| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10649665B2 |
Data relocation in hybrid memory
The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for data relocation in hybrid memory. A number of embodiments include a memory, wherein the memory includes a first type of memory and a second type of memory, and a controller configured to identify a subset of data stored in the first type of memory to relocate to the second type of memory based, at least in part, on a frequency at which an address corresponding to the subset of data stored in the first type of memory has been accessed during program operations performed on the memory. |
| US10649664B2 |
Method and device for scheduling virtual disk input and output ports
Embodiments of the present application relate to a method for scheduling virtual disk input and output (I/O) ports, a device for scheduling virtual disk I/O ports, and a computer program product for scheduling virtual disk I/O ports. A method for scheduling virtual disk I/O ports is provided. The method includes assigning a set of service quality ratings to a corresponding set of virtual disk I/O ports based on a set of reading-writing bandwidth quotas associated with the corresponding set of virtual disk I/O ports in a physical machine, determining a total forecast value of a data bandwidth to be used by reading-writing requests and determining virtual disk I/O ports, allocating reading-writing bandwidth limits to the virtual disk I/O ports, and scheduling virtual disk I/O ports on the physical machine. |
| US10649660B2 |
Disaggregating block storage controller stacks
Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for communicating, by a common layer, with a local block storage system and communicating, by a subsystem layer that is communicatively coupled to the common layer, with one or more subsystems. Additionally, the common layer may be disassociated with one or more hardware specific components of the subsystem layer. In one example, the common layer may export one or more callback functions to the subsystem layer, wherein the callback functions include a registration and/or deregistration function. |
| US10649659B2 |
Scaleable storage array
A method of operating a storage system is disclosed. The method includes determining a storage cluster among storage arrays of the storage system. Each storage array includes at least two controllers and at least one storage shelf. The at least two controllers are configured to function as both a primary controller for a first storage array and a secondary controller for a second storage array. |
| US10649656B2 |
Techniques to update a trim parameter in non-volatile memory
Techniques to update a trim parameter in non-volatile memory during either a manufacturing stage or a post-manufacturing stage are described. Trim parameters may be stored in a register located within the memory device that is inaccessible by a host device during a normal mode of operation. Post-manufacturing updates to trim parameters by the host device may be feasible by creating registers located within the memory device that are accessible to the host device to provide information regarding trim parameter setting updates. The memory device may read the information from the registers accessible to the host device to update trim parameters stored in the register inaccessible by the host device. In this manner, the host device may not have a direct access to the trim parameters but still be able to provide an update to the trim parameters by updating an entry of the registers accessible by the host device. |
| US10649655B2 |
Data storage system with multimedia assets
Systems and methods are disclosed for storing multimedia assets (or other data objects) in a storage array. Portions of the multimedia asset may be stored on different chunks of the storage drives in the storage array based on an access frequency level for a portion, an importance level for the portion, a reliability score for a chunk, and a performance score for the chunk. |
| US10649654B2 |
Device and method for operating a device
A method for operating a device, wherein a graphical user interface is generated and displayed on a display area. The user interface has at least one operating object assigned to an application program for controlling the device. Output data are generated and displayed in the region of the assigned operating object, wherein the application program has a function having exactly two activatable program states. The first program state is activated and the output data are generated based on the activated program state. An input gesture is detected based on the user interface. The operating object has a first region and a second region and the input gesture is assigned to the first region or to the second region. |
| US10649650B2 |
Native overlay for rapid editing of web content
A web rendering module in the operating system is used to render and display a web page. The web rendering module also generates layout data that describes the position and size of each visual element on the rendered web page. A web editing application uses the layout data to generate a native overlay. The native overlay is an arrangement of cells, and each cell has the same position and size as a respective visual element. The application displays the native overlay on top of the rendered web page so that each visual element on the web page is aligned with a cell in the native overlay. The cells in the native overlay are transparent so that the rendered web page remains visible to the user, but the native overlay captures any interactions that the user performs. The interactions are then processed to make a corresponding change to the web page. |
| US10649644B2 |
Controlling multitasking application displays using gestures
A display processing method and a display processing device are described. The method includes receiving a first gesture operation on a touch display region of an electronic device, when a first application interface of a first application installed in the electronic device is displayed in the touch display region; determining whether the first gesture operation satisfies a first predetermined condition or not; generating a first sub interface to be displayed in a first sub region of the touch display region and a second sub interface to be displayed in a second sub region of the touch display region when it is determined that the first gesture operation satisfies the first predetermined condition; and displaying the first sub interface in the first sub region, and displaying the second sub interface in the second sub region. |
| US10649643B2 |
HMI-based pattern modification for robotic palletizing
A controller of a material handling system performs a method of creating a multidrop pattern of articles for robotic placement in layers on a pallet. A pattern is presented on a user interface of any currently positioned representations of articles on a pallet. A control affordance for inputting drag'n'drop and numeric inputs is presented on the user interface for robotic control operations to perform a multidrop of the more than one article in an end effector of a robotic arm for placement of the more than one article. User inputs are received that indicate placement position of a first subset of the more than one article. User inputs are received that indicate placement position of a second subset, which is mutually exclusive of the first subset, of the more than one article. The user inputs are converted into a place sequence of robotic control operations to perform a multidrop of the articles by the robotic arm. |
| US10649642B2 |
Remapping interface elements on a user interface
A method, executed by a computer, for remapping interface elements on a graphical user interface includes activating an action capture mode responsive to input from a user, receiving a selection of an interface element, responsive to input from the user that uses the action capture mode, adding an alias user interface element corresponding to the interface element to a shortcut group, and wherein activation of the alias user interface element performs an action corresponding to the interface element. A computer program product and computer system corresponding to the above method are also disclosed herein. |
| US10649640B2 |
Personalizing perceivability settings of graphical user interfaces of computers
The perceivability of user interface elements of a graphical user interface can be defined as a selection along a range. At one end of the range, a combination of settings for the graphical user interface allows for a highly-detailed user interface; at another end of the range, a combination of settings provides a graphical user interface having the highest perceivability. The high perceivability may include high contrast, but also may provide other user interface settings to address accessibility issues for an end user. The combination of settings can include attributes affecting the background, transparency, borders and text legibility. The selected combination of settings either sets, overrides or limits values for these attributes of user interface elements during rendering. |
| US10649637B2 |
Mobile terminal to display a window of an application and displaying information method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed. The present disclosure includes a touchscreen configured to display a window of an application and a controller, when the window is shifted into a specific region of the touchscreen, reducing and transforming the window into an icon and controlling the touchscreen to display the icon within the specific region. Accordingly, after a window of an application has been displayed on a screen, when the window is shifted into a specific region within the screen, the screen is displayed in a manner of being reduced and transformed into an icon. |
| US10649634B2 |
Indexing and annotating a usability test recording
A method for indexing a user interface test recording includes capturing, during a session, a recording of a plurality of interactions with the user interface, capturing, during the session, an event stream including a plurality of user interface events, synchronizing, in time, the plurality of interactions and the plurality of user interface events, identifying a point of interest in the event stream, wherein the point of interest is correlated to a time in the recording by the synchronization, and annotating the recording at a time correlated to when the point of interest occurred. |
| US10649630B1 |
Graphical user interfaces for software asset management
A computational instance of a remote network management platform may be associated with a managed network and include a database containing: (i) indications of software applications installed on computing devices of the managed network, and (ii) indications of software models that respectively define publisher, product, and licensing information related to the software applications. The computational instance may include a server device configured to (i) generate a representation of a first graphical user interface, (ii) transmit, to a client device associated with the managed network, the representation of the first graphical user interface, (iii) receive, from the client device, a selection, (iv) based on the particular set of the software applications and the particular set of the software models, generate a representation of a second graphical user interface, and (v) transmit, to the client device, the representation of the second graphical user interface. |
| US10649629B2 |
Handheld devices as visual indicators
A computing device is configured with a multifunctional backlit display. The backlighting can be operated in at least a first mode and a second mode. In a first mode, the backlighting provides luminance to the display so that images on the display can be easily seen. In a second mode, the backlighting provides visual stimulus for relaying information to a user or a user's surroundings. |
| US10649627B2 |
Electronic device and method for displaying history of executed application thereof
Disclosed is an electronic device that includes a display that outputs execution screens of a plurality of applications, a memory that stores the plurality of applications, and a processor electrically connected with the display and the memory. The processor retrieves a history of one or more applications among the plurality of applications that were previously executed in the electronic device, in response to a user input detected by the electronic device and outputs the history on the display based on information about the one or more applications and information about layouts of execution screens of the one or more applications. If at least one of the one or more applications is selected from the history, the processor outputs an execution screen of the selected application on the display according to the corresponding layout. |
| US10649623B2 |
File activity feed for smartly grouping activities into distinct modules
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for creating a file activity feed for display on a user interface of a client computing device. In one aspect, data comprising a plurality of activities associated with a file may be obtained. Two or more activities from the plurality of activities may be grouped into a single module of work for display within the file activity feed. The file activity feed may be displayed on the user interface of the client computing device. In some cases, the file activity feed includes one or more file activity elements including at least the single module of work. In some cases, the file activity feed includes a filter icon and a query feature. The filter icon may provide one or more filter preferences for filtering the file activity feed. The query feature may facilitate querying the file activity feed. |
| US10649620B2 |
Image forming apparatus, processing device, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
Provided is an image forming apparatus including a processing unit that performs a predetermined process for forming an image, a display unit that displays a first screen for displaying Q setting items out of P setting items for setting conditions in which the processing unit performs the process to set the Q setting items or a second screen for displaying R setting items out of the P setting items to set the R setting items, and a switching unit that switches a display screen to be displayed on the display unit between the first screen and the second screen based on a user's instruction, wherein all of the P setting items are capable to be set using the Q setting items displayed on the first screen and the R setting items displayed on the second screen. |
| US10649614B2 |
Image segmentation in virtual reality environments
In one embodiment, a method includes delineating a region in a two-dimensional (2D) image in a virtual reality environment, generating a mask based on an object detected in the delineated region, wherein the mask is defined by a perimeter, and generating a virtual object in the virtual reality environment, where the virtual object incorporates the detected object, and the virtual object is generated by applying the mask to a three-dimensional (3D) object. Delineating a region may include receiving user input that delineates the region, and the input may trace a perimeter of the region. Delineating a region may include detecting an object and determining a perimeter of the detected object. The detected object may be classified as corresponding to a specified object type. The 2D image may include a camera perspective view of an object in the virtual reality environment. |
| US10649610B2 |
Detecting content types and window regions in composited desktop frame buffer
A computing device may include at least one processor configured to obtain a display frame, determine at least one modified region of the display frame, determine at least one application having an application window corresponding to the at least one modified region of the display frame, and determine a difference between the application window and the at least one modified region to define a difference region. The processor may be further configured to identify a content type of the difference region of the display frame from among a plurality of different content types, select a given encoding type for at least a portion of the display frame based on the identified content type of the difference region, and encode the at least one portion of the display frame using the given encoding type. |
| US10649606B2 |
Conductive member and touch panel
A first electrode on a first surface of a transparent insulating member has a first detection electrode portion having a first mesh pattern and a dummy pattern portion in the first electrode arranged so as to be insulated from the first detection electrode portion in a first mesh cell constituting the first mesh pattern, a second electrode on a second surface of the transparent insulating member has a second detection electrode portion having a second mesh pattern and a dummy pattern portion in the second electrode arranged so as to be insulated from a second detection electrode portion in a second mesh cell constituting the second mesh pattern, and a third mesh pattern is formed by combining the first detection electrode portion, the dummy pattern portion in the first electrode, the second detection electrode portion, and the dummy pattern portion in the second electrode. |
| US10649602B2 |
Touch device
A touch device including an array substrate, at least one gate driving circuit, an opposite substrate and a shielding pattern is provided. The array substrate has a display region and a peripheral region connecting to the display region. The gate driving circuit is disposed on the array substrate and located in the peripheral region. The opposite substrate is disposed opposite to the array substrate. The shielding pattern is disposed between the array substrate and the opposite substrate. The shielding pattern projected on the array substrate is formed a first projection, the gate driving circuit projected on the array substrate is formed a second projection, the first projection at least partially overlaps with the second projection. |
| US10649601B1 |
Method for improving touch performance of capacitive touch screen with non-rectangular shape
A method for improving touch performance of a capacitive touch screen with a non-rectangular shape is provided. The capacitive touch screen includes plural complete cells and at least one incomplete cell for sensing. The method includes: determining whether an active area of the incomplete cell is different from an active area of each of the complete cells; and performing a mutual capacitance compensation on the incomplete cell to compensate a mutual capacitance of the incomplete cell when the active area of the incomplete cell is different from the active area of each of the complete cells. |
| US10649596B2 |
Touch panel and touch method thereof, electronic device
A touch panel and a touch method thereof, and an electronic device are provided. The touch panel includes a first touch detection line, a touch electrode, a second touch detection line and a first switch element. The first touch detection line is connected with the touch electrode and is insulated from the second detection line, and the second detection line is connected with the touch electrode through the first switch element. |
| US10649590B2 |
Transfer film, electrode protective film for electrostatic capacitance-type input device, laminate, method for manufacturing laminate, and electrostatic capacitance-type input device
The transfer film includes a temporary support and a photosensitive transparent resin layer formed on the temporary support, in which the photosensitive transparent resin layer includes a binder polymer, a photopolymerizable compound having an ethylenic unsaturated group, a photopolymerization initiator, and a blocked isocyanate, the binder polymer is a carboxyl group-containing acrylic resin having an acid value of 60 mgKOH/g or more, and the transfer film is to protect electrodes in electrostatic capacitance-type input devices. |
| US10649588B2 |
Piezoelectric film structures and sensors and display assemblies using same
The disclosure is directed to piezoelectric film structures and sensors, and display assemblies using same. The piezoelectric film structure is transparent and includes: a substrate; a bottom optical layer disposed on or above the substrate; a bottom conducting layer disposed on or above the bottom optical layer; at least one piezoelectric layer disposed on or above the bottom conducting layer; a top conducting layer disposed on or above the at least one piezoelectric layer; and a top optical layer disposed on or above the top conducting layer. The sensor includes the piezoelectric film structure electrically connected to a signal processing system. The display assembly includes the sensor operably arranged relative to a display device. The piezoelectric film structures and sensors can be configured to determine one or more touch-sensing features associated with a touch event. |
| US10649586B2 |
System and method for touch and interaction in a three-dimension display
There are disclosed a system and method for touch and interaction in a three-dimension display, and after a three-dimension touch and interaction mode is enabled, a relative location relationship between a touch position of an operator and a display panel is determined according to transmitting time of ultrasonic signals transmitted by at least two ultrasonic transmitters and receiving time when ultrasonic signals reflected at the touch position of the operator are received by at least two ultrasonic sensors; and then the ultrasonic transmitters are controlled to transmit ultrasonic signals at preset power to the touch position of the operator according to a three-dimension object currently displayed on the display panel and the relative location relationship between the touch position of the operator and the display panel to make feedback for a touch operation at the touch position of the operator. |
| US10649581B1 |
Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for manipulating user interface objects with visual and/or haptic feedback
In one embodiment, an apparatus and associated method are provided, comprising: at a device having a display and a touch-sensitive surface: displaying a first user interface of a first application on the display; while displaying the first user interface on the display, detecting a first movement of a first contact across the touch-sensitive surface in a first direction; and during detection of the first movement of the first contact across the touch-sensitive surface: in accordance with a determination that first one or more criteria is met by a first movement condition being met, displaying a second user interface, and in accordance with a determination that second one or more criteria is met by a second movement condition, that is different from the first movement condition, being met, displaying a third user interface. |
| US10649577B2 |
Touch control driving unit, driving method thereof and touch control driving circuit
A touch control driving unit includes a shift register circuit, a strobe circuit and an output circuit, wherein the shift register circuit includes a first control port, an input port and a triggering signal output port, is connected to the strobe circuit, and is configured to generate a triggering signal; the strobe circuit includes a second control port and a strobe signal port, is connected to the shift register circuit, and is configured to control the output circuit; and the output circuit includes an output port, a stable level port and a touch control signal port, and is configured to output a stable level or a touch control signal under control of the strobe circuit. |
| US10649576B2 |
Electronic device with protective case and operating method thereof
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a connector detachable from part of an electronic device including a display, and a cover connected to the connector, wherein the cover is capable of covering at least part of the display of the electronic device, and wherein the cover includes a window configured to expose the at least part of the display when the cover covers at least part of the display. |
| US10649573B2 |
Display device and program
The pressing operation detector of a display device detects a pressing of a housing via an area other than an area of the display surface. The display device executes a first processing when detecting only the pressing of the housing. |
| US10649571B1 |
Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for manipulating user interface objects with visual and/or haptic feedback
An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface: displays a first user interface that includes a plurality of selectable objects; detects an input that includes detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to a respective selectable object; and in response to detecting the input: in accordance with a determination that detecting the input includes detecting an increase in intensity of the contact that meets intensity criteria, displays a menu that includes contact information for the respective selectable object overlaid on top of the first user interface; and in accordance with a determination that detecting the input includes detecting a liftoff of the contact without meeting the intensity criteria, replaces display of the first user interface with display of a second user interface. |
| US10649570B2 |
Force detection apparatus and method, touch device and electronic terminal
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a force detection apparatus and method, a touch device and an electronic terminal. The apparatus includes: a first detection capacitor, and a second detection capacitor configured to perform differential processing for a capacitance of the first detection capacitor to cancel an interference signal; wherein the first detection capacitor includes a force detection electrode, and the second detection capacitor includes a reference detection electrode, the force detection electrode and the reference detection electrode being arranged within a surface, such that the first detection capacitor and the second detection capacitor are simultaneously coupled to the interference signal causing interference to force detection, and differential processing is performed for capacitances of the first detection capacitor and the second detection capacitor. In this way, the interference signal, for example, which caused by a display device, is canceled, and sensitivity of force detection is enhanced while temperature drift is inhibited. |
| US10649567B2 |
Display apparatus with integrated touch screen
Disclosed is a display apparatus with integrated touch screen, in which a relative permittivity of an encapsulation layer is reduced, thereby increasing touch sensitivity. The display apparatus with integrated touch screen includes a light emitting layer disposed on a lower substrate, an encapsulation layer disposed on the light emitting layer, and a touch electrode disposed on the encapsulation layer. The encapsulation layer includes a first elastic layer disposed on the light emitting layer, a low dielectric layer disposed on the first elastic layer, and a second elastic layer disposed on the low dielectric layer. A relative permittivity of the low dielectric layer is 2.5 to 2.8. |
| US10649565B2 |
Touch display device and touch display panel having a bend area including a dielectric layer with a compensation pattern
A touch display device and a touch display panel are provided. The touch display panel includes a bend area adjacent to the periphery of the touch display panel, and touch lines disposed in the bend area have zigzag shapes that extend at angles with respect to a bend axis about which the bend area is bent. A first dielectric layer includes a compensation pattern that is located in the bend area and includes an opening that extends in a direction parallel to the bend axis. A second dielectric layer protrudes into the opening of the compensation pattern in a depth direction. During bending of the bend area, this configuration disperses force applied to portions of the touch lines and the dielectric layers in the bend area. This can consequently prevent both cracking due to bending and moisture permeation due to cracks. |
| US10649564B2 |
Touch display panel and display device
A touch display panel and a display device are disclosed. The touch display panel includes a plurality of touch signal lines and a plurality of data lines disposed in a display area, and a plurality of lead terminals disposed in a peripheral area. The plurality of lead terminals includes a plurality of first terminals respectively connected to the plurality of data lines and a plurality of second terminals respectively connected to the plurality of touch signal lines. The plurality of lead terminals are arranged in a matrix. The first terminals and the second terminals are provided in a row direction or a column direction so as to be consistent with the sequence in which the data lines connected to the first terminals and the touch signal lines connected to the second terminals are arranged. |
| US10649563B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing same
A display device including a substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a form of a matrix in a plane parallel with the substrate, a display functional layer exerting an image display function on a basis of an image signal supplied to the plurality of pixel electrodes, a driving electrode opposed to the plurality of pixel electrodes, and a plurality of detecting electrodes arranged in a form of a plane opposed to the driving electrode, separated and arranged at a pitch of a natural number multiple of an arrangement pitch of the pixel electrodes in one direction in the arrangement plane, and each capacitively coupled with the driving electrode. |
| US10649562B2 |
In-cell touch screen and a display device
The present invention provides an In-Cell touch screen and a display device, which belongs to the field of touch display technology. The FIC capacitive touch screen comprises an array substrate and touch electrodes disposed above or below the array substrate, the touch electrodes comprising a plurality of first capacitive electrodes and a plurality of second capacitive electrodes, wherein the first capacitive electrode comprises a plurality of electrically connected capacitive electrode blocks correspondingly located in areas where at least a portion of sub-pixel units of the array substrate are located. The FIC capacitive touch screen has fewer reports for false touch point. |
| US10649561B2 |
Multilayer structure, method of manufacturing multilayer structure, and image display device
A multilayer structure includes a touch sensor and an optical functional layer formed thereon. The optical functional layer includes a phase-difference layer and a linear polarization layer formed thereon on a side opposite to the touch sensor. The phase-difference layer which gives a phase difference to transmitted light has a laminated structure including a 1/4λ phase-difference layer and a 1/2λ phase-difference layer. The multilayer structure has first and second retardations at wavelengths of 450 nm and 590 nm, respectively, while the optical functional layer has third and fourth retardations at wavelengths of 450 nm and 590 nm, respectively. A first ratio of the first retardation to the second retardation is smaller than 0.763 and greater than a second ratio of the third retardation to the fourth retardation. A slow axis of the base member extends in a direction parallel to a synthesized slow axis of the optical functional layer. |
| US10649552B2 |
Input method and electronic device using pen input device
An input method and electronic device using a pen input device are provided. In an embodiment, status information of the pen input device is received, and contact information of a contact point between the pen input device and the terminal is generated, based on the received status information. Expressive effects of a pen input, such as line thickness, density and texture, are varied based on the contact information. Such input method and electronic device using the pen input device can simply and conveniently vary expressive effects of a pen-based input. In other embodiments, contact information is determined from actual contact points and expressive effects are varied as a function of the contact information or pen status information derived from the actual contact information. |
| US10649550B2 |
Predictive detection of user intent for stylus use
One embodiment provides a method. The method includes receiving, with a computing system, stylus orientation data representing an orientation of a stylus. The method includes receiving, with a computing system, grip characteristics data representing a grip on the stylus by a user. The method includes identifying, with the computing system, a stylus mode for use by the computing system, at least partially based on the stylus orientation data and the grip characteristics data. The method includes applying the stylus mode to the computing system to interpret interaction data representing interactions of the stylus with the computing system. |
| US10649547B2 |
Image projection system, pointing element, and method for controlling image projection system
An image projection system includes a projector and a light pen. The projector includes: an image pickup unit which performs image pickup in a periodically repeated image pickup period and does not perform image pickup in a non-image pickup period; a detection unit which detects a pointed position of the light pen; and an infrared signal receiving unit which receives pointing element information transmitted from the light pen. The light pen includes: a light emitting unit; a control unit; and a storage unit which stores the pointing element information. The light pen performs first light emission in the image pickup period and second light emission corresponding to the pointing element information in the non-image pickup period. The projector detects the pointed position, based on an image of the first light emission picked up by the image pickup unit and receives the pointing element information transmitted via the second light emission. |
| US10649541B2 |
Keyboard for a medical treatment system
A medical treatment system comprising a housing; a recess defined by the housing; and a keyboard connected to the housing by a mechanism configured to permit the keyboard to move between: a deployed position in which the keyboard is disposed outside of the recess at an angle of 10° to 80° relative to a front surface of the housing; and a stored position in which the keyboard is at least partially disposed in the recess and keys of the keyboard are exposed for use by a user. |
| US10649540B2 |
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 an information handling device including one or more processors; a display device; and a touchable control area having one or more configurable areas, said one or more configurable areas providing both reflective display and accepting touch-based input; wherein said touchable control area is disposed in place of at least a portion of a standard component of said information handling device, other than said display device, and provides functionality equivalent thereto in one or more configurations. Other embodiments are described. |
| US10649536B2 |
Determination of hand dimensions for hand and gesture recognition with a computing interface
Hand dimensions are determined for hand and gesture recognition with a computing interface. An input sequence of frames is received from a camera. Frames of the sequence are identified in which a hand is recognized. Points are identified in the identified frames corresponding to features of the recognized hand. A value is determined for each of a set of different feature lengths of the recognized hand using the identified points for each identified frame. Each different feature length value is collected for the identified frames independently of each other feature length value. Each different feature length value is analyzed to determine an estimate of each different feature length, and the estimated feature lengths are applied to a hand tracking system, the hand tracking system for applying commands to a computer system. |
| US10649531B2 |
Haptic effect on a touch input surface
Techniques for haptic effect on a touch input surface are described. Generally, haptic effects are provided for different user interactions with a touch input surface, such gestures applied to a touch pad and/or a touchscreen to interact with applications, services, system-level functionalities (e.g., operating system user interfaces), and so forth. According to various implementations, haptic effects can be output based on visual and/or functional attributes of a particular device environment, and/or based on attributes of a gesture used to apply touch input. |
| US10649527B2 |
Current drain reduction in AR/VR display systems
In some embodiments, eye tracking is used on an AR or VR display system to determine if a user of the display system is blinking or otherwise cannot see. In response, current drain or power usage of a display associated with the display system may be reduced, for example, by dimming or turning off a light source associated with the display, or by configuring a graphics driver to skip a designated number of frames or reduce a refresh rate for a designated period of time. |
| US10649526B1 |
Method for updating field of view of graphical user interface on augmented reality
Method for updating the field of view of a graphical user interface on augmented reality through gaze gestures of a user in a certain direction using a clue component which signalizes the existence of a feature component. The method includes: as the user gazes away from a given origin-pivot graphical user interface, synchronously modifying the clue in position, scale, color and/or form; extending graphical user interface to its adjacencies by preserving spatial reference to the prior context; displaying the feature after the user gazes away from the initial position in an arbitrary angle, distance or amount; and when the user gazes back into the origin/pivot position, the feature component animates its visible state off, while the clue component performs its transformation back into the original state. |
| US10649522B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for controlling smart device based on headphone
A method, apparatus and system for controlling a smart device based on a headphone are disclosed. The method includes: collecting, by the headphone, head motion feature data of a human body if a trigger condition of a collection task is satisfied; judging, according to the collected data, whether a target motion feature satisfying a predetermined motion feature is present in head motion feature of the human body; and if the target motion feature is present, acquiring information of an application currently running on the smart device, and generating an operation control instruction corresponding to the target motion feature according to the information of the currently running application and sending the operation control instruction to the smart device. According to the present application, control function may be enhanced for the smart device and control accuracy may be improved. |
| US10649520B2 |
Method and device for inputting password in virtual reality scene
In an implementation, inputting a password in a virtual reality (VR) scene is described. An interactive input interface in the VR scene for a user of a VR device is presented. The interface comprises multiple input units used for an overall input. Each input unit comprises one or more input elements. A determination is made that a user scene focus in the VR scene is on a selected input unit. A determination is made that a movement track of the user scene focus on the selected input unit satisfies an input condition. In response to a determination that the movement track of the user scene focus on the selected input unit satisfies the input condition, the input elements in the selected input unit are used as a part of an input password. |
| US10649518B2 |
Adaptive power control loop
A GPU performs dynamic power level management by switching between pre-defined power levels having distinct clock and voltage levels. The dynamic power level management includes identifying a first performance metric associated with processing workloads at the for a consecutive number of measurement cycles. In some embodiments, the consecutive number of measurement cycles includes a current measurement cycle and at least one previous measurement cycle. Based on a determination that the consecutive number of measurement cycles exceeds a minimum hysteresis number, an estimated optimization is determined to be applied to the GPU for a future measurement cycle. A power level setting at the GPU for the future measurement cycle is adjusted based on the estimated optimization. By considering performance metrics including, for example, different processing workloads and hardware configurations, the GPU is able to dynamically adapt its power settings to the particular workload that it is currently processing. |
| US10649517B2 |
Shelf with solar cell event trigger
An apparatus includes a shelf having a front edge, a solar cell circuit disposed at the front edge, a display screen, and a controller operatively coupled to the solar cell circuit and the display screen. The controller monitors the period of a waveform of a charging voltage of a storage capacitor of the solar cell circuit, displays an image on the display screen in response to a change in the waveform timing. A system includes a plurality of shelves each having a front edge, a solar cell circuit disposed at the front edge of each of the plurality of shelves, and a controller operatively coupled to the solar cell circuits. The controller monitors the frequency at which a power transfer of each solar cell circuit occurs, and signals a device in response to a change in the frequency at which the power transfer occurs. |
| US10649516B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method for the same and storage medium
An information processing apparatus that can avoid an IEEE802.1X re-authentication process due to a communication speed setting change made at the time of transitioning to the power-saving state and realize both of security and power-saving. Fixed link speed with which both a MFP 100 and a communication apparatuses are compatible is set on the basis of acquired pieces of link speed setting information about the MFP 100 and the communication apparatus. Then, 100 Mbps lower than 1000 Mbps is fixedly set on the basis of acquired power-saving setting information about the MFP 100 when the power-saving setting is effective, and EEE is enabled. |
| US10649514B2 |
Method and apparatus for temperature and voltage management control
A method and apparatus for managing processing power determine a supply voltage to supply to a processing unit, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or graphics processing unit (GPU), based on temperature inversion based voltage, frequency, temperature (VFT) data. The temperature inversion based VFT data includes supply voltages and corresponding operating temperatures that cause the processing unit's transistors to operate in a temperature inversion region. In one example, the temperature inversion based VFT data includes lower supply voltages and corresponding higher temperatures in a temperature inversion region of a processing unit. The temperature inversion based VFT data is based on an operating frequency of the processing unit. The apparatus and method adjust a supply voltage to the processing unit based on the temperature inversion based VFT data. |
| US10649510B2 |
Intermittently redistributing energy from multiple power grids in a data center context
A technique for using machine logic to configure power supply units in a data center including: (i) receiving cost information for multiple power grids that includes expected cost information for a time period; (ii) receiving usage information for multiple data center loads in a data center that includes expected electrical power usage for the data center loads; (iii) determining a target power information set, based, at least in part, on the cost information and the usage information, with the target power information set, for the time period, including a target power amount respectively corresponding to each power grid; and (iv) determining a power supply unit configuration scheme so that, when operating under the power supply unit configuration scheme, each power grid will supply, at least approximately, its respectively corresponding target power amount. |
| US10649507B2 |
Power over Ethernet cooling system
A portable or modular cooling system is operated via the power-over-Ethernet (PoE) standard. The cooling system receives electrical power via an Ethernet connection to a source device (such as a server, switch, or other PoE-enabled equipment). The cooling system may thus be used to spot-inject cooler ambient air in the vicinity of the source device without the need for grid electric and for cumbersome electrical wiring. |
| US10649502B2 |
Electronic apparatus and control method thereof
An electronic apparatus includes a communicator; and a processor configured to: transmit a message including a communication connection order among a plurality of terminals to the plurality of terminals through the communicator, and control the communicator to sequentially perform connections with the plurality of terminals corresponding to association requests respectively received from the plurality of terminals after transmitting the message. |
| US10649500B2 |
Centralized content distribution in a wearable display device network
Wearable digital buttons can be deployed within an enterprise context, allowing for the centralized distribution of viewable media content (such as images and videos) selected for each of one or more enterprise groups. For instance, a first set of media objects can be selected for a sales team within a company, a second set of media objects can be selected for a marketing team, and a third set can be selected for a tech support team. The media can be distributed by a central server, for instance wirelessly or via a USB-connected hub. The central server can include an interface enabling a user to select the media for distribution to each enterprise group, to edit or format the media, to view the locations of each wearable digital button within the enterprise, and to customize enterprise groups (for instance, by creating new groups and adding or removing users from existing groups). |
| US10649496B2 |
Stretchable display device and method of manufacturing stretchable display device
A stretchable display device includes a substrate having a plurality of islands spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of bridges connecting each of the plurality of islands. A plurality of display units is disposed above the plurality of islands, respectively. A plurality of metal wirings are electrically connected to each of the plurality of display units. The plurality of metal wirings are disposed above the plurality of bridges. Each of the plurality of bridges includes a first region curved convexly in a first direction on a plane, and a second region curved concavely in the first direction. The second region is connected to the first region. Each of the plurality of metal wirings has a first width, and each of the plurality of bridges have a second width that is greater than the first width. |
| US10649487B2 |
Fail-safe clock monitor with fault injection
A system for testing a clock monitor includes a fault injection circuit, a control circuit, and a clock monitor circuit to evaluate a clock source signal from a clock source. The fault injection circuit is to modify or replace the clock source signal from the clock source to yield a modified clock signal, and send the modified clock signal to the clock monitor circuit. The clock monitor circuit is to receive an input clock signal, determine whether the input clock signal indicates a faulty clock source, and issue a clock corrective action if the input clock signal indicates a faulty clock source. The control circuit is to monitor for the clock corrective action, and determine, based on whether the clock corrective action is issued, whether the clock monitor circuit is operating correctly. |
| US10649484B2 |
Dynamic adaptive clocking for non-common-clock interfaces
The present disclosure provides devices and techniques to dynamically change the operating frequency of an interface where components on the interface have non-common clocks. An interface component may be provided with a frequency negotiation component to negotiate a shift in an operating frequency with other component on an interface where the different components have non-common clocks. |
