Document | Document Title |
---|---|
US10705647B2 |
Touch display device capable of selectively changing characteristic of touch driving signal
Embodiments of the present application provide a touch control circuit, a touch driving circuit, and a touch display device, which selectively change and set one or more of a waveform, an amplitude voltage, and a pulse period of a touch driving signal without reduction in touch performance, and thus, provide a touch display device and an application device which are stable and reliable. Also, embodiments of the present application provide a touch control circuit, a touch driving circuit, and a touch display device, which selectively change and set one or more of a waveform, an amplitude voltage, and a pulse period of a load free signal without reduction in touch performance, and thus, provide a touch display device and an application device which are stable and reliable. |
US10705646B2 |
Touch display panel, method for driving the same, and display device
The disclosure discloses a touch display panel, a method for driving the same, and a display device. The touch display panel includes data lines, a source drive circuit, a first signal line, a second signal line, a synchronous signal line, a plurality of first switches, and a plurality of second switches, in a touch stage, the first switches are turned on under the control of a signal output from the first signal line, a signal synchronous with a touch signal is input to the data lines by the synchronous signal line, and the second switches are turned off under the control of a signal output from the second signal line; and in a display stage, the first switches are turned off under the control of a signal output from the first signal line, and the second switches are turned on under the control of a signal output from the second signal line. |
US10705645B2 |
Method for protecting personal information and electronic device thereof
An electronic device for preemptively removing biometric information from a display is provided. The electronic device includes a display, at least one sensor disposed under a region of the display and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to detect, using the at least one sensor, a touch input on the region of the display and display, using the display, a user interface which guides to remove a mark caused by the touch input, wherein the mark includes biometric information acquired based on the touch input. |
US10705644B2 |
Using pressure sensor input to selectively route user inputs
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for routing user inputs to an operating system or an application based on other inputs received at pressure sensors. In one example, computing device receives an indication of a first user input that is detected by pressure sensors of the computing device. The pressure sensors are positioned along two or more sides of a housing of the computing device. The computing device also receives an indication of a second user input, detected by a presence-sensitive display of the computing device. The computing device determines, based on the first user input, whether the second user input is associated with an application or an operating system executing at the computing device. Responsive to determining that the second user input is associated with the operating system, the computing device performs a system-level action. |
US10705639B2 |
Anti-reflective integrated touch display panel
An anti-reflective integrated touch display panel includes an anti-reflective structure and touch electrodes. The anti-reflective structure includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer, a conducting layer disposed on the second insulating layer, a third insulating layer disposed on the second insulating layer, and a fourth insulating layer disposed on the third insulating layer. The first insulating layer includes silicon oxide or silicon nitride, and has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 micrometers. The second insulating layer includes silicon oxide or strontium oxide, and has a thickness of 0.001 to 0.1 micrometer. The conducting layer includes molybdenum, and has a thickness of 0.01 to 0.05 micrometer. The fourth insulating layer includes silicon nitride, and has a thickness of 0.001 to 0.3 micrometer. The touch electrodes are disposed between the third insulating layer and the fourth insulating layer. |
US10705637B2 |
Detection device and display device
According to an aspect, a detection device includes: at least one substrate; a plurality of first electrodes extending in a first direction of the substrate and arrayed in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a plurality of second electrodes arrayed in at least the first direction in a layer different from a layer of the first electrodes. Each of the second electrodes partially overlaps with the first electrodes in planar view and has an electric-field transmission region, in which an electric field can pass through each of the second electrodes in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. The electric-field transmission region in each of the second electrodes overlaps with one of the first electrodes in planar view. |
US10705636B2 |
Display panel and display device
A display panel and a display device are provided. The display panel includes a substrate, a thin film transistor layer, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer, a thin film encapsulation layer, a first common electrode layer, a cover plate, and conductive lines. An area without touch function of the display panel is eliminated by disposing the conductive lines at a side of the first common electrode plate, placing the conductive lines and the first common electrode plate respectively on two film layers, and electrically connecting with each other via through holes of an insulation layer. |
US10705626B2 |
Image display device and control method for image display device
A projector includes: a position detection unit which detects a designated position (XYZ coordinates) designated by a light pen; and a mode changing unit which determines that an operation button provided on the light pen is operated, and which changes a drawing mode if it is determined that the operation button is operated. The mode changing unit: changes the drawing tool if the Z coordinate of the designated position when it is determined that the operation button is operated is within a first distance range; changes the color of the pen if the Z coordinate of the designated position when it is determined that the operation button is operated is within a second distance range; and changes the thickness of the pen or the like if the Z coordinate of the designated position when it is determined that the operation button is operated is within a third distance range. |
US10705621B1 |
Using a three-dimensional sensor panel in determining a direction of a gesture cycle
A system includes a 3D sensor panel for detecting a plurality of 3D positions corresponding to a finger movement and a controller. The controller determines that the plurality of 3D positions contain a gesture cycle by comparing a first set of positions in the plurality of 3D positions that includes at least two non-adjacent positions in the plurality of 3D positions and, upon determining that the first set of positions in the plurality of 3D positions match, determining that the plurality of positions contain the gesture cycle. the controller determines a direction of the gesture cycle based on a second set of positions in the plurality of 3D positions, where the direction is relative to the 3D sensor panel, and creates a gesture cycle record for the gesture cycle, the gesture cycle record comprising the plurality of 3D positions and the direction. |
US10705617B2 |
Tactile sensation providing apparatus and control method for tactile sensation providing apparatus
A tactile sensation providing apparatus includes a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input, a load detection unit configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor, a tactile sensation providing unit configured to vibrate the touch face, and a control unit configured to adjust a drive signal of the tactile sensation providing unit based on a pushed position when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a standard to provide a tactile sensation. |
US10705611B2 |
Interfaces and methods of digital composition and editing of textures for rendering on tactile surfaces
This disclosure provides designer interfaces that present condensed representations of texture functions, the representations displaying selected control points that manipulate the representations, an algorithm that computes a texture function based on the positions of said selected control points, and the texture function generating a signal to control a force on an appendage of a user that touches a tactile surface, and methods of using the designer interfaces. |
US10705608B2 |
Touch sensitive device
A method of generating a keyboard switch haptic sensation in a coupled system comprising a touch-sensitive surface and a force exciter or actuator coupled to the touch-sensitive surface, the method comprising generating a carrier wave signal at frequencies within the frequency bandwidth of the coupled system, modulating the carrier wave signal with a modulation envelope so that the modulated carrier wave signal has a closely spaced pair of peaks, and driving the exciter or actuator with the modulated carrier wave signal to excite the touch-sensitive surface to provide a closely spaced pair of impulses whereby the keyboard switch haptic sensation is simulated to a user touching the touch-sensitive surface. |
US10705606B1 |
Tracking sensor integration system and method for recursive estimation of pose of user's body part
A tracking sensor integration system presented herein collects sensor data obtained for each time frame by a plurality of sensors attached to a wearable garment placed on a user's hand. A controller coupled to the tracking sensor integration system calculates a measurement gain based at least in part on collected sensor data, and determines prediction for a pose of the user's hand for the current time frame using the collected sensor data and a plurality of estimation parameters for the current time frame. The controller then updates the estimation parameters for the current time frame, based in part on the measurement gain and the prediction for the pose of the user's hand. The controller determines an estimated pose for the user's hand, based in part on the updated estimation parameters and the collected sensor data. |
US10705604B2 |
Eye tracking apparatus and light source control method thereof
An eye tracking apparatus and a light source control method thereof are provided. The eye tracking apparatus includes a plurality of light sources, an image capturer and a controller. The light sources project a plurality of light beams to a target zone. The image capturer captures a display image on the target zone. The controller turn-off light beams corresponding to a part of light sources according to a contrast ratio of the display image. |
US10705597B1 |
Interactive exercise and training system and method
A virtual reality (VR) system comprising a head-mounted display (HMD) and handheld controller set is enhanced to provide a more realistic end user VR experience, e.g., for boxing or other interactive training. In this approach, and in lieu of simply establishing a boundary area for the VR experience, the user also maps a position of a real-world object into a reference frame of the VR environment. This mapping is facilitated using the handheld controller itself, e.g., as positioned in a backwards-facing manner on the user's forearm. The real-world object is then simulated in the 3D VR environment as rendered by the VR HMD, and the user interacts with the real-world object (or its simulation) to provide a more enjoyable and useful interactive experience. |
US10705595B2 |
Methods and systems for providing haptic feedback for virtual 3D objects
Described herein are various embodiments for enabling realistic haptic feedback for virtual three-dimensional (3D) objects. A real proxy surface is provided for a virtual object, where the proxy surface may be a relief surface, such as a depth-compressed model of the virtual object. In an exemplary method, when a user touches a proxy surface, a position of the touch point on the surface is detected. The touch point is mapped to a corresponding point on the virtual object. A position of the virtual object is determined such that the touch point is in alignment with the corresponding point on the virtual object, and the virtual object is displayed at the first determined position on an augmented reality display. As a result, a user touching the proxy surface may have the sensation of touching a solid version of the virtual 3D object instead of the proxy surface. |
US10705591B2 |
Aggregated electronic device power management
A system for aggregated electronic device power management includes an aggregated power management arbitrator configured to collect activity information from one or more electronic devices regarding the use of a type of hardware component on the electronic devices. The aggregated power management arbitrator selects a timeout period for transmitting to one of the one or more electronic devices to define a minimum amount of time before the hardware component is transitioned to a lower-power state. The aggregated power management arbitrator may determine usage patterns for one of the electronic devices based on the collected activity information and the applications executing on the electronic device. A timeout period may be adjusted based on the determined usage pattern to improve efficiency of the power management of the electronic device. |
US10705589B2 |
System and method for associative power and clock management with instruction governed operation for power efficient computing
A system includes an ARM core processor, a programmable regulator, a compiler, and a control unit, where the compiler uses a performance association outcome to generate a 2-bit regulator control values encoded into each individual instruction. The system can provide associative low power operation where instructions govern the operation of on-chip regulators or clock generator in real time. Based on explicit association between long delay instruction patterns and hardware performance, an instruction based power management scheme with energy models are formulated for deriving the energy efficiency of the associative operation. An integrated voltage regulator or clock generator is dynamically controlled based on instructions existing in the current pipeline stages leading to additional power saving. A compiler optimization strategy can further improve the energy efficiency. |
US10705585B2 |
Battery charge leakage monitor
A system for battery current monitoring includes a system power throttle stored in memory and executable by the one or more processors to place a battery of an electronic device into a state of expected zero-drain throughout a time interval while the electronic device remains active, and a battery leakage monitor stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to detect a battery charge leak based on a series of time-separated parameter measurements for the battery collected during the time interval. |
US10705573B2 |
Active-matrix organic light emitting diode module operable in bendable states and displaying method thereof
The present disclosure provides an AMOLED display module and displaying method for operable in different bendable states, which the displaying state of a display panel can be directly controlled by a driver chip because a bending state sensor is disposed on a bendable region of the display panel and directly coupled with the driver chip. It increases the efficiency and compatibility. |
US10705569B2 |
Support structure for supporting flexible display screen, and flexible display screen module
A flexible screen support structure includes: a plurality of electromagnets and a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of electromagnets. The plurality of electromagnets are configured to be secured to the same side of a flexible display screen, and each electromagnet has a support surface configured to be attached to the flexible display screen and a side surface at an acute angle to the support surface. When the flexible screen support structure is expanded, the controller controls side surfaces of two adjacent electromagnets to be mutually repelled; when the flexible screen support structure is bent, the controller controls side surfaces of two adjacent electromagnets to be mutually attracted. A flexible display screen module and a mobile terminal are also provided. |
US10705567B1 |
Docking device
An electronic apparatus includes a portable information apparatus and the docking device. The docking device includes an impact sound generation mechanism that generates an impact sound when the portable information apparatus is placed on an apparatus placement portion. The impact sound generation mechanism includes: a detector configured to detect that the portable information apparatus is placed on the apparatus placement portion. |
US10705564B2 |
Housing and electronic device
A housing according to one embodiment includes: a first member being part of an outer wall of the housing; a second member that is another part of the outer wall and includes a first portion overlapping with the first member in a first direction and being joined to the first member via an adhesive agent, and a second portion located at a different position from the first member in a second direction; a first positioning part that is provided at an edge of the first member and projects in the first direction, the edge being located in the second direction; a second positioning part into which the first positioning part is inserted, the second positioning part being provided at the first portion; and a first rib extending from the first positioning part along the edge and being interposed between the first member and the first portion. |
US10705558B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for avoiding glitches when switching clock sources
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an input clock switching system, including: a clock source configured to output a reference clock signal; a clock generator circuit connected to the clock source and configured to output a plurality of input clock signals based on the reference clock signal; an output clock multiplexer, configured to: receive the plurality of input clock signals; receive an output clock selection signal; and output a first clock signal, wherein the first clock signal is one of the input clock signals; and a glitch suppression circuit, configured to: receive the first clock signal; receive a glitch suppression signal; output a clock output signal, wherein the clock output signal is: the first clock signal when the glitch suppression signal is in a first state; and a logic low signal when the glitch suppression signal is in a second state. |
US10705555B2 |
Roller module
A roller module for an input module includes a roller base, a roller element and an adjusting element. The roller element is pivotally coupled to the roller base. Moreover, at least one discontinuous protrusion structure is circumferentially arranged a bottom surface of a concave region of the roller element. A contacting part of the adjusting element is contacted with the at least one discontinuous protrusion structure. Consequently, a rotation of the roller element results in a tactile feel. |
US10705552B1 |
Self-optimizing circuits for mitigating total ionizing dose effects, temperature drifts, and aging phenomena in fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator technologies
A self-optimizing circuit for a FD-SOI device includes a static biasing circuit, a dosimeter, a reference circuit, an amplifier, a voltage source, and a feedback circuit. The static biasing circuit supplies a first bias. The dosimeter includes a dosimeter FD-SOI device and generates a dosimeter voltage sensitive to parametric shifts in the primary FD-SOI device. The reference circuit supplies a reference voltage. The amplifier is coupled to the dosimeter and the reference circuit, and supplies a second bias at an output of the static biasing circuit, the second bias proportional to a difference between the dosimeter voltage and the reference voltage. The voltage source generates a drive voltage to which the first bias and the second bias are referenced. The feedback circuit regulates supply of the drive voltage to a well of the dosimeter FD-SOI device according to the first bias and the second bias. |
US10705551B2 |
Circuit for interconnected direct current power sources
Controlling a power converter circuit for a direct current (DC) power source is disclosed. The power converter may be operative to convert input power received from the DC power source to an output power and to perform maximum power point tracking of the power source. The power converter is adapted to provide the output power to a load that also performs maximum power point tracking. |
US10705549B2 |
Controller interface with menu schedule override
A method of modifying a programmable schedule for a controller and a controller are disclosed having a user interface. The method includes the steps of providing, simultaneously or sequentially, two or more schedule override choices to a user via the user interface, accepting a selection of one of the two or more schedule override choices from the user via the user interface, and modifying temporarily the schedule based on the user responses provided by the user interface. |
US10705543B2 |
Mass flow controller and controller algorithm
A mass flow controller that includes a linearization system to control the linear response of a valve in order to control the gain of the mass flow controller. The linearization system includes a flow modeling system for processing at least one of a fluid type, a flow rate, a pressure, and a temperature value signal relating to flow of the fluid through a flow path and determining fluid properties. The linearization system also includes a valve modeling system to determine the required operational characteristics of the valve according to valve specifications, a desired flow rate, and the determined fluid properties. The linearization system determines a gain to control the lift of the valve in order to acquire a desired fluid flow rate. The gain is determined by calculating the derivative of predicted lift with respect to fluid flow and the derivative of drive with respect to predicted lift. |
US10705542B1 |
Determining relative distances and positions of multiple vehicles from times-of-flight of signals
Aerial vehicles may be outfitted with one or more transceivers for transmitting signals between one another. The signals may be time-stamped with times at which the signals are transmitted, and the times at which such signals are received, as determined from global clocks. The times-of-flight of such signals may be calculated from the differences between the times of transmission and the times of receipt, and used to calculate relative distances between the aerial vehicles. Additionally, where two or more of such signals are transmitted by an aerial vehicle, and received by another aerial vehicle, the times-of-flight of such signals may be used to track relative motion or determine an orientation of the aerial vehicle. Such signals may be transmitted and received by any number of vehicles or other objects, and may include any information, data or metadata regarding such vehicles or other objects. |
US10705534B2 |
System and method for ground plane detection
Improved processing of sensor data (e.g., LiDAR data) can be used to distinguish between free space and objects/hazards. Autonomous vehicles can use such information for performing autonomous driving and/or parking operations. LiDAR data can include a plurality of range measurements (e.g., forming a 3D point cloud). Each of the range measurements can correspond to a respective LiDAR channel and azimuth angle. The processing of LiDAR data can include identifying one or more of the plurality of range measurements as ground points or non-ground points based on one or more point criteria. The one or more point criteria can include a ground projection criterion and an angular variation criterion. |
US10705530B2 |
Vehicle travel control method and vehicle travel control device
A travel control for a vehicle includes specifying a pedestrian crosswalk through which a subject vehicle is expected to pass as a first pedestrian crosswalk, estimating a position on the first pedestrian crosswalk through which the subject vehicle passes as a crossing position in the length direction of the first pedestrian crosswalk, specifying another pedestrian crosswalk located within a predetermined distance from the crossing position and located close to the first pedestrian crosswalk as a second pedestrian crosswalk, setting an area including the first pedestrian crosswalk and the second pedestrian crosswalk as a detection area of a detector detecting an object around the subject vehicle, detecting a moving object in the detection area using the detector, and controlling travel of the subject vehicle on the basis of a detection result of the detector. |
US10705524B2 |
Task execution method and device, moveable object and computer readable storage medium
The present invention provides a task execution method and device. The task execution method includes: obtaining a task list, where the task list includes at least two to-be-executed tasks; determining a task mode, where the task mode includes a task set mode and a task flow mode; and executing the at least two to-be-executed tasks according to the determined task mode. |
US10705519B2 |
Distributed vehicle system control system and method
A distributed control system includes a remote control system configured to be communicatively coupled with plural separate vehicle systems. The remote control system is configured to remotely control operation of the vehicle systems and/or communicate with the local vehicle control system or operator. The remote control system also is configured to one or more of change how many of the vehicle systems are concurrently controlled by the remote control system or change how many remote operators of the remote control system concurrently control the same vehicle system of the vehicle systems. |
US10705518B2 |
Remote control system and remote control method
A remote control system including a remote control device and a first controllable device is provided. The remote control device has a wireless communication module, and is configured to execute a pairing connection operation. The first controllable device has a wireless communication function, and is configured to transmit first identification information. When executing the pairing connection operation, the remote control device obtains the first identification information of the first controllable device through the wireless communication module. The remote control device continuously updates and records the first identification information within a preset time range. The remote control device determines whether signal strength of the first controllable device has undergone a preset change within the preset time range based on the first identification information, and if so, the remote control device decides to connect to the first controllable device through the wireless communication module. In addition, a remote control method is provided. |
US10705516B2 |
Dynamic prediction of risk levels for manufacturing operations through leading risk indicators: dynamic risk fault tree method and system
A dynamic risk fault tree (DRFT) for displaying and analyzing risk levels for manufacturing operations. The DRFT incorporates a Dynamic Risk Analyzer (DRA) to periodically assesses real-time or historic process data, or both, associated with an operations site, such as a manufacturing, production, or processing facility, including a plant's operations, and identifies hidden near-misses of such operation, when in real time the process data appears otherwise normal. DRFT assesses the process data in a manner that enables operating personnel including management at a facility to have a comprehensive understanding of the risk status and changes in both alarm and non-alarm based process variables. The DRA and hidden process near-miss data may be analyzed alone or in combination with other process data and/or data resulting from prior near-miss situations to permit strategic action to be taken to reduce or avert the occurrence of adverse incidents or catastrophic failure of a facility operation. |
US10705514B2 |
Adaptive chamber matching in advanced semiconductor process control
Systems and methods for controlling device performance variability during manufacturing of a device on wafers are disclosed. The system includes a process platform, on-board metrology (OBM) tools, and a first server that stores a machine-learning based process control model. The first server combines virtual metrology (VM) data and OBM data to predict a spatial distribution of one or more dimensions of interest on a wafer. The system further comprises an in-line metrology tool, such as SEM, to measure the one or more dimensions of interest on a subset of wafers sampled from each lot. A second server having a machine-learning engine receives from the first server the predicted spatial distribution of the one or more dimensions of interest based on VM and OBM, and also receives SEM metrology data, and updates the process control model periodically (e.g., to account for chamber-to-chamber variability) using machine learning techniques. |
US10705513B2 |
Computer-assisted methods of quality control and corresponding quality control systems
The disclosure herein relates to a quality control method and system in aeronautical manufacturing. The system comprises a tablet connected to a concession management server, the server being itself linked to an aircraft configuration database, a three-dimensional digital model of the aircraft and a fault database. The element to be inspected is identified using the digital model and the fault is characterized by browsing a predetermined decision tree associated with the element. |
US10705511B2 |
Abstraction layers for automation applications
A system for implementing automation functions through abstraction layers includes a control application and an automation equipment abstraction framework executable in a runtime environment. The control application is designed to communicate with automation equipment using one or more automation functions. Each automation function comprises one or more equipment-agnostic instructions. During execution of the control application, the automation equipment abstraction framework receives an equipment-agnostic instructions and an indication of a particular unit of automation equipment. The automation equipment abstraction framework translates the equipment-agnostic instructions into equipment-specific automation instructions executable on the particular unit of automation equipment. These equipment-specific automation instructions may then be sent to the particular unit of automation equipment. |
US10705507B2 |
Method for generating a machining program and machine tool
Method for generating a machining program of a plunge mulling machine tool, comprising the steps of: establishing a machining to be performed on a workpiece; acquiring first machining information that indicates stable cut conditions of the machine tool for the workpiece; acquiring second machining information that indicates engagement cut conditions of the machine tool during the machining on the workpiece; carrying out a determination of the rotation speeds of the machine tool during the machining on the basis of the second machining information and the first machining information; wherein the machining program is generated on the basis of the determination carried out. |
US10705505B2 |
Numerical control device
A numerical control device includes: an estimation unit to estimate an accumulation amount of swarf to be produced when a tool mounted on a machine tool cuts a workpiece on the basis of a machining condition in cutting the workpiece by the tool and a value of current to be applied to a motor for moving a shaft of the machine tool when the tool cuts the workpiece. The numerical control device further includes a correction unit to correct the accumulation amount of swarf estimated by the estimation unit on the basis of a machining mode specifying a shape of swarf to be produced when the tool cuts the workpiece. |
US10705494B2 |
Laundry machine and online system including the same
The present invention relates to a home appliance which can communicate with an outside of the home appliance, an online system including the same and a method for using an online system. According to embodiments of the present invention, a home appliance, an online system and a method for using an online system may be provided, each including a WiFi communication module mounted or connected to the home appliance for supporting a setting mode for making communication connection and a use mode for enabling communication, and a particular input unit provided to run the setting mode by user's selection, wherein the home appliance is changed to the use mode upon reception of SSID (Service Set Identifier; a name of a wireless LAN) information of an access point AP desired to access and user information required for registration of the home appliance through an external terminal after access to the setting mode through the external terminal provided separate from the home appliance. |
US10705487B2 |
Methods and devices for mode switching
A method for a household electrical appliance to perform mode switching includes detecting whether a user is in a sleeping state, switching a current operation mode to a silent mode if the user is in the sleeping state, and operating in the silent mode. |
US10705485B2 |
Pointer and timepiece
A pointer including a pointer body formed of synthetic resin, and a pointer attachment section formed of a material harder than the synthetic resin and provided in a rotation center portion of the pointer body, in which the pointer attachment section comprises a large-diameter section to which the pointer body is fixed and which includes a positioning section, and a small-diameter section which is provided coaxially with the large-diameter section and to which a pointer shaft is attached. |
US10705479B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a process cartridge, a scanner unit, and a toner cartridge. The process cartridge is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotational axis extending in a first direction; and a development unit configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum. The toner cartridge is configured to store toner. At least part of the photosensitive drum, at least part of the scanner unit, and at least part of the toner cartridge are aligned in a second direction in this order. The second direction is perpendicular to both the first direction and to a vertical direction. The at least part of the photosensitive drum, the at least part of the scanner unit, and the at least part of the toner cartridge overlap one another as viewed from the second direction. |
US10705477B1 |
Cleaning blade, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning blade includes a contact part coming into contact with a member to be cleaned, the contact part being configurated by a member containing polyurethane rubber produced by polymerizing at least a polyol component, which contains over 50 mol % and 75 mol % or less of 1,4-butanediol relative to the entire polyol components, with a polyisocyanate component. The ratio (M100/Re) of 100% modulus (M100 [MPa]) to rebound resilience coefficient (Re [%]) is 0.25 or more. The rebound resilience coefficient (Re [%]) is 25% or more. |
US10705475B2 |
Photo-conductor drum with protective layer of material
A photo-conductor drum includes: a cylindrical surface to receive a charge pattern corresponding to an image to be printed; and a protective layer of material coating at least a portion of the cylindrical surface to protect the cylindrical surface from damage prior to installation of the drum in a printing device. |
US10705470B2 |
Binding apparatus and image processing apparatus
A binding apparatus includes: a first pressing part that presses a recording material bundle; and a second pressing part that is pushed out toward the first pressing part and presses the recording material bundle. When a recording material or the recording material bundle enters a pressing area where the first pressing part and the second pressing part face each other, at least one of the first pressing part and the second pressing part retreats more downstream than the pressing area in a direction where the recording material or the recording material bundle enters the pressing area. |
US10705469B2 |
Medium cutting device and image forming apparatus
A medium cutting device cutting a continuous medium carried along a carrying path in a carrying direction includes a sandwiching part that is provided capable of sandwiching a medium; and a cutting blade that includes an edge extending in a width direction (X) of the medium, which is perpendicular to the carrying direction, wherein the medium is cut by the edge while the medium is sandwiched and held by the sandwiching part. Wherein the edge is in a shape depicting an involute curve in which path lengths (PL) of the medium, which are determined from the sandwiching part to the edge in the carrying direction, are substantially constant over the edge in the width direction. |
US10705466B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an image forming unit including an optical scanning device, a cleaning mechanism configured to clean a transparent window of the optical scanning device, and a control unit configured to cause the cleaning mechanism to perform a cleaning operation on the transparent window. The number of pages on which image formation is allowed to be performed for recording sheets in a period between cleaning operations performed by the cleaning mechanism is smaller in a case where image formation is performed on recording sheets in which the amount of generation of paper dust is large than in a case where image formation is performed on recording sheets in which the amount of generation of paper dust is small. |
US10705460B2 |
Heat reflection using reflector in fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a belt, a roller, a heater, and a reflector. The belt is rotatable in a rotational direction. The roller is positioned to be in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt so as to form a nip between the roller and the belt. The heater is disposed within an inner circumference of the belt. The reflector is disposed within the inner circumference of the belt. The reflector includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is in contact with and protrudes outwardly the belt at a first region downstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction. The second portion is configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward an inner surface of the belt at a second region upstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction. |
US10705459B2 |
Heating system
A heating system includes a heater, a switch providing alternating current to the heater, and a current sensor electrically connected between the switch and the heater. The heating system also includes a controller that controls operation of the switch. The controller activates the switch during a portion of a half cycle of the alternating current having increasing amplitude under a threshold. The controller determines, based on a signal received from the current sensor during the activation of the switch, a time period from the start of the half cycle to a threshold timing at which the alternating current reaches the threshold. The controller reactivates the switch at a timing on or after a timing obtained by subtraction of the determined time period from an end of the half cycle. The heating system is useable within an image forming apparatus. |
US10705450B2 |
Method of fixing regulating blade made of resin material
A method of fixing a regulating blade made of a resin material includes an adhesive applying step of applying an adhesive onto a mounting portion; a first force applying step of applying a first force to the regulating blade so that the regulating blade is urged against the mounting portion; a second force applying step of applying a second force to the mounting portion so as to support the mounting portion; and a fixing step of fixing the regulating blade to the mounting portion by curing the adhesive applied on the mounting portion in the adhesive applying step in a state that the first force is applied to the regulating blade in the first force applying step and that the second force is applied to the mounting portion in the second force applying step. |
US10705449B2 |
Developing member, electrophotographic process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Provided is a developing member capable of sufficiently securing a toner conveyance amount, thereby being capable of suppressing a reduction in image density, even when a solid black image or an image having a high print percentage is continuously output. The developing member includes an electro-conductive substrate and an electro-conductive layer thereon, an outer surface of the developing member includes a first, second and third regions, when surface potentials of the respective regions with scanning probe microscope, and measured surface potential of the respective regions are defined as V1, V2, and V3, respectively, V1 is −0.70 V to −0.50 V, 1.30≤V1/V2≤25.00, and V3 is 0.00 V to 0.50 V. |
US10705435B2 |
Self-referencing and self-calibrating interference pattern overlay measurement
Two pairs of alignment targets (one aligned, one misaligned by a bias distance) are formed on different masks to produce a first pair of conjugated interference patterns. Other pairs of alignment targets are also formed on the masks to produce a second pair of conjugated interference patterns that are inverted the first. Misalignment of the dark and light regions of the first interference patterns and the second interference patterns in both pairs of conjugated interference patterns is determined when patterns formed using the masks are overlaid. A magnification factor (of the interference pattern misalignment to the target misalignment) is calculated as a ratio of the difference of misalignment of the relatively dark and relatively light regions in the pairs of interference patterns, over twice the bias distance. The interference pattern misalignment is divided by the magnification factor to produce a self-referenced and self-calibrated target misalignment amount, which is then output. |
US10705433B2 |
Reserving spatial light modulator sections to address field non-uniformities
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide improved photolithography systems and methods using a digital micromirror device (DMD). The DMD comprises columns and rows of micromirrors disposed opposite a substrate. Light beams reflect off the micromirrors onto the substrate, resulting in a patterned substrate. Certain subsets of the columns and rows of micromirrors may be positioned to the “off” position, such that they dump light, in order to correct for uniformity errors, i.e., features larger than desired, in the patterned substrate. Similarly, certain subsets of the columns and rows of micromirrors may be defaulted to the “off” position and selectively allowed to return to their programmed position in order to correct for uniformity errors, i.e., features smaller than desired, in the patterned substrate. |
US10705432B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A substrate table of an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed which comprises a barrier configured to collect liquid. The barrier surrounds the substrate and is spaced apart from the substrate. In this way any liquid which is spilt from the liquid supply system can be collected to reduce the risk of contamination of delicate components of the lithographic projection apparatus. |
US10705421B2 |
Imprint apparatus and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which forms a pattern in an imprint material on a substrate using a mold, the apparatus comprising a deformation unit configured to deform at least one of the mold and the substrate, and a control unit configured to control a process of starting contact between the mold and the imprint material in a state in which the at least one is deformed, and then gradually increasing a contact area between the mold and the imprint material by gradually decreasing a deformation amount of the at least one, wherein the control unit controls relative positions of the mold and the substrate based on the deformation amount, so as to maintain a relative positional relationship between the mold and the substrate at a region where the mold and the imprint material are contact with each other. |
US10705418B2 |
Projector and method for controlling projector
A projector includes a projection section that projects first light representing an image on a projection surface, a detection section that detects whether or not an enclosure member that encloses part of an area through which the first light projected via the projection section passes has been attached to the projector, and an adjustment section that adjusts the intensity of the first light based on the result of the detection performed by the detection section. |
US10705411B2 |
Document camera
A document camera includes a base, a monitor display mounted on the base, a first arm, a second arm, and a camera head. The first arm is mounted to the base so as to be pivotable in a right-left direction. The second arm is mounted to the first arm so as to be pivotable in the right-left direction. The camera head is mounted to the second arm so as to be pivotable in the right-left direction. The arms and the camera head are laid into respective laid positions when the document camera is not in use. The arms and the camera head are raised into respective standing positions when the document camera is in use. When laid into the respective laid positions, the arms and the camera head are fit within an upper surface of the base, and the monitor display is substantially covered by the first arm. |
US10705410B1 |
Shrinkable camera skin assembly
A shrinkable camera skin assembly for altering the appearance of a camera body includes a camera wrap is positionable around a camera body to alter the appearance of the camera body. The camera wrap has a plurality of openings therein each being aligned with respective structural features of the camera body. A lens wrap is wrapped around a body of a camera lens to alter the appearance of the body of the camera lens. A hood wrap is wrapped around a lens hood to alter the appearance of the lens hood. Each of the camera wrap, the lens wrap and the hood wrap is comprised of a heat shrink material. Thus, the camera, lens and hood wraps can shrink around the respective camera body, camera lens and lens hood. |
US10705409B2 |
System and method for evenly-scattered adaptable subject lighting for mobile device photography
A system for evenly-scattered adaptable subject lighting for mobile device photography, comprising a case configured to enclose and securely fasten a mobile device and an illuminating portion, the illuminating portion configured to produce light based on input received from a plurality of sensors. The system further comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory and operating on a processor of a network-connected computing device, and configured to direct the operation of the illuminating portion comprising at least a sensor processor and an image capture device, wherein the sensor processor adjusts the illuminating portion based on preconfigured thresholds to provide evenly-scatter lighting for capturing images of subjects via the image capture device. |
US10705408B2 |
Electronic device to autofocus on objects of interest within field-of-view of electronic device
An electronic device to autofocus on an object-of-interest within a field-of-view of the electronic device, includes an image sensor and a circuitry. The image sensor captures a sequence of image frames that includes a current frame and detect at least one prominent region in the current frame. The detected at least one prominent region has an optical flow similar to a direction of motion of the electronic device. The circuitry selects a region-of-interest from the detected at least one prominent region and estimates an autofocus point in the detected at least one prominent region. The circuitry controls focus of the image sensor at the estimated autofocus point in the current frame. The focus of the image sensor is controlled such that the estimated autofocus point exhibits a minimum deviation from an initialized position for the estimated autofocus point within the detected at least one prominent region. |
