| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10990337B1 |
Print server providing print-ready jobs to printers in anticipation of user printer selection
In systems and methods, a print server receives an original print job in an originated format that is associated with a user through a network. The print server identifies potentially used printers that can be utilized to print the original print job based on a current physical location of a mobile wireless device associated with the user. The print server converts the original print job from the originated format into printing formats used by the potentially used printers to generate print-ready print jobs. The print server is adapted to send the print-ready print jobs to the potentially used printers through the network when the print-ready print jobs are created. A selected printer of the potentially used printers receives an instruction to print the original print job and the selected printer prints a received one of the print-ready print jobs when the selected printer receives the instruction to print. |
| US10990330B2 |
Printing system including first and second information terminals, client information terminal, and management section coupled to each other via network
A first provider for providing a printer, a second provider for providing a print medium, a client which performs printing on the print medium using the printer, and a management section for processing and storing information are coupled to each other via a network. The first provider provides the second provider with a provider printer and a profile preparation tool. The second provider executes a process of preparing a profile corresponding to a combination of the provider printer and the print medium using the same, and transmitting printing setup information including the profile to the management section with respect to one or more print media. The client receives the printing setup information corresponding to the combination of the client printer used in printing and the print medium used in printing from the management section, performs setup based on the printing setup information on software for controlling the client printer and performs printing. |
| US10990329B2 |
Waking an electronic device, such as a printer, from a sleep mode based on a user policy and proximity
Apparatus and method relating generally to controlling operation of one or more managed devices, such as printers, are disclosed. In such method, a radio frequency identification tag of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags within a first range is detected by a radio frequency identification reader of a printer. Tag information for the radio frequency identification tag is sent to a server. The tag information for a user is mapped to a user list on the server. A check for a policy for the user is made. The printer is waked from a sleep mode for operation by the user responsive to a determination the user is likely to use the printer responsive to the policy. |
| US10990322B2 |
Memory buffer chip, memory system and method of controlling the memory buffer chip
A memory system may be provided. The memory system may include a memory buffer chip coupled to one or more memory chips. The memory system may include a memory controller configured to control the memory buffer chip to input/output data to/from the one or two or more memory chips. The memory buffer chip may include a first interface configured to transmit/receive a signal to/from the memory controller. The memory buffer chip may include a second interface configured to transmit/receive a signal to/from the memory chip. The memory buffer chip may include a command buffer configured to buffer commands received from the memory controller through the first interface. The memory buffer chip may include a read buffer configured to buffer read data received from the memory chip. |
| US10990321B2 |
Memory sub-system for supporting deterministic and non-deterministic commands based on command expiration and the state of the intermediate command queue
Commands in a command queue are received and scheduled. For each of the commands, scheduling includes determining an age of a command based on an entrance time of the command in the command queue. When the age of the command satisfies a first threshold, marking all other commands in the command queue as not issuable when the command is a deterministic command, and marking all other commands in the command queue as not issuable when the command is a non-deterministic command and the intermediate command queue is not empty. Scheduling the command further includes determining whether the command is a read command and marking the command as not issuable when the command is a non-deterministic read command and the intermediate command queue is empty. |
| US10990309B2 |
Technologies for coordinating disaggregated accelerator device resources
A compute device to manage workflow to disaggregated computing resources is provided. The compute device comprises a compute engine receive a workload processing request, the workload processing request defined by at least one request parameter, determine at least one accelerator device capable of processing a workload in accordance with the at least one request parameter, transmit a workload to the at least one accelerator device, receive a work product produced by the at least one accelerator device from the workload, and provide the work product to an application. |
| US10990306B1 |
Bandwidth sharing for paired storage systems
Applying a rate limit across a plurality of storage systems, including: determining a rate limit for paired storage systems; receiving, by a first storage system, an amount of I/O operations serviced by the second storage system during a previous predetermined period of time; determining whether the amount of I/O operations serviced by the second storage system is less than half of the rate limit for the paired storage systems; if so, setting local a rate limit for a next predetermined period of time for the first storage system to the difference between the rate limit for the paired storage systems and the amount of I/O operations serviced by the second storage system during the previous predetermined period of time; and otherwise, setting a local rate limit for a next predetermined period of time for the first storage system to half of the rate limit for the paired storage systems. |
| US10990304B2 |
Two-dimensional scalable versatile storage format for data storage devices
The present disclosure, in various aspects, describes technologies and techniques for use by a data storage device that includes a controller of a non-volatile memory (NVM). In one example, the controller applies a default storage format to a storage region of the NVM, the default storage format configuring the storage region as a number of distinct storage regions logically arranged along a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension. The controller modifies the default storage format using a combination of horizontal dimension scaling and vertical dimension scaling based on a performance capability of the storage region to obtain a modified storage format. The controller applies the modified storage format to the storage region. |
| US10990301B2 |
Memory module capable of reducing power consumption and semiconductor system including the same
A memory module may include a memory device and a power controller. The memory device may operate by being supplied with a first memory power supply voltage and a second memory power supply voltage. The power controller may receive a first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage from a power source, and supply the first memory power supply voltage and the second memory power supply voltage by changing levels of the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage based on operation state information. |
| US10990295B2 |
Write level optimization for non-volatile memory
The disclosure relates in some aspects to optimizing writes levels used for programming a non-volatile memory device. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to an algorithmic approach for adjusting write levels for a NAND flash device. For example, write level gradients may be iteratively generated based on memory cell bin distribution statistics relating to the number and direction of errors across bin boundaries. |
| US10990289B2 |
Data storage systems using time-based read ahead
A data storage system includes a host system configured to provide an I/O request stream and a data storage subsystem. The data storage subsystem has a data storage device and a processor. The processor is configured to provide streaming data in response to the I/O request stream, determine a current streaming rate of the I/O request stream, and determine a time-based read ahead size based on a time ahead duration and the current streaming rate of the I/O request stream. The time-based read ahead size may be updated while streaming, for example, after a delay period. |
| US10990287B2 |
Data storage device capable of reducing latency for an unmap command, and operating method thereof
A data storage device may include: a nonvolatile memory device; and a controller configured to control an operation of the nonvolatile memory device. In response to an unmap command is received from a host, the controller may generate an unmap descriptor including logical block addresses to be trimmed, stores the generated unmap descriptor, and transfer a response signal to the host. The response signal indicates that an unmap caching operation corresponding to the unmap command is completed. |
| US10990283B2 |
Proactive data rebuild based on queue feedback
A storage cluster is provided. The storage cluster includes a plurality of storage nodes, each of the plurality of storage nodes having nonvolatile solid-state memory and a plurality of operations queues coupled to the solid-state memory. The plurality of storage nodes is configured to distribute the user data and metadata throughout the plurality of storage nodes such that the plurality of storage nodes can access the user data with a failure of two of the plurality of storage nodes. Each of the plurality of storage nodes is configured to determine whether a read of 1 or more bits in the solid-state memory via a first path is within a latency budget. The plurality of storage nodes is configured to perform a read of user data or metadata via a second path, responsive to a determination that the read of the bit via the first path is not within the latency budget. |
| US10990282B1 |
Hybrid data tiering with cloud storage
Hybrid data tiering, including: replicating multiple data objects from a first storage location on a first computer system to a second storage location at a second computer system; receiving, from a client computing system, a retention policy specifying one or more rules or conditions to evaluate to determine whether to continue storing data at a first storage location in addition to storing the data at a second storage location; identifying, in accordance with the retention policy, some of the multiple data objects to continue storing at the first storage location, wherein all of the multiple data objects remain stored at the second storage location; and selecting the identified some of the multiple data objects to remain stored at the first storage location. |
| US10990279B2 |
Notification channels for notifications of a computing device
A computing device is described that receives a notification generated by a notification source, determines a set of notification channels defined by the notification source, each notification channel having one or more parameters defined by the notification source, and determines a particular notification channel from the set of notification channels assigned to the notification. The computing device determines one or more parameters of the particular notification channel and outputs an indication of the notification according to the one or more parameters of the particular notification channel. In this way, a user may be provided with an indication of the manner in which a given notification is being handled by the computing device. This may provide further information on the notification itself and allow efficient interaction in light of the knowledge thereby provided. |
| US10990274B2 |
Information processing program, information processing method, and information processing device
A touch operation management unit detects, at prescribed time intervals, whether or not a touch operation has been performed on a touch operation input unit, and manages the touch operation. A state detection unit detects various kinds of states of a swipe operation performed by the player. A movement instruction acceptance unit accepts a movement instruction among various kinds of touch operations managed by the touch operation management unit. A skill instruction acceptance unit accepts a skill-related instruction among various kinds of touch operations detected by the touch operation management unit. In addition, the skill instruction acceptance unit accepts the designation of a prescribed direction in accordance with the movement direction of a touched position when the swipe transitions from the second state to the third state. A display image generation unit generates a display image for displaying various kinds of controllers. A display control unit executes control for displaying display images for various kinds of games on the display unit. |
| US10990270B2 |
Context-specific user interfaces
Context-specific user interfaces for use with a portable multifunction device are disclosed. The methods described herein for context-specific user interfaces provide indications of time and, optionally, a variety of additional information. Further disclosed are non-transitory computer-readable storage media, systems, and devices configured to perform the methods described herein. |
| US10990268B2 |
Operation method and terminal device
An operation method and a terminal device are provided for simplifying operations between applications. The method according to an embodiment includes: receiving a screen splitting instruction, splitting a screen into an original application display region and a new display region, where the new display region is configured to display history operation content and at least one application icon, receiving a target operation instruction, determining target content and a target application icon corresponding to the instruction, and transmitting the target content to an application program corresponding to the target application icon in response to the target operation instruction, where the target content is content selected in the history operation content or content selected in the original application display region. |
| US10990264B2 |
User interface development in a transcompiling environment
Described herein is a framework for facilitating user interface development. In accordance with one aspect, a trigger for creating a native user interface element for a target platform based on a user interface context is received from a client system. The native user interface element may be instantiated and initialized, along with an associated native control. The user interface context with the native user interface element may then be returned to the client system. |
| US10990262B2 |
Display screen generation apparatus, factory automation system, and display screen generation method
A display apparatus (101) includes an input unit (220); a communication unit (250); a display unit (210); and a control unit (240) including a display content setting unit (244), a layout setting unit (245) for setting a screen layout, and a screen generation unit (246) for generating a display screen based on the display content, the screen layout, and information acquired via the communication unit (250) and concerning the PLC. The display content setting unit (244) displays a candidate list of a display item based on at least one of: network configuration information (231) of equipments (103) and a PLC (102) which is created in advance, an equipment information file (232), and device allocation information (233) of the equipments (103) and the PLC (102), to the display unit, and sets display content based on input information coming from the input unit (220). The display apparatus can thus generate a display screen for an FA system based on information shared with another apparatus, as information concerning an equipment which is information other than screen configuration information. |
| US10990255B1 |
Hierarchical data display
Systems and methods are provided for efficient storage and/or processing of enterprise data. A set of data from a content management system (CMS) is received and interpreted to determine a hierarchical object structure for the set of data. The hierarchical object structure includes: at least one parent object; at least one child object that is a subordinate object of the parent object; an indication of each parent/child relationship; and a set of attributes for each of the objects. The set of attributes for each of the at least one parent object and the at least one child object are analyzed in light of the indication of each parent/child relationship to gather accumulated attribute data. A graphical user interface (GUI) is rendered that presents one or more graphical cards representing the objects. |
| US10990254B2 |
Electronic mail control system integrating timeslot functionality
An electronic mail (email) system generates an email user interface display, with a timeslot actuator, for composing an email message. Actuation of the timeslot actuator is detected and the email system accesses available timeslots from a calendar system corresponding to the user. User selectable display elements, corresponding to each available timeslot, are displayed on the email user interface display, along with message content. When a user selectable display element corresponding to an available timeslot is selected, the email message content is populated with a selectable timeslot element, corresponding to the available timeslot, that can be sent to recipients in the email message. |
| US10990253B1 |
Predictive navigation and fields platform to reduce processor and network resources usage
A navigation prediction tool tracks and analyzes a user's navigation through a software application to predict the interfaces that are most desired by the user. The tool then dynamically changes the presentation of the software application to present these interfaces to the user. The tool may further conserve resources by predicting how the user will fill certain fields in the interface. |
| US10990252B2 |
Multi-use resource interaction interface projection system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for projecting an interaction machine interface used for performing interactions onto a user device. The system is typically configured for receiving a trigger from a user device to access an interaction machine via a projection application, in response to receiving the trigger, authenticate the user device via a customized authentication method, determine that the authentication is successful and establish a communication link between the interaction machine and the user device, transmit control signals, via the projection application, to the user device to project the interaction machine display onto the user device, receive an interaction request from the user device via the interaction machine display and the projection application, and process the interaction request received from the user device. |
| US10990243B2 |
Information processing device and recording system
In an information processing device, a storage unit stores format information and an option value to be used in a recording process. A communication unit is configured to perform wireless communication with a service providing device and an image recording device configured to perform the recording process. A control unit executes: receiving layout definition data including layout information representing a layout of a content image icon; displaying a layout image in which the content image icon is disposed according to the layout information; receiving content data from the service providing device; displaying a preview image representing a result of the recording process when the user's touch operation is received on a location of the content image icon; and transmitting recording instruction when the user's operation for instructing the image recording device to perform the recording process is received. |
| US10990240B1 |
Artificial reality system having movable application content items in containers
An artificial reality system is described that renders, presents, and controls user interface elements within an artificial reality environment, and performs actions in response to one or more detected gestures of the user. The artificial reality system captures image data representative of a physical environment and outputs artificial reality content. The artificial reality system renders a container that includes application content items as an overlay to the artificial reality content. The artificial reality system identifies, from the image data, a selection gesture comprising a configuration of a hand that is substantially stationary for a threshold period of time at a first location corresponding to a first application content item within the container, and a subsequent movement of the hand from the first location to a second location outside the container. The artificial reality system renders the first application content item at the second location in response. |
| US10990239B1 |
Display control apparatus, vehicle, and display control method
A display control apparatus includes one or more processors control display content in the display section, according to an interrupt request or a manipulation input, wherein the one or more processors display a first screen corresponding to the interrupt request in a first region in a display region of the display section when the interrupt request is received, and delete the first screen and display a second screen corresponding to a response to the interrupt request in a second region in the display region when the response is received by performing manipulation input to the first screen with the finger of the user, and a distance in a vehicle width direction between a driver's seat provided in a vehicle that includes the display section and the second region is greater than a distance in the vehicle width direction between the driver's seat and the first region. |
| US10990236B2 |
Methods for two-touch detection with resistive touch sensor and related apparatuses and systems
The disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for detecting two-touch events with a five-wire resistive touch sensor comprising an active layer and a sensing layer. The methods include, while a first voltage gradient is generated across an active layer of the sensor, measuring a first voltage of a sensing layer electrode and a current across the sensor. The methods further include, while the second voltage gradient is generated across the active layer, measuring a second voltage of the sensing layer electrode and a second current across the sensor. The first and second currents are compared to a respective threshold. A two-touch event is detected based on the comparison. |
| US10990234B2 |
Touch sensor including antenna
The present invention relates to a touch sensor having an antenna. The touch sensor comprises: a touch sensor part including a sensing electrode part; and an antenna part formed on the touch sensor part. The antenna part is formed in a state of being insulated from the sensing electrode part on the sensing electrode part composing the touch sensor part. According to the present invention, even when mounting the antenna on a display region in which a touch sensor is installed, noise due to interference between a touch sensor signal and an antenna transmission/reception signal can be minimized. |
| US10990232B2 |
Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof, and touch display device
A touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof, and a touch display device are provided. The touch panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other, and the first substrate and the second substrate have an interval therebetween. The first substrate includes a first base substrate and a force touch electrode layer disposed on the first base substrate, the force touch electrode layer includes a plurality of independent force touch electrodes. The second substrate includes a second base substrate and a capacitance reference layer disposed on the second base substrate. |
| US10990231B2 |
Touch display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A touch display apparatus includes a first substrate, a touch electrode, an insulating pattern, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The touch electrode is disposed on a first surface of the first substrate. The insulating pattern is disposed on the touch electrode. The insulating pattern has a refractive index same as a refractive index of the touch electrode. The second substrate faces a second surface of the first substrate opposite to the first surface of the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US10990223B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable impedence touch sensor array force aware interaction in large surface devices
The present invention relates to interpolated variable impedance touch sensor arrays for force-aware large-surface device interaction. An exemplary system for detecting a continuous pressure curve includes a plurality of physical variable impedance array (VIA) columns connected by interlinked impedance columns and a plurality of physical VIA rows connected by interlinked impedance rows. The system also includes a plurality of column drive sources connected to the interlinked impedance columns and to the plurality of physical VIA columns through the interlinked impedance columns as well as a plurality of row sense sinks connected to the interlinked impedance rows and to the plurality of physical VIA rows through the interlinked impedance rows. Further, the system includes a processor configured to interpolate the continuous pressure curve in the physical VIA columns and physical VIA rows from an electrical signal from the plurality of column drive sources sensed at the plurality of row sense sinks. |
| US10990222B2 |
Calibration of trackpad
A method includes: placing a first physical object at each of a first plurality of locations on a trackpad; while the first object is at each of the first plurality of locations, registering respective first readings from each of a second plurality of force sensors of the trackpad, the first plurality greater than the second plurality; selecting a first plurality of sensitivity parameters for the trackpad based at least in part on the first readings; and providing the first plurality of sensitivity parameters to force sensing circuitry of the trackpad, the force sensing circuitry coupled to the second plurality of force sensors. |
| US10990221B2 |
Multi-power domain touch sensing
The disclosure relates to a touch and/or proximity detection system having some components operating in the guard domain and other components operating in the earth or chassis ground domain. A guard chip in the earth or chassis ground domain can include a voltage driver configured to produce a guard signal, for example. In some examples, the guard signal can be coupled to one or more shielding electrodes of a touch screen and to the ground pin of one or more touch sensing chips of the touch and/or proximity detection system. In this way, for example, the touch sensing chips, which can include sense amplifiers coupled to one or more sensing electrodes of the touch screen, can operate in the guard domain. In some examples, the guard chip can further include differential amplifiers and/or ADCs, allowing these components to operate in the earth or chassis ground domain. |
| US10990219B2 |
Integrated circuit and touch display apparatus to shorten a settle time of a common electrode of a touch display panel
An integrated circuit and a touch display apparatus are provided. The integrated circuit is configured to drive a touch display panel. The integrated circuit includes a regulator. An output terminal of the regulator is employed as a first node to output a common voltage, wherein the common voltage is configured to be provided to at least one common electrode of the touch display panel. An input terminal of the regulator is coupled to a second node different from the first node to receive a feedback voltage. |
| US10990217B2 |
Adaptive notification modifications for touchscreen interfaces
In one embodiment, a method includes modifying at least one aspect of a notification to be displayed on a first portion of a touchscreen of a device in response to a determination that a second portion of the touchscreen includes and/or overlaps with the first portion of the touchscreen. The second portion of the touchscreen os defined by a point on the touchscreen expected to be imminently touched by a user and predetermined areas of the touchscreen adjacent to and surrounding the point. |
| US10990216B2 |
Method for adjustment touch screen, touch chip, and electronic terminal
A method for adjusting a touch screen, a touch chip, and an electronic terminal are provided. The method for adjusting a touch screen includes: receiving a characteristic signal corresponding to a usage scenario type of a terminal device that includes the touch screen; acquiring a touch screen adjustment parameter corresponding to the characteristic signal, where the touch screen adjustment parameter includes: at least one of a chip simulation parameter for controlling a touch chip of the touch screen and a firmware algorithm parameter; and adjusting an operating state of the touch screen based on the touch screen adjustment parameter. Through the embodiments of the present disclosure, a user can get excellent experience when using the touch screen in various usage scenarios. |
| US10990215B2 |
Integrating circuit and capacitance sensing circuit
The present disclosure is applied to touch technology, and provides an integrating circuit. The integrating circuit comprises an impedance unit, an amplifier, an integration capacitor, a discharge capacitor, a first switch and a second switch. The amplifier comprises a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal configured to output an output signal; the integration capacitor is coupled between the first input terminal and the output terminal; the first switch is coupled between the first input terminal of the amplifier and the second terminal of the discharge capacitor; and the second switch is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the discharge capacitor. |
| US10990213B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a bracket, a display panel, a first force sensor, and a main circuit board. The display panel is disposed on the bracket. The first force sensor is disposed between the display panel and the bracket, the first force sensor being adjacent to a first edge of the display panel. The main circuit board is disposed below the bracket such that the bracket is disposed between the display panel and the main circuit board. The bracket includes a first hole exposing the main circuit board. The first force sensor is connected to the main circuit board through the first hole. |
| US10990212B2 |
Touch display device
A touch display device is provided. The touch display device comprises: a first substrate including a plurality of row wires, a plurality of column wires and a plurality of pixel drive elements, and the row wires and the column wires are interleaved to form a pixel matrix, and the pixel drive elements are disposed on pixels of the pixel matrix; a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate; a display medium interposed between inner sides of the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of touch electrodes disposed on the inner side of the first substrate or the second substrate; and an electroconductive protection, which is disposed outside the pixel matrix on the first substrate, electrically isolated from the row wires and the column wires, and electrically connected to the touch electrodes. |
| US10990209B2 |
Touch panels and display devices
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure relate to display technology, and more particularly to touch panels and display devices, so as to improve the problem in the prior art of reflective effect caused by a too long metal bridge. A transparent conductive connection portion is arranged in the bridge unit, and the connection portion is connected to the adjacent second touch units by the metal bridges connected at both ends of the connection portion. Through this structural improvement of integrating a plurality of parts, the area of the metal bridges in the bridge unit can be reduced, the reflective image of the metal bridges due to external hard light can be reduced, thereby improving the display quality of the touch panel. |
| US10990206B2 |
Display panel and touch display device
Disclosed are a display panel and a touch display device. The display panel comprises: a first substrate and a second substrate provided opposite to each other, which are adhered to each other via a sealant; a plurality of pressure sensors, which are provided on one side of the first substrate facing the second substrate or on one side of the second substrate facing the first substrate, wherein, the pressure sensor comprises plurality of resistors, and a projection of the sealant in a direction vertical to the display panel covers at least one resistor in the pressure sensor. In the embodiments of the disclosure, the projection of the sealant adhering the first substrate to the second substrate in the direction vertical to the display panel covers at least one resistor in the pressure sensor. |
| US10990201B2 |
Pen input device sheet and method for manufacturing pen input device sheet
A pen input device sheet, which contacts a tip part of a core body of an electronic pen for a pen input device, includes a resin film layer. A diameter of the tip part is SR. An amount of sinking of the resin film layer is δ and a coefficient of kinetic friction between the resin film layer and the tip part is μ, which change according to a load when the tip part is in contact with the pen input device sheet. When the load applied to the tip part of the core body is changed and corresponding measurements are taken, and the measurements plotted with μ allocated to an ordinate axis and a ratio of δ/SR is allocated to an abscissa axis, a fitted straight line plotted based on the measurements has a proportional relation corresponding to a proportional relation between μ and the ratio of δ/SR. |
| US10990198B2 |
Wireless stylus with grip force expression capability
Embodiments are generally directed to a wireless stylus with force expression capability. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a body; a microcontroller; a force sensor to detect a pressure applied against the body of the apparatus; one or more motion sensors; and a wireless transmitter and antenna, the microcontroller to transmit force data from the force sensor and motion data from the one or more motion sensors via the wireless transmitter and antenna. |
| US10990197B2 |
Display system, control program for information processing device, and method for controlling information processing device
A display system includes an HMD mounted on a head of a user, and a smartphone to which the HMD is coupled, and the smartphone includes a touch sensor that accepts a position input operation and detects coordinates of an operating position with reference to set coordinate axes, a magnetic sensor that detects an orientation of the touch sensor, and an adjustment unit that adjusts an orientation of the coordinate axes, based on a detection result of the magnetic sensor. |
| US10990196B2 |
Screen output method and electronic device supporting same
An electronic device includes a camera module capturing an image, a sensor module recognizing a signal associated with the electronic device or an external object, a first display and a second display, each of which is configured to output content, a memory, and a processor electrically connected to the camera module, the first display, the second display, and the memory. The processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device enters a first state, to capture a source image by using the camera module, when entering the first state, and to generate a first output image output on the first display or a second output image output on the second display based on the source image. |
| US10990192B2 |
Multilingual character input device
Disclosed is a multilingual character input device. The multilingual character input device comprising a keyboard unit for displaying character phonemes converted from characters per language in a software-selected country on a key and selectively receiving the input of the displayed character phonemes; a display unit for displaying the received input character on a display; a storage unit for storing character phonemes, a list of data and a program; and, a control unit for controlling the keyboard unit and the display unit, wherein, the keyboard unit comprises: a numeric/symbol keys section for displaying numbers and symbols disposed at an upper part; an F keys section disposed below the numeric/symbol keys section for displaying functions, characters or preset functions and plurality of F keys are addible; a character keys section disposed below the F keys section for displaying basic phonemes of each language, and; a plurality of additional keys in the character keys section for displaying variant phonemes or preset symbols, wherein if language conversion is performed through a language conversion key of the keyboard unit, a language exceeding the phoneme number of the character keys section is assigned to the F keys section and the plurality of additional keys so as to display all character phonemes, so that the input of the characters for each language is received by one key stroke. |
| US10990191B2 |
Information processing device and method, program and recording medium for identifying a gesture of a person from captured image data
An information processing device includes: an outline extraction unit extracting an outline of a subject from a picked-up image of the subject; a characteristic amount extraction unit extracting a characteristic amount, by extracting sample points from points making up the outline, for each of the sample points: an estimation unit estimating a posture of a high degree of matching as a posture of the subject by calculating a degree of the characteristic amount extracted in the characteristic amount extraction unit being matched with each of a plurality of characteristic amounts that are prepared in advance and represent predetermined postures different from each other; and a determination unit determining accuracy of estimation by the estimation unit using a matching cost when the estimation unit carries out the estimation. |
| US10990187B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatuses to update screen content responsive to user gestures
In one embodiment, an electronic device to be worn on a user's forearm includes a display and a set of one or more sensors that provide sensor data. In one aspect, a device may detect, using sensor data obtained from a set of sensors, that a first activity state of a user is active. The device may determine, while the first activity state is active, that the sensor data matches a watch check rule associated with the first activity state. Responsive to the detected match, the device may cause a change in visibility of the display. |
| US10990186B2 |
Virtual reality head-mounted devices having reduced numbers of cameras, and methods of operating the same
Example virtual-reality head-mounted devices having reduced numbers of cameras, and methods of operating the same are disclosed herein. A disclosed example method includes providing a virtual-reality (VR) head-mounted display (V-HMD) having an imaging sensor, the imaging sensor including color-sensing pixels, and infrared (IR) sensing pixels amongst the color-sensing pixels; capturing, using the imaging sensor, an image having a color portion and an IR portion; forming an IR image from at least some of the IR portion from the image; performing a first tracking based on the IR image; forming a color image by replacing the at least some of the removed IR portion with color data determined from the color portion of the image and the location of the removed IR-sensing pixels in the image; and performing a second tracking based on the color image. |
| US10990185B2 |
Smart hat device for interacting with remote devices and displays
In example implementations described herein, there is a smart hat that is configured to receive gesture inputs through an accelerometer or through touch events on the hat, with light emitting diodes providing feedback to the wearer. The smart hat can be configured to be connected wirelessly to an external apparatus to control the apparatus by transmitting and receiving messages (e.g., commands) between the hat and the apparatus wirelessly. Further, a network of smart hats may be managed by an external device depending on the desired implementation. |
| US10990181B2 |
Display device including a vibrating element
A display device may include a display panel, a touch member disposed on the display panel and configured to sense a touch signal, a cover panel sheet disposed under the display panel and having an opening via which at least a part of the display panel is exposed, a first vibrating element disposed in the opening, a touch drive chip electrically connected to the touch member and configured to detect touch coordinates in response to the touch signal, a processor electrically connected to the touch drive chip and configured to receive the touch coordinates to generate a pattern signal corresponding to the touch coordinates, and a haptic drive chip electrically connected to the processor and configured to receive the pattern signal to control the first vibrating element. The first vibrating element may be operated differently for different periods of time. |
| US10990171B2 |
Audio indicators of user attention in AR/VR environment
A method of notifying a user about attention from another user in an augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) system is provided. The method includes displaying a first image on a first electronic display to a first user of the AR/VR system and, upon detecting a gaze of the first user at a second user of the AR/VR system or the second user's avatar in the first image, notifying the second user about the gaze of the first user by changing a parameter of an audio communication channel from the first user to the second user, so as to make the first user more audible to the second user. |
| US10990170B2 |
Eye tracking method, electronic device, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium
An eye tracking method includes: constructing, by a processing circuit, an eye model; analyzing, by the processing circuit, a first head center position, according to a plurality of first pupil shape information and the eye model, wherein the plurality of first pupil shape information correspond to a plurality of first gazing vectors; capturing, by a camera circuit, a first image of the eye; analyzing, by the processing circuit, a determined gazing vector, according to the eye model and the first image; and adjusting, by the processing circuit, the first head center position according to an actual pupil shape information group and a plurality of simulated pupil shape information groups. |
| US10990168B2 |
Compensating for a movement of a sensor attached to a body of a user
A method of compensating for a movement of a device worn by a user is described. The method comprises measuring, using a first sensor, a motion of a user wearing the device; measuring, using a second sensor, a motion of the device; determining a difference in the motion of the device with respect to the motion of the user; and compensating for the difference in the motion of the device with respect to the motion of the user. An electronic device for monitoring a device worn by a user is also disclosed. |
| US10990167B1 |
Display apparatus and method using projection matrices to generate image frames
A display apparatus including display or projector, means for tracking position and orientation of user's head, and processor coupled to display or projector and said means. The processor or external processor communicably coupled to processor is configured to obtain head-tracking data indicative of position and orientation; process head-tracking data to determine current position and orientation of user's head and velocity and/or acceleration with which position and orientation is changing; predict first and second position and orientation of user's head at time t1 and t2, respectively; determine first and second projection matrices to be applied to three-dimensional image data of given frame, respectively; and apply first and second projection matrices to said image data to generate first image frame and second image frame, respectively. Processor is configured to render first and second image frame at time t1 and t2, respectively. |
| US10990162B2 |
Scene-based sensor networks
An approach to sensor data is based on scenes. One aspect concerns a computer-implemented method for specifying and obtaining a variety of sensor data and processed sensor data related to a scene. The method incorporates a Scene-based API that uses SceneModes and SceneData. An application requesting sensor data communicates a SceneMode to a group of one or more sensor devices and/or sensor modules via the Scene-based API. The SceneMode determines the SceneData to be captured or provided by the sensor group, which typically includes different types of sensor data related to the Scene and also further processed or analyzed data. The application receives the SceneData from the sensor group via the Scene-based API, with the SceneData organized into SceneShots which are samples of the Scene. |
| US10990161B2 |
Processor having accelerated user responsiveness in constrained environment
In one embodiment, a processor includes at least one core to execute instructions and a power controller coupled to the at least one core. The power controller may include a first logic to cause the at least one core to exit an idle state and enter into a maximum performance state for a first time duration, thereafter enter into an intermediate power state for a second time duration, and thereafter enter into a sustained performance state. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US10990159B2 |
Architected state retention for a frequent operating state switching processor
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for retaining architected state for relatively frequent switching between sleep and active operating states are described. A processor receives an indication to transition from an active state to a sleep state. The processor stores a copy of a first subset of the architected state information in on-die storage elements capable of retaining storage after power is turned off. The processor supports programmable input/output (PIO) access of particular stored information during the sleep state. When a wakeup event is detected, circuitry within the processor is powered up again. A boot sequence and recovery of architected state from off-chip memory are not performed. Rather than fetch from a memory location pointed to by a reset base address register, the processor instead fetches an instruction from a memory location pointed to by a restored program counter of the retained subset of the architected state information. |
| US10990158B2 |
Mitigating interference in a capacitive sensing device
An example method of capacitive sensing includes: transmitting a first waveform over a first time period; transmitting a second waveform over a second time period, wherein the second waveform is independent of the first waveform, and wherein at least a portion of the second time period does not overlap the first time period; receiving, from sensor electrodes, a first resulting signal in response to capacitive coupling of the first waveform and a second resulting signal in response to capacitive coupling of the second waveform; and processing the second resulting signal over at least a portion of the first time period, and the second time period, to obtain independent capacitive measurements. |
| US10990157B2 |
Wide-range PCIe power-measuring apparatus
An apparatus for measuring power of a PCIe device in various modes under the control of a testing host includes two PCIe bus ports, a microcontroller unit, a current-measuring unit and a switch unit. In operation, the first PCIe bus port is electrically connected to the testing host, and the second PCIe bus port is electrically connected to the PCIe device. The microcontroller unit receives commands from and sends signals to the testing host via the first PCIe bus port. The current-measuring unit is in communication of electricity and signals with the second PCIe bus port and electrically connected to the microcontroller unit. The current-measuring unit includes large and small current-measuring paths. The switch unit includes two switches. Under the control of the microcontroller unit, the current-measuring unit is electrically connected to the first PCIe bus port via the large or small current-measuring path and the first or second switch. |