| US10649483B2 |
Electric pedal for automobiles
Provided is a retractable pedal for an automobile. The pedal comprises a driving support (2), a drive mechanism (4) and a footrest (5), wherein both the driving support (2) and the drive mechanism (4) are installed on the same side of the bottom of an automobile body; the driving support (2) comprises a first transmission mechanism and a first connecting rod (2d), and the front end of the first connecting rod (2d) is fixedly connected to the footrest (5); the first transmission mechanism drives the first connecting rod (2d) to expand and retract; the pedal further comprises at least one driven support (3) which synchronously moves with the driving support (2). According to this pedal, a traditional gear transmission mechanism is omitted so as to reduce manufacturing costs and reduce the generation of abnormal sounds, and the footrest can be ensured to retract in place. |
| US10649479B2 |
Regulator and method of operating regulator
A regulator includes a first resistor and a second resistor that are connected between a ground node and an output node, an amplifier that outputs an amplification voltage by comparing a reference voltage to a feedback voltage between the first resistor and the second resistor, and amplifying a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage, an analog-to-digital converter that converts the amplification voltage to a digital code, and a plurality of transistors that are connected between a power node supplied with a power supply voltage and the output node and which adjusts a current being supplied to the output node in response to the digital code. |
| US10649478B1 |
Multi-bit symbol reception using remotely-sourced reference signals
An integrated circuit component receives an input signal via an external signal conduction path during a first interval and transmits an output signal via the external signal conduction path during a second interval. The integrated circuit component terminates the input signal and the output signal within one or more termination elements having an impedance in accordance with a characteristic impedance of the external signal conduction path to obviate signal termination within another integrated circuit component to which the output signal is destined and from which the input signal is sourced. |
| US10649476B2 |
Flipped gate current reference and method of using
A current reference comprising: a control resistor; a tracking voltage generator including: a first, flipped gate transistor having a first size; and a second transistor having a second size; wherein the tracking voltage generator is configured to output a tracking voltage having a first temperature dependency based on a ratio of the second size to the first size, the temperature dependency thereby being substantially equal to a second temperature dependency of the control resistor; and an amplifier circuit configured to receive the tracking voltage and maintain a voltage at a first terminal of the control resistor, the voltage being substantially equal to the tracking voltage; wherein the current reference thereby is configured to maintain a reference current through the control resistor at a constant value. |
| US10649475B2 |
Vapor splitter and method for adjusting vapor split ratio
Disclosed is a vapor splitter including: a chimney tray dividing an internal space of a housing into an upper space and a lower space; a chimney provided on the chimney tray to enable the upper space and the lower space to communicate with each other; a cap covering the chimney with a gap therebetween such that a gas discharge hole is formed so that gas, coming out through the chimney, can be transferred to the upper space through the gas discharge hole; a liquid feeding unit for feeding liquid to the upper space; and a liquid discharging unit for discharging the liquid out of the upper space. The size of the gas discharge hole is adjusted by controlling the height of the liquid collected on the chimney. Further disclosed is a method of adjusting a vapor split ratio using the vapor splitter. |
| US10649472B2 |
Tubing system
A system for establishing a fluid path between a plurality of tubes includes a manifold and a plurality of caps. The manifold defines an internal cavity and a plurality of orifices that access the cavity. Each of the plurality of caps are secured to an end of a respective tube of the plurality of tubes. Each cap defines a central orifice that is in fluid communication with the respective tube. Each cap has a tapered protrusion extending away from the end of the respective tube. The caps are disposed within the internal cavity such that the respective tube extends through a respective orifice of the plurality of orifices and outward from the manifold. The tapered protrusions of adjacent caps interact with each other to position each cap to form a seal with other caps having a central orifice such that the central orifices are in fluid communication with each other. |
| US10649469B2 |
Indoor mapping and modular control for UAVs and other autonomous vehicles, and associated systems and methods
Indoor mapping and modular control for UAVs and other autonomous vehicles, and associated systems and methods. A representative unmanned aerial vehicle system includes a body, a propulsion system carried by the body, a sensor system carried by the body, and a controller carried at least in part by the body and operatively coupled to the propulsion system and the sensor system. The controller is programmed with instructions that, when executed, operate in a first autonomous mode and a second autonomous mode. In the first autonomous mode, the instructions autonomously direct the propulsion system to convey the body along a first route within an indoor environment. While the body travels along the first route, the instructions receive inputs from the sensor system corresponding to features of the indoor environment. The features are stored as part of a 3-D map. In the second autonomous mode, the instructions direct the propulsion system to convey the body along a second route within the indoor environment, based at least in part on the 3-D map, and direct performance of an operation on the second route. |
| US10649467B2 |
Operation management system for autonomous mobile robots
An operation management system includes: a plurality of robots; and an operation management unit server configured to manage an operation route in a predetermined region. Each robot has a sensor that recognizes a surrounding environment. When the sensor of a first robot recognizes a predetermined surrounding environment, the server refers to a position of the surrounding environment and sets an operation route of a second robot. |
| US10649466B2 |
Navigation for a vehicle by implementing two operating modes
A robotic lawnmower (100) for movable operation within a work area (205) has a satellite navigation device (190), a landmark scanner (193) and a controller (110). The controller causes the robotic lawnmower (100) to movably operate within the work area (205) in a first operating mode, the first operating mode being based on positions determined from satellite signals received by the satellite navigation device (190). The controller determines that a position cannot be reliably determined based on satellite signals received by the satellite navigation device (190), and in response thereto causes the robotic lawnmower (100) to movably operate within the work area (205) in a second operating mode. In the second operating mode, the controller receives scanning information from said landmark scanner (193) and identifies at least one landmark based on the received scanning information and determines a landmark-based position estimate. The controller defines a search space using the landmark-based position estimate, and the satellite navigation device (190) is reconstructed based on the defined search space. Once the satellite navigation device (190) has been reconstructed, the controller causes the robotic lawnmower (100) to again operate in the first operating mode. |
| US10649464B2 |
Collision-avoidance system for autonomous-capable vehicles
A collision-avoidance system for use with an autonomous-capable vehicle can continuously receive image frames captured of the roadway to determine drivable space in a forward direction of the vehicle. The system can determine, for each image frame, whether individual regions of the image frame depict drivable space. The system can do so using machine-learned image recognition algorithms such as convolutional neural networks generated using extensive training data. Using such techniques, the system can label regions of the image frames as corresponding to drivable space or non-drivable space. By analyzing the labeled image frames, the system can determine whether the vehicle is likely to impact a region of non-drivable space. And, in response to such a determination, the system can generate control signals that override other control systems or human operator input to control the brakes, the steering, or other sub-systems of the vehicle to avoid the collision. |
| US10649463B2 |
Navigating a vehicle based on a detected barrier
Systems and methods are provided for navigating an autonomous vehicle. In one implementation, a system for navigating a vehicle includes at least one processing device programmed to receive, from an image capture device, a plurality of images associated with an environment of the vehicle, analyze at least one of the plurality of images to identify a navigable region in the environment of the vehicle, identify, based on the at least one of the plurality of images, at least one barrier associated with an edge of the navigable region, and determine a type of the at least one barrier. The at least one processing device is also programmed to determine a navigational path of the vehicle based on the determined type of the at least one barrier, and cause the vehicle to travel on at least a portion of the determined navigational path. |
| US10649461B2 |
Around view monitoring apparatus for vehicle, driving control apparatus, and vehicle
An apparatus configured to provide a view around a vehicle, the apparatus including: a plurality of cameras attached to a body of the vehicle and configured to acquire respective images of surroundings of the vehicle, wherein at least one of the plurality of cameras is attached to a moving part of the body of the vehicle; a display unit; and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: obtain movement information of the moving part of the body of the vehicle; generate an around view image by compositing respective images acquired by the plurality of cameras; correct the around view image based on the movement information of the moving part of the body of the vehicle; and control the display unit to display the corrected around view image. |
| US10649460B2 |
Interactive robots positionable for optimal interactions
A system may include a robot that includes (1) an imaging device that generates image data corresponding to a field of view of the imaging device and (2) a mobility subsystem that moves the robot. The system may also an imaging subsystem that (1) tracks the image data, (2) detects an object of interest in the field of view of the imaging device, and (3) generates region-of-interest image data that includes only a portion of the tracked image data corresponding to a region of interest. Additionally, the system may include a positioning subsystem that (1) determines an initial proximity of the robot to the object of interest and (2) determines a target location for the robot. Various other robots, systems, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US10649458B2 |
Data-driven prediction-based system and method for trajectory planning of autonomous vehicles
A data-driven prediction-based system and method for trajectory planning of autonomous vehicles are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: generating a first suggested trajectory for an autonomous vehicle; generating predicted resulting trajectories of proximate agents using a prediction module; scoring the first suggested trajectory based on the predicted resulting trajectories of the proximate agents; generating a second suggested trajectory for the autonomous vehicle and generating corresponding predicted resulting trajectories of proximate agents, if the score of the first suggested trajectory is below a minimum acceptable threshold; and outputting a suggested trajectory for the autonomous vehicle wherein the score corresponding to the suggested trajectory is at or above the minimum acceptable threshold. |
| US10649456B2 |
Sub-mobility device charging system for vehicle
A sub-mobility device charging system for a vehicle is capable of moving while carrying a sub-mobility device in which a passenger sits. The system includes an acquisition unit, a main electric power supply unit and a controller. The acquisition unit acquires a destination or traveling schedule inputted to the sub-mobility device; the main electric power supply unit supplies electric power to the sub-mobility device carried in the vehicle; and the controller controls to supply electric power to the sub-mobility device via the main electric power supply unit. The controller charges the sub-mobility device on a basis of the acquired traveling schedule for the sub-mobility device in the destination, and generates a traveling route to guide the charged sub-mobility device to a stop-off points corresponding to the destination. |
| US10649454B2 |
Autonomous vehicle
An autonomous vehicle having a control unit that is configured to perform autonomous driving in which a steered angle of steered wheels is changed by a steering device so that a steering angle becomes a target steering angle for making the vehicle travel along a target trajectory, and to control the steering device so that a lane change is performed in a standard manner when the lane change is necessary. In a situation where the lane change is necessary and a steering operation is being performed by a driver, when a magnitude of an index value based on a parameter that changes according to the steering operation is smaller than a termination reference value, the control device does not terminate the autonomous driving and changes a target trajectory of the lane change according to the magnitude of the index value. |
| US10649453B1 |
Introspective autonomous vehicle operational management
Introspective autonomous vehicle operational management includes operating an introspective autonomous vehicle operational management controller including a policy for a model of an introspective autonomous vehicle operational management domain. Operating the controller includes, in response to a determination that a current belief state of the policy indicates an exceptional condition, identifying an exception handler for controlling the autonomous vehicle. Operating the controller includes, in response to a determination that the current belief state indicates an unexceptional condition, identifying a primary handler as the active handler. Operating the controller includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to traverse a current portion of the vehicle transportation network in accordance with the active handler, receiving an indicator output by the active handler, generating an updated belief state based on the indicator, and controlling the autonomous vehicle to traverse a subsequent portion of the vehicle transportation network based on the updated belief state. |
| US10649443B1 |
Equipment control by service request
An approach for interfacing a management control system with geographically dispersed electromechanical systems is described. Service messages are used to access services supported by a number of different types of electromechanical systems. The services of the systems are exposed through the service messages, and the systems are treated as service providers without the need to account for the different types, makes, models, and vendors of the systems when accessing them. Thus, similar to the way that a client device requests services from a server in a networked computing environment, the management control system can interact with the electromechanical systems to request services. The protocol of the service messages does not need to be changed as electromechanical systems are added, replaced, or updated, and new services and support for additional hardware can be added and updated as needed without changing the management control system. |
| US10649442B2 |
Methods of operating an automated machine for inserting wires into grommet cavity locations of an electrical connector
A method 500 of operating an automated machine 100 is provided for inserting wires into grommet cavity locations 110 of an electrical connector 112 to compensate for manufacturing tolerances associated with the electrical connector. The method comprises inserting wires into grommet cavity locations of the electrical connector based upon a plug map 300 having offset values to compensate for manufacturing tolerances associated with the electrical connector. The method may further comprise selecting from a plurality of pre-generated plug maps having offset values the closest matching pre-generated plug map for the electrical connector based upon offset values associated with each of the plurality of pre-generated plugs maps. The selected pre-generated plug map having offset values corresponds to the plug map used to insert wires into grommet cavity locations of the electrical connector. |
| US10649437B2 |
Systems and methods for tracking teeth movement during orthodontic treatment
Methods, systems, and apparatus's for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic tracking template is provided for assisting in determining whether a patient's teeth are in an appropriate tooth arrangement for transitioning between a wire and bracket orthodontic treatment to a patient-removable orthodontic appliance treatment. The tracking template may include a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities arranged to fit over at least a portion of the patient's teeth in an intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the teeth or to any brackets attached to the teeth. |
| US10649435B2 |
Tool life estimating device
Provided is a tool life estimating device that enables estimation of a life of a tool used in a machine tool according to changes in machining conditions. The tool life estimating device includes a state observation unit that acquires machining information indicative of a status of the machining in a state where the life of the tool remains sufficiently, wherein the machining information is acquired from log data recorded while the machine tool is operated, and creates input data based on the machining information that has been acquired; a learning unit that constructs a learning model in which clusters of the machining information are created by unsupervised learning using the input data that has been created by the state observation unit; and a learning model storage unit that stores the learning model. |
| US10649429B2 |
Use of blockchain based distributed consensus control
A system for the cryptographically-secure, autonomous control of devices comprising, connected to or remotely operating devices in an electrically powered network and the transaction of the benefits, costs or value created by or transacted through the devices in this electrically powered network. |
| US10649427B2 |
Electrical power transmission for well construction apparatus
Apparatus and methods pertaining to a moveable well construction apparatus to be electrically energized via an electrical power transmission path extending between a stationary power source and the moveable well construction apparatus. The path comprises cables and connectors. A system comprises a detector operable for generating information indicative of whether the path is properly installed. The system permits the path to be electrically energized when the detector-generated information indicates the path is properly installed, and prevents the path from being electrically energized when the detector-generated information indicates the path is not properly installed. |
| US10649426B2 |
Motor control device, control method, information processing program and recording medium
The present invention can stabilize driving of a motor even if multiple control instructions of driving the motor are acquired through non-real-time communication. A servo driver (10) does not perform processing corresponding to other control commands when acquiring the other control commands from other interfaces through non-real-time communication in a process of performing processing corresponding to a control command acquired via one interface and through non-real-time communication. |
| US10649425B2 |
Smart integral field upgrade module
A system includes a control system and a field device. The control system is configured to communicate data with one or more field devices. The field device includes a sensor module configured to monitor a process in the control system. The field device also includes a communication module configured to detachably couple to both a display configured to display information related to the monitored process and an upgrade module configured to control a software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor module. |
| US10649420B2 |
Generator management system and method that selectively activate at least one of a plurality of generators in a power generation system
A method of determining an operation of at least one of a plurality of generators in a power generation system. The method includes identifying a system parameter that is related to operation of the power generation system; and determining which of the plurality of generators to operate to minimize fuel consumption of the power generation system based on the system parameter. Other methods include identifying a system parameter that is related to operation of the power generation system; and determining which of the plurality of generators to operate by optimizing an operating variable of the power generation system based on the system parameter. |
| US10649414B2 |
Adaptive cross plant control and steering system, and corresponding method thereof
An adaptive process control system and corresponding method for independent steering of plant control systems is provided, wherein a plant associated with the plant control system includes a plurality of interlocked elements of one or more operational unit of the plant. The operation of an operational unit is controlled by the plant control system by means of the elements interlocked to the plant control system, wherein the adaptive, independent process control system is accessible by a plant process engine including a plant controller unit connected via the supervisory control and data acquisition unit with at least one programmable logic controller of the plant control system. The operation of the plant and the operational units is controlled by means of the programmable logic controller and the plurality of interlocked elements. |
| US10649412B2 |
Method and apparatus for seamless state transfer between user interface devices in a mobile control room
Methods and systems for operating a process plant include multiple user interface (UI) devices, each accessing a plurality of applications on a server, and operable to store device state on the server and receive device state from the server. The server is coupled to a unitary, logical data storage area and provides functions related to the process data stored in the data storage areas via one or more user interfaces. A first UI device coupled to the server accesses the process data and maintains on the server state information indicative of a state of the user interface executing on the first UI device. A second UI device coupled to the server accesses the process data and the state information to execute a user interface on the second UI device in accordance with the state information indicative of the state of the user interface executing on the first UI device. |
| US10649407B1 |
Astronomical calendar clock
An improved astronomical calendar clock mechanism, integrating a sun-centered planetary dial with an earth-centered celestial ring with a fixed orientation number dial located in the earth's equatorial plane, with the sun on a meridian track fixed at 12 on the number dial, and the meridian track indicates the date on a calendar band which is applied to the outside edge of the celestial ring in a plane parallel to the celestial equator, and an hour hand emerging from the earth globe at the center of the celestial ring indicates the time relative to the fixed orientation number dial framing the earth. |
| US10649397B2 |
Developing cartridge including shaft and cam having cam surface
A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis. |
| US10649392B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A drawer is moveable between an inner position and an outer position through an opening when a cover is located at an opening position. A waste toner conveying tube is movable in a second direction between a first connection position and a first disconnection position when a drum cartridge is attached to a drawer and the drawer is at the inner position. When the cover moves from a closing position toward the opening position, the waste toner conveying tube moves from the first connection position toward the first disconnection position in conjunction with the movement of the cover. The drawer is movable from the inner position toward to the outer position when the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer, the drawer is at the inner position, and the waste toner conveying tube is at the first disconnection position. |
| US10649386B2 |
Driving device and image forming apparatus
A driving device includes a motor; a stay supporting the motor; a gear configured to receive a driving force from the motor; and a supporting shaft rotatably supporting the gear, the supporting shaft being supported by the stay. The supporting shaft stands at a side of the stay opposite from a side thereof where the stay supports the motor. The stay supports the motor in a first region and supports the supporting shaft in a second region offset from the first region in a direction of being away from the motor. |
| US10649385B2 |
Image forming device including sheet conveying portion
An image forming device includes a sheet transport portion; an image forming portion; and a sheet conveying portion. The sheet conveying portion includes: a guide plate extending in a sheet width direction; a plurality of guide ribs arranged on the guide plate along the sheet width direction and extending along the sheet convey direction, each having a sheet guide surface guiding the sheet being conveyed; and a suction portion which causes suction air to act on a sheet guided by the guide ribs to bring the sheet into close contact with the sheet guide surface via suction holes opened in the guide plate and which is configured to reduce an air amount of the suction air in regions of the guide ribs on the downstream side in the sheet convey direction to be smaller than that in regions of the guide ribs on an upstream side. |
| US10649384B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image bearing member unit and a developing unit are respectively configured to be attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the image bearing member unit has a first memory that stores information related to a toner amount during a toner supply in accordance with a use amount of the image bearing member unit, the developing unit has a second memory that stores information related to a toner amount during the toner supply in accordance with a use amount of the developing unit, and a control device controls, during the toner supply, the toner supply with a toner amount based on the information stored in the first memory and the information stored in the second memory. |
| US10649382B2 |
Control apparatus for controlling system including image forming apparatus and sheet discharge apparatus
A control apparatus includes a processor and a memory to control a system having an image forming apparatus and a sheet discharge apparatus. Executing a memory store program causes the control apparatus to receive configuration information of the system and generate a system configuration image, receive stacking state information and generate a sheet bundle image, display a screen, receive job identification information of an image forming job of sheets to be picked up, and display a thumbnail image. The stacking state information includes a stacking amount of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking tray. The sheet bundle image represents the sheets stacked on a sheet stacking tray based on the stacking state information. The system configuration image and the sheet bundle image are combined in the screen. The thumbnail image is based on receiving the job identification information. |
| US10649381B2 |
Image forming apparatus and fixing device that change opening widths of air blowing openings by moving shielding members with respect to a longitudinal direction of the fixing device
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a first shielding member configured to change an opening width of a first opening with respect to a longitudinal direction, a second shielding member configured to change an opening width of a second opening with respect to the longitudinal direction, and a controller that controls, on the basis of an output of a detector and size information of the recording material, the opening widths of the first opening and the second opening, so as to correspond to widths of non-passing portions of the recording material in the nip, by moving the first shielding member and the second shielding member in the longitudinal direction, respectively, when the recording material, having a size other than the maximum size, is inserted into the fixing unit. |
| US10649378B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressing member, a pressing roller and a cap. The fixing belt is cylindrical and rotatable. The pressing member has a longitudinal length shorter than a longitudinal length of the fixing belt. The pressing member is configured to face an inner circumferential face of the fixing belt via a lubricant. The cap is configured to rotate together with the fixing belt. In a first end area between the longitudinal end portion of the fixing belt and the pressing member, a first step is formed on the inner circumferential face of the fixing belt in a circumferential direction of the fixing belt such that an inner diameter of the fixing belt is larger at a side of the longitudinal end than at a side of the pressing member. |
| US10649377B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In a heater including a plurality of first temperature detection elements that are arranged at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of a substrate and respectively output temperature signals individually, and a plurality of second temperature detection elements that are arranged at predetermined intervals in positions that differ from the positions of the first temperature detection elements in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction but correspond to the positions of at least some of the plurality of first temperature detection elements in the longitudinal direction, and that output a single temperature signal obtained by adding individual temperature signals together, the individual temperature signals included in the single temperature signal are acquired on the basis of the plurality of temperature signals output by the plurality of first temperature detection elements and the single temperature signal. |
| US10649376B2 |
Image heating apparatus and image forming apparatus
When a nip portion has a region through which a recording material passes, and a part of the region is an image heating region where an image region on the recording material passes through, and the rest of the region is a non-image heating region where a non-image region on the recording material passes through, a control portion controls heating elements corresponding to the non-image heating region, out of the plurality of heating elements, so as to maintain a control target temperature, which is set based on the amount of the image heating apparatus used. |
| US10649372B2 |
Method and system for converting a toner cartridge printer
A method of converting a CMYK toner printer to print with a white toner, comprising the steps: providing a CMYK toner printer; wherein the toner printer has four printing cartridges; wherein the four printing cartridges comprise a black toner printing cartridge, a cyan toner printing cartridge, a magenta toner printing cartridge, and a yellow toner printing cartridge; removing the black toner printing cartridge from the toner printer, such that there is an empty toner cartridge slot; providing a white toner printing cartridge that is filled with a white toner; installing the white toner printing cartridge into the empty toner cartridge slot; and providing raster image processor (RIP) software, such that the printer is able to incorporate the white toner into one or more images printed by the printer. |
| US10649371B2 |
Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus incorporating same
The developing device includes a developer bearer, a conveyor, a casing including a ceiling, and a seal. The developer bearer is configured to bear a developer and develop a latent image. The conveyor is configured to convey and stir the developer. The casing is configured to contain the developer, the developer bearer, and the conveyor. The seal is configured to seal the inside of the casing to form a closed space that encloses the developer in the developing device. The conveyor is configured to be partially or entirely buried in the developer enclosed in the closed space in both of a normal posture and an upside-down posture of the developing device. A cross-sectional area of the closed space in a horizontal plane gradually increases from a top of the ceiling of the casing toward a bottom of the developing device in the normal posture of the developing device. |
| US10649369B2 |
Developing cartridge capable of reducing size of image forming apparatus
A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction. |
| US10649365B2 |
Developing device and image forming device
A developing device for forming an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with a developer, includes: a developing container that accommodates the developer; a developing roller that faces the image carrier, is disposed adjacent to the developing container, and conveys the developer accommodated in the developing container to the image carrier, and a developer discharging part that is provided in the developing container and discharges a part of the developer, wherein a discharge amount of the developer discharged by the developer discharging part is controlled on the basis of a charge amount of a toner included in the developer. |
| US10649363B2 |
Developing cartridge having electrode
A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developer-carrying member, a supply member, a developing electrode, a supply electrode, and an insulating member. The casing is configured to accommodate therein developer. The developer-carrying member is configured to rotate about a rotational axis and carry the developer thereon. The supply member is configured to supply the developer to the developer-carrying member. The developing electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the developer-carrying member. The supply electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the supply member. The insulating member insulates the developing electrode and the supply electrode with each other. The developing electrode, the insulating member, and the supply electrode are overlapped in this order in an axial direction of the rotational axis. |
| US10649355B2 |
Method of making a polymer composite
A method of making a composite feed material for fused deposition modeling (FDM) is disclosed. The method comprises providing composite particles made by a process of emulsion aggregation, the composite particles comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one carbon particle material. A composite feed material is formed for fused deposition modeling from the composite particles. The composite feed material is in a form selected from a filament and a paste. |
| US10649353B2 |
Tethered metal dioxide for imaging members
Described herein is a photoreceptor and a method of making metal oxide particles having hygroscopic polymers attached to a surface of the metal oxide particles. The photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate and an undercoat layer disposed on the conductive substrate. The undercoat layer includes metal oxide particles having hygroscopic polymers attached to a surface of the metal oxide particles. The undercoat layer includes a binder resin. A photosensitive layer is disposed on the undercoat layer. |
| US10649350B2 |
Electrophotographic member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus
The present invention provides an electrophotographic member having excellent deformation recovery even when stored or used under a high temperature and high humidity environment, which is useful in forming a high-quality electrophotographic image; a process cartridge; and an electrophotographic apparatus. The electrophotographic member of the present invention includes a conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer; the electro-conductive layer including a resin synthesized from an ion conducting agent and a compound being able to react with the ion conducting agent; the ion conducting agent including a specific anion and a cation having at least three hydroxyl groups; the compound being able to react with the hydroxyl group. |
| US10649349B2 |
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. |
| US10649348B2 |
Movable body apparatus, moving method, exposure apparatus, exposure method, flat-panel display manufacturing method, and device manufacturing method
A movable body apparatus includes: a substrate holder which can move in the X-axis and Y-axis directions; a Y coarse movement stage which can move in the Y-axis direction; a first measurement system which acquires position information on the substrate holder by heads on the substrate holder and a scale on the Y coarse movement stage; a second measurement system which acquires position information on the Y coarse movement stage by heads on the Y coarse movement stage and a scale; and a control system which controls the position of the substrate holder based on position information acquired by the first and second measurement systems. The first measurement system irradiates a measurement beam while moving the heads in the X-axis direction with respect to the scale, and the second measurement system irradiates a measurement beam while moving the heads in the Y-axis direction with respect to the scale. |
| US10649346B2 |
Substrate table, a lithographic apparatus and a method for manufacturing a device using a lithographic apparatus
A table for a lithographic apparatus, the table having an encoder plate located on the table, a gap between the encoder plate and a top surface of the table, the gap located radially inward of the encoder plate relative to the periphery of the table, and a fluid extraction system with an opening in the surface of the gap to extract liquid from the gap. |
| US10649345B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for measurement of a parameter of a feature fabricated on a substrate
Methods and apparatuses for estimation of at least one parameter of interest of a feature fabricated on a substrate, the feature having a plurality of structure parameters, the structure parameters including the at least one parameter of interest and one or more nuisance parameters. A receiver receives radiation scattered from one or more measured features on the substrate. A pupil generator generates an unprocessed pupil representation of the received radiation. A matrix multiplier multiplies a transformation matrix with intensities of each of a plurality of pixels of the unprocessed pupil representation to determine a post-processed pupil representation in which effects of the one or more nuisance parameters are mitigated or removed. A parameter estimator estimates the at least one parameter of interest based on the post-processed pupil representation. |
| US10649343B2 |
Method and device for modifying imaging properties of an optical system for microlithography
The disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for modifying imaging properties of a microlithographic optical system. In a method according to the disclosure, the imaging properties are modified by way of control signals coupled into the optical system by way of at least one interface. The values of the control signals that are in each case coupled in during the controlling for a desired modification of the imaging properties are ascertained on the basis of a model. The model is created by virtue of performing, in a learning phase in which the modification of the imaging properties that is in each case attained for different values of the control signals is ascertained, a successive individual adaptation of the model to the optical system. The learning phase is performed without prior specification of explicit information relating to internal mechanisms of action within the optical system. |
| US10649329B2 |
Active light sensitive or radiation sensitive resin composition, active light sensitive or radiation sensitive film, pattern forming method, method for manufacturing electronic device, and electronic device
An active-light-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a basic compound (A) corresponding to at least one of the following basic compound (A1) or (A2): (A1) a nonionic compound having an alicyclic structure (a1) and a basic site (b2) at a site different from the alicyclic structure within one molecule, or (A2) a nonionic compound having a heterocyclic structure (a2) having no basicity and a basic site (b2) at a site different from the heterocyclic structure within one molecule. |
| US10649326B2 |
Pellicle frame and a pellicle using the same
There is provided a pellicle frame and a pellicle using the frame, which has a hollow space inside a corner portion of the frame and optionally one or more hollow spaces in a straight portion (bar) of the frame, and also a hollow space in a corner portion of the frame may communicate with a neighboring hollow space in a straight portion of the frame. |
| US10649322B2 |
Optical wheel device, light source unit, and projector
An optical wheel device according to the present invention includes a first wheel on one side of which a luminescent material layer is disposed, a second wheel disposed on the other side of the first wheel, a first opening portion provided on the first wheel or the second wheel to be situated near a center of rotation, a second opening portion provided further radially outwards than the first opening portion, a communication passage formed between the first wheel and the second wheel to establish a communication between the first opening portion and the second opening portion, a motor configured to rotationally drive the first wheel and the second wheel, and a drive control device configured to control driving of the motor. |
| US10649319B2 |
Camera adapter for optical equipment
A cap assembly for use with an optical device having an eyepiece includes an attachment member defining a cavity having a first opening and a second opening that are colinear. The first opening is dimensioned such that the eyepiece is insertable into the cavity through the first opening to secure the cap assembly to the eyepiece. A camera holder is rotatably mounted with respect to the attachment member, such as via a hinge, such that the camera holder is selectively movable between a first position in which the camera holder is colinear with the first opening, second opening, and cavity, and a second position in which the camera holder is not colinear with the first opening, second opening, and cavity. |
| US10649312B2 |
Lens device, imaging apparatus, lens driving method, and lens driving program
A lens device includes: a movable lens that is movable in a direction of an optical axis; an operation signal acquisition section that acquires an operation signal corresponding to an amount of movement of an operation member which is movable; a smoothing processing section that smooths the operation signal; and a movable lens driving section that drives the movable lens based on the smoothed operation signal. |
| US10649307B2 |
Integrated devices for squeezed light generation
An apparatus includes an optical medium characterized by a third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility. The apparatus also includes a pump light source in optical communication with the optical medium and configured to send a pump light beam to the optical medium. The pump light beam includes a pulsed light beam. The apparatus also includes a drive light source in optical communication with the optical medium and configured to send a drive light beam to the optical medium. The drive light beam includes a continuous wave (CW) light beam. The pump light beam and the drive light beam are configured to generate a signal light beam in a squeezed state of light via spontaneous four-wave mixing in the optical medium. |
| US10649306B2 |
Methods and systems for optical beam steering
An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar dielectric lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes an output coupler, such as a grating or photonic crystal, that guides the collimated beams in different directions out of the lens plane. A switch matrix controls which input port is illuminated and hence the in-plane propagation direction of the collimated beam. And a tunable light source changes the wavelength to control the angle at which the collimated beam leaves the plane of the substrate. The device is very efficient, in part because the input port (and thus in-plane propagation direction) can be changed by actuating only log2 N of the N switches in the switch matrix. It can also be much simpler, smaller, and cheaper because it needs fewer control lines than a conventional optical phased array with the same resolution. |
| US10649303B2 |
Optical device and optical system including the same
An optical device and an optical system including the optical device are provided. The optical device may include a reflective layer and a plurality of nano-beams spaced apart from the reflective layer. The plurality of nano-beams may be formed as a metasurface. The nano-beams may have a pattern structure having a plurality of metasurface forms, and the distance of the gaps between the plurality of nano-beams and the reflective layer may be adjustable individually or as a whole. The optical device may be a beam steering device or an optical phase modulator. |
| US10649293B2 |
Display device
A display panel includes a substrate, pixel electrodes, switching components, an electrode, a line, a terminal, an insulating film, and a conductive film. The switching components are disposed in a layer lower than the pixel electrodes. The electrode is disposed in a layer different from a layer in which the pixel electrodes are disposed. The line includes sections disposed in a layer lower than the switching components in a display area. The terminal is disposed in a layer upper than the line in a non-display area. The insulating film includes a section disposed between the line and the switching components in the display area and a section disposed between the terminal and the substrate in the non-display area. The conductive film is disposed on the insulating film in a layer between the line and the terminal to connect the line to the terminal. |
| US10649291B2 |
Array substrate and method for manufacturing the same, display panel and display apparatus
An array substrate and a method for manufacturing the same, a display panel and a display device are provided. The array substrate includes a gate layer, a gate insulation layer, a source-drain layer, a first passivation layer and an ITO layer successively formed on a base substrate, a first through hole in the first passivation layer and a second through hole in the gate insulation layer, and a second passivation layer; and a part of the second passivation layer is arranged in the first and second through holes to cover a part of the ITO layer in the first through hole and the second through hole. |
| US10649290B2 |
Display device comprising a second metal layer having a sidewall region with a first thickness and a non-sidewall region with a second thickness larger than the first thickness