US10705407B2 |
Speckle reduction in photonic phased arrays
Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures providing speckle reduction in photonic phased array structures. |
US10705406B2 |
Two-dimensional light modulating device and electronic apparatus including the same
A two-dimensional (2D) light modulating device may include a plurality of phase modulating elements and a circuit board. The plurality of phase modulating elements may include a meta surface having a nano-structure. The circuit board may be configured to independently control electrical signals that are respectively transmitted to the plurality of phase modulating elements. The circuit board may include a plurality of pixel circuit units. Each of the plurality of pixel circuit units may include a transistor and a capacitor. |
US10705405B2 |
Composite particles and method for making the same
A composite particle is provided that includes a base particle and a plurality of hydrophilic oligomeric groups extending from an exterior portion of the base particle, the base particle including a cross-linked polyurea and at least one of a pigment and a dye. The cross-linked polyurea may form a network throughout the base particle. A method of making the composite particle includes providing either a solution containing a dye or a dispersion containing a pigment in a water-dispersible polyfunctional isocyanate dissolved in a water-miscible solvent, forming an emulsion of the solution/dispersion in water, agitating the emulsion while the polyfunctional isocyanate is converted into a cross-linked polyurea, and separating the composite particle containing the cross-linked polyurea and the dye/pigment from the emulsion. |
US10705399B2 |
Display device including an oxide semiconductor which overlaps an opening
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a gate line extending in a first direction, first and second source lines crossing the gate line and arranged in the first direction, a first light-shielding layer having first and second openings, and an oxide semiconductor layer crossing the gate line, and in the display device, the first opening and the second opening are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction between the first source line and the second source line, the gate line is located between the first opening and the second opening, and the oxide semiconductor layer has a first overlapping portion overlapping the first opening. |
US10705394B2 |
Display system, device, and method
An assembly and method for updating a display assembly of a control panel is disclosed with optimal uniform illumination. In some instances, embodiments include efficient and cost effective methods for upgrading display assemblies without having to completely overhaul the electrical, mechanical, or wiring components already existing within the control panel. |
US10705392B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a functional unit internally or exteriorly installed in the display panel, a first flexible substrate and connected to one end part of the display panel, a signal-transmission substrate connected to another end part of the first flexible substrate and configured to transmit a driving signal to the first flexible substrate, a driving component mounted on the first flexible substrate and configured to process and supply a signal from the signal-transmission substrate to the display panel to drive the display panel and display an image, and a second flexible substrate having one end part that is connected to the functional unit and another end part that is connected to a part of the first flexible substrate that is closer to the display panel than a display panel side end edge of the driving component that is mounted on the first flexible substrate. |
US10705390B2 |
Color conversion substrate and liquid-crystal display device including the same
A liquid-crystal display device includes a first polarizer which has a transmission axis extended in a first direction, a second polarizer disposed above the first polarizer and which has a transmission axis extended in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a liquid-crystal layer disposed between the first polarizer and the second polarizers, and a linear patterned layer disposed between the liquid-crystal layer and the second polarizer, wherein the linear patterned layer comprises a pattern of linear features and the linear features of the pattern are extended in the second direction and spaced apart from one another in the first direction. |
US10705384B2 |
Display device and method for manufacturing the display device
A display device includes a display panel and a light source for outputting a first color light to the display panel. The display panel includes a first display substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first display substrate and the second substrate. The second display substrate includes a base substrate, a color filter layer including a plurality of color filters spaced apart from each other on the base substrate, a color conversion layer including a plurality of dams, and a plurality of conversion parts overlapping the color filters, disposed on the base substrate, and disposed between the plurality of dams, a reflection layer disposed on the dams, and a hydrophobic area disposed on the reflection layer, overlapping an upper surface of the dams, and non-overlapping a side surface of the dams. |
US10705380B1 |
Curved backlight and system for stray light control
A display including a curved backlight and system for stray light control is disclosed. In embodiments, the curved backlight includes a curved substrate and an array of light sources disposed on the curved substrate, collimating optics, and a diffuser. The array of light sources includes a first group of light sources and a second group of light sources. The collimating optics are arranged to receive and collimate light only from the first group of light sources. The diffuser is arranged to receive and diffuse the collimated light from the collimating optics and light from the second group of light sources. The display further includes a liquid crystal layer arranged to receive light generated by the array of light sources and to display an image. The display further includes a controller configured to control the array of light sources such that at least some of the light sources emit light. |
US10705378B2 |
EL element, EL element substrate, lighting device, display device, and liquid crystal display device
An EL element including an EL light-emitting structure including a light-emitting layer on a transparent electrode, and a counter electrode on the light-emitting layer, a translucent substrate, and a light scattering layer between the EL light-emitting structure and the translucent substrate, the light scattering layer having a first surface on a transparent electrode side and a second surface on a side of the translucent substrate. The light scattering layer includes light scattering particles which includes particles that form agglomerates in a portion of the first surface such that the portion of the first surface has a concavo-convex shape. The light scattering particles further include particles positioned in order along the second surface such that the second surface is smoother than the portion of the first surface having the concavo-convex shape. |
US10705377B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of controlling the same
A liquid crystal display device including a display unit, a backlight including a plurality of light sources, an LED control circuit configured to output a PWM signal (LED control signal) based on a display synchronization signal, such that the light sources are intermittently lighted, and an LED driver configured to control a drive current that is supplied to the light sources, based on the PWM signal, is provided with a monitoring control unit that is configured to perform monitoring at least one of the PWM signal, the drive current, and the display synchronization signal, as a monitoring target. When an abnormality of the monitoring target is detected, the monitoring control unit controls a waveform of the PWM signal such that the drive current that is supplied to the light sources in the backlight becomes zero. |
US10705373B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and display device
A liquid crystal display panel and a display device are disclosed. The liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate and an opposite substrate arranged opposite to each other, reflecting metal located on the side of the array substrate facing the opposite substrate, color filters arranged in an array on the side of the opposite substrate facing the array substrate, and black matrixes located on the side of the opposite substrate facing the array substrate, where strip-shaped first opening areas extending in a second direction are arranged between each pair of adjacent color filters in different colors arranged in a first direction, and the black matrixes and the first opening areas are arranged alternately in the second direction. |
US10705368B2 |
Display panel and manufacturing method thereof
A display panel and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. Each pixel of the display panel includes a transmission region and a reflection region, and the display panel includes a first polarizer, a first base substrate, a first alignment layer, a liquid crystal layer, a second alignment layer, a second base substrate, and a second polarizer. A reflection layer is provided between the second alignment layer and the second polarizer in the reflection region. The liquid crystal layer in the reflection region includes nematic liquid crystal and a polymer network. The liquid crystal layer in the transmission region includes a liquid crystal mixture including the nematic liquid crystal and polymerizable monomers. The polymer network in reflection region is formed by polymerizing the polymerizable monomers in the liquid crystal mixture. |
US10705366B2 |
Method for fabricating micro-cell structures
A method for fabricating micro-cell structures is provided and has providing a liquid crystal mixture; performing a heating step on the liquid crystal mixture at a temperature ranging from 45° C. to 150° C., performing a heat induced phase separation step on the liquid crystal mixture at a thermal phase separation temperature for a thermal phase separation titre such that the liquid crystal mixture forms liquid crystal particles and a network light-curing adhesive, wherein the thermal phase separation temperature and the thermal phase separation time are determined by a changing rate of a bright area ratio of the liquid crystal mixture; and performing a photo-curing step on the liquid crystal mixture by emitting an ultraviolet light so that a plurality of micro-cell structures are formed. The micro-cell structures with different transparency are fabricated based on different values of the thermal phase separation temperature and the thermal phase separation time. |
US10705359B2 |
Monitor
A monitor including a display device, a circuit board and a time controller (TCON) is provided. The display device includes a display panel and a backlight module. The backlight module is disposed opposite to the display panel and has a rear surface. The circuit board includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the display panel, and the second end is located on the rear surface of the backlight module. The TCON is connected to the second end of the circuit board, and the TCON and the backlight module are disposed in nonparallel. |
US10705358B2 |
Display apparatus with adjustable angles-of-view comprising backlight structures having an electrically adjustable lens array that adjusts backlight illumination
A display may have a backlight unit that provides backlight illumination. The backlight unit may include a light guide that distributes light throughout the display and an electrically adjustable lens array. The lens array may have lenses such as liquid lenses or liquid crystal lenses. By adjusting the lenses in the lens array, the angles of rays of backlight from the backlight unit may be adjusted to adjust the angle-of-view of the display. The angle-of-view of the display may also be adjusted using an electrically controllable filter layer. The electrically controllable filter layer may have a liquid crystal layer or a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer that can be controlled using electrodes. When the electrodes apply signals to the electrically controllable filter layer, portions of the filter layer change to a dark or translucent state and restrict the angle-of-view of the display. |
US10705356B2 |
Method for adjusting the intensity of a light beam in an optical arrangement and associated optical arrangement
A method for adjusting an intensity of a light beam in an optical arrangement includes passing the light beam through an acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF). The intensity of the light beam is adjusted as a function of frequency and/or amplitude of a sound wave with which the AOTF is operated. The amplitude of the sound wave at a specified sound wave frequency is selected such that the amplitude is larger than would be required to achieve a first maximum diffraction efficiency for a specified wavelength or for a specified wavelength spectrum of the light beam. The amplitude of the sound wave is also selected such that a value of an integral of a product of the transmission function of the AOTF and the wavelength spectrum of the light beam is larger than at a value of the amplitude to be selected to achieve the first maximum. |
US10705344B2 |
Heads up display systems for glasses
A Heads-Up Display (HUD) system for mounting on a pair of glasses comprises a power module for providing electrical power removably mountable to one side of a lens assembly of the glasses, an electronics module connectable to receive electrical power from the power module, the electronics module removably mountable to an opposite side of the lens assembly of the glasses; and a display housing mounted on a display arm extending from the electronics module to a position within a field of vision of a user wearing the glasses. A pair of glasses adapted to receive a HUD system comprises a lens assembly providing one or more electrically conductive paths from a first side thereof to a second side thereof. |
US10705340B2 |
Lens assembly including a silicone fresnel lens
A lens assembly and a method of making the assembly are described. The lens assembly includes a first lens and a second lens slidably coupled with the first lens. The second lens includes a silicone material and has a Fresnel pattern surface. Also described is a display device including the lens assembly and an array of light emitting devices coupled with the lens assembly for outputting light through the lens assembly. |
US10705339B2 |
Suppression of stray light in head worn computing
Aspects of the present invention relate to suppression of stray light in head worn computing. |
US10705336B2 |
Head-up display
A head-up display assembly including a printed circuit board having a plurality of light emitting elements. A display element is illuminated by the plurality of light emitting elements. A total internal reflection (TIR) lens array includes a plurality of TIR lenses. Each one of the plurality of TIR lenses is aligned with a different one of the plurality of light emitting elements to reflect light emitted by the plurality of light emitting elements to the display element to illuminate the display element. |
US10705333B2 |
Projection optical system and head-up display apparatus using the same
A head-up display apparatus is provided which enables a wide viewing angle in spite of being a type that reflects image light on a windshield. Accordingly, a head-up display apparatus (110) includes an image formation unit (10) that displays image information, and a projection optical system that includes an eyepiece optical system 5 reflecting light emitted from the image formation unit (10) for display of a virtual image. The eyepiece optical system (5) includes a first optical element (51) having a negative refractive power, a second optical element (52) having a positive refractive power, and a concave reflecting mirror (54), and is configured to arrange the first optical element (51), the second optical element (52) and the reflecting mirror (53) in this order from the image formation unit. |
US10705332B2 |
Tri-modal display mirror assembly
A display mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing configured for attachment to the vehicle; a prismatic element positioned in the housing; a partially reflective, partially transmissive coating provided on a rear surface of the prismatic element; a display mounted behind the prismatic element within the housing; and an actuator device for moving the prismatic element between three distinct viewing positions including a first viewing position, a second viewing position wherein the prismatic element is tilted higher than in the first viewing position, and a third viewing position wherein the prismatic element is tilted higher than in the second viewing position. |
US10705330B2 |
Lens, lens unit, and imaging apparatus
A lens includes a lens body comprising a cylindrical surface along an optical axis direction and a fixed portion radially outwardly protruding from the lens body, comprising a diameter diminishing more and more from an image side toward a subject side along an optical axis of the lens body, and including an inclined surface contiguous to the cylindrical surface of the lens body. |
US10705329B2 |
Electro-mechanical designs for MEMS scanning mirrors
Electro-mechanical designs for MEMS scanning mirrors are described. In various embodiments, a driving coil may be situated on a reflective portion of a MEMS mirror. In some embodiments, a sensing coil may be situated partially or entirely on an outer frame portion of the MEMS mirror. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
US10705328B2 |
Laser light source device and parking indicator light system including same
A laser light source device of the present invention is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a laser light source device for emitting a deflected light so as to form a specific shape by outputting a laser beam through a point light source, and a parking indicator light system including the same. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an indicating line according to a road shape is projected and displayed on a road surface within an underground parking lot such that a driver may easily recognize traveling and parking directions of a vehicle on a road with a limited road width, narrow view, and dim illumination. |
US10705326B2 |
Autofocus system for a computational microscope
Systems and methods are disclosed for focusing a microscope using images acquired under multiple illumination conditions. In one implementation, an autofocus microscope may include an image capture device, a focus actuator, an illumination assembly, and a controller. The controller may cause the illumination assembly to illuminate a sample at a first illumination condition and at a second illumination condition. The controller may acquire a first image of the sample illuminated from the first illumination angle and a second image of the sample illuminated from the second illumination angle. The controller may further determine an amount of shift between image features present in the first image of the sample and a corresponding image features present in the second image of the sample, If the amount of determined shift is non-zero, the focus actuator may change the distance between the sample and the focal plane. |
US10705317B2 |
Zooming imaging optical system
A zooming imaging optical system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, at least: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positive refractive power; a fifth lens group having negative refractive power; and a sixth lens group. During zooming, the distance between adjacent lens groups changes. During focusing from an object at infinity to a close object, the fifth lens group moves along an optical axis toward an imaging surface side. The second lens group includes, in order from the object side to the image side, at least: a 2a-th lens group; and a 2b-th lens group having negative refractive power. Image stabilization is performed by displacing the 2b-th lens group perpendicularly to the optical axis. The optical system satisfies a predetermined conditional expression. |
US10705314B2 |
Collimator lens system
A collimator lens system includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens and a diaphragm from an object side to an image side of the system in turn along an optical axis, in which the first lens is of a positive focal power, and an object side surface thereof is convex; the second lens is of a negative focal power; the third lens is of a positive focal power, and an image side surface thereof is convex; optical centers of all the lenses are arranged along a same straight line, the system meets following formulas: f12>f3; (dn/dt)1<−50×10−6/° C.; (dn/dt)2<−50×10−6/° C.; (dn/dt)3>−10×10−6/° C., where f12 represents a combined focal length of the first and second lenses, f3 represents a focal length of the third lens, and (dn/dt)1, (dn/dt)2, and (dn/dt)3 represent change rates of refractive indices of the first lens, the second lens and the third lens with temperature, respectively. |
US10705313B2 |
Optical fiber coupling using multiple cylindrical lenses
A system and related method and assembly are disclosed. The system comprises one or more optical fibers configured to propagate one or more optical signals. The system further comprises at least a first cylindrical lens element fixedly connected with the one or more optical fibers and configured to expand the one or more optical signals along a predefined dimension. The system further comprises at least a second cylindrical lens element optically coupled with the first cylindrical lens element and configured to condense the expanded one or more optical signals along the predefined dimension. |
US10705307B2 |
Optical cable with illumination path
A cable device includes an elongated transmission member that defines a central axis, outer cover, and illumination element. The outer cover has an outer surface and a bore along its length. The illumination element extends in a direction parallel to the central axis and along a length of the transmission member. The illumination element has first and second exposed portions extending through separated openings of the outer surface of the outer cover. Each of first and second cross-sections of the respective first and second exposed portions define respective first and second illumination element central axes extending through the cross-sections in one or more directions transverse to the central axis of the transmission member. The illumination element is configured to convey a given light such that the given light that enters the first exposed portion of the illumination element exits the second exposed portion of the illumination element. |
US10705306B2 |
Telecommunications distribution elements
A fiber optic telecommunications device (2302/2402/2502) includes a first fiber optic connection location (2308) defined on the telecommunications device (2302/2402/2502), wherein a plurality of optical fibers (2307) extends into the telecommunications device (2302/2402/2502) from the first fiber optic connection location (2308). A plurality of second fiber optic connection locations (2309) are movably disposed on the telecommunications device (2302/2402/2502). A flexible substrate (2306/2506) is positioned between the first fiber optic connection location (2308) and the plurality of second fiber optic connection locations (2309), the flexible substrate (2306/2506) rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers (2307) and relaying the plurality of fibers (2307) from the first fiber optic connection location (2308) to each of the second fiber optic connection locations (2309). |
US10705304B2 |
Method for manufacturing intermittently-fixed optical fiber ribbon
A method for manufacturing an intermittently-fixed optical fiber ribbon includes: collectively coating a plurality of optical fibers with a coating material by applying an uncured coating material that intrudes between the plurality of optical fibers and curing the intruded uncured coating material; and cutting the coating material positioned between the plurality of optical fibers at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction of the optical fibers with a plurality of rotary blades disposed side by side in a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, while delivering the collectively-coated optical fibers at a velocity V1 in the longitudinal direction. The velocity V1 is greater than a peripheral velocity V2 of the plurality of rotary blades. |
US10705303B2 |
Optical connector assembly connectorized for non-permanent attachment to an optoelectronic substrate assembly
An optical connector assembly (OCA) includes a connector housing to maintain alignment between optical components housed within the OCA and photoelectric converters on an optoelectronic substrate (OES) assembly. The optical components include a ferrule and an optical cable. The ferrule is optically coupled to the optical cable. The OCA includes a ferrule holder to hold the ferrule within the OCA, and a spring located between the connector housing and the ferrule holder. The spring is to apply a separating force between the ferrule holder and the connector housing. The OCA includes a gasket coupled to the connector housing. The coupling of the connector housing to a socket compresses the gasket to provide a seal between the connector housing and the socket. |
US10705301B2 |
Spring assist cable clamp
A cable clamp for clamping drop cable clamp assemblies to main span cables. The cable clamp has a body that includes a main span cable guide and holders for supporting one or more drop cable clamp assemblies. The body has a lower body half and an upper body half. The lower body half is movable relative to the upper body half between an open position and a clamping position. When the body is in a clamping position the lower body half and upper body half of the main span cable guide form a main span cable cradle. A stem extends through the lower body half of the main body section and is releasably secured to the upper body half of the main body section such that rotational movement of the stem is translated to movement of the lower body half relative to the upper body half. The stem has a collar and a spring is positioned on the stem between the collar and the lower body half of the intermediate body section to normally bias the body to the clamping position. |
US10705299B2 |
Ferrule structure, ferrule structure with fiber, and method for manufacturing ferrule structure with fiber
A ferrule structure includes: a ferrule body including a guide hole that accepts insertion of a guide pin, and a fiber hole that accepts insertion of an optical fiber and that is disposed in an opening surface of the ferrule body; and a lens plate including a guide hole that accepts insertion of the guide pin, a lens part, and an abutment surface that abuts an endface of the optical fiber. A recess is disposed in at least one of the ferrule body and the lens plate. A matching material filling gap, that is to be filled with a refractive index matching material, is formed with the recess, between the opening surface of the ferrule body and the abutment surface of the lens plate. |
US10705297B2 |
Method of launching a spacecraft into low earth orbit using a non-line-of-sight optical power transfer system
A method of launching a spacecraft into low Earth orbit using a non-line-of-sight optical power transfer system. The method includes generating optical power at a base station and using an optical fiber to transmit the optical power generated to a launch vehicle via an actively cooled fiber spooler thereon. The optical power received by the launch vehicle is converted to another form of energy usable by the launch vehicle. The optical power is optically focused into a reaction chamber to impinge on a refractory target. A working fluid is regeneratively fed to a heat exchanger contained within the actively cooled fiber spooler. The working fluid is pre-heated within the heat exchanger and injected into the reaction chamber where the working fluid heats and expands. The exhaust is channeled through a rocket nozzle to produce thrust. In an alternative embodiment, the optical fiber expended during launch of a spacecraft is recovered. |
US10705295B2 |
Optical switch and optical switching system
This application discloses an optical switch and an optical switching system. The optical switch includes a first waveguide, a second waveguide, and a first movable waveguide. The first waveguide and the second waveguide are immovable relative to a substrate. The first waveguide and the second waveguide are located in a first plane, and the first waveguide and the second waveguide do not intersect. The first movable waveguide is movable relative to the substrate. If the first movable waveguide is at a first location, the first movable waveguide is optically decoupled from the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and the optical switch is in a through state. If the first movable waveguide is at a second location, the first movable waveguide is optically coupled to the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and the optical switch is in a drop state. |
US10705290B2 |
Light guide plate providing protection for electronics components of a printed circuit board
A molded component assembly includes a printed circuit board with a first face and an oppositely facing second face. Multiple light emitting diodes are mounted on a first portion of the first face. Multiple electronics components are mounted on a second portion of the first face. A light guide of a light translucent polymeric material is positioned over the light emitting diodes and the electronic components. The light guide includes: a contact surface directly contacting the first portion of the first face except at locations of the light emitting diodes; a cavity created in the contact surface, the electronics components located within the cavity when the contact surface directly contacts the first portion of the first face; and a through hole extending through a body of the light guide and opening into the cavity. |
US10705289B2 |
Lighting device and display device
A lighting device includes a light-guiding plate and a light source. The light-guiding plate includes a light entrance surface, an entrance opposite surface located opposite to the light entrance surface, a light exit surface, and an exit opposite surface located opposite to the light exit surface. The light-guiding plate has a notch formed by notching a part thereof. A region between the notch and the entrance opposite surface is a shielded region where the notch blocks light guided through inside the light-guiding plate from the light entrance surface toward the entrance opposite surface, and a condensing member having a reflecting surface that reflects, in a condensing manner toward the shielded region, light having leaked out through the exit opposite surface is provided opposite the exit opposite surface of the light-guiding plate. |
US10705278B2 |
Backlight unit and display device including the same
A backlight unit may include a light source, a light guide plate configured to guide light emitted from the light source, a light conversion layer on the light guide plate, and a reflective pattern layer between the light guide plate and the light conversion layer, the reflective pattern layer including a plurality of holes. The light conversion layer absorbs at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source at the first predetermined wavelength and generates light having a second predetermined wavelength different than the first predetermined wavelength. A reflective layer may reflect the light having the second predetermined wavelength toward a display panel. |
US10705277B2 |
Display device
A backlight unit includes a light source having an emission region, a wiring board having the light source mounted thereon, a light guide plate having a side surface into which light from the light source enters, and a front surface from which the light exits, a light shielding adhesive tape adhering to the wiring board, and an optical sheet which overlaps with the front surface of the light guide plate. The front surface of the light guide plate includes an effective region serving as a planar light source and a light entering region ranging from the side surface to the effective region. The wiring board and the light-shielding adhesive tape each have a part positioned in the light entering region, and the optical sheet is arranged from the effective region to the light entering region. An end portion of the optical sheet overlaps with the light-shielding tape. |
US10705272B2 |
Optical fingerprint sensor
Systems and methods for optical imaging are disclosed. The optical fingerprint sensor includes an image sensor array; a collimator filter layer disposed above the image sensor array, the collimator filter layer having an array of apertures; and an illumination layer disposed above the collimator filter layer. The collimator filter layer filters reflected light such that only certain of the reflected light beams reach optical sensing elements in the image sensor array. Employing the collimator filter layer prevents blurring while allowing for a lower-profile image sensor. |
US10705270B2 |
Display panel and display device
A display panel and a display are provided. The display panel includes a first base-plate and a second base-plate which are oppositely disposed. The first base-plate includes a black matrix and a first spacer. The black matrix has a first black matrix area corresponding to the first spacer. The first base-plate or the second base-plate includes a first light shielding pattern. The projection of at least a part of the first light shielding pattern on the first base-plate is located on at least one of two sides of the projection of the first black matrix area on the first base-plate along a rub alignment direction. |
US10705269B2 |
Fabrication method of a diffractive optic for hybrid coherent and spectral beam combination
An integrated optical device that combines a diffractive optical element (DOE) to provide beam combining for coherent beams and a spectral beam combination (SBC) grating to provide beam combining for incoherent beams. The device includes a planar substrate and a reflective coating deposited on the substrate. A top dielectric layer is deposited on the reflective coating and a photoresist layer is deposited on the top dielectric layer. A periodic structure is formed into the top dielectric layer in a first direction that defines the DOE and a periodic grating having grooves is formed into the top dielectric layer in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction that defines the SBC grating where the periodic structure includes periodic modulations along the length of the grooves that are orthogonal to a channel-to-channel periodicity of the periodic grating. |
US10705268B2 |
Gap fill of imprinted structure with spin coated high refractive index material for optical components
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a method for forming an optical component, for example, for a virtual reality or augmented reality display device. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a first layer on a substrate, and the first layer has a first refractive index. The method further includes pressing a stamp having a pattern onto the first layer, and the pattern of the stamp is transferred to the first layer to form a patterned first layer. The method further includes forming a second layer on the patterned first layer by spin coating, and the second layer has a second refractive index greater than the first refractive index. The second layer having the high refractive index is formed by spin coating, leading to improved nanoparticle uniformity in the second layer. |
US10705267B2 |
Frameless prismatic mirror with improved edge protection
A vehicular interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a prismatic reflective element disposed at the mirror casing and comprising a glass mirror substrate. The mirror substrate has a forward rounded perimeter region that is contactable and viewable by the driver of the vehicle and that provides a rounded transition between a front surface and a perimeter edge of the substrate. The mirror substrate has a rear perimeter edge region chamfered to form an angled surface between the rear surface and the perimeter edge. A reflector coating and a protective coating are disposed at the rear surface. An encapsulant is disposed about a perimeter region of the rear surface so as to encompass and overlay a portion of the angled surface and the reflector coating and the protective coating at the rear surface, with no part of the encapsulant being disposed at the forward rounded perimeter region. |
US10705265B2 |
Image sensing device and optical film thereof
An image sensing device includes a substrate, a light sensing circuit disposed on the substrate, an optical film. The optical film includes a transparent film having a first light transmittance value wherein the first light transmittance value includes a red light transmittance value and a blue light transmittance value, and the red light transmittance value is greater than the blue light transmittance value; and a grating structure having a second light transmittance value, wherein the first light transmittance value is greater than the second light transmittance value. The substrate is sandwiched between the light sensing circuit and the optional film, and a light source disposed on the optical film, wherein the optical film is sandwiched between the substrate and the light source. |
US10705261B2 |
Conductive coating liquid composition, and an antistatic film and a display device using the same
Provided is a display device having an antistatic film comprising a conductive coating liquid composition. The conductive coating liquid composition comprises 10 to 100 parts by weight of a silane sol based on 100 parts by weight of a carbon nanotube dispersion liquid composition, and the silane sol comprises 0.01 to 10 wt % of an acid catalyst with a pH of 3.0 to 6.0 based on the total weight of the silane sol. |
US10705260B2 |
Hard multi-coat on optical article
An optical device and method for manufacturing the optical device is provided. The optical device comprises an optical article having a substrate, a primer layer, and a hard multi-coat (HMC). The HMC comprises at least one layer. At least one of the layers, the substrate, and the HMC comprises at least one carbon allotrope that is absorbed by diffusion. The method of manufacturing involves combining and organic solvent and deionized water to form a solution, mixing into the solution at least one carbon allotrope, applying sonication to the solution an optical article comprising at least one of a substrate, a primer layer on the substrate, and a HMC, immersing and then withdrawing the optical article from the solution, withdrawing the optical article from the solution, and evaporating excess liquid from the solution. |
US10705259B2 |
Optical element, method for manufacturing optical element, optical system, and optical apparatus
An optical element includes a substrate, and an antireflection film formed on the substrate and including a plurality of layers. The optical element satisfies predetermined conditions. |
US10705256B2 |
Aggregation and analytics for application-specific optimization based on multiple data sources
Aggregating and transforming data, and performing analytics thereupon, for application-specific optimization based on multiple data sources. The data is preferably ingressed automatically, and may originate from various public and/or private data sources. Data transformation preferably aligns the data aggregated from the various sources, to thereby allow meaningful referencing. Complex and non-aligned data can therefore be consolidated, such that it is readily digestible by simulation (or other) software. In an embodiment, risk of flooding for a supply chain is computed from the aggregated and transformed data, using data analytics based on physical computation for flood risk assessment, allowing the supply chain to be optimized with regard to threat of flooding and/or actual flooding. In another embodiment, risk of wild fire may be assessed. Other types of risk may also be assessed. |
US10705255B2 |
Method of and system for generating a weather forecast
There is disclosed a method and a system for creating a weather forecast. The method is implemented on a server. The method comprises: receiving, by the machine learning module, at least one current weather measurement parameter at a measurement time; receiving, by the machine learning module, a first average value of a historical weather parameter for the measurement time; generating, by the machine learning module, a normalized value of the weather measurement parameter based on a difference between the current weather measurement parameter and the first average value of the historical weather parameter for the measurement time; training the machine learning module to create a normalized value of a weather forecasting parameter based on, at least partially, the normalized value of the weather measuring parameter, the normalized value of the weather forecasting parameter being associated with a future forecasting time, the future forecasting time occurring after the measurement time. |
US10705250B2 |
Generation of isotherm datasets for reservoir volumetric estimation
A computer-implemented method for reservoir volumetric estimation, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and a computing system. The method may include running a molecular dynamics simulation of a fluid-rock model of a first reservoir system at a plurality of pressures. The fluid-rock model includes a fluid that is at least partially adsorbed in the first reservoir system at one or more pressures of the plurality of pressures. The method may also include calculating a plurality of isothermal density profiles of the fluid in the first reservoir system, in association with the plurality of pressures using a result of the molecular dynamics simulation. The method may further include determining a first gas accumulation of the fluid in the first reservoir system for the plurality of isothermal density profiles. The first gas accumulation is at least partially a function of a pore surface area of a sample of the first reservoir system. |
US10705249B2 |
Electronic marker with integral level indicator
An electronic marker for locating obscured objects such as buried conduits has a built-in level indicator to provide a visual indication of when the marker has been properly oriented, e.g., a flat marker which should be positioned horizontally when deployed. The level indicator can be an air-bubble level formed from a transparent semispherical portion of the marker body with a partially-filled chamber. Alternatively, the level indicator can be a gravity-ball level with a circular ridge formed along the concave interior surface of the semispherical portion and a ball located within the ridge. In a further embodiment the level indicator is an electronic level having a tilt indicator circuit in which an electronic controller selectively illuminates light sources in response to signals from tilt sensors. The light sources may for example comprise four light-emitting diodes located at four respective corners of the marker body. |
US10705245B2 |
Compact body scanner
Imaging systems and methods are provided for detecting objects that may be hidden under clothing, ingested, inserted, or otherwise concealed on or in a person's body. An imaging assembly, e.g., X-ray source and X-ray detector, and mechanisms, e.g., a translational mechanism for vertically moving the imaging assembly, may be configured to reduce the overall form factor of such imaging systems, while still retaining an ability to perform full/complete imaging of a subject. |
US10705244B2 |
Compact body scanner
Imaging systems and methods are provided for detecting objects that may be hidden under clothing, ingested, inserted, or otherwise concealed on or in a person's body. An imaging assembly, e.g., X-ray source and X-ray detector, and mechanisms, e.g., a translational mechanism for vertically moving the imaging assembly, may be configured to reduce the overall form factor of such imaging systems, while still retaining an ability to perform full/complete imaging of a subject. |
US10705240B2 |
Capacitive electromagnetic formation surveillance using passive source
Naturally-occurring, electromagnetic signals generated by interaction of solar wind with earth's magnetosphere adjacent a borehole are measured by an electromagnetic sensor positioned adjacent the borehole in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole are measured over a period of time by a borehole sensor positioned within the borehole. The electromagnetic signals change over the period of time due to variations in fluid distributions within the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic changes to the electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole and to the passive, naturally-occurring electromagnetic signals over the period of time are determined by one or more processors. A computational model of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation is generated based in part on the electromagnetic changes. |
US10705233B2 |
Determining a component of a wave field
There is described embodiments relating to a method of determining a wave field in an anisotropic subsurface of the Earth. The method includes numerically solving a decoupled quasi-acoustic single wave mode wave equation based on spatially varied anisotropic parameters, to determine the wave field in the anisotropic subsurface. |
US10705231B1 |
Systems and methods for detecting seismic events
Systems and methods for determining a probability of an occurrence of a seismic event are provided. According to certain aspects, a system may receive one or more changes in acceleration associated with a plurality of vehicles. The system may receive one or more captured images of a vehicle occupant associated with a given vehicle of the plurality of vehicles. The system may determine a probability of an occurrence of a seismic event according to the one or more changes in acceleration exceeding a threshold and a likelihood that the one or more captured images are associated with an occurrence of a seismic event. Based on the probability exceeding a threshold, the system may provide an output signal that includes at least the determined probability and location information associated with the plurality of vehicles. |
US10705230B2 |
Imaging panel
The invention achieves preventing from moisture penetration into an imaging panel without deterioration in detection accuracy of scintillation light. An imaging panel includes an active matrix substrate having a plurality of pixels each provided with a photoelectric conversion element, a scintillator provided on a surface of the active matrix substrate, a damp-proof material covering the active matrix substrate and the scintillator, and an adhesive layer bonding the damp-proof material to the scintillator and the active matrix substrate. The active matrix substrate includes a first flattening film overlapped in a planar view with the scintillator and configured as a photosensitive resin film. The first flattening film is entirely disposed, in a planar view, inside an adhesive layer region provided with the adhesive layer. |
US10705228B2 |
Photo sensor for use as a radiation detector and power supply and method for making and using the device
An apparatus is disclosed herein comprising one or more optically reflective materials, one or more electrodes, one or more photodetecting materials, and one or more substrates. At least one optically reflective material is electrically insulating, and the electrodes are positioned adjacent to the insulating optically reflective material. Additionally, the photodetecting materials are positioned on the substrates and are adjacent to the one or more electrodes. A method is disclosed comprising providing one or more photodetecting materials positioned on one or more substrates, placing one or more electrodes adjacent to the photodetecting materials, and placing one or more optically reflective materials adjacent to the electrodes and/or substrate. At least one optically reflective material is electrically insulating, and the insulating optically reflective material is placed adjacent to the electrodes. A method is also disclosed comprising providing an apparatus as above and using the apparatus. |
