Document Document Title
US09053471B2 Apparatus and method for conducting securing financial transactions
A system and method are disclosed for conducting secure electronic transactions using dual-authentications. A secure server stores security information for a plurality of users and authorizes transactions being conducted by these users. A user computer system having a trusted platform module is used for storing security information relating to at least one user account. Protected environments are created to facilitate secure connections based on at least the security information stored in the trusted platform module. Transactions between the user/electronic merchants and between the user/secure server are conducted within protected environments. When a user conducts an electronic transaction with an electronic merchant, the transaction is authenticated by the secure server before can be completed.
US09053466B2 Publishing and subscribing to calendar events information via categorical mapping methodology
A system, method and program product for publishing and subscribing to calendar events publication are disclosed. In one aspect, method and system for providing a publication of calendar events for one or more computer-based devices having a calendaring system capable of operation therein, is disclosed. The method and system comprises defining one or more calendar publication definitions. The definitions comprise an identifier for the publication and a set of criteria for qualifying calendar events from a calendar database for inclusion in and/or exclusion from the publication. The method and system include activating a publication agent for processing each publication definition by applying the qualifying criteria to the calendar database to create a subset of qualified calendar events from the calendar database to be included in the publication. Furthermore, the method and system include aggregating the qualified calendar events into a single identifiable calendar publication making the calendar publication available.
US09053457B2 System and method for changing categorisation data in relation to spend analysis reports in real time
A computer based system for changing categorization data, in relation to spend analysis reports, in real time, the system comprising a processor unit; and a computer readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor unit comprising a client side processing means adapted to transmit a user generated request for change, in real time and a server side processing means adapted to receive said transmitted requested change, in real time, for effecting said requested change.
US09053452B2 Supply ordering system and method
A system and method for ordering supplies, includes a portable barcode scanner configured to output data according to at least one of an HID, CDC or SPP protocol. A mobile phone device incapable of recognizing and parsing data when the data is configured according to the HID, CDC or SPP protocol is connected to the scanner using a communication connection. A scanner adapter application on the mobile phone device, which receives the output data comprising order data, is configured to parse the order data and pass it to an upload application having a current data field that receives at least part of the order data. A listener server configured to receive the at least part of the order data from the upload application processes the order information into an electronic order, and sends the electronic order to a vendor server.
US09053451B2 System and method for operating a product return system
A system and method for operating a product return system. One or more electronic devices are received from a carrier at a return provider. A determination is made whether the one or more electronic devices include customer personal information. The one or more electronic devices are quarantined in response to determining the one or more electronic devices include CPI. The one or more electronic devices are processed in response to determining the CPI has been removed.
US09053449B2 Using structured communications to quantify social skills
Embodiments for using structured communications to quantify social skills and social behavioral factors. Communications between at least two devices are intercepted and/or relayed by a computer system wherein a portion of the communications correspond to an audible source and wherein the forwarding or processing of communications is based on a combination of historical, contextual and/or commanded information derived from current and past communications by the computer system. Primary statistics are measured based on the communications and contextual information. Secondary statistics are derived related to a user wherein the secondary statistics quantify social skills and behavioral factors of the user in one or more dimensions against one or more profiles or roles.
US09053448B2 Method for systematic modeling and evaluation of application flows
A system and method for modeling and evaluating resource requirements of services is disclosed. The system and method in one aspect enable describing an application session in a software model, for example, as a sequence of events in a sequence diagram, annotating the sequence diagram with information and using the sequence diagram and the information to create a mathematical model such as a Markov model that represents the application session. Once in Markov form the service can be analyzed. The system may include a user interface for allowing a user to enter annotations to the sequence diagram.
US09053446B2 Dynamically quantifying the demand of each software component of each software stack deployed in the cloud environment
A method, system and computer program product for dynamically quantifying a demand for the software components deployed in a cloud environment. An administrative server generates a table mapping the software levels of the software components of the deployed software stacks with the number of instances of the deployed software stacks tracked over a period of time. The depth weight based on subtracting a depth index (zero-based) from a depth size is calculated for each software component, where a depth index refers to the software level of the software component in question and a depth size refers to the number of software levels for the software stack bearing the software component in question. A metric used in quantifying the demand for the software component (“popularity index”) is then determined for each software component based on the number of deployed instances and the depth weight for that software component.
US09053441B2 Systems and methods for regulatory compliance with qualified systems
Disclosed are systems and methods for facilitating compliance with regulatory requirements concerning systems that must be qualified prior to use. In one embodiment, a qualified system is provided. The qualified system includes a qualified server and a qualified software application. The qualified system is located in a controlled environment specified and controlled by an application service provider. A qualified workstation is provided at the point of use. The qualified workstation and qualified system are configured to communicate with each other via a public computer network. The qualified system is substantially qualified before a specific customer is identified. Other embodiments of the invention pertain to methods of facilitating regulatory compliance. An exemplary method involves qualifying a system based on a generic functional requirement specification before identifying a specific customer for the system. After the customer is identified, additional qualification may be performed to customize the system to the customer's specific needs.
US09053432B2 Waveform mapping technique and process for tracking and estimating evolution of semantic networks
In certain embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes accessing first and second data associated with a semantic network, the first data indicating a first plurality of nodes within the semantic network and a first plurality of relationships between the first plurality of nodes at a first time, and the second data indicating a second plurality of nodes within the semantic network and a second plurality of relationships between the second plurality of nodes at a second time. The method further includes generating a first waveform from the first data and a second waveform from the second data. The waveforms indicate an activity level of each of the nodes within the semantic network. The method further includes analyzing the semantic network using the generated first and second waveforms.
US09053429B2 Mapping neural dynamics of a neural model on to a coarsely grained look-up table
Embodiments of the invention relate to mapping neural dynamics of a neural model on to a lookup table. One embodiment comprises defining a phase plane for a neural model. The phase plane represents neural dynamics of the neural model. The phase plane is coarsely sampled to obtain state transition information for multiple neuronal states. The state transition information is mapped on to a lookup table.
US09053428B2 Method and apparatus of robust neural temporal coding, learning and cell recruitments for memory using oscillation
Certain aspects of the present disclosure support a technique for robust neural temporal coding, learning and cell recruitments for memory using oscillations. Methods are proposed for distinguishing temporal patterns and, in contrast to other “temporal pattern” methods, not merely coincidence of inputs or order of inputs. Moreover, the present disclosure propose practical methods that are biologically-inspired/consistent but reduced in complexity and capable of coding, decoding, recognizing, and learning temporal spike signal patterns. In this disclosure, extensions are proposed to a scalable temporal neural model for robustness, confidence or integrity coding, and recruitment of cells for efficient temporal pattern memory.
US09053427B1 Validity rating-based priority-based fact checking method and system
An efficient fact checking system analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The efficient fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information efficiently and/or provides a status of the information.
US09053424B1 Learning mechanism for recommended reordering of elements based on demographic information
This disclosure relates to relates to systems and methods that facilitate generating an ordered list of a set of elements based upon user demographics or granular reordering of an ordered list of elements over a subset size based upon demographic information to increase likelihood of selection of at least one element of the set of elements.
US09053419B2 Method and system for recording recommended content using clustering
A method and system for storing push content includes a user device having a memory and a viewer tracking module generating a viewed content history for content corresponding to viewed content at the user device. A recommendation recording module compares the viewed content history and push content and stores at least one push content at the user device in response comparing to form a recorded content push list. A display displays the recorded content push list corresponding to the content stored in the user device.
US09053418B2 System and method for identifying one or more resumes based on a search query using weighted formal concept analysis
A system for identifying one or more resumes from a set of resumes matches a search query using a resume identifying tool is provided. The system includes a memory unit that stores a database and a set of modules, a display unit, and a processor. The set of modules includes (a) a keyword extraction module extracts at least one keyword from the search query, (b) a disambiguation module disambiguates the at least one keyword based on weighted formal concept analysis, and (c) and a resume identification module identifies the one or more resumes by matching (i) the at least one keyword associated with the search query, and (ii) at least one category associated with the at least one keyword with (i) at least one disambiguated keyword associated with each resume of the set of resumes, and (ii) at least one category associated with the at least one disambiguated keyword.
US09053411B2 System and method for transferring documents
Mobile devices enable users to access data and documents in a convenient portable format. The disclosed method and system enables documents to be transferred/moved onto a mobile device for review or reference by making the transfer simple and straight forward so that it is easy for non-technically literate users (e.g. administrative assistant putting documents on their executive's mobile device). From a sender perspective the transfer mechanism can work whether the mobile device is on a local network (relative to the sender) or on a remote network when the sender does not know the actual location of the mobile device.
US09053407B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
In image processing, it is possible to suppress density fluctuation and keep graininess low as well as obtain a good balance of the processing load. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating two-pass multi-pass printing data, divided multi-valued data that is common to the two passes is generated in addition to the divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data for each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, a process of generating common data by the aforementioned data division, or a process of performing quantization first without dividing the multi-valued data and then dividing the quantized 2-pass data is selectively performed according to the printing position on printing medium.
US09053404B2 Laser-ablating mechanical and security features for security documents
Channels may be formed in the inlay substrate of a transponder, such as by laser ablation, and the antenna wire may subsequently be laid in the channels. Laying the wire in a channel ensures that it substantially fully embedded in the substrate, thereby eliminating a need for pressing the wire into the substrate. The channels may be tapered, or profiled, to enhance adhesion of a self-bonding wire. A recess for the chip module can also be formed using laser ablation, and insulation may be removed from end portions of the antenna wire using laser ablation. Laser ablation may also be used to create various mechanical and security features.
US09053390B2 Automated inspection scenario generation
Methods and systems for determining inspection scenarios without input from a user are presented. Inspection scenarios include at least one acquisition mode, defect detection parameter values, and classification parameter values. In one example, a number of defect events are determined by a hot inspection of a wafer surface. The defect events are classified and attributes associated with each defect event are identified. The defect events are labeled with this information. Based on the identified attributes and classification, inspection scenarios are determined. The inspection scenarios are solutions in a mathematical space formed by the identified attributes. In some examples, a plurality of inspection scenarios are determined and a desired inspection scenario is selected from the plurality based on the number of defects of interest and the number of nuisance events captured by the selected inspection scenario.
US09053383B2 Recognizing apparatus and method, program, and recording medium
A predetermined feature point obtained from an input image is extracted. An image that indicates a locus specifying a predetermined graphic included in the input image and corresponds to a feature point is acquired using a Hough transform. A recognition target object is detected from an input image, based on a plurality of feature quantities, using an identifier generated by statistical learning using the plurality of feature quantities obtained from a locus image obtained based on a learning image including the recognition target object and a locus image obtained based on a learning image including no recognition target object.
US09053382B2 Robust image based edge detection
The invention relates to a method for detecting an edge of an object in a two dimensional image resulting from rendering a three dimensional object in a three dimensional computer graphic the method detects the edge of the object by means of the Angles of the PSij vectors in which P is a point at a first pixel in a screen and Sij are neighboring points that neighboring to the first pixel.
US09053381B2 Interaction system and motion detection method
A motion detection method applied in an interaction system is provided. The method has the following steps of: retrieving a plurality of images; recognizing a target object from the retrieved images; calculating a first integral value of a position offset value of the target object along a first direction from the retrieved images; determining whether the calculated first integral value is larger than a first predetermined threshold value; and determining the target object as moving when the calculated first integral value is larger than the first predetermined threshold value.
US09053379B2 Single arch portal scanner and method of scanning
A scanning system for data reading, and related methods of use, the scanning system including a portal scanner and a conveyor for transporting items. The scanner includes a generally U-shaped scanner housing and a plurality of data readers arranged within the scanner housing for reading data on various surfaces of an item being transported through the portal scanner. The scanning system may also include a bottom scanner positioned beneath the conveyor, the bottom scanner having a view volume directed through a gap in the conveyor for reading a bottom surface of the item through the gap as the item passes over the gap. In some embodiments, the scanning system may further include one or more light curtains configured for determining a height dimension of the item and/or a position of the item.
US09053378B1 Laser barcode scanner
The present laser barcode scanner employs (i) a simplified scan mechanism made from a semi-flexible substrate that eliminates complicated optical assemblies, (ii) a layout with location features eliminating the need for special alignment, and (iii) a layout with all surface mounted devices on a single layer eliminating the need for extra soldering. Together these strategies, when used with a method of mitigating stray-light by separating light paths with a circuit board, combine to achieve a laser barcode scanner of unique simplicity and performance.
US09053374B2 Biometric training and matching engine
The present disclosure concerns a method of identifying a biometric record of an individual in a database (108) having a plurality of biometric records, the method involving: during a training phase: applying by a processing device a matching operation to determine scores for a similarity between at least one training biometric sample of each of a plurality of training records and at least one probe sample; based on said scores, determining a threshold value (STH,MTH); and during an identification phase: evaluating at least one reference biometric sample of each of the records of said database to determine a parameter value for each record; selecting a subset of said records by comparing each of said parameter values with said threshold value; and applying a matching operation to the selected records to determine whether an input biometric sample matches a reference biometric sample of one of said selected records.
US09053372B2 Road marking detection and recognition
A system and method are disclosed for detecting road marking in a video using learned road marking templates. The system comprises a template learning module configured to learn the feature-based road marking templates from a set of training images. The template learning module is configured to rectify each training image, detect multiple regions of interest, and for each detected region of interest, detect multiple key points. The template learning module extracts feature vectors for the detected key points and builds the road marking templates from the feature vectors. The system also includes a road marking detection module for detecting road markings in a video at runtime using the learned road marking templates. During runtime, these templates are matched using a two-step process of first selecting promising feature matches and subsequently performing a structural matching to account for the shape of the road markings.
US09053370B2 Digital signature apparatus and method
A digital signature apparatus including, a converting unit that converts, based on a first video image frame being independently replayable, a predicted frame being not independently replayable into a second video image frame being independently replayable, an encoding unit that encodes the first or second video image frame into an image data according to an image format, a transfer unit that transfers, when receiving the predicted frame, the predicted frame to the converting unit, and transfers, when receiving the first or second video image frame, the received video image frame to the encoding unit, and a digest information generating unit that generates a digest information for each of image data encoded by the encoding unit.
US09053369B2 Connector with articulating actuator
An electrical connector comprises a housing with a cage, a plurality of terminals and a card ejecting mechanism. The cage and the housing are assembled and together define a slot that an electronic card can move in and out along an inserting direction. The card ejecting mechanism is provided to the slot and adjacent to a side wall defining the slot and can move back and forth between a work position and a ejecting position along the inserting direction. The card ejecting mechanism comprises a driving rod and a controlling rod pivotally connected to the driving rod. When the card ejecting mechanism is positioned in the work position the majority of the controlling rod is positioned in the slot and cannot pivot outwardly and when the card ejecting mechanism is positioned in the ejecting position then the controlling rod can pivot outwardly.
US09053366B2 System and method for detecting motion in compressed video
A method and apparatus wherein the method includes the steps of parsing a stream of compressed video, obtaining macroblock size information from the parsed stream, computing factors derived from the macroblock size, wherein the factors include a normalized bit size, a bit size ratio and a neighbor score, computing corresponding adaptive threshold values derived from the relative frame characteristics of the compressed video, comparing the factors derived from the macroblock size information with the corresponding adaptive threshold values and detecting motion based upon combinations of the comparisons when the factors exceed the threshold value.
US09053363B1 Object identification in visual media
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining the identity of an object in an image where the object in the image is in a disassembled state. In one aspect, a method includes accessing previous interactive sessions, each of the interactive sessions including images of a reference object in one or more disassembled states and each of the interactive sessions specifying an identity of the reference object in an assembled state; processing an image of a first object to identify characteristics of the first object, the first object being in a disassembled state in the image; comparing the image of the first object in the disassembled state to images of reference objects in disassembled states; and determining an identity of the first object based on the comparison and the identities of the reference objects in assembled states specified in the interactive sessions.
US09053361B2 Identifying regions of text to merge in a natural image or video frame
In several aspects of described embodiments, an electronic device and method use a camera to capture an image or a frame of video of an environment outside the electronic device followed by identification of blocks of regions in the image. Each block that contains a region is checked, as to whether a test for presence of a line of pixels is met. When the test is met for a block, that block is identified as pixel-line-present. Pixel-line-present blocks are used to identify blocks that are adjacent. One or more adjacent block(s) may be merged with a pixel-line-present block when one or more rules are found to be satisfied, resulting in a merged block. The merged block is then subject to the above-described test, to verify presence of a line of pixels therein, and when the test is satisfied the merged block is processed normally, e.g. classified as text or non-text.
US09053353B2 Image classification of germination potential of somatic embryos
The present invention is directed towards methods for the classification of plant embryos by the application of one or more classification algorithms to analyze digitized images and absorption, transmittance, or reflectance spectra. The methods are generally applicable and emphasize the importance of acquiring and using as much image and absorption, transmittance, or reflectance spectral information as possible, based on objective criteria. The present invention allows automated selection of embryos most suitable for further culture and rejection of those seen as less suitable.
US09053350B1 Efficient identification and correction of optical character recognition errors through learning in a multi-engine environment
OCR errors are identified and corrected through learning. An error probability estimator is trained using ground truths to learn error probability estimation. Multiple OCR engines process a text image, and convert it into texts. The error probability estimator compares the outcomes of the multiple OCR engines for mismatches, and determines an error probability for each of the mismatches. If the error probability of a mismatch exceeds an error probability threshold, a suspect is generated and grouped together with similar suspects in a cluster. A question for the cluster is generated and rendered to a human operator for answering. The answer from the human operator is then applied to all suspects in the cluster to correct OCR errors in the resulting text. The answer is also used to further train the error probability estimator.
US09053348B2 Secure cloud computing platform
A secure cloud computing platform. The platform has a pool of secure computing devices such that each can be allocated to a customer as with other computing resources. Each secure computing device may be configured by a customer with a key and software for performing operations on sensitive data. The customer may submit data, defining a job for execution on the platform, as cyphertext. The secure computing device may perform operations on that data, which may include decrypting the data with the key and then executing the software to perform an operation on cleartext data. This operation, and the data on which it is performed, though in cleartext, may be inaccessible to the operator of the cloud computing platform. The device may operate according to a secure protocol under which the software is validated before loading and the device is provisioned with a key shared with the customer.
US09053343B1 Token-based debugging of access control policies
Methods and systems for allowing system administrators to effectively debug access control issues experience by users without comprising security. In some embodiment, when a user's request to access services provided by a service provider is denied, the user may be issued a token that encodes some of debugging information useful for determining the cause of the denial of access. The debugging information may be encoded such that it is inaccessible to the user. Subsequently, the user may give the token to an administrator. The administrator may submit the token to the service provider, which may decode the token and provide the administrator access to debugging information that is useful for debugging access control policies causing the denial of access.
US09053339B2 System and method for secure storage of virtual machines
A virtual file system is described that is implemented in a virtualization platform as a stackable file system layer that intercepts file operations between a hypervisor and a physical file system. The virtual file system encrypts (at least in part) VM files to be stored, organizes the encrypted VM files into VM sets, and then maps and stores the encrypted VM sets into storage pools. Storage and access to files within the VM sets is controlled through the use of administrator-determined policies governing storage, security, access control, authentication, and auditing. The system and method described herein allow a seamless integration between a data center (e.g., a private cloud) and computing resources served across the internet and supported by cloud service providers (e.g., public clouds) while ensuring that the security needs of customers and cloud service providers are met.
US09053334B2 Method and a technical equipment for controlling metadata access
A method for controlling access to metadata or a property in metadata of an electronic object comprises receiving a request from an identified user to access metadata of an electronic object; determining one or more pseudo-users that are allowed to access the requested metadata of the electronic object and their corresponding access modes; retrieving at least one person identity by utilizing at least one property value of one or more properties of the electronic object, which one or more properties correspond to the determined one or more pseudo-users; comparing the identity of the requesting identified user to the retrieved person identities, and if there is a match; providing to the requesting identified user an access to selected properties in the metadata, which selected properties are determined according to the access mode. The invention also relates to a method for defining access to metadata of an electronic object.
US09053331B2 Securisation of a remote executable code using a footprint of the computer recipient
Method of securing exchanges between two electronic devices, by using an imprint of at least one of the two devices. This imprint is obtained on the basis of all or part of the electronic components of which this device is composed. This imprint will serve, either to protect the confidentiality of the data exchanged, or to attest to the identity of the device issuing the data.
US09053327B2 Method and system for distributed control of user privacy preferences
A system and method for managing user data preferences across multiple online sites and applications. A privacy center can be configured to include a user interface and an application programming interface (API). The user interface can be employed to set preferences for specific data types in order to handle the data types with a different level of privacy than other similar data type by the user. The API permits a plurality of sites to discover user's preferences, field names, and categories of data recognized by the site. The API adds new data fields to accommodate future changes in both technology and in legal restrictions on data usage. An address with respect to the API and the user interface along with a token can be entered when installing an application and the application downloads the preferences and applies them based on requirement.
US09053301B2 Method for logging in to computer, information processing apparatus and computer-readable information recording medium
In a method for logging in to a computer, a log-in display is carried out on a terminal unit when the terminal unit is connected to a system management apparatus. A display is carried out to urge an operator to carry out a physical operation when a log-in starting operation is carried out to the terminal unit in response to the log-in display. An operation detection signal is sent when detecting the physical operation carried out to an operating panel. The computer enters a logged-in state when the operation detection signal is detected.
US09053294B2 Password generation and recall
The invention provides the ability to produce long, complex passwords from simple, easy to recall, pictorial selections. The invention features a picture based interface unit, linked to a series of individual process modules. Selecting images contained in the image selection module generates a reference pointer corresponding to coordinates in the reference pointer of the control module which thereby generates a rotor sequence that is passed to the password generator module containing ASCII characters groups. The character groups are processed according to the rotor sequence contents to produce a password that is displayed in a display module for editing and/or use.
US09053292B2 Processor executing super instruction matrix with register file configurable for single or multiple threads operations
A processor has a register file configurable for different execution modes. In one mode the multiple register segments form a single register file where each register segment stores a Multiple Instructions Multiple Data (MIMD) super instruction matrix issuing four simultaneous instruction matrices where each individual instruction within each of the four simultaneous instruction matrices is a scalar or Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD). Another execution mode has the multiple register segments forming individual independent register tiles with individual register state to support simultaneous processing of separate threads, where each instruction matrix is associated with a separate thread and a separate register file segment. Another execution mode has the multiple register segments forming a single thread register file, where register segments are duplicated in multiple segments of the register file to store the results of simultaneously executed non-dependent instruction matrices that are dynamically issued from a single thread instruction sequence.
US09053288B1 Layout checking system for multiple-patterning group assignment constraints
A method includes extracting multiple-patterning group assignment information of one or more layout patterns from a layout design. The layout design corresponds to a circuit design, and the one or more layout patterns corresponding to a node of the circuit design. Whether the extracted multiple-patterning group assignment information is consistent with a set of multiple-patterning group assignment constraints of the node is determined by a hardware processor.
US09053281B2 Dual-structure clock tree synthesis (CTS)
Dual-structure clock tree synthesis (CTS) is described. Some embodiments can construct a set of upper-level clock trees, wherein each leaf of each upper-level clock tree is a root of a lower-level clock tree. Each upper-level clock tree can be optimized to reduce an impact of on-chip-variation and/or cross-corner variation on clock skew. Next, for each leaf of each upper-level clock tree, the embodiments can construct a lower-level clock tree to distribute a clock signal from the leaf of the upper-level clock tree to a set of clock sinks. The lower-level clock tree can be optimized to reduce latency, power consumption, and/or area.
US09053275B2 Techniques for facilitating electrical design of an energy generation system
Systems and methods for facilitating the electrical design of an energy generation system. In one embodiment, a method is provided that can comprise receiving, by a computer system from a user, first information pertaining to an energy generation system to be installed at a customer site. The method can further comprise determining an electrical design for installing the energy generation system at the customer site, where the determining is based on the first information, second information retrieved from one or more external data sources, an electrical data model, and a decision tree that models the electrical design process. An installation diagram can then be generated that illustrates the determined electrical design.
US09053273B2 IC delaying flip-flop output partial clock cycle for equalizing current
Apparatuses and methods for suppressing power supply noise harmonics are disclosed. A method includes selecting at least one flip-flop of a plurality of data paths of an integrated circuit based on a slack associated with the at least one flip-flop. The method also includes providing at least one delay circuit at an output of at least one flip-flop. The at least one delay circuit is configured to delay the output of the at least one flip-flop by a threshold clock cycle for managing current at a positive edge of a clock input and current at a negative edge of the clock input, thereby suppressing power supply noise harmonics of the integrated circuit.
US09053272B2 Method and apparatus of hardware acceleration of EDA tools for a programmable logic device
Disclosed is a hardware accelerator for development engineering processes for a programmable logic device, such as for an FPGA.
US09053270B1 Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for synchronous hierarchical implementation of electronic circuit designs
Various embodiments use connectivity information or model(s), design attribute(s), and system intelligence layer(s) to make lower blocks at lower levels aware of changes made in other blocks at same or different levels to implement the design at different levels synchronously. Budgeting is performed for the design to distribute budgets to respective blocks in the design. The various budgets may be borrowed from one or more blocks and lent to a block in order for this block to meet closure requirements such that a total number of iterations of the reassembly process, which integrates lower level blocks into top level design, may be reduced or completely eliminated. The design attribute(s) or the connectivity model(s) or information is updated upon the identification of changes to provide the latest information or data for properly closing a design.
US09053257B2 Voltage-aware signal path synchronization
An integrated circuit (IC) generates clock delay control signals based on its operational voltage level. The clock delay control signals are routed to corresponding clock gating logic that controls the synchronous capturing of the outputs of corresponding signal paths. The clock gating logic delays the clock signal used by the corresponding flip-flop in response to an assertion of the corresponding received clock delay control. Thus, the clock signal used to capture the outputs of certain signal paths may be delayed under certain voltage conditions. This selective clock path delay for different signal paths enables the IC to use a higher clock frequency, or more reliably latch the path outputs at a certain clock frequency, even though different signal paths may exhibit different relative path delays under different operating voltage conditions.
US09053256B2 Adjustable golf club and system and associated golf club heads and shafts
In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs or golf club components incorporating adjustment members that permit ready adjustability of golf club parameters and/or interchangeability of golf club components to change a golf club configuration, and methods for providing golf clubs. According to aspects of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of a golf club parameter to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics. According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustment member may be utilized to allow the adjustability of two golf club parameters independently to change a golf club configuration, while ensuring there is substantially no change to other club or club head variables, parameters or characteristics.
US09053249B2 Removable memory cartridge and docking station compatible with media drive expansion slots
A system for data storage including a removable memory element having a data storage device, and a docking station in communication with a host device and configured for receiving the removable memory cartridge so as to put the host system in communication with the data storage device.
US09053248B2 SRAM handshake
Various exemplary embodiments relate to an integrated circuit including: a RF interface; a wired interface connectable to a host; a volatile memory having a first block and a last block configured to store data transferred between the RF interface and the wired interface; and a memory controller configured to detect when the last block of the volatile memory has been written and to indicate that the volatile memory is ready to read. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a tag including: determining that data is to be received on the first interface; blocking the second interface; writing data from the first interface to a volatile memory; detecting that the last block of the volatile memory has been written; unblocking the second interface; indicating that data is available for reading; blocking the first interface; and reading data from the volatile memory to the second interface.
US09053241B2 Scripting application with role identification
In at least some embodiments, a computer system includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor and storing a scripting application. The scripting application, when executed, is configured to selectively record user actions on user interface (UI) objects of a browser hosted application based on identification of at least one role for each UI object.
US09053237B2 Test script generation
A test script generation system may generate end-to-end test scripts to test a software application. A workflow generator may generate recommendations of suggested modules corresponding to domain-specific reference application maps to include in a workflow. A visual representation of the workflow may be generated and provide an indication of suggested modules that have not been included in the workflow. A script generator may generate the end-to-end test scripts based on the workflow.
US09053233B2 Method and device for controlling debug event resources
Software executed at a data processor unit includes a software debugger. The software debugger can be assigned responsibility for servicing a debug event, and be authorized to allow software control of debug event resources associated with the debug event. An indicator, when asserted, prevents a authorized request by software to control a debug event resource.
US09053231B2 Systems and methods for analyzing operations in a multi-tenant database system environment
A system and method for analyzing operations in a multi-tenant database system environment is provided. The system may include a database storing tenant application data and common application data, the tenant application data and common application data controlling a creation, read, update, deletion or undeletion of an object in the multi-tenant database system environment. The system may further include a processor to analyze the tenant application data and common application data to identify therein where the object is being modified, and generate a report identifying potential errors or side effects which may affect the object based upon the analyzed tenant application data and common application data.
US09053229B2 Integrating compiler warnings into a debug session
Integrating compiler warnings into a debug session including: receiving, by a debugger for a debug session of a debuggee from a compiler, compiled source code for execution and compiler warning data describing one or more compiler warnings generated at compile time of the debuggee, each compiler warning resulting from a source code variable statement in the debuggee source code; receiving, by the debugger, a request to evaluate a variable; determining, from the compiler warning data, whether evaluating the variable is dependent upon a source code variable statement resulting in a compiler warning; and, if evaluating the variable is dependent upon a source code variable statement resulting in a compiler warning, returning, by the debugger responsive to the request along with a result of the evaluation, a compiler warning indicator.
US09053223B2 Modular refrigeration unit health monitoring
A method for modular refrigeration unit (MRU) health monitoring includes receiving log data on a log data input from the MRU by a MRU health monitor, the log data comprising a plurality of datapoints, each of the plurality of datapoints comprising a position of a control valve of the MRU and a corresponding time; determining by the MRU health monitor a plurality of MRU parameters from the log data; determining a plurality of MRU health flags based on the MRU parameters; adding the plurality of MRU health flags to determine an MRU health score; determining whether the MRU health score is higher than a replacement threshold; and indicating replacement of the MRU in the event the MRU health score is higher than the replacement threshold.
US09053219B2 Patient monitoring system and method
A patient monitoring system is disclosed herein. The patient monitoring system includes a processor configured to receive CDS search data, and to identify relevant CDS options based on the search data. The patient monitoring system also includes a display operatively connected to the processor. The display is configured to convey the relevant CDS options.
US09053218B2 Data transmission capture in support of medication preparation
A method and software interface enables selective processing of data transmissions containing one or more medication orders intended for a pharmacy. Data transmissions are monitored and parsed for prescribed information which is utilized to populate a prescribed data structure. The data structure and parsing rules can be associated with a specific source that can be determined from the data transmission. The parsed data is tested against an order database to determine suitability for automated handling. If suitable, the medication preparation system prepares the medications identified by the data. Those portions of the data that are not suited for automated handling are released (e.g., from the parser). Further verification can be performed by determining the source of the data transmission and verifying it as a valid source. Data transmissions can be monitored over a network, within a network component, or in cooperation with another software program.
US09053205B2 Automated scrolling of browser content and automated activation of browser links
An automatic scrolling mechanism converts an information repository into media that can actively present and “push” information to the users/viewers while retaining existing “pull” and interactivity functions. Automatic scrolling can be controlled by placing a cursor on control icons, such as boxes, lines, and arrow clusters. While the cursor is on an icon, automatic scrolling brings into view content that extends beyond the field of view. The scrolled content is moved into the field of view of the display window in a predetermined direction designated by the icon. Sub-windows are also designed to be independently and automatically scrolled or floated with respect the main window. Links created in an information repository may be automatically activated to retrieve the linked information, and to automatically present and scroll the information. As the content is automatically scrolled, the repository is pushed and the user is allured to further navigate through the repository.
US09053199B2 Uniquely identifying script files by appending a unique identifier to a URL
Described herein are techniques related to uniquely identifying script files. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims. A script file repository includes one or more script files that have unique identifiers and optionally version numbers. A computing device accesses a web document that references a script file using the unique identifier/version number.
US09053195B2 Method and system for user and reference ranking in a database
A method and system for user and reference ranking in a database or index. Users may provide reference anchors to references and those may be rated by other users. References may be rated by users and the feedback of those ratings may dynamically alter a prior user's score or ranking. The weight of a user's rating thereafter may be influenced by his score or ranking. Users or the system may create categories, which may be cross-referenced, and users may provide ratings of those categories as well. Users may also suggest search fields for categories. Feedback ratings for the search fields and categories may also affect a user's score or ranking.