A display device is disclosed, which comprises: a first substrate; a first metal layer disposed on a surface of the first substrate; a first insulating layer disposed on the first metal layer; a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer; and a second metal layer covering a part of the second insulating layer and comprising a connecting region, wherein the first metal layer and the second metal layer are electrically connected to each other in the connecting region, wherein the second metal layer corresponding to the connecting region comprises a sidewall region and a non-sidewall region, a first thickness of the sidewall region corresponding to the second insulating layer along a direction parallel to the surface of the first substrate is smaller than a second thickness of the non-sidewall region along a direction perpendicular to the surface of the first substrate. |
| US10649288B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, liquid crystal display device and control method thereof
A liquid crystal display panel, a liquid crystal display device and a control method thereof are disclosed. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first base substrate, a second base substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first base substrate and the second base substrate. It further includes: a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being both provided on one side of one of the first base substrate and the second base substrate close to the liquid crystal layer; the first electrode and the second electrode being configured for generating an electric field; and a conductor, located between the first electrode and the second electrode and is configured for generating a magnetic field whose magnetic field direction is perpendicular to a plane of the first base substrate and a plane of the second base substrate. |
| US10649279B2 |
Display substrate, manufacturing method thereof, display panel, and display device
A display substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, a display panel and a display device are disclosed. The display substrate includes, first display regions and second display regions located on a base substrate, a parallax barrier and a first phase delay film located on a light emitting side of the display substrate. The parallax barrier includes light transmitting portions, each of the light transmitting portions includes a first light transmitting region and a second light transmitting region, the first light transmitting region completely falls into an orthographic projection of the first phase delay film on the parallax barrier, and the orthographic projection of the first phase delay film is not overlapped with the second light transmitting region, the first phase delay film is configured to make a polarization direction of polarized light emitted from the first light transmitting region is different from that of the second light transmitting region. |
| US10649277B1 |
Panel unit and display device
A panel unit includes: a bezel including a frame-shaped section that surrounds an opening like a frame; a panel opposing the frame-shaped section; and a first double-sided tape and a second double-sided tape that are disposed adjacent to each other between the frame-shaped section and the panel to fixedly attach the frame-shaped section and the panel together, wherein the first double-sided tape has a first opposing face opposing the second double-sided tape, and the second double-sided tape has a second opposing face opposing the first opposing face, each of the first and second opposing faces having at least one convexo-concave portion. This structure provides a panel unit including a double-sided tape that provides a surrounding frame shape that is adjustable in size in accordance with a panel size. |
| US10649276B2 |
Backlight module and display device
A backlight module and a display device are provided. The display device includes a display panel and a backlight module. The backlight module includes a back plate, a spacer element, and an optical element. The spacer element passes through the back plate and includes a base portion, a supporting portion, a positioning portion and a first protruding portion. The base portion has a first surface and a second surface. The supporting portion is disposed on the first surface. The positioning portion is disposed on the second surface. The first protruding portion is disposed on the second surface and is located around the positioning portion. The first protruding portion has a third surface away from and parallel to the second surface. The optical element is disposed on the spacer element. A part of the back plate is located between the base portion and a part of the positioning portion. |
| US10649275B1 |
Backlight and display for stray light control
A display is described. The display includes an array of light sources, collimating optics, a diffuser, a liquid crystal layer and a controller. The array of light sources includes a first group of light sources and a second group of light sources. The collimating optics are arranged to receive and collimate light from the first group of light sources, but not the second group of light sources. The diffuser is arranged to receive and diffuse the collimated light, directed normal to the diffuser, from the collimating optics and light from the second group of light sources. The liquid crystal layer is arranged to receive light from the diffuser and to display an image. The controller is configured to control the array of light sources such that at least some of the light sources emit light. |
| US10649273B2 |
LED assembly for transparent liquid crystal display and static graphic
The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide a transparent LCD which is placed between a front glass and a rear glass. A light guide is preferably positioned behind the LCD and contains an edge. A plurality of LEDs are positioned adjacent to the edge and a cavity is positioned on the opposite side of the LEDs as the light guide. Generally, light which is exiting the LEDs is permitted to enter both the light guide as well as the cavity. A graphic may be placed in front of the cavity and could be bonded to the front glass. |
| US10649272B2 |
Display device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a display which emits display light, an optical element including a transmission axis which transmit first linearly polarized light, which reflects second linearly polarized light crossing the transmission axis and a retroreflective element which retroreflects the display light, and the retroreflective element includes a first portion including a first surface, a second portion including a second surface and a third portion disposed between the first surface and the second surface, and an angle made by the first surface and the second surface is greater than 0° and less than 180°. |
| US10649267B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device includes a flexible layer, a display unit, a cover layer, and an adhesive member. The flexible layer includes a non-bending portion and a bending portion adjacent to the non-bending portion. The display unit is disposed on the flexible layer. The cover layer is disposed on the display unit. The adhesive member is disposed between the non-bending portion of the flexible layer and the cover layer. |
| US10649260B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes an annular seal located between a first substrate and a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sealed in a space surrounded by the first substrate, the second substrate, and the annular seal. The first substrate includes a first metal layer, a first insulating layer covering the first metal layer, a second metal layer formed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer covering the second metal layer, a third metal layer formed on the second insulating layer, a third insulating layer covering the third metal layer, an alignment layer arranged on the third insulating layer, and a display region where a plurality of pixels are formed. At least one recessed groove is formed in the third insulating layer and is located at a region between the display region and the annular seal. |
| US10649258B2 |
Display device
A display device including a back cover; a plurality of light sources coupled to the back cover; a guide panel positioned at the back cover, the guide panel including a seating portion, and a guide wall portion; a display panel supported on the seating portion of the guide panel; a top case including a front part covering an edge portion of a front surface of the display panel and a lateral part covering the guide wall portion of the guide panel, wherein the lateral part of the top case comprises a first part and a second part, the first part being further recessed than the second part; a fastener that couples the top case, the guide panel, and the back cover by penetrating the first part of the top case, the guide wall portion of the guide panel and an edge of the back cover, a first end of the fastener is placed at the first part of the top case; and a rear cabinet that covers the first end of the fastener and the first part of the top case. Further, an inner surface of the first part of the top case contacts with the guide wall portion of the guide panel, and a second end of the fastener protrudes through the edge of the back cover. |
| US10649254B2 |
Display
Provided is a display that causes an electric field generated in a transverse or diagonal direction to drive liquid crystals and enables allocation of a contact area for a conducting connection. A transparent electrode layer is formed on a surface of a counter substrate that is opposite to a surface of the counter substrate on which the liquid crystals are disposed. The counter substrate is included in a liquid-crystal display panel. An electrode layer is formed on the rear surface of a protective plate disposed to face the counter electrode. Conductive substances are disposed between the transparent electrode layer and the electrode layer to connect the transparent electrode layer to the electrode layer. A GND connecting part provided in a surrounding area of the protective plate connects the electrode layer formed on the protective plate to, for example, a casing, thus connecting the electrode layer to the GND. |
| US10649252B2 |
Film-to-glass switchable glazing
A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material, such as a liquid crystal material, sandwiched between a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. The flexible substrate and the rigid substrate may each have a conductive layer deposited on the surface facing the optically active material. The flexible substrate may be bonded about its perimeter to the rigid substrate and may be sufficiently flexible to conform to non-planarity of the rigid substrate. As a result, the flexible substrate may adopt the surface contour of the rigid substrate to maintain a uniform thickness of optically active material between the flexible substrate and the rigid substrate. |
| US10649251B2 |
Curved liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a curved liquid crystal display is provided. The method includes forming a first display panel including a plurality of first patterns, forming a second display panel including a plurality of second patterns, assembling the first display panel and the second display panel, filling a liquid crystal between the assembled first and second display panels to form a flat liquid crystal display, and curving the flat liquid crystal display in a first direction to form the curved liquid crystal display. The first patterns and the second patterns are mismatched in the flat liquid crystal display, and the first patterns and the second patterns are matched in the curved liquid crystal display. |
| US10649248B1 |
Displays with adjustable privacy levels
A display may have display layers such as liquid crystal display layers having a liquid crystal layer interposed between a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer or organic light-emitting diode layers having organic light-emitting diodes formed from thin-film transistor circuitry. The display layers may be configured to form an array of pixels that display images and may include a polarizer. An angle-of-view adjustment layer may overlap the display layers. The angle-of-view adjustment layer may include one or more liquid crystal layers. A first polarizer may be interposed between first and second liquid crystal layers and the second liquid crystal layer may be overlapped by a second polarizer. The first and second polarizers may have pass axes that are aligned with a pass axis of the polarizer in the display layers. One or more liquid crystal layers in the angle-of-view adjustment layer may include dichroic dye. |
| US10649246B2 |
Dielectric thin film-applied substrate and optical modulation element using the same
A dielectric thin film-applied substrate that suppresses occurrence of cracks when the film thickness of the lithium niobate film is equal to or larger than 1 μm. The dielectric thin film-applied substrate includes a single crystal substrate and a dielectric thin film made of c-axis oriented lithium niobate epitaxially formed on a main surface of the single crystal substrate. The dielectric thin film has a twin crystal structure including first and second crystals 180° apart, centered on the c-axis. In pole figure measurement by X-ray diffraction, the ratio between a first diffraction intensity corresponding to the first crystal and a second diffraction intensity corresponding to the second crystal is equal to or higher than 0.5 and equal to or lower than 2.0, which alleviates distortions accumulated inside the lithium niobate film and supresses occurrences of cracks accompanying increases in the film thickness. |
| US10649245B1 |
Electro-optic modulators with stacked metal, dielectric, and active layers
Structures for an electro-optic modulator and methods of fabricating a structure for an electro-optic modulator. The electro-optic modulator is arranged over a portion of a first waveguide core. The electro-optic modulator may include an electrode, an active layer, a second waveguide core, and a dielectric layer that is arranged between the active layer and the second waveguide core. The active layer is composed of a material having a refractive index that is a function of a bias voltage applied between the electrode and the first waveguide core. |
| US10649242B2 |
Multilayer film, multilayer film composite, optical component, and window
To provide a multilayer film, wherein a reflectance of the multilayer film in a visible light region and a reflectance of the multilayer film in a near infrared region are both 0.1% or more but 20% or less in a temperature range of 5° C. or more but less than 30° C., and the reflectance of the multilayer film in the visible light region is 0.1% or more but 20% or less and the reflectance of the multilayer film in the near infrared region is 80% or more but less than 100% in a temperature range of 30° C. or more but less than 60° C. |
| US10649240B2 |
Vanadium dioxide-based optical and radiofrequency switches
Switches for electromagnetic radiation, including radiofrequency switches and optical switches, are provided. Also provided are methods of using the switches. The switches incorporate layers of high quality VO2 that are composed of a plurality of connected crystalline VO2 domains having the same crystal structure and orientation. |
| US10649237B2 |
Multi-functional glasses
A multipurpose eyewear system and apparatus is provided. An embodiment provides a film, vinyl, or other substance that may be removably applied to the lenses to provide the lenses with additional functionality. An embodiment provides a contoured and flexible frame and lens system that fits to a user's face. Additional functionality may be included by removable/replaceable lenses and/or removable/replaceable films. An embodiment provides a replaceable lens system that is either contoured or flat to provide compact and easy manufacturing, shipping, cleaning, and storing. |
| US10649236B2 |
Ophthalmic lens and method for determining such an ophthalmic lens
The invention relates to a method of selection of an ophthalmic lens suitable for correcting at least an optical impairment of an eye of a wearer who observes a screen. According to the invention the method comprises the steps of: determining at least a characteristic of posture of the wearer observing said screen, determining a dioptric power value associated to said vision zone allowing the wearer when wearing the ophthalmic lens to have an easier reading of said screen, determining at least one characteristic of filtering means to adjust the light exposure of the wearer to said screen, and determining the vision zone based on dioptric power value, characteristic of posture of the wearer and characteristic of filtering means so that the vision comfort of the wearer is optimized when wearing the ophthalmic lens while observing a screen. |
| US10649228B2 |
Optical image stabilization actuator driver power distribution control
Various embodiments provide an optical image stabilization circuit including a drive circuit having a power waveform generator and a power waveform conversion circuit. The power waveform generator generates a power waveform. The power waveform conversion circuit converts the power waveform to a power drive signal. An actuator is then driven by the power drive signal to move a lens accordingly and compensate for any movements and vibrations of a housing of the lens. |
| US10649226B2 |
Optical unit with shake correction function
An optical unit with a shake correction function may include an optical module comprising an optical element; a swing support mechanism structured to swingably support the optical module between a reference posture in which a preset axis and an optical axis are aligned, and an inclined posture in which the optical axis is inclined with respect to the axis; a holder structured to support the optical module via the swing support mechanism; a rotation support mechanism structured to rotatably support the holder around the axis; a fixed body structured to support the holder via the rotation support mechanism; a swing magnetic drive mechanism structured to swing the optical module; and a rolling magnetic drive mechanism structured to rotate the holder. The rotation support mechanism may include a rotation bearing that supports the holder on a subject side of the swing support mechanism. |
| US10649225B2 |
Light redirecting film
A light redirecting film in a sandwich-laminated structure is provided. The light redirecting film comprises a first layer, a second layer; and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer. The intermediate layer includes a first grating surface having a plurality of first gratings extending in a first grating direction and a second grating surface opposite to the first grating surface having a plurality of second gratings extending in a second grating direction, wherein the first grating direction and the second grating direction cross each other at an angle of 90°±10°, and the first grating surface and the second grating surface of the intermediate layer are gap-filled and planarized with the first layer and the second layer respectively to generate the light redirecting film. |
| US10649223B2 |
Reticle having an illumination device
A reticle includes an illumination device having an optical component configured to introduce light from a light source into the reticle. The optical component has an entrance face and a reflecting face for the light of the light source. Two parallel bounding surfaces that are oriented perpendicular to an optical axis have an optical marking. A peripheral edge joins the bounding surfaces. The optical component is disposed at the peripheral edge of the reticle such that the light of the light source enters the reticle via the entrance face and the reflecting face and impinges on the marking. The entrance face is configured to act as a collecting lens on which the light of the light source impinges divergently. |
| US10649215B2 |
Free space multiple laser diode module with fast axis collimator
Systems, devices, and methods for optical engines and laser projectors that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays (WHUDs) are described. Generally, the optical engines of the present disclosure integrate a plurality of laser diodes (e.g., 3 laser diodes, 4 laser diodes) within a single, hermetically or partially hermetically sealed, encapsulated package. The optical engines include an optical director element that includes a curved reflective surface (e.g., parabolic cylinder) that redirects laser light beams and collimates the same along the fast axes thereof. Such optical engines may have various advantages over existing designs including, for example, smaller volumes, better manufacturability, faster modulation speed, etc. WHUDs that employ such optical engines and laser projectors are also described. |
| US10649214B2 |
Substrate-guide optical device
An optical device, including a light waves-transmitting substrate has two major surfaces and edges, optical means for coupling light into the substrate by total internal reflection, and a plurality of partially reflecting surfaces (22a, 22b) carried by the substrate. The partially reflecting surfaces (22a, 22b) are parallel to each other and are not parallel to any of the edges of the substrate, one or more of the partially reflecting surfaces (22a, 22b) being an anisotropic surface. The optical device has dual operational modes in see-through configuration. In a first mode, light waves are projected from a display source through the substrate to an eye of a viewer. In a second mode, the display source is shut off and only an external scene is viewable through the substrate. |
| US10649206B2 |
Light sensing method, physiological parameter computing method and light sensing system
A light sensing method applied to a light sensing system comprising a first light sensor and at least one light source. The first light sensor comprises a plurality of light sensing units. The light sensing method comprises: (a) respectively controlling an exposure condition for each of the light sensing units according distances between each one of the light sensing units and the light source; and (b) controlling the light sensing units to sense the light from the light source according to the exposure condition. The light sensing system can have a better SNR via adjusting the exposure condition for each one of the light sensing units. Such light sensing method can be applied to compute physiological parameters. |
| US10649203B2 |
Display panel, display device and control method thereof
A display panel, a display device and a control method thereof are provided. The display panel includes a plurality of display units on a base substrate, each display unit includes: a driving component, and a light splitting component driven by the driving component to convert incident light into light of different colors. |
| US10649196B2 |
Structured illumination microscope, observation method , and control program
A structured illumination microscope includes: a first illumination optical system configured to irradiate, from a first direction, a sample with activating light for activating a fluorescent substance included in the sample; a second illumination optical system configured to irradiate, from a second direction that is different from the first direction, the sample with interference fringes of exciting light for exciting the fluorescent substance; a control unit configured to control a direction and a phase of the interference fringes; an imaging optical system configured to form an image of the sample irradiated with the interference fringes; an imaging element configured to take the image formed by the imaging optical system to generate a first image; and a demodulation unit configured to generate a second image by using a plurality of the first images generated by the imaging element. |
| US10649195B2 |
Confocal slide-digitizing apparatus
A confocal slide-digitizing apparatus (100) includes a slide handling unit (20) and an imaging unit (10), wherein the slide handling unit (20) has a slide supplier unit (90). The imaging unit (10) has a light source (40) to illuminate the sample to be digitized at the imaging position through an objective (18) arranged in a light path that enables confocal imaging of at least a region of the sample and an image recording unit to receive light with information on at least an illuminated region of the sample through the objective (18) and generate a digital image of a section of a given thickness of said illuminated region. Moreover, said slide handling unit (20) and said imaging unit (10) are joined mechanically together in a tiltable manner relative to one another, thereby correcting the light path of said confocal imaging. |
| US10649194B2 |
Immersion apparatus and method for dynamically adapting a medium to a specimen
An arrangement and method for supplying immersion media and a method for setting optical parameters of a medium, includes a media supply unit for the controlled supply of a medium or of a mixture into a contact region between an optical lens and a specimen slide, on which a specimen may be arranged. An image capture unit is provided for capturing image data on the basis of detection radiation from the object space along a detection beam path extending through the contact region. An evaluation unit is provided to establish current image parameters on the basis of captured image data, to compare said current image parameters to intended image parameters and to establish a desired mixing ratio of at least two components of the medium depending on the comparison. A mixing apparatus for the controlled setting of the mixing ratio of the components of the medium to be introduced into the contact region and a control unit for actuating the mixing apparatus depending on the established desired mixing ratio are parts of the arrangement. |
| US10649193B2 |
Detector device with improved signal-to-noise ratio comprising a detector in a housing moveable against a force of a spring device
A detector device is designed to capture light and to generate electrical signals. The detector device includes a housing and a detector disposed in the housing so as to be moveable at least partially in the housing and with respect to the housing. The detector device is useable in a detection system and/or in a microscope. |
| US10649189B2 |
Device for imaging a sample surface
A device for imaging the surfaces of a sample having topography with the aid of confocal microscopy, in particular confocal Raman and/or fluorescence microscopy, comprising a first light source, in particular a laser light source for generating excitation radiation, in particular Raman radiation and/or fluorescence radiation anda second light source, wherein the first laser light source emits radiation in a first wavelength range and the second light source emits radiation in a second wavelength range, wherein the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range do not overlap. |
| US10649186B2 |
Mobile microscope
The invention relates to a mobile microscopic imaging device comprising a sample stage for holding a sample to be imaged, at least one light source for illumination of the sample, an imaging panel capable of capturing an image of the sample upon transmission illumination of the sample by the light source, and an optical magnification unit between the sample and the imaging panel for guiding light from the illuminated sample to the imaging panel so that a magnified image of at least portion of the sample is formed at the imaging panel. According to the invention, the optical magnification unit comprises a filter integrated polymeric lens assembly in a transmitted light fluorescence configuration which allows for both miniaturization of the device to a truly mobile level and reducing manufacturing costs. |
| US10649185B2 |
Imaging system and imaging optical system
An optical system includes a central portion having a magnification per unit angle of view which increases from a center to an outside at an increase rate and a circumferential portion being outside the central portion and having a magnification per unit of view which increases from the central portion to an outside at an increase rate smaller than the increase rate of the central portion. |
| US10649171B2 |
Follow focus
A follow focus, comprising a main bridge including a transmission housing and an output gear, a removable arm including an input gear and a lens turning gear or an interface capable of receiving a lens gear, an axial securement means that is operable by hand to engage to prevent axial movement between the arm and the transmission housing, and disengages to allow the arm to be rotated and/or removed, such that between the arm and the main bridge there is provided a first engagement element having a substantially axial face having projections and a second engagement element substantially axial face having corresponding indentations, wherein either the first or the second engagement element has a threaded outer circumference and may be fixably rotated, and wherein the first engagement element is borne by the arm, and the second engagement element is borne on the transmission housing such that the axial securement means may be operated to secure the arm to the main bridge so that the projections and corresponding indentations of the first and second engagement elements engage to prevent rotational movement of the arm relative to the transmission housing. |
| US10649170B1 |
Light source assembly and projection apparatus
A light source assembly includes a substrate, a fixing base, an adjusting frame, an adjusting plate and a lens plate. The substrate includes a plurality of light-emitting units. The fixing base is fixed onto the substrate and comprising a bottom and at least one wall, wherein a recess is formed at least by the bottom and the at least one wall. The adjusting frame is movably disposed in the recess and having an opening. The adjusting plate is movably disposed in the opening of the adjusting frame. The lens plate is fixed onto the adjusting plate and includes a plurality of lenses, wherein a plurality of first through-holes are formed in the bottom of the fixing base and a plurality of second through-holes are formed in the adjusting plate such that the plurality of light-emitting units are exposed from the adjusting plate. |
| US10649167B2 |
Fiber management tray with two-sided storage pocket
A fiber management tray (10) is disclosed. The fiber management tray (10) can have a body (12) including a bottom wall (14) with side walls (16) extending outwardly from the bottom wall (14). The fiber management tray (10) can include a termination region (18) that has a first side (24) and a second side (26). The termination region (18) includes a termination panel (13) that holds connectors (20). The fiber management tray (10) can include a hinge area (56) for mounting said tray (10) to a tray tower (58) and a storage basket (32) located between the termination region (18) and the hinge area (56). The storage basket (32) can include a first pocket (44) that communicates with the second side (26) of the termination region (18) and an opposite second pocket (48) that communicates with the first side (24) of the termination region (18). The fiber management tray (10) can define at least one fiber routing path on each of the first and second pockets (44, 48) of the storage basket (32). The fiber management tray (10) can define a fiber transition opening (54) for transitioning optical fibers between the second pocket (48) of the storage basket (32) and first side (24) of the termination region (18). The fiber transition opening (54) can have an access structure for allowing optical fibers to be inserted into the fiber transition opening (54). |
| US10649164B1 |
Optical fiber and power transition design
According to an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a fiber-breakout transition configured to break out optical fiber sets from a first end of an optical fiber cable. The fiber-breakout transition comprises a first channel configured to receive an end segment of the optical fiber cable. The fiber-breakout transition further comprises a plurality of second channels. Each of the plurality of second channels is configured to receive and mechanically attach a buildup tube for holding one or more optical fibers. The transition has an interior cavity connecting the first channel to the plurality of second channels. Some of the channels have cross-sections whose diameters increase in a stepped manner with distance away from the interior cavity of the transition. |
| US10649161B2 |
Hermetic optical fiber alignment assembly
A hermetic optical fiber alignment assembly, including a first ferrule portion having a first surface provided with a plurality of grooves receiving the end sections of optical fibers, wherein the grooves define the location and orientation of the end sections with respect to the first ferrule portion, and a second ferrule portion having a second surface facing the first surface of the first ferrule, wherein the first ferrule portion is attached to the second ferrule portion with the first surface against the second surface, wherein a cavity is defined between the first ferrule portion and the second ferrule portion, wherein the cavity is wider than the grooves, and wherein a suspended section of each optical fiber is suspended in the cavity, and wherein the cavity is sealed with a sealant. The sealant extends around the suspended sections of the optical fibers within the cavity. An aperture is provided in at least one of the first ferrule portion and the second ferrule portion, exposing the cavity, wherein the sealant is feed through the aperture. In another aspect, the hermetic assembly provides optical alignment and a hermetic feedthrough for an opto-electronic module. In a further aspect, the hermetic assembly provides alignment and a terminal for access to an opto-electronic module. |
| US10649160B2 |
Transmitter devices having bridge structures
The present disclosure relates to optical systems and methods for their manufacture. An example system includes a first substrate that has at least one bridge structure. The bridge structure has a first surface with one or more light-emitter devices disposed on it. The system also includes a second substrate that has a mounting surface that defines a reference plane. The second substrate includes a structure and an optical spacer on the mounting surface. The first and second substrates are coupled together such that the first surface of the first substrate faces the second substrate at an angle with respect to the reference plane. The system also includes at least one spacer coupled to the mounting surface. The at least one spacer is in physical contact with the one or more light-emitter devices. |
| US10649159B2 |
Semiconductor chip package having optical interface
A semiconductor package including: a chip having a first surface; a mold having a first surface and a second surface configured to encapsulate the chip; a conduction structure electrically connecting the first surface and the second surface of the mold; an optical device arranged on the first surface of the mold to be electrically connected to the conduction structure; a wiring pattern configured to electrically connect the conduction structure and a pad formed on the first surface of the chip, and perform electrical connection in the semiconductor package; and an external connection terminal configured to electrically connect the semiconductor package to the outside. |
| US10649157B2 |
Freeform diffractive optical element (DOE) for use in an optical transmitter and method of designing and manufacturing the freeform DOE
A freeform DOE for use in an optical transmitter and a method of designing and manufacturing the DOE are provided. The freeform DOE is capable of achieving the same, or nearly the same, functionality as that of a glass DOE, but has a design that has been transformed to make the surface profile of the DOE compatible with a molding process that can be used to manufacture the DOE with high quality at low costs. The method of designing and manufacturing the DOE includes preselecting a CGH that will obtain a target freeform DOE design, using a preselected smoothing function to smooth the surface profile of the target freeform DOE design to transform the design into a DOE design that is compatible with a molding process, and using a fabrication process to manufacture a freeform DOE that is based on the transformed DOE design. |
| US10649153B2 |
Dust mitigating optical connector
A light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves. |
| US10649144B2 |
Optical multiplexing circuit
Provided is an optical multiplexing circuit. The waveguide width of each waveguide is set such that the effective refractive index of a first optical waveguide with a first light beam in the 0-th order mode is equal to the effective refractive index of a MM conversion waveguide with the first light beam in the higher order mode and that the effective refractive indexes of the MM conversion waveguide with second and third light beams in the higher order mode are not equal to the effective refractive indexes of a second optical waveguide with the second and third light beams in the 0-th order mode. |
| US10649138B2 |
Optical device having a photonic chip with one or more suspended functional portions
A photonic chip having a photonic-circuit layer supported on a substrate, the photonic-circuit layer including a suspended portion that extends beyond the outline of the substrate on the photonic-circuit layer. In various embodiments, the suspended portion may host one or more functional optical elements, such as an on-chip grating coupler, an on-chip microring resonator, and an on chip optical waveguide, that can be used to couple light in and out of the photonic chip. The geometry of the suspended portion enables unencumbered (e.g., double-sided) access to the one or more functional optical elements located therein and can advantageously be used to place an optical fiber and/or a second photonic chip sufficiently close to those functional optical elements to achieve a high chip-to-fiber or chip-to-chip optical-coupling efficiency. |
| US10649134B2 |
Circuit device of emitting heat and backlight unit comprising thereof
There are provided a circuit device for emitting heat to the outside and a backlight unit including the same. The present invention relates to a display device, a backlight unit connected to a display panel, or a constituent element thereof. The circuit device generates heat, and one or more heat emitting units for emitting heat generated from the light source of the backlight unit to the outside are added to the circuit device, and the backlight unit controlled by the aforementioned circuit device is provided. Each of the heat emitting units according to one embodiment of the present invention includes two or more different material layers to fix the circuit device and provide a heat emitting/directing function. |
| US10649131B2 |
Display device and head-mounted display
A display device includes a display panel, a lighting device having a light emission surface, a center directive light refraction member imparting a refraction effect to light exiting through the light emission surface to be directed to a middle section of the display panel to generate a much light emission angle range where an emission light quantity is much and a less light emission angle range where the light emission quantity is less in a luminance angle distribution, and an asymmetric light refraction member configured to impart an asymmetric refraction effect to the emission light such that among emission light rays exiting the center directive light refraction member, light rays in the less light emission angle range is directed toward the less light emission angle range while a part of light rays in the much light emission angle range is directed toward the less light emission angle range. |
| US10649119B2 |
Duty cycle, depth, and surface energy control in nano fabrication
Techniques for fabricating slanted surface-relief structures are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for of fabricating a target slanted surface-relief structure, such as a nanoimprint lithography (NIL) mold or a slanted surface-relief grating, includes manufacturing a preliminary surface-relief structure that includes a plurality of ridges and modifying a parameter of the preliminary surface-relief structure to make the target slanted surface-relief structure. The parameter includes a width of each of the plurality of ridges, a height of each of the plurality of ridges, a surface energy of the preliminary surface-relief structure, or a slant angle of an edge of the plurality of ridges. Modifying the parameter includes depositing a material layer on the preliminary surface-relief structure and etching or surface-treating the material layer. |
| US10649118B2 |
Imaging device
This imaging device comprises: an image sensor which converts an optical image, captured by pixels arranged in an array on an imaging surface, into an image signal and outputs the image signal; a modulation unit which is provided to a light-receiving surface of the image sensor and modulates the intensity of light; and an image processing unit which carries out image processing on an output image output by the image sensor. The modulation unit has a grating substrate and a first grating pattern formed on a first surface of the grating substrate facing a surface of the image sensor near the light-receiving surface. The grating pattern is configured from a plurality of concentric circles having pitches which are inversely proportional to the distance from the origin point of at least one reference coordinate, the concentric circles do not overlap with each other within the grating pattern. |
| US10649117B1 |
Multicube retroreflector and retroreflector-based communication system
A “multicube” retroreflector may include “nested” corner cubes. Such a design combines the ease of fabrication of conventional corner cubes (e.g., stamping from a sheet) and the ability to easily and densely package them with a greater range of angles over which light will be reflected back towards the source. Such multicube retroreflectors may reflect 50% more light than corner cube retroreflectors. A retroreflector, or an array of retroreflectors, may be used as part of a communication system. A modulated retroreflector or an array thereof can form the basis of a unique communication system. For instance, by using a modulated retroreflector, or an array of such retroreflectors, a host system (e.g., an aircraft) can receive data from a remote system (e.g., a drone, an air-dropped sensor package, etc.) in a way that is difficult to intercept, and minimizes the power, computation, and antenna pointing requirements for the remote system. |
| US10649110B2 |
Determination of shale content of formation from dispersive multi-frequency dielectric measurements
Methods and apparatus for evaluating a volume of an earth formation wherein the volume comprises a fluid-saturated rock matrix including clay particles. Methods include making measurements of complex permittivity at a plurality of frequencies using an electromagnetic tool in a borehole penetrating the earth formation; and estimating a plurality of parameters of interest simultaneously using the measurements at the plurality of frequencies and a mixing model accounting for electrical effects on the measurements caused by the clay particles. The plurality may include at least: i) water saturation; and ii) resistivity of formation water. Parameters of interest may comprise at least one of: i) an electrical parameter of the volume; and ii) a textural parameter of the volume. Methods may include modeling for electrical effects caused by at least one of: i) a surface conductivity of the clay particles; and ii) a textural property of the clay particles. |
| US10649107B2 |
Interference attenuation of a residual portion of seismic data
The present disclosure is related to methods, systems, and machine-readable media for interference attenuation of a residual portion of seismic data, such as may be recorded in a marine seismic survey. Recorded seismic data can be separated into a portion attributed to a source and a residual portion. Seismic interference attenuation can be performed on the residual portion. |
| US10649099B2 |
Gamma detector protection for downhole operations
An apparatus and method for protecting sensitive electronics in a gamma radiation detector tool configured to be disposed in a borehole. The apparatus comprises a scintillator crystal and a photomultiplier tube disposed in either a single or individual housings. The housing(s) are bordered by springs configured to dampen axial vibrations. The housing(s) may be dampened from lateral vibrations by a lateral shock reducer on a sleeve that circumscribes the housing(s). The method comprises dampening axial and lateral vibrations to the crystal/photomultiplier during a drilling operation. |
| US10649097B2 |
Electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece includes a pointing hand, a distance display hand, a magnetic sensor, a GPS receiver receiving GPS time information from a GPS satellite, a storage unit storing ephemeris data of the GPS satellite, and a control unit generating positional information of the electronic timepiece using the GPS time information received by the GPS receiver and the ephemeris data stored in the storage unit and executing navigation using the pointing hand and the distance display hand based on the positional information, an output of the magnetic sensor, and destination site information. When the ephemeris data is stored in the storage unit and then a first predetermined time equal to or less than a valid period of the ephemeris data elapses, the control unit receives the ephemeris data using the GPS receiver and updates the ephemeris data stored in the storage unit to ephemeris data received using the GPS receiver. |
| US10649096B2 |
Wearable terminal for displaying navigation information, navigation device and display method therefor
A wearable terminal may include: a terminal mode determination unit configured to determine any one of a plurality of terminal modes based on a use state of the terminal; an information output unit configured to display navigation information; a layout database configured to store a layout to be displayed on the information output unit, in response to each of the terminal modes; and a control unit configured to extract a layout corresponding to the determined terminal mode from the layout database, construct navigation information according to the extracted layout, and output the navigation information through the information output unit. |
| US10649095B2 |
Method and apparatus for joint data-pilot tracking of navigation signal
A method for joint data-pilot tracking of navigation signal, including: multiplying a digital intermediate frequency signal with a local carrier to accomplish carrier removal; multiplying a signal after the carrier removal with a data baseband signal and a pilot baseband signal respectively to accomplish code removal; processing a signal after the code removal with integration-and-dump to obtain a coherent integration result of each branch; using the coherent integration results to accomplish data-bit flip detection and calculation of probability-weighting factor; acquiring a data-pilot joint carrier tuning-amount, and tuning the carrier numerically controlled oscillator by the carrier tuning-amount to realize data-pilot joint signal carrier tracking; and acquiring a data-pilot joint code tuning-amount, and tuning the code numerically controlled oscillator to realize baseband signal tracking. |
| US10649092B2 |
TDOA-based positioning system using terrestrial wireless signal sources
A positioning system is provided in which a client device samples a transmission from any suitable terrestrial wireless source. The resulting samples are correlated with replica samples to determine a position of the client device using time-difference-of-arrival-based calculations. |
| US10649090B2 |
Wide area positioning system
Positioning systems and methods for estimating an altitude of a receiver. In some embodiments, pressure and temperature information from a network of sensors is received by the receiver, and the pressure and temperature information from the network of sensors is used along with pressure information measured at a position of the receiver to estimate the altitude of the receiver. |
| US10649083B2 |
Three-dimensional (3D) and/or four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound imaging
An ultrasound imaging system (100) includes at least first and second arrays (108) of transducer elements, which are angularly offset from each other in a same plane. Transmit circuitry (112) excites the first and second arrays to concurrently transmit over a plurality of angles. Receive circuitry (114) controls the first and second arrays to concurrently receive echo signals over the plurality of angles. An echo processor (116) processes the received signals, producing a first data stream for the first array and a second data stream for the second array. The first and second data streams include digitized representations of the received echo signals. A sample matcher (118) compares samples of the first and second data streams and determines a cross-correlation there between. A correlation factor generator (120) that generates a correlation factor signal based on the determined cross-correlation. A scan converter (122) generates a 3D image for display based on the correlation factor signal and the first and second data streams. |