US10705224B2 |
Methods and systems for utilizing dual global positioning system (GPS) antennas in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial vehicles
Systems, devices, and methods for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial vehicle having a first GPS antenna and a second GPS antenna, where the second GPS antenna is disposed distal from the first GPS antenna; and an aerial vehicle flight controller, where the flight controller is configured to: utilize a GPS antenna signal via the GPS antenna switch from the first GPS antenna or the second GPS antenna; receive a pitch level of the aerial vehicle from the one or more aerial vehicle sensors in vertical flight or horizontal flight; determine if the received pitch level is at a set rotation from vertical or horizontal; and utilize the GPS signal not being utilized via the GPS antenna switch if the determined pitch level is at or above the set rotation. |
US10705223B2 |
Low power asynchronous GPS baseband processor
Asynchronous Global Positioning System (GPS) baseband processor architectures with a focus on minimizing power consumption. All subsystems run at their natural frequency without clocking and all signal processing is done on-the-fly. |
US10705220B2 |
System and method for ground and free-space detection
Improved processing of sensor data (e.g., LiDAR data) can be used to distinguish between free space and objects/hazards. Autonomous vehicles can use such information for performing autonomous driving and/or parking operations. LiDAR data can include a plurality of range measurements (e.g., forming a 3D point cloud). Each of the range measurements can correspond to a respective LiDAR channel and azimuth angle. The processing of LiDAR data can include identifying one or more paths as candidate ground paths based on one or more path criteria. The processing of LiDAR data can also include identifying one or more of the plurality of range measurements as ground points or non-ground points based on the one or more paths identified as candidate ground paths and based on one or more point criteria. |
US10705218B2 |
Object position detection apparatus
An object position detection apparatus 1 includes a distance image generation unit 10 which generates a two-dimensional distance image by measuring a distance to a subject including an object on the basis of a light transmission time, an object image generation unit 16 which generates an object image in which the object is extracted from the distance image of the subject, and an installation angle detection unit 20 which detects an installation angle of the distance image generation unit 10. The object image generation unit 16 includes a differentiator 17 which performs a process of removing a background other than the object from the distance image of the subject and a threshold value d for removing the background in the differentiator 17 is set in response to the installation angle of the distance image generation unit 10 detected by the installation angle detection unit 20. |
US10705217B2 |
Controlling multiple imaging sensors
An apparatus for controlling a plurality of imaging sensor nodes producing 3D structure of a scene is provided. The apparatus receives (500) location data from the sensor nodes, the location data indicating the locations of the moving objects, compares (502) the location data received from different sensor nodes at the same time instants with each other and determines (504) which detections of different sensor nodes relate to same moving objects. The apparatus further maps (600) the location data received from different sensor nodes to a common coordinate system and determines (602) the relationships of the fields of view of the sensor nodes with each other and the location data mapped to the common coordinate system. |
US10705216B2 |
Three-dimensional point cloud tracking apparatus and method using recurrent neural network
The embodiments of the present invention provide a three-dimensional point cloud tracking apparatus and method using a recurrent neural network. The three-dimensional point cloud tracking apparatus and method can track the three-dimensional point cloud of the entire environment and model the entire environment by using a recurrent neural network model. Therefore, the three-dimensional point cloud tracking apparatus and method can be used to reconstruct the three-dimensional point cloud of the entire environment at the current moment and also can be used to predict the three-dimensional point cloud of the entire environment at a later moment. |
US10705214B2 |
Optical projector having switchable light emission patterns
An optical projector comprises a collimated light source, a pattern generating optical element, and a variable optical element positioned optically between the collimated light source and the pattern generating optical element. The variable optical element is configured to adjust a divergence of a light beam incident on the pattern generating optical element. The pattern generating optical element is configured to emit patterned light when the variable optical element is in a first state, and to emit non-patterned light when the variable optical element is in a second state. |
US10705213B2 |
Optical apparatus
An optical apparatus includes a photosensitive element, a lens and a microstructure unit. The microstructure unit is arranged between the photosensitive element and the lens. After plural light beams passing through the lens are received by the microstructure unit, travelling directions of the plural light beams are changed. Consequently, at least a portion of the plural light beams is guided to the photosensitive element. In such way, the light collecting efficacy of the photosensitive element is enhanced. |
US10705212B2 |
Optical sensor and electronic device
An optical sensor includes a time difference extraction circuit for extracting a time difference based on the distance to a target on the basis of a first received light pulse signal from a first light receiving unit, a reference cycle, and a second received light pulse signal from a second light receiving unit, and a determination circuit for determining whether a crosstalk value can be calculated on the basis of the time difference extracted by the time difference extraction circuit and the reference cycle. |
US10705209B2 |
Dynamic OFDM symbol shaping for radar applications
A radar transmitter comprises orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol generation circuitry, windowing circuitry, and control circuitry. The OFDM symbol generation circuitry is operable to modulate data onto a plurality of subcarriers to generate a plurality of OFDM symbols. The windowing circuitry is configurable to support a plurality of windowing functions. The control circuitry is operable to analyze returns from a previous transmission of the radar transmitter to determine characteristics of the environment into which the previous transmission was transmitted. The control circuitry is operable to select which one of the plurality of windowing functions the windowing circuitry is to apply to each of the plurality of OFDM symbols based on the characteristics of the environment. A first one of the windowing functions may correspond to a first radiation pattern and the second one of the windowing functions may correspond to a second radiation pattern. |
US10705208B2 |
Vehicle location determination using synthetic aperture radar
During a location technique, a sensor module in a vehicle, which has non-retractable wheels in contact with a driving surface, determines a location of the vehicle. In particular, the sensor module is positioned on or in a direction of a side-facing surface of the vehicle. Moreover, during operation, the sensor module may transmit radar signals approximately perpendicular to a direction of motion of the vehicle. Then, the sensor module may receive reflected radar signals. Furthermore, the sensor module may analyze a time sequence of the reflected radar signals. Next, the sensor module may determine the location of the vehicle based at least in part on the analyzed time sequence of reflected radar signals. |
US10705205B2 |
Ground-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar-based atmospheric phase compensation method
The present invention relates to the technical field of synthetic aperture radar, and in particular to a ground-based interference synthetic aperture radar-based atmospheric phase compensation method. The present invention first uses the inverse fast Fourier transform algorithm to rapidly and effectively realize the focusing in the range and cross-range dimension. Then a triple threshold method which combines coherence coefficient, amplitude, and amplitude dispersion index is used to select reliable PS points. Finally, under a full consideration of the spatial correlation of the atmospheric phase, the atmospheric phase is estimated by using a two-dimensional-polynomial model. The present invention can rapidly and accurately estimate and compensate the atmospheric phase, is helpful in improving the accuracy of GB-InSAR real-time measurement, and valuable and universal in practical application. |
US10705204B2 |
Crop classification and growth tracking with synthetic aperture radar
A computer-implemented method executed by one or more satellites for assessing crop development by using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is presented. The method includes generating SAR images from scanning fields including crops, monitoring grown of the crops within the fields during a predetermined time period, and estimating a height of the crops during the predetermined time period by using interferometric information from one or more of the SAR images and tracking change in height and growth rates. The method further includes differentiating between crops in different fields by monitoring changes in the height of the crops during an entire growing season. |
US10705203B2 |
Multi-elevational antenna systems and methods of use
The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with an antenna system comprising a tension member configured to be towed by an aerial platform. In some embodiments, a first end of the tension member may be secured to the aerial platform and the second end may extend unsecured from the aerial platform at a different elevation than the first end. A plurality of antenna assemblies, each comprising at least one antenna, may be secured to and spaced along the length of the tension member. Each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted for use with a particular frequency or frequency bandwidth. For example, each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted or tuned for one or more frequencies useful for synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In some embodiments, a receiving system, a communication link, and/or an antenna location system may be utilized. |
US10705200B2 |
Method and system for operating an IFF/SSR antenna
An antenna system for providing identification functionality comprising a main antenna and an auxiliary antenna, wherein the antennas are configured to at least transmit electromagnetic waves. The antenna system comprises a first channel interface and a second channel interface, a first switch and a transmission input means. The first switch is configured to switch between a first operation mode and a second operation mode. When set in the first operation mode the second channel interface is set to be in connection with the auxiliary antenna and when set in the second operation mode the second channel interface is set to be in connection with the main antenna. If transmission via the first transmission channel is expected the transmission input means is configured to set the first switch in the first operation mode. Thereby the main antenna can be used for transmission of signals both provided via the first and second channel interfaces and when transmission via the first and second channel interfaces simultaneously is required the signal provided via the first channel interface will be transmitted by the main antenna and the signal provided via the second channel interface will be transmitted by the auxiliary antenna. |
US10705199B2 |
Aviation transponder
An improved aviation transponder is discussed herein. The improved aviation transponder demonstrates improved cohabitation and survivability characteristics, allowing the transponder to be placed near other antennas without causing or receiving interference, and reducing potential damage caused by high-energy electromagnetic fields, such as those experienced near an air traffic control (ATC) or military radar installation. Additionally, a small form factor of the transponder results in a smaller, more compact aircraft that consumes less energy, reduces heat dissipation, and maximizes battery life and/or flight time. The transponder may comply with modular interface standards, and may include a radio configured for transmitting 200-watt signals. Based at least in part on the improved performance, the transponder can be implemented in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for example. |
US10705194B2 |
Automated detection of sensor miscalibration
A vehicle control system includes various sensors. The system can include, among others, LIDAR, RADAR, SONAR, cameras, microphones, GPS, and infrared systems for monitoring and detecting environmental conditions. In some implementations, one or more of these sensors may become miscalibrated. Using data collected by the sensors, the system can detect a miscalibrated sensor and generate an indication that one or more sensors have become miscalibrated. For example, data captured by a sensor can be processed to determine an average height represented by the sensor data and compared to an average height of data captured by other sensors. Based on a difference in heights, an indication can be generated identifying a miscalibrated sensor. |
US10705187B1 |
Aerial drone for radar calibration
An aerial drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided for radar calibration testing. The drone includes an airframe including a fuselage with nose and tail, wings and elevators. The drone includes at least one antenna attached to the airframe, as well as a signal adapter coupled to the antenna to receive impinging radar signals and transmit an electromagnetic (EM) field that effectively cancels or combines with the scattered field of the drone, depending upon the adapter's mode of operation. In the first mode of operation, the adapter transmits an EM field that has an opposite phase to the drone's scattered field thereby reducing the radar cross-section of the drone. In the second mode, the adapter transmits an EM field that is in-phase with the scattered field thereby increasing the radar cross-section of the drone. |
US10705186B2 |
Apparatus for detecting axial misalignment
In a diagnostic apparatus, a diagnostic unit diagnoses whether there is vertical misalignment. The vertical misalignment is misalignment of the probing beam with respect to a designed beam axis position in a vertical direction, i.e. a height direction, of the vehicle. Based on detection performance information representing whether target detection performance by the beam sensor is likely to be lower than a predetermined detection performance, a determining unit causes the diagnostic unit to execute diagnosis of the vertical misalignment upon the detection performance information representing, as a first detection state, that the detection performance is not likely to be lower than the predetermined detection performance. The determining unit disables the diagnostic unit from executing diagnosis of the vertical misalignment upon the detection performance information representing, as a second detection state, that the detection performance is likely to be lower than the predetermined detection performance. |
US10705182B2 |
Wideband ranging system
A ranging system includes an input for receiving a wireless signal and a detector for determining an estimate of a time-of-arrival of the wireless signal at the ranging system. The detector includes a first module for processing the wireless signal according to a non-linear, monotonic transformation to generate a modified signal, a second module for compressing the modified signal according to a linear transformation, resulting in a compressed signal including a number of elements, each element corresponding to a different time segment of the modified signal, and a third module for applying a decision function for determining an output including a first element of the number of elements, corresponding to the time-of-arrival of the wireless signal at the ranging system, applying the decision function, including comparing the elements of the compressed signal to corresponding thresholds of a number of thresholds associated with the number of elements. |
US10705181B2 |
Assignment messages acknowledging access attempt without assigning resources
A mobile station (MS), a base station subsystem (BSS), and various methods are described herein that enable the MS to receive acknowledgement of an access attempt for performing a multilateration timing advance (MTA) procedure using the Access Burst method without also being assigned resources. |
US10705180B2 |
Assignment messages acknowledging access attempt without assigning resources
A mobile station (MS), a base station subsystem (BSS), and various methods are described herein that enable the MS to receive acknowledgement of an access attempt for performing a multilateration timing advance (MTA) procedure using an Access Burst method without also being assigned resources. |
US10705178B2 |
Localization calibration and refinement in high-speed mobile wireless systems
Systems and methods can support improved position locating of wireless devices. A suite of machine learning models may be established. Radio frequency sensors may be positioned within an electromagnetic environment where user equipment devices are serviced by a base station. The radio frequency sensors can receive wireless signals associated with communications between the user equipment devices and the base station. The suite of machine learning models may be trained using wireless signals received from user equipment devices in known positions. The trained suite of machine learning models can be applied to wireless signals received from user equipment devices in unknown positions. The trained suite of machine learning models may be used to estimate the unknown positions. The estimated positions may be refined using additional information from the user equipment devices. |
US10705175B2 |
System and method for determining the relative direction of an RF transmitter
The subject matter discloses a method to determine a relative direction of a target RF transmitter, performed by a direction finding (DF) system comprising at least a pair of antennas having an electromagnetic-absorbing material between them, comprising conducting wireless communication between the target RF transmitter and each one of the antennas of the DF system, measuring the signal strength of the target RF transmitter received at each antenna, calculating the difference between the signal strength measured at each one of the antennas in the pair, and determining a relative direction of the target RF transmitter to be is the direction of the antenna within the pair of antennas in which the stronger signal was measured. |
US10705161B2 |
Magnetic field detection device
A magnetic field detection device includes a first soft magnetic body, a second soft magnetic body, and a magnetism detection element. The first soft magnetic body extends to have a first length in a first direction, and has a first width, smaller than the first length, in a second direction. The second direction is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The second soft magnetic body is disposed to be spaced apart from and face the first soft magnetic body in the first direction, extends to have a second length in the first direction, and has a second width, smaller than the second length, in the second direction. The magnetism detection element is disposed, in the first direction, between the first and second soft magnetic bodies, and extends to have a third length in the first direction and a third width, larger than the third length, in the second direction. |
US10705160B2 |
Temperature compensation for magnetic field sensing devices and a magnetic field sensing device using the same
A method of compensating for an effect of temperature includes providing a set of magnetic sensors arranged along a sensing path. Each magnetic sensor is adapted to sense a magnetic field created by a magnetic actuator which can move along the sensing path and to provide a sensing signal indicative of a position and/or a displacement of the magnetic actuator relative to the sensing path. The method includes selecting one or more magnetic sensors from the set of magnetic sensors for use as temperature sensors, estimating a distribution of temperature over at least a portion of the sensing path based on the sensing signals output by the one or more magnetic sensors selected as temperature sensors, and compensating for the effect of temperature on the sensing signals output by one or more magnetic sensors of the set of magnetic sensors using the distribution of temperature that was estimated. |
US10705157B2 |
Testing system for an electrical cable
A testing system may include an electrical cable, a computing device, a communication interface, at least one downstream device, and testing software. The communication interface may be coupled to the electrical cable and to the computing device. The at least one downstream device may be coupled to the electrical cable. The testing software may be stored on the computing device. The testing software may be configured to initiate and evaluate transfer of data between the computing device and the at least one downstream device through the electrical cable and the communication interface. |
US10705154B2 |
Voltage detection structure and voltage detection module
A connection conductor and a relay terminal are electrically connected together directly, the connection conductor being electrically connected to one of the two opposite electrode terminals of a battery cell, the relay terminal being provided to an extremity of a voltage detection conductor electrically connected to a voltage detector. The relay terminal has a fusible part operable to fuse and break when an overcurrent flows through the fusible part, wherein a sectional area of the fusible part perpendicular to a direction in which the voltage detection conductor extends is smaller than a sectional area of any other part of the relay terminal perpendicular to the direction. |
US10705153B2 |
Methods and apparatus for measuring battery characteristics
Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for measuring battery characteristics. In various embodiments, the apparatus comprises a lithium ion battery and a fuel gauge to monitor the resistance of the battery and the capacity of battery as it ages. The fuel gauge may perform two different methods for computing two different capacity values. The fuel gauge may utilize the capacity values from each method to determine the resistance of the battery as it ages and related battery characteristics, such as the state of health of the battery. |
US10705148B2 |
Semiconductor device and battery monitoring system
A semiconductor device includes: a boosting section configured to output a second voltage boosted from a first voltage; a voltage lowering section configured to output a lowered voltage that has been lowered from the second voltage by a predetermined voltage; a first buffer amp including a non-inverting input terminal connected to an output of the voltage lowering section; a second buffer amp including a non-inverting input terminal that is input with the first voltage; and a difference output section configured to output a voltage corresponding to a difference between output of the first buffer amp and output of the second buffer amp. |
US10705145B2 |
Apparatus and method for extracting impedance parameters of three-phase motor
A method of extracting impedance parameters of a three-phase motor utilizes a five-terminal network including first to third winding wires and opposite shaft ends. The method includes connecting two terminals, selected from among the winding wires and the shaft ends, to input and output terminals in order to measure voltage and current of the terminals and to extract input impedance parameters of the five-terminal network, extracting conversion parameters including voltage and current transfer matrices in a common mode, in which the winding wires are commonly connected to the input and output terminals, and in a differential mode, in which the winding wires are differentially connected to the input and output terminals, and calculating impedance parameters in a mixed mode, in which transfer impedance components for the shaft ends in the common mode and the differential mode are mixed, using the extracted input impedance parameters and conversion parameters. |
US10705142B2 |
Device, system and method for providing on-chip test/debug functionality
Techniques and mechanisms for providing on-chip link control functionality to facilitate emulation of a communication. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a physical layer (PHY) which supports communication compatible with a high-speed serial interface standard. A link controller of the IC chip is coupled between the PHY and an interconnect architecture which variously couples a host and other resources of the IC chip to each other. A test controller of the IC chip signals a test mode to implement a loopback path of the link controller in lieu of one or more functional paths for communication with the PHY. In another embodiment, signal output by the loopback path emulate a communication from a resource other than the test controller. |
US10705134B2 |
High speed chip substrate test fixture
An apparatus, multi-layer semiconductor substrate and system for testing a high-speed signal through a printed circuit board is provided. Embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus comprises a multi-layer substrate, one or more transmission lines disposed within the multi-layer substrate, one or more connectors attached to the multi-layer substrate for connecting one or more test cards, a lid, comprising one or more cutouts for the one or more connectors, a clamp for compressing the multi-layer substrate against the lid, and one or more high-speed connectors attached to the one or more test cards, respectively. |
US10705131B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines
The preferred embodiments relate to power engineering and can be used for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines. A method for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines includes installing, on a lightning-protector cable or power conductor, an apparatus for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines, controlling the movement of the apparatus, controlling the operation of apparatuses for inspecting the overhead power transmission lines, and receiving, processing and analyzing data produced by those apparatuses. Furthermore, the placement and control of the movement of the fault-locating apparatus are carried out with the aid of a helicopter-type aircraft. The apparatus for locating faults in overhead power transmission lines comprises a control system, apparatuses for inspecting the overhead power transmission lines, and a drive system, wherein the apparatus additionally comprises a helicopter-type aircraft. |
US10705130B2 |
Adaptive transmitter present detection
A method of adaptively operating a transmit detection circuit is presented. The method includes powering the transmit detection circuit with a capacitor charged by an LDO; receiving a digital ping signal from a transmitter; receiving a clock signal from a local oscillator; updating a register to accommodate timing of the digital ping signal; and generating a signal indicating whether the transmitter is present. |
US10705128B2 |
Battery monitor control system
A battery monitor control system has a load plate, two or more lead wires connected to two or more busbars in a string of batteries, and a digital signal processor. The load plate has one or more primary switches connected to two or more terminals of the batteries in the string of batteries. The load plate also has a load resistor and a current sensor. The primary switches are turned on and off to produce a ripple current in the string of batteries. The digital signal processor determines the real portion of the complex impedance of at least one of the batteries by analyzing the voltage and current waveform of the ripple current. The primary switches may be turned on and off with a sine wave modulation. |
US10705127B2 |
Expanded detail graphical display for spectrum analyzers
A graphical display for displaying spectrum analyzer data that represents detected signal levels for frequencies in an identified frequency span includes a signal level axis that represents a range of detected RF signal levels for the spectrum analyzer data and a frequency axis that represents an identified frequency spectrum span for the spectrum analyzer data. Frequency ranges in the identified frequency span having a high concentration of detected RF energy are automatically graphically expanded and displayed on the frequency axis of the graphical display while frequency ranges having a lower concentration of detected RF energy are simultaneously, automatically graphically condensed and displayed on the first frequency axis of the graphical display. |
US10705125B1 |
Online supply current monitoring
An integrated circuit includes a load circuit having multiple functional modules, a first voltage regulator configured to provide a supply voltage to the multiple functional modules, and a supply current monitoring circuit including a second voltage regulator and a current monitor, the second voltage regulator being configured to provide a test supply voltage. A switch matrix is interconnected between the first voltage regulator, the supply current monitoring circuit, and the functional modules. Each of the functional modules in successive order is a module under test, and the switch matrix is configured to disconnect the first voltage regulator from the module under test and connect the supply current monitoring circuit to the module under test such that the second voltage regulator provides the test supply voltage to the module under test and the current monitor measures a supply current of the module under test in response to the test supply voltage. |
US10705123B2 |
SiC semiconductor device with current sensing capability
A SiC semiconductor device is provided that is capable of improving the detection accuracy of the current value of a principal current detected by a current sensing portion by restraining heat from escaping from the current sensing portion to a wiring member joined to a sensing-side surface electrode. The semiconductor device 1 includes a SiC semiconductor substrate, a source portion 27 including a principal-current-side unit cell 34, a current sensing portion 26 including a sensing-side unit cell 40, a source-side surface electrode 5 disposed above the source portion 27, and a sensing-side surface electrode 6 that is disposed above the current sensing portion 26 and that has a sensing-side pad 15 to which a sensing-side wire is joined, and, in the semiconductor device 1, the sensing-side unit cell 40 is disposed so as to avoid being positioned directly under the sensing-side pad 15. |
US10705121B2 |
Probe card continuity testing and cleaning fixture comprising highly purified tungsten
A continuity testing and cleaning fixture includes a continuity test area disposed on a portion of a first surface of the fixture, wherein the continuity test area comprises an upper region comprising at least 99.99 wt % tungsten. The continuity testing and cleaning fixture may be used in a method involving contacting at least two conductive elements of a probe card with a continuity test area of a continuity testing and cleaning fixture, wherein the continuity test area comprises an upper region comprising at least 99.99 wt % tungsten; determining an electrical resistance between the at least two conductive elements; and cleaning the at least two conductive elements with at least one cleaning zone of the continuity testing and cleaning fixture in response to determining the electrical resistance to be above a first threshold. |
US10705118B2 |
Power module testing apparatus
A testing apparatus includes a holster including a jack defining a conductive periphery configured to connect with a reference lead of the voltage probe to form a common ground. The apparatus includes a shunt defining first and second regions of different potential having predetermined difference. The second region is configured to connect with a reference lead of the shunt probe. The apparatus includes a bridge configured to connect the shunt probe lead with the common ground. |
US10705116B2 |
Test socket of flexible semiconductor chip package and bending test method using the same
A test socket of a flexible semiconductor chip package includes a first bending jig having a convex contour, a second bending jig having a concave contour, and a semiconductor chip package. The second bending jig is disposed to matingly engage the first bending jig. The semiconductor chip package is disposed between the first bending jig and the second bending jig, and includes a flexible tape and a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is disposed on a surface of the flexible tape. Each of the first and second bending jigs has a horizontal length longer than a length of the semiconductor chip and less than a length of the flexible tape. |
US10705115B2 |
Method and apparatus for positioning a micro- or nano-object under visual observation
A method is provided for positioning a micro- or nano-object on a planar support by displacement performed under visual control, wherein the micro- or nano-object is immersed in a transparent medium, called ambient medium, having a refractive index n3; the planar support comprises a transparent substrate of refractive index n0>n3 on which is deposited at least one optically absorbent layer, adapted to behave as antireflection coating when it is lit at normal incidence with a lighting wavelength λ through the substrate; and the visual control comprises the lighting of the micro- or nano-object at least with the wavelength λ through the substrate, and the observation thereof also through the substrate. A method to scanning probe microscopy and to the assembly of nanostructures is provided. |
US10705114B2 |
Metrological scanning probe microscope
This invention relates to a metrological scanning probe microscope system combining an SPM which employs an optical lever arrangement to measure displacement of the probe indirectly with another SPM which measures the displacement of the probe directly through the use of an interferometric detection scheme. |
US10705110B2 |
Aircraft nonlinear dynamic instability warning system
A system and method for predicting aircraft nonlinear instability includes the steps of: (1) a pre-built aircraft state parameters for all possible flight conditions, (2) real time measuring flight parameters to determine aircraft state, (3) calculating the inertial coupling frequencies and periods as well as the nonlinear instability threshold based on the nonlinear instability theory recently developed by the inventor, (4) providing a first warning signal if the threshold is approached, (5) providing a second warning signal if the threshold has been exceeded. |
US10705108B1 |
Sensing system for sensing stationary objects
Sensing systems and methods for sensing a stationary individual. A sensing system may use a first sensor to determine whether a detected thermal signature is associated with a human presence within a space. When the detected thermal signature is not associated with a human presence, the sensing system may repeat the determining whether a detected thermal signature is associated with a human presence. When the detected thermal signature is associated with a human presence, the sensing system may determine whether motion has been detected using a second sensor. In some cases, the first sensor may be a thermal sensor that can detect a human whether the moving or not, and the second sensor may be a motion sensor that only detects motion. |
US10705106B2 |
System and method for monitoring a state of a fluid in an indoor space as well as a climate control system
A monitoring system for monitoring a state of a fluid in an indoor space including a state of a flow field for said fluid is presented. The system includes an input unit (81), a simulation unit (82), a comparison unit (83) and a state correction unit (84). The input unit (81) comprises a plurality of temperature sensors (81a, 81b, . . . , 81mT) to obtain temperature measurement data indicative for a temperature field in said indoor space. The simulation unit (82) is provided to simulate the fluid in said indoor space according to an indoor climate model to predict a state of the fluid including at least a temperature field and a flow field for the fluid in said indoor space, and has an output to provide a signal indicative for the flow field. The comparison unit (83) is provided to compare the predicted temperature field with the temperature measurement data, and the state correction unit (84) is provided to correct the predicted state of the fluid based on a comparison result of said comparison unit (83). The monitoring system may be part of a climate control system. |
US10705104B2 |
Production-line-type high-throughput screening system
The present invention provides a production-line-type high-throughput screening system, which relates to the field of biotechnology and testing equipment. The system comprises of four manipulators, three parallel conveyor belts with fixed slots, 2-DOF slipway and fixed fixtures, 96-channel pipetting system, coloring device, oscillating mixing device, microplate reader, well plates loading platform and well plates recycling platform. Manual operation takes five minutes to detect one 96-well plate, while this system can handle 20 96-well plates per minute. It expands the number of screening targets, making the screening process more clearly and concisely and liberating manual labor. The system makes effective contributions to the development of microbial breeding technology. |
US10705103B2 |
Tube characterization station
Systems and methods for use in an in vitro diagnostics setting may include an automation track, a plurality of carriers configured to carry a plurality of sample vessels along the automation track, and a characterization station including a plurality of optical devices. A processor, in communication with the characterization station, can be configured to analyze images to automatically characterize physical attributes related to each carrier and/or sample vessel. A method may include receiving a plurality of images from a plurality of optical devices of a characterization station, wherein the plurality of images comprise images from a plurality of perspectives of a sample vessel being transported by a carrier, automatically analyzing the plurality of images, using a processor, to determine certain characteristics of the sample vessel, and automatically associating the characteristics of the sample vessel with the carrier in a database. |
US10705102B2 |
Automated systems for removing tissue samples from seeds, and related methods
A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly. |
US10705101B2 |
Determination of the unbound free fatty acid profiles in biological and industrial specimens
The invention relates to determination of the profile of unbound free fatty acids (FFAu) in biological samples, such as human and animal blood specimens and plant and animal oils, by measuring the fluorescence response of sets of different fluorescently labeled fatty acid binding proteins (probes) that undergo a change in fluorescence ratio at 2 wavelengths upon binding an FFAu. Use of these profiles in human and animal disease, in basic research, in drug development and in industrial uses is disclosed. |
US10705099B2 |
Methods and probes for determining the concentration of copper
The present invention relates to new probes and methods for determining the concentration of copper. In particular the present invention refers to a method for determining the concentration of “free” copper in a serum or blood sample with a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy. |
US10705095B2 |
Methods and products for evaluating an immune response to a therapeutic protein
The invention relates to methods and products for the identification of a clinically significant immune response in subjects treated with a therapeutic protein. Aspects of the invention relate to methods and compositions for identifying a clinically significant immune response in patients treated with therapeutic amounts of a VLA4 binding antibody (e.g., natalizumab). |
US10705093B2 |
Determination of small-molecule thiols and disulfides: protein bound cys and total cysteine as biomarkers of oxidative stress
Compositions and methods for determining the level of thiol and disulfide containing molecules in a sample are provided. The compositions and methods can be used to determine the level of oxidative stress in a subject with or without antioxidant treatment. Also provided are biomarkers of oxidative stress. |
US10705092B2 |
Modular, multifunctional nanoparticle-based bioconjugate for realtime visualization of cellular membrane potential
A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Emission correlates with cellular membrane potential. |
US10705090B2 |
Automated method for sterile processing of cells by centrifugation and column chromatography
The invention relates to a system, comprising: a) a sample processing unit, comprising an input port and an output port coupled to a rotating container having at least one sample chamber, the sample processing unit configured provide a first processing step to a sample or to rotate the container so as to apply a centrifugal force to a sample deposited in the chamber and separate at least a first component and a second component of the deposited sample; and b) a sample separation unit coupled to the output port of the sample processing unit, the cell separation unit comprising separation column holder (42), a pump (64) and a plurality of valves (1-11) configured to at least partially control fluid flow through a fluid circuitry and a separation column (40) positioned in the holder, the separation column configured to separate labeled and unlabeled components of sample flowed through the column. |
US10705089B2 |
Methods and kits for the diagnosis of cancer
The present invention relates to methods and kits for the diagnosis, prognosis and/or monitoring of cancer in a patient. The present invention further relates to isolated peptides, panels of isolated peptides and diagnostic devices. |
US10705077B2 |
Method for detecting analyte concentration
A method for detecting an analyte concentration of the present invention includes performing a competitive reaction between a first complex and an analyte standard or an analyte sample, so that the first complex may combine with a metal nanoparticle, and a second complex of a control group and a third complex of a sample group are respectively formed. Then, a difference of heat diffusivity of the second complex and the third complex may determine an analyte sample concentration of the sample group is higher or lower than a pre-determined analyte standard concentration of the control group. |
US10705076B2 |
Anti-HLA monoclonal chimeric immunoglobulin, method and kit implementing such a monoclonal chimeric immunoglobulin
A method for determining the quantity of anti-HLA antibodies of a liquid medium containing antibodies. |
US10705068B2 |
System and method for measuring a flow property of a fluid in a porous medium
The invention relates to a system and to a method for measuring at least one flow property of at least one fluid in a porous medium. The measurement system (1) comprises at least one cell (2), means (7) for injecting fluid(s) into the cell and X-ray radiography means (4, 5). |
US10705067B2 |
Methods and systems for testing performance of a catalyst element
Methods and systems for testing performance of a catalyst element are provided. The catalyst element can be an oxidation catalyst element or a non-selective catalytic reduction catalyst element, where the subject methods and systems are configured for testing under various lambda (λ) conditions. The subject methods and systems find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to test the performance of a catalyst element. |
US10705063B2 |
Designs for enhanced reliability and calibration of landfill gas measurement and control devices
An apparatus for sampling landfill gas from a landfill flowing through a pipe. The apparatus may comprise: an enclosure configured to receive a section of the pipe; a gas sampling port in the section of the pipe; at least one sensor device disposed in a region of the enclosure, the at least one sensor being coupled to the section of the pipe through the gas sampling port; and thermal insulation positioned to retain heat from the section of the pipe in the region of the enclosure. A method of operating a landfill gas recovery system. The method may comprise: flowing gas from a well riser pipe through a sampling subsystem to a collection system; and heating a portion of the sampling subsystem with the gas flowing from the well riser pipe to the collection system. |
US10705061B2 |
Microfluidic photoionization detector
A rapid flow-through, highly sensitive microfluidic photoionization detector (PID) which is micro-fabricated directly onto a substrate, such as a conductive silicon wafer, is provided. The microfluidic PID has an ionization chamber volume of less than 9 μL. The microfluidic PID may have a flow through design with a microfluidic channel defines a serpentine pattern on the substrate. The flow through design of the microfluidic PID results in negligible dead volume, thus allowing a shortened response time over existing commercially available designs. Such microfluidic PIDs are particularly useful with gas chromatography (GC), including microGC and multi-dimensional microGC systems. Methods for calibrating PIDs are also provided. |
US10705060B2 |
Spatial temperature gradients in liquid chromatography
Methods for focusing analyte peaks in liquid chromatography using a spatial temperature gradient are provided. Also provided are methods for focusing analyte peaks and improving resolution using a trap column upstream of a separation column. Further, methods are provided in which the trap column placed upstream of the separation column is packed with a temperature-sensitive polymer/copolymer, and a spatial temperature gradient is applied along the trap column for obtaining improved retentivity by trap column stationary phase, and overall improved resolution of analyte peaks. |
US10705057B2 |
Precious material analysis using vibration signature comparison
A precious material analyzer may determine one or more characteristics of an unidentified precious material. A vibration injector may cause the unidentified precious material to vibrate with a vibration signature that is dependent on the one or more characteristics of the unidentified precious material. A vibration detector may detect and extract a vibration signature from the vibration of the unidentified precious material caused by the vibration injector. A vibration signature comparator may: compare the detected vibration signature of the unidentified precious material with vibration signatures of multiple identified precious materials having one or more identified characteristics; and flag one or more of the identified precious materials that have vibration signatures that are similar to the vibration signature of the unidentified precious material. |
US10705052B2 |
Gas sensor