| US10990156B2 |
Method for calculating power-on hours of an electronic device and electronic device utilizing the same
An electronic device includes a processor, a timer and a memory device. The memory device stores a value for power-on hours. During the process of booting the electronic device, the processor triggers the timer to start counting down. When the timer expires, the processor updates the value of power-on hours. |
| US10990155B2 |
System, apparatus and method for loose lock-step redundancy power management
A processor includes a plurality of cores, at least two of which may execute redundantly, a configuration register to store a first synchronization domain indicator to indicate that a first core and a second core are associated with a first synchronization domain, and a power controller having a synchronization circuit to cause a dynamic adjustment to a frequency of at least one of the first and second cores to cause these cores to operate at a common frequency, based at least in part on the first synchronization domain indicator. |
| US10990154B2 |
System, apparatus and method for loose lock-step redundancy power management
A processor includes a plurality of cores, at least two of which may execute redundantly, a configuration register to store a first synchronization domain indicator to indicate that a first core and a second core are associated with a first synchronization domain, and a power controller having a synchronization circuit to cause a dynamic adjustment to a frequency of at least one of the first and second cores to cause these cores to operate at a common frequency, based at least in part on the first synchronization domain indicator. |
| US10990152B2 |
Information processing apparatus with non-contact power supply
An information processing apparatus includes a wired electric power supply connector configured for connection with a wired electric power supply to receive electric power therefrom, non-contact electric power supply connector configured for electric coupling with a non-contact electric power supply to receive electric power therefrom, and a processor. The processor selects, for electric power supplied to each component of the information processing apparatus, one of the wired electric power supply and the non-electric power supply, wherein the wired electric power supply is selected at a time of startup of the information processing apparatus, and the non-contact electric power supply is selected if an operation state of the information processing apparatus or the non-contact power supply meets a predetermined condition. The processor controls the wired electric power supply connector and the non-contact electric power supply connector to supply electric power to each component based on the selection. |
| US10990146B2 |
Digital synthesizable low dropout regulator with adaptive gain
Described is a voltage regulator with adaptive gain, which comprises: a plurality of power-gate transistors controllable by a digital bus, the plurality of power-gate transistors operable to provide a first power supply to a load, and to receive a second power supply as input; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to receive the first power supply and to generate a digital output representative of the first power supply; and a controller to receive the digital output representative of the first power supply and to generate the digital bus for controlling the plurality of power-gate transistors such that a transfer function of the plurality of power-gate transistors is substantially linear over an operating range. |
| US10990145B2 |
Temperature based frequency throttling
A power management controller is disclosed. Broadly speaking, the controller may, in response to receiving a timing signal, monitor a temperature of an integrated circuit including multiple processor clusters. The controller may generate a comparison of the temperature and a threshold value, and in response to a determination that the comparison indicates that the temperature is less than the threshold value, transition a particular processor cluster to a new power state. |
| US10990143B2 |
PC module assembly
A PC module assembly, comprising a PC module support, the PC module support comprising a bottom wall and a first side wall, the first side wall being provided with a first air outlet, an air inlet of a heat dissipation structure communicatively connected to the first air outlet. When mounting of a PC module, the PC module is mounted on the bottom wall, enabling the position of an air outlet of the PC module to correspond to the position of the first air outlet. When the PC module is in an operating state, hot air flow formed by the heat generated inside the PC module enters the first air outlet, and is diverted through the heat dissipation structure, so that the heat is dissipated from the inside of the PC module, thereby allowing the PC module to operate in a stable manner. |
| US10990142B2 |
Unlocking structure and electronic device
An unlocking structure adapted to an insert slot is provided. An expansion card is adapted to be inserted into the insert slot and fixed on the insert slot by a locking component. The unlocking structure includes a base and an operation shaft. The base is fixed on the insert slot. The operation shaft is pivoted to the base. The operation shaft is adapted to rotate in relative to the base from a locking position to an unlocking position to drive the locking component to be separated from the expansion card. In addition, an electronic device having the unlocking structure and an electronic module having the unlocking structure are also provided. |
| US10990139B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a vibration sound device disposed below the display panel, a lower panel sheet disposed adjacent to the vibration sound device below the display panel and including a functional layer and a bottom coupling layer disposed on a lower surface of the functional layer, and a bracket disposed below the vibration sound device and the lower panel sheet and coupled with the bottom coupling layer, wherein the bottom coupling layer partially exposes the lower surface of the functional layer, a separation space is defined between the bracket and the lower surface of the functional layer where the bottom coupling layer is exposed, and the separation space is partially connected with the vibration sound device. |
| US10990138B1 |
Containing module and portable electronic device thereof
A containing module includes a connection casing, a tubular member, and first and second connection members. A tubular structure extends inwardly from a first end portion of the connection casing and has first and second guide portions. The first guide portion extends inwardly from the tubular structure. The second guide portion extends from the first guide portion. The first and second connection members are pivoted to a second end portion of the connection casing. A protruding point protrudes from the tubular member corresponding to the first guide portion. The protruding point is movable along the first guide portion and the second guide portion. |
| US10990137B2 |
Electronic device and hinge mechanism of the same
A hinge mechanism is provided. The hinge mechanism includes a base, a magnetic assembly, a torque assembly, and a calibration component. The magnetic assembly is disposed in the base. The torque assembly is connected to the base, and includes a substrate, a first cylinder, and a second cylinder. The substrate is disposed in the base. The first cylinder penetrates the substrate, and is rotatable relative to the substrate. The second cylinder penetrates the substrate, and is rotatable relative to the substrate and the first cylinder. The calibration component is disposed between the magnetic assembly and the torque assembly, and abuts an inner wall of the first cylinder, and an inner wall of the second cylinder. |
| US10990135B2 |
Electronic device with component-protecting structure
The present invention relates to an electronic device having a component-protecting structure that may waterproof and dustproof components exposed to the outside of the electronic device. According to the present disclosure, since the protection cover is pivotably supported by the hinge structure, the protection cover may be prevented from being broken even when the user continuously opens and closes the protection cover. |
| US10990129B2 |
Convertible dual screen laptop
A dual screen display device may include a set of displays including a first display and a second display. A base may support the displays. A hinge may be coupled between the first and second displays. A channel and post may be provided in the displays and the base to provide a sliding translation between the base and the displays. In some embodiments of the dual screen device, the hinge, channel and post cooperate to provide a coupled translation of the first and second displays relative to the base. |
| US10990127B2 |
Electronic device display structures
An electronic device may have a housing in which a display is mounted. A gasket may be mounted in a groove between the display and housing. The gasket may contain an embedded stiffener. Corner brackets may be installed in the corners of the housing. The housing may have inner and outer concentric ribs. Recesses in the housing may be configured to receive the corner brackets. The recesses may be formed between the inner and outer concentric ribs. Gap filling structures such as a foam layer may be interposed between a rear housing wall and a display backlight unit. Display color variations may be corrected by using a backlight unit having an array of light-emitting diodes of different colors. An electrostatic discharge protection layer may be grounded to a housing using conductive tape. Black edge coatings and adhesive-based structures may block stray light. Camera window regions may be supported using adhesive. |
| US10990124B2 |
Mobile computing device with camera lens identifier
A camera lens identifying system. The system includes a smartphone having a front side with a forward facing camera and an indicator on the smartphone surrounding the forward facing camera. The indicator identifying the forward facing camera lens may be a sticker, other attachment, downloadable application, or physical property of the phone. The system may include a cover, such as a screen protector. The cover has a top portion with a slot sized to fit around the forward facing camera. The indicator is on the cover surrounding the slot or the opening for the forward facing camera. When users are able to quickly locate a camera lens on a mobile phone or smartphone prior to snapping the photo, their eyes are looking in the right place, resulting in a better image and better eye contact. The camera lens identifying system permits users to quickly locate the camera lens. |
| US10990123B2 |
Push-out limiting mechanism and display screen module
The present invention discloses a push-out limiting mechanism and a display screen module, wherein the push-out limiting mechanism has a first mounting component which comprises a first mounting base, a plug connector arranged in the first mounting base and a first elastic member for electrically jumping the plug connector on the first mounting base; and a second mounting component which comprises a second mounting base, a plugging base arranged in the second mounting base and a second elastic member for connecting the second mounting base and the plugging base; the plug connector is vertical to a movement direction of the plugging base; and the plug connector has a first plugging part, and the plugging base has a second plugging part matched with the first plugging part. The push-out limiting mechanism has good buffering and pulling effects. |
| US10990119B2 |
Reference voltage generation circuit, power-on detection circuit, and semiconductor device for preventing internal circuit from operating incorrectly at low voltage
A reference voltage generation circuit of the invention includes: PMOS transistors P1 and P2 configured to provide current sources with same current to a first current path and a second current path; a bipolar transistor Q1 connected to the PMOS transistors P1 on the first current path; a bipolar transistor Q2 connected to the PMOS transistors P2 on the second current path; a differential amplifier AMP controlling the gates of the PMOS transistors P1 and P2, such that a voltage of a node VN and a voltage of a node VP are equal; an output node BGR outputting a reference voltage Vref; and a reference voltage guarantee portion 130 outputting a detecting signal BGRDET when a differences between the voltage of the node VN and the voltage of the node VP is maintained below a determined value. |
| US10990116B2 |
Power management device and power management method
There is provided a power management device including a load current control unit that sets an upper limit on a load current received from a connected feeding device and controls the load current on the basis of the upper limit, and a determination unit that, when the load current control unit has reset the upper limit to a higher value, determines if the upper limit has exceeded a current capacity of the feeding device on the basis of a voltage drop level of an input voltage. The load current control unit resets the upper limit in increments or decrements of a predetermined value, and the load current control unit, when the determination unit has determined that the upper limit had exceeded the current capacity of the feeding device, controls the load current by resetting the upper limit to a value not exceeding the current capacity. |
| US10990115B2 |
Chemical controller system and method
A chemical controller for an aquatic application comprising an output relay. The chemical controller further includes a current detection circuit configured to detect current on an output of the output relay and a current fault detection device configured to output a current fault signal when a current fault condition has occurred. A relay latch of the chemical controller receives the relay enable signal and the current fault signal and decouples the relay enable signal from a corresponding output when a current fault condition has occurred. A relay drive circuit receives a signal from the corresponding output to responsively activate and deactivate the output relay. A watchdog timer circuit causes the output relay to be deactivated in response to detecting a hung processor. |
| US10990110B2 |
Celestial navigation system for an autonomous vehicle
A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter. |
| US10990108B2 |
Vehicle control system
A vehicle control system includes a vehicle-mounted sensor, a map database, a control rule database, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to recognize the position of a vehicle on a map; control traveling of the vehicle by using one of a plurality of control rules based on the position of the vehicle on the map, map information, and a detection result of the vehicle-mounted sensor; recognize a road section in the traveling direction of the vehicle based on the position of the vehicle on the map and the map information; specify a control rule used in the road section based on the recognized road section and control rule data; and control traveling of the vehicle in the road section by using the specified control rule. |
| US10990107B2 |
Foot with obstacle detecting ability and robot having the same
A foot of a robot includes a lower plate, a first infrared transmitting and receiving unit and a circuit board electrically connected to the first infrared transmitting and receiving unit that are arranged on the lower plate. The first infrared transmitting and receiving unit is arranged in such a way that infrared light transmitted from and received by the first infrared transmitting and receiving unit travels in paths that are inclined with respect to the lower plate toward an area in front of the foot when the lower plate is substantially horizontal, so as to detect existence of a footing. |
| US10990105B2 |
Vehicle-based virtual stop and yield line detection
A vehicle can include an on-board data processing system that receives sensor data captured by various sensors of the vehicle. As a vehicle travels along a route, the on-board data processing system can process the captured sensor data to identify a potential vehicle stop. The on-board data processing system can then identify geographical coordinates of the location at which the potential vehicle stop occurred, use artificial intelligence to classify a situation of the vehicle at the potential stop, and determine whether the stop was caused by an unmarked intersection or a location at which vehicles typically yield to oncoming traffic using the classification and/or map data. If the stop was caused by an unmarked intersection or a yielding maneuver, the on-board data processing system can generate virtual stop or yield line data corresponding to the identified geographic coordinates and transmit this data to a server over a network for processing. |
| US10990104B2 |
Systems and methods including motorized apparatus for calibrating sensors
A sensor calibration system includes a plurality of sensors and a user interface configured to receive user-provided locations of at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors. The sensor calibration system further includes a motorized apparatus including a drive system, at least one detector, and a localization system. The sensor calibration system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface and the motorized apparatus. The controller is configured to determine a whether each of at least two sensors is a key sensor based on the user-provided locations. The controller is configured to determine a path for the motorized apparatus based on the user-provided locations. The controller is further configured to determine a position of each sensor based on the location of the motorized apparatus when each sensor is detected by the at least one detector. The controller is further configured to relate the location of the motorized apparatus and the position of each sensor to a common origin. |
| US10990099B2 |
Motion planning methods and systems for autonomous vehicle
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for motion planning in an autonomous vehicle (AV) that separate path planning and velocity planning and may use reference lines in combination with motion planners to determine paths. The method may include reference lines to project planning data into a S-L coordinate system. A motion planner algorithm uses the reference lines and previous path planning history to generate a path in the S-L coordinate system. A velocity is determined for the path. An AV controller is updated with the path and the velocity. Motion planning computations use a dynamic vehicle look-up table to determine possible vehicle motions based on an initial state and control input. |
| US10990098B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus
A vehicle control apparatus including a surrounding circumstances detector detecting surrounding circumstances of a self-driving vehicle and a microprocessor generating an action plan including a target path of the self-driving vehicle based on the surrounding circumstances detected and controlling a driving component so that the self-driving vehicle travels by self-driving in accordance with the action plan. The microprocessor is configured to perform calculating a hindrance time a first action plan is hindered when a second action plan is generated, determining whether the hindrance time is shorter than a predetermined time period, and controlling the driving component to keep a first state according to the first action plan when the hindrance time is shorter than the predetermined time period, while to change to a second state according to the second action plan when the hindrance time is longer than or equal to the predetermined time period. |
| US10990096B2 |
Reinforcement learning on autonomous vehicles
The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for controlling an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle may collect scenario information from one or more sensors mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle may determine a high-level option for a fixed time horizon based on the scenario information. The vehicle may apply a prediction algorithm to the high-level option to mask undesired low-level behaviors for completing the high-level option where a collision is predicted to occur. The vehicle may evaluate a restricted subspace of low-level behaviors using a reinforcement learning system. The vehicle may control the vehicle to perform the high-level option by executing a low-level behavior selected from the restricted subspace. The vehicle may adjust the reinforcement learning system by evaluating a metric of the executed low-level behavior. |
| US10990092B2 |
Test time reduction for manufacturing processes by removing a redundant test
Methods and systems of identifying a time reduction in a manufacturing time associated with a plurality of products. One system includes an electronic processor configured to receive a dataset associated with an assembly line. The dataset includes a classification for each of the plurality of products produced by the assembly line, where the assembly line is associated with a plurality of tests. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a set of test combinations for the assembly line based on the plurality of tests and, for each test combination, determine a number of missing products based on the classification for each of the plurality of products. The electronic processor is also configured to determine at least one test to remove based on the number of missing products for each test combination and output a result including an indication of the at least one test to remove. |
| US10990089B2 |
Machine learning device learning failure occurrence mechanism of laser device
A machine learning device observes a state variable of the inside and the outside of a laser device including time-series data of light output, which is detected by an output light sensor, and a light output command through a control unit of the laser device, and acquires a determination result on correctness with respect to a quantitative failure occurrence mechanism outputted for each failure in the laser device. The machine learning device learns the quantitative failure occurrence mechanism corresponding to each failure while associating the quantitative failure occurrence mechanism with the state variable and the determination result on correctness with respect to the quantitative failure occurrence mechanism, and decides a quantitative failure occurrence mechanism which is to be outputted when an occurrence of each failure is detected. |
| US10990084B2 |
Control apparatus, data structure, and information processing method
A control apparatus that controls a control target is provided. The control apparatus includes: a time manager configured to manage time; a counter configured to synchronize with at least one device; a control computation unit configured to execute control computation according to timing indicated by the counter; and a record generator configured to generate a record that includes an observation value that is available to the control computation unit and is related to the control target, time that is indicated by the time manager and is associated with the observation value, and a counter value that is indicated by the counter and is associated with the observation value. |
| US10990073B2 |
Program editing device, program editing method, and computer readable medium
An inter-variable dependency analyzing unit analyzes a relation between an argument and a return value between instructions of a plurality of instructions included in a sequence control program, which is a control program written in a language for sequence control. A PLC instruction sorting/division unit at least either changes an instruction execution order of the plurality of instructions or divides the sequence control program in units of instructions, based on the relation between the argument and the return value between the instructions analyzed by the inter-variable dependency analyzing unit. |
| US10990072B2 |
Maintaining power grid stability using predicted data
Systems and methods are described herein for maintaining stability of a power grid by providing a continuous power system data stream. Power system data including one or more data packets is monitored to identify reliability of data transmission. A predicted data packet is continually generated, characterizing predicted power system data of the power grid based on filtering of the one or more past and most recent non-missing and reliable data packets. A substitution factor of the one or more data packets is determined. The predicted data packet is selectively substituted in place of the one or more data packets based on the substitution factor. |
| US10990070B2 |
Plant analyzer, plant analysis method, and program thereof
A state quantity acquiring unit is configured to acquire a state quantity of a turbine. A time calculation unit is configured to calculate an operable time at an over firing operation of the turbine based on a design life of the turbine and a state quantity. A distance calculation unit configured to calculate a Mahalanobis distance based on the state quantity. A determination unit configured to determine whether or not the over firing operation of the turbine is possible by the Mahalanobis distance and the operable time. |
| US10990067B2 |
Computer system and method for the dynamic construction and online deployment of an operation-centric first-principles process model for predictive analytics
Computer-implemented methods and systems construct a calibrated operation-centric first-principles model suitable for online deployment to monitor, predict, and control real-time plant operations. The methods and systems identify a plant-wide first-principles model configured for offline use and select a modeled operating unit contained in the plant-wide model. The methods and systems convert the plant-wide model to an operation-centric first-principles model of the selected modeled operating unit. The methods and systems recalibrate the operation-centric model to function using real-time measurements collected by physical instruments of the operating unit at the plant. The recalibration may include reconciling flow and temperature, estimating feed compositions, and tuning liquid and vapor traffic flow in the model. The methods and systems deploy the operation-centric model to calculate KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) using real-time measurements. A processor employs the KPIs and automatically predicts and controls behavior of the physical operating unit at the plant. |
| US10990066B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for vector control of induction machines using artificial neural networks
Described herein is a neural network-based vector control method for the induction motor. The disclosure includes an approach to implement optimal vector control for an induction motor by using an NN; a NN controller to substitute two decoupled proportional-integral (PI) controllers in current loop; and, a mechanism to train the NN controller by using a Levenberg-Marquardt (LM)+forward accumulation through time (FATT) algorithm. |
| US10990065B2 |
Mechanical clock
The invention relates to a mechanical clock having a winding mechanism and a means to automatically wind the winding mechanism of the clock; wherein the automatic winding means is directly or indirectly powered or actuated by an electrical system of a motor vehicle, in use. |
| US10990064B1 |
Presidential podium clock
An illustrated view of an exemplary clock directed at a political figure. The clock is useful for providing a current time. The clock is further useful for providing a listener with a recorded speech for the purpose of comedy. The clock is also useful for providing a figure, such as a current President, such as President Trump, for deriving a comedic effect. |
| US10990062B2 |
Display system
A display system includes: a display screen having a first display area; a processor configured to modulate laser beams to be emitted from a laser projector according to a pre-stored holographic image data source to obtain modulated laser beams; the laser projector configured to project the modulated laser beams to create a first holographic image in front of the first display area; and at least one photodetector configured to collect first gesture information about a first gesture through which the first holographic image is controlled by a viewer. The processor is further configured to generate a first control signal according to the first gesture information, and re-modulate the laser beams to be emitted from the laser projector, so as to create a second holographic image corresponding to the first control signal. |
| US10990058B1 |
Cleaning body, assembly, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning body includes a core and a foamed elastic layer spirally wound around an outer circumferential surface of the core from one end of the core to the other end. An end portion of a cell skeleton protruding from a surface of the foamed elastic layer has an equivalent circle diameter of 50 μm or less. The foamed elastic layer has a spiral pitch R2 of 5 mm or less and a spiral angle θ of 15° or less. |
| US10990053B2 |
Image forming apparatus, cartridge, image forming system, and storage medium for correcting exposure amounts
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store correction data; an identifying unit configured to identify a correction amount for a correction target pixel based on the correction data stored in the storage unit; a correction unit configured to correct an exposure amount of the correction target pixel among a plurality of pixels indicated by image data, from an exposure amount indicated by the image data, based on the correction amount for the correction target pixel; and an image forming unit configured to form an image based on an exposure amount after correction by the correction unit. The correction data includes only a correction amount corresponding to each of representative parameter values of a plurality of parameter values of a parameter for varying the correction amount. |
| US10990052B2 |
Image formation apparatus, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and control method for acquiring characteristics of recording medium
An image formation apparatus includes an image former and a detection sensor. The image former forms an image on paper delivered in a first paper delivery path. The detection sensor includes an irradiator and an acquirer. The irradiator and the acquirer are arranged at positions facing each other through the first paper delivery path. The irradiator irradiates the paper with a predetermined pattern image while the paper is passing through the detection sensor. The acquirer acquires a calculation image including a transmission image formed after the predetermined pattern image has been transmitted through the paper. In the image formation apparatus, the degree of image expansion is calculated from a predetermined area including the transmission image in the calculation image, and printing conditions are adjusted according to the degree of image expansion. |
| US10990051B2 |
Image forming apparatus outputting plural test toner images for use in adjusting transfer voltage
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image transfer device for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member to a sheet, an application device for applying a transfer voltage to the image transfer device, and a controller for controlling an output mode operation for outputting a predetermined chart in which test halftone toner images transferred with different transfer voltages are formed to adjust the transfer voltage. When outputting a maximum size of the chart, the controller forms the test toner images in a region within 50 mm from an edge in a width direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the sheet. |
| US10990044B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a fixing unit and heating control method
An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a heater and a fixing belt. The fixing belt is electrically connected between a first power source and a ground terminal. A controller is configured to control the heater to heat the fixing belt. The controller is further configured to determine whether a current is flowing through the fixing belt and, upon determining that a current is not flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater not to heat the fixing belt. |
| US10990040B2 |
Transfer device and image forming apparatus
A transfer device includes a transfer unit and an adjustment unit. The transfer unit includes a transfer belt and a transfer roller. The transfer belt is wound around a rotating winding roller to circulate. An image is to be formed on the transfer belt. The transfer roller is disposed on an opposite side of the winding roller across the transfer belt. The transfer roller is configured to transfer the image on the transfer belt to a recording medium. The adjustment unit is configured to change an axial direction of the transfer roller to adjust parallelism between an axis of the transfer roller and an axis of the winding roller. |
| US10990038B2 |
Apparatus for use in an electrographic printer
In one aspect an apparatus (200) for use in an electrographic printer (100) is described. The apparatus includes a housing (210) defining a cavity (220), a developer roller (250), a developer electrode (240) for developing printing substance onto the developer roller, the electrode being arranged within the cavity, and a heater (260) for heating printing substance to be developed onto the developer roller, the heater being arranged in the cavity. |
| US10990032B2 |
Image-forming apparatus capable of controlling separation/contact timing between developing rollers and photosensitive drums in timed relation to sheet conveyance
An image-forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a cam, a switching mechanism, a sheet tray, a sheet feed mechanism, a sheet sensor, and a controller. The switching mechanism rotates the cam to move the developing roller from a contact position in contact with the photosensitive drum to a separated position away from the photosensitive drum after development for the first sheet, if feeding of a second sheet is not started after elapse of a prescribed time period since detection of a first sheet. If image data for the second sheet is ready and upon elapse of a predetermined standby time period from elapse of the prescribed time period, the sheet feed mechanism starts feeding the second sheet toward the photosensitive drum and the switching mechanism rotates the cam to move the developing roller to the separated position in accordance with conveyance of the second sheet. |
| US10990030B2 |
Shading correction signal generation device, multifunction apparatus, and shading correction signal generation method for generating shading correction signal having desired level
To provide a shading correction signal generation device including a correction amount setting signal generator that generates a correction amount setting signal, a modulator that modulates the correction amount setting signal by a predetermined modulation scheme and outputs the modulation signal, and a filter circuit that filters the modulation signal to generate a shading correction signal. During a transition period, the correction amount setting signal generator generates the correction amount setting signal in which a difference between a level at an end of a predetermined period and an average level during the transition period is larger than a difference between the level at the end of the predetermined period and a level at a start of a shading correction period. |
| US10990025B2 |
Patterning device cooling apparatus
An apparatus and method for controlling temperature of a patterning device in a lithographic apparatus, by flowing gas across the patterning device. A patterning apparatus includes: a patterning device support structure configured to support a patterning device; a patterning device conditioning system including a first gas outlet configured to provide a gas flow over a surface of the patterning device and a second gas outlet configured to provide a gas flow over a part of a surface of the patterning device support structure not supporting the patterning device; and a control system configured to separately control the temperature of the gas exiting the first and second gas outlets such that the gas exiting the second gas outlet is at a higher temperature than the gas exiting the first gas outlet and/or to separately control the temperature and gas flow rate of the gas exiting the first and second gas outlets. |
| US10990024B2 |
Lithographic thermal distortion compensation with the use of machine learning
Lithographic exposure tool and method for operating thereof are provided that includes modification of the tool (assessed based on the measurements of geometrical distortions caused, in the tool, by the exposure process and used to train the exposure tool) to ensure that such geometrical distortions are reduced for any chosen exposure process. The method includes processing first data (representing distortions caused by initial exposure run(s)) to estimate second data (representing distortions that would occur for another exposure run); and forming a modified exposure tool by changing at least one of a) a geometrical path or a path along which the workpiece stage is repositioned during the operation of the exposure tool; b) one or more of a presence, position, orientation, size and shape of an optical component of an optical projection sub-system of the optical system of the exposure tool; and c) a parameter of scanning synchronization of the exposure tool. |
| US10990017B2 |
Compensating deposition non-uniformities in circuit elements
A method of fabricating a circuit element, such as a quantum computing circuit element, including obtaining a lithography mask write file that includes mask information characterizing one or more mask features, obtaining a uniformity function that is configured to modify the mask information to compensate for a non-uniform deposition process, applying the uniformity function to the lithography mask write to obtain a modified lithography mask write file, and performing lithography as directed by the modified lithography mask write file. |
| US10990014B2 |
Performance improvement of EUV photoresist by ion implantation
A method of patterning a substrate may include providing a blanket photoresist layer on the substrate; performing an ion implantation procedure of an implant species into the blanket photoresist layer, the implant species comprising an enhanced absorption efficiency at a wavelength in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range; and subsequent to the performing the ion implantation procedure, performing a patterned exposure to expose the blanket photoresist layer to EUV radiation. |
| US10990009B2 |
Photoresist composition and photoresist film using the same
A photoresist composition capable of forming a pattern in which a footing phenomenon is suppressed while being highly sensitive during formation of a fine pattern on a metal surface substrate, and capable of producing a photoresist film that is excellent in chemical stability, and a photoresist film using the photoresist composition. |
| US10990008B2 |
Resin composition
The present invention provides a resin composition which can result in a cured film which has chemical resistance, low stress property, and high elongation property even by a heat treatment at a low temperature.The resin composition comprising an alkali-soluble resin (a) which contains a phenol skeleton having a crosslinking group and a phenol skeleton not having a crosslinking group and which has a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 50,000, wherein the content ratio of the phenol skeleton having a crosslinking group to the total 100% by mole of structural units of the phenol skeleton having a crosslinking group and the phenol skeleton not having a crosslinking group is in the range of 5 to 90% by mole. |
| US10990007B2 |
Multi function photoacid generator and chemically amplified photoresist composition for thick layer comprising the same
The present invention relates to a photoacid generator, and a chemically amplified photoresist composition for a thick film including the same, wherein the photoacid generator has excellent solubility and sensitivity, and also has an anti-corrosion effect, in addition to the effect as a photoacid generator. Thus, a chemically amplified photoresist composition for a thick film including the photoacid generator reduces scum and/or footing at the exposed part after development. The photoacid generator represented by the following Chemical Formula 1: In Chemical Formula 1, the definition of each substituents is the same as the detail description of the specification. |
| US10989999B2 |
Halftone phase shift mask blank and halftone phase shift mask
A halftone phase shift mask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a halftone phase shift film thereon is provided. The halftone phase shift film includes at least one layer composed of a silicon base material having a transition metal content ≤3 at %, a Si+N+O content ≥90 at %, a Si content of 30-70 at %, a N+O content of 30-60 at %, and an O content ≤30 at %, and having a sheet resistance ≤1013/Ω/□. The halftone phase shift film undergoes minimal pattern size variation degradation upon exposure to sub-200 nm radiation, and has chemical resistance and improved processability. |
| US10989998B2 |
Light source device and projection apparatus having light-combination device located at focus position of lenses
Provided is a light source device, including: a first light source module, a set of lenses, a first light-homogenization component, a first light-combination device, and a wavelength conversion device. The first light source module is configured to emit a first light beam having first wavelength. The set of lenses and the first light-homogenization component are located in propagation path of the first light beam. The set of lenses is configured to converge the first light beam. The first light-homogenization component is configured to homogenize the first light beam. A second light beam formed by homogenization is incident on the first light-combination device, and the first light-combination device is located at a focus position of the set of lenses. The wavelength conversion device is located in propagation path of a third light beam emitted from the first light-combination device and configured to form excited light having second wavelength under excitation. |
| US10989992B2 |
Adjusting mechanism and projector
An adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of a display panel includes a first plate including a placing portion on which the display panel is placed, a second plate on which the first plate is placed, the second plate disposed on the opposite side of a display panel side with respect to the first plate, a third plate on which the second plate is placed, the third plate disposed on an opposite side of a first plate side with respect to the second plate, a first position adjusting actuator configured to move the first plate in a direction along a Z axis, a θx direction, and a θy direction, a second position adjusting actuator configured to move the second plate in a direction along an X axis and a θz direction, and a third position adjusting actuator configured to move the third plate in a direction along the Y axis. |
| US10989991B2 |
Adjustment device and projection device using the same
An adjustment device for adjusting an up-down displacement of an optical engine module of a projection device includes a bracket, at least one adjustment zone, at least one flexible element, and at least one adjustment element. The bracket is disposed inside the projection device. The at least one adjustment zone is located at the optical engine module. There is a gap between the optical engine module and the bracket. The at least one flexible element is abutted between the bracket and the optical engine module. The at least one adjustment element is movably disposed through the at least one adjustment zone. A distance between the at least one adjustment zone of the optical engine module and the bracket is adjusted by an operation of the at least one adjustment element. A projection device using the adjustment device is also provided. |
| US10989983B2 |
Amplification waveguide device and amplification beam steering apparatus including the same
An amplification waveguide device and an amplification beam steering apparatus are provided. The amplification beam steering apparatus includes a beam steerer configured to control emission directions of light beams output therefrom, a plurality of waveguides configured to guide the light beams output from the beam steerer, and a light amplifier configured to amplify the light beams traveling through the plurality of waveguides. |
| US10989976B2 |
Commissioning window networks
Methods are described for the commissioning of optically switchable window networks. During commissioning, network addresses are paired with the locations of installed devices for components on a window network. Commissioning may also involve steps of testing and validating the network devices. By correctly pairing the location of a device with its network address, a window network is configured to function such that controls sent over the network reach their targeted device(s) which in turn respond accordingly. The methods described herein may reduce frustrations that result from mispairing and installation issues that are common to conventional commissioning practices. Commissioning may involve recording a response to a manually or automatically initiated trigger. Commissioning methods described herein may rely on user input, or be automatic, not requiring user input. |
| US10989975B2 |
Electrochromic components and methods associated therewith
A glazing including an electrochromic component and a coating coupled to the electrochromic component. In an embodiment the coating includes a non-transparent element. In a further embodiment, the non-transparent element includes a plurality of non-transparent elements. In another aspect, a method of displaying an image includes providing an electrochromic component and a coating coupled to the electrochromic component and projecting the image onto the coating from a light emitting source. |
| US10989971B2 |
Array substrate and maintenance method therefor, and display apparatus
An array substrate and a maintenance method therefor, and a display apparatus are provided. The array substrate includes: a plurality of data signal lines, wherein each of the data signal lines includes a plurality of data signal line sub-segments corresponding to a plurality of pixel units on a one-to-one basis, and each of the pixel units includes a light-shielding metal strip, wherein an orthographic projection of an input end of the data signal line sub-segment on a base substrate and an orthographic projection of the light-shielding metal strip on the base substrate have a first overlapping region used as a first maintenance site, and an orthographic projection of an output end of the data signal line sub-segment on the base substrate and an orthographic projection of the light-shielding metal strip on the base substrate have a second overlapping region used as a second maintenance site. |
| US10989966B2 |
Transparent semiconductor, light control body, and electronic device
A transparent conductor including a transparent substrate, a first dielectric layer, a metal layer containing silver or a silver alloy as a primary component, a second dielectric layer composed of a semiconductor, and a third dielectric layer of which electrical conductivity is different from that of the second dielectric layer in the order presented, wherein the third dielectric layer-is composed of a conductor. |
| US10989965B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate and a counter substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. A scanning line, a video signal line, a thin film transistor connected to the scanning line and the video signal line, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, and a counter electrode are formed on the TFT substrate, and a columnar spacer formed on the counter substrate. The pixel and counter electrodes are transparent, and the liquid crystal layer is controlled by an electric field generated between the pixel and counter electrodes. The counter electrode contacts with a metal line having a first part which is extended in parallel with the scanning line and a second part which is extended in parallel with the video signal line, a width of the first part of the metal line being narrower than a width of the scanning line. |
| US10989963B1 |
Display panel
The present disclosure provides a display panel comprising pixel units. Each of the pixel units has one or more first domains and one or more second domains. Each of the pixel units comprises a pixel electrode. The pixel electrode comprises first branches disposed in the one or more first domains at a first angle, and second branches disposed in the one or more second domains at a second angle. Every one or more first branches and every one or more second branches are staggered to form a zigzag structure between every first and second domains. |