| US10649081B2 |
Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar system and method
The present invention relates to an advanced spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system and method that can provide high resolution measurements of the Earth or planetary surface, overcoming limitations in conventional SAR systems, and reduce development costs. The present invention utilizes advanced and innovative techniques, such as software defined waveforms, digital beamforming (DBF) and reconfigurable hardware, to provide radar capabilities not possible with conventional radar instruments, while reducing the radar development cost. The SAR system architecture employs a modular, low power, lightweight design approach to meet stringent spaceborne radar instrument requirements. Thus, the present invention can enable feasible Earth and planetary missions that address a vast number survey goals, including the measurement of ecosystem structure and extent, surface and sub-surface topography, subsurface stratigraphy, soil freeze-thaw, ice sheet composition and extent, glacier depth, and surface water, among many others. |
| US10649080B2 |
Passive non-linear synthetic aperture radar and method thereof
A radar assembly for receiving signals at spaced frequencies from an unknown transmitting source comprising a receiver operative to receive signals; the receiver comprising a series of channels, each channel comprising a low pass filter configured to allow passage of a signal from an unknown transmitting source, an analog to digital converter configured to transform the signal from the unknown transmitting source to a digital signal, a Hilbert transform configured to transform the digital signal from the unknown transmitting source into a single sideband signal, a Fourier transform configured to transform the single sideband signal into a plurality of regularly spaced frequency samples, and an inverse Fourier transform for extracting regularly spaced frequency samples; whereby extracted pulses form a train of pulses that are inputted into an imager which utilizes synthetic aperture radar to form an image of the area of interest containing the unknown transmitting device and method thereof. |
| US10649078B2 |
Method and system for detecting geological structure of an extraterrestrial solid planet by using a single-transmitter and multiple-receiver radar
A method and a system for detecting geological structure of an extraterrestrial solid planet by using a single-transmitter and multiple-receiver (STMR) radar are provided. The method comprises obtaining the detection of thickness distribution and geological structure of each geological layer on the extraterrestrial solid planet by using a STMR mode, and calculating information of the dielectric coefficients and the depth of the respective geological layer. There are two detection channels having different depths of detection and detection resolutions, in which a first channel operates in a HF/VHF band for detecting geological structure of rocks on the extraterrestrial solid planet, and a second channel operates in a UHF band for detecting geological structure of regolith on the extraterrestrial solid planet. These two detection channels can cooperate with each other, ensuring accuracy and reliability of the detection. |
| US10649077B2 |
Distributed antenna base station, mobile station, and method of distance measurement
There are provided a signal transmitter that generates a signal indicating execution of distance measurement and transmits the signal to a plurality of antennas, a combiner that adds a plurality of received signals that are radio signals including a response signal from the mobile station and each of which is correspondingly received by each of the antennas, a timing detector that detects a timing at which reception power for a signal added by the combiner is maximized and determines a reception timing of the response signal, a base station time calculator that determines a round trip time from transmission of the signal indicating execution of distance measurement to reception of the response signal on the basis of the reception timing and a timing of the transmission of the signal indicating execution of distance measurement, a power detector that identifies one of the antennas that has received a received signal with highest reception power among the plurality of received signals, and a distance calculator that calculates a distance between the distributed antenna base station and the mobile station on the basis of the round trip time, a delay in signal transmission to the antenna identified by the power detector, and a distance to the identified antenna. |
| US10649076B2 |
Radar measuring method
An FMCW radar sensor and method for determining a relative velocity of a radar target, in which an FMCW radar measurement is performed with a transmitted signal whose modulation pattern encompasses mutually temporally interleaved sequences of ramps; from the baseband signals a two-dimensional spectrum is calculated separately for each of the sequences; from a position of a peak in at least one two-dimensional spectrum of the baseband signals, values for the relative velocity of a radar target which are periodic with a predetermined velocity period are determined; a phase relationship between spectral values that are obtained respectively at the same position in the separately calculated two-dimensional spectra is checked for agreement with phase relationships expected for several of the determined periodic values of the relative velocity; and based thereon, an estimated value for the relative velocity of the target is selected from the determined periodic values of the relative velocity. |
| US10649075B2 |
Multiplatform GMTI radar with adaptive clutter suppression
The present invention is directed to a method for processing radar signals in a distributed array radar that includes a first airborne platform and at least one second airborne platform. Doppler filtered radar return samples are obtained and a weight value is calculated as a function of first clutter signals and second clutter signals. The weight value is employed in a weight vector that is computed, as well, from a steering vector that need not be matched to the target vector. The weight vector is applied to a signal vector corresponding to the Doppler filtered radar return samples. An open loop feedback is implemented and configured to create beam pattern nulls at angles corresponding to the plurality of first interference signals within each of the Doppler bins without substantially tracking a position or velocity of the first airborne platform or the at least one second airborne platform. |
| US10649074B2 |
Target detector and target detection method for detecting target using radar waves
A radar device includes a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, and a signal processor. The transmitting unit transmits a radar wave. The receiving unit mixes the received incoming wave with the radar wave to generate a beat signal. The signal processor executes a target detection process to detect a target having reflected the radar wave. In the target detection process, a signal value is extracted from the beat signal generated by the receiving unit for each of specified times, the specified time being a reciprocal of a DC component frequency, an approximation curve of a plurality of the signal values is calculated as a DC component signal, and the calculated DC component signal is subtracted from the beat signal to generate a target signal. Based on a result of frequency analysis performed on the target signal, a target that is a source of the incoming wave is detected. |
| US10649072B2 |
LiDAR device based on scanning mirrors array and multi-frequency laser modulation
A LiDAR device that transmits a single or multiple continuous or intermittent laser beams to the environment and detects the reflected light on one or more detectors. The LiDAR device may include a scanning mirrors array composed of a single or multiple moving mirrors capable of changing the direction of the transmitted light. The scanning mirrors array may also include sensors and actuators which can be used to precisely control or measure the position of the mirrors. The LiDAR device may also include a lens that focuses the light captured by the mirror(s) onto a single or a multitude of detectors. The device may include laser sources and detectors operating in various wavelengths. The LiDAR device may also include laser power modulation mechanisms at a single or multitude of frequencies to improve signal detection performance and remove any ambiguity in range calculation. |
| US10649070B2 |
Method for regional attenuation correction of radar using a microwave links network
The complex temporal-spatial variation of raindrop size distribution will affect the precision of quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) produced from radar data, making it difficult to correct echo attenuation. This invention presents a method for regional attenuation correction of weather radar using a multiple microwave links (ML) network. By measuring the rain attenuation of multiple microwave links in a specific frequency, matching with the weather radar in time and space and processed with discretization. Based on a series of attenuation values of the microwave link network and combined iterations, the attenuation coefficient of each grids is obtained; the total attenuation value of the path is obtained by combining the distance between the radar and each grid point, by which the reginal attenuation of radar echo can be corrected by the ML network efficiently. |
| US10649069B2 |
Synchronization in FMCW radar systems
The disclosure provides a radar apparatus for estimating a position and a velocity of the plurality of obstacles. The radar apparatus includes a local oscillator that generates a first signal. A first transmit unit receives the first signal from the local oscillator and generates a first transmit signal. A frequency shifter receives the first signal from the local oscillator and generates a second signal. A second transmit unit receives the second signal and generates a second transmit signal. The frequency shifter provides a frequency offset to the first signal based on a routing delay mismatch to generate the second signal such that the first transmit signal is phase coherent with the second transmit signal. |
| US10649063B2 |
Techniques for imaging wireless power delivery environments and tracking objects therein
Techniques are described herein for imaging static or semi-static objects in a wireless power delivery environment and tracking non-static objects contained therein. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques for determining the relative locations and movement of non-static objects in a wireless power delivery environment. Additionally, the techniques describe methods and system for generation of motion-based maps such as heat (or dwell maps) and flow maps. |
| US10649062B2 |
Terminal positioning method and apparatus
The present disclosure provides a terminal positioning method and apparatus. The method comprises: obtaining beam information corresponding to a terminal; obtaining a time advance amount of the terminal in a serving cell; and determining location information of the terminal according to the beam information and the time advance amount. The present disclosure may solve the technical problem of low terminal positioning precision. |
| US10649061B2 |
Method and system for determining the position of a user device in relation to a vehicle
A method is described for determining a position of a user device in relation to a vehicle, the vehicle including first and second receivers. The method includes transmitting a positioning signal by the transmitter of the user device, receiving the positioning signal by the first receiver and by the second receiver arranged at a distance from the first receiver, in at least one of the first and second receivers, receiving and identifying a reflected positioning signal reflected at a ground surface before reaching the first and second receivers, performing time synchronization between the transmitter and the first and second receiver, determining a position of the user device in a three-dimensional coordinate system based on a time-of-flight of the positioning signal received in the first and second receivers and on a time-of-flight of at least one reflected positioning signal received by at least one of the first and second receivers. |
| US10649056B2 |
Free-breathing 3D body diffusion imaging using motion-compensated diffusion preparation and motion robust readout
Embodiments can provide a computer-implemented method for free breathing three dimensional diffusion imaging, the method comprising initiating, via a k-space component processor, diffusion/T2 preparation, comprising generating diffusion contrast; and adjusting one or more of amplitude, duration, and polarity to set a first order moment; applying, via an image data processor, a stack of stars k-space ordering, comprising acquiring a radial/spiral view for all members of a plurality of partitions in a partition-encoding direction; increasing an azimuthal angle until a complete set of radial/spiral views are sampled; and applying diffusion gradients along each of three axis simultaneously; and calculating, via the image data processor, an apparent diffusion coefficient map. |
| US10649055B2 |
Method and apparatus for diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
In diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-encoded gradient pulses with an amplitude and a duration are activated. The amplitude and the duration of the gradient pulses are varied for various excitations of nuclear magnetization. The echo time for the various excitations of nuclear magnetization can be changed. |
| US10649036B2 |
Battery state estimating apparatus
A battery state estimating apparatus is provided with: an acquirer configured to obtain complex impedances of a battery at a different temperatures; a calculator configured to calculate a slope of a first straight line or a slope of a second straight line as an impedance slope, wherein the first straight line connects values of the complex impedances at a first predetermined frequency, wherein the second straight line connects a convergence point and at least one of values of the plurality of complex impedances at a second predetermined frequency; and an estimator configured to estimate a battery state associated with the battery on the basis of the impedance slope and a relation stored in a storage, if it is determined by a determinator that a temperature of the battery is in a predetermined temperature area. |
| US10649035B2 |
Method for estimating the current and the state of charge of a battery pack or cell, without direct detection of current under operating conditions
A method for estimating an operating current I dispensed by a battery pack or cell including the steps of acquiring characterization data of the battery pack or cell, related to measured time trends of a voltage Vm and of a characterization current Im of the battery pack or cell, associated with a respective characterization temperature value Tk; and then processing the characterization data to determine a plurality of parameters P of a model of the battery pack or cell, as a function of temperature and state of charge SOC. Measuring an operating voltage V of the battery pack or cell and an operating temperature T and for estimating the operating current I of the battery pack or cell. A plurality of time observation windows Wi is identified and characterization voltage Vmi values are detected. Then, at each observation window Wi, the following actions are performed: calculating a value of the state of charge SOCi of the battery pack or cell; calculating an estimated voltage VABi, by means of the model of the battery pack or cell, as a function of respective nominal values of the parameters P; determining a respective error function Ei dependent on the difference between the estimated voltage VABi and the characterization voltage Vmi of the time observation window Wi; calculating an actual value Pi for each parameter P, by minimizing the aforesaid error function Ei. |
| US10649032B2 |
Core circuitry, tap domain circuitry, separate auxiliary circuitry, output buffers
The present disclosure describes novel methods and apparatuses for directly accessing JTAG Tap domains that exist in a scan path of many serially connected JTAG Tap domains. Direct scan access to a selected Tap domain by a JTAG controller is achieved using auxiliary digital or analog terminals associated with the Tap domain and connected to the JTAG controller. During direct scan access, the auxiliary digital or analog terminals serve as serial data input and serial data output paths between the selected Tap domain and the JTAG controller. |
| US10649027B2 |
Semiconductor device including test circuit
A semiconductor device including a test circuit is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a test pad coupled to a probe of a test device during a wafer test; a normal pad configured to receive a power or a signal during a normal mode; and a test circuit configured to perform a predetermined test operation based on a test signal received through the test pad. The test circuit is disposed below the normal pad. |
| US10649023B2 |
Radio test system and method for testing a device under test
A radio test system for testing a device under test is described, comprising a signal generation unit configured to generate a downlink signal to be transmitted to the device under test for over-the-air testing. The radio test system has at least one antenna configured to transmit the downlink signal via an over-the-air transmission channel to the device under test. Further, a receiver is provided that is configured to receive a response signal via the over-the-air transmission channel from the device under test. In addition, the radio test system has at least one over-the-air adapter that is connected to the signal generation unit wherein the over-the-air adapter is configured to adapt the downlink signal to be transmitted such that the over-the-air transmission channel is equalized. Further, a method for testing a device under test is described. |
| US10649019B2 |
Optically probed multi-element electric field sensing system
A system and a method for determining local electric field strengths, the system including: a light source module configured to emit light; a plurality of electric field sensors, each sensor including a light input portion and a light output portion, each sensor including an electro-optic material arranged in a path of at least some of the received light, an optical property of the electro-optic material being variable depending on a local electric field strength at the sensor, and the electro-optic material being arranged in the sensor such that a property of the output light varies depending on the local electric field strength; a light detection module arranged to receive the output light from the sensors; and a processing module in communication with the light detection module, the processing module being programmed to determine a corresponding value for the electric field strength local to each of the sensors. |
| US10649014B2 |
Frequency characteristic measuring method at feed axis control unit
A method measures a frequency characteristic at a feed axis control unit configured to drive a motor in accordance with a velocity command value to control a velocity or a position of a movable portion of a driven body. The velocity command value includes a velocity reference value from a host device or a velocity command calculator and a sweep signal swept in order to measure the frequency characteristic. The method includes moving the feed axis in one direction by commanding the velocity reference value where a moving velocity of the feed axis is constant, exciting by providing a sine wave having an amplitude less than a magnitude of the velocity reference value to the sweep signal, and measuring the frequency characteristic of a feed axis drive system including the motor. |
| US10649012B1 |
Transmission interface module and signal transmission method
A transmission interface module includes a receiving unit, a transmitting unit, a multiplexer, and a processing unit. An output terminal and a control terminal of the receiving unit are electrically connected to the processing unit. The input terminal and the control terminal of the transmitting unit are electrically connected to the processing unit, and the control terminal of the multiplexer is electrically connected to the processing unit. The transmission interface module respectively adjusts a turn-on state or a turn-off state of the analog power terminal, the digital power terminal, the processing unit, the receiving unit, the transmitting unit, and the multiplexer through a plurality of operation modes to transmit the detecting signals. |
| US10649011B2 |
Monitoring system for grounding apparatus
A shaft grounding and monitoring system may include a grounding member slidingly engageable with a rotating shaft. An electrical sensor may be configured to be coupled with the grounding member in order to detect an electrical parameter that provides an indication of electricity flowing from the rotating shaft to ground through the grounding member. A processor may be operably coupled with the electrical sensor and may receive and analyze data from the electrical sensor. The processor may be configured to periodically analyze the data representing the electrical parameter from the electrical sensor at a sampling rate and for a sampling period that is related to a rotation speed of the rotating shaft. A memory may be operably coupled with the processor and may be configured to store data processed by the processor that is representative of the data provided by the electrical sensor. |
| US10649010B2 |
Current sensing
Methods and devices related to current sensing are provided. Magnetoresistive sensor elements are provided on opposite sides of a conductor. |
| US10649009B2 |
Ungrounded control of low energy analog (LEA) voltage measurements
A system and method are provided for a floating reference recloser voltage sensor that measures low energy analog voltage from a voltage divider connected to a high energy transmission line electrode. A floating reference cylindrical voltage screen is coaxially positioned between a high energy transmission line electrode and a cylindrical ground plate, and is positioned closer to the transmission line electrode. The floating reference recloser voltage sensor is filled with a solid dielectric material. A voltage divider network is formed when a voltmeter of a recloser controller is connected to the high-voltage electrode and the floating reference voltage screen, and connected in parallel with another divider network capacitance. The voltmeter reads a low energy voltage drop between the high energy transmission line electrode and the floating reference voltage screen. The recloser controller and the voltmeter are both disconnected from ground. |
| US10649008B2 |
Signal correction method, system for correcting a measured signal, as well as oscilloscope
A signal correction method for correcting a measured signal has the following steps: processing a digital representation of a first signal at a first measurement input; processing a digital representation of a second signal at a second measurement input corresponding to the first signal convoluted with a transfer function; and determining the transfer function for correcting the measured signal. Further, a use of the method, a system for correcting a measured signal, and an oscilloscope are provided. |
| US10649003B2 |
Coupled multiscale positioning of arrays of parallel, independently actuated and simultaneously driven modular scanning probe microscopes for high-throughput, in-line, nanoscale measurement of flexible, large area, and roll-to-roll processes
Disclosed herein are devices, systems and methods for in-line, nanoscale metrology. One system comprises monolithic flexure mechanisms with integrated actuators that allow movement and positioning in two axes, with an extremely high degree of accuracy, of a structure comprising one or more scanning probes. This structure is suspended to prevent any destructive interference from a sample, which can be stationary or moving at a nonzero rate, and rigid or flexible in mechanical behavior. This system can be activated at startup and quickly actuate the structure to approach the surface of the sample. Once the system achieves the desired proximity between the one or more probes and the sample, the system maintains that position of the structure to a high degree of accuracy regardless of any disturbances. This array can be moved at varying speeds laterally to match the velocity of any continually moving substrates, thus enabling scanning of moving substrates. |
| US10649001B2 |
Dual capacitive linearization circuit
A MEMS system includes a proof mass, an anchor, an amplifier, first and second sense elements and their corresponding feedback elements. The proof mass moves responsive to a stimulus. The anchor coupled to the proof mass via a spring. The amplifier receives a proof mass signal from the proof mass and amplifies the signal to generate an output signal. The first sense element is connected between the proof mass and a first input signal and the second sense element is connected between the proof mass and a second input signal. The second input signal has a polarity opposite to the first input signal. The first feedback element is connected between the proof mass and the output signal and its charges change responsive to proof mass displacement. The second feedback element is connected between the proof mass and the output signal and its charges change in response to proof mass displacement. |
| US10648996B2 |
Specimen measurement apparatus and specimen aspiration method
A specimen measurement apparatus may include: an aspirator via which a specimen is aspirated. A flow path may be connected to the aspirator. A first pump may be connected to the flow path. A second pump may be connected to the flow path. A controller may select and cause either the first pump or the second pump to aspirate the specimen via the aspirator. |
| US10648993B2 |
Laboratory apparatus with user input function and method for user input in a laboratory apparatus
The invention relates to a laboratory apparatus, and a method, for device-controlled handling of at least one laboratory sample, wherein the laboratory apparatus comprises at least one handling device, wherein the handling is controlled by the laboratory apparatus in use of several program parameters, a control device, a user interface device for manually inputting data by an user, and for the display of information, which may in particular depend on these data, wherein the user interface device comprises a display, on which a display area can be represented, and wherein the user interface device comprises a movement detecting sensor device, which is arranged for the detection of at least one user movement, which can be performed on the display area by an user, and wherein the control device is arranged for the provision of a movement detecting input mode, in order to•select the at least one program parameter and/or define its value depending on the at least one user movement, and•display at least one graphical sketch element, which represents the at least one user movement, in the display area, depending on the at least one user movement. |
| US10648992B2 |
Methods and compositions related to lipoproteins in blood samples
Methods and compositions related to lipoproteins reactions are provided. Particularly, quantitation of lipoprotein subgroup particle numbers may be used to detect lipoprotein's response to oxidation conditions and incubation conditions. In further aspects, ultracentrifugation may be improved to analyze the lipoprotein profiles. Embodiments are directed to methods for generating a oxidation susceptibility measure for serum lipoproteins. In certain aspects a first portion of a serum sample is used to generate a base lipid particle profile (LPP) and a second portion of the serum sample is used to generate an oxidized lipid particle profile. |
| US10648991B2 |
Biomarkers for epicardial adipose tissue
A method for predicting the level of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in a subject comprising: (a) determining a level of one or more lipid biomarkers in a sample from the subject, wherein the biomarkers are selected from the following: (i) phosphatidylcholine (PC) [16:1/16:1] (ii) diacylglycerol (DAG) [42:8] (iii) phosphatidylethanolamine-ether (PE-O) [32:5] (iv) phosphatidylcholine (PC) [18:0/22:5] (v) phosphatidylinositol (PI) [18:0/16:1] (vi) phosphatidylglycerol (PG) [20:3/20:3] (vii) phosphatidylglycerol (PG) [22:5/18:1] (b) comparing the levels of the biomarkers in the sample to reference values; wherein the levels of the biomarkers in the sample compared to the reference values are indicative of levels of EAT fat in the subject. |
| US10648988B2 |
Methods for providing information relevant to diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorder
A method for providing information relevant to the diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disorder. The method includes (i) obtaining a biological sample containing vesicles from a subject, (ii) measuring the level of amyloid beta in the biological sample using an antibody specific for the N-terminus of amyloid beta, and (iii) comparing the measured level of amyloid beta in the biological sample with the level of amyloid beta in a previously prepared control sample. |
| US10648984B2 |
Immunoassay and antibodies for the detection of chromogranin A
The present invention relates to an immunoassay method for the detection of Chromogranin A (or fragment(s) thereof) comprising the steps of contacting a sample suspected of comprising Chromogranin A with a first antibody or an antigen-binding fragment or derivative thereof specific for Chromogranin A and a second antibody or an antigen-binding fragment or derivative thereof specific for Chromogranin A under conditions allowing for the formation of a ternary complex between Chromogranin A and the two antibodies or antigen-binding fragments or derivates thereof, and detecting the binding of the two antibodies or antigen-binding fragments or derivates thereof to Chromogranin A. Also provided are antibodies directed against amino acid residues 124 to 144 and 280 to 301 of Chromogranin A and their use in the immunoassay method. |
| US10648979B2 |
Molecular probes for detecting gram-negative bacteria in vitro and in vivo
A probe is provided comprising a label and a binding moiety, wherein the binding moiety is adapted to bind to gram-negative bacteria, and to substantially not bind to animal cells or gram-positive bacteria. A method of detecting the presence of bacteria in a target area is also provided, which allows the detection of bacteria generally, and the determination of whether that bacteria is gram negative or gram positive. |
| US10648978B2 |
Methods for detecting novel autoantibodies in Crohn's disease
Identification of autoantibodies associated with Crohn's disease useful in diagnosis and management using an innovative protein array technology, namely nucleic acid programmable protein arrays (NAPPA) and applications relating thereto. Overall, reactivity of IgG autoantibodies was stronger than that of IgA autoantibodies; however, IgA autoantibodies showed greater differential reactivity between cases and controls. Four IgA autoantibodies against SNRPB, PRPH, PTTG1 and SNAI1 were newly identified with sensitivities above 15% at 95% specificity, among which anti-SNRPB-IgA had the highest sensitivity of 24.0%. Autoantibodies associated with specific disease subtypes were also found. |
| US10648977B2 |
Angiotensin receptor autoantibodies as biomarker for effected usage of angiotensin receptor blockers
The invention described herein provides methods for treating a disease or disorder associated with angiotensin receptor signaling in a patient exhibiting elevated levels of ATIR autoantibodies. The invention also provides methods of identifying a patient suffering from a disease or disorder associated with angiotensin receptor signaling that may benefit from treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker. Patients with elevated levels of ATIR autoantibodies are identified as candidates that particularly benefit from treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker. |
| US10648974B2 |
Ethyl glucuronide lateral flow test strips, immunoassays, devices and methods for detecting or measuring thereof
Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) lateral flow immunoassay test strips, devices, and methods, useful for testing for alcohol ingestion for alcohol abuse or related diseases and treatment monitoring. |
| US10648968B2 |
In vitro test system to evaluate xenobiotics as immune-modulators of drug transport and metabolism in human hepatocytes
A method for evaluating in vitro the effect of a xenobiotic (e.g., a drug) on drug metabolism in hepatocytes. The kit comprises a first culture of hepatocytes, a portion of in vitro xenobiotic-stimulated biological sample, and instructions for incubating the first culture of hepatocytes with the portion of in vitro xenobiotic-stimulated biological sample, and analyzing the activity, expression, or a combination thereof of a biomarker in the hepatocytes to evaluate the effect of the xenobiotic on drug metabolism in the hepatocytes. |
| US10648964B2 |
Biologic stability, delivery logistics and administration of time and/or temperature sensitive biologic based materials
In some embodiments, alerts are sent to appropriate parties if an insulated container is not properly packed out to insure the approximate safe temperature of the materials. In other embodiments, a countdown timer is used to keep track of the time that the biologic has been in transit, and ensure that the amount of time does not exceed the known shelf life of the biologic. In still other embodiments, the payload container is equipped with its own sensors, such as temperature sensors, and communications devices, such as a close range communication device, capable of transmitting information regarding a range of parameters, including, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, location and time, from the payload container to an end user. In other embodiments, shielding and/or radiation sensors are included in insulated shipping or storage containers, or payload containers, to shield and monitor the radiation exposure of the payload. |
| US10648961B2 |
Core-shell type catalyst and gas sensor including the catalyst
A core-shell structure (a diameter is about 5 nm) is located on an Al2O3 catalyst support. Platinum (Pt metal) is a core, and a shell that surrounds the core has a solid solution structure (A1-xBxOY) (where X is a composition that composes A and B, and Y is a composition of oxygen (O)) that is composed of platinum, palladium, and oxygen. |
| US10648958B2 |
Interconnected corrugated carbon-based network
An interconnected corrugated carbon-based network comprising a plurality of expanded and interconnected carbon layers is disclosed. In one embodiment, each of the expanded and interconnected carbon layers is made up of at least one corrugated carbon sheet that is one atom thick. In another embodiment, each of the expanded and interconnected carbon layers is made up of a plurality of corrugated carbon sheets that are each one atom thick. The interconnected corrugated carbon-based network is characterized by a high surface area with highly tunable electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties. |
| US10648957B2 |
Method and device for testing the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling in reverse osmosis processes
A benchtop device flow setup for determining the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling includes two similar branches, both equipped with a reverse osmosis membrane and a pump that operate in the transient regime at the same flow rate and transmembrane pressure. The flow setup is further fed with a solution at the same level of supersaturation measured in a stirred reactor, however, only one branch exposes the feed to a magnetic field. |
| US10648953B1 |
Ultrasonic weld quality testing using audio
Various embodiments of a technique are provided for determining the quality of a weld for a battery contact using audio signals. In some embodiments, a system for determining the quality of a weld for a battery contact comprises a processor configured to receive a snapshot that includes a rendering of an audio signal obtained during a welding process by monitoring a device being welded. A weld-quality indicator for the device being welded is determined based at least in part on features extracted from the snapshot and a weld-quality score for the device being welded is determined in response to the weld-quality indicator. In this case, the weld-quality score is indicative of a quality of the weld. The system also includes a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. |
| US10648948B2 |
Method for diagnosing performance degradation of machine element, and system for same
A system for diagnosing performance degradation of a machine element includes an AE sensor that generates an AE waveform signal; a vibration sensor that generates an acceleration signal; a signal processing unit including an AE signal processing system that performs predetermined signal processing on the plurality of AE waveform signals, a vibration signal processing system that performs predetermined signal processing on the acceleration signal, and a switching parameter generating section that generates a predetermined numeric parameter to switch a measuring mode from the AE method to the vibration method; and controlling unit that selects a result of the processing in performed by the AE signal processing system at the initial stage and selects, after the numeric parameter successively turns from increasing to decreasing, a result of the processing by the vibration signal processing system. |
| US10648945B2 |
Laser doppler electrophoresis using a diffusion barrier
In one general aspect, an electrophoretic measurement method is disclosed that includes providing a vessel that holds a dispersant, providing a first electrode immersed in the dispersant, and providing a second electrode immersed in the dispersant. A sample is placed at a location within the dispersant between the first and second electrodes with the sample being separated from the electrodes, an alternating electric field is applied across the electrodes, and the sample is illuminated with temporally coherent light. A frequency shift is detected in light from the step of illuminating that has interacted with the sample during the step of applying an alternating electric field, and a property of the sample is derived based on results of the step of detecting. |
| US10648944B2 |
Failure analysis of a measuring sensor with an integrated temperature sensor
According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes applying an alternating current at a selected voltage to a sensor, wherein the voltage is applied between a working electrode and/or reference electrode of the sensor and a temperature sensor integrated into the sensor, varying the frequency of the alternating current between a lower frequency and an upper frequency, measuring an impedance of the sensor between the working electrode and/or reference electrode and the temperature sensor as a function of the frequency of the alternating current, and determining whether, based on the total impedance at the low frequency end of the sensor and on the real and imaginary components of the impedance, the insulations between working electrode and/or reference electrode and temperature sensor have a defect. |
| US10648942B2 |
Electrochemical cell
An electrochemical cell for detecting a gas from the surrounding environment. The cell comprises an electrolyte and a sensing electrode which is in fluid communication with the electrolyte and the gas to be detected, when present. The cell further comprises a counter electrode in fluid communication with said electrolyte, and also a source of reactant gas provided in a cavity adjacent to the counter electrode, wherein reaction of the gas to be detected at the sensing electrode results in reaction of the reactant gas at the counter electrode and wherein the cavity is formed of or comprises a membrane. The cell may also have a wick extending between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode in an axial direction and a reservoir surrounding the wick. |
| US10648936B2 |
Blood condition analyzing device, blood condition analyzing system, blood conditon analyzing method, and blood condition analyzing program for causing computer to execute the method
There is provided a blood condition analyzing device including an erythrocyte quantitative evaluation unit configured to evaluate a hematocrit value and/or a hemoglobin amount on the basis of an electrical characteristic of a blood sample at a frequency of 2 to 25 MHz. |
| US10648931B2 |
X-ray inspection system and method for pipes
A method, a system, and an apparatus for scanning an elongate structure. A scanner in a scanning system is moved on a helical path around the elongate structure. The scanner is moved on the helical path around the elongate structure using a helical track system attached to the elongate structure using a translating structure. An x-ray beam is emitted from the scanner while the scanner moves on the helical path. Backscatter is detected from the x-ray beam encountering the elongate structure. |
| US10648927B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring edge bevel removal area in semiconductor apparatus and electroplating system
A semiconductor apparatus includes a transfer chamber, an annealing station, a robot arm, and an edge detector. The transfer chamber is configured to interface with an electroplating apparatus. The annealing station is arranged to anneal a wafer. The robot arm is arranged to transfer the wafer from the transfer chamber to the annealing station. The edge detector is disposed over the robot arm for the purpose of monitoring at least one portion of an edge bevel removal area of the wafer carried by the robot arm. |
| US10648926B2 |
Method of detecting particles on panel
A method for detecting degree of particulate contamination on a flat panel mainly includes the following steps: illuminating a to-be-detected flat panel (40) by using a light source module (10), to form an illumination field; adjusting a half width of the illumination field; adjusting a luminous intensity at a center of the illumination field and a luminous intensity at an edge of the half width of the illumination field; adjusting a light intensity and a position of the light source, as well as a position of a detector (20); and acquiring signals from foreign objects on the flat panel by using the detector (20). This method greatly alleviates particle mirror crosstalk and crosstalk of patterns on the lower surface of the flat panel, and improves the SNR, thus enhancing the accuracy in detection of foreign objects on the flat panel. |
| US10648924B2 |
Generating high resolution images from low resolution images for semiconductor applications
Methods and systems for generating a high resolution image for a specimen from one or more low resolution images of the specimen are provided. One system includes one or more computer subsystems configured for acquiring one or more low resolution images of a specimen. The system also includes one or more components executed by the one or more computer subsystems. The one or more components include a model that includes one or more first layers configured for generating a representation of the one or more low resolution images. The model also includes one or more second layers configured for generating a high resolution image of the specimen from the representation of the one or more low resolution images. |
| US10648921B2 |
Image inspection apparatus, image inspection method, image inspection program, computer-readable recording medium and recording device
An image inspection apparatus includes: an imaging section for capturing an image of a workpiece from a certain direction; an illumination section for illuminating the workpiece from different directions at least three times; an illumination controlling section for sequentially turning on the illumination sections one by one; an imaging generating section for driving the imaging section to generate a plurality of images; a normal vector calculating section for calculating a normal vector with respect to the surface of the workpiece at each of pixels by use of a pixel value of each of pixels having a corresponding relation among the plurality of images; and a contour image generating section for performing differential processing in an X-direction and a Y-direction on the calculated normal vector at each of the pixels, to generate a contour image that shows a contour of inclination of the surface of the workpiece. |
| US10648918B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for determining a fractional flow reserve (FFR) based on the minimum lumen area (MLA) and the constant
In one aspect, the invention relates to system comprising: a processor configured to receive a first optical coherence tomography (OCT) data set obtained during a pullback of a data collection probe along a first length of a first blood vessel; determine a minimum lumen area disposed along the first length using the first OCT data set; and determine a first FFR value along the first length based on the minimum lumen area. In one embodiment, the first FFR value is an estimated FFR. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method that includes measuring, using OCT, the area of a lumen of a vessel for which the vessel's FFR is to be determined; and calculating, using a computer, A2m/(A2m+k) or YA2min/(YA2min+k) as a FFR value. In one embodiment, k is about 0.7 mm2 and γ is patient-specific variable that depends on the coronary branch in which the images were obtained. |
| US10648917B2 |
Luminescent compositions and applications thereof
In one aspect, methods of sensing are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of sensing includes disposing a fluorophore in a biological environment, wherein the fluorophore includes a dioxo-pyridine ring (DPR) or a thiazolopyridine acid (TPA). The method further includes exposing the biological environment to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength corresponding to an excitation wavelength of the fluorophore, detecting light emitted by the fluorophore, and correlating the light emitted by the fluorophore to a presence or absence of an analyte within the biological environment in an amount above a minimum detection threshold. The presence of the analyte can increase or decrease the amount of light emitted by the fluorophore. The presence of the analyte may also shift the peak emission wavelength or alter the fluorescence lifetime of the fluorophore. The analyte, in some embodiments, includes hydrogen ions, halide ions, and/or halogens. |
| US10648916B2 |
Nano fingers with asymmetric material composition
A surface enhanced luminescence (SEL) sensor may include a substrate and nano fingers projecting from the substrate. The nano fingers may include a nano finger extending along an axis. The nano finger may include a plasmonically active cap and a pillar supporting the plasmonically active cap. The pillar may have an asymmetric material composition with respect to the axis. |
| US10648915B2 |
Substance detection device
In an example implementation, a substance detection device includes a chamber with chamber walls, a chamber top, and a chamber bottom. A substrate comprises imprinted nanostructures positioned within the chamber, and the substrate is coupled to the chamber walls to form the chamber bottom. An inert gas is sealed within the chamber. |
| US10648909B2 |
Methods and systems for assessing flow cell cleanliness
Provided are methods of assessing the cleanliness of a flow cell of a flow cytometric system. The provided methods include computing a ratio of post-flow cell and pre-flow cell light beam intensities and using such a ratio to assess the cleanliness of the flow cell. Flow cytometric systems capable of monitoring the cleanliness of a flow cell contained within the system are also provided. |
| US10648908B2 |
Optical system, method of forming and operating the same