A gas sensor offering high gas identification property includes: a first gas detection element having a first oscillator, as well as a first gas-adsorption film which is provided on the first oscillator and constituted by two or more fluorine resins including vinylidene fluoride resin; a second gas detection element having a second oscillator, as well as a second gas-adsorption film which is provided on the second oscillator and constituted by two or more fluorine resins including vinylidene fluoride resin and which has adsorption characteristics different from those of the first adsorption film; and a detection circuitry that detects the resonance frequencies of the first and second gas detection elements. |
US10705051B2 |
Magnetizers for pigging tools
Circumferential and axial magnetizers for a magnetic flux leakage pig. A circumferential magnetizer module for a smart pig comprises a central shaft and at least one magnet bar for inducing a magnetic field transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The magnet bar comprises at least one magnet, and may collapse radially inward to the shaft. A sensor head disposed between circuit poles at each polar end of the magnet monitors magnetic flux. An axial magnetizer module comprises a central shaft and at least one magnet bar to induce a magnetic field coaxially to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Magnets of opposite polarity are circumferentially disposed around ends of the central shaft. A sensor head disposed between circuit poles at each polar end monitors magnetic flux. The central shaft of a circumferential magnetizer or axial magnetizer may comprise a joint linking an additional smart pig module. |
US10705047B2 |
Functionalized nanotube sensors and related methods
Functionalized nanotube arrays, sensors, and related methods of detecting target compounds are presented. A functionalized nanotube array can include a plurality of metal oxide nanotubes. The metal oxide nanotubes can be formed of a metal oxide and can have an interior or exterior surface that is optionally functionalized with at least one metal ion. These metal nanotubes can be used in a sensor for detecting target compounds such as volatile organic compounds, and biomarkers in a fluid environment. The sensor can further include a power source configured to apply a voltage to the nanotube array and a current sensor configured to monitor and detect changes in a response current which varies upon binding with the target compounds. |
US10705045B2 |
Gas sensor element and method for producing gas sensor element
A gas sensor element including a lead portion (79a) formed on a lower surface of an insulating member (76) and extending through a through hole (176) to an upper surface thereof, and a lead portion (79b) extending from the upper surface of the insulating member (76) through the through hole (176) to the lower surface of the insulating member (76) so as to cover the lead portion (79a) along the inner circumferential wall and a portion of the lower surface around the through hole. The lead portion (79a) has a section exposed to a space (230) on the lower surface side of the insulating member (76). The lead portion (79b) is disposed so as to face the insulating member (76) with the space (230) therebetween. The lead portion (79a) communicates with the outside through the space (230). Also disclosed is a method for producing the gas sensor element. |
US10705039B2 |
Sensor for detecting magnetic powders in a lubricant
One object is to increase the amount of abrasion powder accumulated in a sensing region to improve the sensitivity in sensing the abrasion powder. Provided is a sensor for sensing reduction of electric resistance between electrodes, a magnetic field being applied between the electrodes to accumulate magnetic powder floating in a lubricant between the electrodes, wherein at least one sensing region in which the magnetic powder is to be accumulated is provided in at least a part of a region between the electrodes, and the magnetic powder is inhibited from being accumulated in a non-sensing region constituted by a space around the electrodes other than the at least one sensing region. |
US10705031B2 |
X-ray imaging with a detector capable of resolving photon energy
The present teaching relates to methods, systems, and apparatus for X-ray imaging with a detector capable of resolving photon energy. In one example, an X-ray microscope is disclosed. The X-ray microscope comprises an X-ray source and a detector. The X-ray source is configured for irradiating X-ray to a sample. The detector is configured for: detecting X-ray photons from the irradiated X-ray, determining energy of each of the detected X-ray photons, and generating an image of the sample based on detected X-ray photons that have energies in a predetermined range. |
US10705028B2 |
Method of inspecting foreign substance on substrate
In order to inspect a substrate, an image information of a substrate before applying solder is displayed. Then, at least one inspection region on the substrate is image-captured to obtain an image of the inspection region that is image-captured. Then, image information that is to be displayed is renewed and the renewed image information is displayed. And, in order to inspect a foreign substance, obtained image of the inspection region is compared with a reference image of the substrate. Therefore, an operator can easily catch a region corresponding to a specific region of the image that is displayed, and easily detect a foreign substance on the substrate. |
US10705024B2 |
System and method for positive metal identification and intelligent consumable identification
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods of predicted a welding property for a given welding operation using at least one electrode. Embodiments determine a predicted weld deposit property and compare the predicted property to a desired property to determine whether or not a selected electrode for the given welding operation can achieve the desired weld deposit. |
US10705021B2 |
Method for manufacturing biochip having improved fluorescent signal sensing properties and biochip manufactured by the same
Provided is a biochip having improved fluorescent signal sensing properties. A filter layer is provided between a bio-layer and a light sensor layer so as to remove noise generated by stray light during a bio-reaction process. Thereby, the sensitivity of the light sensor layer can be enhanced. |
US10705020B2 |
Method and apparatus for optical detection of bio-contaminants within a lumen
A method for optical detection of residual soil in lumens of lumened or cannulated devices such as surgical endoscopes, after undergoing a decontamination process (e.g., a washing or rinsing operation). A soil detection system provides an indication of the presence of residual soil within a lumen by detecting luminescent radiation emanating from the soil on the interior of the lumen in response to excitation light. |
US10705019B2 |
Multi-wavelength laser inspection
An example system for inspecting a surface includes a laser, an optical system, a gated camera, and a control system. The laser is configured to emit pulses of light, with respective wavelengths of the pulses of light varying over time. The optical system includes at least one optical element, and is configured to direct light emitted by the laser to points along a scan line one point at a time. The gated camera is configured to record a fluorescent response of the surface from light having each wavelength of a plurality of wavelengths at each point along the scan line. The control system is configured to control the gated camera such that an aperture of the gated camera is open during fluorescence of the surface but closed during exposure of the surface to light emitted by the laser. |
US10705018B2 |
Fluorescence based global fuel analysis method
A method of fuel analysis comprising subjecting a fuel sample comprising a fuel marker and a fuel matrix to fluorescence spectroscopy to generate a measured emission spectrum comprising a first spectral component (type and amount of marker in sample), a second spectral component (spectral perturbation), and a third spectral component (matrix fluorescence); deconvoluting the measured emission spectrum to yield a deconvoluted measured emission spectrum (first and second spectral components) via removal of third spectral component; decoupling the deconvoluted measured emission spectrum to yield a corrected emission spectrum (first spectral component) via a projection function which orthogonally projects the deconvoluted measured emission spectrum onto a subspace devoid of the second spectral component; and determining the amount of fuel marker in the fuel sample from the corrected emission spectrum. The method of fuel analysis comprises temperature corrections. |
US10705014B2 |
Image diagnosis apparatus, method of controlling image diagnosis apparatus, computer program, and computer readable storage medium
An image diagnosis apparatus determines an effective pulse based on a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation of an imaging core from a pulse signal corresponding to an A line indicating a period of a light source and switches the polarization state of light transmitted from an optical transceiver according to the effective pulse. According to the effective pulse, the image diagnosis apparatus acquires a signal of interference light between the light received by the optical transceiver and reference light. |
US10705005B2 |
Unit for validating in situ decontamination effect and device for filtering biologically contaminated air to which the unit is applied
The present invention discloses a unit for validating an in situ decontamination effect, including a connecting end. A left end of the connecting end is in communication with any space that needs gas decontamination. A right end of the connecting end is connected to a closed isolation damper. A right end of the closed isolation damper is connected to a hollow decontamination validation chamber. A sealing cover is sleeved over an outer wall of the decontamination validation chamber. A mesh cup is placed inside the decontamination validation chamber, and the mesh cup is used for placing a bioindicator. In addition, the present invention further discloses a device for filtering biologically contaminated air, including a unit for validating an in situ decontamination effect and a hollow box installed with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. The unit for validating an in situ decontamination effect is in communication with the hollow box. In the present invention, an actual decontamination effect of the HEPA filter after gas decontamination can be validated reliably in time, thereby effectively preventing pathogenic microorganisms that exist on the surface of the HEPA filter from spreading to the external environment, avoiding polluting the external environment, and ensuring personal safety. |
US10704998B2 |
Rock mechanics response test system for simulated complex deep earth environment
The invention belongs to the field of rock mechanics test of engineering rock masses and is intended to address the safety and alignment challenges of a rock mechanics test response system for existing simulated complex deep earth environment. A rock mechanics test response system for a simulated complex deep earth environment includes a bearing system for rock mechanics tests in simulated deep earth environment and an MTS triaxial sensor aligning and mounting device arranged on the bearing system for rock mechanics tests in simulated deep earth environment. The invention improves installation and dismounting efficiency of an MTS triaxial force sensor, enhances reliability of lifting and solves the problem of aligning holes during installation of the force sensor, thus improving the installation efficiency. |
US10704994B2 |
Apparatus for automatic separation and collection of fluid
An apparatus for the collection of multiple samples of a fluid stream. The apparatus includes a plurality fluid collection containers arranged to receive separate portions of the fluid stream in a temporal sequence and a sealing mechanism provided on each fluid collection container configured to close the fluid collection containers when filled by a portion of the fluid stream and to cause the fluid stream to flow to the next fluid collection container in the sequence. The fluid collection containers separately collect at least a beginning portion of the fluid stream, a mid-portion of the fluid stream and an end-portion of the fluid stream. Each of the fluid collection containers may be detachably connected to tubing held in a housing having a sloped upper surface for receiving the fluid stream and an inlet for directing the fluid stream to the tubing. The housing may be a fluid collection cup. |
US10704992B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and systems for collection of tissue sections
Methods, apparatuses and systems for facilitating automated or semi-automated collection of tissue samples cut by a microtome. In one example, a collection apparatus may be moved back and forth between respective positions at which the collection apparatus is operatively coupled to a microtome so as to collect cut tissue samples, or routine access to the microtome is provided. Relatively easy movement and positioning of the collection apparatus is facilitated, while at the same time ensuring structural stability and appropriate alignment and/or isolation between the collection apparatus and the microtome. A fluid reservoir receives samples cut by the microtome, and the collection apparatus may collect samples via a conveyor-like substrate disposed near/in the reservoir. A linear movement of the substrate may be controlled based on a cutting rate of the microtome, and the fluid level in the reservoir may be automatically maintained to facilitate effective sample collection. |
US10704989B2 |
Gas turbine engine with lifing calculations based upon actual usage
A method of monitoring a gas turbine engine includes the steps of: (a) receiving information from actual flights of an aircraft including an engine to be monitored, and including at least one of the ambient temperature at takeoff, and internal engine pressures, temperatures and speeds; (b) evaluating the damage accumulated on an engine component given the data received in step (a); (c) storing the determined damage from step (b); (d) repeating steps (a)-(c); (e) recommending a suggested future use for the component based upon steps (a)-(d). A system is also disclosed. |
US10704987B2 |
Smart mechanical component
A smart mechanical component has a mechanical part main body; a mechanical part secondary body located inside of the mechanical part main body; a three dimensional three-dimensional (3-D) reserved space located between the mechanical part main body and the mechanical part secondary body; at least one connecting unit connecting the mechanical part main body and the mechanical part secondary body; wherein the mechanical part main body, the mechanical part secondary body and the three dimensional three-dimensional (3-D) reserved space form a capacitor; the connecting unit forms an inductor; the inductor and the capacitor forms an inductor-capacitor circuit. |
US10704985B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon and method for manufacturing intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon
A method for inspecting an intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon includes: accumulating one-dimensional images in a width direction of the intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon, arranged intermittently with connection parts that connect adjacent optical fibers by repeatedly capturing images of the intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon along the width direction while moving the intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon in a longitudinal direction; and creating a two-dimensional image of the intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon by aligning the one-dimensional images in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction where pixels configuring the one-dimensional image are aligned. |
US10704983B1 |
Server
This disclosure relates to a server includes a chassis, a processor, a liquid cooling tube and a liquid leak detection system. The processor is disposed in the chassis. The liquid cooling tube is disposed on the processor. The liquid leak detection system includes a circuit board and a first detecting wire. The circuit board is disposed in the chassis. The first detecting wire is disposed on a side of the liquid cooling tube and electrically connected to the circuit board. |
US10704978B2 |
Wheel-force dynamometer for measuring tire forces
A wheel-force dynamometer (1) for measuring, via force sensors (6), force and torque that act upon a vehicle tire (2a) and a vehicle wheel (2). The vehicle wheel (2) is mounted to rotate by way of a wheel axle. The wheel-force dynamometer (1) is characterized in that the wheel axle is in the form of a rotor (3) which is hydrostatically mounted, axially fixed and able to rotate in the circumferential direction, in a rigid and positionally fixed housing (5). |
US10704976B2 |
Pressure sensor
A pressure sensor according to the present invention includes a diaphragm (3) including a first principal surface (3A) and a second principal surface (3B) that is opposite thereto, the first principal surface receiving a pressure of a fluid; a semiconductor chip (1) provided with resistors that constitute a strain gauge; and at least three support members (2a, 2b, 2c) made of an insulating material, each support member being fixed to the second principal surface at one end thereof and to the semiconductor chip at the other end thereof and extending perpendicularly to the second principal surface so as to support the semiconductor chip. One of the support members (2a) is provided at a center (30) of the diaphragm in plan view. At least two of the other support members (2b, 2c) are provided at positions point-symmetrical about the center of the diaphragm in plan view in a region in which the diaphragm is deformed when a pressure greater than a pressure applied to the second principal surface is applied to the first principal surface. |
US10704972B2 |
Method for measuring a load on a towing hook and a towing hook arrangement
A method for measuring the applied load on a towing hook/or a tow bar accessory of a towing hook arrangement for a vehicle, and a towing hook arrangement for a vehicle. The towing hook arrangement comprises a towing hook and/or a tow bar accessory arranged on a tow bar, the towing hook arrangement also comprises a sensor arrangement having at least one actuator and at least one sensor, the sensor arrangement is adapted to detect an imparted vibration on the tow bar and use the detected imparted vibration to determine the applied load on the towing hook and/or the tow bar accessory. |
US10704970B1 |
Strain sensor systems
A strain sensor system emits coarse interrogation signals of different frequencies during a coarse scan while an RF resonant sensor and/or an RF interrogator moves relative to the other. The sensor emits responsive RF signals within a frequency range of a frequency of interest of the sensor. The controller identifies the frequency of interest based on receipt of the responsive signals. The interrogator emits fine interrogation signals of different frequencies during a fine scan subsequent to the coarse scan. The fine signals are emitted at frequencies within a frequency band on both sides of the frequency of interest. The sensor emits responsive RF signals and the controller identifies a center frequency of the RF resonant sensor based on receipt of the responsive signals. |
US10704968B1 |
Thrust limiter for boom-mounted rotor
An electrical signal is received via a boom where a rotor is attached to the boom and the received electrical signal is received while the rotor outputs a thrust. It is decided whether to decrease the thrust which is output by the rotor, including by analyzing the received electrical signal. In response to deciding to decrease the thrust which is output by the rotor, the thrust which is output by the rotor is decreased. |
US10704967B2 |
Pressure sensor
In a pressure sensor, a pressure-sensitive layer faces a first electrode pattern and a second electrode pattern with a space interposed therebetween. The first electrode pattern includes a plurality of first electrode sections, a first interconnecting section that interconnects the plurality of first electrode sections, and a first wiring section that extends from a first end of the first interconnecting section. The second electrode pattern includes a plurality of second electrode sections disposed alternately with the first electrode sections, a second interconnecting section that interconnects the plurality of second electrode sections, and a second wiring section that extends from a second end of the second interconnecting section. The second wiring section extends such that the resistance of the conduction path between an output terminal of the first wiring section and an output terminal of the second wiring section is substantially the same for any adjacent pairs of the first electrode sections and the second electrode sections when the first electrode section and the second electrode section conduct with each other via the pressure-sensitive layer. |
US10704962B2 |
Indicating device
The invention relates to devices for indicating the history of products, e.g., with regard to the temperature progression. The device according to the invention comprises a covering layer, an indicator layer, an activator layer, and an optional delaying layer. By means of heating, moisture is released, which, in the case of some embodiments, migrates first into the delaying layer and then into the activator layer. There, an activator is mobilized and migrates together with the moisture into the indicator layer. By interaction of the indicator with the activator in the presence of moisture, a color conversion occurs, which indicates the exceedance of the critical temperature. The invention further relates to methods for producing the device according to the invention and to applications of the device according to the invention, e.g., in the temperature monitoring of sensitive products. |
US10704959B2 |
Germanium silicon tin oxide thin films for uncooled infrared detection
Microbolometer is a class of infrared detector whose resistance changes with temperature change. In this work, we deposited and characterized Germanium Silicon Oxide thin films mixed with Sn (Ge—Si—Sn—O) for uncooled infrared detection. Ge—Si—Sn—O were deposited by co-sputtering of Sn and Ge—Si targets in the Ar+O environment using a radio frequency sputtering system. Optical characterization shows that the absorption in Ge—Si—Sn—O was most sensitive in the wavelength ranges between 2.5-3.7 μm. The transmission data was further used to determine the optical energy band gap (0.22 eV) of the thin-film using Tauc's equation. We also found the variations of absorption coefficient (6592305.87 m−1-11615736.95 m−1), refractive index (2.5-4.0), and the extinction coefficient (2.31-5.73) for the wavelength ranges between 2.5-5.5 μm. The thin film's resistivity measured by the four-point probe was found to be 142.55 Ω-cm and TCR was in the range of −4.9-−3.1 (%/K) in the temperature range 289-325K. |
US10704953B2 |
Light detecting apparatus and image acquiring apparatus
The disclosed technology is directed to a light detecting apparatus used in an image acquiring apparatus. The image acquiring apparatus comprises a light receiving element that outputs a current according to a light amount of incident light. A current-voltage conversion circuit converts the current output from the light receiving element to a voltage signal. The current-voltage conversion circuit includes an operational amplifier and feedback resistance, feedback capacitance, and at least one diode that are connected in parallel between an inverting terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier. The diode is connected to have a forward direction from the inverting terminal toward the output terminal, and following conditional expressions are satisfied, G=Rf B=1/(2πRf(Cf+Cd/n)) and Vpr>n×Vf>G×Imax. |
US10704948B2 |
Reflection microwave barrier
A reflection microwave barrier for monitoring a limit level in at least one working area by outputting a switching signal. The reflection microwave barrier including a microwave transmitter for continuously emitting a time modulated microwave signal, a microwave receiver arranged on the same side of the at least one working area as the microwave transmitter to receive a reflection of the microwave signal, and a control circuitry communicating with the microwave receiver for a detection and monitoring of echo signals in the received reflection of the microwave signal. The control circuitry calculates the runtime of an echo signal), when the amplitude of the echo signal rises or increases. Furthermore, the control circuitry determines by the calculated runtime, whether an origin of the echo signal lies within the at least one working area, and only outputs the switching signal in this case. |
US10704947B2 |
Airflow management device including a slanted passage and a branching passage between two plates supported by pillars
An air flow measurement device includes a first channel plate, a second channel plate facing the first channel plate, a pillar fixing the second channel plate with respect to the first channel plate so as to form a space of a given size between the first channel plate and the second channel plate, a slanted channel formed in the space which is configured to become narrower toward a center portion of the air flow measurement device, a branching passage arranged in the center portion which communicates with the slanted channel, a projection provided in the branching passage so as to partly narrow the branching passage, and an air flow sensor provided in the space. The air flow sensor is arranged at a position higher than a junction between the branching passage and the slanted channel. |
US10704946B2 |
Apparatus to confirm correct meter sizing
A meter register of the type having a sealed register body, and a member adapted to measure liquid flow through the meter and an antenna mounted within the register body is improved by providing a microprocessor adapted to have a calculated water meter maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate defined as the meter flow rate range. The member co-acts with the microprocessor to determine flow rate, and the microprocessor is adapted to forward a signal to the antenna when the flow rate of the meter is outside, or within, the meter flow rate range, and the antenna transmits the signal to the water utility that the meter is not properly sized, or is properly sized, respectively. |
US10704942B2 |
Flow rate measurement device
Flow rate measurement device includes flow rate measurement unit that measures a flow rate of gas at a prescribed time interval, and arithmetic unit that calculates a characteristic flow rate from the flow rates measured within a predetermined period, and calculates a ratio of each flow rate measured at multiple times within the predetermined period with respect to the characteristic flow rate. In addition, flow rate measurement device includes appliance characteristic extraction unit that extracts an appliance characteristic quantity which indicates a characteristic of a flow rate change in currently using gas appliances within the predetermined period, the appliance characteristic quantity being the ratio or information obtained from the ratio, and appliance inherent characteristic information holding unit that holds an appliance inherent characteristic quantity indicating a characteristic flow rate state of a specific gas appliance. Furthermore, flow rate measurement device includes appliance discrimination unit that discriminates the currently using gas appliance by comparing the appliance characteristic quantity with the appliance inherent characteristic quantity. |
US10704940B2 |
Body for mounting ultrasonic transducer in a flowmeter piping through an opening according to a contour line to prevent turbulences
Disclosed is a device for mounting an ultrasonic transducer, suitable for mounting the transducer such that it extends through a wall of a flow meter having a channel in which a fluid flows; the device includes a body in communication with an inner surface of the channel in accordance with a closed contour line that forms an interface between the inner surface of the channel and a surface of the device body, referred to as active surface, which follows the shape of the inner surface of the channel. The active surface extends continuously, and without openings, in the area delimited by the contour line. Also disclosed is a flow meter using a mounting device of this kind. |
US10704939B2 |
Methodology and apparatus for distinguishing single phase fluid flows from multiphase fluid flows using a flow meter
An apparatus and method for sensing a fluid flow passing within a pipe, which fluid flow comprises at least a first fluid phase. The apparatus includes a flow meter having an array of sensors and at least one processing unit, which flow meter is adapted to sense the fluid flow passing within the pipe as it travels past the array of sensors and produce signals indicative of the presence of vortical structures convecting with the fluid flow. The at least one processing unit is adapted to: (a) produce a k-ω plot using the signals indicative of the presence of vortical structures convecting with the fluid flow, and determine a k-ω plot quality parameter that indicates the presence or absence of a second fluid phase within a fluid flow passing within a pipe; or (b) determine a shape factor parameter indicative of a presence or absence of a second fluid phase within a fluid flow passing within a pipe; or (c) both (a) and (b). |
US10704937B2 |
Critical flow nozzle flowmeter for measuring respective flowrates of gas phase and liquid phase in multiphase fluid and measuring method thereof
A method for measuring respective flowrates of gas phase and liquid phase in a multiphase fluid using a critical flow nozzle flowmeter. The critical flow nozzle flowmeter includes a throttling nozzle having an inlet, an outlet and a throat, and the throat has a smallest flow area for flowing fluid; a gamma ray detector, including a gamma ray emitter and a gamma ray receiver, arranged in a way allowing the gamma ray emitted by the gamma ray emitter to pass through a cross-section at the inlet of the throttling nozzle in a diametrical direction to reach the gamma ray receiver; pressure sensors respectively configured for measuring the pressure P1 at the inlet of the throttling zone and the pressure P2 at the outlet of the throttling nozzle; and a temperature sensor configured for measuring the temperature T1 at the inlet of the throttling nozzle. |
US10704936B2 |
Flow rate characteristic function identification method, flow rate characteristic function identification device, storage medium storing flow rate characteristic function identification program, and flow rate sensor or flow rate control device using them
To provide a flow rate characteristic function identification method, flow rate sensor, and flow rate characteristic function identification program that can set a flow rate characteristic function reflecting not only the type or shape of a fluid resistance but also the effects of states such as an attachment state of the fluid resistance, and calculate a flow rate with higher accuracy. An actual flow rate characteristic function, which is a flow rate characteristic function when an actual fluid resistance is provided in a flow path, is identified on the basis of multiple flow rate characteristic functions including a first reference flow rate characteristic function and a second reference flow rate characteristic function, and predetermined weighting. |
US10704931B2 |
Optical detecting device capable of determining shift of a multi-axis instruction outputting mechanism
An optical detecting device includes a multi-axis instruction outputting mechanism and an optical detecting module, and shift of the multi-axis instruction outputting mechanism is determined accordingly. An actuating component of the multi-axis instruction outputting mechanism is moved in reciprocation at a first operating direction to output an instruction. The optical detecting module is detachably disposed to the actuating component. An interval between the optical detecting module and the actuating component is varied according to a relative movement between the optical detecting module and the actuating component at a second operating direction, and the actuating component can be shifted between different gears. The optical detecting module determines the interval and gearshift according to variation of a reflecting signal actuated by the actuating component, and utilizes the reflecting signal to acquire a movement of a feature point detachably disposed on the actuating component along the first operating direction to interpret the instruction. |
US10704928B2 |
Proximity sensor and method of changing detection distance
A proximity sensor and a method of changing a detection distance are provided to suppress changes in a consumption current of an oscillation circuit. The proximity sensor includes an oscillation circuit having an oscillation amplitude that changes with a feedback current, a comparing part comparing the oscillation amplitude with a threshold, a detecting part detecting a target object based on a comparison result of the comparing part, a voltage value signal generating part generating a voltage value signal based on the feedback current and the detection distance, a threshold setting part setting an analog signal converted from the voltage value signal as the threshold, a current value signal generating part generating a current value signal based on the detection distance and the voltage value signal, and a current value setting part setting an analog signal converted from the current value signal as a current value of the feedback current. |
US10704927B2 |
Displacement devices and methods and apparatus for detecting and estimating motion associated with same
Apparatus and method estimate a position of a movable stage. The apparatus comprises: a stator comprising 2D array of sensors arranged relative to one another to provide a plurality of stator-Y oriented sensor columns and a plurality of stator-X oriented sensor rows; a movable stage comprising a first Y-magnet array comprising a plurality of first magnetization segments generally linearly elongated in a stage-Y direction, each first magnetization segment having a stage-Y direction length, Lyy, and a magnetization direction generally orthogonal to the stage-Y direction, the magnetization directions of the plurality of first magnetization segments exhibiting a first magnetic spatial period λx over a stage-X direction width, Wyx, of the first magnet array; and a controller connected to receive information based on an output from each of the sensors and configured to use the information to determine a stator-X direction position of the movable stage. |
US10704924B2 |
Meter reading schema to enhance system functionality
An improvement to a utility (U) meter's (M) meter reading schema. The improvement includes a device (D) responsive to a native language with which a meter is programmed to convert communications to and from the meter from that native language into a neutral language. The neutral language is convertible by other meters programmed with different native languages into the native language of a particular meter for meters programmed with different native languages can communicate with each other. This allows facilities within a localized area of a utility's power grid (G) to form into a micro-grid (MG) in which meters programmed with the same or different native languages can communicate with each other without having communications between them routed through a central location of the utility. |
US10704923B2 |
Method, metering equipment, user device, and system for providing of metering information
A method, metering equipment, a user device, and a system provide metering information. In particular, the method for providing metering information of the metering equipment, includes detecting a communication request input at the metering equipment, activating a communication interface of the metering equipment responsive to the detected communication request input, receiving instruction information via the activated communication interface, and providing via the activated communication interface the metering information responsive to the received instruction information. The communication interface is deactivated at the latest after a time period since the activating of the communication interface. |
US10704919B1 |
Systems and methods for using a directional indicator on a personal mobility vehicle
The disclosed computer-implemented method may include receiving, by a computing device, directional information for a waypoint along a route of travel of a personal mobility vehicle, determining, by the computing device and based on the directional information, a bearing of the waypoint from a current location of the personal mobility vehicle, and displaying, by a display device included in the personal mobility vehicle and configured to display navigational information within an illumination pattern, an indication of the bearing within the illumination pattern for navigating the personal mobility vehicle along the route of travel to the waypoint. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
US10704914B2 |
Positioning method using broadcast speeches
A positioning method using music pieces continuously provides positioning service. At each signature burst (i.e., a highly unique short musical segment suitable for positioning), sounds of a music piece are used for positioning. Between signature bursts, dead reckoning (DR) is used. |
US10704911B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting destination in navigation terminal
A method and apparatus are provided for displaying information in a first electronic device. A message is received from a second electronic device. In response to determining that the message includes information corresponding to a location of the second electronic device, information corresponding to a location of the second electronic device is obtained from the received message. A start point and a destination point are set based at least in part on position information of the first electronic device and the information corresponding to the location of the second electronic device. In response to identifying a route between the start point and the destination point, information representing the identified route between the start point and the destination point is displayed on a display of the first electronic device. |
US10704907B2 |
Circuit device, electronic apparatus, moving object and method of manufacturing of physical quantity detection device
A circuit device includes a clock signal generation circuit that generates a clock signal through an oscillation circuit, and a detection circuit including a circuit operating through an operation signal based on the clock signal. The clock signal generation circuit includes a first frequency adjustment unit which is capable of adjusting an oscillation frequency before an physical quantity transducer and the circuit device are connected to each other, and a second frequency adjustment unit which is capable of adjusting the oscillation frequency in a state where the physical quantity transducer and the circuit device are connected to each other. |
US10704906B2 |
Method for producing a pendulum arrangement of a pendulum laser device, and pendulum laser device
A method for producing a pendulum arrangement of a pendulum laser device includes producing a universal joint of a pendulum of the pendulum arrangement by forming two orthogonal, at least partially micro-structured shafts via plastic injection moulding and positioning at least two bearing shells on the at least partially micro-structured regions of at least one shaft of the universal joint. The method further includes producing an optic carrier of the pendulum of the pendulum arrangement as a single piece with the bearing shells by overmoulding at least two bearing shells surrounding a shaft of the universal joint via plastic injection moulding. The optic carrier is connected to the universal joint such that it is configured to rotate about the one shaft. |
US10704905B2 |
Systems and methods for determining a reference pressure for use in estimating an altitude of a mobile device
Identifying and estimating values of atmospheric conditions for use in estimating an altitude of a mobile device. Systems and methods for monitoring one or more conditions before estimating an altitude of a mobile device may receive a reference pressure that was computed using a measurement of pressure from a first reference pressure sensor at a first location, wherein the received reference pressure specifies an estimated pressure for a reference altitude, and determine if a threshold change in measured pressure by the first reference pressure sensor is detected. If the threshold change in measured pressure is detected, the systems and methods may compute a calibration value for the first reference pressure sensor, or if the threshold change in measured pressure is not detected, the systems and methods may identify a previously-determined calibration value. The systems and methods may then compute an adjusted reference pressure using the received reference pressure and either the computed calibration value or the previously-determined calibration value, and compute an estimate of the altitude of the mobile device using the adjusted reference pressure and a measurement of pressure from the mobile device. |
US10704903B2 |
Binocular capable of measuring distance and prism and light transmitter module thereof
A prism and light transmitter module includes a prism holder, a light transmitter, a prism module, a drive circuit board, a shield, and a fixing assembly. The light transmitter is configured to emit or receive a light beam along a light axis. The prism module includes an inclined plane and is disposed within the prism holder with the inclined plane exposed. The drive circuit board is disposed above the inclined plane, and intersects with the light axis at a first angle. The shield is disposed on the drive circuit board. The fixing assembly connects to the prism holder, is configured to fix the drive circuit board, and includes a hole through which the light transmitter is exposed. A binocular capable of measuring distance includes a first optical system and a second optical system. The first optical system or/and the second optical system include the prism and light transmitter module. |
US10704895B2 |
Apparatus and method for remote optical caliper measurement
An apparatus and method for performing optical caliper measurements remotely, including an unmanned aerial vehicle, a camera attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle, and an optical caliper measurement tool attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle, where the optical caliper measurement tool includes a mount, a laser source attached to the mount, and a beam splitter attached to the mount, where the laser source is configured to direct a laser beam through the beam splitter to split the laser beam into two parallel laser beams separated by a fixed distance. |
US10704894B2 |
Laser sensor and manufacturing method for exterior component
Provided is a laser sensor including an optical window with high accuracy and having excellent dustproof and waterproof properties. The laser sensor includes: a light projector; a light receiver to detect reflection light from a detection object to which laser light is emitted from the light projector; and an exterior component covering the light projector and the light receiver, in which the exterior component includes an optical window that transmits the laser light and the reflection light, and a holder that surrounds an outer periphery of the optical window, the optical window and the holder are formed as an integrally-molded product made of a resin having transmittivity in a wavelength band of the laser light, the optical window includes a pair of curved optical surfaces facing each other, and the holder includes: a gate part at a position relatively distant from the optical window; and a light shielding part that is at least adjacent to the optical window and shields the laser light L1 and ambient light. |
US10704892B2 |
Multi functional camera with multiple reflection beam splitter
An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a camera comprising a beam splitter to impose different optical paths for visible light and infra red light received by the camera. The camera also includes an infra red light detector to detect the infra red light and a visible light detector to detect the visible light, wherein, the different optical paths include an optical path having more than one internal reflection within the beam splitter. |
US10704890B2 |
Dynamic motion detection system
A dynamic motion detection system including a plurality of active independent emitting elements, a signal capturing apparatus, and a computing apparatus is provided. The active independent emitting elements are suitable for being respectively affixed to different parts of a person to-be-tested and actively emitting positioning signals having preset wavelengths. The signal capturing apparatus is configured to capture the positioning signal of each of the active independent emitting elements and calculate a plurality of emitting coordinates according to the positioning signals. The computing apparatus is configured to control operation of the signal capturing apparatus and receive the emitting coordinates from the signal capturing apparatus. The computing apparatus defines a corresponding relationship between the emitting coordinates and the active independent emitting elements by comparing a geometry relationship among the emitting coordinates. |
US10704889B2 |
Adjustable depth of field optical coherence tomography
A system and method for surface inspection of an object using optical coherence tomography (OCT) is provided. The method includes determining a first working distance; determining a first depth of field, based on the first working distance; changing the depth of field to the first depth of field; performing an A-scan of the object; moving the object; determining a subsequent working distance; determining whether the object is in focus at the subsequent working distance, if the object is not in focus: determining a subsequent depth of field based on the subsequent working distance; changing the depth of field to the first depth of field; and performing an A-scan of the object; and otherwise, performing an A-scan of the object. |
US10704884B2 |
Sensing system for sensing a position of a gear shaft
The present disclosure discloses a sensing system for sensing a position of a gear shaft. The present disclosure may implement determination of whether the gear shaft is at a reverse gear position, a forward gear position or a neutral gear position by: partitioning a magnet into a first length region magnet and a second length region magnet, wherein the first length region magnet and the second length region magnet have different magnetic field directions, sensing and generating an inductive electrical signal reflecting motions of the first length region magnet and the second length region magnet; storing, by a memory unit, a first type reference signal for the first length region magnet and a second type reference signal for the second length region magnet, which are sensed by simulation; and comparing, by a processing unit, the inductive electric signal against the first type reference signal and the second type reference signal, which reflect different gear positions, respectively. By arranging only one magnet and one set of circuitry mechanical elements to sense a position of the gear shaft, the sensing apparatus according to the present disclosure effectively implements detection of the neutral gear position and the reverse gear position of the gear shaft, which reduces the manufacturing cost and lowers the failure rate. |
US10704881B1 |
Remotely actuated multi-use modular explosive ordnance disposal rocket dearmer
A novel dearmer enables EOD technicians to propel dearmer projectiles using conventional electric .50 caliber blank cartridges or conventional non-electric 12 gauge blank cartridges. The dearmer projectiles may render energetic threats safe without requiring an opposing force to offset the recoil. The conventional blank cartridge functions as a rocket motor that supplies gas to a converging/diverging nozzle. Alternatively, liquid is loaded into the dearmer (creating a liquid rocket effect) and the EOD projectile is propelled toward a target from the end of the dearmer opposite the liquid. |
US10704880B1 |