| US10989961B2 |
Backlight unit and display device
In an embodiment, a display device comprises a display panel and a backlight unit. The backlight unit comprises a printed circuit, a light-emitting device on the printed circuit, and a transparent film including a holographic film. The holographic film includes at least an optical pattern overlapping the light-emitting device and modifying angle of a portion of light emitted by the light-emitting device. The backlight unit further comprises a light output pattern, where the portion of light with the modified angle passes through the light output pattern toward the display panel. The light output pattern may have a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the transparent film such that a refraction angle of the portion of light exiting the light output pattern is less than the incidence angle of the portion of light entering the light output pattern. |
| US10989958B2 |
Display device comprising a control substrate configured to control drive of display pixels
A display device includes a display panel in which display pixels including colored pixels of a plurality of colors are arranged, an illumination device including a light source and configured to illuminate the display panel with light, and a control substrate configured to control drive of the display pixels, wherein the control substrate includes a display data generation circuit configured to generate display data for driving the display pixels, based on image data supplied from an external image signal supply source, a detection circuit configured to detect a change in luminance light modulation data for modulating luminance of the light source, supplied from an external image signal supply source, and a display data correction circuit configured to correct the display data, based on an output value of the detection circuit. |
| US10989956B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a light source, a light-directing element, a reflective display element, and a microlens array. The light-directing element is disposed on the transmission path of a lighting beam provided by the light source for projecting the lighting beam toward the first direction. The reflective display element includes a plurality of micro-image units, wherein each micro-image unit converts the lighting beam projected from the light-directing element into an sub-image beam and reflects the sub-image beam. The microlens array is disposed on the transmission path of the sub-image beams, wherein the light-directing element is located between the microlens array and the reflective display element. The microlens array includes a plurality of microlenses. Each sub-image beam pass throughs the light-directing element and is projected to an aperture by the corresponding microlens, and the sub-image beams pass through the aperture to form an image beam. |
| US10989954B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes in the following order from a viewing surface side a first polarizer, a first positive A plate having an in-plane retardation of 120 nm or greater and 155 nm or smaller, a positive C plate having a thickness retardation of 80 nm or greater and 100 nm or smaller, a first substrate, a second positive A plate having an in-plane retardation of 120 nm or greater and 155 nm or smaller, a horizontally aligned liquid crystal layer, a second substrate, a viewing angle compensation layer, and a second polarizer. The device further includes between the first polarizer and the first positive A plate a positive C plate having a thickness retardation of 30 nm or greater and 80 nm or smaller. |
| US10989951B2 |
Liquid crystal display including glass diffuser plate
A liquid crystal display is disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including an upper glass substrate and a lower glass substrate that are disposed opposite each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, a glass diffuser plate provided on a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel, an adhesive layer provided at an edge between the liquid crystal display panel and the glass diffuser plate, a light source provided at a back surface of the glass diffuser plate, and a cover bottom including a vertical portion that supports an edge of the glass diffuser plate at the back surface of the glass diffuser plate and is opposite to a side of the light source, and a horizontal portion that is extended from the vertical portion and is opposite to a back surface of the light source. |
| US10989950B2 |
Camera module optical shutter and production method thereof
The present invention provides a highly reliable camera module optical shutter capable of preventing the occurrence of a streaky transparent portion in a polymer network liquid crystal layer in a scattering state, and a method for producing the camera module optical shutter. A camera module optical shutter includes a pair of substrates bonded together with a seal and a polymer network liquid crystal layer sealed between the substrates, wherein at least one of the substrates includes a transparent electrode made of an oxide conductive film and a silicon oxide layer covering the transparent electrode, and a silane coupling agent is bonded to a surface of the silicon oxide layer, the surface being in contact with the polymer network liquid crystal layer. |
| US10989949B2 |
Liquid crystal display module, manufacturing method thereof and display device
The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal display module, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The liquid crystal display module includes: a cover plate; a TFT array substrate disposed on one side of the cover plate; and an opposite substrate disposed on one side of the TFT array substrate away from the cover plate, a liquid crystal layer being filled between the TFT array substrate and the opposite substrate, the TFT array substrate includes a first portion opposite to the opposite substrate and a second portion extending beyond the opposite substrate, a drive circuit being disposed on one side of the second portion away from the cover plate; a backlight disposed on one side of the opposite substrate away from the TFT array substrate, and a heat shielding layer disposed between the second portion and the backlight. |
| US10989942B2 |
Mold frame and display device having a polarization member with protection film and mold frame
A display device including: a mold frame having a rectangular shape; and a polarizing member disposed on a display panel, including: a polarizing film; and a protective film disposed on the polarizing film, including: a first protective area overlapping the polarizing film; and a second protective area protruding from respective sides of the first protective area and not overlapping the polarizing film. The mold frame includes: mold side surface portions; a panel support part extending inward from respective upper ends of the mold side surface portions; and mold ribs extending upward from the upper ends of the respective mold side surface portions, having widths smaller than the respective mold side surface portions. The second protective area of the protective film is bent to cover an outer side surface of the mold rib and an outer side surface of the mold side surface portion. |
| US10989941B2 |
Drive circuit board connection structure and display device
A drive circuit board connection structure having a back cover, drive circuit board disposed on one side of the back cover, and connector. The connector has a body connected between the back cover and drive circuit board, a first connection portion and second connection portion respectively joined to two ends of the body, and an elastic support portion which is disposed on the body and located between the back cover and the drive circuit board. The first connection portion is connected to the back cover. The second connection portion and the elastic support portion respectively push against two opposite side surfaces of the drive circuit board. A display device is also provided. |
| US10989936B2 |
Optical modulation device including mirror elements and nano-antenna array, method of operating the same, and apparatus including the optical modulation device
Provided are an optical modulation device, a method of operating the optical modulation device, and an apparatus including the optical modulation device. The optical modulation device may include a mirror array including a plurality of mirror elements, a nano-antenna array including a plurality of nano-antennas, and an active layer disposed between the mirror array and the nano-antenna array. At least some of the plurality of mirror elements may have different refractive indices. The at least some of the plurality of mirror elements may include different materials, include different dopants, or have different doping concentrations. |
| US10989935B2 |
Modulation pattern calculation device, light control device, modulation pattern calculation method, modulation pattern calculation program, and storage medium
A modulation pattern calculation apparatus includes an iterative Fourier transform unit, a filtering process unit, and a modulation pattern calculation unit. The iterative Fourier transform unit performs a Fourier transform on a waveform function including an intensity spectrum function and a phase spectrum function, performs a replacement of a temporal intensity waveform function based on a desired waveform after the Fourier transform and then performs an inverse Fourier transform, and performs a replacement to constrain the phase spectrum function after the inverse Fourier transform. The filtering process unit performs a filtering process of cutting a part exceeding a cutoff intensity for each wavelength, on the intensity spectrum function in a frequency domain. |
| US10989933B2 |
Connector, assistive device and wearable device
The present disclosure relates to a connector, an assistive device, a wearable device, and a wearable device kit. The connector includes a first magnetic connecting component; and a second magnetic connecting component detachably connected to the first magnetic connecting component by magnetic attraction. By means of the connector of the present disclosure, the assistive device can be detachably connected to the wearable device more reliably and more flexibly. |
| US10989930B2 |
Collimating lens
The disclosure provides a collimating lens. In order from a laser transmitter side to a to-be-measured object side, the collimating lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and an aperture stop. The aperture stop is on the to-be-measured object side, and optical centers of each lens being on a same line. The collimating lens satisfying the following conditions: (dn/dt)1<−50×10−6/° C., (dn/dt)2<−50×10−6/° C., (dn/dt)3<−50×10−6/° C., (dn/dt)4>−10×10−6/° C. A refractive index of each lens is usually distributed reasonably with temperature, the focal length can be stabilized and applied to different temperature occasion. Under the same size laser emitter, the focal length of the system is larger, and the field of view angle is smaller. |
| US10989924B2 |
Head-mounted electronic device
An electronic device which may be put onto the head of a user is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including an upper surface, a lower surface including an opening, and a rear surface; a bracket including a first surface facing an open front portion of the housing, and a second surface extending rearward from the first surface and facing the opening, and interposed between the upper surface and the lower surface; a camera module disposed on the first surface of the bracket to face forward; and an image output module having at least a portion inserted into the opening, and including a light output member, a semi-transparent lens facing an eyeball of a user, and a light transmitting member optically connecting the light output member with the semi-transparent lens and including at least one of a lens or a mirror. |
| US10989919B2 |
Support assembly pad shape for providing universal fitting head-mounted display devices
A pad shape for a support assembly is optimized to provide universal fitting characteristics to Head-Mounted Display (HMD) devices. The pad shape enables a display of a single HMD device to be reliably aligned within multiple users' fields-of-view notwithstanding significant variations of shape and size between these users' heads. Optimal positioning of the display within the multiple users' fields-of-view may be achieved by positionally constraining the HMD device against a portion of the head that varies relatively slightly as compared to other portions of the head. The contact pad includes a curved region having a shape defined by a high order polynomial that corresponds to an empirically determined best fit surface. Empirically determining one or both of the best fit surface or the high order polynomial may include aligning a plurality of “forehead” point clouds that map the geometries of a sample set of users' foreheads. |
| US10989916B2 |
Pose prediction with recurrent neural networks
Systems, methods, and computer program products are described for receiving a request for a head pose prediction for an augmented reality experience, identifying at least one positional indicator and at least one rotational indicator associated with the augmented reality experience, and providing the at least one positional indicator and the at least one rotational indicator to a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) comprising a plurality of cells. The RNN may include a plurality of recurrent steps that each include at least one of the plurality of cells and at least one fully connected (FC) layer. The RNN may be used to generate at least one pose prediction corresponding to head pose changes for the augmented reality experience for at least one upcoming time period, provide the at least one pose prediction and trigger display of augmented reality content based on the at least one pose prediction. |
| US10989915B2 |
Expanding a pupil using replication
A pupil expansion apparatus includes: a beam splitter, configured to receive light from an optic and to replicate a pupil formed by the optic; and a waveguide, optically coupled to the beam splitter, the waveguide configured to receive light from the beam splitter and further expand the pupil. |
| US10989911B2 |
Method for operating a medical-optical display system
A method for operating a medical-optical display system for displaying an object image of an observed object is made available, said object image having been obtained by means of a medical-optical observation apparatus wherein the medical-optical display system comprises a data superimposition unit for superimposing data of at least one image data record into the object image. The method comprises the following steps: determining at least one region with little activity within the object image and superimposing the at least one image data record into the at least one region with little activity. |
| US10989909B2 |
Method for providing an overview image
A method for providing an overview image of an object that is arranged in a sample plane and includes generating a light sheet, capturing detection light coming from the sample plane, imaging the captured detection light by means of a detector in a detection plane in the form of image data of at least one captured image, wherein the captured image extends in an image plane that is inclined with respect to the sample plane, capturing a number of images of at least one region of the object, in the form of an inclined stack, and transforming the inclined stack to a normalized Z-stack, in which image data of the captured images are assigned with correct orientation with respect to the reference axis. A maximum intensity projection in the normalized Z-stack, wherein a resulting overview image is generated by way of selected image points being imaged as a virtual projection into a projection plane that is parallel to the image plane of the detector. |
| US10989905B2 |
Interchangeable optical module and microscopic apparatus comprising same
An interchangeable optical module (1) for a microscopic or an endoscopic apparatus, in particular for a fluorescence microscope, includes at least one optical element (2), such as a beam-splitter (3), at least one beam path (B1, B2), in which the at least one optical element (2) is arranged, and at least one optical filter (5) which is arranged in the at least one beam path (B1, B2). A microscopic apparatus includes at least one receptacle for receiving at least one interchangeable optical module (1) as stated above. In order to allow different measurement techniques in one apparatus and to easily change the setup, it is intended that the optical module (1) further includes at least one refractive element (7) which is arranged in the at least one beam path (B1, B2). |
| US10989899B2 |
Optical imaging lens
An optical imaging lens may include a first, a second, a third, and a fourth lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. Through designing concave and/or convex surfaces of the four lens elements, the optical imaging lens may provide improved imaging quality and optical characteristics, and have the ability to cooperate the demand of present smaller-sized electronic product while the optical imaging lens may satisfy TTL/TL≥1.700 and EFL/ImgH≥2.500, wherein a distance from the object-side surface of the first lens element to an image plane along the optical axis is represented by TTL, a distance from the object-side surface of the first lens element to the image-side surface of the fourth lens element along the optical axis is represented by TL, an effective focal length of the optical imaging lens is represented by EFL, and an image height of the optical imaging lens is represented by ImgH. |
| US10989896B2 |
Adjustable mirror assembly with leaf spring element
An adjustable mirror assembly comprising a mirror, a support, a leaf spring element biased between the support and a planar reverse side of the mirror, said leaf spring element generating a spring force, as well as at least two adjusting units mounted in the support and acting on the mirror in opposition to the spring force. The leaf spring element is mounted to the reverse side of the mirror via at least one mirror mounting point by a substance-to-substance bond and to the support via at least one support mounting point. The spring force is directed toward the support. |
| US10989892B2 |
Lens module
The present disclosure relates to the field of optical lenses, and provides a lens module. The lens module includes a lens barrel, a lens disposed at an object side of the lens barrel, and a fixing part for pressing the lens against the lens barrel from an object side of the lens. The fixing part includes an inner wall surface enclosing a receiving space, in which the lens and an end of the lens barrel adjacent to an object side are received. The inner wall surface includes an abutting portion abutting against the lens, and a non-abutting portion spaced apart from the lens. Glue is filled between the abutting portion and the lens. The lens module provided by the present disclosure has a relatively higher reliability. |
| US10989890B1 |
Heat venting shroud for artificial reality head mounted display
A heat management device able to be manufactured using 3-D printing and corresponding to a body of a head mounted display system having an outer wall that partially encloses a chamber. The outer wall of the heat management device comprises a plurality of channels that traverse a thickness of the outer wall, each channel shaped to allow air to flow between the interior and exterior of the chamber, while preventing light from outside the chamber from entering the chamber. In some embodiments, each channel may be shaped to comprise a first portion and a second portion connected at an acute angle, the connection between the first and second portions serving to block a direct path for light to traverse between the ends of the channel. |
| US10989889B2 |
Cable management panel with sliding drawer and methods
An optical fiber cable management panel includes drawer assemblies, each including a drawer slidable within a chassis. The drawer assemblies are secured together by a bracket that includes an interlock arrangement with the chassis. Such an interlock arrangement includes a non-threaded stud engaging a hole. Radius limiters may be part of the drawer assembly and include a cable entry aperture have a closed perimeter and a flared cable guide surface around most of, and preferably all of, the closed perimeter to allow for the entry of cables from all directions. A control mechanism controls movement of the radius limiter relative to the drawer assembly. The control mechanism includes a rotating member that has an axis of rotation transverse to the slidable motion of the radius limiter and normal to the radius limiter. |
| US10989888B2 |
Flexible ribbon structure and method for making
Embodiments of the invention include a method for making a partially bonded optical fiber ribbon. The method includes providing a linear array of optical fibers, and applying a bonding matrix material randomly to at least a portion of at least two adjacent optical fibers. The bonding matrix material is applied randomly to the adjacent optical fibers in such a way that the linear array of optical fibers forms a partially bonded optical fiber ribbon. The bonding matrix material applied randomly to the adjacent optical fibers is dense enough to allow the resulting partially bonded optical fiber ribbon to lay substantially flat. Also, the bonding matrix material applied randomly to the adjacent optical fibers is sparse enough to allow the resulting partially bonded optical fiber ribbon to be rolled into a substantially circular shape. |
| US10989866B2 |
Hollow core optical fiber and a laser system
A hollow core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) including an outer cladding region and seven hollow tubes surrounded by the outer cladding region. Each of the hollow tubes is fused to the outer cladding to form a ring defining an inner cladding region and a hollow core region surrounded by the inner cladding region. The hollow tubes are not touching each other, but are arranged with distance to adjacent hollow tubes. The hollow tubes each have an average outer diameter d2 and an average inner diameter d1, wherein d1/d2 is equal to or larger than about 0.8, such as equal to or larger than about 0.85, such as equal to or larger than about 0.9. Also, a laser system. |
| US10989864B2 |
Optical fiber, coated optical fiber, and optical transmission system
The optical fiber has an effective area that is greater than or equal to 110 μm2 and less than or equal to 180 μm2 at a wavelength of 1550 nm and a cable cut-off wavelength of less than or equal to 1530 nm. An average value of a glass outer diameter in a longitudinal direction is 125±0.5 μm. When σ is a standard deviation of the glass outer diameter in the longitudinal direction, 3σ is greater than or equal to 0.1 μm and less than or equal to 0.5 μm. |
| US10989863B2 |
Slim waveguide coupling apparatus and method
In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide and below a depression in a top surface thereof. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure. |
| US10989862B2 |
Illuminating device
According to one embodiment, an illuminating device includes a lightguide plate including a curved emitting surface, and an incidence surface including a side edge curved along the emitting surface, a printed circuit board facing the incidence surface, and light sources mounted on the printed circuit board. Each light source includes a light-emitting center, a pair of connection terminals, and a central axis extending through the connection terminals and the light-emitting center. The light sources are arranged along a curved mounting line extending along the curved side edge of the incidence surface on the printed circuit board. The light-emitting centers are located on the mounting line, and the central axes are parallel to each other. |
| US10989859B2 |
Backlight unit and display apparatus including the same
A display apparatus includes a light guide member disposed below a display member. A light source configured to generate light is disposed adjacent to the light guide member. The light guide member includes a plurality of diffraction on the light guide member. The diffraction patterns are spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The plurality of diffraction patterns diffract incident light, which is incident at an incident angle, to change the incident light to diffraction light having a diffraction angle. The incident angle is defined as an angle between the incident light and a normal line that is perpendicular to a top surface or a bottom surface of the light guide member. The diffraction angle, which is defined as an angle between the diffraction light and the normal line, has a magnitude less than that of the incident angle. |
| US10989855B2 |
Illumination device for projecting light in a predetermined illumination pattern on a surface
Described herein is an illumination device for projecting light in a predetermined illumination pattern on a surface. The illumination device includes a light module having a light source and a light pipe configured to transmit light in any suitable manner. The illumination device also includes a housing having a cavity, an entrance opening for receiving the light emitted from the light source, and an aperture at a second housing end. Within the housing between the entrance opening and the aperture is a screen at least partially disposed in the cavity, the screen having at least one opening defining a base pattern configuration corresponding to the predetermined illumination pattern. The light pipe is configured to selectively transmit light from the light source to the cavity and may be linear or non-linear such that the light source and the surface to be illuminated do not need to face one another. |
| US10989846B2 |
Near infrared absorbing composition, near infrared cut filter, method of manufacturing near infrared cut filter, solid image pickup element, camera module, and image display device
Provided are a near infrared absorbing composition with which a cured film having excellent solvent resistance and thermal shock resistance can be manufactured, a near infrared cut filter, a method of manufacturing a near infrared cut filter, a solid image pickup element, a camera module, and an image display device. The near infrared absorbing composition includes: a resin A that satisfies the following condition a1; an infrared absorber B; and a solvent D. At least the resin A has a crosslinking group, or the near infrared absorbing composition further includes a compound C having a crosslinking group that is different from the resin A. condition a1: in a case where the resin A does not have a crosslinking group, a glass transition temperature of the resin A measured by differential scanning calorimetry is 0° C. to 100° C., and in a case where the resin A has a crosslinking group, a glass transition temperature of a resin having a structure in which a portion which forms a crosslinking bond in the crosslinking group of the resin A is substituted with a hydrogen atom is 0° C. to 100° C., the glass transition temperature being measured by differential scanning calorimetry. |
| US10989844B2 |
Method for assembling frameless prismatic mirror with edge protection feature
A method for assembling a vehicular interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly includes providing a glass mirror substrate. The rear surface of the glass mirror substrate is coated with a reflector coating, and a protective coating is disposed over the reflector coating. A rear perimeter edge region of the glass mirror substrate is chamfered so that an angled surface is disposed between the rear surface and the perimeter edge. The reflector coating and the protective coating are disposed at the rear surface where the angled surface meets the rear surface. An encapsulant is disposed about a perimeter region of the rear surface so as to encompass and overlay the reflector coating and the protective coating at the rear surface and so as to encompass and overlay a portion of the angled surface, with no part of the encapsulant being disposed at the forward rounded perimeter region. |
| US10989836B2 |
Passive microwave sounder for satellite, having fixed reflection plate
The present invention relates to a passive microwave sounder for a satellite, having a fixed reflection plate. The passive microwave sounder for a satellite, having a fixed reflection plate includes: a motor 100 including a first rotary shaft 110 formed to extend in a progressing direction of a satellite; a first rotating reflection plate 200 forming a predetermined angle with respect to the ground surface of a nadir direction and having a first one-side surface 210 and a first other-side surface 220, the center of the first one-side surface 210 being coupled to and rotating with the first rotary shaft 110, such that the first one-side surface 210 and the first other-side surface 220 alternately face the ground surface, and the second other-side surface 220 reflecting incident electromagnetic waves; an auxiliary reflection part 300 reflecting the electromagnetic waves incident from the first other-side surface 220 to a predetermined position; a reception part 400 receiving the electromagnetic waves reflected from the auxiliary reflection part 300; and a fixed reflection plate 500 fixed above the first rotating reflection plate 200 at a predetermined angle with the ground surface and reflecting the electromagnetic waves to the first one-side surface 210 or the first other-side surface 220. |
| US10989835B2 |
Methods and systems for calculating and evaluating value of information for reservoir fluid models derived from DFA tool data
A method for deriving VOI for a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir fluid model based on DFA data (“true fluid model”) versus an “incorrect fluid model” includes calculating first, second and third objective functions that are based on NPV(s) of simulated production by a reservoir simulator with different configurations. For the first objective function, the simulator is configured with the incorrect fluid model and control variables that are optimized to derive a first group of control variable values. For the second objective function, the simulator is configured with the true fluid model and the first group of control variable values. For the third objective function, the simulator is configured with the true fluid model and control variables that are optimized to identify a second group of control variable values. The objective functions can be deterministic, or can include statistics that account for uncertainty. A visualization of such results with uncertainty is also described. |
| US10989832B2 |
Pad alignment with a multi-frequency-band and multi-window semblance processing
A method and system for pad alignment may comprise disposing a downhole tool into a borehole, taking a measurement with the electrode with at least one operating frequency, correcting the measurement to account for local formation dip, constructing a window with a predetermined size H, identifying a number of adaptive filters to be utilized, extracting one or more frequency components from the measurement with the adaptive filters, identifying a semblance value of a reference dataset and a target dataset, assembling the semblance values for the reference dataset and the target dataset, identifying the semblance values of the reference dataset and target datasets over the range of relative pad shifts, identifying a pad shift, and forming one or more images of the pad shirt or the semblance of the reference dataset and target data set. The system may comprise a mandrel, one or more pads, and electrodes. |
| US10989831B2 |
Determining permeability in subsurface anisotropic formations
A method and system can include a sensor positioned in a borehole, characteristics of the earthen formation can be measured and logged by the sensor, and an effective permeability can be determined based on the logged characteristics. Multi-component induction (MCI) data can be measured by a logging tool, 3D resistivity components can be determined by inverting the MCI data, and the 3D resistivity components can be logged. Tri-axial permeability components can be determined based on the effective permeability and the 3D resistivity component logs. A permeability of sand in the earthen formation can be determined based on the tri-axial permeability components, the effective permeability, and a laminated shale volume. The sand permeability can be logged and modifications to operation(s) can be initiated based on the sand permeability. |
| US10989829B2 |
Method for operating a multi-frequency metal detector and multi-frequency metal detector
A metal detector (1) has a drive coil (L61) and at least one detection coil (L62, L63) that detect fluctuations in a magnetic field generated by the drive coil, caused by metallic particles present in an inspected object. A multi-frequency transmitter unit (10) has a converter (4) with a plurality of drive switches (S41, S42; S43, S44) driven by a drive controller (2). The drive switches alternately conduct a drive current through the drive coil to generate an electromagnetic field with two or more different frequency components. A waveform of the drive current is determined, as is at least one pulse-modulated (PXM) signal corresponding to the determined waveform. The determined PXM-signal is determined online or is stored in a memory module (231; 232). The determined PXM-signal is generated and applied to control the drive switches. The drive current can be applied to the drive coil through an admittance unit (5). |
| US10989824B2 |
Depth-dependent mud density determination and processing for horizontal shear slowness in vertical transverse isotropy environment using full-waveform sonic data
An acoustic logging method that may comprise acquiring waveforms for multiple acoustic wave modes as a function of tool position in a borehole; deriving position-dependent mode dispersion curves from the waveforms; accessing a computed library of dispersion curves for a vertical shear slowness (s) and a Thomsen gamma (γ) of a given acoustic wave mode as a function of frequency; interpolating dispersion curves in the computed library to an assumed known compressional wave slowness, a borehole radius, a formation density, a mud density, and a mud slowness; computing an adaptive weight; and inverting dispersion curve modes jointly for a shear wave anisotropy, a vertical shear wave slowness, an inverted mud slowness, and an inverted mud density as a function of depth. An acoustic logging system may comprise a logging tool, a conveyance attached to the logging tool, at least one sensor, and at least one processor. |
| US10989820B2 |
Radiation detector
Disclosed herein is a radiation detector, comprising: a radiation absorption layer comprising an electrode; a voltage comparator that compares a voltage of the electrode to a first threshold; a counter that registers a number of photons of radiation absorbed by the radiation absorption layer; a controller; and a voltmeter. The controller is configured to start a time delay from a time at which the voltage comparator determines that an absolute value of the voltage equals or exceeds an absolute value of the first threshold. The controller is configured to cause the voltmeter to measure the voltage upon expiration of the time delay. The controller is configured to determine the number of photons by dividing the voltage measured by the voltmeter by a voltage that a single photon would have caused on the electrode. The controller can cause the number registered by the counter to increase by the number of photons. |
| US10989816B2 |
Selecting exterior images of a structure based on capture positions of indoor images associated with the structure
Systems, computer-implemented methods, apparatus and/or computer program products are provided that facilitate improving the accuracy of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of indoor photos. The disclosed subject matter further provides systems, computer-implemented methods, apparatus and/or computer program products that facilitate generating exterior photos of structures based on GPS coordinates of indoor photos. |
| US10989815B2 |
Method for positioning underwater objects and system for the implementation thereof
The present group of inventions relates to methods and systems for positioning underwater objects, and more particularly to methods and systems in which satellite signals are received by receivers disposed on sonar buoys, the coordinates of the sonar buoys are determined by means of computation modules on the sonar buoys, location data and identification data are transmitted in the form of sonar signals emitted by transmitters on the sonar buoys, the signals are received with the aid of a receiver disposed on an underwater object, and the coordinates of the underwater object are determined according to the time delay of receipt of the sonar signals from the sonar buoys, the location of which is known. The present solution can be used in simultaneously determining the geographical position of an unlimited number of mobile underwater objects, remotely operated underwater vehicles, divers, marine animals, etc. in motion. According to the invention, signals from the aforementioned sonar buoys are encoded in the form of periodic signals tethered to GPS/GLONASS clocks, all transmitters of the sonar signals are disposed at the same depth, and during decoding of the signals from the sonar buoys, direct signals from the sonar buoys are isolated from reflected signals. The system implements the aforementioned method. The achieved technical result is more accurate positioning of the underwater objects. |
| US10989812B2 |
Foundation engineering apparatus and foundation engineering method
The invention relates to a civil engineering device and a civil engineering method for using a civil engineering device. The device has a support device, a ground preparation tool, which prepares the ground at a preparation location, and at least one GPS unit, which is arranged on the support device and is designed to determine the position of the preparation location, wherein the GPS unit is arranged at a distance from the ground preparation location. The civil engineering device is characterised in that a measuring device is provided in addition to the GPS unit, the measuring device being designed to determine the distance between the GPS unit and the preparation tool. |
| US10989811B2 |
Image sensing using atomic vapor cell assemblies
Systems and methods for image sensing using atomic vapor cell assemblies are provided. In certain embodiments, a device includes an atomic vapor cell assembly containing atoms associated with multiple pixel locations; a readout laser source that emits readout lasers that illuminate the atoms; a pump laser source that illuminates the atoms with pump lasers to prepare the atoms that are in a dark ground state, wherein an atom in the dark ground state is not coupled to the readout lasers; and a targeting laser source that emits a targeting laser towards a target, wherein a portion of the targeting laser reflected by the target that is incident upon the atoms causes the atoms to transition to a bright ground state; wherein the atoms in the bright ground state are coupled to the readout laser and emit multiple readout photons. |
| US10989809B2 |
Single scatterer test using amplitude and a plurality of receive elements
A vehicle-based method of determining the extent to which a target object is a single scatterer, said vehicle including a radar system including a radar transmit element, adapted to send a radar signal towards said target object, and an antenna receive array comprising a plurality M of a receive elements, providing a corresponding plurality of N radar receive channels, and adapted to receive radar signals reflected from said target object, said method comprising: a) transmitting a radar signal from said radar transmit element to said target object; b) receiving the reflected signal of the signal transmitted in step a) from the target object at said plurality of receiver elements; c) for each antenna element or channel, processing the received signal to provide amplitude or power data in the frequency domain; d) with respect to the data in step c), for each receive element/channel, determining the frequency with the maximum amplitude or power; e) determining the degree of variability of the results of step d) with respect to each receive element/channel; f) determining the extent to which the target object is a single scatterer based on the result of step e). |
| US10989808B2 |
Method, device and storage medium for extracting height and deformation information of high voltage transmission tower by using SAR tomography
A method, a device and a storage medium for extracting height and deformation information of a high voltage transmission tower by using SAR tomography are disclosed. A Spaceborne satellite is used to obtain a plurality of high resolution SAR images of a region having a high voltage transmission tower. The images are then pre-processed via registration, dechirp and phase compensation to obtain observation data. The observation data is then discretized. Then the discretized observation data is resampled by using singular value decomposition, and Akaike information criterion is used to estimate the number of scattering points in the resampled observation data. The obtained number of the scattering points is used to eliminate the singular values in the reconstructed signal. Finally, the sparsity of the observation data is used together with compression sensing to realize signal reconstruction, thereby extracting the height and deformation rate at a position on the high voltage transmission tower. |
| US10989806B2 |
Home occupant detection and monitoring system
A home occupant detection and monitoring system has a sensor unit having a radio wave transmitter, a radio wave receiver, and a wireless transmitter configured to detect and receive vital signs of an occupant; a user interface having a microcontroller, a wireless receiver configured to receive the wireless signals transmitted from the sensor unit, a means for user input, and a network card; and a means for alerting occupants and third-parties to a triggering event; wherein the microcontroller, based upon logic, activates the alerting means at the triggering event. |
| US10989805B2 |
Acquiring information regarding a volume using wireless networks
Methods and systems for outdoor advertising optimization and/or adaptive outdoor advertising are presented. One or more node signal receivers receive signals emitted by wireless network that are affected by physical phenomena such as reflections and scattering in the surrounding area. The received signals are processed to provide detection and tracking information regarding objects within a target volume. This information can then be employed to determine the optimal placement location or the optimal route for advertising platforms, and/or to select one or more advertisements on outdoor advertising platforms. |
| US10989803B1 |
Security protocol for motion tracking systems
An approach to authentication, provisioning, and/or access control makes use of a user performing prescribed motion of their body and/or particular limbs (e.g., a prescribed number of steps in one or more directions), for example, as part of a challenge-response protocol. The motion may be detected using the radio frequency reflection techniques. Applications of this approach may include provisioning of equipment that monitors motion within an environment. In some examples, the environment is defined as part of the user performing the prescribed motion (e.g., the user walks around a boundary of their house). |
| US10989799B2 |
Radar and antenna built in radar
A radar includes a transmitter antenna unit that includes multiple transmitter antennas; a receiver antenna unit that includes a first receiver antenna group including multiple first receiver antennas and multiple second receiver antennas arranged at a first horizontal interval and a second receiver antenna group including multiple third receiver antennas arranged at one or more second horizontal intervals; a transceiver that transmits sending signals through the transmitter antenna unit and receives returning signals reflected from a target object trough the receiver antenna unit; and a processing unit that derives information about the target object by processing the received returning signals. |
| US10989798B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting power states in an ultrasound imaging system
An ultrasound imaging system includes a processor that is programmed to operate the system in a normal operating state and two or more lesser power states. The processor lowers the operating power state to a lesser power state upon detecting one or more operating conditions such as no tissue been imaged in a predetermined time limit or that the imaging system or transducer has not been moved in a time limit. Upon awakening from a power off state, the processor implements a lesser power state before operating at the normal operating state to avoid undue power use until the transducer is positioned to image tissue. |
| US10989796B2 |
Lidar ranging method, device, computer apparatus and storage medium
The present disclosure provides, for example, a lidar ranging method. The method may include calling a sequencer to generate a preset sequence with the sequencer. The method may also include determining a pulse transmission interval of double pulses according to the preset sequence and a preset value. The method may further include transmitting a probing signal to an object to be ranged according to the pulse transmission interval of the double pulses. The method may additionally include receiving, from the object to be ranged, an echo signal returned according to the probing signal. The method may also include extracting a valid echo signal from the echo signal. The method may further include calculating a distance from the object to be ranged according to a time difference between the valid echo signal and the probing signal. |
| US10989792B2 |
Transmission detection using line of sight
A method for automatically determining a potential transmission region, comprising: acquiring multiple binary indications for a direct line of sight between a transmitter and an airborne vehicle respective of multiple geo-positions of the airborne vehicle; acquiring each of the multiple geo-positions respective of each of the multiple binary indications for the direct line of sight; for each one of the acquired geo-positions, determining a layer of access respective of topographical data for the geographical region and the acquired geo-position, as a subset of the geographical region that includes at least one potential point defining a potential line of sight between the transmitter and the airborne vehicle, thereby determining multiple layers of access; determining an intersection of the multiple layers of access; and determining, from the intersection, the potential transmission region respective of the transmitter and the geo-positions of the airborne vehicle. |
| US10989783B1 |
False positive immunity in beacon systems, and related systems, methods, and devices
Disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to beacon systems where a locator beacon is used as a marker for a location of interest, and improving false positive immunity in such beacon systems. Confiner beacons are included in such beacon systems to confine a triggering area for triggering a location indication for a location of interest marked by a locator beacon. In other embodiments, arbitrarily shaped triggering areas are defined using confiner beacons. In other embodiments, errant locator signals are identified and handled (e.g., ignored). |
| US10989782B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance imaging device for providing an MR-image, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium
A method and a magnetic resonance imaging device, and a corresponding computer readable storage medium. The method includes acquiring a distortion function describing a frequency dependence of an amplitude or phase of an MR-signal received by a receiver part of the MRI-device, Fourier transforming K-space data acquired using this receiver part to image space data, generating compensated image space data by compensating for the frequency dependence by dividing the image space data or image space data derived therefrom in image space by the distortion function, and providing the MR-image as the compensated image space data or reconstructed therefrom. |
| US10989780B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging system and receiving coil unit
According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a receiving coil unit. The apparatus includes first circuitry which transmits an RF pulse based on a first clock. The coil unit includes clock generating circuitry, a receiving coil and first conversion circuitry. The clock generating circuitry generates a second clock. The first conversion circuitry samples a magnetic resonance signal in accordance with the second clock. The coil unit further includes generation circuitry which generates shift information regarding a difference between the first clock and the second clock, and shift correction circuitry which corrects the sampled magnetic resonance signal by using the shift information. |
