| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10698382B2 |
Numerical controller
A numerical controller capable of determining whether or not an input numerical value of an operator is within a range of a limit value includes: an input receiving unit receiving various operations of the operator and input of numerical values for input items; an input numerical value limiting unit determining whether or not the input numerical value is within the range of the limit value; a limit value changing unit changing the limit value when the input receiving unit receives a specific operation; and a limit value restoring unit restoring the limit value to a value before the change when the specific operation is completed. |
| US10698379B2 |
Non-invasive method for displaying and monitoring practical data in controllers
A device that provides for the non-invasive data monitoring of analog IO of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system is described. The output is ultimately presented to a user audibly and/or visually on an interface in real-time and is measured directly from the IO channel. This type of device allows the accurate reading and analysis of errors and erroneous data within a device and transmission of said data to disparate secondary devices for use. |
| US10698378B2 |
Industrial control system smart hardware monitoring
According to some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a computerized method for automatic monitoring of control systems. The method may comprise receiving electronic measurement values, measured on one or more conductors of computerized control devices, where the conductors may be a system bus conductor and/or and input-output line of a programmable logic controller. The method may comprise automatically calculating normal data patterns based on an analysis of the electronic measurement values. The method may comprise matching between new electronic measurement values measured on the computerized control devices and the normal data patterns to automatically detect abnormal data patterns. The method may comprise sending automatically an abnormal operation alert in response to the abnormal data patterns. |
| US10698377B2 |
Method and system for configuring programmable IO controllers and searching connectable IO modules thereof
The exemplified methods and systems facilitates the configuring of IO devices and its IO modules (and submodules) in enabling an operator to retrieve, via a single input, in a development workspace, a list of IO modules and submodules that is compatible to a given IO device. The exemplified methods and systems facilitates retrieval of compatible IO modules and submodules based parameters of the IO modules and submodules. The exemplified methods and systems provide an intuitive interface, in a development workspace for configuring an IO device, to add a retrieved (i.e., searched) module or submodule from a list thereof to an existing project for a given IO device. |
| US10698376B2 |
Hierarchical wireless power management system and method, as well as remote control device and slave controller used therein
A hierarchical wireless power management system using a remote control device to control multiple slave controllers is disclosed. The control module of the remote control device comprises a processing circuit, a wireless signal transmission circuit, and a storage unit. The wireless signal transmission circuit is adapted for transmitting a control signal to a corresponding slave controller. The storage unit is storing settings related to the slave controllers. The remote control device manage the operations of slave controllers with a capability of doing a group controlling under the hierarchical architecture, based upon settings comprising a hierarchical grouping distribution architecture changeably set by a managing user and respective corresponding identification codes of the slave controllers set by the managing user. |
| US10698374B2 |
System and method for managing water or other type of fluid
The present invention relates to a system and method for managing water or other fluid that provides monitoring and reliable control of the use of water or other fluid in a given territorial area, facilitating the management of water use or other fluid in processes where it is involved, for example in tasks of irrigating agricultural land or in industrial processes using fluids such as leaching. The system and method of the invention operates on the basis of a distributed monitoring and control logic implemented to control and monitor a hydraulic system located in the given territorial area by an arrangement of sensors, actuators and controllers deployed in communication with a network of nodes that allows a user to monitor, control and automate the use of water in that territorial area, reducing to almost zero user intervention in the process of monitoring and control to almost zero. |
| US10698371B2 |
Systems and methods for classifying in-situ sensor response data patterns representative of grid pathology severity
The present invention is directed towards methods and systems for characterizing sensors and developing classifiers for sensor responses on a utility grid. Experiments are conducted by selectively varying utility grid parameters and observing the responses of utility grid to the variation. Methods and systems of this invention then associate the particular responses of the utility grid sensors with specific variations in the grid parameters, based on knowledge of the areas of space and periods of time where the variation in grid parameters may affect the sensor response. This associated data is then used to updating a model of grid response. |
| US10698364B2 |
Methods and systems for augmented reality
Methods and systems (terminals, devices) for the generation, the retrieval and the display of computer-generated holographic images through a head-mounted display. The holographic images may be used as virtual retrievable tags for display in augmented reality. |
| US10698363B1 |
Electrical connection for an imaging unit of an electrophotographic image forming device
An imaging unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a rotatable photoconductive drum. A frame at a rear of the housing is positioned to matably receive a toner cartridge and is open to a portion of an outer surface of the photoconductive drum. An electrical contact is positioned along a first side wall of the frame for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. The electrical contact of the imaging unit faces upward and is unobstructed from above. A cam surface is positioned along an inner side of the first side wall of the frame for contacting an electrical connector of the toner cartridge and moving the electrical connector of the toner cartridge from a retracted position to an operative position upon mating of the toner cartridge with the imaging unit. |
| US10698361B2 |
Process cartridge having a coupling member and a coupling member supporting portion
A process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a rotatable roller having a rotation shaft in a position deviated from an axis of the developing roller; an Oldham coupling member at an end portion of the shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the drive receiving portion; a supporting portion supporting the drive receiving portion; an abutting portion receiving the supporting portion urged by the urging member, an elastic sheet positioned to contact at least part of the Oldham coupling member, wherein the abutting portion is positioned outside an outer periphery of the drum on a plane perpendicular to the shaft of the rotatable roller. |
| US10698360B1 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a covering provided along a side surface of a body of the image forming apparatus, provided with a rotation shaft on a lower side of the covering, and provided to be openable and closable with respect to the body; an interior section provided on a side of the covering near the body, releasably coupled to the covering by a coupling portion, and provided to be openable and closable with respect to the body; a first limit portion that is attached to the interior section and the body, and that limits a maximum opening angle between the interior section and the body; and a second limit portion that is attached to the covering and the body, and that limits a maximum opening angle between the covering and the body to an angle larger than the maximum opening angle between the interior section and the body. |
| US10698355B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a hand detection sensor that detects a hand within a predetermined range from a grasping part of a sheet feeding cassette, a locking mechanism capable of locking the sheet feeding cassette in a closed state with respect to the image forming apparatus body, and an operation control unit that operates the locking mechanism to lock the sheet feeding cassette when the hand is detected by the hand detection sensor during the execution of a printing process in an image forming apparatus body, interrupts the printing process after the locking, and releases the locking by the locking mechanism after the interruption. |
| US10698352B2 |
Fixing apparatus
An image fixing device including a cylindrical film, a heater, and a heat conduction member. The cylindrical film is contactable with toner unfixed on a sheet. The heater includes a substrate and a heat generating resistor provided on the substrate. The heat conduction member has a thermal conductivity higher than that of the substrate and is on a side of the substrate opposite from the heat generating resistor. The substrate is provided with non-insulating wiring patterns on a side opposite from the side provided with the heat generating resistor with respect to a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction. The heat conduction member is in contact with one of the wiring patterns and is in contact with the substrate from a position of the substrate outside of an end of the heat generating resistor toward a central portion. |
| US10698348B2 |
Selective energization of heater elements in image forming
An image forming apparatus includes a heater and a controller. The heater includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in a main scanning direction to fix an image on a sheet passing a nip. The controller is configured to determine image-forming regions and non-image-forming regions among sheet regions of the sheet divided in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction based on image data of the image. The controller is further configured to determine, as heating regions, the image-forming regions and a first part of the non-image-forming regions satisfying a predetermined condition, and determine, as non-heating regions, a second part of the non-image-forming regions not satisfying the predetermined condition. The controller is configured to energize one or more of the heater elements corresponding to the heating regions, selectively at timing when the heating regions pass the nip. |
| US10698343B2 |
Developer replenishment container
A developer replenishment container attachable to and detachable from a container receiver of a developer supply device is provided. The developer replenishment container includes a containing cover portion, a containing portion, and a discharge mechanism configured to deliver a developer to a discharge port while loosening the developer. The containing portion has a circumferential wall and a rotational force input portion. The circumferential wall is provided with a spiral protrusion. The discharge mechanism has a cam member and a biasing member including a bellows portion. A discharge channel is formed between the cam member and the bellows portion. The bellows portion extends and contracts in accordance with reciprocating movement of the cam member along an axial direction of the circumferential wall. |
| US10698342B2 |
Anti-friction ring for a developer roller in a liquid electrophotographic printer
In one example, a sealing system for a developer roller in a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a pair of arcuate seals each with an annular sealing surface to seal one end of the developer roller; a pair of washers each having a low friction surface to contact one of the sealing surfaces; and a pair of retainers each to hold one of the washers flat against the end of the roller. |
| US10698338B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus executes a first obtain mode to obtain a resistance value of a developing roller when a potential difference between the developing roller and an electroconductive roller is generated by a second voltage generator when the developing roller carries a reference liquid developer having a known toner concentration. A second obtain mode is executed to obtain a toner concentration of the liquid developer on a surface of the developing roller based on the obtained resistance value and a detection result when a potential difference between the developing roller and the electroconductive roller is generated by the second voltage generator when the liquid developer is applied to the developing roller. During image formation, the controller controls a first voltage generator based on the obtained toner concentration so the toner concentration of the liquid developer on the surface of the developing roller is a target value. |
| US10698336B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a polygon mirror that deflects a light beam includes: a light emitter that emits the light beam; an optical sensor that is disposed at a position on which the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror is incident; a detector that detects a minimum level being a light intensity level of the light beam, the lowest within a range detected by the optical sensor; a switcher that switches a light intensity level of the light beam emitted from the light emitter until the detector detects the minimum level; and a determiner that determines a degree of contamination of a component on an optical path of the light beam extending from the light emitter to the optical sensor, on the basis of the minimum level detected when the light intensity level is switched by the switcher. |
| US10698333B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a light-emitting element that includes light-emitting point groups; and an optical system that includes imaging systems focusing light from light-emitting points of the light-emitting point groups, wherein the light-emitting point groups and the imaging systems are combined into sets, the light-receiving surface has a cylindrical shape, each imaging system has a negative imaging magnification, light-emitting point groups are arranged at different positions, the imaging systems adjacent to each other have optical axes non-parallel to each other, each optical axis has an angle being not zero relative to the central normal, and a plane including the optical axis and the central normal is perpendicular to a rotational symmetry axis, and an angle between the optical axis and a line normal to the light-receiving surface is smaller than an angle between the central normal and a line normal to the light-receiving surface. |
| US10698325B2 |
Performance monitoring of design-based alignment
Alignment can be monitored by positioning at least one alignment verification location per alignment frame. The alignment verification location is a coordinate within the alignment frame. A distance between each of the alignment verification locations and a closest instance of an alignment target is determined. An alignment score can be determined based on the distance. The alignment score can include a number of the alignment frames between the alignment verification location and the alignment target. If the alignment score is below a threshold, then alignment setup can be performed. |
| US10698319B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and article manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus that performs scanning exposure for a substrate is provided. The apparatus comprises a light source, a digital mirror device including a plurality of mirrors capable of controlling a direction of light emitted from the light source and configured to operate to adjust an integrated exposure amount on the substrate in accordance with scanning of the substrate, a projection optical system configured to guide light from the digital mirror device to the substrate and project a pattern onto the substrate, and a controller configured to control the plurality of mirrors in the digital mirror device based on the pattern to be projected onto the substrate, wherein the controller controls the plurality of mirrors such that an integrated exposure amount in an edge portion of the pattern becomes larger than an integrated exposure amount in a portion other than the edge portion. |
| US10698317B2 |
Underlayer material for photoresist
A method includes providing a layered structure on a substrate, the layered structure including a bottom layer formed over the substrate, a hard mask layer formed over the bottom layer, a material layer formed over the hard mask layer, and a photoresist layer formed over the material layer, exposing the photoresist layer to a radiation source, developing the photoresist layer, where the developing removes portions of the photoresist layer and the material layer in a single step without substantially removing portions of the hard mask layer, and etching the hard mask layer using the photoresist layer as an etch mask. The material layer may include acidic moieties and/or acid-generating molecules. The material layer may also include photo-sensitive moieties and crosslinking agents. |
| US10698311B2 |
Reflection-type exposure mask
A reflection-type exposure mask includes a light reflector provided in a pattern on a substrate. The light reflector has a multilayer structure including first-type layers and second-type layers that are alternately stacked. The second-type layers have a refractive index higher at an extreme ultraviolet wavelength than a refractive index of the first-type layer at the extreme ultraviolet wavelength. A light transmitting medium is on a side surface of the light reflector. |
| US10698308B2 |
Ranging method, automatic focusing method and device
Described are a ranging method, and an automatic focusing method and device. The ranging method comprises: acquiring a coefficient of relationship between the number of pixels and the object distance within a range of a distance between a camera and a projection lens on the basis of a preset calibrated object distance; and calculating an actual object distance according to the acquired coefficient of relationship. |
| US10698303B2 |
Projection apparatus for producing a pixel-based illumination pattern
A projection apparatus for producing a pixel-based illumination pattern has a laser light source for producing coherent laser light and a micromirror array with a multiplicity of mirrors. The mirrors are implemented so as to be controllable in terms of their position, for setting a brightness and/or color of a respective pixel of the pixel-based illumination pattern. The laser light source emits the laser light towards the micromirror array. A beam-shaping element splits the laser light from the laser light source into a multiplicity of partial beams and each of the partial beams is oriented toward one of the mirrors of the micromirror array. |
| US10698299B2 |
Trail camera mounting system
The herein described invention is a camera mounting system where the user can safely install a camera high in a tree without having to leave the ground. The camera mounting system is comprised of a tree attachment, ball mount, and camera mount. The system is installed by using an extension pole with releasable capture means for installation and removal of the system. Once installed, a camera can be accurately aimed by using a laser attachment and standard laser pen light. This system is further comprised of a saw attachment, which can be used to clear branches from the installation area of the tree being utilized. |
| US10698294B2 |
Control of an SMA actuation arrangement
Resistance feedback control of drive signals for plural SMA actuator wires in an SMA actuation arrangement is performed. Target resistance values are set representing a desired position of a movable element with respect to the support structure. Measures of resistance of each SMA actuator wire are detected. Errors are derived from the target resistance values and the detected measures of resistance, the errors being adjusted by offsets. The powers of the drive signals supplied to SMA actuator wires are controlled. in accordance with the adjusted errors. The offsets have values selected to adjust the actual position of the movable element to match the desired positions represented by the target resistance values. |
| US10698293B2 |
Frequency conversion of electromagnetic radiation
A frequency conversion device and method is disclosed. In one aspect, a frequency device includes an array of mutually spaced semiconductor islands composed of at least one III-V semiconductor compound. The semiconductor islands are configured so that electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength incident upon the semiconductor islands causes them to emit electromagnetic radiation of a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength by a nonlinear frequency conversion process. The frequency device further includes a transparent support supporting the semiconductor islands. The transparent support is substantially transparent to radiation of the second wavelength, so that at least the radiation of the second wavelength passes through the transparent support. |
| US10698292B1 |
Optical wavelength conversion device and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to provide, for example, a method for manufacturing an optical wavelength conversion device having a structure that enables efficient formation of crystal regions on the surface of, or inside, an amorphous material. An amorphous main body is intermittently irradiated with a first laser beam for generating a high-density excited electron region inside the main body and a second laser beam for heating the high-density excited electron region, with respective focus regions of the first and second laser beams overlapping each other. During the intermittent irradiation with the first and second laser beams, the relative position of the main body and the overlapping focus region of the first and second laser beams are varied. This enables part of the main body where the overlapping focus region moves to serve as a heat source for forming a crystal region. |
| US10698285B2 |
Electrochromic device and method for manufacturing electrochromic device
The invention relates to devices that provide a color change under the influence of an electric voltage, in particular to an electrochromic device and a method for manufacturing such a device. Disclosed is the method for manufacturing an electrochromic device comprising at least two electrodes that are flexible and optically transparent with a hermetically closed space between the electrodes filled with an electrochromic composition that may contain transparent and insoluble microparticles that function as spacers. |
| US10698283B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of columnar spacers. The pixel arrangement is a stripe arrangement including red, green and blue pixel columns. The first substrate includes TFTs, one for each pixel, wherein each TFT includes an oxide semiconductor layer. The second substrate includes a color filter layer and a light-blocking layer. The light-blocking layer includes a plurality of first shading portions extending along the column direction, and a plurality of second shading portions extending along the row direction. Each of the columnar spacers is aligned with one of the second shading portions. At least one of the red, green and blue pixel columns has first pixel boundaries, where one of the second shading portions is present, and second pixel boundaries, where none of the second shading portions present, alternating with each other in the column direction, and the second shading portions are arranged in a staggered arrangement. |
| US10698281B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and method for manufacturing same
A liquid crystal display panel (100) according to the present invention includes a plurality of spacers configured to hold a gap between a first substrate (10) and a second substrate (30). The plurality of spacers include a plurality of first spacers in a display region and a plurality of second spacers (55) in a non-display region. The first substrate includes a first metal layer (12) and a second metal layer (16), a first transparent conductive layer (22) formed on the second metal layer and in direct contact with the second metal layer, a second inorganic insulating layer (23) formed on the first transparent conductive layer, and an organic insulating layer (25) formed on the second inorganic insulating layer. When viewed from the normal direction of the first substrate, each of the plurality of spacers overlaps with the first transparent conductive layer and the second inorganic insulating layer, and overlaps with the first metal layer and/or the second metal layer. Each of the plurality of spacers includes a part of the organic insulating layer. |
| US10698276B2 |
Display device and method for fabricating the same
A display device and a method of manufacturing the display device are capable of enhancing arrangement condition of a switching element, a color conversion layer, and a pixel electrode, and increasing an aperture ratio of a pixel. The display device includes: a first substrate; a switching element and a color conversion layer on the first substrate; a polarization pattern overlapping the color conversion layer and connected to the switching element; and a pixel electrode overlapping the polarization pattern and connected to the polarization pattern. |
| US10698274B2 |
Display apparatus and method for manufacturing display apparatus
A display apparatus comprises: a display panel comprising driving elements to drive pixels and a first terminal group electrically connected to the driving elements; a supporting member comprising a surface on which the display panel is to be placed, and comprising wirings and a second terminal group connected to the wirings; and a holding member provided along an edge of the display panel. The holding member comprises a connector provided with contactors, and is adhered to the surface to hold the display panel. Each of the contactors is positioned in such a way as to face each terminal of the first terminal group. Each of the contactors is connected to each terminal of the second terminal group. The edge of the display panel is coupled with the connector. Each terminal of the first terminal group is electrically connected to each of the wirings via each of the contactors. |
| US10698271B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions. The first regions and the second regions are formed on the first substrate and the second substrate. In a narrow viewing mode, the luminous flux of the first regions along a first viewing direction is different from that of the first regions along a second viewing direction opposite to the first viewing direction, and the luminous flux of the second regions along the first viewing direction is substantially different from that of the first regions along the first viewing direction. |
| US10698265B1 |
Quantum dot film
A quantum dot film includes a plurality of sealed microcells. The microcells may be formed within a layer of polymeric material and sealed with a sealing material. Also, the microcells may contain a dispersion of a solvent and a plurality of quantum dots. A method of making a quantum dot film includes providing a layer of polymeric material having a plurality of open microcells, filling the plurality of open microcells with a dispersion of a solvent and plurality of quantum dots, and sealing the microcells. |
| US10698259B2 |
Deformed liquid crystal display device
A deformed liquid crystal display device including a cover bottom; a backlight unit on the cover bottom; the backlight unit including: a LED assembly including a plurality of LEDs; a reflector comprising a bottom surface, and side portions bent upward from edges of the bottom surface; a diffuser, disposed above and spaced apart from the plurality of LEDs and the bottom surface of the reflector; a liquid crystal panel disposed on the backlight unit, wherein the reflector has at least one corner having an acute angle formed by two adjacent side portions, wherein a brightness enhancing portion is disposed at the corner having the acute angle. |
| US10698258B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and split-type backlight module
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel; a base utilized to support the display panel; and a split-type backlight module disposed corresponding to an incident surface of the display panel. The split-type backlight module includes a backplate, a light source plate, a diffusion plate, and an optical film. Light emitted from the light source plate passes through the diffusion plate and the optical film to form a uniform surface light source projected onto the display panel. |
| US10698253B2 |
Front panel for display device and display device
There is provision of a front panel for a display device including a display region and a non-display region adjacent to the display region. The front panel for the display device includes a transparent plate, a decorative layer formed on an area of a back surface of the transparent plate corresponding to the non-display region except for an area of an optical path of infrared light, and a first polarizing plate polarizing visible light provided at a front surface side or a back surface side of the transparent plate, which is disposed at a region including the optical path of infrared light. |
| US10698252B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides display devices and methods of manufacturing display devices that can be slimmer than typical display devices. In one embodiment, such a display device includes a first substrate formed of glass, a light source disposed at a position that corresponds to at least one surface of the first substrate, a first resin layer on the first substrate, a first polarizing layer on the first resin layer, a liquid crystal layer on the first polarizing layer, a second substrate on the liquid crystal layer, the second substrate including a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines, and a second polarizing layer on the second substrate. |
| US10698247B2 |
Display apparatus, display unit, and transparent plate unit
Provided is a light emitting apparatus having a structure suitable for improvement in production yield. This light emitting apparatus includes a display panel, a transparent plate including an opposite surface that faces the display panel, and a light shielding layer provided in a peripheral part of the opposite surface of the transparent plate. |
| US10698246B2 |
Display screen, display screen assembly, and terminal
Provided are a display screen, a display screen assembly, and a terminal. The display screen includes a display panel and an optical film. The display panel includes a display surface and a side surface. The display surface is configured to display an image. The display surface includes a non-display region and a display region. The non-display region surrounds the display region. The side surface surrounds the periphery of the display surface. The optical film includes a lightproof portion and a light-transmitting portion. The light-transmitting portion is stacked on the display region, and correspondingly covers the display region. The lightproof portion is fixedly connected to the light-transmitting portion. The lightproof portion is stacked on the side surface and the non-display region, and correspondingly covers the side surface and the non-display region. |
| US10698243B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a display module displaying an image, a rear structure supporting the display module, a vibration generating device vibrating the display module, and a stiff member disposed on a rear surface of the display module. Accordingly, a sound pressure level corresponding to a high frequency domain is prevented from being reduced, thereby enhancing the quality of a sound output to a region in front of a display panel. |
| US10698239B2 |
Display device
In one embodiment, a display device includes a display area, a peripheral area, scanning lines, signal lines, a first driver in the peripheral area, and a second driver in the peripheral area. The display area has an arc-shaped corner. The first driver includes first and second buffers configured to apply voltage to the scanning lines, a first shift register unit configured to control the first buffer unit, and a second shift register unit configured to control the second buffer unit. At the corner, extension directions of the first buffer unit and the first shift register unit are equal to each other. Extension directions of the second buffer unit and the second shift register unit are different from each other. |
| US10698238B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and controlling circuit
A controlling circuit includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit, a level shifter having a current source therein, a capacitor connected to a current source, an overcurrent protection circuit connected to the level shifter, and a controlling circuit configured to enable or disable a function of overcurrent protection of the overcurrent protection circuit within designated time. The controlling circuit includes a switch device. An input of the switch device connected to an output terminal of the capacitor, and an output terminal of the switch device connected to a controlling terminal of the overcurrent protection circuit. |
| US10698235B2 |
Ophthalmic device including liquid crystal alignment features
An ophthalmic device including liquid crystal alignment features is disclosed herein. An example device may include first and second optical elements. The first optical element may include first liquid crystal alignment features formed on a first surface. The second optical element may include a first optical diffraction grating formed on a second surface, and second liquid crystal alignment features formed on the second surface. The first surface of the first optical element may face the second surface of the second optical element, and a first liquid crystal material may be disposed between the first and second surfaces of the first and second optical elements. |
| US10698233B2 |
Contact lens
A contact lens includes, in order from a center to a periphery, an optical zone and at least two structural zones. The optical zone includes a front surface and a back surface, wherein at least one of the front surface and the back surface is aspheric, and the optical zone provides a positive force or a negative force. The structural zones concentrically surround the optical zone, wherein one of the structural zones provides a positive force, and the other of the structural zones provides a negative force. A composition for manufacturing the contact lens includes at least two kinds of monomers, at least one kind of crosslinking agent, at least one kind of diluent and at least one kind of initiator. |
| US10698230B2 |
Light field display control method and apparatus, and light field display device
Embodiments of the present application disclose a light field display control method and apparatus and a light field display device. The light field display control method comprises: determining at least one depth distribution sub-region of content according to a display depth of field (DoF) range of a light field display device and depth distribution information of the content, wherein each depth distribution sub-region of the at least one depth distribution sub-region is located outside the display DoF range; and tilting a first display unit at least with respect to an original plane of a display array of the light field display device according to the display DoF range of the light field display device and the depth distribution sub-region, wherein the first display unit is a display unit that is in the display array and affects display of a first object, and the first object is a part, which is located in the depth distribution sub-region, of the content. The present application can improve display quality of an object, which is located in a partial depth distribution sub-region, of content to be displayed or content being displayed. |
| US10698229B2 |
Long-range optical device with a graticule
The invention relates to a long-range optical device (1) with an observation beam path (8) and a graticule for aiming at a target, and with a laser rangefinder (15), wherein a transmitting beam path of a laser transmitter (16) runs at least partly in the observation beam path (8), and wherein in an objective housing (63) a joint is arranged and at least one lens of the objective (31) is mounted to be movable by means of the joint in the objective housing (63), and wherein the joint comprises a bearing housing (66) fixed in the objective housing (63) and a lens tube (64), and at an object-side end of the lens tube (64) a front objective lens system (61) of the objective (31) is arranged and an eyepiece side end of the lens tube (64) is mounted pivotably in the bearing housing (66). |
| US10698226B2 |
Flexible illuminator
A method is disclosed that includes splitting a beam of radiation into a first part of the beam having a first polarization and a second part of the beam having a second polarization, forming a first beam with a first polarization distribution between the first polarization and the second polarization and/or a first intensity distribution by modulating the first part of the beam, forming a second beam with a second polarization distribution between the first polarization and the second polarization and/or a second intensity distribution by modulating the second part of the beam, and combining at least a portion of the first beam having the second polarization and at least a portion of the second beam having the first polarization. |
| US10698224B1 |
Optical lens assemblies, head-mounted displays, and methods of altering optical properties of optical lens assemblies
The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element, at least one primary actuator for deforming, and thus changing at least one optical property of, the deformable optical element, and at least one augmentation mechanism that may be configured to augment the deformation of the deformable optical element by the primary actuator. Various head-mounted displays incorporating such an optical lens assembly, and related methods, are also disclosed. |
| US10698219B1 |
Heads up display systems for swimming goggles
The present disclosure provides a heads up display (HUD) system configured for use with a pair of swimming goggles comprising first and second eye cups, a nose bridge connected to inner sides of the eye cups, and strap mounting portions on outer sides of the eye cups. The HUD system comprises an electronics and optics modules. The electronics module comprises a water tight housing and a processor, memory, power supply, sensors and a display within the water tight housing. The processor processes signals from the sensors to determine swimming performance data and controls the display to generate an image containing the swimming performance data. The optics module is mounted on one of the eye cups and is coupled to the electronics module for receiving the image from the display. The optics module extends from the electronics module and has one or more light directing features for redirecting the image toward an eye of a user to generate a redirected image. |
| US10698218B1 |
Display system with oscillating element
A head-mounted display (HMD) contains an oscillating electronic display, an optics block, a controller, and an optional eye tracking system. The oscillating electronic display vibrates according to instructions in a manner that allows it to correct optical errors, including vergence-accommodation conflict, field curvature, fixed pattern noise, and chromatic aberration. The oscillating electronic display is configured to emit image light by oscillating through different positions along an optical axis. The optics block is configured to direct the emitted image light to an eyebox. The controller is configured to determine and provide instructions to the oscillating electronic display. These instructions include instructions specifying the amplitude and frequency of vibration as well as instructions specifying a plurality of specific sub-pixels on the display surface to activate. The eye tracking system provides eye tracking information to the controller. |
| US10698217B2 |
Diffractive backlight display and system
A diffractive backlight system includes a light source and a plate light guide. A surface of the plate light guide is configured with a diffraction grating that couples light out of the plate light guide and concentrates the light into a localized region of space. The diffractive backlight system may be used with at least one light valve array to form a display that generates images for viewing in the localized region of space. The display may be incorporated in head-mounted displays in order to generate focused augmented or virtual reality images for wearers. |
| US10698215B2 |
Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
Methods and systems are disclosed for presenting virtual objects on a limited number of depth planes using, e.g., an augmented reality display system. A farthest one of the depth planes is within a mismatch tolerance of optical infinity. The display system may switch the depth plane on which content is actively displayed, so that the content is displayed on the depth plane on which a user is fixating. The impact of errors in fixation tracking is addressed using partially overlapping depth planes. A fixation depth at which a user is fixating is determined and the display system determines whether to adjust selection of a selected depth plane at which a virtual object is presented. The determination may be based on whether the fixation depth falls within a depth overlap region of adjacent depth planes. The display system may switch the active depth plane depending upon whether the fixation depth falls outside the overlap region. |
| US10698202B2 |
Compound diffraction grating and method of manufacture
A method including forming a substrate to form a template which includes areas of high relief and areas of low relief; and forming a high refractive index diffraction grating in the template by adding high refractive index material to the template to form a continuous low relief surface. The high refractive index material fills the areas of low relief and covers the areas of high relief of the template to form a high refractive index diffraction grating. The high refractive index diffraction grating includes the high refractive index material configured to have a low relief side corresponding to the continuous low relief surface and configured by the template to have a periodic side including areas of high relief and areas of low relief which periodically alternate in the first direction with the first periodicity and are interconnected by the high refractive index material. |
| US10698198B2 |
Pixel clock generating device, image writing device, and image forming apparatus
A pixel clock generating device includes a high-frequency clock generator, a comparer, a pixel clock generator, and a value switcher. The high-frequency clock generator is configured to generate a high-frequency clock. The comparer is configured to measure a time interval between a leading-end synchronizing signal and a trailing-end synchronizing signal in a main scanning and calculate an error between the time interval and a target value. The pixel clock generator is configured to generate a pixel clock based on the high-frequency clock and a pixel clock frequency and correct the pixel clock based on the error. The value switcher, including a plurality of groups of values with which the pixel clock is generated, is configured to switch between the plurality of groups of values according to a switching signal after the trailing-end synchronizing signal is inputted, the comparer calculates the error, and the pixel clock generator corrects the pixel clock. |
| US10698197B2 |
Color changing materials arranged in slow particle coloration materials
Articles comprises iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains, wherein the chains of nanocrystals are embedded within a material used to form the article or a transfer medium used to transfer a color to the article are described. The material or transfer medium includes elastic properties that allow the nanocrystals to display a temporary color determined by the strength of an external force applied to the article, and the material or transfer medium includes memory properties that cause the displayed temporary color to dissipate when the external force is removed, wherein the dissipation of the displayed temporary color is sufficiently slow as to be visually observable by an average observer's unaided eye. |
| US10698195B2 |
Plane wave imager with synthetic aperture capability
Plane Wave Imagers (PWI) directly sense the amplitude and phase of electromagnetic waves and do not require a lens to image a scene. PWI's can also be used in the exit pupil of an afocal lens. PWI's are implemented in CMOS using silicon waveguide technology. Since the wavelength of light ranges from less than one to tens of microns, PWI's fabricated on silicon are essentially flat plates, making a PWI a thin and light structure. A CMOS PWI can operate in the visible, near infrared, short wave infrared, and mid wave thermal spectral bands. Benefits of using a PWI include the ability to achieve large optical aperture performance by digitally processing the outputs of multiple small aperture PWI's that are not necessarily precisely optically aligned. Enhanced scene resolution can be obtained by collecting imagery from several adjacent positions and then digitally combining the digital data into one large dataset. |
| US10698193B2 |
Telescopic column
A telescopic column includes a first telescopic element and a second telescopic element moveable linearly with respect to one another, at least one drive unit connected to the first telescopic element, at least one connecting element configured to transmit a force from the drive unit to the second telescopic element, a monitoring unit configured to detect an operating parameter of the connecting element, and a switch configured to send a signal to the monitoring unit in response to the detected operating parameter being outside a predetermined range. |
| US10698189B2 |
Variable magnification optical system, optical apparatus, and variable magnification optical system manufacturing method