US09053192B2 Minimization of surprisal context data through application of customized surprisal context filters
A method, system, and computer program product for minimizing surprisal context data. The method includes the steps of: identifying characteristics of a data event; receiving an input of rank of at least two identified characteristics of the data event; generating a hierarchy of ranked, identified characteristics based on the rank of the identified characteristics of the data event; and comparing the hierarchy of ranked, identified characteristics to a repository of characteristic context patterns. If at least one reference artifact of the characteristic context pattern matches the hierarchy of ranked, identified characteristics, the characteristic context pattern is broken into pieces, storing the pieces that matched the hierarchy. The stored pieces are then combined into a surprisal context filter pattern with context determined to be probabilistically present within a specified degree of certainty in a data input and compared to a data input of data events to detect anomalous events.
US09053184B2 On-demand generation of correlated collections of mashable data from distributed, non-homogeneous data sources
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for the on-demand generation of correlated collections of mashable data from distributed, heterogeneous data sources. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for on-demand generation of correlated collections of mashable data from distributed, heterogeneous data sources is provided. The method includes receiving a request for a data feed from a widget in a mashup rendered in a content browser executing in memory of a computer. The method further includes inspecting a virtual database of data aggregated from different data sources over a computer communications network to locate data requisite to returning the data feed to the widget in the mashup. The method yet further includes querying the data of the virtual database to produce the data feed. Finally, the method includes returning the data feed in the format specified to the widget in the mashup.
US09053183B2 System and method for storing and retrieving non-text-based information
A method for non-text-based identification of a selected item of stored music. The first broad portion of the method focuses on building a music identification database. That process requires capturing a tag of the selected musical item, and processing the tag to develop reference key to the same. Then the tag is stored, together with the reference key and an association to the stored music. The database is built by collecting a multiplicity of tags. The second broad portion of the method is retrieving a desired item of stored music from the database. That process calls for capturing a query tag from a user, and processing the query tag to develop a query key to the same. The query tag is compared to reference keys stored in the database to identify the desired item of stored music.
US09053181B2 Adaptive personalized playback or presentation using count
Methods and apparatus for providing a personalized entertainment experience, which may be customized for each user. A user's playback/presentation history and/or user actions may be captured and associated with each played/presented composition. A target time for playback/presentation of a composition to the user may be determined by using a user's playback/presentation history and/or user actions. A customized sequence of compositions may be automatically generated for each user. The personalized sequence may automatically adapt to changing user actions and preferences over time. In one embodiment, a target time for playback or presentation of a composition to a user, is at least partially based on: a count of playbacks or presentations of the composition to a user, and a time when the composition was previously played or presented to the user.
US09053178B2 Collaborative filtering using evaluation values of contents from users
When there are no evaluation values from a user who has evaluated both contents X and Z, an indirect similarity calculation unit 32 of an arithmetic processing unit 30 of an information processing center 10a indirectly calculates the similarity between the contents X and Z using evaluation values of a content Y whose evaluation value is present from a user who has evaluated both the contents X and Y and whose evaluation value is present from a user who has evaluated both the contents Y and Z. A predicted evaluation value calculation unit 33 calculates a predicted evaluation value from a user who has not evaluated either of the contents X and Z using the similarity between the contents X and Z calculated by the indirect similarity calculation unit 32 and the evaluation values of the contents X and Z. Thus, it is possible to calculate the predicted evaluation values of the contents X and Z which are not directly calculable. Therefore, it becomes possible to further expand the range of contents whose evaluation values are predictable through collaborative filtering.
US09053176B2 Semantically guided report design
Various embodiments of systems and methods for providing a set of placement options to a user when a new report object is requested to be placed in an area of the report are described herein. One or more existing report objects are associated with the area of the report. The set of placement options are determined based on at least one of the following: area type of the area in which the new report object is requested to be placed and a semantic relationship between the new report object and the one or more existing report objects. In one embodiment, the area of the report includes a sub-area. The set of placement options for a sub-area is determined based on the semantic relationship of new report objects and the existing report objects associated with the area and the sub-area.
US09053173B2 Intelligent results related to a portion of a search query
Information may be presented to a user by using a first application to receive a character stream of one or more noncompletion characters. The noncompletion characters indicate that additional characters may be received. The character stream is exchanged with a host that analyzes the character stream to generate results that are responsive to the user's predicted interest. Results are received and displayed so that the user may select one of the results to launch a code segment related to the selected result.
US09053172B2 Medical image processing apparatus, program, and medical apparatus
According to one embodiment, a medical image processing apparatus includes a reception unit, determination unit, dividing unit, processing control unit, and storage processing unit. The reception unit receives first data including supported and unsupported tags, and individual data added to the supported or unsupported tag. The determination unit determines whether a tag included in the first data is supported or not. The dividing unit divides the first data into second data and third data. The processing control unit executes data processing by referring to the second data. The storage processing unit generates fourth data by adding second data to data acquired by the processing.
US09053168B2 Database system and program
The present invention aims to provide a technique enabling an information added by another user to be referenced and enabling the range of the information the user references from a database to be customized. A related information database in which a plurality of elements are accumulated is prepared, and an output setting information in which an information relating to the output of an additional information is associated with each other, in response to the additional writing of the additional information by a certain user to the related information database is stored. The output setting information of the certain user can be changed by the user. A portion of information is extracted from the related information database in accordance with an input of an extraction condition by the user, and the portion of information is visually output according to information relating to the output of the user.
US09053164B2 Method, system, and program product for using analysis views to identify data synchronization problems between databases
The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for identifying data synchronization problems between data in different databases. The method includes: providing first and second databases containing common data; generating a summary of the common data as present in the first database; generating a summary of the common data as present in the second database; determining at least one delta value for the common data between the first and second databases; and generating an analysis view displaying the summary of the common data as present in the first database, the summary of the common data as present in the second database, and the at least one delta value for the common data between the first and second databases.
US09053161B2 Database table format conversion based on user data access patterns in a networked computing environment
An approach for conversion between database formats (e.g., from a relational database format to a hash table or a “big table” database format) based on user data access patterns in a networked computing environment is provided. A first set of database tables having a first format is identified based on a set of access patterns stored in a computer storage device. A second set of database tables having a second database format corresponding to the first set of database tables may then be provided (e.g., accessed, augmented, and/or generated). A mapping between the first set of database tables and the second set of database tables may then be created. A column set may then be generated based on at least one condition of the set of queries. The column set may then be used as a key for the second set of database tables.
US09053157B2 Method and system for identifying job candidates
A method for ranking profile records. The method includes receiving a search request from a user, obtaining a user profile associated with the user, generating a query based on the search request, issuing the query to a profile database, receiving search results in response to the query, wherein the search results comprise a plurality of profile records, and wherein each of the plurality of profile records comprises a plurality of action records and is associated with a potential job candidate, ranking the plurality of profile records using the user profile and a plurality of network scores to obtain ranked profile records, and transmitting the ranked profile records to the user.
US09053155B2 Proxy cache aggregator
A social data aggregator generates entries of action data describing actions taken by users of a social networking system. The entries are archived in a number of remote data hosts, with a portion of the entries stored in an action cache to expedite retrieval. The action cache is modified to include relevant entries of action data by selecting the most relevant entries from proxy data aggregators, which identify sets of entries from remote data hosts coupled to the proxy data aggregators based on the relevance of the entries in the remote data hosts. The relevance of an entry is based on an associated engagement score indicating a likelihood of a user requesting content interacting with a notification based on an entry.
US09053153B2 Inter-query parallelization of constraint checking
A plurality of operations are executed on tables of a database with at least a portion of the operations being executed in parallel. A constraint check is performed for each operation subsequent to its execution to determine whether data stored in the database affected by the operation is valid, during this constraint checking additional operations and/or constraint checks on the same table are allowed to run in parallel. Based on this constraint checking, operations for which the constraint check determines that the data is not valid are invalidated. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US09053150B2 PSM compiler optimizer and method for processing bulk DML
A PSM complier optimizer analyzes a pattern of the PSM program to generate instruction codes, which will be subjected to a bulk operation and makes the instruction codes for the bulk operation in a form of an array of bind parameters to perform a bulk cursor. Accordingly, the bulk DML processing improves the performance of the PSM program.
US09053145B2 Data analysis based on data linking elements
A computer controlled method for automatically segmenting an ensemble of data. The method starts by acquiring an ensemble of data and data is segmented by identifying a first subset of sequences of Linking Data Elements based on a repository of Linking Data Elements. A second subset of sequences of Information Carrying Data Elements is identified, wherein the sequences are linked by the Linking Data Elements. The subsets are provided in a structured format.
US09053135B2 Device level performance monitoring and analysis
Methods relating to device level performance monitoring and analysis include accessing device data including a listing of network devices, with each network device having a device profile. The methods further include accessing service reports, with each report related to a service issue. A set of devices profiles from the listing of network devices may be identified based on a particular device being associated with a particular service issue. The method further includes determining a set of problem prone device profiles from the set of devices profiles. A system including at least one database and a report processor may be configured to associate device data with service reports, identify service issue trends from service reports, identify at least one at risk device susceptible to future service issues related to service issue trends, and provide preventative support to the identified at least one at risk device.
US09053132B2 System, method and computer program product for providing a team object in association with an object
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object. These mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object can allow for centralized management of a team in association with an object. For example, members of the team may be automatically identified (e.g. without manual intervention) for receiving notifications in association with an object.
US09053128B2 Assertion management method and apparatus, and reasoning apparatus including the assertion management apparatus
An assertion management method includes collecting a SameAs assertion from a plurality of assertions; searching the plurality of assertions for any assertion having a first individual of the SameAs assertion as an instance; and creating a new assertion having a second individual of the SameAs assertion as an instance from each found assertion.
US09053126B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and recording medium
A disclosed information processing apparatus is connected to an information management apparatus via a network. The information processing apparatus includes a data storage unit configured to store data that specifies the information management apparatus as an access destination, and a synchronization controller unit configured to periodically compare a list of data stored in the data storage unit and a list of data stored in the information management apparatus, transmit data stored only in the data storage unit to the information management apparatus, and acquire data stored only in the information management apparatus from the information management apparatus and store the acquired data in the data storage unit.
US09053122B2 Real-time identification of data candidates for classification based compression
Identification of data candidates for data processing is performed in real time by a processor device in a computing environment. Data candidates are sampled for performing a classification-based compression upon the data candidates. A heuristic is computed on a randomly selected data sample from the data candidate for determining if the data candidate may benefit from the classification-based compression. A decision is provided for approving the classification-based compression on the data candidates according to the heuristic.
US09053115B1 Query image search
Methods, systems and apparatus for identifying result images for a query image. One or more labels that are associated with the query image are obtained. Candidate images matching the query labels are identified. Visual similarity scores are generated for the candidate images. Each visual similarity score represents the visual similarity of a respective candidate image to the query image. Relevance scores are generated for each of the candidate images based on the visual similarity scores. Each relevance score represents a measure of relevance of the respective candidate images to the query image. The candidate images are ranked based on the relevance scores, a highest ranking subset of the candidate images being identified as result images and referenced by image search results. The result images can be candidate images that satisfy a similarity condition relative to the query image and other result images.
US09053114B1 Extensible data path
Embodiments are directed towards storing data in a storage system using an extensible data path. Data files may be provided to a caching tier in a storage system. If data files remain in the caching tier longer than a time limit, those data files may be removed from the caching tier and provided to a processing pipeline. The processing pipeline may be coupled to a capacity tier of the storage system. Filters to include in the processing pipeline may be determined based on the type of the data files. The data files may be updated based on applying each filter, such that each update corresponding to each filter may be cumulatively applied to each data file. Each updated data file may be stored in the capacity tier of the storage system after each filter in the processing pipeline has been applied.
US09053102B2 Generation of synthetic context frameworks for dimensionally constrained hierarchical synthetic context-based objects
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product derives and utilizes a context object to generate a synthetic context-based object. A context object for a non-contextual data object is derived by contextually searching a document that contains multiple instances of the non-contextual data object. The non-contextual data object is associated with the derived context object to define a synthetic context-based object, where the non-contextual data object ambiguously relates to multiple subject-matters, and where the context object provides a context that identifies a specific subject-matter, from the multiple subject-matters, of the non-contextual data object. The synthetic context-based object is then associated with at least one specific data store, which includes data that is associated with data contained in the non-contextual data object and the context object. A dimensionally constrained hierarchical synthetic context-based object library for multiple synthetic context-based objects is then constructed for handling requests for data stores.
US09053095B2 Speech morphing communication system
A communication system is described that includes an automatic speech recognizer configured to receive a speech signal and to convert the speech signal into a text sequence and includes a speech analyzer configured to receive the translator speech signal and to convert the translator speech signal into a text sequence. The speech analyzer configured to receive the translator signal. The speech analyzer configured to extract paralinguistic characteristics from the translator speech signal. The communication system includes a voice analyzer configured to receive a speech input signal. The voice analyzer configured to generate one or more phonemes based on the speech input signal. And, a speech output device coupled with the automatic speech recognizer, the speech analyzer, and the voice analyzer. The speech output device configured to convert the text sequence into an output speech signal based on the extracted paralinguistic characteristics and based on the one or more phonemes.
US09053094B2 Speech morphing communication system
A communication system is described. The communication system including an automatic speech recognizer configured to receive a speech signal and to convert the speech signal into a text sequence. The communication also including a speech analyzer configured to receive the speech signal. The speech analyzer configured to extract paralinguistic characteristics from the speech signal. In addition, the communication system includes a speech output device coupled with the automatic speech recognizer and the speech analyzer. The speech output device configured to convert the text sequence into an output speech signal based on the extracted paralinguistic characteristics.
US09053089B2 Part-of-speech tagging using latent analogy
Methods and apparatuses to assign part-of-speech tags to words are described. An input sequence of words is received. A global fabric of a corpus having training sequences of words may be analyzed in a vector space. A global semantic information associated with the input sequence of words may be extracted based on the analyzing. A part-of-speech tag may be assigned to a word of the input sequence based on POS tags from pertinent words in relevant training sequences identified using the global semantic information. The input sequence may be mapped into a vector space. A neighborhood associated with the input sequence may be formed in the vector space wherein the neighborhood represents one or more training sequences that are globally relevant to the input sequence.
US09053085B2 Electronic document source ingestion for natural language processing systems
The data store for a natural-language computing system may include information that originates from a plurality of different data sources—e.g., journals, websites, magazines, reference books, and the like. In one embodiment, the information or text from the data sources are converted into a single, shared format and stored as objects in a data store. In order to ingest the different documents with their respective formats, a natural language processing system may perform preprocessing to change the different formats into a normalized format. When a new text document is received, the text may be correlated to a particular properties file which includes instructions specifying how the preprocessor should interpret the received text. Based on these instructions, a preprocessor identifies relevant portions of the text document and assigns these portions to formatting elements in the normalized format. The text may then be stored in the objects based on this assignment.
US09053083B2 Interaction between web gadgets and spreadsheets
Gadgets integrate with spreadsheets and the spreadsheet calculation engine. A gadget is bound to a range of cells (one or more) within a sheet. When one or more of the cells of the bound range is accessed (e.g. selected, hovered over, edited, deleted, added), the gadget is notified. The gadget may use this information for updating a display rendered by the gadget and/or performing some other action. The gadget uses an Application Programming Interface (API) to create the binding, communicate with the spreadsheet, and perform actions in the spreadsheet. The gadget is a Named Item object within the spreadsheet such that the gadget may be viewed/displayed differently from other objects. Out of date requests from the gadget are attempted to be detected and prevented from being processed such that the gadget is not acting on the latest data.
US09053079B2 Techniques to manage collaborative documents
Techniques to manage collaborative documents are described. An application program may comprise a document render component to render a first document instance of a collaborative document, a document share component to receive a document update list comprising a set of change records for a second document instance of the collaborative document, and modify properties of one or more constructs for the first document instance based on the change records to form a merged document instance of the collaborative document, and an undo manager component to manage a local undo stack for the first document instance, the local undo stack comprising a set of undo records, and determine whether to preserve one or more of the undo records of the local undo stack after formation of the merged document instance based on one or more of the change records. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09053075B2 Storage control device and method for controlling storages
A processor copies first information stored in a first storage to a backup volume. The processor stores management information when a first piece of the first information is updated to second information after the copy. The processor executes, when a failure occurs in the first storage, first restoration based on the management information and reference information stored in reference storages other than the first storage. The first restoration restores the second information to a spare storage. The processor executes second restoration based on the management information and the reference information. The second restoration restores third information to the spare storage. The processor stops the second restoration when a failure occurs in a second storage while the second restoration is being executed. The processor executes third restoration based on the first information stored in the backup volume and the management information. The third restoration restores fourth information to the spare storage.
US09053074B2 Computer product, writing control method, writing control apparatus, and system
A computer-readable recording medium stores a program that causes a computer to execute a writing control process that includes receiving a writing request to write a first data to a first storage apparatus; determining a second data from among a series of data and based on a writing sequence of the series of data written to the computer and a count of storage areas at a second storage apparatus that sequentially selects from among the storage areas when data is received, a storage area to be over written by the received data, where the second data is written to the first storage apparatus and is identical to data that is stored in the storage area to be selected next at the second storage apparatus; and transmitting copy data of the first data to the second storage apparatus, when the second data has been written to the first storage apparatus.
US09053070B1 Automated tuning of a service configuration using load tests on hosts
Methods and systems for automated tuning of a service configuration are disclosed. An optimal configuration for a test computer is selected by performing one or more load tests using the test computer for each of a plurality of test configurations. The performance of a plurality of additional test computers configured with the optimal configuration is automatically determined by performing additional load tests using the additional test computers. A plurality of production computers are automatically configured with the optimal configuration if the performance of the additional test computers is improved with the optimal configuration.
US09053063B2 Method and apparatus for authenticating a communication device
A method and apparatus for authenticating a communication device is disclosed. An system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an authentication system having a controller element that receives from a communication device over a packet-switched network a terminal ID and a request to authenticate said communication device, generates a first registration ID, stores the first registration ID and a first communication identifier, transmits the first registration ID to the communication device, receives from an interactive response system a second communication identifier and a second registration ID that the interactive response system received during a communication session with the communication device over a circuit-switched network, and authenticates the communication device in response to detecting a match between the first and second communication identifiers and the first and second registration IDs. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09053057B2 Cache coherence directory in multi-processor architectures
Technologies are generally described for a cache coherence directory in multi-processor architectures. In an example, a directory in a die may receive a request for a particular block. The directory may determine a block aging threshold relating to a likelihood that data blocks, including the particular data block, are stored in one or more caches in the die. The directory may further analyze a memory to identify a particular cache indicated as storing the particular data block and identify a number of cache misses for the particular cache. The directory may identify a time when an event occurred for the particular data block and determine whether to send the request for the particular data block to the particular cache based on the aging threshold, the time of the event, and the number of cache misses.
US09053055B2 Device management using virtual interfaces cross-reference to related applications
Methods managing data communication between a peripheral device and host computer system are provided. A physical interface for communicating data between a peripheral device and the plurality of applications executing on the host computer system is opened and controlled by a software module. A first virtual interface and a second virtual interface of the software module are exposed to an operating system of the host computer system, and the operating system exposes the first virtual interface and the second virtual interface to the first application and the second application. The first virtual interface is used for communicating data between the peripheral device and the first application through the physical interface, and the second virtual interface is used for communicating data between the peripheral device and the second application through the physical interface.
US09053054B1 System and method for fetching the latest versions of stored data objects
A distributed storage system may store data object instances in persistent storage and may cache keymap information for those data object instances. The system may cache a latest symbolic key entry for some user keys of the data object instances. When a request is made for the latest version of stored data object instances having a specified user key, the latest version may be determined dependent on whether a latest symbolic key entry exists for the specified user key, and keymap information for the latest version may be returned. When storing keymap information, a flag may be set to indicate that a corresponding latest symbolic key entry should be updated. The system may delete a latest symbolic key entry for a particular user key from the cache in response to determining that no other requests involving the keymap information for data object instances having the particular user key are pending.
US09053047B2 Parameter estimation using partial ECC decoding
In some embodiments, a method includes accepting a code word of a composite Error Correction Code (ECC), which was produced by encoding data with multiple component ECCs, and which was received with one or more reception parameters. One or more of the component ECCs are decoded, but without fully decoding the code word. The one or more reception parameters are estimated based on the decoded component ECCs. In other embodiments, a method includes accepting a code word of an ECC, which encodes data and which was received with one or more reception parameters. An Error Locator Polynomial (ELP), having one or more roots that indicate respective locations of one or more errors in the code word, is derived from the accepted code word. The one or more reception parameters are estimated based on the ELP.
US09053045B1 Computing floating-point polynomials in an integrated circuit device
Polynomial circuitry for calculating a polynomial having terms including powers of an input variable, where the input variable is represented by a mantissa and an exponent, includes at least one respective coefficient table for each respective term, each respective coefficient table being loaded with a plurality of respective instances of a coefficient for said respective term, each respective instance being shifted by a different number of bits. The circuitry also includes decoder circuitry for selecting one of the respective instances of the coefficient for each respective term based on the exponent and on a range, from among a plurality of ranges, of values into which that input variable falls.
US09053042B2 Method, system, and device for modifying a secure enclave configuration without changing the enclave measurement
A system and method for adapting a secure application execution environment to support multiple configurations includes determining a maximum configuration for the secure application execution environment, determining an optimal configuration for the secure application environment, and, at load time, configuring the secure application execution environment for the optimal configuration.
US09053028B2 Type casting in a managed code system
Type casting in a managed code system is described. The managed code system includes managed memory as well as shared memory located outside of the managed memory. The managed memory has multiple managed memory portions, each corresponding to a computing entity, such as a processes. The type system permits obtaining of data from shared memory using type casting to thereby assign the data a type that supports type casting. The type is a valid type casting type that satisfies certain requirements that allow the type to be assigned while maintaining type safety.
US09053021B2 Management apparatus and method of distributed storage system
Methods and systems for managing distributed storage servers are described. The storage servers may be selected and divided into multiple sequences and multiple virtual node groups. Each sequence of the multiple sequences may include a predetermined number of storage servers, and each virtual node group may include a set of storage servers of the multiple sequences. Data may be transferred to storage severs of a virtual node group. If the storage servers have instantaneous or temporary malfunctions, the data may be transferred to temporary storage servers and then transferred back the storage servers after being revived. If the storage servers have permanent malfunctions, the data may be transferred to the temporary storage servers. The storage servers may be replaced using the temporary storage servers.
US09053017B2 Managing object lifetime in a cyclic graph
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing object lifetime in a cyclic graph. Embodiments of the invention include reclaiming allocated system resources, for example, from a graph of objects that mixes different resource reclamation techniques (such as reference counting and garbage collection). In response to determining that garbage collection is to be performed, references between GC objects and Ref. Counted objects are detected. A reference type (e.g., direct, indirect, standard, tracked, weakened, etc.) for any detected references is also determined. Garbage collection is performed to determine if any allocated system resources can be reclaimed. Garbage collection considers references and references types between GC objects and Ref. Counted objects when determining if objects are to be reclaimed.
US09053006B2 Method for memory management
The invention relates to a method for memory management, in which memory usage data relating to the use of the memory is recorded. The memory usage data is determined in response to a number of memory write and/or read accesses.
US09052994B2 Dispensing and display system
A system for controlling advancement of and access to product and for generating data associated with such advancement and access. Systems of this invention include a pusher system having a track, a pusher, and mechanisms for generating data relating to the movement of the pusher. Certain embodiments of the invention include a door assembly, which controls consumer access to product located behind the door assembly, a stop for limiting the forward progression of the pusher along the track, and mechanisms for generating data relating to when and/or for how long the door assembly is open.
US09052991B2 System and method for audio sample rate conversion
A method for audio sample rate conversion may include receiving an audio signal at a first rate, the audio signal having a fundamental frequency, determining absolute derivatives of the audio signal at the first rate, and generating a weighted sum of the absolute derivatives to arrive at a combined absolute derivative. The combined absolute derivative may be analyzed to locate a local minimum of the combined absolute derivative, a location in the audio signal may be selected based on the local minimum of the combined absolute derivative and at least one audio sample in the audio signal may be altered at the selected location to develop an audio signal at a second rate.
US09052985B2 Method and apparatus for efficient programmable cyclic redundancy check (CRC)
A method and apparatus to optimize each of the plurality of reduction stages in a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) circuit to produce a residue for a block of data decreases area used to perform the reduction while maintaining the same delay through the plurality of stages of the reduction logic. A hybrid mix of Karatsuba algorithm, classical multiplications and serial division in various stages in the CRC reduction circuit results in about a twenty percent reduction in area on the average with no decrease in critical path delay.
US09052980B2 Exception based quality assessment
The embodiments may include an apparatus for measuring code quality using exceptions. The apparatus may include a runtime collector configured to intercept exceptions generated by an application, and collect exception information for each exception, during runtime of the application, based on instrumentation code included within the application. The apparatus may include a collection module configured to store the intercepted exceptions and corresponding exception information in a memory unit, an exception analyzer configured to analyze the intercepted exceptions based on the collected exception information stored in the memory unit, and a report generator configured to generate at least one report based on the analysis. The at least one report may provide an indication of code quality of the application.
US09052972B2 Determining the processing order of a plurality of events
A method for operating a multi-threading computational system includes: identifying related events; allocating the related events to a first thread; allocating unrelated events to one or more second threads; wherein the events allocated to the first thread are executed in sequence and the events allocated to the one or more second threads are executed in parallel to execution of the first thread.
US09052969B2 Programming model for transparent parallelization of combinatorial optimization
Each of a plurality of subtasks is configured to explore and assess alternative solutions for a combinatorial optimization problem by a reentrant finite state machine is represented. Each of a plurality of threads is configured to perform operations comprising a subtask until either completion or a blocked state is reached and, in the event a blocked state is reached, to move on to performing another subtask that is not currently in a blocked state.
US09052967B2 Detecting resource deadlocks in multi-threaded programs by controlling scheduling in replay
A method and system for determining potential deadlock conditions in a target multi-threaded software application. The target application is first run in a virtual machine and the events within the application are recorded. The recorded events are replayed and analyzed to identify potential lock acquisition conflicts occurring between threads of the application. The potential lock acquisition conflicts are identified by analyzing the order in which resource locks are obtained and pairs of resources that have respective locks obtained in different orders are analyzed. These analyzed pairs are used to define a different order of events in the target application that, when the target application is re-run with the second order of events, may trigger a deadlock condition. The target application is then re-run with the different order of events in an attempt to trigger and then identify potential deadlock situations.
US09052963B2 Cloud computing data center machine monitor and control
Systems, methods and computer-readable media provide for identifying a physical machine corresponding to a virtual machine. A system assigns a data center machine identifier to a physical computing device in a data center, along with a physical location for the physical computing system. In response to creating a virtual machine on the physical computing device, the system creates a mapping from a virtual machine identifier for the virtual machine to the data center machine identifier for the physical computing system.
US09052962B2 Distributed storage of data in a cloud storage system
Provided are apparatus and method for distributedly storing an object in a plurality of data centers included in a cloud storage system. In the method, an object may be divided into a plurality of sub-objects each having a fragmentation size. Then, the sub-objects may be distributedly stored in at least one data center based on weights of the plurality of data centers.
US09052958B2 Extending the capability of computing devices by using dynamically scalable external resources
Techniques for extending the capabilities of computing environments and/or systems are disclosed. A scalable and dynamic external computing resource can be used in order to effectively extend the internal computing capabilities of a computing environment or system. The scalable and dynamic external computing resource can provide computing resources that far exceed the internal computing resources, and provide the services as needed, and in a dynamic manner at execution time. As a result, a computing device may function with relatively limited and/or reduced computing resources (e.g., processing power, memory) but have the ability to effectively provide as much computing services as may be needed, and provide the services when needed, on demand, and dynamically during the execution time.
US09052955B2 System and method for seamless application hosting and migration in a network environment
An example method includes receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request from a client for an application at a first datacenter at which the application is not available; and querying a first global site selector (GSS) configured to identify a second datacenter at which the application is available. The second datacenter can be identified by a selected virtual Internet Protocol (VIP) address. The method can also include forwarding the HTTP request to the selected VIP address; and responding to the client with an HTTP response received from the selected VIP address.
US09052951B2 Software bus
The present invention relates to the field of methods of communication between software modules and more particularly software buses. There is described a software bus which allows communication between software modules. This communication occurs within a machine and between machines and operates interchangeably for the software module whether one is dealing with a process, a thread or a simple task. The communication relies on mechanisms adapted to the multitask level at which the sender and receiver software modules operate. It is based on a hierarchical architecture, phases of discovery and of recording of the various software modules having to communicate via the bus.
US09052950B2 Selective constant complexity dismissal in task scheduling
A strictly increasing function is implemented to generate a plurality of unique creation stamps, each of the plurality of unique creation stamps increasing over time pursuant to the strictly increasing function. A new task to be placed with the plurality of tasks is labeled with a new unique creation stamp of the plurality of unique creation stamps. The one of the list of dismissal rules holds a minimal valid creation (MVC) stamp, which is updated when a dismissal action for the one of the list of dismissal rules is executed. The dismissal action acts to dismiss a selection of tasks over time due to continuous dispatch.
US09052948B2 Parallel runtime execution on multiple processors
A method and an apparatus that schedule a plurality of executables in a schedule queue for execution in one or more physical compute devices such as CPUs or GPUs concurrently are described. One or more executables are compiled online from a source having an existing executable for a type of physical compute devices different from the one or more physical compute devices. Dependency relations among elements corresponding to scheduled executables are determined to select an executable to be executed by a plurality of threads concurrently in more than one of the physical compute devices. A thread initialized for executing an executable in a GPU of the physical compute devices are initialized for execution in another CPU of the physical compute devices if the GPU is busy with graphics processing threads.
US09052939B2 Data compliance management associated with cloud migration events
A compliance tool can verify compliance with jurisdictional transfer and storage requirements for data migration into or within a cloud. The compliance tool can monitor and check data transfers and storage to determine if the data transfer and/or storage will cross jurisdictional boundaries. If the transfers or storage crosses jurisdictional boundaries, the compliance tool can identify the transfer and storage requirements of any jurisdictions involved with the transfer and/or storage. The compliance tool can verify that the data transfers complies with the identified transfer and storage requirements. If the data transfer and/or storage does not comply with the identified transfer and storage requirements, the compliance tool can terminate the data transfer and/or storage, modify the data transfer and/or storage, and/or modify the data, itself, to comply with the identified transfer and storage requirements.
US09052937B2 Managing storage commands according to input-output priorities and dependencies
Input/output operations (IOs) are issued to a storage system using request queues that are each maintained for a resource targeted by the IOs. When an IO is requested, the target resource for the IO is first identified. If a request queue is maintained for the target resource, the IO is added to the request queue and the IO is issued to the storage system as the target resource becomes available. The availability of the target resource may be determined through periodic checks or by monitoring completions of IOs issued out of the request queue.
US09052930B2 Controlling functions of mobile communications devices
Function-control instructions for controlling a function or feature of a device can be created remotely, locally, or both. A device can receive a function-control instruction or a function-control instruction embedded in received content. Additionally, or alternatively, a function-control instruction can be created locally based on user information or calibration information. Function-control instructions can be passed to an instruction execution application that interprets the function-control instruction. The instruction execution application can pass instructions, based on the function-control instruction, to the device for implementation.
US09052926B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications
A method includes displaying a first application view. A first input is detected, and an application view selection mode is entered for selecting one of concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view. An initial group of open application icons in a first predefined area and at least a portion of the first application view adjacent to the first predefined area are concurrently displayed. The initial group of open application icons corresponds to at least some of the concurrently open applications. A gesture is detected on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area, and a respective application view for a corresponding application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the concurrently open applications. The open application icons in the first predefined area cease to be displayed, and the application view selection mode is exited.
US09052920B2 Electronic devices and methods for switching between dual operating systems
A method for switching between dual operating systems for an electronic device installed with at least two operating systems is provided. The method includes the steps of: activating and operating a first operating system, wherein the first operating system initializes at least one peripheral device; switching to and activating a second operating system; preventing the first operating system from issuing a setting command to the peripheral device when the first operating system is switched to the second operating system; and enabling the second operating system to obtain the control right of the peripheral device to initialize the peripheral device.
US09052918B2 Management of multiple software images with shared memory blocks
A data processing entity that includes a mass memory with a plurality of memory locations for storing memory blocks. Each of a plurality of software images includes a plurality of memory blocks with corresponding image addresses within the software image. The memory blocks of software images stored in boot locations of a current software image are relocated. The boot blocks of the current software image are stored into the corresponding boot locations. The data processing entity is booted from the boot blocks of the current software image in the corresponding boot locations, thereby loading the access function. Each request to access a selected memory block of the current software image is served by the access function, with the access function accessing the selected memory block in the associated memory location provided by the control structure.