| US10989778B1 |
Method for measuring NMR-data of a target sample in an NMR spectrometer and NMR spectrometer
An NMR spectrometer includes a compensation system comprising at least one target sample coil and a lock sample coil positioned in a volume of interest between the main magnet poles of a main field magnet that generate a main magnetic field, at least one compensation coil for compensating a drift of the main magnetic field within the volume of interest, at least one target channel for generating RF-pulses with a target excitation frequency, and a lock data treatment system comprising a lock channel for generating RF-pulses with a lock excitation frequency, the lock data treatment system adapting a compensation current in the at least one compensation coil and correcting simultaneously the target frequency by applying a target frequency correction offset at the target channel. The spectrometer lock channel is improved, particularly for measurements where the lock coil and the target coil are positioned separately within the volume of interest. |
| US10989774B2 |
Retractable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet field assembly for an equine MRI system
The present disclosure provides a vertically retractable magnet field assembly for a Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI) system. The assembly can move from an upward raised position to a downward retracted position, and vice versa. The assembly includes a magnet configured with a bore for imaging a body portion of a subject. The bore defines an inner surface of the magnet and extends along a longitudinal axis of the magnet. The magnet includes at least one flux generating element disposed within the magnet and oriented such that each of the at least one flux generating element surrounds the bore. Each of the at least one flux generating element is configured to generate a magnetic field for magnetizing the body portion positioned within the bore to generate a visual representation of an anatomy of the body portion. |
| US10989770B2 |
Wide magnetic field range measuring method and device
A wide magnetic field range measuring method includes the measurement step for a medium-and-large magnetic field and the measurement step for an extremely large magnetic field. In addition to that, the method further includes: Step 1: placing four orthogonally-configured magnetic resistance resistors into an external magnetic field and obtaining the resistance value of each magnetic resistance resistor; Step 2: substituting the resistance values of two mutually orthogonal magnetic resistance resistors into the measurement step for a medium-and-large magnetic field for calculation; if calculation process converges, then, determining that the external magnetic field as a medium-and-large magnetic field with the calculation result representing the magnetic field intensity and the direction of the medium-and-large magnetic field. |
| US10989765B2 |
Wire connection quality monitoring systems
A connection quality system can include a resistance test module, a first line connected to the resistance test module and configured to connect to a wire connection assembly past one or more physical connections of the wire connection assembly, and a second line connected to the resistance test module and configured to connect to the wire connection assembly directly or indirectly on an opposite side of the one or more physical connections of the wire connection assembly such that the first line and the second line are in electrical communication through the wire connection assembly. The resistance test module can be configured to determine if the one or more physical connections are degraded or broken based on a resistance of the wire connection assembly. |
| US10989756B2 |
Systems and methods using stroboscopic universal structure-energy flow correlation scattering microscopy
The disclosure provides for systems and methods which utilize an optical scattering microscope with a spatiotemporal approach to measure the nature and extent of energy flow across electronic or semiconductor materials. |
| US10989755B2 |
Light emitting diode (LED) test apparatus and method of manufacture
Embodiments relate to functional test methods useful for fabricating products containing Light Emitting Diode (LED) structures. In particular, LED arrays are functionally tested by injecting current via a displacement current coupling device using a field plate comprising of an electrode and insulator placed in close proximity to the LED array. A controlled voltage waveform is then applied to the field plate electrode to excite the LED devices in parallel for high-throughput. A camera records the individual light emission resulting from the electrical excitation to yield a function test of a plurality of LED devices. Changing the voltage conditions can excite the LEDs at differing current density levels to functionally measure external quantum efficiency and other important device functional parameters. Spectral filtering is used to improve measurement contrast and LED defect detection. External light irradiation is used to excite the LED array and improve onset of charge injection light emission and throughput. |
| US10989747B2 |
Apparatus for measuring condition of electroplating cell components and associated methods
A device for measuring electrical properties of electrical contacts within an electroplating apparatus has a disc-shaped structure like that of a wafer. Multiple conductive pads are formed to collectively circumscribe an outer periphery of the disc-shaped structure. Adjacently positioned ones of the conductive pads are electrically isolated from each other. The device includes a current source that supplies electric current at a first terminal and sinks electric current at a second terminal. The device includes measurement circuitry, having first and second input terminals, that determines a value of an electrical parameter based on signals present at the first and second input terminals. The device includes switching circuitry for connecting selected ones of the conductive pads to the first and second terminals of the current source and to the first and second input terminals of the measurement circuitry at a given time. The device also includes an onboard power supply. |
| US10989746B2 |
Method for reading information from a set of electricity meters
Electric meters are connected by an electricity supply network to a data concentrator with which the meters communicate by powerline. A method for reading information from meters is based on a classification of the meters in a plurality of classes. A first class, read first, groups together meters that haven't been read in a last execution of the method. The other classes group together the meters according to a rate of response to requests for information coming from the concentrator. The classes grouping together the meters that have the lowest response rates are read last. In each class, each meter is classified according to information representing a topology of the network having an influence on the failure risk of the transmissions of information by the meter. The concentrator accounts for the classification of the meters when the meters in the network are read to reduce occurrences of periods of contention. |
| US10989740B2 |
Closed-loop current transducer
A closed-loop current transducer comprising a magnetic circuit core made of a material with a low magnetic reluctance to conduct magnetic flux and concentrate a magnetic field, a magnetic field detector positioned in a magnetic circuit gap of the magnetic circuit core, and a compensation coil assembly comprising a compensation coil and a compensation coil support comprising a coil support bobbin, the compensation coil being wound around the coil support bobbin. The magnetic circuit comprises a first longitudinal branch, a second longitudinal branch, and first and second end branches interconnecting the first and second longitudinal branches such that the branches surround a central opening configured to receive one or more primary conductors therethrough, the magnetic circuit being formed of first and second parts assembled together from opposed ends of the compensation coil support. |
| US10989735B2 |
Atomic force microscopy tips for interconnection
Embodiments relate to the design of an electronic device capable of preventing a lateral motion between a first body and a second body. The device comprises a first body comprising one or more atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips protruding from a first surface of the first body. The device further comprises a second body comprising one or more electrical contacts on a second surface of the second body. The second surface faces the first surface. The one or more electrical contacts pierced by the AFM tips of the first surface to prevent a lateral motion between the first body and the second body. |
| US10989733B2 |
Acceleration sensor, geophone, and seismic prospecting system
Provided are acceleration sensor, geophone and seismic prospecting system with high sensitivity and low power consumption. The acceleration sensor includes a mass body displaceable with respect to a rotation shaft. The acceleration sensor includes a first AC servo control facing a first symmetrical region of the first movable portion, a second AC servo control electrode facing a second symmetrical region of the second movable portion, and a DC servo control electrode facing an asymmetrical region of the second movable portion. A first AC servo capacitive element is formed by the first movable portion and the first AC servo control electrode, a second AC servo capacitive element is formed by the second movable portion and the second AC servo control electrode, and a DC servo capacitive element is formed by the second movable portion and the DC servo control electrode. |
| US10989729B2 |
Physical quantity sensor device, and inclinometer, inertia measurement device, structure monitoring device, and moving object using physical quantity sensor device
A physical quantity sensor device includes a physical quantity sensor and a storage. The storage stores a first constant used as a constant of each term in an approximate polynomial to obtain a first secondary frequency temperature characteristic approximated to the actual frequency temperature characteristic, in a first temperature region less than the first boundary temperature, and a second constant used as a constant of each term in the approximate polynomial to obtain a second secondary frequency temperature characteristic approximated to the actual frequency temperature characteristic, in a second temperature region equal to or greater than the first boundary temperature. |
| US10989725B2 |
Method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system, laboratory sample distribution system, and laboratory automation system
A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises sample container carriers comprising a magnetically active device and configured to carry a sample container, interconnected transport plane modules configured to support carriers, and electro-magnetic actuators arranged in rows and columns below each transport plane module and configured to move a carrier on top of the transport plane modules by applying a magnetic force to the carrier. The method comprises assigning transport plane modules to a route category. At least two traffic lanes are formed on the route categorized transport plane module. The carriers are moved within each traffic lane in a transport direction. The transport directions are opposite to each other. The method also comprises assigning another transport plane module to a waypoint category. A change from one transport direction to the opposite transport direction is possible on the waypoint categorized transport plane module. |
| US10989719B2 |
Methods for treating spinocerebellar ataxia type I using RPA1
To provide a compound which enables treatment or prevention of spinocerebellar ataxia, analyses were carried out based on a screening using a spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) fly model and on the like. As a result, the following proteins ameliorating the pathology of spinocerebellar ataxia were identified: RPA1, PNKP, XRCC3, XRCC4, CCNH, POLE, POLH, and PER1. On the other hand, the following proteins aggravating the pathology were identified: CHK1, LIG3, FEN1, LIG1, ERCC5, XAB2, ERCC2, DMC1, RECQL5, MUS81, EME1, SPO11, and BLM. In addition, it has been revealed that ATXN1, which is a cause of SCA1, binds to RPA1, BRCA1, and BRCA2, and suppresses the activities of these proteins, so that the above-described pathology is caused. |
| US10989718B2 |
Detection of misfolded alpha synuclein protein
Methods and kits are provided for amplifying and detecting αS proteins from samples, for example, from patients having Parkinson's Disease. For example, a method for determining a presence of a soluble, misfolded αS protein may include: contacting the sample with a monomeric, folded αS protein to form an incubation mixture; conducting an incubation cycle two or more times on the incubation mixture effective to form an amplified portion of misfolded αS protein; incubating the incubation mixture effective to cause misfolding and/or aggregation of at least a portion of the monomeric, folded αS protein in the presence of the soluble, misfolded αS protein; physically disrupting the incubation mixture effective to at least partly de-aggregate at least a portion of a misfolded αS aggregate present; and determining the presence of the soluble, misfolded αS protein in the sample by detecting at least a portion of the soluble, misfolded αS protein. |
| US10989716B2 |
Biomarkers for the detection of acute rejection in heart transplantation
The present disclosure relates to methods of diagnosing acute rejection of a cardiac allograft in a subject using genomic expression profiling, proteomic expression profiling, or both on panels of nucleic acid markers and proteomic markers. |
| US10989712B2 |
Diagnosis of a neuroautoimmune disease
A method is used for diagnosing a disease by detecting in a sample with antibodies from a patient an autoantibody binding to DAGLA. |
| US10989710B2 |
Identifying new therapeutic agents
Disclosed herein are methods for identifying novel drug candidates. |
| US10989708B2 |
Automated analysis device
An automated analysis device includes: a first measurement unit having a reaction disc for retaining a plurality of reaction cells containing a mixed solution of sample and reagent on a circumference, a light source for irradiating the mixed solution contained in the reaction cells with light, and a light-receiving unit for detecting the irradiated light; a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the reaction cells having undergone measurement; disposable reaction containers for containing the mixed solution of sample and reagent; a second measurement unit that has a plurality of measurement channels for retaining the disposable reaction containers, and includes a light source for irradiating the disposable reaction containers retained in each of the plurality of measurement channels with light; a read unit for reading identification information; and a control unit for controlling an analysis condition for the sample on the basis of the information that has been read. |
| US10989703B2 |
Multiwell microelectrode array with optical stimulation
An electro-optical stimulation and recording system is disclosed, including a substrate and a plurality of wells coupled to the substrate. The system also includes at least one electrode set disposed proximate a respective one of the plurality of wells, wherein the electrode set comprises at least one electrode configured to collect an electric signal associated with at least a portion of the respective well. The system also includes a light-emitting element set corresponding to a respective one of the wells and configured to deliver optical stimulation to at least a portion of the respective well. |
| US10989702B2 |
Laboratory tracer experiment system for medium characteristic inversion of karst conduit
A laboratory tracer experiment system based on karst conduit medium characteristic inversion, having: a assembly model system of the karst conduit medium; a test bed, configured to support the assembly model system of the karst conduit medium; a water supply system connected to the assembly model system of the karst conduit medium to supply water to the assembly model system of the karst conduit medium; a full-automatic control system for tracer adding connected to the assembly model system of the karst conduit medium to add a prepared tracer solution into the assembly model system of the karst conduit medium; a real-time wireless monitoring system of fluorescent tracer; and a central control system for controlling the full-automatic control system for tracer adding, the water supply system, the real-time wireless monitoring system of fluorescent tracer and the high-definition camera recording system to communicate with the central control system. |
| US10989700B2 |
Temperature history indicator
A purpose of the present invention is to provide a temperature history indicator that allows for visual confirmation of whether the temperature is at or below a prescribed temperature as well as simple conversion of this information into data. A temperature history indicator according to the present invention is characterized by being provided with a label layer and a temperature-indicating layer laminated above or below the label layer, wherein the temperature-indicating layer includes a substance having at crystallization starting temperature of 10° C. or lower and a melting point at least 20° C. higher than the crystallization starting temperature. |
| US10989698B2 |
High resolution MSI based quantification
A data independent acquisition method of mass spectrometry for analysing a sample as it elutes from a chromatography system is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a precursor mass range, and performing a plurality of MS1 scans and sets of MS2 scans across the precursor mass range. Each of the MS1 scans uses a mass analyser operated at a first, relatively higher resolution, for identification and/or quantitation of the sample in the MS1 domain. The set of MS2 scans comprises performing MS2 scans of fragmented mass range segments performed with the mass analyser, operated at a second, relatively lower resolution. In the method, the MS1 scans are interleaved throughout the performing of the set of MS2 scans such that the MS1 scans provide a mass chromatogram of the sample. The ratio of the number of MS1 scans to sets of MS2 scans performed across the chromatographic peak width is at least 3:1. |
| US10989697B2 |
Breath analyzer
A cooling unit (cryo-focus unit) cools breath introduced into a carrier gas from a sample introduction unit, to trap volatile components in the breath into a column. A heater heats the volatile components trapped in the column to desorb the volatile components. Amass spectrometry (MS) section detects the volatile components desorbed by the heater and separated in a process of passing through the column. The breath introduced into the carrier gas from the sample introduction unit is cooled by the cooling unit, whereby more volatile components in the breath are trapped, and those volatile components can be desorbed, and can be detected by the MS section. |
| US10989694B2 |
Rail inspection system
Provided is a rail inspection system capable of accurately detecting a defect of a railroad rail. The system includes: a sensor part group that has a plurality of sensor parts having receiver coils, and first oscillator coils and second oscillator coils corresponding to the receiver coils being arranged in a line parallel in a width direction of a railroad rail to be inspected; an oscillation part that supplies an oscillation signal to each of the first oscillator coils and the second oscillator coils; and a detection part group that has a plurality of detection parts to detect, with respect to an output signal from each of the receiver coils when the sensor part group moves in a laying direction of the railroad rail, a first inspection signal corresponding to a first phase of the output signal and a second inspection signal corresponding to a second phase of the output signal. |
| US10989691B2 |
Photoionization detector ultraviolet lamp
Embodiments relate generally to an ultraviolet lamp (100) for use with a photoionization detector comprising a sealed tube (102) configured to contain at least one gas; a coating (120) applied to the inner surface (110) of the sealed tube (102); and a crystal window (112) attached to the sealed tube (102), configured to allow transmittance of ultraviolet (UV) light generated within the sealed tube (102). Additional embodiments include a method of forming an ultraviolet lamp (100) for use with a photoionization detector, the method comprising applying at least one layer of a coating (120) onto an inner surface (110) of a sealed tube (102); sealing a crystal window (112) onto the sealed tube (102); filling the sealed tube (102) with at least one gas; sealing the sealed tube (102) containing the at least one gas; generating ultraviolet radiation using the at least one gas within the sealed tube (102); and directing the generated ultraviolet radiation through the crystal window (112) toward a sample gas in the photoionization detector. |
| US10989690B2 |
Trapped ion mobility spectrometer with high ion storage capacity
The invention is related to a trapped ion mobility spectrometer (TIMS device) and proposes to use higher order (order N>2) linear multipole RF systems to accumulate and analyze ions at an electric DC field barrier, either pure higher order RF multipole systems or multipole RF systems with transitions from higher order towards lower order, e.g. from a linear octopolar RF system (N=4) to a linear quadrupole RF system (N=2) in front of the apex of the electric DC field barrier. |
| US10989689B2 |
Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry detector and gas chromatograph-ion mobility spectrometer
A gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry detector and a hyphenated apparatus, the gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry detector comprises a gas chromatography mechanism and an ion mobility spectrometry mechanism. The gas chromatography mechanism comprises a chromatographic column and a sample injection port. The ion mobility spectrometry mechanism comprises a mobility tube and a connecting body, while a metal connection plate of the connecting body comprises a chromatographic metal plate, an ion mobility metal plate and a semipermeable membrane; on the ion mobility metal plate there are provided an ion mobility sample and carrier gas inlet, an ion mobility sample chamber and a sample injection port; the chromatography sample chamber and the ion mobility sample chamber are separated by semipermeable membrane. |
| US10989688B2 |
Techniques for extending electrode serviceability and useful life in voltametric device
This disclosure provides techniques for extending useful life of a reference electrode, as well as a novel voltametric system and measurement cell design and related chemistries. An automated, repeatable-use system features a reference electrode that directly immerses a metallic conductor into an analyte, with electrolytes (e.g., chlorides) used for measurement being separately added and removed for each measurement cycles; the metallic conductor can optionally be left exposed to clean dry air in between measurements. In one implementation, the system can be restricted to application with specific analytes (e.g., ground water) that are known in advance to be free of substances that could degrade reference electrode use or lifetime. Cleaning solutions can optionally be used that would not be practical with conventional (insulated) reference electrode designs. In another embodiment, a measurement cell can be configured to receive separated electrode modules, permitting independent cleaning/removal of the working electrode (or other electrodes). |
| US10989686B2 |
Gas sensor
A gas sensor includes a sensor element, metal terminals, a tubular separator holding the metal terminals, lead wires connected to rear ends of the metal terminals, and an elastic member that holds the lead wires extending rearward from the separator. Each metal terminal includes a forward end portion electrically connected to an electrode portion, a central portion, and a lead wire connection portion. The forward end portion or the central portion is held by the separator. The central portion and the lead wire connection portion are connected to each other through a neck portion. The rearward-facing rearmost surface of the central portion is engaged with a forward-facing surface of the separator, and the circumferential length of a first connection portion between the central portion and the neck portion is longer than the circumferential length of a second connection portion between the lead wire connection portion and the neck portion. |
| US10989680B2 |
Systems and methods for assessing the quality of adhesive bonds
In one embodiment, assessing the quality of an adhesive bond of a composite material includes passing a vector electric field through a thickness of the composite material, measuring dielectric properties of the composite material, determining one or more dielectric parameters of the composite material, and comparing the one or more dielectric parameters with one or more reference dielectric parameters. |
| US10989677B2 |
Sample collecting device, sample collecting method, and fluorescent x-ray analysis apparatus using the same
Provided is a fluorescent X-ray analysis apparatus, including: a collecting portion configured to drop a liquid droplet onto a substrate having an object to be measured on a surface thereof and move the dropped liquid droplet on the surface of the substrate to collect the object to be measured into the liquid droplet; a drying portion configured to dry the liquid droplet so that the object to be measured is held onto the surface of the substrate; an analysis portion configured to irradiate the object to be measured with an X-ray and perform quantitative analysis of an element contained in the object to be measured based on a fluorescent X-ray output from the object to be measured; a beam sensor configured to emit a laser having a band shape for detecting an amount of the liquid droplet separated from the collecting portion before the liquid droplet is dried after the object to be measured is collected; and a calculating portion configured to calculate a correction coefficient for correcting the amount of the liquid droplet or a quantitative analysis value of the object to be measured based on a detection result of the beam sensor. |
| US10989676B2 |
Gamma-ray image acquisition device and gamma-ray image acquisition method
A gamma-ray image acquisition device (1) acquires the direction and energy of a target scattered gamma-ray generated by Compton scattering of an incident gamma-ray and acquires the direction and energy of a recoil electron. These pieces of information are used to acquire the incident direction and energy of the incident gamma-ray. The gamma-ray image acquisition device (1) acquires a two-dimensional image by imaging spectroscopy based on the incident directions and energies of a plurality of incident gamma-rays, the two-dimensional image being an image in which each pixel corresponding to each incident direction includes energy distribution information. In the two-dimensional image, the area and the solid angle of an imaging range are proportional to each other. This enables acquiring the distribution of gamma-ray intensities without depending on distance and thereby acquiring an image that indicates more useful information than conventional images. |
| US10989673B2 |
Subsea computed tomography system with flat panel detectors
A Computed Tomography (CT) system can be deployed by subsea vehicles such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or by divers to perform CT inspections on a subsea structure. In embodiments, a marinized signal source and a marinized flat panel signal detector are positioned at a structure to be inspected subsea and possibly repositioned at different angles about the structure to acquire a series of 2D radiographic images which are then fed to a reconstruction algorithm that produces a 3D reconstructed volume of the structure being inspected. |
| US10989672B2 |
Defect inspection device, defect inspection method, and program
A defect inspection device, a defect inspection method, and a computer readable medium accurately and rapidly detect a minute defect and a defect candidate indicated by a signal in a received light image of an inspection object. A defect inspection device includes an image acquisition unit, an input unit, an exposure condition acquisition unit, memory, and a parameter determination unit that determines an image processing parameter for a received light image based on an exposure condition acquired by the exposure condition acquisition unit, a physical feature received by the input unit, and exposure information stored in memory, and an image processing unit extracts a defect candidate image which corresponds to a defect candidate of the inspection object from the received light image by performing image processing of the received light image based on the image processing parameter determined by the parameter determination unit. |
| US10989666B2 |
Oxygen detecting agent composition, and molded article, sheet, packaging material for oxygen scavenger, and oxygen scavenger using the same
The oxygen detecting agent composition according to the present invention includes a redox dye, a reducing agent and a basic substance, wherein the redox dye is an iron blue pigment and the reducing agent is lactose. |
| US10989665B2 |
Method and solution for assaying inhibitors in a petroleum fluid containing water
A method for detecting and quantifying additives in a complex aqueous fluid, and a method for detecting an inhibitor of mineral deposition or corrosion, injected in a gas or oil well. The invention also relates to a developer solution including a lanthanide and a chelating agent for detecting said additives or inhibitors. |
| US10989659B2 |
Chemical probes for hydrogen sulfide
Chemical probes and methods for detecting and/or quantifying hydrogen sulfide are disclosed. More particularly, this application discloses chemical probes and methods for their use for detecting and/or quantifying hydrogen sulfide in industrial and environmental samples and effluents, including samples of crude oil and sour water produced by petrochemical and other industrial processes. |
| US10989653B2 |
Color imaging by discrete narrow-band synchronized illumination
A color imaging system and method, the method comprising, for a plurality of predetermined wavelength bands of illumination, calculating weight coefficients representing the contribution of each of the wavelength bands to a specific color space, individually controlling illumination intervals of each of a plurality of illumination sources, wherein each of the illumination sources is configured to provide illumination via a waveguide in a different predetermined narrow band of wavelengths, controlling an image sensor to capture a set of monochromatic image frames synchronously with the illumination intervals, receiving a set of the captured monochromatic image frames, and generating color image data by calculating a combination of the set of image frames, each weighted by the corresponding coefficient. |
| US10989652B2 |
Systems and methods for combining optical metrology with mass metrology
A metrology system for substrate processing includes an optical metrology station including a plurality of optical sensors to measure spectra from a plurality of measurement locations on a substrate. A plurality of fiber cables are connected to the plurality of optical sensors. A spectrometer is selectively connected to the plurality of fiber cables. A mass metrology station measures at least one of a mass or mass change of the substrate. A controller includes a modelling module to generate thickness values at the plurality of measurement locations based on the spectra from the plurality of measurement locations and a learned model. A spatial modelling module generates a spatial thickness distribution model for the substrate based on the thickness values at the plurality of measurement locations from the modelling module and the at least one of the mass or the mass change from the mass metrology station. |
| US10989647B2 |
Orally disintegrating tablet evaluating method, and orally disintegrating tablet evaluating device
Provided is an orally disintegrating tablet evaluating method includes: measuring the mass of tablet; placing the tablet on a preparation placement surface of a test solution supply unit; measuring a water absorption time for a test solution to penetrate from one end of the tablet in contact with the surface to the other end of the tablet; measuring the mass of the tablet for which the time for the solution to penetrate has been measured; and calculating the water absorption rate of the tablet by the following formula (1); wherein the tablet is evaluated based on a water absorption rate of the tablet of 0.004 g/sec: water absorption rate of tablet=(mass of tablet after measurement of time for solution to penetrate−mass of tablet before measurement of time for solution to penetrate)/(time for solution to penetrate from one end to other end) (1). |
| US10989645B2 |
Non-invasive particle sensor using a multi-fiber connector
This invention provides, e.g., devices for detection of particle concentrations in a vessel in real time from outside the vessel. The device is attached to the vessel so that light from an optic fiber enters a media of the vessel, is scattered by the particles, and the scattered light received by a second optic fiber. The received light is transmitted to a detector, generating a signal to a processor for determination of a particle concentration. |
| US10989640B2 |
Method for defining threshold stress curves utilized in fatigue and damage tolerance analysis
A method for defining a threshold stress curve utilized in fatigue and/or damage tolerance analysis, the method including conducting a direct test method on a plurality of specimens with a notch to generate raw data, the notch in each of the specimens having a notch dimension; determining a plurality of analyzed data points based upon the raw data; determining a regression line based upon the plurality of data points, the regression line including an exponential portion and a power law portion; and connecting the exponential portion and the power law portion of the regression line to form a threshold stress curve based on the regression line. |
| US10989638B2 |
Multi-functional support capable of transferring horizontal and multi-point local vertical load and implementation method
A multi-functional support capable of transferring a horizontal and multi-point local vertical load is provided. The multi-functional support is mainly formed by detachably assembling a distribution beam capable of transferring a vertical load locally and independently at multiple points, detachable upright columns, a template beam and a support base. The distribution beam capable of transferring a vertical load locally and independently at multiple points is located between tops of the two upright columns. The two upright columns are mounted on the support base. The template beam is located between the two upright columns, arranged on the support base and connected to the support base. The support base is fixed on a ground. The distribution beam capable of transferring a vertical load locally and independently at multiple points, the detachable upright columns, the support base and the template beam are located in the same plane. The multi-functional support can perform various experiments such as vertical loading, horizontal reciprocating loading and multi-point local independent vertical loading. By means of the detachable upright columns, loading and constraint fixing of an experimental wall can be realized step by step, thus reducing damage to a specimen by a moving specimen. The damage form of the loaded specimen can be kept effectively. |
| US10989632B2 |
Method for preparing standard sample for gas flow type analysis system
An object of the invention is to improve uniformity of a standard sample used for evaluating a gas flow type analysis system. The invention includes weighing a background into a container; adding a sample solution to the background; drying the sample solution; adding a solvent that can dissolve the sample into the container; and drying the solvent added to the container. The invention is also characterized in that the solvent is an organic solvent, in particular, acetone. |
| US10989631B2 |
Sampling device for taking beverage samples from a beverage line containing a carbonated beverage under pressure
A sampling device for taking samples from a gaseous beverage under pressure includes a connection for a beverage line, a pump having a pump chamber, a particle filter, a discharging opening for a beverage sample, an outlet for waste, a control device, and a line system connected to the pump chamber with adjustable valves. The sampling device is configured so a beverage sample with a volume smaller than the volume of the pump chamber is introduced from the connection into the pump chamber. The pump chamber is then separated from the connection and is expanded so gas exits from the beverage sample. The pump chamber is then connected to the outlet opening and compressed so gas which has passed out of the beverage sample is displaced. Then, the pump chamber is connected to the discharging opening via the particle filter and compressed so the beverage sample is displaced. |
| US10989629B2 |
Method of evaluating tire ground contact property
A method, of the present disclosure, of evaluating a tire ground contact property includes mounting a tire on one surface of a flat plate; placing a predetermined load on the tire or placing the tire in a no-load state; irradiating the tire with terahertz waves having a frequency of 0.1 THz to 10 THz from the other surface side of the flat plate or from inside the flat plate, the wavelength of the terahertz waves being greater than the roughness average length in at least a portion of the one surface of the flat plate and/or greater than the roughness average height in at least a portion of the one surface of the flat plate; detecting reflected terahertz waves from the tire; and evaluating the ground contact property of the tire on the basis of the detection result. |
| US10989627B2 |
Controller which determines a misfire for an internal combustion engine
To provide a controller for an internal combustion engine which can determine presence or absence of misfire with good accuracy, even when the rotational variation occurs due to factors other than misfire. A controller for an internal combustion engine calculates, as a reference detection period, the detection period detected within a reference angle interval including a top dead center; calculates a period deviation which is a deviation between the reference detection period and the each detection period; calculates a former period deviation integration value by integrating the period deviation in a former angle interval before the top dead center; calculates a later period deviation integration value by integrating the period deviation in a later angle interval after the top dead center; and determines presence or absence of misfire in the combustion stroke based on the former period deviation integration value and the later period deviation integration value. |
| US10989625B2 |
Vehicle headlight measurement system instrumentation structure
A vehicle (9) headlight measurement system instrumentation structure (1) comprises: a support structure (3); a vehicle calibration assistance structure (4), which is carried by the support structure (3) and includes a headlight aiming device (40), configured to facilitate alignment or calibration of a headlight (90) of the vehicle (9), the vehicle (9) being positioned within a service area (8); a processing system (11) configured to receive, from the headlight aiming device (40), data correlated with a light beam emitted by the headlight (90) and to provide, through an interface (10), an informative indication relating to an operating condition of the headlight (90), where the processing system (11) includes a communication port (12) connectable to an electronic control unit (91) of the vehicle (9). |
| US10989612B2 |
Sensor with a plurality of acquisition devices that measure force using impedance
An acquisition device includes a wall and a transducer constituted by a body on which electrodes are fastened spaced apart from one another. An electrical impedance of the transducer is variable as a function of deformation of the transducer. When looking in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the wall, at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are spaced apart from each other. The transducer is incorporated under the surface of the wall. |
| US10989611B2 |
Method and assembly for determining the temperature of a test sensor
Methods and systems accurately determine an analyte concentration in a fluid sample. In an example embodiment, a receiving port receives a test sensor. The test sensor includes a fluid-receiving area for receiving a fluid sample. The fluid-receiving area contains a reagent that produces a measurable reaction with an analyte in the fluid sample. The test sensor has a test-sensor temperature and the reagent has a reagent temperature. A measurement system measures the reaction between the reagent and the analyte. A temperature-measuring system measures the test sensor temperature when the test sensor is received into the receiving port. A concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample is determined according to the measurement of the reaction and the measurement of the test sensor temperature. A diagnostic system determines an accuracy of the temperature-measuring system. The calculation of the analyte concentration may be adjusted according to the accuracy of temperature-measuring system. |
| US10989601B1 |
Beam focusing and reflective optics
A method of applying a reflective optics system that requires the presence of both convex and a concave mirrors that have beam reflecting surfaces. Application thereof achieves focusing of a beam of electromagnetic radiation with reduced effects on a polarization state of an input beam state of polarization that results from adjustment of angles of incidence and reflections from the various mirrors involved. |
| US10989596B2 |
Subject identification device and subject identification method
A subject identification device includes: an illuminator configured to generate illumination light including components at a plurality of wavelength bands, each of the components having a characteristic in accordance with a respective one of settings; an imager configured to generate an image signal by capturing light from a subject under the illumination light having the illumination characteristic; and a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to: define an illumination characteristic of the illumination light; analyze the image signal to acquire spectral information of the subject; and cross check the spectral information of the subject with subject identification information in order to identify the subject. When the subject is not identified, the processor is configured to define another illumination characteristic that causes spectral information of potentials for the subject to be identified, and subsequently each of the imager and the processor performs a process. |
| US10989593B2 |
Multi-angle colorimeter that suppresses the influence of an inclination of a reference angle on a colorimetric result
First and second measurement operations are performed according to each of a plurality of geometric conditions while keeping the geometric condition. In the first measurement operation, illumination light is radiated from a first light radiating position toward a measurement target position and spectroscopic measurement is performed on reflected light traveling from the measurement target position toward a first light receiving position. In the second measurement operation, illumination light is radiated from a second light radiating position toward a measurement target position and spectroscopic measurement is performed on reflected light traveling from the measurement target position toward a second light receiving position. The two spectroscopic measurement results are averaged. The second light radiating position and the second light receiving position are respectively disposed symmetrical to the first light radiating position and the first light receiving position with respect to a reference axis. |
| US10989591B2 |
Methods and arrangements to enhance optical signals within aberrated or scattering samples
An optical system has an illumination optical assembly, a detection optical assembly, a wavefront shaping device, and a controller. The illumination optical assembly focuses interrogating optical radiation to a focal point on or in a sample. The interrogating optical radiation propagates to the focal point along a first optical axis. The detection optical assembly direct optical radiation emanating from the focal point to a detector. The emanating optical radiation propagates from the focal point along a second optical axis. The wavefront shaping device is disposed in an optical path of the interrogating optical radiation or in an optical path of the emanating optical radiation. The controller sets a configuration of the wavefront shaping device to correct for aberration. The first optical axis is at a non-zero angle with respect to the second optical axis. |
| US10989588B2 |
Sensor device
A sensor device includes: a holder having an insertion hole; a probe having a proximal end to be inserted in the insertion hole and having a portion to be inserted in the insertion hole, a diameter of the portion of the probe to be inserted in the insertion hole being smaller than a hole diameter of the insertion hole; piezoelectric elements housed in the holder, configured to be brought into contact with the proximal end of the probe directly or indirectly, a vibration of the probe acting on the piezoelectric elements; an O-ring (prevention member) disposed in the insertion hole and holding the probe to prevent the probe from contacting the holder, the probe being configured such that a tip of the probe is pushed against a measurement object to detect a vibration of the measurement object. |
| US10989587B2 |
Distributed fibre sensing system and vibration detection and positioning method therefor
A distributed fibre sensing system and a vibration detection and positioning method therefor are disclosed. The system comprises: a signal generating module, a light source module, an optical frequency comb generating module, a frequency sweeping and pulse generating module, an optical circulator, a sensing fibre, an interference module, a photoelectric conversion module and a detection and position module. The method comprises: obtaining a plurality of Rayleigh backscattering signals of the sensing fibre; performing a fading elimination processing on the Rayleigh backscattering signals, thereby obtaining a plurality of averaged Rayleigh backscattering signals of non-interference fading and polarization fading; performing a phase processing on the averaged Rayleigh backscattering signals, thereby obtaining phase variance curves; and determining a vibration point according to variances in the phase variance curves, and finally obtaining a position and a vibration waveform of the vibration point. |
| US10989585B2 |
Methods and apparatus to measure mass in low gravity environments
Methods and apparatus to measure mass in low gravity environments are disclosed. A disclosed example low-gravity mass-measuring apparatus includes a coupler to couple a coupling portion to an object, the coupling portion including a first inertial measurement unit (IMU), a force device to provide a force to cause a movement of a dock relative to the coupling portion, where the dock is releasably couplable to the coupling portion and includes a second IMU, and a processor to calculate a mass of the object based on movement data from the first and second IMUs and the force. |
| US10989582B2 |
Method for determining and displaying remaining filling or draining time
A method for determining a remaining filling or draining time of a container comprising the steps: determining a current fill level, calculating the expected remaining filling or draining time from the determined fill level and a rate of change, and issuing the expected remaining filling or draining time. |
| US10989580B2 |
Apparatus and method for feeding doses of fluidisable materials
Apparatus for feeding doses of fluidisable materials comprising one upper Intel pipe (1′, 1″), one lower outlet pipe (2′, 2″) and a Pausing (6′,6″). and a fluidising element (5′,5″) for controlling outflow of materials through the outlet pipe (2′, 2″), The apparatus further comprising a control volume constituted by a chamber (3′,3″) between the Intel pipe (1′, 8″) and the outlet pipe (2′,2″) and a fluidising element (4′, 4″) for controlling inflow of materials Into the chamber (3′, 3″). A diverter (7′,7″) la arranged between the Inlet pipe (1′, 8″) and the outlet pipe {2′, 2″) defining said chamber (3′, 3″) between said Inlet pipe (1′,8″) diverter (7′,7″) the housing (6′, 6″) and the fluidising element (5′,5″). The Invention also relates to a method for feeding doses of fluidisable materials by the apparatus. |