Various embodiments may provide an optical system for determining a refractive index of a sample. The optical system may include a laser source configured to emit a laser beam, and a non-linear crystal configured to generate, based on the laser beam, an infrared light beam which passes through the sample, and a visible signal light beam. The optical system may further include a first mirror configured to reflect the visible signal light beam, a second mirror configured to reflect the infrared light beam so that the reflected infrared light beam interacts with the reflected visible signal light beam in the non-linear crystal, and a photodetector configured to determine a property of the reflected visible signal light beam which has interacted with the reflected infrared light beam for determining the refractive index of the sample. |
| US10648907B2 |
Total protein measurement using whole blood refractometry
An optical system and method for quantifying total protein in whole blood or other multi-phase liquids and colloidal suspensions uses refractometry without preliminary steps such as cell separation or centrifugation. A refractometer is integrated with a flow cell to enable the refractive index of a flowing sample to be measured based on a substantially cell free boundary layer of the sample that is present under certain flow conditions. Dimensions of the flow cell are selected to produce a cell-free layer in a flow of whole blood in which the cell free layer is thick enough to reduce scattering of light from the refractometer light source. A numerical method is used to compensate for scattering artifacts. The numerical compensation method is based on the slope and width of a peak in the derivative curve of an angular spectrum image of the flowing sample produced by refractometry. |
| US10648902B2 |
Analyzer and warm-up determination method
A spectrophotometer 1 comprises a control unit 45 with a warming-up determination unit 452 that determines the completion of a warming-up based on a variation amount of a detection signal in a predetermined duration when a light detector 7 detects a light from a sample chamber without loading the sample. Specifically, the warming-up determination unit 452 calculates a difference between a signal intensity of the detection signal detected by the light detector 7 at the time when the predetermined time passes and a signal intensity of the detection signal detected by the light detector 7 at a previous time and determines that a warming-up is complete when a value of the difference is less than a first threshold value. The warming-up determination unit 452 automatically determines the completion of warming-up independently from the determination by the user. |
| US10648901B2 |
System and method for analyzing dusty industrial off-gas chemistry
An off-gas analyzer for analyzing H2O vapor, CO, O2, CO2 and/or H2 in a furnace gas stream is fluidically coupled to a gas extraction probe. The analyzer includes an optical measurement cell having multiple sampling chambers, optically coupled to a laser. The analyzer measuring cell is housed within a heated cabinet having a heater operable to heat the interior thereof so as to maintain the extracted gas sample therein at a temperature about the condensation point of water. The analyzer allows for the analysis of the gas water vapour of wet off-gas samples. |
| US10648900B2 |
Multi-color flow cytometric analysis of samples with low cell numbers
Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for processing a biological sample. Methods according to certain embodiments include contacting a biological sample having cells with an assay reagent that includes one or more analyte-specific binding members to produce a biological sample assay composition and introducing the biological assay composition into an inlet of a flow cytometer having an integrated acoustic separator. Systems, including a flow cytometer with integrated acoustic separator having one or more acoustic concentrator devices suitable for practicing the subject methods are also described. |
| US10648888B2 |
Plant state monitoring method, plant state monitoring computer program, and plant state monitoring apparatus
Provided is a plant state monitoring method which monitors an operation state of a plant by using the Mahalanobis distance based on the plant state amount. The method creates a first unit space as a set of data used to be a reference when judging whether the plant operation state during a start operation period is normal according to the state amount in the plant start operation period. The method also creates a second unit space as a set of data used to be a reference when judging whether the plant operation state during a load operation period is normal according to the state amount in the plant load operation period. |
| US10648883B2 |
Virtual testing model for use in simulated aerodynamic testing
A method for developing a virtual testing model of a subject for use in simulated aerodynamic testing comprises providing a computer generated generic 3D mesh of the subject, identifying a dimension of the subject and at least one reference point on the subject, imaging the subject to develop point cloud data representing at least the subject's outer surface and adapting the generic 3D mesh to the subject. The generic 3D mesh is adapted by modifying it to have a corresponding dimension and at least one corresponding reference point, and applying at least a portion of the point cloud data from the imaged subject's outer surface at selected locations to scale the generic 3D mesh to correspond to the subject, thereby developing the virtual testing model specific to the subject. |
| US10648882B2 |
Wind tunnel wake generator
A wake generator for placement in a wind tunnel between a wind source and a test object includes a first frame member having a first track formed thereon, where the first track has a shape including a first side that is substantially rounded and a second side that is substantially flat. The wake generator may include a mounting plate disposed within a perimeter of the first track, where the mounting plate is rotatable relative to the first frame member about a first axis. The wake generator may allow for better simulation of unsteady turbine wakes that influence cooling flow. The wake generator may also include a plurality of bars slidably engaged to the mounting plate and structurally configured to traverse along the first track when the mounting plate is rotated about the first axis. |
| US10648881B2 |
Seismic response assessment of man-made structures
The present disclosure is drawn to methods and systems for determining a seismic response of a man-made structure to a given input earthquake. Sensors are used to obtain vibration data for data collection locations from one or more floors of the man-made structure, which may be ambient vibration data or vibration data resulting from forced vibration or shock testing. The vibration data is used to determine modal characteristics for the man-made structure, including mode shapes, natural frequencies, and damping ratios. The mass, centre-of-mass, and moment of inertia is also determined for the floors of the man-made structure. The modal characteristics are then translated from the data collection locations to the centre-of-mass based on the structure of the floors. Then, a seismic response of the man-made structure to an input earthquake is determined using the translated modal characteristics and the mass and moment of inertia of the floors. |
| US10648876B2 |
Optical cable for sensing, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same
Disclosed herein is an optical cable comprising a plurality of cable sensors helically wound around a support; and an outer jacket that is disposed on the plurality of cable sensors and surrounds the plurality of cable sensors; where each cable sensor comprises an optical fiber; where the optical fiber comprises an optical core upon which is disposed a cladding; a primary coating; a deformable material surrounding the optical fiber; and an outer tube surrounding the deformable material; where the optical fiber is of equal length to the outer tube; and where an allowable strain on the optical cable with zero stress on the optical fiber is determined by equations (1) and (2) below: ɛ = π 2 ( D + d 2 ) 2 + p 2 p - π 2 ( D - d 2 ) 2 + p 2 p = π 2 dD p 2 = 10 dD p 2 ( 1 ) ɛ × 100 = Percent elongation or contraction ; ( 2 ) where d is the amount of optical fiber clearance for free movement within the loose tube, D is an average pitch diameter of the plurality of cable sensors and p is an average pitch length of a helical turn of the plurality of cable sensors wound around the central strength member. |
| US10648875B2 |
Force sensor for surgical devices
The present disclosure relates to force sensors and force sensor substrates for use with surgical devices. A force sensor includes a substrate, a plurality of sensing elements, a distal plate, and a pin block assembly. The substrate includes a proximal portion and a distal portion including a proximally-facing surface in fluid communication with a distal surface via an opening extending therebetween. The plurality of sensing elements are mounted on a sensing area of the distal surface of the substrate. The distal plate is welded to the distal surface of the substrate, hermetically sealing the plurality of sensing elements between the distal plate and the distal surface of the substrate. The pin block assembly is welded to the proximally-facing surface of the distal portion of the substrate, hermetically sealing distal ends of a plurality of conductive pins between the pin block assembly and the substrate. |
| US10648872B2 |
Sensor device for detecting pressure
A sensor device may include an elastic dielectric; a sensing unit including a first wiring and a second wiring for outputting sensing signals, and a flexible printed circuit board provided with a first connection terminal to which the first wiring is connected, and with a second connection terminal to which the second wiring is connected. The first wiring is formed on one surface of the dielectric and may be connected to the first connection terminal. The second wiring is formed on another surface of the dielectric facing the surface on which the first wiring is formed and may be connected to the second connection terminal. |
| US10648870B2 |
Temperature sensor and calibration method thereof having high accuracy
Disclosed is a temperature sensor including a first current generator configured to generate a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current, a second current generator configured to generate an inverse PTAT (IPTAT) current, the PTAT current and IPTAT current being combined to form a reference current having a sensitivity relative to temperature, a plurality of current mirrors to adjust the sensitivity and gain of the reference current, and a variable resistor to set an output calibration voltage based on the generated current. |
| US10648868B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device
Provided is a surface acoustic wave device using a novel and steadily suppliable piezoelectric material that is resistant to a high-temperature environment and enables the surface acoustic wave device to use a 2 GHz to 2.5 GHz band or higher. The surface acoustic wave device includes: a piezoelectric substrate formed from a monocrystal of gehlenite (CAS: Ca2Al(AlSi)O7); and interdigital transducers formed on a surface acoustic wave propagation plane of the piezoelectric substrate. |
| US10648867B2 |
Magnetic temperature sensor
In one example, the present disclosure describes a magnetic temperature sensor. For instance, in one example, an apparatus includes a first magnet, a magnetometer housing the first magnet, and a temperature converter coupled to the magnetometer. The first magnet includes a material having a magnetic field whose strength fluctuates in response to changes in temperature. The magnetic field induces an electric current in the magnetometer. The temperature converter then converts a measurement of the electric current to a corresponding measurement of temperature. |
| US10648866B2 |
Server device and management system
A server device includes a controller. The controller is configured to acquire temperature information that is information associated with a temperature of a predetermined area inside a vehicle, the predetermined area being configured to store a luggage and the predetermined area being configured to be locked and unlocked. The controller is configured to acquire luggage information that is information on the luggage to be stored in the predetermined area, and determine whether the predetermined area is an environment suitable for storage of the luggage at a scheduled storage time of the luggage based on the luggage information and the temperature information. |
| US10648861B2 |
Accessories for handheld spectrometer
A protective sheath having a closed end and an open end is sized to receive a hand held spectrometer. The spectrometer can be placed in the sheath to calibrate the spectrometer and to measure samples. In a calibration orientation, an optical head of the spectrometer can be oriented toward the closed end of the sheath where a calibration material is located. In a measurement orientation, the optical head of the spectrometer can be oriented toward the open end of the sheath in order to measure a sample. To change the orientation, the spectrometer can be removed from the sheath container and placed in the sheath container with the calibration orientation or the measurement orientation. Accessory container covers can be provided and placed on the open end of the sheath with samples placed therein in order to provide improved measurements. |
| US10648855B2 |
Method of detecting spot shape of pulsed laser beam
A method of detecting a spot shape of a pulsed laser beam, includes applying a pulsed laser beam having a wavelength absorbable by an inspection wafer held on a chuck table continuously to the inspection wafer with a focused point on an upper surface of the inspection wafer thereby to form a plurality of laser spots on the upper surface of the inspection wafer. An image of the laser spots is captured, and profiles of shapes of the laser spots are extracted from the captured image of the laser spots. A degree of similarity between the captured image and the profile of an ideal laser spot shape is calculated and stored in a memory. The shapes of the laser spots are found to be improper if the calculated degree of similarity is lower than a threshold value. |
| US10648854B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus having housing and corner members of different materials and radiation imaging system
A radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation detection panel, a housing configured to accommodate the radiation detection panel, and a buffer member. The housing has an opening in a corner. The buffer member includes a first portion fixed inside the housing and a second portion protruding from the opening of the housing to an outside of the housing. An elastic modulus of the second portion of the buffer member is lower than an elastic modulus of a portion of the housing which forms the opening. |
| US10648852B2 |
Imaging devices having piezoelectric transceivers
A micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT). The MUT includes: a substrate; a membrane suspending from the substrate; a bottom electrode disposed on the membrane; a piezoelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode and an asymmetric top electrode is disposed on the piezoelectric layer. The areal density distribution of the asymmetric electrode along an axis has a plurality of local maxima, wherein locations of the plurality of local maxima coincide with locations where a plurality of anti-nodal points at a vibrational resonance frequency is located. |
| US10648849B2 |
Weighing apparatus and method for a filling line for filling containers of pharmaceutical, medical, food products and the like
A weighing apparatus for a filling line for filling containers of pharmaceutical, medical, food products and the like includes a weighing unit and a suction unit designed to generate a suction air flow directed and adjusted in such a way as to affect in a controllable manner the value of a weight detected by the weighing unit. |
| US10648846B2 |
Systems and methods for determining a fuel level measurement of a fuel tank using optical sensors
An example fuel quantity indicating system includes a fuel tank, optical sensors mounted inside the fuel tank that each include a sensor chip and a diaphragm that deflects when ambient pressure differs from a reference pressure of the sensor chip, an optical fiber bundle that has an optical fiber connected to each of the optical sensors for guiding light to each of the optical sensors, and a processor connected to the optical fiber bundle for receiving outputs of the optical sensors indicative of respective pressures, and for determining a fuel level measurement of the fuel tank based on the outputs of the optical sensors. |
| US10648844B2 |
Gas flow characterization in additive manufacturing
A method of characterizing gas flow within a housing includes: positioning one or more gas flow sensors in the housing; introducing a gas flow into the housing; using the one or more gas flow sensors to generate two or more gas flow measurements at spaced-apart locations within the housing; and recording the two or more measurements to create a gas flow map. |
| US10648842B2 |
Fluid flow measuring and control devices and method
There is described a fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing. The device comprises a main flow channeling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing, and a bypass channeling system in parallel from the main flow channeling system. A flowmeter is provided in the bypass channeling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channeling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channeling system. The flowmeter may comprise a wheel and a pair of movement sensors. A valve such as a solenoid valve can be provided as an on/off control for the plumbing. Using a microcontroller, the device can identify which appliance is used and determine consumption, or detect abnormal use or leaks and close the valve and/or notify a user mobile device. |
| US10648833B2 |
Linear scale
A measurement device includes: attachment holes, provided on a scale frame with respect to a measurement direction; rear-face bushings inserted into the attachment holes from a rear face side of the scale frame; and fasteners that fix the scale frame to first measurement target part. Each of the rear-face bushings includes: a cylinder part, which is formed shorter than the length of the attachment holes with respect to a penetration direction and is formed having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the attachment holes; a flange, which is formed at the end of the cylinder part located toward the first measurement target part and which has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the attachment holes; and an elastic member, which is cylindrical in shape and is provided covering the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder part. |
| US10648831B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing an indication of favorability of parking locations
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for providing an indication of parking space favorability proximate a vehicle and a routing algorithm to reach the most desirable parking spaces of a parking facility. A method may include: providing route guidance for a vehicle within a parking facility; determining a favorability of a parking space proximate the vehicle in response to receiving an indication of vehicle location within the parking facility; and providing an indication of the favorability of a parking space proximate the vehicle where the indication of favorability includes an indication of a distance from the vehicle to a pedestrian access point of the parking facility and an indication of a distance from the pedestrian access point to the final destination. The routing algorithm may compute a route through the most suitable clusters of available parking spaces based on favorable criteria such as distance, availability, and desirability. |
| US10648824B2 |
Electronic device and method for providing movement path
A method and electronic device for requesting and providing a navigable movement path are provided herein. An electronic device for providing the movement path and meeting location are provided as well. The electronic device for requesting the navigable movement path includes a communication module, a display and a processor. The processor may implement the method including: when a preset condition is satisfied, transmit a request for movement path information and movement information of the electronic device through the communication module to the external device, the movement path information navigable to a meeting location with a second electronic device, receive a transmission of information from the external device, the received information including the meeting location designated based on the movement information of the electronic device, and a movement path navigable to the meeting location, and display the movement path navigable to the meeting location on the display. |
| US10648819B2 |
System and method for displaying address information on a map
A method of displaying a map on a device includes determining position information of a position on the map, displaying a graphical position indicator representing the position on the map, determining address information corresponding to the position on the map, and presenting the address information via a user interface of the device by displaying a street number on the map adjacent to the graphical position indicator. |
| US10648817B2 |
Data mining in a digital map database to identify speed changes on upcoming curves along roads and enabling precautionary actions in a vehicle
Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a speed limit change that occurs between a straight road section and a curved road section. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a speed limit change occurs between a straight road section and a curved road section along a road. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate such a location. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at such a location, at which a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system. |
| US10648813B2 |
Demodulator for in-phase and quadrature modulated signals, MEMS gyroscope including the same and demodulation method
A demodulator demodulates an in-phase component of an input signal which is in-phase and quadrature modulated. The demodulator includes a register storing a phase calibration value having an integer part and a fractional part. A noise-shaping modulator generates a succession of quantized values of integer type, the quantized values having a mean equal to the phase calibration value. A generating stage generates a demodulating signal phase locked with the input signal, the demodulating signal having a phase which depends linearly on the quantized values. A demodulating stage demodulates the input signal by means of the demodulating signal. |
| US10648810B2 |
Rotation rate sensor with multiple evaluation during operation at several frequencies
A rotation rate sensor includes first, second, third and fourth structures that are each movable relative to a substrate, a drive device configured to deflect each of the first, second, third, and fourth structures essentially parallel to a drive direction and out of respective resting positions of the first, second, third, and fourth structures, such that, at a first frequency, the first and fourth structures are excitable to an oscillation that is essentially in-phase relative to each other and essentially in phase-opposition relative to the second and third structures, and, at a second frequency, the first and second structures are excitable to an oscillation that is essentially in-phase relative to each other and essentially in phase-opposition relative to the third and fourth structures. |
| US10648808B2 |
Optoelectronic measuring device with magnetic compass and compensation functionality
Optoelectronic measuring device having an electronic magnetic compass and a compensation device assigned to the magnetic compass for compensating device-fixed interference fields and is designed to occupy at least two defined, repeatable operating states and generates a different device-fixed interference field in each of the operating states. The measuring device is designed to occupy at least two defined, repeatable application states, the magnetic compass being exposed to a different external magnetic interference field in each of the application states. The compensation device being designed to measure a first, second and third magnetic field set in a first, second and third overall state of the measuring device, and to determine by means of the processing unit a first, second and third set of parameters based on the first, second and third magnetic field set respectively, and to derive a fourth parameter set based on the first, second and third parameter set. |
| US10648806B2 |
Microcontroller controlled altimeter
A microcontroller controlled altimeter includes a microcontroller, a digital altitude pressure sensor with a pressure indicating output coupled to the microprocessor, and at least one Form A solid state relay coupled to the microcontroller, where the microcontroller is configured to provide control signals to the at least one Form A solid state relay to provide an open circuit between normally open and common terminals of the at least one Form A solid state relay if the digital altitude pressure sensor output is less than, or equal to, a setpoint for the at least one Form A relay, and provide continuity between the normally open and common terminals of the at least one Form A solid state relay if the digital altitude pressure sensor output is greater than the setpoint for the at least one Form A relay. |
| US10648804B2 |
Method for detecting a blocking of a rotor of a motor driving an actuator member
A method of detecting blocking of a rotor of a motor driving an actuator member with movement in translation between a first abutment and a second abutment, the method comprising the steps of, during an angular movement of the rotor, estimating at least a position (X) of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, a travel direction of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, and also a travel speed (V) of the actuator member; and on the basis at least of the estimated position of the actuator member, of the estimated travel direction of the actuator member, and of the estimated travel speed of the actuator member, detecting blocking of the rotor. |
| US10648800B2 |
System and process for roof measurement using imagery
The present disclosure describes systems and processes, including processes in which first location data is received. Visual access to a first image corresponding to the first location data is provided, the first image including a roof structure of a building. A first computer input capable of signaling a designation from the user of a building roof structure location within the first image is provided. A designation of the building roof structure location within the first image is received. Responsive to receiving the designation of the building roof structure location, a second computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the building roof structure location within the first image is provided. Subsequent to receiving the user-acceptance confirming the designation of the building roof structure location, a report of the roof structure is provided. |
| US10648799B2 |
Method for generating monochrome permutation structured-light pattern and structured-light system using the method thereof
The present disclosure relates to a method for generating a monochrome permutation structured-light pattern and a structured-light system using the method, and the method for generating a monochrome structured-light pattern that is represented with two or more luminous intensities of a single color includes selecting two different luminous intensities of a single color, generating a stripe for each selected luminous intensity, apart from the two luminous intensities selected previously, generating at least one combination stripe by combining regions of two or more different luminous intensities that are identical to or different from the previously selected two luminous intensities, generating permutations using the generated stripes as elements, setting each permutation as a subpattern, and introducing permutation overlapping into the set subpatterns to generate a monochrome structured-light pattern in which each subpattern is connected in sequential overlapping manner. |
| US10648795B2 |
Distance measuring apparatus and distance measuring method
A distance measuring apparatus measures a distance to a target based on reflected light in response to launched laser beam. A distance measuring process includes generating a difference binary image from first and second range images that are respectively generated in states without and with the target in front of a background and represent distances to each of range measurement points, extracting a first region greater than a first threshold from a non-background region of the difference binary image made up of non-background points, grouping adjacent points on the second range image into groups of adjacent points having close distance values, for each point within the first region, to extract second regions corresponding to the groups, and extracting a third region smaller than a second threshold from the second regions, to judge that each point within the third region is edge noise. |
| US10648793B2 |
Library expansion system, method, and computer program product for metrology
A library expansion system, method, and computer program product for metrology are provided. In use, processing within a first multi-dimensional library is performed by a metrology system. During the processing within the first multi-dimensional library, a second multi-dimensional library is identified. The processing is then transitioned to the second multi-dimensional library. Further, processing within the second multi-dimensional library is performed by the metrology system. |
| US10648783B2 |
Projectile
The invention relates to a projectile (1), which has a projectile body (2) featuring a recess (5) for receiving an explosive, wherein the projectile body (2) has a rotation-symmetrical shell surface (7), at least in sections, which is surrounded, at least in sections, by several ring-shaped elements (8) provided with predetermined break points, wherein fragments (12) formed upon breakup of the elements (8) are predefined via the predetermined break points, said fragments (12) being connected to one another in a ring-shaped connecting portion (11) for forming the ring-shaped element (8), and the freely projecting ends (13) of the fragments (12) being at least partially arranged in a common orthogonal plane (13′) to a longitudinal axis (8′) of the ring-shaped element (8), wherein this orthogonal plane (13′) is arranged diverging from an orthogonal plane (11′) defined by the ring-shaped connecting portion (11), as well as to a corresponding ring-shaped element (8) for the projectile (1). |
| US10648782B2 |
Cold firework spurting apparatus
The present disclosure provides a cold firework spurting apparatus, comprising: a feeding device; a conveying device; a heating mechanism; and a spurting device configured to ignite and spurt the metal powder heated by the heating mechanism, wherein an output end of the feeding device is open to the conveying device and an output end of the conveying device is open to the spurting device. Accordingly, the metal powder inside the conveying device is continuously heated by the heating mechanism attached to the conveying device during the conveying process such that the metal powder is constantly heated during the conveying process so as to form the metal powder ignited at high temperature. The ignited metal powder at high temperature is led and spurted outwards by means of an air flow formed by the spurting device so as to form a spurting effect of cold firework. |
| US10648781B1 |
Systems and methods for automatically scoring shooting sports
A system for scoring shooting sports includes an adapter that attaches an optical device to a mobile computer programmed to support scoring, analysis, and coaching. The mobile computer includes an image detector to sample images of a target, the images including pre-launch image data sampled before a projectile is launched at the target and post-launch image data sampled after the projectile is launched at the target. The system includes an accelerometer to detect projectile launches and thus distinguish pre-launch and post-launch image data. The mobile computer compares the pre-launch image data and the post-launch image data to locate a point of impact of the projectile on the target. A user interface on the mobile computer indicates the point of impact to the shooter. |
| US10648780B2 |
Ballistic panel and ballistic system
A ballistic panel for special checkpoints, special fortified stands, mobile city barriers and any other similar structures especially is made by use of fibre reinforced or rebar reinforced cementitious composite for its production. |
| US10648776B2 |
Modular hybrid dovetail rail clamping assembly
A modular dovetail rail clamping assembly includes a polymer body and a metal fixed clamp component. A threaded fastener extends through the body and into the fixed clamp component to draw the fixed clamp component into engagement with the body. The fixed clamp component and the body have mating longitudinal ridge and groove structures which rigidly fix alignment of the fixed clamp component relative to the body when assembled. A metal movable clamp component opposes the fixed clamp. A threaded clamping fastener extends through the movable clamp component and the body, and is received into the fixed clamp component to draw the movable clamp component into engagement with the body. A removable, reversible crossbar extends transversely across the body between the fixed clamp component and the movable clamp component. |
| US10648775B2 |
Apparatus for correcting ballistic aim errors using special tracers
A system for correcting the aim of a weapon which is operative to launch a projectile from a barrel on a ballistic path toward a target. A rear surface of the projectile is coated with a fluorescent dye that re-emits radiation when excited by laser radiation. The system includes a source of laser radiation (strobe) pulses that form a cone of light intersecting the ballistic path of the projectile. The strobe pulses are emitted at predetermined times (T1, T2, T3, . . . Tn) following firing of the projectile (at time T0). An optical detector receives the radiation re-emitted by a the fluorescent dye at the rear of the projectile at times (T1z, T2z, T3z, . . . Tnz) producing measurable location signals allowing the system to measure the vertical and lateral positions of the projectile at said times, where “z” is a re-emission delay and T1z, T2z, T3z, . . . Tnz are the respective times T1, T2, T3, . . . Tn each delayed by amount z. |
| US10648774B2 |
Display apparatus of interception area, display method and interception system
In a display apparatus of an interception area, a first detection device scans a first area containing at least a part of a firing range of a first weapon to detect an obstacle. A first terminal calculates the first interception area in which the first weapon is possible to intercept, based on data of the detected obstacle and data of the first weapon; calculates a first display area showing the first interception area on a screen based on the first interception area; receives second area data generated by a second terminal, and calculates a second display area based on the second area data. The second display area shows on the screen an area in which a second weapon is possible to intercept. The first terminal displays the first display area and the second display area. |
| US10648771B2 |
Firearm reticle
The present application is directed to a firearm reticle operationally configured to correlate one or more of horizontal range estimation information, vertical range estimation information, bullet drop compensation information, wind adjustment information, target travel speed lead information, fire correction information, and combinations thereof for a target object. The firearm reticle is operationally configured for target acquisition of a target object that may be oriented in a plurality of firing positions. |
| US10648769B2 |
Handgun grip module with a reinforcing bracket
A handgun grip module includes a body portion extending longitudinally with a first body sidewall, a second body sidewall spaced from the first body sidewall, and a bottom body portion extending between and connecting the first body sidewall and the second body sidewall. The body portion has a distal body portion defining a recoil spring channel and a proximal body portion defining a frame box. A recoil block in the body portion is positioned between the recoil spring channel and the frame box and extends laterally between the first body sidewall and the second body sidewall. The recoil block has a distal face and a proximal face. A metallic bracket is disposed against the distal face of the recoil block. A handgrip portion extends transversely down from the body portion and defines a magazine well extending therethrough to the frame box. |
| US10648768B1 |
Anti-rotation end plate and castle nut
An end plate and castle nut, including at least some of an end plate having at least one pawl, wherein said at least one pawl extends from a biased, tension arm formed in the end plate; and a castle nut having one or more grooves formed in a front face of the castle nut, wherein each of the one or more grooves is formed so as to accept at least a portion of the at least one pawl at least partially therein. |
| US10648767B2 |
Easy loading toy projectile launcher
A toy projectile launcher for launching projectiles, e.g, toy foam darts, from a hopper. One or more agitating members inside the hopper to enable the projectiles to drop into a firing chamber under the hopper. A hopper cover has a collapsible ceiling with nested members and a ceiling plate to maintain the projectiles toward the bottom of the hopper. A catch coupled to the ceiling plate engages an opening in a hopper wall to prevent the ceiling from collapsing when the hopper cover is closed. Where there are multiple vertically spaced-apart openings in the hopper wall, the catch may disengage from a first opening, and then engage a lower, second opening in the hopper wall, as the number of projectiles in the hopper drops and the ceiling plate descends in the hopper. A rotating track and a push rod advance projectiles from the firing chamber to flywheels for launch. |
| US10648764B2 |
Projectile launcher apparatus with magazine
A toy launcher apparatus of a soft foam dart where the dart is loaded onto a spike in a firing chamber by a pusher panel that presses against the nose of the dart. The apparatus includes a dart magazine with a feed mechanism. The pusher panel is followed by a barrier sleeve that prevents the next uppermost dart in the magazine, which is being biased upward by the feed mechanism, from causing either the uppermost dart or the second uppermost dart to distort and cause a jam. The barrier sleeve also prevents the magazine from being loaded through a top opening until the uppermost dart in the firing chamber is launched. Near the end of a cocking cycle, the pusher panel, which is connected to a cam follower tab that engages a cam member, moves away from a launch path of the dart in the firing chamber. |
| US10648761B1 |
Interchangeable bow grip system
The present invention relates to an interchangeable bow grip system that allows an archer or a user to change an interchangeable angled member when desired. The angled member rests between the hand of the archer and a base plate adjoined to the riser of a bow. The angle of the angled member can match the desired grip for various environmental conditions, hand sizes, and target locations. The interchangeable bow grip system including a grip mounting area, a base plate, an angled member, and a grip pad. |
| US10648754B2 |
System and method for keyless firearm lock
A system for keyless locking of a firearm against discharge is provided, which includes a casing configured for removable insert into a barrel of the firearm, and an extension rod disposed in longitudinally displaceable manner therein. The extension rod is provided with first and second ends and an intermediate portion extending longitudinally therebetween. A locking component supported by the casing is displaceable responsive to the extension rod between locked and unlocked positions. A powered driver coupled to the extension rod for selectively drives the displacement thereof responsive to user activation. The locking component in the locked position protrudes transversely beyond the casing for retentively engaging an inner surface of the firearm to prevent removal of the casing from its barrel, and in the unlocked position is retracted to maintain clearance from the inner surface of the firearm to permit removal of the casing from the barrel of the firearm. |
| US10648746B2 |
Exhaust waste heat recovery device
An exhaust heat recovery device includes: an exhaust pipe through which exhaust flows; a heat recovery material arranged in the exhaust pipe and recovering heat of the exhaust; a heat medium flow passage through which heat medium recovering the heat recovered by the heat recovery material flows; and an exhaust restriction portion arranged in the exhaust pipe and allowing the exhaust to pass through only part of the heat recovery material. |
| US10648738B2 |
Fast response heaters and associated control systems used in combination with metal treatment furnaces
System and method for using fast response heaters to pre-heat metal before entering a metal treatment furnace, which may improve control over metal processing, especially in response to changes in material, mass flow rate, line speed, and/or desired treatment process. Fast response heaters may be used with control systems to adjust the output of the fast response heater based on operator inputs, direct or indirect sensing of process parameters, and/or the use of thermal models to quickly adjust fast response heater output while a metal treatment furnace remains at a constant temperature or slowly transitions into a new operating state. The resulting gains in process control result in higher quality products, reduced scrap, and increases in line speed and output. |
| US10648734B2 |
Centrifugal pellet dryer
The present invention relates to a centrifugal pellet dryer comprising a housing accommodating a rotor surrounded by a screen, wherein said screen includes at least one porous screen member and is supported by a screen support holding the screen relative to the housing. To avoid vibrations and noise, the centrifugal pellet dryer has the screen supported against the housing by a screen support which includes at least one damper for dampening vibrations of the screen and/or isolating screen vibrations from the housing. |
| US10648733B2 |
Washstand furniture
Washstand furniture includes: a wash device including a wash bowl, a water supply assembly for supplying water to the wash bowl, and a drainage assembly for draining the water supplied to the wash bowl; a cabinet provided under the wash bowl, the cabinet having a space defined therein; and a residual-water-suction-device-drying module provided inside the cabinet for receiving and drying separate components of a residual water suction device for suctioning liquid. |
| US10648732B2 |
Washstand furniture
Washstand furniture is disclosed. The washstand furniture includes: a wash device including a wash bowl, a water supply assembly for supplying water to the wash bowl, and a drainage assembly for draining the water supplied to the wash bowl; an inner cabinet provided under the wash bowl, the inner cabinet having a space defined therein; an electrically operated module provided in the inner cabinet; an outer cabinet provided outside the inner cabinet for maintaining the rigidity of the washstand furniture; and a storage module provided in a space defined by the wash bowl, the inner cabinet, and the outer cabinet, the storage module having therein a storage space for storing a printed circuit board for controlling the operation of the inner module. |
| US10648721B2 |
Household cooling appliance comprising an ice maker unit and a display unit for displaying the weight of ice made
A household cooling appliance has an ice maker unit, a container for storing ice produced by the ice maker, a weight detection unit for capturing the weight of the ice in the container, and a display unit with a display field for displaying the weight of the ice made. |
| US10648719B2 |
Heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration system with simultaneous sub-cooling and superheat control
A method of controlling fluid flow through a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) system includes measuring temperature and pressure at an outlet of an evaporator of the HVAC-R system, wherein the evaporator is in fluid communication with a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device between the evaporator and the condenser, and a flow control valve between the compressor and the condenser, and measuring a sub-cooling temperature at an outlet of the condenser. The measured evaporator temperature and pressure data is sent to a first superheat processor, and the measured sub-cooling temperature data is send to a second superheat processor. A control signal to the expansion device from the first superheat processor and a control signal to the flow control valve from the second superheat processor are then simultaneously sent. |
| US10648718B2 |
Air conditioning apparatus with compressor discharge pressure sensing
According to one embodiment, an air conditioning apparatus has one or a plurality of indoor units, an outdoor unit, and a controller. The one or plurality of indoor units have an indoor heat exchanger, and an indoor expansion valve in which a degree of opening is variable. The outdoor unit has an outdoor heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a compressor, and a discharge pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of a refrigerant discharged from the compressor. When a discharge pressure detected by the discharge pressure sensor is less than a predetermined pressure threshold value while a heating operation is performed, the controller sets a maximum time for continuing a defrosting operation started by a start condition of the defrosting operation being satisfied to be shorter than a maximum time for continuing the defrosting operation when the discharge pressure is equal to or higher than the pressure threshold value. |
| US10648717B2 |
Accumulator
An accumulator connected to a compressor, the accumulator including a case that forms a space in which liquid refrigerant and gaseous refrigerant are accommodated, a suction pipe which is connected to the case, and at least one connection pipe which connects a side surface of the case and a suction side of the compressor, whereby a space between a side surface of the compressor and a side surface of the accumulator is less than a length of a portion of the connection pipe from the side surface of the compressor to the side surface of the accumulator. |
| US10648715B2 |
Outdoor heat exchanger and air conditioner comprising the same
An outdoor heat exchanger includes a passage of a refrigerant that has a length varied depending on an operational mode. The outdoor heat exchanger is included in an air conditioner and configured to operate as a condenser in a cooling operation of the air conditioner and as an evaporator in a heating operation of the air conditioner. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates, a plurality of first refrigerant tubes, a plurality of second refrigerant tubes, and a plurality of third refrigerant tubes. In the cooling operation, a condensed refrigerant flows in the plurality of first refrigerant tubes, the plurality of second refrigerant tubes, and the plurality of third refrigerant tubes. In the heating operation, an evaporated refrigerant flows in the plurality of first refrigerant tubes and the plurality of third refrigerant tubes, but does not flow in the plurality of second refrigerant tubes. |
| US10648714B2 |
Heat pump system using latent heat
A heat pump system is disclosed comprising a heat-exchanger extracting latent heat from liquid stored in a reservoir, thereby forming an ice slurry. The heat pump also includes a device for delivering the heat to a heat consumer. The heat pump system includes a random input of extrinsic liquid into the reservoir and a device for removing ice slurry stored in the reservoir outward the system. |