US09052913B2 Dynamic token resolution during compilation
A method includes, during compilation of a portion of source code at a compiler, initiating token resolution with respect to a token included in the portion of source code. A static context and a dynamic context of the compiler are queried to identify one or more lookup results of the token. A particular lookup result is selected to resolve the token based on one or more semantic rules of the compiler. The particular lookup result is selected independently of whether the particular lookup result is sourced from the static context or from the dynamic context. The method includes resolving the token based on the selected particular lookup result.
US09052911B2 Mechanism for consistent core hang detection in a a processor core
Mechanism for consistent core hang detection on a processor with multiple processor cores, each having one or more instruction execution pipelines. Each core may also include a hang detection unit with a counter unit that may generate a count value based on a clock source having a frequency that is independent of a frequency of a processor core clock. The hang detection unit may also include a detector logic unit that may determine whether a given instruction execution pipeline has ceased processing a given instruction based upon a state of the processor core and whether or not the given instruction has completed execution prior to the count value exceeding a predetermined value.
US09052904B1 System and method for determining whether to reschedule malware scans based on power-availability information for a power grid and power-usage information for the scans
A computer-implemented method for determining whether to reschedule tasks on computing devices based on power-availability information for a power grid may comprise: 1) identifying at least one task scheduled to execute on a computing device, 2) receiving power-availability information for the power grid, and then 3) determining, based on the power-availability information, whether to reschedule the task. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09052901B2 Method, apparatus, and system for energy efficiency and energy conservation including configurable maximum processor current
An apparatus, method and system is described herein for providing multiple maximum current configuration options including corresponding turbo frequencies for a processing device. Available options for a processor are determined by initialization code. And based on platform electrical capabilities, an optimal one of the multiple current configuration options is selected. Moreover, during runtime another current configuration is dynamically selected based on current configuration considerations to provide high flexibility and best possible performance per part and computing platform.
US09052898B2 Remote access and administration of device content, with device power optimization, using HTTP protocol
A mobile device having an identifier supports a mobile server hosting an HTML web site. The mobile device is power cycled according to an ON-OFF timing defined by timing parameters. An association between the timing parameters and the identifier of the mobile device is provided. A web client sends a request to access the mobile device, using a public mobile device identifier. Optionally, the public mobile device identifier is mapped to identify ON-OFF timing parameters of the mobile device, and web client access to the mobile device is controlled based on the ON-OFF timing parameters.
US09052893B2 Various methods and apparatuses for power states in a controller
Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which a chipset controller has circuitry to control communications with a peripheral device in a computing device. The chipset controller has logic configured 1) to detect a plug-in event when the peripheral device connects to the chipset controller and 2) to transition the chipset controller from a low power consumption state to a higher power consumption state based on the logic detecting the plug-in event.
US09052887B2 Fault tolerance of data processing steps operating in either a parallel operation mode or a non-synchronous redundant operation mode
A method of processing data in a data processor comprising at least two data processing units. The method comprises performing different data processing steps in the data processing units concurrently during a parallel operation, and replicating performances of selected identical data processing steps in the data processing units during a non-synchronised redundant operation. The non-synchronised redundant operation comprises an initial performance of the selected identical data processing steps in one of the data processing units and a replicate performance of the data processing steps starting later than the initial performance, preferably in another of the data processing units. Initial result data representative of results from the initial performance are registered, and compared with replicate result data representative of results from the replicate performance, and an error signal is produced in case of discrepancy.
US09052875B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes a first body, a second body, a hinge structure and a control unit. The hinge structure includes a first pivot component fixed on the first body, a second pivot component fixed on the second body and pivoted to the first pivot component, a first connecting component fixed on the first pivot component, and a torsion adjusting assembly movably disposed at the second body. The control unit receives a command to control the torsion adjusting assembly to move. When the torsion adjusting assembly is moved to a first position, the first connecting component and the torsion adjusting assembly are separated from each other, and the hinge structure has a first torsion. When the torsion adjusting assembly is moved to a second position, the first connecting component is connected to the torsion adjusting assembly, and the hinge structure has a second torsion larger than the first torsion.
US09052866B2 Method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for image registration and display
A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for image registration and display are provided. In the method, a registration request is respectively sent to each of the electronic apparatuses to control the electronic apparatus to capture a local image and return the captured local image to the master apparatus. Next, an image registration is performed on the local images to obtain registration information among the local images. Then, a relative location between the master apparatus and each electronic apparatus is estimated according to the registration information. Finally, at least one frame to be displayed are oriented according to the estimated relative locations and sent to the electronic apparatuses for display.
US09052863B2 ePOS printing
A script language compatible with HTML is used to define methods or objects capable of communicating directly with an intelligent module for printing operations without going through a web browser's print selection option. A print API library provides the needed methods/objects for embedding into a web page. The intelligent module may be a stand-alone electronic device, or may be an intelligent device incorporated into a printer. The intelligent module may manage multiple printers directly or through a network, and it functions to provide a communication bridge for translating/conveying communication between the print APIs on a web page and a target printer. The print API knows the fixed IP address of the intelligent module, and define a print document or print commands and send it directly to the intelligent module by means of the known IP address.
US09052859B2 Gathering analytic data using print drivers
Methods and systems use print drivers to automatically record identifications (IDs) of the computerized devices and applications that provided different printable items to the print drivers. The methods and systems automatically send the IDs of the computerized devices and applications that provided the different printable items to an analytics engine. The methods herein automatically produce metrics based the computerized devices and applications used to generate the different printable items using the analytics engine.
US09052858B2 Printing system, printing server and information processing device
A information processing device includes: a job generating part for generating the print job in response to a user instruction; and a job transmitting part for separating job information and header information showing settings of the print job and sending the separated header information to a print server. The print server includes: an initial determination part for making an initial determination to determine a printing rule applied to the print job based on the header information and sending a result of the initial determination to the information processing device; and a job controlling part for continuing a process on the print job in response to receiving a continue instruction from the information processing device, and suspending the process on the print job in response to receiving a suspend instruction from said information processing device.
US09052856B2 Image forming apparatus, job execution system, and job execution method
An image forming apparatus includes: a receiving portion that receives an authentication print job sent by a user; a comparison portion that compares identification information received through the user's input with identification information included in image data; a job execution portion that executes the authentication print job in the case where the comparison between the received identification information and the identification information included in the image data has succeeded; and a password storage portion that stores identification information in the case where the authentication print job is in the process of being received in order to enable the comparison made by the comparison portion with respect to the authentication print job that is being received.
US09052849B1 Method and apparatus for dynamically adapting a printing appliance to a printer
Methods of determining a script to facilitate servicing a print request from a source device (e.g., a wireless mobile device) on a printer by a printing appliance are described. A printing appliance maintains a list of textual scripts that are mapped to a plurality of printers by a mapping relationship. For a given printer and requesting source device, if an appropriate script cannot be determined, the printing appliance will contact a server to resolve if a script on the printing appliance is an appropriate script, or whether the server should obtain and provide an appropriate script. A mapping relationship on the printing appliance is updated when an appropriate script is identified or provided by the server.
US09052846B1 Charge pump with a wide input supply range
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a voltage generator, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of configuring a charge pump system by incorporating an auxiliary charge pump to generate an intermediate voltage that is used to boost up a primary charge pump according to a level of an input supply voltage. The intermediate voltage has a higher level than that of the input supply voltage, and is provided to boost up the primary charge pump when the input supply voltage is determined to be lower than a threshold voltage. Such a charge pump based voltage generator is compatible to a wide input supply range, capable of sustaining a large output load and effectively reduces the chip estate.
US09052843B2 Card and host device
A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
US09052842B2 Logical unit operation
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for logical unit operation. One device embodiment includes a number of logical units, wherein each of the number of logical units has a unique address. The device includes control circuitry coupled to the number of logical units and configured optionally to control more than one of the number of logical units with one of a number of commands and one address.
US09052829B2 Methods and structure for improved I/O shipping in a clustered storage system
Methods and structure for improved shipping of I/O requests among multiple storage controllers of a clustered storage system. Minimal processing of a received I/O request is performed in a first controller to determine whether the I/O request is directed to a logical volume that is owned by the first controller or to a logical volume owned by another controller. For requests to logical volumes owned by another controller, the original I/O request is modified to indicate the target device address of the other controller. The first controller then ships the request to the other controller and configures DMA capabilities of the first controller to exchange data associated with the shipped request between the other controller and memory of the host system.
US09052827B1 Storage apparatus and data management method
A storage apparatus includes: a plurality of microprocessors; a plurality of storage areas formed into a drive group constituted from a plurality of physical drives; and a control unit for managing one of the microprocessors, which takes charge of data input to and output from one or more storage areas of the plurality of storage areas, as a microprocessor having ownership of the one or more storage areas; wherein the microprocessor executes dump processing for having an external physical drive store data of the one or more storage areas, for which the microprocessor takes charge of the data input and output, in response to a received I/O request; and wherein the control unit transfers the ownership of the microprocessor according to processing load bias of the dump processing which the plurality of microprocessors take charge of.
US09052823B2 Storage system and data management method with application specific storage tiers
Proposes the realization of the performance stability operation of virtual volumes and the stabilized access performance for the virtual volumes in the storage apparatus. In the storage apparatus which configures a pool of multiple types of storage tiers of different performances, provides virtual volumes to the host computer and, in accordance with a write request from an application to a virtual volume, assigns pages to the relevant virtual volume from the pool, a policy associating an application with the virtual volume with which the relevant application reads/writes data, a storage tier to assign pages to the relevant virtual volume, and the priority of the relevant storage tier is managed and, in accordance with a write request from the application, complying with the corresponding policy, among the storage tiers associated with the corresponding virtual volume, pages are assigned from the storage tier of the higher priority to the relevant virtual volume.
US09052815B2 Touch sensing device and apparatus and touch sensing method
A touch sensing device is provided. The touch sensing device includes a multiplexer and a control unit, and is electrically connected to a touch panel. The touch panel includes a plurality of first-direction electrodes; a plurality of second-direction electrodes; and a dielectric layer, for generating at least one electric field change corresponding to at least one touch point in response to the at least one touch point. The at least one electric field change is generated at an overlapping region of the first-direction and second-direction electrodes. The multiplexer is electrically connected to the touch panel via the first-direction and second-direction electrodes, and selectively performs voltage driving or voltage sensing for the first-direction and second-direction changes a control signal to be transmitted to the multiplexer and receives a sense signal from the multiplexer.
US09052813B2 Information-processing apparatus and programs used in information-processing apparatus
The present invention improves operatability provided for the user as operatability to specify a display range in an information-processing apparatus employing an absolute coordinate input unit such as a touch panel. The information-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention allows the user to select one of a plurality of input operation modes of the absolute coordinate input unit. One of the input operation modes is a specific mode allowing a display range to be moved to a desired position in a state where the highest resolution of a display unit integrated with the absolute coordinate input unit is lower than the resolution of an entire screen. The information-processing apparatus has a configuration in which, when an operation face of the absolute coordinate input unit is touched to carry out a drag operation in this specific mode, the distance of a movement made in the drag operation is detected, and the position of the display range is then changed by moving the display range by the detected distance.
US09052811B2 Information processing apparatus for associating electronic information displayed on a screen
An information processing apparatus includes a reception unit that receives an operation of an operator; a detection unit that detects a moving operation related to movement of electronic information; a first collection unit that collects positions of a source, a destination, and a trajectory during movement and first and second electronic information; a second collection unit that collects third electronic information; a first calculation unit that calculates a degree of association between the first and second electronic information and a degree of association between the first and third electronic information; a memory that stores the first and second electronic information or the first and third electronic information; a second calculation unit that calculates a degree of association between fourth electronic information and the first electronic information; and a presentation unit that presents the second or third electronic information, as a destination of the fourth electronic information, in a different form.
US09052808B2 Mobile terminal and screen displaying method thereof
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. Specifically to a mobile terminal including a display including a touchscreen, a sensing unit for sensing an object contacting the touchscreen and the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen, and a controller for controlling information appearing on the display according to the object contacting the touchscreen and movement of the object relative to the touchscreen.
US09052803B2 Smart progress indicator
Methods, program products, and systems for a smart progress indicator are described. A smart progress indicator can be user-configurable and user-programmable. A smart progress indicator can represent a ratio between a completed portion of a task and the whole task. In addition, the smart progress indicator can include triggers such that the smart progress indicator can have different colors or patterns depending on whether or not one or more conditions are satisfied. In some implementations, the smart progress indicator can dynamically change data sources for the completed portion of the task or for the whole task based on the conditions.
US09052794B2 Device for displaying movement based on user input and rendering images accordingly
A range having a predetermined width close to a display margin is defined in an image as a restriction area. When the display area enters the restriction area, the moving speed determination unit reduces the speed of moving the display area in accordance with the extent that the display area enters the restriction area. When the request for moving the display area is suspended while the display area enters the restriction area, the bouncing speed determination unit determines the moving speed so that the display area is bounced in a direction away from the restriction area at a speed determined by the extent that the display area enters the restriction area. A frame coordinate computation unit computes frame coordinates of a display area that should be newly displayed, based on the moving speed determined by the moving speed determination unit and the bouncing speed determination unit.
US09052793B2 Lightweight observable values for multiple grids
A method, computer program product, and computer system for updating observable values for multiple user-interface components. A computer system reads first values indexed by keys from a cache, in response to receiving a request from the multiple user-interface components. The computer system reads second values, which are indexed by the keys, from persistent storage. The computer system compares the first values and the second values based on the keys. The computer system writes the second values as new values of the first values in the cache. The computer system notifies one or more observers for respective ones of the first values, wherein the respective ones of the first values are changed. And, the computer system notifies the one or more observers for the first values that reading and writing operations are finished.
US09052789B2 Touch structure and manufacturing method for the same
A touch structure and a manufacturing method for the same are provided. The touch structure comprises first patterned electrodes, a second patterned electrode, a dielectric structure and a conductive bridge. The second patterned electrode is disposed between the first patterned electrodes, and separated from the first patterned electrodes. The dielectric structure is disposed on the first patterned electrodes and the second patterned electrode. The dielectric structure has a dielectric opening. The conductive bridge is disposed across the dielectric structure and extended in the dielectric opening. The first patterned electrodes are electrically connected to each other through the conductive bridge.
US09052785B2 Position detecting device, display apparatus, and portable apparatus
A position detecting device is disclosed for use with a position indicator. The position detecting device includes a coil substrate, a magnetic path material, and a shield material. A coil for generating an alternating magnetic field for electromagnetic coupling with the position indicator is disposed on the coil substrate. The magnetic path material is composed of a material having such permeability as not to disturb direct current magnetic flux but to form a magnetic path for the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil, and having predetermined electrical resistance for suppressing flow of an eddy current in order to enhance the material's performance as a magnetic path. The shield material is a non-magnetic substance that does not disturb the direct current magnetic flux due to the direct current magnetic field and that has electrical conductivity for generating an eddy current based on the alternating magnetic field.
US09052782B2 Systems and methods for voltage gradient sensor devices
A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module including transmitter circuitry, and is configured to drive a first end of a transmitter electrode such that the transmitter electrode exhibits a first voltage gradient extending from the first end of the transmitter electrode toward a second end of the transmitter electrode, wherein the first voltage gradient comprises a set of substantially discrete voltage values. The receiver module includes receiver circuitry, the receiver module configured to receive a first resulting signal with a first receiver electrode while the transmitter module is driving the first end of the transmitter electrode. The determination module is configured to compute a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on the first resulting signal, and determine positional information for an input object based on the first measurement.
US09052780B2 Optical touch screen system and sensing method for the same
An optical touch screen system includes a touch screen, an image-sensing device, and a processing device. The image-sensing device generates a plurality of light-shielding information of an object at a plurality of time points. The processing device coupled to the image-sensing device includes a computing unit calculating a projected size difference value according to the plurality of light-shielding information, wherein the projected size difference value is a difference value between the projected sizes of the object on the touch screen at two different time points.
US09052777B2 Optical elements with alternating reflective lens facets
An optical element for a light based touch surface including a concatenated plurality of segments, wherein each segment is paired with a respective light emitter, each segment including an undulating series of pairs of reflective or refractive facets, wherein a first facet in each pair is oriented so as to collimate light emitted from a first light emitter associated with the segment and a second facet in each pair is oriented so as to collimate light emitted from a second light emitter associated with the segment, and wherein the first light emitter associated with the segment is the light emitter paired with the segment and the second light emitter associated with the segment is the light emitter paired with a neighboring segment.
US09052776B2 Optical touch module and optical touch component structure
An optical touch component structure includes multiple optical touch modules and multiple L-shaped connection boards, which are assembled to form a frame body. Each optical touch module includes an LED circuit board and a control circuit board. The L-shaped connection boards are respectively connected to two ends of the control circuit boards. At least one first and second connector are disposed on correspondingly overlapping sections of the LED circuit board and the control circuit board and vertically mated with each other. Two outermost ends of the control circuit boards have two third connectors horizontally mated with fourth connectors of the L-shaped connection boards. A space exists between the LED circuit board and the control circuit board and between the LED circuit board and the L-shaped connection board. Electronic components are disposed in the space and an extension section of a filter member extends into the space.
US09052769B2 Mobile terminal having a flexible display and operation method thereof
A mobile terminal and an operating method thereof are provided. The operating method includes providing a transparent flexible display having a first display region at the front of the transparent flexible display and a second display region at the rear of the transparent flexible display; displaying an image in the first display region; determining whether a bend signal indicating that the transparent flexible display is bent is detected; and if the results of the determining indicate that a portion of the second display region has the same display direction as that of the first display region, displaying information regarding the image in the portion of the second display region having the same display direction as that of the first display region. Therefore, it is possible to display various information not only using a display region at the front of a display device but also using a display region at the rear of the display device.
US09052765B2 Method for operating a touch sensitive user interface
A method for operating a touch sensitive user interface is provided. The touch sensitive user interface comprises a touch sensitive surface (3) and at least two force sensitive sensors (15-66). The touch sensitive surface (3) is configured to provide a touch information indicating touch positions (6, 8) of at least two concurrent touches (5, 7) on the touch sensitive surface (3). The at least two force sensitive sensors (15- 66) are mounted at the touch sensitive surface (3) at different predetermined locations (11-14). Each of the at least two force sensitive sensors (15-66) is configured to generate a corresponding force information depending on a force being exerted on the corresponding force sensitive sensor (15-66). According to the method, the touch positions (6, 8) are determined based on the touch information and the force information is received from the at least two force sensitive sensors (15-66). Based on the at least two touch positions (6, 8), the force information from the force sensitive sensors (15-66) and the predetermined locations (11-14) of the force sensitive sensors (15-66) a corresponding touch force is determined for each of the concurrent touches (5, 7).
US09052752B2 System and method for providing roll compensation
The embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method and apparatus for providing roll compensation in a control device, the method and apparatus including acquiring rotational data and linear data indicative of movement of the control device, applying roll compensation to the acquired data, and removing a roll compensation error from the roll compensated data. Inertial sensors such as gyroscope sensors and accelerometer sensor(s) may be used to acquire the rotational and linear data.
US09052749B2 Apparatus and method for projector navigation in a handheld projector
A method and apparatus for navigating a projected image. The method includes projecting, by a projector, an image on a surface, the projected image comprising a first portion of a virtual image. The method also includes determining a movement of the projector, and in response to the movement of the projector, changing the projected image by projecting a second portion of the virtual image different from the first portion.
US09052747B2 Half keyboard
A half keyboard having a key input system with a set of keys, wherein the set of keys is arranged as a conventional keyboard, such as a Qwerty keyboard, approximately folded in half so that the key of the set of keys indicates more multiple characters, symbols and/or functions.
US09052745B2 Method of displaying applications in a multi-monitor computer system and multi-monitor computer system employing the method
A multi-monitor computer system includes a plurality of display devices communicating with at least one computing device executing an application management procedure. The application management procedure enables an application window available on one display device to be moved entirely to another display device by selecting the other display device from a dialog box displayed in response to a pointer-dragging input gesture on the application window.
US09052737B2 Rotary control
A rotary control (100, 500, 700) provides improved running-torque through a running-torque stack up assembly (140). The running-torque stack up assembly (140) may be implemented in a modular approach (500, 700) independent of a shaft (130) and switch housing, or may be implemented to incorporate the shaft (100) and switch housing. The running-torque stack up assembly (140) is formed of a spring (114), a stationary disk (112), and a rotating disk (108) having sliding top and bottom surfaces provided through either pads (106, 110) or an overmolded coating (710).
US09052726B2 Method of controlling multi level converter
A method of controlling a multilevel converter is provided. In the method of controlling a multilevel converter according to an embodiment, a sub-module having the maximum voltage and a sub-module having the minimum voltage respectively are extracted from among a plurality of sub-modules. An amount of state variation of each of the plurality of sub-modules is determined. When the amount of state variation is not determined to be 0, a direction of a current flowing through the plurality of sub-modules is detected. A subsequent state of at least one sub-module is determined according to at least one of the amount of the state variation and current direction. Subsequently an arrangement time for sub-module values can be efficiently reduced while the number of the sub-modules increases in the voltage balancing.
US09052724B2 Electro-rheological micro-channel anisotropic cooled integrated circuits and methods thereof
An integrated circuit chip having micro-channels formed in multiple regions of the integrated circuit chip and a method of cooling the integrated circuit chip. The method includes for any region of the multiple regions, allowing a coolant to flow through micro-channels of the region only when a temperature of the region exceed a first specified temperature and blocking the coolant from flowing through the micro-channels of the region when a temperature of the region is below a second specified temperature.
US09052720B2 Mobile robot
A mobile robot including a light emitting unit, a processing unit, an optical component, an image sensing unit, a control unit and a moving unit is provided. The light emitting unit emits a main beam. The processing unit diverges the main beam to a plurality of sub-beams. The sub-beams constitute a light covering an area. When a portion of the sub-beams irradiate a first object, the first object reflects the sub-beam and a plurality of reflected beams are reflected. The optical component receives the reflected beams and converges it to a first collected beam. The image sensing unit converts the first collected beam into a first detection result. The control unit calculates depth information according to the first detection result. The control unit activates the relevant behavior of the mobile robot according to the depth information and controls the mobile robot through the moving unit.
US09052715B2 Flow rate controller for high flow rates and high pressure drops
A flow rate controller is disclosed that maintains constant flow rate with changes in pressure drop across the valve by maintaining a constant pressure drop across a restrictor with the aid of a spring balanced piston that mates a cone to a seat to dissipate the majority of pressure drop across the valve.
US09052714B2 Computer-implemented method and system for controlling operation of an autonomous driverless vehicle in response to obstacle detection
A computer-implemented method and system for controlling operation of an autonomous driverless vehicle in response to detection of a hazard in the path of the vehicle.
US09052711B2 Method for recognising sequential patterns for a method for fault message processing
A method for processing a sequence of fault messages occurring in a device including many systems, makes it possible to discriminate between fault messages most likely originating from a real system fault and fault messages without any real fault in the associated system (no fault found), characterized in that the method combines: an “air-side” method (100) executed in real time for acquiring fault message data defining sequences stored in a fault database and for immediate diagnosis assistance using a diagnostics tool, and a “ground-side” method (200) for the subsequent analysis of fault sequence data and for improving the diagnostics tool.
US09052709B2 Method and system for providing process tool correctables
The present invention may include performing a first measurement process on a wafer of a lot of wafers, wherein the first measurement process includes measuring one or more characteristics of a plurality of targets distributed across one or more fields of the wafer, determining a set of process tool correctables for a residual larger than a selected threshold level utilizing a loss function, wherein the loss function is configured to fit a model for one or more process tools, as a function of field position, to one or more of the measured characteristics of the plurality of targets, wherein the set of process tool correctables includes one or more parameters of the model that act to minimize the difference between a norm of the residual and the selected threshold, and utilizing the determined process tool correctables to monitor or adjust one or more processes of the process tools.
US09052704B2 Computerized tool path generation
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerically controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the method including the steps of selecting a maximum permitted engagement angle between a rotating cutting tool and the workpiece, selecting a minimum permitted engagement angle between the rotating cutting tool and the workpiece, and configuring a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece in which the engagement angle gradually varies between the maximum permitted engagement angle and the minimum permitted engagement angle.
US09052703B2 Enhanced sequential method for solving pressure/flow network parameters in a real-time distributed industrial process simulation system
A pressure and flow calculation technique can be used in a distributed process network simulation system that uses the sequential solving method to perform better or faster simulations of a process flow, especially with respect to process junction nodes at which flow either converges or diverges. The pressure and flow variable determination technique uses a grouped node identification technique that identifies a local set of nodes for each junction node of the process network to use when solving for the pressure at the junction node, a grouped node iteration technique that uses the grouped set of nodes at each junction node to perform iterative pressure calculations at the junction node, and a flow-based pressure calibration technique at each junction node to enable the system to perform highly accurate pressure and flow variable determination at each junction node in real-time.
US09052702B2 Systems and methods for activation and deactivation of appliances
Systems and methods are provided for an appliance system. The system includes an appliance, and a processor connected to the appliance such that the processor places the appliance in one of an enabled state and a disabled state. The processor is configured to track usage of the appliance and to place the appliance in a disabled state when the usage of the appliance exceeds a threshold amount. The system also includes a data receiving device configured to receive a code, wherein upon receipt of a valid code, the processor is configured to adjust the threshold amount to allow additional usage of the appliance.
US09052690B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a formed image that is formed by an image forming portion to sheet, a first carrying path configured to guide the sheet in a set direction, a fixing unit configured to fix the formed image to the sheet that is guided by the first carrying path, a second carrying path configured to guide the sheet that is fixed by the fixing unit in a set direction, a communicating unit configured to communicate between the first carrying path and the second carrying path, a first air flowing unit configured to flow air from the first carrying path to the second carrying path, an ejection unit configured to vent the air in the second carrying path to outside.
US09052684B2 Developer cartridge
A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other.
US09052669B2 Lubricant applicator, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
A lubricant applicator includes a block of lubricant, a supply member contactable against the block of lubricant to scrape the block of lubricant, and a lubricant gauge including a first electrode and a second electrode. The lubricant gauge is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to detect whether an amount of lubricant remaining is less than a threshold value based on establishment of electrical continuity between the first electrode and the second electrode. One of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a projection projecting toward the other one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09052663B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; an image forming unit; a processor for controlling the image forming unit according to a predetermined image forming condition setting data; an image density sensor to detect an image density of the toner pattern formed on the image carrier; a reference rotary position detector; an image density fluctuation data acquisition unit to obtain an image density fluctuation data of more than one circumferential length of the photoreceptor drum with reference to the reference rotary position detected by the reference rotary position detector based on a result related to the toner pattern formed on the image carrier detected by the image density sensor; and a correction data generator to generate a correction data to correct a reference image forming condition setting data with a correction amount corresponding to each rotary position of the rotary member to thus reduce the image density fluctuation.
US09052657B2 Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes a belt member for heating an image on a recording material; a heater heating the belt member; a supporting portion, provided on an inner surface of the belt member, for detachably supporting the belt member; a temperature detecting member contacted to the inner surface of the belt member and elastically supported by the supporting portion; a controller for controlling energization to the heater on the basis of an output of the temperature detecting member; and an inclined surface, provided to the temperature detecting member, for guiding the temperature detecting member toward an inside of the belt member in contact with the belt member during a mounting operation of the belt member to the supporting portion.
US09052644B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediate transfer member, and a secondary transfer member having a plurality of protrusions which come into contact with the intermediate transfer member. A superficial layer of the intermediate transfer member includes a superficial layer and a plurality of insulating particles buried in the superficial layer so as to be partially exposed from she superficial layer. In the case where the insulating particles are present in a contact region in which the protrusions are brought into contact with the intermediate transfer member, a portion in which the protrusions are brought into direct contact with the superficial layer is present in the contact region.
US09052637B2 Toner supply device and image forming apparatus
A toner supply device includes a toner cartridge, a cartridge driving source, a toner detection sensor, a conveyance member which conveys toner, and a rotating member driving source which drives the conveyance member. In addition, a driving controller controls the rotating member driving source, and a controller controls a series of replenishment operations of the toner cartridge based on a detection result of the toner detection sensor. The series of replenishment operations of the toner cartridge is controlled based on information about driving of the conveyance member, which is acquired at every predetermined period after starting the series of replenishment operations.
US09052634B2 Developing apparatus
A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying sleeve for carrying a developer to a position opposing an image bearing drum. The sleeve is provided with a plurality of groove portions extending in an axial direction of the sleeve, and a developing bias voltage applying device for applying a developing bias voltage to the sleeve. The bias voltage applying device is capable of outputting, as the bias voltage, a voltage of a waveform having a cyclic period including an AC bias portion having an AC component and a DC component superimposed thereto, and a blank portion following the AC bias portion and consisting of a DC component. A width L (m) of the groove, a peripheral speed Vs (m/s) of the sleeve, and a duration t1 (s) of the blank portion in one cyclic period of the bias voltage satisfy L/Vs
US09052625B2 Method of continuously forming an aqueous colorant dispersion using a screw extruder
A continuous process for making a pigment dispersion includes continuously feeding a pigment into a feed section of a screw extruder at a controlled rate, continuously feeding a surfactant into the feed section of the screw extruder at a controlled rate, continuously feeding water downstream of the feed section to emulsify the pigment and the surfactant, forming a water-in-pigment dispersion, continuously feeding additional water downstream of the previously fed water to cause a phase inversion of the water-in-pigment dispersion, forming a pigment-in-water dispersion, continuously homogenizing the pigment-in-water dispersion in the screw extruder to create a homogenous aqueous pigment dispersion and collecting the homogenous aqueous pigment dispersion from an exit section of the screw extruder.
US09052624B2 Use of fluorescing toners for imaging
A fluorescing dry toner particle comprises a polymeric binder phase comprising a non-fluorescing binder polymer and a polymeric fluorescing colorant dispersed within the non-fluorescing binder polymer. The polymeric fluorescing colorant comprises a fluorescing moiety that is covalently attached to a colorant polymer that is the same or different than the non-fluorescing binder polymer, but the polymeric fluorescing colorant is blendable with the non-fluorescing binder polymer to form a homogeneous polymeric binder matrix, and is present in an amount of at least 1 weight % and up to and including 40 weight %, based on the total fluorescing dry toner particle weight. These fluorescing dry toner particles can be used in various dry developers to provide fluorescing toner images with or without non-fluorescing color toner images.
US09052615B2 Extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus
An EUV light source apparatus by which detachment of a chamber or a part of the chamber, movement to a maintenance area, and highly accurate placement relative to projection optics can be performed easily for maintenance of the EUV light source apparatus. The EUV light source apparatus is an apparatus for generating plasma by applying a laser beam to a target material within a chamber and entering EUV light radiated from the plasma into projection optics of exposure equipment, and includes a positioning mechanism for positioning the chamber or a maintenance unit of the chamber in a predetermined location where an optical axis of the collected extreme ultraviolet light and an optical axis of the projection optics of the exposure equipment are aligned, and a movement mechanism for moving the chamber or the maintenance unit of the chamber between the predetermined location and a maintenance area.
US09052614B2 Vibration control apparatus, lithography apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
A vibration control apparatus includes a first spring mechanism to support a first object as part of a first system. To control vibration of the first object, a first actuator applies a force to the first object via a command value generated by a first computing based on an output of a detection system. The detection system includes a second spring mechanism to support a second object as part of a second system. A third spring mechanism supports a third object as part of a third system. The first displacement detector detects displacement of the third object relative to the second object. The third object is prevented from being displaced relative to the second object. A second natural frequency of the second system is higher than a first natural frequency of the first system, and a third natural frequency of a third system is higher than the first natural frequency.
US09052590B2 Actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition and method of forming pattern using the composition
According to one embodiment, an actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a resin (P) containing not only at least one repeating unit (A) that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, is decomposed to thereby generate an acid and is expressed by any of general formulae (I) to (III) below but also a repeating unit (B) containing at least an aromatic ring group provided that the repeating unit (B) does not include any of those of general formulae (I) to (III). (The characters used in general formulae (I) to (III) have the meanings mentioned in the description.)
US09052586B2 Arrangement having a drawer housing and a drawer
An arrangement includes a drawer housing and a drawer intended for an image-recording device of an x-ray-image device to be placed in the drawer. The arrangement includes a pull-out device, using which the drawer is moveable across a slanting plane while being withdrawn from or inserted into the drawer housing. A floor of the drawer remains parallel to a floor of the drawer housing.
US09052579B1 Remote control of projection and camera system
A device includes a projection and camera system to create an augmented reality environment in which images are projected onto a scene and user movement within the scene is captured. The projection and camera system have a camera to image scattered IR light from the scene and compute time of flight values used in depth mapping of objects in the room. The system also has a projector to project the images onto the scene. The system controls the camera and projector mounted in a moveable head of a lamp with a motor mounted elsewhere in the lamp. In one implementation, the motor is mounted in the base of a table lamp.