| US10989579B2 |
Thermal detection sensor
In order to achieve at least one of size reduction and high accuracy by maintaining the reliability of the thermal detection sensor in the thermal detection sensor in the flow state of the fluid to be detected, based on a heat transfer amount from the heating resistor element to the fluid to be detected by heat exchange between the fluid to be detected and the heating resistor element via the flattened film, the thermal type detection sensor for detecting a flow state of the fluid to be detected, and wherein a sidewall covering a sidewall of the heating resistor element and blocking physical contact between the heating resistor element and the flattened film is provided between the heating resistor element and the flattened film, and the sidewall suppresses fluctuation in electric resistance of the heating resistor element due to silicidation of the heating resistor element. |
| US10989573B2 |
Method and device for correcting angle sensor
A method for correcting an angle sensor is applied to a step motor including an angle sensor, where the angle sensor rotates with the step motor, and the method for correcting an angle sensor includes the following steps: rotating the step motor by a preset angle to a first position; reading a first voltage of the angle sensor when the angle sensor is rotated to the first position; determining whether the first voltage deviates from a preset voltage curve; if yes, recording a first offset of the first voltage relative to the preset voltage curve; and compensating for a sensing angle of the angle sensor according to the first offset. A device for correcting an angle sensor is further provided. |
| US10989564B2 |
Transfer equipment for a vacuum chamber
Provided is equipment for transferring a vacuum chamber that solves a problem of heat dissipation of a driver by (i) placing a permanent magnet, which is a stator structure of a linear motor and causes linear motion, inside a vacuum chamber and (ii) by placing a coil of a driver structure outside the vacuum chamber. Under this structure, (i) no cable is installed in inside the chamber, and (ii) heat generated from the driver structure can be smoothly dissipated. The transfer equipment includes: a first-axis linear coil (24) that is fixed to an outside of the vacuum chamber at a bottom surface of the housing (11) of the vacuum chamber (10); a first-axis slider (60) that is installed inside the vacuum chamber (10) and moves in a first-axis direction relative to a bottom of an inner space of the vacuum chamber (10); and a first-axis linear permanent magnet (63). The first-axis linear permanent magnet (63) is arranged in the first-axis direction, is installed in a lower portion of the first-axis slider (60), and slidingly moves together with the first-axis slider (60). |
| US10989562B2 |
Systems and methods for annotating maps to improve sensor calibration
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving calibration of an onboard sensor of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to acquiring sensor data from a surrounding environment of the vehicle using the onboard sensor, analyzing the sensor data to determine calibration parameters for the onboard sensor. The method includes identifying a suitability parameter that characterizes how well the surrounding environment provides for determining the calibration parameters. The method includes generating annotations within a map that specify at least the suitability parameter for a location associated with the sensor data. In further aspects, the method includes identifying, from the map, a calibration route for the vehicle that is a deviation from a current route in response to determining that the calibration state of the onboard sensor does not satisfy the calibration threshold. |
| US10989560B2 |
Map data correcting method and device
A map data correcting method for correcting map data used in a vehicle using a controller includes executing a first correction process of uniformly offsetting the map data as a whole to reduce a first error that is a general position error of the map data and executing a second correction process of reducing a second error that is a position error still remaining in the map data even after uniformly offsetting the map data as a whole. |
| US10989558B2 |
Route guidance method and route guidance device
A route guidance method includes: if, on a set route from a departure point to a destination of a vehicle, a travelling road at a present position of the vehicle has a first plurality of lanes, and a next road following a nearest branch point from the present position has a second plurality of lanes, finding a branch-merge point up to which lanes other than a lane for reaching the destination out of the second plurality of lanes have gone away; and if a start point of traffic congestion is downstream of the branch-merge point, and an end point of the traffic congestion is upstream of the nearest branch point, guiding the vehicle to the lane for reaching the destination as a target before reaching the end point. |
| US10989555B2 |
System and method for automated semantic map generation
A system and method for automated semantic map generation includes at least a processing system with at least one processing device. The processing system is configured to generate a probabilistic road model for road elements. The processing system is configured to generate a probabilistic traffic model for the road model. The processing system is configured to perform statistical inference on the road model and the traffic model. The processing system is configured to generate an estimate of a semantic road model based on the statistical inference. The processing system is configured to generate a semantic map that includes the estimate of the semantic road model. |
| US10989554B2 |
System and method for emotion navigation routing
A computer-implemented method for controlling navigation includes generating an emotion data of a first user that illustrates emotion of the first user based on information received from a sensor. The method includes transmitting the emotion data of the first user to a controller configured to control a navigation of a second user. The first user and the second user are members of a same group. The method includes modifying the navigation of the second user according to the emotion data of the first user. |
| US10989551B2 |
Reducing HVAC loads for rideshare vehicles
Systems and methods provide for reducing power draw in an autonomous vehicle. A level of sunlight can be received based on an amount of light captured by one or more sensors. The level of sunlight can be mapped to a geographical area to generate a map of shaded areas, and based on a temperature within the autonomous vehicle being outside a temperature range, the autonomous vehicle can be routed based on the map of shaded areas to bring the autonomous vehicle within the temperature range. |
| US10989547B2 |
Autonomous vehicle ride service systems and methods
Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods described in this disclosure generally pertain to a ride service that includes an autonomous vehicle configured to execute various functions autonomously for assisting customers. An exemplary autonomous vehicle of the ride service may be configured to autonomously execute one or more functions such as identifying a customer upon arriving at a pick-up location, finding a suitable parking spot close to the customer, guiding the customer (such as a visually impaired customer) to the autonomous vehicle, positioning a particular door of the autonomous vehicle to facilitate entry into the autonomous vehicle by the customer, and/or providing an assigned seat to the customer upon entry into the autonomous vehicle. In at least some cases, the customer may be a physically handicapped individual in need of certain types of assistance offered by the autonomous vehicle. |
| US10989546B2 |
Method and device for providing vehicle navigation simulation environment
A method may comprise recursively performing: (1) providing one or more states of a simulation environment to a simulated vehicle, and the states comprise a first current time and a first current location of the simulated vehicle; (2) obtaining an action by the simulated vehicle when the simulated vehicle has reached a milestone, wherein: the action is selected from: waiting at the first current location of the simulated vehicle, picking up a passenger group A at an origin of passenger group A's transportation, and dropping off a passenger group B at a destination of passenger group B's transportation, and the milestone is an origin or a destination of any passenger group's transportation; (3) determining a reward to the simulated vehicle for the action; and (4) updating the one or more states based on the action to obtain one or more updated states for providing to the simulated vehicle. |
| US10989543B2 |
Controller
A controller for managing data demand to and from an asset is described. In particular, the controller is configured to obtain streams of local data from one or more local data sources, said local data providing local information of a current condition of the asset. Once received, the controller determines one or more potential future conditions of the asset based on the current condition of the asset and on changes in the local data. A bandwidth requirement is then determined to obtain streams of remote data from one or more remote data sources potentially relevant to the one or more potential future conditions. This bandwidth requirement is then compared to an available bandwidth; and a priority order determined for obtaining the remote data if the available bandwidth is below the bandwidth requirement. |
| US10989542B2 |
Aligning measured signal data with slam localization data and uses thereof
A method includes retrieving a map of a 3D geometry of an environment the map including a plurality of non-spatial attribute values each corresponding to one of a plurality of non-spatial attributes and indicative of a plurality of non-spatial sensor readings acquired throughout the environment, receiving a plurality of sensor readings from a device within the environment wherein each of the sensor readings corresponds to at least one of the non-spatial attributes and matching the plurality of received sensor readings to at least one location in the map to produce a determined sensor location. |
| US10989541B2 |
Travel route generation device and travel route generation method
A travel route generation device includes circuitry configured to calculate positions of a starting point, an end point, and intermediate points from a start vehicle position, an end vehicle position, and intermediate vehicle positions, respectively, based on a distance from a contour point to a reference point. The circuitry is configured to define the shape of the target work region by calculating a line connecting the starting point, the intermediate points, and the end point, the line defining the shape of the target work region. The circuitry is configured to generate a travel route along which the work vehicle is to travel in the target work region. |
| US10989533B2 |
Laser line generating device
A laser beam generating device includes a housing a first laser diode which generates a visible first output beam which projects outside of the housing onto a surface and a second laser diode which generates a visible second output beam which projects outside of the housing onto the surface. The laser beam generating device has a first mode in which the first laser diode and the second laser diode are both on. In the first mode, the first laser diode is operated at a first duty cycle the second laser diode is operated at a second duty cycle. The first duty cycle and the second duty cycle are staggered. |
| US10989524B2 |
Asymmetric optical interference measurement method and apparatus
An asymmetric optical interferometry method, comprises the following steps: an incident light is split into two beams, and the two beams are respectively projected onto a surface of an object to be tested and a reference mirror; and then respectively pass through a first imaging lens having a larger area on the side of the object, and a second imaging lens having a smaller area on the side of the reference mirror, and overlap on a photoelectric sensor after passing through a third imaging lens to form at least one interference image (S1); the corresponding interference image is input into a computer to obtain a signal of the corresponding interference image (S2); parse the signal of the corresponding interference image to obtain a three-dimensional shape (S3) of the surface of the object. Also provide an asymmetric optical interferometry device. |
| US10989523B2 |
Sub-surface patterning for diffraction-based strain measurement and damage detection in structures
Systems and methods for assessing strain in structural components are disclosed. Structural components may have geometric patterns of grooves within the structural component, with the grooves in the geometric pattern each having a groove width. The method may include projecting beams of electromagnetic (EM) energy through the structural component to the geometric pattern of grooves to create diffracted beams of EM energy that are reflected from or transmitted through the geometric pattern of grooves and have diffracted wavelengths indicating changes in the groove widths due to strain caused when the structural component is exposed to environmental conditions, detecting the diffracted wavelength of the diffracted beams, and correlating the diffracted wavelengths of the diffracted beams to the strain in the structural components. |
| US10989514B2 |
Elastomeric sleeve for tape measure
A sleeve for use in combination with a tape measure includes an elastomeric main body surrounding a cavity, the main body being sized and configured for snug fit engagement of the tape measure; a plurality of openings formed on the main body; a first one of the plurality of openings surrounding a tape opening of the tape measure, such that the tape may be selectively passed therethrough; a second one of the plurality of openings for surrounding a tape measure control of the tape measure, such that the tape measure control may be selectively actuated therethrough; a third one of the plurality of openings for surrounding a clip of the tape measure, such that the clip may be selectively operated therethrough; a metallic plate being structured and disposed for magnetically securing a magnet element of a writing instrument; and a pocket for receipt of the writing instrument. |
| US10989512B2 |
Measuring tape with improved standout
A blade for a measuring tape device may include a first end configured to extend from a housing of the measuring tape device through an aperture, a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly within the housing, and a first cupped portion having a first amount of cupping over a selected portion of a longitudinal length of the blade. The first cupped portion may be defined by a curved portion extending from an apex of the curved portion toward lateral edges of the blade, and wings extending from each of the lateral edges toward the curved portion on each side of the apex. The curved portion includes a first radius proximate to the apex of the curved portion, and a second radius at a point spaced apart from the apex on both sides of the apex, the second radius being different than the first radius. |
| US10989506B1 |
Dart
A dart including a shaft, a flight, and a cap. The shaft has a body made of flexible materials and a connecting element. The connecting element has a connecting section and multiple insertion slits. Each one of the multiple insertion slits has an open end. The flight has multiple wings and a receiving groove. Each one of the multiple wings is inserted into a respective one of the multiple insertion slits. The receiving groove is formed through the multiple wings. The cap is detachably mounted in the receiving groove, is mounted to the connecting section, and blocks the open end of each one of the multiple insertion slits. |
| US10989504B1 |
Competitive shooting target assembly
A shooting target assembly includes a frame having a curved edge, where a plurality of catch mechanisms are positioned along the curved edge, a first target arm having a first end and a second end, and a second target arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first target arm is connected to a first target that is positioned above the curved edge. The second end of the first target arm is pivotally connected to a rear portion of the frame at a first pivot point. The first end of the second target arm is connected to a second target that is positioned above the curved edge, and the second end of the second target arm is pivotally connected to the rear portion of the frame at a second pivot point. Each of the plurality of catch mechanisms is configured to engage the first target arm or the second target arm. |
| US10989503B2 |
Wirelessly conducted electronic weapon
An electroshock system wirelessly delivers a shock to a subject. The electroshock system may include a launcher, a wireless projectile, a power source, and a wireless power transmitter. The launcher is configured to be grasped by a user. The wireless projectile is configured to detach from the launcher and adhere to a subject. The power source contributes power for the administration of a shock to the subject. The wireless power transmitter delivers said contributed power to the wireless projectile while the wireless projectile is detached from the launcher. The power source and the wireless transmitter may be co-located with the launcher, or may be separate (such as secured to a person or within a vehicle). |
| US10989496B2 |
Securable container with lockable mount system
A securable container for a firearm or other valuable item and a securable mounting system that secures the attachment of the securable container to an external structure, which may be for example an interior surface of a vehicle. The invention may comprise an enclosure, a retractable cover, a firearm retaining mechanism and a firearm extending mechanism. The container may be manually or remotely locked or unlocked. When locked, the interior volume may not be accessed and the securable container may not be detached from the external structure. Geolocation, batter, open/close state and other status information may be communicated to a remote user through a wireless data link. A camera may be activated by opening the container, whereupon video data may be transmitted to a remote monitor. When opened, a firearm is automatically extended out of the container, presenting it for use. A key fob may allow user access. |
| US10989495B2 |
Firearm harness system and method
A system for supporting a firearm in a generally vertical position includes a stock support member to support the stock of the firearm, a first fastening element operatively connectable to a user, and a second fastening element mounted with respect to the firearm. The system is configured such that the first and second fastening elements remain engaged when the firearm is in the generally vertical position so that the firearm is supported only by the fastening elements and the stock support member, but automatically disengage when the firearm is moved to a generally horizontal position for firing. A method includes connecting the first fastening element to a human user via a flexible harness and moving the firearm from the first position to the second position. |
| US10989490B2 |
Firearm and methods for operation and manufacture thereof
Methods and systems are provided for a firearm. The firearm may include safety features having a trigger block preventing trigger actuation when a lever in the firearm is in a partially cocked position and/or a safety mechanism positioned in front of the trigger. |
| US10989485B2 |
Heat exchanger tube, and corresponding heat exchanger production method
The invention relates to a heat exchanger tube produced by bending a metal strip (11), characterized in that said strip (11) has a thickness that can vary between at least one first thickness (e1) and at least one second thickness (e2) greater than said first thickness (e1), and in that said tube has thinned first zones (Z1) and reinforced second zones (Z2) located at the points of greatest mechanical stress, said first zones (Z1) being formed by first portions (P1) of said strip of first thickness (e1) and said reinforced second zones (Z2) being formed by second portions (P2) of said strip (11) of second thickness (e2). The invention also relates to a heat exchanger comprising a core bundle of such tubes, and to a method of obtaining such a tube. |
| US10989479B2 |
Integrated liquid air cooled condenser and low temperature radiator
An integrated heat exchanger assembly comprises a first header tank, a second header tank, a first heat exchanger core extending between the first header tank and the second header tank, a second heat exchanger core extending between the first header tank and the second header tank, and a third heat exchanger core extending between the first header tank and the second header tank. The first heat exchanger core is in fluid communication with a liquid coolant and a refrigerant, the second heat exchanger core in fluid communication with a first portion of a flow of air and the refrigerant, and the third heat exchanger core in fluid communication with a second portion of the flow of the air and the liquid coolant. |
| US10989477B2 |
Apparatus and method for conducting hot work
In the specification and drawings, an apparatus for conducting hot work is described and shown with an enclosure; a hot work apparatus operable within the enclosure; and a detector located exterior of the enclosure, the detector being in detecting communication with the interior of the enclosure, such that the detector detects the presence of a condition within the enclosure. A method of conducting hot work is also described and shown. |
| US10989476B2 |
Clinker cooler and method for operating a clinker cooler
A conveyor grate for conveying bulk material (preferably cement clinker) in a conveying direction, which has at least two conveying means and at least one motor for advancing such conveying means in the conveying direction and for retracting the conveying means, The grate can be installed and operated at reduced costs, if a first of these conveying means is coupled via a first clutch to the motor and a second of these conveying means is coupled via a second clutch to the same motor. |
| US10989474B2 |
Integrated flicker control for arc furnace
A control device for an arc furnace includes an arc furnace control module for controlling the arc furnace and a flicker module for determining a flicker value in a grid supplying the arc furnace, wherein the arc furnace control module is adapted for controlling the arc furnace based on the flicker value and wherein the arc furnace control module and the flicker module are integrated into one structural component. |
| US10989469B2 |
Heavy hydrocarbon removal from lean gas to LNG liquefaction
A system for processing a gas stream can include a physical solvent unit, an acid gas removal unit upstream or downstream of the physical solvent unit, and an LNG liquefaction unit downstream of the acid gas removal unit. The physical solvent unit is configured to receive a feed gas, remove at least a portion of any C5+ hydrocarbons in the feed gas stream using a physical solvent, and produce a cleaned gas stream comprising the feed gas stream with the portion of the C5+ hydrocarbons removed. The acid gas removal unit is configured to receive the cleaned gas stream, remove at least a portion of any acid gases present in the cleaned gas stream, and produce a treated gas stream. The LNG liquefaction unit is configured to receive the treated gas stream and liquefy at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in the treated gas stream. |
| US10989468B2 |
Rapid cooling dock
A method of and apparatus for accelerating the cooling of a beverage can and/or ice tray utilizing at least one body that presents a density and thermal conductivity, defines a standard beverage can and/or ice tray receiving receptacle configured to form a minimum contact surface area of engagement with at least one can and/or tray, and preferably further defines a series of thru-holes, so as to promote accelerated cooling through conduction, convection within a compartment. |
| US10989466B2 |
Portable cooler with active temperature control
A portable cooler container with active temperature control system is provided. The active temperature control system is operated to heat or cool a chamber of a vessel to approach a temperature set point suitable for a medication stored in the cooler container. |
| US10989464B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for monitoring refrigeration units
A system for monitoring and reporting internal refrigeration unit temperatures includes a temperature measuring device for placement within the refrigeration unit. The temperature measuring device has a first temperature sensors situated in a liquid or solid mass (e.g. glycol or glass beads) for measuring an average temperature within the refrigeration unit and/or has a second temperature sensors exposed to ambient air within the refrigeration unit for measuring an instantaneous temperature within the refrigeration unit. A circuit periodically transmits the average temperature and/or the instantaneous temperature from the temperature measuring device to a server where the average temperature and the instantaneous temperature are analyzed to determine and/or predict a fault with the refrigeration unit. Upon determination and/or prediction of the fault, an alert is sent to at least one staff member indicating the refrigeration unit and fault. |
| US10989463B2 |
Refrigerator controlling freshness on basis of context awareness and artificial intelligence, server, portable device, and method for controlling freshness
The present invention relates to a refrigerator controlling freshness on the basis of context awareness and artificial intelligence, a server, a portable device, and a method for controlling freshness. The refrigerator controlling freshness on the basis of context awareness, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: one or more partitioned storage spaces; one or more freshness sensors for sensing the freshness in an outside area or the storage spaces; a communication unit for receiving operation instruction information from the server or the portable device, and transmitting, to the server or the portable device, freshness condition information generated by the freshness sensors; and a control unit for controlling the freshness sensors and the communication unit, and performing a freshness control operation according to operation instruction information instructing an operation that differs from pre-set operating condition information that is set for any one or more of the storage spaces. |
| US10989452B2 |
Channeled condenser ballast
A condenser for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration system includes a condenser shell, a refrigerant inlet located at the condenser shell, and a condenser drain located at the condenser shell. A condenser tube bundle is located in the condenser shell such that a refrigerant flow entering the condenser via the refrigerant inlet passes over the condenser tube bundle before exiting the condenser at the condenser drain. Two or more condenser ballast volumes are located in the condenser shell between the tube bundle and the condenser drain. The two or more condenser ballast volumes are spaced apart to define a channel therebetween. A condenser ballast volume of the two or more condenser ballast volumes has a horizontal top surface. |
| US10989451B2 |
Oil management in a refrigeration system—compressor oil cooler integrated into gascooler
A heat-exchanger including a device for separating oil from a coolant-oil mixture and cooling the oil and cooling and/or liquefying the coolant. The heat exchanger features a first area cooling and/or liquefying the coolant, and a second area cooling the oil. The heat exchanger further features at least two manifolds. The first area of the heat exchanger features flow channels guiding the coolant, and the second area of the heat exchanger features flow channels guiding the oil. The flow channels extend between the manifolds. Each of the flow channels has a respective outside flooded by a heat-absorbing fluid. |
| US10989448B2 |
Sublimator having a porous plate with integral primary and secondary heat transfer surfaces
A sublimator includes a porous plate having a first surface comprising a low pressure side and a second surface comprising a high pressure side such that refrigerant is configured to move through the porous plate from the high pressure side to the low pressure side. The second surface defines a primary heat transfer surface. The porous plate further includes a plurality of secondary heat transfer surfaces integrally formed on the primary heat transfer surface to facilitate flow and evenly distribute refrigerant across the high pressure side of the porous plate. |
| US10989447B2 |
Refrigeration cycle device
A refrigeration cycle device includes a compressor, a condenser, a first decompressor, an outside heat exchanger, and an evaporator. A predetermined part of a refrigerant passage from the condenser to the first decompressor through which the refrigerant flows is a condenser outlet portion. A predetermined part of a refrigerant passage from the first decompressor to the outside heat exchanger through which the refrigerant flows is an outside heat exchanger inlet portion. A predetermined part of a refrigerant passage from the outside heat exchanger to the second decompressor through which the refrigerant flows is an outside heat exchanger outlet portion. A volume capacity of the condenser outlet portion is larger than a volume capacity of the outside heat exchanger inlet portion. According to the refrigeration cycle device, preferable coefficient of performance of cycle can be achieved in different operation modes. |
| US10989443B1 |
Systems and methods for obtaining energy in shadowed regions
Systems and methods are disclosed for directing radiant energy to permanently shadowed or occasionally shadowed regions such as on the floors of craters or in valleys in lunar polar regions to provide illumination, thermal power, electricity, communications, and other services. Embodiments of the systems include reflector elements to provide diffuse illumination, focused illumination, and thermal power, structures to support the reflectors and other elements, communications devices for varied signal types, and methods for installing the system. The structure can be compactly folded and delivered to be automatically installed. |
| US10989441B2 |
High efficiency fluid heating system exhaust manifold
A fluid heating system including: a pressure vessel shell com including prising a first inlet; a heat exchanger disposed in the pressure vessel shell, the heat exchanger including a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet of the heat exchanger is connected to the first inlet of the pressure vessel shell; and an exhaust manifold disposed in the pressure vessel shell, the exhaust manifold including a third inlet and a third outlet, wherein the third inlet of the exhaust manifold is connected to the second outlet of the heat exchanger, wherein the third outlet of the exhaust manifold is outside of the pressure vessel shell, and wherein the exhaust manifold penetrates the pressure vessel shell. |
| US10989438B2 |
Indoor unit for use in air-conditioning apparatus and air-conditioning apparatus including the same
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a main body provided with an opening port; and a rectangular decorative panel attached to the main body to cover the opening port. The decorative panel includes a rectangular suction grille provided to face the opening port of the main body. The suction grille has one side rotatably supported on one side of the decorative panel, and is detachably attached to the decorative panel. The one side of the suction grille and the one side of the decorative panel are secured to each other by a plurality of fall prevention strings. The decorative panel is provided with two panel claw portions to which the plurality of fall prevention strings are to be hooked. The suction grille is provided with two grille claw portions to each of which respective end portions of the plurality of fall prevention strings are to be hooked. |
| US10989429B2 |
Air conditioning system
Provided is an air conditioning system that achieves energy conservation and comfortableness. In the air conditioning system (100), an outdoor-air conditioner (10) sucks outdoor-air (OA) and supplies the outdoor-air as supply air (SA) from an air handling unit (30). An indoor-air conditioner (50) cools or heats indoor-air (IA) that is an air inside a target space (SP) by using an indoor unit (70) and supplies the air to the target space (SP). A general control unit (90) controls performs cooperative load control in which an operating capacity of the outdoor-air conditioner (10) and an operating capacity of the indoor-air conditioner (50) are controlled in cooperation in accordance with a status of the outdoor-air (OA), a status of the indoor-air (IA), an operation status of the outdoor-air conditioner (10), and/or an operation status of the indoor-air conditioner (50). The general control unit (90) controls, in the cooperative load control, at least one of a parameter of the outdoor-air conditioner (10) and a parameter of the indoor-air conditioner (50) such that a temperature or humidity of the indoor-air (IA) approaches a set value and also a total amount of power consumption of the outdoor-air conditioner (10) and power consumption of the indoor-air conditioner (50) is reduced. |
| US10989425B2 |
Humidification device and humidification method
A humidification device and a humidification method are provided. The humidification device includes: an image acquisition module configured to acquire an image of a user skin; a processing module configured to determine a moisture content of the user skin based on the image and determine a spraying amount for humidifying an air based on the moisture content; and a humidification module configured to humidify the air based on the spraying amount. |
| US10989424B2 |
Atomization humidifier
The present disclosure relates to a field of humidifiers and in particular to an atomization humidifier that increases an amount of vapor through a specially designed atomizing air channel. The atomization humidifier includes a main body and an atomizing chamber arranged in the main body. The atomizing chamber includes an atomizing generator. An atomizing air channel is arranged on the atomizing generator. A flow guide plate is obliquely arranged on a top end of the atomizing air channel. A water inlet is arranged on an upper end of the atomizing air channel. An opening of the water inlet is upward. A lower end of the atomizing air channel is an air guide tube with hollow vacancies. The atomization humidifier realizes water vapor concentration by setting the atomizing air channel arranged on the atomizing generator, which improves an atomizing efficiency of the atomization humidifier by optimized structure, and is low in cost and good in atomizing effect. |
| US10989423B2 |
Steam humidifier
A steam generating humidifier apparatus (1) comprises a water container (2) with a water inlet (11) and a steam outlet (12) and at least two elongated electrodes (3, 4) arranged vertically within the container. The electrodes have each an upper electrode end (3′, 4′) and a lower electrode end (3″, 4″) and at least one of the electrodes is provided at its lower electrode end with an end piece (15) made of an electrically non-conducting material which end piece is connected to the lower electrode end. This will avoid arcing between the electrode and the water surface in cases where the water level drops so low that the electrodes are exposed. |
| US10989418B2 |
Cooking appliance
A cooking appliance may include a case that defines a cavity for cooking, a top plate that is disposed above the cavity and that is configured to define an external appearance of a top side of the cooking appliance, a control panel that is disposed at a front upper position of the cavity and that is configured to define an external appearance of a front side of the cooking appliance, the control panel having a knob for user operation, and a door that is disposed below the control panel and that is configured to define, along with the control panel, the external appearance of the front side of the cooking appliance, the door being configured to open or close the cavity. |
| US10989415B2 |
Entertainment apparatus
An entertainment device is disclosed herein which integrates a fire feature, a water feature, a music system, and a controlled lighting feature into a single piece of furniture. |
| US10989414B2 |
Fire pit and method of use
A pyramid fire pit. The fire pit includes a first trapezoidal side plate having a first hook and a first slot defined in opposing upper corners, a second trapezoidal side plate having a second hook and a second slot defined in opposing upper corners, and a third trapezoidal side plate having a third hook and a third slot defined in opposing upper corners. The first hook locks into the second slot, the second hook locks into the third slot, and the third hook locks into the first slot so that the three side plates define between themselves an inverted triangular pyramid-shaped cavity in which a fire can be built. |
| US10989406B2 |
Compact inward-firing premix fuel combustion system, and fluid heating system and packaged burner system including the same
An inward-firing combustion burner, includes a burner casing configured to receive a fuel-air mixture at a burner inlet and to provide hot combustion gas at a burner output, a combustion substrate disposed within the burner casing, the substrate having a shape comprising at least a semi-cone or a flat surface, having a substrate porosity defined by a plurality of pores, and having a substrate inner surface and a substrate outer surface, the substrate configured to receive the fuel-air mixture at the outer surface of the substrate, the fuel-air mixture passing through the pores at a mixture flow rate from the substrate outer surface toward the substrate inner surface, and the burner configured such that, in operation, the fuel-air mixture ignites near the plurality of pores to form a respective plurality of flamelets, each flamelet corresponding to one of the pores. |
| US10989405B2 |
Luminous fan and light guide member
The disclosure provides a luminous fan including a main body, a light guide member and at least one light source. The main body includes a fan frame and a propeller, and the propeller is rotatably mounted on the fan frame. The light guide member includes an outer light guide ring and an inner light guide ring, the outer light guide ring and the inner light guide ring are mounted on the fan frame, the inner light guide ring has an air channel, the propeller is located in the air channel, and the outer light guide ring surrounds the inner light guide ring and is exposed from the luminous fan. The at least one light source is disposed between the outer light guide ring and the inner light guide ring. |
| US10989400B2 |
Modular smart quick connect device for electrical fixtures
A socket and plug are used to connect an electrical fixture with electrical power supply wiring, and for mounting the fixture on a support. The socket has internal cavities with electrically conductive contact terminals which establish an electrical connection between the electrical power supply wiring and the socket. A plug is rigidly fixed to a fixture, and is inserted into the socket. The plug has male connectors electrically connected to the fixture and engageable with the conductive terminals within the socket. A releasable latch is carried on the combination of the plug and the socket for releasably mounting the fixture on the support. A hub surrounds the plug and socket, and houses a plurality of sensor modules releasably connectable to a periphery of the hub. The sensor modules each include an electronic device operative to generate or transmit electronic data. |
| US10989399B2 |
Electroluminescent lighting device having touch sensor
An electroluminescent light device includes a substrate, an emission element disposed on a first surface of the substrate and defining an emission area, first and second pads disposed on the first surface of the substrate in a non-emission area of the substrate, a touch layer disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, and a cover plate attached on a bottom surface of the touch layer. |
| US10989392B1 |
Removable modular bamboo-based-based solar landscape lamp
A removable modular bamboo-based solar landscape lamp is provided. The lamp includes a base, a bamboo-based pole, a bamboo-based beam, a bamboo-based sparrow brace, an LED lamp, a solar power system, and a control module, where a lower end of the bamboo-based pole is disposed on the base, an upper end of the bamboo-based pole is vertically connected to the bamboo-based beam, and the solar power system is disposed above the bamboo-based beam; the LED lamp is disposed under one side of the bamboo-based beam, and the bamboo-based sparrow brace is disposed on a joint between the other side of the bamboo-based beam and the bamboo-based pole; the solar power system is used to supply power to the LED lamp, the solar power system, and the control module; the control module may control on and off of the LED lamp. |
| US10989389B2 |
Light-adjusting film, backlight module, and display device
A light-adjusting film is mounted between a color conversion layer and a display panel of a direct type backlight module and has a substrate and at least one light-adjusting layer. The substrate has a central area and a surrounding area. The at least one light-adjusting layer has a pigment and is mounted on the substrate. A content of the pigment is gradually decreased from the surrounding area to the central area. The color of the pigment of the light-adjusting film is a correction color of lights emitted from light emitting surface of the color conversion layer in the backlight module. |
| US10989385B2 |
Lighting device, preferably with adjustable or adjusted color location, and use thereof, and method for adjusting the color location of a lighting device
A lighting device includes: at least one laser light source configured to emit a light beam; and a light conversion element associated with the at least one laser light source and arranged in the beam path of at least one light beam generated by at least one laser light source such that at least a portion of the light beam emitted by the at least one laser light source is directed onto the light conversion element, and in such a way that a laser light spot is illuminated on a face of the light conversion element facing the incident light beam, the light conversion element comprising a material which, through scattering, absorption and conversion of the incident laser light, emits and scatters light of a larger wavelength. |
| US10989381B2 |
Kinetic flame device
An electric candle device that resembles a real was candle includes an outer shell with an uneven edge around the top of the outer shell. The device includes one or more light emitting elements positioned within a cavity inside the outer shell and that emit beams at a non-zero angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the electric lighting device to provide illumination from within the cavity in an upward direction and reaching above the top surface after passing through the opening. An optical element is positioned to receive light from the one or more light emitting elements and to direct the received light toward the top surface. The optical element has a focal point to change one or both of a size and direction of the light received prior to projecting the light in the direction of the top surface. |
| US10989378B2 |
Light-unit(s) of LED or-and laser light-string's has more one sections has different light performance(s)
The LED or-and Laser light string has more than one light performance functions has LED or-and Laser light bulb which has built-in LED or Laser or both to offer one or more LED or-and Laser light performance or functions select from (I) illumination, (2) projection, (3) party light, (4) lighted patterns, (5) light beams, (6) lighted image, (7) flood light, (8) color changing light (9) garden torch light, (10) garden landscape light string or other light string and all these functions has circuitry and controller built-in only light string or each of light-unit to make LED or-and laser light source(s) to turn on and turn-off or fade-in and fade-in or sequential or flashing or market available light performance which controller is one or more of the following parts including all parts & accessories selected from (i) sensor or photo sensor, motion sensor, (ii) detector or moving detectors, (iii) wireless or remote or IR or RF controller, (iv) switch, manual switch, automatically or timer switch (v) each light source or only light-string has built-in wireless receiver to match the wireless transmitter electric signals; those circuitry and controller is one of (a) built-in the light strings, or (b) built-in one master-control light-unit or each of light-unit, or (c) outside of the light string, or (d) outside the LED or-and laser light-unit housing, or (d) built-in power source, or (e) built-in the said light string or light-unit or LED or-and laser bulb circuity or controller. |
| US10989375B2 |
LED light fixture for indirect lighting with adaptable baffle structure
An LED light fixture is disclosed with an elongated housing that forms a open lower light channel and an upper light channel that is juxtaposed to the open lower light channel with electronics cavity or conduit positioned there between. The LED light fixture preferably has an elongated reflective insert that extends through the open lower light channel and creates a reflection channel from which the indirect and reflected light is emitted and a detachable cover structure that includes a diffusion lens and a removable baffle structure that attaches to side walls of the upper light channel. |
| US10989374B1 |
Decorative lighting control
A multi-sectional artificial tree with internal and external power wiring for distributing and controlling power to a network of lights. The tree includes multiple tree sections, each tree section with a set of power wires inside a tree trunk, and a network of lighting wires outside the trunk. The network of lighting wires includes a tree-section wire network with a large gauge wire supplying power to groups of lights strings on branches on the tree trunk. Each group of branches has a branch-level lighting network with multiple connectors in series, and that connects to one connector of the tree-section wire network. Each branch-level lighting network powers multiple light strings connected in series, one light string per branch. The wires of the light strings are small gauge, and are connected by the branch-level connectors by a small-wire-to-large-wire connector. |
| US10989372B2 |
Fixtures and lighting accessories for lighting devices
According to at least one aspect, a lighting system is provided. The lighting system comprises a strip lighting device including a circuit board, a light emitting diode (LED) mounted to the circuit board, a lens disposed over the LED and configured to receive the light emitted from the LED and change at least one characteristic of the light received from the LED, and an elastomer encapsulating at least part of the circuit board. The lighting system further comprises a fixture configured to receive the strip lighting device and mount to a structure and a lighting accessory configured to removably couple to the fixture over the strip lighting device and change at least one characteristic of the light from the strip lighting device. |
| US10989370B2 |
Decorative bi-directional portable lighting device
There is disclosed a dual-mode lighting device having decorative electronic illumination and optional magnifying device (“lighting device” or “device”). The lighting device incorporates at least two sets of light sources to provide illumination for decorative lighting and for illumination for spot lighting a specific area. The lighting device has a power source, a switch, one or more light sources such as light emitting diodes. The lighting source is bi-directional so that it has the ability to illuminate in both upward and downward direction. An optional lens for magnification expanding across the length and width of the device is housed between the upward and the downward illumination sources. |
| US10989367B1 |
Bulb including removable cover
A three-way bulb including light emitting diodes is used to achieve a variety of light output colors and/or intensities. In some embodiments, the inputs to a three-way bulb are configured to perform other functions, such as power a motor. In some embodiments, a bulb including light emitting diodes includes a replicable cover and/or a replicable LED. This cover may be configured to project images or support a shade made of a heat sensitive material. |
| US10989364B2 |
Ruggedized, high efficiency, diffuse luminaire
