Document Document Title
US09685277B2 Electrode
An electrode which can have an improved performance such as higher discharge capacity and in which deterioration due to peeling of an active material layer or the like is difficult to occur are provided. The electrode includes an active material layer including a first protrusion, a second protrusion and a continuous active material film, a metal oxide layer, and a continuous mixed layer. The first protrusion, the second protrusion and the continuous active material film includes silicon. The metal oxide layer includes oxygen and a metal element which is capable of forming silicide by reacting with silicon. The continuous mixed layer includes silicon and the metal element.
US09685270B2 High K dielectric composition for thermoformable capacitive circuits
This invention is directed to a polymer thick film thermoformable dielectric composition with a high dielectric constant. Dielectrics made from the composition can be used in various electronic applications to enhance the performance of thermoformable capacitive circuits.
US09685269B2 Method of forming an insulated electric conductor
A method of anodizing a coil comprised of wire having a copper core and a layer of a metal formed on the core is disclosed. The metal has electrically insulating characteristics when anodized. Two variations of the method are provided. In the first variation, the metal-clad wire is partially anodized prior to being wound on a spool to form a coil. Once the partially anodized wire is wound onto a spool the coiled wire is anodized to complete anodization. The anodized coiled wire may be rinsed to remove residual electrolytic material. In the second variation, the metal-clad wire is wound on a spool to form a coil. The coiled wire is then anodized. The method of the disclosed invention reduces or entirely eliminates the presence of micro cracks in the oxide layer. The resulting coil may be used in motors, electromagnets, generators, alternators and subsystems for the same.
US09685265B2 Wearable magnet housing
Wearable housings are configured in size and shape to be securely attached to a strap, such as a belt, suspender, backpack strap, rifle strap, shoulder bag strap, vest, carrier, or other strap with one or more clasping members. One or more magnets are positioned within the substantially hollow receptacle area(s) of the wearable housing. The magnet(s) have sufficient holding force to securely hold a handgun or other item against the wearable housing for ready access.
US09685263B2 Coil component
A coil component is constituted by a composite magnetic material containing alloy grains whose oxygen atom concentration in their surfaces is 50 percent or less, and resin, and also by a coil. The coil component using the composite magnetic material does not require high pressure when formed.
US09685250B2 Method of preparing radioisotope hybrid nanocomposite particles using sol-gel reaction and radioisotope hybrid nanocomposite particles prepared using the same
A method of preparing radioisotope hybrid nanocomposite particles using a sol-gel reaction, and radioisotope hybrid nanocomposite particles prepared using the same are provided. The method includes preparing a complex precursor using a metal ion and an unshared electron pair reactive compound, growing hybrid nanocomposite particles based on the complex precursor by means of a sol-gel reaction, calcining the nanocomposite particles in the air to remove organic matters present in the nanocomposite particles, and irradiating the nanocomposite particles with neutrons to prepare radioisotope hybrid nanocomposite particles. The radioisotope nanocomposite particles prepared using the method can be used as diagnostic and therapeutic particles in the fields of oil refining, chemistry, cement, agriculture, water resources, environment, ocean, and medicine, and can also be used as a radioisotope tracer for evaluating the risk of nanomaterials.
US09685235B2 Method of initializing 3D non-volatile memory device
A 3D non-volatile memory device may include a dummy string selection line, string selection lines, wordlines, bitlines, a ground selection line, and memory layers. Each of the memory layers comprising channel lines respectively coupled to the bitlines via first ends and coupled to a common source line of the memory layer via second ends. The dummy string selection line, the string selection lines, the wordlines, and the ground selection line intersect with the channel lines, and each of the channel lines defines a memory string. Initializing the 3D non-volatile memory device may include programming string selection transistors coupled with the string selection lines to have one or more threshold values, and programming a dummy string selection transistor coupled with the dummy string selection line to have a predetermined threshold value, such that the dummy string selection transistor together with the string selection transistors function as string selection transistors.