US09052577B2 Display device having a double image display function
A display device having a double image display function includes a base unit, a support unit, a first image display unit, a second image display unit and an image projecting unit. The base unit includes a base body. The support unit includes a support structure disposed on the base body. The first image display unit includes at least one image display screen movably disposed on the support structure for displaying a first predetermined image. The second image display unit includes at least one projection plate movably disposed on the base body. The image projecting unit includes an image projecting module movably disposed on the image display screen. An image light beam generated by the image projecting module is projected onto the projection plate to display a second predetermined image on the projection plate. Thus, the same or different displaying images can be respectively shown on different viewing planes.
US09052575B2 Determining correspondence mappings from infrared patterns projected during the projection of visual content
A method performed by a display system is provided. The method includes projecting a first infrared pattern from a first projection plane of a first projector into a scene, capturing the first infrared pattern from the scene in a capture plane of at least one image capture device, and determining a first correspondence mapping between the first projector and the image capture device from at least the first infrared pattern in the first projection plane and the first infrared pattern in the capture plane.
US09052571B1 Wide-area aerial camera systems
A system for capturing aerial images, the system comprising at least one camera unit, the camera unit comprising at least one overview camera, a plurality of detail cameras, and a frame for holding the cameras, each detail camera having a longer focal length than the at least one overview camera, each detail camera mounted at a different angle laterally so that the fields of view of the detail cameras overlap to form an extended lateral field of view.
US09052568B2 Light control apparatus
The apparatus includes an upper substrate and a lower substrate, each of which has an optical aperture, at least one light control unit, a spacer arranged between the upper substrate and the lower substrate to provide a space in which the light control unit can move, and a drive unit arranged on the upper substrate to drive the light control unit. The drive unit includes a magnet arranged at a center of rotation of the light control unit and an electromagnetic drive source including a coil core and a winding coil, the coil core being arranged in such a way as to be opposed to the magnet. A positioning member is provided on the upper substrate. The distance between the coil core and the magnet is kept constant by the positioning member.
US09052566B2 Optical switch
An optical switch includes: an input-output port with three or more ports arranged along a direction; a modulator that includes an incident layer, a reflective layer, and a modulation layer disposed between these layers, spatially modulates light entering the incident layer from any port of the input-output port, and outputs the light spatially-modulated toward any of other ports of the input-output port; and a condensing lens that optically couples the input-output port and the modulator, wherein x2≠2x1+x0 holds where: a coordinate axis is along the direction of the input-output port and an optical axis of the lens is set as an origin of the coordinate axis; x0, x1, and x2 respectively are coordinates of a first port to/from which light is input/output, and a second port and a third port from/to which light input to or output from the first port is output/input; and x1,x2>0.
US09052562B2 Method for electrophoresis in liquid crystals
A method of electrophoretic movement of particles through a liquid crystal utilizes a direct (DC) or alternating (AC) electric field that is applied along the liquid crystal director (for liquid crystals with a positive dielectric anisotropy) or perpendicular to the director (for liquid crystals with a negative dielectric anisotropy). A perpendicular or tilted orientation of the liquid crystal molecules at the surface of the particle causes distortions, such that the fore-aft (or left-right) symmetry of the particle is broken. The asymmetric orientation of the liquid crystal around the particle allows both charged and neutral particles to be transported, even when the particles themselves are perfectly symmetric (spherical).
US09052555B2 Liquid crystal display device
In one embodiment, a first substrate is provided with a pixel electrode including a contact portion, a pair of main pixel electrodes extending in a first direction from the contact portion, a sub-pixel electrode arranged between the contact portion and an end of the extending main pixel electrodes and extending in a second direction so as to connect the pair of main pixel electrodes. A second substrate is provided with a common electrode including first and second main common electrodes sandwiching the pair of the main pixel electrodes, a third main common electrode arranged substantially in the center between the pair of main pixel electrodes and extending in parallel with the first and second main common electrodes, and a sub-common electrode arranged between the contact portion and the sub-pixel electrode and connected with the first, second and third main common electrodes extending in the second direction.
US09052553B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a first gate line disposed on the first substrate, a second gate line disposed on the first substrate, a data line disposed on the first substrate, a reference voltage line disposed on the first substrate and extending substantially to be parallel to the data line, a first subpixel electrode disposed in a pixel area on the first substrate, a second subpixel electrode disposed in the pixel area on the first substrate, a first switching element connected to the first gate line, the data line and the first subpixel electrode, a second switching element connected to the first gate line, the data line and the second subpixel electrode, and a third switching element connected to the first subpixel electrode and the reference voltage line.
US09052549B2 Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display including: a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other; an alignment layer disposed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate and including a vertical photo-alignment material which includes a first vertical functional group and a photo-reactive group, and a major alignment material which does not include the photo-reactive group; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a ratio of a molar concentration of the vertical photo-alignment material to the molar concentration of the major alignment material increases in a direction towards a surface of the alignment layer adjacent to the liquid crystal layer.
US09052547B2 Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel is provided and includes a pair of substrates arranged face to face so as to sandwich a liquid crystal layer, a lower electrode formed on a lower substrate, an upper electrode formed on the lower substrate through an insulating layer, in which plural slits are formed in each sub-pixel, wherein each of the plural slits is formed as an aperture in which both ends thereof in the longitudinal direction are closed, and an alignment film formed so as to cover a surface of the upper electrode and the insulating layer. The plural slits have different widths at both ends of slits in a longitudinal direction, and a rubbing direction of the alignment film is a direction crossing longitudinal edges of each of the slits.
US09052546B2 Illumination unit and display
There are provided an illumination unit and a display which are capable of further uniformizing chromaticity of illumination light in a plane while suppressing a reduction in light extraction efficiency. A light modulation device bonded to a light guide plate includes a light modulation layer exhibiting a scattering property or transparency with respect to light propagating through the light guide plate. The light modulation layer is sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates. While alignment films controlling alignment of the light modulation layer are disposed on surfaces of the transparent substrates, an electrode generating an electric field which changes the alignment of the light modulation layer is disposed on only the surface of the transparent substrate.
US09052539B2 Liquid crystal display device, compensation circuit and TFT voltage shutdown method thereof
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device, compensation circuit and TFT voltage shutdown method. The compensation circuit includes first capacitor, first resistor, second resistor and operational amplifier; wherein first terminal of first capacitor connected to receiving terminal of gate driver of LCD for receiving shutdown voltage to shutdown TFT; first terminal of first resistor connected to second terminal of first capacitor; first terminal of second resistor connected to second terminal of first resistor and second terminal of second resistor connected to output terminal of operational amplifier; positive input terminal of operational amplifier receiving an externally supplied shutdown voltage for gate driver, and negative input terminal of operational amplifier connected to second terminal of first resistor; wherein connection between first capacitor and receiving terminal of gate drive independent from connection between output terminal of operational amplifier and receiving terminal of gate driver.
US09052529B2 Comfortable ophthalmic device and methods of its production
This invention relates to comfortable ophthalmic devices and methods of producing such devices. The ophthalmic devices are contacted with a polyamide wetting agent and heated to a temperature of at least about 50° C. to about 150° C.
US09052521B2 Optical component calibration system for laser-based display device
A laser-based display device includes a plurality of ultraviolet lasers configured to excite a phosphor-containing display screen in order to produce visible light. The laser-based display device also includes a reference laser used for calibration operations. A control system within the laser-based display device causes the reference laser beam to scan across one or more calibration features, and adjusts optical components of the laser-based display device, including activation timing of the ultraviolet lasers, based on feedback patterns generated by the calibration features, to compensate for drift effects. The calibration features may be disposed off-screen or on-screen.
US09052520B2 Illumination device and display unit
An illumination device capable of suppressing formation of a double image in three-dimensional display, and a display unit including the illumination device are provided. In a light modulation device bonded to a light guide plate, a scattering region that scatters light propagating within the light guide plate, and a transmissive region that allows light propagating within the light guide plate to pass therethrough are formed through control of an electric field. The scattering region scatters light to generate linear illumination light. A reflector is provided directly below the light modulation device. The reflector reflects light, which is part of the scattered light generated in the scattering region and is emitted to a reflector side, to generate reflected light to be focused directly below the scattering region.
US09052519B2 Image display device
An image display device is discussed. The image display device includes a display panel configured to selectively display a 2D image and a 3D image and a patterned retarder disposed line by line. The patterned retarder includes a first retarder transmitting only a left eye image of the 3D image from the display panel and a second retarder transmitting only a right eye image of the 3D image. Pixels disposed on the display panel alternately display the 3D image and a black image every one horizontal line in an interlace manner through a time division.
US09052518B2 Slant lens interlacing with linearly arranged sets of lenses
An optical product that includes a transparent lens sheet, which has a first side with a plurality of side-by-side sets of linearly arranged lenses. Each of the sets of lenses is at a slant angle in the range of 10 to 46 degrees from a vertical or a horizontal axis of the lens sheet. The product includes an image layer that includes pixels from a number of digital images. The pixels are arranged in a pattern of pixel locations providing non-orthogonal interlacing of the digital images relative to each of the sets of the linearly arranged lenses. The pattern of pixel locations aligns a number of the pixels from each of the digital images to be parallel to a line extending through a center of the linearly arranged lenses in each set. Each of the linearly arranged lenses may have a round base, a hexagonal base, or a square base.
US09052506B2 Virtual image display device and manufacturing method of virtual image display device
In a virtual image display device, direction adjustment of an image optical axis, i.e., angle adjustment of a direction of eyes of an observer can be performed by providing a cushion member or adjusting an amount of shift between an image display unit and a projection system, and thereby, strain on eyes of an observer in use may be reduced. Even when the virtual image display device is used over a long period, for example, stress on the observer may be suppressed.
US09052505B2 Display apparatus and system and display method thereof
A display apparatus includes a planar waveguide optical element, a projection optical system, and a microdisplay device. By including free-form optics and waveguide technology, the volume and weight of the display apparatus can be reduced, and an optical system can be realized with improved image quality, structure, and performance parameters.
US09052503B2 Method for the output of graphic driving indications
The method outputs graphic driving indications for assisting a motor vehicle driver in a driving maneuver. The graphic driving indications are displayed by a head-up display. A first graphic driving indication is in the form of a traffic lane change indication pointing out to the driver the direction from a traffic lane traveled at the beginning of the maneuver to a desired traffic lane. A second graphic driving indication is output in the form of a contact-analog traffic lane marking graphically emphasizing the desired traffic lane relative to other traffic lanes. A third graphic driving indication is in the form of a contact-analog maneuvering impulse including a driving funnel originating from the desired traffic lane and corresponding to the driving maneuver. A fourth graphic driving indication is a symbolic maneuvering display indication which symbolically displays the beginning driving maneuver after the vehicle enters into the driving funnel.
US09052501B2 Electrowetting system and method for operating
An electrowetting system includes an electrowetting element having a first fluid and a second, immiscible fluid. The configuration of the fluids is dependent on the voltage applied to the element, the voltage being appliable upon closing a switch. With the switch being open, the voltage on the element is substantially maintainable for a period of time which is shorter than or equal to a relaxation time period of the element due to backflow.
US09052499B2 Vibrating apparatus, driving apparatus having the vibrating apparatus, and optical device
A vibration apparatus includes a vibrating body that includes a piezoelectric material having a lead content of less than 1000 ppm, and has an electromechanical energy converting element having an electrode; and a control unit that applies at least two driving voltages to the electromechanical energy converting element, and generates a combined vibration by providing a time phase difference to the vibrating body and generating multiple stable waves having mutually different orders; wherein the control unit changes at least one of the voltage amplitude ratio and time phase difference of at least two driving voltages, so as to change the amplitude distribution of the combined vibration.
US09052495B2 Zoom lens and optical apparatus including the same
Provided is a zoom lens in which a variation in aberration with respect to a temperature change is small and excellent optical characteristics can be easily obtained. The zoom lens includes multiple lens units in which a distance between adjacent ones of the multiple lens units changes for zooming. When an average value of a change in refractive index with respect to a temperature change within a temperature range of from 0° C. to 40° C. is ΔNav, at least one lens unit L of the multiple lens units includes multiple optical elements A made of materials satisfying a conditional expression: |ΔNav|>5.0×10−5. When an anomalous partial dispersion ratio for a g-line and an F-line is ΔθgFΔθ, at least one optical element Aθ of the multiple optical elements A satisfies a conditional expression: |ΔθgFΔθ|>0.0272.
US09052482B1 Power over Ethernet electrical to optical interface converter
A portable, self-powered, interface converter for converting between Ethernet over twisted pair cables and Ethernet over optical fiber is described. In one implementation, the device may include a first interface to a power-over-Ethernet connection and a second interface to provide a connection to receive fiber optic cabling. A power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit may derive power from the PoE connection and output a corresponding power signal. A transcoder may perform physical layer conversion between Ethernet communications over twisted pair cabling connected to the first interface and Ethernet communications over the fiber optic cabling. The transcoder may be powered by the power signal output by the PoE circuit.
US09052481B2 Method, apparatus and optical interconnect manufactured by 3D printing
A method of manufacturing an optical interconnect includes 3D printing a plurality of non-intersecting and spaced apart optical waveguides from a material that guides electromagnetic waves in the optical spectrum after being cross-linked or polymerized in a region activated by the 3D printing. At least some of the optical waveguides change direction at least once by about 90°. The method further includes encasing at least each end of the optical waveguides with a material having a lower index of refraction than the material from which the optical waveguides are formed by 3D printing, to secure the optical waveguides. A corresponding 3D printing apparatus is also described.
US09052480B2 Alignment pin and optical communication system
An alignment pin for an optical communication system comprises: a first portion (31) extending along a direction in a receiving hole of a printed circuit board, a second portion (32) extending along this direction in a receiving through hole of an optical coupling device, a third portion (33) extending along this direction in a receiving hole of an external optical component. The pin comprises an abutting surface (35) placed in contact with a parallel complementary surface (36) of the optical coupling device.
US09052478B2 Total-internal-reflection fiber optic interface modules with different optical paths and assemblies using same
Fiber optic interface modules and assemblies using same are disclosed, wherein the module includes first and second lenses formed therein that utilize total-internal reflection within the module body. The first and second lenses define first and second optical paths of different lengths. The module may operably support first and second optical fibers so that they are optically coupled to surfaces of the first and second lenses. The first and second lenses are designed to provide predetermined tolerances for lateral offsets relative to first and second active photo-devices while maintaining respective first and second coupling efficiencies between the active photo-devices and the corresponding first and second optical fibers.
US09052475B2 Fiber optics connectors
Optical multifiber connectors with multiple termination ferrules and multilens arrays are disclosed. In one aspect, an optical fiber connector includes a multilens array and at least one alignment post. The lenses protrude from a first surface of a transparent plate, and the least one alignment post protrudes from a second surface of the transparent plate opposites the first surface. The connector includes a first standoff frame disposed on the first surface and a second standoff frame disposed on the second surface.
US09052462B2 Area array waveguide power splitter
A method for constructing an area array waveguide power splitter includes preparing a reflective layer on a substrate and forming a core of an area array waveguide layer and alignment features for an optical fiber input and a plurality of optical fiber outputs atop the reflective layer, wherein the core of the area array waveguide layer and the alignment features are formed concurrently. The method also includes applying a reflective layer to the top and side surfaces of the core of the area array waveguide layer and exposing an input and exposing a plurality of outputs in the reflective layer.
US09052461B2 Compound optical combiner
A compound optical combiner for combining multiple optical signals includes a set of combiners. The set of combiners includes at least one polarization combiner optically connected to at least one non-polarization combiner. The non-polarization combiner combines a first set of input signals while preserving a polarization of each input signal in the first set of signals. The polarization combiner combines a second set of input signals while converting the polarization of at least one input signal in the second set of signals.
US09052452B2 Solar concentrator with integrated tracking and light delivery system with collimation
A solar light distribution system includes a solar light concentrator that is affixed externally to a light transfer tube. Solar light waves are processed by the concentrator into a collimated beam of light, which is then transferred through a light receiving port and into the light transfer tube. A reflector directs the collimated beam of light through the tube to a light distribution port. The interior surface of the light transfer tube is highly reflective so that the light transfers through the tube with minimal losses. An interchangeable luminaire is attached to the light distribution port and distributes light inside of a structure. A sun tracking device rotates the concentrator and the light transfer tube to optimize the receiving of solar light by the concentrator throughout the day. The system provides interior lighting, uses only renewable energy sources, and releases no carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
US09052447B2 Optical device with echelle grating and wavefront tailoring
An optical de-MUX includes a sub-wavelength grating that magnifies an input optical signal. In particular, along a direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of the optical signal, the sub-wavelength grating has a spatially varying effective index of refraction that is larger at a center of the sub-wavelength grating than at an edge of the sub-wavelength grating. Moreover, the optical de-MUX includes an optical device that images and diffracts the optical signal using a reflective geometry, and which provides different diffraction orders to output ports. For example, the optical device may include an echelle grating.
US09052445B2 Molded glass lid for wafer level packaging of opto-electronic assemblies
An opto-electronic assembly is provided comprising a substrate (generally of silicon or glass) for supporting a plurality of interconnected optical and electrical components. A layer of sealing material is disposed to outline a defined peripheral area of the substrate. A molded glass lid is disposed over and bonded to the substrate, where the molded glass lid is configured to create a footprint that matches the defined peripheral area of the substrate. The bottom surface of the molded glass lid includes a layer of bonding material that contacts the substrate's layer of sealing material upon contact, creating a bonded assembly. In one form, a wafer level assembly process is proposed where multiple opto-electronic assemblies are disposed on a silicon wafer and multiple glass lids are molded in a single sheet of glass that is thereafter bonded to the silicon wafer.
US09052442B2 Method for applying a coating onto a silicone hydrogel lens
The invention provides a cost-effective and in-situ method for applying an LbL coating onto a silicone hydrogel contact lens directly in a lens package. The resultant silicone hydrogel contact lens has a coating with good hydrophilicity, intactness and durability and also can be used directly from the lens package by a patient without washing and/or rising. In addition, the invention provides a packaging solution for in-situ coating of a silicone hydrogel contact lens in a lens package and an ophthalmic lens product.
US09052440B2 Chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinkers with dangling hydrophilic polymer chains
The invention provide a class of linear chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinkers which comprises two terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, at least two polysiloxane segments, and dangling hydrophilic polymer chains each covalently attached to a divalent organic radical separating each pair of adjacent polysiloxane segments. The present invention is also related to a polymer comprising crosslinking units derived from chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker of the invention and to ophthalmic lenses comprising such a polymer.
US09052428B2 Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for thermally managing electronic devices using dynamic optical components
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for thermally managing electronic devices using dynamic optical components are provided. At least one of the reflectance and the transmittance of incident electromagnetic radiation of a dynamic optical component on an electronic device may be adjusted based on a detected variable device characteristic of the device, such as a temperature of a device component. By adjusting the reflectance and/or the transmittance of the dynamic optical component, different portions of the incident electromagnetic radiation may be directed from the dynamic optical component for changing the variable device characteristic.
US09052427B2 Display and illumination unit
A light modulation layer disposed between a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate generates a plurality of first strip-like illumination light beams extending in a direction intersecting with a first end surface of the first or second transparent substrate at a first angle with use of light from a light source, when an electric field for a first mode is applied from an electrode to the light modulation layer. The light modulation layer generates a plurality of second strip-like illumination light beams extending in a direction intersecting with the first end surface at an angle different from the first angle or a direction parallel to the first end surface with use of light from the light source, when an electric field for a second mode is applied from the electrode to the light modulation layer.
US09052426B2 Display module and handheld electronic device
A display module is provided. The display module includes a frame, a light guide plate, a light source device, a display panel and an optical film. The light guide plate is accommodated within the frame. The light guide plate has a recess. The light source device is disposed between the frame and the light guide plate. The display panel is disposed on the recess and attached to the light guide plate to seal the recess. The optical film is located within the recess. A handheld electronic device having said display module is also provided.
US09052407B2 Seismic velocity model updating and imaging with elastic wave imaging
Method for building a seismic imaging velocity model, particularly at the boundary of a geo-body, and to perform imaging, by taking into account the elastic reflection and scattering information in the seismic data. More illumination of the base and flanks (or in general, the boundary) of the geo-body is provided from (a) inside of the geo-body (502), with elastically converted waves at the geo-body boundary used (via elastic RTM flooding); and (b) from outside the geo-body (503), by utilizing prism waves with elastic RTM to handle the phase correctly in the model building step. The increased illumination and correct elastic phase are used for geo-body boundary determination. Elastic RTM is then applied (505), along with the elastically derived imaging velocity model, to maximize the use of elastic energy in the imaging step, and to obtain the correct image with the correct phase.
US09052404B2 Well-logging apparatus including azimuthally-spaced, noble gas-based detectors
A well-logging device may include a housing to be positioned within a borehole of a subterranean formation, and at least one radiation source carried by the housing to direct radiation into the subterranean formation. The well-logging device may also include noble gas-based radiation detectors carried by the housing in azimuthally spaced relation to detect radiation from the subterranean formation. A controller may determine at least one property of the subterranean formation based upon the detected radiation from the noble gas-based radiation detectors.
US09052391B2 Backup velocity estimation utilizing traction device speed
A velocity estimation method and system is disclosed. The method may include receiving a location signal indicative of a location of the machine and estimating the velocity of the machine based on a change in the location of the machine over a period of time. The method may further include determining a loss of the location signal, detecting a traction device speed of the machine, and selectively estimating the velocity of the machine based on the traction device speed when the location signal is determined to be lost.
US09052382B2 System architecture design for time-of-flight system having reduced differential pixel size, and time-of-flight systems so designed
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods to produce a high performance, feature rich TOF system, phase-based or otherwise using small TOF pixels, single-ended or preferably differential, as well as TOF systems so designed. IC chip area required for pixels is reduced by intelligently off-loading or removing from within the pixel certain components and/or functionality. In some embodiments during a single TOF system capture period, analog values from each pixel are repeatedly sampled and converted to digital values, which are combined and manipulated on the sensor chip. Combining this plurality of values enables appropriately compact data from the sensor chip. Embodiments of the present invention implement a TOF system with high ambient light resilience, high dynamic range, low motion blur and dealiasing support, while advantageously reducing pixel area size relative to prior art TOF pixels.
US09052374B2 Method and system for processing positioning signals based on predetermined message data segment
A method and system for determining a geolocation of an object includes collecting a positioning signal including a predetermined message data segment. A time of arrival of the predetermined message data segment may be determined in the positioning signal. Information based on the time of arrival may be provided for determination of a geolocation of an object. The time of arrival of the predetermined message data segment may be determined based on a time search for the predetermined message data segment in the positioning signal.
US09052372B2 Method of generating 2D or 3D maps of MRI T1 and T22 relaxation times
A method of generating 2D or 3D maps of MRI T1 and T2 relaxation times by acquiring 2D or 3D MRI gradient-echo images and extracting the T1 and T2 values from the images, wherein MRI images are acquired using a combination of gradient-echo sequences, including a first MRI image acquired using a SSFP-FID (Steady State Free Precession-Free Induction Decay) acquisition sequence; two further images acquired using a Dual-Echo SSFP acquisition sequence; and the T1 and T2 values are extracted for each image pixel or voxel from the corresponding MRI signals.
US09052371B1 Combinational nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus with linear frequency chirp detected signals
A structure or method for detecting a substance using conductive surfaces. Segments of conductive wire are disposed adjacent each of the surfaces and multi-turn coils are also disposed between the two surfaces, typically such that the windings of the coils are disposed between the respective conductive wires and the surfaces. A linear chirp signal, is applied to the wire segments. With the coils deactivated, emissions from the wire induce the Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR). With the coils activated to generate a static magnetic field, emissions from the wire induce Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). As a result, the characteristics of a substance located between the conductive surfaces may be determined using either or both resonant modalties.
US09052370B2 Detection processing for NQR system
A system that uses the nuclear quadrupole resonant effect to detect the presence of materials of interest, such as may be excited by radio frequency fields generated within a portal. Transmitted chirp signals may be processed using matching filtering and other signal processing to accurately detect the presence of such materials.
US09052365B2 Method for testing leakage current of electric compressor
According to the present invention, after a predetermined voltage is applied to a coil in a state in which the inside of an electric compressor is filled with dielectric liquid and the coil of a motor is immersed in the dielectric liquid, in a first test process, a test product in which a current value when a first predetermined time T1 elapses I1 is less than or equal to a first reference current value is determined as an acceptable product, in a second test process, among the test products in which the current value is greater than the first reference current value in the first test process, a test product in which a current value I2 when a second predetermined time T2 longer than the first predetermined time elapses is less than or equal to a second reference current value is determined as an acceptable product, a test product in which the current value is greater than the second reference current value is determined as a disqualified product, and the first reference current value is a predictive reference current value that allows a test product which is to be determined as a disqualified product in the second test process to be determined as a disqualified product in the first test process, and allows some test products which are to be determined as an acceptable product in the second test process to be determined as a disqualified product in the first test process.
US09052358B2 Copula-based system and method for management of manufacturing test and product specification throughout the product lifecycle for electronic systems or integrated circuits
A method is provided for determining specifications that meet electronic system or integrated circuit product requirements at all stages of the product lifecycle. Early in the product lifecycle design features must be specified. Later in the lifecycle datasheet specifications must be determined and published to customers, and test specifications in manufacturing must be determined. The method includes acquiring data from a test vehicle, fitting the data to a copula-based statistical model using an appropriately programmed computer, and using the statistical model to compute producer- and customer-oriented figures of merit of a product, different from the test vehicle, using the appropriately programmed computer. Different size, fault tolerance schemes, test coverage, end-use (datasheet), and test condition specifications of the product may be modeled. The statistical model is a copula-based and so can take into account dependency among attributes of the product. The copula-based model has features, which enable significant computational efficiencies.
US09052355B2 Wafer prober integrated with full-wafer contactor
Methods and apparatus for testing unsingulated integrated circuits on a wafer include adapting a wafer prober for use with full-wafer-contacter disposed on the wafer. Some embodiments include placing wafer on a chuck of the prober, aligning the wafer to a full-wafer contacter incorporated in the wafer prober, removably attaching the wafer to the full wafer contacter, separating the wafer from the chuck, and making electrical contact to one or more integrated circuits of the wafer by making physical contact with a surface of the full-wafer contacter that faces away from the wafer.
US09052353B2 Method for locating short circuit in an overhead power transmission line by unsynchronized measurements at both ends thereof
The claimed invention relates to the power industry and can be used for locating short circuits in power transmission lines by measuring the instantaneous current and voltage values when unsynchronized measurements are taken at both ends of the line. It is a technological object of the invention to improve the accuracy of damage location. The technical result of the invention is achieved by accurately synchronizing the current and voltage values measured at the ends of the line and unsynchronized in time on measurement. Synchronization is effected by aligning the oscillograms at both ends of the line with the short circuit start section.
US09052346B2 Systems and methods for obtaining and using incident field transfer functions of electrical stimulation systems
A method of estimating response of a medical lead to an electromagnetic field includes providing a medical lead having a proximal end, a distal end, a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end, a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end, and a plurality of conductors extending along the medical lead and electrically coupling the electrodes to the terminals; individually applying a test field at each of a plurality of test positions along the medical lead using at least one excitation probe; for each application of the test field, determining a response to the application of the test field at one or more of the electrodes or terminals; generating a transfer function using a combination of the responses determined for the applications of the test field; and using the transfer function to estimate a response of the medical lead to an electromagnetic field.
US09052344B2 Current detection circuit, motor driving device, magnetic disk storage device, and electronic appliance
A current detection circuit for detecting a maximum current value in a three-phase motor includes an identifier configured to identify a maximum current phase having the maximum current value among phases of the motor, and a detector configured to detects the maximum current value by summing current values of phases other than the maximum current phase when the current direction in the maximum current phase is a predetermined first direction.
US09052338B2 Inert gas delivery system for electrical inspection apparatus
An apparatus for electrical inspection is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an inert gas delivery system that delivers inert gas near a microscope imaging element and electrical test probes. A gas supply provides an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen. The inert gas displaces oxygen to prevent premature oxidation of the test probes. In one embodiment, one or more delivery tubes deliver inert gas to the measurement area.
US09052334B2 Acceleration sensor
In an acceleration sensor, a sensor unit includes a weight portion having a recess section with one open surface and a solid section one-piece formed with the recess section, beam portions for rotatably supporting the weight portion such that the recess section and the solid section are arranged along a rotation direction, a movable electrode, fixed electrodes, detection electrodes electrically connected to the fixed electrodes to detect a capacitance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrodes. A fixed plate is arranged in a spaced-apart relationship with a surface of the weight portion on which the movable electrode is provided, and embedment electrodes are embedded in the fixed plate to extend along a thickness direction of the fixed plate, the embedment electrodes having one end portions facing the movable electrode to serve as the fixed electrodes and the other end portions configured to serve as the detection electrodes.
US09052333B2 Sensor capable of measuring acceleration, angular velocity, and DC acceleration
Disclosed herein is an inertial sensor including: a membrane; a mass body provided under the membrane; a plurality of patterned magnets provided under the mass body; and a magnetoresistive element provided to be spaced apart from the mass body and measuring static DC acceleration acting on the mass body through resistance changed according to magnetic fields of the plurality of patterned magnets. The plurality of patterned magnets and the magnetoresistive element are included, thereby making it possible to measure static DC acceleration (particularly, gravity acceleration) that is difficult to measure using an existing to piezoelectric element.
US09052315B2 Rapid detection of analytes in liquid samples
A device for detecting at least one analyte (and in some embodiments two, three, or four or more different analytes) in a liquid sample generally comprises (i) a support having a chamber for receiving a biological fluid therein, wherein said chamber is an elongate chamber having a length axis; (ii) a carrier or agitator in said elongate chamber, said carrier or agitator having opposite end portions and a side portion, the carrier or agitator dimensioned to travel in said chamber along said length axis and/or permit said liquid sample to flow in the chamber therearound, either (or both) thereby agitating the liquid sample; and (iii) at least one anti-analyte antibody coupled to either the carrier and/or the chamber side wall.
US09052306B2 Coding module, bio measuring meter and system for operating bio measuring meter
A bio-measuring meter is provided. The bio-measuring meter includes a receptacle receiving a sample strip for the bio-measuring meter; and a figured piece identifying device comprising plural switches for receiving a figured piece, wherein at least one of the plural switches is switched by the figured piece to generate a current signal, and a datum of the sample strip is adjusted by a predefined respective parameter for the current signal.
US09052303B2 Device for determining total chlorine in liquids
A device is provided for determining total chlorine in liquids, the device including an indicator carrier that is impregnated with a color indicator that contains Michler's thioketone, the indicator carrier additionally containing as a color indicator at least one azine as well as an iodide, in particular potassium iodide and/or sodium iodide.
US09052298B2 High density plate filler
A filling apparatus for filling a microplate. The microplate can comprise a plurality of wells each sized to receive an assay. A substrate can comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first assay input port for receiving the assay disposed on the first surface, a plurality of staging capillaries extending through the substrate, and a first plurality of microfluidic channels fluidly coupling the first assay input port with at least one of the plurality of staging capillaries. Each of the plurality of staging capillaries can comprise an inlet and an outlet and be sized to receive the assay.
US09052291B2 Optical sensor based on a broadband light source and cascaded waveguide filters
An optical sensor based on a broadband light source and cascaded waveguide filters comprises a broadband light source, an input waveguide, a reference ring resonator coupled with the input waveguide, a common bus waveguide coupled with the reference ring resonator, a sensing ring resonator coupled with the common bus waveguide, an output waveguide coupled with the sensing ring resonator, and two optical power detectors. At least a portion of the sensing ring resonator is influenced by the physical parameter to be measured or in contact with an analyte. The variation of the physical parameter to be measured or the variation of the analyte induces a shift of the transmission spectrum of the sensing ring resonator. By using the cascaded filtering effect of the double resonators, the wavelength shift can be translated into a variation of the total output power. Consequently the physical parameter to be measured can be easily deduced.
US09052290B2 SWIR targeted agile raman system for detection of unknown materials using dual polarization
The present disclosure provides for a system and method for analyzing a sample comprising at least one unknown material. A first location may be scanned to generate a SWIR hyperspectral image. The SWIR hyperspectral image may be generated using dual polarization techniques. The SWIR hyperspectral image may be analyzed to target a second location comprising the unknown material. This second location may be further analyzed using Raman spectroscopic techniques and a Raman data set may be generated. The Raman data set may be further analyzed to associate the unknown material with a know material.
