a collimating lens that substantially collimates light emitted from the light source, an intermediate diffusion plate that diffuses the emitted light of the collimating lens, and an emission surface diffusion plate that has a weaker diffusibility than the intermediate diffusion plate and diffuses the emitted light of the intermediate diffusion plate.
US10185209B2 Image projection apparatus and illumination optical system
An image projection apparatus includes: an illumination optical system; a projection optical system assembled integrally with the illumination optical system; and a frame fixed to only one system, that has a larger weight, of the illumination optical system and the projection optical system.
US10185205B2 CMOS compatible optical modulators
Ring modulators based on interdigitated junctions may be driven in full or partial standing wave mode and, active regions (providing the modulation) and light-absorptive regions (e.g. providing electrical conduction) are placed in a pattern inside a resonant cavity in order to match the maxima and minima of the optical field, respectively. The pattern may be periodic to match the periodicity of a typical electromagnetic field which is periodic with the wavelength. It may also be aperiodic in the case that the cross-section or materials are engineered along the direction of propagation such that the propagation constant (and thus wavelength, i.e. optical wave “local periodicity”) change along the propagation direction.
US10185204B2 Mach-Zehnder modulator, method for fabricating Mach-Zehnder modulator
A Mach-Zehnder modulator includes: a semiconductor structure having a first waveguide portion, a second waveguide portion, and a third waveguide portion, which are disposed on the first area, the second area, and the third area of a principal surface of substrate, respectively; an embedding resin body having an opening on the first waveguide portion; an ohmic electrode including a first ohmic electrode portion connected to the first waveguide portion through the opening of the embedding resin body, and a second ohmic electrode portion disposed on the embedding resin body in the second area; and a conductor including a first conductive portion extending along the first ohmic electrode portion, and a second conductive portion disposed on the embedding resin body and having a width greater than that of the second ohmic electrode portion, the embedding resin body having a groove extending along an edge of the second ohmic electrode portion.
US10185193B2 Liquid crystal pixel structure and liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal pixel structure is disclosed. The liquid crystal pixel structure includes: a pixel electrode, located in a pixel aperture. The pixel electrode has two or more display domains applied with the same voltage level. The pixel electrode extends in different directions in the display domains. A gate line is located at an intersection of the display domains. An edge of the intersection of the display domains overlaps the gate line. A data line is located at an edge of the pixel aperture. The pixel electrode is controlled by the gate line and the data line via a transistor. The aperture of the pixel structure is divided by the gate lines. Therefore, the edge of the display domains overlaps the gate lines. The dark line can be covered by the gate lines and thus the aperture rate and the transparent rate can be raised.
US10185188B2 Liquid crystal display device
The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: upper and lower substrates; and a horizontal alignment type liquid crystal layer, the lower substrate including electrodes, the electrodes including a first electrode, a second electrode present in a different layer from the first electrode, and a third electrode present in a different layer from the first electrode, the first electrode including a plurality of linear sections, the second electrode and the third electrode constituting a pair of comb electrodes, each of the comb electrodes including a trunk part and a plurality of branch parts diverging from the trunk part, at least one of the plurality of branch parts of the third electrode including a protruding part that makes the branch part partially wide, between two intersections with a plurality of linear sections of the first electrode in a plan view of the lower substrate.
US10185182B2 Mechanical rubbing method for fabricating cycloidal diffractive waveplates
Cycloidal boundary conditions for aligning liquid crystalline materials are obtained by mechanical rubbing of a polymer coating. The rubbing is performed by a rubbing head rotating around an axis perpendicular to the rubbing plane while the alignment polymer film is being translated across the rubbing film such as only a linear portion of the alignment film touches the rubbing film at any given time.
US10185181B2 Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof, display panel and display device
Embodiments of the invention provide an array substrate. The array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel units. The array substrate comprises a first electrode layer, an insulating layer covering the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the insulating layer. The first electrode layer comprises a first electrode arranged in each of the pixel units, the insulating layer comprises an insulating layer unit covering the surface of each of the first electrodes, and the second electrode layer comprises a second electrode arranged on the insulating layer unit. Within each of the pixel units, the insulating layer unit comprises a plurality of insulating regions, and at least one of the insulating regions has a dielectric constant different from dielectric constants of other insulating regions.
US10185179B2 Light-emitting apparatus and image display apparatus having fixing members in pixel boundaries
A light-emitting apparatus according to the present invention includes: a board on which a plurality of light source units are provided; a partition member provided on the board and enclosing each of the light source units; and a fixing member arranged in a boundary portion between two or more light source units that are adjacent to each other and fixing the board and the partition member.
US10185176B2 Display device
A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a display panel, a frame behind the display panel, a light assembly positioned between the display panel and the frame and providing the display panel with light, and a substrate mounted with the light assembly and positioned in front of the frame. The frame includes a flat portion forming a flat surface and a trench forming a stepped portion together with the flat portion. The substrate is positioned on the trench.
US10185171B2 Light control member, method of manufacturing light control member, apparatus for manufacturing light control member, and display device
A light control member includes a light-transmissive first substrate, a light diffusing portion which is defined on a first surface of the first substrate, and a light shielding layer which is defined in a first region other than a second region in which the light diffusing portion is formed on the first surface and includes a light emitting end surface in contact with the first substrate, and a light incident end surface opposite the light emitting end surface and having a first area larger than a second area of the light emitting end surface, and structured such that a height from the light incident end surface to the light emitting end surface is larger than a layer thickness of the light shielding layer.
US10185166B2 Digital to analog converter and display panel having digital to analog converter
A digital to analog converter includes N lines of transistors. A number of each rear line of transistors is equal to a half of a number of each adjacent front line of transistors. Each transistor includes a conducting terminal, an input terminal, and an output terminal. In any two adjacent lines of transistors, input terminals of the first transistors and input terminals of the second transistors of the rear line are connected to output terminals of the first transistors of a front line respectively. Output terminals of the second transistors of the front line are connected to output terminals of the first transistors of the front line. Output terminals of the second transistors of the rear line of transistors are connected to output terminals of the first transistor of the rear line of transistors. Conducting terminals of each line of transistors are connected to each other.
US10185165B2 Optical waveguide device
ObjectTo provide an optical waveguide device capable of suppressing an excess optical loss at a low level.MeansAn optical waveguide device including a substrate having an electro-optic effect, an optical waveguide 1 formed on the substrate, and a control electrode having a signal electrode 2 and ground electrodes 3 and 4 for controlling light waves that propagate through the optical waveguide, in which the signal electrode 2 has, in an intersection portion in which the signal electrode 2 is disposed on the optical waveguide 1, a narrow portion at which a width of the signal electrode 2 is narrower than those of portions before and after the intersection portion.
US10185161B2 Spectacles comprising a spectacles lens with a moveable lens segment
Spectacles include a spectacles lens having a carrier lens with a carrier lens front surface and/or a carrier lens rear surface, and having a front surface lens segment arranged on the carrier lens front surface and/or a rear surface lens segment arranged on the carrier lens rear surface, which are moveably guided on the carrier lens front surface and/or the rear surface lens segment, respectively. Further, the spectacles include a front/rear surface lens segment drive for moving the front/rear surface lens segment on the carrier lens front/rear surface, respectively; an eye position detection device for detecting the position of an eye of a wearer wearing the spectacles; and a drive control device for controlling the front and/or rear surface lens segment drive in accordance with the position of the eye detected by the eye position detection device.
US10185159B2 Progressive power lens and method of designing and manufacturing the same
Provided is a technology relating to a progressive power lens including a near region for seeing an object at a near distance, a specific region for seeing an object at a far distance in relation to the near distance, and an intermediate region provided as a region between the specific region and the near region and having a power progressing from the specific region toward the near region, in which a power exceeding zero is added to a prescription power of the specific region so that a power corresponding to a predetermined target distance which is a distance between the near distance and the far distance is provided at a predetermined part of the intermediate region.
US10185156B2 Optical unit with plate-shaped spring having meandering or curved parts
An optical unit with a shake correction function may include a movable body which may include an optical module and a holder for holding the optical module, and a gimbal mechanism which swingably supports the movable body with respect to a fixed body. The gimbal mechanism may include a movable frame which is a gimbal spring. The movable frame may include a supporting point part and a connecting part including a meandering part. The meandering part has a cross-sectional shape in which on the assumption that a direction perpendicular to first and second axial lines is a first direction and a direction perpendicular to the first direction and a meandering path of the meandering part is a second direction, a thickness in the second direction is larger than a thickness in the first direction of each plate-shaped spring which structures the movable frame.
US10185140B2 Fabry-Perot interference filter
A Fabry-Perot interference filter 10A includes a first mirror 31; a second mirror 41 being opposite to the first mirror 31 with a gap S therebetween; a first electrode 17 formed in the first mirror 31 to surround a light transmission region 11; a second electrode 18 formed in the first mirror 31 to include the light transmission region 11; and a third electrode 19 formed in the second mirror 41 to be opposite to the first electrode 17 and the second electrode 18 and connected to the same potential as the second electrode 18. The second electrode 18 is positioned at the side of the third electrode 19 or the opposite side thereof with respect to the first electrode 17 in an opposite direction D where the first mirror 31 and the second mirror 41 are opposite each other.
US10185135B2 Lens with at least one object-side and at least one image-side refractive surface
Described herein is a lens having at least one object-side and at least one image-side refractive surface. In order to determine a light intensity of an effective luminous flux propagating through the lens without the need for additional components for coupling light out, the lens includes a reflective surface arranged between the object-side and the image-side refractive surfaces and aligned obliquely to the optical axis.
US10185133B1 Reflective triplet foreoptics for multi-channel double-pass dispersive spectrometers
A non-relayed reflective triplet and a double-pass imaging spectrometer including the reflective triplet configured as its objective. In one example the reflective triplet includes a primary mirror that receives and reflects electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene and defines an optical axis of the optical system, a secondary mirror that receives and reflects the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the primary mirror, and a tertiary mirror that receives the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the secondary mirror and focuses the electromagnetic radiation onto an image plane to form an image of the viewed scene. The primary, secondary, and tertiary mirrors together are configured to form a virtual exit pupil for the optical system, the image plane being located between the tertiary mirror and the virtual exit pupil. The reflective triplet is on-axis in aperture and off-axis in field of view.
US10185131B2 Zoom lens and lens barrel and image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens includes in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit having a negative refractive power, and at the time of zooming, movement of the first lens unit includes at least a movement toward an image side, the second lens unit moves integrally with an aperture stop, and the third lens unit moves toward the object side, and the first lens unit includes at least a negative lens and a positive lens, and the negative lens is disposed nearest to an object, and the following conditional expressions are satisfied: 0.75<(β2t/β2w)/(β3t/β3w)<1.38 −0.70<β2w<−0.32 0.96
US10185129B2 Optical lens
A telecentric lens including a first lens group, an aperture stop, and a second lens group arranged in order from a magnified side to a minified side is provided. The first lens group has an outmost lens facing the magnified side, and the second lens group has an outmost lens facing the minified side. At least one of the outmost lens of the first lens group and the outmost lens of the second lens group is formed of glass. At least one of the first lens group and the second lens group has a lens having negative refractive power and being composed of plurality of lenses being mutually contacted to each other. The condition: TTL<100 mm is satisfied, wherein TTL denotes a length measured along an optical axis and between two outmost opposite lens surfaces of the telecentric lens.
US10185121B2 Optical image capturing system
The invention discloses a four-piece optical lens for capturing image and a four-piece optical module for capturing image. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis comprises a first lens with refractive power; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; and a fourth lens with refractive power; and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the four lenses are aspheric. The optical lens may increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US10185118B2 Lens control apparatus and lens control method
A lens control apparatus having a focusing lens capable of moving in an optical axis direction provided within a lens barrel including a photographing lens, comprising; a ring rotatably disposed to the lens barrel; a memory storing a first relationship between a rotation angle of the ring and a value relating to a photographing distance corresponding to a first photographing distance area and a second relationship between a rotation angle of the ring and a value relating to a photographing distance corresponding to a second photographing distance area on a shorter distance side than the first photographing distance area; and a controller controlling a position in an optical axis direction of the focusing lens by selecting the first relationship or the second relationship in accordance with a rotation angle of the ring and calculating a value relating to a photographing distance in accordance with a rotation angle of the ring.
US10185116B2 Lens driving apparatus and lens driving method
A lens driving apparatus includes a lens holding member for holding a lens movably in an optical axis direction; a first guide bar and a second guide bar that support the lens holding member movably in the optical axis direction; first driving unit and second driving unit that drive the lens holding member in the optical direction; and first position detection unit and second position detection unit that are positioned close to the first driving unit and the second driving unit to detect a position in the optical axis direction. Upon driving the lens holding member, either of or both of the first driving unit and the second driving unit are driven and controlled from a position detection result of the first position detection unit and the second position detection unit in such a manner that the first and second driving units are positioned at a predetermined position.
US10185114B2 Optical lens, lens unit, imaging module, electronic apparatus, injection molding mold and injection molding method
The optical lens 10 having an optical function portion 12 having optical functions; and a flange portion 14 formed around the optical function portion 12. The flange portion 14 has, on a side surface thereof, a cut section 42 which is formed by cutting a gate portion 16. In a case where the following are viewed from the optical axis direction of the optical lens 10, a thinnest portion 18 in a region 44 surrounded by lines L1 and L2, which respectively connect both ends 42a and 42b of the cut section 42 to the optical axis center O of the optical lens 10, and a line L3, which connects both ends 42a and 42b, is present in the optical function portion 12. The flange portion 14 has a concave portion 40 outside the region 44.
US10185113B2 Techniques for strengthening glass covers for portable electronic devices
Apparatus, systems and methods for improving strength of a thin glass cover for an electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the glass member can have improved strength by forming its edges with a predetermined geometry and/or by chemically strengthening the edges. Advantageously, the glass member can be not only thin but also adequately strong to limit susceptibility to damage. In one embodiment, the glass member can pertain to a glass cover for a housing for an electronic device. The glass cover can be provided over or integrated with a display, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display.
US10185112B2 Optical module with design feature for mounting
An optical module is provided, including a substrate (1) of a defined shape, the substrate having two surfaces (1a, 1b) opposite from each other and an edge (1c). A layer (2) covers at least one of the surfaces (1a, 1b) of the substrate (1). The layer (2) includes a transparent polymeric material and has at least one optical element (3) which scatters rays of light originating from the substrate and passing through the optical element (3). A design feature for at least one of mounting and aligning (4, 5) the optical module is provided in a mounting region of the layer and is the same material and the same part as the layer (2).
US10185111B2 Traceable end point cable assembly
A traceable cable assembly includes a traceable cable having at least one data transmission element, a jacket at least partially surrounding the data transmission element, and first and second tracing optical fibers extending along at least a portion of a length of the traceable cable. The traceable cable assembly also includes a connector provided at each end of the traceable cable. The first and second tracing optical fibers each have a light launch end and a light emission end. The light launch ends of the first and second tracing optical fibers each include a bend. The bend allows for launching of light into the light launch ends without disengaging the first or second connectors from corresponding connector receptacles.
US10185103B2 Optical module
The disclosure provides an optical module that includes a circuit board, a first chip, a second chip, and a lens assembly, wherein the first chip and the second chip are arranged respectively on the surface of the circuit board, and the lens assembly is arranged above the first chip and the second chip; the lens assembly includes a first optic fiber insertion port, a second optic fiber insertion port, a first reflecting surface, and a second reflecting surface; the distance between the axis of the first optic fiber insertion port, and the axis of the second optic fiber insertion port is less than the distance between the first chip and the second chip; and the first reflecting surface faces the first chip, the first reflecting surface faces the second reflecting surface, and the second reflecting surface faces the first optic fiber insertion port.
US10185100B2 Modular connector and adapter assembly using a removable anchor device
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a device and system of devices including: a connector comprising a housing comprising a groove lengthwise in a surface of the housing and a push-pull tab comprising a protrusion, a widthwise recess on the connector housing accepting protrusions on a removable anchor device that retains the connector in a port, wherein the push-pull tab releases the connector from the port using protrusions on the anchor device and the receiver device comprising one or more ports for receiving one or more connector types; and the receiver device comprising one or more ports without an anchor; said port secures a second connector type comprising a latch release mechanism; and the receiver device ports are opposite one another; wherein the opposite ports can accept a first connector and a second connector; wherein the first connector release mechanism and differs from the second connector release mechanism.
US10185092B1 Hybrid grating couplers that overlap via an interconnect structure having a metallization layer
Structures for grating couplers and methods of fabricating a structure including grating couplers. A first grating coupler includes a first plurality of grating structures. An interconnect structure includes a first metallization level that is positioned over the first grating coupler. A second grating coupler includes a second plurality of grating structures that are arranged in the first metallization level to overlap with the first grating coupler. The second plurality of grating structures are composed of a metal.
US10185089B2 Splicing optical fiber cable using a mass fusion splicer having a pitch different from cable pitch
A method for splicing a first optical fiber ribbon cable to a second optical fiber ribbon cable includes separating an end of the first optical fiber ribbon cable into loose optical fibers, and re-ribbonizing the loose optical fibers into a ribbonized end having a second pitch different from the first pitch of the original first optical fiber ribbon cable. The method further includes inserting the ribbonized end into a mass fusion splicer having the second pitch, and splicing the ribbonized end to the end of the second optical fiber ribbon cable using the mass fusion splicer.
US10185088B2 Optical fiber arrangement for a system for measuring the light absorption or determining the concentration of a substance
Disclosed is an optical fiber arrangement for inducing coupling among propagation modes of light, said arrangement comprising a multimode optical fiber (30) having an input end (32) for receiving light and an output end (31) for emitting light, with a coupling inducing section (33) extending from said input end to said output end, and a holder (80) on which the optical fiber is arranged, wherein said multimode optical fiber has a non-circular cross section. Disclosed also is a system for measuring the absorption or determining the concentration of a substance, said system comprising at least one optical fiber arrangement.