A variable magnification optical system includes: a first lens group having a positive refractive power and arranged closest to an object; a negative lens group having a negative refractive power and arranged closer to an image than the first lens group; a positive lens group which has a positive refractive power, which includes at least one lens that moves integrally with an aperture stop, and which is arranged closer to the image than the negative lens group; and a focusing group arranged between the negative lens group and the positive lens group, wherein when varying magnification, the first lens group moves with respect to an image plane, the distance between the first lens group and the negative lens group is changed, and the distance between the negative lens group and the positive lens group is changed, wherein when focusing, the distance between the focusing group and a lens arranged at a position to face an object-side of the focusing group is changed, and the distance between the focusing group and a lens arranged at a position to face an image-side of the focusing group is changed, wherein the focusing group is constituted by a single lens component, wherein the positive lens group is constituted by a front group having a positive refractive power and a rear group having a negative refractive power, and the distance between the front group and the rear group is the largest air distance among air distances in the positive lens group, and wherein the rear group is constituted by two lens components. |
| US10698188B2 |
Variable magnification optical system, imaging apparatus, and method for manufacturing variable magnification optical system
Provided is a variable magnification optical system comprising, in order from an object side along an optical axis, a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group G4; upon zooming from a wide angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 being varied, a distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 being varied, and a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group being varied; the third lens group G3 comprising, in order from the object side along the optical axis, a 3a-th lens group G3a having positive refractive power, an aperture S, and a 3b-th lens group G3b having positive refractive power; a lens group having negative refractive power within the 3b-th lens group G3b being used as a vibration reduction lens group and moved so as to include a component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, whereby image plane correction is performed when image blurring occurs; and predetermined conditions being satisfied. Whereby, a small-size and high-performance variable magnification optical system, capable of realizing a small variation in aberration and attaining a sufficient brightness even in the telephoto state, an imaging apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the variable magnification optical system are provided. |
| US10698184B2 |
Optical imaging system
An optical imaging system includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens having a negative refractive power, a sixth lens, and a seventh lens having a positive refractive power. The first lens to seventh lens are sequentially disposed in a direction from an object side toward an imaging plane. |
| US10698182B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
The imaging lens consists of, in order from an object side: a first lens group that has a positive refractive power; a stop; a second lens group that has a refractive power; a third lens group that has a negative refractive power; and a fourth lens group that has a positive refractive power. The first lens group has, successively in order from a position closest to the object side, a negative meniscus lens that is convex toward the object side, a lens that is convex toward the object side, and a lens that is concave toward the object side. The third lens group consists of a negative lens. During focusing from an object at infinity to an object at a shortest distance, only the third lens group moves to an image side along an optical axis. The imaging lens satisfies a predetermined conditional expression relating to a focal length of the first lens group and a radius of curvature of an image side surface of a lens closest to the image side in the first lens group. |
| US10698181B2 |
Optical imaging lens
An optical imaging lens may include a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side. Through designing concave and/or convex surfaces of the six lens elements, the optical imaging lens may provide improved imaging quality and optical characteristics, and increased field of view while the optical imaging lens may satisfy V2−V6≥20.000, wherein an Abbe number of the second lens element is represented by V2, and an Abbe number of the sixth lens element is represented by V6. |
| US10698180B2 |
Optical imaging lens assembly, image capturing unit and electronic device
An optical imaging lens assembly includes six lens elements which are, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The second lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fifth lens element has negative refractive power. The sixth lens element has positive refractive power. |
| US10698175B2 |
Optical imaging lens
An optical imaging lens may include a first, a second, a third, and a fourth lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. Through designing concave and/or convex surfaces of the four lens elements, the optical imaging lens may provide improved imaging quality and optical characteristics, and have the ability to cooperate the demand of present smaller-sized electronic product while the optical imaging lens may satisfy TTL/TL≥1.700 and EFL/ImgH≥2.500, wherein a distance from the object-side surface of the first lens element to an image plane along the optical axis is represented by TTL, a distance from the object-side surface of the first lens element to the image-side surface of the fourth lens element along the optical axis is represented by TL, an effective focal length of the optical imaging lens is represented by EFL, and an image height of the optical imaging lens is represented by ImgH. |
| US10698174B2 |
Camera module and sensing unit to detect a detection target
A sensing unit of a camera module includes a detection target provided on a side surface of a lens module, one or more sensing coils disposed to face the detection target, and a calculator. The calculator may determine a displacement of the detection target translated in any of an optical axis direction, a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and a second direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, based on inductances of the one or more sensing coils. |
| US10698173B2 |
Lens driving apparatus
Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base formed at a center thereof with a first opening; a housing coupled with the base and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening; a yoke installed on the base and including a horizontal plate having a third opening corresponding to the first opening and a vertical plate protruding upward from the horizontal plate; a bobbin movably installed in the yoke and coupled with a lens module; a coil fixedly disposed around the bobbin; a plurality of magnets provided at the vertical plate of the yoke to face the coil; and a spring installed on at least one of upper and lower portions of the yoke to return the bobbin, which has moved up due to interaction between the magnet and the coil, to its initial position. |
| US10698171B2 |
High density fiber enclosure and method
A high density fiber enclosure system includes a chassis, cassette trays, an optional unification clip, cassettes, and an optional trunk cable management system. The chassis, cassette trays, and cassettes are configured such that individual cassettes may be installed, removed, and otherwise positioned for easy access by a user. The unification clip allows two adjacent cassette trays to be connected to one other such that cassette trays move as one unit. The trunk cable management system is designed to organize trunk cables and trunk cable furcation legs as well as relieve strain on the trunk cables and trunk cable furcation legs. |
| US10698169B1 |
Module with wavelength-based directional bias of light for receiving and transmitting optical signals
An optical module with directional bias of light beams for improved reception and transmission of optical signals includes a substrate, a photodetector disposed on the substrate, and an optical path control element disposed above the substrate. The optical path control element includes a filter and a reflector. The filter has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and the reflector is in contact with the upper surface. A first light beam enters the filter through the lower surface, and is reflected by the reflector to the photodetector. A light source is disposed on the substrate and emits a second light beam. The second light beam is reflected by the lower surface and away from the cavity. |
| US10698168B1 |
Printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) with integrated mounting structure to align and couple to transmitter optical assembly (TOSA) modules
The present disclosure is generally directed to an optical transceiver module that includes a mounting section for aligning and coupling to associated TOSA modules. In particular, an embodiment of the present disclosure includes TOSA and ROSA components disposed on a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). The PCBA includes a plurality of grooves at a optical coupling end to provide a TOSA mounting section. Each of the grooves provides at least one mating surface to receive and couple to an associated TOSA module. Opposite the optical coupling end, the PCBA includes an electric coupling section for coupling to, for example, a transmit (RX) circuit that provides one or more electrical signals to drive TOSA modules coupled to the TOSA mounting section. |
| US10698165B2 |
Multi-fiber ferrule connector
A single-piece multi-fiber ferrule interconnect assembly including a ferrule body having a main surface, a front frame, and a rear opening, wherein the front frame includes a front face and a back face; a plurality of lenses arranged to form a lens array, wherein the lenses are fabricated within the front frame and recessed from the front face; a plurality of grooves on the main surface for receiving a plurality of optical fibers, the grooves extending from the back face toward the rear opening, wherein each groove comprises a terminus located at the focal point of a corresponding lens on the front frame; a well located on the main surface along the back face of the front frame, wherein inside edges of the well are curved and wherein the well is capable of accommodating an epoxy; and a plurality of guide pin passageways on the ferrule body each having a pin aperture for receiving alignment pins from a complementary ferrule body, wherein the pin aperture and the alignment pin from the complementary ferrule body align the ferrule front faces such that ends of the optical fibers align. |
| US10698163B2 |
Polarization diversity optical interface assembly
Examples herein relate to polarization diversity optical interface assemblies including a single mode optical fiber and first and second grating couplers disposed on a substrate. The first and second grating couplers are coupled to first and second waveguides, respectively. The assemblies further includes an optical connector to couple light between the single mode optical fiber and each of the first and second grating couplers. The optical connector includes a ferrule and a walk-off crystal. The ferrule is coupled to a portion of the single mode optical fiber. The walk-off crystal is configured to spatially separate the light into first and second orthogonal polarization modes prior to passing through the respective first and second grating couplers and/or combine the first and second polarization modes of the light prior to passing through the single mode optical fiber. |
| US10698162B2 |
Polarization management
An optical device for polarizing light including a polarization altering element operatively coupled to a light path associated with the first light coupling device and the second light coupling device is described. The optical device may further include a first waveguide portion including a first layer having parallel plane surfaces with the first waveguide portion having a first light coupling device. The optical device may also include a second waveguide portion including a second layer having parallel plane surfaces with the second waveguide portion having a second light coupling device. |
| US10698161B2 |
Optical fiber with lens and optical coupler
An optical fiber with lens in which one end face of a first GRIN lens is connected to an end face of an optical fiber and one end face of a second GRIN lens is connected to another end face of the first GRIN lens, wherein the optical fiber and the first and second GRIN lenses are coaxially connected, a numerical aperture of the first GRIN lens is smaller than a numerical aperture of the second GRIN lens, and a position in a radial direction of a minimum distribution refractive index nt of the second GRIN lens is set on an inner side of an outer edge of the second GRIN lens and set at a same position as or on an outer side of an outermost periphery of light that is spread by the first GRIN lens. |
| US10698159B2 |
Multiple-layer arrangements including one or more dielectric layers over a waveguide
Structures that include a waveguide and methods of fabricating a structure that includes a waveguide. A first dielectric layer comprised of a first silicon nitride is formed. The waveguide is arranged over the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed that is arranged over the waveguide. The second dielectric layer is composed of a second silicon nitride having a lower absorption of optical signals than the first silicon nitride. |
| US10698158B1 |
Optical waveguides in micro-LED devices
Ion implantation is carried out into a GaN layer of mLEDs to partially or fully convert one or more regions of the crystalline GaN layer to amorphous GaN. As a result, the GaN layer through which light rays propagate have non-uniform refractive indexes that modify propagation paths of some light rays. Ions can be implanted in a region around an active region that emits light to function as an optical waveguide. The ion implanted regions direct light rays that propagate along predetermined directions into predetermined propagation paths thereby to modify the angle of incidence of these light rays. As such, the light extraction efficiency of the mLEDs is increased. |
| US10698157B2 |
Methods of forming waveguides utilizing temperature control
Disclosed are methods of making a planar optical waveguide, the method including depositing an uncured waveguide material on a substrate, the uncured waveguide material having a first temperature when deposited and the uncured waveguide material having a density dependent on the temperature thereof; changing the temperature of at least a portion of the uncured waveguide material to a second temperature before curing, after curing, during curing or any combination thereof; and curing the uncured waveguide material to form the planar optical waveguide. |
| US10698153B2 |
Index-matched grating inscription through fiber coating
When a grating is inscribed in a section of optical fiber through a coating of the optical fiber, using a light modulation mask to modulate the light beam that writes the grating, a fluid can be situated between the section of optical fiber and the back side of a mask component carrying the light modulation mask (e.g., on its front side) to reduce the refractive-index discontinuity encountered at the surface of the coating. In various embodiments, rather than running the fiber through a vessel containing the fluid, the fluid is run across the back side of the mask component or retained by capillary action between the fiber section and the mask component. |
| US10698147B2 |
Polarizing element
A polarizing element includes: a transparent substrate; and grid-shaped convexities that are arranged on the transparent substrate at a smaller pitch than a wavelength of operating band light and that extend in a specific direction. The grid-shaped convexities include a reflection layer formed on the transparent substrate and grid tips formed with side surfaces that, when viewed in the specific direction, are inclined in a direction of tip tapering. |
| US10698145B2 |
Polarizing plate and optical display comprising the same
A polarizing plate includes: a polarizing film; and an optical film on a surface of the polarizing film, the optical film including a first resin layer and a second resin layer sequentially stacked on the polarizing film, wherein the second resin layer has a higher index of refraction than the first resin layer, a plurality of pattern groups is at an interface between the first resin layer and the second resin layer, each of the pattern groups including at least two embossed optical patterns protruding from the second resin layer and a flat section between adjacent embossed optical patterns, each of the first surfaces being a bottom portion of each of the embossed optical patterns, and, in each pattern group, shortest distances between the first surfaces of the embossed optical patterns and the flat sections immediately adjacent to the embossed optical patterns are sequentially increased, or sequentially decreased. |
| US10698140B2 |
Image display, labeled article, and methods of manufacturing thereof
An image display that is to be transferred from a support onto a substrate and displays an image including personal information, according to a possible embodiment, includes: a base layer releasably supported by the support, having a light-transmitting property, a first pattern including a hologram and/or diffraction grating and transferred onto a main surface of the base layer, the first pattern displaying a first image including at least a piece of the personal information, the first pattern including dot-shaped portions, each center of the dot-shaped portions being located on a lattice point of a virtual planer lattice; and a second pattern displaying a second image, comprising an ink, and transferred onto the main surface of the base layer. At least a part of the first pattern and at least a part of the second pattern are juxtaposed on a same plane parallel to the main surface of the base layer. |
| US10698138B2 |
Graded diffuser
A diffuser including opposing structured first and second major surfaces is described. The first major surface includes a first plurality of surface structures providing a uniform first haze. The second major surface includes a first portion adjacent an edge and a second portion adjacent the first portion. The first portion includes a first region and a second region between the first region and the second portion. The second major surface includes a second plurality of surface structures providing a uniform second haze over the second portion and providing a third haze in the first portion. The third haze in the first region is higher than the second haze, and the third haze in the second region is monotonically decreasing. The second portion has a surface area of at least 90 percent of a surface area of the second major surface. |
| US10698131B2 |
Methods for improving matrix density and porosity estimates in subsurface formations
Methods may include estimating the weight fractions of kerogen and inorganic mineral components of at least an interval of a subsurface formation; determining the grain density of kerogen and inorganic mineral components, wherein at least the grain density of kerogen is determined by one or more infrared measurements; and calculating the formation matrix density of at least an interval of the subsurface formation from the estimated weight fractions and the determined grain density. In another aspect, methods may include estimating the weight fractions of kerogen and inorganic mineral components of at least an interval of a subsurface formation; determining the grain density of kerogen and inorganic mineral components, wherein at least the grain density of kerogen is determined by one or more infrared measurements; and calculating the formation matrix density of at least an interval of the subsurface formation from the estimated weight fractions and the determined grain density; calculating the bulk density for at least an interval of the subsurface formation; and determining the total porosity of at least an interval of the subsurface formation as a function of depth by combining the calculated formation matrix density and the calculated bulk density. |
| US10698125B2 |
Time of flight calibration in digital positron emission tomography
Time of flight (TOF) corrections for radiation detector elements of a TOF positron emission tomography (TOF PET) scanner are generated by solving an over-determined set of equations defined by calibration data acquired by the TOF PET scanner from a point source located at an isocenter of the TOF PET scanner, suitably represented as matrix equation Formula I=CS where Formula I represents TOF time differences, C is a relational matrix encoding the radiation detector elements, and S represents the TOF corrections. A pseudo-inverse C−1 of relational matrix C may be computed to solve S=C−1 Formula I. TOF corrections can be generated for a particular type of detector unit by identifying the radiation detector elements in C by detector unit. Further, multi-photon triggering time stamps can be adjusted to first-photon triggering based on Formula II where P1 is average photon count using first-photon triggering and Pm is a photon count using multi-photon triggering. |
| US10698124B2 |
Testing leaking rays
Devices and methods of testing leaking rays are provided. In one aspect, a device includes a first rotary arm configured to rotate around a first rotary axis, a second rotary arm rotatably connected with the first rotary arm and configured to rotate around a second rotary axis, a probe mounted on a rotating end of the second rotary arm and configured to measure a numerical value of leaking rays at each position at which the probe stays, a mounting base rotatably connected with the second rotary arm and configured to mount a ray source component, a first driving unit configured to drive the first rotary arm to rotate around the first rotary axis, and a second driving unit configured to drive the second rotary arm to rotate around the second rotary axis, the first rotary axis being perpendicular to the second rotary axis. |
| US10698122B2 |
Radiation imaging system, signal processing apparatus, and, radiographic image signal processing method
In order to provide a large-area radiation imaging apparatus that has an energy resolution while suppressing the occurrence of an artifact, the radiation imaging apparatus includes a detector and a signal processing unit. The detector includes a plurality of pixels for acquiring a pixel value in accordance with incident radiation. The signal processing unit performs signal processing for estimating energy of a radiation quantum of the incident radiation at a predetermined pixel included in the pixels using the amount of change in the pixel value of the predetermined pixel. |
| US10698121B2 |
10B enriched plastic scintillators for application in thermal neutron detection, methods of making and using the same
The present invention relates to a 10B enriched plastic scintillators, methods of making the same and methods of using the same. Neither carboranes nor 3He are required to be included in the plastic scintillators, which can be used in neutron detection. |
| US10698120B2 |
Radiation image acquisition system and radiation image acquisition method
A radiation image acquisition system includes a radiation source that outputs radiation toward an object, a scintillator that has an input surface to which the radiation output from the radiation source and transmitted through the object is input, converts the radiation input to the input surface into scintillation light, and is opaque to the scintillation light, an image capturing means that includes a lens portion focused on the input surface and configured to image the scintillation light output from the input surface and an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of the scintillation light imaged by the lens portion and outputs radiation image data of the object A, and an image generating unit that generates a radiation image of the object based on the radiation image data output from the image capturing means. |
| US10698118B1 |
Sensor-assisted location fix
Sensor-assisted location technology is disclosed. Primary location technologies, such as GPS, can be used to determine the current location (e.g., a location fix) of a location-enabled device. In some instances, the primary location technology may be unreliable and/or consume more power than an alternative location technology. Sensors, such as accelerometers, compasses, gyrometers, and the like, can be used to supplement and/or increase the accuracy of location data. For example, a location-enabled device can identify an area with unreliable GPS location data and use sensors to calculate a more accurate location. Areas identified may be crowd-sourced. Sensors can be used to identify errors in the location data provided by primary location technology. Sensors can be used to modify a sampling interval of the primary location technology. Sensor can be used to smooth motion on a user interface between sampling intervals of the primary location technology. |
| US10698117B2 |
Systems and methods for location assistance with personal area network devices
Implementations relate to systems and methods for location assistance using devices (104) in a personal area network (PAN). In one scenario, a user may use two separate location-enabled devices, such as a wearable personal device (102) and a cellular telephone device (104). In cases, one of those devices may have reached a higher or farther-developed state in terms of generating or storing location information (108) for the user's current position, as compared to the opposite device. This can take place, for instance, when the first (e.g. wearable) device (102) is first turned on. The two devices use platforms and techniques to exchange location information and carry out GPS or other operations to furnish the device that is lagging in position processing progress with assistance which will speed up or otherwise enhance the position fix for that device. |
| US10698114B2 |
Detector-array based scanning LIDAR
A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control light emission of a light source; scan a field of view by repeatedly moving at least one light deflector located in an outbound path of the light source; while the at least one deflector is in a particular instantaneous position, receive via the at least one deflector, reflections of a single light beam spot along a return path to a sensor; receive from the sensor on a beam-spot-by-beam-spot basis, signals associated with an image of each light beam-spot, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of detectors and wherein a size of each detector is smaller than the image of each light beam-spot; and determine, from signals resulting from the impingement on the plurality of detectors, at least two differing range measurements associated with the image of the single light beam-spot. |
| US10698111B2 |
Adaptive point cloud window selection
A method for imaging a moving object includes scanning a predetermined area with at least one distance sensor to form an image of a structure of a moving object using a safe sensing time window to periodically refresh the image. The images of the structure are compared to a known model of the structure to estimate rates of motion. A refined time window is determined based on the estimated rates of motion to monitor the moving object with increased accuracy and/or range compared to the safe time window. |
| US10698110B2 |
Laser scanning apparatus and method
The disclosed embodiments include an apparatus and method of using a laser to scan the ground or a target from an airborne or ground-based platform. In certain embodiments, the apparatus and method produces a 3-D elevation model of the terrain. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a pulsed laser, a receiver to detect and amplify the pulse after being reflected by objects on the ground (or the ground itself), and electronics which measures the time of flight of the optical pulse from which the slant range to the target is calculated. Technical advantages of the disclosed embodiments include avoiding blind zones to ensure that no laser shots are wasted. In certain embodiments for airborne applications, the apparatus may also be configured to maintain a constant swath width or constant spot spacing independent of aircraft altitude or ground terrain elevation. |
| US10698109B2 |
Using direction of arrival with unique audio signature for object location detection
Multiple independently movable devices are located upon a platform. On the platform is a directional microphone array. Each of the movable devices is assigned a unique audio signature, which may be a pulse train of chirps or a pseudo random signal or some other audio sequence that is unique to the respective device. Each movable device announces itself with its unique audio signature, and the platform's directional microphone system determines the location from which the unique audio signature comes from. For range, a difference between the time of flight (TOF) of the light relative to the sound signature is used. As another technique a unique audio signature may be an audio water mark concealed in normal audio which may be emitted by the movable device. The watermark provides the identifying information of each movable device. |
| US10698108B2 |
Receive signal beam steering and detector for an optical distance measurement system
An optical distance measuring system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to generate a first optical waveform and direct the first optical waveform toward a first scan point within a field of view (FOV). The receiver is configured to receive the first optical waveform reflected off a first object within the FOV, direct the first optical waveform reflected off the first object to a first photodiode group of an array of photodiode elements, and determine a distance to the first object based on a time of flight of the first optical waveform from the transmitter to the first object and back to the receiver. |
| US10698104B1 |
Apparatus, system and method for highlighting activity-induced change in multi-pass synthetic aperture radar imagery
Described herein are various technologies relating to constructing a differenced change product (DCP) image. A plurality of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of a scene are generated based upon radar signals directed towards and reflected off of the scene, and a plurality of coherence change detection (CCD) images of the scene are generated based upon the SAR images. The CCD images are registered with one another, and their pixel values re-scaled according to a monotonic mapping function. The DCP image is generated based upon a computed pixel-wise difference between a pair of the re-scaled CCD images. The DCP image identifies locations in the scene where human activity-induced change is likely to have occurred between a pair of SAR passes of the scene. |
| US10698093B2 |
Information collection system and information collection method
According to one embodiment, an information collection system comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter emits a signal. The receiver receives the signal. The processor calculates a distance between the transmitter and the receiver from a strength of the signal received by the receiver. The processor calculating the distance between the transmitter and the receiver from the strength of the signal for each of the signals received during a first interval, and using an average distance as the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, the average distance being obtained by averaging the plurality of calculated distances. |
| US10698092B2 |
Angle calibration in light detection and ranging system
Techniques, systems, and devices relating to conducting calibration of LIDAR systems are disclosed. In one exemplary aspect, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device is disclosed. The device comprises a light beam emitter operable to emit a light beam; a prism set positioned in an optical path of the light beam to refract the light beam onto a surface of a surrounding object; a light detector to detect light reflected by the surface of the surrounding object; a controller configured to estimate the surface of the surrounding object based on the detected light. The controller is operable to (1) determine a relative bias in the prism set, and (2) cause, based on the relative bias in the prism set, a compensation for an estimation error in the controller's estimation of the surface of the surrounding object. |
| US10698074B2 |
System and method for locating an object
The present invention relates to a system for locating a mobile element, characterized in that it comprises: at least one beacon emitting radio messages; at least one relay capable of emitting a second message with a known lag following the receipt of a first message originating from said at least one beacon; at least one sensor capable of measuring in a local time base the instants of arrival of the messages originating from said at least one beacon and at least one relay; at least one position computer, that can be central or onboard each sensor, capable of determining the position of a mobile element on the basis of the arrival time information; the mobile element being able to be a beacon, a relay or a sensor. |
| US10698071B2 |
Method for calculating a position of an object of interest
A method for calculating a position of an object of interest in an environment. The method includes: predicting a position and an orientation of the object of interest in the environment; selecting a subset of base stations among a set of base stations located within the environment, by using the predicted position and orientation, and a radiation pattern of a system including the object of interest and a mobile transponder attached to the object of interest; and calculating an actual position of the object of interest, using time of arrival or time difference of arrival measurements between the base stations of the subset and the mobile transponder. |
| US10698069B2 |
Method for adjusting an equatorial or altazimuth mount
The present invention relates to a method for readjusting a parallactic or azimuthal mounting, comprising a device which is intended for positioning and moving a telescope with a camera and can be aligned and readjusted by means of at least one image sensor and an electromotorized controller, characterized in that the image sensor acts as a main recording sensor of the camera and at the same time as an alignment sensor and readjustment control sensor, wherein before and after a main image is taken at least one control image is taken with a shorter exposure time and these control images are compared with one another, or at least a main image itself acts as a control image and is compared with at least one previous main image, or a short-exposed control image is compared with the main image itself and the correction values for the readjustment of the mounting are determined by the image offset and the time difference of the images taken. The method is the prerequisite for easy, error-free operation of an astronomical mounting for the purpose of long-exposure astronomical photography. |
| US10698066B2 |
Calibration of hall device sensitivity using an auxiliary hall device
In described examples, a Hall effect sensor includes a primary Hall effect sensor element and an auxiliary Hall effect sensor element. A known magnetic field is applied to the auxiliary Hall effect sensor to produce an auxiliary Hall voltage used in a feedback loop to control the bias current of the auxiliary Hall effect sensor to maintain the auxiliary Hall voltage approximately constant over a range of temperature and other factors. A bias current for the primary Hall effect sensor is controlled to track the bias current of the auxiliary Hall effect sensor to maintain the sensitivity of the primary Hall effect sensor approximately constant over the same range of temperature and other factors. |
| US10698064B2 |
Motion-corrected compressed sensing magnetic resonance imaging
A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system includes a memory for storing machine executable instructions and for storing pulse sequence commands to acquire the measured MR data according to a compressed sensing MR imaging protocol; and a processor for controlling the system. The MR imaging system with the pulse sequence commands acquires the measured MR data; reconstruct an intermediate MR image according to the compressed sensing MR imaging protocol; calculate a predicted data portion for each of the measured data portions; calculate a residual for each of the measured data portions; identify one or more of the measured data portions as outlier data portions; and reconstruct a corrected MR image according to the compressed sensing MR imaging protocol, wherein the one or more outlier data portions are excluded from the reconstruction of the corrected MR image. |
| US10698063B2 |
Motion artifact reduction of magnetic resonance images with an adversarial trained network
Systems and methods are provided for correcting motion artifacts in magnetic resonance images. An image-to-image neural network is used to generate motion corrected magnetic resonance data given motion corrupted magnetic resonance data. The image-to-image neural network is coupled within an adversarial network to help refine the generated magnetic resonance data. The adversarial network includes a generator network (the image-to-image neural network) and a discriminator network. The generator network is trained to minimize a loss function based on a Wasserstein distance when generating MR data. The discriminator network is trained to differentiate the motion corrected MR data from motion artifact free MR data. |
| US10698059B2 |
MR system and method for transmitting control data to a digital control device in an MR system
An MR system including a control computer and a digital control device is described. The control computer includes an external digital image data port for transmitting control data, including sequence data and encoded as image data, from the control computer to a digital control device; and the digital control device includes a port, compatible with the external digital image data port of the control computer, for receiving the control data, received from the external digital image data port and designed to extract the sequence data from the received control data, encoded as image data. A method for activating a digital control device via a control computer is also described. |
| US10698054B2 |
Method and system for magnetic resonance imaging using sampled portions of K-space data
A method and a system for magnetic resonance imaging are provided. The method includes acquiring a magnetic resonance (MR) data set of an object by sampling only a portion of a k-space of the object. This sampled portion may be substantially triangle-shaped or be composed of multiple planes that extend through a point of origin of the k-space and are tangential to a common spherical cap in the k-space. An inverse Fourier transformation is then applied to the MR data set to transform the MR data set from the k-space to image space. A final MR image with a fan- or cone-beam geometry is then computed based on the transformed MR data set in image space. |
| US10698053B2 |
System and method for gradient-modulated sweep imaging with fourier transformation magnetic resonance imaging
Described here are systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) using a sweeping frequency excitation applied during a time-varying magnetic field gradient. As an example, a gradient-modulated offset independent adiabaticity (“GOIA”) approach can be used to modify the pattern of the sweeping frequency excitation. Data are acquired as time domain signals and processed to generate images. As an example, the time domain signals are processed using a correlation between a Fourier transform of the gradient-modulated sweeping frequency excitation and a Fourier transform of the time domain signals. |
| US10698048B2 |
Rotatable magnet methods and apparatus for a magnetic resonance imaging system
According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the B0 magnet comprising at least one first B0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to the B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, at least one second B0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to the B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, wherein the at least one first B0 magnet and the at least one second B0 magnet are arranged relative to one another so that an imaging region is provided there between, a surface configured to support a patient anatomy within the imaging region, and a positioning member coupled to the B0 magnet and configured to allow the B0 magnet to be tilted to position the planar surface at a corresponding incline. |
| US10698047B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and radio frequency coil
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a radio frequency coil and a control signal transmitting unit. The radio frequency coil is that receives a magnetic resonance signal emitted from a patient as a result of an application of a radio frequency magnetic field thereto and to transmit the received magnetic resonance signal via a wireless communication. The control signal transmitting unit that transmits control information that collectively defines operations to be performed by the radio frequency coil during a predetermined repetition time period, to the radio frequency coil via a wireless communication, prior to the start of the operations performed during the predetermined repetition time period. Further, the radio frequency coil that receives the control information via a wireless communication and to perform the operations on the basis of the received control information. |
| US10698043B2 |
Triaxial magnetic sensor and method of manufacturing such
A triaxial magnetic sensor that can detect with high precision magnetic fields in three axial directions comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a magnetic sensor element group provided on the first surface. The magnetic sensor element group includes a first magnetic sensor element for magnetic detection in the x-axis direction, a second magnetic sensor element for magnetic detection in the y-axis direction and a third magnetic sensor element for magnetic detection in the z-axis direction. The first through third magnetic sensor elements respectively contain first through third magneto-resistive effect elements composed of laminated bodies including at least a magnetization fixed layer and a free layer, and the magnetization direction of each of the magnetization fixed layers of the first through third magneto-resistive elements is fixed in a direction inclined at a prescribed angle with respect to the first surface. |
| US10698040B2 |
Verification of cable application and reduced load cable removal in power over communications systems
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a cable for transmitting power at a level exceeding 100 watts and data from power sourcing equipment to a powered device, and plugs at each end of the cable, each of the plugs comprising at least one resistor. Power capacity of the cable is identified at a port receiving one of the plugs based on the resistors. |
| US10698039B2 |
Electrical current connector
Various embodiments are described that relate an electrical current connector. The electrical current connector can be configured to provide electrical current when pressure is applied to a prong set. This pressure can cause a contact to engage with a connector. This can complete a circuit that allows the electrical current to flow. The connector can be coupled to a cable that can be configured to transfer data along with the electrical current. The cable can have an inner portion that transfers the data while an outer portion that surrounds the inner portion transfers the current. |
| US10698037B2 |
Sensing circuit for battery cell voltage
A sensing circuit for battery cell voltage may include a first cell module including a plurality of battery cells; a first sensor sensing voltage of each battery cell of the first cell module; and a first isolation relay device including a plurality of relays, determining an electrical connection state between each battery cell of the first cell module and the first sensor by being connected thereto, and maintaining isolation between the first cell module and the first sensor. |
| US10698035B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for determining the impedance of a test battery
A circuit arrangement is provided for determining the impedance of a test battery having a first test battery pole of a first polarity and a second test battery pole of a second polarity. The circuit includes a first test connection for connecting the first test battery pole and a second test connection for connecting the second test battery pole, an AC source which is connected to the test connections and by which an alternating current can be applied to the test battery in the connected state, and a voltage detection device which is connected in parallel to the test connections and to the AC source and by which a voltage profile between the test connections can be detected. The voltage detection device has a voltage measurement unit for measuring a voltage profile between two measurement connections of the voltage measurement unit, and a compensation voltage source which is connected in series to the voltage measurement unit, delivers direct current voltage and has a first pole of the first polarity and a second pole of the second polarity. The first pole is connected to the first test connection, the second pole is connected to the first measurement connection and the second measurement connection is connected to the second test connection. |
| US10698031B2 |
Systems and methods for obtaining and validating performance data on motors
A method for conducting testing of an electric motor to obtain performance curves, including locked rotor data, is provided. |
| US10698029B2 |
Chip
A chip includes one or more function input pads, a sequence generation circuit, one or more logic circuits, one or more scan chains, a selection circuit, and one or more sequence output pads. The function input pad is configured to receive a function sequence. The sequence generation circuit is configured to generate a diagnosis sequence. The logic circuit includes a plurality of logic gates, for responding to the function sequence and outputting one or more logic results. When enabled by the selection circuit, the scan chain outputs a response result in response to the logic result or a diagnosis result in response to the diagnosis sequence. The sequence output pad receives the diagnosis result when the scan chain responds to the diagnosis sequence. |
| US10698026B2 |
Testing holders for chip unit and die package
A testing holder for a chip unit, a multi site holding frame for plural chip units and a method for testing a die thereof are provided. The proposed multi site holding frame for testing plural chip units simultaneously includes a first holder frame having a plurality of testing holders. Each of the plurality of testing holders includes a holder body containing a specific one of the plural chip units, and a pressure releasing device formed on the holder body to release an insertion pressure when the specific one of the plural chip units is inserted in the holder body. |
| US10698025B2 |
Probe systems and methods that utilize a flow-regulating structure for improved collection of an optical image of a device under test