US09685233B2 Programming multibit memory cells
A multiple bits per cell memory is operated by applying a one-pass, multiple-level programming, using a single pulse sequence one time (or in one-pass), such as an incremental pulse program sequence, with program verify steps for multiple target program levels, to program multiple bits per cell in a plurality of memory cells. Using these techniques, the number of program pulses required, and the time required for programming the data can be reduced. As a result, an improvement in programming throughput and a reduction in disturbance conditions are achieved. Variants of the one-pass, multiple-level programming operation can be adopted for a variety of memory cell types, memory architectures, programming speeds, and data storage densities.
US09685228B2 Reference and sensing with bit line stepping method of memory
A sensing method for a memory is provided. The memory includes: a memory cell; a reference circuit generating a reference voltage and a clamp voltage; and a current supplying circuit receiving the clamp voltage to develop a cell current passing through the memory cell to form a cell voltage, wherein the cell voltage is used for incorporating with the reference voltage to determine the information stored in the memory.
US09685225B2 Semiconductor storage device for controlling word lines independently of power-on sequence
The disclosed invention provides a semiconductor storage device that creates no trouble, independently of power-on sequence. A semiconductor storage device includes a first power supply for the memory cells, a second power supply which is turned on independently of the first power supply and provided for a peripheral circuit which is electrically coupled to the memory cells, and a word line level fixing circuit for fixing the level of the word lines, which operates in accordance with turn-on of the first power supply. The word line level fixing circuit includes multiple level fixing transistors which are provided to correspond respectively to the word lines and provided between one of the word lines and a fixed potential and a level fixing control circuit which controls the level fixing transistors in accordance with input of a signal responding to turn-on of the second power supply.
US09685223B2 Voltage controller
A voltage controller is provided that is connected to a voltage inducing circuit which is connected to a static random-access memory (SRAM) cell. The voltage controller comprises a voltage clamping circuit and a pull up circuit. The voltage clamping circuit comprises one or more transistors. The voltage clamping circuit is configured to inhibit a second voltage of a second signal at a second node of the voltage inducing circuit from exceeding a first specified voltage threshold so that a fifth voltage of a fifth signal at a fifth node of the voltage inducing circuit is inhibited from exceeding a second specified voltage threshold. The pull up circuit is configured to maintain the second voltage substantially equal to a specified pull up voltage. The fifth node is connected to the SRAM cell, and a voltage to which the SRAM cell is exposed is thereby controlled.
US09685222B2 Memory cell with read transistors of the TFET and MOSFET type to reduce leakage current
Memory cell of the SRAM type, including storage transistors forming a memory point for storing a bit and a read port having at least one MOS transistor, a TFET transistor, a power terminal and a read bit line whereof a potential is designed to vary depending on the value of the stored bit, and such that: the gate of the MOS transistor is connected to the memory point, and the gate of the TFET transistor is able to receive a read command signal; a first electrode of the MOS transistor is connected to the power supply terminal; a second electrode of the MOS transistor is connected to a first electrode of the TFET transistor; a second electrode of the TFET transistor is connected to the read bit line.
US09685218B2 Memory device and memory system having the same
A memory device includes a memory cell array, an intensively accessed row detection circuit, and a refresh control circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cell rows. The intensively accessed row detection circuit generates an intensively accessed row address indicating an intensively accessed memory cell row among the plurality of memory cell rows based on an accumulated access time for each of the plurality of memory cell rows. The refresh control unit preferentially refreshes neighboring memory cell rows adjacent to the intensively accessed memory cell row indicated by the intensively accessed row address when receiving the intensively accessed row address from the intensively accessed row detection unit. The memory device effectively reduces a rate of data loss.
US09685214B2 Devices and methods for controlling magnetic anisotropy with localized biaxial strain in a piezoelectric substrate
Devices and methods for controlling magnetic anisotropy and orientation of magnetic single domain structures between stable states are provided based on piezoelectric thin films and patterned electrodes. By using patterned electrodes, piezoelectric strain is manipulated to achieve a highly localized biaxial strain in a piezoelectric substrate and rotate the magnetic anisotropy of magnetic materials. Reorientation of a magnetic single domain between different stable states is accomplished by pulsing voltage across pairs of electrodes. Since only a small region surrounding the electrodes is strained, the methods can be applied to arrays of indexed magnetic elements and to piezoelectric thin films clamped to silicon base substrates.