US10185087B2 Compact and low loss Y-junction for submicron silicon waveguide
A compact, low-loss and wavelength insensitive Y-junction for submicron silicon waveguides. The design was performed using FDTD and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The device was fabricated in a 248 nm CMOS line. Measured average insertion loss is 0.28±0.02 dB across an 8-inch wafer. The device footprint is less than 1.2 μm×2 μm, orders of magnitude smaller than MMI and directional couplers.
US10185086B2 Method and system for coupling optical signals into silicon optoelectronic chips
A method and system for coupling optical signals into silicon optoelectronic chips are disclosed and may include coupling one or more optical signals into a back surface of a CMOS photonic chip comprising photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. The devices may be integrated in a front surface of the chip and one or more optical couplers may receive the optical signals in the front surface of the chip. The optical signals may be coupled into the back surface of the chip via one or more optical fibers and/or optical source assemblies. The optical signals may be coupled to the grating couplers via a light path etched in the chip, which may be refilled with silicon dioxide. The chip may be flip-chip bonded to a packaging substrate. Optical signals may be reflected back to the grating couplers via metal reflectors, which may be integrated in dielectric layers on the chip.
US10185085B2 On-chip optical interconnection structure and network
An on-chip optical interconnection structure and network, where the on-chip optical interconnection structure includes M levels of optical switches, and mth-level optical switches in the M levels of optical switching devices include 2m-1 optical switches. Each optical switch in (i-1)th-level optical switches in the M levels of optical switches is coupled to two optical switches in ith-level optical switches. Two optical switches in the ith-level optical switches coupled to a same optical switch in the (i-1)th-level optical switches are coupled. The on-chip optical interconnection network is divided into levels, and switches coupled in a grid manner are formed such that hierarchical switching may be performed, and conflicts and delays in communication are reduced.
US10185083B2 Coated optical fibres having improved features
A waveguide for high efficiency transmission of high energy light useful in ablation procedures at predetermined bandwidths over predetermined distances comprising: an optical fiber core; a silanization agent; layered cladding surrounding the optical fiber core comprising: a first thin metal layer comprising at least two types of metals the first thin metal layer covalently bonded to the core and a second thin metal layer bonded to the second metal layer, and a catalyst component; wherein the silanization agent comprising organofunctional alkoxysilane molecule, such as 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), is a self supporting bridge between the surface of the optical fiber and the first metal layer; the first metal layer is uniformly chemisorbed onto the surface of the optical fiber by means of covalent Si—O—Si bonds with the optical fiber; further wherein the catalyst component derived from an activation solution for enhancing the layered cladding upon the optical fiber.
US10185079B2 Display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus having a quantum dot sheet to change color by converting the wavelength of blue lights, a middle mold having a middle supporting unit to support a front edge unit of a light guide plate, and a supplement member coupled to the middle supporting unit and configured to reflect the light radiated from the a source to prevent the light that is radiated from the light source from exiting through the gap between the light guide plate and the middle supporting unit, and thus the generation of bright line may be minimized and heat radiation performance may be enhanced.
US10185078B2 Backlight module and display device
A backlight module and a display device are provided. The backlight module includes a back plate, a reflector plate provided on a bottom surface of the back plate, and a spacer provided between the bottom surface of the back plate and the reflector plate and configured to keep a certain spacing between the bottom surface of the back plate and the reflector plate. The display device includes the backlight module. The display device has improved display quality.
US10185077B2 LED light bar configured in backlight module and backlight module
The disclosure provides a LED light bar configured in a backlight module, including a light bar circuit board and LEDs disposed on the light bar circuit board. A long side of the light bar circuit board is defined with a nick. The nick forms a first embedding section. A heat dissipation section is disposed in the first embedding section. The disclosure further provides a backlight module, including a light guide plate disposed in a frame, further including the LED light bar configured in a backlight module. Compared with the prior art, the heat dissipation section is disposed on the light bar circuit board to conduct heat of the LEDs out of the backlight module, which reduces the heat in the center of the LED light bar and improves heat dissipation of the backlight module, further preventing the optical films from being wrinkle and dark regions appearing in the backlight module.
US10185076B2 Directional backlights with light emitting element packages
A light emitting diode package for a directional display may comprise light emitting diodes and a protection diode. The protection diode may be arranged in a well that is at a different location to the well that the light emitting diodes are arranged. The directional display may include a waveguide. The waveguide may include light extraction features arranged to direct light from an array of light sources by total internal reflection to an array of viewing windows and a reflector arranged to direct light from the waveguide by transmission through extraction features of the waveguide to the same array of viewing windows. The brightness of the directional display can be increased. An efficient and bright directional display system can be achieved. Efficient light baffling for light escaping from the edge of the waveguide is achieved through light deflecting extraction films.
US10185073B2 Product having a luminous surface provided by a light guide
Disclosed is a product comprising a luminous surface, the product comprising a light guide (10) providing said luminous surface, said light guide comprising a plurality of scattering elements (12) for producing a substantially homogeneous light output across said luminous surface; and a first solid state lighting element (20) arranged to emit a beam of light (30) into the light guide; wherein the light guide further comprises a body (40) arranged to create a region (50) in the light guide shaded from said beam.
US10185069B2 Skew mirrors, methods of use, and methods of manufacture
An optical reflective device referred to as a skew mirror, having a reflective axis that need not be constrained to surface normal, is described. Examples of skew mirrors are configured to reflect light about substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of wavelengths. In some examples, a skew mirror has substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of angles of incidence. Exemplary methods for making and using skew mirrors are also disclosed. Skew mirrors include a grating structure, which in some examples comprises a hologram.
US10185057B2 Coated articles having abrasion resistant, glass-like coatings
Coated articles are provided comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a porous sol-gel layer superimposed on at least one surface of the substrate; wherein the porous sol-gel layer comprises a hydrolyzed tetraalkoxysilane; and (c) a sealant layer superimposed on at least one surface of the porous sol-gel layer; wherein the sealant layer comprises an alkyltrihalosilane. The coated articles demonstrate superior abrasion resistance due to a glass-like layer formed from the combination of the porous sol-gel layer and sealant layer.
US10185056B2 Silicone hydrogel reactive mixtures comprising borates
Disclosed in this specification is a method for forming a silicone hydrogel material that is useful for forming contact lens materials. The method includes using an effective amount of a borate additive to reduce the gel time of the silicone hydrogel reactive mixture and/or enhance the optical properties of the resulting cured material.
US10185050B2 Compensated transmit antenna for MWD resistivity tools
A transmission assembly may include an electronics package comprising an RF generator, the electronics package having a first antenna output and a second antenna output. The transmission assembly may also include a transmission antenna formed from at least one transmission winding, the transmission antenna having a first end coupled to a first antenna output and a second end coupled to a second antenna output. In addition, the transmission assembly may include a compensation coil formed from at least one compensation winding, the compensation winding wound parallel with the transmission winding, the compensation coil having a first compensation end connected to the transmission antenna output and a second compensation end not coupled.
US10185047B2 Controller and method for steering sources
A marine acoustic source system and method for steering a seismic source array in a body of water during a seismic survey. The method includes measuring an actual position of the seismic source array; calculating a virtual position of the seismic source array, wherein the virtual position corresponds to a position of the seismic source array when towed with no adjustment from a source steering device; retrieving a pre-plot path that includes desired positions of the seismic source array for the seismic survey; and steering the vessel based on the virtual position so that the virtual position lies on the pre-plot path.
US10185046B2 Method for temporal dispersion correction for seismic simulation, RTM and FWI
Method for correcting seismic simulations, RTM, and FWI for temporal dispersion due to temporal finite difference methods in which time derivatives are approximated to a specified order of approximation. Computer-simulated seismic data (51) are transformed from time domain to frequency domain (52), and then resampled using a mapping relationship that maps, in the frequency domain, to a frequency at which the time derivative exhibits no temporal dispersion (53), or to a frequency at which the time derivative exhibits a specified different order of temporal dispersion. Alternatively, measured seismic data from a field survey (61) may have temporal dispersion of a given order introduced, by a similar technique, to match the order of approximation used to generate simulated data which are to be compared to the measured data.
US10185045B2 Earthquake forecaster
Forecasting the likelihood of an earthquake comprises: determining a gas migration rate using measurements collected from measurement device(s). The measurement devices may be measuring changes in radon gas intensity. If the gas migration rate increases at greater than a first rate, determining a latent heat energy release rate; if the latent heat energy release rate increases at greater than a second rate, look for at least one transient outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) anomaly using measurements collected from remote sensing atmospheric thermodynamic measurement(s); if the transient outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) anomaly has been observed, look for at least one ionospheric anomaly using measurements collected from ionosphere measurement device(s); and if the at least one ionospheric anomaly has been observed, forecasting that an earthquake is likely to occur within one to four days from the observation of the at least one ionospheric anomaly.
US10185043B2 Detector unit for detector array of radiation imaging modality
Among other things, a detector unit for a radiation detector array is provided. The detector unit includes a radiation detection sub-assembly including a scintillator and a photodetector array. A first routing layer is coupled to the photodetector array of the radiation detection sub-assembly at a first surface of the routing layer. An electronics assembly includes an analog-to-digital converter that converts an analog signal to a digital signal. A second routing layer is disposed between the A/D converter and the first routing layer. A shielding element is disposed between the A/D converter and the second routing layer. The shielding element shields the A/D converter from the radiation photons. The second routing layer couples the electronics sub-assembly to the first routing layer. A first coupling element couples the A/D converter to the second routing layer.
US10185039B2 Detector module for an x-ray detector
A detector module for an x-ray detector is disclosed. In an embodiment, the detector module includes a plurality of sensor boards arranged adjacent to one another on a module carrier. Each sensor board is arranged in a stack formation and includes a sensor layer with a sensor surface, to which a bias voltage can be applied in order to detect x-ray radiation. A voltage supply line is arranged in the stack formation along a lateral surface of the stack formation of each sensor board in order to apply the bias voltage. Moreover, an x-ray detector is disclosed for recording an image of an object irradiated by x-ray radiation, the x-ray detector including a plurality a number of detector modules arranged adjacent to one another.
US10185034B2 Positioning system using radio frequency signals
A method for determining a position of a machine in a worksite is disclosed. The method may include determining, using a Lidar unit on the machine, input data. The input data may be associated with distances between the Lidar unit and respective light-reflective points in the worksite. The method may also include transmitting a radio-frequency communication between a first signal device at a known location within the worksite and a second signal device located on the machine. Further, the method may include determining position data for the machine based on at least the radio frequency communication. The method may also include determining a position of the machine based on the position data and the input data.
US10185032B2 Time measurement circuit and optoelectronic distance meter having such a time measurement circuit
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a time measurement circuit for an incoming signal. In some embodiments, the time measurement circuit has a comparator stage, for generating a comparator output signal depending on a fulfillment of a criterion by the incoming signal, wherein exceeding or falling below a threshold value is defined as the criterion. Furthermore, a digitization stage is provided, for sampling, which is performed at a defined sampling rate, of an input signal fed to the digitization stage and converting it into digital data containing sampled values for the input signal, and an evaluation unit for determining a chronological location for the incoming signal by evaluating the digital data.
US10185030B2 Object boundary detection for automotive radar imaging
An automotive radar system includes a radar camera that captures a sequence of frames of radar images of a field of view of the radar. A boundary detector receives the radar data from the radar camera and detects object boundary data in the radar data. An image processor receives the radar data and the object boundary data and performs image analysis including image deblurring and generating response control signals based at least in part on the radar data and the object boundary data. Response equipment implements one or more response actions based on the response control signals. Object boundary detection includes performing pixel-level Doppler analysis to associate pixel velocities to pixels of the radar data and identifying discontinuities in the pixel velocities. Response equipment may include, for example, one or more of a navigation display, collision avoidance warning, automatic cruise control, automatic braking, and automatic steering.
US10185025B2 Methods and apparatus for light-based positioning and navigation
Systems, methods, mobile computing devices and computer-readable media are described herein relating to light-based positioning. In various embodiments, light sources (106) may be commissioned to selectively energize one or more LEDs to emit light carrying a coded light signal. The coded light signal may convey information about a location of a lighting effect (102) projected by the one or more LEDs onto a surface (104). In various embodiments, mobile computing devices (100) such as smart phones or tablets may detect these coded light signals from the lighting effects and/or from the light sources, extract the location information, and utilize it to determine their locations within an environment.
US10185022B1 Boresight method
A method for calibrating signals that uses continuous calibration throughout the signal collection process is described.
US10185012B2 System and method for magnetic resonance imaging
A system and method for magnetic resonance imaging is provided. The method includes acquiring a plurality of echo signals relating to a region of interest of a subject at a number of echo times; generating a plurality of phase images based on the plurality of echo signals; generating an unwrapped phase map by performing a phase unwrapping correction to the plurality of phase images; generating a virtual phase map based on the unwrapped phase map; determining a phase mask based on the virtual phase map; obtaining magnitude information of the plurality of echo signals; and generating a susceptibility weighted image based on the phase mask and the magnitude information.
US10185011B2 EPT method of electric conductivity reconstruction with enhanced stability and speed
An electric properties tomography method for reconstructing a spatial distribution of electric conductivity (σ) from magnetic resonance image data representative of a magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of a subject of interest (20), the spatial distribution covering at least a portion of the area of the magnetic resonance image, and the method comprising following steps:—segmenting the magnetic resonance image,—extrapolating acquired phase values, —replacing acquired phase values by the extrapolated phase values,—transforming into the frequency domain,—multiplying a frequency domain-transformed numerical second derivative by the acquired phase values and the frequency domain-transformed numerical second derivative by the extrapolated phase values, respectively, and—transforming the result of the multiplying into the spatial domain. Also covered are a corresponding MRI system and a software module.
US10185010B2 Rapid 3D volumetric mapping of MRI relaxation parameters
Systems and methods are disclosed for pseudo steady state magnetic resonance fingerprinting. A representative system includes a magnetic resonance control unit. Radio frequency energy is directed in a sequence to a volume. The sequence includes at least two segments. Each segment contains a series of radio frequency pulse which may be used in concert with a series of gradient waveforms. The first segment is repeated successively until magnetization at a beginning of the segment is stable. This initial magnetization deviates from the equilibrium magnetization. Subsequently, the magnetic resonance control unit produces a plurality of imaging segments which collectively capture a high resolution 3D data set, which encodes at least one relaxation parameter into a MR fingerprint. A short delay time may be inserted between imaging sequences.
US10185008B2 Medical imaging examination apparatus and operating method
In a method for operating a medical imaging examination apparatus having multiple sub-systems, a control computer controls the sub-systems to execute a scan sequence in which magnetization in at least two subvolumes of an object being scanned is simultaneously manipulated by a sub-sequence and/or used for the scan data acquisition process. A control protocol assigned to the scan sequence is provided to the control device, and sequence control data for the control protocol are determined that define different functional sub-sequences of the scan sequence. Different effective volumes are assigned to each functional sub-sequence, taking into account the aforementioned sub-modules. Effective volume position data are provided to the control device that define the position and extent of the effective volumes assigned to the different functional sub-sequences. Current ambient conditions of the apparatus are determined that are important for the determined relevant sequence control data and assigned effective volumes. Control signals for the different sub-systems are generated from the sequence control data and the effective volume position data and the determined physical ambient conditions, for executing the scan sequence such that the individual functional sub-sequences are locally optimized at least with respect to a sub-region of their assigned effective volume.
US10185003B2 System and method for enhancing thermal reflectivity of a cryogenic component
A device includes a component operable at a temperature in a range of 3.5 to 6 Kelvin. The device further includes a thermal reflective sheet comprising a plurality of layers, wound around at least a portion of the component. The device also includes a coupling device for coupling the thermal reflective sheet to at least the portion of the component.
US10185002B2 Systems and methods for MRI common mode traps
A continuous common mode trap assembly includes a central conductor and plural common mode traps. The central conductor has a length, and is configured to transmit a signal between a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil and at least one processor of an MRI system. The plural common mode traps extend along at least a portion of the length of the central conductor. The common mode traps are disposed contiguously. The common mode traps are configured to provide an impedance to reduce transmitter driven currents of the MRI system.
US10185001B2 Circuits for magnetic resonance imaging systems for integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming
Systems, methods and devices are configured for integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES). Parallel transmit/receive (which can include B1 shimming and/or parallel imaging capabilities) and B0 shimming employ the same set of localized coils or transverse electromagnetic (TEM) coil elements, with each coil or TEM element working in both an RF mode (for transmit/receive and B1 shimming) and a direct current (DC) mode (for B0 shimming) simultaneously. Both an RF and a DC current can flow in the same coil simultaneously but independently with no electromagnetic interference between the two modes. This invention is not only applicable when the same coil array is used for parallel transmit, receive and shim, but also when two separate coil arrays are used. In that case, the B0 shimming capability can be integrated into one of the coil arrays (i.e. a transmit array with B1 shimming capability or a receive array), thereby increasing the flexibility and practical utility of the iPRES technology.
US10184995B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a radio frequency (RF) coil including an endring; a power source configured to respectively supply RF power to each of a first port and a second port of the endring; three probes arranged adjacent to the endring; a voltage detector configured to detect the amplitudes of respective voltages induced to each of the three probes; and a controller configured to estimate a current of the RF coil based on the detected amplitudes of the respective voltages.
US10184994B2 Polarizing a spin ensemble for magnetic resonance imaging
In some aspects, polarization of a spin ensemble can be increased using cavity-based techniques. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a cavity and a resonator. The cavity is adapted to interact with a spin ensemble in an imaging subject in a static magnetic field. The resonator is adapted to generate an interaction between the cavity and the spin ensemble that increases polarization of the spin ensemble. In some implementations, the spin ensemble achieves a polarization that is higher than its thermal equilibrium polarization.