Probe systems and methods for collecting an optical image of a device under test (DUT) are disclosed herein. The probe systems include a chuck, a chuck thermal module, an enclosure, an imaging device, and a flow-regulating structure. The chuck defines a support surface configured to support a substrate and the chuck thermal module is configured to regulate a temperature of the chuck. The enclosure defines an enclosed volume, which contains the support surface of the chuck, and an aperture. The imaging device is at least partially external the enclosed volume and the enclosure and the imaging device defines a gap therebetween. The gap at least partially defines a fluid conduit that permits fluid flow between the enclosed volume and an external region. The flow-regulating structure is configured to regulate fluid flow through the fluid conduit. The methods include methods of utilizing the systems. |
| US10698015B2 |
Systems and methods to facilitate detecting an electromagnetic radiation in a space by using a self-powered radio frequency device (SP-RF device)
A self-powered radio frequency device for detecting electromagnetic (EM) radiation is disclosed. The self-powered radio frequency device may include a plurality of EM collector devices configured for collecting EM radiation corresponding to a plurality of frequency bands. Further, the self-powered radio frequency device may include at least one converter device electrically coupled to the plurality of EM collector devices. Further, the at least one converter device may be configured for converting the EM radiation into electrical energy. Further, the self-powered radio frequency device may include at least one indicator device electrically coupled to the at least one converter device. Further, the at least one indicator device may be configured for generating at least one indication based on the electrical energy corresponding to at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands. |
| US10698011B2 |
Clip-on ammeter
A clip-on ammeter includes a current measurement unit, an evaluation unit and a USB interface. The current measurement unit records current values and provides the current values as measurement values for transfer purposes. The evaluation unit includes an ND converter and is connected to the current measurement unit. The evaluation unit allows the measurement values to be transmitted in a processable form as USB compatible digital data to the USB interface. The USB interface is connected to the evaluation unit and the USB interface allows the USB compatible data to be made available for transfer purposes to be further processed. The evaluation unit is energized via the USB interface. The clip-on ammeter includes a voltage transformer. The voltage transformer provides a stabilized voltage as a reference voltage for the current measurement unit. |
| US10698007B2 |
Load detector
A method and apparatus of load detection for an audio amplifier system is described. A load detector includes a first load terminal and a second load terminal; a controller coupled to the first and second load terminals and configured to in a first control loop, vary a first current supplied to a first load terminal dependent on the difference between a first reference signal and the detected first load terminal voltage; and in a second control loop, vary a second current supplied to the second load terminal dependent on the difference between a second reference signal and the detected second load terminal voltage; and to determine a current through a load connected between the first load terminal and the second load terminal from the second current value, and a voltage across the load from the detected voltage difference between the first load terminal voltage and the second load terminal voltage. |
| US10698004B2 |
Measurement device and method for measuring at least one signal
A measurement device for measuring at least one signal generates a first trigger impulse upon detection of a first trigger condition in at least one signal to be measured. It stores for the at least one signal multiple segments each containing the detected first trigger condition upon generation of the first trigger impulse in an acquisition memory. A second trigger impulse is generated upon detection of a second trigger condition in the multiple segments of the at least one signal stored in the acquisition memory. For the at least one signal the segments containing the detected second trigger condition are displayed upon generation of the second trigger impulse on a display unit. |
| US10698001B2 |
Integrated modular integrated circuit test fixture and handler interface
A modular integrated circuit test fixture integrates the integrated circuit (IC) handler to IC test fixture alignment interface (the alignment plate) into a daughter card subassembly, which reduces the overall rejection rate of devices due to alignment errors. The test fixture has a plurality of daughter card subassemblies for receiving integrated circuits for testing. Each daughter card subassembly is independently removable from the test fixture and includes a daughter card for a particular size and type of integrated circuit, a plurality of sockets electrically and mechanically coupled to the daughter card to receive respective integrated circuits for testing, and an alignment plate to provide alignment between an IC handler and respective ones of the daughter card subassemblies and to provide alignment for one or more manual test lids. The manual test lids are removed for automatic testing using an IC handler. |
| US10697999B2 |
Universal mate-in cable interface system
The present document describes an assembly for connecting a test unit to a wiring harness or equipment to be tested, and a method for testing using the assembly. The assembly may comprise a test box unit, a generic mate-in interface, and at least one specific mate-in interface. The generic mate-in interface is for connection to the test box unit on one end, and to the at least one specific mate-in interfaces at the other end. The mate-in interfaces are for testing different existing wiring harnesses or equipment. Each one of the generic and specific mate-in interfaces has a specific ID comprised in an ID support on the electrical path of the generic mate-in interface and the specific mate-in interface, for example, on any one of the end connectors of the interfaces or on their wiring. Information relating to the IDs of the connectors and the contact configuration of each mate-in interface is stored in a database of the test unit for identifying the appropriate test contacts that should be used for testing. |
| US10697998B2 |
Method of performing surface measurements on a surface of a sample, and scanning probe microscopy system therefore
This document relates to a method of performing surface measurements on a surface of a sample using a scanning probe microscopy system. The system comprises a sample support structure for supporting a sample, a sensor head including a probe comprising a cantilever and a probe tip arranged on the cantilever, and an actuator for scanning the probe tip relative to the substrate surface for mapping of the nanostructures. The method comprising the steps of: vibrating the cantilever using an actuator and moving the probe relative to the substrate surface for performing said scanning. The probe is held at a distance to the substrate surface such as to allow contact at a plurality of intermittent contact moments between the probe tip and the surface during said vibrating of the cantilever. The steps of vibrating of the cantilever and moving of the probe are performed concurrently. For performing the surface measurements, the method comprises obtaining a sensor signal indicative of a position of the probe tip during said scanning, and analyzing this signal by quantifying two or more frequency components in a Fourier transform for determining an estimate of a force value of a force between said substrate surface and said probe tip during said contact moments. |
| US10697996B2 |
Accelerometer sensing and object control
A handheld controller includes a three-axis, linear acceleration sensor that can detect linear acceleration in three directions, i.e., the up/down direction (Y-axis), the left/right direction (Z-axis), and the forward/backward direction (X-axis). A programmed object adjustment process adjusts a falling object to decrease the velocity v at which the object is moving in response to detected tilt changes in a first direction, and to increase the velocity v at which the object is moving in response to detected tilt changes in a second direction different from the first direction. |
| US10697994B2 |
Accelerometer techniques to compensate package stress
Techniques for compensating package stress of a proof mass are provided. In an example, a proof mass can be suspended from a substrate by a proof mass anchor. The first proof mass can have a major surface that defines a first plane. Portions of electrodes forming part of the proof mass can be symmetric with each other across a first line, wherein the first line bisects the first proof mass anchor, extends parallel to the first plane and extends between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US10697988B2 |
Container management apparatus and wireless tag
A container management apparatus is provided with: a container storing unit that can store a plurality of tubular sample containers one by one separately, each of the plurality of tubular sample containers being provided with a two-dimensional bar code on the bottom surface thereof, and container-identifying information being coded in the two-dimensional bar code; and a reading unit that reads the two-dimensional bar code of each of the tubular sample containers stored in the container storing unit and retrieves the container identifying information. The reading unit has, in correspondence with each storing position, an LED that irradiates the two-dimensional bar code with irradiation light and an imaging unit that receives reflection light from the two-dimensional bar code. |
| US10697986B2 |
Microfluidic device with programmable verification features
A method for optically reading information encoded in a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device including an input microchannel, microfluidic modules, and sets of nodes. Nodes of a first set connect the input microchannel to one of the microfluidic modules, and nodes of a second set connect the one of the microfluidic modules to another to form an ordered pair of the microfluidic modules, where the nodes of the first and second sets have different liquid pinning strengths. A liquid loaded into the input microchannel causes an ordered passage of the liquid through each of the microfluidic modules in an order determined by the liquid pinning strengths of the nodes. The passage of the liquid produces an optically readable dynamic pattern which evolves in accordance with the ordered passage of the liquid through the device. |
| US10697982B2 |
Methods of evaluating quality of a chromatography media which binds anti-A or anti-B antibodies
Embodiments described herein relate to methods of evaluating quality of a chromatography media for removal of anti-A or anti-B antibodies from a sample, where the methods employ use of purified monoclonal IgM-A and IgM-B antibodies. |
| US10697981B2 |
Value assignment for customizable quality controls
Methods are provided for end users of diagnostic measurement procedures to prepare quality controls having desired analyte recoveries, estimate recoveries of quality controls already prepared, and compare estimated and measured recoveries. To prepare a quality control containing a particular analyte, a desired recovery of a measurement procedure for the analyte can be scaled by a correlation factor to obtain a target nominal concentration of the analyte in the quality control. Alternatively, the nominal concentration of an analyte in a quality control can be scaled by a correlation factor to obtain a predicted recovery of a measurement procedure for the analyte. The correlation factors can be based on recovery data previously obtained using the measurement procedure and optionally one or more reference procedures, and can be calculated using regression analysis of these data. Each quality control can be prepared by dissolving a number of solid beads containing the analyte(s) of interest in a volume of base matrix. |
| US10697977B2 |
Mass spectrometry-cleavable cross-linker
Provided herein is synthesis of a novel acidic acid residue targeting sulfoxide-containing MS-cleavable homobifunctional cross-linker. The novel mass spectrometry-cleavable cross-linking agents can be used in mass spectrometry to facilitate structural analysis of intra-protein interactions in proteins and inter-protein interactions in protein complexes. Also disclosed herein are data based on the novel MS-cleavable homobifunctional cross-linker that are complimentary to amine-reactive sulfoxide-containing MS-cleavable reagents. |
| US10697974B2 |
Methods and compositions for protein identification
Provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods and compositions for protein identification. |
| US10697973B2 |
System and method for identification of a synthetic classifier
The present invention provides a method for identifying a synthetic classifier including contacting at least a first and second samples derived from different groups of a cohort with a first plurality of peptides. The first plurality of peptides includes a first subset of peptides defining at least one naturally occurring amino acid sequence, and a second subset of peptides defining a plurality of variants of the first subset of peptides. The plurality of variants includes, for each one of the first subset of peptides, a variant peptide having at least one of a substitution, a deletion, an insertion, an extension, and a modification. The method further includes selecting at least one of the plurality of variants from the second subset of peptides, and defining a synthetic classifier including the at least one of the plurality of variants that distinguishes between samples derived from the first and second cohorts. |
| US10697963B2 |
Nucleic acids encoding antibodies with high affinity for Alpha-Klotho
An antibody and/or binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody and/or binding fragment thereof specifically binds to an epitope of a αKlotho polypeptide, optionally a folded αKlotho or optionally with a dissociation constant (KD) of about 2 nM or less, as measured by competitive ELISA assay, methods of making and using to diagnose kidney diseases. |
| US10697961B2 |
Methods for predicting post-operative recurrence of Crohn's disease
The present invention provides methods for predicting post-operative recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) in a subject. With the present invention it is possible to predict whether a patient undergoing surgical treatment of CD is at risk of developing histological, radiographic, endoscopic, and/or clinical recurrence of the disease. |
| US10697959B2 |
Sandwich assay using labeled lectin and kit therefor
The present invention provides a sandwich assay for quantifying a glycoprotein, which is a substance to be detected, in a sample using a labeled lectin, wherein the effect attributed to a contaminant, namely noise on the quantified value of the substance to be detected, is suppressed by introduction of a simple treatment. The sandwich assay includes a treatment for inhibiting the binding of the labeled lectin to a sugar chain carried by the contaminant non-specifically adsorbed to the measurement region, which contaminant is contained in the sample and which sugar chain is the same as that of the substance to be detected. |
| US10697958B2 |
Unmasking endotoxins in solution
The invention relates to unmasking endotoxins in compositions so that previously present, but undetectable endotoxins are rendered detectable. |
| US10697957B2 |
Evaluation of hematocrit with manually-operated centrifuge
A method of evaluating a patient's hematocrit includes collecting a sample of blood in a capillary tube, and placing the capillary tube into a centrifuge having a rotor. The centrifuge has base with a center axis and a manual rotation member. The rotor spins in response to the manual rotation member being pulled by an operator, and the rotor is coupled for rotation to the base. The rotor including a plurality of microfluidic channels. The sample of blood is separated with the centrifuge into a red blood cell portion and a plasma portion in the microfluidic channels. A diagnosis image is provided including a base line indicia, a lower normal line indicia, an upper normal line indicia and a 100 % level line indicia. The capillary tube is placed against the diagnosis image with the bottom end placed adjacent the base line indicia. |
| US10697953B2 |
Portable apparatus for liquid chemical characterization
An apparatus or method determines a salinity or metal content a liquid sample by scanning the liquid sample using a PXRF spectrometer, receiving a PXRF spectra from the PXRF spectrometer, baseline correcting and smoothing the received PXRF spectra, extracting a Kα emission line of one or more elements from the baseline corrected and smoothed PXRF spectra using only one beam from the PXRF spectrometer, determining the salinity or the metal content of the liquid sample using the one or more processors and a predictive model that relates the Kα emission line of the one or more elements to the salinity or the metal content of the liquid sample, and providing the salinity or the metal content of the liquid sample to the one or more input/output interfaces. |
| US10697949B2 |
Moisture detection apparatus and process
Embodiments of a water detection apparatus are disclosed that can detect characteristics of food products. The apparatus may include a conveying mechanism configured to move a food product through an aperture in the apparatus, a transmitter coil configured to transmit a signal within the aperture, and a receiver coil configured to receive the signal altered by the food product, and a signal processing unit configured to determine an output value associated with the food product moving through the aperture. The output value can be based, at least in part, on the signal and the altered signal. The output value can corresponds to a characteristic of the food product. |
| US10697948B2 |
Mobile communications device with electronic nose
Systems and methods for a mobile electronic system that gathers and analyzes odors, airborne chemicals and/or compounds. The system includes a sample delivery component that can gather airborne substances and/or gaseous substances. A detection component can detect the presences of chemicals, substances, and/or visual gases in a sample. Analyzed samples can be compared with known substance and/or odor analysis. In addition, the source of the sample can be determined. Accordingly, odor, gas, and/or airborne substance identification can be accomplished. |
| US10697947B1 |
Apparatus and methods for reducing fugitive gas emissions at oil facilities
Apparatus and methods for detecting and reporting pollution at an oil facility are disclosed. The technology utilizes a logic control system to read from a pollution sensor and present the sensed data as a pollutant from a leak. The pollution leakage can be further managed and reduced. |
| US10697940B2 |
Methods and apparatus to multi-purpose an acoustic emission sensor
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to multi-purpose an acoustic emission sensor are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a collection engine to obtain a measurement from an acoustic emissions sensor coupled to a fluid flow control assembly, and obtain a state of the fluid flow control assembly. The example apparatus further includes a selector to adjust a gain of a pre-amplifier based on the state to adjust the measurement, and a condition identifier to identify a condition of the fluid flow control assembly based on the adjusted measurement. |
| US10697938B2 |
Fluid characterization using acoustics
A measurement system and a method for determining steam quality (i.e. vapor mass fraction) measurements of multiphase fluid flowing through pipes are described. An acoustic sensor device consists of an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver that are designed to be attached to a pipe. The acoustic transmitter and the acoustic receiver are exposed to an interior space of the pipe through openings in a wall of the pipe. Acoustic waves generated by the transmitter and captured by the receiver traverse the multiphase fluid flowing into the pipe. Swept-frequency acoustic interferometry (SFAI) technique is used to measure ultrasonic acoustic properties of a fluid. Machine-learning techniques based on principal component analysis, support vector machine regression and support vector machine classification are used for determining steam quality. |
| US10697937B2 |
MUSIC corrosion monitoring method via excitation beam forming and weighted image fusing
The present invention discloses a Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) corrosion monitoring method via excitation beam forming and weighted image fusing. Because damage-related scattering signals are weak and precision of the MUSIC algorithm is affected, the present invention first introduces excitation beam forming and two arrays into the MUSIC method, to enhance scattering signals of corrosive damage and improve their signal-to-noise ratios. Then, the two arrays serve as an excitation array or a sensor array in turn, by assigning weight to fused corrosive damage images of the two arrays, monitoring of corrosive damage in blind zones of the one-dimensional linear arrays is realized. Finally, factors related to the corrosive damage are calculated based on eigenvalues of covariance matrixes of array signals, to determine the depth of the corrosive damage. The present invention improves the positioning precision in the MUSIC corrosion monitoring, widens a monitoring range of the conventional one-dimensional linear array, and realizes evaluation of the depth of the corrosive damage, thus has wide application prospects in actual monitoring of corrosive damage in an aviation structure. |
| US10697935B2 |
Two-stage corrosion under insulation detection methodology and modular vehicle with dual locomotion sensory systems
Methods and systems for inspecting insulated equipment for corrosion under insulation are provided. The system includes an autonomous unmanned vehicle having aerial and ground locomotive capabilities. The vehicle includes an infrared detector and a pulsed eddy current sensor. In the method, infrared waves emitted from the equipment are detected along the equipment with the infrared detector. Using the infrared detector, at least one image of an inner surface of the equipment is developed based on the detected infrared waves. At least one area that is susceptible to corrosion is determined based on the at least one image. The susceptible area is inspected with the pulsed eddy current sensor, which induces an eddy current in the inner wall of the equipment. Based on a rate of the decay in strength of the eddy current, it is determined whether corrosion exists at the susceptible area using a processor configured by code. |
| US10697933B2 |
Ion mobility analyzing apparatus
An ion mobility analyzing apparatus includes: a drift tube having an internal space extending in a first direction; an ion chamber having an internal space extending in the first direction and connected to the drift tube; an ion gate installed at a boundary between the drift tube and the ion chamber and kept at a ground potential; an ion source supplying ions into the ion chamber; an ion detecting electrode arranged in the drift tube on a side opposite to the ion gate; a first voltage source supplying a first high voltage to the ion chamber; a second voltage source supplying a second high voltage, having an opposite polarity to that of the first high voltage, to the ion detecting electrode; and a signal transfer unit that detects a signal from the ion detecting electrode and transmits the signal to a data processing device operating with the ground potential. |
| US10697929B2 |
Active noise control biosensor
Provided is a novel active noise control biosensor including a detection plate, a signal detection module and a control module. The signal detection module includes a signal superimposable transistor and a readout circuit. The signal superimposable transistor has a secondary input terminal and a primary input terminal. The detection plate inputs a detected primary signal to the primary input terminal, and the control module processes an output signal from the signal detection module by a signal processing system and generates and inputs a secondary signal to the secondary input terminal. The primary signal and the secondary signal received by the signal superimposable transistor are superimposed to realize active noise control, and the superimposed signal is read out by the readout circuit and output as an input signal to the control module. The biosensor can achieve the detection of potential or charges and have active noise control characteristics. |
| US10697928B2 |
Reconfigurable gas sensor architecture with a high sensitivity at low temperatures
A gas sensing device includes a dielectric substrate, a heater integrated into a first side of the substrate and an insulating dielectric formed over the heater. A gas sensing layer is formed on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side. Contacts are formed on the gas sensing substrate. A noble material is formed on a portion of the gas sensing layer between the contacts to act as an ionizing catalyst such that, upon heating to a temperature, adsorption of a specific gas changes electronic properties of the gas sensing layer to permit detection of the gas. |
| US10697924B2 |
Gas sensor for detecting hydrocarbons
A gas sensor includes a housing (22) having disposed therein a membrane electrode assembly comprising a sensing electrode (14), a counter electrode (16), and a solid polymer electrolyte (12) disposed between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode. The sensing electrode comprises a first catalyst comprising noble metal nanoparticles (34). The counter electrode comprises a second catalyst comprising noble metal nanoparticles (34), which can be of the same composition or a different composition as the first catalyst. The sensor housing also includes an opening (24) in fluid communication with the sensing electrode for test gas to contact the sensing electrode. The sensor also includes an electrical circuit (19) connecting the sensing electrode and the counter electrode. |
| US10697919B2 |
Reduction-oxidation sensor device and manufacturing method thereof
A reduction-oxidation sensor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The reduction-oxidation sensor device includes a first electrode, at least one sensing structure and a second electrode. The first electrode is located on a substrate. The at least one sensing structure is located on the first electrode and the substrate. The at least one sensing structure includes a metal nanowire layer and a metal oxide layer. The metal nanowire layer is disposed on the first electrode and the substrate. The metal nanowire layer is wrapped by the metal oxide layer. The second electrode is located on the at least one sensing structure. |
| US10697915B1 |
Sensor for determining a physicochemical property of a liquid fuel
A portable, compact, real-time and accurate sensor and method for deriving a physicochemical property of a liquid fuel, such as cetane number, carbon content, carbon/hydrogen (C/H) atomic ratio, or heating value (net heat of combustion). The sensor comprises a constant-volume ignition chamber equipped for measuring ignition delay and magnitude of a peak rise in pressure or temperature following dispensation of a liquid fuel into the chamber. The sensor utilizes air at atmospheric pressure and microliter quantities of fuel. The sensor can be implemented in real-time refinery operations for blending diesel fuels that meet government mandated cetane number standards as well as in applications for standardizing jet, biodiesel, and synthetic fuels, which presently are not classified by any physicochemical property. |
| US10697912B2 |
Gas detection method and gas detector
Provided are a gas detection method and a gas detector which have a high durability to silicone poisoning and is capable of detecting the type and the concentration of a target gas to be detected with certain accuracy even when the detector is used in an environment where a silicone compound exists. The gas detector employs a contact combustion-type gas sensor which includes two gas detection elements, each intermittently driven, and in which only one gas detection element is supplied with a gas through a silicone removal filter. Acquired in an energization duration of each of the gas detection elements are two or more pieces of output data by the one gas detection element and two or more pieces of output data by the other gas detection element, which constitutes output variation patterns for a test gas. The output variation patterns are contrasted to a reference output variation pattern of each of four largely divided types of reference gases of a paraffinic hydrocarbon gas, a solvent gas, a hydrogen gas, and an argon gas, with the reference output variation patterns being acquired in advance, thereby identifying the type of the target gas being detected in the test gas. |
| US10697911B2 |
Rapid quantification of components in solid mixtures of chemicals via time-domain NMR spectroscopy
There is described a method for determining the relative quantities of the expected components in a multi-component mixture of solids. The proposed quantification method makes use of a time domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) spectrometer and requires that, for each of the expected components in the mixture, a T1 saturation recovery curve (SRCi) is measured and recorded. The saturation recovery curve for the mixture sample (SRCmix) is determined from a measurement of the sample with the spectrometer. The relative amounts of the expected components present in the mixture sample are determined by fitting a linear combination of the component SRCs (SRCi) to the SRCmix. The resulting value of each weighting coefficient in the fit provides the relative proportion of the corresponding component in the overall sample. |
| US10697906B2 |
System and method for identifying an object
A system and method for identifying an object is provided. The system includes an enhanced chemical compound coupled to an object, an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device for scanning the enhanced chemical compound coupled to the object, and a display coupled to the XRF device for displaying the results of the scan of the enhanced chemical compound coupled to the object, the results of the scan including at least one of what kind of object was scanned, the owner of the object, and the manufacturer of the object. |
| US10697904B2 |
X-ray detection system, X-ray device, and device and method for processing X-ray detection data
An X-ray apparatus includes a two-dimensional pixel array having rectangular pixels outputting an electrical signal responsively to an incident X-ray photon. This array has a row direction oblique to a scan direction. When viewing in the scan direction, a pixel group is provided solely or repeatedly, the pixel group being composed of “M rows × N pieces” of pixels (M is a positive integer equal to or larger than 1, N is a positive integer equal to or larger than 2, and M and N have a relationship of prime numbers). The pixel group occupies a quadrangle whose diagonal line is parallel with the scan direction. In a memory space, the frame data from the pixels are converted to frame data in a Cartesian coordinate system having a row direction which is in parallel with the scan direction and a column direction orthogonal to the row direction. |
| US10697901B2 |
Pipe inspection device
A pipe inspection device includes a housing (1) fixed to a semi-rigid rod (2) and having a longitudinal axis (3) and inside the housing a camera (4) having a forward-looking field of view and a camera (5) rotatable around said longitudinal axis (3) and having a field of view directed to permit closer inspection of an inner surface of the pipe, and means (17-24) for rotating the rotatable camera (5) to direct its field of view against an area of the inner surface of the pipe to be inspected more closely. To make it possible to inspect the inner surface of a pipe faster than with prior art devices, the inspection device has at least two cameras (5-7) in addition to the camera (4) having a forward-looking field. Said at least two cameras (5-7) are rotatable as an assembly around the longitudinal axis and have a field of view directed to permit closer inspection of an inner surface of the pipe. Further, the housing (1) has a fixed rear part (10) and a front part (11) that is carried by the rear part (10) and rotatable around said longitudinal axis (3), all of the cameras (4-7) being fixed in the rotatable front part (11) of the housing (1). |
| US10697896B2 |
Method and system for measuring a sensor
The present disclosure concerns a method and apparatus for measuring a sensor (10) comprising multiple optical resonators (11, 12) optically connected to a single optical output interface (16). The optical resonators (11, 12) are interrogated with a light input signal (Si). A light output signal (So) is measured from the optic al output interface (16) to determine a combined spectral response (Sa) covering a wavelength range (W) including a plurality of resonance peaks (λ1,i, λ2,j) for each of the optical resonators (11, 12). A Fourier transform spectrum (FT) of the combined spectral response (Sa) is calculated and a harmonic series of periodic peaks (n·f1) is identified in the Fourier transform spectrum (FT). The harmonic series of periodic peaks is filtered to obtain a filtered Fourier transform spectrum (FT1) and a sensor signal is calculated (X1) based on the filtered Fourier transform spectrum (FT1). |
| US10697893B2 |
Specular variable angle absolute reflectance method and reflectometer
A specular variable angle absolute reflectometer. The device includes a light source and a mirror system in a light path of the light source. The mirror system is configured to reflect a light beam from the light source towards a sample that is optically reflective. The device also includes a roof mirror disposed in the light path after the sample. The roof mirror is configured to reflect the light beam back towards the sample. The device also includes a mechanism connected to the roof mirror. The mechanism is configured to rotate the roof mirror about an axis of the sample. The device also includes a detector in the light path after the roof mirror such that the detector receives light that has been reflected from the roof mirror, thence back to the sample, thence back to the mirror system, and thence to the detector. |
| US10697886B2 |
Cover film for testing, testing member including cover film, and method of manufacturing cover film for testing
[Problems] Objects include providing a cover film for testing which can be well fixed to a substrate having a groove and in which a pressure sensitive adhesive does not invade into the groove, providing a testing member comprising the cover film for testing, and providing a method of manufacturing the cover film for testing.[Solution] The cover film for testing (1, 2) comprises a base material (10) and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer (20) laminated on one surface side of the base material (10). The cover film for testing (1, 2) has a region in which the pressure sensitive adhesive layer (20) does not exist in the plan view. |
| US10697881B2 |
Crash protected sampler for flow cytometer
Disclosed is a sampler that obtains fluid samples with a probe and washes the probe during the act of withdrawing the probe from a sample container. In addition, detection of a collision of the probe and/or the wash station with another object can be quickly detected using sensors that determine if a collision situation exists. |
| US10697878B2 |
Differential viscometer with solvent compressibility correction
An improved version of the capillary bridge viscometer that compensates for the effect of solvent compressibility is disclosed. A novel, yet simple and inexpensive modification to a conventional capillary bridge viscometer design can improve its ability to reject pump pulses by more than order of magnitude. This improves the data quality and allows for the use of less expensive pumps. A pulse compensation volume is added such that it transmits pressure to the differential pressure transducer without sample flowing there through. The pressure compensation volume enables the cancellation of the confounding effects of pump pulses in a capillary bridge viscometer. |
| US10697874B2 |
Estimation of lifetime remaining for a consumable-part in a semiconductor manufacturing chamber
A consumable part having a body with a surface is configured to be exposed to plasma during processing in a chamber. The consumable part includes a trigger feature disposed in the body. The trigger feature includes a void, and the void is an identifiable feature on the surface of the body to identify a wear level of the consumable part. The wear level is correlated to a lifetime remaining for the consumable part. |
| US10697873B2 |
Method for determining physical similarity simulation material of solid backfill body
A method for determining a physical similarity simulation material of a solid backfill body is provided. A compaction test is run on a gangue backfill body in a lab, to obtain a ε-σ curve regarding the gangue backfill body in the compaction process. Backfill blocks are made by using a thin wood board, sponge, and a paper sheet in different proportions, and then an unconfined compression test is separately run on the backfill blocks used for physical similarity simulation, to obtain εi-σi curves regarding the backfill blocks in the compression process. A sum of squared errors Σ(εi−ε0)2 is introduced to separately calculate a sum of squared errors of the backfill block and that of the gangue backfill body, and accordingly an error between ε-σ curves regarding the test block and the gangue backfill body is determined. Finally, a backfill block for which the sum of squared errors is less than 0.5 is determined as a physical similarity simulation material of the gangue backfill body. By fabrication and selection of similar materials, the present invention can reduce an error caused by a selected backfilling material during a physical similarity simulation experiment, guaranteeing the accuracy of the physical similarity simulation experiment for solid backfill mining. |
| US10697869B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for improved tissue treatment
Provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for improved treatment of tissue, such as brain tissue. The improved treatment described herein can result in improved tissue penetration of various compounds and chemicals, such as stains and immunohistochemistry reagents. For example, provided herein is a pressurizing device that may include a chamber body having an opening in one of a top and a sidewall of the body, and may also include a chamber lid covering the opening and releasably coupled to the chamber body proximate the opening. The chamber lid and chamber body form an air-tight cavity. The pressurizing device may also have an inlet passing through one of the chamber body and the chamber lid and into the air-tight cavity. The device may also include a retainer coupled inside the air-tight cavity and configured to releasably couple to at least one tissue sample receptacles. |
| US10697865B2 |
Preprocessing apparatus for gas analysis
Provided herein is a preprocessing apparatus for gas analysis that enables preprocessing for gas analysis to be performed without requiring a cryogen. A preprocessing apparatus for gas analysis 101 mainly includes a gas flow path 103, a cooling portion 105, and a plurality of valves V101 to V105 that serve as gas flow path connection changing means for changing the gas flow path. The cooling portion 105 is operable to cool the collecting portion 113, and is constituted from a heat conductor 121, a cooling device 127, and a sealed structure 129. The cooling device 127 can cooled a contact cooling section 131 to an extremely low temperature by utilizing electrical energy. The cooling device 127 is used to bring the collecting portion 113 to a first temperature at which the target gas to be analyzed is solidified, and to thereafter bring the collecting portion 113 to a second temperature at which only the target gas to be analyzed is gasified. By performing such processes, the target gas to be analyzed can be extracted by removing gases of impurities from a mixed gas. |
| US10697862B2 |
Device and method for taking a sample
The invention relates to a device and a method for taking a sample of a filling, with which a hole in the ground is filled, having a container with at least one inlet opening for the inflow of the filling into a receiving space of the container. According to the invention provision is made in that a closing cap is placed onto the inlet opening and this is closed thereby. The container is provided with a compressed air line which leads into the receiving space, wherein on feeding compressed air into the receiving space the closing cap is released from the inlet opening and this is exposed for the inflow of the filling. |
| US10697861B2 |
Structure abnormality detection device, structure abnormality detection method, storage medium, and structure abnormality detection system
A structure abnormality detection device that detects an abnormality of a structure includes means for storing a model that predicts, from a first inspection value acquired at a first inspection position, a second inspection value acquired at a second inspection position that is a position where a vibration intensity in vibration of a predetermined vibration mode at a natural frequency of the structure is substantially the same as at the first inspection position; and means for detecting an abnormality of the structure by evaluating fidelity of the first inspection value and the second inspection value acquired at a particular time to the model. |
| US10697860B2 |
Methods and apparatus for predictive failure analysis of a cooling device
A predictive failure system for a cooling apparatus having sensors measuring operational components of a cooling apparatus to determine performance data and means to analyze the data to determine a performance profile, wherein anomalies in the performance profile are determined and the operator of the cooling apparatus is warned prior to failure of the operational components. |
| US10697858B2 |
Method and device for checking tyres
The present invention relates to a device (10) for checking a tyre (200), the device (10) comprising: a detection system (104) comprising a camera (105) having an optical plane (107) passing through the camera (105) and defining a focal plane (121); a first light source (110), a second light source (108) and a third light source (109) adapted for emitting a first light radiation, a second light radiation and a third light radiation, respectively to illuminate a surface portion of said tyre at or close to said focal plane (121), said second light source (108) and said third light source (109) being arranged at opposite sides with respect to said optical plane (107); where said first light source (110) is fixed with respect to said detection system (104) and said second light source (108) and third light source (109) are adapted to be movable from a first inactive configuration where they are controlled to not emit said second light radiation and third light radiation and wherein the distance (d2, d3) of said second light source (108) and of said third light source (109) from said focal plane (121) is greater than the distance (d1) of said first light source (110) from said focal plane (121) to an active configuration wherein they are adapted for emitting at least one among said second light radiation and said third light radiation and wherein the distance (d2, d3) of said second source (108) and of said third source (109) from said focal plane (121) is equal to or less than the distance (d1) of said first source (110) from said focal plane (121); and a drive and control unit (140) adapted for activating said detection system (104) to acquire a first image and at least a second image of a first surface portion and a second surface portion of said tyre (200) in said inactive configuration and in said active configuration, respectively. |
| US10697851B2 |
Electro-mechanical fuse for detecting monitored component deflection
An electro-mechanical fuse is provided and includes a chassis component, an extrusion disposed on a monitored component which is disposable proximate to the chassis component and a sensor. The sensor is mounted to the chassis component. The sensor is mechanically breakable in power-on and power-off conditions by the extrusion as a result of a predefined action of or relative to the monitored component. The sensor electrically signals an occurrence of the mechanical breakage during power-on conditions following mechanical breakage. |
| US10697849B2 |
Flex duct adapter with quick connect flange for duct tester
A register adapter comprising: a flange adapter, the flange adapter comprising: a flange, the flange being a generally planar surface configured to abut a register grill when the flange adapter is attached to the register grill, the flange having a generally circular opening; a cylindrical portion extending from the flange a flex duct connector having a generally cylindrical shape and configured to attach to the cylindrical portion, the flex duct connector also configured to attach to a length of flex duct; where air flow is configured to travel in either direction from the flex duct through the interior of the flex duct connector, through the interior of the cylindrical portion, through the circular opening and into the register grill. |
| US10697845B2 |
Apparatus for hydrostatic testing
An apparatus for hydrostatic testing of openings in items surrounded by a flange, such as flanged pipe sections, flanged pipelines, flanged hose assemblies, as well as other flanged equipment requiring initial and/or periodic pressure testing. |
| US10697844B2 |
Compact pressure transducer
The present disclosure includes a pressure transducer comprising: a frame; a cantilevered beam; a resilient beam portion; a signal processing circuit; a wiring terminal; and a support member. The resilient beam portion anchors the cantilevered beam to the frame. The cantilevered beam moves in response to a pressure-induced force applied to the cantilevered beam and the resilient beam portion bends producing a strain within the resilient beam portion. The support member comprises a cavity and the signal processing circuit is entirely installed inside the cavity. There is a strain gauge diffused into, implanted into, and/or affixed to the resilient beam portion. The cavity of the support member includes a first aperture disposed along the first surface of the support member and the inner surface of the frame covers the first aperture. |
| US10697842B2 |
Magnetostriction type torque detection sensor
There is provided a magnetostriction type torque detection sensor which is improved in torque detection sensitivity by increasing respective magnetic paths which are formed between a detected object and a plurality of cores attached to an insulating tubular body in such a manner that a magnetic path which is formed at the detected object is at a predetermined angle to an axis of the detected object.A plurality of cores is arrayed while being inclined at a predetermined angle to an axis of a detected object, and end surfaces of two-side leg portions are attached in such a way as to face the detected object via an inner circumferential surface of an insulating tubular body. |