Polymer ammunition and cartridge having a convex primer insert
The present invention includes a primer insert for a polymer ammunition cartridge comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface; a coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, wherein the coupling element comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface comprises: a convex transition region that transitions from the bottom surface to a second segment wherein the transition region has an overall convex shape; a first segment extending from the second segment and terminates at a tip, wherein the first segment has a first segment distance from 0.06 to 0.14 inches and the second segment has a second segment distance from 0.05 to 0.15 inches, wherein the second segment has a second segment angle from +3 to −3 degrees relative to the first segment angle and the first segment has a first segment angle from +6 to −6 degrees from perpendicular to the top surface; a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface; a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess through the bottom surface; and a flash aperture groove in the primer recess and positioned around the primer flash aperture and adapted to receive a polymer overmolding through the primer flash aperture. |
US10704879B1 |
Polymer ammunition and cartridge having a convex primer insert
The present invention provides a primer insert for a polymer ammunition cartridge comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface; a coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, wherein the coupling element comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface comprises: a convex transition region that transitions from the bottom surface to a second segment wherein the transition region has an overall convex shape; a first segment extending from the second segment and terminates at a tip, wherein the first segment has a first segment distance from 0.02 to 0.18 inches and the second segment has a second segment distance from 0.02 to 0.18 inches, wherein the second segment has a second segment angle from +3 to −3 degrees relative to the first segment angle and the first segment has a first segment angle from +6 to −6 degrees from perpendicular to the top surface; a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface; a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess through the bottom surface; and a flash aperture groove in the primer recess and positioned around the primer flash aperture and adapted to receive a polymer overmolding through the primer flash aperture. |
US10704877B2 |
One piece polymer ammunition cartridge having a primer insert and methods of making the same
The present invention provides a single piece polymer ammunition cartridge and polymer ammunition and methods of forming a single piece polymer ammunition cartridge and polymer ammunition. |
US10704871B2 |
Multi-piece polymer ammunition cartridge
The present invention provides polymeric ammunition cartridge having a generally cylindrical neck having a projectile aperture at a first end, an outer shoulder surface that extends from the generally cylindrical neck, an outer shoulder angle defined by the outer shoulder surface, an inner shoulder surface on the inside of the polymer nose opposite the outer shoulder surface, an inner shoulder angle defined by the outer shoulder surface, a skirt surface extending from the inner shoulder surface, a skirt angle defined by the skirt surface and a nose junction that extends from the outer shoulder surface to the skirt surface, wherein the nose junction is adapted to mate to a polymer cartridge. |
US10704870B2 |
Multi-piece polymer ammunition cartridge
The present invention provides polymeric ammunition having a generally cylindrical neck having a projectile aperture at a first end, an outer shoulder surface that extends from the generally cylindrical neck, an outer shoulder angle defined by the outer shoulder surface, an inner shoulder surface on the inside of the polymer nose opposite the outer shoulder surface, an inner shoulder angle defined by the outer shoulder surface, a skirt surface extending from the inner shoulder surface, a skirt angle defined by the skirt surface, and a nose junction that extends from the outer shoulder surface to the skirt surface, wherein the nose junction is adapted to mate to a polymer cartridge. |
US10704864B1 |
System for tracking a presumed target using scopes that are remotely located from each other
A network of scopes, including one or more lead scopes and one or more follower scopes, is provided to allow the respective scopes to track the same presumed target. A lead scope locates a target and communicates target position data of the presumed target to the follower scope. The follower scope uses the target position data and its own position data to generate electronic control signals for use by follower scope to make position movements so as to re-position the follower scope from its current target position to move towards the target position defined by the target position data received from the lead scope. At least the second scope is mounted to, or integrated into, a vehicle, which uses the target position data to move to a new location so as to allow the second scope to better view the target. |
US10704860B2 |
Firearm with laterally folding forearm and barrel, and related methods
A firearm includes a receiver, a forearm pivotally attached to a distal end of the receiver, and a barrel having a barrel extension. A proximal end of the barrel and the barrel extension are secured within the forearm such that the barrel and barrel extension are laterally pivotable with the forearm relative to the receiver between a first assembled position and a second folded position. The forearm, barrel, and barrel extension may be secured to the receiver in the first assembled position for use of the firearm, after which the firearm may be folded for storage and/or transportation. |
US10704855B2 |
System and method for testing firearm operating characteristics
A system and method for testing firearm operating characteristics are provided using a force testing apparatus coupled to all or a portion of the firearm. Of significance, the system and method are configured to test the interaction(s) of multiple firearm components during operation without a live round such that firearm component defects, manufacturing tolerance problems, misalignments, and the like can be discovered during or subsequent to manufacture and prior to use. |
US10704852B2 |
Firearm frame locking system
A firearm frame locking system locks a two-part firearm frame. This is achieved by a firearm frame locking system that includes an upper frame and a lower frame that slide into each other by means of projections that fit into grooves in both the upper frame and the lower frame. In the lower frame, a double-arm lever is located along the longitudinal axis of the firearm. One arm of the double-arm lever extends at least partially into/through a vertical hole in a horizontal rib of the lower frame. A second arm of the double-arm lever ends in the opposite position to a projection in the upper frame. A spring is placed between the horizontal arm and the rib. |
US10704851B1 |
Takedown pin and bolt catch for a firearm
The present invention is for a rear takedown pin and a bolt catch for use in a firearm such as an AR-15. The rear takedown pin has an elongated recess, a track, a slot, and a spring along an elongated cylindrical body that allows an upper and lower receiver of a firearm, such as an AR-15, to disengage, while the pin remains in the upper and lower receiver holes, thereby allowing a user to quickly replace a magazine without the barrel of the firearm rotating away from the preset aimed position. The invention also includes a bolt catch that allows a user to toggle a release to keep a bolt in its open opinion as well as provides a retractable pin that complies with magazine release lock regulations so a user can quickly replace a spent magazine. |
US10704842B2 |
Side plate end tab for heat exchanger
An end tab for a heat exchanger frame includes a plate, an end, an expansion portion, and a bent portion. The plate has a first width, and the end has a second width larger than the first width. The expansion portion increases the width from the first width to the second width. The bent portion connects the plate and the end and includes at least one window. |
US10704840B2 |
Flexible seal for a rotary regenerative preheater
A seal assembly includes a first leaf with a spacer secured proximate a distal end of the first leaf. The spacer extends along the first leaf from an outboard end of the spacer to an inboard end thereof. The seal assembly includes a second leaf that is secured to the spacer so that the distal end is positioned proximate the outboard end of the spacer. The second leaf has an elongate section that extends away from the distal end. The elongate section extends beyond the inboard end of the spacer and terminates along the first bend of the first leaf, so that a portion of the second leaf proximate the terminus of the second leaf is slidingly moveable relative to and in compressive engagement with a portion of the first bend, and a portion of the second elongate section is spaced apart from the first elongate section. |
US10704837B2 |
Laboratory condensers with passive heat exchange
The present invention relates to a condenser for condensing gasses. The condenser comprises: an inner tube (1) having a bore (3) therethrough; an outer tube (2) having a bore (8) therethrough and two ends, the inner tube (1) passing through the bore of the outer tube (2); and a seal (15, 16) at each end of the outer tube. The outer tube has exterior and interior fins and is sealed to the inner tube so as to define a sealed space (11) between the inner tube and the outer tube. The space (11) is adapted to contain a liquid in contact with the inner tube (1) and the outer tube (2). The invention further relates to a method of condensing a gas using the condenser, a process of making a chemical using the condenser and a kit adapted to be assembled into the condenser. |
US10704834B2 |
Jet box and a dryer using the same
Disclosed is a jet box for guiding an incoming air flow in drying of a veneer sheet. The jet box includes at least one jet nozzle. The jet nozzle includes a guide surface forming a three dimensional opening structure, which is limited at its first end to an inner opening and at its second end to an outer opening. The guide surface includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion substantially on a side of the incoming air flow is convexly curved outwards from the jet box and the second portion substantially on the opposite side of the opening structure in relation to the incoming air flow is concavely curved outwards from the jet box. Also disclosed is a dryer including at least one jet box. |
US10704833B2 |
Light curing device
The invention comprises a light curing device with a light source (30) and a light guiding device, in particular a light guiding rod (18) with a light entry surface (31) that extends next to the light source (30) if regarded in the emission direction of the light source (30), and with at least one sensor (36) that is arranged next to the light entry surface (31), and with a control device (32) that is arranged within a handpiece (14) of the light curing device (10). The light curing device (10) further comprises a base station (12) of the light curing device (10). The base station (12) is provided with a second light source (24) and a second light sensor (26) for the bidirectional optical communication with the handpiece (14), which bidirectional communication takes place through the light guiding device (light guiding rod), in particular in the frequency range of visible light or UV light and in particular in a modulated manner. |
US10704832B2 |
Ethane recovery or ethane rejection operation
A method for operating a natural gas liquids processing (NGL) system, the system being selectively configured in either an ethane rejection configuration or an ethane recovery configuration, the method comprising, when the NGL system is in the ethane rejection configuration, collecting a reboiler bottom stream that, in the ethane rejection configuration, includes ethane in an amount of less than 5% by volume, and when the NGL system is in the ethane recovery configuration, collecting a reboiler bottom stream that, in the ethane recovery configuration, includes ethane in an amount of at least about 30% by volume. |
US10704830B2 |
Process and system for reliquefying boil-off gas (BOG)
A reliquefaction system and process for innovative reliquefaction of LNG boil-off gas (BOG), where the reliquefaction is propelled by LNG gas fuel. The reliquefaction system is preferably installed on shipboard including LNG carrier or harbor tug, where the LNG carrier and harbor tug use a gas fuel engine. |
US10704829B2 |
Method and apparatus for cooling a hydrocarbon stream
A hydrocarbon stream, such as natural gas, is commonly cooled together with a first refrigerant stream, against an evaporating refrigerant in a series of one or more consecutively arranged common heat exchangers. The series comprises of one or more consecutively arranged common heat exchangers comprise a first common heat exchanger, upstream of which first common heat exchanger the hydrocarbon stream and the first refrigerant stream are not commonly cooled. The hydrocarbon stream to be cooled is fed into the first common heat exchanger at a hydrocarbon feeding temperature, while the first refrigerant stream is fed into the first common heat exchanger at a refrigerant feeding temperature. The temperature difference between the hydrocarbon feeding temperature and the refrigerant feeding temperature is lower than 60° C. |
US10704826B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, an outer plate defining a plate opening, a door liner defining a liner opening, a frame disposed along a circumference of the plate opening, a transparent display assembly seated on the frame and configured to cover at least a portion of the plate opening and the liner opening, a decoration cap defining a top surface of the door, an insulation material filled in at least a portion of the door along a circumference of the transparent display assembly, a PCB configured to control operation of the transparent display assembly, and a barrier that contacts the outer plate and that defines a first space configured to receive the insulation material and a second space configured to accommodate the PCB. |
US10704820B2 |
Flexible cooling system for vehicles
A cooling unit (506) for a vehicle (200) is provided. The cooling unit includes a compressor (428) electrically connected to a power module (314), a condenser (530) operably connected to the compressor, an evaporator (536) operably connected to the compressor and the condenser, the evaporator configured to cool ambient air (520), and at least one flexible duct (208) configured to fluidly connect the evaporator with a cargo held in a cargo space of the vehicle. |
US10704817B2 |
Capacity staging system for multiple compressors
A control system for controlling an output for at least one compressor includes a control unit that receives an indoor set point and an outdoor ambient temperature. The control unit determines a load request based on the indoor set point and the outdoor ambient temperature without considering an indoor room temperature. The at least one compressor receives control commands from the control unit based on the load request. |
US10704815B2 |
Flow control valve for injecting oil into an air conditioning circuit
An air conditioning service system includes an oil receptacle configured to store an oil, a solenoid valve configured to selectively allow the oil to flow from the oil receptacle into an oil injection line, a coupling port in fluid communication with the oil receptacle through the oil injection line when the solenoid valve is in an open condition, and a flow control valve with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the oil receptacle when the solenoid valve is in the open condition, and the outlet in fluid communication with the oil injection line when the solenoid valve is in the open condition. The flow control valve is configured such that, for a given pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet, the oil flows from through the flow control valve at a flow rate that is independent of a viscosity of the oil. |
US10704814B2 |
Expansion valve control
A method for controlling a refrigeration system having a compressor, heat rejecting heat exchanger, expansion valve and heat absorbing heat exchanger circulating a refrigerant in series flow, the heat absorbing heat exchanger in thermal communication with working fluid, the method includes obtaining an expansion valve position set point; using a feedback control loop to generate a controlled expansion valve position; obtaining a rate of change of an operating parameter of the system; using the rate of change of the operating parameter to generate an adjustment; modifying the controlled expansion valve position using the adjustment; and controlling the expansion valve using the modified controlled expansion valve position. |
US10704806B1 |
Holder for securing a fluid tube, a solar collector, and method of arranging a fluid tube
A holder for securing a fluid tube to a trough-formed solar collector. In an operation mode of the solar collector, the holder partly encircles a circumference of a cross-section of the fluid tube and leaves a portion of the circumference un-encircled by the holder. The holder may comprise a base member adapted to abut the fluid tube, the base member comprising at least one securing means adapted to secure the base member to the solar collector. Further, the holder may comprise an immobilizing member adapted to together with the base member immobilize a centre-line of the fluid tube in the solar collector when the fluid tube abuts the holder. The base member is connected with the immobilizing member, such that the base member together with the immobilizing member, in an operation mode of the solar collector, partly encircles the circumference of the cross-section of the fluid tube and forms an opening smaller than a diameter of the cross-section of the fluid tube. The immobilizing member may be pivotably connected to the base member by a connecting means, such that the immobilizing member can pivot in relation to the base member to, in a service mode of the solar collector, leave an opening larger than the diameter of the cross-section of the fluid tube. |
US10704805B2 |
HVAC systems and methods with improved heating element control
Systems, tools, and methods are presented that enable a circuit to introduce a random time delay before actuating a relay to start or stop a supply of electrical power to a heating element of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In one instance, the circuit includes a time-delay switch electrically connected to the relay. The time-delay switch has a random time delay before entering a closed state or open state. The relay is operable to start and stop a supply of electrical power to the heating element in response to the switch entering, respectively, the closed state and the open state. Other systems, tools and methods are presented. |
US10704800B2 |
Tethered control for direct drive motor integrated into damper blade
A system for controlling air flow is provided that includes a damper disposed on a duct, an energy recovery system disposed within the duct a first predetermined distance from the damper and a controller coupled to the damper by a conductor and to the energy recovery system, the controller disposed within the duct a second predetermined distance from the damper. |
US10704794B2 |
Apparatus and method for passively cooling an interior
A system passively cools, regulates humidity and/or rectifies diffusive transport of water vapor in an interior area within a structure. The system includes a membrane assembly covering a portion of the structure, wherein the membrane has an interior side facing the interior area and an exterior side. The membrane assembly defines a plurality of pores. When cooling, a supply of fluid is provided to the membrane assembly so that capillary action of the pores redistributes the fluid to create evaporation and, in turn, the desired heat flow. The membrane assembly can include an architectural membrane coated with a porous matrix coating to form the pores. A pump can provide the fluid to the interior side of the membrane assembly. Preferably, the architectural membrane is woven PTFE-coated fiberglass and the porous matrix coating is titanium dioxide, zeolites and/or silica gel. |
US10704793B2 |
Cabin air desiccant dehumidifier
A blower case for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The blower case includes an inlet for airflow entering the blower case. Also included is a dehumidifier, which is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the dehumidifier is in a path of airflow entering the blower case through the inlet. In the second position the dehumidifier is not in the path of airflow entering the blower case through the inlet. |
US10704785B2 |
Method and device for flame signal detection
The invention proposes a method for the flame signal detection by means of an ionization electrode (15) protruding into a combustion zone of a burner, comprising the steps: detecting a first signal, which is dependent on an ionization current flowing off the ionization electrode (15), generating a second signal which has a predetermined periodic course, generating a third signal by adding the first signal and the second signal, comparing the third signal with a first threshold value and generating a fourth signal on the basis of the comparison of the third signal with the first threshold value, comparing the third signal with a second threshold value different from the first threshold value and generating a fourth signal on the basis of the comparison of the third signal with the second threshold value, and determining an operating variable of the burner on the basis of at least one of the fourth signal and the fifth signal. The invention additionally proposes a corresponding device for the flame signal detection. |
US10704780B1 |
Water solar lamp
A water solar lamp comprises a light transmissive casing, a solar panel, a power processing unit, and a plurality of light emitting components. The light transmissive casing comprises an upper cover, a base assembled with the upper cover, and an installation space defined by the upper cover and the base. The base is set as a water-facing side, the base comprises a ring groove for temporarily storing gas when the light transmissive casing is disposed on water, and the ring groove divides the base into an inner ring region and an outer ring region. The solar panel is disposed on the upper cover, and the power processing unit is disposed in the installation space and connected to the solar panel. The plurality of light emitting components are disposed in the installation space, and the plurality of light emitting components receive power provided by the power processing unit to emit light. |
US10704779B1 |
LED heat-dissipating downlight
A LED heat-dissipating downlight includes an enclosure body, a light source board, and a driving board. The enclosure body has a side opening. The accommodating chamber is substantially made of a heat dissipation material. The light source board and the driving board are disposed in the accommodating chamber. The light source board is disposed on a bottom of the accommodating chamber, and thermally contacted to the accommodating chamber. The driving board is disposed on the light source board. The driving board has a spacing hole, and the light generated by the light source board passes through the spacing hole to the side opening of the accommodating chamber. |
US10704776B2 |
Sliding light switch with integrated light source
An illuminating light switch with an integrated sliding member that, when actuated by a user, exposes led lighting elements to illuminate the area where the light switch is affixed. The light switch includes a front member having a light aperture aligned with a light source, a rear member with a first mounting member affixed, a second mounting member adapted to be coupled to both a support surface and the first mounting member, and an internal switch to selectively supply current to the light source. In the closed position, the sliding member obscures the light source and no current is supplied to the light source. In the intermediate position, the sliding member partially exposes a first extent of the light source that provides illumination through the light aperture. In the open position, the sliding member exposes a second extent of the light source to provide a greater amount of illumination through the light aperture. |
US10704773B2 |
Outdoor light holder structure
An outdoor light holder structure includes: a holder body, a partitioning plate being disposed in the holder body; an assembling member buckled with the holder body; a first electro-conductive plate received in a first through hole of the holder body, the first electro-conductive plate having a first tip section and a first stop section extending to the assembling member; a second electro-conductive plate received in a second through hole of the holder body, the second electro-conductive plate having a second tip section and a second stop section extending to the assembling member, the first stop section and the second stop section being slightly raised from the partitioning plate; and a conductive wire disposed between the holder body and the assembling member. The first and second stop sections are inlaid and engaged in the conductive wire to secure the conductive wire with holder body. |
US10704772B2 |
Lamp with charger
A table or floor lamp has a base, for supporting an electronic device such as a wireless speaker assembly or inductive charging plate, that defines a cavity into which all or at least a substantial portion of the power chord of the electronic device is concealed. The lamp includes and power chord for plugging into a source of power and the base includes an electrical outlet for receiving a plug of a power chord of a wireless electronic device such as a speaker assembly or inductive charging pad. The base may include a pedestal on which the electronic device sits with a post beneath the pedestal around which the cord of the electronic device is wrapped and a gap between the outer periphery of the pedestal and the top of the base through which the cord is wrapped. The base may include an inductive charger for charging a mobile device. |
US10704771B2 |
Recessed luminaire mounting assembly for junction box
A lighting assembly for illuminating an architectural space includes a mounting bracket with an axial portion, a trim flange ring including an outer surface, and a light fixture including a flange with an external surface such that the lighting assembly has an installed configuration. The axial portion includes an annular cross-section and at least one open end. In the installed configuration, at least a portion of the light fixture is disposed inside the axial portion. In the installed configuration, the trim flange ring is disposed between the mounting bracket and the light fixture. In the installed configuration, the outer surface faces the architectural space such that the outer surface is a concentric ring around the external surface of the flange of the light fixture. |
US10704768B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for connecting lighting accessories to lighting fixtures
A lighting fixture adapter, methods for manufacturing a lighting fixture adapter, and methods for attaching a lighting accessory to a lighting fixture are disclosed. Embodiments include an adapter that connects to a lighting accessory and allows a user to connect the lighting accessory to a lighting fixture using less twisting than would normally be required when attaching the accessory to the fixture. Embodiments allow a lighting accessory that normally requires multiple rotations to operatively and/or fully engage with a lighting fixture to operatively and/or fully engage with the fixture using a maximum 360 degrees rotation, 180 degrees of rotation, 90 degrees of rotation, or no rotation. Some embodiments include a kit with one or more of: an adapter (which may include a flange), a replacement component for the lighting fixture (which may include a flange for engaging the adapter flange), wires, wiring connectors, an anti-rotation component, and a plug. |
US10704764B2 |
Light assembly including linear lens
A light assembly including a light pipe and a plurality of light sources. The light pipe is an elongated, single, unitary piece having a generally linear light-exiting surface along one edge. The light pipe includes a plurality of lens portions along its length. Each lens portion forms a portion of the light existing surface. Each light source is associated with one of the lens portions to emit light into the lens portion and, therefore, the light pipe as a whole. The light from the light sources mixes within the light pipe before exiting the light pipe through the light-exiting surface in a generally linear pattern. |
US10704763B2 |
Diffractive optical element and light irradiation apparatus
A diffractive optical element is configured to provide desired diffracted light and is excellent in durability. The diffractive optical element shapes light from a light source, wherein the diffractive optical element is provided with a diffractive layer having a periodic structure having low refractive index portions and high refractive index portions, and the high refractive index portions of the periodic structure include one having an aspect ratio of 2 or more. |
US10704762B2 |
Faceted lamp post lens
A decorative optical element that has an appearance of a glass optical element includes an optically transparent body having a faceted globular portion defined by a solid volume of polymeric material. A luminaire, such as for a street light, employs the decorative optical element and an LED circuit board mounted to the circuit board. |
US10704758B2 |
Light shield
A light shield comprising a clamping mechanism, a shield and a motor, wherein a light-outlet groove is formed in the clamping mechanism, the shield is arranged on the clamping mechanism in a reciprocating mode through a limiting mechanism, and the motor is used for driving the shield to move back and forth along the clamping mechanism, thereby enabling the shield to conveniently block or unblock the light-outlet groove; according to the present invention, the variation of the light amount and the light pattern of the automobile headlamp can be achieved through blocking or unblocking the light-outlet groove by the shield, and through changing the reflected light pass region of the reflector. |
US10704752B1 |
Lamp
A lamp includes a lamp base, a lamp cover fixedly connected to the lamp base, and a light source module electrically connected to the lamp base and housed in a space enclosed by the cover and the lamp base. The light source module includes a second plate electrically connected to the lamp base, a first plate connected to the second plate, a dot matrix light source disposed on a first surface of the first plate, and an optical cover covered on the first surface of the first plate. As the dot matrix light source is capable of displaying different preset patterns, the lamp of the invention can provide bright illumination while displaying a dynamic preset pattern according to the practical needs so that images of real objects to be simulated can be vividly presented, creating the certain specific atmosphere. |
US10704749B2 |
Lamp
A luminaire including a luminaire base, a luminaire head and a luminaire stand extending between the luminaire base and the luminaire head, wherein the luminaire head includes first illuminants, which are arranged in a common plane, and which are adapted to extract a first, indirect fraction of light, and wherein the luminaire head includes a glare suppression arrangement, which is arranged in parallel to the plane, and includes a light-directing foil and shielding elements, wherein the shielding elements are arranged so that a beam spread of the indirect fraction of light after passage through the glare suppression arrangement is limited to 30° with respect to a vertical to the plane, and wherein the glare suppression arrangement in the direction of the vertical has a maximum height of 2.0 cm. |
US10704748B2 |
Light module and production method therefor
A light module includes a module main body and a flexible substrate. The module main body has a stem, and a high frequency lead and a DC lead. The flexible substrate has a stem contact portion in contact with the lower surface of the stem. A high frequency through-hole and a DC through-hole are formed in the stem contact portion in which the high frequency lead and the DC lead are respectively inserted. The flexible substrate includes plural surface wirings, a ground wiring provided in a first region which contains the high frequency through-hole, but does not contain the DC through-hole on the back surface of the stem contact portion, and an adhesive layer provided in a second region which is a region excluding the first region on the back surface of the stem contact portion. |
US10704742B2 |
Led tube lamp with multi-driving mode
A light emitting diode (LED) tube lamp comprises: a lamp tube; a rectifying circuit, configured to rectify an input external driving signal; a filtering circuit, configured to produce a filtered signal; a driving circuit and an LED module, the driving circuit configured to receive the filtered signal in a first driving mode for driving the LED module; a mode switching circuit, configured to receive the filtered signal in a second driving mode for driving the LED module; and an auxiliary power module configured to provide auxiliary power for the LED module to emit light, wherein the mode switching circuit is on a printed circuit board and is electrically connected to the LED module on a bendable circuit sheet in the LED tube lamp, and the bendable circuit sheet is disposed below the printed circuit board to be electrically connected to the printed circuit board by soldering. |
US10704741B2 |
LED filament and light bulb
An LED light bulb comprises an LED filament configured for emitting omnidirectional light. The filament comprises a linear array of LED chips operably interconnected to emit light upon energization, a conductive electrode electrically connected with the linear array of LED chips, and a light conversion coating enclosing the linear array of the LED chip and the electrode. The light conversion coating includes a top layer and a base layer conformally interconnected to form a unitary enclosure. The top layer is coated on a first side of the linear array of LED chips and the electrode. The base layer is coated on a second side of the linear array of LED chips and the electrode. A first LED chip in the linear array of LED chips is guided by the unitary enclosure to a different angle in relation to a second LED chip in the linear array of the LED chips. |
US10704738B2 |
High-pressure vessel
A high-pressure vessel includes: a body portion formed in a cylindrical shape, with at least one end portion of the body portion, in an axial direction thereof, being open; a cap, at least part of which is inserted inside at least one open end portion of the body portion to plug the at least one open end portion; a first reinforcement layer provided on an outer peripheral surface of the body portion and made of fiber-reinforced plastic, a fiber direction of which coincides with a circumferential direction of the body portion; and a second reinforcement layer integrated with the first reinforcement layer and made of fiber-reinforced plastic including fibers that bridge one end portion and another end portion, in the axial direction, of the body portion. |
US10704737B2 |
Method and device for filling or withdrawing from a pressurized gas tank
A method for filling or withdrawing from a pressurized gas tank. The tank having a wall having a cylindrical overall shape with dimensions and thermophysical properties that are given and known. The method including the regulation of the flow rate of the introduced or withdrawn gas, and/or of the temperature of the introduced gas, to avoid a situation in which the tank reaches a given high temperature threshold or a given low temperature threshold. The method including a step of estimating, by calculating in real time, at least one tank temperature from: the average temperature of the tank wall, the maximum temperature reached by the tank wall, the minimum temperature reached by the tank wall, and in that the flowrate of gas or the temperature of the gas is regulated depending on the calculated tank temperature. |
US10704732B2 |
Horizontal posture maintaining device and posture maintaining device driving method
A posture maintaining device for a 360° camera according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a first correcting portion comprising a seating portion, on which a camera having a 360° view angle is seated, the first correcting portion being able to make a rotational movement about a first direction; a second correcting portion arranged on one side of the first correcting portion to be able to make a rotational movement about a second direction, which is different from the first direction; a third correcting portion arranged on the lower end of the second correcting portion to be able to make a rotational movement about a third direction, which is different from the first or second direction; and a counterbalance connected to the first correcting portion and configured to guide the camera so as to remain horizontal. A posture maintaining device for a 360° camera according to an embodiment of the present invention corrects the inclination in real time when images are taken through a camera having a 360° view angle, making it possible to implement pictures or moving images without vibration. Moreover, when images are taken through a camera having a 360° view angle, a gimbal with minimized image blocking is implemented, making it possible to obtain images with minimized interference. |
US10704718B2 |
Flexible joints assembly with flexure rods
A flexible joint assembly for a joint between a first duct and a second duct for providing a flow of fluid, such as bleed air in an aviation implementation. The flexible joint includes a bellows supported by a mounting assembly having a first support and a second support, provided within the interior of the bellows. A rod assembly can operably couple the first support and the second support. |
US10704711B2 |
Hose line and method for producing a hose line
A hose line and a method for producing the same. The hose line (1) has a hose connection (3) which has a connection piece having a connection nipple. A hose end of a flexible hose (2) is pushed onto the connection nipple. The hose connection (3) also has a crimp sleeve (6) which immovably clamps the hose end between itself and the connection nipple in the longitudinal direction of the nipple. There are at least two tool contact surfaces on the hose connection (3), arranged on opposite sides of the hose connection (3), preferably allocated to each other in pairs and in particular designed as wrench contact surfaces (7). The at least two tool contact surfaces of the hose connection (3), which are allocated to each other in pairs, are on the crimp sleeve (6). A ratio of a length of the crimp sleeve (6) to an outside diameter of the flexible hose is 1.5:1 to 3:1. |
US10704700B2 |
Check valve structure
A check valve structure includes: a valve casing communicating with each of inflow and outflow paths for a fluid; and a valve element which is disposed in the valve casing and configured of an elastic material. The valve element has a thin portion, and a thick portion protruding from the substantial center of one surface of the thin portion. The valve casing has: a valve element support portion including an annular bottom portion capable of supporting an outer edge of a bottom portion of the thick portion, and a peripheral wall portion continuing to an outer peripheral edge of the annular bottom portion; and a valve seat portion including a valve element contact portion which is in contact with a vicinity of an outer peripheral edge portion on the other surface side of the thin portion, and a valve seat surface which can be in contact with the thin portion. |
US10704698B2 |
Safety head
A safety head is disclosed. More particularly, a safety head comprising a circular flange portion and at least one protrusion is disclosed, wherein the at least one protrusion has a face exhibiting a blended radius of curvature. The circular flange portion may be thicker than the at least one protrusion. A safety head assembly is also disclosed, wherein the safety head assembly comprises an inlet safety head and an outlet safety head. Additionally, a safety head assembly is disclosed wherein the inlet safety head comprises a peripheral protrusion, the outlet safety head comprises a peripheral protrusion, and a clamp ring is configured to engage with the peripheral protrusions. |
US10704696B2 |
Fluid transportation system
Disclosed is a system for transporting fluid, including a first vessel and a second vessel, the system including: a split volume tank comprising a first volume and a second volume, wherein when one of the volumes expands the other volume collapses; and a four way valve fluidly connecting the first and second volumes and first vessel and the second vessel, the four way valve comprising a plurality of passages including a first passage and a second passage, the four way valve being controllable between a plurality of orientations including: a first orientation in which the first passage fluidly connects the first volume and the first vessel and the second passage fluidly connects the second volume and the second vessel; a second orientation in which the first passage fluidly connects the first volume and the second vessel and the second passage fluidly connects the second volume and the first vessel. |
US10704694B2 |
Rotary valve having a sliding seal
A rotary valve comprising a housing with a valve chamber, wherein the valve chamber has at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the inlet and/or the outlet are at least partially closable, as required, by a valve body which is rotatable about an axis and is arranged in the valve chamber, wherein, on that side of the housing facing the valve body, the inlet and/or the outlet is enclosed by a sliding seal, and wherein the sliding seal bears sealingly, under elastic preload, against that surface of the valve body facing the housing. |
US10704693B2 |
Cryogenic ferrofluid sealed rotary union
A rotary union that includes a heated ferrofluid seal is disclosed. The rotary union includes an inner rotating shaft, an intermediate rotating shaft and an outer rotating shaft. The inner rotating shaft is hollow to allow the flow of cryogenic fluid in one direction. The inner rotating shaft and the intermediate shaft are spaced apart to create a channel for the return of the cryogenic fluid. The intermediate rotating shaft is separated from the outer rotating shaft by a gap so as to reduce thermal conductivity. In this way, the temperature of the outer rotating shaft is greater than the temperature of the cryogenic fluid. A heated ferrofluid seal is disposed between the outer rotating shaft and the housing. |
US10704688B2 |
Preload and torsional backlash management for a continuously variable transmission device
A radially inner race and a radially outer race for a continuously variable transmission includes a first inner race structure and a second inner race structure spaced along an axis wherein at least one of the first inner race structure or the second inner race structure is axially movable. A sun shaft is coupled to the radially inner race and planetary members in rolling contact with the radially inner race, and a torsion damping mechanism is coupled to the first inner race structure to apply torque between the first inner race structure and the sun shaft to reduce a transition amplitude during a torque impulse. |
US10704687B2 |
Automatic transmissions and methods therefor
Systems and methods for controlling transmissions and associated vehicles, machines, equipment, etc., are disclosed. In one case, a transmission control system includes a control unit configured to use a sensed vehicle speed and a commanded, target constant input speed to maintain an input speed substantially constant. The system includes one or more maps that associate a speed ratio of a transmission with a vehicle speed. In one embodiment, one such map associates an encoder position with a vehicle speed. Regarding a specific application, an automatic bicycle transmission shifting system is contemplated. An exemplary automatic bicycle includes a control unit, a shift actuator, various sensors, and a user interface. The control unit is configured to cooperate with a logic module and an actuator controller to control the cadence of a rider. In one embodiment, a memory of, or in communication with, the control unit includes one or more constant cadence maps that associate transmission speed ratios with bicycle speeds. |
US10704684B2 |
Transmission parking system including neutral state maintaining lock and release device
A transmission parking system is provided. The system includes a parking gear and a parking rod that is connected with the parking gear. Additionally, a parking lever has a first end that is connected with the parking rod and the parking lever is installed rotatably around a control shaft. A detent return spring is wound around an exterior circumference of the control shaft, supports the parking lever, and provides elastic force to rotate the parking lever and return to an original position. A control lever is installed rotatably around the control shaft and is installed at an exterior side of the parking lever to allow user operation. A neutral state maintaining lock and release device is connected with the control lever and is changed to a neutral state lock or a neutral state release based on operation of the control lever. |
US10704679B2 |
Hydraulic control device
In a hydraulic control device, a first valve device is brought into an open state when a first value obtained by subtracting a value of a pressure in the first output side oil passage from a value of a pressure in the second output side oil passage is equal to or larger than a first threshold value. A second valve device is brought into an open state when an oil pressure in a third connection oil passage is equal to or larger than a second threshold value, and is brought into a closed state when the oil pressure in the third connection oil passage is smaller than the second threshold value. The first value is equal to or larger than the first threshold value and the first valve device is in the open state when the second valve device is in the closed state. |
US10704674B2 |
Shift device
When a lock bar is moved in a state in which a cam is rotated and an abutting face is abutted on a cam face of the cam, the abutting face is abutted on a circumferential face of the cam at a location excluding a lock bar moving direction position with respect to a center of rotation. Accordingly, a movement stroke of the lock bar with respect to a rotation angle of the cam can be increased. |
US10704673B1 |
Transmission with configurable shifter
A manual transmission includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and an aperture, and a shift lever assembly comprising a shift lever having a pivot ball. At least three shift lever sockets are coaxially disposed along the longitudinal axis and within the aperture, with each of the at least three shift lever sockets being configured to receive the pivot ball therein when the shift lever is disposed at a corresponding, different discrete longitudinal position along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. A first shift lever assembly comprises a cover plate and a shift tower supporting the shift lever, wherein the shift tower is substantially centered within a periphery of the cover plate. A second shift lever assembly has a shift tower offset from a center of the periphery of the cover plate. |
US10704671B2 |
Assisting element structure for paddle shifter of vehicle