US10184992B2 Rotation speed measuring system
A rotation speed measuring system includes a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, an end detecting unit, and a calculating unit. The magnetic sensor measures earth magnetism in at least one axis direction. The acceleration sensor measures acceleration in at least one axis direction. The end detecting unit detects a time point of a switch at which an acceleration variation is switched to a large-variation state after a small-variation state, wherein the small-variation state corresponds to a state in which the acceleration variation is equal to or below a predetermined first threshold value and the large-variation state corresponds to a state in which the acceleration variation is equal to or above a predetermined second threshold value. The calculating unit calculates the rotation speed of the ball moving in midair by analyzing a frequency of measurement data on the earth magnetism acquired by the magnetic sensor until the end time point.
US10184989B2 Load bank for testing a variety of power sources and voltages
A load bank for testing power sources includes a load resistor assembly having a plurality of resistors which can be switched between wye and delta configurations for testing a variety of voltages and power sources requiring various load applications. First and second power connections are connected with primary and redundant power sources and a relay alternately connects the first and second power connections with the load resistor assembly for alternately testing the primary and redundant power sources while maintaining the sources electrically isolated. A damper is arranged adjacent the load resistor assembly and is operable between an open position which permits cold air to be delivered to the load resistor assembly to cool the assembly when the load bank is operating and a closed position which prevents hot air from being recirculated when the load bank is not operating.
US10184985B2 Systems and methods for crack detection in doubly-fed induction generators
A fault detection system for a wind turbine includes a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG). The DFIG includes a wye-ring configured for at least three electrical phases. The fault detection system includes a data acquisition system including at least three sensors. Each sensor of said at least three sensors is configured to electrically couple with and measure a respective voltage of each phase of the at least three electrical phases of the wye-ring. The fault detection system further includes an alert system coupled to said data acquisition system. The alert system is configured to apply a Fourier transform to the respective measured voltages of each phase of the at least three electrical phases of the wye-ring. The alert system is further configured to provide an indication of a condition of the wye-ring based upon the transformed measured voltages.
US10184983B2 Interface independent test boot method and apparatus using automatic test equipment
Computer device(s), apparatus(es), and methods enable and/or perform interface independent test boot of a System on Chip (SoC). A test Direct Memory Access hardware unit (test DMA) and an Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) hardware unit suspend a processor core of the SoC, download a test case, perform a seamless switch into functional mode of the SoC, and execute the downloaded test case. The test DMA may mediate between the ATE and internal memory in the SoC.
US10184982B2 Circuit and method for differential signal skew detection
The present invention discloses a differential signal skew detecting circuit configured to detect a skew of a differential signal. An embodiment of the circuit includes: a common mode voltage outputting circuit configured to output a common mode reference voltage and a common mode skew voltage; and a skew detecting circuit configured to inspect the common mode reference voltage and the common mode skew voltage according to a clock signal so as to output a skew detection value, in which when the skew detecting circuit detects the skew of the differential signal, the skew detection value is a first value, and when the skew detecting circuit detects no skew of the differential signal, the skew detection value is a second value.
US10184979B2 IC device-in-pocket detection with angular mounted lasers and a camera
An apparatus includes a device holder including a device placement area configured to hold an electronic device, and a shoulder extending peripherally around the device placement area; a laser line generator configured to generate a laser line that includes (i) a device placement area laser line portion, and (ii) a shoulder area laser line portion; a camera configured to obtain an image of at least the laser line; and a processor configured to: receive the image from the camera, determine (i) an angle of the device placement area laser line portion, and/or (ii) an offset between the location of the device placement area laser line portion and the location of the shoulder area laser line portion, and determine whether an electronic device is positioned in the device placement area or positioned incorrectly in the device holder.
US10184978B2 Probe card and method for producing a probe card
A probe card for a wafer tester includes a mother card having a reinforcing element and at least one daughter card which is rigidly connected to the reinforcing element detachably. The mother card includes electrical contacts for producing an electrical connection with the wafer tester. The at least one daughter card includes electrical contact elements for making contact with an electrical circuit on a wafer. In addition, the mother card and the at least one daughter card are electrically detachably connected to one another via an electrical interface.
US10184977B2 Devices and methods for testing integrated circuits
An integrated circuit includes a first power unit, a second power unit, and a selection switch. The first power unit generates a first output voltage and is coupled to a first load pin. The first load pin is coupled to a first load. The second power unit generates a second output voltage and is coupled to a second load pin. The second load pin is coupled to a second load. The selection switch outputs either the first output voltage or the second output voltage to a voltage pin according to a selection signal.
US10184976B2 Testing circuit board with self-detection function and self-detection method thereof
The present disclosure illustrates a testing circuit board with self-detection function and a self-detection method. A test for a to-be-tested circuit board is executed and a self-detection for a testing circuit board is performed by a JTAG chip. After the self-detection is passed, a first JTAG connection interface and a second JTAG connection interface are conducted by a controller, a multiplexer and a switch chip, to connect test circuit boards in series. Therefore, the efficiency of solving self-detection of JTAG chip with series connection conveniently and quickly may be achieved.
US10184973B2 Mismatch detection using replica circuit
An apparatus for detecting difference in operating characteristics of a main circuit by using a replica circuit is presented. In one exemplary case, a sensed difference in operating characteristics of the two circuits is used to drive a tuning control loop to minimize the sensed difference. In another exemplary case, several replica circuits of the main circuit are used, where each is isolated from one or more operating variables that affect the operating characteristic of the main circuit. Each replica circuit can be used for sensing a different operating characteristic, or, two replica circuits can be combined to sense a same operating characteristic.
US10184972B1 Transistor test fixture with convex surface of the support blocks
Microwave micro-strip or coplanar waveguide (CPW) transistor test fixtures have the top surface of the input and output blocks forming a convex shape, to allow the soft dielectric substrate to be stretched over the surface and establish secure and continuous ground contact with the block surface and eliminate spurious cavities and discontinuities.
US10184971B2 Method for marking bundles of power lines for diagnosis by reflectometry and corresponding kit
Disclosed is a method for diagnosis by reflectometry of a bundle of power lines including an input point and a plurality of branches, including the following steps: inserting (S50) electric markers having different frequency characteristics onto the branches of the bundle; injecting (S52) a test signal into the bundle from the input point; receiving (S54) a set of reflected signals produced by reflections of the test signal in the branches; analyzing all the reflected signals by identifying the markers and by assigning (S56) each reflected signal to one of the branches according to the frequency characteristic of the marker inserted onto the branch; and identifying the presence/absence of a defect in the branch by comparing (S58) the reflected signal assigned to the branch with a reflected signal model obtained by modelling the reflection of the test signal in the branch in the absence of any defect in the branch.
US10184965B2 Monitoring of distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources
A monitoring system and method for monitoring performance of individual powers sources in a distributed power source system. A monitoring module is coupled to each of the power sources, or to each string of serially connected power sources, to monitor and collect data regarding current, voltage, temperature and other environmental factors at the power source. The collected data is transmitted over a power line to a central analysis station for analysis. Data collected from each source indicates malfunction or degradation at the source. Comparison of data collected from adjacent sources filters for environmental factors impacting neighboring sources such as cloudy days for a solar panel. Comparison of data collected from the same source at different times indicates soiling or degradation of the source with time or periodic events such as a moving shade from an adjacent building.
US10184958B2 Current sensor devices and methods
Devices and methods associated with current measurements are provided. A current in a conductor portion may be measured by a current sensing element. An output signal indicative of the current may be generated based on the measured current and information regarding a current path.
US10184950B2 HIV viral load testing
Methods of testing HIV viral load are described. The methods comprise detecting HIV viral RNA in a sample of leukocyte-depleted blood. Such methods can be carried out on low-volume samples obtained without the need for venipuncture or a centrifuge. The methods are particularly suited for HIV viral load testing in resource-limited settings. Methods for monitoring HIV infection are also described, as well as kits for carrying out the methods.
US10184949B2 Parallel cell processing method and facility
The present invention provides improved methods, facilities and systems for parallel processing of biological cellular samples in an efficient and scalable manner. The invention enables parallel processing of biological cellular samples, such as patient samples, in a space and time efficient fashion. The methods, facilities and systems of the invention find particular utility in processing patient samples for use in cell therapy.
US10184948B2 Automated analyzer
An automated analyzer maintains high processing capacity and dispensation accuracy even when items requiring dilution/pretreatment and general reaction measurement are mixed. A plurality of sample dispensing mechanisms are independently driven and each include a sample collection position, a sample nozzle for collecting the sample, and a washing tank for washing the sample nozzle. The sample dispensing mechanisms are configured to collect the sample from a plurality of sample collection positions and are operated independently to perform sample dispensation into reaction containers on a reaction disc. At least one of the sample dispensing mechanisms is provided for each of a sample requiring dilution/pretreatment and a sample that does not require dilution/pretreatment. The automated analyzer is provided with a control means for causing the respective mechanisms to be operated in a dedicated manner. The sample is dispensed such that no vacancy is created in the reaction containers.
US10184947B2 System and method for flexibly representing and processing assay plates
A flexible instrument control and data storage/management system and method for representing and processing assay plates having one or more predefined plate locations is disclosed. The system utilizes a graph data structure, layer objects and data objects. The layer objects map the graph data structure to the data objects. The graph data structure can comprise one node for each of the one or more predefined plate locations, wherein the nodes can be hierarchically defined according to a predefined plate location hierarchy. Each node can be given a unique node identifier, a node type and a node association that implements the predefined plate location hierarchy. The layer objects can include an index that maps the node identifiers to the data objects.
US10184946B2 Method for operating a system for the integrated and automated analysis of DNA or protein
A method for the integrated and automated analysis of DNA or protein, including a single-use cartridge, with an analysis device having a control device, and devices for capturing and processing signals, the control device carrying out a completely automatic process and evaluation of molecular diagnostic analysis via single-use cartridges (Lab-on-a-Chip). Controlling of an analysis process, which occurs in the cartridge, involve the subsequent displacement and thermostatisation of liquids with a first device, and with a second device the signals which are obtained during the analysis are processed. The first and the second devices are synchronized in such a manner that the analysis process of the sample can be carried out in a totally integrated manner thus producing an immediate result.
US10184944B2 Methods for detecting molecules in a sample
The present invention relates to a method for detecting molecules. The method employs: at least two primary antibodies, wherein the first primary antibody binds to a first site on a molecule and the second primary antibody binds to a second site on a molecule, wherein the second site is different from the first site and wherein the first and second primary antibodies are immunologically distinct; at least two secondary antibodies, wherein the first secondary antibody is labelled with a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) donor and binds to the first primary antibody; and the second secondary antibody is conjugated or fused to an enzyme and binds the second primary antibody, wherein the first secondary antibody does not bind the second primary antibody and the second secondary antibody does not bind the first primary antibody; a conjugate comprising a FRET acceptor and a substrate specific for the enzyme, wherein when the substrate reacts with the enzyme, an activated conjugate forms, which activated conjugate binds to electron rich moieties on a molecular surface adjacent to the enzyme; wherein the method comprises: contacting a sample with the at least two primary antibodies; contacting the sample with the at least two secondary antibodies; performing a wash step; contacting the sample with the conjugate; and detecting any FRET signal generated by the FRET acceptor.
US10184935B2 Quantum dot-based optical sensors for rapid detection and quantitative analysis of biomolecules and biological materials
The invention generally relates to detection and analysis of biological materials. In particular; the invention relates to quantum dot-based optical, sensors and methods for rapid detection and quantitative analysis of various biomolecules and biological materials, such as nucleic acids, proteins, cells, etc.
US10184933B2 Compositions, systems and methods for gene expression noise drug screening and uses thereof
HIV-1's ability to enter a transcriptionally dormant state and establish a reservoir of latently infected cells is considered the major barrier to eradicating the virus from infected patients. Stochastic noise (i.e. fluctuations) in an HIV-1 transcriptional positive-feedback loop is one mechanism that enables HIV-1 to establish latency. Here, Applicants demonstrate that small-molecule modulation of noise in HIV-1 gene expression radically perturbs HIV-1 latency.
US10184925B2 Preparative separation chromatograph system
A preparative separation chromatograph system having a column for temporally separating components in a sample and for discharging an eluate fluid with the components, a detector for obtaining an absorbance spectrum of the eluate fluid, and a fraction collector for continuously creating a chromatogram. The system further includes: a peak section determiner; a differential value determiner for calculating a differential spectrum value and for determining whether or not the absolute value of the differential spectrum value is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and a fraction collector controller for controlling the fraction collector so as to fractionate the eluate fluid during a period of time for which it is determined that the chromatogram peak of the target component is present and for which it is also determined the absolute value of the differential spectrum value is equal to or less than the predetermined value.
US10184924B2 Method and system for decoupling a capillary column from a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system
A column-sealing tool is provided for use during decoupling of a capillary column from a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system. The column-sealing tool includes an engagement structure for removably securing the column-sealing tool within a high vacuum enclosure of the GC-MS system, at a location between a high vacuum end of a transfer line and a mass analyzer of the GC-MS system. Additionally, the column-sealing tool includes a sealing element that is actuatable between a non-sealing position and a sealing position. During use the sealing element forms a secondary vacuum seal with the first end of the transfer line when the column-sealing tool is inserted into the GC-MS system and when the sealing element is in the sealing position.
US10184923B2 Chromatography column frame and method of conducting maintenance on and packing of a chromatography column
The invention relates to a chromatography column frame comprising at least two legs, a support arrangement connected to said at least two legs, and a holder means connected to said support arrangement. Said holder means is arranged to releasably hold an adaptor rod of a chromatography column, so that the adaptor rod is prevented to move in a horizontal direction and so the adaptor rod is allowed to move in a vertical direction. The invention also relates to method of conducting maintenance on and packing of a chromatography column.
US10184922B2 Gas chromatography columns with integrated ferrules
A capillary column includes a fused silica tubing and a polyimide coating over the fusing silica tubing. Additionally, the capillary column further includes a first plurality of integrated ferrules positioned along at least a first portion of the fused silica tubing and spaced apart from one another by a first fixed interval.
US10184921B2 Gas chromatograph column connection device
A column connection device for use in gas chromatography is disclosed. The column connection device includes a housing with a piston, a piston spring retainer, and disk springs composed of an austenite nickel-chromium-based superalloy (e.g. Special Metals Corp.'s Inconel family of metals). The piston has a ferrule on its exposed end. The disk springs urge the ferrule against the mating portion of an external device maintaining a seal with the external device and creating a seal radially around a column disposed within. The column connection device also includes a release slider and a column base with a column retainer, column tab, and wire springs composed of an austenite nickel-chromium-based superalloy. The wire springs urge the column tab to frictionally engage the column, thereby inhibiting column movement. Depressing the release slider flexes the wire springs, urging the column tab away from the column, removing the frictional inhibition.
US10184919B2 Feedback control apparatus
A feedback control apparatus includes: a detector configured to detect an output value based on a controlled object; a P control circuit including a differential amplifier circuit and an analog circuit, the differential amplifier circuit being configured to receive a detection value of the detector and a target value, the analog circuit being configured to output a P control component VP to an output of the differential amplifier circuit; an I control unit configured to output an I control component VI by integrating a deviation of the detection value from the target value by digital processing; and a driver element configured to be driven based on the P control component VP from the P control circuit and the I control component VI from the I control unit to control the controlled object.
US10184918B2 Gas-spouting liquid-sample injector and injection container for the same
Provided is a gas-spouting liquid-sample injector, for supplying a mist of liquid sample into a container, including: a sample introduction tube having an outer tube for a nebulizer gas and an inner tube for a liquid, the inner tube having a projecting section protruding from the lower end of the outer tube; a branch tube provided in the container, having a main line allowing an insertion of the sample introduction tube and a bypass line branched from the main line; an inlet portion provided at the upper end of the main line, for making gas-tight contact with the lower end of the outer tube; an outlet portion provided at the lower end of the main line, for making gas-tight contact with the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube; and a blower tube extending from the lower end of the bypass line toward an area below the outlet portion.
US10184914B2 Parallel plate-type non-uniform electric field ion mobility spectrometry device
In an ion separation space (15) between plate electrodes (11, 12), rod electrodes (16, 17) which are parallel to the plate electrodes as well as to each other are placed. An asymmetric pulse voltage is applied between the plate electrodes (11, 12), whereby high and low electric fields are alternately created within the ion separation space (15). A voltage obtained by adding an appropriate DC voltage to a voltage generated from the asymmetric pulse voltage by resistive division is applied to the rod electrodes (16, 17). At one point in time, since the outer edge of the rod electrodes (16, 17) has a predetermined potential, an electric field having curved equipotential surfaces bulging in the Y-axis direction is created within the space between those rod electrodes. Due to this electric field, ions carried by a buffer-gas flow move in zigzags, while experiencing a converging force in both X- and Y-axis directions. As a result, the ions having different mobility ratios are separated into laminar forms according to their mobility ratios and exit the ion separation space (15), forming a converged ion stream for each mobility ratio. Consequently, the ion transmission efficiency and separation performance are both improved.
US10184906B2 Identification, quantification and prediction of free silicon in geological formation and its contribution to rock properties
Predicting and quantifying free silicon in a geological formation generates free silicon data for a physical sample obtained from within the geological formation. The free silicon data include identification of portions of the physical sample containing free silicon and a quantification of the free silicon contained in the portions of the physical sample containing free silicon. A modified petro-elastic model for the geological formation comprising rock constituents is generated that incorporates free silicon as one of the rock constituents and that quantitatively models how free silicon changes elastic properties within the geological formation. A three-dimensional model of the geological formation is created that indicates volumes of free silicon throughout the geological formation. The three-dimensional model is created using geophysical data obtained from the physical sample, seismic data covering the geological formation and the modified petro-elastic model.