| US10697841B2 |
System for measuring residual stress in optical thin films in both transmission and reflection
Conventional optical-transmission-type residual stress measuring apparatus cannot be used for completing the measurement of residual stress in an optical film having light reflective property, and conventional optical-reflection-type residual stress measuring apparatus is known failing to achieving the measurement of residual stress in an optical thin film having transparent or translucent property. In view of that, the present invention discloses a system for measuring residual stress in optical thin films, which is able to be utilized for achieving the residual stress measurement of respective optical thin film having transparent or translucent property and that of respective optical thin film having light reflective property. Therefore, it is helpful for largely reducing both the purchase cost and the maintenance cost by only purchasing the residual stress measuring system provided by the present invention instead of simultaneously purchasing the aforesaid two different types of residual stress measuring apparatuses. |
| US10697839B2 |
Device and method for detecting the approach and/or contact and pressure of an object in relation to a detection surface
A detection device including: a measurement electrode, and a second electrode separated from one another by a distance (D) that is elastically modifiable locally, by a load exerted by an object on a detection surface, and a controller arranged in order to: connect the electrodes to an alternating guard potential (Vg) in order to measure a capacitance representing an approach and a contact; and connect the second electrode to a second potential a second potential proportional to the guard potential (Vg) and having a different amplitude, or to the ground potential (G), in order to measure a capacitance representing a pressure. Also provided is a detection method utilizing such a detection device. |
| US10697838B1 |
Flexible filter element using liquid metal and method of preparing the same
Provided are a filter element and a method of preparing a filter element. The filter element includes a pattern substrate having a first channel formed on one surface and a second channel formed on the other surface and including a first base and a second base which have different liquid permeabilities; a first liquid metal pattern disposed in the first channel; a second liquid metal pattern disposed in the second channel and at least partially overlapping the first liquid metal pattern; and a contactor configured to invade in the first base and the second base and electrically connect the first liquid metal pattern to the second liquid metal pattern. |
| US10697834B2 |
Contrast phantoms and uses thereof for active millimeter wave imaging systems
The present disclosure is directed to a contrast phantom having a first region with a first reflection coefficient, a second region with a second reflection coefficient, and a third region with a third reflection coefficient, wherein the first reflection coefficient, the second reflection coefficient and the third reflection coefficient are increasing or decreasing in value in discrete steps, and wherein at least one of the regions includes an electrically conductive material having a thickness of about 200 μm. Methods of testing the contrast resolution of an active millimeter wave imaging system using the contrast phantom are also described. |
| US10697827B2 |
Systems and methods for extending frequency response of resonant transducers
Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems and methods for extending a frequency response of a transducer. A method is provided that can include receiving a measurement signal from a transducer, wherein the measurement signal includes distortion due to a resonant frequency of the transducer. The method includes applying a complementary filter to the measurement signal to produce a compensated signal, wherein applying the complementary filter reduces the distortion to less than about +/−1 dB for frequencies ranging from about zero to about 60% or greater of the resonant frequency. The method further includes outputting the compensated signal. |
| US10697826B2 |
Magnetic field based micro-vibration measurement device and measuring method thereof
A magnetic field based micro-vibration measurement device and a measuring therefore are provided, which are applied in a micro-vibration measurement technical field. Fluxgate sensors and a control processing circuit are included. Each of the fluxgate sensors is disposed with an excitation coil and an induction coil that are mutually corresponding; the control processing circuit includes: an excitation signal generating module, a frequency-selective amplifying module, a phase-sensitive rectifying module, a smooth filtering module an ambient magnetic field acquisition module, and a vibration data statistics module. Excitation coils generate excitation magnetic field signals according to the excitation signal sent from the excitation signal generating module the induction coils are for generating induced current signals according to the receive excitation magnetic field signal and the ambient magnetic field signal. Induced current signals are calculated to obtain ambient magnetic field data after sequentially undergoing selective amplification, rectification and smooth filtering. |
| US10697824B2 |
Dynamic sensitivity distributed acoustic sensing
Provided is a method for determining strain change in an optical fiber. The method includes injecting pulsed radiation into the optical fiber; interfering the radiation backscattered from plural locations within the fiber with reference radiation; detecting plural intensities of the interfered radiation associated with the plural locations; deriving plural temporal phase changes based on the plural intensities; for any target location along the fiber: setting a variable first aggregation range and/or second aggregation range to respective start aggregation range values; a) deriving a first phase aggregation value based on plural temporal phase changes of radiation returning from the first aggregation range including locations behind the target location; b) deriving a second phase aggregation value based on plural temporal phase changes of radiation travelled to a second aggregation range including locations in front of the target location; c) determining a signal (strain indicative value) associated with the target location based on a phase aggregation value difference between the first phase aggregation value and second phase aggregation value; performing the above steps a), b), c) while varying the first and/or second aggregation range values to respective final aggregation range values until a criterion is satisfied. |
| US10697822B2 |
Devices, methods and computer program products providing multi-axis vibrational measurement with predictive analysis
A sensor may include a housing configured to couple to a machine; at least one processor within the housing; a battery within the housing; a communication adapter within the housing and coupled to the at least one processor; and a measurement device within the housing and coupled to the at least one processor and the battery. The communication adapter may be configured to wirelessly connect to a communication network. The measurement device may be configured to: obtain measurements of a physical characteristic of the machine to which the housing is coupled and transmit the measurements via the communication adapter, and automatically switch between a first measurement mode comprising a first sampling rate and a second measurement mode comprising a second sampling rate, different from the first sampling rate, without human intervention. |
| US10697815B2 |
System and methods for mitigating condensation in a sensor module
Methods and systems for mitigating condensation in a sensor module of a combustion appliance are disclosed. In one example, a fluid flow from a main conduit is cooled with a passive heat exchanger. A sensor of a sensor module may be heated to a temperature above the cooled fluid flow. Cooling the incoming fluid flow with a passive heat exchanger and/or heating the downstream flow sensor may help mitigate condensation in the sensor module, and in particular, on the sensor device. This may help increase the reliability of the system. |
| US10697814B1 |
Water meter pit using a buoy to assist in RF communication
A wireless pit meter (WPM) transmitter unit comprises a complete wireless system for reading and transmitting water meter data, wherein the water meter may be submersed in water. In order to lower installation costs and to improve system reliability, a buoy transmitter is used within a water meter vault such that varying levels of water do not degrade radio signal propagation. A wire may be attached to a submerged water meter sending data to a disclosed buoy. The buoy has an antenna to transmit data to the underside of a pit lid repeater PLR, the PLR having an underside within the water meter pit and a top side reaching the outside of the water pit lid. The top side of the PLR comprises a spiral antenna capable of transmitting or repeating the water meter data to a distant receiver with the receiver in communication with a billing system. |
| US10697813B2 |
Microwave measuring arrangement for determining the loading of a two-phase flow
Microwave measuring arrangement for determining loading two-phase flow with gaseous carrier medium in tube of channel system (1) with small solid and/or liquid particles. Microwaves with frequencies between 0.95 and 1.05 times the frequency of waveguide fundamental wave, are coupled into an electrically conductive section of the tube/channel system (1), section being delimited by filed rods (4,4′) and acting as resonator, the shift in the resonant frequency of the resonator on account of loading of the medium with solid and/or liquid particles is determined. To suppress interference (reflected, diffracted and/or superimposed) in the tube/or channel system (1), two auxiliary field rods (6, 7 and 6′, 7′) assigned to each filed rod (4,4′) are provided, Auxiliary filed rods (6, 7 and 6′, 7) are arranged at an angle α with respect to the field rod (4, 4′) of α=+45°±10 and/or α=−45°±10° and/or α=+135°±10° and/or α=−135°±. |
| US10697807B2 |
Measurement system and temperature and/or shape change sensor using brillouin scattering analysis
A measurement system for performing measurement by Brillouin scattering analysis, the system comprising a laser emitter device (10) configured to emit an incident wave (ν0) and a reference wave (ν0−νB), the incident wave presenting an incident frequency (ν0) and the reference wave presenting a reference frequency (ν0−νB), the reference frequency (ν0−νB) being shifted from the incident frequency (ν0) by a predetermined value (νB). The system is configured to: project the incident wave (ν0) into the optical fiber (25); receive in return a backscattered wave (ν0−νS); generate a composite wave (ν0-S, 0-B) combining the backscattered wave (ν0−νS) and the reference wave (S0−νB); and determine at least one property relating to the fiber by analyzing a Brillouin spectrum of the composite wave (ν0-S, 0-B). Advantageously, the incident wave and the reference wave come from a dual-frequency vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser source (12) forming part of the laser emitter device. |
| US10697801B2 |
Rotational angle detection apparatus and rotating machine apparatus
A rotational angle detection apparatus is provided with a magnet disposed so as to be rotatable integrally with an axis of rotation, having a substantially circular shape when viewed along the axis of rotation, and including a magnetization vector component in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation; a magnetic sensor that outputs a sensor signal on the basis of change in a magnetic field accompanying rotation of the magnet; and a rotational angle detector that detects a rotational angle of the rotating body on the basis of the sensor signal output by the magnetic sensor; wherein the magnet has a curved inclined surface with a concave shape along the axis of rotation from a prescribed position on the outer side in a radial direction toward the axis of rotation, and when a circular virtual plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation and centered at the axis of rotation is established at a position opposed to the curved inclined surface, the magnetic sensor is disposed at a position at which the amplitudes of a magnetic field intensity Hr in a radial direction and a magnetic field intensity Hθ in a circumferential direction on the virtual plane are substantially the same, and the magnetic field intensities Hr and Hθ in the radial direction and/or the circumferential direction is output as the sensor signal. |
| US10697800B2 |
Multi-dimensional measurement using magnetic sensors and related systems, methods, and integrated circuits
This disclosure describes, among other things, embodiments of devices, systems, and methods for using 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic sensors to detect the position of a magnetic target. By using 3D magnetic sensors, a two dimensional array of such magnetic sensors can be used to determine a 3D position of a magnetic target. |
| US10697799B2 |
Angle sensor and angle sensor system
An angle sensor includes a plurality of composite magnetic field information generation units and an angle computing unit. The plurality of composite magnetic field information generation units detect, at a plurality of detection positions, a composite magnetic field of a magnetic field to be detected and a noise magnetic field other than the magnetic field to be detected, and thereby generate a plurality of pieces of composite magnetic field information including information on the direction of the composite magnetic field. The angle computing unit generates a detected angle value by performing an operation using the plurality of pieces of composite magnetic field information so that an error of the detected angle value caused by the noise magnetic field is made smaller than in the case where the detected angle value is generated on the basis of any and only one of the plurality of pieces of composite magnetic field information. |
| US10697796B2 |
Method for checking and/or calibrating a vertical axis of a rotating laser
A method for checking and/or calibrating a vertical axis of a rotating laser which projects a first laser beam that can rotate about an axis of rotation and a second, stationary laser beam, using a laser receiver. The rotating laser is positioned at a measurement distance from the laser receiver, the rotating laser being oriented in a vertical position, and the laser receiver having a transverse arrangement. |
| US10697795B2 |
Automatic heading correction for directional gyroscopes
A navigation system for vehicles, such as rotorcraft, includes a directional gyroscope having a magnetic heading correction mode, a nonmagnetic manual heading correction mode and a nonmagnetic automatic heading correction mode. A magnetic field sensor is operably coupled to the directional gyroscope and is operable to generate magnetic north-based signals. A heading correction input is operably coupled to the directional gyroscope and is operable to generate manual signals upon actuation thereof. A global positioning system sensor is operably coupled to the directional gyroscope and is operable to generate track-based signals. In the magnetic heading correction mode, the directional gyroscope receives the magnetic north-based signals for heading corrections. In the nonmagnetic manual heading correction mode, the directional gyroscope receives the manual signals for heading corrections. In the nonmagnetic automatic heading correction mode, the directional gyroscope periodically receives the track-based signals for heading corrections. |
| US10697794B2 |
Flight-path determination device and flight-path determination method
A flight-path determination device for determining a flight path of a flying object has a position determination apparatus to detect a position of the flying object, an alignment apparatus that to verify whether the position of the flying object is within one specified approach path of a number of specified approach paths, and a path determination apparatus to output the relevant approach path as the flight path of the flying object if the position of the flying object is within one of the specified approach paths. |
| US10697792B2 |
Systems and methods for in-vehicle navigated shopping
Systems and methods to provide a navigated-shopping service are discussed. In an example, a method for navigated-shopping can include receiving a destination location, accessing a route to the destination, displaying the route with indications of a plurality of items for purchase, receiving selection of a selected item, and purchasing the selected item. The plurality of items for purchase can be within a predefined distance of at least one point along the route. The selection of the selected item can include selection of a retail location of a plurality of retail locations along the route. |
| US10697787B2 |
Detour recommended area estimation system, detour recommended area estimation program, and navigation device
A detour recommended area estimation system includes: a recording medium; and a control unit configured to collect probe information from a vehicle; acquire a travel-avoided direction based on the probe information when the vehicle made a detour, the travel-avoided direction being a direction in which the vehicle would have been traveled if the detour had not been made; estimate an area in which a direction dependence degree of the travel-avoided direction is less than a reference value as a detour recommended area, and record the detour recommended area in a recording medium. |
| US10697785B2 |
Automated route determination
A preferred route may be determined from an origin location to a destination location. The determination is made by processing directed links (e.g., one-way edges) in a graph that includes one or more links and two or more nodes. The determination of a preferred route may include an estimate of the time required at one or more intersections along alternative. Individual routing preferences, such as a preference of a rural over an urban route, also may be considered. Techniques are described that may help reduce the time required to identify a preferred route, including the identification and removal of no outlet routes before processing the directed links and techniques using particular data formats. |
| US10697778B2 |
Indoor navigation
In accordance with implementations of the subject matter described herein, a new approach for creating a navigation trace is proposed. In these implementations, a reference signal is obtained, where the reference signal includes time series data collected by at least one environment sensor along a reference path from a start point to a destination. Then, a navigation trace is created for the reference path based on the obtained reference signal, where magnitudes at locations of the navigation trace reflect measurements collected by the at least one environment sensor at respective time points of the reference signal. In accordance with implementations of the subject matter described herein, a new approach for generating a navigation instruction from a navigation trace. |
| US10697775B2 |
Travel distance calculation device, charging system, travel distance calculation method, program, and storage medium
A travel distance calculation device includes: a first travel distance calculation unit configured to calculate a travel distance of a vehicle on the basis of position information on the vehicle obtained through position determination using a GNSS satellite; a second travel distance calculation unit configured to calculate a travel distance of the vehicle on the basis of the number of rotations of a tire that the vehicle includes; and a calculation-means selecting unit configured to select calculation means configured to calculate the travel distance of the vehicle from among the first travel distance calculation unit and the second travel distance calculation unit on the basis of at least one of the position information on the vehicle obtained through position determination using the GNSS satellite and information indicating a state of communication with the GNSS satellite. |
| US10697771B2 |
Survey system
A survey system including a movable photographing device, a surveying device, and an analysis device. The movable photographing device includes a camera mounted on a UAV and taking a plurality of images P for photogrammetry, and a GPS unit including a first time stamping portion stamping a first time Tc relating to a photographing time on the image P taken. The surveying device determines a position of the movable photographing device, and includes a second time stamping portion stamping a second time Tt relating to a surveying time on a survey result R determined above. The analysis device includes a photographing position analysis portion associating each survey result R with a photographing position of the respective image P based on the first time Tc and the second time Tt, and generating data for photogrammetry. |
| US10697768B2 |
Method and device for the cyclic digital transfer of a position value of a moving object having inertial mass
A method and device for the cyclic digital transfer of a position value of a moving object having inertial mass, the value range of the transferred position value being limited in such a way that no whole revolution or, in the case of a linear motion, other complete period that is conditional upon mechanical conditions is mappable, and the actual position is generated by detecting, in an evaluation unit, instances of the value range being exceeded. |
| US10697766B1 |
Method and apparatus for compensating vehicle inspection system measurements for effects of vehicle motion
A vehicle inspection system configured with a processing system and at least one displacement sensor disposed on opposite sides of a vehicle inspection lane sensor region to acquire displacement measurement data associated with a moving vehicle passing through the vehicle inspection lane. The processing system is configured to receive acquired displacement measurement data to determine characteristics of the moving vehicle, such as vehicle velocity, dynamic axle alignment, dynamic wheel alignment, or dimensions. The processing system is further configured to evaluate the determined dynamic vehicle characteristics in relation to static vehicle characteristics, such as static axle alignment or static wheel alignment, through application of one or more compensation factors based on user selected parameters, default parameters, or identified vehicle features. |
| US10697765B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing system, and program therefor
An image processing system comprises: a projector for projecting pattern light whose coordinate component at least in one direction is determinable; an imaging apparatus for imaging an object illuminated with the pattern light to acquire a pattern image; and a controller including a calculator for calculating the 3D coordinates of a point on the object based on the pattern light and the pattern image. The calculator determines a first point on the pattern image; calculates a second point corresponding to the first point in a pattern-light projection plane; calculates a third point based on the second point in the projection plane, a nonlinear line in the projection plane calculated by analyzing the pattern image, and an epipolar line in the projection plane calculated based on the first point; and calculates the three-dimensional coordinates of the point on the object based on the first point and the third point. |
| US10697759B2 |
All-in-one integrated sensing device for machine control
An integrated sensing device with a suite of sensors assists construction machine operators in finding the correct level to dig a ditch/trench. The sensing device includes a gravity sensor to determine angles, a laser distance meter (LDM), and a laser receiver for detecting a known jobsite elevation. The sensing device is mounted to the dipper stick of an excavator; the gravity sensor detects the angle of the stick, and the laser receiver detects a laser plane of light that represents a known jobsite elevation. The LDM is aimed at another member of the machine that moves in a predetermined path as the bucket is rotated, and the distance between the LDM and the target member is used to calculate the vertical elevation of the working tool edge. A display graphically shows the operator the proper dig depth and the present position of the working tool edge. |
| US10697755B1 |
Calibration of rotating mirror systems
Methodology for calibrating a rotating mirror system includes: measuring a normal of a first fiducial of the mirror system; measuring vectors to a second fiducial of the mirror system, each vector being measured at a different angle of rotation about an azimuth axis of rotation of the mirror system; calculating the azimuth axis of rotation using the measured vectors; creating a base coordinate system from the measured first fiducial normal and the calculated azimuth axis of rotation; and for each of a first mirror and a second mirror of the mirror system, measuring normals of the mirror at multiple angles of rotation, calculating an axis of rotation of the mirror using the measured normals, creating a mirror coordinate system from the measured normals and the calculated axis of rotation of the mirror, and calculating a translation and rotation matrix from the mirror coordinate system to the base coordinate system. |
| US10697753B2 |
Strain sensing device and manufacturing method thereof
A strain sensing device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided in the invention. The strain sensing device includes a substrate and at least one sensing electrode. The substrate has a plurality of pores. A material of the substrate includes nanocellulose, and the substrates is strained in response to changes in external conditions. The at least one sensing electrode is disposed on the substrate, wherein the sensing electrode contacting the substrate extends into the pores of the substrate. The at least one sensing electrode has a major axis parallel to a surface of the substrate. A resistance value of the at least one sensing electrode changes in response to a strain of the substrate. |
| US10697752B2 |
Aperture-coupled magnetoelectric quasistatic sensing
Quasistatic through-the-wall non-line-of-sight coupling between a mobile transmitting device located within a metallic enclosure, and a fixed receiving device located outside the enclosure, enables positioning of the transmitting device through the wall of the enclosure and in non-line-of-sight environments. The coupling of the magnetic and electric quasistatic fields occurs through a small aperture in the metallic enclosure, such as the gap normally present in the hatch of industrial metallic enclosures. |
| US10697745B2 |
Ammunition device
The present invention discloses an ammunition device or pellet suitable for use with gas fired guns, such as paintballing guns. The pellets have a body and a charge that are arranged as a single unit of formed as separate parts which are assembled for use. The body can be single use or reusable. The charge contains marking material and is a single-use portion arranged to be adjacent to the body. The charge has breakable outer shell for surrounding marking material. |
| US10697743B2 |
Fire arm casing for resisting high deflagration pressure
A casing for use in a cartridge for a firearm comprises a sleeve and attached base. The sleeve has cylindrical portion with a mouth for holding a bullet and an opposing radially-running bulkhead from which extends a nipple that is secured within a passageway of the base by a lip at the nipple terminal end. There are one or more seal regions in the passageway. A sleeve is preferably made of austenitic stainless steel and there are differing hardness and magnetic properties along the sleeve length. Particularly for high pressure rounds, the bulkhead has a frusto-conical portion with one or more circumferential waves and mates with a conical depression in the surface of the base; optionally, a skirt around the periphery of the base provides support to the sleeve bulkhead. A base has a deep cannelure with a continuously curving groove bottom, enabling a base to be made of an iron alloy into which carbon is diffused to enable hardening, after machining. |
| US10697737B2 |
Armouring system for self-propelled work machines
The armouring system for a self-propelled work machine (1) comprises: a cab frame (10) for the machine (1); and a plurality of armouring elements (21, 22, 23, 24, 25), made of armoured material, adapted to be fixed removably to respective portions of the frame (10), in order to define an armoured cab (2). |
| US10697736B2 |
Ballistic panel for headwear
A ballistic garment includes a fabric cap and a plurality of flexible ballistic panels. Each of the plurality of flexible ballistic panels has a bottom edge and an acutely pointed head that is spaced from the bottom head. The acutely pointed head of each of the plurality of flexible ballistic panels is positioned adjacent a top portion of the fabric cap. The bottom edge of each of the plurality of flexible ballistic panels positioned adjacent a bottom portion of the fabric cap. |
| US10697735B2 |
Full-coverage bulletproof backpack
The present application provides a full-coverage bulletproof backpack, which comprises: a backpack body, a double-shoulder strap, a first sandwich, and a second sandwich, wherein the double-shoulder strap is fixedly provided on the back side of the backpack body, and the first sandwich and the second sandwich are provided in the backpack body, wherein the first sandwich is fixedly provided with a first bulletproof part, and the second sandwich is provided with a second bulletproof part, the second sandwich is provided with a pulling structure, the upper side of the double-shoulder strap is provided with an upper fixing part, and the lower side thereof is provided with a lower fixing part. |
| US10697733B1 |
Weapon targeting system
A point of aim shows where a weapon is aimed on a target. An electronic device determines an impact location on the target of a projectile fired from the weapon, determines a distance from the point of aim to the impact location, and moves the point of aim in order to sight the weapon to the target. |
| US10697728B2 |
Peep sight for an archery bow
An adjustable peep sight for use with an archery bow that can be readily adjusted to allow multiple users each having different bowstring draw distances to aim accurately. The peep sight includes a slide element that is moveably mounted on a main body. The adjustable peep sight can be mounted on the bowstring of a bow and adjusted for various archers while the peep sight remains in the original position on the bowstring. |
| US10697727B2 |
Universal holster assembly
The present invention provides for a universal holster assembly for securely storing one or more handguns. The holster assembly comprises a first and second end walls. A supporting pad is located between the first and second end walls. The first and second end walls and the supporting pad define a cradle configured for holstering a handgun. A hollow tube extends through a set of aligned openings formed in the first and second end walls and the supporting pad. A plug having a head and a body is used to secure each end of the tube. The body is inserted into an end of the tube and a head urging against an exterior surface of one of the end walls, thus securing the holster assembly. Additional cradles may be defined by adding dividing walls and additional supporting pads. Further, one or more storage compartments may also be provided. |
| US10697723B1 |
Shotgun charger
A charger for a firearm comprises a body, a movable internal diverter and an advancing member. The body has at least first and second cartridge holding areas that are arranged parallel to each other and are configured to receive and store cartridges in an end-to-end orientation. A first end of the body has a cartridge opening through which cartridges can be loaded into and unloaded from the charger and a receiver insert shaped to fit into a receiver of the firearm. The movable internal diverter is positioned in the body and extends at least partway between the first and second cartridge holding areas to separate the first and second cartridge holding areas from each other. The advancing member is accessible from an exterior of the body and has an engaging member extending within the body and configured to contact a cartridge in one of the first and second cartridge holding areas. The advancing member is movable toward the first end in an advancement direction to urge cartridges from a selected one of the first and second cartridge holding areas and out of the cartridge opening, and in a reverse direction toward a second end of the body to withdraw the engaging member and move the internal diverter so that the engaging member is aligned with the other of the first and second holding areas. |
| US10697721B2 |
Charging handle with push rod
A firearm comprising an upper receiver and a charging handle is disclosed. A charging handle is coupled to the upper receiver and comprises a handle assembly rotationally coupled to a main body about a first and a second pivot point. The handle assembly includes a first handle having an edge nearest the main body and a latch extending from the first handle parallel to the main body for interfacing with the upper receiver in a first position, a second handle having an edge nearest the main body, and a push rod positioned between the edge of the first handle and the edge of the second handle, such that when force is applied to the second handle, energy is transferred through the second handle to the push rod and to the first handle, moving the latch into a second position. |
| US10697720B2 |
Projectile launcher
A projectile launcher, comprising: an internal tank configured to receive a combustible gas through an inlet, a barrel, a projectile storage portion, a piston, a trigger assembly configured to operate a spool, and a flexible structure configured to wrap around the spool. The flexible structure may be connected to the piston, wherein pulling the trigger assembly causes the spool to rotate to cause the flexible structure to pull the piston forward. The piston may be configured to expand a combustion chamber behind the piston when pulled forward, wherein pulling the trigger assembly causes the combustible gas to enter the combustion chamber created by the piston moving forward. The combustion chamber is configured to collapse after the shot is executed due to a spring bias applied to the piston to a backward position and due to the flexible shaft being released from pulling the piston forward. |
| US10697718B2 |
Pressure cap for cooling system having variable opening pressure
A pressure cap structure for a cooling system having variable opening pressure, which is applied to a cooling system for circulating cooling water to radiate heat generated by an engine of a vehicle, and maintains the inside pressure of the cooling system in a predetermined range, the pressure cap may include a positive pressure spring mounted in a valve body, and operated to connect the cooling system to the outside when the pressure of the cooling system rises, and a shape memory member restored to the initial shape when reaching a predetermined temperature, and mounted between the positive pressure spring and a spring guard supporting the positive pressure spring. |
| US10697716B2 |
Heat exchanger and header plate for heat exchanger
A tube header for a heat exchanger may include: a header plate having two major dimensions defining a header plane, and a plurality of tie bars, each tie bar arranged between a pair of adjacent oblong passages. In particular, the header plate has a row of oblong passages extending through the header plate, and the header plate includes a core cover slot of which opening length is equal to or greater than three quarters of an opening length of one of the oblong passages to receive a tube. |
| US10697715B1 |
Main header for internal combustion engine radiator
Embodiment of the present disclosure relate to an improved main header for an internal combustion engine radiator. In one embodiment, a main header for an internal combustion engine radiator has cut-outs and V-shaped notches provided at the four corners of the main header. The cut-outs and V-shaped notches release the stresses after the main header is flanged, thereby ensuring the flatness or straightness of the main header. The main header further includes one or more strengthening strips disposed along the length sides and the width sides of the main header, and optionally at the region adjacent to the cut-outs, to further enhance the flatness of the main header. |
| US10697714B2 |
Multiple tube-type heat exchanger and heat transfer tube cleaning method for same
A multiple tube-type heat exchanger (25) is provided with a cylindrical heat exchanger shell (36) and a heat transfer tube unit (38) which is mounted in a removable manner within the heat exchanger shell (36). The heat transfer tube unit (38) is provided with a plurality of heat transfer tubes (50) extending inside the heat exchanger shell (36) in the longitudinal axis direction; a binding member (51 serves also as this binding member) for binding the heat transfer tubes (50); and a plurality of rotary journal sections (51, 52) which are concentric with the center axis (CL) of the heat transfer tube unit (38), are provided at positions located at a distance from each other in the direction of the center axis (CL), and enable the heat transfer tube unit (38) to be supported by predetermined rotation support sections provided outside the heat exchanger shell (36). |
| US10697713B2 |
Gas-fired tube swaged joint
A heat exchange system for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) may comprise a burner box, a hot collector box, and a heat exchanger tube. The heat exchanger tube may be disposed between, and in fluid communication with, the hot collector box and the burner box. The heat exchanger tube may be rigidly connected to at least one of the hot collector box or burner box by a swaged joint. |
| US10697712B2 |
Vapor chamber
A vapor chamber has a first plate, a second plate, at least one ring structure, and a chamber. The first plate and the second plate have holes communicating with each other. The second plate has a cavity portion concaved away from the first plate. The ring structure is in the cavity portion and encloses the holes. The chamber is formed between the first plate and the second plate. A capillary structure layer and a working liquid are in the chamber. Therefore, even when either of the first and second plates is broken by heads of screws mounted through the holes, which are larger and oppress the margins of the holes, or even when either of the first and second plates is broken during forming of the holes via stamping or drilling, the chamber always remain sealed. |
| US10697706B2 |
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger that includes first and second headers, a first flow conduit fluidly connecting the first and second headers to allow for a flow of a first fluid through the heat exchanger, the first flow conduit being bounded by a first generally planar wall section extending between the first and second headers, a second flow conduit to allow for a flow of the second fluid through the heat exchanger, the second flow conduit being bounded by a second generally planar wall section spaced apart from the first generally planar wall section to define a gap therebetween, and a thermally conductive structure arranged within the gap and joined to the first and second generally planar wall sections to transfer heat therebetween. The thermally conductive structure is isolated from the first fluid by the first generally planar wall section and from the second fluid by the second generally planar wall section. |
| US10697704B2 |
Liquid-cooled heat dissipation system and water reservoir thereof
The invention discloses a water reservoir of a liquid-cooled system. The water reservoir is integretedly interconnected to the power system. The water reservoir is partitioned into a water inflow tank and a water outflow tank in a top-bottom or left-right manner. The water inflow tank and the water outflow tank are both provided with at least two water inlets and water outlets. Also, the present invention discloses a liquid-cooled system made by using the above-mentioned water reservoir, which includes a heat dissipation device and a heat absorption device connected to the water reservoir. The heat dissipation device is integratedly connected to the water reservoir. The heat absorption device is connected to the water reservoir through pipes. |
| US10697702B2 |
Treatment installation and method for treating workpieces
In order to provide a treatment installation for treating workpieces that is of simple construction and enables optimised workpiece treatment, it is proposed that the treatment installation should include a treatment chamber and a conveying device, by means of which the workpieces are suppliable to the treatment chamber, are removable from the treatment chamber, and/or are conveyable through the treatment chamber in a conveying direction. |
| US10697701B2 |
Method and apparatus to prevent electronic device screen damage
This invention relates generally to a multi-function apparatus that is especially suited for the prevention of personal electronic device screen damage during vacuum drying of the device. The apparatus utilizes injection molded plastic that incorporates a sealing ring that seals itself onto a display. This sealing under vacuum pressure substantially increases the screen or display stiffness and prevents any deflection caused by sudden re-pressurization of air. |
| US10697700B2 |
Refrigeration water dispensing system
A water dispensing system for use in a refrigeration appliance comprises a three-way connector operably coupled to an inlet water source and configured to direct incoming water from the inlet water source into an ambient water holding portion and a cold water tank and a water dispenser disposed on a front surface of a refrigeration chamber door. The water dispenser comprises a three-way water control valve configured to dispense water from the ambient water holding portion, the cold water tank, or a combination thereof, an actuator operable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, and a paddle configured to actuate the dispenser. |
| US10697699B2 |
Cabinet assembly of an appliance
A cabinet for an appliance, such as a refrigerated appliance, includes a cabinet wrapper, a trim breaker operably coupled to the cabinet wrapper and defining an interface, and load transfer bracket operably coupled to the interface. Structural loading stresses are transferred to the load transfer bracket at the interface. |
| US10697698B2 |
Vacuum insulated panel for counteracting vacuum bow induced deformations
A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity. |
| US10697693B2 |
Refrigerator
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator including a sliding bar provided in each of a pair of doors and that moves between standby and contact positions to which the sliding bar moves from the standby position to seal a gap between the doors, and a moving device that operates the sliding bar in linkage with operations of opening and closing the doors, wherein the moving device includes a lever that is pressed by the main body and rotatably provided inside the doors to transmit a pressing force in a direction different from a direction in which the lever is pressed by the main body, and a sliding link that operates in linkage with rotation of the lever and configured so that the sliding bar moves between the standby position and the contact position. Through this configuration, the refrigerator minimizes noise related to opening and closing the doors and improves insulation performance. |
| US10697692B2 |
Home appliance device
For the purpose of improving efficiency, a home appliance device, in particular a home chiller appliance device, is proposed. The device includes at least one panel for at least partly covering an opening of a machine compartment; and a connection unit for connecting the panel; the panel comprising at least one panel module which has at least one fin, at least one first fin mounting element and at least one second fin mounting element for mounting the at least one fin, the connection unit comprising at least one connection element for connecting the at least one panel module, and wherein the connection element is movable with respect to the first fin mounting element and the second fin mounting element in a lengthwise direction of the panel in at least one pre-assembled state of the panel. |
| US10697689B2 |
Household appliance device and method for operating a household appliance device
The efficiency of a household appliance device, in particular of a household refrigerator device, is improved. An inner container has at least one inner panel that delimits an interior at least partially. An air exchange unit is formed with at least two flow channels that run substantially parallel and that are in fluidic communication with the interior. |
| US10697688B2 |
Cooled storage system
A cooled storage system comprises a grid structure of storage cells, where each cell is arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage bins and having a top level, at least one remotely operated vehicle arranged to move at the top level of the grid structure and receive a bin from a storage cell at the top level of the grid structure, where there is provided thermal insulation between at least a section of the grid structure and the remotely operated vehicle, and said section of the grid structure has a temperature that is lower than the temperature of the remotely operated vehicle. |
| US10697686B2 |
Constructive layout applied to ice tray
An ice tray is provided, which includes a tray used to obtain pieces of ice with spherical geometry. The ice tray includes a base and a cover, provided with a first and a second semi-spherical cavity, respectively, which connect to form a spherical cavity, appropriately suitable for obtaining spherical geometric pieces of ice. |
| US10697683B2 |
Refrigeration system condenser fan control
A method of controlling a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a variable speed condenser fan is provided. The method includes determining if a change in an ambient temperature or a compressor suction pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold, determining a near-optimal condensing pressure/temperature if the change in the ambient temperature or the compressor suction pressure is above the predetermined threshold, setting a condensing pressure setpoint based on the determined near-optimal condensing pressure/temperature, and setting a speed of the variable speed condenser fan based on the condensing pressure setpoint. |
| US10697680B2 |
Heat source system and control method thereof