A ruggedized, high efficiency, diffuse luminaire with a shaped lens diffuser that is composed of a semi-soft, flexible material that helps withstand damaging impacts and protects the internal electrical components. The lens diffuser may enclose one or more internal mirrors or employ an innovative Fresnel-like lens that projects light omni-directionally and that wraps around the inside of the lens for more efficient distribution of illumination and the elimination of up and down loss through re-projecting vertical losses onto the horizontal plane. The lens diffuser may incorporate a UV filtration compound molded directly into the materials composing the lens rather than applied or painted onto the surface or surfaces of the lens. The lens diffuser may incorporate two additional innovations that better enable the reduction of glare through varying the thickness of the lens diffuser, based on its relative proximity to the bulb(s) or lamp(s), and/or applying a patterning of reflective, semi-reflective or non-reflective material to the inside of the lens diffuser relative to the proximity to the illumination source to reflect away a portion of the light and thereby attain an even distribution of light across the surface of the lens without having to ensure that the lens surface is located equidistant or nearly equidistant from the lamp or lamps within the lens. |
| US10989358B2 |
Method of purging a dual purpose LNG/LIN storage tank
A method for loading liquefied nitrogen (LIN) into a cryogenic storage tank initially containing liquid natural gas (LNG) and a vapor space above the LNG. First and second nitrogen gas streams are provided. The first nitrogen stream has a lower temperature than the second nitrogen gas stream. While the LNG is offloaded from the storage tank, the first nitrogen gas stream is injected into the vapor space. The storage tank is then purged by injecting the second nitrogen gas stream into the storage tank to thereby reduce a natural gas content of the vapor space to less than 5 mol %. After purging the storage tank, the storage tank is loaded with LIN. |
| US10989357B2 |
Sealed and thermally insulating vessel having an anti-convective filler plate
Sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid, a tank wall having a secondary thermal insulation barrier, a secondary sealing membrane, a primary thermal insulation barrier and a primary sealing membrane supported by the primary thermal insulation barrier, where the primary insulating elements have parallelepiped insulating panels disposed so as to provide voids between them. The primary thermal insulation barrier having an anti-convective filler plate disposed in the void between a first parallelepiped insulating panel and a second parallelepiped insulating panel, the anti-convective filler plate being made of thin continuous material and having a plurality of elongated wall elements extending over substantially the entire width of the void to delimit cells extending substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction. |
| US10989355B2 |
Modular mounting system
An accessory mounting plate for a modular mounting system is described. The accessory mounting plate allows screwless coupling with a mounting receptacle, and may be configured to support a variety of different accessories. In one example, an accessory mounting plate includes a main body, a screwless attachment aperture, and a dovetail structure. The screwless attachment aperture is configured to enable the main body to be screwlessly mounted to a mounting receptacle. The dovetail structure is configured to enable the main body to fictively engage the mounting receptacle. |
| US10989354B2 |
Suspension system and brake device and rotation limiting device for use in the suspension system
The invention relates to a suspension system, or pendant unit, intended for attachment to an upper structure at a selectable height for suspending a load wherein the load may comprise a carrier for the one or more medical devices or one or more devices, such as for instance a (target) lighting, monitor, camera or a medical device.The problem of the known suspension system is that during the entire repositioning the user has to react on the behavior of the system due to a variety of internal and external forces.It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative suspension system for the known suspension system wherein this problem is addressed. |
| US10989353B2 |
System and method for wall mounting with a rotating bushing
A wall mounting system is provided including a fastening member including one or more mounting studs and one or more anchor apertures. The fastening member is configured to be anchored to a support structure by one or more fasteners disposed through the one or more anchor apertures. The wall mounting system also includes a bushing assembly including an inner portion including a through hole configured to receive a mounting stud and an outer portion configured to rotate about the inner portion and including at least one set screw aperture configured to align with a set screw aperture of an accessory sleeve and receive a set screw. Rotation of the outer portion about the inner portion enables indexing of the set screw aperture about a longitudinal axis of the bushing assembly. |
| US10989344B2 |
Polyethylene pipe service system including quick connect means for polyethylene pipe tapping, plugging, and completion operations
Embodiments of a polyethylene (“PE”) pipe servicing system of this disclosure may include a fusible PE fitting (F) providing a branch connection to a PE pipeline section or run (P), a valve (10) connected to the fitting and including quick connect/disconnect means, and a machine connectable to the valve including complementary quick connect/disconnect means. The quick connect means provide for full scope of operation, including cleaning, fusion, cool down, hot tap, plugging, and completion. No squeezing is used. The quick connect/disconnect means may include a first portion 20 of a cam profile and a second portion 40 of the cam profile complementary to that of the first. The machine may be a drilling or hot tapping machine (30T), a plugging machine (30P), or a completion machine (30 C), and their associated tools. The valve and machine are more lightweight and faster and easier to use than the prior art. |
| US10989343B2 |
Push-to-connect and pull-to-disconnect quick coupling
A quick coupling for connecting fluid lines with one-handed push-to-connect and pull-to-disconnect operation is described. The quick coupling achieves this preferred functionality with a minimum number parts, the quick coupling having only one spring and one dynamic seal. In addition to fluid carrying applications the quick coupling can be used for tool holding and power transmission. |
| US10989342B2 |
Depressor-adjustment unit and manifold gauge set including the same
In accordance with the present disclosure, leak of gas is suppressed when a coupler of a manifold gauge set including a gas hose is detached to a gas inlet/outlet valve of a thermal exchange equipment. To this end, the set includes a core-rod depressor extending from the coupler into the hose, and a depressor-adjustment unit disposed on the hose to adjust a position of the core-rod depressor. |
| US10989339B2 |
Assembly of a tube and a fitting body and a method thereof
An assembly for connecting tubes includes a tube connector assembly and an assembly guide for positioning the position locator of the tube connector assembly. The tube connector assembly includes a position locator having a hollow cylindrical shape and configured to be fastened to an outer surface of a tube at a predetermined depth from a first end of the tube, at least one ferrule to be coaxially positioned against a first side of the position locator, and a compression nut to be coaxially positioned against a second side of the position locator opposite to the first side of the position locator. When the assembly guide is engaged with the tube connector assembly and a tube is inserted into a cavity of the compression nut, the length from the first end of the tube to the position locator is equivalent to the predetermined depth. |
| US10989335B2 |
Saddle pipe support
A pipe support is coupled to an elongated channel for receiving and supporting a pipe. The channel includes a base and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending from the base to a top plate. A flange projects downwardly from each top plate towards the base and defines a slot therebetween. The pipe support includes a body portion extending axially between opposite ends and having an inner surface and an outer surface. The body portion includes a generally arcuate bottom floor and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls projecting generally upwardly from the bottom floor. A plurality of axially spaced apart channel clips project downwardly from the outer surface of the body portion opposite the side walls. The channel clips have a leg portion and an outwardly projecting barb portion wherein the channel clips extend through the slot in the channel and the barb portions engage the respective spaced apart flanges to operatively couple the pipe support to the channel. |
| US10989334B2 |
Bracket for positioning and protecting pipes in concrete
A bracket holds a rigid or flexible tube during the pouring of a concrete slab. The bracket has a base and a housing connected to the base. The tube curves around a first tube support on the housing before passing through an opening in the bottom of the housing. The tube and any members inside the tube are cut off so they end inside the housing and are then covered by a housing cap. The base is fastened to a form for the concrete slab. The height of the housing relative to the base is adjusted to place the cap at the planned surface of the concrete slab. After the concrete slab is formed the cap is removed and the cut members inside the housing are connected to other members or devices. |
| US10989332B2 |
Internally supported power track
A boom assembly for a lift device includes a plurality of telescoping boom sections. The plurality of telescoping boom sections include a base boom section, a mid boom section, and a fly boom section. The plurality of telescoping boom sections define an inner volume. The boom assembly also includes a push tube and a support member positioned within the inner volume. The boom assembly also includes a power track positioned within the inner volume that includes a plurality of movable links and a supported portion that interfaces with the support member. The push tube includes a second end portion opposite the first end portion of the push tube. The second end portion of the push tube is directly coupled to the base boom section. |
| US10989328B2 |
Erosion monitoring system
A system for monitoring the erosion of internal components of a valve having a valve (200, 300, 400) which in turn comprising a body (44, 17, 24), a trim (46, 19, 26) and a seat (21, 28, 48) and at least an ultrasonic probe (22, 40, 29) able to transmit ultrasonic waves through the internal components and receive waves reflection through. In this system, the gaps between the internal components of the valve are closed and the distances between them are almost equal to zero so that the continuity between components is able to transfer the waves determining therefore the distance between the ultrasonic probe (22, 40, 29) and the internal component to be monitored. |
| US10989323B2 |
Pneumatic solenoid valve
A pneumatic solenoid valve, comprising an electromagnetic actuator and an air chamber with multiple air connections configured to be connected with the interposition of the air chamber via multiple switching positions of the magnetic actuator is disclosed. The actuator is configured to assume three different switching positions by energizing the actuator in a unipolar manner with three different current intensities and to move first and second sealing element via an actuation mechanism when switching between the switching positions. In a first position, a first sealing element closes a first air connection, and a second sealing element releases a second air connection. In a second switching position, the first sealing element closes the first air connection, and the second sealing element closes the second air connection. In a third switching position, the first sealing element releases the first air connection, and the second sealing element closes the second air connection. |
| US10989321B2 |
Double-crowned valve seat insert having seating surface formed of hard-facing material
A valve seat insert for a gas exchange valve controlling gas exchange of a cylinder includes an insert body having an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and a valve seating surface structured to contact the gas exchange valve at a closed position and profiled to limit valve recession thereof. The valve seating surface includes an arrangement of linear segments and curved segments forming crowns to contact the gas exchange valve at different wear states. The valve seat insert further includes a base material, and a hard-facing material metallurgically bonded to the base material and forming the valve seating surface. |
| US10989320B2 |
Check valve for use with super absorbent polymer
A check valve formed from a body having inlet and outlet interior chambers with the outlet chamber functioning as a diffuser when assisting in the arrest of reverse water flow. A seat base is positioned between the inlet and outlet chambers with a tubular sleeve for housing a stem having a lip positioned along one end and a threaded opposite end secured within the inlet chamber. A spring fits around the stem and a sphere is secured to the threaded end of the stem for engaging the seat base. Movement of the sphere away from the inlet chamber allows dry polymer to pass when the spring is compressed. Upon loss of force capable of moving the sphere away from the inlet chamber, relaxation of the spring allows the sphere to engage the seat base with an attached grommet before water can flow backwards into the interior chamber. |
| US10989319B2 |
Three-way flowrate control valve and temperature control device using same
Provided is a three-way valve for flow rate control capable of suppressing an increase in driving torque for a valve body, which is caused due to contact between the valve body and a valve port forming member. The three-way valve for flow rate control includes: a valve main body (6) including a valve seat (8), the valve seat (8) having a columnar space and having a first valve port (9), which allows outflow of a fluid and has a rectangular cross section, and a second valve port (18), which allows outflow of a fluid and has a rectangular cross section; first and second valve port forming members (70) (80), which are fitted to the valve main body (6) and form the first valve port (9) and the second valve port (18), respectively; a valve body (34) being provided in a freely rotatable manner in the valve seat (8) of the valve main body (6) so as to simultaneously switch the first valve port (9) from a closed state to an opened state and switch the second valve port (18) from an opened state to a closed state, the valve body (34) having a cylindrical shape and having an opening; a pressure applying portion (94) (96) configured to apply pressures of the fluid leaking through a gap between the valve body (34) and the valve seat (8) to the first and second valve port forming members (70) (80) so as to suppress shift of a position of the valve body (34) when the valve body (34) opens and closes the first valve port (9) and the second valve port (18); and drive means (3) for driving the valve body (34) to rotate. |
| US10989318B2 |
Shunt valve for a bidet and a toilet cover plate including the shunt valve
A shunt valve for a bidet includes a valve body and a valve core. The valve body is provided with a water inlet port and a water outlet port. The valve core includes a movable valve plate and a fixed valve plate. The movable valve plate and the fixed valve plate abut against each other, and are rotatably matched with each other. The water outlet port includes a washing water outlet port and a self-cleaning water outlet port. The fixed valve plate is provided with a washing water outlet hole communicating with the washing water outlet port and a self-cleaning water outlet hole communicating with the self-cleaning water outlet port. The movable valve plate is provided with an overflowing hole communicating with the water inlet port. A toilet cover plate including the shunt valve is provided. |
| US10989317B2 |
Two-way valve
A two-way valve configured to switch between a communication state and a non-communication state of between a primary port and a secondary port includes a valve body having the primary port and the secondary port and containing a valve seat portion therein, a diaphragm valve supported inside the valve body so as to be brought into contact with and separated from the valve seat portion, and a drive mechanism configured to displace the diaphragm valve. The diaphragm valve includes an annular projection facing a flat seat surface of the valve seat portion and an elastic member attached at the back of the annular projection. |
| US10989311B2 |
Manually controlled high pressure valve and a glass chiller using thereof
A manually controlled high pressure valve includes a valve body having an air inlet, an air outlet and a mounting hole; an adjusting device arranged in the mounting hole by hermetically connecting to the inside wall of the mounting hole and having an air inlet hole and an air outlet hole; a limiting block arranged below the adjusting device and matched with the adjusting device and the air inlet for controlling the air intake from the air inlet hole of the adjusting device. The limiting block can be jacked up by the high pressure of the air inlet and block off the air inlet to stop jetting outwardly when the gas is not exhausted from the air outlet of the valve; and the limiting block can be removed to form a gap between the limiting block and the inlet hole when it is required to jet outwardly. |
| US10989309B2 |
Piloted exhaust line valve and corresponding production method
A valve includes a valve body having an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet, the valve body defining an exhaust gas circulation passage between the exhaust gas inlet and the exhaust gas outlet. A flap is arranged in the valve body and a shaft drives the flap in rotation with respect to the valve body. At least one guide bearing guides the drive shaft of the flap for rotation relative to the valve body. The guide bearing is engaged through an orifice of the valve body, with an inner end of the guide bearing being located inside the valve body. A first tube is engaged in one of the exhaust gas inlet and exhaust gas outlet and abuts against the inner end of the guide bearing. |
| US10989308B1 |
Sealing device with convertible magnetic sealing medium
A sealing device with convertible magnetic sealing medium includes a housing with an accommodation cavity formed therein, a rotary shaft rotatably disposed in the accommodation cavity, a first pole piece disposed on the rotary shaft, a second pole piece fitted over the rotary shaft, and a permanent magnet fitted over the rotary shaft between the first pole piece and the second pole piece. The rotary shaft has a first blind hole, a second blind hole, a first via hole and a second via hole. A plurality of first pole teeth are provided in an inner circumferential wall of the first pole piece and a plurality of second pole teeth are provided in an inner circumferential wall of the second pole piece. Magnetic powder is provided between a top surface of each of the first and second pole tooth and the outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft. |
| US10989307B2 |
Monitoring slide ring seal
An arrangement for shaft sealing and to a method for monitoring the sealing of the shaft seal are provided. The arrangement includes a rotating slide ring and a stationary slide ring, with a sealing gap having a lubricating film therebetween. The arrangement includes at least one sound transducer for generating and/or receiving exciting sound waves in the form of Lamb Rayleigh waves in at least one slide ring. The signals of the sound transducer are evaluated by an evaluation unit to determine the condition of the lubricating film in the gap. |
| US10989304B1 |
Compression packing
A compression packing for sealing near valve stems, pump shafts and similar machine elements. The compression packing includes tracer particles that retain information about the fabrication of the packing which can be used to trace the origin thereof. |
| US10989297B2 |
Electric powertrain with sun bearing
An electric powertrain includes an electric machine having a rotor shaft supported for rotation about an axis. A planetary gearset is supported about the axis and includes a sun gear assembly having a sun shaft with a first end connected to the rotor shaft, a second end having a sun gear, and an inner bearing seat disposed therebetween. The planetary gearset further includes a planet carrier having planet gears and defining an outer bearing seat. At least one of the planet gears meshes with the sun gear. The planetary gearset also includes a ring gear meshing with at least one of the planet gears. A sun bearing is supported about the axis and includes an outer race disposed on the outer bearing seat, an inner race disposed on the inner bearing seat, and a plurality of spherical roller elements disposed between the inner and outer races. |
| US10989291B2 |
Transmission, and control system for work vehicle
A second element fixing clutch is switchable between a released state and an engaged state. In the released state, the second element fixing clutch releases a second element of a planetary gear mechanism so that the second element is rotatable. In the engaged state, the second element fixing clutch fixes the second element of the planetary gear mechanism so that the second element is non-rotatable. A transmission is switchable between at least two modes of a first continuously variable transmission mode, a second continuously variable transmission mode, and a direct mode, by the second element fixing clutch being switched between the released state and the engaged state. |
| US10989290B2 |
Torque fluctuation inhibiting device and torque converter
A torque fluctuation inhibiting device is disclosed. The torque fluctuation inhibiting device includes an input member, a pair of inertia rings and an inertia block. The input member, to which a torque is inputted, is disposed to be rotatable. The pair of inertia rings is disposed axially on the both sides of the input member. The pair of inertia rings is disposed to be rotatable relative to the input member. The pair of inertia rings is unitarily rotated with each other. The inertia block is disposed between the pair of inertia rings. The inertia block is attached to the pair of inertia rings. |
| US10989289B2 |
Torque transmission arrangement
A torque transmission arrangement is provided with a clutch device which has a clutch input and output, and a vibration damping device having at least two vibration damping units arranged at a radial offset with respect to one another, an input of the vibration damping device operatively connected to the clutch output, and an output of the radially outermost vibration damping unit being operatively connected by an intermediate transmission element to an input of the radially innermost vibration damping unit operatively connected via an output of the vibration damping device to an output unit, the clutch device partially axially overlapping with one of the vibration damping units, and being connected radially between the two vibration damping units to the intermediate transmission of the vibration damping device. The intermediate transmission is connected to an absorber mass carrier of an absorber system likewise assigned to the vibration damping device. |
| US10989278B2 |
Manual transmission unit having compact structure
A manual transmission unit has one transmission input shaft, one transmission output shaft, a first intermediate shaft, a second intermediate shaft, a plurality of gear wheels, of which a first and a second drive gear wheel are arranged on the transmission input shaft and connectable in a rotationally fixed manner thereto, in particular in a permanently rotationally fixed manner thereto, and a plurality of torque transmission units for selective connection of additional gear wheels to at least one of the intermediate shafts. The first drive gear wheel intermeshes together with two intermediate wheels and the second drive gear wheel intermeshes together with two additional intermediate wheels. At least two, preferably at least three and more preferably at least four of the intermediate wheels are selectively connectible to the intermediate shafts for power transmission. |
| US10989276B2 |
Gear motor and assembling method thereof
A gear motor includes a speed reducer and a motor. The speed reducer includes an internal gear, an external gear, an input shaft having an oscillating portion oscillating the external gear, an oscillating bearing which is disposed between the external gear and the oscillating portion, and an input bearing which supports the input shaft, the input shaft includes a protrusion portion which protrudes from the motor side such that a rotor of the motor is provided in the protrusion portion, and includes a bearing disposition section in which the input bearing is disposed and a rotor disposition section in which the rotor is disposed in this order from the speed reducer side toward the motor side, an outer diameter of the rotor disposition section is equal to or less than an outer diameter of the bearing disposition section, and a rotor magnet is directly fixed to the rotor disposition section. |
| US10989275B2 |
Cord hook and covering system for a trampoline
A cord hook is shown for a cord ring of a trampoline covering, which cord ring has at least one connection point. The cord hook includes a distal receiving section and a proximal securing section for securing to a jump mat. The receiving section and the securing section are connected by a transition section. At least one receiving space is formed for mounting a first end and a second end of the cord ring. The cord hook also includes a fastening device. |
| US10989272B1 |
Engine system and method for pendulum damping
Methods and systems for adjusting a tuning state of a pendulum damper are provided. In one example, an engine system is provided that includes a crankshaft coupled to a plurality of pistons in a plurality of cylinders. The crankshaft includes a plurality of pendulums coupled to a plurality of cheeks and a pendulum tuning mechanism coupled to an associated pendulum included in the plurality of pendulums or coupled to an associated pendulum in a torque converter and configured to tune damping characteristics of the associated pendulum based on an engine order. |
| US10989271B2 |
Damper device
A drive member of a damper device includes a first input plate member and a second input plate member that rotatably support a plurality of pinion gears of a planetary gear of a rotary inertia mass damper. A driven member includes an outer teeth gear portion that meshes with the pinion gear in an outer circumferential portion thereof and is disposed between the first and the second input plate members in an axial direction so as to work as a sun gear of the planetary gear. A stopper is configured to restrict the relative rotation between the drive member and the driven member and includes a contact portion arranged in the outer circumferential portion of the driven member so as to contact with the first input plate member. |
| US10989270B2 |
Vibration damper for pipes
A damping device (1) for pipelines (2) includes a compression ring (3) with three ring segments (4) that can be positioned around a pipe (2). Each ring segment (4) forms a damper seat (8) that receives at least one damping element (9) made of elastomeric material intended to be radially compressed against an outer surface of the pipe (2). The damper seat (8) is in shape connection with the damping element (9) so as to prevent the damping element (9) from being released from the damper seat (8) in an axial direction and in a radial direction. |
| US10989266B2 |
Soft opening 2-way valve arrangement for a shock absorber
Valve arrangement for a shock absorber is described, comprising a valve housing (2) having a first (7) and a second port (8), a pilot chamber (3) being in fluid communication with the first (7) and/or second port (8), wherein a pilot pressure (Pp) is defined by a hydraulic pressure in the pilot chamber (3). The arrangement further comprises a main valve member (4) being axially movably arranged in the valve housing (2) and being arranged to interact with a main valve seat member (9) in order to restrict a main fluid flow between the first (7) and second ports (8) in response to the pilot pressure (Pp) acting on the main valve member (4). Moreover, the main valve seat member (9) is movable between a first compression stroke position and a second rebound stroke position so that, during the compression stroke, the main fluid flow is restricted at a first restriction (R1) and a cooperating serially arranged second restriction (R2), and during the rebound stroke, the main fluid flow is restricted at a third restriction (R3). |
| US10989252B2 |
Clutch carrier assembly for a transmission
A clutch carrier assembly for a transmission is disclosed that comprises a clutch carrier and a ring gear carrier. The clutch carrier includes a plurality of tabs and the ring gear carrier includes a plurality of openings defined in, and extending through, an outer surface. The ring gear carrier is disposed within the clutch carrier. Each of the tabs is received within a corresponding one of the openings such that the ring gear carrier and the clutch carrier are held together. |
| US10989248B2 |
Interchangeable arm quick release mechanism for chest press exercise machine
A quick release mechanism for an exercise arm assembly enabling a user to switch exercise arms very quickly, the mechanism having: (a) an elongated body; (b) a curved aperture passing laterally across a distal end of the elongated body, cutting downwardly through the elongated body, and being angled towards the distal end of the elongated body; (c) a button assembly positioned near the distal end of the elongated body, moveable to either project into or project away from the aperture; and a biasing member that urges the extending portion of the button assembly into the locked position. |
| US10989241B2 |
Impact device
An impact device includes a drive assembly, a cam having a ramp and a fall-off, and a follower associated with the cam. During rotation of the cam, one of the cam or the follower axially displaces as the follower traverses the cam and falls off the fall-off to transform the rotary motion of the drive assembly to a reciprocating motion having a saw-tooth shape that includes a gradual retraction and a quick extension. The quick extension creates an impact loading, which can be used, for example, for driving a fastener into a work piece. |
| US10989239B2 |
Two-piece fastener assembly
An aperture fastener piece has an intermediate head and an aperture shaft, including aperture retention arms extending from a side of the intermediate head. A receiver includes an annular wall extending from a base, and a plurality of plate retention surfaces supported by and positioned inwardly of the annular wall. A coupling plate can be engaged and retained by the plurality of plate retention surfaces within the receiver to couple the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together. Each of the receiver and the coupling plate extends from different ones of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece. The coupling plate can extend from a second of the opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece, and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece. |
| US10989238B1 |
Elastic fastener assembly
Disclosed is an elastic fastener assembly for fastening objects to gap between the car window and the trim panel. The elastic fastener assembly includes an elastic fastener having a first piece for supporting the elastic fastener assembly and a second piece serving as a fastener of the elastic fastener assembly. The second piece has an opening provided with a flange for allowing the elastic fastener to be inserted in a gap between a trim panel and a car window glass to securely fasten the elastic fastener assembly to an inner side of the trim panel. The elastic fastener assembly includes an object jointer for jointing objects. The neck of the object jointer is spaced apart from the flange by a distance longer than the thickness of the trim panel, thereby ensuring the elastic fastener assembly to be fastened to the inner side of the trim panel during the installation process. |
| US10989237B1 |
System for extending the height of cubicle wall panel
A system for extending the height of an existing cubicle wall is herein disclosed. The system comprises a top cap overlay fitted with a vertical extension panel. The cross-section of the top cap overlay is uniform and consistent along its length. The top cap overlay includes a lower channel extending along the length of the top cap overlay for mounting to the top of an existing cubicle wall. The top cap overlay also includes at least one upper channel or groove extending along the length of the top cap overlay for receiving a length of vertical extension panel. The upper channel or groove comprises at least two walls extending from the top of the horizontal panel and spaced sufficiently apart to receive and hold the thickness or width of the vertical extension panel. Further improvements for the system are disclosed, along with a method for using the system. |
| US10989234B2 |
Flow control valve including a plurality of tubes having a geometrically variable cross-section
The present invention relates to a flow control valve to be connected to a pipe. The valve includes: a plurality of fluid transport tubes having a geometrically variable cross-section and placed in parallel with each other; and a means for connecting to the pipe and located at one end of the fluid transport tubes. |
| US10989232B2 |
Control valve compensation system
A Control Valve Compensation System for producing both a pre-compensated and a post-compensated load sensing hydraulic directional control valve module, wherein both configurations use the same components except for a sliding compensating component. The Control Valve Compensation System generally includes a hydraulic directional control valve housing which is adapted to be easily-interchangeable between a load sensing pre-compensated pressure configuration and a load sensing post-compensated pressure configuration by simply removing and replacing a different compensator assembly within the housing. The compensator assembly is adapted to direct oil flow through the housing while simultaneously providing compensation for the valve function. Directional valve assemblies may be provided, with the valve assemblies functioning to provide post-compensated functions, pre-compensated functions, and mixed pre- and post-compensated functions. These directional valve functions can be re-configured in the field by simply swapping the compensator assemblies to produce the desired functionality of the end-user at that particular time. |
| US10989230B2 |
Method for controlling a movement of a movably mounted body of a mechanical system
A method for controlling movement of a movably mounted body (14) of a mechanical system (2, 56, 62). The mechanical system (2, 6, 62) includes a drive unit (4, 64), which is operated by a medium, and also a control valve (20, 22). The movably mounted body (14) is driven by the drive unit (4, 64). A drive movement of the drive unit (4, 64) is controlled with the aid of the control valve (20, 22). In order to avoid or reduce excitation of undesired vibrations in the mechanical system (2, 56, 62), it is proposed that the control valve (20, 22) be actuated using a control signal (u(t)) which comprises a first and also a further switching pulse (S1, S3) each having a prespecified pulse duration. The pulse duration of the first switching pulse (S1) is equal to the pulse duration of the further switching pulse (S3). A time difference (Δt1-3) between the start of the first pulse (S1) and the start of the further switching pulse (S3) is matched to a natural period duration of the mechanical system (2, 56, 62). |
| US10989229B2 |
Electro-pneumatic converter, use of an electro-pneumatic converter, positioner, and control unit
An adjustable electro-pneumatic converter or transducer based on the nozzle/baffle plate principle is proposed. A defined roughness (Rz) of the baffle plate surface can prevent the occurrence of Bernoulli forces at output pressures close to the initial pressure, i.e. when the exhaust nozzle (140) is almost completely closed by the baffle plate (100). The system thus becomes more dynamically controllable under these conditions. Such a converter can be used to control any consumer system, e.g. air power amplifiers for electro-pneumatic positioners. |
| US10989222B2 |
Refrigerant compressor
One exemplary embodiment of this disclosure relates to a refrigerant compressor. The compressor includes an axial section having a plurality of blades and vanes and a centrifugal section having an impeller. The centrifugal section is arranged downstream of the axial section. |
| US10989219B2 |
Diffuser assemblies for compression systems
Circumferentially-split diffuser assemblies utilized within compression systems, such as centrifugal and mixed-flow compression systems employed within gas turbine engines, are provided. In embodiments, the diffuser assembly includes flow passages, which extend through the diffuser assembly and which include diffuser flow passage sections. Diffuser airfoils are interspersed with the diffuser flow passage sections. The diffuser airfoils include inboard and outboard airfoil segments distributed around a diffuser assembly centerline. The inboard and outboard airfoil segments are contained in and, thus, defined by inner and outer annular diffuser structures, respectively. The outer annular diffuser structure circumscribes the inner annular diffuser structure. In certain cases, the inboard airfoil segments and at least a portion of inner annular diffuser structure are composed of a first material, while the outboard airfoil segments and at least a portion of outboard annular diffuser structure are composed of a second material different than the first material. |
| US10989218B2 |
Fan wheel structure
A fan wheel structure includes a hub provided with a plate member and a plurality of blades. The plate member is located around the hub and has an upper side and a lower side. The blades are arranged on the upper side of the plate member and respectively have a connecting end connected to the hub as well as a free end. The blades respectively include a backward-curved section, a middle section and a forward-curved section. The backward-curved section is located adjacent to the connecting end and connected to the upper side of the plate member; the forward-curved section is located adjacent to the free end; and the middle section is connected at two opposite ends to the backward-curved section and the forward-curved section. And, an air passage is formed on the upper side of the plate member between any two adjacent backward-curved sections. |
| US10989216B2 |
Pump systems with variable diameter impeller devices
A system having a variable diameter impeller device that is operable for reducing an energy consumption of a rotating fluid or gas pump by increasing the impeller diameter as a speed of the rotating fluid or gas pump increases and decreasing the impeller diameter as the speed decreases. An extendable vane arrangement is configured to move along an elongated curved or sloping slot, the movement along the elongated curved or sloping slot is operable for increasing and decreasing a diameter of the impeller device. A spring arrangement having a first end and a second end extends and retracts to dynamically increase or decrease a diameter of the impeller device. |
| US10989213B2 |
Shaft bearing device with a lifting device
A shaft bearing device for a pump includes an antifriction bearing, which can be connected to an axially displaceable pump shaft. A spring is arranged at the antifriction bearing in such a way, that a spring force can be transmitted to an outer ring of the antifriction bearing by the spring in a mounting condition of the shaft bearing device. A lifting element attached to the pump shaft and a corresponding counter element are separated from each other by the spring force in a starting state and/or in a shutdown state of the pump. |
| US10989212B2 |
Controlling a wet gas compression system
The disclosure includes controlling a pressure ratio for a compressing system, comprising introducing a quantity of liquid into an input stream to create a multiphase input stream, compressing the multiphase input stream with a centrifugal compressor to create a discharge stream, measuring a parameter of the discharge stream, wherein the discharge parameter corresponds to a pressure ratio for the centrifugal compressor, when the parameter exceeds a first predetermined point, increasing a pressure ratio of the centrifugal compressor by increasing the quantity of liquid introduced, and when the parameter exceeds a second predetermined point, decreasing the pressure ratio by decreasing the quantity of liquid introduced. |
| US10989209B2 |
Fan
A fan includes a fan seat and a fan head, wherein a first surface of the fan head opposed a second surface of the fan seat. The fan further includes a first rotating shaft at edges of the first surface and the second surface configured to rotatably couple the fan seat and the fan head, such that the first surface of the fan head and the second surface of the fan seat form an target angle based on the first rotating shaft. |
| US10989205B2 |
Micro fan
A micro fan is provided. The micro fan includes a rotor and a stator. The stator includes an axial induced coil unit and a circuit board. The axial induced coil unit is made by twining a coil in an axial direction for at least two layers and in a radial direction for at least two layers. |
| US10989199B2 |
Submersible downhole pump
A submersible downhole pump (1) includes an elongate pump unit (3) defining a longitudinal pump axis (L) and a pump unit diameter (D), and at least one cable lug (13) for attaching a cable. The at least one cable lug (13) is connected to the pump unit (3) and pivotable around a pivot axis (P) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) between a defined first position and a defined second position. The at least one cable lug (13) is positioned, in the first position, fully within the pump unit diameter (D). In the second position, the at least one cable lug (13) is positioned at least partially protruding outside the pump unit diameter (D). |
| US10989195B2 |
In-vehicle motor-driven compressor and method for controlling in-vehicle motor-driven compressor
An in-vehicle motor-driven compressor includes a temperature rise estimator configured to estimate a temperature rise of the diode based on an expected reverse current, an on-voltage of the diode, and a heat resistance of the diode. The in-vehicle motor-driven compressor further includes a rotation speed controller configured to set a rotation speed limit of the electric motor, based on the estimated temperature rise of the diode so that a temperature of the diode does not exceed a junction temperature of the diode even when the electric motor is stopped and the reverse current flows through the diode, and limit a rotation speed of the electric motor to lower than or equal to the rotation speed limit. |
| US10989193B2 |
Scroll compressor for a vehicle air-conditioning system having spiral wall including conical cut
A scroll compressor for a motor vehicle air-conditioning system includes a compressor housing, two interleaving spirals within the compressor housing, of which one spiral is stationary and the other spiral is movable eccentrically on a circular orbit, whereby the volume of compression chambers formed between the spirals changes cyclically and refrigerant is suctioned in and compressed; at least one refrigerant outlet port for ejecting the compressed refrigerant in a wall, frontal to the spirals, of the compressor housing in the center of the stationary spiral, wherein in the spiral end region on the inner end of at least one of the two spirals the concave side of the spiral wall is provided with a cut that has the form of a cone segment with concave curvature, decreasing from the upper end in the direction toward the lower end of the spiral wall. |
| US10989187B2 |
Control system and control method
A control system for controlling operation of an execution device is provided. The control system includes a master controller, a microprocessor, and a signal line. The master controller is configured to send a control signal to the microprocessor via the signal line. The microprocessor is configured to send the control signal to the execution device to drive the execution device to operate, acquire, at a time interval, a feedback signal representing an operation state of the execution device, and send the feedback signal to the signal line. The master controller is further configured to acquire the feedback signal from the signal line, determine, from the feedback signal, the operation state of the execution device, and regulate the control signal based on the operation state. |
| US10989183B2 |
Reciprocating motor and reciprocating compressor having a reciprocating motor
A reciprocating motor and a reciprocating compressor having a reciprocating motor are provided. The reciprocating motor may include a stator having a magnet coil, provided with an air gap respectively formed at both sides in an axial direction by interposing the magnet coil therebetween; a mover inserted into the stator, reciprocating with respect to the stator as at least one magnet is arranged at any one of the air gaps formed at both sides and a non-magnet is arranged at the other one of the air gaps; and a magnetic resonance spring that resonates the mover with respect to the stator using a force for moving toward low magnetic resistance between the mover and the stator. The reciprocating motor and the reciprocating compressor having a reciprocating motor may be downsized and lightweight, and may obtain high efficiency. |
| US10989181B1 |
Electrowetting-based pump
Microfluidic pumps are provided that use electrowetting to manipulate the location of one or more droplets of a working fluid (e.g., water) in order to pump tears, blood, laboratory samples, carrier fluid, or some other payload fluid. The working fluid is separated from the payload fluid by one or more droplets of an isolating fluid that is immiscible with the working fluid. The working fluid is manipulated via electrowetting, by applying voltages to two or more electrodes, to repeatedly move back and forth. Forces, pressures, and/or fluid flows exerted by the working fluid are coupled to the payload fluid via the droplet(s) of isolation fluid and reed valves, diffuser nozzles, or other varieties of valve can act as flow-rectifying elements to convert the coupled forces into a net flow of the payload fluid through the pump. |
| US10989180B2 |
Power sources and transmission networks for auxiliary equipment onboard hydraulic fracturing units and associated methods
Embodiments of systems and methods disclosed provide a hydraulic fracturing unit that includes a reciprocating plunger pump configured to pump a fracturing fluid and a powertrain configured to power the reciprocating plunger pump. The powertrain includes a prime mover and a drivetrain, the prime mover including a gas turbine engine. The hydraulic fracturing unit also includes auxiliary equipment configured to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the reciprocating plunger pump and the powertrain. A power system is configured to power the auxiliary equipment. The power system includes a power source and a power network. The power source is configured to generate power for the auxiliary equipment. The power network is coupled to the power source and the auxiliary equipment, and configured to deliver the power generated by the power source to the auxiliary equipment. Associated systems including a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units are also provided. |
| US10989179B1 |
Metal plasma thruster cube
A pulsed metal plasma thruster (MPT) cube has a plurality of thrusters, each having a first cathode electrode and a trigger electrode separated from the first electrode by an insulator sufficient to support an initiation plasma, and a porous anode electrode positioned a separation distance from the face of all of the cathode electrodes. The cathode electrode can be either the inner electrode or the outer electrode. A power supply delivers a high voltage pulse to the trigger electrode with respect to the cathode electrode sufficient to initiate a plasma on the surface of the insulator. The plasma transfers between the anode electrode and cathode electrode of selected thrusters, thereby generating a pulse of thrust. |
| US10989178B2 |
Environmental thermal energy conversion