US10184904B1 Core holder for micron CT observation and experimental method thereof
The present disclosure discloses a core holder for a micron CT observation and an experimental method thereof. The core holder for a micron CT observation comprises: a carbon fiber pipe and a base; the base comprises a fluid injection channel therein; the carbon fiber pipe is provided with a core mounting cavity and a carbon fiber plunger therein; the carbon fiber pipe is a tubular structure with one end closed and the other end open; the carbon fiber plunger can fix the core between the closed end of the carbon fiber pipe and the carbon fiber plunger; the other end of the carbon fiber pipe is in a detachable sealed connection with an outlet of the fluid injection channel of the base. The core holder for a micron CT observation reduces the distance between the core and the micron CT radiation source, and improves the resolution.
US10184903B2 Device for evaluating crystallinity and method of evaluating crystallinity
A device for evaluating crystallinity includes a substrate holder configured to fix a polycrystalline silicon substrate thereon, a light source disposed below the substrate holder, a circular polarizing plate disposed above the polycrystalline silicon substrate, and a camera disposed above the circular polarizing plate and configured to capture an image transmitted through the circular polarizing plate.
US10184898B2 Detection device
Imaging device is provided with lower lighting device, side lighting device, and camera; light is emitted to suction nozzle from below by the lower lighting device, and light is emitted onto the suction nozzle from a sideways direction by the side lighting device. Light emitted from the lower lighting device arrives at the camera via a first light path (the path between the two dotted lines); light emitted from the side lighting device arrives at the camera via a second light path (the path between the two dotted lines). Further, light emitted from the lower lighting device is blocked by light-blocking blocks so as not to arrive at the camera along the second light path.
US10184896B2 System, apparatus and method for viewing a gemstone
A system (1) for viewing a gemstone, the system (1) including a first light source (2) configured for selectably illuminating at least one of a plurality of features of the gemstone; an optical magnifying unit (10) configured for providing a magnified view of the plurality of the features of the gemstone in which at least one of the plurality of features of the gemstone is selectably illuminated by the first light source (2); and a viewing display unit (11) configured for displaying a representation of the magnified view.
US10184892B2 Determination of water treatment parameters based on absorbance and fluorescence
A monitoring system configured to receive an on-line sample associated with a process includes a sample chamber positioned to receive the on-line sample and a detector positioned to selectively receive and detect multiple wavelengths of light transmitted through the sample during an absorbance measurement, and emitted by the sample during a fluorescence measurement in response to illumination by each of the at least one excitation wavelength. An optical fiber couples light transmitted through the sample and directs the transmitted light to the multi-channel detector during the absorbance measurement. Optics direct light emitted by the sample during the fluorescence measurement to the detector without passing through any optical fiber. A computer in communication with the detector is configured to correct the fluorescence measurement using the absorbance measurement and determine a sample parameter based on the fluorescence and absorbance measurements of the on-line sample.
US10184891B2 Biochip device
A biochip device comprising a substrate constituted by at least one plate of material forming a multimode planar waveguide and carrying chromophore elements suitable for emitting fluorescence in response to excitation by guided waves having an evanescent portion, the device being characterized in that it includes coupling means for coupling excitation light with the waveguide in the form of guided waves, the coupling means being substantially non-directional.
US10184889B2 Sensor device for optically detecting characteristics of a fluid
A sensor device for optically detecting characteristics of a fluid. The device includes a housing with a base portion from which first and second appendages extend at least partially facing one another, and between which in use a fluid is present, and first and second optoelectronic devices adapted to transmit and receive radiation, respectively, mounted at the first and second appendages of the housing, respectively. The arrangement is such that in use a radiation beam transmitted by the first optoelectronic device propagates in an optical path which includes a portion crossing the fluid between said appendages and reaches the second optoelectronic device. This optical path includes at least one reflecting surface made integrally in an appendage of the housing and adapted to deflect the radiation beam between the associated optoelectronic device and the fluid crossing portion.
US10184884B2 Assay cartridges and method of using the same
Assay cartridges are described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, dry reagent pill zones and the like. In certain embodiments, these cartridges are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick. Also described are kits including such cartridges and a cartridge reader configured to analyze an assay conducted using an assay cartridge.
US10184883B2 Detecting isotopologues of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in concomitance of water or methane
A meteorological tower is provided in a flux site and a solar array is positioned on the tower to provide power. A laser on the tower receives power from the solar array and produces a laser beam. A multiplicity of individual laser absorption spectroscopy gas cells positioned on the meteorological tower collect samples of the atmosphere. An optical cable connects the laser to each of individual las cell and direct the laser beam into each cell. Each cell includes a multiplicity of mirrors positioned so that the laser beam makes a multiplicity of passes through the samples. An analyzer associated with the cells receives the laser beam after the laser beam has made the multiplicity of passes through the sample of the atmosphere and the analyzer detects concentrations of isotopes of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in concomitance of other gas concentrations.
US10184881B2 Corrosion time profile measurement device
A method of measuring the amount of corrosion of a target material caused exposure to a fluid, over a period of time, utilizing a corrosion measuring device, including a resonator having a first surface area made of a material having a corrosion profile like that of the target material and having a second surface area made of material having a corrosion profile unlike that of the target material; and a transducer assembly, positioned to drive the resonator and sense resultant resonator motion, thereby producing a sense signal. In the method, the resonator is exposed to the target fluid over the period of time and the sense signal is analyzed over the period of time to determine changes in how the resonator responds to being driven by the transducer assembly, over time.
US10184876B2 Particulate matter sensor
A particulate matter sensor assembly including a resistance sensor and a resonance sensor. Each one of the resistance sensor and the resonance sensor is configured to measure particulate matter present in engine exhaust.
US10184875B2 Apparatus and method for determining the particle size and/or the particle shape of particles in a particle stream
A device (1) is described and represented for the determination of the particle size and/or the particle shape and/or optical properties, such as transparency, of particles (2) in a particle stream (3), with a feeding device (4) for the feeding of the particles (2) to a measuring zone (5), wherein the particles (2) flow through the measuring zone (5), with at least one illuminating device (6) for illuminating the measuring zone (5), with at least two camera devices (7, 8), each of which photographs a measurement region (9, 10) of the measuring zone (5) associated with the corresponding camera device (7, 8), wherein a first camera device (7) photographs a first, preferably larger, measurement region (10) with a first, preferably lesser, magnification and a second camera device (8) photographs a second, preferably smaller, measurement region (9) with a second, preferably stronger, magnification, with an imaging optics (11) for imaging the measurement regions (9, 10), and with an evaluating device for determining the particle size and/or the particle shape from the photographs of the measurement regions (9, 10), wherein the imaging optics (11) comprises at least one optical element (14), at which and/or by which the light radiation emanating from the measuring zone (5) is divided into at least two beam portions. According to the invention, it is provided that the illuminating device (6) is designed such that the first measurement region (10) and the second measurement region (9) are always illuminated together, wherein the first measurement region (10) is illuminated with the same intensity as the second measurement region (9).
US10184868B2 Device and method for testing tablets
The invention relates to a device and a method for testing tablets. In the process, a tablet is brought onto a rotary disk (1) by a transport rack (6). The rotary disk (1) positions the tablet (7) along one or more positioning surfaces by rotating. The positioning surfaces are preferably an abutment (2) and a stop (3). As soon as the tablet (7) is aligned on a positioning surface, a test of the tablet (7) is carried out by means of a breaking jaw (4). The breaking jaw can test the diameter as well as the breaking resistance of the tablet (7). The transport rack removes the tablet or the tablet debris from the rotary disk (1) after the tablet (7) has been checked.
US10184863B2 Tubercular bacillus slide staining apparatus
The present invention relates to an apparatus for staining a Mycobacterium tuberculosis slide, which enables a sample on a slide plate to be rapidly and uniformly heated and prevents a dye solution and a washing solution, supplied to a rotatable staining plate, from remaining the rotatable staining plate, thus clear differential staining and maintaining the rotatable staining plate clean. Specifically, the apparatus for staining the Mycobacterium tuberculosis slide according to the present invention comprises: a hot-air supply unit disposed above a staining unit and configured such that circulating hot air is laterally discharged from the hot-air supply unit; and a slanted groove for centrifugal discharge, formed at the outer edge of the slide mounting groove of the rotatable staining plate.
US10184861B2 Structural element crack monitoring device and method
A system for monitoring a crack in a structural member includes a first fixable component having a first plate defining a top surface and a bottom surface. The first plate is at least partially transparent in at least a first area thereof, and the first fixable component further includes a mounting surface disposed away from the bottom surface of the plate. The system also includes a second fixable component having a second plate defining a top surface and a bottom surface defining a mounting area thereon. A distance between the mounting surface and the bottom surface of the first plate is greater than a thickness of the second plate defined between the top and bottom surfaces thereof. A measurement array and a pair of orthogonal crosshairs are disposed on respective ones of the first plate within the at least partially transparent area and the second plate.
US10184860B2 Control system for power train control
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, system, and devices for synchronizing angular position information between a first and a second semiconductor chip used for engine management in an automobile is described. In accordance with one embodiment, a system for synchronizing angular position information between a first and a second semiconductor chip comprises the first and the second semiconductor chip and a digital real-time communication link connecting the first and the second semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip comprise a master angle estimation circuit, which is configured to estimate an angular position of the engine based on at least one angular position sensor signal. The first semiconductor chip comprises a slave angle estimation circuit, which is configured to estimate an angular position of the engine based on information concerning angular position received form the master angle estimation circuit via the communication link.
US10184855B2 Pressure sensing device having temperature sensor
Disclosed is a pressure detecting device having a temperature sensor, the device including: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a port part having a fluid guide tube that guides a pressure transmitting fluid to the second chamber; a lead frame coupled to the housing and configured for being connected to an external device; a circuit substrate electrically connected to the lead frame and including a first surface and a second surface; a pressure detecting element provided on the second surface of the circuit substrate and generating an electrical signal according to a pressure change; a tube coupled to the port part, whereby a first end of the tube is open and provided inside the first chamber; and a temperature detecting element provided inside the tube and transmitting an electrical signal generated according to a temperature change to the circuit substrate.
US10184852B2 Sensor system comprising multiplexed fiber-coupled fabry-perot sensors
A sensor network having a series arrangement of fiber-coupled, reflective sensors is disclosed. In operation, a first light signal having multiple wavelength bands is launched in an upstream direction on a fiber bus. Each sensor includes a wavelength filter and an FP sensor that is sensitive to a parameter. Each wavelength filter (1) selectively passes a different one of the wavelength bands to its FP sensor and (2) reflects the remaining wavelength bands back into the fiber bus to continue upstream. The FP sensor imprints a signal based on the parameter onto its received light and reflects it as a second light signal. The collimator, wavelength filter, and FP sensor of each sensor are arranged such that each second light signal is returned to the fiber bus, which conveys them in a downstream direction to a processor that measures them and estimates the parameter at each sensor.
US10184850B2 Torque wrench assembly
A torque wrench assembly includes a torque wrench head being adapted to both tighten and loosen a fastener, wherein the torque wrench head includes fastener engaging means and drive means for driving the fastener engaging means. The torque wrench assembly also includes means for mounting the torque wrench assembly on a support means, wherein the torque wrench head and the mounting means are adapted so that the torque wrench head is capable of both tightening a fastener and loosening a fastener.
US10184849B2 Bicycle power meter
A power meter for a bicycle includes a body having a torque input section and a torque output section, the body configured to transmit power between the torque input section and the torque output section. The power meter also includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”) having a substrate and at least one strain measurement device which may be attached to the PCB.
US10184847B2 Magnetostrictive sensor, magnetic structure and production method thereof, motor drive device provided with magnetostrictive sensor, and motor assisted bicycle
A magnetostrictive sensor, including a tubular or columnar substrate extending along an axis, and a magnetostrictive portion disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the substrate and including a plurality of magnetostrictive lines. The plurality of magnetostrictive lines include adjacent first and second magnetostrictive lines that extend along an extension direction, and that are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the substrate via respectively first and second contact areas. In a cross sectional view of the magnetostrictive portion taken orthogonally to the extension direction, a first length, which is a width of a widest portion of the first magnetostrictive line in a width direction parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the substrate, is larger than a width of the first contact area in the width direction, and than a shortest distance between the first and second contact areas in the width direction.
US10184842B2 IR thermometry probe cover
A protective cover for an insertion probe of a medical instrument. The cover contains a flexible tubular body that compliments the probe geometry and a radially disposed flange that surrounds the proximal end of the body. A series of snap-on fasteners removably connect the cover to the instrument. A camming surface is located on the outer face of the flange which coacts with a cam follower that is movably mounted upon the instrument to flex the cover sufficiently to open the fastener and release the cover from the instrument and move the cover axially toward the distal end of the tip.
US10184838B2 Device and method for determining the temperature of a road building material applied by a construction machine, and construction machine comprising such a device
A device for determining the temperature of a road building material applied by a construction machine in a placement width includes an infrared temperature measuring head, a motor and a controller. The infrared temperature measuring head is arranged to be twistable by the motor in a manner transverse to the direction of travel of the construction machine so as to scan the surface of the road building material to capture temperature measuring values of the surface of road building material during a rotational movement at a plurality of measuring points spaced apart from one another. The controller is configured to set a scanning speed as a function of a position of the measuring point.
US10184832B2 Light-detecting device
A spectral sensor includes a Fabry-Perot interference filter which is provided with an opening to pass light transmitted according to a distance between a first mirror and a second mirror along a facing direction; a light detector which has a light reception unit to receive the light having passed through the opening; a wiring substrate on which the light detector is mounted; and a plurality of spacers which support the filter on the wiring substrate, such that a second space continuous with a first space in the opening and including the first space when viewed from the facing direction is formed between the filter and the wiring substrate. The light detector is disposed in the second space. The light reception unit is disposed in a region corresponding to the first space in the second space, when viewed from the facing direction.
US10184827B2 Near-infrared absorbing filter and image sensor
The present disclosure provides a near-infrared absorbing filter, including an absorbing type infrared filtering medium having opposite first and second surfaces; an organic coating layer formed on the first surface of the absorbing type filtering medium for absorbing infrared rays; a first multi-layered film structure formed on the organic coating layer with the organic coating layer disposed between the first multi-layered film structure and the absorbing type infrared filtering medium; and a second multi-layered film structure formed on the second surface of the absorbing type infrared filtering medium. The near-infrared filter of the present disclosure is able to reduce the wavelength difference of T50 and T20 of the incident light within the range of from 0 to 30 degrees to less than 5 nm, thereby reducing chromatic aberration effectively and reducing ghost images of infrared reflections. The disclosure further provides an image sensor including the near-infrared absorbing filter.
US10184817B2 Sensor system for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing through a channel structure
A sensor system for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing through a channel structure. The sensor system has a sensor housing, particularly a plug-in sensor that is inserted or insertable into a flow pipe and in which the channel structure is formed. The sensor housing has a housing body and a cover. The channel structure has a main channel and a measuring channel. At least one sensor chip determining the parameter of the fluid medium is disposed in the measuring channel. The sensor housing has an inlet into the channel structure, the inlet pointing counter to a main flow direction of the fluid medium, at least one main-channel outlet from the main channel and at least one measuring-channel outlet from the measuring channel. The main-channel outlet is disposed on an end face or on a downstream side of the cover based on the main flow direction.
US10184816B2 Measurement unit and flow rate meter
A measurement unit includes a fluid inlet to let a fluid flow in, a fluid outlet to let the fluid flow out, and a single flow path connecting the fluid inlet with the fluid outlet. The measurement unit further includes a plurality of partition boards and a measuring instrument. The plurality of partition boards are disposed along a current of the fluid and between facing side surfaces of the flow path. The plurality of partition boards define M flow path segments (where M is an integer of 2 or greater) between the facing side surfaces. The measuring instrument measures a flow rate of the fluid flowing through N successively adjacent flow path segments (where N is an integer of 1 or greater and less than M).
US10184812B2 Sensor assembly
A sensor arrangement includes at least one sensor (7) as well as a housing (1) constructed of at least two plastic injection molded parts (2, 3), and a sensor electronics which are located on the circuit board (5) and which is secured by this housing. At least one absorption body (4) is provided within the housing (1) and is designed as a plastic injection molded part and serves for absorbing fluid which could get into the housing by diffusion.
US10184811B2 Flexible display device and method of detecting curved state of flexible display panel thereof
What are disclosed are a flexible display device and a method of detecting a curved state of a flexible display panel thereof, which can estimate a curved state of a flexible display panel. The flexible display device includes a flexible display panel and a controller. The flexible display panel includes N optical fibers which can be curved with the curving of the flexible display panel, a laser transmitter disposed at an input terminal of the optical fiber and a light intensity detector disposed at an output terminal of the optical fiber, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The controller is configured to acquire a light intensity parameter detected by the light intensity detector, and determine a current state of the flexible display panel according to the light intensity parameter, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and smaller than or equal to N.
US10184810B2 Encoder having light-receiving unit that includes light-receiving element array
A scale includes a grating pattern arranged in a measurement direction. A detection head can be moved relative to the scale in the measurement direction and outputs an electric signal indicating a result of detection of the pattern. An operation unit calculates a relative displacement of the detection head relative to the scale. The detection head irradiates the scale with light. A light-receiving unit includes a light-receiving element array arranged in the measurement direction and outputs a result of detection of the irradiation light applied to the light-receiving element array as the electric signal. An optical system forms light from the scale into interference fringes on a light-receiving surface of the light-receiving unit by using lens arrays arranged in the measurement direction. A lens array pitch between neighboring lenses of the lens arrays is not equal to an integral multiple of a pitch of the grating pattern.
US10184808B2 Encoder and robot having an optical scale with a polarizing portion
An encoder includes an optical scale that is so provided as to be pivotable around a pivotal axis and includes a polarizing portion having a polarization characteristic, a light outputting portion that outputs linearly polarized light toward the polarizing portion, and a light detecting portion that detects the linearly polarized light from the optical scale. The light outputting portion includes a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, and light emitted from the vertical cavity surface emitting laser spreads at an angle greater than or equal to 5° but smaller than or equal to 20°.