US09685213B2 Provision of holding current in non-volatile random access memory
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques and configurations for controlling current in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) device. In an embodiment, the NVRAM device may include a plurality of memory cells coupled to a plurality of bit lines forming a bit line node with parasitic capacitance. Each memory cell may comprise a switch device with a required level of a holding current to maintain an on-state of the cell. A voltage supply circuitry and a controller may be coupled with the NVRAM device. The controller may control the circuitry to provide a current pulse that keeps a memory cell in on-state. The pulse may comprise a profile that changes over time from a set point to the holding current level, in response to a discharge of the bit line node capacitance through the memory cell after the set point is achieved. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09685205B2 Semiconductor device
Data hold time is controlled without excessively increasing a circuit area. A semiconductor device includes a data buffer and a flip-flop formed of fin. As a delay line, gate wirings being in the same layer as gate electrodes of the fin are provided in a data signal path from a data output node of the data buffer to a data input node of the flip-flop.
US09685203B2 Power supply voltage switching circuit capable of preventing current leakage
A power supply voltage switching circuit includes a power selecting module, a level shifting module, and a supply switching module. The power selecting module receives a first supply signal and a second supply signal, and outputs an intermediate supply signal according to the first supply signal and the second supply signal. The level shifting module receives the intermediate supply signal as a power supply, and generates a first shifted signal and a second shifted signal by shifting voltage levels of a first control signal and a second control signal respectively. The supply switching module receives the first supply signal and a third supply signal, and generates an output signal according to the first shifted signal, the second shifted signal, the first control signal, and the second control signal.
US09685187B1 Bonding tool and method for high accuracy chip-to-chip bonding
A chip-to-chip eutectic bonding system includes a stage with a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of vacuum apertures extending therebetween and a carrier with a top surface, the top surface including one or more smooth surface portions and one or more rough surface portions, wherein at least one smooth carrier surface portion laterally aligns to at least one vacuum aperture, and at least one of the stage's rough surface portions frictionally couples to at least one of the carrier's rough surface portions when the carrier top surface couples to and opposes the stage bottom surface.
US09685183B2 Magnetic layer
An apparatus includes a substrate and a magnetic layer coupled to the substrate. The magnetic layer includes an alloy that has magnetic hardness that is a function of the degree of chemical ordering of the alloy. The degree of chemical ordering of the alloy in a first portion of the magnetic layer is greater than the degree of chemical ordering of the alloy in a second portion of the magnetic layer, and the first portion of the magnetic layer is closer to the substrate than the second portion of the magnetic layer.
US09685175B1 Text synchronization with audio
A technology for synchronizing text with audio includes analyzing the audio to identify voice segments in the audio where a human voice is present and to identify non-voice segments in proximity to the voice segments. Segmented text associated with the audio, having text segments, may be identified and synchronized to the voice segments.
US09685170B2 Pitch marking in speech processing
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a computerized method for selecting and correcting pitch marks in speech processing and modification. The method comprises an action of receiving a continuous speech signal representing audible speech recorded by a microphone, where a sequence of pitch values and two or more pitch mark temporal values are computed from the continuous speech signal. The method comprises an action of computing for each of the pitch mark temporal values a lower limit temporal value and an upper limit temporal value by a cross-correlation function of the continuous speech signal around the pitch mark temporal values associated with pairs of elements in the sequence and replacing one or more of the pitch mark temporal values with one or more new temporal value between the lower limit temporal value and the upper limit temporal value.
US09685160B2 Method for offering suggestion during conversation, electronic device using the same, and non-transitory storage medium
A method for offering suggestion during conversation, an electronic device using the same, and a non-transitory storage medium are provided. The method includes listening to a conversation on a first electronic device and a second electronic device, and determining whether the conversation satisfies a recommendation criterion. The method also includes determining whether at least one suggestion information exists in a database if the conversation satisfies the recommendation criterion. The method further includes displaying at least one suggestion option related to the at least one suggestion information on the first electronic device if the at least one suggestion information exists in the database.
US09685154B2 Apparatus and methods for managing resources for a system using voice recognition
The technology of the present application provides a method and apparatus to managing resources for a system using voice recognition. The method and apparatus includes maintaining a database of historical data regarding a plurality of users. The historical database maintains data regarding the training resources required for users to achieve an accuracy score using voice recognition. A resource calculation module determines from the historical data an expected amount of training resources necessary to train a new user to the accuracy score.