A heat source system that optimizes a load on compressors in multiple heat source machines with respective independent refrigeration cycles that are situated in series. This is accomplished by using an information acquisition unit that acquires measurement values of operation frequencies of compressors from the respective heat source machines, a load distribution change unit that changes a load distribution currently assigned to each of the heat source machines, and a temperature setting unit that sets the hot/chilled water outlet temperatures of respective heat source machines. |
| US10697679B2 |
Cooling system and a method for control thereof
A refrigerator apparatus having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a valve interconnected in the flow from the condenser to the evaporator. The valve is operatively controlled to a first, open, state and to a second, closed, state by a controller. The controller is configured to the valve to operate in accordance with at least one of: opening the valve a time period of 0-180 seconds before the compressor is switched to an on-phase; and closing the valve before the compressor is switched to an off-phase. |
| US10697673B2 |
Condenser with liquid receiver
A liquid receiver of a condenser has a liquid receiver main body and a plug removably fitted thereinto. The liquid receiver main body has a refrigerant inflow hole into which refrigerant flows from a condensation section and a refrigerant outflow hole from which refrigerant flows into a supercooling section. The liquid receiver has a first space formed above the upper end of the plug and communicating with the refrigerant inflow hole and a second space formed below the upper end of the plug and communicating with the refrigerant outflow hole. The plug has a flow passage which is open to the first space and the second space at opposite ends. The first-space-side opening of the flow passage is located below the refrigerant inflow hole. The flow passage has a throttle portion whose cross-sectional area is smaller than a hole area of the refrigerant inflow hole. |
| US10697672B2 |
Storage unit and tempering system for a storage unit
For creating a storage unit comprising a container housing enclosing a storage volume for receiving freight and a gaseous medium surrounding said freight, said storage unit further comprising a tempering system provided with a tempering unit associated with said storage volume for maintaining a flow of said gaseous medium circulating in said storage volume and passing through said tempering unit in order to be maintained at a defined or set temperature, said tempering unit comprising an internal heat exchanger arranged in said flow of gaseous medium passing through said tempering unit, said tempering system being provided with a refrigerant circuit comprising said internal heat exchanger, an external heat exchanger exposed to ambient air surrounding said container housing which operates reliably and cost efficient under the aforementioned condition, as well as a compressor unit for compressing refrigerant, and said tempering system being further provided with an engine for driving said compressor unit in an independent power source mode and said tempering system being further provided with an electric motor/generator unit mechanically coupled to said compressor unit, and said compressor unit and said motor/generator unit being commonly driven by said engine in said independent power source mode. |
| US10697663B1 |
Motor controller for electric blowers
A motor controller for an electric motor for driving a blower to generate an airflow. The motor controller includes a processor and a drive circuit configured to regulate power supplied to the motor to turn the blower. The processor computes a system resistance for the blower based on a fixed set point for a first control parameter and a feedback parameter. The processor receives an airflow rate demand value and computes an operating set point for a second control parameter based on the system resistance and the airflow rate demand value. The processor controls the drive circuit based on the operating set point to supply electrical power to the electric motor and to operate the blower to generate the airflow. |
| US10697662B2 |
Automated adjustment of an HVAC schedule for resource conservation
Apparatus, systems, methods, for optimizing a schedule of setpoint temperatures used in the control of an HVAC system are presented herein. A schedule of setpoint temperatures may be adjusted by small, incremental amounts so that the schedule migrates from the original schedule to a more energy-efficient schedule. |
| US10697661B2 |
Thermal control apparatus and method
A thermal control apparatus and method are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining terminal status information of a terminal, where the terminal status information includes at least a terminal temperature parameter; obtaining environment status information and/or user status information, where the environment status information includes at least an environment temperature parameter and/or an environment humidity parameter, and the user status information includes at least one of a user body temperature parameter, a user electrocardiogram parameter, a user electroencephalogram parameter, or a user skin resistance parameter; and determining and executing a thermal control policy according to the terminal status information and either of or both of the environment status information and the user status information. |
| US10697660B2 |
Managing energy in a multi-dwelling unit
Methods, devices, and systems for managing energy in a multi-dwelling unit are described herein. One method includes determining an energy consumption of each of a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units, wherein each of the plurality of HVAC units is associated with a different space of a multi-dwelling unit having a plurality of spaces, normalizing the energy consumption of each of the plurality of HVAC units, and ranking the normalized energy consumptions. |
| US10697658B2 |
Method and device for controlling an air conditioner
The present disclosure relates to a control device for controlling an air conditioner, AC. The control device comprises IR transmission means for emitting control signals to an AC; a microphone for measuring audio acknowledgement signals produced by the AC; and electronic control and evaluation means configured to determine whether sounds measured with the microphone include an audio acknowledgement signal produced by the AC, and being configured to perform a power state determination procedure to determine a power state of the AC. The power state determination comprises: sending a first control signal which is not an on/off control signal and determining whether an audio acknowledgment signal of the AC is subsequently measured, and judging whether the AC is in an off-state depending on whether an audio acknowledgment signal is measured subsequent to the sending of the first control signal. Furthermore a corresponding method for controlling an AC is disclosed. |
| US10697655B2 |
Modulating makeup fluid control systems and methods for same
A method for maintaining a boiling rate of a base fluid can include a determination of a fluid level of a turbulated base fluid in a reservoir. The fluid level can be determined by measuring at least one first height of the turbulated base fluid above the fluid level with at least a first sensor. The fluid level can be determined by measuring at least one second height of the turbulated base fluid below the fluid level with the first sensor. The method can include the establishment of the fluid level of the turbulated base fluid. The fluid level can be established according to the measured at least one first and second heights. The method can include the graduated introduction of an input fluid into the reservoir. A control valve can gradually introduce the input fluid in proportion to the established fluid level of the turbulated base fluid. |
| US10697654B2 |
Air-conditioning system of a building
An air-conditioning system of a building includes a water supply system; a control system for controlling the flow of water from the water supply system; a water distribution system for distributing water near an outer surface of the building, the flow rate of the water being controlled by the control system; a water droplet generation system configured to generate water droplets from the water coming from the water distribution system, the water droplet generation system for generating water droplets generating water droplets on at least one portion of the outer surface of the building. |
| US10697653B2 |
Air-conditioning system with air discharge baffle
An air-conditioning system is provided, comprising: an air conditioner including a first fan having a first fan input configured to receive first input air, and a first fan output configured to generate a first output air stream in a horizontal direction, and a second fan having a second fan input configured to receive second input air, and a second fan output configured to generate a second output air stream in the horizontal direction; an air baffle including a first upflow duct attached to the air-conditioner and configured to direct the first output air stream into a first deflected air stream flowing in a first direction between 0 degrees and 45 degrees from vertical, and a second upflow duct attached to the air-conditioner and configured to direct the second output air stream into a second deflected air stream flowing in a second direction between 0 degrees and 45 degrees from vertical. |
| US10697649B2 |
Electronic converter unit for retrofitting to an external part of a housing of a pump unit
An electronic converter unit for retrofitting to an external part of a housing of a pump unit is described. The housing comprises a light source for emitting light to display an operating status of the pump unit. The electronic converter unit comprises: a photo detector for measuring light emitted from the light source of the pump unit, a converter unit for converting optical signals to electrical signals, and transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the electrical signals to an external communication unit. |
| US10697648B2 |
Heating and hot water supply system
A hot water supply system that can reduce energy consumption is provided. The hot water supply system includes a liquid heater for heating a liquid, a liquid-water heat exchanger, a water-heating circuit in which the liquid is circulated between the liquid heater and the liquid-water heat exchanger, a lower outward path for leading water from a lower part of a hot water storage tank to the liquid-water heat exchanger, the upper return path for leading the water from the liquid-water heat exchanger to an upper part of the hot water storage tank, a middle outward path for leading the water from a middle part of the hot water storage tank to the liquid-water heat exchanger, a middle return path for leading the water from the liquid-water heat exchanger to a middle part of the hot water storage tank. |
| US10697647B1 |
Cooking appliance with repositionable vent arm
A venting appliance for use with a cooking appliance including a cooktop with at least one cooking element disposed thereon, where the venting appliance may include: a housing configured to be positioned above the cooktop; a repositionable vent arm coupled to and extending below the housing; and a controller coupled to the repositionable vent arm and configured to determine that a first cooking element among at least one cooking elements is active, and in response thereto, automatically reposition the vent arm to be closer to the first cooking element. |
| US10697646B2 |
Exhaust gas collection system for a gas burner assembly
An exhaust gas collection system for a gas burner assembly includes a plurality of concentric rings surrounding the gas burner assembly. Each concentric ring defines a support surface for supporting a cooking utensil, with the height of the support surfaces increasing further away from the gas burner assembly. The concentric rings define a plurality of plenums that are fluidly coupled with an exhaust fan for collecting and discharging exhaust gases. In this manner, the exhaust fan traps, collects, and discharges exhaust gases regardless of the size of cooking utensil being heated. |
| US10697643B2 |
Cooker
In a cooker according to the present disclosure, a convection heater for executing a convection mode and a circulation fan are disposed in a convection forming space that is in communication with a heating chamber, and a fan driver is disposed outside of the convection forming space. The cooker includes a leakage suppression mechanism for suppressing a microwave leak from the convection forming space. The leakage suppression mechanism is formed by a coaxial seal for setting a distance between opposing faces, i.e., between a circulation fan shaft passing through a first wall forming the convection forming space and the first wall to a predetermined distance or smaller. Therefore, a microwave leak from a mechanism for executing the convection mode is suppressed, and heat cooking with a microwave-heating mode can highly effectively be performed. |
| US10697632B2 |
Gas valve with communication link
This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one example, the valve assembly may include a valve body with an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid path extending between the inlet and outlet ports, one or more valves situated about the fluid path, one or more valve actuators for selectively moving respective valves, one or more sensors for sensing one or more parameters within the fluid path, and a controller secured relative to the valve body and in communication with the one or more sensors for determining one or more valve assembly conditions based on the one or more sensed parameters. Illustratively, the controller may be configured to communicate information from the valve assembly to a combustion appliance controller that is located remotely from the valve assembly through a communications interface of the controller and across a communications bus. |
| US10697631B2 |
Roller tool for use in applying adhesive sheet material to surfaces
A roller system is provided comprising a compressed gas source including a compressed flammable gas, and a roller attachment attached to at least one of the compressed gas source and nozzle. |
| US10697630B1 |
Apparatus and method for reacting fluids using a porous heat exchanger
A reactor for a mixture of fluids that can react with each other exothermically, the reactor combining the properties of heat transfer and porosity, and having a first chamber wherein reacted fluids are maintained above the reaction temperature threshold, a second chamber disposed adjacent to the first chamber, wherein unreacted fluids enter the second chamber at a temperature that is below a reaction temperature threshold that is necessary for reaction of the fluids to occur, the fluids flowing in a second direction, opposite the first direction and a porous wall disposed between the first chamber and a second chamber, allowing portions of the unreacted fluids from the second chamber to seep into the reacted fluids of the first chamber, thereby heating the seeped fluids, causing the seeped fluids to react, the reaction increasing the temperature of the reacted fluid. |
| US10697624B2 |
Apparatus for heat exchange by using braided fabric woven from thermally conductive wire material
There are provided an apparatus for heat exchange by using a braided fabric woven from a thermally conductive wire material and a light emitting diode (LED) lighting device. The apparatus comprises a braided fabric (1) woven from a thermally conductive wire material, and a heat dissipating or absorbing object (2) is fixed with the braided fabric (1) by using methods such as welding, adhering with a thermally conductive adhesive and casting, so as to ensure that heat energy is effectively conducted between the heat dissipating or absorbing object (2) and the thermally conductive wire of the braided fabric (1), and heat is dissipated to air or absorbed from air by means of a heat dissipating surface of the thermally conductive wire of the braided fabric (1). |
| US10697622B2 |
Canopy luminaire and luminaire mounting assembly
A luminaire includes a luminaire housing having a lower wall, an upper wall, and a plurality of side walls defining a first interior. A first control component is positioned in the interior. A light emitter is connected to the housing and operatively connected to the control component. A control module is connected to an exterior of the luminaire housing. The control module includes a base and a cover defining a second interior, and a second control component positioned in the second interior. |
| US10697617B2 |
Luminaire uplight
The disclosure is directed to an uplight assembly and a luminaire incorporating the same. The luminaire includes a housing having an upper cover at least partially defining an interior. The upper cover has an opening formed in a top wall facing a first direction. A primary light emitter is connected to the housing and facing a second direction opposite the first direction. A chassis is connected to the upper cover. A secondary light emitter is connected to the chassis. A reflector is connected to the chassis. Wherein the second light emitter and the reflector are configured to emit light through the opening. |
| US10697613B2 |
Light source guiding device with refracting unit and reflecting unit
A light source guiding device comprises a light source refracting unit and a light source reflecting unit. The light source refracting unit receives a part of a light beam emitted by a light source, and the light source refracting unit utilizes geometric shapes disposed on inner and outer surfaces to form a rectangular light spot on a light-receiving surface by the part of the light beam. The light source reflecting unit receives another part of the light beam emitted by the light source, and the light source reflecting unit reflects the other part of the light beam emitted by the light source to form another rectangular light spot by using geometric shapes disposed on its surface, and the two rectangular light spots are overlapped with each other to enhance an illuminance of the rectangular light spot. |
| US10697609B2 |
Shrink fit fastening of heat sink and light source carrier
A lighting device for vehicles with a plurality of components to be connected, having a light source, a light source carrier, an optical element and a heat sink. The heat sink is connected by a fastener to the light source carrier. The fastener is a shrink-fitting agent. |
| US10697608B2 |
Lamp for vehicle
A lamp for a vehicle capable of forming an image having a three-dimensional effect is provided. The lamp for the vehicle includes a first image forming part configured to emit light incident from at least one first light source to form a first image, and a second image forming part configured to emit light incident from at least one second light source to form a second image combined with the first image to form a predetermined pattern shape, wherein the light emitted from the second image forming part passes through the first image forming part to form the second image, and the first image and the second image have different color characteristics. |
| US10697607B2 |
Thin aspect lighting system with cutoff
A thin aspect lighting system and method are shown. The system and method include at least one module having a reflector that is generally elliptical in one cross-section and generally parabolic in another cross-section. Each module is adapted to generate at least one of a flat beam pattern, a high beam pattern or a low beam pattern, such as a low beam pattern with a kink or elbow. Also shown is a headlamp assembly having a plurality of modules that generate the same or a different light beam pattern. Manipulation and variation of facets and/or positions of various components, such as at least one light source, have been found to provide improved characteristics in one or more of the light beam patterns. |
| US10697605B2 |
Lighting tool for vehicle
A lighting tool for a vehicle includes a first condensing optical system configured to condense a first beam at a first condensing magnification, a second condensing optical system configured to condense a second beam at a second condensing magnification, and a projection optical system configured to project the first beam and the second beam forward, wherein each of a condensing point of the first beam condensed by the first condensing optical system and a condensing point of the second beam condensed by the second condensing optical system are adjusted according to a rear-side focus of the projection optical system. |
| US10697600B2 |
Economical construction of LED lighting fixtures
Implementations generally relate to facilitating use of high volume, highly standardized low cost components, with a minimum of specialty components, in the manufacture of light emitting diode (LED) light fixtures. In some embodiments, an apparatus for providing LED lighting includes a physical form having a predetermined shape, where the form is configured to support at least one LED strip thereto, and where the predetermined shape causes the at least one LED strip to be so configured as to emit light in a predetermined emission pattern when the at least one LED strip is coupled to the physical form. The apparatus further includes at least one constraint mechanism, where the at least one constraint mechanism, in whole or in part, constrains the at least one LED strip to remain configured to its predetermined shape. |
| US10697596B2 |
Simulated rock with pre-installed lighting cans
A simulated landscape rock having a hollow shell with an exterior surface that resembles a rock. One or more lighting cans are installed on an interior surface of the hollow shell. Where the simulated landscape rock is set-up by selectively drilling a hole through the exterior surface of the hollow shell in-line with one or more of the lighting cans. Each lighting can is configured to removably receive a light fixture with illumination from the light fixture directed through the hole drilled in the exterior surface. |
| US10697594B1 |
LED light
A led light that includes a rigid led filament wherein the led filament can be positionally adjusted. The LED light includes a housing having an outer tube and an inner tube with a void therebetween. The inner tube has an interior volume wherein disposed within the interior volume is a filament housing. The filament housing includes an interior volume and is configured to have suspendedly mounted therein a led filament. A pair of filament housing support members are located at each end of the housing in the interior volume thereof and are operably coupled to the filament housing. A conducting wire is movably journaled through the filament housing support members and into the interior volume of the filament housing so as to electrically couple to the led filament. The conducting wire includes at least one integrally formed spring so as to facilitate tension control of the conducting wire. |
| US10697593B2 |
LED lighting tube device and method
An LED lighting tube including a heat-dissipating tubular envelope having an LED assembly directly affixed to an inner surface of the heat-dissipating tubular envelope. A method of making an LED lighting tube by providing a heat-dissipating tubular envelope, and affixing an LED assembly directly to an inner surface of the heat-dissipating tubular envelope with an adhesive layer. A method of providing heat-dissipation without a heat sink in an LED lighting tube by providing a heat-dissipating tubular envelope, affixing an LED assembly directly to an inner surface of the heat-dissipating tubular envelope with an adhesive layer, and dissipating heat through the heat-dissipating tubular envelope. |
| US10697587B2 |
Operator protection system for electric saw
A safety apparatus for protecting an operator of an electrically powered saw from the blade during operation, the saw being of the type including a cutting table through which the blade passes, comprising: an image processing arrangement operable to sense, within a predefined three-dimensional sensing zone, the presence of a glove worn by the operator which has a colour distinguishable by the image sensor from the colour of an object being cut by the blade, the three-dimensional sensing zone being located in a cutting path of the blade; and an electronic controller communicable with the image sensor and operable to control an arresting mechanism to arrest movement of the blade responsive to the coloured glove being detected within the three-dimensional sensing zone. |
| US10697585B1 |
Fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing oil or grease
A fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing oil or grease is disclosed. The fluid dispensing apparatus comprises a base frame and a container coupled to the base frame via an elongated rod. The container stores oil or grease. The fluid dispensing apparatus comprises a plate provided within the container. The plate is coupled to the elongated rod. The fluid dispensing apparatus comprises a first hose coupled to the container. Further, the fluid dispensing apparatus comprises a second hose and a third hose coupled to the first hose via a diverter valve. The third hose is coupled to a gun member. The gun member comprises a dispensing pipe. A user places one leg on the base frame and holds the handle with one hand and the gun member with another. The user presses the container such that the plate pushes the oil into the first hose, and the oil is made to flow into the gun member. The user directs the dispensing pipe to dispense the oil. |
| US10697584B2 |
Accessory mount
An accessory mount is disclosed and may include a base, a foot, an accessory receiver, and at least two elastic bindings. The accessory receiver may rotatably couple an accessory to the base, and may include an accessory adapter and a base connector. The base may include a plurality of attachment points distributed at different locations around the base. The foot may include a non-slip surface on a first side, and a plurality of projections on a second side that mate with a corresponding plurality of recesses in a bottom surface of the base. |
| US10697579B2 |
Mounting bracket for agricultural row unit
An agricultural tool unit includes a tool configured to engage the ground and a mounting device. The mounting device supports the tool and presents a device opening configured to receive the frame member. The mounting device includes driving and driven cam elements, with the driven cam element defining at least part of the device opening. The mounting device further includes a cam element shifter operable to selectively impart relative shifting of the cam elements in a first direction. The cam elements present respective cam surfaces that are complementally shaped and slidably engaged with one another to define a cam interface, with the cam interface extending transversely to the first direction such that the driven cam element is moved in a transverse second direction when the cam elements are relatively shifted by the cam element shifter. The driven cam element is configured to adjustably exert a force against the frame member when moving in the second direction. |
| US10697578B2 |
Method for assembling a rigid conduit and associated conduit
A method for assembling a rigid pipe intended to be placed in a body of water, the rigid pipe including a metallic inner tube, a thermally insulating insulation jacket formed from an assembly of insulating parts and an outer layer. The method includes the steps of providing the metallic inner tube, forming the insulation jacket, and forming the outer layer around the insulation jacket. The method includes a step for providing a plurality of helical insulating parts and a step of mounting the helical insulating parts around the inner tube in order to form the insulation jacket. |
| US10697574B2 |
Heating element geometry for use in a tapping saddle
A tapping saddle for a plastic main pipe carrying a medium includes a stub having a central axis, a saddle piece, and a drill. The drill is configured to be moved axially in the stub. A heating element geometry, which is used for welding the tapping saddle to a main tube outer circumference, is arranged on an inside diameter of the saddle piece. The heating element geometry has a winding having an outer winding region and an inner winding region. In the inner winding region, the winding extends in meandering loops along a circle concentric with the central axis of the stub. |
| US10697572B2 |
Press-in connecting piece for pipe connection and tool for a press-in connecting piece
A press-in connecting piece for connecting a branch pipe to a pipe in the region of a branch opening. The connecting piece includes a pipe adapter having an inner opening, and a press-in nozzle having a pipe socket, wherein the pipe adapter has a sealing surface for resting in a sealing manner on the outer wall of the pipe, wherein the pipe socket has a tapering end portion remote from the pipe adapter. |
| US10697564B1 |
System and method for securing power and communications cables and associated hardware within crown molding
A system for crown molding that enables safely incorporating electrical and communications cabling within crown molding by creating one or more protected paths which inherently prevent overly sharp bends in crown molding corners and by mitigating damage from penetrating punctures through a decorated face designed to fracture when improperly penetrated by a screw or nail, and enables the secure installation of hardware either concealed within the molding or securely and favorably positioned through the decorative face to view or sense a room, and enables additional cable capacity that is concealed within a light reflector to increase lighting efficacy as well as power and data delivery capacity. |
| US10697562B2 |
Piping and conduit support rack
A rack system for supporting conduits, piping, wiring, etc, are provided. The rack has an inverted V shape, and a level top ridge for supporting the conduits, etc. The rack has an opening in the ridge through which a bolt extends and continues through a standoff adapted to securely fit down both sides of the inverted V. |
| US10697561B2 |
Method of manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device
A method of custom manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device for use in a process control valve. The method includes creating the fluid pressure reduction device using an additive manufacturing technique, which generally includes forming a body and forming a plurality of flow paths in the body. The body has an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall. The flow paths are formed in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body. Each of the flow paths includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and an intermediate section extending between the inlet and outlet apertures. At least a portion of the intermediate section extends in a substantially vertical direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, such that the flow paths are able to utilize previously un-used space in the device. |
| US10697560B2 |
Valve mechanism for controlling a fluid, in particular an abrasive high-viscosity material
The invention relates to a valve mechanism (1; 1′) for controlling a fluid, comprising a housing (2; 2′) that has a fluid duct (3), further comprising a valve body (5) that is mounted on the housing (2) so as to be adjustable between an open position in which the valve body allows the fluid (F) to flow through the fluid duct (3) and a closed position in which the valve body fluid-tightly seals the fluid duct, and comprising a membrane-like sealing element (13) which is secured to the housing (2) at a first end portion (14) and to the valve body (5) at a second end portion. In the open state of the valve body (5), a side of the sealing element (13) that faces away from the fluid duct (3) rests against a wall section (17) between the two end portions (14, 15). |
| US10697557B2 |
Tank ventilation valve, tank ventilation system and method for keeping open an electromagnetically activated valve
The invention relates to a tank ventilation valve for a motor vehicle for selectively enabling or blocking a fluid flow, including a valve body (10) or tappet, which is linearly movable in one direction (R1) and another direction (R2) opposite to the one direction to selectively open or close a valve passage (D); at least one spring (20) for urging the valve body (10) in the one direction (R1), an actuator for moving the valve body (10) in the other opposite direction (R2) against the force applied by the spring (20), and a blocking element (50) for blocking the valve body (10) such that a movement of the valve body (10) in the one direction (R1) is blocked. |
| US10697550B2 |
Non-contact seal with progressive radial stop(s)
An assembly for rotational equipment includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base, a plurality of spring elements and a frangible element. The seal shoes are arranged around an axis in an annular array. The seal base circumscribes the annular array of the seal shoes. Each of the spring elements is radially between and connects a respective one of the seal shoes and the seal base. A first of the spring elements includes a first mount, a second mount and a spring beam. The first mount is connected to a first of the seal shoes. The second mount is connected to the seal base. The spring beam extends longitudinally between and connects the first mount and the second mount. The frangible element is configured to restrict radial outward movement of the first of the seal shoes. |
| US10697547B2 |
Shaft sealing device
The present invention provides a shaft sealing device for being mounted on a rotating shaft. The shaft sealing device of the present invention includes a stationary member disposed on a housing of the shaft sealing device and having a first sealing surface; and a rotary member corresponding to the stationary member, disposed on the rotating shaft and having a second sealing surface opposite to the first sealing surface of the stationary member. A groove is disposed on the first sealing surface or the second sealing surface, and extends inwardly from the outer peripheral edge. When the groove extends inwardly, an end (a bottom wall) of the groove extends along a tangential direction of an imaginary circle containing the bottom wall of the groove. |
| US10697543B2 |
Sliding element, in particular piston ring, and method for producing the same
A sliding element, in particular a piston ring has an outer circumferential running surface of the piston ring, has no nitriding layer, preferable no surface hardening the running surface has as an outermost layer, which differs from the intermediate layer, a DLC layer or a metal-based nitride layer, preferable a metal nitride layer, preferably a CrN layer. Provided between the substrate of the sliding element and the DLC layer there is at least one metal-containing intermediate layer, preferably a metal layer, particularly preferable a chromium layer, and at least one further surface of the sliding element, preferably the piston ring flanks, is surface-hardened, preferably has a nitriding layer. |
| US10697542B2 |
Transmission system having manual override mechanism
A vehicle includes a transmission having a park-override shaft. The vehicle further includes an override mechanism that includes a cannister disposed about the park-override shaft, a cam rotatably fixed to the park-override shaft, and a pawl rotatably secured to the cam. The vehicle further includes an override cable secured at a first end to the cam and at a second end to an actuator disposed within a cabin of the vehicle. Actuation of the actuator rotates the cam and displaces the pawl. |
| US10697541B2 |
Transmission park control system
A park valve performs a multi-plexing function in which an out-of-park circuit is connected to line pressure when the valve is in an out-of-park position and is vented when the valve is in a park position. When particular clutches are released, the out-of-park circuit biases the park valve toward the out-of-park position. To engage park, a controller commands a low line pressure, reducing the forces that bias the park valve toward the out-of-park position. To accelerate the pressure decay in the line pressure circuit, thereby decreasing the time required to achieve park, the controller commands engagement of one or more shift elements. |
| US10697540B2 |
Vehicle control device and vehicle control method
A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle including a variator provided in a power transmission path between a driving source and a driving wheel of a vehicle and a friction engaging element provided between the variator and the driving wheel, engaged when a running range is selected, while disengaged when a non-running range is selected and shutting off transmission of power through the power transmission path is provided. In this embodiment, an operating state of the vehicle is detected, a target speed ratio of the variator according to the operating state of the vehicle is set, if an actual speed ratio of the variator is smaller than the target speed ratio, shifting control of lowering a supply hydraulic pressure to a primary pulley of the variator and increasing the speed ratio of the variator is executed, and when the selection is switched from the non-running range to the running range during execution of the shifting control, lowering of the supply hydraulic pressure to the primary pulley after the switching is regulated. |
| US10697537B2 |
Switchable clutch assembly
A clutch assembly for selectively transmitting torque between an engine and a torque converter is provided. A first plate is non-rotatably connected to a torque converter cover. A second plate is configured to receive a torque input from an engine. A wedge clutch is disposed axially between the first and second plates and is configured to selectively transfer torque between the first plate and the second plate. The wedge clutch includes wedge segments that are configured to collectively radially expand and contract to selectively transfer torque between the first plate and the second plate. |
| US10697536B2 |
Transmission control device and transmission control method
In a transmission control device for controlling a transmission, a controller determines failure of a SOL corresponding to a hydraulic primary-pressure actuator. The controller variably controls line command pressure, and in a case where the failure is determined, continuously changes a speed ratio of a variator by variably controlling the line command pressure. The controller variably controls primary command pressure, and in a case where the failure is determined, fixes the primary command pressure to a primary pressure set value. The controller variably controls secondary command pressure, and in a case where the failure is determined, fixes the secondary command pressure to a secondary pressure set value. |
| US10697531B2 |
Vibration damping device
A vibration damping device for a belt drive of an internal combustion engine includes a belt pulley, a hub and a decoupling device. The decoupling device connects the belt pulley and the hub to each other, and has at least two spring members. The spring members can be connected in series. |
| US10697529B1 |
Apparatus for torque vectoring
A drive torque received from a power source is split and output to first and second output shafts through a torque vectoring apparatus including a torque vectoring device that controls a torque ratio of split torques, where the torque vectoring device includes a control motor, a first compound planetary gear set including first and second planetary gear sets having a first rotation element fixed to a housing, a shared second rotation element connected to the first output shaft, and a third rotation element, and a second compound planetary gear set including third and fourth planetary gear sets having a shared fourth rotation element connected to the second output shaft, a fifth rotation element connected to a third rotation element, and a sixth rotation element connected to the control motor. |
| US10697527B2 |
Ball-screw and nut mechanism
A ball screw and nut mechanism has a screw in cooperation with a nut via balls that can circulate in a raceway formed by the opposing threads of the screw and nut. The nut has a recirculation insert passing therethrough from the outer face to the thread, the recirculation insert having a first end with a ball transfer groove turned towards the screw. The mechanism has a holding body for holding the recirculation insert in the housing, the recirculation insert having a second end with a shoulder bearing on the nut, the second end of the recirculation insert having an orientation lug having an angular position predetermined and fixed relative to the ball transfer groove, the orientation lug cooperating with a guide relief of the holding body to fix an orientation of the recirculation insert such that the transfer groove is adjusted to the raceway. |
| US10697525B2 |
Hydraulic auto-tensioner
A hydraulic auto-tensioner includes a sleeve; a rod vertically movable relative to the sleeve; a spring seat fixed to the portion of the rod protruding beyond the sleeve; a return spring configured to bias the spring seat upwardly; oil passages through which a pressure chamber communicate with a reservoir chamber; a check valve mounted to the oil passages; a tubular plunger vertically movably mounted between the outer periphery of the rod and the inner periphery of the sleeve; a first leakage gap defined between the inner periphery of the tubular plunger and the outer periphery of the rod; an upper stopper configured to restrict the upwardly movable range of the tubular plunger; and a pressure regulating spring disposed above the tubular plunger so as to surround the outer periphery of the rod. |
| US10697517B2 |
Modular multiengine system
A modular multi-engine system having a plurality of engines and a plurality of gear units each gear unit having at least one rotatable member and a drive shaft being driven by one of the plurality of engines, where at least one of the gear units is a main gear and the other peripheral gear unit(s). Each rotatable member of each gear unit engages at least one other rotatable member of an adjacent gear unit such as to ultimately transfer torque from all the engines operable in said modular multiengine system to an output drive shaft connected to said main gear unit. The rotatable member of at least one of the peripheral gear units is located at a different height than at least one other cogwheel of another gear unit. The main gear unit includes an upper rotatable member and a lower rotatable member coaxially connected being operatively associated via at least one transmission unit configured and located such as to transfer torque from the upper or lower rotatable member to the other lower or upper rotatable member, respectively. |
| US10697515B2 |
Methods and apparatus for lubricating suspension components
Methods and apparatus for lubricating suspension seals by pumping fluid to the seals using a compression or rebound action of a suspension component. |
| US10697514B2 |
Remotely operated bypass for a suspension damper
A damper assembly with a bypass for a vehicle comprises a pressure cylinder with a piston and piston rod for limiting the flow rate of damping fluid as it passes from a first to a second side of said piston. A bypass provides a fluid pathway between the first and second sides of the piston separately from the flow rare limitation. In one aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable based upon one or more variable parameters associated with the vehicle. |
| US10697512B2 |
Articulated shield for a vehicle friction brake
A shield assembly is employed for a friction brake used to decelerate a road wheel of a vehicle. The vehicle has a body with a first body end configured to face an incident ambient airflow, a second body end opposite of the first body end, and an underbody section spanning a distance between the first and second ends. The shield assembly includes a first shield component arranged proximate the brake and rotationally fixed relative to the vehicle body. The shield assembly also includes a second shield component operatively connected to the first shield component for shifting relative thereto. The shield assembly additionally includes an actuator employing a shape memory alloy element to shift the second shield component relative to the first shield component in response to a temperature of the brake to thereby direct at least a portion of the airflow to the brake and control temperature thereof. |
| US10697509B2 |
Disc brake rotors with lattice structures
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for designing and manufacturing rotors for disc brake systems and apparatus include, in one aspect, a method including: placing a lattice structure in a ventilation space within a 3D model to create more internal surface area within a disc brake rotor between inner and outer rotor discs; adjusting a number of lattice unit cells for the lattice structure in different regions of the 3D model between the rotor discs to increase air turbulence in the ventilation space; adjusting one or more thicknesses of beams forming the lattice structure in different regions of the 3D model between the rotor discs to prevent structural failure under predefined loading conditions; and providing an updated version of the 3D model of the disc brake rotor that incorporates the lattice structure after adjustment of the number of lattice unit cells and the beam thickness(es). |
| US10697508B2 |
Brake disc and brake disc manufacturing method
Provided are a brake disc and a brake disc manufacturing method. The brake disc manufacturing method may include a porous metal block preparation operation for preparing a porous metal block having a plurality of pores therein, and an insert casting operation for mounting the porous metal block in a mold and casting a disc plate material to manufacture a brake disc. |
| US10697507B2 |
Gear protection subassembly
Brake discs, systems, and methods may include a brake disc and a brake drum. In various embodiments, the brake disc includes a central hub, configured to engage with an axial shaft. The brake disc includes protrusions, each of which is coupled to the central hub and extends perpendicularly from the central hub. The brake disc includes expansion components, each of which is coupled to the central hub at two locations. Each expansion component surrounds an outer periphery of one of the protrusions. The expansion components define a segmented periphery configured as a braking surface. The brake drum is configured to have an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the brake disc. The outer diameter of the brake disc is defined by the segmented periphery, such that an inner surface of the brake drum is concentric around the segmented periphery of the brake disc. |
| US10697505B2 |
Clutch control
The description relates to devices that include hinged portions and controlling rotation of the hinged portions with smart clutch control. One example can include powering a motor to cause clutch portions to engage in a first instance. The example can also include monitoring an operational parameter during the powering. The method can further include, based at least in part upon the monitoring, adjusting power to cause the clutch portions to engage in a second instance with a force that is different than the first instance. |
| US10697503B1 |
Switchable clutch with one-way and fully lock modes