A method of electricity production using water thermal energy includes compressing an enclosed working fluid at a first vertical position relative to a surface of a body of water to cause the fluid to move to a second vertical position relative to the surface and subsequently move to the first position in a closed loop, an external environment at the second position having a greater temperature than an external environment at the first position such that the fluid transitions between a liquid phase at the first position and a vapor phase at the second position, the compressing using power from a battery, and expanding the fluid at the second position to generate electricity to charge the battery. The first and second positions may be two depths of the body of water or a height of an atmosphere above the body of water and a depth of the body of water. |
| US10989177B2 |
Metallic molybdenum disulfide nanosheets-based electrochemical actuators
An actuator comprising a flexible substrate having a surface comprising one or more active regions, each of the active regions having disposed thereon an electrochemically active film comprising a plurality of 1T phase 2D MoS2 nanosheets which impart a first force upon the flexible substrate in response to electrochemical charging of ions in the 2D MoS2 nanosheets and impart a second force upon the flexible substrate in response to electrochemical discharging of ions in the 2D MoS2 nanosheets, wherein the first and second forces imparted to the flexible substrate each being sufficient to displace the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may comprise a polymer substrate and the electrochemically active film may comprise a conductive layer having disposed thereon the plurality of 1T phase 2D MoS2 nanosheets. |
| US10989176B2 |
Rotary power storage and reinforcement system
The objective is to realize a rotation storage device with a lightweight and straightforward configuration that can release the energy of various urging means, typically a flat coil spring, over a more extended period and increase the urging force. The rotation storage device includes a plurality of single unit rotation storage devices that comprise of an urging means for urging of the rotational force and a one-way bearing with one end of the urging means fixed to one of its outer ring or inner ring, wherein a plurality of single unit rotation storage devices are characterized in that the outer ring and inner ring of the one-way bearings are connected, the other end of the urging means connected to one end of the urging means of the adjacent unit rotation storage device, and the rotation force is output between the outer ring and inner ring of the one-way bearing. |
| US10989174B2 |
Bearing arrangement and a wind turbine
Provided is a bearing arrangement for a wind turbine, including a first portion, a second portion, and a sound wave sensor which is configured to detect a thickness of the second portion, wherein one of the first portion and the second portion is movable relative to the other of the first portion and the second portion. In contrast to known bearing arrangements for wind turbines, the thickness of the second portion which for example is exposed to wear may be actively detected. Thus, the information of the thickness is available at any time. Thus, a demand of an exchange of the second portion can be precisely predicted and determined. |
| US10989171B2 |
Method and apparatus for storage of compressed air energy and the release and conversion of compressed air energy
An apparatus for storing and releasing compressed air energy includes at least one hydraulic-to-compressed air converter and at least one hydraulic-to-electric converter, both connected with an accumulator, which has at least one compressed-air storage tank. When hydraulic pressure is passed to the hydraulic-to-compressed air converter, it is converted to high-pressure compressed air, stored in the accumulator and released to generate a hydraulic force to the hydraulic-to-electric converter or the hydraulic-to-compressed air converter to convert hydraulic energy to electric or compressed air energy, respectively. A method for storing and releasing compressed air energy includes receiving hydraulic energy from a wind turbine and converting it to compressed air energy, storing the compressed air energy within an accumulator that has at least one storage tank, and then releasing the compressed air energy to generate a hydraulic force and convert hydraulic energy to electric or compressed air energy. |
| US10989165B1 |
System and method for obtaining a high torque output from bouyant elements traveling through a liquid medium
A power-generating wheel system is provided and includes a liquid-filled riser tube, air balls circulating therethrough due to buoyancy, a top wheel located adjacent a top opening of the riser tube and having air ball receiver cavities and a second wheel located adjacent a bottom opening of the riser tube and having a sealed housing for releasing the air balls into the riser tube and receiving liquid from the riser tube. As air balls exit the top opening of the riser tube they rotate the first wheel, this rotation being transferred to the second wheel by a drive chain. A transfer system transfers the torque on the second wheel to an external device to be powered. A return chute returns the air balls from the first wheel back to the second wheel. A liquid supply system is provided to maintain the riser tube full of liquid. |
| US10989163B2 |
Device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy and the process for its deployment at the exploitation location
Device for conversion of wave energy into electrical energy and the process for its deployment at the exploitation location, wherein the device comprises a supporting construction composed of buoyancy elements and having a supporting tube attached on the upper side. The device comprises a joint gear on the inner circumference connected with the outside surface of the supporting tube in a sliding manner and a sphere to which is the floating body pivotally connected. The device has two gears, the first flexible gear for connecting the floating body to the second gear and the second gear for connecting the flexible gear to the generator. The flexible gear consists of pulleys and a flexible element, e.g. a rope or a steel cable and the second gear can be arranged in several suitable forms, e.g. rigid elements as a set of a gear and a rack positioned inside the lower supporting tube or a flexible element, e.g. a chain and a sprocket wheel set in the buoyancy element. The supporting construction is by ropes connected to the anchor weight that is made in a form of a sphere segment either directly or through the rolling elements placed in the spherical dent of the anchor base. The invention comprises the process for device deployment at the exploitation location which is particularly suitable due to stable transport with low draught. |
| US10989162B2 |
Combustion environment diagnostics
An apparatus comprises a coaxial cavity resonator; a radio frequency power source coupled to the coaxial cavity resonator; a direct current power source coupled to the coaxial cavity resonator; a combustion process feedback module configured to sense a condition in a combustion environment by measuring a characteristic of the coaxial cavity resonator; and a controller configured to modulate operation of the coaxial cavity resonator based at least in part on combustion process feedback information from the combustion process feedback module. |
| US10989161B2 |
Ignition device
An ignition device includes: a primary coil including a first winding and a second winding connected in series to the first winding; a secondary coil connected to a spark plug and magnetically coupled to the primary coil; a first switch that opens or closes the electrical path between the first terminal and the ground; a second switch that opens or closes the electrical path between the power source and the second terminal; a third switch that opens or closes the electrical path between the power source and the connection point; a fourth switch that opens or closes the electrical path between the second terminal and the ground; and a switch control unit that controls the opening and closing of each switch to open or close each electrical path. |
| US10989159B2 |
Control device of general-purpose engine
A control device of a general-purpose engine which can continue operation of a working machine even when an operation management unit of the working machine has failed. The control device includes an engine control unit that controls the general-purpose engine based on a command from the operation management unit managing an operating state of the working machine, a communication interface for communicating with an external device; a management program acquisition unit that acquires a management program that is used by the operation management unit to manage the operating state, from the external device through the communication interface and stores the acquired management program in a storage medium, and an operation management substitute unit that manages the operating state of the working machine in place of the operation management unit in accordance with the management program when a failure of operation management unit is detected. |
| US10989157B2 |
Fuel-injection metering device, fuel-injection nozzle, mould for producing a fuel-injection metering device and method for producing a fuel-injection metering device
The present application concerns a fuel-injection metering device for a motor vehicle. The fuel-injection device include a main body with at least one through-hole, whereby the main body forms a valve seat on its inner face that is provided to interact with a valve body, whereby the inner face of the main body is electrochemically machined. The application also concerns a mould, a production method, and a fuel-injection nozzle. |
| US10989155B2 |
Method of retarding injection timing of a fuel injector
A method comprises determining either the coefficient for the equation relating the injection timing distance of a bushing to the angle of rotation of a shaft of an engine, or the desired effective injection stroke reduction; and calculating at least one of the following: the modified injection timing distance by multiplying the desired angle of retardation of the injection timing by the coefficient and adding that product to the original injection timing distance of the bushing, and the modified injection duration distance by subtracting the desired effective injection stroke reduction from the original injection duration distance. |
| US10989154B2 |
Fuel injector with an idle stroke
Various embodiments may include a method for actuating a fuel injector with a solenoid drive and a nozzle needle. The solenoid drive has a solenoid and a movable armature. The fuel injector has an idle stroke between the armature and the nozzle needle. An example method includes: applying a precharging current to the solenoid drive during a precharging phase to move the movable armature into mechanical contact with the nozzle needle; and applying a voltage pulse to the solenoid drive during a boost phase until the current intensity of the current flowing through the solenoid reaches a predetermined peak value. |
| US10989152B2 |
Systems and method for exhaust gas recirculation
Various systems and methods are provided for exhaust gas recirculation. In one example, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system includes an EGR passage coupling an engine exhaust system to an engine intake system, an EGR cooler positioned in the EGR passage, a recirculation passage coupling an outlet of the EGR cooler to an inlet of the EGR cooler, an EGR cooler recirculation valve positioned in the recirculation passage and controllable to change a flow of exhaust gas though the recirculation passage, and a controller configured to adjust a position of the EGR cooler recirculation valve based on a temperature at the inlet of the EGR cooler. |
| US10989146B2 |
Oil injection methods for combustion enhancement in natural gas reciprocating engines
A system and method is provided that introduces oil droplets into the combustion chamber of a lean burn natural gas engine via dedicated channels located in the cylinder head and a valve seat insert for providing multiple distributed sources of ignition in addition to the spark plug based ignition system. |
| US10989145B2 |
Method of replacing a fan module, engine core module, or fan case module in a gas turbine engine
A method of replacing a module in a modular gas turbine engine having a first fan module; a first propulsor module including an engine core and a gearbox; and a first fan case module having a fan case; includes the steps of: disassembling the gas turbine engine, replacing one of the fan module, propulsor module or fan case module with a replacement fan module, a replacement propulsor module or a replacement fan case module, the replacement module, having the same configuration as the first module; and reassembling the gas turbine engine using the replacement module. |
| US10989141B2 |
Secure control system for multistage thermo acoustic micro-CHP generator
A Stirling engine feedback controller is provided that includes a Stirling engine having at least one piston, where the Stirling engine includes an Alpha-Stirling engine, and a Gamma-Stirling engine. The feedback controller includes a power sensor, a computer, and an electronic feedback loop. Here, the power sensor is configured to sense the power of the Stirling engine then output a power signal. In one aspect, the computer can be a central processing unit (CPU), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), where the computer operates a control algorithm. Further, the electronic feedback loop receives the output power signal and an output signal from the computer, where an output signal from the electronic feedback loop is configured to a control a position of the piston(s). |
| US10989139B2 |
Crankcase for a reciprocating piston engine, in particular of a motor vehicle
A crankcase for a reciprocating piston engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes at least first one wall region that has a greater wall thickness than at least one second wall region of the crankcase that adjoins the first wall region. The crankcase is produced from an aluminum alloy and by at least mainly laminar die casting and is heat-treated completely or heat-treated completely and additionally locally or heat-treated only locally. |
| US10989138B2 |
Internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engines having pistons with one or more depressions located on the piston head to facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder are disclosed. The pistons may include a skirt with a field of pockets that provide a ringless, non-lubricated, seal equivalent. The piston head also may be domed to further facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder. The engines may also have non-circular, preferably rectangular, cross-section pistons and cylinders. The engines also may use multi-stage poppet valves in lieu of conventional poppet valves, and may include a split crankshaft. The engines may use the pumping motion of the engine piston to supercharge the cylinder with air/charge. The engines also may operate in an inverted orientation in which the piston is closer to the local gravitationally dominant terrestrial body's center of gravity at top dead center position than at bottom dead center position. |
| US10989137B2 |
Thermally enhanced exhaust port liner
An exhaust port liner, which may include a superalloy and may be manufactured by an additive manufacturing process, includes a monolithic structure including an outlet disposed an angle relative to an inlet, and a sidewall defining a cavity to provide enhanced thermal performance in reciprocating internal combustion engines. A cylinder head of an internal combustion engine may include a cylinder head frame, and the exhaust port liner may be disposed proximate the frame inner mounting surface, with an outer surface of the exhaust port liner conforming to an inner mounting surface of the cylinder head frame. |
| US10989136B2 |
Parent bore cylinder block of an opposed-piston engine
A parent bore cylinder block of an internal combustion, opposed-piston engine includes cooling passages that are formed using a 3-D printed casting core. The casting core can include portions that are ceramic. The parent bore cylinder block can include multiple cylinders, each cylinder with cooling passages and turbulence inducing features in those cooling passages, particularly surrounding the central portions of the cylinders. |
| US10989131B2 |
Method and device for determining energization data for an actuator of an injection valve of a motor vehicle
Various embodiments includes a method for determining energization data for an actuator of an injection valve of a motor vehicle comprising: receiving input data at a control unit; and determining the energization data based on the received input data into account with the control unit. Determining the energization data includes using a polynomial regression model. |
| US10989128B2 |
Intake air flow rate measuring device
The present disclosure provides an intake air flow rate measuring device. The intake air flow rate measuring device includes a flange, a casing, a flow rate sensor, a humidity sensing element, an element terminal, and a humidity terminal. The humidity terminal is spaced away from the element terminal. A portion of the casing between the element terminal and the humidity terminal is defined as a suppressing portion, and a cross-section of the suppressing portion is defined as a suppressing portion cross-section. An end portion of the casing close to the flange is defined as a base portion, and a cross-section of the base portion is defined as a base portion cross-section. The suppressing portion cross-section is set to be smaller than the base portion cross-section. |
| US10989126B2 |
Methods and system for operating an oxygen sensor
Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine that includes an oxygen sensor are described. In one example, a voltage that is applied to a heating element of an oxygen sensor is integrated to determine a resistance of the heating element. The resistance of the heating element is the basis for adjusting voltage applied to the heating element during subsequent engine starts. |
| US10989124B2 |
Actuator
An actuator is configured to drive a boost pressure control valve of a supercharger. The actuator includes: an electric motor; an output shaft; and a speed reducer that is configured to transmit rotation, which is outputted from the electric motor, to the output shaft after reducing a speed of the rotation outputted from the electric motor. The speed reducer has a plurality of gears that include an output gear joined to the output shaft. The plurality of gears further includes a metal gear and a resin gear of a compound gear, which are respectively formed as a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear and are integrated together in one piece. The output gear is a resin gear. |
| US10989112B2 |
Gas turbine engine
A highly efficient gas turbine engine is provided. The fan of the gas turbine engine is driven from a turbine via a gearbox, such that the fan has a lower rotational speed than the driving turbine, thereby providing efficiency gains. The efficient fan system is mated to a core that has low cooling flow requirements and/or high temperature capability, and which may have particularly low mass for a given power. |
| US10989110B2 |
Gaseous fluid compression with alternating refrigeration and mechanical compression using a first and second bank of compression coupled with first and second cascading heat pump intercoolers having a higher and a lower temperature section
A gaseous compression system for compressing a gas from an initial pressure to an exit pressure with a first, blower compression bank and a second, mechanical compression bank. Each compression bank has plural stages of gaseous compression with a gaseous fluid compressor and a heat pump intercooler. The heat pump intercooler comprises a cascading heat pump intercooler with a high temperature section, a medium temperature section, and a low temperature section, each temperature section with an intercooler core. Each stage of the blower compression bank has a high-pressure blower, and each stage of the mechanical compressor bank has a mechanical compressor. A final stage of gaseous compression is without a heat pump intercooler. Gas compressed by the gaseous fluid compression system can be injected into a gas-driven generator to generate electric power from movement of a working fluid induced by injection of the compressed gas. |
| US10989108B2 |
Methods and systems for a variable compression engine
Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a compression ratio. In one example, a system may include rotating an eccentric ring of a crankshaft by flowing hydraulic fluid to first and second chambers to actuate the eccentric ring. |
| US10989106B2 |
Oil pressure regulator
A turbocharger lubricating oil pressure regulator (10) having a lubricating oil inlet port (12) adapted to receive turbocharger lubricating oil and an outlet port (13) in fluid communication with the lubricating oil inlet port (12). The regulator (10) has a lubricating oil bypass port (14) in fluid communication with the oil inlet port (12) at one end and in fluid communication with a lubricating oil sump (3) at another. A valve (17) is biased in a closed configuration to block oil flow between the lubricating oil inlet port (12) and the bypass port (14) and movable toward an open configuration in response to a predetermined lubricating oil pressure at the inlet port (12) allowing lubricating oil to flow through the bypass port (14) to the oil sump (3). |
| US10989105B2 |
Fuel injection device
A fuel injection device is provided with reduced adherence of fuel spray with respect to an intake valve, a wall surface in an engine cylinder, or a piston. The fuel injection device includes a valve body and a seat surface to perform sealing of fuel cooperatively and injection holes. Inlet opening surfaces are formed on the seat surface. A first injection hole and a second injection hole arranged closest to the first injection hole. The first injection hole is larger than the second injection hole in an injection hole angle to be an angle formed by a normal direction of the seat surface and a center axis of the injection hole. The second injection hole is larger than the first injection hole in an area of a cross-section perpendicular to the center axis of the injection hole. |
| US10989102B2 |
Engine coolant separator and engine cooling system having the same
An engine coolant separator may include a housing having an inlet and an outlet; and a guide member fixedly mounted inside the housing, and having a spiral channel inducing a spiral flow of an engine coolant, wherein the spiral channel communicates with the inlet of the housing. |
| US10989100B1 |
Engine cooling system and thermostat thermal actuator with a degassing two-stage piston
A two-stage piston in a thermostat's thermal actuator is configured for degassing entrained air from a coolant system. The first-stage part has a cylindrical shape and is terminated at one end with a rounded-conical shape and having a cylindrical cavity at an opposite end. A second-stage part has a cylindrical shape with a diameter sufficient to fit within the cylindrical cavity. A sacrificial plug is formed of a wax-like substance with a melting temperature such that the entrained air escapes from the coolant system through the thermostat. The diameter of the sacrificial plug allows placement of the sacrificial plug in a bottom of the cylindrical cavity and a length of the two-stage piston with the sacrificial plug in place forces the valve to remain open. After the sacrificial plug has melted, the length of the two-stage piston will open and close the valve with a change in coolant temperature. |
| US10989098B2 |
Thermally insulated exhaust system components
A component of an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine. The component comprises an exhaust system structure having an interior through which exhaust gases flow and an exterior, and a thermal insulating wrap for thermally insulating at least a portion of the exterior of the exhaust system structure. The thermal insulating wrap comprises an aqueous mixture comprising an inorganic binder and inorganic filler particles, and a fabric comprising inorganic fibers. The fabric is impregnated with the aqueous mixture so as to form a pliable binder wrap. The pliable binder wrap is wound completely around at least a portion of the exhaust system structure. It can be desirable for the component to further comprise at least one thermal insulator comprising inorganic fibers, where the thermal insulator is disposed between the pliable binder wrap and the exterior of the exhaust system structure. |
| US10989094B2 |
Method and system for determining a quantity of liquid in a tank
It is proposed a method for determining a quantity of a liquid in a tank, the tank comprising: a first ultrasound subsystem capable of measuring level of liquid present above a predetermined threshold level within the tank; and at least one second ultrasound subsystem, said second ultrasound subsystem being associated with a sensing area within the tank and being configured to measure a parameter characteristic of the liquid, said sensing area being located below the predetermined threshold level. The method comprises in the steps of: —checking the validity of the measurement performed by said first ultrasound subsystem (S10); —when it is detected that the measurement of said first ultrasound system is not valid: (a) checking (S22) the validity of the measurement performed by said second ultrasound subsystem; (b) determining (S24, S25, S26) a quantity of liquid, which quantity being based on a result of the validity check at step (a). |
| US10989090B2 |
Exhaust fluid filter including hydrocarbon detection witness media
An aftertreatment system includes an exhaust reductant tank configured to store an exhaust reductant. A filter is fluidically coupled to the exhaust reductant tank. The aftertreatment system includes a hydrocarbon detection device configured to indicate the presence of a hydrocarbon in the exhaust reductant. A catalyst is included in the system and configured to treat the exhaust reductant flowing through the system. The hydrocarbon detection device can include a hydrophobic paper, and can be disposed in the filter. |
| US10989089B2 |
Particle filter having SCR-active coating
The invention relates to a particle filter, which comprises a wall flow filter and SCR-active material, wherein the wall flow filter comprises ducts which extend in parallel between the first and the second end of the wall flow filter and which are alternately closed in a gas-tight manner either at the first or the second end and which are separated by porous walls, the pores of which have inner surfaces, and the SCR-active material is located in the form of a coating on the inner surfaces of the pores of the porous walls, characterized in that the coating has a gradient, such that the side of the coating facing the exhaust gas has a higher selectivity in the SCR reaction than the side of the coating that faces the inner surfaces of the pores. The SCR-active material is preferably a small-pore zeolite, which has a maximum ring size of eight tetrahedral atoms and is exchanged with copper and/or iron. |
| US10989084B2 |
Exhaust gas system with preconditioning
A method and a corresponding apparatus are provided for preconditioning an exhaust gas system (100) for discharging and purifying combustion exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine (1), in particular an internal combustion engine (1) of a motor vehicle (200). The method includes operating, air being heated by a heating element (8) in the exhaust gas system (100) to heat air in the exhaust gas system (100), operating a fan in the exhaust gas system (100) for producing a hot air stream with the heated air, using the hot air stream for heating a first catalytic converter (7) of the exhaust gas system (100) to a minimum operating temperature. |
| US10989082B2 |
Exhaust gas purification system
An exhaust gas purifier is disposed in an exhaust gas passage of an engine, and includes: a DPF for capturing PM contained in exhaust gas; an SCR catalyst provided downstream of the DPF in a direction of flow of the exhaust gas, and for reducing NOx contained in the exhaust gas for purification in the presence of NH3; an injection unit provided between the DPF and the SCR catalyst, and for supplying urea to the SCR catalyst so as to supply NH3 to the SCR catalyst; and an AMOX provided downstream of the SCR catalyst in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas, and for removing NH3 having passed through the SCR catalyst. The DPF does not contain Pt or Pd, and contains Rh. The AMOX contains Pt. |
| US10989079B2 |
Control device and control method for valve timing adjustment device
An ECU (101) causes lock pin-release hydraulic pressure to be applied to an advance-side lock pin-release oil passage (5a) to disengage an advance-side lock pin (6) from an advance-side engagement groove (9), thereby making a rotor (1) rotatable in an advance direction, and forming a clearance communicating with a retard-side lock pin-release oil passage (5c), between the advance-side engagement groove (9) and the advance-side lock pin (6). Next, the ECU (101) causes hydraulic pressure to be applied to advancing hydraulic chambers (16) to rotate the rotor (1), and causes the lock pin-release hydraulic pressure to be applied through the clearance and through the retard-side lock pin-release oil passage (5c) to a retard-side engagement groove (10) to disengage a retard-side lock pin (7). |
| US10989077B2 |
Waste-to-energy plant
A Waste-to-Energy plant comprising: an incineration chamber in which waste is combusted generating flue gas; an economizer heating feedwater using heat from the flue gas; an evaporator producing steam from the heated feedwater using heat from the flue gas; a steam drum receiving heated feedwater from the economizer and supplying heated feedwater, the steam drum receiving steam from the evaporator and supplying steam; and a superheater receiving and heating steam from the steam drum to a superheated steam using heat from the flue gas; the incineration chamber comprising a first PCM-wall and a second PCM-wall each comprising a plurality of pipes and a layer of PCM provided between the pipes and the incineration chamber, the pipes in the first PCM-wall receiving heated feedwater from the steam drum and producing additional steam therein and the pipes of the second PCM-wall additionally heating steam therein using radiant heat from the incineration chamber. |
| US10989070B2 |
Shroud for gas turbine engine
A turbine having a stationary shroud ring formed about rotor blades. The stationary shroud ring may include an inner shroud segment. The inner shroud segment may include a cooling configuration that includes a crossflow channel. The crossflow channel may extend lengthwise between an upstream end and a downstream end, and, therebetween, include a junction point that divides the crossflow channel lengthwise into upstream and downstream sections, with the upstream section extending between the upstream end and the junction point, and the downstream section extending between the junction point and the downstream end. The crossflow channel may have a cross-sectional flow area that varies lengthwise such that a cross-sectional flow area of the upstream section decreases between the upstream end and the junction point, and a cross-sectional flow area of the downstream section increases between the junction point and the downstream end. |
| US10989069B2 |
Steam turbine cooling unit
A steam turbine cooling unit for a steam turbine includes a coolant steam path provided to penetrate a casing along a superheated steam supply tube to reach a gap; and a coolant steam supplying unit configured to supply coolant steam flowing through the coolant steam path along the superheated steam supply tube to reach the gap, and having: (i) a pressure higher than a pressure of superheated steam to be supplied by the superheated steam supply tube; and (ii) a temperature lower than a temperature of the superheated steam to be supplied by the superheated steam supply tube. |
| US10989068B2 |
Turbine shroud including plurality of cooling passages
Turbine shrouds for turbine systems are disclosed. The turbine shrouds may include a unitary body including a forward and aft end, an outer surface facing a cooling chamber formed between the unitary body and a turbine casing of the turbine system, and an inner surface facing a hot gas flow path. The shrouds may also include a first cooling passage extending within the unitary body, and a plurality of impingement openings formed through the outer surface of the unitary body to fluidly couple the first cooling passage to the cooling chamber. Additionally, the shrouds may include a second cooling passage and/or a third cooling passage. The second cooling passage may extend adjacent the forward end and may be in fluid communication with the first cooling passage. The third cooling passage may extend adjacent the aft end, and may be in fluid communication with the first cooling passage. |
| US10989059B2 |
CMC BOAS arrangement
A blade outer air seal includes a base portion that extends between a first circumferential side and a second circumferential side and from a first axial side to a second axial side. A first hook extends from the base portion and circumferentially spaced from a second hook. The first and second hooks extend along an axial length of the base portion. The first circumferential side has a protrusion and the second circumferential side has a groove. |
| US10989056B2 |
Integrated squealer pocket tip and tip shelf with hybrid and tip flag core
An airfoil includes an airfoil body having a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a tip shelf, a pocket surface, and a tip surface. The tip shelf circumferentially extends between the first wall and the second wall. The pocket surface circumferentially extends between the second wall and the third wall. The first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the pocket surface at least partially define a squealer pocket. The tip surface is spaced apart from the pocket surface and circumferentially extends between the second wall and the third wall. |
| US10989052B2 |
Apparatus and method for a dual power system
A power system including a pump drive having a first side and a second side, a motor that is operationally connected to the first side of the pump drive, an engine that is operationally connected to the second side of the pump drive, and a pump that is operationally connected to the pump drive. The preferred power system is adapted to power the item of equipment with either the motor or the engine. A method for providing power to an item of equipment by engaging the pump drive with the engine and/or the motor. |
| US10989050B2 |
Cutting head having segmented cutting disc
A cutting device for engaging a rock face includes a disc body supported for rotation about an axis of rotation, and a plurality of peripheral portions removably secured to the disc body. Each of the peripheral portions including a plurality of cutting bits positioned on a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge of each peripheral portion is aligned with the peripheral edges of adjacent peripheral portions. |
| US10989047B2 |
Systems and methods for sand flow detection and quantification
A method and system for receiving calibration information including a first power spectral density (PSD) value and a first sand concentration value at a particular frequency. Data is collected in a liquid flow at the particular frequency at a first depth in a downhole environment. A second power spectral density (PSD) value is then determined for the data in the liquid flow at the particular frequency. The second PSD value being compared with the first PSD value. Sand can also be determined to be present in the liquid flow when the second PSD value is greater than the first PSD value by a predefined threshold. A second sand concentration value of the sand present in the liquid flow being quantified based on the first sand concentration value. |
| US10989042B2 |
Downhole tool protection cover
Systems and methods to cover sensitive areas of downhole tools including a downhole tool having an outer surface including a first position and a second position on the outer surface of the downhole tool, the outer surface having a sensitive area, a downhole sensitive element positioned along the outer surface of the downhole tool at the sensitive area, a movable cover operatively connected to the downhole tool and movable relative to the sensitive area, a control unit configured to generate an activation signal, and an activation mechanism operable in response to the activation signal, the activation mechanism configured to move the movable cover relative to the sensitive area from the first position to the second position, wherein the movement of the movable cover from the first position to the second position one of increases or decreases a portion of the sensitive area covered by the movable cover. |
| US10989040B2 |
Method of using controlled release tracers
Fluids produced from a fractured subterranean formation may be monitored by pumping into the well a fracturing fluid which contains a tracer. The method may be used to monitor produced hydrocarbons as well as produced water. The tracer may also be used in a sand control, frac pack or acid fracturing operation. The tracer is a component of a composite where it may be immobilized within a matrix (such as an emulsion) or porous particulate, onto a support or compressed with a binder into a solid particulate. The tracer may be slowly released from the composite. |
| US10989036B2 |
Drilling casing and method of performing fast drilling and completion of large-borehole multilateral well
A drilling casing includes a casing wall and several sand control apparatuses disposed on the casing wall in a spacing. Each sand control apparatus includes a sand control net, a sealing steel sheet and a sealing rubber plug. A plurality of mutually-paralleled sand control meshes are disposed on the sand control net. The sand control mesh exactly faces the sealing steel sheet. The sand control net is connected with the sealing steel sheet through a steel pin. Further, a method of performing fast drilling and completion of a large-borehole multilateral well by the drilling casing includes forming a main borehole by drilling to a destination well depth at one time with a large-size drill bit, drilling a lateral borehole in a natural gas hydrate reservoir by using the drilling casing, and taking out the drill bit for completion. The method is applicable to various natural gas hydrate extraction manners. |
| US10989033B2 |
Reverse frac pack treatment
A treating tube may be positionable in a wellbore to create a passage internal to the treating tube and a passage in an annulus between the treating tube and a wellbore casing. Fluid may be injected into a fracturing zone from above or below a pay zone adjacent to the wellbore through a first of the two passages to expand the fracturing zone downhole or uphole, respectively, into the pay zone. Additional fluid may be injected into the pay zone through the second of the two passages to control the continued expansion of the pay zone into a desired shape. As proppant is routed through the first passage and deposited into the fractures, fluid flow in the second passage may be reversed to allow fluid to flow from the pay zone to the surface of the wellbore to control the placement of the proppant in the pay zone. |
| US10989030B2 |
Synthetic sweet spots in tight formations by injection of nano encapsulated reactants
Provided is a method and composition for the in-situ generation of synthetic sweet spots in tight-gas formations. The composition can include gas generating compounds, which upon activation, exothermically react to generate heat and gas. The method of using the composition includes injecting the composition into a tight-gas formation such that upon activation, the heat and gas are generated, resulting in the formation of fractures and microfractures within the formation. |
| US10989028B2 |
Steam foam methods for steam-assisted gravity drainage
Methods for making efficient use of steam in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process for recovering heavy oils from tar sands and similar petroleum deposits are disclosed. The methods utilize a surfactant to generate steam foam in ways that maximize efficient use of steam. In some aspects, steam foam is used in water layers or gas caps that reside above steam chambers to prevent loss of steam from the steam chamber. The predominant use of relatively dry steam in SAGD processes makes it challenging to find ways to introduce surfactants and generate steam foam. However, decreasing the mobility of the steam by converting at least some of it to foam allows the wellbore and steam chambers above the injection site to be more fully developed, provides for more effective heat transfer to the heavy oil and rock, improves production, and allows recovery of the heavy oil with a minimum amount of steam usage. |
| US10989025B2 |
Prevention of gas accumulation above ESP intake
A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean well includes an electrical submersible pump assembly with a pump, intake, protector, and motor. A production tubing is in fluid communication with the electrical submersible pump assembly and has an inner bore sized to deliver fluids from the electrical submersible pump assembly to a wellhead assembly. A packer assembly is located between the pump and the intake, the packer assembly moveable to an expanded position with an outer diameter in sealing engagement with an inner diameter of an outer tubular member. |
| US10989023B2 |
Sealed ballistic transfer apparatus
This disclosure may generally relate to subterranean operations. A ballistic transfer apparatus may include a detonation transfer line, wherein the detonation transfer line comprises a first end and a second end; a first holder in engagement with the first end of the detonation transfer line to retain the detonation transfer line in the ballistic transfer apparatus; a second holder in engagement with the second end of the detonation transfer line to retain the detonation transfer line in the ballistic transfer apparatus; and a shroud extending between the first holder and the second holder that covers the detonation transfer line. |
| US10989019B2 |
Fully-electrically driven downhole safety valve
The present disclosure belongs to the field of petroleum engineering, in particular to a fully-electrically driven downhole safety valve. The fully-electrically driven downhole safety valve comprises a downhole safety valve mechanism and a downhole safety valve control system; wherein the downhole safety valve mechanism includes an electronic cabin module, a transmission control module, a motion conversion module, a magnetic coupling and spring module. and a valve module; the downhole safety valve control system includes a downhole comprehensive unit and an uphole comprehensive unit. |
| US10989015B2 |
Degradable grip
A method includes pressing a blend of materials; and forming a degradable grip from the pressed blend of materials. The blend of materials includes a non-degradable material that is not degradable in an aqueous environment and an aqueous degradable alloy material. The pressing step includes using a high pressure and high temperature press. |
| US10989013B1 |
Buoyancy assist tool with center diaphragm debris barrier
A downhole apparatus comprises a casing string with a removable plug therein to block flow therethrough. A flow barrier is positioned in the casing below the removable plug and the removable plug and the flow barrier defining a buoyancy chamber therebetween. A debris barrier positioned above the removable plug comprises a rigid annular ring with a flexible diaphragm covering the center opening defined by the annular ring. |
| US10989009B2 |
Method of making safe an undersea bottom-to-surface production pipe when production is stopped
Method of stopping production and making safe an undersea bottom-to-surface connection production pipe having a first pipe portion on the sea bottom from a well head to the bottom end of a second pipe portion extending to a ship or floating support. After stopping production, depressurization of the entire undersea bottom-to-surface connection production pipe is performed. Thereafter, the following steps are preformed: isolating the first production pipe portion from the second pipe portion, and leaving the production fluid in the first production pipe portion, but not in said second pipe portion, depressurizing the first production pipe portion filled with production fluid by reducing the pressure in the first pipe portion and by discharging more completely the gas contained in the production fluid that it contains. |
| US10989008B2 |
Cap for a hydrocarbon production well and method of use
A cap for a hydrocarbon production well, the cap having a body with a top and a bottom. The bottom having a first connecting flange with a first seal face. The first connecting flange configured to connect to an end flange of a wellhead component and the top having a second connecting flange with a second seal face. |
| US10989006B2 |
Creation of a window opening/exit utilizing a single trip process
This disclosure may generally relate to drilling operations and, more particularly, to systems and methods for sidetracking an existing well. A bottom hole assembly may comprise a milling assembly, a whipstock coupled to the milling assembly, wherein the whipstock comprises an inclined ramp configured for diverting the milling assembly toward a casing string, and a downhole subassembly coupled to the whipstock, wherein the downhole subassembly comprises a body portion and one or more components on the body portion operable to weaken and/or remove material from the casing string. |
| US10989005B2 |
Downhole tubular milling apparatus, especially suitable for deployment on coiled tubing
An apparatus for cutting and/or milling of tubulars in a wellbore, especially using coiled tubing. An elongated main body has a longitudinal bore, with a piston slidably positioned in the bore. The piston is connected to one or more operating arms which are rotatably connected to the main body. The connection between the piston and the operating arms may be a pinned connection or a geared connection, both of which provide for a positive connection between the piston and the operating arms. Cutter bases are connected to the cutter arms, with a number of cutters mounted to the cutter bases. Fluid flow down the coiled tubing and through the main body bore pushes the piston downwardly, opening the operating arms and cutter bases and permitting the apparatus to be pulled up into the lower end of a tubular string for cutting and/or milling. |
| US10989000B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing premature set of liner top packer
A tool for use in a wellbore includes a first tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a first conduit. The inner surface includes a dog engagement zone. A second tubular includes an outer surface portion and an inner surface portion defining a second conduit. The second tubular extends into the first conduit and including a dog opening having a dog support. A dog is arranged in the dog opening. The dog includes an outer surface contour that engages with the dog engagement zone and an inner surface including a recess that engages with the one or more dog supports. The dog is moveably retained between the first tubular and the second tubular. |
| US10988998B2 |
Electric driven hydraulic fracking operation
Certain embodiments of the present application relate to a variable frequency drive (VFD) cabin for a pump configuration including a mobile trailer on which the VFD cabin is to be mounted. The VFD cabin generally includes a medium-voltage VFD and a ventilation system. In certain embodiments, the ventilation system is configured to generate an overpressure condition within the cabin to discourage the entry of dust and debris into the cabin. In certain embodiments, one or more components of the medium-voltage VFD are coupled to the floor of the cabin via a vibration damping system. In certain embodiments, the VFD cabin may be directly coupled to a chassis of the mobile trailer without an intervening suspension being provided between the VFD cabin and the chassis. |
| US10988994B2 |
Pipe handler and pipe loader for a well rig
For wellbore operations, a pipe handler moves pipe up to a rig floor. A pipe loader moves pipe from a presented position into alignment with well center. The pipe handler moves pipe up to a slanted presented position. The slanted presented position can be adjusted by manipulating the drive system. |
| US10988988B2 |
Drilling systems and hybrid drill bits for drilling in a subterranean formation and methods relating thereto
Drill bits and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the drill bit includes a body having a plurality of legs each having a lower section that has a leading surface and a trailing surface. A plurality of cone cutters are each rotatably mounted to the lower section of one of the legs, each having a cone axis, and including a first plurality of cutter elements arranged about the cone axis such that each is shear the formation when the body is rotated about the bit axis. |
| US10988986B2 |
Directional drilling apparatus using water hammer unit