| US10648709B2 |
Heat exchanger for the temperature control of a battery
A heat exchanger for the temperature control of a battery may include a first cover and a second cover between which a supporting frame may be arranged in a sandwiched manner. The supporting frame may surround a passage opening in which at least one thermoelectric element may be arranged. At least one fluid channel for the flow of a fluid therethrough may be formed in the first cover. The heat exchanger may also include a plurality of clip-like fastening elements mounted on an outer circumferential edge, which may be formed by the first and second covers and the supporting frame, along a circumferential direction. The fastening elements may press the first and second covers against one another and against the supporting frame. |
| US10648706B2 |
Magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly with an axially pinned magneto-caloric cylinder
A magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly includes a magneto-caloric cylinder with a plurality of magneto-caloric stages. Each of the plurality of magneto-caloric stages has a respective Curie temperature. The magneto-caloric cylinder also includes a plurality of insulation blocks and a plurality of pins. The plurality of magneto-caloric stages and the plurality of insulation blocks are distributed sequentially along an axial direction in the order of magneto-caloric stage then insulation block. One or more the plurality of pins extends along the axial direction between each magneto-caloric stage and a respective insulation block within the magneto-caloric cylinder. |
| US10648701B2 |
Refrigeration systems and methods using water-cooled condenser and additional water cooling
A refrigerator of the present invention includes a refrigeration system having a water-cooled condenser and a liquid line heat exchanger for additional cooling with the water, at a position upstream in the direction of flow of water from the cooling that occurs at the condenser. The use of water cooling at these two portions of the refrigeration system improves the energy efficiency of the refrigerator, while also significantly improving temperature responsiveness (e.g., reducing an amount of time necessary to “pull down” the temperature of a cooled space in the refrigerator to a desired set point temperature). The refrigerator may include one or a plurality of refrigeration stages, in various embodiments, and an additional sub-cooling heat exchanger may be provided in the refrigeration system downstream from the liquid line heat exchanger when the refrigerator includes multiple cascaded circuits. |
| US10648696B2 |
Heating apparatus for arranging under a table
The invention relates to an electrical heating apparatus for arranging under a table, the heating apparatus comprising a housing, at least one electrically powered heat source arranged inside said housing, and heat shielding means comprised in the housing and having a plurality of through holes configured for allowing heat radiation from the electrically powered heat source to pass, wherein the heat shielding means comprises a layer of a material with a thermal conductivity lower than 2 [W·m−1·K−1], and wherein the inner surface of the heat shielding means is applied with a layer of heat radiation reflecting material configured for reflecting the heat radiated from the heat source back against the inner part of the housing. |
| US10648695B2 |
Insulated register box with boot rail adaptor
An insulated register box with a boot rail adapter has a register box, an insulating material affixed within the register box, a rail guide affixed to a side panel of the register box, and a rail having a section received in a slot of the rail guide. The rail is adapted to be affixed to a supporting surface, such as a joist. The rail guide is slidable relative to the rail. The rail guide is affixed to an exterior surface of the side panel. |
| US10648692B2 |
Building management system with multi-dimensional analysis of building energy and equipment performance
A building management system includes building equipment, a metrics engine, and a visualization module. The building equipment is configured to provide raw data samples of one or more data points. The metrics engine is configured to collect the raw data samples, and calculate a first metric, a second metric, and a third metric as a function of the raw data samples. The visualization module is configured to correlate the first metric to a first dimension value, the second metric to a second dimension value, and the third metric to a third dimension value. The visualization module is also configured to generate a graphical visualization in which the first dimension value is displayed as a first dimension of the graphical visualization, the second dimension value is displayed as a second dimension of the graphical visualization, and the third dimension value is displayed as a third dimension of the graphical visualization. |
| US10648690B2 |
Multi-function thermostat with event schedule controls
A multi-function thermostat for a building space includes a user interface capable of visually representing an event schedule. The thermostat is configured to receive a request to modify an event schedule associated with the multi-function thermostat. The thermostat is configured to receive a puncturing event with a time interval that conflicts with a time interval associated with an existing event. The thermostat is configured to store information associated with the puncturing event in a memory. The thermostat is configured to modify the time interval associated with the existing event. The thermostat is configured to add the puncturing event in the event schedule. The thermostat is configured to add an adjustment event in the event schedule. |
| US10648689B2 |
Environment control system and method of guiding occupant to make demand response to environment status thereof
An environment control system and a method of guiding occupant to make demand response to environment status thereof are provided. The system includes an external apparatus, a wireless apparatus, a control host and an electronic apparatus. The external apparatus adjusts an environmental status, and the wireless apparatus broadcasts a trigger message in a wireless network. The electronic apparatus outputs a feedback notification after receiving the trigger message, generates corresponding feedback data, and transfers the feedback data to the control host. The control host receives a plurality of the feedback data from the electronic apparatus and executes a statistic analysis process for obtaining analysis data. The present disclosed example has ability of making people with stronger intention in response to environment status and improving accuracy of the responses via actively giving notice for assisting people in instant feedback when people are in the environment. |
| US10648687B1 |
System and method for retrofitting HVAC systems
Systems and method for retrofitting heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems with a variable speed electronically commutated motor (ECM) are provided. A speed setting controller is adapted to be connected with a furnace main control board and a motor controller, and provides detecting, speed setting, and control functions that are required to operate the ECM. |
| US10648684B2 |
Air-conditioning apparatus and air-conditioning control method
On the basis of a detection result obtained by a pre-presence-in-room environment detection means, an air-conditioning apparatus A changes a presence-in-room start set temperature Ts serving as a target temperature at the start time of a precooling operation or a preheating operation and at the presence-in-room start scheduled time of the user. |
| US10648676B2 |
Oven
Disclosed herein is an oven able to reduce the temperature of an upper portion of the front glass through a door duct having an improved flow path structure for some of the air sucked into the inside of the door to reach to the upper portion of the front glass. An oven includes a main body; a cooking room provided inside the main body with an open front; a door, wherein the door includes a front glass installed on a front side; a rear glass installed on a rear side; at least one middle glass arranged between the front glass and the rear glass; a door handle coupled to an upper portion of the front glass; support frames arranged on both sides of the door to fix the front glass, the rear glass, and the middle glass; and a door duct coupled to an upper portion of the support. |
| US10648671B2 |
Fuel injection device
A fuel injection device for a gas turbine combustor includes: a pilot fuel injector; a main fuel injector; a plurality of main fuel injection holes arranged in the main fuel injector to inject the fuel rearward; a main fuel injection nozzle to guide the fuel to a main air passage, protruding rearward from a circumference of the main fuel injection hole into the opening formed in a passage wall that forms the main air passage; a heat-shielding casing covering the main fuel injector; and a ring member interposed in an axial gap between the passage wall and the heat-shielding casing. The ring member covers a through-hole gap between the main fuel injection nozzle and a through-hole in the heat-shielding casing, and has a purge passage communicated with the opening to introduce air into the main air passage. |
| US10648667B2 |
Combustion chamber with double wall
A combustion chamber includes a duct wall for guiding a hot gas flow in a hot gas flow path during operation. The duct wall is a double-walled construction including an inner face, an outer face, and a wall cavity. A sleeve at least partly encloses the duct wall for guiding a cooling gas in a cooling channel between the sleeve and the duct wall along the outer surface of the duct wall to an exit end, and the cavity opens to the cooling channel. A gas turbine is disclosing as having such a combustion chamber. |
| US10648666B2 |
Angled combustor liner cooling holes through transverse structure within a gas turbine engine combustor
A wall assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a transverse structure with at least one effusion passage that extends at an angle α therethrough. The effusion passage includes an inlet in an outer periphery of a wall. A wall assembly within a gas turbine engine include a liner panel generally parallel to a support shell and a transverse structure with at least one effusion passage that extends at an angle α therethrough. The effusion passage includes an inlet in an outer periphery of a wall that is transverse to the liner panel and the support shell. |
| US10648665B2 |
Pocket lighter with a snap-in burner assembly
A pocket lighter with a snap-in burner assembly unit has been developed. The pocket lighter includes a snap-in burner assembly unit comprising: a fuel input port, a fuel regulator, a jet nozzle, and a burner cylinder. The pocket lighter additionally includes a lighter base comprising: a fuel tank, a fuel output port, a fuel ignition source, a fuel lever, and a push button mechanism for actuating the fuel lever and creating a spark; and wherein the fuel input port and the fuel output port mate together forming an airtight seal when the snap-in burner is installed within the lighter base. |
| US10648664B2 |
High efficiency modulating gas furnace
A high-efficiency modulating gas furnace (herein ‘gas furnace’) includes a furnace controller. The gas furnace further includes a gas valve and at least one pressure switch that is coupled to the furnace controller. The electrical contacts of the at least one pressure switch are removed from a series electrical circuit with the gas valve such that the gas furnace operates without de-energizing the gas valve as soon as the electrical contacts of the at least one pressure switch are opened. Further, the furnace controller operates the induced draft blower at or close to a lowest RPM at which the electrical contacts of the at least one pressure switch can be kept closed, which is between a make point RPM at which the electrical contacts of the at least one pressure switch close and a break point RPM at which the electrical contacts of the at least one pressure switch open. |
| US10648662B2 |
Nozzle structure for hydrogen gas burner apparatus
The present disclosure provides a nozzle structure for a hydrogen gas burner apparatus, capable of reducing an amount of generated NOx. A nozzle structure for a hydrogen gas burner apparatus, includes an outer pipe, an inner pipe disposed concentrically with the outer pipe, and a stabilizer configured to throttle a space between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. The inner pipe includes an inner pipe end part with an axial opening hole and a circumferential opening hole formed therein, the axial opening hole penetrating in an axial direction of the inner pipe, the circumferential opening hole penetrating in a radial direction of the inner pipe. A hydrogen gas flows through the inner pipe. The circumferential opening hole lets the hydrogen gas flow out from the inner pipe in the radial direction of the inner pipe. |
| US10648660B2 |
Easy-to-use combustion device
The present invention provides a combustion device, which includes a fuel tank assembly and a candle wick. The fuel tank assembly includes a first tank, a second tank, a connection tube, and a switch. The capacity of the second tank is less than the capacity of the first tank. An end of the connection tube is connected to the first tank, and another end of the connection tube is connected to the second tank. The connection tube communicates with internal spaces of the first and second tanks. The switch is disposed between the first and second tanks so as to selectively open or close a channel interconnected between the first and second tanks. The candle wick is mounted in the second tank. Therefore, the combustion device is easy to use by the above structure. |
| US10648659B2 |
Status light assembly for patient handling equipment
Patient handling equipment, such as a hospital bed, is provided with a propulsion system and a status indicator light system incorporated in the propulsion system and operable to generate at least two light beams beyond a perimeter of the bed. The light indicator, which may have different colors, shapes or intensities, can indicate the state of propulsion of the system and generates light beams which are visible all around the equipment so as to be visible to a carer from any angle. The apparatus may include an ambient light sensor disposed to detect floor level lighting conditions rather than general ambient light. |
| US10648657B2 |
LED lamp with open region formed between adjacent two LED chips
An LED lamp includes: a lamp shell; a passive heat dissipating element having a heat sink, wherein the heat sink comprises fins and a base; a power source; a light emitting surface connected to the heat sink of the passive heat dissipating element and comprising LED chips; a first heat dissipating channel formed in a first chamber of the lamp shell; a second heat dissipating channel formed in the heat sink and between the fins and the base of the heat sink; and a lamp cover connected with the heat sink and having a light output surface and an end surface; wherein the light emitting surface include at least two LED chip sets having the LED chips, an open region is formed between adjacent two LED chips of the same LED chip set on the light emitting surface, the open region between any two adjacent LED chips of one of the two adjacent chip sets on the light emitting surface interlaces to and communicates with the open region between any two adjacent LED chips of another one of the chip sets on the light emitting surface in a radial direction of the light emitting surface. |
| US10648656B2 |
Floodlight
The present invention provides a floodlight, including a mounting rack, a power source module, a rotating assembly, buckling covers, several heat dissipation components, and an LED module, where the rotating assembly includes a connecting pipe and rotating seats; the heat dissipation component includes a heat dissipation body and a gear cover; an abutment surface is disposed on a top surface of the rotating seat; a pin-jointed surface is disposed on a bottom surface of the buckling cover; and two ends of the mounting rack are respectively clamped to rotating seats and then are pin-jointed to the buckling covers, to adjust an irradiation angle of the floodlight. The foregoing floodlight has a simple structure, a small size, and an adjustable irradiation angle. The connecting pipe is connected to the heat dissipation body and the gear cover to implement modular assembly of the multiple heat dissipation components, so that an overall size of the heat dissipation components is small; an annular clamping tooth paired with the rotating seat is disposed on the gear cover, for fixed installation of the mounting rack, so that it is very convenient for site operation personnel to adjust an angle of the floodlight; and there are multiple installation directions on the mounting rack, to satisfy installation requirements of the floodlight in a variety of occasions, thereby making the floodlight have relatively high practicability. |
| US10648653B2 |
Wavelength conversion device, illumination device, and projector
A wavelength conversion device, an illumination device, and a projector that can efficiently cool a phosphor. A wavelength conversion device includes a substrate including a phosphor layer in which a phosphor is included, a rotating device configured to rotate the substrate, a circulating device that circulates a cooling gas to the substrate, and a housing configured to house the substrate and the circulating device. The housing includes a partition wall configured to separate a first space in which the cooling gas is circulated to the substrate by the circulating device and a second space in which the cooling gas radially delivered from the substrate according to the rotation of the substrate circulates. |
| US10648649B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting a light fixture
A light fixture assembly includes a base including a recessed surface, an outer wall, and a base connecting member extending from the outer wall. A light emitter is connectable to the recessed surface of the base. An inner lens is connectable to the base over the light emitter. An outer lens is configured to be selectively connected to the base. The outer lens includes a lens connecting member configured to connect to the base connecting member. An accessory mount is configured to be selectively connected to the base. The accessory mount includes an accessory mount connecting member configured to connect to the base connecting member. |
| US10648646B2 |
Monoreflector operating room light
Operating room monoreflector light includes a dome or hood-shaped upper housing portion and a lighting means arranged in the upper housing portion, preferably as an LED lighting means, including an LED board on which a plurality of LEDs are arranged. A main reflector is arranged in the upper housing portion and deflects a light flux produced by the lighting means through a light exit opening closed by a cover plate of the upper housing portion. To reduce the necessary installation space and to simplify the construction, the upper housing portion is in one piece and extends interruption-free from an upper end which is directed upwardly in the installation position to a lower end which defines the light exit opening. The upper housing portion includes a fixing plane for the LED board, and on which an LED light module is or can be mounted. |
| US10648645B2 |
Reflective assembly, backlight module and display device
The present invention relates to technical filed of display and discloses a reflective assembly, a backlight module and a display device which can effectively enhance the reflective effect at the edge area of the reflective assembly to improve the display brightness thereof to be in close proximity to the central area so as to achieve a uniform display. The reflective assembly comprises a first reflective plate and a second reflective plate configured along an edge of the first reflective plate, wherein the second reflective plate is inclined towards a direction facing away the first reflective plate with respective to a plane perpendicular to the edge of the first reflective plate, and wherein a reflective surface of the first reflective plate and a reflective surface of the second reflective plate are located at a same side. |
| US10648643B2 |
Door frame troffer
An indirect troffer. Embodiments of the present invention provide a troffer-style fixture that is particularly well-suited for use with solid state light sources, such as LEDs. The troffer comprises light bars mounted proximate to a back reflector. A back reflector defines a reflective interior surface of the lighting troffer. To facilitate thermal dissipation, the light bar can act as a heat sink. A portion of the heat sink is exposed to the ambient room environment while another portion functions as a mount surface for the light sources that faces the back reflector. One or more light sources disposed along the light bar mount surface emit light into an interior cavity where it can be mixed and/or shaped prior to emission. In some embodiments, one or more lens plates extend from the light bar out to the back reflector. |
| US10648636B2 |
LED headlamp projection lighting device
A lighting device includes an LED light source and a concave reflector. The light source is arranged such that light emitted is reflected by the reflector. The shield is arranged in front of the reflector. A projection lens is arranged to project light passing the shield. In order to efficiently use light emitted from the LED light source and to enable a projected illumination beam of high luminous flux, the LED light source is arranged below an optical axis L of the projection lens. |
| US10648635B1 |
Headlamp structure
A headlamp structure has a contoured reflector panel with a forward-facing surface and a reflex supporting portion. The forward-facing surface has a plurality of reflector surface portions. The reflex supporting portion extends forward from an inboard side inboard of the reflector surface portions. A passive reflector is attached to the reflex supporting portion with a reflector surface that faces an outboard direction relative to the forward-facing surface. Each of the plurality of reflector surface portions is shaped and configured to reflect light from a corresponding one of a plurality of light emitting elements and aim the reflected light to project in a forward direction parallel to the reflector surface of the passive reflector. The reflector surface of the passive reflector is configured such that at least light approaching the contoured reflector panel from outboard of an outboard side of the contoured reflector panel is reflected back in the outboard direction. |
| US10648633B2 |
Lamp assemblies with multiple lighting functions sharing a cover lens
A vehicle includes a front end assembly including a headlamp assembly. The headlamp assembly includes a housing that defines a cavity and an outer lens that closes the cavity. A low beam headlamp assembly is located within the cavity. A shared cover lens is located within the cavity. The shared cover lens has an illumination region. A first light guide device directs a beam of light at the illumination region. A second light guide device directs a beam of light at an area offset from the illumination region and also at the illumination region. |
| US10648632B2 |
Light converting device with translucent layer disposed on a light converting layer for converting and scattering laser light
A translucent body's first surface is coupled to a top surface of a light converter. The light converter's bottom surface is coupled to a reflective bottom layer. A light coupling structure includes a hole in the reflective bottom layer and at least a slot in the light converter for receiving a light guide, and a light coupling surface for receiving laser light with a laser peak emission wavelength via the light guide. The light coupling surface is arranged so at least 80% of the laser light passing the light coupling surface is received by the translucent body. The translucent body comprises a second surface which is opposite the first surface and is coupled to a reflective top layer for reflecting at least part of the laser light back to the light converter. A peak emission wavelength of the converted light has a longer wavelength than the laser peak emission wavelength. |
| US10648631B2 |
Electronic lighting device and method for manufacturing same
An electronic lighting device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The electronic lighting device may comprise a core, which may comprises an enclosure, a light-emitting element, a flame sheet and a swing mechanism. The flame sheet is movably supported or suspended on the enclosure, and may comprise an upper sheet which is of a flame-like shape. The upper sheet is configured to expose above the top of the enclosure. The light-emitting element may be installed on the enclosure. A light outgoing direction of the light-emitting element may be intersected with the surface of the upper sheet so that the light of the light-emitting element is projected on the surface of the upper sheet. The swing mechanism is disposed beneath the flame sheet and can apply a force on the flame sheet to actuate the flame sheet to sway or swing. By the present application, a visual experience of true fire can be achieved and an interestedness and appreciation can be improved. |
| US10648630B2 |
Luminaire for uniform illumination
A luminaire, comprising: a luminaire rear wall for mounting to a wall or ceiling, a printed circuit board, fitted with a plurality of light-emitting diodes and having a connecting cable, as a light-emitting means, and a connecting clamp connected to the connecting cable and to which a supply cable is able to be clamped. A spacer is fixedly mounted to the luminaire rear wall, to which the printed circuit board is releasably attached, with a free space being formed between the printed circuit board and the luminaire rear wall. The whole connecting cable, or a majority thereof, and the connecting clamp are arranged in the free space. |
| US10648629B2 |
Expandable net light for decorative illumination
An expandable net light defined by a matrix of connectors for supporting light members. The matrix includes conductive and non-conductive connectors wherein the non-conductive or both connectors are expandable. The conductive connectors define an electrical circuit within the matrix permitting expansion of the net light. |
| US10648628B2 |
Lighting assembly, lamp for use in the lighting assembly, and method of controlling thereof
A lamp for use in a lighting assembly comprising a two-wire light string, wherein the lamp is adapted for fitting in a socket of the two-wire light string, and receiving a voltage signal and a superimposed control signal via the two-wire light string and the socket. The lamp includes control electronics provided for the purpose, when the lamp has been fitted in a socket, of receiving voltage via the voltage signal and receiving instructions via the control signal superimposed on the voltage signal; and at least one LED source, of which at least one of an intensity and a colour is adjustable on the basis of the instructions via the control electronics. The control electronics are further provided for receiving an address for the lamp via the control signal superimposed on the voltage signal and for subsequently confirming receipt of the address. |
| US10648627B2 |
Rechargeable lighting devices
A portable rechargeable lighting device uses software in a microcontroller to turn on a charger protection circuit when a charging circuit is activated, to monitor at least one electrical characteristic relative to a rechargeable battery, to control at least one charging parameter of the charging circuit, and to alert a user of a low battery condition before light emitted from the device terminates. |
| US10648625B2 |
Primary light distribution structure of directional light source
The present invention discloses a primary light distribution structure of a directional light source comprises a lamp cup, wherein the lamp cup is provided with a lamp cap at an end; a heat conducting plate, disposed inside the lamp cup and located at a middle portion of the lamp cup, the periphery of the heat conducting plate being in interference fit with and connection with the lamp cup; a power source, disposed inside the lamp cup and located between the lamp cup and the heat conducting plate, the power source being connected to the lamp cap; a light source plate, fixed to the heat conducting plate by means of a plurality of screws, the power source being electrically connected to the light source plate; and a lens structure, covering on the light source plate. In the present invention, the primary light distribution structure is configured such that a larger beam angle is available. |
| US10648619B1 |
Refillable gas tank with pneumatic valve controller
A pneumatic valve controller is provided for use with a refillable gas tank that has an inlet and an outlet with a spring-loaded valve disposed in the outlet. The spring-loaded valve is biased to define a flow path between an interior of the gas tank and the outlet. The controller's housing includes a cylinder with a gas filling port in fluid communication with a first axial end of the cylinder. The cylinder's second axial end is open and aligned with the spring-loaded valve. A piston is disposed in the cylinder. A check valve has an input and an output with the input in fluid communication with the gas filling port and the output in fluid communication with the inlet of the gas tank. |
| US10648615B1 |
Mounting system for wireless and sensing devices
A device mounting system used for wireless and sensing devices. The device mounting system includes a device bracket adapted to receive a device by attachment of the device to the device receiver bracket. The device mounting system includes a housing assembly to receive and support said device receiver bracket. The device mounting system includes a mounting interface to act as an interface to attach said device bracket to said housing assembly. |
| US10648614B2 |
Satellite antenna mounting systems and methods
Systems for coupling a satellite antenna to a structure is provided. The system may include a first element, a second element, a third element, and a tightening mechanism. The first element may include at least one protrusion. The second element may also include at least one protrusion. The third element may be rotatably coupled with the first element. The third element may also be rotatably coupled with the second element. The third element may further be configured to couple with the satellite antenna. The tightening mechanism may be operable to rotate at least one of the first element or the second element with respect to the third element such that at least one protrusion of the first element and at least one protrusion of the second element engage with the structure located between the first element and the second element. |
| US10648604B2 |
Branch fitting for reducing stress caused by acoustic induced vibration
A contoured branch fitting for reducing stress in a header pipe caused by acoustic induced vibration that includes a maximum width, a maximum length, a thickness that is greater along the maximum length and a constant radius between the branch connection and the header connection. |
| US10648603B2 |
Branch fitting for reducing stress caused by acoustic induced vibration
A contoured branch fitting for reducing stress in a header pipe caused by acoustic induced vibration that includes a maximum width, a maximum length, a thickness that is greater along the maximum length and a constant radius between the branch connection and the header connection. |
| US10648601B2 |
Quick connect system for a fluid coupling
A quick connect system for a fluid coupling is provided. The system includes a clip having a base extending circumferentially substantially around an axis, a wing extending substantially axially from the base, and a delta-shaped lug extending radially from the wing. |
| US10648598B2 |
Ferrule for a conduit fitting
A ferrule for a conduit fitting includes an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule between first and second end portions of the ferrule, so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end. The first end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer first end driven surface disposed at a first angle between 70° and 90° with respect to the central axis, and an axially inner first end camming surface disposed at a second angle between 0° and 40° with respect to the central axis. The second end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer second end driven surface disposed at a third angle substantially equal to the first angle, and an axially inner second end camming surface disposed at a fourth angle substantially equal to the second angle. |
| US10648596B2 |
Method of assembling a conduit fitting
In a method of assembling a conduit fitting, a conduit fitting is provided, including a first coupling member, a second coupling member, an internal conduit gripping device disposed between said first coupling member and said second coupling member, and an external deformable structure. The first coupling member is pulled up with the second coupling member on an end portion of a conduit to engage the external deformable structure with an external surface of one of the first and second coupling members. After engaging the external deformable structure with the external surface of one of the first and second coupling members, the first coupling member is further pulled up with the second coupling member to axially compress the external deformable structure, until an amount of torque required to continue pulling up the first coupling member increases to a predetermined torque. The predetermined torque corresponds to an initial pulled-up position in which the conduit gripping device grips and seals the conduit. |
| US10648594B1 |
Adjustable vertical support frame
An adjustable Vertical Support Member (VSM) that can be raised or lowered by turning a crank. Each VSM consists of a outer frame that has a base, and an inner frame that is adjustably positioned within the outer frame. A crank system is provided to lift (or lower) the inner frame as needed to restore the pipe to its original position. In this way, a pipeline can be set easily over varied terrain or, for operational reasons, at different heights, without equipment or large crews. |
| US10648592B2 |
Air duct support
An air duct support for supporting flexible air ducts and similar pipes without constricting airflow through the pipes. The support has an arcuate main body portion for receiving a portion of the conduit therein and an upright support attached to a bottom of the top portion and supporting the conduit at an elevated position in relation to a base surface, where said arcuate main body portion includes strengthening beads that run the length of said main body. The top portion rotates 360 degrees in relation to the support member to accommodate any direction of extension of the conduit. |
| US10648588B2 |
Energy recovering flow control valves
A control valve for a fluid flow includes: a valve body that defines an inlet and an outlet for the fluid, an obstructer inserted in the valve body, and an actuator system configured for reversibly translating the obstructer between a first position, in which the obstructer allows the passage of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet, and a second position, in which the obstructer prevents the passage of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet; the control valve further includes a turbine rotor housed inside the valve body, wherein the rotor includes a plurality of blades and is configured for continuously rotating under the action of the fluid flowing between the inlet and the outlet, the rotor rotating about an axis of rotation substantially aligned with the direction of translation of the obstructer. |
| US10648587B2 |
Diaphragm valve with total valve cavity evacuation
A fluid valve incorporates a plunger with a fluid channel. The plunger is connected to a boss coupled to a diaphragm, this boss also includes a fluid channel and the plunger and boss fluid channels are in fluid communication. The boss fluid channel opens to the backside of the diaphragm in the valve cavity and permits substantially complete pressurization or evacuation of the volume behind the diaphragm in the valve. The substantially complete pressurization of the volume behind the diaphragm enables full closure of the diaphragm and improves contact of the diaphragm with the valve seat thereby improving performance of the valve. |
| US10648582B2 |
Check valve and liquid delivery pump
A check valve is provided with a rectilinear flow passage having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and allowing a liquid to flow therethrough in one direction, and a first valve body, a first valve seat, a second valve body, and a second valve seat are provided in the rectilinear flow passage. A first drive body is provided in the rectilinear flow passage at a position closer to the liquid inlet than the first valve body so as to be movable in one direction. The first drive body is driven in one direction by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is adapted to set the first drive body either to an open state in which the first drive body presses the first valve body toward the liquid outlet side to detach the first valve body from the first valve seat or to a closure state in which the first drive body does not press the first valve body toward the liquid outlet but allows the first valve body to be seated on the first valve seat. A second drive body is provided in the rectilinear flow passage at a position between the first valve body and the second valve body so as to be movable in one direction. When the first drive is set to the open state, the second drive body is pressed by the first valve body toward the liquid outlet to press the second valve body toward the liquid outlet, thereby detaching the second valve body from the second valve seat, and when the first drive body is set to the closure state, the second drive body is moved away from the second valve body to allow the second valve body to be seated on the second valve seat. |
| US10648579B2 |
Two-way faucet
A two-way faucet includes a hollow faucet body; a rotatable water guide seat positioned in the faucet body; a rocker arm water guide assembly coupled to the rotatable water guide seat, the rocker arm water guide assembly including a supporting water guide seat and a supporting water guide tube in communication with the supporting water guide seat; a reversing outlet assembly assembled to one end of the supporting water guide tube afar from the supporting water guide seat, the reversing outlet assembly defining an upper outlet and a lower outlet; an outlet tube hermetically connected to the reversing outlet assembly and in communication with the upper outlet; and a shower outlet assembly having a switch assembled to one end of the outlet tube afar from the reversing outlet assembly, the shower outlet assembly being detachably supported on the supporting water guide seat. |
| US10648578B2 |
Sanitary fitting
A sanitary fitting with a fitting body with a hollow cylindrical mixing shaft chamber in which a mixing shaft is rotatably supported about an axis of rotation. A hot and cold water inlet and a mixed water outlet open into the hollow cylindrical mixing shaft chamber, and wherein the mixing shaft has a control contour on the outer circumference which delimits a mixing chamber, which as a function of the rotational position of the mixing shaft fluidically connects the hot water inlet and/or the cold water inlet to the mixed water outlet in order to adjust a mixed water temperature. The mixing chamber of the mixing shaft is fluidically decoupled from the hot water or cold water inlet port while forming a fluid-tight valve gap between a sealing surface of the control contour of the mixing shaft and the inner peripheral wall of the hollow cylindrical mixing shaft chamber. |
| US10648571B2 |
Bearing sealing device
A bearing sealing device includes two seals (inner and outer seals) sealing the space between the inner and outer races of a bearing to ensure higher seal performance, and also to reduce the area of the inner periphery of the outer race that needs to be ground. The bearing sealing device includes a ring constituted by a metal annulus, and a rubber part. The metal annulus is formed by cold pressing, and has a seal contact surface kept in contact with seal lips of the outer seal. The rubber part includes a press-fitted portion fixed to the inner periphery of the outer race. The inner race has, on its outer periphery, a cylindrical fitting surface to which the outer seal is press-fitted. |
| US10648570B2 |
Gas seal
A gas seal which extends in a circumferential direction in an axis has a rotating slip ring and an axially movable stationary slip ring. A slip sleeve guides the stationary slip ring in the axial movement direction by a first sliding face on a second sliding face. The slip sleeve is fastened to a stator of the gas seal, wherein the slip sleeve has a first recess extending in the circumferential direction, and the stator has a second recess, opposite the first recess in the region of the fastening, extending in the circumferential direction, such that the first recess and the second recess define a common cavity extending in the circumferential direction. In the cavity there is an elongate fixing element which at least partially fills the first recess and the second recess such that an unlimited axial relative movement is only possible when the fixing element is radially deformed. |
| US10648564B2 |
Infusion pump door seal for vertical intravenous tubes
An infusion pump for delivering an intravenous (“IV”) fluid includes a housing comprising an actuation area that engages a portion of an IV tube. The actuation area includes a first end that receives the IV tube from a fluid container and a second end that provides the IV tube to a patient. The housing also includes a seal section located along a perimeter of at least a portion of the actuation area. The seal section includes a gasket rib positioned along the seal section and a tube channel configured to cradle the IV tube. The example infusion pump also includes a door connected to the housing and configured to engage the gasket rib to enclose the actuation area of the housing. |
| US10648561B2 |
Piston ring
Piston rings are disclosed that relate to seal performance in piston containing machines such as piston driven engines. The piston rings may include a piston ring contact side for contact with a cylinder wall in which the piston ring contact side has multiple cavities configured on alternating edges of the piston ring contact side. Certain examples of these piston rings have cavities with an average depth that is less than 1/300th of the piston ring width and which collectively occupy a cavity area percentage of the piston ring contact side that is between 20% and 30% of the total area of the piston ring contact side. |
| US10648559B2 |
Transmission system for vehicle
A transmission system for a vehicle has a shift driving mechanism which operates, under control by a control unit, at the time of shifting the gear position, to disengage a transmission gear of a current gear position and a shifter from each other after engaging a transmission gear of a next gear position and a shifter with each other in a condition where a transmission clutch that transmits power to the transmission gear of the next gear position is in an engaged state. This ensures smoother and swifter shifting of gear position. |
| US10648558B2 |
Hydrostatic propulsion drive for a vehicle
A hydrostatic propulsion drive for a vehicle is disclosed including an electronic control unit and a hydrostatic transmission having a hydraulic pump with an adjustable swept volume and a hydraulic motor with an adjustable swept volume, the hydraulic pump being arranged in a closed hydraulic circuit. The swept volumes of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor are changeable in accordance with a correction factor which is stored in a characteristic diagram and is dependent on the rotational speed and the drive torque of the hydraulic motor, the operating pressure at the hydraulic motor being increased if the correction factor is used. Due to the increased operating pressure, flow-induced pressure drops are reduced by way of volumetric flows, and leakage flows via gaps between moving parts of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor are kept large enough to avoid excessive friction and loss of efficiency. |
| US10648556B2 |
Control device
A shift-by-wire type control device whose control target is an automatic transmission including a parking lock mechanism, the shift-by-wire type control device includes an electronic control unit that controls the automatic transmission in response to an instruction to select a shift range when selection of the shift range based on an operation on a to-be-operated part is performed. |
| US10648555B2 |
Shift control method for an automated range-change transmission
A method of controlling the gear shifting of an automatic range-change transmission, which is arranged between a drive engine and a final drive in a drive train of a motor vehicle and includes at least one multi-stage main transmission, a two-stage front-mounted group upstream of the main transmission, and a transmission brake. The main transmission can be shifted, via unsynchronized clutches, and the front-mounted group can be shifted, via synchronized clutches. Upon upshifting in the range-change transmission including at least one change of a transmission ratio stage of the front-mounted group, synchronization of the front-mounted group is effected via actuation of the synchronized clutch of the front-mounted group and supportingly via at least intermittently parallel actuation of the transmission brake. Actuation of the transmission brake, for supporting the synchronization of the front-mounted group, is effected on the basis of a prevailing driving or operating situation. |
| US10648553B2 |
Oil scraper
A gear assembly is provided. The gear assembly includes a first gear that rotates about a first axis and includes a first gear face with a plurality of first gear teeth; a second gear that rotates about a second axis and includes a second gear face with a plurality of second gear teeth, where the first axis is not parallel with the second axis and the first and second teeth rotatably engage as the first gear rotates about the first axis and the second gear rotates about the second axis; a scraper that includes a distal interference surface in face-to-face proximity with at least one of the first plurality of teeth as the first gear rotates about the first axis, where the interference surface removes oil entrained adjacent to the plurality of first or second gear teeth as the first or second gears rotate. |
| US10648548B2 |
Thrust washer including radially extending connectors
A thrust washer is provided. The thrust washer includes an annular base including a radially extending thrust surface, a further radially extending surface on an opposite side of the annular base from the radially extending thrust surface, an outer circumferential surface extending axially from the radially extending thrust surface to the further radially extending surface and an inner circumferential surface extending axially from the radially extending thrust surface to the further radially extending surface. The thrust washer also includes radially extending connectors extending radially outward from the annular base. A motor vehicle drivetrain assembly, a torque converter and a method of connecting a thrust washer to a component are also provided. |
| US10648542B2 |
Planetary gear with improved planet gear carrier support
A planetary gear includes a housing, a first gear stage having a first planet gear carrier, a bearing disposed on a wall of the housing, and a first shaft connected to the first planet gear carrier for torque transmission and supported in the bearing. The planetary gear further includes a second gear stage having a second planet gear carrier connected to a sun gear shaft of the first gear stage for torque transmission. The second planet gear carrier is supported in at least one of two ways, a first way in which the second planet gear carrier is supported in an axially inner bearing arranged on the first planet gear carrier, a second way in which the second planet gear carrier is supported in an axially outer bearing arranged in the wall of the housing. |
| US10648540B2 |
Control method for dual-clutch transmission with multiple first gears