A clutch includes an outer race including pawls each having first and second arms and an inner race including teeth engageable with the pawls. A cage is radially disposed between the inner and outer races and is rotatable relative to the pawls to switch the clutch between a one-way mode and a fully locked mode. The cage includes ramps each configured to urge an associated one of the first arms into engagement with the teeth when the cage is in a first rotational position to put the clutch in the fully locked mode and resilient members each configured to urge an associated one of the second arms into engagement with the teeth when the cage is in a second rotational position to put the clutch in the one-way mode. |
| US10697500B2 |
Two path sealed clutch
A clutch assembly and a torque converter assembly having a clutch assembly, for an automotive transmission, are provided. The clutch assembly includes a clutch plate and a piston or pressure plate configured to selectively engage the clutch plate, the piston being movable between an applied position and a released position. An annular seal is disposed adjacent to the piston, wherein movement of the piston and hydraulic pressure causes the annular seal to move between a sealed position and an open position. |
| US10697494B2 |
Sintered bearing
Provided is a sintered bearing, including Al, Cu, and Ni, the sintered bearing having Al—Cu—Ni alloy structures (3) sintered together. The Al—Cu—Ni alloy structures (3) each have an Al—Cu—Ni matrix phase (α-phase) and an Al—Ni compound phase (κ-phase), and are free of an Al—Cu compound phase (γ-phase). |
| US10697493B2 |
Cam follower with multiple rows of independently operating bearings
A roller assembly includes two outer rings rotatably mounted on a shaft by a respective set of rollers positioned between the shaft and each of the respective one of the outer rings. The shaft has a head flange on one end thereof and a groove formed therein at a distance from the head flange. A retainer ring is positioned in the groove and another retainer ring is secured to the shaft at a distance from the groove. The retaining ring is configured to space the two outer rings apart from one another so that the two outer rings are operable and rotatable independent from one another. |
| US10697491B2 |
Camera with dual rotational joint
Exemplary embodiments provides a camera, having a first camera sub-assembly, a hub coupled to the first camera sub-assembly, a second camera sub-assembly coupled to the hub and rotatable relative thereto and a third camera sub-assembly coupled to the hub and rotatable relative thereto. The third camera sub-assembly can be in electrical communication with the first camera sub-assembly and/or the second camera sub-assembly via the hub. The hub can include a slot to guide electrical cable(s). Net torque acting on the camera can be zero such that one of the first rotational coupling or the second rotational coupling when rotated to a new position via an applied torque remains in the new position when the applied torque is released. |
| US10697490B2 |
Threaded truss foundations and related systems, methods, and machines
A screw anchor for a trussed foundation system to support single-axis trackers and other structures and related methods of driving such a screw anchor into underlying ground. A hollowed tube of uniform diameter is open at both ends with a thread form beginning at one end and circumscribing a portion the tube, the thread form having a tapered lead-in. The open-ended geometry allows a mandrel or rock drill to be inserted and operated through the anchor during driving to expedite the driving process. The tapered thread form provides a lead-in for driving the anchor into a rock bore. |
| US10697485B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for structurally replacing cracked welds in nuclear power plants
An apparatus configured to structurally replace a cracked weld in a nuclear plant may include: a first body portion that includes a first gripping portion; a second body portion that includes a second gripping portion; a wedge portion between the first and second body portions; and/or an adjustment portion. The first body portion may be configured to slidably engage the second body portion. The wedge portion may be configured to exert force on the slidably engaged first and second body portions. The adjustment portion may be configured to increase or decrease the force exerted by the wedge portion on the slidably engaged first and second body portions. When the adjustment portion increases the force exerted by the wedge portion on the slidably engaged first and second body portions, a distance between the first and second gripping portions may decrease. |
| US10697477B2 |
Servo valve
A servo valve is provided with a first elastic portion, a second elastic portion, and a connecting portion. The first elastic portion extends in an X direction inside a valve body and has a first elastic force exerted on a movable element toward an X2 direction. The second elastic portion extends in the X direction inside the valve body and has a second elastic force exerted on the movable element toward an X1 direction. The connecting portion is connected to the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion inside the valve body, and is in abutment against a step portion of the valve body and a spool of the movable element at a neutral position of the movable element. |
| US10697476B2 |
Actuator controller and method for regulating the movement of an actuator
An actuator controller for actuating an actuator which can be operated fluidically, having a feed line for an inflow of the working fluid to an actuator connector and having a discharge line for an outflow of the working fluid to a fluid outlet, wherein the feed line is assigned a feed line valve and the discharge line is assigned a discharge valve, which valves are configured in each case to influence a volumetric fluid flow at the actuator connector, and having a control device for actuation of the feed line valve and the discharge valve. A throughflow sensor is arranged in a line section between the discharge valve and the fluid outlet, which throughflow sensor is configured for determining a volumetric fluid flow in the discharge line and for providing a throughflow signal. |
| US10697474B2 |
Impeller of centrifugal fan and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same
An impeller of a centrifugal fan includes multiple blades arranged annularly around a rotational axis, a main plate, a shroud, main plate-side welded portions between main plate-side blade axial ends of the blades and the main plate, and shroud-side welded portions between shroud-side blade axial ends of the blades and the shroud. The main plate is arranged opposite to main plate-side blade axial ends. The shroud is arranged opposite to shroud-side blade axial ends. The main plate-side welded portions have main plate-side welding holes that are recesses extending through the main plate to portions of the main plate-side blade axial ends. The shroud-side welded portions have shroud-side welding holes that are recesses extending through the shroud to portions of the shroud-side blade axial ends. |
| US10697472B2 |
Centrifugal compressor
A centrifugal compressor includes: a casing; a compression mechanism disposed inside the casing; a flow rate regulation valve disposed inside the casing and that regulates a flow rate of air sucked into the casing; a conversion mechanism disposed outside the casing and that changes a direction of the flow rate regulation valve based on an output of an actuator; and a cover that surrounds and houses the conversion mechanism, wherein dry air is supplied to an inside of the cover, and the cover forms an air reservoir that prevents dew condensation on the conversion mechanism. |
| US10697471B2 |
Gas turbine engine vanes
An annular array of turning vanes 200 is provided in a duct 100 of a gas turbine engine 10. The annular array of turning vanes 200 comprises aerodynamic vanes 220 and strut-vanes 240. The strut-vanes 240 have greater chord length and extend further axially downstream than the aerodynamic vanes 220. The leading edge of the strut-vanes 240 is upstream of the trailing edge of the aerodynamic vanes 220. The strut-vanes provide flow turning. The arrangement allows the duct 100 to be axially short. |
| US10697469B2 |
Casing for a turbomachine
A casing for a subsea compressor comprises a main body having a central axis; a plurality of interconnection flanges attached to the main body; wherein the main body comprises an inner layer made of corrosion resistant material; an outer layer applied over the inner layer and made of a composite material; wherein the outer layer extends along the entire length of said main body. |
| US10697463B2 |
Jet propulsion device
A jet propulsion device includes an impeller housing, an impeller, a sleeve, a first ring-shaped elastic body, and a second ring-shaped elastic body. The first ring-shaped elastic body is disposed between the impeller housing and the sleeve, and is located between a first end and a middle of the sleeve in an axial direction of the sleeve. The second ring-shaped elastic body is disposed between the impeller housing and the sleeve, and is located between a second end and the middle of the sleeve in the axial direction of the sleeve. |
| US10697461B2 |
Vacuum pump lubricant supply systems
A vacuum pump lubricant supply system has a lubricant reservoir and a wicking element. The body portion has opposed major surfaces and a finger. The lubricant reservoir has a major surface engaging one of the opposed major surfaces of the body portion so that lubricant can migrate through the engaging major surfaces into the body portion. The finger projects from the body portion to engage a lubricant transfer device provided on a rotor shaft so that lubricant can wick from the body portion to the lubricant transfer device via the finger. The body portion has an edge provided with a cut-out so that the major surface of the body portion that engages the major surface of the lubricant container has a total surface area that is less than the total surface area of the major surface of the lubricant container. |
| US10697460B2 |
Furnace air handler blower assembly utilizing a motor connected to an impeller fan that is suspended with mounting arms
A blower assembly having a blower housing, an impeller fan within the blower housing, the impeller fan being adapted for rotation about an axis and having a plurality of impeller blades and having an axial length, a motor having a stator and a rotor, the motor having an axial length, the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator for rotation about the axis, the rotor and the impeller fan being coupled so that the impeller fan rotates with the rotor about the axis, wherein a ratio of the axial length of the motor to the axial length of the impeller fan is less than 0.3, and a motor support bracket operatively securing the stator to one of the first and second side walls of the blower housing. |
| US10697459B2 |
Method for manufacturing a fluid device in which flanges are fastened together
A method of manufacturing a fluid apparatus with flanges that are fastened together may include the following steps: fastening the flanges with a fastening member; introducing a fluid into an internal space of the fluid apparatus, and plastically deforming portions of the flanges that form seats for receiving the fastening member and portions of the flanges that form mating surfaces with pressure of the fluid being applied; releasing the fastening member and correcting at least the mating surfaces out of the seats and the mating surfaces; and refastening the flanges. |
| US10697458B2 |
Diagnostic system
A diagnostic system for a compressor is provided. The compressor includes a compression mechanism and a motor. The diagnostic system includes processing circuitry and memory and may be operable to differentiate between a low-side fault and a high-side fault by monitoring a rate of current rise drawn by the motor for a first predetermined time period following compressor startup. The diagnostic system may be operable to predict a severity level of a compressor condition based on a fault history stored in the memory. |
| US10697455B2 |
Compressor having lubrication structure for thrust surface
A compressor is provided which is configured to allow lubrication of a thrust surface through an oil groove formed in a thrust surface of a fixed scroll. Also, a scroll compressor is provided which smoothly supplies oil to a thrust surface of a fixed scroll by including a fixed scroll having an oil groove formed in the thrust surface of a fixed scroll sidewall, and allows an injection pressure acting on an orbiting scroll in an upward direction to be added by supplying the oil guided to the oil groove to the thrust surface of the fixed scroll such that an overturn moment generated in the orbiting scroll may be offset. |
| US10697453B2 |
Liquid fuel delivery comprising a pump to deliver liquid fuel from a storage source to a delivery location and a controller mitigating power to operate the pump on the basis of a predetermined liquid threshold at the pump inlet
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing for improved liquid fuel delivery, by helping to mitigate damage to pumps when operated in an undesired condition. A sensor detects the presence of a liquid fuel at the inlet to the pump during pump operation, and sends the signal to a controller. Based on the detection signal from the sensor, the controller can determine whether a desired amount of liquid is present at the inlet to the pump. If a desired amount of liquid is not identified at the inlet to the pump, the controller may interrupt the power provided by a power supply, which is supplying power to operate the pump, thereby interrupting operation of the pump. |
| US10697452B2 |
Oil pressure control device for vehicle and oil pressure control method for vehicle
An oil pressure control device for a vehicle is configured such that, when switching from an oil pressure supply by means of a mechanical oil pump driven by a motor/generator to an oil pressure supply by means of an electric oil pump driven by a sub-motor, a supply ratio of oil supplied from the mechanical oil pump and a supply ratio of oil supplied from the electric oil pump, are adjusted based on an oil pressure difference between a first oil pressure and a second oil pressure, via first and second flapper valves. When the first oil pressure becomes less than or equal to a pump drive threshold, an increase in the second oil pressure is initiated, and the first oil pressure and the second oil pressure are made to match at a predetermined equilibrium oil pressure higher than a required line pressure. |
| US10697451B2 |
Apparatus and method for pumping a reservoir
A device is taught for pumping fluid from a downhole reservoir up to surface. The device comprises a conduit extending through at least a portion an axial bore of the rotor unit and in communication with one or more recirculation inlets for receiving a recirculation stream of fluid and directing under pressure through the conduit, wherein an inside diameter and length of the conduit define a flow restriction; and one or more recirculation outlets defined in a stator unit downstream of the pump fluid intake, for delivering the recirculation stream of the fluid under pressure from the conduit and directing it at the pump fluid intake. A method is also taught for washing particulate from an intake end of a pump. |
| US10697446B2 |
Floor pump
A floor pump comprises a support base, an outer rigid tube rising from the support base and delimiting a first air chamber, an inner rigid tube or shaft having a piston at one end and a handle at the other end, which piston is slidingly mounted within the first air chamber so as to compress air therewithin. The floor pump may further include a flexible hose. |
| US10697445B2 |
Valve closure for a piston compressor valve and method for operating the valve closure
A valve closure for a piston compressor valve including: a valve seat having a plurality of passage openings, a shaft having an axis of rotation (D), and a rotatable closing element connected to the shaft for opening and closing the passage openings, the valve seat having a flat end face, to which the passage openings lead and a center (Z): the passage openings extending radially to the center (Z); and the closing element having a center point (M) and a plurality of closing arms extending radially to the center point (M). The shaft can be rotated about the axis of rotation and can be slid in the extension direction of the axis of rotation extending perpendicularly to the end face and through the center (Z); each closing arm having a sealing surface substantially complementary to the passage openings in accordance with the rotation of the closing element. |
| US10697444B2 |
Actuation system for a resonant linear compressor, method for actuating a resonant linear compressor, and resonant linear compressor
An actuation system for a resonant linear compressor (50) is disclosed, applied to cooling systems, the latter being particularly designed to operate at the electromechanical frequency of said compressor (50), so that the system will be capable of raising the maximum power supplied by the linear actuator, in conditions of overload of said cooling system. Additionally, an actuation method for a resonant linear compressor (50) is provided, the operation steps of which enable one to actuate the equipment at the electromechanical resonance frequency, as well as to control the actuation thereof in over load conditions. |
| US10697442B2 |
Hydraulic machine having two cylinder capacities and a safety valve
The machine comprises distribution ducts connected to respective ones of first, second, and third enclosures (40, 42, 44), and a cylinder-capacity selector (21) suitable for being caused to take up a large cylinder capacity configuration in which the second enclosure (42) is connected to one of the main ducts (2), while the first and third enclosures (40, 44) are connected to the other main duct (1), and a small cylinder capacity configuration in which the second and third enclosures (42, 44) are connected to said one of the main ducts (2), while the first enclosure is connected to the other main duct (1). The machine further comprises a safety valve (150) having at least a first port (56) connected to said one of the main ducts (2), and a second port (58) connected to the third enclosure (44). Said safety valve is suitable, when the cylinder-capacity selector (21) is caused to go into the large cylinder capacity, for being caused to go into a first configuration that isolates the first and second ports (56, 58) from each other, and, when the cylinder-capacity selector is caused to go into its small cylinder capacity, for being caused to go into a second configuration that interconnects the first and second ports (56, 58). |
| US10697441B2 |
Method for making an equipotential bonding connection on a wind turbine rotor blade and wind turbine rotor blade having an equipotential bonding connection
The invention is directed to a method for making an equipotential bonding connection between two components of a lightning protection arrangement of a wind turbine rotor blade. The method includes providing a wind turbine rotor blade having two rotor blade half shells having respective connection and fastening units connected to corresponding ones of the two components of the lightning protection arrangement. A space is present in the interior of the rotor blade between the two connection and fastening units. A connection conductor is introduced from outside of the rotor blade through a through opening in one of the two connection and fastening units into the interior space of the wind turbine rotor blade. The two ends of the connection conductor are fastened to corresponding ones of the connection and fastening units such that the connection conductor bridges the interior space along an essentially linear imaginary line. |
| US10697438B2 |
System for detection of foundation movement in a wind turbine
A monitoring system (100) monitors displacement of a wind turbine tower and includes at least one plumb bob with an upper part and a lower part, each plumb bob being configured to be pivotally suspended at its upper part, via a suspension device, from a point above so as to attain a rest position in a rest situation, and each said plumb bob has one or more sensing surfaces (12, 12′). One or more suspension devices means (10) suspend the at least one plumb bob. Two or more sensors (14, 14′, 14″), each being configured to sense, in a specific sensing direction (16, 16′, 16″), a distance to a plumb bob, provide displacement data. At least two of the two or more sensors (14, 14′, 14″) are arranged in a sensing vicinity of a plumb bob, with at least two of the specific sensing directions (16, 16′, 16″) not being parallel to each other. The monitoring system includes a control unit (18) configured to receive the displacement data from two or more of the sensors, and a device for reporting, to an external unit (20), parameter(s) representing displacement of a wind turbine tower. |
| US10697436B2 |
Wind power plants and multi-rotor wind turbine systems
A wind power plant includes a plurality of wind turbine systems arranged in rows and columns and includes a cable support system with at least one cable. The cable is coupled to the support structure above the first wind turbine and below the second wind turbine. The cable couples directly adjacent wind turbine system together. The cable may extend the entire length of at least one row or at least one column. A wind turbine system includes a plurality of wind turbines and a support structure including a tower and support arms. The cable support system that is coupled to the wind turbine system and that is configured to transfer loads on the wind turbine system to other wind turbine systems in the wind power plant. |
| US10697424B2 |
Multirotor wind turbine
A multirotor wind turbine (1) comprising a tower structure (2) and at least one load carrying structure (3, 4), each load carrying structure (3, 4) being arranged for carrying two or more energy generating units (5, 7) comprising a rotor (6, 8). At least two of the rotors are upwind or downwind rotors (6), the energy generating units (5) comprising upwind or downwind rotors (6) being arranged with their centres of gravity at a first distance behind the tower structure (2) along a direction of the incoming wind, substantially at the same vertical level, and at opposite sides of the tower structure (2) at substantially the same second distance to the tower structure (2) along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the incoming wind. The multirotor wind turbine (1) is self-yawing, even under turbulent wind conditions. |
| US10697423B2 |
Method to enhance operation efficiency of water turbines and to reduce cavitation of components thereof
A method to dispose at least one air guiding tube between a penstock and a water turbine installed on a dam to form negative pressure at an outlet of the air guiding device by the water kinetic energy produced from high speed of water flow to take in external air for pressurizing, so as to produce a plurality of pressured air bubbles mixed into the water. The water with pressured air bubbles would be decompressed when flowing to an exit of the penstock and has their volumes increased, so as to enhance the water kinetic energy for driving the water turbine more efficiently; meanwhile the method can prevent from production of cavities and further avoid damages of the components of the water turbine from cavitation. |
| US10697420B2 |
Ignition system of an aircraft turbine engine
A turbine engine ignition system comprising a spark plug having excitation and return terminals, and a spark plug exciter connected to the excitation terminal. The return terminal is connected to an equipotential reference-forming structure, the exciter device is connected to a command line for a signal to supply an excitation signal to the spark plug. The ignition system comprises a control device comprising current and voltage sensors, a first voltage comparator, a second current comparator, and a microcontroller receiving output from the two comparators. The first comparator compares the voltage sensor signal to a first reference value and the second comparator compares the current sensor signal to a second reference value. The microcontroller generates a signal indicating a malfunction of the ignition system if the current sensor signal is lower than the second reference value while the voltage sensor signal is higher than the first reference value. |
| US10697418B2 |
Hybrid vehicle
Provided is a hybrid vehicle that includes a power train including an internal combustion engine equipped with a plurality of cylinders and a drive motor unit. The drive motor unit includes an electric motor coupled to the internal combustion engine without a clutch. The internal combustion engine includes one or more decompression devices that are each installed for a subset of one or more cylinders and that operate to release compression pressure in the subset of one or more cylinders in at least one of the course of an engine stop and course of an engine start-up in which combustion is not performed. The subset of one or more cylinders are selected such that, when the one or more decompression devices are operating, compression is not produced sequentially in cylinders that are adjacent to each other in terms of the firing order. |
| US10697415B2 |
Two step metering solenoid for fluid dispenser
A metering system for a fluid atomizer includes a housing, first and second metering members, and at least one solenoid. The housing includes a mixing chamber. The first metering member is operable to control flow of a first fluid to the mixing chamber. The second metering member is arranged coaxial with the first metering member and operable to control flow of a second fluid to the mixing chamber. The at least one solenoid is configured to operate at least one of the first and second metering members. |
| US10697409B2 |
Connection ring for removable attachment of a fuel supply unit on a motor vehicle tank opening
A connection ring is provided for removable attachment of a fuel supply unit on a fuel tank. The connection ring has a ring upper side, at least one attachment elevation which protrudes from the ring upper side, and at least one tool engagement region. The tool engagement region is constructed such that a torque from a tool can be transmitted onto the connection ring. At least one portion of the tool engagement region and one portion of the attachment elevation are at an equal distance from the center of the connection ring in the radial direction from the center. |
| US10697404B2 |
Method and systems for an EGR cooler including cooling tubes with a compliant region
Various methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas recirculation cooler including a plurality of cooling tubes. In one example, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler includes a plurality of cooling tubes positioned within a housing of the EGR cooler, each cooling tube of the plurality of cooling tubes extending between and directly coupled to tube sheets of the EGR cooler at ends of each cooling tube, where at least one end of one or more cooling tubes of a first portion of the plurality of cooling tubes, inward of a tube sheet coupled to the at least one end, includes a compliant region, where the first portion is positioned proximate to an exhaust inlet of the EGR cooler. |
| US10697403B2 |
Exhaust heat recovery device
An exhaust heat recovery device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a heat exchanger, a supply flow path, and a discharge flow path. The heat exchanger has a plurality of heat exchange flow paths configured to carry out heat exchange between exhaust gas and a heat exchange medium. The supply flow path is configured such that the exhaust gas flows therethrough, and the flowing exhaust gas is supplied to the plurality of heat exchange flow paths while being branched. The discharge flow path is configured to merge and discharge the heat-exchanged exhaust gas having passed through the plurality of heat exchange flow paths. At least one flow path of the supply flow path and the discharge flow path is configured to be narrower toward a downstream side in a flow direction of the exhaust gas. |
| US10697402B2 |
Intake apparatus for internal combustion engine
This intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a first bank and a second bank includes: an intake pipe including one new-air intake pipe, two branched pipes, and a junction connecting the new-air intake pipe to the two branched pipes; an EGR gas pipe connected to the junction; and a partitioning member placed around an opening in the EGR gas pipe that opens toward the intake pipe. The partitioning member defines an EGR gas storage chamber. The EGR gas storage chamber has first-bank and second-bank flow passages in which the EGR gas flows toward the first bank and the second bank. The first and second effective cross-sectional areas in the first-bank flow passage and the second-bank flow passage are smaller than the flow passage cross-sectional area in the opening of the EGR gas pipe. |
| US10697399B2 |
Canister purge system and method for diagnosing purge valve thereof
A method for diagnosing a purge valve of a canister purge system includes (a) determining whether a purge valve, which is installed on a purge pipe connecting a canister with an intake system of an engine, is open and whether a purge pump is running, wherein the purge pump is configured to pump evaporative emission captured in the canister toward the intake system, and (b) determining whether the purge valve is in a close stuck state, based on upstream pressure and downstream pressure of the purge pump, when the purge valve is open while the purge pump is running. |
| US10697398B2 |
Batteryless dual fuel engine with liquid fuel cut-off
A dual fuel engine includes an engine operable on a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel and a switch to change operation of the engine between gaseous fuel and liquid fuel. The dual fuel engine also includes a carburetor attached to an intake of the engine to mix air and fuel and connect to a gaseous fuel source and a liquid fuel source. A liquid fuel cut-off attaches to the carburetor to interrupt liquid fuel upon actuation of the switch from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel. |
| US10697393B2 |
Cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine
A cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine, with a collar, whereby the cylinder liner, on its lateral surface, is provided with a protruding flow-guiding device axially spaced from the collar, having at least one axial opening. |
| US10697392B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus
Provided is a vehicle control apparatus which can output, to the outside, a signal input from a sensor to an arithmetic processing unit while keeping delay at a lower level. An ECU (vehicle control apparatus) includes an arithmetic processing unit having a pair of an input port and an output port assigned to a sensor signal indicating a signal output from a sensor. The arithmetic processing unit performs arithmetic processing by using the sensor signal input from the input port, and outputs the sensor signal from the output port. |
| US10697386B2 |
Method and device for determining the air flow rate entering the intake manifold of a two-stroke engine
A method for measuring the flow rate MAF of cool air entering an intake manifold of a two-stroke engine, the intake manifold being located between a throttle body and an intake system. The method uses a specific prediction model depending on whether the two-stroke engine is subject, on the one hand, to a light load and, on the other hand, to a medium or heavy load. The model suitable for the load is selected using a predetermined threshold and two absolute pressure measurements taken at the intake manifold at crankshaft angles of rotation around top dead center and bottom dead center. Next, a pressure quotient is formed for each model which will be used to deduce the flow rate of cool air entering the intake manifold. |
| US10697385B2 |
Engine control method for vehicle
An engine control method for a vehicle may include a temperature securing determination step of determining, by a controller, whether an exhaust gas temperature before a turbine of a turbocharger is normally secured; a basic determination step of, when the exhaust gas temperature before the turbine is normally secured, obtaining, by the controller, a first compensation torque according to a current state of the vehicle from a first compensation torque map according to the exhaust gas temperature before the turbine, an engine operation mode, engine speed, and atmospheric pressure; and an engine control step of, when the exhaust gas temperature before the turbine is normally secured, determining, by the controller, a final compensation torque on the basis of the first compensation torque and controlling engine torque at a value which is obtained by subtracting the final compensation torque from engine full-load torque. |
| US10697384B2 |
Control device and control method for engine
During a catalyst rapid warm-up at a time of a cold start of an engine, a fuel is injected by a required injection quantity through a multi-stage injection consisting of a fuel injection by a full lift injection during an intake stroke and a fuel injection by a partial lift injection during a compression stroke. In a case where a deterioration of a combustion state is confirmed, a correction for increasing the required injection quantity, which is to enrich an air-fuel ratio, is performed. At a time of the enriching quantity increase, a sum of injection quantities of the multi-stage injection is increased by the amount of the correction for increasing the required injection quantity without the injection quantity and an injection timing of the fuel injection by the partial lift injection being changed from a base time. |
| US10697382B2 |
Control device for supercharging system
A control apparatus of a supercharging system for supplying an engine with compressed intake air, includes: a supercharger including a compressor configured to compress the intake air to be supplied to the engine; and a controller for controlling a control device affecting operation of the compressor. The controller includes: a compressor map storage part configured to store a compressor map which indicates a relationship of an intake volume flow rate, a pressure ratio, and a compressor rotation speed in the compressor; a current position calculation part configured to calculate a current position of an operational point of the compressor on the compressor map every predetermined period; a moving direction calculation part configured to calculate a moving direction of the operational point on the compressor map on the basis of the current position of the operational point calculated by the current position calculation part; and a control part configured to control the control device on the basis of the current position of the operational point calculated by the current position calculation part and the moving direction of the operational point calculated by the moving direction calculation part. |
| US10697381B2 |
Method for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle and corresponding drive device
A method for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The drive device has a compressor, which can be driven by an electric motor for supplying combustion fresh gas to an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. At a power increase of the internal combustion engine, the compressor is driven with the electric motor so that a torque curve selected from a plurality of different torque curves is established at the internal combustion engine over its rotational speed. |
| US10697375B2 |
Flutter sensing and control system for a gas turbine engine
A method of operation for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, reducing a rotational speed of a fan relative to a shaft through a gear train, driving the shaft with a first turbine, driving a compressor with a second turbine, communicating airflow from the fan through a bypass passage defined by a nacelle, the nacelle extending along an engine axis and surrounding the fan, and having a bypass ratio of greater than 10, discharging the airflow through a variable area fan nozzle defining a discharge airflow area, detecting an airfoil flutter condition associated with adjacent airfoils of the fan, and moving the variable area fan nozzle to vary the discharge airflow area and mitigate the airfoil flutter condition. |
| US10697370B2 |
Oil supply assembly for gas turbine engine
An oil supply system includes an oil supply assembly in a turbine engine. The assembly includes scavenge cavity and an oil supply tube located in and protected by a strut in the turbine engine to supply oil to a bearing chamber. |
| US10697365B2 |
Rotary internal combustion engine with pilot subchamber
A rotary engine having an insert in a peripheral wall of the stator body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert. The subchamber has a volume corresponding to from 5% to 25% of a sum of the minimum volume and the volume of the subchamber. A method of injecting heavy fuel into a Wankel engine is also discussed. |
| US10697364B2 |
Engine system and method for controlling the same
A method for controlling an engine system, may include a water injection operation of injecting water into an intake system of an engine through a water injector of a water injection system in a first operating condition of the engine in which water injection is required, a compressed air injection operation of injecting compressed air into the intake system through a purge circuit of the water injection system in a second operating condition of the engine in which compressed air injection is required, and a water injection stop operation of stopping the water injection of the water injection system in a third operating condition of the engine in which water injection stop is required. |
| US10697363B2 |
Combined heat and power plant and a method for improving the burning process in a combined heat and power plant
A combined heat and power plant includes a gasifier, a heat exchanger arranged to reduce the temperature of the raw synthesis gas formed in the gasifier by exchanging the heat of the raw synthesis gas into heating medium used for heating and forming cooled raw synthesis gas, a filtration unit for cleaning the cooled raw synthesis gas to form refined synthesis gas suitable as a fuel for an internal combustion engine, an internal combustion engine where the refined synthesis gas is burnt to produce mechanical power, ducts for connecting different parts of the plant to each other a raw gas burner arranged after the gasifier to burn the raw synthesis gas formed in the gasifier during the time when the refined synthesis gas is not utilized in the internal combustion engine. A method for treating raw synthesis gas a combined heat and power plant is also disclosed. |
| US10697360B2 |
Internal combustion engine control method and internal combustion engine control device
An internal combustion engine includes: a turbocharger including a compressor and an exhaust turbine; a wastegate valve for allowing a part of exhaust gas to bypass the exhaust turbine and flow into a downstream side of the exhaust turbine, wherein the exhaust gas is to be brought into the exhaust turbine; and an exhaust adjustment mechanism for adjusting a quantity of the exhaust gas. A control method includes operating a first one of the wastegate valve and the exhaust adjustment mechanism with higher priority to a second one of the wastegate valve and the exhaust adjustment mechanism in response to a condition where an intake air quantity is to be varied along with a variation in engine load or air fuel ratio, wherein operation of the first one allows thermal energy to be recovered more efficiently under the condition than that of the second one. |
| US10697356B2 |
Multi-turbocharger connection with heat exchanger
Systems, methods and apparatus for connection of a multi-stage turbocharger to a heat exchanger are disclosed. The multi-stage turbocharger includes at least first and second compressors with respective first and second outlets. An air intake system is provided that connects each of the first and second compressor outlets to a common inlet of a heat exchanger. The air intake system includes a flow transition segment connected to the first and second compressor outlets, a diffuser segment, and a flow delivery segment connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger. |
| US10697355B2 |
Water injector for aviation cooling system
A water injector for an aviation cooling system includes a body having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. A conduit extends through the body from the first end to the second end. A spray nozzle is fluidically connected to the conduit and arranged at one of the first end and the second end. A mounting plate is arranged at the other of the first end and the second end. The mounting plate is configured and disposed to secure the body to an aviation cooling component. A filter is supported at the body and is fluidically exposed to the conduit. The filter is configured and disposed to capture particulate flowing into the water injector towards the spray nozzle. |
| US10697348B1 |
Engine cooling system using a water pump and a solenoid valve
An engine cooling system may include: a water pump for supplying coolant to an engine system; a plurality of coolant passages for connecting the water pump to individual constituent components of the engine system; a solenoid valve disposed between an outlet of the water pump and inlets of the coolant passages to integrally control a flow of coolant from the water pump to the coolant passages; and a control unit for controlling the solenoid valve. The inlets of the respective coolant passages are adjacent to each other side by side in a width direction of the outlet of the water pump. The inlets of the respective coolant passages are sequentially opened and closed by moving a spool of the solenoid valve in the width direction. |
| US10697347B1 |
Mixer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine exhaust system mixer includes a mixer body (12) with deflection elements (16) extending radially outwards from a mixer body center (14). A ring-shaped carrier area (22) adjoins the mixer body radially on the outside and encloses a mixer longitudinal axis. The carrier area includes a mixer connection area (24) for connecting the mixer (10) to an exhaust system component. A pipe connection wall (30) adjoins the mixer connection area and has a wall inner surface (32). A mixer body carrier wall (34) adjoins the mixer connection area, carries the mixer body, and is enclosed by the pipe connection wall. A first transition surface (40) adjoins the wall and is arched essentially continuously concavely between the wall inner surface and the wall outer surface, and axially defines a ring-shaped pipe-mounting intermediate space (38) between the pipe connection wall and the mixer body carrier wall. |
| US10697344B2 |
Systems and methods for determining differential and relative pressure using a controller
An aftertreatment system comprises a housing defining an internal volume. A filter is disposed in the housing and configured to remove particulate matter included in the exhaust gas. A delta pressure sensor configured to measure an inlet apparent pressure value upstream of the filter. An ambient pressure sensor separate from the delta pressure sensor is configured to measure an ambient pressure value of an ambient environment in which the aftertreatment system is located. A controller is configured to receive the inlet apparent pressure value, receive the ambient pressure value from the ambient pressure sensor, determine a relative inlet exhaust pressure value based upon the inlet apparent pressure value and the ambient pressure value, and adjust an exhaust flow rate of the exhaust gas based at least on the relative inlet exhaust pressure value. |
| US10697341B2 |
Method for actuating an electrically controllable reducing agent dosing valve of an internal combustion engine
A reducing agent dosing valve (24) on an exhaust system (12) of an internal combustion engine (10), having a pump (32) which generates an injection pressure (p_24), and having a control unit (14) which actuates the reducing agent dosing valve (24) with actuation signals is presented, wherein the actuation signals are formed in a manner dependent on a reducing agent pressure (p_36) prevailing at the pump side. The method is distinguished by the fact that the actuation signals are formed additionally in a manner dependent on at least one estimated value for an influence of a drop in the injection pressure (p_24), which occurs upon the opening of the reducing agent dosing valve (24), on the injected reducing agent quantity. |
| US10697338B2 |
Exhaust system
An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, especially diesel internal combustion engine, includes an exhaust gas flow duct (12). At least one exhaust gas treatment unit (23, 26, 28, 30) is provided in an exhaust gas treatment duct area (16) of the exhaust gas flow duct (12). The exhaust gas treatment duct area (16) of the exhaust gas flow duct (12) extends, in at least some areas, in an insulation volume (20), through which exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust gas treatment duct area (16) can flow. |
| US10697336B2 |
Fluid system
In one embodiment, there is provided a dock for a replaceable fluid container for an engine, the fluid container having: a fluid reservoir; and at least one fluid port having a coupling adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system associated with the engine; the dock having: a fastening mechanism configured to cooperate with the container such that, as the container is inserted into the dock, the fastening mechanism acts first to seat the fluid container in the dock but in an undocked condition and then, as the container is inserted further into the dock, acts to bring the fluid container into an engaged condition in which the fluid container is docked with a docking interface of the dock. |
| US10697331B2 |
Valve actuating mechanism having combined bearing and hydraulic lash adjuster retention device
A retention device for interconnecting a lash adjuster and a finger follower that supports a bearing of a valve actuating mechanism for an internal combustion engine, wherein the retention device includes a body having a lower member, an upper member spaced from the lower member, and an intermediate member interconnecting the lower and upper members. The lower member includes an aperture that is adapted to be received in a groove of the lash adjuster. The intermediate member is secured to the finger follower such that the retention device interconnects the lash adjuster and the finger follower. The upper member includes a bearing retention mechanism that limits movement of the bearing of the finger follower and retains the bearing relative to the finger follower prior to mounting the finger follower and lash adjuster as a part of the valve actuating mechanism of the internal combustion engine. |
| US10697330B2 |
Valve train device
A valve train device, in particular for an internal combustion engine, includes a support element and a cam element which can be moved axially relative to the support element. The valve train device further includes a switch unit for axially moving the cam element, which switch unit includes a displacer that is intended to be at least operatively inserted between the support element and the cam element in order to axially move the cam element. |
| US10697327B2 |