US09052259B2 Particle sensor, exhaust system and method for determining particles in the exhaust gas
Embodiments of a particle sensor are provided. In one example, a particle sensor for an exhaust system comprises at least two inlet openings for an exhaust-gas flow of the exhaust system, wherein the inlet openings are of different sizes, and at least two sensor elements, wherein in each case one sensor element is arranged downstream of one inlet opening. In this way, the relative proportion of different-sized particles within the exhaust-gas flow may be determined.
US09052230B2 Industrial process monitoring and imaging
Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus for imaging a volume of material contained inside a vessel. The apparatus includes a plurality of synchronized acoustic sensors positioned at a periphery of an inner volume of the vessel. A processor combines the outputs of the acoustic sensors to identify at least one ambient noise source of the industrial process generating a noise field that illuminates an internal volume of the vessel and to provide an image of the material by temporal and spatial coherent processing of the transmission and reflection of the noise field generated by the noise source.
US09052226B2 Autonomous sump pump system
An autonomous sump (ASP) system is designed to remove water from a sump using a source of power other than commercial electrical power or battery power. The ASP system can be a stand-alone unit or, alternatively, can be used along with a preexisting sump pump system. In some embodiments, the ASP system can provide an alert to a building owner of the ASP system failure.
US09052224B2 Measuring transducer of the vibration type as well as measuring system formed therewith
A measuring transducer comprises: a housing, with an inlet-side flow divider having four flow openings, and an outlet-side end having four flow openings; a tube arrangement having four tubes connected to the flow dividers; and a first coupling element. An exciter mechanism for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of the four measuring tubes. The first coupling element includes a deformation body and four connecting struts, of which connected with a first strut end and with the first measuring tube, a second connecting strut is connected with a first strut end and with a second strut end with the second measuring tube, a third connecting strut and with a second strut end with the first measuring tube, and a fourth connecting strut is connected with a first strut end and with a second strut end with the fourth measuring tube.
US09052222B2 Monitoring water consumption
A data processing system and a computer program product for monitoring water consumption. A set of locations in a fluid transport system in a structure is monitored for sounds generated by a fluid flowing at an endpoint of the fluid transport system. Current acoustic data is generated for the sounds detected from monitoring the set of locations. The current acoustic data is compared with historical acoustic data to form a difference. A determination is made as to whether the difference exceeds a threshold. An action is performed in response to determining that the difference exceeds the threshold.
US09052215B2 Apparatus and method for navigation control
An apparatus for navigation control includes: a GPS configured to locate a current position of a vehicle and a speed bump ahead of the vehicle; a sensor configured to acquire detailed information of the speed bump and a current speed of the vehicle; a controller configured to locate the current position of the vehicle to divide a distance from the current position to the speed bump into one or more regions, to check the current speed of the vehicle, to calculate a recommended speed for passing over the speed bump based on the detailed information of the speed bump, and to generate a warning message if the current speed is above the recommended speed; and an outputter configured to output the warning message under control of the controller.
US09052212B2 Dynamic destination map display for navigation system
A map display apparatus and method for a navigation changes a map scale dynamically to help the driver visualize the environment of the destination when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The map scale is changed dynamically to display the destination along with at least one map attribute near the destination to provide more information to the driver. The navigation system includes, among others, a searching unit and a scale changing unit to change the map scale to display the destination along with at least one map attribute when the vehicle is approaching the destination. The navigation system also includes a priority table to prioritize the map attributes and the searching unit searches the map attributes near the destination according to order in the priority table.
US09052208B2 Method and apparatus for sensing based on route bias
An approach is provided for sensing based on route bias. The goal processor processes and/or facilitates a processing of one or more geo-routes, one or more location anchors, or a combination thereof associated with one or more devices to determine proximity information of the one or more devices to one or more sensing goals. The goal processor causes, at least in part, a selection of at least a subset of the one or more devices to participate in the one or more sensing goals based, at least in part, on the proximity information.
US09052205B2 Terminal device, information processing method, and program
A terminal device that includes a display that displays an image; a positioning unit that measures a current position; a memory that stores information corresponding to a plurality of positions measured by the positioning unit in association with a time at which each of the plurality of positions was measured; and a controller that controls the display to display a travel trace on a map based on the information stored in the memory and that variably sets a display scale of the map according to a travel speed or traveled distance per unit time corresponding to the travel trace.
US09052201B2 Calibration system for simultaneous calibration of multiple motion capture elements
A calibration system for simultaneous calibration of multiple motion capture elements (MCEs) of at least one type (accelerometer and/or gyroscope). Includes motion and/or rotational element coupled to a base and configured to move and/or rotate multiple MCEs mounted on a mount in and/or about at least one axis. For one axis movement embodiments, after each motion and/or axial rotation, the motion and/or rotational mount itself is rotated for example manually, so the mount points in a different direction, i.e., the Z axis. In a single axis embodiment, this is performed twice so that each axis of the MCEs experience motion and/or rotation about three axes. The motion capture data is sampled and used in calculation of a 3×3 calibration matrix. The physical format of the motion capture sensors may be any format including chip, memory or SIM card format, PCB format, mobile computers/phones.
US09052200B1 Automatic travel directions
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for automatically providing travel directions to users of a geographic information system client may generally include receiving, by one or more computing devices, a search request from a user associated with a geographic location, identifying at least one reference travel route between a current location of the user and the geographic location, monitoring an actual travel route taken by the user without actively providing travel directions to the user as the user travels along the actual travel route, comparing the actual travel route to the at least one reference travel route using a background software routine implemented by the one or more computing devices and automatically initiating, when the actual travel route differs from the at least one reference travel route, a navigation software routine for actively providing the user travel directions to the geographic location.
US09052189B2 Measurement apparatus for measuring shape of test object and measurement method
A measurement apparatus includes: a vibration detection surface which has a set relative position with respect to a test surface, and is irradiated with a part of the measurement light; an image sensor configured to sense, together with a first interference fringe generated by interference between reference light from a reference surface and measurement light from the test surface, a second interference fringe generated by interference between light from the vibration detection surface and the reference light; and a processor configured to obtain a relative vibration between the reference surface and the test surface by using data of the sensed second interference fringe, and obtain the shape of the test surface by using the obtained relative vibration and data of the sensed first interference fringe.
US09052180B2 Spatial light interference tomography
Methods and a computer readable medium for deriving a quantitative phase contrast tomographic image of a specimen. The specimen is illuminated and a focus of the illuminating light is scanned to a plurality of depths within the specimen. Light transmitted through the specimen is spatially Fourier transformed at each of the plurality of depths to form a spatially transformed image, and at least one of the phase and amplitude of a plurality of spatial frequency components of the spatially transformed image is spatially modulated. An intensity image of the specimen plane as modulated with respect to spatial frequency components is detected and deconvolved at a plurality of spatially modulated instances to obtain a three-dimensional phase representation of the specimen at each of the plurality of distances relative to a fiducial plane.
US09052179B2 Optical coherence tomography apparatus and method
An OCT apparatus includes, in addition to a first light source that changes a wavelength of light that is emitted, a second light source that emits light having a particular wavelength. The OCT apparatus is formed so that, when light having the particular wavelength is emitted from the first light source, the light emitted from the second light source is detected by a second optical detector.
US09052165B1 Remotely operated robotic platform
A remotely operated robotic platform comprises a base module mechanically coupled to a first wheel and a second wheel. A first motor is electrically coupled to a first motor controller and mechanically coupled to a first wheel. A second motor is electrically coupled to a second motor controller and mechanically coupled to a second wheel in order to provide zero-radius turning. An array of batteries is electrically coupled to a distribution bar and further electrically coupled to the motor controllers in order to provide power to the motors. A canopy is mechanically coupled to the base module where the canopy further comprises a nose section mechanically coupled to a tail section where the nose section and the tail section comprise protective plates in order to allow the remotely operated robotic platform to deflect radar.
US09052155B2 Firearm
A firearm includes a cocking lever, a shoulder-stock receptacle and a shoulder support having a shoulder stock configured to be joined by a connector to the shoulder-stock receptacle. A shoulder-stock adjuster is configured to adjust a position of the shoulder stock relative to the shoulder-stock receptacle along an adjustment axis. A cheek rest is mounted via a bearing on the shoulder stock so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the adjustment axis. A stop is disposed on the shoulder-stock receptacle so as to limit a movement path of the cheek rest towards a front of the firearm. At a position of the cheek rest defined by the stop of the shoulder-stock receptacle, the cocking lever does not collide with the cheek rest, even in a completely retracted state.
US09052154B1 Projectile launcher
The projectile launcher with internal bow includes a riser base, an elongate barrel assembly attached to the riser base, a crank mechanism attached to the back of the barrel assembly, a trigger assembly, and an internal bow assembly mounted to the riser base. The crank assembly includes a rotatable crank for selective reciprocation of a cocking pawl carriage riding inside a rail system in the barrel assembly. A biased cocking pawl in the pawl carriage selectively engages a projectile stirrup carriage riding on top of the rail system to push the stirrup carriage into a cocked position. The internal bow assembly includes reversed and vertically spaced, upper and lower resilient bow arms and respective pulleys and cables interconnecting the bow arms and the stirrup carriage. Cocking of the stirrup carriage flexes the bow arms in preparation for placement and firing of a projectile.
US09052152B2 System and method for multi-stage bypass, low operating temperature suppressor for automatic weapons
The present disclosure relates to a suppressor for use with a weapon. The suppressor may be formed to have a body portion having a bore extending concentric with a bore axis of the weapon barrel. An opening in the bore extends at least substantially circumferentially around the bore. A flow path communicates with the opening and defines a channel for redirecting gasses flowing in the bore out from the bore, through the opening, into a rearward direction in the flow path. The flow path raises a pressure at the opening to generate a Mach disk within the bore at a location approximately coincident with the opening. The Mach disk forms as a virtual baffle to divert at least a portion of the gasses into the opening and into the flow path.
US09052150B2 Firearm trigger mechanism, firearm and method of controlling a rate of the firearm
A trigger mechanism for a firearm, the trigger mechanism having: a trigger for actuating a hammer of the trigger mechanism, wherein actuation of the trigger causes the hammer to advance to a firing position; and a release configured for movement between a first position and a second position, the release must be first actuated from the first position to the second position and thereafter from the second position to the first position in order to allow for the hammer to advance to the firing position.
US09052149B2 Trigger with adjustable shoe
In some embodiments, a trigger comprises a finger portion comprising a plurality of detent locations and a shoe comprising a resiliently deformable detenting structure. The shoe is attachable to the finger portion at a plurality of predetermined positions via said resiliently deformable detenting structure occupying a detent location. The shoe is disengageble from a given position by resiliently deforming said resiliently deformable detenting structure.
US09052148B2 Power supply device for a motor vehicle
A power supply device for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, truck or motorcycle, comprises one or more storage cell modules, each of which includes one or more electrochemical storage cells and/or double layer capacitors that are arranged next to and/or on top of one another. The device includes a cooler block having a holder for the storage cell modules and a heat dissipating structure for dissipating heat emitted by the storage cell modules. The heat dissipating structure is provided on at least one side of the holder. The cooler block includes a clamping device operatively configured to generate a predefined force by which the heat dissipating structure can be pressed against a respective storage cell module.
US09052146B2 Combined cooling of lube/seal oil and sample coolers
A heat exchanger that is useful for analyzing samples, such as condensate, and methods of cooling a sample for analysis are provided as embodiments of the present invention. The heat exchanger includes an inner tube for containing cooling water and an annulus for containing steam so that heat exchange occurs between the cooling water and the steam so that condensate forms in the annulus. An external shield is attached to the heat exchanger to provide additional natural cooling and to prevent users from contacting the steam contained within the annulus.
US09052145B2 Substrate firing device
A substrate firing device having an increased contact area between the substrate and substrate support portions, thereby preventing the substrate support portions from generating scratches on the substrate when the substrate expands and contracts due to heating and cooling. By increasing the contact area to the substrate and by using quartz on items that contact the substrate, it is possible to prevent scratches occurring on a substrate, even after an etching process of the substrate, thereby improving quality of the slimmer final product.
US09052143B2 Apparatus for drying dishes and glasses
An apparatus for drying dishes that comprises a rack, an air blower, an open drain trough, a sensor, and a system of tubules through which the air flows. The open drain trough has two vertical sides with perforations. The air flows from the air blower, through the system of tubules and into the open drain trough through the perforations in the sides of the open drain trough, so that when the sensor detects the presence of a dish in the open drain trough, the air blower is activated causing the air to dry the dish in the open drain trough.
US09052140B2 Method for converting existing kiln to multi-pass kiln
Embodiments provide a multi-pass kiln with two or more chambers, an entrance and an exit at a proximal end of the kiln, and a reciprocal flow path extending through the kiln from the entrance to the exit. Lumber charges traveling along the reciprocal flow path may travel in a first direction along one side of the heated second chamber before traveling in a substantially opposite second direction along the opposite side of the second chamber. The distal end of the kiln may be substantially sealed, and a pressure differential between the distal end and the proximal end may draw moist heated air from the heated chamber toward the exit and entry to preheat and/or condition lumber charges traveling through the first chamber.
US09052135B2 Refrigerator cooler with magnetic french door gaskets and method of manufacture
A refrigerator cooler comprises a cabinet comprising at least one storage compartment having an open front and a front face. Refrigerator cooler further has left and right door assemblies rotatably affixed to the cabinet to close and seal against the front face when the left and right door assemblies are in a closed position. The left and right door assemblies comprise left and right doors, perimeter gaskets affixed to the back faces of the left and right doors, magnetic French door gaskets affixed to the inner faces of the left and right doors, and one or more door stops affixed to the left and right doors. The left and right magnetic French door gaskets are magnetically attracted to one another when the left and right doors are closed and are magnetically opposed one another when either the left or right doors are opened.
US09052131B2 Damper apparatus for transport refrigeration system, transport refrigeration unit, and methods for same
Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods can provide a damper assembly for transport refrigeration systems. One embodiment can include a damper assembly including a damper door configured to operate in a first position (e.g., closed), a second position (e.g., open), and at least one intermediate position. In one embodiment, a plurality of intermediate positions can be used to controllably vary a capacity of the transport refrigeration unit, or at least one component thereof. Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods can provide a damper assembly that can be accessed though an ambient portion of transport refrigeration systems or components.
US09052127B2 Refrigerator having auxiliary cooling device
A refrigerator having an auxiliary cooling device is disclosed. The refrigerator may include a cabinet that includes a storage compartment to preserve food and a pipe for refrigerant arranged in the storage compartment to cool the storage compartment. a phase change material may provide auxiliary cooling for the storage compartment when the pipe is not operational. An enclosure for the phase change material may be provided around the pipe. The pipe may have a serpentine shape and the enclosure may be formed of a flexible material and shaped to corresponding to a shape of the pipe.
US09052113B1 Combustor nozzle and method for modifying the combustor nozzle
A combustor nozzle includes a downstream surface having an axial centerline. A plurality of passages through the downstream surface provide fluid communication through the downstream surface, and a downstream section of each passage has at least one of a frusto-conical or frusto-spherical shape. A method for modifying a combustor nozzle includes machining a downstream side of a body to remove a recast surface in a plurality of passages that provide fluid communication through the body. The method may further include machining a downstream section in each passage to form at least one of a frusto-conical or frusto-spherical surface in each passage proximate to the downstream side of the body.
US09052109B1 Pyrolytic gas processor and tire conversion system therefrom
A gas processor includes a burner chamber including a first end and a second end, a gas/fuel burner having an inlet receiving air and an inlet for receiving a first combustible gas including a nozzle providing a flame extending out from the nozzle. A syn-gas chamber including injection holes and a syn-gas feed line and a syn-gas nozzle plate is coupled between the second end of the burner chamber and the gas/fuel burner including over the nozzle, wherein syn-gas is directed by the injection holes into a path of the flame for combustion of the syn-gas. An air pipe having a plurality of air discharge ports extending from the first end to within the burner chamber having an air blower coupled thereto is configured to pump air into the burner chamber.
US09052108B2 Premixing combustion device
In a premixing combustion device (1) for a heating boiler, comprising a blower (2) which delivers a combustion mixture composed of fuel and air from an outlet opening (8) of the blower (2) via a burner cylinder (9) to a combustion zone, wherein a mixing device (3) arranged upstream of the blower (2) prepares the combustion mixture, it is sought to provide a solution which, in a structurally simple manner, ensures reliable starting of the heating boiler and prevents failures. This is achieved by means of a throughflow reduction device (10) which is arranged between the outlet opening (8) of the blower (2) and the burner cylinder (9) and which has a throughflow reduction element (13) which can be adjusted between a position in which it opens the outlet opening (8) of the blower (2) and a position in which it reduces the size of the outlet opening (8) of the blower (2).
US09052107B2 Lean-rich burner
A lean-rich burner is provided, in which an air-rich flame and a fuel-rich flame are formed by a simple structure, thereby reducing the emission of noxious gas and enabling stable combustion. The lean-rich burner includes: a main flame part (110) for burning a fuel-rich mixture in which primary air, which is some of air supplied by a blower, and fuel are mixed; auxiliary flame parts (120) installed on left and right sides of the main flame part (110) to burn an air-rich mixture; a main mixture channel (130) for supplying the fuel-rich mixture to the main flame part (110); a mixture distribution hole (140) formed along the main mixture channel (130) to supply some of the mixture flowing along the main mixture channel (130) to the auxiliary flame parts (120); and a Venturi part (150) having a Venturi structure in which secondary air inflow holes (151) are formed to mix secondary air, which is some of the air supplied by the blower, with the mixture introduced through the mixture distribution hole (140).
US09052106B2 Method and arrangement for optimising combustion conditions in a fluidised-bed boiler
A method and an arrangement for optimizing combustion conditions in a fluidized-bed boiler, in which combustion gas is fed at two or more height levels, the first of which is a primary level (P) which is located at the height of a furnace bottom and the second is a secondary level (S) which is located above fuel feed height (F), above which secondary level (S) there can be still other combustion gas feed levels (T, . . . ). At least one combustion gas feed level (P, S, T, . . . ) is fed at different points of the furnace (11) in its horizontal direction with combustion gases having different oxygen contents such that zones of different oxygen content can be formed in the horizontal direction of the furnace (11).
US09052105B2 Illuminated drinking vessel
A drinking vessel comprises a waterproof double-walled body member defining an enclosed hollow space therewithin, illumination means and a flexible substrate supporting the illumination means disposed in the enclosed hollow space, a source of electrical energy to the illumination means and a power switch mounted to the double-walled body member and including a mechanical switch pin extendable from and retractable into a bottom portion of the body member. The mechanical switch pin is operable between a first position when the drinking vessel is disposed on a supporting surface, in which the mechanical switch pin is retracted into the bottom portion and the power switch is in an electrically open state, and a second position when the drinking vessel is lifted from the supporting surface, in which the mechanical switch pin is extended from the bottom portion and the power switch is in an electrically closed state.
US09052097B2 Support clips for lighting fixtures
Support clips and systems thereof are provided. Support clips include a web, a lower flange, and an upper flange. The lower flange extends from the web orthogonally. The upper flange extends from the web, towards the lower flange, at an angle. The lower flange includes an aperture for receiving a fastener. Systems include support clips of the present invention coupling a ballast housing to a mounting module. The lower flange is secured to the housing, and the upper flange engages the mounting module, such that the housing is supported by the support clip against the mounting module when in a latched position. A user is able to secure a fastener through the support clip aperture and openings in the housing and mounting module without having to use additional hands.
US09052090B1 Systems, methods, and devices for providing replaceable reflector inserts for an LED light fixture
A light fixture includes a housing that has a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end are opposite each other. The light fixture includes a circuit board that has a light emitting diode (LED). The circuit board is attached to a mounting bracket inside the housing. The light fixture further includes a first reflector insert positioned adjacent to the circuit board on a first side of the circuit board. The first reflector insert is configured to reflect light from the LED. The first reflector insert is removably attached to the first end of the housing and to the second end of the housing.
US09052082B2 Optical device for semiconductor based lamp
This invention discloses an optical device for a semiconductor based lamp, the optical device comprising a base for mounting a semiconductor based light-emitting device, and a light-redirecting member having an opening and a reflective surface next to the opening, wherein the opening is aligned directly above the semiconductor based light-emitting device, and the reflective surface redirects light emitted from the semiconductor-based light-emitting device to lateral directions.
US09052080B2 Vehicular projector headlamp
A vehicular projector headlamp includes: a projection lens; a first LED element and a second LED element that are light sources and that are arranged on opposite sides of an optical axis of the projection lens so as to substantially face each other; a first reflector that has a first reflective surface having a first focal point located at the first LED element and a second focal point located in proximity to a rear focal point of the projection lens; and a second reflector that has a second reflective surface having a first focal point located at the second LED element and a second focal point located in proximity to the rear focal point of the projection lens, wherein the second reflective surface faces the first reflective surface.
US09052075B2 Standardized troffer fixture
A direct troffer-style fixture for solid state light sources and pan structures for use in these fixtures. The fixture comprises a door frame assembly that is attached to the pan. The pan housing is defined by a base and two angled side walls. End caps are attached to the side walls. End reflectors extend at an angle away from the end caps and attach to the base. The end caps, the end reflectors, and the base define compartments at both ends of the housing in which components can be housed. A light board is attached to the base using alignment holes in the base and cutout portions of the end reflectors. The multifunctional end reflectors retain elements within the compartments, provide added structural stability to the pan, aid in aligning a light board, and they reflect light that impinges on them toward the open end of the fixture.
US09052073B2 Assembly structure of light-guiding cover and lighting device using the same
An assembly structure of light-guiding cover is used in a lighting device. The lighting device comprises a light-emitting element. The assembly structure comprises a casing and a light-guiding cover. The casing has a receiving recess and a first engaging groove and a second engaging groove opposite to the first engaging groove, the light-emitting element is disposed within the receiving recess, and the first engaging groove and the second engaging groove are located at opposite two sides of the receiving recess. The light-guiding cover covers the receiving recess and has at least one aperture corresponding to the light-emitting element, wherein the light-guiding cover comprises a first engaging sheet and a second engaging sheet. The first engaging sheet is engaged with the first engaging groove. The second engaging sheet is disposed opposite to the first engaging sheet and engaged with the second engaging groove.
US09052069B2 System and method for providing LED tube lights with integrated sensors
A system is presented including a tube light mounted in a tube light socket. The tube light includes a printed wiring board, one or more LEDs mounted to the printed wiring board, and one or more sensors mounted to the printed wiring board. The tube light also includes a power supply mounted to the printed wiring board, such that the power supply is connected to the tube light socket to supply a direct current voltage signal to the printed wiring board. A method is also provided for forming the tube light and mounting the tube light into the tube light socket.
US09052067B2 LED lamp with high color rendering index
An LED lamp with a high color rendering index (CRI) is disclosed. Example embodiments of the invention provide an LED lamp with a relatively high color rendering index (CRI). In some embodiments, the lamp has other advantageous characteristics, such as good angular uniformity. In some embodiments, the LED lamp is sized and shaped as a replacement for a standard incandescent bulb, and includes an LED assembly with at least first and second LEDs operable to emit light of two different colors. In some embodiments, the lamp can emit light with a color rendering index (CRI) of at least 90 without remote wavelength conversion. In some embodiments, the LED lamp conforms some, most, or all of the product requirements for a 60-watt incandescent replacement for the L prize.
US09052066B2 LED light bulb with integrated heat sink
An LED lamp includes a lamp housing including an aluminum alloy substantially free of silicone. An electrical circuit trace is disposed on the lamp housing. An LED is attached directly to the lamp housing and electrically connected to the electrical circuit trace. LED driver circuitry is electrically connected to the electrical circuit trace. A housing contains the LED driver circuitry. A threaded incandescent light-type electrical plug may be configured for reception into a standard incandescent light-type socket. The LED driver circuitry is electrically disposed between the electrical plug and the LED. The lamp housing may include a generally frusto-conical shape. A solder mask may be affixed over at least a portion of the electrical circuit trace. The lamp housing may be press formed. The lamp housing is in direct thermal conductive relation to the LED such that heat energy is dissipated from the LED directly to the lamp housing.
US09052060B1 Tripod with storage structure
A tripod has a mounting seat, a mounting assembly, and a base. The mounting seat has two engaging protrusions disposed next to each other, two engaging recesses disposed next to each other, and two engaging members resiliently mounted respectively in the engaging recesses. The mounting assembly has a retractable rod mounted through the mounting seat. The base is connected to a lower end of the retractable rod. When combining multiple tripods, the engaging protrusion of the mounting seat of one tripod is mounted into the engaging recess of the mounting seat of another tripod. Thus, the tripods can be arranged as a cuboid to reduce space that the tripods occupy for the convenience of storage.
US09052059B2 Apparatus and method for elevating and supporting an air flow measuring device
Apparatus and method for elevating and supporting an air flow measuring device to enable hands-free air flow measurement.
US09052052B2 Segment for a rehabilitation pipe, and pipe rehabilitation method
A segment for a rehabilitation pipe includes an inner surface plate having an inner circumferential surface, and side plates and end plates provided upright on a peripheral edge of the inner surface plate. The inner surface plate, the side plates, and the end plates are formed integrally from a plastic material. The segments are linked in a circumferential direction and in a pipe-length direction to install a segmental rehabilitation pipe inside an existing pipe. The end plates are provided with an insertion hole through which a linking member is inserted for linking the segments in the circumferential direction. Separately from the insertion hole, the end plates are further provided with an opening for passing therethrough a filler material injected into a space between the existing pipe and the rehabilitation pipe.
US09052048B2 Fluid joint
A fluid joint having a first coupler includes a cylindrical first main body and an outer cylinder located at the outer circumferential side of the first main body, which protrudes to a distal end of the first main body, and is provided with a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion at the distal end. The second coupler includes a second main body provided with a third engagement portion that can engage with the first engagement portion and a fourth engagement portion that can engage with the second engagement portion. The phases of the first engagement portion and the third engagement portion match in the process of engagement thereof, so that the second engagement portion and the fourth engagement portion engage with each other to join the outer cylinder and the second main body together.
US09052046B2 Cooling system for a combustion engine
A coolant circuit includes a first pipe segment, a second pipe segment, and a seal between the pipe segments which are displaceable relative to each other. A resilient locking tang runs parallel to the first pipe segment and has a detent element. An elongated guide portion runs parallel to and is spaced from the locking tang between the pipe segment and the locking tang. Spaced-apart arms run parallel to the second pipe segment beyond the end of this second pipe segment. An axially parallel web is configured between the arms and is fitted at its end facing the second sub-assembly with a detent shoulder which is engaged from behind by the resilient detent element when the pipe segments are plugged into each other. The resilient tang is received at a closed fit between the arms, and the elongated guide portion is guided by the arms.
US09052040B2 Alignment tool for aligning subsea elements in a piggybacked arrangement
An alignment tool for aligning a secondary elongate element with a primary elongate element for subsea laying of the elements in a piggybacked arrangement is disclosed. The alignment tool comprises a support structure arranged to embrace the primary element. The support structure has an opening for accommodating the primary element such that the primary element can move longitudinally through the opening in a launching direction. The alignment tool further comprises attachment points for supporting the tool to maintain or control its longitudinal and/or angular position with respect to the primary element as the primary element moves through the opening.
US09052035B2 Shaft locking device
The present application relates to a shaft locking device. The device has an locking element configured to be mounted on a shaft in a first position so that the locking element indicates the angular position of the shaft. The locking element is also configured to be mounted on a shaft in a second position so that the locking element is locatable against a stop to prevent rotation of the shaft. The present application also relates to a device for determining the angular position of a shaft, a valve assembly and an actuating unit for a valve.
US09052030B2 Thermostat device
A thermostat device has a thermo element assembly (10) configured by a piston (3), a thermal expansion unit that changes volume with a change in temperature, to reciprocate a cylinder container (4) with respect to the piston, and a heating element (H) that is provided in a casing of the piston and heats the thermal expansion unit (W) when supplied with current. An assembling hole (11) is provided in the device housing to hold an outer end of the thermo element assembly by causing the outer end to pass therethrough toward the outside of the device. A piston guide (13) is provided at a section on the upper end side of the piston configuring the thermo element assembly. An outer end of the piston guide is integrally joined to the housing side while being inserted from the inside of the device housing (2) into the assembling hole to pass therethrough.
US09052027B2 Valve device for fuel tank
A valve device for a fuel tank includes a float element accommodated vertically movably in a case. The float element has a seal member at an upper portion thereof. The fuel flowing into the case through the inflow portion rises the float element to seat the seal member on the vent valve port. A ventilation portion connecting between inside of the tank and inside of the case is formed at an upper face portion of the case positioned above a waterline of the float element when seated. The upper face portion of the float element positioned in close proximity to the upper face portion reduces the amount of ventilation through the ventilation portion when seated. The valve device for a fuel tank further includes a regulation portion at the upper face portion of the case in which the interval is constant between the upper face portion of the case and the upper face portion of the float element when seated.
US09052016B2 Variable width gap seal
A seal for bridging an interface between an aircraft exhaust deck and a trailing edge of an aircraft exhaust system includes a sheet, a spacing element, and a tensioning element. The sheet has a fixed end, a cover portion, a movable portion, and a free end. The fixed end is anchored to the trailing edge. The cover portion extends upstream from the fixed end and across the interface. The movable portion is located adjacent the aircraft exhaust deck. The spacing element engages the movable portion and defines a gap for cooling air between the movable portion and the aircraft exhaust deck. The tensioning element is attached to the free end and provides tensioning force keep the cover portion taut.
US09052009B2 Lubrication system for a differential of a driven axle and automotive vehicle comprising such a lubrication system
This lubrication system for a differential of a driven axle on an automotive vehicle includes a sump in which is located a crown wheel driven by a pinion, the crown wheel being fast in rotation with a carrier, and a main lubricant tank having an inlet port and at least one outlet port. Rotation of the crown wheel causes lubricant to be transferred from the sump to the main tank via the inlet port, and the outlet port allows the lubricant to pass from the main tank to the sump. The lubrication system includes an auxiliary lubricant tank located in the sump, adapted to be filled in with lubricant by rotation of the crown wheel, and an arrangement to convey lubricant from auxiliary tank to a lubricant needing portion of the differential.
US09052008B2 Drive apparatus and construction machine provided with same
A drive apparatus which is compact in a height direction and a diametrical direction and with which a sufficient air breather function can be obtained, and a construction machine including the drive apparatus. The drive apparatus includes an electric motor and a speed reducer. An interior of a motor housing communicates with a speed reducer chamber such that a flow of air between the speed reducer chamber and the interior of the motor housing is permitted while limiting inflow of lubricating oil into the interior of the motor housing from the speed reducer chamber. An air breather passage and an air breather pipe for opening the interior of the motor housing to the atmosphere are provided in the motor housing.
US09052001B2 Cycloid drive epicycloid planet gear cam
An epicycloid planet gear cam that converts rotational movement of a driveshaft into linear movement of an output device is disclosed. An epicycloid planet gear is assembled inside a stationary housing with an internal stationary ring gear. A driveshaft eccentric is connected to a driveshaft. The driveshaft eccentric rotates freely in a mounting hole of the epicycloid planet gear. When the driveshaft rotates, the driveshaft eccentric engages the epicycloid planet gear against the stationary ring gear and causes the epicycloid planet gear to rotate. A cam follower pin attached to an output device is held against a cam track of the epicycloid planet gear. As the epicycloid planet gear rotates, the raised cam track height or the slotted cam track distance from the center of the epicycloid planet gear causes the cam follower pin to move up, down, in, or out thereby moving the output device.
US09052000B2 Ball type CVT/IVT including planetary gear sets
Disclosed herein are power transmissions having one or more operational modes, for example, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mode, an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) mode, and an IVT/CVT mode, that can be selected for by engaging different clutches and brakes. Disclosed herein are power transmissions comprising a power input shaft, one or more planetary gear sets, a variator (such as a CVT), and one or more clutches and brakes. In some embodiments, a first brake selects an IVT mode, a second brake selects a CVT mode, and a third brake selects an IVT/CVT mode.
US09051994B2 Dual clutch transmission
A dual clutch transmission is provided in which at a time of pre-shifting when, while one of first and second driving force transmission paths extending from first and second input shafts to an output shaft is transmitting the driving force, the selection device for the other driving force transmission path is operated, the driving force of an internal combustion engine is changed by a command from an electronic control unit. Even if a driving force or braking force due to inertia occurs as a result of a change in the rotational speed of the first and second input shafts accompanying the pre-shifting, it is possible to reduce the shift shock by compensating for the driving force or braking force due to the inertia by changing the driving force of the engine.