An assisting element structure for a paddle shifter of a vehicle includes: an operating body having a centrally-disposed flange, with a first and second extending portions disposed at two ends of the operating body, respectively, the flange having therein a receiving chamber which the paddle shifter is fitted in; a groove corresponding in position to the first extending portion is concavely disposed on the flange, wherein a first through hole, a second through hole and a threaded hole are disposed at two ends and a middle of the groove, respectively, and a baffle corresponding in position to an inner wall of the second extending portion is disposed on the flange; a pressing element disposed in the groove and having two ends with a first and second elastic segments corresponding in position to the first and second through holes, respectively; and a screwing component disposed in the threaded hole. |
US10704670B2 |
Automotive transmission
An automotive transmission is provided that allows a driver to select a gear stage. The automotive transmission includes a knob and a lever that is vertically movable from a first position to a second position. A lever moving unit is coupled to the lever and a driving unit generates a driving force to move the lever moving unit. Additionally, the lever moving unit moves the lever between the first position, which is for operating the lever in a first gear shift sensing mode, and the second position, which is for operating the lever in a second gear shift sensing mode, in accordance with the driving force generated by the driving unit. |
US10704669B2 |
Planetary reduction gear ring gear for a turbine engine
A planetary reduction gear ring gear for a turbine engine, in particular of an aircraft, the ring gear extending about an axis (X) and including first and second coaxial annular elements and respectively two inner annular teeth oriented differently. The first and second annular elements include respectively first and second radially external annular flanges to secure the first and second elements to one another, the teeth of the first and second annular elements being axially spaced from one another and from a joint plane (P) of the first and second flanges, and defining between them an annular space externally delimited by two annular rims supporting respectively the flanges. At least one of the flanges includes joint plane notches that are substantially radial for the oil to pass through by centrifugation. The ring gear further includes an annular row of oil-retention walls protruding from the rims in the space. |
US10704666B2 |
Transmission
A transmission for a motor vehicle includes an electric motor. A rotor shaft is connected in a torque-proof manner to a rotor of the electric motor. At least one bearing directly supports the rotor shaft. A transmission shaft is connected in a torque-proof manner to the rotor shaft. Both the transmission shaft and the rotor shaft are supported directly on a transmission component by the at least one bearing. |
US10704664B2 |
Differential gear device
In a differential gear device including: a differential casing rotatable about an axis and having a pair of through-holes; a pinion shaft accommodated within the differential casing and extending through the through-holes; a pair of pinion gears fitted on an outer circumferential surface of the pinion shaft such that the pinion gears are rotatable relative to the pinion shaft; a pair of side gears meshing with the pinion gears; and a pair of pinion washers interposed between the differential casing and the respective pinion gears, each of the pinion washers has a retainer structure partially inserted through a gap formed between an inner circumferential surface of a corresponding one of the through-holes and the outer circumferential surface of the pinion shaft. The retainer structure is held in contact with a corresponding axial end face of the pinion shaft, to prevent axial movements of the pinion shaft. |
US10704660B2 |
Electrically driven device
An electrically driven device includes a housing, an electric motor with a drive shaft having a first rotary axis and a drive pin connected to the drive shaft eccentrically with respect to the rotary axis, and a driven shaft having a second rotary axis and mounted in the housing for performing a pivoting about the second rotary axis. The driven shaft is coupled to the drive shaft by a gear mechanism having a scotch yoke mechanism converting a rotary motion of the drive shaft into a reciprocating pivoting motion of the driven shaft. The scotch yoke mechanism includes a cross slider receiving the drive pin and having a sliding support extending perpendicular to the first rotary axis. The cross slider is guided in the housing by at least two elastically deformable elements. The driven shaft is coupled to the cross slider by a pivotable crank arm, converting a rotary motion of the drive shaft into a reciprocating of the driven shaft. |
US10704657B2 |
Continuously variable transmission
Components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT) having a control system adapted to facilitate a change in the ratio of a CVT are described. In one embodiment, a control system includes a stator plate configured to have a plurality of radially offset slots. Various traction planet assemblies and stator plates can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. In some embodiments, the traction planet assemblies include planet axles configured to cooperate with the stator plate. In one embodiment, the stator plate is configured to rotate and apply a skew condition to each of the planet axles. In some embodiments, a stator driver is operably coupled to the stator plate. Embodiments of a traction sun are adapted to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. |
US10704653B2 |
Gearbox for a rack and pinion linear transmission and drillstand including a gearbox and a rack
A gearbox for a rack (6) and pinion (4) linear transmission, said gearbox further including—a reduction gear train (1-4) having at least a first (1), a second (2), a third (3), and a fourth gear wheel (4), where the fourth gear wheel is the pinion (4) for rotary engagement with the rack (6); a rotary input shaft (7) operatively connected to the gear train (1-4) to effect a linear relative movement between the rack (6) and the pinion (4); and an intermediate shaft (8) on which the first (1) and the second (2) gear wheel are fixed; the third gear wheel (3) being fixed on the input shaft (7), the fourth gear wheel (4) being journalled to enable it to rotate freely on the input shaft (7) and constituting the pinion (4), and the first gear wheel (1) and the fourth gear wheel (4) being in constant meshing engagement with each other. |
US10704649B2 |
Continuously variable transmission with radial drive
A continuously variable transmission in which a circular driver, positioned between and frictionally engaged with op posing surfaces of two oppositely rotatable disks, which are urged towards each other with a biasing mechanism, is mounted to, and is movable axially along, a drive shaft which extends radially from an input shaft which rotates the drive shaft about a longitudinal axis of the input shaft, and wherein output drive is taken from the disks via a speed balancing system. |
US10704647B2 |
Tension controlling apparatus for catenary structure equipment
A tension controlling apparatus for catenary structure equipment, which adjusts tension of a horizontal wire horizontally arranged between two main pole units installed leaving a certain distance includes a starter unit which is connected to a first main pole unit of the two main pole units, and connects with a first end of the horizontal wire; and a turnbuckle unit which is connected to a second main pole unit of the two main pole units, connects with a second end of the horizontal wire, and adjusts the tension of the horizontal wire. |
US10704646B2 |
Bungee cord lock and method of use
A bungee cord lock includes a frame having a hook on one end thereof and a pair of channels and locking tabs for locking a bungee cord in place. The bungee cord lock can be used with a bungee cord for securing one or more articles. One type of bungee cord is a strap having a dog bone cross sectional profile. |
US10704644B2 |
Vehicle wheel balance weights
A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim that includes a mass portion formed of nonlead material and a clip is presented. The clip has an extended portion for engaging the wheel rim and an attachment portion juxtaposed to the mass portion. In addition, an injection molded outer casing surrounds the mass portion. The mass portion and the attachment portion of the clip are embedded in the casing, but the extended portion of the clip extends outwardly from and is external to the casing. |
US10704641B2 |
Baffle for damper with electromechanical valve
A shock absorber includes a pressure tube forming a working chamber. A reserve tube is concentric with and radially outward from the pressure tube. A baffle is positioned radially outward from the pressure tube. A reservoir chamber is formed between the reserve tube and the baffle. A piston is attached to a piston rod and slidably disposed within the pressure tube. A rod guide is attached to the pressure tube and supports the piston rod. An electromechanical valve is positioned within the rod guide. A plurality of non-linear passageways are disposed between the baffle and at least one of the pressure tube and the reserve tube for transporting fluid between the electromechanical valve and the reservoir chamber. |
US10704639B2 |
Unidirectional particle damper for printed circuit boards and planar surfaces
An apparatus and system for attaining maximum unidirectional response to vibration damping of a printed circuit board (PCB) or other planar surface utilizing a defined travel displacement of a single tungsten (or other material) cylindrical rod in a single or plurality of sealed cylindrical chambers in a particle impact damper (PID). The single tungsten (or other material) cylindrical rod is not weighed down, constrained, encumbered within the chamber; accordingly, providing unrestricted freedom for the cylinder to quickly respond in a unidirectional direction at the first occurrence of excessive vibrational acceleration over 1G. The structure of a single cylindrical particle within a sealed cylindrical chamber also provides a path of minimum distance for the cylinder to travel before colliding with the ceiling or floor of the PID chamber. A plurality of cylindrical chambers can be arranged in a variety of patterns within the PID housing such as desired. The PID housing can be any shape such as a cube, a rectangular cuboid, a cylinder, sphere, triangular tetrahedron, triangular prism, polygon, toroid or any combination of shapes. |
US10704637B2 |
Bar pin bushing for vehicle suspension
A bar pin bushing assembly for connecting components including a bar pin having at least one end with at least one bore to receive a fastener, the bar pin having a central portion having a diameter that is greater than a width or diameter of the at least one end of the bar pin, a compressible rubber section having a uniform thickness positioned around the central portion of the bar pin, the compressible rubber section further extending around downwardly tapering surfaces adjacent the central portion of the bar pin, a plurality of outer metal shells mold bonded to the compressible rubber section, wherein when the bushing assembly is inserted into a hub, the plurality of outer metal shells are configured to radially compress the compressible rubber section to provide a precompressed bushing assembly. A method of assembling the bar pin bushing assembly is also disclosed. |
US10704635B2 |
Spring deflection control assembly
A spring assembly is provided which decreases the fatigue and wear on the springs of the assembly. The spring assembly includes upper and lower pistons separated by a substantially incompressible fluid. The lower piston is attached to one or more springs. The surface area of the upper surface of the lower piston is greater than the surface area of the lower surface of the upper piston. As such, the springs are deflected by a distance less than the distance traveled by the upper piston. By decreasing the length the springs are compressed, the springs are subject to less fatigue and wear. As a result, the life span of the springs is increased and the maintenance required of the spring assembly is minimized relative to that of typical spring assemblies. |
US10704629B2 |
Electric wear-adjusting device of a disc brake, a corresponding disc brake, and method for measuring and setting the air play and for measuring wear
An electric-wear adjusting device of a motor vehicle disc brake is provided for adjusting friction surface wear on the brake linings and brake disc of the disc brake having. having a brake application device, preferably with a rotary brake lever. The adjusting device includes an electric motor, a gear mechanism, and an output element. The output element is connected rotationally fixed to a clamping sleeve. The clamping sleeve has inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs on an inner side configured to cooperate with axial grooves of a threaded plunger of a wear-adjuster spindle unit. Also provided is a corresponding disc brake having the electric wear-adjusting device, and a method for measuring and setting air play and measuring wear of a disc brake having the electric wear-adjusting device. |
US10704614B2 |
Hybrid vehicle drive apparatus
A hybrid vehicle drive apparatus, including a prime-mover-output-shaft, a transmission-input-shaft and a motor-rotor provided therebetween, each rotatable around an axis-line, a first-clutch connecting/disconnecting the output-shaft and the motor, a second-clutch connecting/disconnecting the motor and the input-shaft, a case-member having a radially extending non-rotating-sidewall-member and a non-rotating-shaft-member extending around the axis-line, and a rotor-support-member having a rotating-shaft-member rotatably fitted on the non-rotating-shaft-member and a rotating-sidewall-member facing the non-rotating-sidewall-member and extending radially outward from the rotating-shaft-member, and cantilevering the rotor, wherein the first/second-clutch has first/second-plates alternately and rotatably arranged in the axial-direction, a clutch-hub supporting the first-plates movably in the axial-direction, and a clutch-drum supporting the second-plates movably in the axial-direction, the clutch-hub of the first-clutch is integrally rotatable with the output-shaft, the clutch-hub of the second-clutch is integrally rotatable with the input-shaft, and the clutch-drums of the first/second-clutches are a single-shared-clutch-drum and integrally rotatable with the rotor-support-member. |
US10704613B2 |
Actuator assembly and clutch assembly
An actuator assembly for being operated in the driveline of a motor vehicle comprises a drive unit for generating an operating force and a ramp unit drivable by the drive unit. The ramp unit comprises an abutment element, a first ring and a second ring. The first ring is drivable by the drive unit so as to rotate around a rotational axis (A) and a plurality of circumferentially distributed axial through-openings. In each of the axial through-openings two rollers are arranged of which respectively a first roller is axially supported against the abutment element and a second roller is axially supported against the second ring The second ring is configured to be held in a stationary component in a rotationally fixed and axially movable way and comprises a plurality of circumferentially distributed ramps which each cooperate with an associated roller. The ramps are configured such that rotatingly driving the rotatingly drivable first ring by the drive unit generates an axial movement of the second ring relative to the first ring. A clutch assembly can have such an actuator assembly. |
US10704609B2 |
Vehicle drive device with contact body contacting guide surface on clutch
The vehicle drive device includes the clutch being provided between the speed reducing mechanism and the differential device, and configured to be rotated integrally with the differential device, and moved in the rotation axis direction to engage with or release from the speed reducing mechanism, and the solenoid pin capable of contacting with and separating from the outer peripheral surface of the clutch, the guide groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the clutch so as to intersect in the rotation direction of the clutch, and the solenoid pin contacts the guide groove to thereby move the clutch. |
US10704607B2 |
Flexible coupling arrangements for drive systems
A flexible coupling arrangement includes an outer first member, an outer second member, and an outer flexible coupling. The outer flexible coupling is arranged to transmit torque between the outer first member and the outer second member while allowing at least one of angular misalignment and axial misalignment between the outer first member and the outer second member. The flexible coupling also includes an inner first member, an inner second member, and inner flexible coupling. The inner flexible coupling arranged to transmit torque between the inner first member and the inner second member while allowing at least one of angular misalignment and axial misalignment between the inner first member and the inner second member. The inner flexible coupling is positioned radially inward of the outer flexible coupling. |
US10704603B2 |
Method of assembling tapered roller bearing, and jig for use in the method
A cage assembly is moved in the axial direction to approach an inner ring from a small rib portion side. An inner ring assembly is constituted by causing tapered rollers of the cage assembly to climb over a small rib portion to be fitted on an inner raceway surface, and then is assembled to an outer ring. In this method, a jig is provided adjacent to the small rib portion. The jig includes recessed grooves that are formed in the outer peripheral portion of the jig and that enable contact of the respective tapered rollers. Each recessed groove has a recessed arcuate shape in cross section. The tapered rollers of the cage assembly are caused to slide radially outward along the recessed grooves, so that the diameter of cage is increased. Accordingly, the tapered rollers climb over the small rib portion to be fitted on the inner raceway surface. |
US10704598B1 |
Hydrostatic linear guideway
A hydrostatic linear guideway includes a rail, a slider coupled to the rail, and two load blocks disposed between the rail and the slider. A load portion of each load block is spaced from the groove wall of an outer groove of the rail and has an oil chamber facing toward the groove wall of one respective outer groove of the rail, such that an oil film is formed between the rail and each load block. A bearing portion of each load block is abutted against the groove wall of an inner groove of the slider so that the two load blocks are moved synchronously with the slider. Thus, the hydrostatic linear guideway of the present invention has the oil chamber defined in each load block and does not require additional processing of the slider, achieving the purpose of reducing the difficulty of the manufacturing process. |
US10704594B2 |
Rolling deep groove ball bearing
A rolling deep groove ball bearing includes a bearing outer ring (1), a bearing inner ring (2), a plurality of large rolling balls (3) and special-shaped rollers (4), where the large rolling balls (3) and special-shaped rollers (4) are arranged between the bearing inner ring (1) and the bearing outer ring (2), and the large rolling balls (3) and the special-shaped rollers (4) are arranged at intervals. For the rolling deep groove ball bearing, the rolling balls (3) and the bearing raceway realize the pure rolling, where high linear velocity is subjected; the bearing capacity is large; the noise is low; the reliability is high and the service life is long. The deep groove ball bearing has no gap for installing balls and is simply assembled. |
US10704592B2 |
Hinge system for airfoil
A foil hinge system for a hydrofoil or airfoil includes a main foil body 1, substantially extending in a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T, a flap 2 hinged to the main foil body 1 arranged on a longitudinal end side of the main foil body 1, and a flexible element 3 connecting the main foil body 1 and the flap 2. Several rigid structures 4, 5 are arranged in such a manner on the flexible element 3, that they provide a dead stop when the flap 2 is in a maximum deflection with respect to the main foil body 1. |
US10704590B2 |
Half thrust bearing
Provided is a semi-annular shaped half thrust bearing. The half thrust bearing has a sliding surface and a back surface opposite to the sliding surface. The sliding surface includes a plurality of recesses. Each recess has a recess surface recessed from the sliding surface toward the back surface. The recess surface is convex toward the back surface in cross-sectional view in a center line direction of the half thrust bearing. The recess surface includes a plurality of grooves. The grooves are recessed from the recess surface toward the back surface. The grooves extend in the center line direction so that smooth surfaces and the grooves are alternately arranged on the recess surface in a horizontal direction of the half thrust bearing. |
US10704589B2 |
Wire thread insert with redress mounting tang as well as its manufacturing and installation
A wire thread insert comprises besides a cylindrical helix consisting of a plurality of coils a moving tang projecting into the interior of the helix for installing the wire thread insert into a receiving thread. The wire thread insert is connected to the cylindrical helix via a bending portion such that the moving tang can be redressed into the receiving thread after installation of the wire thread insert. The wire thread insert is installed by means of an installation tool with a mounting spindle, which installs the wire thread insert in the receiving thread via a moving shoulder and the moving tang. A compression blade provided at the mounting spindle bends the moving tang back into the receiving thread while the mounting spindle is removed from the installed wire thread insert. |
US10704586B2 |
Manually operable locking device
A locking device for releasable locking with a counter body, having a base body, which is connected together with an add-on element and a connection element, and actuation means. One or more slides are fastened to the actuation means, which exert a relative movement to the locking device, whereby the slides are able to be brought into contact with the locking means and these can be transferred into a counter geometry of the counter body. Here, the actuation means remain in their respective position due to the return springs of the locking means and of the tension resulting therefrom as well as of a frictional resistance between locking means and slides. An automatic securing device is provided as secondary securing, designed as a spring-loaded securing bolt for securing the position of the actuation means and prevents unintentional opening of the locking device. |
US10704583B2 |
Cable staple assembly and system
Frangible connectors can extend between and can alone couple adjacent insulator bodies together. The insulator bodies can also include counteracting frangible connectors that can be spaced from and coupled solely to a single one of the plurality of insulator bodies. The counteracting frangible connectors provide a counteracting shearing operation, which can help counteract the counterclockwise rotational movement that the frangible connectors tend to impart as they are sheared. The insulator bodies can be mounted on staples. The insulator bodies can have an upper bridge profile and the staples can have a lower crown profile opposing the upper bridge profile. The lower crown profile and the upper bridge profile can have opposite end portions that engage each other and can have central portions that are simultaneously spaced from each other to provide a central space between corresponding central portions of the insulator bridge and the staple crown. |
US10704582B2 |
Blind fasteners
A fastener includes a sleeve, a core bolt, and an insert. The sleeve includes a first portion having a first inner diameter, a second portion having a second inner diameter, and a step intermediate the first and second portions. The core bolt includes a cylindrical portion having a first diameter, a threaded portion having a major diameter, and a thread run-out intermediate the cylindrical and threaded portions. The insert is disposed within the sleeve and is sized and shaped to be retained between the step of the sleeve and the thread run-out of the core bolt when the fastener is in a pre-installation position. The fastener compresses the insert between the step of the sleeve and the thread run-out of the core bolt by an installation motion of the core bolt. The insert deforms away from the core bolt to initiate formation of a bulb in response to the compression. |
US10704578B2 |
Fastening device
A fastening device, in particular, is part of a fastening system for detachably fixing components (42,44) to one another, such as wall coverings to walls, preferably in the field of interiors. The fastening device has a support part (2) including a support plate (12) with protruding closure elements (24) on one side and a protruding fixing part (4) with a fixing structure (26) on the other, opposite side (8). The fixing part (4) has an axial length preferably less than or equal to each radial length of the support part (2) extending transversely to it. The fixing structure (26) of the fixing part (4) is self-locking or self-tapping. The support plate (12) has a cut-out (36) for applying an operating tool. The cut-out extends from the support plate (12) into the fixing part (4) and is free by the closure elements (24). |
US10704562B2 |
Centrifugal fan and heating device provided therewith
The present invention relates to a centrifugal fan comprising a fan housing with a radial outlet opening arranged in a radial peripheral wall thereof, a rotor arranged rotatably in the fan housing and provided close to an axial rotation axis thereof with a rotor inflow opening, wherein the fan housing is provided close to the rotation axis of the rotor with an axial inlet opening, and a tube part which extends in the fan housing from the radial outlet opening arranged in the radial peripheral wall and inward along the radial peripheral wall. The invention further relates to a heating device comprising a burner with a fuel mixture infeed opening, a centrifugal fan according to the invention, and wherein a fluid connection is provided between the fuel mixture infeed opening of the burner and the outlet opening of the centrifugal fan. |
US10704556B2 |
Motor, turbocharger and assembly method turbocharger
An turbocharger with an electric motor (30) includes a housing (33), stator (32), and motor rotor. The housing (33) has first stator fixing section (131) and a second stator fixing section (132) formed in an inner peripheral surface of the housing (33) that fixes the stator (32) in the housing. The stator (32) has a first fixed section (121) formed in an outer peripheral surface of the stator (32) fitted to the first stator fixing section (131) and a second fixed section (122) that has a smaller outer diameter than the first fixed section (121) fitted to the second stator fixing section (132) in an outer peripheral surface of the stator (32). A large clearance section having a space is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the housing and the outer peripheral surface of the stator. The instant invention allows precise positioning of the stator and improved heat conduction. |
US10704555B2 |
Stator-side member and vacuum pump
The invention provides a stator-side member which is arranged in a vacuum pump and which, without the provision of a heat insulation material, prevents the deposition of products at the lower side of a threaded groove pump unit, with this lower side being an area of high pressure where the deposition of products (deposits) occurs easily, and also provides a vacuum pump equipped with this stator-side member. A threaded groove spacer configured to have a coefficient of thermal conductivity lower than a predetermined value is arranged in a vacuum pump equipped with a threaded groove pump unit. (1) The threaded groove spacer is manufactured from a material having a coefficient of thermal conductivity lower than that of a member which opposes or comes into contact with the threaded groove spacer. Specifically, this material has a coefficient of thermal conductivity lower than that of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and is preferably any one of stainless steel, fiber-reinforced plastic, polyetherimide, and polyetheretherketone. (2) The threaded groove spacer is constituted by at least two or more parts. |
US10704554B2 |
Cross-flow fan
A cross-flow fan made of resin includes first and second fan blocks joined together. The first fan block includes a first support plate, plural first blades connected to the first support plate, and a first outer peripheral ring having a first ring portion that interconnects outer ends of the plural first blades. The second fan block includes a second support plate, plural second blades having second one-side distal ends connected to the second support plate, and a second outer peripheral ring having a second ring portion that interconnects outer ends of the plural second blades adjacent second other-side distal ends of the plural second blades. The second other-side distal ends of the plural second blades are joined to the first support plate, and the first support plate and the second outer peripheral ring are disposed adjacent to each other. |
US10704549B2 |
Screw compressor having a discharging passage with enlarged cross section area
A screw compressor includes: a male rotor 2 and a female rotor 3 including a rotor tooth section 21, 31 that has multiple helical teeth, the male rotor 2 and the female rotor 3 rotating in engagement with each other; a casing 4 including a main casing 41 with a bore 45 formed to accommodate the male rotor 2 and the female rotor 3, and a discharge-side casing 43 closing a discharge side of the bore 45; and a discharge passage 60 including a discharge port 61 that opens in a rotational axis direction of the male rotor 2 and the female rotor 3 on a bore side surface of the discharge-side casing 43, compressed gas flowing from the discharge port 61 circulating in the discharge passage 60. The male rotor 2 and the female rotor 3 are configured such that a discharge-side end surface 21a, 31a of the rotor tooth section 21, 31 serves as a discharge-side distal end of the male rotor 2 or the female rotor 3 in the rotational axis direction. The discharge passage 60 includes an enlarged flow passage section 63 formed such that the enlarged flow passage section 63 extends from the discharge port 61 in the rotational axis direction of the male rotor 2 and the female rotor 3 and that a flow passage cross-sectional area is gradually enlarged from the discharge port 61 to a downstream side in a compressed gas flow direction. |
US10704548B2 |
Co-rotating scroll compressor having back pressure structure
A co-rotating scroll compressor is provided in which pressure differences between inner and outer portions of a suction chamber are maintained, back pressures are applied to rear surfaces of end plates of a drive scroll and a driven scroll in directions in which the two scrolls are moved toward each other to prevent compression leakage of a fluid, and a lubricant oil is easily supplied to the two scrolls using the back pressures. The co-rotating scroll compressor may include pressure seals between the rear surfaces of the end plates of the drive scroll and the driven scroll and an inner wall of the suction chamber such that the two scrolls are pressed in directions to be moved toward each other by the back pressures, and the oil is supplied to rotary supports and close contact portions of the two scrolls using the back pressures. |
US10704545B2 |
Electric inflator
An electric inflator for connecting and inflating an inflatable device includes a shell, a drive motor configured on the axis of the shell, at least one air bag is configured in the shell and around the drive motor, an air outlet of the air bag connected to an inflatable device, and a pressing mechanism connected to an output portion of the drive motor. The air bag is pressed by the pressing mechanism driven by the drive motor for supplying air to the inflatable device. An inner space of the shell can be fully utilized thereby the size of the electric inflator is smaller than before. At the same time, an inner cavity of the air bag can be bigger than before to improve inflating efficiency, which increases portability and practicability of the electric inflator and the inflatable device equipped with the electric inflator. |
US10704544B2 |
Fluid transportation device
A fluid transportation device for transportation fluid comprises a valve main body, a valve chamber base, a valve membrane, an actuator and a cover body, and locked and positioned by several locking elements, the electrically conductive locking elements are correspondingly penetrated through the penetration holes of the valve main body, the valve chamber base and the vibration plate of the valve membrane to lock with the corresponding screw holes, and a plurality of thread grooves respectively disposed on the vibration plate, the valve main body and the valve chamber base are corresponding to two thread grooves of the cover body, and an electrode lead of the piezoelectric element is embedded into the two thread grooves of the cover body and embedded into the thread grooves of the vibration plate, valve main body and the valve chamber base, so that the fluid transportation device is assembled. |
US10704539B2 |
Pump transmission carriage assembly
A metering pump includes a motor having a motor shaft extending through a drive housing, a carriage assembly disposed around the motor shaft and within the drive housing, a plunger return block mounted to the carriage assembly, a piston disposed along an axis, and a carriage bearing disposed on the motor shaft and within the carriage assembly, slidably coupled to the carriage assembly, and configured to provide a second contact point for maintaining the alignment of the carriage assembly with the axis of the piston. The piston further includes a stroke adjuster mounted to the carriage assembly to provide a first contact point for maintaining the alignment of the carriage assembly with the piston, a drive shaft connected to the stroke adjuster, and a plunger connected to the drive shaft. The metering pump also includes a cam coupled to the motor shaft to rotate with the motor shaft and a bearing disposed around the cam to rotate therewith and to contact the stroke adjuster and the plunger return block. |
US10704532B2 |
Savonius wind turbines
A Savonius wind turbine includes a rotor assembly that rotates about a longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly includes at least two curved turbine blades extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and at least two support discs connected to the at least two curved turbine blades. At least one of the at least two support discs has at least one relief vent defined therein for allowing air to pass through the at least one support disc. The wind turbine may be provided with two rotor assemblies having their curved turbine blades arranged so that the rotor assemblies are driven to rotate in opposing rotational directions. |
US10704530B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating electricity
An energy generating device having a drum and at least one vane that is movable between a deployed state and a stowed state as the drum rotates to capture energy potential from flowing water and converting it to usable electrical and/or mechanical energy. The movable vanes can automatically retract when not in the flow of water and re-deploy when entering the flow of water over the drum. The present system can generate usable electricity or mechanical energy from slow but steadily flowing bodies of water without the need to dam, restrict, or alter the path of the water flow. |
US10704527B2 |
Apparatus and method for modifying a geometry of a turbine part
An apparatus is provided for modifying the geometry of at least one part of a turbine, which can include a shell assembly that includes an outer shell that is shaped to modify the shape of a pre-existing element of a turbine. The outer shell of the shell assembly can be composed of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material and can at least partially define an inner cavity. The outer shell can be bonded to a structure to modify the geometrical shape of that structure. Thereafter, a polymer casting can be injected into the inner cavity via at least one injection port attached to the shell assembly. In some embodiments, one or more stiffeners and/or a core can be positioned within the inner cavity to help improve the bonding of the polymer casting to the shell and/or improve a structural property of the apparatus. |
US10704525B2 |
Method and system for spark plug cleaning
Methods and systems are provided for controlling spark plug fouling in newly manufactured vehicles. In one example, an engine is operated with a first, more aggressive spark discharge schedule when in a pre-delivery state and transitioned to a second, less aggressive spark discharge schedule when in a post-delivery state. In each spark discharge schedule, a spark plug ignition coil is repeatedly discharged when the engine is off, such as when the engine is spinning down to rest on a shutdown event or before the engine is fueled on an engine restart event. |
US10704522B2 |
Ignition control device
An ignition control device includes a main ignition circuit to generate a spark discharge to a spark plug by controlling energization of a primary coil of an ignition coil for an internal combustion engine, an energy supply circuit that supplies energy based on a discharge continuation signal by controlling the energization of the primary coil during the spark discharge started by the operation of the main ignition circuit to supply a secondary current in the same direction as a main ignition continuously in a secondary coil of the ignition coil, a secondary current command circuit for outputting a command value of the secondary current based on the secondary current command signal, and an ignition control unit for setting signal values of the secondary current command signal and the discharge continuation signal. |
US10704521B2 |
Portable gasoline tool and electronic ignition system thereof
An electronic ignition system for a portable gasoline tool includes a voltage boosting device, a spark plug connected with an output of the voltage boosting device, a DC power source, and a controller electrically connected with the DC power source and connected with the voltage boosting device. The controller controls an ignition voltage and an ignition advance angle. A related portable gasoline tool includes a body, a cylinder located in the body, a piston movable to and fro within the cylinder, a crankshaft co-moved with the piston, and a flywheel located on the body and driven by the crankshaft to rotate. |
US10704515B2 |
Device for metering fuel
The invention relates to a device for metering two different liquid or gaseous fuels, comprising a nozzle element (4) in which a first pressure chamber (6) that can be filled with a first fuel is formed, wherein an outer nozzle needle (10) is received in the pressure chamber in a longitudinally movable manner. The outer nozzle needle (10) is equipped with a second pressure chamber (12) which can be filled with a second fuel and in which an inner nozzle needle (15) is arranged in a longitudinally movable manner, said inner nozzle needle interacting with an inner nozzle seal (16) formed in the outer nozzle needle (10) in older to open and close at least one inner injection opening (17). Furthermore, at least one outer injection opening (13) is provided which can be connected to the first pressure chamber (6), the at least one outer injection opening (13) being formed in the outer nozzle needle (10). |
US10704512B2 |
Segmented manifold head connectors
Intake manifold-cylinder head connectors and methods of assembling the same are disclosed. A distal jumper tube includes a distal jumper tube conduit with an upstream end having a first exterior engagement feature and a downstream end. A proximal jumper tube includes a proximal jumper tube conduit with an upstream end and a downstream end having a second exterior engagement feature. A middle jumper tube includes a middle jumper tube conduit with an upstream end having a third exterior engagement feature, and a downstream end having a fourth engagement feature. The first exterior engagement feature is removably coupled to the fourth exterior engagement feature, and the second exterior engagement feature is removably engaged to the third exterior engagement feature. The proximal jumper tube is in fluid receiving communication with an intake manifold conduit, and the distal jumper tube is in fluid providing communication with a cylinder head aperture. |
US10704508B2 |
Internal combustion engines, systems, devices, and methods for propulsion and power applications
Engines, systems, devices, software, and methods of the present invention provide increased fuel efficiency and emission performance. The engine may include a magnesium alloy cast engine block cast as a mono-block with or without a ceramic inner core and including one or more cylinders designed to provide compression ratio of 10:1 to 14:1. Each cylinder may include one or more laser igniters, one or more supercritical fuel injectors configured to inject the fuel near or in a supercritical state, and carbon dioxide, which may be in the form of engine exhaust gas. The fuel may be diesel, gasoline, or other suitable hydrocarbons that may be cracked into smaller molecules prior to be injected into the cylinder. |
US10704506B2 |
Methods and systems for EGR valve diagnostics
Methods and systems are provided for an EGR valve diagnostic. In one example, a method may include actuating an EGR valve between first and second positions. The method may further includes determining one or more characteristics of the EGR valve during the diagnostic to determine if an EGR valve cleaning is desired. |
US10704505B2 |
Methods and systems for a blow-off line
Methods and systems are provided for a close-coupled aftertreatment device. In one arrangement, a system may include an engine comprising separate first and second overall exhaust lines, where a blow-off line branches off of the second overall exhaust line, and where the close-coupled aftertreatment device is arranged in the blow-off line and configured to receive exhaust gases during at least a cold-start of the engine. |
US10704499B2 |
Method for operating a device for injecting water into an internal combustion engine
A method for operating a device for injecting water into an internal combustion engine, the device including a water tank for storing water, a pump for conveying the water, the pump being connected to the water tank via a first line, and the pump being operable in a conveying mode and in a back-suction mode, a drive for driving the pump, at least one water injector, which is configured to inject water into an air-conducting line of the internal combustion engine, the water injector being connected to the pump via a second line, the at least one water injector being opened during the operation of the pump in the back-suction mode, in which the water is conveyed in the direction of the water tank, so that air flows into the second line. |
US10704492B1 |
Piston for an internal combustion engine
A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a piston head having a central axis and a top surface. The top surface of the piston includes a piston bowl, a circumferentially extending recess located radially outside the piston bowl, a plurality of diverters located within the recess, and a crown portion located radially outside the recess and extending to an outer surface of the piston. |
US10704491B2 |
Piston cooling gallery shaping to reduce piston temperature
A piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes a lower part joined to an upper part, for example by friction welding with inertia. The upper part presents a combustion surface and an undercrown surface. The piston also includes a cooling gallery surface provided by the upper part and the lower part. The cooling gallery surface surrounds a volume of space for containing a cooling media. The piston can include serrations in the cooling gallery surface and/or undercrown surface to increase surface area and thus reduce the temperature of the piston. The piston can also include shaped weld curls, instead of or in addition to the serrations, which also increase surface area and reduce the temperature of the piston. |
US10704488B2 |
Method and device for controlling an injector
A method is disclosed for controlling an injector of a combustion engine. The injector includes an injection valve housing with an injection valve cavity, a valve needle axially movable within the injection valve cavity, a valve seat on which the valve needle rests in a closed position and from which the valve needle is lifted for an open position, and a spring element configured and arranged to exert a preload force on the valve needle acting to urge the valve needle in the closed position. A calibration value is provided, which is representative for the preload force. A base quantity is provided correlated to the fluid volume to be dispensed by the injector. A set-point opening time length is determined based on the calibration value and the base quantity. The valve needle of the injector is controlled to be in the opening position correlated to the set-point opening time length. |
US10704487B2 |
Method of controlling a solenoid actuated fuel injector
A method of controlling the operation of a solenoid activated fuel injector, actuator being operated by applying a activation pulse profile to the solenoid. The method includes measuring the voltage across, or current through, the solenoid during a time period of the valve closing phase, subsequent to a valve opening phase. The method also includes determining at least one parameter from the measuring step. The method also includes controlling and varying the activation pulse profile during a subsequent activation/fueling cycle of the fuel injector based on the parameter. |
US10704484B2 |
Controller and control method for internal combustion engine
A controller for an internal combustion engine includes processing circuitry configured to execute: a dither control process of operating fuel injection valves to designate at least one of cylinders as a lean combustion cylinder, in which an air-fuel ratio is leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and to designate at least another one of the cylinders as a rich combustion cylinder, in which an air-fuel ratio is richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio; and an idle-time limiting process of causing an absolute value of a difference between the air-fuel ratio in the lean combustion cylinder and the air-fuel ratio in the rich combustion cylinder to be smaller when the internal combustion engine is idling than when the internal combustion engine is not idling. |
US10704478B1 |
Systems and methods for improving vehicle engine stability
Methods and systems are provided for depressurizing a fuel tank of a vehicle by routing fuel tank vapors to an engine for combustion. In one example, a method may include reducing a pressure in the fuel tank by routing vapors from the fuel tank through a portion of a fuel vapor storage canister and, in response to an indication of a condition of degraded engine stability, re-routing the vapors from the fuel tank through an entirety of the fuel vapor storage canister. In this way, under conditions of degraded engine stability, a rate at which fuel tank vapors are directed to the engine may be reduced, which may thus mitigate the condition of degraded engine stability without aborting the operation to reduce the fuel tank pressure. |
US10704477B2 |
Method for crankcase ventilation in a boosted engine
Methods and systems are provided for enhancing crankcase ventilation in a boosted engine. During boosted conditions, a crankcase may be ventilated via vacuum generated at an aspirator coupled in a compressor bypass passage. However, when the aspirator is plugged, pressure in the crankcase may be relieved by flowing crankcase gases through an aspirator bypass passage. |
US10704470B2 |
Dual-fuel internal combustion engine