Support interface and device for an engine casing
The invention relates to the field of support interfaces, and in particular to such a support interface (30a, 30b) for an engine casing (90) and comprising a coupling part (50), a first plurality of bolts (80), and a plurality of pegs (70). The coupling part (50) has an outer face (52) presenting a cavity (42) suitable for receiving a support arm (20a, 20b), and an inner face (51) suitable for being mounted on an outer face (93) of the engine casing (90), together with a first plurality of orifices (53) between the outer face (52) and the inner face (51) of the coupling part (50). Each bolt (80) has a threaded shank (82) received in an orifice (53) of the first plurality of orifices (53), and a head (81) suitable for bearing against the outer face (52) of the coupling part (50). Each peg (70) has a threaded orifice (71) in which the threaded shank (82) of one of the bolts (80) of the first plurality of bolts (80) is engaged through a first end of the peg (70), each peg having a second end that is enlarged and suitable for bearing against an inner face (92) of the engine casing (90). |
| US10697321B2 |
Vented tangential on-board injector for a gas turbine engine
An on-board injector that delivers discharge air toward a turbine rotor of a gas turbine engine includes a second wall spaced form a first wall to define an annular inlet about an engine longitudinal axis and a multiple of airfoil shapes between the first wall and the second wall to segregate discharge air from the annular inlet, and a multiple of bypass apertures each along a radial axis transverse to the engine longitudinal axis through each of the multiple of airfoil shapes and the respective first wall, the second wall. |
| US10697317B2 |
Optical imaging system for a gas turbine engine
A gas turbine engine having an optical imaging system with a housing configured for mounting to a wall of the turbine engine, a hollow probe extending from the housing and having a longitudinal axis, and an image receiving device at an end of the hollow probe configured to receive at least one of a perspective or image. |
| US10697315B2 |
Full hoop blade track with keystoning segments
A blade track used in gas turbine engines to define an outer boundary of the primary gas path through a turbine section of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The blade track includes segments comprising ceramic matrix composite materials that are assembled such that the blade track segments keystone against one another to provide a self-supporting full hoop assembly. Circumferentially-extending splines may be used to couple adjacent segments to one. Also disclosed are other heat shielding assemblies used in gas turbine engines that share features with the illustratively disclosed blade track. |
| US10697312B2 |
Outlet guide vane for aircraft turbomachine, with improved lubricant cooling function
A guide vane for a twin-spool aircraft turbomachine has an aerodynamic part that includes an internal lubricant cooling passage extending along a principal lubricant flow direction. The aerodynamic part is made in a single piece and also includes heat transfer fins arranged in the passage connecting the intrados and extrados walls and extending approximately parallel to the direction, these fins being distributed in successive rows along the principal direction and made such that for two rows of staggered directly consecutive fins, a first row includes fins forming a positive acute angle A1 with a dummy reference plane, while a second row includes fins forming a negative acute angle A2 with this plane. |
| US10697303B2 |
Internally damped airfoiled component and method
An airfoiled component comprises: a root section, an airfoil section, a damper pocket enclosed within a portion of the airfoil section, and a damper. The airfoil section includes a suction sidewall and a pressure sidewall each extending chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending spanwise between the root section and an airfoil tip. The damper includes a fixed end unified with a damper mounting surface, and a free end extending into the damper pocket from the damper mounting surface. |
| US10697297B2 |
Composite yieldable rock anchor with improved deformation range
The present invention pertains to a yieldable rock anchor (10), comprising an elongated tendon (12) extending longitudinally along a tendon axis (A) from a proximal end (16) to a distal end (18), wherein the tendon includes a substantially non-yielding rigid first anchor portion (20) at or near said distal end (18) and extending towards said proximal end (16), and at least one plastically deformable axially yielding portion (26) intermediate said non-yielding rigid first anchor portion (20) and said proximal end (16). The first anchor portion (20) may be a hollow bar member, and the first anchor portion (20) and the at least one yielding portion (26) are integrally joined or coupled to one another to form at least part of said elongated tendon (12). |
| US10697295B2 |
Method and system for enhancing hydrocarbon operations
A method and system are described for imaging core samples associated with a subsurface region. The imaging results may be used to create or update a subsurface model and using the subsurface model and/or imaging results in hydrocarbon operations. The imaging techniques may include NMR imaging and CT imaging. Further, the imaging techniques may also include exposing the core sample to the imaging gas. |
| US10697294B2 |
Vibration while drilling data processing methods
A method for determining properties of rock formations using drill string vibration measurements includes entering into a processor signals corresponding to vibrations detected along a rotating part of a drill string while drilling a borehole. The vibration signals are transformed into transformed signals representing elastic response of the drill string, the rock formations and borehole fluid to a filtered impulse originating at a known location along the drill string. Properties of the rock formations are calculated using the transformed signals. |
| US10697293B2 |
Methods of optimal selection and sizing of electric submersible pumps
The present approach includes implementations for generating thermos-hydraulic data via a simulation and evaluating the thermo-hydraulic data pertaining to one or more parameters of a production system. The approach includes receiving operating parameters and receiving coefficients of polynomials for constructing a plurality of pump performance curves. The approach includes performing a selection step. The selection step includes selecting a pump from a plurality of pump types, and sizing the pump based in part on the thermo-hydraulic data, the operating parameters, and the coefficients of polynomials. The approach includes repeating the selection step until each pump of the plurality of pump types has been considered to generate a subset of pumps from the plurality of pump types. The approach includes performing an optimization step on the subset of pumps. The approach includes generating a visual display to identify the set of preferred pumps. |
| US10697292B2 |
Apparatus and method for transferring information acoustically from a borehole
An apparatus is for transferring information acoustically via a tubular. The apparatus has a signal generator, an energy source, and means for intrusion into a tubular wall at a desired location. The signal generator is arranged to generate signals with a P-wave direction substantially approximating the axial direction of said tubular at said desired location. The means for intrusion into a tubular wall are adapted for transferring acoustic signals from the apparatus into the tubular. The apparatus further has a mechanical plug comprising fastening means for anchoring into a tubular wall. The plugs fastening means constitutes the apparatus' means for intrusion into a tubular wall. A method for transferring information acoustically via a tubular is disclosed. |
| US10697282B2 |
Method for remediation of subterranean-formed metal-polymer complexes using a metal complexing agent
Formulations and methods for remediating subterranean-formed metal-polymer complexes in wells in subterranean formations are described. In one embodiment, the method includes injecting a metal-polymer complex remediation mixture containing a metal complexing agent into a subterranean formation adjacent to a well at a pressure below the fracture pressure of the formation. A sufficient contact time is allowed and then the metal-polymer complex remediation mixture is pumped from the subsurface. This has been shown to remediate polymer-containing, subterranean-formed metal-polymer complexes in shale formations. Without being held to a particular theory, it appears that the metal complexing agent is forming metal complexes with the metals in the complexes, and particularly divalent metal ions. This removal of naturally occurring metals may be un-crosslinking and causing the metal-polymer complexes to go into solution, thereby removing the blockages caused by the metal-polymer complexes. |
| US10697278B2 |
Gas compression system for wellbore injection, and method for optimizing intermittent gas lift
A gas injection optimization system is provided. The optimization system is designed to control a volume of gas injected into a wellbore in connection with an intermittent gas-lift system. The system includes a gas storage vessel residing at the surface, and a series of pressure transducers. The system additionally includes a controller configured to receive pressure value signals from the transducers, and in response, send control signals that cyclically open and close a well flow control valve at the surface. When the well flow control valve is closed, compressible fluid is injected into the gas storage vessel to load the vessel. When the well flow control valve is opened, a volume of injection gas (VR) is released from the vessel and is injected into a wellbore annular region to push a volume of fluids (VS) residing in the tubing string to the surface. A method for optimizing gas injection into a wellbore in support of an intermittent gas-lift operation is also provided herein. |
| US10697276B2 |
Downhole power generation
Providing power to a downhole-type tool includes rotating a rotor of a downhole power unit about a longitudinal axis, generating, with a generator stator assembly of a generator positioned adjacent the downhole power unit, an amount of power in response to rotating the rotor, and supplying, with the generator, the amount of power to at least one downhole-type tool proximate to the downhole power unit. The at least one downhole-type tool is operable using the supplied amount of power. |
| US10697270B2 |
Annulus isolation valve assembly
An annulus isolation valve assembly being part of a tubing hanger assembly, with a valve bore having a fluid mouth, and a sliding sleeve which is arranged in the valve bore and which has an axially extending sleeve bore. The sliding sleeve has a radially facing sleeve port. A hydraulic piston is functionally connected to the sliding sleeve. The sliding sleeve comprises an axially facing fluid port which is in fluid communication with the radially facing sleeve port. |
| US10697265B2 |
Wellhead assembly
There is provided a wellhead assembly that includes a production well, a first valve, process equipment, a transport pipe for transporting fluid away from the wellhead assembly, and piping fluidly connecting the production well to the first valve, the process equipment, and the transport pipe. The first valve is located between the production well and the process equipment, and there is a fall in the piping between the first valve and the transport pipe such that when the first valve is closed liquid will drain from the first valve into the transport pipe under the action of gravity. There is also provided a method of draining the wellhead assembly, an arrangement for depressurising the wellhead assembly using a service line and a method of depressurising the wellhead assembly. |
| US10697264B2 |
Subsea system and method for high pressure high temperature wells
A subsea production system and method for installing the same are provided. The subsea production system includes a high pressure subsea wellhead, a tubing hanger landed proximate the wellhead, a production tree disposed above the wellhead downstream of the tubing hanger, a riser, a subsea flowline system coupled between the production tree and the riser, at least one barrier located downstream of the tubing hanger, and a secondary barrier valve disposed within the tubing hanger or in line with and upstream of the tubing hanger. The at least one barrier provides a pressure barrier that controls pressure of fluid flowing from components of the subsea production system located upstream of the barrier to components of the subsea production system located downstream of the barrier, and the secondary barrier valve is remotely actuable between a closed position and an open position. |
| US10697261B2 |
Particulate dispenser
Particulate dispenser can include a housing enclosing a receiving space. The housing having a fluid inlet aperture and a particulate input aperture, and a fluid outlet aperture. A hopper can be disposed above the housing and coupled to feed particulate from the hopper to the particulate input aperture. A wheel disposed within in the receiving space having at least one distribution aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The apertures being disposed at respective positions so that rotation of the wheel alternately aligns the distribution aperture with the particulate input aperture to feed particulate from the particulate input aperture into the distribution aperture and then aligns the distribution aperture with the fluid input aperture and the fluid output aperture to feed the particulate from the distribution aperture into the fluid flowing through the distribution aperture as the wheel rotates. |
| US10697255B2 |
Tubular delivery arm for a drilling rig
A tubular delivery arm that travels vertically along a rail on the front of a drilling mast in generally parallel orientation to the travel of a top drive. The tubular delivery arm has a dolly vertically translatably connected to a mast of the drilling rig. An arm is rotatably and pivotally connected to the dolly at its upper end. A tubular clasp is pivotally connected to the arm at its lower end. The dolly vertically translates the front side of the mast in response to actuation of a hoist at the crown of the mast. The tubular delivery arm translates the mast in non-conflicting passage of a top drive connected to the same mast, for positioning a tubular stand over the centerline of the wellbore, a mousehole, or a stand hand-off position. |
| US10697254B2 |
Drawworks system with variable frequency drive
A drawworks system for a mineral extraction system includes a drum mounted on a drum shaft and a motor assembly configured to drive rotation of the drum. The motor assembly includes a motor, a variable frequency drive positioned vertically above the motor relative to a skid, and a cooling assembly configured to cool the motor and the variable frequency drive. The cooling assembly is coupled to a housing of the variable frequency drive and is positioned vertically above a drive shaft of the motor relative to the skid. |
| US10697251B2 |
Curvilinear sealing system
A sealing system connecting first and second tubular members includes a first curvilinear sealing surface on the first tubular member and a second curvilinear sealing surface on the second tubular member. Both the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces are disposed between two sets of threading on the respective first and second tubular members. When the first and second tubular members are in a connected configuration, the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces contact and interfere to form an annular curvilinear center seal. A relief pocket may be disposed adjacent to the first and/or second curvilinear sealing surfaces to contain excess lubricant between the first and second tubular members. |
| US10697249B2 |
Method and assembly for downhole deployment of well equipment
An assembly for downhole deployment of well equipment, the assembly being above a coiled tubing which receives a part of a cable assembly and below a production pump, the assembly including: a split hanger fixing the cable assembly coming out of the coiled tubing; a seal connectable to the split hanger, configured to prevent formation fluid from entering the coiled tubing. The set of connectors includes: a coiled tubing connector, configured to connect the assembly to the coiled tubing; a lower connector, an upper part of the lower connector being adapted to receive, at least in part, the split hanger and the seal; an upper connector arranged above the lower connector; an adjusting nut; the upper connector and the adjusting nut being connectable to each other, thereby fixing the assembly relative to the coiled tubing; a lower part of the upper connector having an exit enabling the cable assembly to extend out of the assembly. |
| US10697241B2 |
Downhole turbine with an adjustable shroud
A method and apparatus according to which an output of a power generation system is controlled. In one embodiment, the power generation system includes a turbine and a feedback control system. The turbine includes a rotor to which a first portion of a power fluid is communicated, the first portion imparting torque to the rotor; a shaft to which the rotor is connected; a shroud extending circumferentially about the rotor and the shaft; and a bypass gap between the rotor and the shroud, through which a second portion of the power fluid is communicated. The feedback control system axially displaces the shroud relative to the rotor, thereby adjusting the size of the bypass gap and, consequently, the ratio of the first portion relative to the second portion. |
| US10697239B2 |
Electrician's ladder and method
A stepladder having a front side, a rear side and a top. The stepladder can include a conduit holder attached to the front side for holding conduit. The stepladder can include a first wire spool holder attached to the front side and a second wire spool holder attached to the rear side though which a conduit having a wire spool extends. The stepladder can include a hacksaw hook attached to the front side. A method for cutting a conduit. A method for using a hacksaw. A method for obtaining wire. |
| US10697234B2 |
Window blind
A window blind includes top and bottom beams, and many slats disposed therebetween. The top beam has two opposite lateral holes. The window blind further includes a slat folding transmission device having a cord rolling member disposed in the top beam, and two opposite lift transmission cords passing through the lateral holes of the lateral plates of the top beam respectively. Two ends of each lift transmission cord are connected with the bottom beam and the cord rolling member respectively, so that the two lift transmission cords can pull the bottom beam simultaneously when being rolled by the cord rolling member, thereby moving the bottom beam upwardly to fold up the slats. Therefore, the slats of the window blind of the invention need no processing and keep complete in structure, thereby providing good effect of blocking out the light when being adjusted to the inclined condition. |
| US10697233B2 |
Rails for a covering for an architectural opening
A rail for a covering for an architectural opening is provided. The rail may be attachable to a shade member of the covering. The rail may include a magnet assembly that is at least partially positioned within a retention channel formed in the rail to releasably secure the rail to a head rail. The magnet assembly may be positionable along a longitudinal axis of the rail and may include a cam lock assembly that releasably secures the magnet assembly within the retention channel of the rail. According to the present disclosure, the head rail and the rail are held in close proximity to each other to inhibit the passage of light between the rail and a head rail. |
| US10697230B2 |
High strength window or door system
A window or door system includes a window or door panel, a sidewall, and a frame bolted to the sidewall. In some arrangements, the frame is inverse U-shaped or O-shaped and includes a first channel for receiving the window or door panel. A trim member secured to the frame and extending across the U- or O-shape includes a second channel for receiving the window or door panel. A connector may extend through the trim member and the window or door panel across the second channel. The structure is configured to pass test requirements in ISO 8084, Machinery for Forestry—Operator Protective Structures. |
| US10697227B2 |
Keyed removable mullion
An exemplary fitting for a mullion includes a first bracket, a second bracket nested with the first bracket, and a lock cylinder assembly selectively coupling the first bracket and the second bracket. The nested brackets include a set of interleaved walls, and openings in the walls cooperate to define a pocket in which the lock cylinder assembly is seated. The lock cylinder assembly includes an armature having a first position and second position. When in the first position, the armature prevents removal of the lock cylinder assembly from the pocket such that the lock cylinder assembly prevents separation of the brackets. With the armature in the second position, the lock cylinder assembly can be removed from the pocket, after which the brackets can be separated from one another. |
| US10697225B2 |
Gate opening apparatus
A gate opening apparatus includes an external housing, a main chassis, a motor device, a driving rotor, a plurality of guiding rollers, a transmission chain connecting the driving rotor, the guiding rollers and a door gate, and a gate actuating arrangement. The gate actuating arrangement includes a clutching device supported on the main chassis and connected to the motor device, a limit switch assembly coupled to the clutching device, and a control module. The gate opening apparatus is arranged to operate between a power mode and a manual mode. In the power mode, the clutching device is engaged with the driving rotor for driving a movement thereof by the motor device so as to selectively open and close the door gate. In the manual mode, the clutching device is disengaged from the driving rotor so that the driving rotor is adapted for being rotated manually. |
| US10697221B2 |
Variable output torque rod system for panel counterbalance
A variable output torque rod system for panel counterbalance includes a torque rod having a first fixed end relative to a storage area and a second fixed end relative to a panel, wherein the torque rod is configured to store energy by being twisted when the panel is pivoted in a first direction relative to the storage area and release the stored energy when the panel is pivoted in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. A slider block is disposed on the torque rod between the first fixed end and the second fixed end wherein the slider block is free to be moved along an axis of the torque rod when a set screw is loosened from the torque rod, and wherein the slider block profiles against a portion of the panel to prevent rotation about the torque rod when the set screw is tightened. |
| US10697220B2 |
Counterbalance door dampener system and method for automatic duplexing units
A counterbalance dampener disposed between a printer chassis and the automatic duplexer unit includes a pair of support links pivotably connected at distal ends to the chassis and the automatic duplexer unit. A pinion disposed at the distal end of the support link connected to the automatic duplexer unit rotates when the automatic duplexer unit descends into an open configuration. The pinion is in communication with a rack that translates linearly to compress a spring which provides a countering force to slow the descent of the automatic duplexer unit. |
| US10697219B2 |
Tensioners for movable partition systems, movable partition systems including such tensioners, and related methods
Tensioner devices for use with movable partition systems include endplates configured to be mounted on opposing sides or ends of a movable partition. At least one of the endplates includes a bracket configured for attachment to an end of a chain or a belt. The bracket is movable relative to the endplate. The endplate having the bracket also includes an adjustment mechanism located on a common side of the endplate with the bracket, and is operably coupled with the bracket. The adjustment mechanism is configured for adjusting a distance separating the bracket from the endplate. Movable partition systems include such tensioner devices. Methods of adjusting a tension in a chain or a belt of a movable partition system involve the use of such a tensioner device. Methods of installing movable partition systems within structures include the installation of such tensioner devices. |
| US10697212B2 |
Console box
A console box includes a box body with an opening, a pair of lids hinged to the box body to open and close the opening, and a lock mechanism configured to lock the lids in closed positions for closing the opening. The lock mechanism includes a first operation member configured to unlock the pair of lids separately from each other, and a second operation member configured to unlock the pair lids simultaneously with each other. |
| US10697210B2 |
Vehicle-door opening and closing device
A vehicle-door opening and closing device includes: a latch unit configured to keep a vehicle door in a half latched state or a fully latched state; a power close mechanism configured to displace the vehicle door from the half latched state to the fully latched state; a power release mechanism configured to release the fully latched state to bring the vehicle door to an openable state; and a drive gear configured to be driven by a motor. The power release mechanism is configured to be actuated with a drive force of the drive gear. A return switch configured to be switched upon driving in a predetermined drive range sufficient to complete actuation of the power release mechanism is placed near the drive gear. The motor is configured to return the drive gear based on a signal from the return switch. |
| US10697192B2 |
Retrofit designs for steel beam-to-column connections
A method of retrofitting a pre-Northridge type steel beam-to-column connection, includes welding the web of the beam to a flange of the column and slotting the beam web in the region of the connection and near the beam flanges. Stress relief holes are made into the web of the beam and slots are cut into the web of the beam. A top backup bar is welded to the flange of the column and a bottom backup bar is removed from the flange weld to the column. The method includes back gouging the flange of the column at a position of the removed backup bar and welding a bottom flange of the beam to the flange of the column. |
| US10697191B1 |
Skimmer net apparatus
A skimmer apparatus has a handle, a net-bottom-rod at a right angle to the handle, offset from the axis of the handle and joined rigidly to an extension of the handle, a movable frame rotatable about an axis at a right angle to the axis of the handle, a slider translatable on the handle, a linkage mechanism joined to the movable frame and to the slider rotating the movable frame about the axis at a right angle to the axis of the handle, and net material joined to the movable frame and to the net-bottom-rod. Moving the slider away from the net employs the linkage mechanism to rotate the movable frame past the net-bottom-rod, such that the net is turned inside out, facilitating divesting material captured in the net. |
| US10697190B2 |
Pool gutter with deck grate adapter
A pool perimeter assembly includes conduits extending between the sidewalls, wherein the conduits are separated by a common wall between the sidewalls. A grate is positioned on the gutter apparatus to direct fluid flow into at least one of the conduits. The fluid flow may include water or air. The grate is so dimensioned relative to the gutter apparatus so as to fit within a grate fitting device connected to the gutter assembly. The grate fitting device is a grate angle having at least a riser and a lip. The grate angle may include a welding base used in up-fitting existing pool structures to accommodate new grates. |
| US10697189B2 |
Connector for temporary scaffolding
A connector for temporary scaffolding at an end of a lateral member, to be wedge-connected to a receiver around a strut, includes: a wedge body provided movably at the end of the lateral member upward and downward relative to the lateral member; a locking body including a claw formed such that, as a result of the wedge-body's moving downward, the claw could travel from initial to locking position with respect to the receiver; and a biasing body capable of pressing the locking body toward the wedge body, wherein the wedge body includes a shoulder protruding toward the locking body, the locking body includes an interfering portion protruding toward the wedge body, and when the claw is at the initial position, the shoulder is blocked by the interfering portion from moving upward, thereby preventing the wedge body from moving upward and the locking body from traveling toward the biasing body. |
| US10697187B2 |
Mechanical locking system for floor panels
Building panels, especially floor panels, which are provided with a locking system including several separate strip parts connected to the panel edge. A strip part, configured to lock panels horizontally and to be fixed to a panel edge, including a strip body with an inner part configured to be fixed under the panel edge and an outer part configured to extend outside the panel edge, wherein the inner part comprises a fixing element configured to lock the strip part to the panel edge in a horizontal direction, wherein the outer part including a locking protrusion, located above the strip body and configured to lock the strip part to the panel edge vertically and a locking element configured to lock the panels in a horizontal direction, and wherein the inner part includes a cavity formed in the strip body and located between the fixing element and the locking protrusion. |
| US10697185B2 |
Floor panel for forming a floor covering
A floor panel is of synthetic material and forms a layer-shaped substrate with first and second pairs of opposite edges. The first pair of opposite edges has coupling parts forming a first mechanical locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking in the plane of the floor panels and perpendicular to the respective edges, and forms a second mechanical locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking transverse to the plane of the panels. The coupling parts on the first pair of opposite edges are realized substantially in the material of the floor panel itself. The floor panel is provided with an edge configuration on the second pair of edges allowing two of such floor panels to be positioned with their respective edge alongside each other and free from mechanical horizontally active locking systems. |
| US10697176B2 |
Luminous false-wall device
A luminous false-wall device, comprising: a chassis constituted by at least one profile, the chassis comprising an upper part directed toward a panel to be covered, such as a wall or ceiling, and a lower part; a diffusing canvas fixed on the chassis and stretched on the lower part of the chassis; a light placed between the panel and the canvas configured to emit light in the direction of the canvas; wherein the chassis is provided with means of increasing the light intensity of the light. |
| US10697174B1 |
Retrofitting wall assembly with water management
A retrofitting appliqué for stepped application to a building wall construction. For external retrofitting, the system has an air barrier layer impermeable or semi-permeable for moisture, a ventilated air cavity used to modify temperature and/or remove water that may be coming from both sides or to modify the relative humidity of the ventilation air, a layer of thermal insulation, a composite material called Eco-Wrap with capillary active capability, in which a hydronic heating or cooling system may be located, and a surface finishing layer. For internal retrofitting, the system has an air barrier system arranged onto the wall of the building and separated from a layer of permeable or semi-permeable thermal insulation by a ventilated air gap. The layer of insulation, in turn, is in contact with a layer of Eco-Wrap. A permeable interior finishing layer that may also have capillary active performance is in contact with the Eco-Wrap. Methods for installing the retrofitting appliqué are also disclosed. |
| US10697172B2 |
Shield reinforcement plate
A shield reinforcement plate including a steel plate of approximately 1 to 3 mm thick, shaped in characteristic form by a tool in a continuous process. The shield reinforcement plate including 2 (two) holes, a pair of fins, also referred to as flaps and a fold at 90° relative to a base of the shield reinforcement plate. The fold referred to as a stiffener. |
| US10697162B2 |
Flow self-adjusting faucet aerator
A flow self-adjusting faucet aerator includes an aerator unit. Upper and lower ends of the aerator unit have a water inlet and a water outlet, respectively. A flow regulator is fitted in the water inlet of the aerator unit. The flow regulator can automatically adjust the discharge area according to the change of the water pressure of the influent water flow to maintain the stability of the water outflow. |
| US10697152B2 |
Excavator
An excavator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body pivotably mounted on the lower traveling body, an operator's compartment provided to the upper turning body, an attachment attached to the upper turning body, a first display device installed in the operator's compartment, a second display device installed in the operator's compartment, and a controller configured to calculate a distance between a height of a working part of the attachment and a predetermined target height. The first display device is configured to display operation information of the excavator and working part guidance information based on the distance. The second display device is configured to display at least one of a target terrain image and an image representing the excavator. |
| US10697151B2 |
Method of controlling a work machine according to a drivetrain load-adjusted economy mode and control system thereof
A method of selecting an economy operating mode of a work machine includes detecting a current throttle position of a throttle control and a current track speed with a speed sensor, and determining a current drivetrain load of the machine as a function of motor torque, a drivetrain ratio, a drivetrain mechanical efficiency, a final drive windage factor, and a rolling radius. The method includes decreasing the current throttle command if a ratio of the current drivetrain load to an available drivetrain load is less than a load threshold. A transmission ratio of the transmission is increased by the controller to an increased transmission ratio if the ratio of the current drivetrain load to the available drivetrain load is less than the load threshold. |
| US10697149B2 |
Work vehicle and method of controlling the same
A work vehicle includes: a hydraulic operation apparatus for operating an actuator; a main controller configured to generate a command current in accordance with an amount of operation of the operation apparatus; an electromagnetic proportional control valve configured to generate command pilot pressure in accordance with the command current; and a main valve configured to adjust a flow rate of hydraulic oil for operating the actuator based on the command pilot pressure. The electromagnetic proportional control valve is provided in a pilot oil passage that connects a pilot pump and a main valve, and configured to utilize hydraulic pressure supplied from the pilot pump to generate command pilot pressure. The operation apparatus is provided in an operation apparatus oil passage that is different from the pilot oil passage. |
| US10697145B2 |
Low-profile fluid conduit/collector and system
A low-profile fluid collection conduit includes an elongate outer cover having an upper portion and a lower portion generally opposite the upper portion, with the outer cover being much wider than it is tall and defining an interior volume. An elongate rigid spacer is fitted within the interior volume of the elongate outer cover, with the elongate spacer allowing the majority of the interior volume to be unfilled so as to permit the flow of fluid along and within the elongate outer cover. The collection conduit is used with a fluid-impermeable membrane as part of a landfill fluid collection and conveyance system. |
| US10697143B2 |
Inflatable dam and method thereof
Embodiments of an inflatable dam sized to be secured to a foundation structure with an anchor line. The inflatable dam includes a main bladder and an overlapping layer. The main bladder is moveable between deflated and inflated states such that, in the inflated state, the main bladder extends with a tubular configuration. The overlapping layer is sized and configured to extend over a portion of the main bladder and, in the inflated state, concentrically aligned with the portion of the main bladder. The overlapping layer is sized to extend with an overlapping length and to extend laterally between a first end portion and a second end portion along the overlapping length, the first end portion being coupled to the fin structure and the second end portion being configured to be coupled to the anchor line and the foundation structure. |
| US10697139B1 |
Electric road flare
An improved electric road flare assembly formed of a plurality of LED arrays, a concave tripodal housing, and a translucent or transparent lens operable to be deployed along a roadside at night and display a plurality of high-intensity colors in a plurality of display modes. The electric road flare may be configured to display any color light on the visible light spectrum. |
| US10697130B2 |
Modular flooring tiles and system
Modular floor tiles include a first surface configured to receive weight. The first surface is supported by primary walls interior to and extending the full height of the tiles, and which may be intersecting to form a grid. Secondary walls of a lesser height support the primary walls, may be non-linear such as circular, and may support either side of vertices of intersecting primary walls. Joining members and corresponding receivers in the sides of tiles are dimensioned to engage one another from adjacent tiles to join the tiles and restrict lateral movement. Fastener(s) in each tile are associated with slots and may be selectively moved between unlocked and locked positions to restrict vertical movement. Some embodiments include cable channels with corresponding cover plates, and inclined portions providing ramps. Any number and combination of tiles may be connected to one another to form a modular flooring system. |
| US10697129B2 |
Hot forged tie plate for railroad
A railroad tie plate has a generally prismatic body including a field side flange and a gauge side flange connected by an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion includes a rail seat for positioning a railroad rail. At least one of the flanges includes a protrusion extending in a thickness dimension of the tie plate. A hole extends into the at least one protrusion so as to receive a retaining device, such as an e-clip. The tie plate is made by hot forging, having a microstructure comprising pearlite and alpha-ferrite. The net shape of the tie plate may be achieved by forging without subsequent material addition and without subsequent material removal. |
| US10697128B2 |
Method and apparatus for switching device
A method and apparatus for switching device, wherein the apparatus includes a clamp block (44) configured for attachment to a rail end point (12,14), the clamp block (44) including a housing (64) having a slot (66) formed therein, and a clip (42) configured to be received in the slot (66). The clip (42) disengageable from the slot (66) upon application of a generally lateral trailing force to the rail end point (12,14) in excess of a threshold value. |
| US10697127B2 |
Fibrous structures and methods for making same
Fibrous structures that exhibit a novel combination of properties and to methods for making such fibrous structures are provided. |
| US10697120B2 |
Methods of making paper products using a patterned cylinder
A method of making a fibrous sheet including bringing a permeable patterned surface of a patterned cylinder into contact with a nascent web and conveying the nascent web between a transfer surface and the permeable patterned surface over an arc length of the permeable patterned surface. The arc length forms at least a portion of a molding zone. The method also includes applying a vacuum over at least a portion of the arc length. The method further includes transferring the nascent web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface of the patterned cylinder in the molding zone. The vacuum is applied during the transferring of the nascent web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface of the patterned cylinder. |
| US10697118B2 |
Method for producing sheet containing fine fibers
The present invention was accomplished in order to provide a method for producing a sheet containing fine fibers, which enables production of a sheet containing fine fibers without producing wrinkles. The present invention provides a method for producing a sheet containing fine fibers comprising a coating step of coating a dispersion containing fine fibers having a fiber diameter of 1000 nm or smaller on a base material, and a drying step of drying the dispersion containing fine fibers coated on the base material to form a sheet containing fine fibers. |
| US10697117B2 |
Segmented rotor cap assembly
A rotor cap assembly has been conceived using multiple wedge-shaped rotor cap segments, in which the cap segments are disposed on a cap segment retainer and in which the cap segment retainer pilots the multiple rotor cap segments at a diameter intermediate the cap segments' outer diameter and the cap segments' middle diameter. By piloting multiple rotor cap segments with retaining means on the cap segment retainer and positioning means on the multiple cap segments, the rotor cap segments and cap segment retainer assembly may be fixed to a plate holder or directly to a rotor disc of a refiner without substantially altering either the plate holder or the rotor disc. |
| US10697116B2 |
Method for producing nanofibrillar cellulose and nanofibrillar cellulose product
In a method for producing nanofibrillar cellulose, cellulose based fibre material, in which internal bonds in cellulose fibres have been weakened by preliminary modification of cellulose, is subjected to disintegration treatment in form of pulp comprising fibres and liquid. The fibre material is supplied at a consistency higher than 10 wt-%, preferably at least 15 wt-%, to a disintegration treatment where fibrils are detached from the fibre material by joint effect of repeated impacts to the fibre material by fast moving successive elements and the weakened internal bonds of the cellulose fibres. The nanofibrillar cellulose is withdrawn from the disintegration treatment at dry matter which is equal or higher than the consistency of the fibre material. In the disintegration treatment, the fibre material is supplied through several counter-rotating rotors (R1, R2, R3 . . . ) outwards in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis (RA) of the rotors in such a way that the material is repeatedly subjected to shear and impact forces by the effect of the blades (1) of the different counter-rotating rotors. |
| US10697114B2 |
Fiber-reinforced resin intermediate material and method for manufacturing same
The present invention provides a fiber-reinforced resin intermediate material, including not only a thermoplastic resin but also a thermosetting resin, in which defects such as voids are difficult to be generated and which is excellent in shaping ability; and a method for manufacturing the same. The fiber-reinforced resin intermediate material according to the present invention is a fiber-reinforced resin intermediate material formed by attaching a resin to an outer surface part of a reinforcing fiber substrate formed of reinforcing fibers subjected to opening and heating the resin to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the resin to impregnate the reinforcing fiber substrate with the resin, wherein the reinforcing fiber substrate has void space that is opened on an outer surface thereof and the resin is in a semi-impregnated state. |
| US10697108B2 |
Laundry washing machine with dynamic damping force optimization
A laundry washing machine and method implement dynamic damping force optimization during a wash cycle to optimize a force-generating operation such as a spin operation performed during the wash cycle. The dynamic damping force optimization may utilize inputs from a suspension force sensor in combination with an accelerometer to dynamically determine a damping capability for a suspension of a laundry washing machine such that damping in the suspension system may be maintained within the damping capability of the suspension system to balance operation performance against the generation of undesirable forces and vibrations. |
| US10697105B2 |
Detection system of washing machines removable basket and method for detection of washing machines removable basket
The present invention relates to a washing machine having at least one washing basket defining a first treating chamber and at least one removable washing basket that is selectively receivable within the first treating chamber as well as at least one sensor and at least one component able to cause excitation in the sensor. |
| US10697096B2 |
Needle-holding element for circular knitting machines
A needle-holding element for circular knitting machines, having a structure as a hollow solid of rotation developing around a central axis and configured for rotating and for supporting a plurality of needles moving so as to produce a knitted fabric; the needle-holding element has at least one working surface shaped as a surface of rotation obtained through the rotation of a portion of generating straight line around the central axis; on the working surface a plurality of needle seats is defined, placed one beside the other and arranged circumferentially or radially around the central axis, wherein each needle seat movably houses at least a portion of at least one respective needle. At least one needle seat has at least a first length has a longitudinal development, on the working surface, inclined with respect to the generating straight line. |
| US10697095B2 |
Woven fabric
A woven fabric for seats is made of warps and wefts woven into a pattern with a ratio of 1:1, wherein the warps density is 8 strips per unit length and the wefts density is 9.2 strips per unit length. The warps and wefts are both made of polyester and linen, wherein the polyester comprises 94% by weight and the linen comprises 6% by weight. |
| US10697094B2 |
Fiber structure and fiber reinforced composite material
A fiber structure includes a first fiber layer including first reinforcement fiber bundles extending in a first yarn main axis direction, a second fiber layer including second reinforcement fiber bundles extending in a second yarn main axis direction that is orthogonal to the first yarn main axis direction, and auxiliary yarns that join the first fiber layer with the second fiber layer in a stacking direction of the first fiber layer and the second fiber layer. At least either one of the first reinforcement fiber bundles and the second reinforcement fiber bundles each include a core yarn and a covering yarn spirally wound around the core yarn. A covering angle, which is an orientation angle of the covering yarn, corresponds to a direction that differs from the first yarn main axis direction and the second yarn main axis direction. |