US09051991B2 Internal combustion engine with mass balancing and method for operating such an internal combustion engine
Embodiments for mass balancing an engine are provided. In one example, an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder which is associated with a crank drive comprises at least one mechanically driven balancing unit for balancing the mass forces, the balancing unit including at least one balancing weight which serves as an unbalance by initially rotating a first mass about a rotational axis relative to a second mass when the balancing unit is operational, and an interrupter unit to disconnect the at least one balancing unit from the mechanical drive in a switched off state and connect it to the mechanical drive in a switched on state.
US09051987B2 Strut wear bands
Wear bands for heavy duty struts are disclosed. The wear bands include multiple layers such as a base metal layer sandwiched between an outer layer and an intermediate layer along with a solid lubricant layer disposed opposite the intermediate layer from the base metal layer. The outer layer engages an interior surface of the strut housing, which slidably accommodates a rod. The solid lubricant layer, which is the innermost layer, engages an outer surface of the rod so that the wear band is sandwiched between the rod and the housing and provides a solid lubricant layer for engaging the sliding rod.
US09051982B2 Electric caliper brake with parking function
Disclosed herein is a electric caliper brake with a parking function. The electric caliper brake includes a caliper submodule to apply pressure to a piston to press the disc by converting rotational motion into rectilinear motion through the received rotation power, an actuator submodule to produce braking force to perform the braking function and parking function, and a self-locking module to transfer the braking force by connecting the caliper submodule to the actuator submodule.
US09051981B2 Dynamic brake
A power-off brake for stopping a rotating shaft comprises a solenoid including a coil and armature, an opposing plate axially spaced from the armature, and a ball carrier rotor between the armature and opposing plate. The ball carrier rotor rotates with the shaft and carries spherical balls in recesses angularly space about the shaft. The armature and opposing plate have respective braking surfaces. In one embodiment, at least one braking surface is ramped to urge the plurality of balls radially outward against an internal surface of a surrounding outer race as the armature is forced toward the opposing plate under spring loading when current to the solenoid coil is shut off. In another embodiment, the braking surfaces are not ramped, such that the balls are merely clamped between the braking surfaces upon solenoid deactivation. Increased rolling friction stops rotation of the ball carrier rotor and the shaft without problematic wear.
US09051980B2 Direction selectable sprag
A torque transmitting device for use in an automotive transmission is provided. The device includes an inner annular race and an outer annular race disposed concentrically around the inner annular race. A selector plate is disposed adjacent to the inner and outer annular races, the selector plate being movable with respect to the inner and outer races. Multiple control elements are pivotally connected to the selector plate. The control elements are disposed between the inner and outer races. A plurality of sprag elements is disposed between the inner and outer races. Each sprag element is disposed adjacent to a control element.
US09051976B2 Driving force transmission device
A hybrid driving force transmission device includes a motor generator (9), a multi-plate dry clutch (7), a housing cover (60), a dust seal member (62), and a dust collection structure (63). The multi-plate dry clutch (7) is disposed at a position inner than the motor generator (9). The housing cover (60) is provided to cover the motor generator (9) and the multi-plate dry clutch (7), and divides the internal space into a clutch chamber (64) and a motor chamber (65). The dust seal member (62) is disposed at a position radially outside of a clutch chamber open surface (66) and seals between a rotor (92) and an inner wall (60a) of the housing cover (60). The dust collection structure (63) forms a dust collection space (69) in a region radially between the seal surface (68) formed by the dust seal member (62) and the clutch chamber open surface (66).
US09051971B2 Oil-mist-free and high-speed electric spindle
An oil-mist-free and high-speed electric spindle of the present invention includes a shell, a stator and a rotator. Using a bearing provided on a bearing providing position of the shell, the stator and the rotor are separated by a gap and freely rotatably supported on the shell. A labyrinth sealing structure, which covers the bearing providing position, is provided on an outside of the bearing providing position. The labyrinth sealing structure has a channel which opens to an atmosphere. And a through-hole is provided on the shell, wherein one end of the through-hole opens to the shelter, and the other end of the through-hole is connected with the channel of the labyrinth sealing structure. And the bearing providing position is filled with a lubricating grease which is a total synthesis grease of polyurea that is mainly composed of a base oil and contains a nanometer anti-wear additive.
US09051970B2 Support disc bearing for an open-end spinning device
A rotor bearing comprising at least one support disc pair, which is comprised of two support discs (40, 41, 42, 43), which are arranged in such a way that they form a wedge gap, and a spinning rotor (3) with a rotor shaft (4), which is mounted in the wedge gap. The invention is to provide a support disc bearing that is easy to produce. For this purpose, a rolling bearing (45) is arranged in the base body (44) of the support discs (40, 41, 42, 43) and the rolling bearings (45) are in each case applied on a fixed bearing bolt (50, 51, 52, 53). The invention furthermore relates to the support disc (40, 41, 42, 43) and a method for producing the support disc (40, 41, 42, 43).
US09051968B2 Bearing isolator assembly
A bearing isolator assembly comprises an inner support member, an outer support member, a resilient member, an elastomeric ring, and a support cap disposed over a bearing surface defined by the inner support member or the outer support member. A path of travel is defined between the inner support member and the outer support member. The resilient member is disposed between the inner support member and the outer support member and is configured to resist compression between the inner support member and the outer support member within a first portion of the path of travel. The outer support member defines a ring envelope, in which the elastomeric ring is disposed. The inner support member defines a ring compression surface, and the elastomeric ring is configured to resist compression between the ring compression surface of the inner support member and the ring compression surface of the outer support member within a second portion of the path of travel.
US09051946B2 Connecting mechanism
A method for connecting at least a first component and a second component together, wherein each said component comprises at least one keyway arrangement extending along the component and keyways of the keyway arrangement are spaced apart from one another. The method comprises the steps of: aligning the keyway arrangements of the first and second components such that the keyways intermesh to provide a continuous keyway passage extending longitudinally between the intermeshed keyways; and, extending a keyway connector comprising an arrangement of keys longitudinally within the continuous keyway passage such that the keys are retained by the keyways of the keyway arrangements. In the slip flange assembly 1001 embodiment shown, the first and second components are each in the form of a pipe (1002, 1003) or tube, the keyway arrangements are in the form of collars (1004, 1008) that extend around abutting ends of said pipes (1002, 1003) or tubes, and the keyway connector (1015) is annular.
US09051940B2 Method and apparatus for adjusting impeller/ring clearance in a pump
In a pump arrangement, each adjusting screw has first and second end portions, a third intermediate raised portion, and a fourth portion to allow each adjusting screw to be rotated clockwise/counterclockwise. Each first end portion passes through a suction liner aperture so left-handed threads couple to a respective left-handed seal ring aperture. Each second portion passes through a suction half casing aperture so the fourth portion can be accessed to allow clockwise/counterclockwise rotation of each adjusting screw. Each adjusting screw rotates clockwise and moves until the third portion pushes against the suction half casing, so the screw stops moving and the seal ring moves away from the suction liner as the screw is rotated clockwise, or rotates counterclockwise and moves until the third portion pushes against the suction liner, so the screw stops moving and the seal ring moves towards the suction liner as the screw is rotated counterclockwise.
US09051939B2 Recirculation fan and fan assembly thereof
A recirculation fan includes a casing, a covering member, and a fan assembly. The casing has a base. The covering member is coupled with the casing to define an accommodation space. The fan assembly is disposed within the accommodation space, and includes a first impeller, a second impeller, a motor, and a plurality of magnetic elements. The second impeller is located beside the first impeller. The motor is fixed on the base of the casing and connected with the first impeller for driving rotation of the first impeller. The magnetic elements are arranged between the first impeller and the second impeller. A wind force generated by the first impeller and a magnetic torque resulted from a magnetic vortex of the magnetic elements cause contactless rotation of the second impeller.
US09051937B2 Refrigerant compressor
A refrigerant compressor comprises an electric element; a compression element; and a sealed container; wherein the compression element includes: a crankpin; a piston pin; and a connecting rod having a large hole portion into which the crankpin is inserted, a small hole portion in which the piston pin is rotatably disposed, and a coupling rod portion; wherein an oil guide hole is provided in the coupling rod portion of the connecting rod such that the large hole portion and the small hole portion are communicated with each other via the oil guide hole; a circular first groove is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the piston pin such that the first groove communicates with the oil guide hole; and a second groove extending in a center axis direction of the piston pin is provided in a first region of the small hole portion of the connecting rod.
US09051927B2 Water pump having two operating conditions
A water pump includes a base, a cam, a joint, and a piston. The base includes a PTO-attachment portion, a cam-attachment portion, a first contact surface, and a second contact surface. The cam includes a central opening, a first cam contact surface, and a second cam contact surface, wherein the cam-attachment portion of the base extends into the central opening. The joint pivotally couples the cam to the cam-attachment portion of the base. In a first operating position of the cam, the first contact surface engages the first cam contact surface so that the cam is positioned at a first angle relative to the axis of PTO rotation. In a second operating position of the cam, the second contact surface engages the second cam contact surface so that the cam is positioned at a second angle, greater than the first angle, relative to the axis of PTO rotation.
US09051923B2 Dual energy solar thermal power plant
A design of a dual energy solar thermal power plant is proposed. It can be built on a piece of land where sunshine is abundant and the moisture in the air is relatively low. The desert corridor starting at Las Vegas and to the south is the best in the whole U.S. The power plant design is simple, using the equipment and material commonly available at reasonable costs. No particularly complicated equipment and material are required. The optimized plant size will be one MVA up to 300 MVA depending on the available land size in acres. The transmission line voltage can be from 13.8 kV up to 230 kV, depending on the MVA capacity. The land for a plant can be up to 600 acres.
US09051919B2 Mounting of vortex generator devices via mounting plate
A method of retrofitting flow-altering devices to an outer surface of a wind turbine blade is disclosed. The flow-guiding devices are of the type having a base comprising an inner side for attaching onto the surface of the wind turbine blade, and an outer side with protruding flow-altering device parts. The method comprises the steps of: a) inserting the protruding flow-altering device parts into a mounting plate so that the inner side of the flow-guiding devices are exposed from a first side of the mounting plate, b) adhering the inner side of the flow-altering devices to the surface of the wind turbine blade by applying the first side of the mounting plate onto an area of application on the surface of the wind turbine blade, and c) removing the mounting plate from area of application on the surface of the wind turbine blade.
US09051918B1 Vertical axis wind turbine with tensile support structure having rigid or collapsible vanes
A wind power harvesting system includes a turbine having a bottom disk and a top disk and a first and a second panel of collapsible material each attached at a first end thereof to the bottom disk and at a second end thereof to the top disk. The combination of attached panels of material results in the formation of a Savonius shape that rotates in response to the force of the wind. A non-cogging generator is attached to the turbine to produce power therefrom.
US09051907B2 Vehicle fuel supply device
In an upright state where a vehicle is supported by a main stand, or and a tilted state where the vehicle is supported by a side stand, an inflow port of a fuel filter unit is located at a position higher than an outflow port. The fuel filter unit and the upstream side filter pipe are installed in the vehicle so that the upstream side filter pipe is arranged at a higher position as it goes toward the upstream side.
US09051902B2 EGR pulse mixer for internal combustion engine having EGR loop
A mixer, for use with an internal combustion engine, for mixing EGR gas from an EGR loop with fresh air from the engine's fresh air intake. The mixer has an outer shell having the general shape of a thin-shelled hollow cylinder with a side entry port. One end of the cylinder provides a straight entry port and the other end of the cylinder provides a straight exit port. An inner sleeve fits inside the outer shell such that a space is provided between the inner sleeve and the outer shell, and a passageway is formed inside the inner sleeve through the length of the mixer. The inner sleeve has a series of flow ribs extending from its outer surface within the space, and has entry holes for providing fluid communication from the space into the passageway.
US09051901B2 Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system
Various systems and methods are described for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system coupled to an engine in a vehicle. One example method comprises, controlling an amount of EGR according to a minimum of a first EGR amount corresponding to a temperature of a first location and a second EGR amount corresponding to a condensate formation of a second location.
US09051900B2 Ejector type EGR mixer
A radial-mixing exhaust gas recirculation mixer is disclosed having an air supply passage having a convergent portion. An exhaust gas recirculation passage within the convergent portion includes a nozzle having a terminal end. A mixing tube is arranged downstream from the air supply passage and at least a portion of the exhaust gas recirculation passage. A mixing element is disposed in the mixing tube. In one example, a divergent portion is arranged downstream adjoining the mixing tube to increase the pressure of the mixture after the mixing tube. In one example, the exhaust gas recirculation mixer is arranged within an engine such that the air supply passage is in fluid communication with an intake manifold. The exhaust gas recirculation passage is in fluid communication with an exhaust manifold to recirculate a portion of exhaust gas to the intake manifold.
US09051898B2 Thrust reversal device
The invention relates to a thrust reversal device comprising at least one cowl arranged in such a way that it can be moved between a closed position and an open position, said cowl being actuated by at least one actuator that can be driven by at least one electric engine. The invention is characterized in that at least one electric engine is connected to at least two separate power supplies (7a, 7b).
US09051877B2 Thrust efficient turbofan engine
A turbofan engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a gas generator section for generating a gas stream flow with higher energy per unit mass flow than that contained in ambient air, a power turbine converting the gas stream flow into shaft power, the power turbine rotating at a first relative rotational speed, a speed reduction device driven by the power turbine, and a propulsor section including a fan driven by the power turbine through the speed reduction device at a second speed lower than the first speed for generating propulsive thrust as a mass flow rate of air through a bypass flow path, wherein an Engine Unit Thrust Parameter (“EUTP”) defined as net engine thrust divided by a product of the mass flow rate of air through the bypass flow path, a tip diameter of the fan and the first relative rotational speed of the power turbine is less than about 0.15 at a take-off condition.
US09051873B2 Ceramic-to-metal turbine shaft attachment
A metallic-ceramic joint for a turbo-compressor spool is disclosed. A temperature-limited joint is moved from outside the bearings to between the bearings and near the center of the shaft joining the turbine and compressor. This placement can lower the temperature at and around the joint and reduces the sharp gradient (and associated thermal stress) naturally occurring between the turbine rotor and the cooler joint. The bearing closest to the compressor can be an oil bearing and the bearing closest to the turbine an air bearing. The bearing closest to the compressor and the bearing closest to the turbine can both be an oil bearing. The bearing closest to the compressor and the bearing closest to the turbine can both be an air bearing. Moving the metallic-ceramic joint between the bearings can provide sufficient isolation to enable the all-air bearing solution.
US09051861B2 Regeneration method and motor vehicle
A regeneration method (10) for regenerating an adsorber (19), connected downstream of an internal combustion engine (13), of a motor vehicle (11) with a hybrid drive train is described. The internal combustion engine (13) is operated in a phase of rich combustion for regeneration of the adsorber (19). According to the description, an engine load (30) and/or an engine rotational speed (31) of the internal combustion engine (13) for the rich combustion is influenced by means of an electric machine (14) which can be coupled mechanically to the internal combustion engine (13).
US09051856B2 Oil-pressure supply device
An oil-pressure supply device includes an oil-pressure control portion, a first filtration portion which traps foreign materials in oil before a mechanical pump, a second filtration portion which traps foreign materials in oil before an electric pump, a first branch passage provided between the mechanical pump and the first filtration portion, a second branch passage provided between the electric pump and the second filtration portion, a third branch passage provided between a discharge port of the electric pump and the oil-pressure control portion, a fourth branch passage through which surplus oil is discharged, a switching portion set at a first position where the first branch passage is connected to the third branch passage when the first filtration portion is recovered, or set at a second position where the second branch passage is connected to the fourth branch passage when the second filtration portion is recovered.
US09051844B2 Heat resistant super alloy and its use
A heat resistant super alloy suffices the following conditions: carbon0.01-0.2percent in weight chromium8-10percent in weight aluminum4-6percent in weight titanium2-4percent in weight molybdenum1.5-2.8percent in weight tungsten10-13.5percent in weight niobium1.5-2.5percent in weight boron0 < B ≦ 0.04percent in weight zircon0 < Zr ≦ 0.15percent in weight the contents of hafnium and lanthanum together amounts to 0 < Hf + La ≦ 1.5 percent in weight, optionally traces of tantalum, the remainder being nickel. Such an alloy is preferably used for turbine wheels and particularly for turbochargers.
US09051843B2 Turbomachine blade including a squeeler pocket
A turbine blade includes an airfoil portion including a suction side having a suction side contour, a pressure side having a pressure side contour, a leading edge, a trailing edge and a tip portion, and a squeeler pocket formed in the tip portion. The squeeler pocket includes a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall includes a first internal surface having a first substantially continuous curvilinear profile and the second side wall includes a second internal surface having a second substantially continuous curvilinear profile. A bleed passage extends from the squeeler pocket towards the trailing edge. The first and second side walls are configured to deliver a substantially unobstructed fluid flow from the squeeler pocket to the bleed passage and limit the fluid flow spillage onto one of the pressure side and the suction side.
US09051840B2 Wall of turbo machine and turbo machine
The invention relates to wall of a turbo machine having a cascade of blades. The wall includes: a first platform facing a first passage between blades in the cascade of blades; and a second platform facing a second passage between adjacent cascade of blades on an upstream side and cascade of blades on a downstream side, and having a circumferential outline having a distribution of radial positions. According to the invention, loss due to disturbance of flow through the gap of axially adjacent walls can be reduced.
US09051837B2 Impeller
An impeller is provided. The impeller includes a hub, a plurality of upper blades, and a plurality of lower blades. The hub has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper blades are disposed around the hub and connect to the upper surface. The lower blades are disposed around the hub and connect to the lower surface. The upper and lower blades are alternately disposed and outwardly extend from the hub.
US09051835B2 Offset electrical terminal box with angled studs
A compressor assembly includes a housing that is annular and surrounds a longitudinal central axis. The compressor also has a compressor housed in the housing, a terminal box, and a first stud coupling the terminal box with the housing. The first stud defines a first central axis. A second stud also couples the terminal box with the housing. The second stud defines a second central axis. Both the first and second central axes extend through the housing on the same side of the longitudinal central axis of the housing.
US09051830B2 Two line operation of two hydraulically controlled downhole devices
A downhole hydraulic control system includes a hydraulic control module positioned in a well. First and second hydraulically controlled devices are positioned in the well. The first hydraulically controlled device has a first actuator and the second hydraulically controlled device has a second actuator. First and second hydraulic control lines extend uphole of the hydraulic control module in the well. In a first configuration of the hydraulic control module, pressure variations in the first and second hydraulic control lines are operable to independently shift the first and second actuators in respective first directions. In a second configuration of the hydraulic control module, pressure variations in the first and second hydraulic control lines are operable to shift the first and second actuators in respective second directions.
US09051825B2 Visualizing fluid flow in subsurface reservoirs
In visualizing flow in subsurface reservoirs, a system partitions flow information according to source-sink pairs and streamlines in a reservoir. The system displays dynamic streamline flow indicators and flow animations, such as 3D pie charts, to dynamically show flow contributions and properties at each well. A pie chart displayed at a producer well may have pie wedges that dynamically update to show the percentage of fluid being received via streamlines from each of multiple injectors. Highlighting the chart highlights all wells contributing to the output. Radial sections of each pie wedge may be further mapped to show the flow rate of components, such as oil, water, and gas phases in a streamline. Each chart may show many other properties and may be stacked across time steps. The system also displays streamline properties with animations, which demonstrate flow velocity and model properties, such as phase components, rates, volumes, etc., through color and size codes.
US09051822B2 Formation treatment evaluation
Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
US09051820B2 System, method and apparatus for creating an electrical glow discharge
The present invention provides system, method and apparatus for creating an electric glow discharge that includes a first and second electrically conductive screens having substantially equidistant a gap between them, one or more insulators attached to the electrically conductive screens, and a non-conductive granular material disposed within the gap. The electric glow discharge is created whenever: (a) the first electrically conductive screen is connected to an electrical power source such that it is a cathode, the second electrically conductive screen is connected to the electrical power supply such that it is an anode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap, or (b) both electrically conductive screens are connected to the electrical power supply such they are the cathode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced between both electrically conductive screens and an external anode connected to the electrical power supply.
US09051811B2 Barrier valve system and method of controlling same with tubing pressure
A completion system including a barrier valve operatively arranged in a tubing string to selectively impede fluid flow through a lower completion. At least one control line is included for supplying a control line pressure for controlling operation of the barrier valve. The at least one control line is operatively arranged with the tubing string for enabling tubing pressure in the tubing string to determine the control line pressure. A method of operating a barrier valve is also included.
US09051802B2 Downhole driving unit having a hydraulic motor with a planetary gearing system
The present invention relates to a downhole driving unit (11) for insertion into a well, comprising a driving unit housing (51), a hydraulic motor (23) comprising a hydraulic motor housing (93), a wheel assembly (90) comprising a stationary part (91) and a rotational part (92), the stationary part being connected with the driving unit housing and being rotatably connected with a rotational part, the wheel assembly comprising a wheel ring (99) for contacting an inner wall in the well and connected with or forming part of the rotations part. The wheel assembly further comprises the hydraulic motor (23) so that the stationary part and the rotational part constitute the hydraulic motor housing, the hydraulic motor comprising a rotatable section (84) connected with the rotational part for rotating part of the wheel assembly. Furthermore, the wheel assembly comprises a planetary gearing system (95) comprised in the hydraulic motor housing and the hydraulic motor comprises a rotatable section driving the wheel ring through the planetary gearing system. The invention furthermore relates to a downhole system comprising the driving unit and to use of such driving unit.
US09051801B1 Dual modality container for storing and transporting frac sand and frac liquid
A dual modality container for transporting either frac sand and proppant or frac liquids for temporary storage and delivery to a well site for fracking operations. In a first modality, a plurality of inlet ports disposed atop the container roof receives frac sand from a frac sand supply source into a funnel-hopper. In a second modality, frac liquid is received at the well site and stored in bilateral bladders within a central chamber. An in situ elongated longitudinal linear valve disposed within the hopper effectuates industry standard pressurized discharge of stored frac sand or discharge of frac liquid.
US09051800B2 Multi-fluid injector core holder
A core holder comprises a plurality of fluid flow lines, a housing, a core sleeve disposed within the housing, an end cap coupled to a first end of the core sleeve and a first end of the housing, and an injector assembly disposed within the housing and coupled to a second end of the core sleeve. The injector assembly comprises a plurality of fluid passages coupled to the plurality of fluid flow lines, and a chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid passages and an interior of the sleeve.
US09051791B2 Tubing centralizer
The present invention is a tubing centralizer for use within casing within a wellbore. The tubing centralizer has a tubing centralizer cage comprising a top ring, a middle ring, and a bottom ring and a plurality of springs, where each spring connects the top ring to the middle ring and the middle ring to the bottom ring and where each spring has a double arcuate shape such that the springs arc radially outward between the top ring and the middle ring and again between the middle ring and the bottom ring. The springs may be sized such that they exert outward pressure against the inside wall of the casing such that the tubing centralizer resists movement along the casing. The tubing centralizer may further comprise a tubing centralizer mandrel, where the tubing centralizer mandrel is part of the tubing string and extends through the tubing centralizer cage.
US09051789B2 High collapse resistance solid expandable technology
Composite tubular casing with hardened material between thin pipe-in-pipe increasing the bending capability of the casing wall delivers high collapse resistance. Solid Expandable technology allows substantial wellbore slimming at the expense of collapse resistance. By combining both technologies, cost effective high collapse resistance wellbore construction can be achieved.
US09051787B2 Quick connect coupling for cementing operations and the like
Devices and methods are described for quickly connecting and disconnecting a conduit to a port. A quick connect coupling is described for quickly connecting and disconnecting a cement supply conduit to the port of a top drive cement swivel.
US09051784B2 Riser tensioner
An apparatus for tensioning a marine riser comprising a support for a number of actuators, where the support is connected to a vessel's structure, and where each actuator is connected to the support and to a marine riser, and where elements of the riser tensioner apparatus are enclosed.
US09051778B2 Lineal connector and template
A member is adapted to be used for forming at least one assembly opening in a first lineal, wherein the member provides a template for locating the at least one assembly opening. The members further adapted to be used to connect the first lineal to a second lineal using the member and the at least one assembly opening.
US09051773B2 Rollo assembly and open roof construction for a vehicle provided therewith
A rollo assembly comprises a rollo screen with opposite longitudinal ends and opposite transverse ends, a winding shaft for winding and unwinding the rollo screen at one of said longitudinal ends, a pull beam connected to the other one of said longitudinal ends and two longitudinal guides for cooperation with the transverse ends of the rollo screen and for guiding the pull beam. At least one support member for the rollo screen extends underneath the rollo screen between two opposite longitudinal support member guides. The support member moves in said longitudinal direction along the support member guides when the rollo screen moves between its fully wound position and a partially wound off position, and is kept stationary in an end position when the rollo screen moves between its partially wound off position and its fully wound off position.
US09051752B1 Secure memorial structures for cremation interment
A memorial structure includes a base, sidewalls, a rear wall and a top wall defining one or more compartments having an open front end. One or more divider walls may be incorporated between the left and right sidewalls to form multi-compartment configurations. Removable door panels cover the open ends of the compartments. The memorial structure includes a lock mechanism for each compartment keyed or coded to be locked or unlocked with a unique key that is not useable with any other lock.
US09051751B2 Portable, collapsible wind screen
A portable wind screen is presented where the wind screen is composed of a collapsible metal frame with extendable legs and a fabric or plastic screen connected to said frame with Velcro® fasteners. The frame is fully collapsible and easily stored ion a bag or small box.
US09051749B2 Hybrid method of erecting a cold box using prefabricated and field erected components
A method of erecting a cold box that includes the steps of anchoring at least one column to a foundation in a substantially vertical orientation; anchoring a pipe rack module to the foundation in a substantially vertical orientation, wherein the pipe rack module is in close proximity to the at least one column; attaching interconnecting piping between the pipe rack module and the at least one column; anchoring at least four corner beams to the edge of the foundation in a substantially vertical orientation; attaching prefabricated panels with bracing to the corner beams, to form an enclosure around the column and piping; and attaching a roof to the enclose is provided.
US09051748B2 Containerized access control system
A portable container is provided which comprises a passing room(s) allowing entry into a second area into a first area, the passing room having at least two openings with a walkway in-between. Barrier device(s) can be located in the walkway but not connected to the first or second opening. A control room(s) can also be provided, the control room being connected to the passing room(s).
US09051743B1 Apparatus and methods for building or drywall tools
The present invention is directed generally to building tools that are high quality, durable, and in some case lightweight and may include an output port assembly coupled to a mastic applicator container or housing. The output port assembly may have multiple sections that may be made separately and uniquely so as reduce tool weight, corrosion, and cost without degrading strength and durability. The output port assembly may be made bi-material and of different portions made by different processes. The bi-material may include, for example, a metal cone and a plastic mounting coupling portion. The output port assembly may be coupled to a mastic applicator housing or container, and sealed thereto using a preformed seal or a preformed geometric seal.
US09051740B1 Arrangement and method for retrofitting glass wall panel system with glass wall panel
A wall panel arrangement is designed for use in retrofitting a wall panel system provided with at least one pair of frame members having inwardly facing flat walls for retaining at least one existing glass panel therebetween. The wall panel arrangement includes an add-on glass wall panel and panel mounting structure configured with at least one receiving strip constructed with a planar body having an outer surface secured to one of the inwardly facing flat walls of the frame members in spaced relationship to the existing glass panel. The body also has an inner surface provided at opposite edges thereof with a pair of flexible resilient wall panel retaining elements extending therefrom and converging towards each other to define spaced apart retainer ends which are frictionally engageable with the opposed faces of the glass wall panel adjacent one of the opposed sidewalls thereof.
US09051737B2 Method and apparatus for distributing granules on a roof
A method for distributing granules may include transporting a hopper along a roof while releasing granules through a valve of the hopper, thereby depositing a line of granules on the roof. Another method for distributing granules may include adjusting a valve of a container mounted on a cart, depositing a predetermined width of the granules though the valve onto the roof while driving the cart along a roof, and covering a seam between adjacent sheets of roofing material with the granules. A device for depositing granules on a roof may include a hopper, and a valve, where granules stored in the hopper flow directly through the valve to the roof in response to gravity when the valve is at least partially opened, and where the flow of the granules is not assisted by an agitator, an auger, or air pressure.
US09051731B2 Acoustical door structure
A door structure is provided having two outer dampening layers, each outer dampening layer having a base surface and a damping surface, and an inner compartmentalized layer adjacent to the damping surfaces of the two outer dampening layers, the inner compartmentalized layer includes at least two compartments, wherein the damping surfaces of the two outer dampening layers are substantially unconstrained relative to the inner compartmentalized layer such that the damping surfaces are deformable.
US09051726B2 Fastener, installation tool and related method of use
A fastener including a chisel point that pre-bores a hole in a work piece to prevent damage to the work piece as the fastener advances. The fastener can include a head, a shaft and a chisel brake point formed at an end of the shaft. The chisel brake point can include first and second opposing inclined surfaces disposed at an angle of about 80° to about 150° relative to one another. A thread can begin adjacent the chisel brake point and form an extension of an inclined surface and/or a chisel edge. The chisel brake point can scrape material from a work piece while pre-boring a hole. The material can be transferred to the thread, and subsequently fed up the thread, out of the pre-bored hole. The chisel brake point can also selectively retard advancement of the fastener into the work piece. Methods of installing the fastener also are provided.
US09051721B2 Device for clearing a drain
An improved drain unclogging device of the type having a drain bladder for sealing in the drain and a water source interface in fluid communication with the drain bladder and fluidly interfacing with a water source to provide high pressure water to and exit from the drain bladder to unclog the drain. The improvement includes a sliding bladder restrictor that is movable over the drain bladder and restricts a portion of the drain bladder that remains outside the drain to prevent distortion of that portion of the drain bladder that would reduce pressure of the high pressure water that is exiting the drain bladder and unclogging the drain.
US09051711B2 Path detection-based steering command filtering method for motor grader automatic articulation feature
An apparatus and method are provided for operating a motor grader having steerable front wheels and a front and rear frame pivotally connected at an articulation joint. The method includes selecting an automatic articulation mode, and commanding front wheel steering to turn the motor grader, providing a plurality of front wheel steering corrections to an electronic controller, filtering the plurality of front wheel steering corrections using a method for filtering steering corrections based on the constant curve mode, wherein the method generates filtered front wheel steering corrections, and automatically commanding articulation of the front frame relative to the rear frame about the articulation joint in response to the filtered front wheel steering corrections.
US09051708B2 Tower foundation
A tower foundation (10) has a base slab (11), pillar slabs (12), and a crown stab (13), all of which are made of precast concrete structures. The slabs are all retained in position by steel guide rods (15) that extend upwardly from the base slab. The guide rods have externally threaded ends (16) configured to receive internally threaded mounting nuts (17). The crown slab has guide rod mounting holes (22) through which the guide rods extend. The crown slab also has compression washer assemblies (25) which include a pressure plate (26) and anchor legs (27). The pressure washer has a central mounting hole (28) coaxially aligned with the crown slab guide rod mounting holes. The pressure washer has a top surface (29) which is flush with the crown slab top surface (30). The mounting nuts bear against the pressure washer and not against the concrete.
US09051705B1 Ground rod driving tool
A ground rod driving tool and method of use is presently disclosed. The ground tool comprises a longitudinally extending first component part having a sleeve extending from a first longitudinal end configured to receive a portion of a ground rod, a ground rod stop, and a male coupler extending from a second longitudinal end. A longitudinally extending second component part has a female coupler in a first longitudinal end thereof configured to closely receive an end portion of a ground rod. The first component part and the second component part are configured to couple and uncouple with each other, with the male and female couplers, and have their longitudinal axes aligned upon coupling. A method of driving a ground rod into the ground is also provided herein.
US09051700B2 V-blade snowplow having dual trip mechanism
A V-blade snowplow having both full moldboard trip and trip edge capabilities. The V-blade has first and second moldboards that not only can pivot against a restoring force of one or more trip springs extending intermediate a pivot frame and a push frame of the snowplow, but the moldboard of each wing of the V-plow has associated therewith a respective cutting edge hingedly secured along a base thereof, the cutting edge biased toward an untripped position in substantial alignment with the base of the moldboard by one or more trip edge springs. The maximum angle of deflection of the cutting edges is preferably about 40°, which is lower than the maximum angle of deflection of cutting edges of V-plows only exhibiting trip edge capability.
US09051698B1 Crash attenuator apparatus
Apparatus for absorbing energy when impacted by a vehicle includes a backstop structure, a track extending to the backstop structure, a plurality of collapsible tubes supported by spaced independently movable supports on the track, and stabilizer structure stabilizing the supports in three planes during movement of the supports on the track and collapse of the tubes.