A dual-clutch transmission assembly and method for controlling the same is provided where the torque generated by an engine is split between first and second shafts. Torque is supplied to the first shaft by a first clutch and torque is supplied to the second shaft by a second clutch. A first gearset is carried on the first shaft and a second gearset is carried on the second shaft. The first gearset includes a primary first gear and the second gearset includes a duplicate first gear. The first and second shafts receive torque from a transmission input shaft in response to contemporaneous engagement of the primary first gear, the duplicate first gear, and the first and second clutches, which can be used during vehicle launch to split the torque applied to the first and second clutches. |
| US10648539B2 |
Staked rotor core for retaining magnets
Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors. |
| US10648533B2 |
Torque fluctuation inhibiting device, torque converter and power transmission device
A torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes a mass body, a centrifugal element and a cam mechanism. The mass body is disposed in alignment with a rotor in an axial direction, and is rotatable relatively to the rotor. The cam mechanism includes a cam and a cam follower. When relative displacement occurs between the rotor and the mass body due to a centrifugal force that acts on the centrifugal element, the cam mechanism converts the centrifugal force into a circumferential force directed to reduce the relative displacement. Guide parts are provided on both ends of the centrifugal element. Each guide part makes contact with a member adjacent thereto in an opposite position to a contact point between the cam and the cam follower through a center of gravity of the centrifugal element when the relative displacement occurs between the rotor and the mass body in the rotational direction. |
| US10648530B2 |
Wedged three-axis inertial sensor damper-suspension
A wedge three-axis inertial sensor damper suspension apparatus prevents shock and vibration impacts on a construction machine from being transferred to inertial sensors used by an automatic control system of the construction machine. The inertial sensor suspension apparatus includes a pocket, a lid, a core disposed in the pocket and covered by the lid, one or more inertial sensors attached to the core, a plurality of elastomer insertions attached to the core and forming an upper wedge between the core and the lid and a lower wedge between the core and the pocket, and a coupler that provides controlled connection of the pocket and the lid to compress the plurality of elastomer insertions using a force corresponding to a target resonance frequency for the inertial sensor suspension apparatus. |
| US10648524B2 |
Brake device
In a brake device configured to perform braking and releasing of a disc by moving a rod having a lining at a leading end of the rod by a spring device, a cylinder tube of a pressure control unit is arranged adjacent to a pressure storage unit configured to store a compressed fluid. When the disc is to be released, a pressure-receiving piston is moved to a releasing position. When the disc is to be braked, the pressure-receiving piston is returned to braking position. |
| US10648519B2 |
Torque path coupling assemblies for tiltrotor aircraft
A rotary propulsion system for a tiltrotor aircraft operable to transition between rotary and non rotary flight modes. The rotary propulsion system includes an engine that is coupled to a freewheeling unit. A gear system has a torque path coupling assembly between a first gear assembly that is coupled to the freewheeling unit and a second gear assembly that is coupled to a proprotor assembly. The torque path coupling assembly has an engaged position wherein the output of the first gear assembly is coupled to the input of the second gear assembly thereby providing a torque path between the engine and the proprotor assembly. The torque path coupling assembly also has a disengaged position wherein the output of the first gear assembly is independent of the input of the second gear assembly thereby interrupting the torque path between the engine and the proprotor assembly. |
| US10648516B2 |
Double clutch device
The present invention relates to a double clutch device (2) with a first clutch (18) for selective torque transmission between a clutch input side (26) and a first clutch output side (28) and a second clutch (20) for selective torque transmission between the clutch input side (26) and a second clutch output side (30), wherein an actuating force (78) counter to the reset force (102) of a first spring device (100) may be applied to the first clutch (18) via a first force transmission element (76) and an actuating force (82) counter to the reset force (116) of a second spring device (114) may be applied to second clutch (20) via a second force transmission element (80). The first spring device (100) extends through at least one recess (104) in the second force transmission element (80). |
| US10648513B2 |
Thread-reinforced joint device and coupling device for a vehicle drive
A thread-reinforced joint device for a coupling device of a vehicle drive, particularly of a low-platform vehicle, includes a plurality of coupling elements, at least one thread packet coupling two adjacent coupling elements so that a force is transmittable, a support device arranged on at least one of the coupling elements for axially guiding the at least one thread packet and at least one elastic body, into which, the at least one thread packet and the coupling elements are at least partially embedded. The coupling elements are designed and/or can be positioned so that the thread-reinforced joint device is adaptable to different mounting interfaces of a respective coupling device. |
| US10648511B2 |
Seal structure and turbocharger
A seal structure includes a rotary shaft that is provided inside a housing, a metal-made surrounding portion of the housing that surrounds the rotary shaft in a radial direction of the rotary shaft, and a resin-made seal member that faces an inner circumferential surface of the surrounding portion and rotates together with the rotary shaft. |
| US10648509B2 |
Oil filter/liquid indicator assembly
A bearing housing assembly featuring a bearing housing having a bearing housing wall portion with a bearing assembly chamber for receiving a bearing assembly and a shaft to be rotated, an oil sump for receiving and containing oil for lubricating the bearing assembly when the shaft is rotated, an oil path channel formed as an oil path for receiving dirty oil from the bearing assembly chamber for traveling down the oil path, and a filter assembly wall portion forming a filter assembly cavity coupled fluidically between the oil sump and the oil path channel; and a filter assembly arranged in the filter assembly cavity, to couple to the filter assembly wall portion, receive the dirty oil traveling down the oil path, filter the dirty oil and provide filtered oil to the oil sump, so the filtered oil can be recirculated to lubricate the bearing assembly when the shaft is rotated. |
| US10648503B2 |
Thrust bearing and bearing device
A slide surface of a thrust bearing includes a planar portion, a taper portion, and a pocket portion. The pocket portion includes a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The first side surface is formed on the side of the taper portion. The second side surface is formed on a side opposed to the first side surface. A depth from the plane of the planar portion to the thinnest portion of the taper portion is between 10 μm and 80 μm. A first angle that is an angle between a virtual surface obtained by extending the bottom surface and the second side surface is between 90° and 120°. And a second angle that is an angle between a virtual surface obtained by extending the first side surface and the tapered surface is between 60° and 120°. |
| US10648502B2 |
Trunnion assembly
A trunnion assembly, comprising at least two pivot-engagement sides located opposite each other, each of the at least two pivot-engagement sides including an attachment hole, each attachment hole including a threaded area and a counterbore, the at least two attachment holes being generally coaxially located relative to each other; and at least one through-hole perpendicular to and midway between the two attachment holes of the pivot-engagement sides; a fastener releasably attached to each of the at least two attachment holes, the fastener including a head and an at least partially-threaded shaft, and a pivot tube disposed around each of the fasteners between the head and the attachment hole, the pivot tube including an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft and an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of a circumscribed circle of the head of the fastener and smaller than the diameter of the counterbore. |
| US10648498B2 |
Furniture parts comprising a male part and a female part of a joint
The disclosure relates to a first furniture part adapted to be assembled with a second furniture part. The first furniture part comprises recess and the second furniture part comprises a pin. The recess and the pin has a width which varies along the longitudinal direction (L), thereby forming insertion portions of the recess and core portions of the pin, and respective locking portions. The locking portions are provided with grooves and protrusions. The disclosure further relates to a second furniture part comprising a male part of the joint and to a method of forming a furniture part with a female part of a joint. |
| US10648495B2 |
Clip for use with a cooking device
In one aspect, a device can include a clip member including a first end and a second end. The first end can be configured to attach to cooking device and the second end can be configured to engage a handle member of the cooking device. The clip member can be configured to be positioned in a handle position where the clip member can be configured to hold the handle member in a substantially fixed position relative to the cooking device when in the handle position. |
| US10648494B1 |
Walking assist system and detachable mobile assist bench
According to at least one example, a walking assist system includes a walker having a pair of laterally opposed upright tubular structures connected by at least one laterally-extending tubular portion. The walking assist system also includes a seating device having a first tubular structure formed in an inverted U—pivotably connected by a hinge mechanism to a second tubular structure formed in an inverted U-shape. The seating device also defines a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The walking assist system further includes a retention clip defining a first opposing end configured to removably clamp to at least one of an upright tubular structure and the laterally-extending tubular portion of the walker. The retention clip also defines a second opposing end configured to removably clamp to at least one tubular structure of the seating device. |
| US10648493B1 |
Clamping bracket
A clamping bracket includes base casing, clamping mechanism, controlling mechanism, and anchor mechanism. Clamping mechanism includes first and second clamping members. Controlling mechanism includes a first sliding member being connected to the first clamping member and being slidingly connected to the base casing, and a transmission member being connected to the base casing. Through the transmission member's own movement, transmission member drives the first clamping member to move toward or away from the second clamping member. Anchor mechanism includes a first anchor member that connects to the transmission member and a second anchor member that connects to the base casing. The first anchor member is in an unlock state when separating from the second anchor member and in a lock state when engaging with the second anchor member. Anchor mechanism allows the variable distance between the first clamping member and the second clamping member for holding different mobile devices. |
| US10648491B2 |
Complex stress-engineered frangible structures
A stress-engineered frangible structure includes multiple discrete glass members interconnected by inter-structure bonds to form a complex structural shape. Each glass member includes strengthened (i.e., by way of stress-engineering) glass material portions that are configured to transmit propagating fracture forces throughout the glass member. Each inter-structure bond includes a bonding member (e.g., glass-frit or adhesive) connected to weaker (e.g., untreated, unstrengthened, etched, or thinner) glass member region(s) disposed on one or both interconnected glass members that function to reliably transfer propagating fracture forces from one glass member to other glass member. An optional trigger mechanism generates an initial fracture force in a first (most-upstream) glass member, and the resulting propagating fracture forces are transferred by way of inter-structure bonds to all downstream glass members. One-way crack propagation is achieved by providing a weaker member region only on the downstream side of each inter-structure bond. |
| US10648490B2 |
Bellows system for fluid end
A fluid end with an internal bellows can be used in high pressure environments. The bellows is disposed within a plunger bore, and has an interior isolated from a working chamber of the fluid end. An end of a plunger is received in the interior of the bellows. The bellows contains an incompressible fluid at a constant volume. As the plunger extends into the interior of the bellows, the fluid it contains is displaced. Such fluid displacement causes the bellows to extend. As the plunger is retracted, the fluid replaces the volume formerly displaced by the plunger, and causes the bellows to accordion to a retracted position. |
| US10648489B2 |
Hydraulic system for work machine and work machine
A hydraulic system for a work machine includes a tank to store an operation fluid, a hydraulic device to be operated by the operation fluid, a control valve to control the hydraulic device, a first fluid tube connecting the hydraulic device and the control valve, the first fluid tube being to supply the operation fluid from the control valve to the hydraulic device, a second fluid tube branching from the first fluid tube and connected to the tank, a switch valve provided to the second fluid tube, the switch valve being to control a flow rate of the operation fluid, and an oil cooler provided to the second fluid tube between the switch valve and the tank. |
| US10648487B2 |
Accumulator device and hydropneumatic suspension
An accumulator device (10) includes at least two accumulator elements (14, 16) that are combined to form a structural unit (12) and that have independently from one another their own accumulator characteristic curves (18, 20), in particular as a result of different preload pressures. The respective accumulator characteristic curves (18, 20) provide a combined total accumulator characteristic curve (22). A fluid can be stored in the structural unit (12) and can be retrieved from it. A hydropneumatic suspension system (24) has such an accumulator device (10). |
| US10648481B2 |
Fiber reinforced spacer for a gas turbine engine
A spacer of a gas turbine engine is reinforced with a fiber. The fiber can be cured with a substrate to form a fiber reinforced composite material. As a gas turbine engine operates, the rotation creates forces which can deform, expand, contract or translate certain gas turbine engine components, including spacers. These forces can adversely affect gas turbine engine performance and reliability, particularly when they are either unpredictable or difficult to control. Reinforcing a spacer with a fiber may allow a lower system weight, more compact or configurable internal packaging or a high degree of reinforcement. |
| US10648480B2 |
Low inlet vorticity impeller having enhanced hydrodynamic wear characteristics
Provided are non-limiting embodiments of a wear-resistant impeller having a non-conventional blending provided between a surface of a vane (1) and a surface of at least one of a front side shroud (15) and a rear side shroud (16). The impeller may comprise both a rear side blending (3) and a front side blending (2), and the front side blending (2) may comprise a different geometry from the rear side blending (3). The blending preferably comprises a bulbous geometry which is uniquely adapted for optimizing flow patterns adjacent to the vane and between the front and rear side shrouds in a manner which discourages the formation of horseshoe vortices proximate the leading edge (6) of the vane (1) during operation. Through the reduction, mitigation, or elimination of horseshoe vortices, local high velocities and turbulence are generally minimized, and wear experienced by portions of the impeller (e.g., to one or more vanes) from flows of abrasive slurry can be reduced. Accordingly, the useable life of an impeller may be improved. |
| US10648479B2 |
Stator segment circumferential gap seal
A vane assembly for a gas turbine includes a first shroud segment, a second shroud segment, a first inner air seal, and a seal assembly. The first shroud segment has a first end face. The second shroud segment is disposed adjacent to the first shroud segment and has a second end face that faces towards and is spaced apart from the first end face by a gap. The first inner air seal extends into the first shroud segment and defines a first trench. The seal assembly at least partially received within the first trench. |
| US10648478B2 |
Fan case bushing
A bushing including a body portion including a cylinder portion having a bore there through configured to receive a bolt; a flange portion orthogonal and integral to the cylinder portion, the flange portion configured to abut a load bearing surface of a flange; a lip portion orthogonal to and integral to the flange portion proximate the cylinder portion, wherein the lip portion redistributes a flange load. |
| US10648477B2 |
Rotary machine state observation device, rotary machine, and rotary machine state observation method
A state observation device (30) uses an ADC (37) to digitize a detection signal from a gap sensor (21) at a low-speed sampling period and uses a separation unit (38) to separate the digitized detection signal into vane detection signals considered to be for the detection of a vane of a compressor impeller and non-vane detection signals considered not to be for the detection of a vane. Further, the determination unit (39) extracts a vane peak detection signal considered to be for a vane peak by comparing a vane detection signal with vane detection signals corresponding to other vanes and non-vane detection signals, and a shaft vibration and tip clearance are determined as states of the compressor impeller on the basis of the extracted vane peak detection signal. Thus, the state observation device (30) is capable of observing the state of a rotary machine without carrying out high-speed sampling. |
| US10648474B2 |
Device and method for driving a vacuum pump
A vacuum pump drive having an electric motor and a frequency converterelectrically connected to the electric motor and arranged at a distance to the motor, wherein in the electric feed line from the frequency converter to the electric motor a transformer in the form of a transmitter of ferrite or sinter material is arranged. |
| US10648466B2 |
Piston pump for a hydraulic vehicle brake system
A piston pump includes a perforated disk as a throttle, in a central hole of which an outlet valve is arranged and its inner edge is fixed externally on a cylinder sleeve base of the piston pump and an outer edge of which lies with prestress on an annular support. Brake fluid displaced out of the piston pump lifts the perforated disk-shaped throttle off from the annular support, with which a dynamic throttle is formed. A throttle channel which negotiates the annular support in the perforated disk-shaped throttle also enables a throughflow in the case of a throttle lying on the annular support. |
| US10648465B2 |
Continuous sample delivery peristaltic pump
Methods and systems for pumping fluid through tubing are provided. Methods include orbiting one or more first rollers at multiple angular speeds around the periphery of a substantially circular first disk having a first radius with each first roller travelling at the same angular speed as the other first rollers, orbiting second rollers at a second angular speed around a substantially circular second disk having substantially the first radius, and increasing the pressure of fluid in tubing between one first roller and one second roller by causing the one or more first rollers to orbit at a first angular speed greater than the second angular speed so the one first roller moves along and fully compresses the tubing in a first section of the first disk, and simultaneously causing the one second roller to move along and fully compress the tubing in a first section of the second disk. |
| US10648457B2 |
Flywheel energy storage device and method of its use
A flywheel energy storage device containing at least one rotary element (1) which is capable of floating and rotating on liquid and/or in liquid, at least one element which is capable of transferring energy onto the rotary element (1) and at least one generator (3) which is capable of transferring the energy from the rotary element (1) wherein the rotary element (1) is axleless. A method of use of the flywheel energy storage device in such manner that the energy is accumulated as kinetic energy of at least one rotary element (1) that floats and rotates on liquid or in liquid. |
| US10648454B2 |
Control system having local and central controllers for wind turbine system having multiple rotors
A wind turbine system comprising a plurality of wind turbines mounted to a common support structure, wherein each of the plurality of wind turbines includes a rotor and a power generation system driven by the rotor, wherein the wind turbine system further comprises: localised control means including a plurality of local control modules, wherein each of the local control modules is operable to monitor the operation of a respective one of the plurality of wind turbines, and to issue local control commands thereto to achieve a set of local control objectives; and centralised control means configured to monitor the operation of the wind turbine system and provide centralised control commands to the plurality of wind turbines in order to achieve a set of supervisory control objectives associated with at least two of the plurality of wind turbines. |
| US10648453B2 |
Wind power system and method for generating electrical energy from wind
There may be provided a wind power system that may include a turbine that comprises multiple curved blades that rotate about a vertical axis; wind collectors that surround the turbine; wherein each wind collector comprises a set of facets that define an outlet and an opening that is bigger than the outlet; wherein the outlet faces the turbine; and a ventilation mechanism. |
| US10648442B2 |
Circuit and method for coil current control
Circuits and methods to control a current in a coil are disclosed. The circuit and methods provide over-dwell protection and soft shut-down functionality to safely discharge the coil. The safe discharge of the coil is facilitated by a soft-start ramp signal that reduces the coil current gradually by controlling a switching device according. A profile of the soft-start ramp signal over time determines the gradual reduction. The profile of the soft-start ramp signal can be adjusted to set (i) an over-dwell period of the coil current, after which the coil current is shut down, and (ii) a soft shut-down period, over which the coil current is gradually reduced. |
| US10648439B2 |
System having a fuel distributor and multiple fuel injectors
A system, which is used especially as a fuel injection system for the high-pressure injection in internal combustion engines, includes a fuel distributor and a plurality of fuel injectors. Each fuel injector is situated on a cup of the fuel distributor. At least one of the fuel injectors is fastened to the associated cup by a holding element. The holding element has an at least essentially straight first leg and an at least essentially straight second leg. The cup includes at least one recess, which extends through a wall of the cup. The first leg and the second leg are guided through the at least one recess. Furthermore, the connection sleeve of the fuel injector has a collar, which is braced on the first leg of the holding element and on the second leg of the holding element in order to secure the fuel injector on the cup. |
| US10648433B2 |
Air flow measuring device
A sensor assembly includes a sensor portion and a sensor circuit, which are integrated with each other and configured to measure an air flow quantity. A thermistor is configured to measure an air temperature. A metal plate includes a grounding end terminal. One lead wire of the thermistor is joined electrically with the grounding end terminal. The sensor circuit is disposed on the metal plate. The sensor circuit is entirely overlapped with the plate shape portion in a direction perpendicular to the metal plate. |
| US10648431B2 |
Air intake structure of automobile air cleaner and air intake structure for automobile
An air intake structure for an automobile includes an intake duct provided in an engine compartment that is located below an engine hood of the automobile. The intake duct includes an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a duct body. Air is configured to be sucked in from the engine compartment through which the inlet opening. The air is configured to be supplied to a casing of an air cleaner provided in the engine compartment. The duct body connects the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The duct body has a contact portion that is configured to be in contact with the casing of the air cleaner. |
| US10648426B2 |
Single row vane assembly for a thrust reverser
A thrust reverser system comprising a single row vane assembly is provided. The provided thrust reverser system is capable of meeting performance requirements for turbine engines with reduced weight and cost. |
| US10648425B2 |
Piston with broad ovate gallery
An aluminum piston including a cooling gallery with titled inner and outer side walls is provided. The piston comprises a ring belt with a ring grooves, and an iron insert is disposed in a top one of the ring grooves. To reduce stress and mass of the piston, material located under the iron insert is removed, so that the outer side wall of the cooling gallery is tilted toward the center axis. The inner side wall of the cooling gallery is tilted away from the center axis. |
| US10648422B2 |
Control apparatus for engine
A control apparatus for an engine includes an engine, a state quantity setting device, a spark plug, and a controller. After the spark plug ignites air-fuel mixture to start combustion, combustion of unburned air-fuel mixture is caused by autoignition. The controller outputs a control signal to the state quantity setting device such that, when a number of revolutions of the engine is high, a temperature in a combustion chamber before start of compression is higher than that when the number of revolutions of the engine is low. |
| US10648420B2 |
Operating a fuel injector having a hydraulic stop
Various embodiments include a method for operating a fuel injector with a solenoid drive having a hydraulic stop at a predetermined fuel pressure comprising: applying a first current profile to the solenoid including a first holding current value prespecifying the current flowing during a holding phase; determining a resulting first flux; determining a first force based on the first flux corresponding to a hydraulic force exerted on the armature by fuel; determining a deviation between the first force and an optimal force corresponding to the predetermined fuel pressure; determining a second holding current based on the first holding current and the determined deviation; and applying a second current profile to carry out a second injection process using the second holding current value to apply a hydraulic force on the armature by the fuel adapted to the optimal force value. |
| US10648418B2 |
Method and system for calculating Atkinson cycle intake flowrate of internal combustion engine
A method for calculating Atkinson cycle intake flowrate of an internal combustion engine includes determining an intake stopping point and an engine crank angle corresponding to a piston position of the internal combustion engine at the intake stopping point; calculating mass and partial pressure of an exhaust gas and a fresh gas within a cylinder from the engine crank angle; obtaining a mass ratio of a quantity of gas pushed out of the cylinder by a piston to a total quantity of gas within the cylinder at the intake stopping point during a period of time starting from the intake stopping point until intake valve closure; and calculating intake flowrate of the fresh gas within the cylinder at the intake valve closure from the mass ratio obtained. Also disclosed is a system for calculating Atkinson cycle intake flowrate of an internal combustion engine. |
| US10648415B2 |
Engine-driven working machine
An engine-driven working machine according to the present invention has a controller and a muffler. The controller is operated from starting of the engine in a rotational speed limitation mode in which the engine is prevented from rotating at a rotational speed that is higher than the predetermined limitation rotational speed. The controller forces to stop the engine, after a predetermined period has passed, during which the engine operates in the rotational speed limitation mode. |
| US10648412B2 |
Control method of internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine applying the same
A control method of an internal combustion engine and an internal combustion engine applying the same. Each cylinder is provided with a throttle valve, or a plurality of paralleled throttle valves are employed to supply air for different cylinders or cylinder groups, so that different cylinders are provided with different inlet pressure and inlet airflow, different spark ignition timing (phase angle), different injection timing (phase angle), and different injection quantity, and in a complete work cycle, some cylinders of the engine operate under a compression ignition combustion mode, and some cylinders of the engine operate under a spark ignition combustion mode. When the conditions for compression ignition combustion mode are satisfied, the cylinders adopt the compression ignition combustion mode as much as possible, so as to improve the thermal power efficiency of the engine. The internal combustion engine or vehicle installed with the control method has wide adaptability to different fuel with different ignition points, can detect the octane number of gasoline, and consume various octane number gasoline. |
| US10648406B2 |
Means for controlling a pitch change system comprising an anti-rotation device, a pitch change system equipped with said control means, and a corresponding turbine engine
A controller for controlling a system for changing the pitch of blades of a turbine engine propeller, the controller includes a fixed member (28) and a member (29) which is movable in translation along a longitudinal axis (X) relative to the fixed member (28), and an anti-rotation device (33) configured so as to prevent the rotation of the movable member (29) relative to the fixed member (28) about the axis (X). The anti-rotation device includes a longitudinal structural crossmember (35) which is mounted by a first and a second end (36, 37) on the fixed member, and support and guide unit (57) integrally in translation the movable member along the axis (X), the crossmember extending radially outside the movable member and the fixed member relative to a radial axis (Y) which is perpendicular to the axis (X) and being guided through the support and guide unit. |
| US10648403B2 |
Turbocharger for a motor vehicle
In order for charge air to be conducted with the lowest possible losses in pressure in a turbocharger including a blow-off valve, a flow-guiding element in an inlet region is designed such that neutral zones are formed at the flow openings. The flow openings recirculate charge air from the pressure side to the suction side when the blow-off valve is opened. The flow-guiding element avoids vortices and therefore losses in pressure in the region of the flow openings. |
| US10648402B2 |
Supercharging system, control device for supercharging system, control method for supercharging system, and program
This control device starts an electric motor on the basis of a drive signal. After starting of the electric motor, the control device switches a bypass valve from an open state to a closed state. |
| US10648401B2 |
Engine system and method for controlling same
In an engine system 10 having a high-pressure stage turbocharger 11 and a low-pressure stage turbocharger 12 provided in series, a control device 40 is configured to perform control such that when switching from multi-stage supercharging Cm to single-stage supercharging Cs, after only the exhaust bypass valve 23 is opened, and thereafter, an intake bypass valve 21 is opened later than at a timing at which the exhaust bypass valve 23 is opened. |
| US10648400B2 |
Intercooler assembly
A dual, dual-pass intercooler assembly for an intercooler supercharger system comprising an intercooler lid mountable to a supercharger housing; a pair of intercooler cores coupled mountable to and within at least one of the intercooler lid and the supercharger housing; wherein the pair of intercooler cores configured to receive and cool supercharger air upon a first pass through the pair of intercooler cores and receive and further cool the supercharger air upon a second pass through the pair of intercooler cores prior to receipt by an engine. |
| US10648395B2 |
Cooling-water control valve device
A main valve unit is rotatably provided in a main valve accommodation space connected to a first opening portion. A fail-safe valve unit is provided in a fail-safe valve accommodation space connected to a second opening portion. The main valve unit controls flow rate of cooling water flowing from the first opening portion to a radiator via a main water passage formed in a housing depending on a rotational position thereof. The fail-safe valve unit is closed when temperature of the cooling water is lower than a predetermined value, to thereby block off flow of the cooling water to the radiator. The fail-safe valve unit is opened when the temperature of the cooling water is higher than the predetermined value, to thereby allow the flow of the cooling water to the radiator. Each of the first opening portion and the main valve accommodation space is fluidically separated from the second opening portion and the fail-safe valve accommodation space by a partitioning wall formed in the housing. |
| US10648393B2 |
Outer beaded body for mounting and joint interfaces
Implementations described herein relate to features for a single module aftertreatment system. The single aftertreatment system includes a casing, a catalyst within the casing, and an outer body attached to a portion of the casing with a flat mounting zone on the outer body. The outer body includes a mounting bracket welded to the flat mounting zone. The flat mounting zone is separated from the casing so as to form an air gap between the flat mounting zone of the outer body and the casing. The outer body includes a beaded portion adjacent the flat mounting zone. The outer body includes an inner diameter portion, and the outer body is attached to a portion of the casing by a weld joint between the inner diameter portion and the portion of the casing. |
| US10648390B2 |
System and method for axial zoning of heating power
A heater system for an exhaust system is provided. The heater system includes a heater disposed in an exhaust conduit. The heater includes a plurality of heating elements disposed in the exhaust conduit. A heating control module controls the plurality of heating elements differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating element. In other forms, the heater system for an exhaust system has a plurality of heating zones, instead of a plurality of heating elements. The heating control module controls the plurality of heating zones differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating zone. |
| US10648386B2 |
Process for optimizing a removal of nitrogen oxides from the gases in an engine exhaust line according to a selective catalytic reduction
A process for optimizing a depollution of nitrogen oxides from the gases in an engine exhaust line carried out according to a selective catalytic reduction by injection of a quantity of reducing agent into the line makes it possible to monitor a setpoint of the amount of nitrogen oxides per second at the outlet of the line. A readjustment of the setpoint is made at each completion of successive running distance intervals determined by integration of the speed over a time interval that ends as soon as a predetermined target cumulative amount of carbon dioxide released is reached, an amount of nitrogen oxides at the outlet per kilometer traveled being calculated for each interval from a cumulative amount of nitrogen oxides measured at the outlet and compared with a target amount of nitrogen oxides per kilometer for the calculation of a deviation used for the readjustment of the setpoint. |
| US10648385B2 |
Diesel exhaust fluid pressure measuring and control systems and methods
A DEF injector is configured to inject DEF into an exhaust system of a vehicle. A DEF pump includes an electric motor configured to drive a compression mechanism and pumps the DEF to the DEF injector. A pressure sensor is configured to measure a pressure of the DEF output from the DEF pump. A sampling module is configured to, based on a rotational position of an output shaft of the electric motor, selectively output samples of the pressure. A measurement module is configured to determine a measured pressure at the pressure sensor based on a present one of the samples and a last one of the samples output before the present one of the samples. A pump control module is configured to apply power from a power source to the electric motor based on a difference between the measured pressure and a target pressure. |
| US10648382B2 |
Inerting and venting system
An inerting and venting system for an aircraft. The inerting and venting system includes a tank containing fluid to be inerted, a mixer including an operating flow path and a mixing flow path, a vent line fluidly connecting ambient atmosphere to the operating flow path of the mixer, and an inert gas line fluidly connecting an inert gas source to the mixing flow path of the mixer. The mixing flow path and the operating flow path are arranged in a coflowing configuration such that ambient air communicated by the operating flow path mixes in a coflowing manner with inert gas communicated by the mixing flow path and the coflowed mixture is directed into the tank. The inerting and venting system may include a first valve for controlling flow of vent air from ambient atmosphere to the tank, and a second valve for controlling flow of inert gas from an inert gas source to the tank. A valve adjuster is configured to passively adjust the first and second valves in response to a pressure differential between the ambient atmosphere and the tank, and to control ratio of flow in response to oxygen concentration in the inert gas or the tank ullage gas. |
| US10648380B2 |
Honeycomb structure body and exhaust gas purification filter
A honeycomb structure body has an outer skin, cells arranged in an inside of the outer skin, and partition walls having pores. The partition walls are arranged in the inside of the outer skin. Each of the cells is surrounded by the partition walls. The pores have communicating pores which communicate with each other adjacent cells. Exhaust gas emitted from an engine passes adjacent cells through the communicating pores. The number of the communicating pores is at a density of not less than 18000 [pores/0.25 mm2] before a catalyst is supported in the pores. An exhaust gas purification filter having the honeycomb structure body with the catalyst is arranged in an exhaust gas pipe to purify exhaust gas containing PM emitted from an engine. |
| US10648378B2 |
Engine dipstick
An engine with an engine casing and a dipstick. The dipstick extends into the engine casing and has a free end. The design of the free end may be selected such that the natural frequency of the dipstick does not resonate with the operating frequency of the engine. The dipstick may also be oriented such that the free end does not contact the engine. |
| US10648376B2 |
Preloaded torsional biasing device
A biasing assembly used with a VCT device includes a torsional biasing element that is elongated and configured to engage and receive rotational motion from one of a rotor or stator of the VCT device; a rigid element that is configured to engage the other of the rotor of the stator of the VCT device and be inserted within a cavity of a camshaft with the torsional biasing element; a receiving feature that couples the rigid element to the torsional biasing element and inhibits angular movement of the rotor and the stator away from a default angular position, wherein the torsional biasing element and the rigid element are angularly displaced from a resting position to a pre-loaded position when the torsional biasing element and the rigid element engage the rotor and the stator. |
| US10648374B2 |
Cam phasing system architecture
A spark-ignited gas engine system comprises a combustion chamber defined by a piston, a head with a spark plug mechanism, and a cylinder having an associated intake valve and an associated exhaust valve, into which a mixture of combustible gas and air is entered via an intake manifold of the engine to drive a crankshaft. The system further comprises at least one turbocharger to compress the mixture. The system further comprises at least one camshaft, driven by the crankshaft via a gear assembly connected to the crankshaft, that comprises at least one cam that actuates the intake valve and the exhaust valve, at least one camphaser, coupled to the crankshaft via the gear assembly, and a controller to adjust a cam angle operation of the intake valve and the exhaust valve by adjusting the camphaser to a desired phase position to meet a target rotational phase of the camshaft. |
| US10648373B2 |
Device for controlling at least one valve in an internal combustion engine
A device for actuating at least one valve in an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft arrangement including a hollow outer shaft and an inner shaft, which is concentrically mounted inside of the outer shaft to be pivotable relative to the outer shaft. A first cam lobe is mounted on one of the inner shaft and the outer shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and a second cam lobe is mounted on the other of the inner shaft and the outer shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The device further includes a rocker arm arrangement including a first primary rocker arm, which is arranged to follow the first cam lobe and arranged to actuate a first valve when it follows the first cam lobe. The rocker arm arrangement further includes an auxiliary rocker arm, which is arranged to follow the second cam lobe. The auxiliary rocker arm is adapted to actuate the first primary rocker arm so that an opening tune of the first valve may be extended by the auxiliary rocker arm following the second cam lobe. |
| US10648369B2 |
Modular cooling water assemblies for combined cycle power plant systems
Modular cooling water assemblies for combined cycle power plant systems are disclosed. Each of the assemblies may include a pump and a heat exchanger, both positioned on a support structure. Additionally, each of the assemblies may include a closed cooling water system supported by the support structure. The closed cooling water system may include a return header fluidly coupled to a return conduit for receiving cooling water previously utilized by the combined cycle power plant system. The closed cooling water system may also include a supply header positioned adjacent the return header, and fluidly coupled to a supply conduit for supplying the cooling water to the combined cycle power plant system. Additionally, the closed cooling water system may include a closed cooling water circuit fluidly coupling the return header to the supply header. The closed cooling water circuit may be fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger and the pump. |
| US10648366B2 |
Turbine engine exhaust casing with improved lifetime
The invention relates to an exhaust casing for a turbine engine of an aircraft, including: a collar (4), a hub (5), hollow arms (63) connecting said collar (4) to said hub (5), and an opening piece (3) which is located on the collar (4) and is suitable for being connected to an outlet tube (30) of a transient-operation valve of the turbine engine. In said exhaust casing, said opening piece (3) is attached onto the collar (4) and forms an extension of a hollow arm (63) such that an air flow (7) leaving the outlet tube (30) of the transient-operation valve penetrates the hollow arm (63) and flows into the hub (5). |
| US10648365B2 |
Gas turbine engine bearing sump and lubricant drain line from cooling passage
A gas turbine engine having a core engine. The core engine includes an inlet, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust. The gas turbine engine also includes a bearing sump arranged in the core engine for containing lubrication, the bearing sump and lubrication having an operational range between at least about 0° F. and about 550° F. |
| US10648359B2 |
System for controlling variable-setting blades for a turbine engine
The invention relates to a system for controlling variable-setting blades (14) for a turbine engine, which includes at least one control ring (36) mounted rotatably mobile about an annular casing (16) with axis of revolution A, at least one annular row of variable-setting blades (14) extending substantially radially relative to said axis A and connected to said at least one control ring so that a rotation of the ring about the casing rotates the blades about substantially radial axes B, and means (40) for actuating said at least one ring in order to rotate same about the casing, characterised in that said actuation means are connected to said at least one ring by linking means comprising a shaft (52) extending along an axis C which is substantially radial relative to said axis A and mounted rotatably mobile about said axis C on the housing. |
| US10648358B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting a turbomachine
Systems and methods for protecting a turbomachine may include a trip throttle valve having a throttle valve assembly and a trip valve assembly. The trip valve assembly may include a plurality of trip valves fluidly coupled to a hydraulic cylinder of the throttle valve assembly via a first flow path and a second flow path in parallel with one another. The trip valve assembly may also include a plurality of isolation valves fluidly coupled to the hydraulic cylinder via the first flow path and the second flow path. The plurality of isolation valves may be configured to selectively prevent fluid communication between the plurality of trip valves and the hydraulic cylinder to allow testing of one or more of the plurality of trip valves during operation of the turbomachine. |
| US10648357B2 |
Pneumatic trip valve partial stroking arrangement
A pneumatic trip system for a turbine includes a valve member; a valve stem connected to the valve member; and an actuator assembly connected to the valve stem. The actuator assembly includes a cylinder; a piston connected to the valve stem, the piston dividing the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber; a biasing element disposed in the second chamber of the cylinder; and a pneumatic circuit in communication with the second chamber of the cylinder. The pneumatic circuit is configured to pressurize the second chamber of the cylinder to actuate the piston to move the valve stem and the valve member to an exercised position between the open position and the closed position while the first chamber is pressurized. |
| US10648354B2 |
Turbine wheels, turbine engines including the same, and methods of forming turbine wheels with improved seal plate sealing
Turbine wheels, turbine engines, and methods of forming the turbine wheels are provided herein. In an embodiment, a turbine wheel includes a rotor disk and a plurality of turbine blades. Each turbine blade is operatively connected to the rotor disk through a blade mount, which is bonded to the rotor disk. The blade mount and the rotor disk have a fore surface on a higher pressure side thereof and an aft surface on a lower pressure side thereof. The blade mount includes a blade attachment surface that extends between and connects the fore surface and the aft surface. The turbine blade extends from the blade attachment surface. A gap is defined between adjacent blade mounts. The gap separates the blade mounts and extends into the rotor disk. The gap includes a pocket that has a fore opening in the fore surface. A pocket seal is disposed in the pocket. |