US10184807B2 True-power-on and diagnostic-capable incremental interface for angular sensors
The current disclosure relates to an angular sensor. The angular sensor includes a sensing module, a digital processor and an incremental interface. The sensing module is configured to generate a sensing signal containing measurements of rotation activities of a rotating physical entity. The digital processor is configured to process and store the sensing signal. The incremental interface is coupled to the digital processor and includes an incremental pulse generator and a status data encoder. The incremental pulse generator is configured to convert and transmit the sensing signal as incremental square pulses through a unidirectional signal line, which are processed to generate rotary angle and direction of the physical entity. The status data encoder is configured to convert and transmit the sensing signal as a reference pulse and a status signal through a bidirectional signal line, which can be to request an absolute angle position or other sensor data.
US10184804B1 High-temperature sensor interface and network
A sensor interface or network of interfaces utilizes high-temperature electronics to operate at elevated temperatures for applications that include aircraft and automobile engines, vehicle frames, refineries, nuclear and chemical production plants, and in downhole drilling for petroleum and natural gas. The interface or network provide connectors for a variety of sensors with analog and digital outputs, and can in turn provide data to an automated electronic control system or a monitor. Because the sensor interface may be placed in so-called “hot zones” nearer to the sensors being monitored than other systems that use conventional electronics, the sensor interface can increase noise immunity, increase reliability, decrease cost, reduce weight, and increase space.
US10184803B2 Methods for automated and semiautomated composition of visual sequences, flows, and flyovers based on content and context
A system with the ability to dynamically compose a sequence of visual views or flows allowing a single object or region, or multiple objects or regions, to be viewed from different perspectives and visual distances is described. The sequence of views can provide smooth flyovers over positions and details on objects that are deemed to be of interest, with changes in zoom level and/or velocity that are functions of the estimated complexity and/or unfamiliarity with features of the object. In an example, a flyover displaying different views on a map of a city arterial system on a small-screened mobile device is composed based on current traffic conditions, swooping up and down with parabolic trajectories, based on distances being traversed, and pausing at times over key traffic jams and other findings of interest based on the estimated visual complexity and predicted atypicality of situations.
US10184802B2 Projection orientation correction system for vehicle utilizing a projection device
A method includes: receiving an indication of a destination from a user; determining a route from a current position of a vehicle to the destination; projecting an image of the determined route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination onto ground nearby the vehicle using a projection device equipped in the vehicle; and rotating the projected image such that the projected image is oriented in accordance with the determined route.
US10184799B2 Systems and methods for targeting objects of interest in denied GPS environments
Systems and methods that enable a targeting system operator, with no access to GPS signals, to self-locate using one or two landmarks and then geolocate an object-of-interest (OOI) using its own position and attitude and the range to the OOI. In the absence of GPS signals, the coordinates of the position of the targeting system can be calculated using a self-location algorithm either: (1) based on a measured direction and a measured range to one landmark and known coordinates of the position of the landmark; or (2) via triangulation based on two landmarks with respective known coordinates and respective measured headings. The coordinates of the position of the OOI can then be calculated using a geolocation algorithm based on the calculated coordinates of the position of the targeting system, and a measured direction and a measured range to the OOI. The calculated coordinates of the position of the OOI can then be sent to a weapons programmer by digital or voice message.
US10184795B2 Inertial sensing device
Improved sensing devices are provided for determining the spatial disposition of a movable object. In one aspect, an apparatus for determining a spatial disposition of a movable object comprises: a support base configured to be carried by a movable object; one or more accelerometers coupled to the support base via a first damping element configured to damp motion of the one or more accelerometers; and one or more gyroscopes coupled to the support base via a second damping element configured to damp motion of the one or more gyroscopes, wherein an amount of motion damping provided by the first damping element is greater than an amount of motion damping provided by the second damping element.
US10184794B2 Laser marker
A laser marker in one aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure comprises a laser light generator, a main body, and a pack attachment portion. The pack attachment portion is configured such that a battery pack, which is chargeable and dischargeable and supplies electric power to the laser light generator, is slidably attached to an outer surface of the main body.
US10184791B2 Measuring device and measuring method
A method for measuring three dimensional coordinates of each of points on a surface of an object includes pre-storing an algorithm that includes a plurality of parameters. A driving device is controlled to drive a distance sensor to move to each of measuring positions, and a first distance between each of the points and the distance sensor is obtained using the distance sensor. Each position information of the distance sensor is obtained using a position sensor, when the distance sensor is located at each of the measuring positions. Once a parameter of a reference coordinate is determined, the three dimensional coordinates of each of the points is computed using the algorithm based on the plurality of parameters.
US10184788B2 Optical fiber sensor system having a polarization separator
The optical fiber sensor system includes a light source unit including a light source and a polarization controller, a modulation unit having an optical path and a coil and configured to modulate light passing though the optical path according to stress applied to the coil, an optical coupler configured to branch the measured light into clockwise light and counterclockwise light, and output interference light, a polarization separator configured to separate the interference light into a first component and a second component having polarization states orthogonal to each other, and a detection unit having a first light detector and configured to detect stress by converting the first component into a first electrical signal. The polarization controller controls a polarization state of light output from the light source so that the first electrical signal is proportional to the stress.
US10184787B2 Apparatus and methods for distance estimation using multiple image sensors
Data streams from multiple image sensors may be combined in order to form, for example, an interleaved video stream, which can be used to determine distance to an object. The video stream may be encoded using a motion estimation encoder. Output of the video encoder may be processed (e.g., parsed) in order to extract motion information present in the encoded video. The motion information may be utilized in order to determine a depth of visual scene, such as by using binocular disparity between two or more images by an adaptive controller in order to detect one or more objects salient to a given task. In one variant, depth information is utilized during control and operation of mobile robotic devices.
US10184784B2 Device and method for measuring the width and thickness of a flat object
The invention relates to a device serving for the combined measurement of the width and thickness of a flat object, in particular a plate, a belt, or a web. The device comprises a measurement apparatus which has at least one contactless sensor, which is for width measurement on the object and which is movable crosswise to the longitudinal direction or conveying direction of the object. According to the invention, on the opposite side of the object, there is a second sensor opposite the first sensor which, together with the first sensor, serves for thickness measurement on the object, wherein the two sensors can travel above and below the object, that is, on opposite sides of the object.
US10184778B2 Device and method for measuring thickness of secondary battery cell
Provided are a device and method for measuring the thickness of a secondary battery cell. The device comprises: a mounting stand on which a secondary battery cell is positioned; a pressurizing plate which is installed so as to be variable in distance from the mounting stand; a pressurizing device which pushes or pulls the pressurizing plate; a measurement device for measuring the pressurization force applied to the pressurizing plate; and a controller which is configured to control charging, discharging or temperature of the secondary battery cell according to measurement conditions, receive a pressurization force measurement value and a thickness measurement value from the measurement device to thereby determine the magnitude of the pressurization force applied to the pressurizing plate and the thickness of the secondary battery cell, and vary, or maintain the pressurization force applied to the pressurizing plate to be constant.
US10184772B2 Computerized caliper
Computerized Caliper consists of measuring bar with fixed jaw, moving frame with moving jaw and a measurement and computer block. Measurement and computer block installed on the moving frame comprises digital measurement device of a vernier caliper, a computer, to which a temperature transmitter is connected, and a photo-camera.
US10184771B2 Method of inhibiting a blast from an explosive
A method of inhibiting a blast from an explosive (7) comprising the steps of (a) providing a blast inhibiting blanket (1), the blast inhibiting blanket (1) comprising first and second water porous outer layers (2, 3) and an absorbent core /4) sandwiched therebetween, said absorbent core (4) comprising an absorbent crystalline material and an absorbent fibrous material; (b) arranging the blast inhibiting blanket (1) to cover the explosive (7) but spaced apart therefrom; and, (c) wetting the blast inhibiting blanket (1) either before or after arranging the blanket (1) to cover the explosive (7).
US10184770B2 Mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive
The present invention is directed to a mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosives to a blast hole. One embodiment of the platform provides the ability to obtain weight information relating to the contents of a tank that is associated with the platform and that, in operation, contains either the bulk explosive or a constituent of the explosive. The platform comprises a vehicle with a frame, a tank, a load cell structure for connecting the frame and the tank and providing weight data relating to the contents of the tank, and a suspension system that prevents relative movement of the frame and the tank that could compromise the load cell structure. Another embodiment of the platform provides a tank for holding an explosive composition and a rotary shaft that supports a mixing blade that mixes the explosive composition within the tank. The platform further comprises bearing structure for supporting the rotary shaft that is located to deter any of the explosive composition from entering the bearing. A further embodiment of the platform comprises a conduit structure for discharging a bulk explosive into a blast hole that includes a substantially rigid tube with an outlet port for discharging a bulk explosive into the blast hole. The tube is adapted to rotate about a vertical axis such that the outlet port can be moved towards and away from the vehicle along an arc of less than 180°. In one embodiment, the outlet port can be positioned substantially adjacent to an operator's station to allow an operator to readily view the loading of the explosive into the blast hole.
US10184769B2 Detonator system for hand grenades
The invention relates to a detonator system for hand grenades, having an ignition element (1) which after initiation triggers a delay and safety device, which, with a time delay after the initiation, fires a detonator (7), which then ignites an ignition booster (8), wherein the delay and safety device includes a dual safety device of two independent parts. So that the hand grenade detonator system according to the invention includes a purely pyrotechnic detonator system instead of a pyrotechnic-mechanical system, it is suggested that the delay and safety device consists of two pyrotechnic ignition delay devices with different delay times—specifically a safety element (3) and a delay element (4)—wherein the delay time of the safety element (3) is shorter than the delay time of the delay element (4), and the safety element (3) includes a timing composition which, once it has burned through, ignites a gas charge (9), the gas of which opens blocking elements (5), and the delay element (4) includes a firing charge, and the firing charge is only in operative connection with the detonator (7) after the opening of the blocking elements (5).
US10184768B2 Arrowhead holder
An arrowhead holder includes a rigid plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and recesses formed in the top surface of the rigid plate, each recess shaped and sized to receive a shaft portion of an arrowhead. The recesses are distributed across the rigid plate at a spacing sufficient to accommodate an arrowhead being placed in each of the recesses. Magnets are disposed in the recesses, each magnet configured to securely retain an arrowhead inserted in an associated recess through magnetic attraction between a magnet and a respective shaft portion of an arrowhead.
US10184761B2 Method for producing electric trigger elements for pyrotechnic articles
The invention relates to a method for producing electric trigger elements for pyrotechnic articles such as fuses or igniters, wherein, in a first stage, a) a lacquer is applied by photolithography to an electrically non-conductive substrate, b) a conductive material having a specific resistance of 0.1 Ω*mm to 5.0 Ω*mm is applied to the lacquer and substrate by means of a PVD process in a layer thickness of 0.02 μm to 8.0 μm, and c) the lacquer is removed from the substrate, and possibly, in a second stage, d) a photolithographic process is again carried out in which a precisely defined region of the resistor strip is covered with photoresist, e) the entire substrate surface is covered with a layer of a metal having a specific resistance of 0.01 Ω*mm to 0.1 Ω*mm in a thickness of 0.1 μm to 20 μm, wherein the application of the metal is configured such that in regions which have a bare substrate from the first photolithographic process, no metal adheres, and f) the lacquer from the second photolithographic process is again removed.
US10184756B1 Rail mounted weapon light
A rail mounted weapon light for being interfaced with firearm platforms. The weapon light defines an outer housing that includes a main body and an integral outer housing extension that defines an interface profile shaped and sized to slidably engage the track of the firearm platform. The outer housing is configured such that there is an offset between the outer housing extension and the main body. A pressure switch is disposed on the outer housing extension. The pressure switch having a momentary on function and a constant on function. The main body including a head portion that defines an inner chamber for receiving the electronics of the weapon light. The electronics of the weapon light being in electronic communication with the pressure switch.
US10184753B2 Hand guard and barrel clamp
A hand guard is provided for a firearm, such as a rifle, and may be suitable for maintaining the alignment of the hand guard, and any accessories coupled thereto, relative to the rifle. The hand guard may be configured so that at least a portion of the hand guard can be removed from the firearm and then re-installed on the firearm without significant change in the orientation and position of the hand guard. The hand guard may also be suitable for coupling accessories such as lights, scopes, laser sights, and other firearm accessories to the firearm.
US10184751B2 Toy gun
A valve body used in a shooting mechanism of an air gun includes a hollow valve body air chamber, a bottom portion of the chamber is detachably closed with a fit lid. A valve body cover is attached to the valve body. The valve body cover includes unit covers that are joined together. The unit covers include a lateral portion forming a part of the valve body cover and a joint. A unit cover bottom portion forms a part or all of the bottom portion of the valve body cover. When the valve body is housed in the unit covers, the unit covers are attached to the circumference of the valve body, and the bottom portion of the valve body cover is closed and may cover the lid.
US10184748B2 Camper shell turret system
A collapsible turret apparatus used for shooting having a turret base and a turret ring. The turret base is mounted to a surface with an opening, such as a surface of a camper shell and the turret ring, which can rotate 360 degrees, is connected to a collapsible two part arm. In a collapsed state, the two part arm is folded and stowed on the ceiling of a camper shell. The first arm pivots about a point where it is connected to the turret ring. The second arm pivots about a point where it is connected to the first arm. In an extendable state, the two part arm reaches out of the camper shell. The available end of the two part arm has the ability to mount shooting devices, weapons and the like. Further accessories for the two part arm can be stored on the camper shell.
US10184743B2 Compact space-saving gun silencer
A compact silencer (suppressor) device for a firearm comprising of multiple chambers which trap the gases from a projectile exiting the barrel of a gun to slow down the gases and reduce the temperature, sound, and flash associated with the projectile. In one embodiment, the first chamber which attaches to the barrel of the firearm comprises of sound baffling materials or gas porting baffles which vent gases from the second chamber passing rearward. The second chamber comprises of a chamber which can accommodate a retractable third chamber of the device, the second and third chamber of the device can have sound baffles to slow down the gases from the projectile.
US10184742B2 Fire control mechanism for striker-fired pistols with enhanced safety features
A pistol has a frame with a striker operably connected to the frame. A trigger is operably connected to the frame. A transmission element is operably connected between the trigger and striker to motivate the striker to discharge the firearm in response to actuation of the trigger. The transmission element is movable between a first position in which operation connection from the trigger to the striker is enabled, and a second position in which operation connection from the trigger to the striker is disabled in response to acceleration forces due to dropping the pistol.
US10184739B2 Firearm bolt assembly for a self-loading firearm
A firearm bolt assembly for a self-loading firearm has an elongated frame defining a frame axis, a bolt connected to a forward end of the frame, a plurality of separate weights connected to the frame, and the weights being movable at least slightly with respect to the frame and to each other for movement along the axis. There may be a resilient spacer element between adjacent weights. There may be a resilient spacer element between one of the weights and a portion of the frame. The spacer element may be an O-ring. The weights may be connected to a rear portion of the frame. The weights may be tubular bodies each defining a bore. A portion of the frame may be received within the bore. The frame may define a rear portion having a first diameter, and a flange forward of the rear portion having a larger second diameter.
US10184738B1 Handgun with improved slide
Handguns, pistols, devices, and methods with improved slides that are both less expensive and less complex than prior art hollow slides used in handguns. The pistol can be formed from two half sections that can be attached together with fasteners, such as screws. The half sections can include upper barrel half covers preformed with generally vertical grip halve parts. A novel L shaped slide assembly can be located between the attached upper barrel half covers.
US10184734B2 Heat dissipation structure and heat dissipation system adopting the same
A heat dissipation structure includes a thermal interface material and a transition layer. The thermal interface material includes a matrix and a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in the matrix. The thermal interface material has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The transition layer is positioned on one of the first surface or the second surface of the thermal interface material. A thickness of the transition layer is in a range from about 1 nanometer to about 100 nanometers. The transition layer is in contact with the carbon nanotubes of the thermal interface material. An interface thermal resistance between the transition layer and the heat source is less than that between the plurality of carbon nanotubes and the heat source. The present application also relates to a heat dissipation system adopting the heat dissipation structure.
US10184733B2 Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger includes: a first flow passage where first liquid flows; a second flow passage where second liquid flows; and a heat exchanger main body configured to exchange heat between the first liquid and the second liquid. The heat exchanger main body includes a cross-sectional area adjuster configured to change a flow passage cross-sectional area of at least one of the first flow passage and the second flow passage by thermal deformation. The cross-sectional area adjuster adjusts a value of the flow passage cross-sectional area in a low temperature range to be larger than a value of the flow passage cross-sectional area in a high temperature range.
US10184732B2 Air to air heat exchanger
An air to air heat exchanger includes a first and a second cooling air flow passage extending over a core depth of the heat exchanger. A heated air flow passage is arranged between the cooling air flow passages, and extends over a first percentage of the core depth. Thermally conductive separators are arranged between the heated air flow passage and each of the cooling air flow passages. A first structurally reinforced section is provided between the separators, and extends from a cooling air inlet face in the core depth direction over a second percentage of the core depth. A second structurally reinforced section is provided between the separators, and extends from a cooling air outlet face in the core depth direction over a third percentage of the core depth. The sum of the first, second, and third percentages is greater than 100 percent.
US10184724B2 Method and apparatus for long furnace sublimation transfer
A sublimation furnace has a first endless conveyor belt extending along a first axis through the furnace, with a chamber extending above and along that first conveyor belt. Vacuum trays placed on the first belt have products abutting sublimation images to be transferred to the product as the trays pass through the furnace. The furnace has a first sidewall with a slot extending along the sidewall and along the first conveyor belt. A second endless conveyor belt extends along but offset from the first axis. A plurality of vacuum pumps are connected to the second conveyor belt and move with that belt, with each pump connected by a hose passing through the slot during use of the furnace to a different vacuum tray on the first conveyor in order to evacuate the vacuum trays and press the images against the product for sublimation transfer.