US09051690B2 Tissue having high strength and low modulus
The present invention provides tissue products having a high degree of stretch and low modulus at relatively high tensile strengths, such as geometric mean tensile strengths greater than about 1500 g/3″ and more preferably greater than about 2000 g/3″. The combination of a tough, yet relatively supple sheet is preferably achieved by subjecting the embryonic web to a speed differential as it is passed from one fabric in the papermaking process to another, commonly referred to as rush transfer.
US09051688B2 Aqueous polymer composition for paper coating
The present invention concerns aqueous polymer compositions comprising a water soluble hydrophilic polymer with poly(ethylene oxide) content higher than 50% by weight and a polyacrylic thickener containing sulfonic groups. The aqueous polymer compositions of the invention are useful as deflocculants, rheology modifiers and water retention agents for paper coating compositions.
US09051679B2 Laundry machine
A laundry machine is disclosed. The laundry machine includes a tub comprising a front surface part (112) having an opening formed in a center thereof to introduce laundry therein, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, the drum having an opening formed therein to load the laundry therein, and a gasket (200) provided between an inner surface of the front surface of the tub and a front end of the opening of the drum. The gasket (200) comprises a plurality of ribs (205a, 205b, 205c) arranged along a radial direction.
US09051677B2 Washing machine
A washing machine capable of reducing the manufacturing cost of a circulation device installed to circulate water and capable of preventing water from being scattered when spraying circulating water into a spin basket is described. A tub cover of the washing machine includes a guide part provided with a connector, which is integrated with the tub cover, connected with a circulation passage, and inclined upward toward the tub cover, and an inclined surface inclined toward the spin basket at an inner edge of the tub cover, thereby reducing the manufacturing of the circulation device and preventing water from being scattered. The washing machine includes a circulation drain port formed at a side surface of a tub and a filtering duct connected with the circulation drain port, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the circulation device.
US09051675B2 Washing machine
A washing machine is disclosed. The washing machine has a function of rotating a drum (130) at a low speed when a user pulls out laundry, enabling the user to easily search through the laundry. The washing machine includes a cabinet (100) defining an exterior appearance of the washing machine, a tub (120) mounted in the cabinet (100) and configured to receive wash water therein, a drum (130) rotatably mounted in the tub (120) and configured to receive laundry therein, an independent drive input unit (200) to send a drum rotating signal, so as to allow a user to operate the drum (130) independently of a washing process, and a control unit to control rotation of the drum (130) in response to a signal received from the independent drive input unit (200).
US09051663B2 Manufacturing method of silicon carbide single crystal
A manufacturing method of a SiC single crystal includes a first growth process and a re-growth process. In the first growth process, a first seed crystal made of SiC is used to grow a first SiC single crystal. In the re-growth process, a plurality of growth steps is performed for (n−1) times. In a k-th growth step, a k-th seed crystal is cut out from a grown (k−1)-th SiC single crystal, and the k-th seed crystal is used to grow a k-th SiC single crystal (n≧2 and 2≦k≦n). When an offset angle of a growth surface of the k-th seed crystal is defined as θk, at least in one of the plurality of growth steps, the offset angle θk is smaller than the offset angle θk-1.
US09051661B2 Silicon single crystal production method
Silicon single crystals having suppressed deformation and dislocations and the successful omission of the tail section are produced by growing the straight-body section of the silicon single crystal under the influence of a horizontal magnetic field with a magnetic flux density at its magnetic center being ≧1000 Gauss, and ≦2000 Gauss, reducing the lifting speed of the silicon single crystal relative to the surface of the melt to 0 mm/minute, maintaining a static state until there is a decrease in the apparent weight of the silicon single crystal, then further maintaining the static state so that the entire growth front of the silicon single crystal forms a convex shape protruding in a direction opposite to the lifting direction of the silicon single crystal, and separating the silicon single crystal from the melt.
US09051655B2 Boron ionization for aluminum oxide etch enhancement
Embodiments described herein generally provide a method for performing a semiconductor precleaning process. More specifically, embodiments provided herein relate to boron ionization for aluminum oxide etch enhancement. A process for removing native oxide from aluminum may utilize ionized boron alone or in combination with a halogen plasma. The ionized boron may provide improved aluminum oxide etching properties while being highly selective for native oxides more generally.
US09051651B2 Elevator load bearing member having a conversion coating on tension member
A load bearing member (22) useful in an elevator system (10) includes at least one elongated tension member (36), a conversion coating (46) on the elongated tension member (36), and a polymer jacket (34) at least partially surrounding the coated elongated tension member (36). In one example, the conversion coating (46) includes at least one of an oxide, a phosphate, or a chromate.
US09051650B2 In-line metallizer assemblies and part-coating conveyor systems incorporating the same
In-line metalizer assemblies can include an external rotating actuator exchange that can be operable to exchange one or more parts between a conveyor system and a vacuum chamber, and an internal rotating actuator exchange within the vacuum chamber that can be operable to receive the one or more parts from the external rotating actuator exchange, transition the one or more parts to a sputter coater integrated with the vacuum chamber for metallizing, and return metalized one or more parts to the external rotating actuator exchange such that the external rotating actuator exchange can return the metalized one or more parts to the conveyor system.
US09051647B2 Tunable multi-zone gas injection system
A tunable multi-zone injection system for a plasma processing system for plasma processing of substrates such as semiconductor wafers. The system includes a plasma processing chamber, a substrate support for supporting a substrate within the processing chamber, a dielectric member having an interior surface facing the substrate support, the dielectric member forming a wall of the processing chamber, a gas injector fixed to part of or removably mounted in an opening in the dielectric window, the gas injector including a plurality of gas outlets supplying process gas at adjustable flow rates to multiple zones of the chamber, and an RF energy source such as a planar or non-planar spiral coil which inductively couples RF energy through the dielectric member and into the chamber to energize the process gas into a plasma state. The injector can include an on-axis outlet supplying process gas at a first flow rate to a central zone and off-axis outlets supplying the same process gas at a second flow rate to an annular zone surrounding the central zone. The arrangement permits modification of gas delivery to meet the needs of a particular processing regime by allowing independent adjustment of the gas flow to multiple zones in the chamber. In addition, compared to consumable showerhead arrangements, a removably mounted gas injector can be replaced more easily and economically.
US09051646B2 Sputtering target having amorphous and microcrystalline portions and method of producing same
A sputtering target is provided which ensures the production of unvaryingly homogenous layers of the sputtering material during the lifespan of the sputtering target. The sputtering target includes a mixture of oxides of indium, zinc, and gallium, the mixture containing at least one ternary mixed oxide of indium, zinc, and gallium and at least one amorphous phase. The portion of ternary mixed oxides of indium, zinc, and gallium is at least 50 weight percent, relative to the total weight of the mixture, and the portion of amorphous phase is at least 20 weight percent, relative to the total weight of the mixture.
US09051642B2 Process for coating a substrate, plant for implementing the process and feeder for feeding such a plant with metal
A coating process for coating at least one side of a running substrate, by vacuum evaporation, with a layer of a sublimable metal or metal alloy, in which said metal or metal alloy is positioned so as to face said side of the substrate in the form of at least two ingots placed in contact with one another, that surface of said ingots facing said side of the substrate being kept parallel to the substrate and at a constant distance from the latter during coating, and also to a coating plant for implementing the process and to a feeder for supply.
US09051641B2 Cobalt deposition on barrier surfaces
Embodiments of the invention provide processes for depositing a cobalt layer on a barrier layer and subsequently depositing a conductive material, such as copper or a copper alloy, thereon. In one embodiment, a method for depositing materials on a substrate surface is provided which includes forming a barrier layer on a substrate, exposing the substrate to dicobalt hexacarbonyl butylacetylene (CCTBA) and hydrogen to form a cobalt layer on the barrier layer during a vapor deposition process (e.g., CVD or ALD), and depositing a conductive material over the cobalt layer. In some examples, the barrier layer and/or the cobalt layer may be exposed to a gas or a reagent during a treatment process, such as a thermal process, an in situ plasma process, or a remote plasma process.
US09051637B2 Securing of shadow mask and substrate on susceptor of deposition apparatus
Embodiments relate to a structure for securing a shadow mask and a susceptor where the top surface of the shadow mask mounted with the susceptor is flush with the top surface of the susceptor. When the susceptor is mounted with the shadow mask, the entire top surface of the susceptor and the shadow mask is substantially coplanar. A substrate onto which material is deposited is placed below the shadow mask. The susceptor moves below reactors for injecting materials or radicals. Since the entire top surface of the susceptor is substantially flat, the vertical distance between the reactors and the susceptor can be reduced, contributing to the overall quality of the layer formed on the substrate and reducing the materials wasted by leaking outside the gap between the susceptor and the reactors.
US09051636B2 Organic layer deposition apparatus, method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display apparatus using the same, and organic light-emitting display apparatus
An organic layer deposition apparatus including a deposition source for discharging a deposition material; a deposition source nozzle unit arranged at a side of the deposition source and including a plurality of deposition source nozzles; a patterning slit sheet arranged opposite to the deposition source nozzle unit and including a plurality of patterning slits; an electrostatic chuck, a substrate being attachable to and detachable from the electrostatic chuck; chuck moving members combined with the electrostatic chuck and configured to move the electrostatic chuck; and guide members to guide movement of the chuck moving members, the chuck moving members including first magnetic force generators, and the guide members including second magnetic force generators corresponding to the first magnetic force generators, the chuck moving members movable on the guide members by magnetic forces generated by the first magnetic force generators and the second magnetic force generators.
US09051632B2 Brake disc using different materials
A brake is disclosed which includes a disc plate is made of a first material, and an insert aperture is formed through the central portion of the disc plate. Coupling depressions are formed around the inner edge of the insert aperture, and a rivet aperture is formed in each of protrusion portions provided between the coupling depressions. A hat part is made of a second material and is inserted into the insert aperture. Coupling protrusions are provided around the outer edge of the hat part. A rivet aperture is formed in each of the coupling protrusions. Straps are disposed such that each strap passes over both the corresponding rivet aperture of the disc plate and the corresponding rivet aperture of the hat part. The rivets are inserted into the corresponding straps and the corresponding rivet apertures to fix the straps, the disc plate and the hat part together.
US09051627B2 Process for producing sodium bicarbonate
A process for producing sodium bicarbonate from a sodium carbonate bearing stream (A) comprising at least 2% sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate by weight, a part of such stream (A) being generated by a sodium carbonate crystallizer, comprising: a) mixing the stream (A) with part of a stream (B) to produce a stream (C); b) bicarbonating the stream (C) with a gas (D) comprising CO2 to produce an aqueous suspension (E) containing crystals (F) comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals; c) separating the aqueous suspension (E) to obtain crystals (F) comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals and an aqueous mother liquor (G); d) partly debicarbonating such liquor (G) and removing part of the water to obtain the stream (B) and an optional gas (H); e) recycling at least part of the stream (B) to step a); and f) removing the remainder of the stream (B) or part of the aqueous mother liquor (G) to be further processed.
US09051625B2 Method for recovering precious metals and copper from leach solutions
The present disclosure is directed to a process for recovering a precious metal from a pregnant leach solution using a resin extractant. The precious metal is eluted from the loaded resin using an eluant comprising trithionate. The barren resin is contacted with a sulfide, bisulfide, and/or polysulfide to convert sorbed trithionate to thiosulfate. The desorbed thiosulfate is contacted with an oxidant and converted to trithionate for eluant recycle.
US09051620B2 Pharmaceutical angiogenic composition including a microRNA-382 activator
The present invention relates to an angiogenic composition, and more particularly, to a pharmaceutical angiogenic composition including a microRNA-382 activator. The inventors of the present invention have confirmed that microRNA-382, the expression of which is elevated in stomach cancer cells in a low oxygen environment, affects the promotion of angiogenesis. Therefore, provided in the present invention is the pharmaceutical angiogenic composition which includes the microRNA-382 activator, which is angiogenic and thus promotes cell proliferation, and can be valuably used in treating injuries, ischemic myocardial infarctions, or foot ischemia.
US09051617B2 Markers for breast cancer
Correlations between polymorphisms and breast cancer are provided. Methods of diagnosing, prognosing, and treating breast cancer are provided. Systems and kits for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of breast cancer are provided. Methods of identifying breast cancer modulators are also described.
US09051613B2 Method for identifying olfactory receptor included in one olfactory cell
The present invention provides a novel method for identifying an olfactory receptor included in one olfactory cell. In the present invention, amplified is the cDNA derived from the mRNA of the one olfactory cell by a PCR method using a forward primer represented by SEQ ID: 01 and a reverse primer represented by SEQ ID: 02. Subsequently, determined is whether or not a gene sequence of the amplified cDNA corresponds with one gene sequence included in gene sequences coding for olfactory receptors included in the mouse olfactory receptor group A. Finally, determined is that the olfactory receptor included in the one olfactory cell is the olfactory receptor which corresponds to the one gene sequence which corresponds with the gene sequence of the cDNA in the previous step, if the gene sequence of the cDNA corresponds with the one gene sequence in the previous step.
US09051594B2 Mass spectrometric measurement of microbial resistances
Microorganisms, particularly bacteria, are identified and characterized on the basis of a mass spectrometric measurement of their protein profiles with ionization by matrix-assisted laser desorption. In order to measure the microbial resistance to antibiotics, the protein profiles of microorganisms are measured after cultivation for a short time duration in nutrient media containing the antibiotics.
US09051575B2 Alga in which production of photosynthetic products is improved, and use for said alga
Provided are an alga in which productivity of a photosynthate is increased, and use of the alga. The alga of the present invention has an increased glutathione concentration in its chloroplast. A method of the present invention for producing biomass is a method for producing biomass with the use of the alga of the present invention or an alga produced by a method of the present invention for producing an alga.
US09051572B2 Modulators of Itch ubiquitinase activity
The present invention relates to the identification of new drug targets for therapy of disorders including cancer. In particular, the present invention relates to inhibition of the E3 ubiquitin ligase, Itch, as a means for treating disorders. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the regulation of p63 and p73 stability in cells. In particular, the invention relates to the modulation of the regulation of p63 and p73 stability in cells through modulation of the expression or activity of Itch. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of Itch as a target for the development of agents capable of modulating p63 or p73 stability and especially agents capable of modulating the interaction of Itch and pq63 or p73. Such agents may be useful in therapeutic applications including cancer treatment and modulation of skin differentiation.
US09051569B2 Insect pest control method
The present invention is intended to provide means of pest control which achieve marked pest control effect. The pest control effect is achieved by the incorporation of an inhibitor (IAP inhibitor) against inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) into the body of the target pest. The expression of the IAP is preferably inhibited by RNAi.
US09051568B2 Anti-sense microrna expression vectors
The present invention relates to an alternative strategy for expressing the antisense sequence of a miRNA. This system allows for continuous production of the antisense sequence and subsequently complete knockdown of the targeted miRNA.
US09051556B2 Purification of iduronate-2-sulfatase
The present invention provides, among other things, improved methods for purifying I2S protein produced recombinantly for enzyme replacement therapy. The present invention is, in part, based on the surprising discovery that recombinant I2S protein can be purified from unprocessed biological materials, such as, I2S-containing cell culture medium, using a process involving as few as four chromatography columns.
US09051548B2 Methods for enhancing hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell engraftment
Described herein are methods for enhancing engraftment of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells using farnesyl compounds identified using a zebrafish model of hematopoietic cell engraftment. The compounds can be used to treat hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo prior to transplantation of the cells. Alternatively, the compounds can be administered to an individual undergoing cell transplantation.
US09051531B2 Cycloalkane aldehydes, method for preparing same, and use thereof in the perfume industry
The invention relates to a compound of general formula I represented below: wherein: R1, R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or saturated or unsaturated, branched or non-branched C1 to C5 alkyl group; m is an integer between 1 and 4; n is an integer between 2 and 4; characterized in that the ring is saturated and comprises from 5 to 8 carbons, that the total number of carbons of the ring and of the radicals R1, R2 and R3 is between 7 and 11 and it being understood that said compound of formula (I) is not: 6-cycloheptylidenehexanal 4-(4-methylcyclohexylidene)-butanal 4-(4-tert-butylcyclohexylidene)-butanal 4-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexylidene)-butanal as well as a method of synthesizing said compounds, and their uses in perfumery.
US09051529B2 Lubricating composition containing friction modifier and viscosity modifier
A lubricant composition suitable for lubricating an internal combustion engine comprises: (a) an oil of lubricating viscosity having a viscosity index of at least 105 and a kinematic viscosity at 100 C of less than 7 mm2s-1; (b) 0.01 to 2 weight percent of a friction modifier represented by the structure [I]; (c) 0.5 to 4 weight percent of a poly(meth)acrylate viscosity modifier polymer; (d) 0 to 500 parts per million by weight of molybdenum in the form of an oil-soluble molybdenum compound; and (e) 0 to 200 parts per million by weight of boron in the form of an oil-soluble boron compound.
US09051528B2 SU-8 nano-composites with improved tribological and mechanical properties
Substantially homogenous compositions in accordance with the present disclosure can exist in various forms, such as bulk materials, coatings, films, laminates, inserts, or overlays, and include at least one polymer such as SU-8, at least one liquid lubricant, and optionally at least one nanomaterial that serves as an inorganic filler material. Such compositions exhibit enhanced tribological and mechanical properties compared to the at least one polymer in isolation, for instance, a 50% or greater coefficient of friction reduction, a 100% or greater wear life increase, a 10% or greater elastic modulus increase, and/or a 10% or greater hardness increase. The at least one nanomaterial can include a first nanomaterial providing increased hardness, and a second nanomaterial providing increased elastic modulus. Compositions in accordance with the present disclosure are suitable for biological and non-biological applications.
US09051525B2 Composition for reducing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon emissions
Emissions of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from diesel engines may be reduced by blending a renewable hydrocarbon distillate with a base diesel fuel. The base diesel may be a fossil diesel fuel, a Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel as well as a hydroprocessed biodiesel fuel or a combination thereof. The renewable hydrocarbon distillate is a fraction from hydrotreated bio-oil having a boiling point between from about 320° F. to about 700° F.
US09051523B2 Apparatus and process for gasification of carbonaceous materials to produce syngas
A process and apparatus are provided for gasification of a carbonaceous material. The process produces a raw syngas that can be further processed in a tar destruction zone to provide a hot syngas. The process includes contacting said carbonaceous material with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a gasification zone to gasify a portion of said carbonaceous material and to produce a first gaseous product. A remaining portion of the carbonaceous material is contacted with molecular oxygen-containing gas in a burn-up zone to gasify additional portion of the carbonaceous material and to produce a second gaseous product and a solid ash. The first gaseous product and said second gaseous product are combined to produce a raw syngas that includes carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and tar. The raw syngas is contacted with molecular oxygen containing gas in a tar destruction zone to produce said hot syngas.
US09051512B2 Method of treating a subterranean formation with non-spherical proppants
Non-spherical particulates are useful in the stimulation of subterranean formations. A proppant pack composed of the non-spherical particulates exhibits greater porosity than a corresponding proppant pack composed of spherical particulates. In addition, the non-spherical particulates exhibit higher conductivity at higher stresses than spherical shaped particulates.
US09051508B2 Methods of preventing emulsification of crude oil in well bore treatment fluids
Of the many compositions and methods provided herein, one method includes a method of preventing emulsification of crude oil into an aqueous-based treatment fluid, comprising: contacting crude oil in a well bore with the aqueous-based treatment fluid comprising a styrene-acrylate copolymer, wherein the crude oil has an API gravity of about 10 or greater; and allowing the styrene-acrylate copolymer to interact with the crude oil in the well bore.
US09051500B2 Compositions comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,1,2,3-tetra-chloropropene, 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, or 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane
The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene that may be useful as heat transfer compositions, aerosol propellants, foaming agents, blowing agents, solvents, cleaning agents, carrier fluids, displacement drying agents, buffing abrasion agents, polymerization media, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethane, gaseous dielectrics, extinguishing agents, and fire suppression agents in liquid or gaseous form. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to compositions comprising 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene, 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, or 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane, which may be useful in processes to produce 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.
US09051494B2 Sizing composition for mineral wool having a low emission of volatile organic compounds, and insulating products obtained
A sizing composition for insulating products based on mineral wool, in particular of glass or of rock, includes at least one saccharide, at least one organic polycarboxylic acid, at least one esterification catalyst, and at least one agent capable of reducing the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) chosen from sulphates, sulphamates and carbonates.
US09051490B2 Method for producing hollow silicone fine particles
Hollow silicone fine particles have high productivity, low breakability, a narrow particle size distribution and a volume average particle diameter equal to or lower than 1 μm. The hollow particles are made by removing organic macromolecular particles and/or an organic solvent away form inside core-shell particles produced by coating particles made from the organic macromolecular particles and/or the organic solvent with silicone compound that is made from one or more units selected from the group consisting of SiO4/2 unit, RSiO3/2 unit, and R2SiO2/2 unit (wherein R is C1-4 alkyl groups, C6-24 aromatic groups, a vinyl group, a γ-(meth)acryloxypropyl group or organic groups having an SH group(s)), the silicone compound containing R2SiO2/2 unit by 20 mole % or less.
US09051485B2 Inkjet ink and inkjet recording method
Provided is an inkjet ink which can form high-quality images with high abrasion resistance and adhesiveness on a non-absorptive recording medium and which exhibits high ejection properties and excellent storage stability. Also provided is an inkjet recording method. An inkjet ink which comprises water, a pigment, a water-soluble resin, a water-soluble or Panic solvent and a surfactant, characterized in that: the water-soluble resin comprises a water-soluble resin consisting of a copolymer resin which has an acid value of 50 to 130 mgKOH/g, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 30 to 100° C., and a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 20,000 to 80,000, said copolymer resin being a resin which is synthesized from a monomer component that comprises methyl methacrylate, an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, and an acid monomer and in which the total mass of methyl methacrylate and the alkyl acrylate or methacrylate is 80 to 95% relative to the total mass of all of the monomers constituting the copolymer resin; and the surfactant comprises a fluorochemical surfactant and a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether.
US09051483B2 Carbon nanotube ink composition and a coating method thereof and a forming method of a thin film containing carbon nanotubes
A carbon nanotube composition that exhibits an excellent printability when use is made for a printing device, especially, exhibits an excellent prevention of drying on the printing apparatus. A carbon nanotube ink composition comprises carbon nanotubes, a solvent, an imidazolidinone compound represented by chemical formula (1) and a propylene urea compound represented by chemical formula (2).
US09051476B2 Powder containing a polyoxymethylene polymer for coating metallic substrates
A powder containing a polyoxymethylene polymer for coating metallic substrates is described. The polymeric particles are made from a polymeric composition containing a polyoxymethylene polymer having functional terminal groups. The polyoxymethylene polymer is blended with at least one functional additive. The functional additive can decrease the stiffness of the polyoxymethylene polymer, can decrease the shrinkage properties of the polyoxymethylene polymer and/or increase adhesion of the polymer to metal surfaces.
US09051472B2 Exfoliated graphite oxide derivative, resin composite material thereof, and process for producing said resin composite material
There are provided an exfoliated graphite oxide derivative excellent in dispersibility in a thermoplastic resin, a resin composite material of the exfoliated graphite oxide derivative and a thermoplastic resin, and a process for producing the resin composite material. The exfoliated graphite oxide derivative is obtained by reacting an exfoliated graphite oxide having a C/O ratio as determined by elemental analysis of 8 or less with a compound having a specific structure.
US09051471B2 Weather-resistant pearlescent pigments, process for the production and use thereof
The present invention relates to a weather-resistant pearlescent pigment which consists of a platelet-shaped substrate coated with one or more highly refractive metal oxides, the platelet-shaped substrate being selected from the group consisting of synthetic mica flakes, glass flakes, SiO2 flakes, Al2O3 flakes, synthetic boehmite flakes, BiOCl flakes and mixtures thereof, and a top layer, wherein the top layer consists of the following layers: a) a cerium-containing layer, selected from the group consisting of cerium oxide, cerium hydroxide, hydrated cerium oxide, and mixtures thereof, the cerium-containing layer being applied directly to the highly refractive metal oxide layer, and b) an organic-chemical compatibilizing layer, which comprises the reaction products of oligomeric silanes, wherein the oligomeric silanes have one or more amino groups, the organic-chemical compatibilizing layer being applied directly to the cerium-containing layer a).
US09051470B2 Method for producing thin films and the application thereof
A method for producing thin films, particularly for coating surfaces includes a) adding surface-active substances to flowable compositions comprising nanoscale inorganic particulate solids having polymerizable and/or polycondensable organic surface groups; b) forming one or more thin films stabilized by the accumulation of the surface-active substances at the interface(s), the forming of one or more thin films taking place through the generation of bubbles, foam, through the formation of minimal surfaces and/or through the wetting of surfaces; and c) solidifying the films by polymerization and/or polycondensation.
US09051464B2 Flame-retardant rubber composition for vulcanization
A flame-retardant rubber composition for vulcanization, comprising an epichlorohydrin based rubber (A), red phosphorus (B), and a vulcanizing agent (C), in which the content of the red phosphorus (B) is from 3 to 20 parts by weight for 100 parts by weight of the epichlorohydrin based rubber (A).
US09051461B2 Blended fluoropolymer compositions having multiple melt processible fluoropolymers
Fluoropolymer compositions that include multiple fluoropolymer components and, in exemplary applications, may be applied as coatings to either rigid or flexible substrates. The compositions may themselves be applied as basecoats or overcoats, or may be combined with other components to formulate basecoats or overcoats. In one embodiment, the compositions include at least one low molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene (LPTFE) and at least two chemically different melt processible fluoropolymers (MPF). In another embodiment, the compositions include at least one high molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene (HPTFE), at least one low molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene (LPTFE), and at least two chemically different melt processible fluoropolymers (MPF). After being applied to a substrate, optionally over a basecoat and/or a midcoat and then cured, the present compositions form coatings that demonstrate improved characteristics, such as improved release characteristics, abrasion resistance, translucency/transparency, and permeability, for example.
US09051460B2 Heat resistant hydrocarbon elastomer compositions
Disclosed herein is a polyamide-filled curable hydrocarbon elastomer compositions having enhanced heat aging performance where the presence of conventional filler, such as carbon black or silica, does not detract from desired heat stability properties. Also disclosed are polyamide-filled curable hydrocarbon elastomer compositions where the use of compatibilzer is optional, for polyamides having an inherent viscosity of greater than 0.88 dL/g.
US09051457B2 Ceramic precursor batch compositions for increased Tonset
A precursor batch composition that can be used to make porous ceramic articles is provided. The batch composition includes a cellulose-based polymer and, in particular, a methylcellulose showing a specified micro-calorimetry thermal response fingerprint that correlates to an increased Tonset.
US09051442B2 Polyurethane foam premixes containing halogenated olefin blowing agents and foams made from same
The invention provides polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and methods for the preparation thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to closed-celled, polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and methods for their preparation. The foams are characterized by a fine uniform cell structure and little or no foam collapse. The foams are produced with a polyol premix composition which comprises a combination of a hydrohaloolefin blowing agent, a polyol, a silicone surfactant, and a non-amine catalyst used alone or in combination with an amine catalyst.
US09051439B2 Hydrocarbon fluid compatible micronized polymers
Micronized polymers suitable for use in fuels and lubricants having a particle size distribution of less than 30 microns obtained from water-soluble solid organic polymers is provided. A water-soluble solid organic polymer having a number average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 200,000 is subjected to a molecular segmentation in a polar solvent in a polymer to solvent ratio in the range of 1:1 to 1:10 to produce a micronized polymer having a particle size distribution of less than 30 microns.
US09051436B2 Compositions of resin-linear organosiloxane block copolymers
Hot melt adhesive compositions are disclosed containing the reaction product of a resin linear organosiloxane block copolymer and an organosilane capping agent containing hydrolyzable groups.
US09051435B2 Silanol condensation catalyst, heat-curable silicone resin composition for sealing photosemiconductors and sealed photosemiconductor using same
A silanol condensation catalyst including at least the zirconium metal salt expressed by Formula (I) below (wherein n is an integer from 1 to 3; each R1 is a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 16 carbons; and each R2 is a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 18 carbons. A heat-curable silicone resin composition for sealing optical semiconductors includes 100 parts by mass of a polysiloxane containing two or more silanol groups in the molecule; from 0.1 to 2,000 parts by mass of a silane compound containing two or more alkoxy groups that are bonded to a silicon atom in the molecule; and a zirconium metal salt expressed by Formula (I). A sealed optical semiconductor is formed by sealing a LED chip by applying the heat-curable silicone resin composition to the LED chip, heating the LED chip, and curing the heat-curable silicone resin composition.
US09051434B2 Amphiphilic organopolysiloxane dendrimers with high refractive index
Branched organopolysiloxanes of low molecular weight contain bonded arylalkyl groups. Si—C bonded surfactant groups, preferably polyoxyalkylene polyether groups, and long chain alkyl groups, exhibit a high refractive index, are completely or partially self-emulsifying, and are compatible with a variety of cosmetically acceptable oils and solvents.
US09051426B2 Polymerizable compositions containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers having episulfide functional groups and related methods
Provided is a polymerizable composition of (a) a monomer composition including ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a β-epithiopropyl functional group; (b) optionally, a compound having two or more β-epithiopropyl functional groups but no polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups; (c) an isourea functional polymerization initiator; and (d) a catalyst for reaction between the β-epithiopropyl functional groups. Also provided is a method of reducing the yellowness index of a sulfur-containing polymerizate prepared by addition polymerization, the method including reacting in the presence of an isourea functional polymerization initiator and a catalyst for reaction between β-epithiopropyl functional groups, a polymerizable composition of: (a) a monomer composition including ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a β-epithiopropyl functional group; and, optionally, (b) a compound having two or more β-epithiopropyl functional groups but no polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups.
US09051415B2 Epoxy resins with high thermal stability and toughness
Epoxy resin compositions contain (i) a potyepoxide resin; (ii) a benzofuran diol component, a benzofuran di-epoxide component, or a mixture thereof; and (iii) a curing agent, which upon curing, provides a cured resin exhibiting improved chemical and physical characteristics. The epoxy resin composition may also contain a toughening agent to further enhance the cured resin's physical characteristics.
US09051412B2 Base-catalyzed, long chain, active polyethers from short chain DMC-catalyzed starters
The present invention provides long chain, active polyether polyols which are characterized by a functionality of 2 to 6 and an equivalent weight of 1000 to 2200 Da. These long chain polyethers comprise the alkoxylation product of (1) a starter composition having an equivalent weight of 350 Da or less, with (2) one or more alkylene oxides, in which up to 20% of ethylene oxide may be added as a cap, in the presence of (3) at least one basic catalyst. Suitable starter compositions (1) comprise the alkoxylation product of (a) a low molecular weight polyether having a functionality of 3 and an equivalent weight of less than 350 Da, (b) at least one low molecular weight starter compound comprising glycerin, and (c) propylene oxide or a mixture of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, in the presence of (d) at least one double metal cyanide catalyst. A process for preparing these long chain polyether polyols is also disclosed.
US09051401B1 Bis(thienyl)isopyrazoles and process for preparing and method for using bis(thienyl)isopyrazoles
A synthesis of a new pyrazole-containing monomer by means of an easily implemented two-step process. This monomer can be electropolymerized to yield a stable n-doping polymer that may easily be electrochemically characterized. It is demonstrated that the electrochemical behavior of the polymer films produced is dependent upon the conditions applied during electrodeposition. Films deposited by cycling only at relatively positive potentials (0 to 2000 mV) show less intense n-doping responses than those films obtained by scanning the applied potential throughout a wider range (−2000 mV to 2000 mV).
US09051396B2 Partially hydrogenated polymer and method thereof
The present invention discloses a method for partially hydrogenating polymer. The method comprises providing a polymer having at least one vinyl aromatic block; and hydrogenating the polymer in presence of a heterogeneous catalyst on a support selected from the group consisting of BaSO4, Al2O3, TiO2, ZrO2, active carbon and any combination thereof to obtain a hydrogenated polymer. The hydrogenated polymer comprises at least one hydrogenated vinyl aromatic block having a carbon ring linking with a backbone of the hydrogenated polymer, wherein the average weight percent of the hydrogenated vinyl aromatic block(s) having only one and two double bonds on the carbon ring is between 1-30 wt % based on the total weight of the hydrogenated polymer.
US09051391B2 Method for expression of specific gene
Disclosed is a cell which can express a non-natural oligomeric protein, which has, introduced therein, a gene encoding an exogenous polypeptide corresponding to at least one endogenous polypeptide constituting a natural oligomeric protein, and in which the expression of the endogenous polypeptide is inhibited.