| US10697093B2 |
Linear textile structure
A linear textile structure has at least two strands, wherein a first strand has microfibers and a second strand encloses the first strand, wherein the structure may provide a stable linear textile structure, by which the most effective cleaning possible can be achieved with minimum effort. Both strands can be brought into contact together at least in some sections and simultaneously with a surface to be cleaned. |
| US10697090B2 |
Thin-film structural body and method for fabricating thereof
The present invention provides a thin film structural body comprising a sapphire substrate having a principal plane of a {11-26} plane and a first epitaxial thin film which is grown directly on the principal plane of the sapphire substrate and has a principal plane of a {100} plane. As one example, in a fabrication method of the thin film structural body, a first epitaxial thin film is grown on a principal plane of a {11-26} plane of the sapphire substrate. The grown first epitaxial thin film has a principal plane of a {100} plane. |
| US10697088B2 |
Single-crystal diamond material, and tool, radiation temperature monitor, and infrared optical component including said diamond material
A single-crystal diamond material has a transmittance of light with a wavelength of greater than or equal to 410 nm and less than or equal to 750 nm of less than or equal to 15% for any wavelength, and is at least either of an electrical insulator according to optical evaluation and an electrical insulator according to electrical evaluation. A criterion of the optical evaluation can be a transmittance of light with a wavelength of 10.6 μm of greater than or equal to 1%. A criterion of the electrical evaluation can be an average resistivity of greater than or equal to 1×106 Ωcm. Accordingly, a single-crystal diamond material having a low transmittance of light in the entire region of the visible light region and exhibiting a black color is provided. |
| US10697086B2 |
Method for manufacturing silicon carbide epitaxial substrate, method for manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device, and apparatus for manufacturing silicon carbide epitaxial substrate
In forming of a silicon carbide layer, when an X axis indicates a first value representing, in percentage, a value obtained by dividing a flow rate of silane by a flow rate of hydrogen and a Y axis indicates a second value representing a flow rate of ammonia in sccm, the first value and the second value fall within a quadrangular region surrounded by first coordinates, second coordinates, third coordinates, and fourth coordinates in XY plane coordinates. The first coordinates are (0.05, 6.5×10−4). The second coordinates are (0.05, 4.5×10−3). The third coordinates are (0.22, 1.2×10−2). The fourth coordinates are (0.22, 1.3×10−1). After the forming of the silicon carbide layer, an average value of carrier concentration of the silicon carbide layer is more than or equal to 1×1015 cm−3 and less than or equal to 2×1016 cm−3. |
| US10697081B2 |
Method of improving the corrosion resistance of a metal substrate
The invention provides a method of improving the corrosion resistance of a metal substrate. The method comprises: (a) electrophoretically depositing on the substrate a curable electrodepositable coating composition to form a coating over at least a portion of the substrate, and (b) heating the substrate to a temperature and for a time sufficient to cure the coating on the substrate. The electrodepositable coating composition comprises a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium, the resinous phase comprising: (1) an ungelled active hydrogen-containing, cationic salt group-containing resin electrodepositable on a cathode; (2) an at least partially blocked polyisocyanate curing agent; and (3) a pigment component comprising an inorganic, platelike pigment having an average equivalent spherical diameter of at least 0.2 microns. The electrodepositable coating composition demonstrates a pigment-to-binder ratio of at least 0.5. The coating composition contains less than 8 percent by weight of a grind vehicle. |
| US10697079B2 |
Plating device
A plating device comprising: a water tank into which a plating solution is poured; a tubular nozzle being disposed in the water tank and serving as an anode; a to-be-plated object being disposed in the water tank so as to be opposed to the nozzle and serving as a cathode; a direct-current power source to apply a voltage between the nozzle and the to-be-plated object; and a pump to circulate the plating solution such that the plating solution poured into the water tank passes through the nozzle and is ejected onto the to-be-plated object. A perforated plate member, which includes a through-hole having a smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the nozzle, is arranged on the inflow side of the nozzle such that the through-hole is opposed to an open region of the nozzle. |
| US10697078B2 |
Method of forming Cu plating, method of manufacturing Cu-plated substrate, and Cu-plated substrate
A method of forming Cu plating of the present invention includes: a first step of forming a Cu seed layer on one of surfaces of a substrate such that an average grain size is 50 nm or more and 300 nm or less; a second step of forming an oxide film on a surface of the Cu seed layer in an oxygen atmosphere; a third step of removing a part of the oxide film; and a fourth step of feeding power to the Cu seed layer to form Cu plating on a surface of the oxide film on the Cu seed layer by electrolytic plating. |
| US10697073B2 |
Method for manufacturing electrode for hydrogen production using tungsten carbide nanoflake and electrode for hydrogen production manufactured thereby
A method for manufacturing an electrode for hydrogen production using a tungsten carbide nanoflake may include: forming a tungsten carbide nanoflake on a nanocrystalline diamond film by means of a chemical vapor deposition process in which hydrogen plasma is applied; and increasing activity of the tungsten carbide nanoflake to a hydrogen evolution reaction by removing an oxide layer or a graphene layer from a surface of the tungsten carbide nanoflake. Since an oxide layer and/or a graphene layer of a surface of tungsten carbide is removed by means of cyclic cleaning after tungsten carbide is formed, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of the tungsten carbide may be increased, thereby enhancing utilization as a catalyst electrode. |
| US10697066B2 |
Method for forming multi-layered coating film
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a multilayer coating film, the method capable of achieving excellent finished appearance and excellent corrosion resistance without affecting electrodeposition coatability even when a part or all of the water-washing step is omitted after chemical conversion treatment, and to provide a coated article. The invention provides a method for forming a multilayer coating film, comprising forming a chemical conversion coating film and an electrodeposition coating film on a metal substrate by Step 1 of immersing a metal substrate in a chemical conversion treatment solution to form a chemical conversion coating film, and Step 2 of omitting a part or all of the water-washing step, and performing electrodeposition coating on the metal substrate using a cationic electrodeposition coating composition to form an electrodeposition coating film, wherein the chemical conversion treatment solution contains less than 500 ppm of sodium ions on a mass basis, and hexafluorozirconic acid. The chemical conversion treatment solution preferably contains no less than 5 ppm to less than 50 ppm of sodium ions, no less than 5 ppm to less than 90 ppm of calcium ions, less than 100 ppm of potassium ions, and less than 90 ppm of magnesium ions, on a mass basis; and is used continuously. |
| US10697065B2 |
Sam assisted selective e-less plating on packaging materials
A method including activating an area of a polymer layer on a substrate with electromagnetic radiation; modifying the activated area; forming a self-assembled monolayer on the modified active area; reacting the self-assembled monolayer with the self-assembled monolayer; and reacting the self-assembled monolayer with a conductive material. A method including activating an area of a polymer dielectric layer on a substrate with electromagnetic radiation, the area selected for an electrically conductive line; modifying the activated area; forming a self-assembled monolayer on the modified active area; reacting the self-assembled monolayer with a catalyst; and electroless plating a conductive material on the self-assembled monolayer. |
| US10697064B2 |
Chemical vapor deposition apparatus
A CVD apparatus includes a process chamber, a susceptor, an auxiliary supporting part, a gas spray part, and a shadow frame. The susceptor may be in the process chamber to support and heat a mother substrate. The auxiliary supporting part may be mounted on the susceptor in a tetragonal frame form to support and heat an edge of the mother substrate supported by the susceptor. The gas spray part may be in the process chamber to face the susceptor and may spray a process gas to the mother substrate. The shadow frame may cover an edge of the auxiliary supporting part and an edge of the susceptor extending from the edge of the auxiliary supporting part. |
| US10697060B2 |
Iridium precursors for ALD and CVD thin film deposition and uses thereof
Metal coordination complexes comprising an iridium atom coordinated to at least one diazabutadiene based ligand having a structure represented by: where R1 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl and amino groups, and each of R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C3 alkyl, or amino groups are described. Processing methods using the metal coordination complexes are also described. |
| US10697058B2 |
Single-crystal diamond, method of producing same, tool including single-crystal diamond, and component including single-crystal diamond
In an X-ray topography image for a crystal growth main surface of a single-crystal diamond, a group of crystal defect points are gathered, each of the crystal defect points being a tip point of a crystal defect line reaching the crystal growth main surface, the crystal defect line representing a line in which a crystal defect exists. Further, in the single-crystal diamond, a plurality of crystal defect line-like gathered regions exist in parallel. In the plurality of crystal defect line-like gathered regions, groups of crystal defect points are gathered to extend in the form of lines in a direction angled by not more than 30° relative to one arbitrarily specified direction. Accordingly, a single-crystal diamond is provided which is used suitably for a cutting tool, a polishing tool, an optical component, an electronic component, a semiconductor material, and the like. |
| US10697056B2 |
Methods of forming rotary sputtering target
Disclosed is a method for producing rotary sputtering target assemblies that are bonded to a suitable backing support. The bonding between the sputtering target body and the backing support is achieved by controlled heating under a suitable temperature, preferably with the help of conductive layer between the induction heater and internal target body that is inductively heated in a manner that enhances axial and radial gradient heating. A non-adhesive protective wrap can also be placed at the target body such as between the conductive wrap and target body. |
| US10697054B2 |
Low temperature carburizing method and carburizing apparatus
A low temperature carburizing method according to the present invention comprises: step (a) for pre-processing a metal to be processed; step (b) for inputting the metal to be processed to a reaction chamber and heating the same to a set temperature; step (c) for forming a vacuum atmosphere in the reaction chamber and introducing a reaction gas thereinto at a predetermined pressure to accelerate carburization; step (d) for supplying the reaction gas to the reaction chamber at a pressure equal to or lower than the pressure of the reaction gas of step (c) to spread carburization; and step (e) for repeating step (c) and step (d) at predetermined time intervals. |
| US10697051B2 |
Method for manufacturing alloy 690 ordered alloy with improved thermal conductivity, and alloy 690 ordered alloy manufactured thereby
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing Alloy 690 ordered alloy to be used in a steam generator tube serving as a heat exchanger in a nuclear power plant (hereinafter, referred to as NPP), and Alloy 690 ordered alloy manufactured thereby, and provides a method for manufacturing Alloy 690 ordered alloy with improved thermal conductivity, and Alloy 690 ordered alloy manufactured thereby, the method comprising the steps of: solution-annealing Alloy 690; cooling the solution-annealed Alloy 690 to a first temperature of 200° C./min or less; and ordering the cooled Alloy 690 in the temperature range of 410-520° C. |
| US10697050B2 |
Shape memory actuator structures and control thereof
A shape memory actuator system and control methods thereof are provided that include a shape memory actuator having a body made of shape memory material, with individual power conductors interfaced with a first portion of the body, and one or more individual ground conductors interfaced with a second portion of the body. A power source provides power to the individual power conductors. One or more controllers are provided for pulse controlling or regionally controlling a resistive heating current connection sufficient to impart shape memory to the body or regions of the body between the individual power conductors and the one or more individual ground conductors with the provision that the ground conductors are physically separated from the individual power conductors. Structures of shape memory actuators and methods of control are also provided. |
| US10697049B2 |
Foldable display structures
One embodiment provides a structure, comprising: a display; at least one structural component disposed over a portion of the display, wherein the at least on structural component comprises at least one amorphous alloy; and wherein a portion of the display is foldable. |
| US10697040B2 |
Continuous annealing method for low coercive force cold-rolled electromagnetic pure iron plate and strip
A continuous annealing method for low coercive force cold-rolled electromagnetic pure iron plate and strip. Control parameters of each stages in a continuous annealing process are as follows: 750-850° C. at a heating stage; 750-850° C. at a soaking stage, the soaking time is 100-150 s; an outlet temperature of 575-675° C. at a slow-cooling stage, the cooling speed in slow-cooling stage is 2.5-10° C./s; an outlet temperature of 380-420° C. at a fast-cooling stage, the cooling speed of the fast-cooling stage is 15-25° C./s; and 270-310° C. at an overaging stage. The annealing medium is a non-oxidizing atmosphere composed of H2 and N2. After annealing, the cold-rolled electromagnetic pure iron plate and strip is leveled and pressed such that the leveling elongation rate of the plate and strip is controlled within the range of 0.2±0.1%. The process of the continuous annealing method is simple, and the produced cold-rolled electromagnetic pure iron plate and strip can achieve an overall performance of low coercive force and good formability without further magnetic annealing. |
| US10697033B2 |
Device for delivering filler material into a blast furnace
A delivery device for delivering filler material into a blast furnace, comprising: a housing provided with a transition channel for the filler material which defines a first axis X; a chute for the filler material arranged underneath said transition channel; first actuating means, defining a respective second axis A parallel to the first axis X, to actuate a tilt of the chute with respect to the first axis X; second actuating means, defining a respective third axis B parallel to the first axis X, to actuate a rotation of the chute about said first axis X; a first annular body inside said housing and coaxial to the first axis X, adapted to translate along the first axis X by means of said first actuating means; a second annular body inside said housing and coaxial to said first axis X, adapted to translate along the first axis X being coupled to the first annular body and/or adapted to rotate about the first axis X by means of said second actuating means; a mechanism coupled to the second annular body and to the chute, adapted to convert a translational motion of the second annular body into a tilting movement of the chute with respect to the first axis X, and adapted to convert a rotation motion of the second annular body into a rotation movement of the chute with respect to the first axis X. |
| US10697029B2 |
Saccharified solution production method using porous membrane
A method ensuring excellent chemical resistance to a chemical cleaning solution, excellent filtration performance and an enhanced life in a saccharified solution production method including a cleaning step and filtration using a porous filtration membrane. A method for producing a saccharified solution, including the following steps: a liquefaction step of adding an enzyme to liquid starch to obtain a sugar-containing liquefied product; a saccharification step of adding a saccharifying enzyme to further degrade the sugar and obtain a saccharified solution composition containing a saccharified solution and an insoluble component; a filtration step of passing the saccharified solution composition through a porous membrane composed of a resin having a three-dimensional network structure to separate the saccharified solution from the insoluble component; and a cleaning step of passing or soaking the porous membrane into a cleaning solution to clean/remove the insoluble matter attached to the surface or inside of the porous membrane. |
| US10697028B2 |
Detection of HIV-1 nucleic acids by reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification
Disclosed herein are methods of detecting HIV-1 nucleic acids in a sample (such as from a sample containing or suspected to contain HIV-1 nucleic acid). In some examples, the methods include loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) or reverse transcription-LAMP (RT-LAMP). In some examples, the methods include contacting a sample with one or more sets of LAMP primers specific for HIV-1 (such as LAMP primers specific for an HIV-1 integrase nucleic acid or LAMP primers specific for an HIV-1 reverse transcriptase nucleic acid) under conditions sufficient to produce an amplification product and detecting the amplification product. Sets of LAMP primers for detection of HIV-1 integrase nucleic acids (such as SEQ ID NOs: 8-14 or 8-27) and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase nucleic acids (such as SEQ ID NOs: 1-7) are provided herein. |
| US10697026B2 |
Compositions and methods for characterizing a DNA repair variant polypeptide
As described below, the present invention provides quantitative homologous recombination assays developed to characterize the pathogenicity DNA repair polypeptides (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2, Rad51) and provide urgently needed functional information on the significance of DNA repair variants of uncertain significance (VUS) alleles. The invention also provides a method of generating site-specific recombination at a genomic locus or site-specific genome editing by inhibiting replication at the genomic locus, e.g., involving contacting the genomic locus with polypeptides that specifically bind target sequences at the genomic locus. |
| US10697022B2 |
PIK3CA novel mutations detection for diagnosis of acquired cetuximab resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer patients
Disclosed is a kit for detecting drug resistance of cetuximab in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The kit comprises a substance used for detecting gene mutations in Exon 19 of the PIK3CA gene, and may further comprise a specification recording the following contents: if Exon 19 in the PIK3CA gene of a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer as a subject to be tested, who is intended to receive cetuximab treatment or is receiving cetuximab treatment and does not have drug resistance, has at least one of K944N, F930S, V955G, V955I, and K966E mutations, the subject to be tested will develop drug resistance or will be a candidate to develop drug resistance when receiving or continuing to receive cetuximab for treating metastatic colorectal cancer. |
| US10697021B2 |
Methods of detecting breast cancer brain metastasis with genomic and epigenomic biomarkers
The present invention provides a method of diagnosing a breast cancer central nervous system (CNS) metastasis in a subject, comprising determining the expression level of at least one biomarker in a subject-derived brain or breast tissue comparing the subject-derived expression level with a normal control level obtained from normal brain or breast cells; and correlating an increase or decrease of the subject-derived expression level as compared to the normal control level to a diagnosis of a breast cancer CNS metastasis. The present invention also provides a method for the treatment of a breast cancer CNS metastasis in a subject comprising administering to the subject an inhibitor of an overexpressed gene associated with CNS metastasis. |
| US10697019B2 |
Method of diagnosis and prognosis
A method of measuring Gadd45β expression comprising the step of measuring Gadd45β expression levels in a sample of cells, for example CD 138 expressing cells, obtained from a subject known to have or suspected of having a haematological malignancy. Expression levels may be used in diagnosis, for example of multiple myeloma, in providing a prognosis, for example in a patient having multiple myeloma or in guiding selection of an appropriate treatment agent, especially a treatment agent comprising Gadd45β and or MKK7 inhibitors. Also datasets comprising measured expression levels from multiple subjects. |
| US10697016B2 |
Methods to detect a silent carrier genotype
Provided herein are methods and compositions for the detection of silent carriers of chromosomal deletion alleles in a human subject using haploid cells (e.g., sperm cells or egg cells) derived from the subject. The methods provided herein allow for the detection of silent (2+0) carriers of SMA, where the individual has a deletion of the SMN1 gene on one chromosome 5 homolog and two or more copies of the SMN1 gene on the other chromosome 5 homolog. |
| US10697014B2 |
Genomic regions with epigenetic variation that contribute to phenotypic differences in livestock
The invention provides compositions and methods for selecting milk-producing livestock with a preferred phenotype. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting methylation status of one or more genes and gene regulatory regions in a sample to identify the preferred phenotype. |
| US10697013B1 |
Methods for analyzing nucleic acids from single cells
Aspects of the present invention include analyzing nucleic acids from single cells using methods that include using tagged polynucleotides containing multiplex identifier sequences. |
| US10697012B2 |
Analytic device comprising a nanohole extending through an opaque mask layer and into a waveguide cladding
This invention provides substrates for use in various applications, including single-molecule analytical reactions. Methods for propagating optical energy within a substrate are provided. Devices comprising waveguide substrates and dielectric omnidirectional reflectors are provided. Waveguide substrates with improved uniformity of optical energy intensity across one or more waveguides and enhanced waveguide illumination efficiency within an analytic detection region of the arrays are provided. |
| US10697011B2 |
Chemical sensing device
An apparatus with a transducer having a first output signal and arranged to receive an electrical input. The transducer switches the first output signal between an ON and OFF state. The apparatus has a chemical sensing surface coupled to the transducer arranged to receive a chemical input. A signal generator oscillates one or more of said inputs to vary the switching point of the transducer. The oscillating input may be the chemical input and/or the electrical input. The output signal may be a pulse whose period ON or OFF is determined by the oscillating input modulated by the chemical input. |
| US10697006B2 |
Hairpin-mediated amplification method
In some embodiments, the amplification method may comprise producing a reaction mix comprising: a nucleic acid sample, a polymerase, nucleotides, a forward primer that hybridizes to a sequence in the bottom strand of a fragment in the sample, and a reverse primer. The reverse primer has a hairpin structure comprising a loop, a stem and a 3′ overhang of at least 8 nucleotides, wherein the 3′ overhang hybridizes to a sequence in the top strand of the fragment. Subjecting the reaction mix at least two rounds of denaturation, renaturation and primer extension conditions results in extension the forward and reverse primers to produce an amplification product that contains: a double stranded region comprising a nick adjacent to the 5′ end of the reverse primer, and the loop of the first hairpin primer. Primer sets and kits for performing the methods are also provided. |
| US10697004B2 |
Clamping probe
A method in which a mutant gene present in a gene pool mixedly with a large number of wild-type genes can be simply, inexpensively and sensitively detected is developed and provided. A clamping probe that is connected to a target nucleic acid molecule in two regions of first and second target nucleic acid complementary regions so that a wild-type target nucleic acid molecule and a mutant-type target nucleic acid molecule can be distinguished from each other depending on a difference in complementarity to these target nucleic acid molecules is provided. |
| US10697001B2 |
Devices and methods for capturing target molecules
Provided herein are devices and methods for the capture or isolation of a biomarker from a biological sample. In several embodiments, the device comprises a loading region, a filter material, and a receiving region. In particular, in several embodiments, biological fluid is passed from the loading region through the filter material and into the receiving region, thereby resulting in capture or isolation of a biomarker. |
| US10697000B2 |
Partition processing methods and systems
The disclosure provides methods for separating and/or purifying one or more molecules released from one or more fluid compartments or partitions, such as one or more droplets. Molecules can be released from a fluid compartment(s) and bound to supports that can be isolated via any suitable method, including example methods described herein. The disclosure also provides devices that can aid in isolating supports bound to molecules. |
| US10696999B2 |
Rapid method for detection of Salmonella live vaccine strains
The present specification discloses methods of detecting a pathogen of interest, components useful in carrying out these methods, including a pre-enrichment media, and enrichment media and a detection solution and kits thereof. |
| US10696997B2 |
Method and system for the production of recombinant proteins by cells
A cassette sequence for the transformation of a host cell includes at least: a first nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide or protein of interest to be produced by the host cell. The first sequence is linked to a second nucleotide sequence providing resistance to a toxin or encoding an antitoxin peptide to the toxin. The nucleotide sequences are organized in such a way that production of the peptide encoded by the second nucleotide sequence(s) is translationally coupled to production of the peptide encoded by the first nucleotide sequence. |
| US10696995B2 |
Enzymatic production of glycosylated synthons
The present invention relates to a method for producing a glycosylated synthon or a monomer. Said method includes at least one step of placing at least one glycan-saccharase in the presence of at least one hydroxylated synthon and at least one saccharose. The invention also relates to a method for producing a glyco(co)polymer, including polymerizing at least two monomers separately obtained from the enzymatic glycosylation method according to the invention, and to a method for producing a glyco(co)polymer, preferably a block glyco(co)polymer, including coupling at least two monomers separately obtained from the enzymatic glycosylation method according to the invention. |
| US10696993B2 |
Enzyme based methods of separating protein from protein-rich material
Improved enzyme based methods of separating protein from protein-rich material are provided. A method can include utilizing a modeling equation to more effectively hydrolyze the various types of carbohydrates present in a protein-rich material. A method can include a fed-batch method of incrementally adding a protein-rich material, an enzyme broth, or both a protein-rich material and an enzyme broth. A method can also include partially or completely recycling the hydrolysate. |
| US10696991B2 |
Nepetalactol oxidoreductases, nepetalactol synthases, and microbes capable of producing nepetalactone
The present disclosure provides isolated nepetalactone oxidoreductase polypeptides (NORs), nepetalactol synthases (NEPSs), and related polynucleotides, engineered host cells, and cultures, as well as methods for producing NORs and NEPSs, and for using them to produce nepetalactol, nepetalactone, and dihydronepetalactone. The present disclosure also provides methods for engineering cells (e.g., microbial cells) to produce nepetalactone from a fermentation substrate such as glucose, as well as engineered cells having this capability and related cultures and methods for producing nepetalactone. |
| US10696990B2 |
Variant of O-phosphoserine exporter and method of producing O-phosphoserine, cysteine, and its derivatives using the same
The present disclosure relates to a novel polypeptide having O-phosphoserine (OPS) exporting activity, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, a microorganism expressing the polypeptide, a method for producing OPS using the microorganism, and a method for producing cysteine or a derivative thereof comprising reacting the O-phosphoserine produced by the same with a sulfide, in the presence of O-phosphoserine sulfhydrylase (OPSS) or a microorganism expressing the same. |
| US10696982B2 |
Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests
Novel insecticidal proteins that are toxic to lepidopteran pests are disclosed. The DNA encoding the insecticidal proteins can be used to transform prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to express the insecticidal proteins. The recombinant organisms or compositions containing the recombinant organisms or the insecticidal proteins alone or in combination with an appropriate agricultural carrier can be used to control lepidopteran pests in various environments. |
| US10696981B2 |
Phacosporacea resistant soybean plants
The present invention relates to a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens of the family Phacosporaceae in transgenic plants and/or plant cells. In these plants, the ethylene signaling pathway and/or activity of the ethylene signaling compounds is changed. This is achieved by priming the ethylene signaling pathway in these plants in comparison to wild type plants and/or wild type plant cells. Depending on the activating or inhibitory function of a particular signaling compound overexpression or knock-down of the cognate gene might be used. |
| US10696974B2 |
Methods for wound healing
The invention relates to plasmids capable of expressing a protein targeting immune cells when transformed into a lactic acid bacterial cell, wherein the protein is chosen from the group consisting of murine and human CXCL12 1α; CXCL17 and Ym1. The invention further relates to lactic acid bacteria transformed with a said plasmid, as well as the use of said lactic acid bacteria for wound healing in humans and animals. |
| US10696970B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating metabolic disease comprising MKRN1 expression or activity inhibitor as an active ingredient
A pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating metabolic diseases, which includes an MKRN1 expression or activity inhibitor as an active ingredient, is provided. Because the MKRN1 of the present invention functions as an E3 ligase, which ubiquitinates AMPKα, to degrade an AMPK protein, expression and activity levels of AMPK can be restored by suppressing the MKRN1 expression. Also, the MKRN1 expression or activity inhibitor of the present invention can be effectively used as an active ingredient of the composition for preventing and treating metabolic diseases because an improving effect on obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver can be exhibited by MKRN1 expression knockout in a mouse model in which the MKRN1 expression is knocked out and the obesity, diabetes and fatty liver are induced by high-fat diets. |
| US10696968B2 |
Methods and compositions for selecting siRNA of improved functionality
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. Be selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed, including those directed to the nucleotide sequences for HAO1. |
| US10696966B2 |
Treatment of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) related diseases by inhibition of natural antisense transcript to SHBG
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Sex Hormone Binding Globulia (SHBG), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of SHBG. |
| US10696964B2 |
Automated screening of enzyme variants
Disclosed are methods for identifying bio-molecules with desired properties (or which are most suitable for a round of directed evolution) from complex bio-molecule libraries or sets of such libraries. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for virtually screening proteins for beneficial properties. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for virtually screening enzymes for desired activity and/or selectivity for catalytic reactions involving particular substrates. Some embodiments combine screening and directed evolution to design and develop proteins and enzymes having desired properties. Systems and computer program products implementing the methods are also provided. |
| US10696960B2 |
Fusion protein having factor VII activity
A fusion protein comprising factor VII (FVII) and transferrin according to the present invention has an improved specific activity of FVII compared to existing FVII fusion proteins comprising other fusion partners than transferrin, and thus can be effectively used in a therapy using FVII. |
| US10696956B2 |
Engineered DNase enzymes and use in therapy
The present invention provides engineered DNase proteins (including DNase1-like 3 and DNase1) that are useful for treating conditions characterized by neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) accumulation and/or release. In some aspects, the invention provides compositions and methods for preventing or treating vascular occlusion involving NETs. As demonstrated herein, NETs participate in a non-canonical mechanism for vascular occlusion, which is not dependent on fibrin or platelets. |
| US10696954B2 |
Hybrid peroxidases with enhanced activity and stability
Described herein are stable hybrid peroxidases capable of oxidizing manganese and high-reduction potential substrates, methods of generating such peroxidases, and method of using the peroxidases in reactions that are less environmentally toxic. |
| US10696953B2 |
Ketoreductase polypeptides for the synthesis of chiral compounds
The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize a variety of chiral compounds. |
| US10696952B2 |
Methods for purification of recombinant AAV vectors
Provided herein are methods for the purification of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors that can be used for gene transfer and specifically for gene therapy or vaccination. Recombinant AAV vectors of the invention are substantially free of in-process impurities, including production components such as cellular nucleic acids, cellular proteins, helper virus, and media components. |
| US10696944B2 |
Intracellular delivery
A microfluidic system for causing perturbations in a cell membrane, the system including a microfluidic channel defining a lumen and being configured such that a cell suspended in a buffer can pass therethrough, wherein the microfluidic channel includes a cell-deforming constriction, wherein a diameter of the constriction is a function of the diameter of the cell. |
| US10696942B2 |
Media compositions for promoting bacterial and fungal growth
Methods and compositions for enhancing or promoting germination of bacterial spores, and yeasts are disclosed herein. The composition of the present invention comprises an extract obtained from banana or any member belonging to the genus Musa that may be used alone or in a growth medium to promote and enhance germination of bacterial spores, growth of bacterial, yeast, and fungal cell cultures. |
| US10696939B2 |
Cell lysis
In an example implementation, a method of cell lysis includes moving cell fluid from a first reservoir through a microfluidic channel toward a second reservoir, activating a lysing element multiple times as a cell from the cell fluid passes through the microfluidic channel, and moving lysate fluid that results from the activating through the microfluidic channel and into the second reservoir. |
| US10696929B2 |
Laundry care composition comprising polyethylene glycol-based particles comprising a leuco colorant
A laundry care composition having a carrier and a leuco colorant. |
| US10696921B2 |
Solvent extraction of oil from distillers dried grains and methods of using extraction products
A process for extraction of crude oil from distillers dried grain solubles and/or distillers dried grains and producing corn distillers meal that may be used as a livestock supplement is disclosed. For example, the corn distillers meal may be used as a crude protein supplement for use in a livestock feed diet or a poultry feed diet. The solvent extracted crude oil may be suitable for oleochemical processing for personal care and home care products, biodiesel production, and/or renewable diesel production from hydro-treating the extracted oil to make green diesel fuel. |
| US10696913B2 |
Gasification reactor with pipe distributor
A large-scale fluidized bed biogasifier provided for gasifying biosolids. The biogasifier includes a reactor vessel with a pipe distributor and at least two fuel feed inlets for feeding biosolids into the reactor vessel at a desired fuel feed rate of more than 40 tons per day with an average of about 100 tons per day during steady-state operation of the biogasifier. A fluidized bed in the base of the reactor vessel has a cross-sectional area that is proportional to at least the targeted fuel feed rate such that the superficial velocity of gas is in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). In operation, biosolids are heated inside the fluidized bed reactor to a temperature range between 900° F. (482.2° C.) and 1600° F. (871.1° C.). |
| US10696911B2 |
Method and system for automatic solids flow in a gasifier
A method is described for processing biomass using a series of mechanisms that operate in unison to maintain solids flow through small gasifiers that are otherwise prone to blockage. An automated system that implements these methods is also disclosed. |
| US10696906B2 |
Tower bottoms coke catching device
A coke catching apparatus for use in hydrocarbon cracking to assist in the removal of coke and the prevention of coke build up in high coking hydrocarbon processing units. The apparatus includes a grid device for preventing large pieces of coke from entering the outlet of the process refining equipment while lowing small pieces of coke to pass through and be disposed of. The coke catching apparatus can be easily disassembled to be removed from the refining process equipment and cleaned. |
| US10696903B2 |
Method and reactor containing perovskite for cracking hydrocarbon and method for coating the reactor
A reactor has an inner surface accessible to the hydrocarbon and comprising a sintered product of at least one of cerium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, zirconium oxide, boehmite and silicon dioxide, and a perovskite material of formula: AaBbCcDdO3-δ. 0 |
| US10696902B2 |
Automated batch control of delayed coker
An automatic batch sequence computer control system is configured to automatically operate process valves in a delayed coker for a complete coke drum cycle. Double verification of the movement of the process valves is used to confirm advancing to the next step. Primary verification is achieved by using position sensors on the valves. Secondary verification is achieved by using monitored process conditions and confirming the measured conditions correlate with expected process conditions for an arrangement of valve positions at a given sequence in the coke drum cycle. A safety interlock system may be integrated with the control system. |
| US10696901B2 |
Method of manufacturing liquid crystal alignment layer, liquid crystal alignment layer manufactured by using the same, and liquid crystal display device
Provided are a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal alignment layer, a liquid crystal alignment layer manufactured by using the same, and a liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal alignment layer. More specifically, provided are the method of manufacturing the liquid crystal alignment layer with enhanced alignment property and stability, in which a liquid crystal aligning agent is applied onto a substrate, and after drying, alignment treatment is immediately performed by light irradiation while omitting a high-temperature heat treatment process, and then the alignment-treated coating film is cured by heat treatment, thereby reducing light irradiation energy required in the process and simplifying the process by omitting the high-temperature heat treatment process before light irradiation, the liquid crystal alignment layer, and the liquid crystal display device including the same. |
| US10696893B2 |
Perforation balls and methods of using the same
Perforation balls and methods of using the same are described herein. The perforation balls include at least a portion that is water dissolvable. |
| US10696891B2 |
Generating and maintaining conductivity of microfractures in tight formations with inverted microemulsified acid treatment fluids
Methods including (a) introducing an invert microemulsified acid (“IMA”) treatment fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance a fracture in a first treatment interval therein, wherein the IMA treatment fluid comprises a surfactant, a non-aqueous external phase, and aqueous dispersed phase droplets, and wherein the non-aqueous external phase further comprises micro-proppant particulates and at least a portion of the aqueous dispersed phase droplets further comprise an acid; (b) destabilizing the IMA treatment fluid in the fracture, thereby exposing the acid, wherein the micro-proppant particulates form a proppant pack in the fracture and the acid etches a channel in the fracture and/or adjacent to the fracture. |
| US10696890B2 |
Methods of liquefying and shrinking water-absorbable resins in a water-containing state
The present invention provides a contraction agent for a water-absorbing resin that is used as a proppant in stratum hydraulic fracturing, the contraction agent containing: a metal ion-containing substance and a breaking agent for water-absorbing resins used in stratum hydraulic fracturing; and an iron ion-containing substance and/or ascorbic acid, and/or a persulfate. Also provided is a kit for use in stratum hydraulic fracturing, the kit provided with a swelling agent containing a water-absorbing resin, an iron ion-containing substance, and ascorbic acid, the kit being for stratum hydraulic fracturing, wherein the kit consists of A) a proppant containing a water-absorbing resin, and B) a contraction agent for the water-absorbing resin containing a metal ion-containing substance. |
| US10696885B2 |
Molecularly engineered high thermal conductivity polymers and methods for making the same
Methods of increasing thermal conductivity of a bulk polymer are provided. The methods include contacting a bulk polyelectrolyte polymer comprising an ionizable repeating pendant group with an aqueous liquid having a pH that ionizes the pendant group and isotropically extend the polyelectrolyte polymer to an extended non-globular chain conformation. The polyelectrolyte polymer so treated thus exhibits a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 0.6 W/m·K and optionally greater than or equal to about 1 W/m·K. In other aspects, the present disclosure provides a high thermal conductivity material comprising a bulk polyelectrolyte polymer bearing a repeating charged group and having an extended non-globular chain conformation and that exhibits a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 0.6 W/m·K and optionally greater than or equal to about 1 W/m·K. The high thermal conductivity material may be used in electronic devices, including as housings/encapsulation and thermal interfaces. |
| US10696884B2 |
Cryogenic liquid medium
The cryogenic liquid medium provided by the present invention includes at least one of an alkane composition, an olefin composition, an alcohol composition and an ether composition, and each of the alkane composition, the olefin composition, the alcohol combination and the ether composition includes a corresponding non-toxic and harmless substance having a melting point lower than −110° C. and a standard boiling point higher than 50° C. Since the cryogenic liquid medium is formed by the non-toxic and harmless single substance having the melting point lower than −110° C. and the standard boiling point higher than 50° C. or a binary, ternary and multi-component mixture thereof, the cryogenic liquid medium has a lower atmospheric boiling point, and is difficult to volatilize. The eutectic crystal of the specific mixture can be used to achieve the liquid requirements of low temperature, especially the temperature below −110° C. |
| US10696883B2 |
Shaped abrasive particles, methods of making, and abrasive articles including the same
A method of making abrasive particles includes: providing a slurry comprising non-colloidal solid particles and a liquid vehicle; forming at least a portion of the slurry into shaped bodies contacting a substrate; at least partially drying the shaped bodies to provide shaped abrasive precursor particles; separating at least a portion of the shaped abrasive precursor particles from the substrate; and converting at least a portion of the shaped abrasive precursor particles into shaped abrasive particles. The shaped abrasive particles comprise alpha alumina having an average crystal grain size of 0.8 to 8 microns and an apparent density that is at least 92 percent of the true density. Each shaped abrasive particle has a respective surface comprising a plurality of smooth sides that form at least four vertexes. Shaped abrasive particles, abrasive articles including them, and methods of using are also disclosed. |