US10184723B2 Blank heating device
A blank heating device having a heating furnace is provided and includes a plurality of heating members that heat a blank and a support fixture disposed within the heating furnace to support the blank. Further a transporting component is disposed beneath the support fixture and integrally displaces the support fixture and the blank to increase heating density of the blank. Consequently, a divisional heating occurs based on a size of the blank, which is a material for hot stamping, to improve heating density of the blank. Accordingly, marketability of a material is improved and a preheating time and heat loss is minimized. As a result, work convenience is improved and a consumption amount of energy is reduced.
US10184722B1 Multi-zone heating oven with a plurality of heating zones having individually controlled temperature humidity
A multi-zone heating oven is disclosed. The multi-zone heating oven includes a plurality of in-line heating chambers, a conveyor system configured to convey objects between and into each chamber of the plurality of in-line heating chambers and a supply line for each of the plurality of in-line heating chambers. In addition, the multi-zone heating oven includes an exhaust system. The humidity in each chamber is set individually. Changes in the temperature and humidity that an object is subjected to are controlled by moving the object through the plurality of chambers.
US10184718B2 Method for drying articles
A method for drying an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having anode elements and cathode elements includes capacitively coupling the anode elements, capacitively coupling the cathode elements, capacitively coupling an anode element to a cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate an RF field between anode and cathode elements wherein liquid residing within the field will be dielectrically heated.
US10184711B2 Cryogenic cooling system
A cryogen cooling system to cool a superconducting magnet is disclosed herein utilizing embedded vertical tubing with a large heat exchanging surface area. The tubing encompasses the magnet which is further surrounded by a 4 Kelvin thermal shield for extended ride-through. In one embodiment, the system is a hyperpolarizer having an internal high-pressure gas storage for quench gas and to initiate cool-down. Aspects of the invention utilize a minimal volume of pressurized gas, for example, four (4) liters of pressurized gaseous helium in a 150 mL liquid helium system. As such, the prior vent stack has been removed, along with the helium vessel and quench paths/ducts. The method of using the system is further simplified during ramping while the cool-down process utilizing liquids supplied from external dewars has been eliminated. Significant advantages include reducing the helium volume (and cost associated therewith) and allowing for a hermetically sealed vacuum system that is leak-proof.
US10184709B2 Ice tray apparatus and method
The present disclosure describes ice tray devices and methods. In one embodiment, ice tray is included in an ice-making device of a refrigerator. The ice tray can be configured to uniformly distribute water to a plurality of ice-making spaces included in the ice tray. The ice tray can include water supply grooves that provide paths through which water is allowed to flow in the tray body. The dimensions of the water supply grooves can vary enabling control of water and ice formation depth of the water supply grooves can become gradually larger from one end portion of the tray body toward the other end portion of the tray body.
US10184708B2 Use of thermoelectric elements for clear ice making, ice harvesting, and creating a temperature condition for clear ice making
An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.
US10184704B2 Ejector and ejector-type refrigeration cycle
An ejector includes a nozzle, a swirl flow generation portion, a body including a refrigerant suction port and a diffuser portion, a passage forming member, and an actuation device moving the passage forming member. A nozzle passage is defined between the nozzle and the passage forming member. A smallest passage cross-sectional area portion is provided in the nozzle passage. A swirl space that has a shape of a revolution and is coaxial with the nozzle, and a refrigerant inflow passage through which the refrigerant flows into the swirl space are defined in the swirl flow generation portion. The ejector further includes an area adjustment device that changes the passage cross-sectional area of the refrigerant inflow passage. According to this, an efficiency of energy conversion in the nozzle passage can be improved.
US10184698B2 Overlapping type freezing-force circulation refrigeration unit
A cascade cold dynamic cycle refrigeration apparatus makes up cold energy with a cryogenic liquid refrigerant by boosting with a dual-stage liquid circulating pump. The temperature of the refrigerant is increased via the cold regenerator before it enters the cold consuming apparatus to provide cold and becomes a gaseous refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant then flows through the expander to expand and generates work by reducing pressure and temperature. The gaseous refrigerant is condensed and returns to the refrigerant tank via the cold regenerator or/and a throttle valve.
US10184697B2 Device for cooling fluid, method for cooling fluid
The invention provides a method for cooling fluid having the steps of supplying a fluid at a first temperature T1, raising the temperature of the fluid to a second temperature T2 through contact with an electric field, contacting the fluid with a heat exchanger to decrease its temperature to a third temperature T3, removing the electric field to decrease the temperature of the fluid to a fourth temperature T4, and applying a heat load to the fluid to increase the temperature of the fluid to T1. Also provided is a system for cooling fluid having a closed loop having a first region subject to an electric field, a second region in contact with a heat exchanger, a third region remote from the electric field, and a fourth region contacting a heat load.
US10184693B2 GM cryocooler
A GM cryocooler is furnished with: a first cold head including a first displacer and a first cylinder; a second cold head including a second displacer and a second cylinder and being disposed opposing the first cold head; a common drive mechanism for driving axial reciprocation of the first displacer and the second displacer; and a working gas circuit for generating between the first cold head and the second cold head a pressure differential that assists the common drive mechanism.
US10184692B2 Robust fixed-sequence control method and appliance for exceptional temperature stability
A method to control a fixed-sequence dual evaporator cooling system including providing a recurring cooling cycle cooling system wherein each recurring cooling cycle comprises first and second cooling cycles for cooling respective first and second interiors, a pump-out cycle for returning coolant to a condenser, and an idle cycle, and providing a processor to establish exceptions to the recurring cooling cycle. A step includes the processor monitoring first and second actual temperatures of the respective first and second interiors, selecting predetermined first and second control temperatures for the respective first and second interiors, and selecting a command input signal to supply to a compressor, the condenser fan, the first and second evaporator fans, and the valve of the cooling system during the recurring cooling cycle based upon the first and second actual temperatures and the predetermined first and second control temperatures to initiate the established exceptions.
US10184690B2 Condensing water heater and condensation control system
A water heater with two non-condensing flues and a condensing flue(s) having a system to prevent condensation in the non-condensing flue(s). The downwardly extending first flue is connected by a 180 degree connector to an upwardly extending second flue. Between the non-condensing and the condensing flues is positioned a temperature sensor. A controller receives input from the temperature sensor and is connected to the burner to control the minimum power setting and duration so as to prevent the combustion gases from falling below a temperature at which water will condense at the temperature sensor so no condensation occurs in the first two flues. Burner power settings are minimized near a water tank setpoint to improve efficiency by increasing condensation.
US10184683B2 Air conditioning device
A multi-type air conditioning device controls an evaporation temperature and a condensing temperature, depending on required capacity of an indoor unit. The air conditioning device compares a current evaporation temperature or condensing temperature with a reference value, of an evaporation temperature or an condensing temperature, corresponding to a lower limit flow rate, of a gaseous refrigerant, required for refrigerating machine oil not to accumulate in, but to flow through, the gas branch pipes, and calculates an amount of the refrigerating machine oil accumulated in a gas branch pipe which does not satisfy the lower limit flow rate. When the calculated amount exceeds a set amount, the air conditioning device performs oil collecting operation, and controls the oil collecting operation in view of a flow rate of a gaseous refrigerant in gas branch pipes.
US10184681B2 HVAC actuator
An HVAC actuator coupleable to an HVAC component is disposed in or at an insulated duct. The HVAC actuator may include a housing and a taping flange. The taping flange may be spaced from the outer surface of the duct and adjacent to an outer surface of an insulated layer of the duct when the HVAC actuator is coupled to the HVAC component, and may be configured to facilitate taping of the HVAC actuator to the outer surface of the insulating layer. It may be shaped to provide a front-facing surface that is suitable for receiving tape to provide a seal between the taping flange and the outer surface of the insulating layer. In some cases, the taping flange may extend outward from the housing around the entire perimeter of the housing. The taping flange may be formed integrally with the housing, or it formed separately and coupled to the housing.
US10184680B2 Method for controlling air output volume
A method for controlling air volume including: inputting a target air volume into the microprocessor control unit of the motor controller; starting a motor by the motor controller under a torque to enable the motor to work in a steady state; recording the rotational speed in the steady state, and establishing a functional relation formula Q=F (T, n, V) to calculate an air volume in the steady state; comparing the target air volume with the calculated air volume; re-recording a steady rotational speed after the motor falls on a new steady state under an increased or reduced torque, and recalculating the air volume in the new steady state; and repeatedly adjusting the torque until the calculated air volume is equal or equivalent to the target air volume.
US10184677B2 Apparatus for both humidification and air cleaning
A humidification and air cleaning apparatus including a water tank; a transparent body forming at least a portion of the water tank; a watering housing disposed in the water tank to spray water stored in the water tank; a nozzle disposed in the watering housing to spray the pumped water; an air wash inlet disposed in the water tank to receive external air into the water tank; and an air wash inlet disposed in the water tank to discharge internal air out of the water tank. During rotation, the sprayed water forms a certain trajectory and collides with an inner side surface of the visual body. Air flowing outside the water tank forms an outer main stream before passing the air wash inlet. Air passing the air wash inlet forms an inner main stream inside the water tank, which passes the trajectory of sprayed water to the discharge port.
US10184676B2 Air conditioner having simultaneous heating and cooling
Operation switching units, each changing directions of a refrigerant flowing through its associated indoor unit in response to a switch from a cooling operation to a heating operation, or vice versa, are each connected with the associated indoor unit through indoor communication pipes; a gas-liquid separation unit is connected with an outdoor unit through outdoor communication pipes; and the operation switching units are connected with the gas-liquid separation unit through two intermediate communication pipes preinstalled and one intermediate communication pipe newly installed. This provides a simple and cost-effective means for upgrading a preinstalled air conditioner making a switch from cooling to heating, and vice versa, into an air conditioner that can perform a cooling operation and a heating operation in parallel with each other.
US10184674B2 Vapor separator and dehumidifier using the same
A vapor separator in an embodiment is arranged between a first space and a second space, and is used to allow vapor existing in the first space to permeate the second space by making a vapor pressure in the second space lower than a vapor pressure in the first space. The vapor separator in the embodiment includes: a porous body having a first face, a second face opposite to the first face, and fine pores passing from the first face to the second face; and a soluble absorbent existing in the fine pores of the porous body.
US10184673B2 Portable air conditioner
A portable air conditioner includes a case in which a condenser and an evaporator are integrally installed and an inlet and an outlet are formed; and an exhaust unit integrally coupled to the case and guiding air heat-exchanged with the condenser to an outdoor area, wherein the exhaust unit includes an exhaust pipe fixed to the case in one end thereof and disposed such that at least a portion thereof is inserted into the case and a shielding module fixed to the other end of the exhaust pipe and insertedly received in the case.
US10184670B2 Heating panel and method therefor
A radiant heating panel, for typical use as cover for interior walls and ceilings, is provided, that is manufactured in a continuous process involving at least one sheet material, a settable material and a heating element. A method of installing such a heating panel is also provided, along with an apparatus and method required to terminate the heating panel.
US10184669B2 Control of exhaust systems
Exhaust capture and containment are enhanced by means of automatic or manual side skirts, a sensitive breach detector based on interference effects, a combination of vertical and horizontal edge jets, and/or corner jets that are directed to the center diagonally from corners. Associated control functions are described.
US10184666B2 Fuel nozzle having respective arrays of pre-mixing conduits with respective vortex generators
A fuel nozzle including vortex generating features for use in a combustion turbine engine is provided. An array of inner pre-mixing conduits (20) extends between an inlet end (14) and an outlet end (16) of the nozzle. An array of outer pre-mixing conduits (22) may be disposed radially outwardly relative to the inner pre-mixing conduits (20). A fuel-directing tube (24) includes fuel-directing arms (26) structured to direct fuel flow into the outer pre-mixing conduits (22) to be mixed with a flow of air. The fuel-directing arms include a bluff structural arrangement (30) that may be disposed upstream of fuel injection locations (32, 32′) into the outer pre-mixing conduits (22). The proposed nozzle is believed to provide superior micro-mixing capability, such as by increasing the depth of penetration of jets of fuel in a cross-flow of air, and/or formation of vortices in a wake zone downstream from the vortex generating features.
US10184664B2 Fuel injector for high flame speed fuel combustion
A multiple fuel capable, pre-mixed, low emission injector is provided which is particularly suited for burning high flame speed fuels. The fuel injector includes an injector body having a preliminary pre-mixing chamber, an intermediate pre-mixing chamber and a final pre-mixing chamber. A fuel distributor separates the preliminary pre-mixing chamber from the intermediate pre-mixing chamber. A guide vane separates the intermediate pre-mixing chamber from the final pre-mixing chamber.
US10184659B2 Low-NOx combustion method
Disclosed is a combustion method in which heated flue gas heats a regenerator through which a mixture of fuel and flue gas containing NOx is passed to undergo endothermic reactions that produce syngas and destroy NOx.
US10184658B2 Combustion apparatus
A combustion apparatus has a plurality of longitudinally elongated gas burners, each having a burner port on an upper end thereof. A damper is disposed to cover gas inlet ports on an upstream end of an air-fuel mixing tube portion of each of the gas burners. The damper has formed therein ventilation holes for limiting primary air. The ventilation holes overlap, and are smaller than, the gas inlet ports. The damper has #1 ventilation holes having obstacles against which the fuel gas to be ejected from the gas nozzles strike, and #2 ventilation holes without obstacles. Poor combustion such as flame lifting is restricted and combustion noises are reduced.
US10184656B2 Grand piano
Provided is a grand piano comprising a rim made of a transparent material, an outer layer formed of a semi-light transmitting material, an inner layer and a bottom layer, which are formed of a material reflecting light received through the rim, and a light source comprising a plurality of point light sources to emit light toward the rim.
US10184655B2 Display device
A display device is provided that is a transparent, colored glass-ceramic with a display face on the front, an illumination face on the back, and at least one light-emitting element being disposed in the region of the illumination face. The display device further includes a color compensation filter in the form of a color layer introduced directly or indirectly on the glass ceramics.
US10184648B2 Adjustable and reconfigurable light source
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a customizable and modular LED lighting system. The LED lighting system can include an LED driver coupled to a light run and held rigidly relative to each other via a carrier. A mounting bracket can also attach to the LED driver and/or the light run and can affix the LED lighting system to a junction box. The light run can include a thermally conductive frame, sometimes having a “V”-shape and having two surfaces on an upper portion thereof. A substrate comprising a string of electrically-coupled LEDs can be affixed to each of the two surfaces. The LEDs can be driven by the LED driver and can be coupled to each other serially via one or more electrical connectors.
US10184646B2 Lighting device and lighting system including the same
A lighting device suitably adaptable to those that can adjust an irradiation angle stably. A lighting device includes a lighting device housing, a support housing supported by the lighting device housing so as to be freely rotatable about a first rotation axis, and a lighting unit supported by the support housing so as to be freely rotatable about a second rotation axis. The support housing is suspended from the lighting device housing, and is provided with a ring member protruding radially outward at its outer periphery. The lighting device housing is provided with a circular receiving part for supporting the ring member on the support housing side when the suspension is released.
US10184644B2 Light fixture bracket and light fixture assembly
A bracket for use with a recessed light fixture includes a side wall. A first bendable tab is positioned in the side wall. A second bendable tab is positioned in the side wall, the second tab being offset from the first tab. A retainer extends from the side wall.
US10184640B2 Lighting device, display device, and television device
A lighting device includes LEDs (a light source) 17, a wavelength conversion sheet (a wavelength conversion member) 20 containing phosphors for converting light emitted by the LEDs 17 with wavelength conversion, and a diffuser plate 15a that exerts diffusing effects on the light from the LEDs 17 and is thicker than the wavelength conversion sheet 20 and disposed on a light exit side with respect to the wavelength conversion sheet 20.
US10184639B2 Method and apparatus for subtending light
An optic configuration including a PCBA with one or more LEDs mounted thereon to emit light through a lens and a reflector. The optic configuration may be assembled within a cavity of a lighting fixture. At least a portion of the emitted light may be subtended by the lens, such that the lens may subtend light through a number of regions (e.g., three distinct regions). At least a portion of the emitted light may be subtended by the reflector, such that the reflector may subtend light from a number of surfaces (e.g., four surfaces). At least a portion of the light subtended by the lens may further be subtended by the reflector. The light subtended by the lens and/or the reflector may form a beam pattern including a high intensity spot portion and a lower intensity flood portion.
US10184638B2 LED plane light source lamp
The present invention provides an LED plane light source lamp, which includes a bottom plate; four side plates set on four sides of the bottom plate, respectively; a plurality of circuit boards set on the bottom plate symmetrically and electrically connected to each other in parallel; a plurality of LEDs set on the bottom plate and arranged in an array; a power supply set on the bottom plate and providing electrical power to the LEDs; and a fogging film set opposite to the bottom plate on the side plates; wherein the fogging film scatters the lights of the LEDs to provides a uniform plane light source.
US10184634B2 Headlamp including matrix static bending lights optical system
A headlamp including a matrix static bending lights (SBL) optical system, which enables light to be turned on/off. The headlamp includes a headlamp body installed in a front region of a vehicle and including a main optical system for irradiating light, corresponding to one of a low beam headlight, a high beam headlight, and a glare free high beam (GFHB) headlight, onto the front of the vehicle, a reflective structure disposed on one side surface of the inside of a housing of the headlamp body with respect to a direction intersecting an installation reference direction of the main optical system and including a plurality of reflective surfaces, and a light source unit disposed apart from the reflective structure and including a plurality of light source chips that target at a reflective surface of the reflective structure and irradiate light onto the targeted reflective surface.
US10184630B1 Double-layer decorative lamp
A double-layer decorative lamp mainly includes a lamp seat, cover unit and light emitting module, where the cover unit has at least two decorative board pervious to light and configured on the lamp seat, and the light emitting module is in electric connection with the lamp seat and has at least two light sources respectively corresponding to each decorative board, where one of the light sources is formed a proper angle with the corresponding decorative board, and the surface of each decorative board has shading pattern. Whereby, light of the each light source is passed through one of the decorative boards, allowing the non-shading pattern thereof to be brightened, and projects the non-shading pattern of another decorative board obliquely to a wall surface.