US09051386B2 Method of treating inflammation using human immunosuppressive protein
A method of treating inflammation by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a human immunosuppressant protein (HISP) to a subject is presented. The inventors have discovered a novel immunosuppressive protein purified from the supernatant of hNT cell culture. The immunosuppressant protein has a molecular weight of about 40-100 kDa, an isoelectric point of about 4.4, a net ionic charge and is capable of suppressing T-cell activation, T-cell proliferation and the production of IL-2. This protein can be used in treating inflammation, preventing graft rejection after transplantation, treating autoimmune diseases and suppressing allergic responses as well as other uses.
US09051381B1 Disease-related biomarkers specific to Florida hybrid bunch and muscadine grape, and uses thereof
Isolated disease-related genes from muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) and Florida hybrid bunch grape (Vitis spp.) grapes, and complementary DNA associated therewith. The cDNA can be utilized in small RNA technologies to promote expression of disease tolerance-related genes to induce production of disease-tolerance related gene products for resisting disease occurrence in Florida hybrid bunch and V. vinifera. The genes include, but are not limited to, stilbene synthase, chalcone synthase, chitinase, PR 4, PR 10, β-1, 3-glucanase, peroxidase, and a subunit of Oxygen-Evolving Enhancer Protein 1. These genes were found to enhance tolerance of Florida hybrid bunch and muscadine grape to a plurality of pathogenic diseases, including, for example, Pierce's disease and anthracnose.
US09051371B2 Human CDR-grafted antibody and antibody fragment thereof
A human CDR-grafted antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with the extracellular region of human CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) but does not react with a human blood platelet; a human CDR-grafted antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with the extracellular region of CCR4 and has a cytotoxic activity against a CCR4-expressing cell; and a medicament, a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent comprising at least one of the antibodies and the antibody fragments thereof as an active ingredient.
US09051367B2 Methods of treating a tauopathy
The present disclosure provides methods of treating a tauopathy, involving administering an anti-Tau antibody. The present disclosure also provides anti-Tau antibodies, and formulations comprising same, for use in the methods.
US09051346B2 Process for preparing triazole-containing ketolide antibiotics
The invention described herein pertains to processes for the preparation of macrolide antibacterial agents. In particular, the invention pertains to processes for preparing macrolides and ketolides from erythromycin A.
US09051343B2 Phosphate esters of noribogaine
Disclosed herein are phosphate esters of noribogaine and dihydronoribogaine, and esters and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the methods of their use, including in the treatment of addiction and/or pain.
US09051341B2 Reactive surfactants for emulsion polymerization, pigment dispersion, and UV coatings
The present invention provides reactive surfactants of the formula R1O—(CH2CHR2O)x—(CH2CH2O)y—(CH2CHR3O)z—R4 where R1 is either alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, or aralkylaryl of 8-30 carbon atoms, R2 is —CH2OCH2CH═CH2 (AGE); R3 is either H, CH3, or CH2CH3; R4 is H or —SO3M or —PO3M where M is H or K, Na, NH4, NR4, alkanolamine, or other cationic species and x=2-100; y=4-200 and z=0-50.
US09051337B2 Substituted 10-hydroxy-9,11-dioxo-2,3,4a,5,9,11,13,13a-octahydro-1h-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrrolo[1′,2′:3,4]imidazo[1,2-d]pyrazine-8-carboxamides
The present invention is to provide a novel compound (I) shown below, having the anti-virus activity; particularly the HIV integrase inhibitory activity, and a drug containing the same, particularly an anti-HIV drug, as well as a process and an intermediate thereof. (wherein Z1 is NR4; R1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; X is a single bond, a hetero atom group selected from O, S, SO, SO2 and NH, or lower alkylene or lower alkenylene in which the hetero atom group may intervene; R2 is optionally substituted aryl; R3 is hydrogen, a halogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted lower alkyl etc; and R4 and Z2 part taken together forms a ring, to form a polycyclic compound, including e.g., a tricyclic or tetracyclic compound.
US09051329B2 Tricyclic heterocycles useful as dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors
The present invention is directed to novel tricyclic heterocycles of structural formula (I) which are inhibitors of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved, such as diabetes and particularly Type 2 diabetes. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved.
US09051322B2 Process for the production of a pemetrexed salt
A process of making a pemetrexed salt comprising: a) reacting a compound of formula II or an acid salt thereof, wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently a C1-C6 alkyl group, with an aqueous basic solution at a temperature of no more than 10° C. to obtain a first mixture comprising the pemetrexed salt; b) isolating the pemetrexed salt from the first mixture.
US09051321B2 Heterocyclic acrylamides and their use as pharmaceuticals
The invention relates to novel heterocyclic acrylamide compounds (I), to the preparation of the compounds and intermediates used therein, to the use of the compounds as antibacterial medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds.
US09051311B2 Sulfamide sodium channel inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds of Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that are inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channels, in particular Nav 1.7. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases treatable by inhibition of sodium channels such as pain disorders. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of the present invention.
US09051300B2 Herbicides
The invention relates to a compound of formula (I), which is suitable for use as a herbicide wherein G is hydrogen or an agriculturally acceptable metal, sulfonium, ammonium or latentiating group; Q is a unsubstituted or substituted C3-C8 saturated or mono-unsaturated heterocyclyl containing at least one heteroatom selected from O, N and S, or Q is heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl; m is 1, 2 or 3; and Het is an optionally substituted monocyclic or bicyclic heteroaromatic ring; and wherein the compound is optionally an agronomically acceptable salt thereof.
US09051295B2 1-substituted indazole derivative
A medicament for treating diseases associated with cholinergic properties in the central nervous system (CNS) and/or peripheral nervous system (PNS), diseases associated with smooth muscle contraction, endocrine disorders, neurodegenerative disorders and the like, which comprises a compound of Formula (I): wherein A is CR1E or a nitrogen atom, X—Y—Z is N—CO—NR3AR3B and the like, R1A to R1E are each independently a hydrogen atom and the like, R2A to R2D are each independently a hydrogen atom and the like, R3A and R3B are each independently an optionally-substituted C3-10 cycloalkyl and the like, and n is 1 or 2 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which exhibits potent modulatory-effects on the activity of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR).
US09051294B2 Therapeutic agents
The invention provides well-defined compounds that are either EP2 agonists, EP4 agonists, or mixed EP2/EP4 agonist. The compounds are useful for treating a variety of pathological conditions associated with activity of the EP2 and/or EP4 receptors.
US09051287B2 Method for producing epoxide
A method for producing an epoxide is provided. The method includes a step of performing a reaction of an olefine compound and an oxidant to form the epoxide by using a titanium-silicon molecular sieve as a catalyst, thereby increasing the conversion rate of the oxidant and the yield of the epoxide.
US09051277B2 Phenyl(oxy/thio)alkanol derivatives
The present invention relates to novel phenyl(oxy/thio)alkanol derivatives, to processes for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising these compounds and to their use as biologically active compounds, in particular for controlling harmful microorganisms in crop protection and in the protection of materials and as plant growth regulators.
US09051272B2 Process for the preparation of phenyl substituted 3-difluoromethyl-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid N-methoxy-[1-methyl-2 phenylethyl] amides
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I), wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in claim 1, which process comprises a) adding a compound of formula (II), in the presence of an inert organic solvent to a mixture comprising an organic nitrite of formula (III) (R4—O—N═O (III)), wherein R4 is C1-C8alkyl, a compound of formula (IV), and an inert organic solvent; b) reacting the resulting compound of formula (V), with H2N—O—CH3 to the compound of formula (VII), c) reducing the compound of formula (VII) to the compound of formula (VIII), d) and reacting the compound of formula VIII with a compound of formula (IX), in which R* is halogen, hydroxy or C1-6 alkoxy, to the compound of formula (I).
US09051255B2 Piperazinyl cyclohexane compounds as GPR38 agonists
To find a therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for gastrointestinal disorders and so on, the agent having excellent activity and high safety. A compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. In the formula, A represents an optionally substituted phenylene group; B represents an optionally substituted 4- to 10-membered heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted C6-C10 aryl group, or an optionally substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl group; R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C3 alkyl group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C3 alkyl group; R3 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C3-C10 cycloalkyl group, a C1-C3 alkoxy C1-C3 alkyl group, or a C1-C3 hydroxyalkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group, or a halogen atom; n represents an integer of 1 to 4; and X represents methylene, —O—, —NH—, —N(C1-C3 alkyl)-, —C(═O)—, —S—, —S(O)—, —S(O2)—, or a single bond.
US09051253B2 Compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of amyloid diseases and synucleinopathies such as alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, and parkinson's
The use of 3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydroxychalcone in the treatment of amyloid diseases, especially Aβ amyloidosis, such as observed in Alzheimer's disease, IAPP amyloidosis, such as observed in type 2 diabetes, and synucleinopathies, such as observed in Parkinson's disease.
US09051252B2 Catalysts and methods for alcohol dehydration
Provided is a process for preparing a diaryl ether compound through the dehydration of an aromatic alcohol compound in the presence of a dehydration catalyst. The dehydration catalyst is an oxide of a light rare earth element, wherein the light earth element is lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, or mixtures thereof.
US09051246B2 Compound having trimethylene structure, polymer compound containing unit that has trimethylene structure, and reactive compound having trimethylene structure
A compound represented by a formula 1 shown below. In the formula 1, each of R1 and R2 independently represents a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and substituents composed of C, H and/or X (wherein X represents a hetero atom), and each of Z1 and Z2 independently represents a group selected from the group consisting of aromatic substituents composed of C and H, aromatic substituents composed of C, H and X (wherein X represents a hetero atom), groups containing an aromatic ring and a double-bonded and/or triple-bonded conjugated structure composed of C and H, and groups containing an aromatic ring and a double-bonded and/or triple-bonded conjugated structure composed of C, H and/or X (wherein X represents a hetero atom).
US09051244B2 Depolymerization of lignin using solid acid catalysts
The invention provides for a process for the depolymerization of lignin in an inert atmosphere to result in substituted phenolic monomer compounds. The process is catalyzed by heterogeneous solid acid catalysts and is carried out in batch or continuous mode.
US09051237B2 Biogas to liquid fuel converter
Described is a biogas to liquid fuel converter and method of use which includes a biogas cleaning system which can be obtained from a landfill of sewage digester which further includes a cargo container housing the syngas production system and methanol synthesis devices employed in converting biogas to methanol.
US09051236B2 Method for improving the quality of ethylene glycol products
A method for improving the quality of ethylene glycol products, which mainly solves the technical problem of low UV-light transmittance of the ethylene glycol products present in the prior art. The method successfully solves the problem by use of the technical solution wherein the ethylene glycol raw material and hydrogen are passed through a rotating packed bed reactor loaded with solid oxide catalyst at a temperature of about 20 to about 280° C., a pressure of about 0.1 to about 4.0 MPa, a space velocity of about 0.2 to about 100.0 hr−1 and a molar ratio of hydrogen to ethylene glycol of from about 0.01 to 40:1, and ethylene glycol is obtained after the reaction. The solid oxide catalyst is at least one of copper-based, nickel-based and palladium-based catalysts, and the rotation rate of the rotating packed bed reactor is about 300 to about 5000 rpm.
US09051233B2 Compounds for electronic devices
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (1), to the use thereof in electronic devices, and to electronic devices, particularly organic electroluminescence devices, comprising said compounds according to the invention, particularly as blue emitting material in an emitting layer.
US09051224B2 Gas generating system
A gas generating system is provided including a first housing formed from a polymeric material, and a pyrotechnic gas generant material contained in the first housing. The first housing forms a combustion chamber for the gas generant. An airbag system and a vehicle occupant protection system, each incorporating a gas generating system as described herein, are also disclosed.
US09051222B1 Slow and controlled release polymeric sulfur fertilizer containing multiple nutrient elements and method for preparing the same
The present invention provides a slow and controlled release polymeric sulfur fertilizer containing multiple nutrient elements. The slow and controlled release polymeric sulfur fertilizer is represented by the following formula, in which m=1-4, and n=100-210. The element sulfur in the slow and controlled release polymeric sulfur fertilizer according to embodiments of the present invention has very high utilization rate.
US09051219B2 Semiconductor processing apparatus comprising a solid solution ceramic formed from yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, and aluminum oxide
A solid solution-comprising ceramic article useful in semiconductor processing, which is resistant to erosion by halogen-containing plasmas. The solid solution-comprising ceramic article is formed from a combination of yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, and aluminum oxide. In a first embodiment, the solid solution-comprising ceramic article is a solid, sintered body of the solid solution ceramic material. In a second embodiment, the solid solution-comprising article comprises a substrate underlying a solid solution-comprising coating.
US09051218B2 Building composition comprising cellulose ether
Cellulose ethers, wherein at least a part of the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose backbone are substituted by methoxy groups and hydroxyalkoxy groups, and optionally alkoxy groups being different from methoxy groups, having an unconventional distribution of methoxy substituents at the 2-, 3- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose units are described. Such cellulose ethers exhibit significantly higher thermoreversible gel strengths than any known hydroxyalkyl methyl celluloses of comparable viscosity and kind and level of substitution rendering them useful as additives for building compositions such as cement based tile adhesives. In particular, such cellulose ethers can be used to improve the attainable adhesion strength after heat storage conditioning and the temporal setting characteristics of a building composition.
US09051217B2 Light-weight composition and mix for masonry, mortar and stucco
A pre-mixed mortar, stucco or masonry composition includes from 30 percent to 72 percent masonry sand by weight, from 20 percent to 50 percent concrete sand by weight, from 15 percent to 20 percent slag cement by weight, from 1 percent to 4 percent acetic acid by weight, from 3 percent to 10 percent fly ash by weight, from 1 percent to 5 percent clay bentonite by weight, from 1 percent to 5 percent calcium oxide by weight, and from 3 percent to 10 percent sodium carbonate by weight.
US09051204B2 Nontoxic polysiloxane material for producing biologically resorbable and/or bioactive articles containing polysiloxane material, its production and use
The invention relates to a nontoxic polysiloxane material and ripened polysiloxane material which has been formed using one or more different polysiloxane materials. According to the invention, such a ripened polysiloxane material can be spun, for example, into bioabsorbable and/or bioactive fibers and then be further processed into fibrous nonwoven webs.
US09051202B2 Method of producing a disk roll
A disk roll includes a shaft, and a plurality of disks that are fitted to the shaft, the plurality of disks fitted having been fired, having a density of more than 1.20 g/cm3 and 1.50 g/cm3 or less, and including 20 to 50 wt % of ceramic wool, 5 to 30 wt % of kibushi clay, 2 to 20 wt % of bentonite, and 20 to 45 wt % of a filler, the filler being selected from mica, alumina, wollastonite, cordierite, and calcined kaolin.
US09051192B2 Surface water filtration systems
Certain embodiments of the invention provide systems that filter surface water runoff that enters sewer or storm drains. Some embodiments of such systems are composed of a top plate, a main filter chamber, and an enhanced media filter, and each of the top plate, the main chamber, and the enhanced media filter are shaped for mounting into a storm drain. In some embodiments, the top plate is shaped to overlap a perimeter of the sewer or storm drain hole and has a surface water intake opening. In some embodiments, the top plate, the main filter chamber, and the enhanced media filter are vertically arrayed, respectively, from top to bottom.
US09051185B2 Carbon nanostructures from pyrolysis of organic materials
Methods and apparatus to generate carbon nanostructures from organic materials are described. Certain embodiments provide solid waste materials into a furnace, that pyrolyzes the solid waste materials into gaseous decomposition products, which are then converted to carbon nanostructures. Methods and apparatuses described herein provide numerous advantages over conventional methods, such as cost savings, reduction of handling risks, optimization of process conditions, and the like.
US09051182B2 Method of use of an ionic liquid for storing hydrogen
A method of storing hydrogen is provided, wherein the method comprises forming a first ionic liquid by inducing a borohydride into a second ionic liquid comprising cations and an anion comprising borate, in particular metaborate, and forming the second ionic liquid by releasing the hydrogen out of the first ionic liquid by using water and/or a catalyst.
US09051177B2 Active optical limiting semiconductor device and method with active region transparent to light becoming opaque when not biased
An optical switching system comprising an embodiment with a high pass filter operable to eliminate a portion of frequencies present in an image and an optical device operative to receive the spectrally modified image from the high pass filter, alternatively amplify the spectrally modified image, and propagate at least those frequency components in the spectrally modified image exhibiting a frequency less than an absorption frequency of the optical switching device when the optical switching device is active. Alternatively, the optical switching system may transmit an image only when the system is active. The optical switching system may, for example, comprise superluminescent light emitting diodes which may be, for example, formed in the shape of an inverted truncated prism. For human viewing purposes, the operative transmission ranges may closely coincide with the maximum sensitivity of the photopic response of the corresponding red, blue and green cones in human eyes.
US09051173B2 Treatment method of a getter material and encapsulation method of such getter material
A treatment method for a getter material is provided, including forming a protective layer on the thin layer getter material by performing at least one oxidation and/or nitriding step of the thin layer getter material conducted under dry atmosphere of dioxygen and/or dinitrogen, wherein the protective layer is composed of oxide and/or nitride of the thin layer getter material, and wherein a thickness of the protective layer is between approximately 1 nm and 10 nm.
US09051169B2 Portable cushions including deformable wall members, and related methods
Portable cushions include first and second portions that may be folded relative to one another between a folded state in which the cushion may be carried by a user and an unfolded state in which the cushion may be used to cushion the body of a person or another object. Each of the first and second portions of the cushion includes deformable wall members that are located and configured to define voids therebetween, such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members during cushioning. Methods of manufacturing such portable cushions include the formation of such first and second portions of a cushion.
US09051159B2 Column connector system
A connector for a column segment, such as a boom segment, of a crane includes n extensions, where n is a positive integer. Each extension has a first base and an aperture extends through the extension from a first side to a second side. The first connector also includes at least (n+y) plates, where y is selected from the group consisting of (−1, +1) such that the sum of (n+y) is a positive integer. The plate or plates are positioned in and coupled to the extensions in an alternating arrangement. Each plate includes a plate base aligned substantially in a plane with the first base of the extension to form a first connector mounting surface. A plurality of welds couple the plates to the extensions and the fabricated connector is then welded to the column segment. At least one extension is formed of steel having a grain structure elongated in a direction of rolling that is substantially perpendicular to the first base.
US09051153B2 Stackable fiber management spool with resealable fiber retention arms
A spool including a barrel extending up from a bottom portion, a plurality of flanges extending from an outer circumferential surface of the barrel, a plurality of retaining arms extending up from an annular portion of the bottom portion, the annular portion extending radially away from the outer circumferential surface of the barrel, engagement mechanisms on at least one of the plurality of flanges and the plurality of retaining arms, wherein the engagement mechanisms cause the plurality of flanges and the plurality of retaining arms to become engaged, and a hinge on each of the plurality of retaining arms.
US09051149B2 Sheet ejection device
A sheet ejection device includes a sheet receiving tray provided with a sheet stack plane, a detector for detecting ejected sheets at a reference position, and a controller. Both side end of the sheet stack plane is made higher than a center thereof when viewed along a sheet ejection direction. The reference position functions as a reference for a height level of a center of an uppermost surface of stacked sheets on the sheet stack plane. During a sheet ejection operation, the controller moves the tray downward by a preset height level every ejection of a preset number of sheets until the detector detects sheets, and then newly starts to move the tray downward by the preset height level every ejection of the preset number of sheets from a time when the detector detects sheets. According to the device, sheets can be prevented from being stacked on the tray erroneously.
US09051148B2 Image processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and control method
An image processing apparatus prints an image on a sheet and controls one of a plurality of binding units to bind the sheets on which the images are printed. The image processing apparatus further enables designation of a binding process to be used to bind the sheets, and provides notification of the number of sheets that can be bound by the designated binding process and the number of sheets that can be bound by a non-designated binding process.
US09051143B2 Sheet conveyer and image reading apparatus
A sheet conveyer, including a first roller to rotate to convey a sheet in a conveying direction; a separator arranged to be opposed to the first roller and configured to nip the sheet and to separate the sheet from other sheets; a multiple sheet sensor arranged in a downstream position with respect to the first roller and configured to sense presence of multiple sheets, the multiple sheet sensor including an emitter and a receiver; and a second roller arranged in a downstream position with respect to the multiple sheet sensor and configured to convey the separated sheet, is provided. A component being at least one of the emitter and the receiver is arranged in an outer side position with respect to the separator, and at least a part of the component is arranged in an inner side position with respect to the second roller.
US09051140B2 Sheet conveying device and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A sheet conveying device includes: first, second and third rollers, a conveying member, a frame, a first pressing member, and a force-generating unit. The first and second rollers rotate while nipping the sheet therebetween. The third roller and the conveying member nip the sheet therebetween. The frame is elongated parallel to an axis about which the third roller rotates and supports the third roller. The first pressing member applies a first pressing force to an axial center of the first roller to press the first roller toward the second roller and applies a reaction force of the first pressing force to the frame to press the frame in a direction toward the conveying member. The force-generating unit generates a nipping force for nipping the sheet between the third roller and the conveying member and applies an urging force to the frame in a direction away from the conveying member.
US09051139B2 Compact sheet carrying device and document processing apparatus using such device
A compact sheet carrying device comprises a tray, a first supporting arm and a second supporting arm. The tray supports a first portion of a sheet. The first supporting arm is pivotally connected to the tray at one end having a first toothed portion. The second supporting arm is pivotally connected to the tray at one end having a second toothed portion. The two toothed portions mesh with each other. The two supporting arms are concurrently in a deployed state or a retracted state. In the deployed state, the two supporting arms support a second portion of the sheet. A document processing apparatus using such sheet carrying device is also provided.
US09051136B2 Mobile loading dock with adjustable leg assembly
An adjustable leg assembly for a loading dock ramp member having an elongate, adjustable housing with incremental slots, a hydraulic system having a hydraulic pump with a cylinder fully contained within the housing and a handle for operation of the hydraulic system. The leg assembly also includes a lock bracket for insertion into the slots to contact the cylinder for even distribution of compression loads. A user pumps the handle to actuate the hydraulic system and thereby adjust the loading dock to the desired height.
US09051135B2 Conveying device for powdered and/or granulated material and mixtures of this material with liquids
A conveying device for a mixture of free-flowing finely divided solid materials, in particular for powdered and/or granular (mixed) material, especially polymer granules with a liquid includes a telescopic pipe which is vertically arranged and can be flexibly fitted for conveying a mixture of preferably polymer granules with a liquid, for example for flushing a contaminated conveying device.
US09051123B2 Drop chute assembly for paper handling system
A paper transport system includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and a drop chute assembly. The first conveyor has a belt for transporting paper disposed at a first elevation. The second conveyor has a belt for transporting paper disposed at a second elevation that is different from the first elevation. The drop chute assembly is positioned between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. The drop chute assembly is configured to receive paper from the first conveyor and output the paper to the second conveyor.
US09051121B2 Medium conveyance mechanism
The present invention may lower the cost, save space and simplify assembly in a medium conveyance mechanism that conveys a medium with a pair of conveyance rollers provided facing each other. Namely, the medium conveyance mechanism is disposed with a torsion spring including a coil portion and arms at both ends of the coil portion; a first fixing wall that fixes one arm of the torsion spring; and a second fixing wall that fixes the coil portion at an opposite side from the first fixing wall, wherein the other arm of the torsion spring is made to contact a following roller shaft at the first fixing wall side.
US09051120B2 Control system for storage and retrieval systems
A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.
US09051115B2 Fibre product for packaging
The invention relates to a fibrous product (2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3) for packaging, in particular food product packaging, comprising at least one first fiber layer (4.1, 4.1′, 4.1″, 4.2, 4.2′, 4.2″, 4.3″, 4.4″, 4.5″, 4.6″, 14, 16, 18), a filter material (6) for binding mineral oil substances extending at least partly through said first fiber layer (4.1, 4.1′, 4.1″, 4.2, 4.2′, 4.2″, 4.3″, 4.4″, 4.5″, 4.6″, 14, 16, 18).
US09051107B1 Portadipper systems
A portable condiment holder system having a portable condiment holder assembly including, a lid; a receptacle having a top portion, a bottom portion, a first finger mount coupled to the bottom portion sized to accommodate a middle finger on a hand of a user-consumer, a second finger mount coupled to the bottom portion sized to accommodate an index finger on the hand of the user-consumer, an inner-volume to store at least one condiment and at least one finger food; and a base comprising at least one slit. The lid, the receptacle, and the base form the portable condiment holder assembly. The portable condiment holder assembly permits the user-consumer to coat at least one finger food in the at least one condiment, without risking spilling the condiment on the user-consumer and on belongings while in in-use condition.
US09051104B2 Composite containers
A composite container (10) comprising a rectangular cuboidal rigid outer-container (20) comprising a top and a bottom surface (21,22) connected by four side walls (23), and a single compressible, rigid inner-container (30) for containing a pourable product, said inner-container having a basis weight of from 150 g/m2 to 700 g/m2, and said inner container comprising a top (31), a bottom (32), and a closable opening (33) located at said top. The inner-container (30) comprises at least one zone (34) having a circular cross-section and at least two zones (35) having a non-circular cross-section, whereby said at least two zones (35) having a non-circular cross-section are in contact with the inner surface of said outer-container (20). The at least two zones (35) having a non-circular cross-section are separated by said at least one zone (34) having a circular cross-section.
US09051099B2 One piece dispensing lid
One-piece dispensing closure or lid molded in a single mold not requiring assembly of independent pieces, except for a seal after filling the closure with the additive. The closure has a round side skirt and security or tamper evident band, provided inside with threaded ribs, a flexible diaphragm with a tearing structure made up of a central stem and a tearing cylinder having a plurality of tearing tips to break the seal and release the additive.
US09051095B2 Sealing overcap for a container
An overcap is provided for use in sealing a container of the type having an outer rim, an inside wall surface, and an inner rim spaced inwardly from the inside wall surface, with the inner rim forming a container opening. A flexing portion is formed within the body portion of the overcap and is moveable between a first sealing position and a second sealing position. The flexing portion includes a downwardly depending wall member positioned adjacent the inside wall surface of the container in the first sealing position. A sealing plug is provided and is moveable between the first sealing position and the second sealing position. The sealing plug includes a peripheral surface dimension for frictional engagement with the inner rim, releasably closing of the opening in the second sealing position. The sealing plug is separated from the inner rim in the first sealing position.
US09051087B1 Sanitary cover for airplane tray including pocket for personal use
A sanitary pocket that fits over the tray table on a commercial airplane flight having two parts wherein the first part slips over the tray when it is its horizontal position. When the tray is returned to its upright vertical position, the first pocket is held in place by the securing device that secures the tray in its upright position while a second pocket hangs down from the first pocket that allows the traveler to place his or her items therein, with the peace of mind of knowing that the pocket has not been previously used by an uncountable number of persons and that the pocket is as clean and sanitary as the user dictates. Furthermore, advertising could be displayed on the pocket when in the upright position. Additionally, graphics, including game boards could be used on the first pocket when the tray is in the in-use position allowing for games, as well as providing a clean tablecloth for the user.
US09051079B2 Pallet
The present invention provides a pallet, which includes a base board and first secondary boards movably coupled to two opposite sides of the base board, and first coupling axles connecting between the base board and the first secondary boards. Each first coupling axle includes a first base from which a first extension section extends. The first extension section forms first flexible engagement keys. The base board forms first receiving sections corresponding to the first bases and also forming first track channels corresponding to the first extension sections. Each first track channel forms therein first retention slots corresponding to the first flexible engagement keys. The first bases are movably received in the first receiving slots. The first flexible engagement keys are receivable in the first retention slots to retain the first coupling axles in the base board. The first extension sections have ends fixed in the first secondary boards.
US09051074B2 Container, closure, and package
A closure inner shell includes an annular skirt extending axially from a base wall and having an external thread segment. The base wall may have a central passage and the skirt may have circumferentially spaced petals. A closure outer shell may include a vented plug seal extending axially through the central passage of the inner shell, and an annular outer skirt to engage the petals of the inner shell and having an internal thread segment for threaded engagement with the external thread segment of the inner shell. A container may include a container neck bead for engagement with the petals, an inner annular sealing surface for engagement with the plug seal, and an inner annular relief to cooperate with the vented plug seal to establish a vent path.
US09051070B2 Preformed decorative wrapper and methods of use thereof
A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot and methods of production and use thereof are disclosed.
US09051064B2 Resealable containers and methods of making, filling and resealing same
Disclosed is a uniquely configured medicament vial assembly which includes a storage vial, a stopper member and a securing ring. The vial assembly is configured to improve healthcare worker safety by providing a shielded gripping location to aid in the reduction of accidental needle sticks. The storage vial has a body portion which defines an interior chamber for storing a predetermined medicament and a neck portion through which medicament is received into and withdrawn from the interior chamber. The stopper member is inserted into the mouth of the vial and establishes a first seal. The securing ring is engaged with the mouth of the vial and adapted and configured for retaining the stopper member within the vial mouth and effectuating a second seal. The securing ring is formed from a thermoplastic and/or elastic material. Preferably, the securing ring is formed by molding the thermoplastic and/or elastic material over a portion of the storage vial and stopper member when engaged within the vial mouth.
US09051063B1 Space vehicle heat shield having edgewise strips of ablative material
A heat shield for a space vehicle comprises a plurality of phenolic impregnated carbon ablator (PICA) blocks secured to a surface of the space vehicle and arranged in a pattern with gaps therebetween. The heat shield further comprises a plurality of PICA strips disposed in the gaps between the PICA blocks. The PICA strips are mounted edgewise, such that the structural orientation of the PICA strips is substantially perpendicular to the structural orientation of the PICA blocks.
US09051056B2 Fuel heat management system
A fuel heat management system including a fuel line for conveying fuel, and a fuel/oil heat exchanger which receives fuel flowing through the fuel line. The fuel heat management system further comprises an oil line for circulating oil from an engine oil system to the fuel/oil heat exchanger and back to the engine oil system. The fuel/oil heat exchanger brings the oil and the fuel into heat exchange relationship. The fuel heat management system further includes an air/oil heat exchanger which receives oil flowing through the oil line, the air/oil heat exchanger bringing the oil and air into heat exchange relationship. The fuel heat management system further includes an air/fuel heat exchanger which receives fuel flowing through the fuel line, the air/fuel heat exchanger bringing the fuel and air into heat exchange relationship.
US09051046B2 Vertical support system
A vertical support system includes a first articulated leg assembly configured to carry a first load, the first articulated leg assembly being selectively movable between a first retracted configuration and a first loaded configuration and a second articulated leg assembly configured to carry a second load substantially kinematically identical to the first articulated leg assembly, the second articulated leg assembly being selectively movable between a second retracted configuration and a second loaded configuration. The arrangement of axis of rotations and offset angles of the first and/or second lees of each articulated leg assembly may produce a lateral width ratio. A first vertical footprint of the first articulated leg assembly overlaps a second vertical footprint of the second articulated leg assembly when the leg assemblies are retracted.
US09051045B2 Indirect drive active control column
An indirect drive active control column for an aircraft control system is provided. The indirect drive active control column provides both active and passive feedback to the control stick. The passive feedback relates to adjustments of the control stick relative to a feedback neutral position. The active feedback actively adjusts the position of the feedback neutral position to adjust a feedback profile of the passive feedback.
US09051044B2 Counter-rotating open-rotor (CROR)
A method of controlling a Counter-Rotating Open-Rotor (CROR) includes measuring a speed of a first rotor and deriving a speed of a second rotor and controlling a pitch of the first rotor and the second rotor.
US09051034B1 Frame system
A frame system suitable for use on a boat and capable of supporting one or more tarpaulins to protect the boat from the elements, comprising one or more sets of couplers and hinged angle elements adapted to be used with off-the-shelf connecting members, such as PVC pipes, such that when assembled the frame system provides a canopy frame arching over the top side of the boat, with the lateral sides of the frame system sloping upward and meeting over the longitudinal midline of the boat.
US09051027B1 Vehicle having an inertia wheel
A vehicle has a frame, a straddle seat, a motor, a belt transmission system, front left and right suspension assemblies, front left and right ground engaging members, a rear suspension assembly, a rear ground engaging member, a steering assembly operatively connected to the front left and right ground engaging members and having a handlebar, and an inertia wheel. The inertia wheel is operatively connected to the steering assembly. The inertia wheel pivots about a generally vertical axis when the handlebar is turned to steer the front left and right ground engaging members. The inertia wheel pivots about the vertical axis in a same direction as the front left and right ground engaging members when steered by the handlebar.