Dual-fuel internal combustion engine with at least two combustion chambers which have a different distance from at least one gas mixer for producing a gas-air mixture, whereby an inlet valve for the gas-air mixture and an injector for liquid fuel is assigned to each of the combustion chambers, and a control device is provided which is configured in a change-over mode to change an amount of energy supplied to the at least two combustion chambers through the gas-air mixture in a first direction, and to change an amount of liquid fuel supplied to the at least two combustion chambers in an opposite, second direction, whereby the control device is designed to determine a time for the change of the amount of liquid fuel in the second direction for each of the at least two combustion chambers according to the distance of the respective combustion chamber from the at least one gas mixer. |
US10704468B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling pre-diffuser airflow for cooling high pressure turbine components
A gas turbine engine is provided comprising a compressor section, a combustor section, a diffuser case module, and a manifold. The diffuser case module includes a multiple of struts within an annular flow path from said compressor section to said combustor section, wherein at least one of said multiple of struts defines a mid-span pre-diffuser inlet in communication with said annular flow path. The manifold is in communication with said mid-span pre-diffuser inlet and said compressor section. |
US10704467B2 |
Intercooled turbine with thermal storage system
The present application provides a thermal storage system for use with a gas turbine engine having an intercooler. The thermal storage system may include a secondary cooler in communication with the intercooler, a thermal energy storage tank in communication with the secondary cooler and the intercooler, and a temperature conditioning device positioned about the gas turbine engine and in communication with the thermal energy storage tank. |
US10704464B2 |
Acoustic nozzles for inlet bleed heat systems
The present application provides an acoustic nozzle for an inlet bleed heat system using a flow of compressor discharge air. The acoustic nozzle may include an outer casing, an acoustic attenuation medium within the outer casing, a number of exit apertures positioned in the outer casing, an air pipe in communication with the outer casing, and a reduced flow area positioned about the outer chamber and the air pipe for the flow of compressor discharge air. |
US10704463B2 |
Method of monitoring an engine able to operate with selective valve deactivation
A method is provided for monitoring the operation of intake valves of an internal combustion engine, where at least one or more cylinders of the engine have more than one intake valve, and adapted to operate in different modes where at least one of the intake valves for a particular cylinder can be selectively activated, or deactivated so as not to open during a firing sequence for the cylinder. The method includes a) monitoring the intake manifold air pressure; b) during a time window with respect to the intake phase for said respective cylinder, determining the condition of whether the manifold pressure drops by a threshold or to a particular threshold level; and c) determining the functionality of the intake valves dependent on the outcome of step b). |
US10704459B2 |
Turbocharger
A turbocharger includes a backflow passage that returns a part of gas flowing through a compressor wheel to a suction passage. The turbocharger includes an exhaust opening formed in a wall portion of an exhaust passage inside a compressor housing and that opens the exhaust passage to the outside of the compressor housing, a suction opening formed in a wall portion of the suction passage inside the compressor housing and that opens the suction passage to the outside of the compressor housing, and a backflow pipe of which one end is connected to the exhaust opening and the other end is connected to the suction opening and has the backflow passage inside thereof. In a state where the backflow pipe is removed from the exhaust opening and the suction opening, the suction opening is formed at a position at which the suction opening is visible when seen from a position opposite to the exhaust opening. |
US10704458B2 |
Methods and systems for a turbocharger
Methods and systems are provided for a compressor of an exhaust-gas turbocharger. In one example, a system may include where a housing of the compressor comprises two outlets, a first outlet shaped to direct compressed air to an electrically driveable compressor and a second outlet shaped to bypass compressed air around the electrically driveable compressor. |
US10704454B2 |
Control method of cooling system
A control method for a cooling system is provided. The system includes a vehicle operation state detecting portion having an ambient temperature sensor, first and second coolant temperature sensors, a coolant control valve unit that adjusts opening rates of first, second, and third coolant passages and a controller. The method includes determining whether an output signal of the ambient temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined an ambient low temperature driving condition and whether an output signal of the first coolant temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined first low temperature driving condition when the output signal of the ambient temperature sensor satisfies the predetermined the ambient low temperature driving condition. The coolant control valve unit opens the first and coolant passages and closes the second coolant passage when the output signal of the first coolant temperature sensor satisfies the predetermined first low temperature driving condition. |
US10704449B2 |
Systems and methods for equalizing backpressure in engine cylinders
An exhaust manifold comprises a plurality of exhaust intake conduits structured to be fluidly coupled to an engine and receive exhaust gas from a corresponding cylinder of the engine. At least one exhaust intake conduit provides a reduction in an exhaust intake conduit cross-sectional area from an inlet to an outlet. A plurality of bends are each defined by a respective one of the exhaust intake conduit outlets. An exhaust intake manifold is fluidly coupled to the exhaust intake manifold and defines an exhaust intake manifold flow axis. Each of the plurality of bends is shaped so as to define an angle of approach of exhaust gas flowing therethrough. A first angle of approach of the first bend relative to the exhaust intake manifold flow axis is smaller than a second angle of approach of an inner second bend. |
US10704448B2 |
Exhaust gas after-treatment mixing device and package therefor
The present application discloses an exhaust gas after-treatment mixing device including a first plate, a second plate and a mixer. The mixer includes a first space, a second space and a third space located between the first space and the second space. Top portions of the first space and the second space are in communication with the third space. The mixer includes a first raised portion protruding into the third space and a second raised portion located below the first raised portion. A fourth space is formed between the first raised portion and the second raised portion. As a result, the distance and time of urea evaporation is increased and the mixing uniformity is improved. Besides, a package with the exhaust gas after-treatment mixing device is also provided. |
US10704447B2 |
Internal combustion engine system
An internal combustion engine system includes at least one combustor, a compressor arranged to compress air, an air guide arranged to guide compressed air from the compressor to at least one of the at least one combustor, an expander arranged to expand exhaust gases from at least one of the at least one combustor and to extract energy from the expanded exhaust gases, and an exhaust guide arranged to guide exhaust gases from at least one of the at least one combustor to the expander, wherein the exhaust guide is at least partly integrated with the air guide. |
US10704442B2 |
Method for optimizing the consumption of reducing agent in a motor vehicle exhaust line
A process for optimizing the consumption of reducing agent in the form of ammonia in an exhaust line including first and second selective catalytic reduction systems, the second system being arranged downstream of the first system, being spaced apart by a spacing, a surplus of unused ammonia passing via the exhaust line, the temperature in the exhaust line at the second system being measured or estimated. When the temperature at the second system exceeds a first maximum value, or when a calculated rate of temperature rise is greater than a predetermined rate of rise, with the proviso that the temperature at the second system is greater than a second maximum value that is less than the first maximum value, forced cooling is carried out in the spacing between the first and second systems. |
US10704436B2 |
Internal combustion engine system and method for increasing the temperature in at least one part of the internal combustion engine system
An internal combustion engine system includes a cylinder block with a plurality of cylinders, a gas intake manifold for providing at least air to the cylinder block and an exhaust gas manifold for exiting the exhaust gas from the cylinder block, wherein the exhaust gas manifold includes at least a main exhaust gas outlet and a waste gate exhaust gas outlet, wherein the main exhaust gas outlet is connected to a main exhaust gas pipe for guiding the exhaust gas to a main exhaust gas after treatment system and the waste gate exhaust gas outlet is connected to a waste gate exhaust gas pipe, and wherein the waste gate exhaust gas pipe is reconnected to the main exhaust gas pipe upstream of the main exhaust gas after treatment system and includes at least one waste gate exhaust gas after treatment unit, such as an oxidation catalyst such as a diesel oxidation catalyst, for catalytically treating the exhaust gas streaming through the waste gate exhaust gas pipe, and to a method for increasing the temperature in an internal combustion engine system. |
US10704433B2 |
Engine oil warm up using inductive heating
Methods and systems are provided for preemptively heating engine oil prior to an engine start using an inductive heating mat. In one example, a method may include coupling a magnetic field between a primary coil housed in the inductive heating mat and a ferrous oil pan to inductively heat engine oil contained in the oil pan. While maintaining engine oil temperature above a threshold temperature, heated engine oil may then be circulated through engine components to warm up the engine prior to engine start. |
US10704430B2 |
Cam shaft phase setter comprising an annular reflux valve
A phase setter for adjusting the rotational angular position of a cam shaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The phase setter includes a stator; a rotor which together with the stator forms a first and second pressure chambers; a control valve featuring a pressure port, and first and second working ports; a feed for the inflow of pressure fluid to the pressure port, a first connecting channel connecting the first pressure chamber to the first working port, and a second connecting channel connecting the second pressure chamber to the second working port; and a reflux valve device acts in the feed and includes a valve structure extending annularly around the rotational axis and has one or more spring tongues or can be axially moved to restrict backflow of pressure fluid through the feed more significantly than the inflow of pressure fluid to the pressure port. |
US10704428B2 |
Heat transfer process
The use of a refrigerant in organic Rankine cycle systems including at least one hydrofluoroolefin, having at least four carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) R1CH═CHR2 in which R1 and R2 independently represent alkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, substituted with at least one fluorine atom, optionally with at least one chlorine atom. |
US10704424B2 |
Coated cooling passage
A component for a gas turbine engine includes a substrate with a substrate aperture and a coating on the substrate that extends a length of the substrate aperture. A liner assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a hot sheet with a multiple of apertures and a coating on the hot sheet that extends a length of each of the multiple of apertures. A method of forming an aperture to provide film cooling in a component of a gas turbine engine, includes forming a multiple of substrate apertures in a substrate. Each of the multiple of substrate apertures defines a substrate inner periphery. A coating is applied on the substrate after forming the multiple of substrate apertures to define a coating inner periphery at least partially within each of the multiple of substrate apertures. The coating inner periphery is smaller than the substrate inner periphery. |
US10704423B2 |
Diffuser for a turbine engine and method of forming same
A diffuser for a turbine engine includes a first wall that extends circumferentially about a centerline axis of the turbine engine. The diffuser also includes a second wall that extends circumferentially about the centerline axis. At least a portion of the second wall is positioned radially outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall. A flow path is defined by the first wall and the second wall. The flow path extends from an inlet configured to receive an axial flow of a fluid, to a circumferentially extending outlet configured to emit the fluid in a substantially radial direction. The outlet extends asymmetrically about the centerline axis. |
US10704421B2 |
Combustion liner tool
This disclosure provides tools for installing and removing a combustion liner in a combustion casing. A mounting frame has fasteners positioned circumferentially around an end casing surface of the combustion casing and removably attaches the mounting frame to the combustion casing. A positioning member has pushing surfaces and pulling surfaces distributed circumferentially around the combustion liner. An axial positioning mechanism engages the mounting frame and the positioning member along a common axis. The axial positioning mechanism incrementally positions the positioning member relative to the mounting frame by adjusting a positioning distance between the mounting frame and the positioning member. |
US10704414B2 |
Airfoil containment structure including a notched and tapered inner shell
A containment structure for surrounding a rotatable machine includes a double-walled inner shell having a forward end, an aft end, and a substantially cylindrical body extending therebetween. The inner shell includes an inner wall at least partially surrounding a bladed portion of the bladed rotor, and an outer portion that branches radially outward from the inner wall. The containment structure also includes a substantially cylindrical back sheet coupled to the outer portion and disposed radially outward of the inner wall. |
US10704413B2 |
Systems and methods for variable alignment aerodynamic probes
A variable alignment aerodynamic probe may comprise a probe body having a leading edge and extending radially into a vane case, a sensor element proximate the leading edge, and a bearing coupled to the probe body and the vane case. The probe body may be configured to rotate in response to a turned flow within the vane case. The rotation of the probe body may be configured to maintain an angle of attack of the leading edge with respect to the turned flow between 0° and 15°. |
US10704404B2 |
Seals for a gas turbine engine assembly
A gas turbine engine assembly adapted to separate a high pressure zone from a low pressure zone includes a pressure-activated seal. The pressure-activated seal is arranged in a channel formed between a first component and a second component that opens toward the high pressure zone. |
US10704402B2 |
Gas turbine engine with a transition duct and corresponding method of manufacturing a transition duct
A gas turbine engine having a combustor, turbine and transition duct to channel hot gas from combustor to turbine. The transition duct has an internal surface on which the hot gas impinges causing a varying temperature profile. A thermal barrier coating is located on the internal surface having a first and second thermal barrier coating patch. The first patch having a first thickness located on the internal surface and within a first area subject to a higher temperature than an uncoated part and bounded by a first isotherm of a first temperature. The second patch having a second thickness located on the internal surface and within a second area subject to a higher temperature than the uncoated part and bounded by a second isotherm of a second temperature. The second temperature is higher than the first temperature and the second thickness is thicker than the first thickness. |
US10704400B2 |
Rotor assembly with rotor disc lip
A rotor disc of a gas turbine rotor assembly is provided. The rotor disc may support a plurality of blades attached thereto. The rotor disc may have a plurality of fixing members defined therein through its peripheral surface and circumferentially spaced apart from one another. The fixing members may extend axially from a front end portion to a rear end portion of the disc. Profiled slots may be defined between pairs of adjacent ones of the fixing members and may be configured to receive complementary profiled blade root portions. A plurality of disc lips may project axially forward from a surrounding surface of the disc in the front end portion. A disc lip may be disposed at a tip portion of a fixing member, adjacent a leading edge of the disc to minimize air leakage at a disc/blade interface. A rotor assembly with such rotor disc and a plurality of blades attached thereto is also provided. |
US10704399B2 |
Adaptively opening cooling pathway
A hot gas path component of an industrial machine includes a cooling pathway. The component includes a body including an outer surface; a thermal barrier coating (TBC) over the outer surface, the TBC exposed to a working fluid having a high temperature; and an internal cooling circuit in the body carrying a cooling medium. A cooling pathway is in the body and in fluid communication with the internal cooling circuit. The cooling pathway includes a terminating end in the body and a length extending along and spaced internally from the outer surface by a first spacing. In response to a spall in the TBC occurring at a location over the cooling pathway and the high temperature reaching or exceeding a predetermined temperature of the body, the cooling pathway opens at the location through the first spacing to allow a flow of the cooling medium therethrough. |
US10704398B2 |
Airfoil having internal hybrid cooling cavities
Airfoil bodies having a first core cavity and a second core cavity located within the airfoil body and adjacent the first core cavity, wherein the second core cavity is defined by a first cavity wall, a second cavity wall, a first exterior wall, and a second exterior wall, wherein the first cavity wall is located between the first and second core cavities. The first cavity wall includes a first surface angled toward the first exterior wall and a second surface angled toward the second exterior wall. At least one first cavity impingement hole is formed within the first surface. At least one circuit exit is located in the first exterior wall, the at least one circuit exit arranged to expel air from the second core cavity through the first exterior wall. |
US10704396B2 |
Dual-wall impingement cavity for components of gas turbine engines
Components for gas turbine engines are provided. The components include a hot external wall that is exposed to hot gaspath air when installed within a gas turbine engine, and an interior impingement wall, wherein the interior impingement wall defines a feed cavity and at least one impingement cavity is defined between the impingement wall and the external wall. The impingement wall includes a plurality of impingement holes that fluidly connect the feed cavity to the at least one impingement cavity, the external wall includes a plurality of film holes that fluidly connect the at least one impingement cavity to an exterior surface of the external wall, and wherein the only source of cooling air within the at least one impingement cavity is the feed cavity. |
US10704390B2 |
Housing wheel engine with method of epitrochoid
Disclosed herein is a revised version of housing wheel engine with method of hypotrochoid that patented U.S. Pat. No. 7,730,869. It keeps the main functions and also provides not only cases Rr≥3 but also cases Rr2 and Rr1, which means it has been able to develop engines as well as four pistons and two pistons, which the previous version cannot do. |
US10704386B2 |
Wave reflection suppression in pulse modulation telemetry
A method including receiving a waveform, identifying the presence of a pulse in the waveform, and subtracting a reflection template from the received waveform when a pulse is present in the waveform to obtain a corrected waveform, is presented. The method may further include reading the corrected waveform using a digital processing protocol and adjusting a drilling parameter according to the reading. A device configured to perform a method as above is also provided. A method as above, further including modifying a drilling parameter in a wellbore based on the reading of a pulse sequence including the waveform is also provided. |
US10704382B2 |
Polymeric tracers
Tracing subterranean fluid flow includes providing a first polymeric tracer to a first injector, collecting a first aqueous sample from a first producer, and assessing the presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample. The first polymeric tracer includes a first polymer formed from at least a first monomer. The presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample is assessed by removing water from the first aqueous sample to yield a first dehydrated sample. pyrolyzing the first dehydrated sample to yield a first gaseous sample, and assessing the presence of a pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample. The presence of the pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample is indicative of the presence of a first subterranean flow pathway between the first injector location and the first producer location. |
US10704378B2 |
Well monitoring
Downhole water level detecting apparatus for detecting the level of water in a formation in the region of a well installation. The detecting apparatus includes a transmitter for applying electrical signals to a signaling loop at a first location. The signaling loop includes a downhole metallic structure of the well installation and an earth return. The detecting apparatus also includes a detector for monitoring electrical signals in the signaling loop, and an evaluation unit arranged for determining a level of water in the formation relative to the downhole metallic structure in dependence on the monitored signals. |
US10704377B2 |
Well monitoring with optical electromagnetic sensing system
A method of monitoring a substance in a well can include disposing at least one optical electromagnetic sensor and at least one electromagnetic transmitter in the well, and inducing strain in the sensor, the strain being indicative of an electromagnetic parameter of the substance in an annulus between a casing and a wellbore of the well. A system for monitoring a substance in a well can include at least one electromagnetic transmitter, and at least one optical electromagnetic sensor with an optical waveguide extending along a wellbore to a remote location, the sensor being positioned external to a casing in the wellbore. |
US10704373B2 |
Storing and de-liquefying liquefied natural gas (LNG) at a wellsite
A method and a system for pressurizing a reservoir volume including fluid in a formation with a parent well extending through the formation includes storing liquefied natural gas (LNG) at an on-site location of the parent well, de-liquefying the LNG to form natural gas at the on-site location, and injecting the natural gas into the parent well to pressurize the reservoir volume through the parent well. |
US10704370B2 |
Single-well gas-assisted gravity drainage process for oil recovery
Disclosed is a less expensive, more efficient process for enhanced oil recovery, particularly useful in high cost environments such as offshore. This process is known as single well gas assisted gravity drainage (SW-GAGD). The process comprises the steps of drilling from a single wellbore one or more horizontal laterals near the bottom of a payzone and injecting a fluid displacer such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide through injection points. The injectant sweeps the oil and other produced fluids in the reservoir towards other producing perforations in the single well. |
US10704366B2 |
Method and apparatus for installing a liner and bridge plug
A liner and bridge plug are installed in a hydrocarbon well that has a casing and a section to be lined by the liner. The liner and bridge plug are installed by providing a tubing string that carries a bridge plug and a liner setting tool, the liner setting tool carrying a liner, inserting the tubing string into the hydrocarbon well until the liner is at a desired location along the casing, activating the liner setting tool to install the liner, activating the bridge plug to seal the wellbore and disengaging the tubing string from the bridge plug and the liner. |
US10704363B2 |
Tubing or annulus pressure operated borehole barrier valve
An operating system for a barrier valve or safety valve is responsive to increments in annulus or tubing pressure. An indexing device controls valves that selectively direct pressure applied to one side of an operating piston or the other for attaining the open and closed positions of the barrier valve. One such indexing device can be a j-slot. Other devices that operate a pair of hydraulic valves in tandem for pressure direction to one side of an actuation piston or another are contemplated. The system needs no electric power and there are no control lines needed to run below the production packer in the case of using annulus pressure to actuate the piston or at all if access to tubing pressure is provided from the vicinity of the barrier valve components. |
US10704358B2 |
Device and method for opening and stopping a toe valve
A downhole tool for connecting an interior of a casing to a formation, the downhole tool including an inner housing extending along a longitudinal axis X; an outer housing that encloses the inner housing and forms first to fourth chambers; a first piston that separates the first and second chambers; a second piston that separates the third and fourth chambers; a port that is configured to fluidly communicate an outside and inside of the downhole tool; and a stopping mechanism that prevents the second piston from opening the port. The second piston is positioned to separate the port into an outer portion and an inner portion to interrupt a fluid communication between the outside and inside of the downhole tool. |
US10704357B2 |
Device and method for opening and stopping a toe valve
A downhole tool for connecting an interior of a casing to a formation, the downhole tool including an inner housing extending along a longitudinal axis X; an outer housing that encloses the inner housing and forms first and second chambers; a piston that separates the first and second chambers; a port that fluidly communicates an outside and inside of the downhole tool; and a stopping mechanism that prevents the piston from opening the port. The piston interrupts the fluid communication between the outside and inside the downhole tool. |
US10704345B2 |
Method and apparatus for the recovery of drilling fluid from shaker tailings during active drilling
A system and method for recovering drilling fluid from shaker tailings includes a hopper and a cover that is pivotable between a first position in which the hopper is uncovered and a second position in which the hopper is covered. In the first position, the hopper receives the tailings, which are pumped via a low shear pump to a centrifuge. The drilling fluid extracted in the centrifuge is stored in a holding tank. In the second position, the cover is angled with respect to the direction of gravity so as to divert shaker tailings from being received in the hopper. Some fluid from the holding tank is sprayed into the hopper through nozzles to convey the deposited tailings toward the pump. A level detector senses the level of the mixture in the hopper, and an associated control system controls the pump speed and the cover position to control the operation. |
US10704342B2 |
Hydraulic actuator with integral torque turn monitoring
An actuator assembly with integrated torque turn monitoring is described. Embodiments include a rotationally fixed outer hydraulic section and a rotationally independent inner hydraulic section which incorporates torque load sensors, axial load sensors, and rotational speed sensors directly into the inner hydraulic section. The inner hydraulic section is coupled to an outer cage by a cage ring and is axially movable relative to the inner mandrel. Upper and lower fluid chambers are disposed between the outer housing assembly and the inner mandrel. Fluid pumped through a lower pressure port into the lower chamber moves the housing assembly in a first direction, and fluid pumped through an upper pressure port into the upper fluid chamber moves the housing assembly in a second direction. |
US10704337B2 |
Side-saddle cantilever mast
A side saddle slingshot drilling rig includes a right substructure and a left substructure, the substructures positioned generally parallel and spaced apart from each other. The right substructure includes a right lower box and a first strut, the first strut pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor and pivotably coupled to the right lower box. The left substructure includes a left lower box and a second strut, the second strut pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor and pivotably coupled to the left lower box. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig also includes a drill rig floor, the drill rig floor including a V-door. The side of the drill rig floor has the V-door defining the V-door side of the drill rig floor, the V-door side of the drill rig floor parallel to the right substructure. The side saddle slingshot drilling rig further includes a mast, the mast including an open side defining a mast V-door side. The open side is oriented to face perpendicular to the right substructure. The mast is pivotably coupled to the drill rig floor by one or more mast pivot points and one or more lower mast attachment points, the mast being pivotable in a direction parallel to the V-door side of the drill rig floor or the mast being pivotable in a direction perpendicular to V-door side of the drill rig floor. The mast includes two or more subunits, wherein the two or more subunits are pinned together. |
US10704333B2 |
Metal matrix composite drill bits with reinforcing metal blanks
A reinforcing metal blank may be used to form metal matrix composite (MMC) drill bits. For example, an MMC drill bit may include a shank attached to a reinforcing metal blank that extends into a bit body comprising a metal matrix composite, wherein the reinforcing metal blank comprises reinforcing structures that are positioned along at least a portion of an inner surface and/or at least a portion of an outer surface of the reinforcing metal blank and extend into the metal matrix composite; and a plurality of cutting elements coupled to an exterior portion of the bit body. |
US10704331B2 |
Reamer for use in drilling operations
The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs axisymmetric to an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provide a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer. |
US10704328B2 |
Retention system for bottom hole assembly and whipstock
Methods and apparatus for releasing a lead mill of a BHA from a whipstock in a wellbore include slideably releasing the BHA from the whipstock without relative rotation and without destruction of a retractable bolt. A system includes: a bias mechanism; a retractable bolt at least partially disposed in the bottom hole assembly and biased to a retracted position by the bias mechanism; and a retraction actuator capable of selectably opposing the bias of the retractable bolt. A method includes: coupling a whipstock to a BHA with a retention system, including: a retractable bolt biased to retract into the BHA; and a retraction actuator configured to resist the bias of the retractable bolt; and after the whipstock and BHA have been disposed in a wellbore, activating the retraction actuator so that retraction of the retractable bolt ensues. |
US10704327B2 |
Drilling assembly having a tilted or offset driveshaft
A drilling assembly includes a straight housing in which a mud motor assembly is mounted. The mud motor includes a rotor that rotates within a stator. The rotor has an axial centerline substantially parallel with the housing. A drivetrain is coupled between the rotor and a driveshaft. The driveshaft is coupled to a drill head. The driveshaft has a centerline that is non-coincident with (i.e., offset or angled) the axial centerline. The angle between the driveshaft centerline and the axial centerline may be fixed or variable. The angle may be variable in response to an axial force, imparted to the rotor, that is transferred to the driveshaft through the drivetrain. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
US10704314B2 |
Automatic safety window apparatus and system
An automatic safety window apparatus comprising: an alarm and transmitter unit located remotely from the window unit, the alarm and transmitter unit configured to transmit an open window signal when a threshold level of a gas or smoke is reached and to initiate an alarm; a window unit configured to attach to the interior of a window and face the interior of a room the window is located in, the window unit comprising: a chain actuator, the chain actuator comprising a chain that can exert a pushing force; a fan housing; a control board located in the fan housing, the control board comprising a receiver and a CPU, the CPU in signal communication with the receiver, and CPU in signal communication with the chain actuator, and the receiver in wireless communication with the alarm and transmitter unit, the CPU configured to transmit a signal to the chain actuator to open the window sash when the receiver receives an open window signal from the alarm and transmitter unit; wherein the chain actuator is configured to open the window sash via the chain exerting a pushing force on the window sash. |
US10704313B2 |
Door closer
A door closer with an electric motor-assisted closing feature, that may generate its own power to assist in closing, and controls the speed of opening and closing of the door during generation is disclosed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are realized by a motorized door closer that electrically creates a latch boost force for a closing door. The door closer includes a motor disposed to operatively connect to a door so that the door will be moved toward closed when the motor moves, and a position sensor to determine a position of the door. A processor is programmed to exert a closing force on the door in the latch boost region or when it otherwise detects that a motor assist is needed. |
US10704312B2 |
Door alignment systems and methods
A door alignment system includes a first alignment member secured to one of a first door or a structure connected to the first door, and a second alignment member secured to the other of the first door or the structure. The first alignment member is configured to couple to the second alignment member when the first door is in a closed position relative to the structure in order to prevent the first door from binding in relation to the structure. The first alignment member is configured to be separated from the second alignment member when the first door is in an open position relative to the structure. |
US10704308B2 |
Window balance assembly
A window balance assembly may include a carrier, a spring element, and a mounting bracket. The spring element may include first and second portions. The first portion may be coupled to the carrier. The mounting bracket may engage the second portion of the spring element and may selectively engage the carrier. |
US10704307B1 |
Adjustable receiver for appliance hinge
In accordance with one aspect of the present development, an adjustable receiver for an associated appliance hinge includes a base adapted to be secured to an associated appliance body. A first cross-member is connected to the base and is movable relative to the base. The first cross-member provides a first hinge mounting structure for an associated appliance hinge. A second cross-member is connected to the base and is movable relative to the base. At least one link extends between and interconnects the first and second cross-members. The first and second cross-members and the at least one link define an adjustable hinge mount that is selectively movable relative to the base along an adjustment axis. The adjustable receiver further includes an adjustment system for selectively altering a position of the adjustable hinge mount relative to the base along the adjustment axis. |
US10704304B2 |
Memory levers for latch mechanisms of vehicle compartment closure assemblies
Latch mechanisms for vehicle compartment closure assemblies, methods for making or using such latch mechanisms, and motor vehicles with a latch system for sensing latching/unlatching of a closure assembly are presented. A latch mechanism includes a forkbolt that attaches to the vehicle body and moves between a latched position, engaging a striker and thereby latching a compartment closure assembly in a closed position, and an unlatched position, disengaging the striker. A detent lever attaches to the vehicle body adjacent the forkbolt and moves between a locked position, locking the forkbolt in the latched position, and an unlocked position, disengaging the forkbolt. A memory lever adjacent the forkbolt moves between a catching position, retaining the detent lever in the unlocked position, and a releasing position, disengaging the detent lever. The forkbolt, when moving from the unlatched to the latched position, moves the memory lever from the catching to the releasing position. |
US10704300B2 |
Device and method for locking a motor vehicle door closed in response to a side impact
A locking device is provided for a motor vehicle door. The locking device includes a body having a base, a stake, a lever, a gusset and a rotational axis. A method of locking a motor vehicle door closed in response to a side impact is also provided. |
US10704298B2 |
Panic exit device and door handle
An exit device comprises an inner door handle adapted to be mounted to a door for movement relative to the door from a first position to a second position. A pair of brackets are adapted to be operatively connected between the respective ends of a horizontal portion and a vertical portion of the door handle. Each bracket comprises a first bracket member secured to the door handle, a second bracket member adapted to be secured to the door, and a pin for joining the first bracket member and the second bracket member for rotation about an axis through the pin. The first bracket member and the second bracket member pivot relative to one another when the door handle moves between the first position and the second position. |
US10704297B2 |
Impact resistant lock and tilt latch combination for a sliding sash window
A sash window fastener includes lock and latch assemblies, and a fitting. The lock mounts upon the meeting rail, and includes a pivotable cam to engage a keeper on the master frame, and a pivotable arm acting as a follower. The arm interconnects with the latch within the meeting rail, so cam rotation controls arm positioning—causing translation of the latch. The cam can occupy three positions causing three corresponding latch positions: an extended position securing the cam to the keeper, with the latch engaging the master frame to prevent tilting, and also receiving a post of the fitting therein to further secure the window against impact loading; a first retracted position disengaging the cam from the keeper, and permitting sliding of the window into an open position that also elevates the latch member above the post; and a second retracted cam position causing latch member retraction that permits tilting. |
US10704296B2 |
Redundant actuation lock decoupling system and methods of use
A redundant actuation lock apparatus includes an interface, an electronic mechanism, and a manual mechanism. The interface manipulates lock bar(s) into a locked/unlocked position. The electronic mechanism includes an actuator and power drive. The actuator is disengageably coupled to and drives the interface. The power drive is coupled to and drives the actuator in response to a control signal. The manual mechanism includes a key input and an output. The key input receives and rotates with a mechanical key. The output disengageably couples to the interface and rotates with the mechanical key. The actuator is engaged with and the output is disengaged from the interface in an electronic mode, while the actuator is disengaged from and the output is engaged with the interface in a manual mode. |
US10704295B2 |
Electro-mechanical lock and installation method having integrated electrical conductor
An electro-mechanical lock is provided for a door. The lock includes inner and outer lock components mounted on opposite sides of the door and a tube extending between the inner and outer lock components, the tube being configured to receive a spindle extending through the door. The tube includes an electrical conductor integrated with the tube as a one-piece construction for transmitting electrical power and/or control signals between first and second electrical connectors at the inner and outer lock components. The tube is less fragile than conventional double tube arrangements in locks and thus can be more easily cut to length and installed at the door, improving reliability and cost effectiveness of methods of installation. |
US10704294B1 |
Wirelessly actuated cover for a structure
A cover is configured to selectively engage with a portion of a structure in response to receiving a wireless electrical power signal at a receiver antenna of the cover from a wireless power source located in an outside environment, to separate a first environment on a first side of the cover from a second environment on a second side of the cover opposite the first side. In response to wirelessly receiving the electrical power signal, a fastening subassembly of the cover changes from a secured mode configured to inhibit opening a cover body with respect to the structure, to an unsecured mode configured to facilitate opening the cover body with respect to the structure. This in turn allows the cover to be matingly engaged with a portion of the structure to form a smooth continuous surface, without any exposed fasteners on the exterior side of the cover. |
US10704293B2 |
Electronic lock with misalignment scoring system
An electronic lock with a lock assembly that includes a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The electronic lock includes a motor configured to drive the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position. A controller is provided that is configured to control actuation of the motor to selectively move the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position. The electronic lock includes a user interface configured to output information about the electronic lock. A misalignment scoring means is provided for detecting interference to movement of the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position and determining a lock misalignment score based on the detected interference. The user interface identifies the lock misalignment score. |
US10704292B2 |
Locking mechanism including energy storage
Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for storing energy in a electromechanical lock. The electromechanical lock can include a main housing and a deadbolt. The main housing can be configured to extend a deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door. The deadbolt can have a hollow inner region configured to receive an energy storage device. The energy storage device within the deadbolt can be electrically connected to the main housing. The energy storage device can be used to power an actuator and/or accelerometer in the main housing. |
US10704286B2 |
Method and apparatus for erecting tower with hydraulic cylinders
A method and apparatus for constructing a tower, where the apparatus may include a structure including a foundation including a plurality of hydraulic cylinders; a truss tower located on the foundation and configured to support a tower built on the foundation; and a controller configured to control extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinders. |
US10704285B2 |
Joining device of a metal segment to a concrete segment in a hybrid hollow tower
A joining device of a metal segment to a concrete segment of a hollow tower. The joining device is formed by a set of bolts passing by one of its ends by holes of an anchoring ring and attached to its both sides by a first set of nuts and arranged to be attached by its other end to the base of the metal segment by a second set of nuts. The anchoring ring includes a set of connectors extending externally and internally thereto in a substantially perpendicular direction to the bolts and arranged so do not interfere with reinforcement. The invention also refers to a hollow tower comprising at least one metal segment joined to a concrete segment by the joining device. |
US10704280B2 |
Wall repair device and method of use
A wall repair device comprising a thin, flexible disc having an inside portion surface area, an outside portion surface area and an outside perimeter located around the outside edge of the disc and a center portion located in the center of the disc, wherein the center portion is an attachment means; a wand removeably attachable to the center portion of the disc; and wherein the outside perimeter of the disc is collapsible towards and in the direction of the length of the wand when the wand is attached to the center portion of the disc. A method to repair a hole in a wall, wherein the wall is made of drywall plaster or plaster lathe, is also disclosed herein. |
US10704272B1 |
Tile backsplash manufacture method
Method of manufacture for panels usable as Tile backsplashes in showers or kitchen areas, to provide the surface with a desired appearance, durability, as well as water and air resistance. The proposed product of the method creates a “belly splash” panel specifically formed from a composite of epoxy and glass. |
US10704270B2 |
Rigid multilayer tile and production method thereof
Disclosed herein are a rigid tile including a foam cushion layer and a reinforcing layer, and a production method thereof. |
US10704268B2 |
Adhesive-backed flooring panel, system, and method
Adhesive-backed flooring panels, a flooring system including flooring panels, a method of installing flooring panels, a method of manufacturing flooring panels, and a packaged flooring system are provided. |
US10704264B2 |
Roof ridge cover
An improved roof ridge cover. The roof ridge cover is formed to give the visual appearance of multiple shingles. The edges of the roof ridge cover wrap around existing roof shingles. The cover is stone coated to provide similar appearance to the adjacent roof shingle surfaces. Optional venting material may be used under the cover to allow air to vent from the attic thereby allowing the attic to breathe, although the vent material is sufficiently dense to prevent insects and bugs from passing through the vent material. |
US10704260B2 |
Tie system for insulated concrete panels
An insulated concrete panel comprising an insulation layer having one or more openings extending therethrough, a first concrete layer adjacent to a first surface of the insulation layer, a second concrete layer adjacent to a second surface of the insulation layer, and a wall tie received within one or more of the openings. The wall tie includes a central section received within the one or more openings of the insulation layer, a first concrete engaging at least partially embedded within the first concrete layer, and a second concrete engaging section embedded within the second concrete layer. The second concrete engaging section has a maximum width that is larger than a maximum width of the central section. The central section of the wall tie is configured to transfer shear forces and resist delamination forces between the first and second concrete layers. |
US10704258B2 |
Expandable data center with movable wall
A data center includes a floor that supports rack computing systems and walls that enclose a computing room. The computing room holds the rack computing systems. One of the walls is a movable wall. The movable wall translates relative to the other walls to increase or decrease the size of the computing room. |