US10184624B2 Multiple functions LED night light
A multiple function LED night light has at least one LED device and added function(s) such as an air-freshener adaptor device, sonic device, frequency device, sensor device, bug repeller device, second light device, timepiece, electric message device, timer device, temperature device, surge protection device, electric short circuit protection device, base device for installation on an existing lamp socket, emergency light device, or any other electric device(s) suitable for home use to keep people comfortable or safe. The LED device has a first optic means to change the narrow-viewing angle of an LED's spot-light beams into a wider-viewing angle and second optic means to help make the LED night light exhibit a smooth lighting effect. The device may be arranged to fit into an existing night light bulb socket to turn any existing bulb night light into a power saving LED night light.
US10184623B2 Downlight structures for direct/indirect lighting
An optically transmissive light directing sheeting and a method of making the same are disclosed. The light directing sheeting includes a core sheet of an elastic material that can be laminated onto other surfaces or sandwiched between sheets of various rigid materials. The core sheet includes a plurality of deep and narrow parallel channels configured to direct light by means of a total internal reflection. The method includes a step of slitting of a soft, optically transmissive plastic sheet with a blade and forming at least one array of substantially parallel linear slits in a surface of the sheet, a step of stretching the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the linear slits, and a step of bonding the sheet to a different sheet of an optically transmissive, rigid material. Various light directing devices employing the light directing sheeting are also disclosed.
US10184618B2 Color conversion panel and display device including color conversion panel
A color conversion panel includes a first color conversion layer, a second color conversion layer, and a light wavelength conversion layer. The first color conversion layer includes a first semiconductor nanocrystal set for providing red light. The second color conversion layer neighbors the first color conversion layer and includes a second semiconductor nanocrystal set for providing first green light. The light wavelength conversion layer neighbors the second light conversion layer, may provide blue light, and includes a third semiconductor nanocrystal set for providing second green light.
US10184612B2 Propane fill adaptor for vehicles
An adaptor for coupling an associated quick connect fitting on an associated tank to an associated filling gun includes a connector body selectively connectable to the associated filling gun. A hand wheel is mounted to the connector body. A washer is mounted to the connector body. A locking member is received within an aperture of the connector body and selectively received in a groove of the associated quick connect fitting. The locking member allows for engagement of the connector body with the associated filling gun when the locking member is received in the groove of the associated quick connect fitting. A biasing member is disposed between a portion of the connector body and a portion of the washer.
US10184611B2 Detecting fluid properties of a multiphase flow in a condensate drain
Flow sensors for, and a method of monitoring, a condensate drain. The method includes a) providing a flow sensor for detecting flow properties in a pipe and/or fitting carrying a medium, b) detecting a vibration behavior by means of a vibration converter at a measurement location provided on the flow sensor, and c) electronically evaluating the vibration behavior of a vibration body, wherein at the measurement location vibrations of a first region of the vibration body and a second region of the vibration body are recorded. The first region of the vibration body is provided at least partially in or adjacent to the flow of the medium, and the second region of the vibration body is outside the flow.
US10184608B2 Automatic pitch adjustment machine
An automatic pitch adjustment machine has a base board, a first slide rail set, a transfer set, a second slide rail set, a cylinder adapter plate, and a material carrier set. The the first slide rail set is mounted on the top surface of the base board. The transfer set has multiple transfer blocks, and each one of the transfer blocks is fixed to a respective lower sliding block of the second slide rail set. The second slide rail set has multiple short rails and multiple upper sliding blocks. The cylinder adapter plate has a driving plate and multiple driving pillars. The material carrier set has multiple material fixing boards, and the multiple material fixing boards are spaced at intervals.
US10184603B2 Pipe end fitting with improved venting
A pipe end fitting assembly that includes an outer body having an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first bore, and an end surface, and an inner body having an inner surface defining a second bore and an outer surface. A portion of the inner body outer surface is secured to the outer body inner surface. A passage formed in the outer body includes a first portion extending from the end surface and parallel to the first bore, and a second portion extending from the outer body outer surface to the passage first portion. A pipe end is disposed around and secured to a portion of the inner body outer surface. A jacket is disposed around the pipe and has an end secured to the outer body outer surface. The passage portions are in fluid communication with each other and a space between the jacket and the pipe.
US10184602B2 Connecting piping and steam turbine system
The present invention is provided with: a cylindrical main body section that is provided with at least one annular rib on the outer circumferential surface; and a deforming section that is configured from a bellows that can be deformed in an axis line direction and diameter direction.
US10184600B2 Coupling for connecting pipe ends and bridging for use in a coupling
A coupling for connecting pipe ends, comprising a hollow body with an entrance for each pipe end provided with a radial seat for a pipe end and a coupling nut for clamping the pipe end, whereby an electrically conductive bridge is provided, which at the location of the seats is provided with a clamping element that is elastically deformable in the radial direction with respect to the respective seat, and is provided with a contact section, which in a rest situation is at a distance from the axis of the seat that is smaller than an outside radius of the pipe end for which the seat concerned is intended.
US10184597B2 Stress reducing thread form
A thread form for a threaded connection comprising a plurality of threads, wherein at least a portion of each of the threads comprise a root having a root radius that extends from a point central to the root and having planar flanks extending from both sides thereof.
US10184596B2 Connection structure between pipe body and joint of aluminum alloy drill pipe
A connection structure between a pipe body and a joint of an aluminum alloy drill pipe comprises a first joint portion located at an end of the aluminum alloy pipe body and a second joint portion, wherein the first joint portion comprises an external cone section, an external threaded section and a first seal end face sequentially provided from inside to outside thereof, and a taper of the external cone section is smaller than that of the external threaded section; wherein the second joint portion is cylindrical and comprises an internal cone section fitted with the external cone section, an internal threaded section fitted with the external threaded section, a second seal end face, an elevator shoulder face, and a concave arc transition section between the internal cone section and the internal threaded section.
US10184585B2 Electromagnetic valve
An electromagnetic valve includes a movable valve, and an electromagnetic solenoid. The electromagnetic solenoid has a bobbin including a body part, a flange part in which a recess portion is defined to recess inward in a radial direction, and an extension part extending at a position between the flange part and the body part to connect a bottom surface of the recess portion to a body surface of the body part. The extension part has a projection projected outward in the radial direction from a position between the body part and a connection part connecting a winding wire to a terminal part.
US10184583B2 Redundant lip seal for valve
A valve assembly is provided that is suitable for use in a fuel fill line. The valve assembly may include a housing having a flange that surrounds the housing. A weld foot can be molded over at least a portion of the flange. A lip seal may be disposed between the flange and the weld foot. The lip seal includes a first lip and a second lip, and the first lip and the second lip may both be in contact with a surface on one of the flange and the weld foot.
US10184580B2 Pressure relief system for controlled atmosphere room
A pressure/vacuum relief system having one or more pressure relief/vacuum valve assemblies disposed within the controlled atmosphere room and a vent pipe to provide two-way fluid communication between the relief valve assembly and the outside environment. The relief valve assembly may be a split valve arrangement that includes a pressure valve that opens in response to positive pressure in the controlled atmosphere room and a vacuum valve that opens response to negative pressure in the controlled atmosphere room. The pressure and vacuum valves may be incorporated into a single valve body on opposite sides of a shared chamber that is coupled to the vent pipe. In one embodiment, the vent pipe is fitted through an external wall of the controlled atmosphere room.
US10184579B2 Stacked disk check valve
Fluid apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example fluid apparatus includes a valve body defining a fluid flow passageway and a plurality of valve seats. A flow control member is positioned in the fluid flow passageway of the valve body. The flow control member having a plurality of disks. A respective one of the disks moves relative to a respective one of the valve seats to control fluid flow through the valve body. The flow control member is adjustable relative to a longitudinal axis of the valve body to provide a preload to the disks. Each of the disks has a cracking pressure corresponding to the preload.
US10184577B2 Cartridge style ball check for positive displacement pump
A check valve assembly includes a housing extending axially along a center axis of the check valve assembly from a first end to a second end. The housing can include an opening disposed at the first end and an outlet disposed at the second end. A seat is disposed in the opening and connected to the tubular housing. The seat includes an inlet extending axially through the seat. A ball is disposed inside the tubular housing and disposed axially between the seat and the outlet. The ball is larger in diameter than the inlet. A ball guide is disposed inside the tubular housing and is disposed axially between the ball and the outlet. A spring is disposed inside the tubular housing and disposed axially between the ball guide and the outlet. The spring is compressed between the ball guide and the outlet.
US10184576B2 Pressure control valve
A pressure control valve has a housing including a valve seat and defining a fluid path therein, a valve body including a support member and a valve member, and a spring biasing the valve body toward the valve seat in a valve closing direction. The valve member is an integrated molding including a seal member and a reinforcement member that reinforces the seal member. The seal member is made from a rubber-like elastic material and includes a seal portion that is configured to be seated on the valve seat. The reinforcement member is engaged with the support member without using a separate member such as adhesive.
US10184573B2 Powder isolating valve
There is described a powder isolating valve which is capable of sealing valves from powder leakage during transport of powder and/or granular material. The valve comprises a rotatable valve closure member (14) and a pneumatically activated sealing mechanism containing a pair of resiliently deformable structures (18,20) extending around a surface of the rotatable valve closure member when the latter is in its closed position, the pair of resiliently deformable structures being held in a pair of annular recesses (32,34) which also extend around an surface of the rotatable valve closure member in its closed position, wherein the pair of resiliently deformable structures are capable of being pneumatically activated to force a sealing ring (26) against the rotatable valve closure member.
US10184572B2 Axially preloaded sealing element
A valve arrangement including a sealing element is provided. The valve arrangement includes a housing having a port. A rotary valve body includes an opening, and the rotary valve body is arranged within the housing. The port of the housing and the opening of the rotary valve body are alignable with each other via rotation of the rotary valve body in the housing. A sealing element is arranged within the port. The sealing element includes a seal body having a first axial end engaged against the rotary valve body and a second axial end including a resilient axially compressible portion that engages against a seat in the housing. The resilient axially compressible portion of the sealing element preloads the sealing element axially against the rotary valve body.
US10184571B2 Valve structure with elastic anti-leakage member
A valve structure with an elastic anti-leakage member includes a spool, a seat, and a switch. The spool body has at least one inner notch formed on a side of the spool body, and the inner notch has at least one elastic anti-leakage member installed in the inner notch, and the seat has an inner chamber with an internal cavity wall. The spool is contained in an inner of the seat, and the elastic anti-leakage member installed in the inner chamber of the inner notch of the spool body has a surface elastically abutting against the internal cavity wall of the inner chamber of the seat to achieve a good water anti-leakage effect.
US10184569B2 Leak resistant and serviceable receptacle
Disclosed is a receptacle for conveying fluid. The receptacle may include a main body, a valve seat body, a poppet, a spring retainer, spring, and a packing. The valve seat body may be disposed in and secured to the main body. The valve seat body may include: a first end portion and an opposing second end portion. The first end portion may include a plurality of first inner surfaces defining an inner annular groove. The valve seat body may include a plurality of second inner surfaces defining an inner void. The plurality of second inner surfaces may include one or more arced surfaces and one or more flats. The packing may be disposed in the inner annular groove.
US10184568B2 Bi-directional rotary valve
A bi-directional cryogenic rotary valve having a housing defining a fluid passageway, a control member rotatably disposed within the fluid passageway, and a seal assembly positioned along an inner surface of the housing to provide a bubble tight seal between the housing and the control member. The rotary valve adapted to operate at or near cryogenic temperatures (i.e., at −160° C.) while maintaining an effective seal in both the forward and reverse directions. The rotary valve being capable of retrofitting against wear and operational stress sustained from repeated use and operation.
US10184566B2 Valve unit including a mechanical coupler
A valve unit with a valve having a valve shaft with a rotational axis. The valve unit including an actuator having an actuator shaft with a rotational axis. The valve unit includes a mechanical coupler for rotational coupling of the actuator shaft and the valve shaft. The mechanical coupler includes a rotational axis coinciding with the rotational axis of the actuator shaft and the rotational axis of the valve shaft. The valve unit includes a first rotational member coupled to the actuator shaft and a second rotational member coupled to the valve shaft. The valve unit includes a bridge element. The first and the second rotational members include slots for receiving engagement pins of the bridge element.
US10184563B2 Single seal ring stuffing box
A seal arrangement for use in a reciprocating piston compressor includes first and second seal rings engaged along respective side surfaces, and first and second cover rings disposed around the first and second seal rings such that the outside diameters of the first and second seal rings engage the inside diameters of the first and second cover rings, respectively. A support ring is engaged with the first seal ring and the first cover ring. A backup ring is engaged with the second seal ring and the second cover ring. In some embodiments, the first seal ring has a width that is smaller than a width of the second seal ring. In other embodiments the second seal ring has a circumferential groove formed on an inside surface thereof, the groove disposed directly adjacent the first seal ring. In further embodiments, the seal rings are formed of PEEK with a nano-material additive.
US10184562B2 Device including an anti-rotation mechanism for a piston and a method of using the same
A device includes an outer cylinder having a cylinder inner wall and a cylinder outer wall and at least one magnet disposed on or between the cylinder inner wall and the cylinder outer wall and a piston having a piston inner wall and a piston outer wall and at least one magnet disposed on or between the piston outer wall and the piston inner wall. In one embodiment, the piston is rotatable within the cylinder and slidably movable along an axis respective to the cylinder. The piston is also disposed within the cylinder such that the at least one magnet disposed on or between the cylinder inner wall and the cylinder outer wall is aligned with the at least one magnet disposed on or between the piston outer wall and the piston inner wall, substantially preventing the piston from rotating relative to the cylinder.
US10184551B2 Actuating device of the type provided with an actuating element and means for manually operating the actuating element
An actuating device comprising a housing inside of which an actuating element is provided, the actuating element being slidably displaceable along a first axis between a first operative position and a second non-operative position, the displacement between the first operative position and the second non-operative position defining the stroke of the actuating element; a manual operating element pivotably connected to the housing at a first pivoting axis and coupled to the actuating element through a linkage, so that the linkage produces a translation of the actuating element, upon rotation of the manual operating element; the linkage comprising at least one lever arm coupled to a respective driver member, wherein the driver member is guided and constrained into a respective blind seat provided on the actuating element, characterized in that the lever arm is slidably coupled to the driver member and the driver member is movably constrained into the blind seat.
US10184549B2 Belt transmission system
A belt transmission system includes a first pulley, a second pulley, and an automatic tensioner including a first tension pulley, a fixed member, an arm, and a second tension pulley. The arm is swingable about an axis of the fixed member. When the first or second pulley serves as a driving pulley, a torque at one of the first and second tension pulleys located on a slack side at a maximum torque is higher than a torque of the other one located on a tight side.
US10184548B2 Power-split driveline for a work machine
A power-split drive train for a working machine having a main drive element, drive output shafts (Ab1, Ab2, Ab3), and a continuous power-split transmission with three drive units (2a, 2b, 2c). The transmission enables all three output shafts to be operated at the same time with rotational speed variability. A first drive unit (2a) has two energy converters while second and third drive units (2b, 2c) each comprise one energy converter. All four energy converters are functionally connected to an electric line. The first unit (2a) is connected, via a first shaft, to the main drive element and, via a second shaft, to output shaft (Ab1). The first unit (2a) is connected to drive unit (2b) which is connected, via a third shaft, to output shaft (Ab2). The first drive unit (2a) is connected to drive unit (2c) which is connected, via a fourth shaft, to output shaft (Ab3).
US10184545B2 Power drive unit with dual gear ratio mechanism
A gear ratio mechanism includes an input shaft, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, and a carrier link associated with an output shaft. The carrier link is configured to couple the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set. The carrier link is selectively driven by the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set in response to rotation of the input shaft.
US10184544B1 Cycloid transmission with chain link ring
Examples are provided that describe a cycloid transmission with a chain link ring. An example cycloid transmission includes a motor shaft attached to a disc. The motor shaft may be used for rotating the disc. The cycloid transmission also comprises an outer chain link ring that surrounds the disc. The outer chain link ring includes rollers that are inserted at given interfaces between links of the outer chain link ring. The rollers contact the disc as the disc rotates. The cycloid transmission also comprises a housing. The links of the outer chain link are coupled at the given interfaces. The rollers are inserted at the given interfaces and into the housing.
US10184540B2 Liquid pressure device
Provided is a liquid pressure device having no dead band in generation of force and causing no contamination, the liquid pressure device including a bottom cap and a head cap welded to an outer tube, and a rod guide fastened to the head cap, and one end of a pipe is fit in the bottom cap and the other end of the pipe is fit in the rod guide, and the bottom cap and the rod guide sandwich a cylinder. Accordingly, the liquid pressure device of the present invention can add shaft force to the cylinder while supporting the pipe, an inside of which is isolated from a tank, by the bottom cap and the rod guide, and does not need to braze the pipe to the bottom cap. Therefore, the liquid pressure device of the present invention has no dead band in generation of force and causes no contamination.
US10184535B2 Polymeric brake piston with reinforcing core
A brake piston comprising a) an open end; b) a closed end; c) a piston cylindrical wall comprising a polymeric material which extends from the closed end to the open end; d) a core member comprising a metallic material located within the cylindrical wall which extends between the closed end and the open end without extending completely to the open end; and wherein the core member structurally reinforces the brake piston. The brake piston may find particular use in a disc brake assembly. The core member may be particularly useful for structurally reinforcing the brake piston when receiving and transferring a brake apply force.
US10184531B2 Rotation transmission device
A rotation transmission device includes torque cams provided between opposed surfaces of a flange of a control retainer and a flange of a rotary retainer and configured to convert an axial movement of the control retainer to relative rotational motion between the two retainers. All of the torque cams are circumferentially offset from all of the pillars of the control retainer and all of the pillars of the rotary retainer, and a pair of cam grooves forming each torque cam are heat-treated only at their areas that are brought into contact with a ball of the torque cam, to increase the hardness of these areas, thus improving the durability of the retainers.