US09685151B2 Transitioning between arrayed and in-phase speaker configurations for active noise reduction
A noise cancellation method and system comprises a system controller that produces a command signal in response to a signal from at least one microphone detecting sound in an area. The system controller includes an arrayed speaker controller for producing a driver signal for each speaker in response to the command signal such that combined sound emitted by the speakers in response to the driver signals produces a substantially uniform sound pressure field adapted to attenuate a noise field corresponding to the sound detected by the at least one microphone. The system controller includes an in-phase speaker controller for producing a common in-phase driver signal for all speakers in response to the command signal and a signal director module for proportioning the command signal between the arrayed and in-phase speaker controllers in response to a magnitude of voltage associated with driving the speakers in accordance with the command signal.
US09685144B2 Toy piano
A toy piano including one or both an enlarged sound plate intermediate the sound bar of the toy piano and its sound board, and a sound box into which the sound board is incorporated. Preferably, the sound plate extends beyond the normal edges of the sound bar in which the longitudinal tines of the toy piano are mounted so as to lie adjacent to the sound board over a larger area. Likewise, the sound box should preferably be shaped so as to be somewhat wider (measured in the longitudinal direction of the tines) towards the end where the tines are longest (and produce lower tones) and somewhat narrower towards the end where the shorter tines (producing higher tones) are located. It preferred shape is characterized by somewhat convex curves at the more treble and bass ends, respectively, of the sound box with a somewhat concave curve intermediate these two ends. The backboard of the sound box can be bowed outward for enhance acoustics.
US09685136B2 Display system and conversion apparatus
A display system and a conversion apparatus are provided. The display system includes an image signal input apparatus configured to convert a first parallel image signal to a serial image signal, a conversion apparatus configured to convert the serial image signal to a second parallel image signal, and a display apparatus configured to process the second parallel image signal, and display the processed second parallel image signal. The conversion apparatus is attachable to and detachable from the display apparatus.
US09685135B2 Display device, display method, and electronic device
Disclosed herein is a display device including: a display section configured to have a plurality of scanning signal lines to which respective scanning signals are applied, the display section performing line-sequential scanning by repeating interruption and resumption of the line-sequential scanning on a basis of the plurality of scanning signals, and displaying an image; and a scanning section configured to generate the plurality of scanning signals such that transition times on a pulse termination side of the respective scanning signals are equal to each other.
US09685133B2 Strobe driving circuit, strobe driving method, array substrate and display apparatus
There are provided with a strobe driving circuit, a strobe driving method, an array substrate and a display apparatus. The strobe driving circuit includes: a first driving unit for receiving a timing control signal, generating a first strobe driving signal based on the power signal under the control of the timing control signal; a first energy storing unit, storing energy based on the first strobe driving signal; a second driving unit connected to the first energy storing unit, for generating a second strobe driving signal based on the energy stored by the first energy storing unit under the control of the timing control signal. In the technical solution according to the embodiments of the application, the number of required bonding pads is reduced, so that the complexity of semiconductor manufacturing process and the difficulty of the manufacturing procedure are reduced.
US09685131B2 Active-matrix substrate, method of manufacturing active-matrix substrate, and display panel
An objective is to provide a technique for reducing the size of the picture-frame region of the active-matrix substrate and improve the freedom of design, such as the freedom in designing the active-matrix substrate. An active-matrix substrate includes a group of gate lines and a group of source lines crossing the gate lines. At least some of the gate lines have a length that is smaller than the maximum value of the width of the active-matrix substrate as measured in the direction in which the gate lines extend. The active-matrix substrate further includes pixel electrodes connected with the gate lines and source lines, and gate line driving units (11) provided in the display region for switching the gate lines to the selected or non-selected state in response to a supplied control signal. First terminals (12s) for providing data signals from the source driver and second terminals (12g) for providing control signals from the display control circuit are provided in the portion of the picture-frame region that is adjacent a side of the display region.