US10704251B1 |
Modular housing system and methods for using the same
A modular housing system and methods for using the same are provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the modular housing system comprises: a plurality of prefabricated system modules that are vertically aligned with each other and joined with a first fastener assembly to form a central system module having a front perimeter portion and a rear perimeter portion; a mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) module that is connected to the rear perimeter portion of the central system module; an elevator module that is connected to the front perimeter portion of the central system module; and a plurality of prefabricated housing modules that are connected to the central system module, the MEP module, and the elevator module, wherein each of the plurality of prefabricated housing modules is vertically aligned with each other to form a stacked housing unit and joined to the central system module and the elevator module with a second fastener assembly. |
US10704247B2 |
Erosion and sediment control above grate based inlet filter system
An above grate based inlet filter system for erosion and sediment control comprises a filter mat configured to extend beyond the perimeter of the grate and a securing mechanism, such as magnets, configured to securing the filter mat around the perimeter of the grate. The system may include a filter berm secured in vicinity to the mat, and a rectangular array of magnets coupling the filter mat to the grate. The natural fiber filter mat may effectively be formed of vertically aligned coir fibers or alternatively of reticulated foam. Multiple side edges of the mat are undulating having a pattern of repeating recesses. The mat includes a plurality of high flow holes extending into the mat and which are closed at a bottom surface thereof. The mat includes at least one removable dewatering plug configured to allow for selective mat bypass. |
US10704246B2 |
In-ground stormwater collection and pretreatment filtration systems
A stormwater management inlet prefilter for system use in green infrastructure which typically includes either biofiltration (e.g. bioretention, tree planters, gravel wetlands) or infiltration (e.g. leech fields, dry wells, infiltration trenches and basins) that both provide recharge of stormwater runoff to groundwater aquifers and treated discharge to surface waters. The system can be used as an edge of curb system, a drop inlet, or inline. The system can be used both in retrofit or new installations and extends the operating life and reduces the maintenance burden of stormwater management systems by filtering out trash and debris at the inlet. The system enables the simplified maintenance of stormwater management systems at the inlet in an accessible location with no special equipment required. Installation is simple and comparable to common catch basins and grates. Preferably, the system is made of pre-cast concrete, HDPE, and stainless steel and is resistant to rust and rot from corrosive winter runoff. No special equipment necessary and maintenance is simple and utilizes standard vacuum trucks for catch basin cleaning by use of a pressure washer and vacuum equipment. |
US10704245B2 |
Device for concealing an article
An ornamental cover for concealing an article includes an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a base member disposed at the proximal end of the elongated shaft. The elongated shaft may extend distally from an upper surface of the base member, while a lower surface of the base member defines an opening for receiving an upper portion of the article into the elongated shaft. A perimeter of the base member may be shaped to fit an opening of a container sized to receive a lower portion of the article. |
US10704243B2 |
Flush toilet
Disclosed is a flush toilet which comprises: a bowl portion having a waste-receiving surface and a rim provided along an upper edge of the waste-receiving surface; a drain trap conduit connected to the bowl portion to drain waste therethrough; a rim spout section including a rim spout port provided in a part of the rim located in a front region of the bowl portion for spouting the flush water, and a rim water-conducting passage provided to conduct flush water to the rim spout port; and a first water-conducting hose for supplying the flush water to the rim water-conducting passage located in the front region of the bowl portion, via beneath the waste-receiving surface, wherein the first water-conducting hose is configured to enable flush water to remain thereinside during stop of supply of the flush water. |
US10704242B2 |
Sink plug arrangement
Disclosed is a sink plug. The sink plug comprises an integrally formed bottom part (10) having a floor (20) and side walls (30). The sink plug further comprises a knob (40) with magnetic properties, disposed on the center of the circular floor and a cover (70) adapted to be disposed on the knob. The cover comprises a magnet (50) disposed in the center of the cover (70), wherein in an operating position, the magnet (50) magnetically engages with the knob (40). |
US10704241B2 |
Sink
A sink with an integrally formed an inconspicuous storage space including a storage shelf. The sink has a basin portion and a niche that is integrally formed into the basin and extends substantially along the basin widthwise. The niche is an open area surrounded by three walls including a substantially horizontal floor that forms a substantially horizontal shelf, a substantially vertical wall, and a substantially horizontal ceiling disposed above the floor. The shelf may be used to store dishwashing accessories such as sponges and pads, and other items. The niche is aesthetically pleasing because it is not viewable from the front of the sink and can be seen only from the interior of the sink. |
US10704237B2 |
Cold water recycling and reusing apparatus
A cold water recycling and reusing apparatus includes a water inlet pipe, a cold water recycling apparatus, a recycling pipe, a cold water return apparatus, a return pipe, a recycling container, and a water outlet terminal. The cold water recycling apparatus is installed at a location near the water outlet terminal. The cold water return apparatus is installed at a location behind the cold water recycling apparatus. The cold water recycling apparatus enables cold water to flow into the recycling container via the recycling pipe. The cold water return apparatus draws the water in the recycling container into the water inlet pipe via the return pipe. The water is adapted to mix with hot water and flows out of the water outlet terminal. |
US10704232B2 |
Hydraulic system for working machine
A hydraulic system for a working machine includes an fluid cooler including an input port and an output port, the fluid cooler being configured to cool an operation fluid, an outputting portion to output the operation fluid, a traveling hydraulic device to be activated by the operation fluid, an operating hydraulic device to be activated by the operation fluid, a first output fluid tube connecting the operating hydraulic device to a tank, a second output fluid tube branching from the first output fluid tube and being connected to the input port of the fluid cooler, a third output fluid tube connecting the outputting portion to the output port of the fluid cooler, a fourth output fluid tube connected to the traveling hydraulic device, the fourth output fluid tube being connected to the second output fluid tube, and a first check valve disposed on the fourth output fluid tube. |
US10704230B2 |
Shovel
A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper rotating body, an attachment including a boom and an arm, a controller, an engine, and a hydraulic pump that is driven by the engine and discharges hydraulic oil to drive the attachment. The controller is configured to obtain a hydraulic load applied to the attachment and calculate an engine speed command at predetermined time intervals based on the obtained hydraulic load. |
US10704227B2 |
Trenching assembly
A trenching assembly used to cut a narrow trench in the ground surface. The trenching assembly comprises an attachment frame connected to a hood assembly via a linkage assembly. The attachment frame may be attached to the rear end of a work machine. A rotatable blade is disposed within a cavity defined by the hood assembly. The hood assembly may rotate about two different axes relative to the linkage assembly, and the linkage assembly may rotate about two different axes relative to the attachment frame. The trenching assembly uses a pair of accumulators to hydraulically rotate the linkage assembly about a horizontal axis relative to the frame in response changes in depth of the ground surface being cut by the blade. The linkage assembly may be hydraulically rotated using the accumulators without input from the operator. |
US10704226B2 |
Control method in motor grader and motor grader
A control method in a motor grader including a running wheel, an inclination mechanism which inclines the running wheel, an operation portion, and a sensor capable of detecting whether or not the running wheel is at an erect position includes outputting from a controller, a control signal for driving the inclination mechanism in response to an operation command in accordance with a state of operation onto the operation portion and stopping output of the control signal in response to the operation command when the sensor detects the erect position. |
US10704224B1 |
Grading device for skid steer equipment
A grading device is attachable to skid steer equipment. The device is fashioned as a standard bucket attachment secured to a box or dozer blade. The bucket attachment is configured to secure to the universal attachment arm of skid steer equipment. |
US10704217B2 |
Erosion control mat system
A concrete mat apparatus, includes a plurality of elongated concrete members, each member being aligned with and next to another concrete member. Each of the concrete members has an upper generally flat surface, a lower generally flat surface, and a plurality of inclined surfaces that each extend away from an upper or lower surface. Reinforcement extends from a first end portion of each concrete member to a second end portion thereof, the reinforcement including a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcement bars and a plurality of encircling tie bars at spaced apart intervals. Cabling connects each of the elongated concrete members to another of the elongated concrete members. The upper inclined surfaces of one of the elongated concrete members forms a plane with the lower inclined surface of an adjacent elongated concrete member. A plurality of loops are provided along opposed edges of the mat. |
US10704213B2 |
Method for controlling a height adjustment of a stripping plate of a ground milling machine, and ground milling machine
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a height adjustment of a stripping plate of a ground milling machine, in particular a stripping plate of a cold milling machine, during the working process, said method comprising the following steps of detecting the striking of the stripping plate against an obstacle; automatically triggering the height adjustment unit for lifting the stripping plate from a working position, in which the stripping plate is in contact with the underlying ground to be processed, to avoid a further collision with the obstacle; and automatically triggering the height adjustment unit for lowering the stripping plate back to the working position upon overcoming the obstacle. |
US10704210B2 |
System and method for asphalt mix tracking
An asphalt mix tracking system having a data collection system adapted to determine at least one characteristic of the asphalt mix, a data control system adapted to receive data from the data collection system, a lot tracking system adapted to track a lot of the asphalt mix, a truck tracking system adapted to track a truck, and a pavement injection system adapted to identify the lot of the asphalt mix. The preferred asphalt mix tracking system is adapted to substantially continuously track the asphalt mix from a mixing site to a paving site. A method for tracking an asphalt mix including determining the at least one characteristic of the asphalt mix, communicating the at least one characteristic of the asphalt mix to the data control system, transporting the asphalt mix from the mixing site to the paving site, and injecting an identification means at the paving site. |
US10704208B1 |
Asphalt paver with remixer
A wheeled asphalt paver vehicle provides a combination of a remixing hopper and a paving screed in a single vehicle. An optional loading conveyor carried by the vehicle facilitates loading of asphalt mix or other paving material into the hopper. A mixer within a lower portion of the hopper keeps the asphalt materials mixed therein. An output conveyor draws asphalt material from the hopper and into a screed for laying onto a surface over which the vehicle is traveling. An optional flow diverter between the output conveyor and the screed is adjustable to provide a greater proportion of the asphalt material to a left side or a right side of the screed. The vehicle can conveniently be controlled by fewer operators than when a separate paver vehicle and a separate remixer vehicle are utilized. |
US10704200B2 |
Oil and grease resistant paperboard
A coated paperboard is disclosed which includes a barrier coating containing substantially no fluorochemical or wax, exhibiting good resistance to oil, grease, and moisture and having no tendency toward blocking. |
US10704198B2 |
Sheet manufacturing apparatus and sheet manufacturing method
A sheet manufacturing apparatus has a heating/compressing unit configured to form a sheet by heating and compressing material including fiber and resin, and the heating/compressing unit includes a first rotating body that rotates, and a second rotating body that rotates in contact with the first rotating body. The sheet manufacturing apparatus holds, heats, and compresses material by the first rotating body and the second rotating body. The sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a heating unit that heats the outside surface of at least one of the first rotating body and second rotating body. |
US10704196B2 |
Processing biomass
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation. |
US10704195B2 |
Multi-strand cable of 1×N structure for protective reinforcement of a tire
A method is provided for manufacturing a multistrand cable having a 1×N structure and including a single layer of N strands wound in a helix. Each strand includes an internal layer of M internal threads and an external layer of P external threads. The method includes a step of individually assembling each of the N strands, during which, in chronological order, the M internal threads are wound, the P external threads are wound, and the M internal threads and the P external threads are elongated such that a structural elongation associated with the P external threads of each strand is greater than or equal to 0.05%. The method further includes a step of collectively assembling the N strands, during which the N strands are wound to form the cable. |
US10704192B2 |
Light-blocking high opacity articles
A foamed, opacifying element has a porous substrate composed of woven yarn strands composed of a thermoplastic polymer-coated multifilament core. It has a dry foamed composition on an opposing surface of the substrate, which includes: (a) 0.1-40 weight % of porous particles; (b) 10-80 weight %; (c) 0.2-50 weight % of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of dispersants, plasticizers, flame retardants, optical brighteners, thickeners, biocides, fungicides, tinting colorants, metal flakes, and inert inorganic or organic fillers; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the one or more additives of (c), which opacifying colorant absorbs electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 380-800 nm. The elements have a light-blocking value (LBV) of at least 4 and can have a bending stiffness that is greater than 0.15 milliNewtons-meter. |
US10704189B2 |
Laundry appliance having an ultrasonic drying mechanism
A laundry appliance includes a cabinet having a rotating drum operably positioned therein for processing fabric. At least one transducer is positioned proximate the drum that provides an ultrasonic resonance that is directed into an interior chamber of the drum. The ultrasonic resonance is adapted to be directed into damp fabric being treated within the interior chamber. The ultrasonic resonance serves to modify water trapped within the damp fabric into a substantially gaseous form. |
US10704183B2 |
Household appliance having a physical alteration element
A household appliance for treating at least one item according to at least one cycle of operation includes a treating chemistry dispenser receiving a unit dose container and having a door moveable between an opened position and a closed position, a piercing mechanism located proximate to the treating chemistry dispenser and having a piercer that is moveable between a non-piercing position and a piercing position where the piercer is moved to perforate a unit dose container received within the treating chemistry dispenser. |
US10704174B2 |
Device for applying a foamed treating material under pressure to a traveling sheet of textile yarn
A device for applying a foamed treating material under pressure to a traveling sheet of relatively incompressible textile yarns. A foam applicator unit has a nozzle with a foam dispensing slot facing across one side of the traveling sheet of yarns. A drive roll faces the other side of the traveling sheet of yarns in tangential alignment with the foam dispensing slot. The roll has a resiliently compressible, soft rubber outer layer, which compresses to conform with the surface of the relatively incompressible yarns and presses the traveling sheet of yarns against the applicator surfaces leading to and away from the slot to prevent escape of foam and to prevent passage of foam between yarns to maintain uniform distribution of foam applied to the traveling sheet of yarns. |
US10704173B2 |
Process for forming a high loft, nonwoven web exhibiting excellent recovery
A process for forming a high loft, nonwoven web is disclosed. The process includes introducing a single molten polymer to a die having a plurality of nozzles. Emitting the molten polymer through the nozzles to form a plurality of filaments. Using air streams to facilitate movement and drawing of the filaments. Directing the filaments, which are transformed into fibers, towards a pair of heated moving surfaces. The pair of heated moving surfaces forming a convergent passage having an entry and an exit. Depositing the fibers into the entry of the convergent passage and routing the fibers between the pair of heated moving surfaces in a machine direction to form a high loft, non-woven web. The web having a fiber size distribution of from 0 μm to about 15 μm with at least about 25% of the fibers being above 4 μm. |
US10704172B2 |
Fibers and articles including them
A multi-component fiber including at least first and second components. In some cases, at least a portion of the first component is opaque and microporous, and the second component is different from the first component. In some cases, at least a portion of the second component can be seen through at least a portion of the first component. A fiber having an opaque, microporous region and a see-through region of lower porosity is also disclosed. Fibrous webs including such fibers are also disclosed. In some cases, the fibrous web has at least one first region where first portions of the multiple fibers are opaque and microporous and at least one second region where second portions of the multiple fibers form a see-through region of lower porosity. Articles and laminates including the fibrous webs are disclosed. Methods of making the fibers, fibrous webs, and articles are also disclosed. |
US10704163B2 |
Silicon carbide substrate and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a silicon carbide substrate includes steps of preparing a silicon carbide substrate having a main surface, polishing the main surface of the silicon carbide substrate using a polishing agent containing a metal catalyst, and cleaning the silicon carbide substrate after the step of polishing. The step of cleaning includes a step of cleaning the silicon carbide substrate with aqua regia. |
US10704159B2 |
Method of metal polishing and oxidation film process and system thereof
The present invention is a method of metal polishing and oxidation film process applied on a metal workpiece. The process comprises (a) providing the metallic workpiece in an electrolysis polishing liquid; (b) a temperature control device controlling a liquid temperature of the electrolysis polishing liquid; (c) a voltage supply device to exercising an operating voltage between the metallic workpiece and the electrolysis polishing liquid; (d) polishing the surface of the metallic workpiece and forming an oxidation layer by regulating the temperature control device and the voltage supply device; and (e) determining a film thickness of the oxidation layer formed on the metallic workpiece according to an operation time, wherein the film thickness is related to a roughness and a color displayed on the metallic workpiece. The metallic workpiece may be dyed together during the polishing process without adding any dyes. The present invention further provides a system of alloy oxidation film process. |
US10704154B2 |
Anode clamping device
An anode clamp configured for clamping an anode rod to an anode bus, the anode clamp comprising a first rotating mechanism and a second rotating mechanism. The first rotating mechanism is configured to be rotated by a user and is in contact with the second rotating mechanism. When the first rotating mechanism is rotated, it causes the second rotating mechanism to rotate. The second rotating mechanism as a pawl which is configured for being rotated downwards to apply pressure on an anode rod located below the pawl. |
US10704153B2 |
Copper nanoparticle structures for reduction of carbon dioxide to multicarbon products
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to copper nanoparticle structures for reduction of carbon dioxide to multicarbon products. In one aspect, a method includes providing a plurality of copper nanoparticles. The plurality of copper nanoparticles are deposited on a support. The plurality of copper nanoparticles are transformed to a plurality of copper structures during an operation in which carbon dioxide is reduced. The plurality of copper nanoparticles on the support are used as a working electrode in an electrochemical cell during the operation. |
US10704151B2 |
Pickling apparatus and pickling method
A pickling apparatus includes a plurality of pickling tanks in which a scale of a steel plate is removed while the steel plate is advanced and sequentially dipped; an intermediate spraying unit, disposed between a pickling tank at the front end and a pickling tank at the rear end, for spraying a pickling solution onto the steel plate; and a pickling solution supply means configured to provide a pickling solution of a concentration used in the pickling tank at the rear end to the intermediate spraying unit, wherein a wringer roll disposed between the plurality of pickling tanks is removed. |
US10704149B2 |
Defect control and stability of DC bias in RF plasma-based substrate processing systems using molecular reactive purge gas
A method for processing a substrate in a substrate processing system includes selectively delivering at least one of a precursor, a deposition carrier gas, and a post deposition purge gas to a processing chamber. The method includes depositing film on the substrate by generating radio frequency (RF) plasma in the processing chamber between an upper electrode and a lower electrode while supplying an RF voltage to one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode and while the precursor and the deposition carrier gas is delivered. The method includes selectively supplying a direct current (DC) bias voltage to the upper electrode or the lower electrode; moving the substrate relative to a pedestal supporting the substrate while generating the DC bias voltage; and delivering the post deposition purge gas while supplying at least a portion of the DC bias voltage to the upper electrode or the lower electrode. |
US10704146B2 |
Support assembly for substrate backside discoloration control
A processing chamber for processing a substrate is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the processing chamber includes a support shaft assembly. The support shaft assembly has a ring shaped susceptor, a disc shaped heat plate, and a support shaft system. The support shaft system supports the susceptor and the heat plate, such that the susceptor is supported above the heat plate defining a gap between the heat plate and the susceptor. In another embodiment, the heat plate includes a plurality of grooves and the susceptor includes a plurality of fins. The fins are configured to sit within the grooves such that the susceptor is supported above the heat plate, defining a gap between the heat plate and the susceptor. In another embodiment, a method of processing a substrate in the aforementioned embodiments is disclosed herein. |
US10704145B2 |
Reaction chamber for chemical vapor apparatus
A reaction chamber for a chemical vapor apparatus is disclosed. The reaction chamber for the chemical vapor apparatus comprises a housing including an internal space and a susceptor disposed in the internal space so that a substrate is loaded on an upper surface of the susceptor. A shower head is disposed above the susceptor in the internal space of the housing to spray process gas towards the substrate side. An inner barrel with open top and bottom is placed inside the internal space of the reaction chamber so that an upper edge of the barrel is positioned near the showerhead to enclose the substrate and the susceptor. A driving part is connected to the inner barrel. When it is needed to replace the susceptor and the substrate, the inner barrel is changed into an open state in which the substrate and the susceptor disposed in the inner barrel are exposed to the outside of the inner barrel by an operation of the driving part. The inside of the reaction chamber for the chemical vapor apparatus is always closed and thus the reaction chamber is capable of easily replacing a substrate or a susceptor while the vacuum in the reaction chamber is still maintained. |
US10704143B1 |
Oxide film forming method
Examples of a oxide film forming method include providing a precursor to a reaction space including a substrate and a susceptor, and forming an oxide film on the substrate by introducing at least one of CxOy and NxOy (x and y are integers) as a reactant gas into the reaction space while applying a pulse RF power having a duty cycle less than 60% to an RF plate to generate plasma of the reactant gas, the RF plate being provided in the reaction space so as to face the susceptor, wherein the providing and the forming are repeated a predetermined number of times. |
US10704141B2 |
In-situ CVD and ALD coating of chamber to control metal contamination
Embodiments of the systems and methods herein are directed towards forming, via ALD or CVD, a protective film in-situ on a plurality of interior components of a process chamber. The interior components coated with the protective film include a chamber sidewall, a chamber bottom, a substrate support pedestal, a showerhead, and a chamber top. The protective film can be of various compositions including amorphous Si, carbosilane, polysilicon, SiC, SiN, SiO2, Al2O3, AlON, HfO2, or Ni3Al, and can vary in thickness from about 80 nm to about 250 nm. |
US10704139B2 |
Plasma chamber target for reducing defects in workpiece during dielectric sputtering
Methods and apparatus for reducing defects in a workpiece are provided herein. In some embodiments, a sputter deposition target is provided for reducing defects in a workpiece, the target comprising a dielectric compound having a predefined average grain size ranging from approximately 20 μm to 200 μm. In other embodiments, a process chamber is provided, the process chamber comprising a chamber body defining an interior volume, a substrate support to support a substrate within the interior volume, a plurality of targets to be sputtered onto the substrate including at least one dielectric target, wherein the dielectric target comprises a dielectric compound having a predefined average grain size ranging from approximately 20 μm to 200 μm and a shield rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the chamber body and having at least one hole to expose at least one of the plurality of targets to be sputtered. |
US10704137B2 |
Master alloy for sputtering target and method for producing sputtering target
Provided is a master alloy for a sputtering target, wherein, when elements constituting the master alloy are following X1, X2, Y1, Y2, Y2, and Y3; specifically, where X1 is one or two types of Ta or W; X2 is at least one type of Ru, Mo, Nb or Hf; Y1 is one or two types of Cr or Mn; Y2 is one or two types of Co or Ni; and Y3 is one or two types of Ti or V, the master alloy comprises any one combination of X1-Y1, X1-Y2, X1-Y3, X2-Y1, and X2-Y2 of the foregoing constituent elements. The present invention consequently yields superior effects of being able to obtain a sintered sputtering target with few defects and having a high-density and uniform alloy composition, and, by using this target, to realize the deposition of an alloy barrier film with uniform quality and few particles at a high speed. |
US10704136B2 |
Cathodic arc deposition stinger
A stinger for a cathodic arc vapor deposition system includes a head with a reduced area contact interface. |
US10704131B2 |
Continuous hot-dip metal plating device and continuous hot-dip metal plating method
A continuous hot-dip plating machine includes: a sink roll provided in a plating bath and configured to upwardly change a transfer direction of the steel strip; a first support roll provided in the plating bath and located above the sink roll, the first support roll being in contact with a first surface of the steel strip in contact with the sink roll; and a second support roll provided in the plating bath and located above the first support roll, the second support roll being in contact with a second surface of the steel strip opposite the first surface. A diameter of the first support roll, a diameter of the second support roll, and a vertical distance between a rotation axis of the first support roll and a rotation axis of the second support roll satisfy specific conditions. |
US10704129B2 |
Cu—Ni—Si based rolled copper alloy and production method thereof
To provide a Cu—Ni—Si based rolled copper alloy having excellent strength, electric conductivity and fatigue properties, disclosed is a Cu—Ni—Si based rolled copper alloy, comprising: a total amount of 3.0 to 4.5% by mass of at least one or more selected from the group consisting of Ni and Co, 0.6 to 1.0% by mass of Si, and the balance Cu and inevitable impurities, wherein a 0.2% yield strength YS in a direction transverse to rolling direction is 1040 MPa or more. |
US10704125B2 |
Free-machining powder metallurgy steel articles and method of making same
A method of making a small diameter elongated steel article such as wire or strip is disclosed. The method includes the step of melting a steel alloy having the following weight percent composition C0.88-1.00 Mn0.20-0.80 Si0.50max. P0.050max. S0.010-0.100 Cr0.15-0.90 Ni0.10-0.50 Mo0.25max. Cu0.08-0.23 V0.025-0.15 N0.060max. O0.040max. and the balance is iron and usual impurities. The method includes melting the alloy, atomizing the molten alloy to make a pre-alloyed metal powder, consolidating the metal powder to substantially full density, and then hot working the consolidated metal powder to form an intermediate elongated article. The method further includes a multi-step heat treating process. A small diameter, elongated steel article having enhanced machinability is also disclosed. |
US10704120B2 |
Method for recovering scandium
The present invention provides a method for easy and efficient recovery of high purity scandium from nickel oxide ore, the method comprising: an adsorption step for passing a scandium-containing solution through an ion exchange resin to adsorb scandium on the ion exchange resin; an elution step for eluting scandium from the ion exchange resin to obtain a post-elution solution; an impurity extraction step in which after the elution step, the scandium-containing solution is subjected to a first solvent extraction using an amine-based impurity extractant and is separated into a first aqueous phase containing scandium and into a first organic phase containing impurities; and a scandium extraction step in which the first aqueous phase is subjected to a second solvent extraction using an amide derivative-containing scandium extractant to obtain a second organic phase containing scandium. |
US10704116B2 |
High-strength thin steel sheet with excellent drawability and bake hardenability, and method for manufacturing same
A high-strength thin steel sheet having excellent drawability and bake hardenability, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The high-strength thin steel sheet includes 0.0005 to 0.003 wt % of carbon (C); 0.5 wt % or less (excluding 0 wt %) of silicon (Si); 1.2 wt % or less (excluding 0 wt %) of manganese (Mn); 0.005 to 0.12 wt % of phosphorous (P); 0.008 wt % or less of sulfur (S); 0.005 wt % or less of nitrogen (N); 0.1 wt % or less (excluding 0 wt %) of acid-soluable aluminum (Al); 0.01 to 0.04 wt % of titanium (Ti); iron (Fe) as a remainder thereof; and unavoidable impurities. The high-strength thin steel sheet has BH of 4 MPa or more and P of 80% or more in Equation 1: P (%)={Nin/(Nin+Ngb)}×100, Nin being the number of carbides having a size of 20 nm or less within a crystal grain, and Ngb being the number of carbides having a size of 20 nm or less at a grain boundary. |
US10704113B2 |
Grain oriented electrical steel sheet and production method therefor
A magnetic domain refining treatment is performed by dividing a surface of a steel sheet into a plurality of regions in a widthwise direction, disposing a laser irradiation apparatus or an electron beam irradiation apparatus in each of the regions, and forming beam-irradiated regions through beam irradiation, wherein beams are irradiated so that a nature of a juncture between beam-irradiated regions satisfies 0≤α≤0.3×a and −1.2×a+0.02×w−0.5×α−6.5≤β≤−0.13×a−200×(1/w)+5.4 when TD spacing β at the juncture between the beam-irradiated regions is −3 to 0 mm, whereby a grain oriented electrical steel sheet having an excellent iron loss property is produced in a good productivity. |
US10704102B2 |
Compositions and methods for diagnosing and monitoring hyperthyroidism in a feline
The present invention provides a method of diagnosing the existence or risk of hyperthyroidism in a feline comprising measuring the level of expression of one or more biomarkers selected from the group consisting of, e.g., IYD, TG, SLC5A5, NIS, TPO, TSHR, DUOX1, DUOX2 (ThOX), TGFB1, CSTD, DCN and SEPP1 and the expression products thereof, in a biological sample from the feline, wherein elevated expression of the one or more biomarkers in the sample relative to a control value for expression in a sample from a normal feline or feline population, or a baseline value from the feline, indicates the existence or risk of hyperthyroidism; a method of treating a feline so diagnosed; and compositions, reagents and kits for carrying out the specified methods. |
US10704099B2 |
Method for determining decrease in functions of hippocampus by using correlation between micro RNA and NMDA receptor, method for inhibiting decrease in functions, and method for screening for inhibitors of decrease in functions
The present invention relates to a method for determining a decrease in the functions of the hippocampus by using the correlation between a micro RNA (miRNA) and an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a method for inhibiting the decrease in the functions, and a method for screening for inhibitors of the decrease in the functions. The present invention confirms that miR-204, among miRNAs up-regulated in an aged hippocampus, decreases the expression of EphB2, by accurately targeting EphB2, which is an important regulatory receptor, resulting in a decrease in the neuronal surface expression of an NR1 subunit of an NMDAR in hippocampal nerves and a decrease in the density of dendrites, thereby having an effect of determining whether the functions of the hippocampus are decreased, by using the correlation between a miRNA and an NMDAR, and furthermore, has an effect of providing a method for inhibiting the decrease in the functions of the hippocampus, and a method for screening for inhibitors of the decrease in the functions. |
US10704096B2 |
Biomarkers for the early detection of autoimmune diseases
Provided are methods for aiding in diagnosing autoimmune diseases in a mammal, comprising contacting a sample of tear from the mammal with an antibody that specifically binds to a first polypeptide selected from the group Ctss, Ctsh, Ctsr, Ctsw, Ctsz, Ifng, Il16ra, Il10, Il10ra, Il15, Tnfa, Apo-F, or Lcn-2 or a second polypeptide selected from the group lactoperoxidase, lactoferrin or lysozyme under conditions favoring the formation of an antibody-polypeptide complex, and determining the amount of complex formed, wherein an increased formation of antibody-first-polypeptide complex or a decreased formation of antibody-second-polypeptide complex as compared to a suitable control, indicates a likely positive diagnosis of an autoimmune disease for the mammal, thereby aiding in the diagnosis. Methods of treating the autoimmune diseases are also provided. |
US10704088B2 |
Massively parallel integrated circuit-based DNA synthesis devices, systems, and methods
DNA synthesis devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. An apparatus can include a synthesizer chip having an array of reaction units in a predetermined pattern, each reaction unit including a reaction surface and a reaction electrode of an IC array of reaction electrodes, and a synthesizer chip controller coupled to the IC array of reaction electrodes configured to address each reaction electrode individually. The apparatus can also include a reagent delivery chip positionable above the synthesizer chip, comprising an array of reagent delivery units arranged in the predetermined pattern, each reagent delivery unit including a reagent electrode of an IC array of reagent electrodes and each reagent delivery unit configured to receive and deliver a droplet of reagent fluid having a volume of 1 picoliter or less, and a reagent delivery chip controller coupled to the IC array of reagent electrodes configured to address each reagent electrode individually. |
US10704087B2 |
Cooperative primers, probes, and applications thereof
Disclosed are compositions and a method relating to amplifying and detecting nucleic acids. |
US10704082B2 |
Methods of nucleic acid sample preparation
Aspects of the technology disclosed herein relate to methods of preparing and analyzing nucleic acids. In some embodiments, methods for preparing nucleic acids for sequence analysis (e.g., using next-generation sequencing) are provided herein. |
US10704080B2 |
Nucleotide sequence exclusion enrichment by droplet sorting (NEEDLS)
The present invention pertains to an in vitro method in which a targeted DNA molecule containing a DNA sequence of interest is enriched by a) general amplification of DNA molecules in a multiple of droplets each containing less than 0.5 target DNA molecule on average (404), b) specific detection of the target DNA molecule in each of the droplets (405), and c) physically selecting droplets containing target DNA molecules (406). |
US10704078B2 |
Method for isolating microorganisms on a culture medium, and related device
Method for isolating microorganism from a sample likely contaminated by microorganism, including: (a) device for isolating microorganisms including a bottom waterproof layer, a nutritional layer, which is placed on the bottom layer and includes a dehydrated culture medium, an isolation layer which is pervious to elements included in the nutritional layer and is capable of retaining the bacteria on the surface and covering all or part of the nutritional layer, and a top protective layer; (b) depositing a volume of the sample on the isolation layer; (c) isolating the microorganisms by impoverishing or layering the sample using an isolating device; (d) incubating the device for an amount of time at a temperature to enable growth of microorganisms, method including at least one step of rehydrating the culture medium using a volume of liquid before or with step b) and/or c) and/or d), before or simultaneously with step b) and/or c). |
US10704076B2 |
Multi-tiered high through-put screen for compounds effective against bacterial biofilm and compounds effective for inhibiting and eradicating bacterial biofilm
A high through-put screening method for identifying agents effective for inhibiting biofilm formation and/or killing established biofilm are disclosed. The method includes three tiers, and each tier includes three specific biological process assays. The tier levels are a primary screen, a confirmation screen, and a dose-response screen, and the biological process assays include assays for total bacterial growth, bacterial metabolic activity, and biofilm formation. The series of assays may be run once or more than once at each tier. A library of compounds is subject to tier A and only compounds meeting a primary parameter advance to tier B, and only tier B compounds meeting a confirmation parameter advance to tier C, and only tier C compounds meeting a dose-response parameter are identified as putative agents effective for inhibiting and/or eradicating a biofilm, further wherein the assays are conducted for each compound subject to the respective tier. The method is effective and validated for identifying agents which inhibit and/or kill Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms. Agents identified according to the high through-put screen and validated in follow-up experiments as effective for inhibiting and/or killing bacterial biofilms are also disclosed. |
US10704073B2 |
Method for determining undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells by culture medium analysis
There is provided a method for easily determining an undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells without relying on the judgment of a skilled technician. The method includes: a step of evaluating an undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells based on a time-dependent change in a variation value of an extracellular metabolite contained in a culture medium in which the pluripotent stem cells are cultured, wherein the extracellular metabolite is at least one selected from a group consisting of L-glutamic acid, L-alanine and ammonia. |
US10704071B2 |
Decreasing lactate level and increasing polypeptide production by down regulating the expression of lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase
The present invention provides methods and compositions for reducing lactate production and increasing polypeptide production in cultured cells. In one aspect, the invention provides a method comprising culturing cells expressing a) a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and b) an siRNA specific for a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDHK). In another aspect, the invention provides cultured cells or vectors comprising an siRNA specific for a LDH and an siRNA specific for a PDHK. |
US10704069B2 |
Enzymatic production of D-allulose
The current disclosure provides a process for enzymatically converting a saccharide into allulose. The invention also relates to a process for preparing allulose where the process involves converting fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) to allulose 6-phosphate (A6P), catalyzed by allulose 6-phosphate 3-epimerase (A6PE), and converting the A6P to allulose, catalyzed by allulose 6-phosphate phosphatase (A6PP). |
US10704063B2 |
Process for the biological production of methacrylic acid and derivatives thereof
A process of producing methacrylic acid and/or derivatives thereof including the following steps: (a) biologically converting isobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA by the action of an oxidase; and (b) converting methacrylyl-CoA into methacrylic acid and/or derivatives thereof. The invention also extends to microorganisms adapted to conduct the steps of the process. |
US10704052B2 |
Stilbenoid prenyltransferases from plants
The process and system led to the identification of prenyltransferase genes from elicitor-treated peanut hairy roots. One of the prenyltransferases, AhR4DT-1 catalyzes a key reaction involved in the biosynthesis of prenylated stilbenoids, in which resveratrol is prenylated at its C-4 position to form arachidin-2, while another, AhR3′DT-1, was able to add the prenyl group to C-3′ of resveratrol. Each of these prenyltransferases has a high specificity for stilbenoid substrates, and their subcellular location in the plastid was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. Structure analysis of the prenylated stilbenoids suggest that these two prenyltransferase activities represent the first committed steps in the biosynthesis of a large number of prenylated stilbenoids and their derivatives in peanut. |
US10704049B2 |
Lin28/let-7 crystal structures, purification protocols, and molecular probes suitable for screening assays and therapeutics
The invention provides compositions and methods for regulating microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. The invention also relates to compositions and methods for treating or preventing cancer in a subject in need thereof. |
US10704048B2 |
Use of MIR-92A or MIR-145 in the treatment of Angelman syndrome
Expression of micoRNAs that negatively regulate the activity of the SNHG14 gene for can be used in treatment of Angelman Syndrome. Such microRNAs include, for example, MIR-92a and/or MIR-145, as well as analogues and variants thereof, for use in treatment of Angelman Syndrome. Expression vectors such as, for example, AAV vectors may be used to transduce cells for introduction of MIR-92a and/or MIR-145 into target tissues for treatment of Angelman Syndrome. |
US10704046B2 |
Multimeric oligonucleotide compounds
The disclosure provides multimeric oligonucleotide compounds, comprising two or more target-specific oligonucleotides (e.g., antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)), each being resistant to cleavage, and linked together by a cleavable linker. In particular, two or more linked target-specific oligonucleotides, each to a different target, allows concomitant inhibition of multiple genes' expression levels, while exhibiting favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Methods of making and uses of the described compounds are also provided. |
US10704044B2 |
Albumin production and cell proliferation
The present invention provides short activating RNA molecules which up-regulate albumin production. The present invention also provides methods of up-regulating albumin production, such methods involving the use of short activating RNA molecules capable of increasing the expression of albumin. The present invention also provides the use of the short activating RNA molecules in therapy, such as treating or preventing a hyperproliferative disorder and/or a disorder characterised by hypoalbuminemia. |
US10704039B2 |
Device and method for extracting nucleic acids
Device and method for extraction of nucleic acids, comprising a hollow body, preferably a pipette tip, through which a liquid is passed, characterized in that a material with rough or structured surface is disposed in this hollow body in such a way that it can be circumcirculated by a liquid. After lysis of the sample and adjustment of necessary binding conditions for adsorption of the nucleic acids on the carrier material, the mixture, by means of pipetting processes, is repeatedly “pipetted along” the material for binding nucleic acids, introduced vertically in the pipette tip. The nucleic acids bind to the material. Thereupon washing buffers are likewise “pipetted along” the material for binding nucleic acids. Then a drying step is performed. Finally, the eluent is again repeatedly “pipetted along” the vertically disposed material for binding nucleic acids, and in the process the bound nucleic acid is detached. The nucleic acid is now available for necessary downstream application. |