A directional drilling apparatus using a water hammer unit according to the present invention includes a hammer body in which a bit unit configured to perform boring work is installed to be movable upward and downward at an end portion of the hammer body, a piston slidably installed on the hammer body and including an operating fluid discharge part formed in a longitudinal direction, a drive unit installed between the hammer body and the piston to support an upper portion of the piston and configured to move the piston upward and downward using water supplied through a rod connected to the hammer body, a hammer unit including a rotary shaft coupled to a bit by a first coupling part so as to transmit a rotational force in a state in which the hammer unit passes through the piston installed on the hammer body and is moved upward or downward by the bit, and a mud motor unit coupled to the hammer body and configured to rotate the rotary shaft. |
| US10988983B1 |
Garage screen
A retractable dual screen system provides auxiliary environmental protection for garage door openings. An upper housing is mounted on an exterior of a garage door, including two rollers and is accessible for maintenance or repair by a removable cover. A first roller is a vinyl insect screening, and a second roller contains polyolefin material to provide an additional layer of insulation to help reduce heat loss and gain through the garage door. The second roller also provides a vapor barrier to help protect the garage door against high winds. A dual track system selectively allows both rollers to be independently deployed over the garage door opening. |
| US10988982B2 |
Assembly for mounting shades
A roller shade mounting element comprising: a bracket having a first end configured to couple to a support surface and configured to support a roller window shade assembly; a first surface carried by the first end configured to bear against the support surface; a second end included in the bracket substantially opposite the first end; a second surface carried by the second end disposed between the first end and the second end, the second surface configured to support an end of the roller window shade assembly; and a member coupled with the bracket and configured to engage the roller window shade assembly, and the member configured to limit rotation of at least a portion of the roller window shade assembly; and, wherein the combination of the bracket and the roller window shade assembly completely obscures at least a portion of the bracket to an observer. |
| US10988978B2 |
Device for generating electric energy
The present disclosure provides a window for generating electric energy. The window comprises a panel that is at least partially transmissive for visible light. The panel has a receiving surface for receiving incident light and is arranged such that a portion of the incident light is redirected towards regions that are at edges or side portions of the panel. The window further comprises a plurality of photovoltaic elements positioned at or in the proximity of the edges or side portions of the panel. Each of the plurality of photovoltaic elements is electrically parallel connected to another one of the plurality of photovoltaic elements and the window is arranged to generate the electricity from at least a portion of the redirected incident light. |
| US10988975B2 |
Molded door facing blank and method of forming same
The present invention is directed to a door facing blank having a first major surface with a design element formed therein, and an opposite second major surface. At least three longitudinally extending spaced stile receiving areas are disposed on the second major surface. Two of the stile receiving areas define a first width, and three of the stile receiving areas define a second width greater than the first width. The door facing blank may be trimmed to form a door facing having a selected width. A method of forming a door facing blank, and a mold press for forming a door facing blank are also disclosed. |
| US10988974B2 |
High speed parallel process insulated glass manufacturing line
A high speed parallel manufacturing line for manufacturing insulated glass units, the manufacturing line including a front conveyor system, a back conveyor system, a shuttle mechanism that distributes glass lites to the front conveyor system and the back conveyor system, an insulated glass unit spacer applicator having a spacer dispensing head configured to apply perimeter spacer material to one of the glass lites, the spacer head being proportionally movable relative to the glass lite as the glass lite is conveyed on the front conveyor mechanism to apply the perimeter spacer material to create a spacer applied lite and a gas press. A secondary edge sealing unit has a first secondary edge sealing head and a second secondary edge sealing head, each of the first secondary edge sealing head and the second secondary edge sealing head applying edge sealant to portion of a perimeter of an insulated glass unit. |
| US10988973B2 |
Glass panel unit, glass window provided with same, and method for manufacturing glass panel unit
A glass panel unit includes: a first panel; a second panel facing the first panel; a sealing member bonded to respective facing peripheral portions of the first panel and the second panel; and at least one spacer provided in a reduced pressure space between the first panel and the second panel. The at least one spacer includes a resin body and at least one ultraviolet protective layer provided on a surface of the resin body. |
| US10988972B2 |
Glass panel
An object is to solve a strength problem around a suction hole on the gap side due to internal stress caused by a suction hole sealing metal material and depressurization, and provide a glass panel having enhanced safety. One glass plate 1A of a pair of glass plates 1A, 1B has a suction hole 4 penetrating the glass plate 1A in the front-back direction thereof, air in a gap V is sucked so as to depressurize the gap V, and the suction hole 4 is sealed by a suction hole sealing metal material 15. The suction hole sealing metal material 15 is solidified on the suction hole 4 so as to keep an airtight state, and is formed concentrically with the suction hole 4 in plan view, and the following Expression (1) is satisfied: Dw<=(Fc−0.0361Pd2/Tg2.2)/{(−0.0157Tg+0.1945)*Dg} (1) where Fc is long-term permissible stress at a glass edge, Tg is a glass plate thickness (mm), Dw is a protruding portion diameter (mm) of the suction hole sealing metal material, Dg is a protruding portion thickness (mm) of the suction hole sealing metal material, and Pd is a spacer pitch (mm). |
| US10988971B1 |
Roller guide for pocket doors
A roller guide (1) for a pocket door comprising a roller (16) supported by two angled support arms (10, 13) extending from a base plate (2). The roller guide may be mounted adjacent to a pocket door so the roller makes contact with a surface of the pocket door and prevents the pocket door from scraping against an opening of a wall in which the pocket door is slideably mounted. |
| US10988966B2 |
Furniture drive system
A furniture drive system for a furniture part that is moveably mounted on a furniture body, includes a mechanical control unit having a pivotally mounted control arm for moving the moveable furniture part and at least one energy store for applying force to the control arm; an electric drive unit configured as a component designed to be separate from the mechanical control unit, and which has an electric motor for the electric motor-powered support of the movement of the moveable furniture part and a driver that can be driven by the electric motor for transmitting a torque of the electric motor to the mechanical control unit; and a damping device for damping the movement of the moveable furniture part. The damping device is arranged in the component of the electric drive unit for damping the movement of the moveable furniture part. |
| US10988962B2 |
Retractable outside handle assembly for vehicle
A retractable outside handle assembly for a vehicle include a retractable outside door handle protruding outward in a width direction of the vehicle from a door outside panel forming a door of the vehicle or being housed in an opening portion formed in the door outside panel and a base assembly with which retractable outside door handle is rotatably assembled wherein the base assembly includes two first and second door outside handle internal bases which are relatively movable with respect to each other, and a door outside handle external base housing first and second door outside handle internal bases, improving assemble workability and reducing weight and cost. |
| US10988960B1 |
Systems and methods for providing awareness of emergency vehicles
An automatic alarm system for a vehicle includes a sensor adapted to detect electromagnetic data, a computer system, and an automatic alarm mechanism. The computer system receives data from the sensor. A computer processor compares the electromagnetic data detected by the sensor with known patterns of electromagnetic data emitted by emergency vehicles that are stored in a library. The automatic alarm mechanism activates in response to the processor determining that the comparison matches a known pattern of electromagnetic data for an emergency vehicle resulting in the computer processor sending a first signal to activate an alarm of the vehicle. |
| US10988959B1 |
Rim strike assembly and methods of use
A rim strike assembly includes a strike body, strike jaw, retaining clutch, locking cam, locking clutch, and a solenoid. The strike jaw, retaining clutch, locking cam, and locking clutch are pivotably coupled to the strike body. The strike body and strike jaw define a latch cavity to receive a latch of a door. The strike jaw includes a jaw follower. The strike jaw is pivotable between a release position and a closed position. The retaining clutch engages the jaw follower and includes a retaining follower. The locking cam includes a retaining notch and a locking notch. The retaining follower engages the retaining notch. The locking clutch includes a locking follower that engages the locking notch of the locking cam. The solenoid includes a plunger coupled to the locking clutch such that movement of the plunger rotates the locking clutch from a locked position to an unlocked position. |
| US10988956B2 |
Handle arrangement with an internal lock
The present invention relates to a handle arrangement for arrangement to a door comprising a body, wherein the body, when arranged to said door, extends substantially in parallel with an outer surface of said door, a handle for rotational movement relative to the body to open a latching arrangement, a latching element for latching engagement with a corresponding lock element arranged on said door frame, wherein the latching element is rotatable relative to the body between an unlatching position and a latching position, and a pushing element in rotationally fixed connection with the handle. The pushing element is arranged to, when rotated in a first direction, push the latching element from the latching position to the open position, and the pushing element comprises a sliding member in slidable connection to a sliding surface on the latching element, such that a rotational movement in the first direction of the pushing element provides an accelerated rotational movement of the latching element. |
| US10988953B2 |
Building perimeter system
A perimeter pocket system with an inner wall having a brace connecting protuberance and an extended ceiling supporting ledge with grid tee end reference marks or coupling structure for an extension. Grid tee connector clips have cam slots for raising grid tees in a seismic event and features imparting rigidity and vibration resistance. |
| US10988951B2 |
Dispensing system
A filter well mountable dispenser holder securable within a hot tub filter well with the dispenser holder supporting replaceable dispersant containing dispensing cartridges positionable within a circulating flow of water through the filter well to thereby release dispersants therefrom without preventing the circulating flow of water from passing through the filter media proximate the dispensing cartridges. |
| US10988948B2 |
Telescopic pole for supporting a curtain enclosure
A support pole that includes a telescopic rod including a first shaft configured to move relative to a second shaft, first pad secured to a first end of the first shaft, a retention mechanism secured to the first shaft between the end of the first shaft and the second shaft, and a second pad secured to the second shaft. The retention mechanism is operable to move between an engaged position in which a sheet or curtain may be secured to the telescopic rod and a disengaged position in which the sheet is detached from the telescopic rod. |
| US10988943B2 |
Deck drainage systems
A deck drainage system includes a bracket, a locking bead, and a sheet. The bracket includes a first leg and an elongate receiver connected to an end portion of the leg. The elongate receiver defines a substantially round cross-sectional profile. The locking bead is an elongate member that defines a slit in an outer surface thereof for receiving the sheet. The locking bead is configured to be received in the receiver. |
| US10988935B2 |
Screen covering
A screen covering (1) comprising: several cross-beams (2) arranged so as to be slidable away from each other and towards each other; a screen (3) supported by the cross-beams (2) and foldable between the cross-beams (2) at sliding of the cross-beams (2); and a lateral gutter (4), which extends essentially perpendicular to the cross-beams (2) and is arranged below a lateral side of the screen (3); wherein said lateral side of the screen (3) is provided with a downwardly extending drip guard (5), which is foldable at sliding of the cross-beams (2). |
| US10988934B2 |
Device for protecting of passages for utilities from entry of outdoor weather elements of adverse effects
The present invention is a reliable and simple to install device for protecting of passages for utilities in roof structures from the entry of adverse effect outdoor weather elements. The device is composed of: a flexible tube component (FTC), a surface insertion tube component (SITC), a surface connection plate component (SCPC) and a SCPC-connecting paste component. FTC is composed of a hollow semi-flexible tube having one side unconnected and the other side firmly connected to the SITC, forming a continuous tube. The SITC is composed of a rigid hollow tube divided into two portions by the SCPC. The SCPS is composed of a perforated, rigid material, perpendicularly fixated to and around the SITC, In installing the device of the present invention, the SCPC-connecting paste component is smeared on the external surface of a roof structure surrounding the passage for utilities. The unconnected side of SITC is inserted into the passage for utilities till the SCPC is tightly pressed into the SCPC-connecting paste component. The SCP is pressed until the SCPC-connecting paste component oozes through the perforated plate of the SCPC. Upon drying and hardening of the SCPS connecting paste component, the SCPS is fixated and the device is stabilized. After the device is fixed and stabilized the FTC is stretched and bent in an approximately 180 degree angle so as to have the unconnected opening of the FTC approximately aligned in parallel with, and facing the external surface of, a roof structure surrounding of the passage for utilities. Either after the bending of FTC or prior to starting the installation of the device, utilities can be inserted through the FTC and SCPS. |
| US10988927B2 |
Suspended ceiling hanger clip
The present invention relates to a suspended ceiling hanger clip and a suspended ceiling formed using the hanger clip. The suspended ceiling hanger clip has a longitudinally extending base having a first end and a second end and a pair of generally parallel co-extensive flanges extending downwardly from the base. At least one projection in each flange is formed with a ramp surface. An aperture is formed in the base for receiving an upper end of the elongate suspension rod therein. The suspension rod has a longitudinal axis extending along a length between spaced apart upper and lower ends, with the lower end having an attachment means. The upper end of the suspension rod extends through and is fixedly retained from removal from the aperture in the base of the hanger clip. |
| US10988926B2 |
Apparatus comprising a roof panel and control system for opening and closing the roof panel
There is provided an apparatus comprising a roof panel (20) and control system (14), the roof panel comprising one or more cover portions that are moveable between open and closed positions for opening and closing the roof panel. The control system comprises an actuator (40) for moving the cover portions between the open and closed positions, a mains power supply input, and an emergency power store. The control system is configured to receive one or more signals indicative of an emergency, to power the actuator from the mains power supply when the signals indicate there is no emergency, and to power the actuator from the emergency power store when the signals indicate there is an emergency. |
| US10988923B2 |
Methods and systems of modifying air flow at building structures
Provided in one embodiment is a method of modifying an air flow at least one location of a building structure, comprising: generating a first air flow at the at least one location of the building structure; and modifying a second air flow exterior to the building structure using the generated first air flow. An apparatus configured to modified an air flow is also provided. |
| US10988920B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for constructing a concrete structure
Various implementations include methods and apparatuses for constructing a concrete structure. In one implementation, a structure includes a pre-cast concrete column section and a pre-cast concrete beam section. The column section includes an embedded first assembly with a threaded rod, and the beam section includes an embedded second assembly defining a channel for receiving the threaded rod. Grout is fed through a joint between the column and beam sections into the second assembly to couple the threaded rod with the second assembly. The grout is urged through the joint and the second assembly by gravity and by applying vacuum suction to a grout port defined by the second assembly. The grout port extends between the channel of the second assembly and an external face of the beam section. |
| US10988918B2 |
Urinal screen having foldable portions
A urinal screen includes a main body portion, an first front portion, and a second front portion, which each include a plurality of protrusions configured to break up a stream of fluid incident on the urinal screen and prevent splash. The first front portion is separated from the main body portion by a first fold line, and the second front portion is separated from the main body portion by a second fold line. The fold lines lack protrusions, and meet at the front of the urinal screen. The main body portion and first and second body portions form a circular configuration when unfolded to fit circular urinal basins. The first and second front body portions can be folded upwards to produce a pointed configuration so that the urinal screen can then fit in urinals having a pointed basin. |
| US10988917B2 |
Toilet flush device and toilet device
A toilet flushing device includes a first rim water pipe within which is formed a first water passage through which water flows to a first rim discharge hole, through which water is discharged to a rim part of a toilet bowl. The first rim water pipe extends from the first rim discharge hole toward a rear part of the toilet bowl, and the rear part side of the first rim water pipe is positioned lower than the first rim discharge hole. |
| US10988916B2 |
Handling system for ground-engaging wear parts secured to earth working equipment
A handling system for handling ground-engaging wear parts used on earth working equipment includes handling tools to remove and handle wear parts from equipment and/or to install new wear parts. The tools can include a torque or other tool to engage and/or disengage a lock retained by the wear member. The handling system allows an operator maintain a distance from heavy parts being removed or installed, reducing the risk of injury. |
| US10988914B2 |
Hybrid work machine
To achieve saving of fuel consumption and noise reduction by adopting a hybrid type and miniaturizing an engine and to ensure safe and reliable battery charging in a case in which a charge amount of a battery is quite insufficient, a hydraulic work machine includes: a gate lock sensor (28); a forced charging switch (41); a work machine monitor (43) that notifies an operator that a charging rate of a battery (33) falls to be lower than a critical charging rate; and a machine controller (46). The machine controller (46) actuates a generator motor (31) as a generator to forcedly charge the battery (33) when a gate lock lever (26) is operated to a lock position (D), an engine control dial (12) designates a low idle engine speed, and the forced charging switch (41) is operated. |
| US10988913B2 |
Blade for work vehicle
A work vehicle comprising a frame supported by a ground engaging device. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame. A boom cylinder is coupled to the frame and the boom assembly. An attachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder is coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler. An attachment is coupled to the attachment coupler. The attachment comprises an attachment frame coupled to the attachment coupler. The attachment frame has a lower portion and an upper portion. A joint is coupled to the lower portion of the attachment frame and a blade. The joint has an upper surface and a lower surface positioned a distance from the surface. An angle cylinder is coupled to the lower portion of the attachment frame and a blade. A portion of the angle cylinder is positioned below the upper surface. |
| US10988912B2 |
Hydraulic excavator
Provided is a hydraulic excavator that enables arrangement of a camera at an appropriate position on a lateral edge of a revolving unit. The camera is installed on the lateral edge of the upper surface of the revolving unit. A handrail is attached to the upper surface of the revolving unit. The handrail includes a first handrail member extending in the front-rear direction of the revolving unit, and a first support member supporting the first handrail member on the revolving unit. The camera and the first support member are adjacent to each other in the tight-left direction of the revolving unit, and the first support member is arranged inward relative to the camera. |
| US10988911B2 |
Diaphragm walls
The invention relates to apparatus and methods for constructing diaphragm walls. A guideway tube is provided for casting into a concrete panel along a height of a face of the concrete panel, comprising: an elongate guideway track comprising at least one elongate side wall and an elongate slot along the at least one elongate side wall, the elongate slot having a first width; and, an elongate closure panel comprising: a rear panel portion configured to close the elongate slot enclosing an elongate internal volume, and, a front panel portion of a second width greater than the first width. Preferably the rear panel portion is a close fit within elongate slot sufficient to resist the ingress of slurry and concrete. Preferably the rear panel portion is configured to engage the elongate slot in a manner configured to resist compression forces. |
| US10988910B2 |
Pre-cast concrete wall structures, and methods for manufacturing and installing the same
Herein disclosed are pre-cast concrete wall structures, and processes for manufacturing and installing the same. Wall structure may be wall segments and may comprise a pre-cast concrete monolithic body including a ground-engaging footer and a vertical wall supported by the footer and extending upwardly from the footer. Methods of making wall segments may comprise the steps of providing an initial casting mold, pouring an initial portion of concrete, installing a final casting mold, pouring a final portion of concrete, allowing the initial and final portions of poured concrete to cure to a final hardened state, and removing the initial and final casting molds. Methods of installing wall segments may comprise the steps of excavating the construction site, grading a ground surface at the construction site, positioning a plurality of pre-cast concrete wall segments, interconnecting adjacent wall segments, and backfilling adjacent an exterior side of the foundation wall. |
| US10988907B1 |
Sinking apparatus for sinking concrete shaft
A sinking apparatus for sinking a concrete shaft includes a water tank, a valve assembly, a communication pipe, and a pumping device. The water tank is disposed on an upper surrounding edge of the concrete shaft, and has a water outlet port. The valve assembly includes a valve gate which is operable to open and close the water outlet port. The pumping device is disposed to permit water inside a central hollow portion of the concrete shaft to be pumped into a water accommodation space of the water tank through the communication pipe. |
| US10988904B2 |
Snow and ice melting device, system and corresponding methods
Disclosed herein is a device that is configured to melt at least one of snow and ice, comprising a coil formed from an elongated member having a first end and a second end, the elongated member having a surface comprising at least one of grooves, notches and pores configured to facilitate movement of liquid by capillary action. Corresponding methods and systems also are disclosed. |
| US10988900B2 |
Tissue comprising a softening composition
A soft tissue having a soothing feel and method of making the same is disclosed which contains an aqueous softening composition comprising from about 10 to about 20 weight percent of a cationic softening compound, such as quaternary ammonium compounds and imidazolinium compounds; from about 10 to about 20 weight percent of a polyhydroxy compound having a molecular weight of at least about 1,000 g/mol, and optionally a silicone or glycerin. Examples of the cationic softening compound include tallow- and ester-substituted quaternary ammonium compounds having chloride or methyl sulfate as the anion, and examples of the polyhydroxy compound include polyethylene glycols (PEG) or polypropylene glycols (PPG) having a molecular weight of at least about 1,000 g/mol, such as PEG-1000 and PEG-8000. |
| US10988899B2 |
Fluff dryer machine drainage aid
Methods and compositions useful for improving drainage in a fluff pulp drying process are provided. The methods and compositions comprise alkyl ether sulfate and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymer. In particular, the methods and compositions can improve drainage of fluff pulp in fluff pulp drying processes. |
| US10988896B2 |
Collapsible household containers
Collapsible household containers having a foldable wall section with shape-retaining characteristics are disclosed. In particular, collapsible laundry baskets, buckets, colanders, dish drainers, and cups are provided. The folding region may include foldable tiers of a flexible material, each tier having at least one stable, relatively expanded position and at least one stable, relatively collapsed position; and an intervening, non-folding tier composed of a different, relatively rigid material. |
| US10988894B2 |
Clothes treatment apparatus having heat pump module
A clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet; a tub provided within the cabinet; a drum rotatably provided within the tub and configured to accommodate the laundry or a dry item therein; and a heat pump configured to circulate a refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, and re-circulate air discharged from the drum to the drum by way of the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the heat pump includes a compressor base supporting and disposed above the tub, a bracket disposed in an upper portion of the compressor base, fixed to an upper surface of the compressor, and transmitting vibration generated by the compressor, and an air-vibration mount disposed between the bracket and the compressor base and absorbing vibration of the compressor transmitted through the bracket. |
| US10988892B1 |
Double-decker cloth rack
A double-decker cloth rack including a base, at least two vertical tubes, one middle horizontal tube, top horizontal tube, two tri-connect coupler with a screw-on locking nut, wherein the tri-connect coupler connects the vertical tubes to the middle horizontal tube. There are also two tri-connect horn coupler to which two extension pieces are respectively connected. |
| US10988890B2 |
Laundry apparatus
A laundry apparatus includes a drum rotatable on a shaft and including at least one predetermined region made of metal; a tub surrounding the drum; an inductor provided on the tub and heating the drum by generating an electromagnetic field; and an air passage duct including a first duct provided as a passage for exhausting air outside the tub, a second duct provided as a passage for sucking air into the tub, and a fan for generating air flow, wherein the air drawn into the tub via the second duct is supplied to an internal space of the drum via a penetrating hole provided in a circumferential surface of the drum by the fan and then exhausted to the first duct after passing through a drum opening provided in a front portion of the drum. |
| US10988888B2 |
Retrofittable bulk dispensing system for household appliances
A retrofit auxiliary device for supporting washing operations in various makes and models of multiple household appliances is described wherein the retrofit auxiliary device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data. Each of the multiple household appliances has a water line and a power line operably coupled to an appliance controller with at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation. |
| US10988886B2 |
Laundry treating appliance detergent dispenser
A water inlet box assembly comprises a manual dispenser and a liquid storage cartridge, wherein the latter can be removed in a vertical direction. The water inlet box assembly consists of a water inlet box, a shower assembly, a storage cartridge, decorative cover, pumps and pipeline assembly, etc. The water inlet box assembly is installed on the left front area of the top of a washing machine. In front of the water inlet box, a chamber is designed for manual dispensing; and behind the water inlet box, there is a chamber used for receiving the storage cartridge. The storage cartridge has two chambers, and they are used to store detergent and softener respectively; inside the storage cartridge, a floater is installed to detect the height of the liquid. Users can add detergent and softener from the top of the washing machine, and remove the storage cartridge in a vertical direction and clean it. |
| US10988885B2 |
Extended tub for a laundry treating appliance
A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor. |
| US10988878B2 |
Overlock sewing machine
An overlock sewing machine includes an operating shaft that is slidable between first and second positions, and configured such that interlock switching and position switching mechanisms are operated when it is turned. The interlock switching mechanism includes a rotor that is rotatable together with the operating shaft as a single unit, an interlock switching member, and a first engagement target portion formed in the rotor. In the interlock state, setting the operating shaft to the first position engages an engagement portion of the interlock switching member with the first engagement target portion, which restricts operating shaft rotation. Sliding the operating shaft to the second position releases the engagement state between the engagement and first engagement target portions, enabling rotation of the operating shaft. |
| US10988873B2 |
Fabric file release system for automatically calibrating a circular knitting machine
A fabric file release system for automatically calibrating a circular knitting machine includes a file release end which memorizes a plurality of fabric file and a controlled terminal in information connection with the file release end. Each of the plurality of fabric file comprises a plurality of knitting machine working marks and a plurality of setting parameter values respectively corresponding to one of the knitting machine working marks. The controlled terminal comprises a setting file of knitting machine working including the plurality of knitting machine working marks and a plurality of working parameter values respectively corresponding to one of the knitting machine working marks. The controlled terminal receives one of the fabric file and maps the setting parameter values corresponding to each of the knitting machine working marks to the working parameter values corresponding to each of the knitting machine working marks in the setting file of knitting machine working. |
| US10988870B2 |
Device for cutting through pile threads on a weaving machine
A device for cutting through pile threads on a weaving machine, including a cutting means (6), connected to a transmission body (5), and a rotatable drive means (1), which rotates alternately in the one and the other rotational direction and meshes with the transmission body (5) so that its rotation motions are converted into a back-and-forth displacement of the cutting means (6), wherein, via the transmission body (5), a pushing force is exerted on the cutting means (6). The transmission body (5) can be non-endless and interact with one rotatable drive means (1). Also, a weaving machine provided with such a cutting device. |
| US10988869B2 |
Multilayer fabric
A multilayer fabric includes a binding portion in which weft fiber layers stacked in a thickness-wise direction are all bound by warps and a non-binding portion including a slit where a fifth fiber layer and a seventh fiber layer, which are the weft fiber layers, are not bound by warps. The multilayer fabric includes an intersection formed at a boundary of the binding portion and the non-binding portion. The intersection is formed by intersecting the warps that are adjacent in a second direction. |
| US10988867B2 |
Selvedge device
A selvedge device (1), having at least two pairs of heddle holders (2) for holding heddles (3) on either side, a drive device for driving the two pairs of heddle holders (2) by reciprocating movements, in which the drive device has at least two drive bodies (4) and each pair of heddle holders (2) is attached to a drive body (4), and in which the heddle holders (2) of at least one pair of heddle holders (2) are attached to the corresponding drive body (4) so as to be height-adjustable with respect to this corresponding drive body (4). |
| US10988864B2 |
Device for entangling a plurality of individual threads of a composite thread
Various techniques involve a device for entangling a plurality of individual threads of a composite thread in a melt-spinning process for the production of crimped yarns. The device to this end has a plurality of entanglement nozzles which are collectively held on a support. In order to enable a flexible utilization of the entanglement nozzles and of thread guiding, the entanglement nozzles on the support are assigned at least one thread guide in such a manner that the threads are guidable optionally in the entanglement nozzles and/or in the thread guide. |
| US10988858B2 |
Method for depositing a crystal layer at low temperatures, in particular a photoluminescent IV-IV layer on an IV substrate, and an optoelectronic component having such a layer
A method for monolithically depositing a monocrystalline IV-IV layer that glows when excited and that is composed of a plurality of elements of the IV main group, in particular a GeSn or Si—GeSn layer, the IV-IV layer having a dislocation density less than 6 cm−2, on an IV substrate, in particular a silicon or germanium substrate, including the following steps: providing a hydride of a first IV element (A), such as Ge2H6 or Si2H6; providing a halide of a second IV element (B), such as SnCl4; heating the substrate to a substrate temperature that is less than the decomposition temperature of the pure hydride or of a radical formed therefrom and is sufficiently high that atoms of the first element (A) and of the second element (B) are integrated into the surface in crystalline order, wherein the substrate temperature lies, in particular, in a range between 300° C. and 475° C.; producing a carrier gas flow of an inert carrier gas, in particular N2, Ar, He, which in particular is not H3; transporting the hydride and the halide and decomposition products arising therefrom to the surface at a total pressure of at most 300 mbar; depositing the IV-IV layer, or a layer sequence consisting of IV-IV layers of the same type, having a thickness of at least 200 nm, wherein the deposited layer is, in particular, a SiyGe1−x−ySn layer, with x>0.08 and y≤1. |
| US10988856B2 |
Method for pulling a single crystal by the FZ method comprising reducing the power of a melting apparatus based on geometrical dimensions of the drop
A single crystal is pulled by an FZ method, in which a polycrystal is melted by means of an electromagnetic melting apparatus and then recrystallized, wherein a first phase (P1) a lower end of the polycrystal, which is moved toward the melting apparatus, is melted by the melting apparatus to form a drop, and in a second phase (P2) a monocrystalline seed is attached to the lower end of the polycrystal and is melted beginning from an upper end of the seed, where a power (P) of the melting apparatus during the first phase (P1) and during the second phase (P2) is predetermined at least temporarily in dependence on a temperature and/or geometrical dimensions of crystal material used which comprises the drop and/or the seed and/or the polycrystal. |
| US10988854B2 |
Flexible color adjustment for dark Cr(III) platings
The invention relates to a method for the adjustment of the lightness L* of electrolytically deposited chromium-finishes on workpieces obtained by an electroplating bath comprising at least chromium(III)-ions and sulfur containing organic compounds, wherein the concentration of the sulfur containing organic compounds in the bath are adjusted by passing at least part of the bath composition through an activated carbon filter. Furthermore, the invention is directed to dark chrome coatings comprising a defined concentration gradient of deposited sulfur containing organic compounds. |
| US10988852B2 |
Method of electroplating copper into a via on a substrate from an acid copper electroplating bath
Copper electroplating baths containing primary alcohol alkoxylate block copolymers and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide random copolymers having specific HLB ranges are suitable for filling vias with copper, where such copper deposits are substantially void-free and substantially free of surface defects. |
| US10988851B2 |
Method for manufacturing composition controlled thin alloy foil by using electro-forming
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing various alloy thin films, in which nano-scale cracks are controlled, with desired compositions using an ultrasonic pulse electroforming process. The method includes a step of forming a multilayer that includes two or more different thin metal film layers, in which nano-scale cracks due to hydrogen generation are controlled, a step of ultimately facilitating interdiffusion by controlling the thickness of the multilayer to a nano-scale thickness through pulse application and the number of layers forming the multilayer, and controlling an alloy to have a desired composition through heat treatment, and a step of thermally treating the multilayer such that interdiffusion sufficiently occurs among the two or more different thin metal film layers. The step of thermally treating may be carried out along with rolling, whereby very fine cracks may be removed by compression and, accordingly, alloy foils having various compositions may be economically produced. A layer number and thickness of the multilayer may be controlled to a nano-sized thickness by applying various types of pulses or by connecting a plurality of electrolytic cells in series and stepwise or repeatedly transferring adding an electroforming layer to the electrolytic cells under a DC application condition. |
| US10988849B2 |
Electrochemical device for cascading reactive distillation
The following describes a reconfigurable set of industrial processing techniques which, when appropriately combined, enable zero-emissions reforming, utilizing a wide range of conventional and unconventional feedstocks. Hydrocarbons, harvested or refuse biomass, as well as assorted byproducts and wastes are reformed through tightly integrated processing. The system is designed to incorporate alternative energy sources such as renewables or nuclear for high-density energy utilization and storage. Central to the processing methodology is a novel molten salt electrochemical reactor designed as a modular system for high-throughput carbochlorination and resource recovery. Such a configuration drastically reduces or eliminates waste while improving efficiency and realizing vast new economic incentives. |
| US10988847B2 |
Apparatus and method of preparing carbonate and/or formate from carbon dioxide
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of preparing carbonate and/or formate from carbon dioxide. The apparatus of preparing carbonate and/or formate from carbon dioxide (CO2), comprising: an electrolysis reactor comprising (i) an anode which contains an aqueous solution of a Group I metal salt as an electrolytic solution, (ii) an ion-exchange membrane through which metal cations derived from the Group I metal salt and water flow from an anode to a cathode, (iii) a cathode, and (iv) a gas diffusion layer which supplies a carbon dioxide-containing gas to the cathode; a power supply unit of applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode; a first gas-liquid separator of recovering the electrolytic solution from the products formed in the anode; a second gas-liquid separator of recovering carbonate and/or formate from the products formed in the cathode; a pH meter of measuring the pH of the electrolytic solution recovered from the first gas-liquid separator; a first reactant supply unit of supplying (a) the electrolytic solution recovered from the first gas-liquid separator and (b) the aqueous solution of the Group I metal salt with which the recovered electrolytic solution is replenished according to the pH of the electrolytic solution, to the anode; and a second reactant supply unit of supplying carbon dioxide or a mixer comprising carbon dioxide and water vapor to the cathode; wherein, when a voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode, in the anode, water undergoes electrolysis to generate hydrogen ions, oxygen, and electrons, and metal cations in the Group I metal salt are substituted with the hydrogen ions, while the generated metal cations move to the cathode through the ion-exchange membrane and the electrons move to the cathode through an external electric line; and in the cathode, carbon dioxide, water, metal cations, and electrons are reacted and produce carbonate and/or formate. |
| US10988846B2 |
Electrode assembly, electrode structures and electrolysers
The present invention relates to an electrode assembly, electrode structures and an electrolyser using said assemblies/structures, and in particular provides an electrode assembly comprising an anode structure and a cathode structure, each of said anode structure and cathode structure comprising i) a flange which can interact with a flange on an another electrode structure to hold a separator in between the two, ii) an electrolysis compartment which contains an electrode, and which in use contains a liquid to be electrolysed, iii) an inlet for the liquid to be electrolysed and iv) an outlet header for evolved gas and spent liquid, wherein the outlet header on one of the anode structure and the cathode structure is an external outlet header and the outlet header on the other one of the anode structure and the cathode structure is an internal outlet header, as well as to electrolysers comprising a plurality of such electrode assemblies. |
| US10988845B2 |
Plated steel sheet having multilayer structure and manufacturing method therefor
Provided is a plated steel sheet often used as materials for vehicles, home appliances, construction and the like and, more specifically, to a plated steel sheet having a multilayer structure and a method for manufacturing the same. |
| US10988844B2 |
Process for producing flexible organic-inorganic laminates
Processes for producing flexible organic-inorganic laminates by atomic layer deposition are described, as well as barrier films comprising flexible organic-inorganic laminates. In particular, a process for producing a laminate including (a) depositing an inorganic layer by an atomic layer deposition process, and (b) depositing an organic layer comprising selenium by a molecular layer deposition process is provided. |
| US10988839B2 |
Evaporation source and evaporation device
The disclosure discloses an evaporation source and an evaporation device. The evaporation source includes an evaporation case, a crucible, and a heating unit; the evaporation case includes a top plate, a bottom plate, a first side plate, a second side plate, a first end plate, and a second end plate; a connecting section is arranged on the side of the top plate facing the bottom plate, a nozzle group is arranged on the bottom plate to jet gas in the direction away from the top plate; and the crucible includes a cubicle body, and a folded side arranged on the outside of the crucible body, a plurality of gas outlet holes are arranged in the folded side, and the crucible body cooperates slidably with the connecting section through the folded side. |
| US10988835B2 |
Hard particles and sintered sliding member using the same
The present disclosure provides hard particles having improved wear resistance and a sintered sliding member using the hard particles. The present disclosure relates to a hard particle consisting of: 1% to 7% by mass of La, 30% to 50% by mass of Mo, 10% to 30% by mass of Ni, 10% by mass or less of Mn, 1.0% by mass or less of C, with the balance being unavoidable impurities and Co, and to a sintered sliding member using the hard particles. |
| US10988834B2 |
Cr—Fe—Mn—Ni—V-based high-entropy alloy
The present invention relates to a high-entropy alloy especially having excellent low-temperature tensile strength and elongation by means of having configured, through thermodynamic calculations, an alloy composition region having an FCC single-phase microstructure at 700° C. or higher, and enabling the FCC single-phase microstructure at room temperature and at an ultra-low temperature. The high-entropy alloy, according to the present invention, comprises: Cr: 3-18 at %; Fe: 3-60 at %; Mn: 3-40 at% ; Ni: 20-80 at %: 3-12 at %; and unavoidable impurities, wherein the ratio of the V content to the Ni content (V/Ni) is 0.5 or less. |
| US10988833B2 |
Ni—Al-RE ternary eutectic alloy and preparation method thereof
A Ni—Al-RE ternary eutectic alloy and a preparation method thereof are provided. The alloy is composed of the following elements by weight percent, aluminum (Al) of 2.50% to 19.50%, rare earth (RE) of 1.30% to 20.0%, other impurity elements being less than or equal to 0.10%, and the rest being nickel (Ni). The microstructure of the alloy is in a completely eutectic form, and the density is 6.8 to 7.1 g/cm3. Raw materials are prepared according to the ratio, and are placed into a vacuum induction smelting furnace; the smelting furnace is vacuumized to 10−5 Pa, power is increased to ensure complete melting of the raw materials, and the molten alloy melt is poured into an iron mold to obtain alloy ingots. The eutectic phase in the microstructure of the alloy in the disclosure has high hardness. |
| US10988831B2 |
Production of metal matrix nanocomposites
A method and apparatus for producing metal matrix nanocomposites is disclosed. The method may include obtaining a nanodispersion by dispersing a plurality of nanoparticles into an inert gas within a dispersion chamber. Dispersing the plurality of nanoparticles into the inert gas may include injecting a pressurized stream of the inert gas into the dispersion chamber, and mechanically mixing the inert gas and the plurality of nanoparticles. The method may further include injecting the nanodispersion into a volume of molten metal, obtaining a molten mixture by mechanically mixing the nanodispersion with the volume of molten metal, and applying a casting process on the molten mixture by transferring the molten mixture into a die. |
| US10988824B2 |
Corrosion resistant steel, method for producing said steel and its use thereof
A corrosion resistant steel having a yield strength of at least 758 MPa is described. The corrosion resistant steel comprises in weight %: 0.005≤C<0.03, 14≤Cr≤17, 2.3≤Mo≤3.5, 3.2≤Ni≤4.5, Si≤0.6, 0.5≤Cu≤1.5, 0.4≤Mn≤1.3, 0.35≤V≤0.6, 3.2×C≤Nb≤0.1, W≤1.5, 0.5≤Co≤1.5, 0.02≤N≤0.05, Ti≤0.05, P≤0.03, S≤0.005, Al≤0.05, with the balance of the chemical composition of said corrosion resistant steel being constituted by Fe and inevitable impurities. A manufacturing method of such steel to obtain a quenched and tempered semi finished product is also described. |