US10184529B2 Wedge clutch assembly
A wedge clutch assembly for transferring torque from an engine to an output shaft, comprising a clutch carrier comprising an axial friction surface and a radially inwardly facing surface, a hub comprising a first radially outwardly facing surface having grooves positioned circumferentially thereon and detents positioned within the grooves, a wedge plate comprising an axial friction surface, a second radially outwardly facing surface, and a second radially inwardly facing surface having recesses, a pressure plate concentrically arranged within the first radially inwardly facing surface and displaceable such that in an engaged mode, an axial force is applied to the pressure plate, in a first axial direction, to engage the wedge plate with the clutch carrier such that torque is transferred from the engine to the output shaft, and in a disengaged mode, the wedge plate is independently rotatable from the clutch carrier.
US10184526B2 Constant velocity joint boot assembly
A constant velocity joint boot assembly with a boot can having a first end portion connected to an outer race and a second end portion cantilevered from the outer race. The second end portion has a planar portion extending from the first end portion at an angle. A radially outward extending end extends from the planar portion. A boot has a first end and a second end. The first end has an inner surface that is directly connected to an inner surface of the planar portion of the boot can. A sleeve has one end portion connected to an inner surface of an inner race and a second end portion extending axially away from the inner race. The boot has a lower portion engaged with the sleeve.
US10184522B2 Bottom bracket assembly and bicycle
A bottom bracket shell assembly includes left and right sidewalls. The left and right sidewalls each include a peripheral rim and a lateral surface. The lateral surfaces define a generally circular void. A bearing support is disposed at the voids of the left and right sidewalls. Left and right first bosses project away from the left and right sidewalls at a periphery of the lateral surface. The first bosses include boss ends configured to connect to a first tubular member. The left and right sidewalls are joined at the peripheral rim to form contiguous front and rear surfaces. The present disclosure maximizes the strength to weight ratio for low modulus frame materials.
US10184521B2 Sliding bearing element
The invention relates to a sliding bearing element (1) comprising a polymer layer (4), the polymer layer (4) having solid lubricant particles and metal oxide particles and as a polymer, exclusively a polyimide polymer or a polyamide imide polymer. The metal oxide particles are selected from the group comprising bismuth vanadate, chromium-antimony-rutile and mixtures therefrom.
US10184517B2 Needle roller bearing with double row of retainers
A retainer-equipped double-row needle-roller bearing includes a pair of annular end flange portions; a center annular center flange portion; and two rows of pillars connecting the portions to each other to provide pockets between mutually adjacent pairs of pillars in a circumferential direction for holding rollers in two rows. The center flange portion has an outer diameter (φD2), and the end flange portions have an outer diameter (φD1), in a relationship expressed as φD2<φD1. When the retainer moves radially by an amount of gap associated with the rollers, the retainer is guided on the outer diameter surfaces of the end flange portions at two ends of the retainer, by the inner diameter surface of a housing. This stabilizes behavior of the retainer during rotation, reducing premature wear and abnormal noise.
US10184513B2 Thrust sliding bearing
A thrust sliding bearing may include a thrust receiving surface comprising radial oil grooves, and a resin portion, the resin portion comprising a plurality of resin sheets in an area defined by the oil grooves of the thrust receiving surface, the plurality of resin sheets being laminated. Circumferential widths of the plurality of resin sheets may increase upwardly from a bottom resin sheet. A circumferential width of the resin portion may decrease upwardly.
US10184512B2 Elastomeric journal bearing
An elastomeric journal bearing, comprising inner part (2) extending in axial direction (x), outer sleeve (3) surrounding inner part (2), elastomeric bearing body (4) arranged between inner part (2), outer sleeve (3), connected to inner part (2), said bearing body comprising at least two radially extending webs (5, 6) which are offset in circumferential direction (u), and two annular walls (7, 8) which are offset in axial direction (x), between which extend axially webs (5, 6), and at least two chambers (10, 11) filled with liquid (9) and are separated from each other in circumferential direction (u) by webs (5, 6), said chambers being fluidically connected via at least one channel (12). The axial ends (36, 37, 38, 39) of the webs (5, 6) have at least in the region of the radially outer web ends (22, 23) axial end faces (40, 41, 42, 43) which bear against the walls (7, 8).
US10184506B2 Captive elements of an attachment system
Embodiments described herein may be directed to an attachment system for coupling an accessory or component to a consumer product. The attachment system may include a captive locking mechanism that may be incorporated with the accessory or non-product side attachment assembly. The captive locking mechanism may include one or more spring-bar components that retain the engagement mechanism in a recess or feature formed in a component of the accessory. The attachment system may also include a release mechanism that may be incorporated with the product-side attachment assembly of a consumer product. The release mechanism may be captive or otherwise retained in the body of the device and may include one or more spring-bar components that retain the release mechanism in a recess or featured formed into the body of the device.
US10184505B2 Compressive indentation fastener device
A compression indentation fastener device is described comprising a shank and a head. The head extends outwardly from an end of the shank in a transverse plane to define a head periphery. The head has an anterior side and a posterior side. The anterior side includes an exposed area extending between the shank and the head periphery. The anterior side includes a relief portion in the form of a depression. The relief portion is open at the anterior side of the head such that the relief portion receives a volume of substrate material when the exposed area of the head impacts the substrate material. The head may be integral with the shank or the head may be comprised of discrete head portions that mate with one another. Additionally, the head may be centered on the end of the shank or offset relative to the shank.
US10184502B2 Insert for conductor clamp insulating structure
An insert for a conductor clamp has a body portion for applying a clamping force to a conductor. The insert includes an insert body receivable by the body portion of the conductor clamp. The insert body has a first surface adapted to face a portion of the conductor. The insert body is made from a non-metallic and electrically non-conductive material. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the first surface of the insert body. A friction enhancing material applied to at least a portion of the adhesive.
US10184501B2 Fluid pressure cylinder
In a fluid pressure cylinder, a first positioning ring is provided detachably on a first annular projection of a head cover, and a second positioning ring is provided detachably on a second annular projection of a rod cover. Further, a structure is provided in which opposite ends of a cylinder tube are inserted over and capable of being retained on outer circumferential sides of the first and second positioning rings. As a result, by preparing a new cylinder tube having a different diameter, and new first and second positioning rings, and mounting the new cylinder tube through the new first and second positioning rings, which are installed on the first and second annular projections, a fluid pressure cylinder having a different bore diameter can be obtained.
US10184499B2 Hydraulic circuit for construction machine
A hydraulic circuit for a construction machine is disclosed, which can prevent a loss of pressure during a combined work. The hydraulic circuit includes a variable displacement hydraulic pump, at least two hydraulic actuators driven by hydraulic fluid that is supplied from the hydraulic pump, control valves installed in a center bypass path of the hydraulic pump and shifted to control a start, a stop, and a direction change of the hydraulic actuators, parallel flow paths having inlets branched and connected to predetermined positions on an uppermost stream side of the center bypass path and outlets connected to inlet ports of the control valves, bleed-off paths formed on the control valves other than the lowermost downstream side control valve among the control valves to selectively communicate with the center bypass path, the bleed-off paths communicating with the center bypass path when the plurality of control valves are shifted for a combined work, and a switching valve installed on a lowermost downstream side of the center bypass path to intercept the center bypass path when pilot signal pressure is applied.
US10184497B2 Universal orientation electro-hydraulic actuator
An electro-hydraulic actuator is operable in any orientation without changing components. The electro-hydraulic actuator includes a reservoir for containing a hydraulic fluid, a bladder within the reservoir for containing a compressible gas, a pump fluidly connected to the reservoir with one or more inlet/outlet ports, and an electric motor drivingly coupled to the pump. The bladder has an inlet/outlet port configured to communicate with a gas source external to the reservoir for adjusting the amount of compressible gas within the bladder. The bladder may also be configured within the reservoir in a manner that prevents the bladder from obstructing fluid flow to the pump inlet/outlet, and that can also prevent fluid from becoming trapped by the bladder and therefore inaccessible to the pump.
US10184496B2 Automatic pressure and vacuum clearing skid method
A method of pressurization and evacuation of a system including during a pressurization phase; introducing a pressurized gas stream into the top valve, which is actuated to direct the pressurized gas stream into the bottom valve, wherein the bottom valve is actuated to direct the pressurized gas stream to the customer apparatus; and during a vacuum phase; introducing the pressurized gas stream into the top valve, which is actuated to direct the pressurized gas stream into the inlet port of the pressure inlet of the educator, thereby producing a low pressure condition in the suction inlet, introducing a customer gas stream into the bottom valve, which is actuated to direct the customer gas to exit the bottom valve, wherein the low pressure condition causes the customer gas stream to be directed to the educator suction inlet, wherein it mixes with the pressurized gas stream and exits the educator discharge outlet.
US10184495B2 Air movement apparatus with improved air blending
A portable air movement apparatus with improved air blending is provided, having a housing, an air generator, an air outlet, and an ambient air passageway through the housing of the device. The impeller and other components, such as the heating element, are disassociated from the location of the air outlet, allowing for the ability to use more than one air outlet, which serves to spread the air stream over a greater area. The disassociation of the impeller and other components from the air outlet also minimizes the housing size required near the air outlet, thereby allowing ambient air to be entrained in the air flow produced by the apparatus. As such, the apparatus moves more room air through the apparatus and more rapidly blends the air into the entire area or room.
US10184492B2 Axial flow fan
A fan includes a motor, an impeller fixed to the motor, and a housing including a cylindrical inner circumferential surface. The impeller includes a plurality of blades extending radially outward. The housing is arranged to surround outer peripheries of the motor and the impeller. The housing includes an intake port which is an upper opening of the housing, an upper edge which surrounds the intake port, an exhaust port which is a lower opening of the housing, a lower edge which surrounds the exhaust port. An axial distance from an upper end of each of the blades to an upper edge is ½ times or more of an axial distance from the upper end of each of the blades to a lower end thereof. This makes it possible to restrain an air flow having a swirling component from passing through the intake port.
US10184484B2 Single inlet/outlet connection for turbocharger compressor
A compressor device for a turbocharger. The compressor device includes a compressor housing and a separate snorkel member which are provided separately and then connected together. The compressor housing has two air passages separated by a partition wall, while the snorkel member similarly has two separate air ducts separated in part by a partition wall. The two components have mating fittings to connect them together.
US10184483B2 Gas turbine engine airfoil
An airfoil for a turbine engine includes pressure and suction sides that extend in a radial direction from a 0% span position at an inner flow path location to a 100% span position at an airfoil tip. The airfoil has a relationship between a total chord length and a span position and corresponds to a curve that has an increasing total chord length from the 0% span position to a first peak. The first peak occurs in the range of 45-65% span position, and the curve either remains constant or has a decreasing total chord length from the first peak toward the 100% span position. The total chord length is at the 0% span position in the range of 8.2-10.5 inches (20.8-26.7 cm). The curve is at least a third order polynomial and has an initial positive slope.
US10184481B2 Centrifugal compressor with extended operating range
This disclosure relates to a centrifugal compressor. In a first example, the compressor includes a first impeller provided in a main refrigerant flow path, a second impeller provided in the main refrigerant flow path downstream of the first impeller, and a recirculation flow path. In the first example, the recirculation flow path is provided between a first location and a second location along the main refrigerant flow path. The first location is downstream of the second location, and the second location is downstream of the first impeller. In a second example, the compressor includes an impeller provided in a main refrigerant flow path, and a recirculation flow path provided between a first location and a second location along the main refrigerant flow path. In the second example, the recirculation flow path includes a recirculation volute. Further disclosed is a method for operating a centrifugal compressor.
US10184479B2 Multi-use fan
A multi-use fan includes a front fan cover, a rear fan cover, blades, a motor, and a handle. The front and rear fan covers fit together to form a fan cover, a protrusion mirrored along the center line of the fan cover and disposed on the bottom thereof, a foldable connecting part disposed on the bottom of the rear fan cover, a foldable mounting part fitted with the foldable connecting part and disposed on the top of the handle. The handle includes a handle housing, a battery, a battery cover, a line group, an adjusting knob, an anti-slip pad rotationally connected with the side of the handle housing and formed at the highest point thereof, and an elastic metal bar including a short edge rotationally connected with the side of the handle housing and a long edge connected with the upper end face of the handle housing. The battery, the line group and the adjusting knob are disposed inside the handle housing, with an opening set in the handle housing at a position corresponding to the adjusting knob.
US10184478B2 Fan device with modular functionality
The present invention relates to a fan device with modular functionality, whereby an output end and input end of the fan are respectively provided with terminal joints. Two connector joints on the I/O module connecting wires are connected respectively to the terminal joints of the output end and the input end of the fan. Therefore, the output/input terminals are modularized by means of the separated wires to reduce the problems of wire trimming.
US10184464B2 Electromagnetic actuator and inertia conservation device for a reciprocating compressor
A compressor includes a piston disposed in a housing and configured to be reciprocatably driven in the housing by an electromagnetic drive. A conventional linear motor drive assembly reciprocatably drives the piston in an embodiment. A magnetically-geared drive assembly reciprocatably drives the piston in another embodiment. A solenoid drive assembly reciprocatably drives the piston in another embodiment. A control system is coupled to the drive for varying piston displacement, and an accumulator conserves force by decelerating a translating assembly at the end of one stroke and accelerating the assembly in a subsequent stroke.
US10184463B2 Compressor swash plate and compressor equipped with same
A compressor swash plate includes a base member having a flat plate shape, and a coating layer formed on a surface of the base member and having projections formed in a linear shape, in which the following inequalities are satisfied when a plane part formed on a prism is pressed against the coating layer with a pressure of 30 MPa: 0.01≤B≤0.06 and 10≤S≤40, where B indicates widths (mm) of surfaces of the projections in contact with the plane part, and S indicates a percentage (%) of a total sum of an area Si of the contact surfaces (a gross area of the surfaces of the projections in contact with the plane part) relative to a reference area (an area of a part of the coating layer against which the plane part is pressed).
US10184461B2 Pump device and method therefor of conveying fluid, and method of manufacturing the pump device
A pump has a housing having at least one inlet, one outlet, and an internal track with a given configuration. A piston movably positioned inside the housing has at least one protuberance movably mated to the track. As the piston is reciprocally driven by a motor, it is guided by the movement of the protuberance along the track to move bidirectionally along the housing and selectively rotate such that when the piston is moved to a first position, a fluid path is established through the inlet to enable fluid to be input into the housing. When the piston is moved to a second position, another fluid path is established through the outlet so that fluid is output from the housing. Multiple chambers may be formed in the housing to enable synchronous and selective opening and closing of respective inlets and outlets to enhance fluid flow.
US10184460B2 Cusped-field thruster
A cusped-field thruster for a space system, wherein the cusped-field thruster comprises: at least two substantially annular permanent magnets arranged in an antipolar manner, wherein a magnetic pole piece is formed between the permanent magnets, and an anode, which comprises a permanent-magnetic material. The cusped-field thruster is configured such that a cusp is formed in a region adjacent to the anode of the cusped-field thruster.
US10184457B2 Ocean thermal energy conversion plant
An offshore power generation structure comprising a submerged portion having a first deck portion comprising an integral multi-stage evaporator system, a second deck portion comprising an integral multi-stage condensing system, a third deck portion housing power generation equipment, cold water pipe; and a cold water pipe connection. The heat exchangers in the evaporator and condenser systems include a multi-stage cascading heat exchange system. Warm water conduits in the first deck portion and cold water conduits in the second deck portion are integral to the structure of the submerged portion of the offshore platform.
US10184454B2 Wind turbine for generating electricity with naval technology
The present invention relates to a horizontal-shaft/vertical-transmission wind turbine for generating electricity, which may be on-shore or off-shore, with reduced materials and structures in the nacelle, mast and foundation, which moves much of the equipment to the base of the mast, thereby reducing capex, enabling significant reductions in the operation and maintenance costs of the turbines, and reducing the cost of the installed power (installed MW) in a wind farm. The mechanical energy coming from the rotor is transmitted by a vertical shaft system (6) along the mast, which incorporates naval technology, and which is based on platforms (1) to neutralize harmonics and is connected to H/Vst (3) and V/Hmvst (4) transmissions, coupled using contraction and expansion joints (2). In addition to this, the rotor orientation system (YAW control) (29), which is connected to the torque control of the transmissions, the brake control and the blade pitch control, enables the rotor to be properly positioned. The invention enables radio communication between masts and with a control center over an aerial interface, which increases the reliability and general safety of the system.
US10184453B1 System for extracting energy from wind and thermal gradients
An inverted funnel-shaped columnar tower (115) includes a window region (120), a heat absorbing surface (130), an air entrance (116) and exit (117). Solar energy passes through the window region and heats the heat absorbing surface. A plurality of fans (145), each connected to a generator (150), are suspended within the tower and extract energy from convectively rising air, generating electricity. A fan (160) outside the tower intercepts wind and turns an internal fan (145′) that aids the convective flow, providing a self-starting feature. A plurality of rotors (100) with wings (705) are connected in groups to generators (725) and all are arranged adjacent the tower. The rotors intercept wind energy and deliver it to the generators for conversion to electricity. The rotors include a flap (800) that predetermines the direction of rotation of the rotor, providing a second self-starting feature. The convection and wind-capture functions operate independently.
US10184452B2 Wind power generation system and DC power transmission system
A wind power generation system according to the present invention includes: a DC bus; a plurality of feeders connected to the DC bus for transmitting DC powers to the DC bus; a plurality of wind power generators; a plurality of AC/DC converters connected one by one to each of the wind power generators for converting AC powers generated by the connected wind power generators, into DC powers, and outputting the DC powers to the feeders; and a DC breaker and a diode, which serve as a current limiting unit installed on each of the feeders for preventing a DC current from flowing from the DC bus into the feeder.