| US10648353B2 |
Low loss airfoil platform rim seal assembly
An airfoil stage of a turbine engine includes an upstream airfoil assembly, a downstream airfoil assembly in rotational relationship to the upstream airfoil assembly and a rim seal assembly integrated therebetween. The rim seal assembly may include a sloped downstream portion of a platform of the upstream airfoil assembly, an upstream segment of a platform of the downstream airfoil assembly and a nub that projects radially outward from the upstream segment. The downstream portion and the upstream segment are spaced from one-another defining a cooling cavity therebetween for the flow of cooling air. The portion and segment overlap axially such that the nub is axially aligned to the downstream portion for improved cooling effectiveness and a reduction of core airflow into the cooling cavity. |
| US10648352B2 |
Turbine blade sealing structure
A turbine blade sealing structure for a ceramic matrix composite component is provided. The turbine sealing structure includes at least one top ply abutting a top portion of a shank. The at least one top ply extends out over the top portion of the shank. The turbine sealing structure includes at least one side ply abutting a side portion of the shank. The at least one side ply extends along a side portion of the shank. The at least one top ply and at least one side ply form an angel wing and a skirt with on the shank of the ceramic matrix composite component. |
| US10648351B2 |
Gas turbine engine cooling component
A component for a gas turbine engine includes a platform that has a gas path side and a non-gas path side. At least one airfoil extends from the gas path side of the platform. At least one airfoil includes an internal cavity that has an inlet on the non-gas path side of the platform. A cover plate is located adjacent the non-gas path side of the platform. The cover plate includes a first plurality of fluid openings that extend through the cover plate. At least one bulge is at least partially aligned with the inlet. |
| US10648343B2 |
Double wall turbine gas turbine engine vane platform cooling configuration with main core resupply
An airfoil includes pressure and suction side walls that extend in a chord-wise direction between leading and trailing edges. The pressure and suction side walls extend in a radial direction to provide an exterior airfoil surface. A main-body core cooling passage is arranged between the pressure and suction walls in a thickness direction and extends radially toward a platform. An airfoil skin cooling passage is arranged in one of the pressure and suction side walls to form a hot side wall and a cold side wall. The hot side wall defines a portion of the exterior airfoil surface and the cold side wall defines a portion of the core passage. The airfoil skin cooling passage extends to a platform skin cooling passage arranged in the platform. A resupply hole fluidly connects the main-body core cooling passage and at least one of the airfoil skin cooling passage and the platform skin cooling passage. |
| US10648341B2 |
Airfoil leading edge impingement cooling
An airfoil including a spar and a cover sheet. Standoffs, a leading edge wall, and a separator wall extend away from an outer surface of the spar. The standoffs are arranged to define leading grooves disposed at the pressure side of the leading edge. The cover sheet is coupled to the leading edge wall and the standoffs over the leading grooves to define cooling passageways. The cooling passageways are in communication with one or more inlet ports formed in the spar, which are in communication with a plenum disposed within the spar. The cover sheet is arranged to define outlet ports or a slot in communication with the cooling passageway. Cooling air is delivered from the cooling air plenum through the inlet port for impingement cooling at the cover sheet, and traverses downstream through the cooling passageway to the outlet ports or slot for film cooling of the leading edge. |
| US10648333B2 |
Mixing and guniting device of new type for TBM
Disclosed is a mixing and guniting device of a new type for a TBM, wherein the device comprises a concrete inlet pipe (1), a four-way pipe (15), a nozzle (4), an agitator motor (5), a longitudinal swing oil cylinder (6), a flow mixer, a lateral swing oil cylinder (16), a telescopic oil cylinder (7) connected to a big arm, and a controller, one end of the telescopic oil cylinder (7) being provided with a connection plate (12), the four-way pipe (15) being fixed on the upper part of the connecting plate (12), two interfaces in the upper part of the four-way pipe (15) being respectively provided with an air inlet pipe (2) and an accelerator inlet pipe, a measuring sensor connected to the controller being provided in the air inlet pipe (2), two interfaces in the lower part of the four-way pipe (15) being respectively provided with bent pipes (8), the other ends of the bent pipes (8) being in communication with the flow mixer, the nozzle (4) being provided in the upper part of the flow mixer, the concrete inlet pipe (1) being provided in the lower part of the flow mixer, and the concrete inlet pipe (1) being in communication with the nozzle (4) and the bent pipe (8) via the flow mixer. The mixing and guniting device can adjust the distance and the angle between the nozzle and a sprayed face intelligently and in real time according to the air flow, so as to ensure a suitable distance at which the rebound rate is lowest and the best angle at which the nozzle is always perpendicular to the sprayed face, such that the rebound rate is effectively reduced with less loss of concrete, energy conservation and environmental protection. |
| US10648329B2 |
Estimation of fracture properties based on borehole fluid data and acoustic imaging
A method of estimating one or more properties of an earth formation includes acquiring formation fluid data indicative of a qualitative property of a formation fluid in a near-field region of an earth formation surrounding a borehole, the near field region including a surface of the borehole, and acquiring acoustic data based on acoustic signals transmitted into a far-field region of the formation, and estimating a property of one or more fractures in the far-field region based on the acoustic data. The method also includes combining the formation fluid data and the acoustic data, and estimating, by a processing device, at least one fracture characteristic of the formation in the near-field region and the far-field region based on the combined data. |
| US10648323B2 |
Apparatus and method for locating and setting a tool in a profile
A device is provided for positively locating within a profile, wherein the device includes one or more radially resilient locator mechanisms; one or more slips; one or more packing elements; and a stopping mechanism; wherein the one or more locator mechanisms are radially expandable to locate within the profile and wherein the stopping mechanism prevents engagement of the one or more slips and the one or more packing elements unit the one or more locator mechanisms are located in the profile. A method is also provided for applying downhole isolation. |
| US10648320B2 |
Method and arrangement for operating an extraction in a borehole
A method and an arrangement for operating a process for extracting a fluid in a borehole are optimized. In the case of deep wells, the location of an interface depth in the borehole is detected. A pressure measurement of the pressure at the head of the borehole is made. The pressure in the liquid in the borehole below the interface depth is determined from the measured pressure at the head of the borehole and the detected location of the interface depth. The determination of this pressure is used for regulating the performance of an extracting device for the liquid that is to be extracted. |
| US10648318B2 |
Feedback based toolface control system for a rotary steerable drilling tool
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for a feedback based toolface control system for a rotary steerable drilling tool is disclosed. The method includes determining a desired toolface of a drilling tool, calculating a toolface error, calculating a correction to correct the toolface error by: estimating, using a model, an output of each of a plurality of states of the model based on an input to each of the states of the model and determining a desired input to each of the plurality of states, beginning at the toolface, based on a desired output of at least one of the plurality of states connected to a particular state, transmitting the signal to the input component of the drilling tool such that the signal adjusts the current toolface based on the correction, and drilling a wellbore with a drill bit oriented at the desired toolface. |
| US10648317B2 |
Improving fault detectability through controller reconfiguration
A method of detecting a fault in an oil and gas apparatus controlled by a controller is provided. The method includes collecting a test set of data using a sensor proximate to an oil and gas apparatus during the operation of the oil and gas apparatus under test operating conditions, the test set of data being associated with an operating parameter of the controller, determining a percentage of the test set of data that falls outside a normal operation region of the oil and gas apparatus, and configuring the controller in response to the percentage being between a fault-free percentage threshold and a fault percentage threshold. |
| US10648316B2 |
Formation characteristics determination apparatus, methods, and systems
In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to model electromagnetic data to provide modeled electromagnetic data by solving a first set of surface integral equations that include earth model parameters corresponding to an earth model of a geological formation. Additional activity may include publishing at least some of the modeled electromagnetic data in human-readable form, and/or controlling drilling operations in the geological formation based on the earth model when error between the modeled electromagnetic data and measured electromagnetic data is less than a selected threshold. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US10648313B2 |
Low pressure fluid injection for recovering hydrocarbon material from low permeability formations
A process for producing hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation comprising: injecting a first conditioning material, via a wellbore, to effect fracturing of a subterranean formation such that a hydraulically fractured formation, including an induced fracture, is obtained; after the fracturing, injecting post-fracturing conditioning material, via the wellbore, into hydraulically fractured formation; and after the injecting of the post-fracturing conditioning material, producing, via the wellbore, hydrocarbon material from the hydraulically fractured formation; wherein: the pressure of the post-fracturing conditioning material is less than the pressure of the injected fracturing fluid; and the post-fracturing conditioning material includes proppant. |
| US10648309B2 |
Enhancing complex fracture geometry in subterranean formations, sequence transport of particulates
Methods including introducing a high-viscosity treatment fluid into a subterranean formation through an opening and applying incrementally increased fracturing rate steps (IIFRSs) to create or enhance a dominate fracture, wherein between each IIFRS a downhole pressure slope over time will increase, decline, or stabilize at a HVTF measured pressure slope. Further evaluating the HVTF measured pressure slope prior to applying a subsequent IIFRS. Performing a particulate sequence transport operation with a first, second, and third low-viscosity treatment fluid (LVTF), wherein the LVTFs collectively create or enhance at least one near-wellbore secondary azimuth fracture and at least one far-field secondary azimuth fracture extending from the dominate fracture, and further propping the dominate fracture, near-wellbore, and far-field secondary azimuth fractures with the particulates. |
| US10648303B2 |
Wireline-deployed solid state pump for removing fluids from a subterranean well
A system for removing wellbore liquids from a wellbore, the wellbore traversing a subterranean formation and having a tubular that extends within at least a portion of the wellbore. The system includes a positive-displacement solid state pump comprising a fluid chamber, an inlet and an outlet port, each in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, at least one solid state actuator, a first one-way check valve positioned between the inlet port and the fluid chamber, and/or a second one-way check valve positioned between the outlet port and the fluid chamber, the at least one solid state actuator configured to operate at or near its resonance frequency, the solid state pump positioned within the wellbore; and means for powering the solid state pump. A method for removing fluids from a subterranean well is also provided. |
| US10648299B2 |
Expanding well tubulars interconnected by pin-box assemblies optimized for expansion
A pin-box well tubular connector assembly having pin and box connector members (6, 5) with intermeshing external and internal screw thread profiles is optimized for expansion downhole in a wellbore by: A) configuring the box connector member (5) such that it has at least one thread (10) that does not engage a thread on the pin member (6); and optionally: B) configuring the pin and box connectors (6, 5) such that in axial direction a gap of at least 0.2 mm is present between the external and internal screw thread profiles; and/or C) inserting a swellable dope in the gap between the pin and box connector members (6, 5). |
| US10648290B2 |
Sleeve shifting tool
A sleeve shifting tool for shifting a slidable sleeve positioned inside of another downhole tool is described herein. The tool has a housing and a collet apparatus for engaging a slidable sleeve disposed within a downhole tool positioned in a wellbore. The collet apparatus includes at least one collet arm and at least one collet key disposed thereon for engaging the slidable sleeve. The tool also includes a collet activation apparatus for initiating the collet apparatus and force the at least one collet key of the collet apparatus to engage the slidable sleeve. A method of shifting a sleeve positioned in a downhole tool with the sleeve shifting tool described herein is also provided herein. |
| US10648286B2 |
Methods for cementing a well using a switchable crossover device
Switchable cross-over systems, devices, and methods for cementing well walls. A switchable cross-over device includes a tool body, a flow sleeve, and a hydraulic sleeve. The tool body includes a main tool path separable into upper and lower tool paths and an auxiliary chamber containing upper and lower annular ports. The flow sleeve is within the auxiliary chamber and movable into a reverse circulation position by a plug traveling through the main tool path. The hydraulic sleeve is located within the main tool path and mechanically coupled to the flow sleeve. The hydraulic sleeve is movable into a conventional circulation position via pressure within the main tool path acting on the hydraulic sleeve. |
| US10648283B1 |
Top open cage
A top open cage may include a first outer diameter at a bottom portion, a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter at a middle portion, a third outer diameter smaller than the second outer diameter at a top portion, a chamber internal to the bottom portion and at least a portion of the middle portion, a first set of inlets from an outer surface of the middle portion to a middle section of the chamber, and a second set of inlets from an outer surface of the middle portion to the top end of the chamber. The chamber may be defined by a first inner diameter at a bottom end of the chamber and a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter at a top end of the chamber. |
| US10648282B2 |
Check valve, associated downhole data collection system and inner core barrel assembly
A check valve may be incorporated in an inner core barrel assembly. The check valve has a valve body defining a fluid flow path and provided with a valve seat. A valve member is located in the valve body and is coupled to the valve body by a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism is arranged to allow the valve member to move linearly in an axial direction relative to the valve body on to and off of the valve seat and maintain a fixed rotational relationship with the valve body. A data acquisition system can be held in the valve member and by virtue of the coupling mechanism be maintained rotationally fixed relative to the valve body an inner core tube of an inner core barrel assembly. |
| US10648279B2 |
Helical coil annular access plug and abandonment
A method for creating access to annular spacing during P&A operations is described. Specifically, helical coils are cut into one or more casings before the plugging material is set. The plugging material is able to exit the helical coils, forming multiple, small rock-to-rock seals. |
| US10648278B2 |
Wellbore parted casing access tool
A wellbore tool includes a rotatable elongate pipe that includes a first elongate portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the elongate pipe. A first bending portion with a first end attaches to a downhole end of the first elongate portion. The first bending portion deviates from a longitudinal axis of the first elongate portion in a first direction. A second bending portion has a first end attached to a second end of the first bending portion. The second bending portion is positioned downhole of the first bending portion. The second bending portion deviates towards the longitudinal axis in a second direction different from the first direction. The first bending portion and the second bending are eccentric relative to the first elongate portion. The wellbore tool is rotated a set amount and stabbed in a downhole direction until the wellbore tool enters the parted casing. |
| US10648276B2 |
Slip arrangement
A slip and cone arrangement including a slip having a centrally located cone interconnection feature, and a cone having a slip retention feature engageable with the interconnection feature. A slip including a body, the body having a T section, and an engagement section, the engagement section having a centrally located cone interconnection feature. |
| US10648272B2 |
Casing floatation system with latch-in-plugs
A casing floatation system includes a casing having a pre-load collar and a landing collar; and a lower bottom latch-in plug comprising: a catch mechanism compatible with the pre-load collar; and a landing mechanism compatible with the landing collar. A method of well completion includes floating a casing in a wellbore with a casing floatation system having a pre-load collar; sequentially engaging a lower bottom latch-in plug and a top latch-in plug having a transitionable seal; pressure testing the casing; and triggering the transitionable seal to unseal the bore of the top latch-in plug. |
| US10648270B2 |
Riser assist for wellsites
An apparatus and associated method is disclosed for a riser hanging system. The apparatus includes a first elongated member with a provision for a first external mechanical coupling at a distal location on the first elongated member. A second elongated member is mechanically coupled to the first elongated member at proximal locations on the first elongated member and the second elongated member. A third member is mechanically coupled to a first portion of the first elongated member. The third member includes a fourth member to move through at least a second portion of a length of the second elongated member. Mechanical couplers associated with the second elongated member are provided for a second external mechanical coupling of the riser to the apparatus. The riser may be hoisted using the apparatus for better control during coupling to the wellhead. |
| US10648268B2 |
Annual blowout preventer with radial actuating member
An annular blowout preventer (BOP) includes a housing comprising a bore extending through the housing, an annular sealing element configured to be displaced inwardly into the housing bore, and an actuating member configured to be actuated radially or perpendicularly with respect to an axis of the annular sealing element to compress the annular sealing element inwardly into the housing bore. |
| US10648265B2 |
Lateral drilling method
A method of drilling a substantially lateral section of a wellbore includes extension of a first segment of a drilling string with a bottom hole assembly is extended into a wellbore. At determined intervals of the drilling string, a plurality of friction reduction segments are connected as the wellbore is drilled and the drilling string is extended into the wellbore. The friction reduction segments comprise a friction reduction tool and corresponding activation tool for activating the friction reduction tool. The activation tool selectively diverts drilling fluid into a motor powering the friction reduction tool or away from the motor, and can be a ball catch assembly that is activated when a suitably sized projectile is seated in the assembly. Multiple friction reduction segments can be connected to the drilling string and one or more of the plurality of segments can be activated. |
| US10648264B2 |
Positioning system
A system (100) for positioning a working tool (21) in a wellbore (1). The positioning system (100) comprises a casing element (110) with a marker (111, 112, 113) provided on an inner surface, the marker (111, 112, 113) having a distinct diameter different from the inner diameter of the casing element (110). The system further comprises a positioning tool (120) with a latching element (121, 122) adapted to form a latch (115) with the marker (111, 112, 113), and a force detector (130) adapted to detect an axial latching force (FL) applied to a tubing string (20) from the latch (115) when the casing element (110) is located within the wellbore (1) and the force detector (130) is located at a surface (2) outside the wellbore (1). |
| US10648263B2 |
Downhole plug assembly
A technique includes running a plug assembly inside a tubing string of a well; deploying an untethered object in the tubing string; and communicating the untethered object into a passageway of the plug assembly to land the untethered object in a seat of the plug assembly. The passageway has a maximum cross-sectional dimension that is larger than a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the untethered object. The technique includes using the landed untethered object to form a fluid barrier in the tubing string. |
| US10648262B2 |
Running tool for use with bearing assembly
A tool has an elongated body having an outer surface, a first recess formed at a first axial position along the outer surface, and a second recess formed at a second axial position along the outer surface. The tool also includes a gripping element that has a plurality of collets at a gripping portion of the gripping element and a retention end. A retention mechanism axially retains the retention end of the gripping element within an axial length along the body to allow the plurality of collets to overlap with the first axial position and the second axial position of the body. |
| US10648261B2 |
Circulation subassembly
The present invention relates to acirculation subassembly (circsub) for incorporation in a drill pipe. The circsub has a flow through condition in which the circsub allows fluid to flow through a bore of the circsub and does not allow fluid communication between the bore of the circsub and an annulus located outside the drill pipe, a partial bypass condition in which the circsub allows fluid to flow through the bore of the circsub and allows fluid communication between the bore of the circsub and the annulus, and a full bypass condition in which the circsub does not allow fluid to flow through the bore of the circsub and allows fluid communication between the bore of the circsub and the annulus. An actuator is provided to change the circsub between conditions under the control of a controller. |
| US10648259B2 |
Method and system for controlled delivery of unknown fluids
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for controlled delivery of unknown fluids that safely and efficiently removes entrained gas from unknown fluids in the wellbore and/or marine riser. A control system automatically controls one or more choke manifold(s), and optionally the flow rate of one or more mud pump(s), to maximize the safe flow rate of returning unknown fluids to one or more instrumented mud-gas separator(s) without overloading. The control system may receive the state of the one or more instrumented mud-gas separator(s) to manipulate the choke manifold(s), and optionally the one or more mud pump(s) to maximize the safe flow rate of return fluids and expedite the removal of gases. |
| US10648248B2 |
Device and method for slanting a conductor casing
A device and a method are for slanting a conductor casing when establishing a petroleum well where a supporting pipe has been inserted into the seabed. The supporting pipe is arranged to receive the conductor casing. The supporting pipe is provided with a casing shoe at a vertical distance below it upper end portion, the casing shoe forming a through casing-shoe opening eccentric relative to the supporting pipe. |
| US10648245B2 |
Low friction wireline standoff
The low friction wireline standoff improves wireline cable performance during borehole logging operations. The use of low friction wireline standoffs ameliorates the effects of wireline cable differential sticking, wireline cable key-seating, and high wireline cable drags, by reducing or eliminating contact of the wireline cable with the borehole wall during the logging operation. The low friction wireline standoff comprises external wheels mounted on two finned half shells that clamp onto the wireline with precision cable inserts which are manufactured to fit a wide range of logging cables. The wheels reduce the cable drag down-hole resulting in lower surface logging tensions, aiding conveyance in deep and deviated wells. |
| US10648242B2 |
Drilling component coupler for reinforcement
A drill tool that is usable in drilling a wellbore can include a pin component and a box component. The pin component has a threaded portion and an extended portion extending axially from an end of the threaded portion. The box component is part of a stator of a downhole drilling motor. The box component is threadedly coupled to the pin component such that the extended portion of the pin component is positioned in an inner area defined by the box component to absorb stress from the threaded portion during a bend for a wellbore drilling operation. |
| US10648238B2 |
Boring apparatus and method
An apparatus for boring a wellbore, including a bit body having a first end, an inner cavity, and a second end. The first end is connected to a workstring that is configured to deliver a rotational force to the bit body. The inner cavity contains a profile having a first radial cam surface. The second end includes a working face containing a cutting member. The apparatus also includes a pilot bit rotatively connected within the inner cavity. A second radial cam surface is contained on a first end of the pilot bit. The first and second radial cam surfaces are operatively configured to deliver a hammering force. A second end of the pilot bit may include an engaging surface configured to engage a formation surrounding the wellbore. The bit body rotates relative to the pilot bit. |
| US10648237B2 |
Torque generator
A torque generator for use in a bottom-hole assembly. The torque generator has a bearing pack rotationally coupled to a housing and a pump and one or more nozzles inside and supported by the housing. The one or more nozzles are in fluid communication with the pump chamber. The torque generator also has a bypass conduit extending through the pump and bypassing the pump and the one or more nozzles. The bypass conduit has a discharge end that is downhole from the pump and the one or more nozzles. |
| US10648234B2 |
Step ladder
A ladder including a first frame, a second frame and a platform assembly. The first frame includes one or more fixed steps. The platform assembly includes a first platform pivotably coupled to the first frame, a second platform pivotably coupled to the first frame, a first linkage coupled between the second frame and one of the first platform and the second platform, and a second linkage coupled to the first platform and the second platform. The ladder is movable between a closed position and an open position. |
| US10648232B2 |
Methods and apparatus to control an architectural opening covering assembly
Methods and apparatus to control an architectural opening covering assembly are disclosed herein. An example architectural opening covering assembly includes a tube and a covering coupled to the tube such that rotation of the tube winds or unwinds the covering around the tube. A motor is operatively coupled to the tube to rotate the tube. The example architectural opening covering assembly also includes a gravitational sensor to generate tube position information based on a gravity reference. The example architectural opening covering assembly further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the motor to control the motor. The controller is to determine a position of the covering based on the tube position information. |
| US10648231B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling architectural opening coverings in more than one mode
A dual control architectural covering is disclosed. A dual control architectural covering includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a manual control to move the covering of the architectural opening while the motor is disengaged. The dual control architectural covering further includes a braking element to resist movement of a drive element of the covering when the motor is disengaged. |
| US10648230B2 |
Attachment member for an architectural covering
An attachment member for coupling a shade material of an architectural covering to a rail member. The attachment member may include a first portion arranged to perform a first function affecting the shade material in a first manner, and a second portion arranged to perform a second function affecting the shade material in a second manner. The first portion may be arranged to couple the shade material to the rail member, such as coupling the shade material within the rail member. The second portion may be arranged to affect a portion of the shade material with respect to the rail member, such as affecting a portion of the shade material external to the rail member. |
| US10648228B2 |
System for biasing sheet of material to gather in predetermined direction
A system for biasing or encouraging a sheet of material to gather in one direction when one edge of the sheet of material is moved toward an opposite edge of the sheet of material is provided. A plurality of strips of material may extend along a face of the sheet of material and may be laminated to the face of the sheet of material. The plurality of strips of material may overlap each other and may define stiffened regions extending along the overlapped interface between the plurality of strips of material. When the covering is moved from an extended position to a retracted position, the sheet of material may gather in loops of material that may have apexes defined at or adjacent the overlapped interfaces of the plurality of strips of material. |
| US10648225B2 |
Door skin, method of etching plate for forming wood grain pattern in door skin, and etched plate formed therefrom
The present invention is directed to a door skin having an exterior surface with an woodgrain pattern formed therein, and an etched plate for use as an embossing plate or with a molded die set, for forming the woodgrain pattern in the door skin. The exterior surface has outer portions lying on a first plane, spaced grooves recessed from the plane of the outer portions, and halftone portions. The halftone portions have spaced protrusions defined by channels, wherein the channels are recessed from the plane of the outer portions. |
| US10648224B2 |
Registration station for assembling insulating glass windows
An insulating glass unit (IGU) assembly line comprising a registration station capable of interleaving double and triple pane IGUs in accordance with an IOU production schedule. Visual indicators or prompts instruct operators at the assembly line in configuring a sequence of IGUs. Triple pane IGUs are assembled with minimal contamination of a center glass lite. A non-contact Bernoulli pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to the registration station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled. |
| US10648223B2 |
High surface energy window spacer assemblies
Embodiments herein relate to window spacer assemblies including surfaces with relatively high surface energy. In an embodiment, a window spacer assembly is included. The window spacer assembly including a spacer body having an inner surface, an outer surface, and lateral surfaces. The window spacer assembly further includes a first sealant disposed on the lateral surfaces. Portions of the window spacer assembly such as an outer surface or lateral surface of the spacer body and/or a moisture vapor barrier layer disposed over the outer surface can be treated to have a higher surface energy. Other embodiments are also included herein. |
| US10648217B2 |
Railroad hopper car body fittings
A railroad hopper car body includes a set of hopper and hopper discharges. Egress of lading from the discharges is governed by movable doors that swing between a closed position and an open position. The motion is driven by a mechanical transmission that is itself driven by an actuator. Each pair of doors is driven by a single actuator. The actuator is mounted to act through the center sill. A portion, or substantially all, of the actuator may be mounted in a predominantly squat, vertical orientation within the center sill. In alternate embodiments, the transmission output may be bifurcated. The center sill bottom flange may be narrower adjacent to the doors. The mechanism may have a secondary lock. The mechanism may have an auxiliary manual release. |
| US10648216B2 |
Touch sensor unit
A touch sensor unit includes a pressure-sensitive sensor and a support that supports the pressure-sensitive sensor. The support includes a first portion that is folded and overlapped with a second portion of the support to at least partially enclosed and support the sensor. One of the first portion and the second portion includes a groove, and the other of the first portion and the second portion includes a projection that projects toward the groove. The projection is fitted into the groove. |
| US10648214B2 |
Automatic lock-unlock door safety control
An electromechanical door supporting system for temporarily maintaining a door in an open position having: a) a housing with an electric motor in communication with a power source; b) a base plate sized to pass underneath a swinging door; c) the base plate extending away from the housing; d) the electric motor causing rotational movement in a rod extending from inside the housing, to outside the housing and over a surface of the base plate; e) a door supporting element extending perpendicular to the extended rod; and f) the door supporting element being attached to the extended rod at a proximal location and extending over the surface of the base plate to a distal end so that rotation of the extended rod causes the distal end of the door supporting element to elevate above the base plate to secure an opened door. |
| US10648212B2 |
Variable friction hinge
This invention provides a hinge assembly having variable friction resistance. The hinge assembly includes an elongated element having a generally cylindrical surface extending longitudinally. It also includes at least one torque element having a generally cylindrical surface compressively engaged with the cylindrical surface of the elongated element, the cylindrical surface of the at least one torque element having end portions. An actuator of the hinge assembly is configured for changing friction resistance generated by the at least one torque element by changing the relative position of the end portions of the at least one torque element, thus reducing compressive engagement between the cylindrical surface of the at least one torque element and the cylindrical surface of the elongated element. |
| US10648209B2 |
Hinge assembly with reinforced torsion bar
A one-piece hinge assembly (1) with a resilient torsion bar is provided. The one-piece hinge assembly (1) comprises a first hinge element (2A), a second hinge element (3A), and a torsion bar (6) that extends axially between the first hinge element (2A) and the second hinge element (3A). The second hinge element (3A) presents two load arms (8) that are constrained to pivot with the torsion bar. The first hinge element (2A) comprises a bearing body (9) that extends between the two load arms (8) and through which a middle portion of the torsion bar (6) passes. |
| US10648204B2 |
Latch for a door of a motor vehicle
A latch for a door of motor vehicle having a closing assembly adapted to cooperate with a latch striker comprising: a ratchet which can assume an opening position, in which ratchet enables engagement and disengagement between latch striker and a seat of ratchet, and a closing position, in which ratchet holds latch striker within seat; a first pawl rotatable about a first axis (B) and in a first rotation direction from a coupled position, in which it keeps, at least indirectly, ratchet in closing position and prevents disengagement of striker from seat, and a decoupled position, in which it permits the movement of ratchet from closing position to opening position; and a second pawl which cooperates with first pawl, cooperates with ratchet at least in a contact point (P) at least when ratchet is in closing position, and which is rotatable about a second axis (D) distinct from first axis (B). |
| US10648199B2 |
Animal resistant latching system
An animal-resistant latching system for inhibiting animals from accessing food and food containing refuse within containers is disclosed. The device is composed of an access panel containing an opening to which is secured at least one latching members, a cam assembly, a cover, and a bracket. The latching members are positioned so as to inhibit access to the container when the member is in the latched position and allow access to the container when the member is in the unlatched position. The cam assembly communicates with the latching members so as to move the members between the latched and unlatched positions. The cover and bracket are dimensioned and positioned on the access panel in a predetermined manner so as allow human hands access to the cam assembly and unlatch the container while simultaneously inhibiting such access by animals. |
| US10648196B2 |
Lockbox with multi-position shackle
A lock assembly includes a lock body and a U-shaped shackle having a curved portion extending between first and second legs receivable in first and second shackle apertures in an upper portion of the lockbox body. The shackle has a guard wall affixed to an interior surface of the curved portion, the guard wall defining an interior arcuate wall surface extending forward and rearward from a central plane bisecting the shackle. The upper portion of the lock body includes first and second protruding projections at least partially surrounding the first and second shackle apertures and defining first and second upwardly diverging interior surfaces laterally aligned with the curved portion of the shackle. The lock body includes a latching mechanism configured to secure the shackle in a plurality of latched positions to adjust a distance between the first and second upwardly diverging interior surfaces and the curved portion of the shackle. When the shackle is secured around a door handle with the shackle secured in a suitable one of the plurality of latched positions, abutment of the interior arcuate wall surface with a neck portion of the door handle impedes forward and rearward rotation of the lock assembly about a horizontal axis extending through the curved portion of the shackle and abutment of the first and second upwardly diverging interior surfaces with a neck portion of the door handle impedes side-to-side twisting rotation of the lock assembly about a vertical axis extending through the curved portion of the shackle. |
| US10648195B2 |
Side action flush lock for casement window and method of operating the same
A low profile actuating window lock for casement windows having a longitudinal slot in a sidewall of the casing for the lock, wherein a fork component translates within the slot in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the handle and the handle rotates along a plane perpendicular to the fork component, the handle pivotable about a restrictor arm that pivots relative to the casing, allowing the handle to rotate fully from the locked position to the unlocked position with low clearance from the window frame. The pivot points of the handle and restrictor arm configuration allow for an over center linkage that prevents back driving the casement window lock. |
| US10648194B2 |
Fence structure
A fence structure has a plane extended from the top of a connecting board to a vertical pipe and an embedded opening formed at corresponding position for embedding the vertical pipe. A protective flange is protruded from each of two corresponding sides of the embedded opening, attached onto a horizontal pipe for passing the vertical pipe to an inner wall of a hole, and installed at a position in the same displacing direction when the angle of the vertical pipe is adjusted. The horizontal pipe is formed by a main body with an opening on the longitudinal side and a cover disposed at the opening position and coupled to the main body. While adjusting the angle of the fence, the vertical and horizontal pipes are prevented from hitting each other or scratching their outer surfaces. In addition, the time and labor of assembling the fence can be reduced. |
| US10648192B2 |
Funerary structure for containing funerary objects
A funerary structure for containing funerary objects, which comprises a base framework provided with a plurality of profiled elements which are arranged along at least two directions and can be fixed to a supporting wall. The profiled elements delimit laterally at least one containment recess for funerary objects. There is at least one slab for closing the recess, which can be fixed, by virtue of fixing elements, to the base framework on the opposite side with respect to the supporting wall. |
| US10648189B2 |
Portable swim lane
A swim lane apparatus having one or more attachment or tethering devices. The one or more attachment or tethering devices are configured to couple or affix to a foundation of the pool. The swim lane apparatus has a first sidewall. The first sidewall is coupled to the one or more attachment or tethering devices. The first sidewall is configured to form a channel and direct a flow of water out of the channel when the flow of water enters the channel. |
| US10648188B1 |
Aggregate retaining devices for drains and drain covers
A drain assembly can be installed in a wall for containing an artificial body of water, such as a pool bottom and/or sidewalls. The drain assembly can be used with a water circulation system for the artificial body of water. The drain assembly has a plaster attachment device for securing a plaster mixture to the drain assembly. The plaster mixture can substantially match or look similar to the surface of the pool bottom and/or sidewalls. |
| US10648177B2 |
Support member for ceiling system
The disclosure relates to support members for ceiling systems, such as those that can be formed into an interconnected grid to be suspended from a ceiling and support ceiling tiles. One aspect of the disclosure is a linearly-extending support member for a ceiling tile. The support member has a cross-sectional shape that includes a substantially vertical central web with a top end and a bottom end; at least one flange extending substantially horizontally from the bottom end of the web, the flange having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a bulb extending from the top end of the web, the bulb having a first side and a second side with a cavity therebetween, the bulb having an upper portion and a lower portion adjacent the top end of the web, wherein the entire lower portion of the bulb is narrower than the upper portion of the bulb and wider than the central web, the bulb comprising a series of spaced apertures formed therein through both the first side and the second side of the bulb, each aperture being disposed at least partially in the lower portion of the bulb, each aperture having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the aperture is rounded. |
| US10648175B2 |
Column protector and column protection system
An apparatus for protection of an elongated structural support from impact, the apparatus includes an elongated impact protection component in the form of a unitary part having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of orthogonally-oriented projections spaced along a length of the elongated impact protection component. The projections of the elongated impact protection component include integrally formed connectors for interlocking connection to other same type impact protection components. |
| US10648168B2 |
Rapid deployment shelters and shelter systems
Disclosed are shelters and shelter systems that may be conveniently and rapidly deployed. In certain aspects, the shelter systems disclosed herein are self-contained when configured in a stowed configuration and may be rapidly deployed by one or more users without the use of tools, thereby making them particularly useful for deployment, for example, in disaster-stricken areas. Also disclosed are composite insulating materials that may be used to construct various structures, including the shelters and shelter systems disclosed herein. |
| US10648165B1 |
Storm water gate with sensors
A fluid flow control and debris intercepting apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid and the introduction of debris into the entrance of a conventional curbside storm drain of the character having spaced apart side walls that define a fluid flow channel through which fluid flows. Additionally, the apparatus senses the nature and extent of contaminants contained within the fluid. |
| US10648162B2 |
Swivel-type precision ceramics control balance valve
A precision ceramics control balance valve includes a valve housing, a rotary base mounted in the valve housing, a valve lever mounted on the rotary base and protruding upward from the valve housing, a movable valve plate mounted in the valve housing and located under the rotary base, a fixed valve plate mounted in the valve housing and located under the movable valve plate, a valve seat mounted on a lower end of the valve housing to stop the fixed valve plate, the movable valve plate and the rotary base, a temperature limiting device mounted in the valve seat, a pedestal connected with the valve seat, and a balance unit mounted in the pedestal. |
| US10648159B2 |
Obstacle monitoring system, construction machine, and obstacle monitoring method
A monitoring region for monitoring entry of an obstacle is set around a machine main body. A plurality of obstacle sensing sensors sense an obstacle in the monitoring region and sense an obstacle in different directions with respect to the machine main body. A construction machine accumulatively stores approach information indicating that an obstacle has been sensed by any of the plurality of obstacle sensing sensors in a specific period, and outputs the approach information to be displayed on a display device. |
| US10648154B2 |
Method of limiting flow in response to sensed pressure
A method of controlling hydraulic fluid flow to an implement of a material handling vehicle includes coupling a boom arm to a vehicle frame for rotation about the vehicle frame, rotating a boom arm with respect to the vehicle frame with an actuator, coupling an attachment to the boom arm for rotation with respect to the boom arm, sensing a pressure of fluid in the actuator, communicating the sensed pressure to a control system, determining a baseline pressure of the attachment based upon the sensed pressure of the fluid in the actuator, and limiting fluid flow to the actuator with a control valve in response to the sensed pressure of the fluid in the actuator being above the baseline pressure. |