US09685128B2 Display apparatus and method of driving the display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a set control circuit configured to generate a plurality of transmission signals and transmitting the transmission signals through a transmitting interface, a display control circuit configured to receive the transmission signals through a receiving interface and to drive a display panel based on the transmission signals, and a transmission channel connecting the transmitting interface and the receiving interface, and configured to transfer the transmission signals. The display control circuit is configured to transmit and receive a transmission signal with the set control circuit through the transmission channel, and to control the set control circuit to determine a signal level of the transmission signal into an optimal signal level being a receivable signal level for the display control circuit.
US09685127B2 Array substrate, method for driving array substrate, and display device
The present invention provides an array substrate, a driving method and a display device. The array substrate comprises a plurality of gate lines. A first gate line of the two adjacent gate lines is coupled to a first switch unit and a second gate line is coupled to a second switch unit. The first switch unit and the second switch unit are coupled to a control line, and are coupled to a gate drive output channel. The second switch unit is turned off when the first switch unit is turned on under control of the control line, and the first switch unit is turned off when the second switch is turned on under control of the control line. According to the present invention, it is able to effectively reduce the number of the gate drive ICs and thereby to reduce the cost.
US09685116B2 Display device using a demultiplexer circuit
A display device is disclosed to include a display panel including a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of pixels coupled to the data lines and gate lines. The data lines include first and second data lines, and the pixels include first and second color pixels. The display device also includes a data driving circuit to generate data voltages through a plurality of output channels, a gate driving circuit coupled to the gate lines, and a timing controller to generate control signals to the data driving circuit and the gate driving circuit. The display device further includes a demultiplexer switching circuit with first demux switches to supply, when turned on, the data voltages from the output channels to the first data lines, and second demux switches to supply, when turned on, the data voltages from the output channels to the second data lines.
US09685114B2 Pixel circuits for AMOLED displays
A system for controlling a display in which each pixel circuit comprises a light-emitting device, a drive transistor, a storage capacitor, a reference voltage source, and a programming voltage source. The storage capacitor stores a voltage equal to the difference between the reference voltage and the programming voltage, and a controller supplies a programming voltage that is a calibrated voltage for a known target current, reads the actual current passing through the drive transistor to a monitor line, turns off the light emitting device while modifying the calibrated voltage to make the current supplied through the drive transistor substantially the same as the target current, modifies the calibrated voltage to make the current supplied through the drive transistor substantially the same as the target current, and determines a current corresponding to the modified calibrated voltage based on predetermined current-voltage characteristics of the drive transistor.
US09685112B2 Display unit, display panel, and method of driving the same, and electronic apparatus
A display unit (1) includes a light-emitting device (13) and a pixel circuit (12) in each pixel (11), and a drive section (20) configured to drive the pixel circuit (12). The pixel circuit (12) includes a drive transistor (Tr1) configured to drive the light-emitting device (13), and a write transistor (Tr2) configured to control application of a signal voltage corresponding to an image signal to a gate of the drive transistor (Tr1). The drive section (20) performs Vth correction that allows a gate-source voltage of the drive transistor (Tr1) to be brought close to a threshold voltage of the drive transistor (Tr1) on all pixel rows, and then performs writing of the signal voltage corresponding to the image signal to gates of the drive transistors (Tr1) in all pixel rows.
US09685103B2 Door with built-in exit signal
A door with an “EXIT” signal which operates automatically includes a door panel and a light source. The door panel includes a first plate. The first plate includes a front surface. The front surface defines a plurality of pits. The pits form a predetermined pattern, in the shape of a word. The light source is fixed above the first plate. The light source emits light to toward the pits to illuminate the predetermined pattern in the shape of a word when the door is in a closed state.
US09685100B2 Rollable display
A rollable display is disclosed. In one aspect, the rollable display includes a flexible display panel configured to display an image via at least a portion thereof and a housing accommodating at least a portion of the flexible display panel. The flexible display panel has a point of inflection in the portion of the flexible display panel accommodated in the housing.
US09685084B2 Traffic event monitoring
Information on a traffic event, such as a traffic accident, may be provided to a vehicle equipped with a system for performing a wireless data communication with a traffic event center. The system can determine automatically if the vehicle approaches the traffic event by receiving corresponding information in a wireless data transmission, or by a determination based on the vehicle's current position and a location of the traffic event received in a wireless data transmission. If it is determined by the system that the vehicle has approached a traffic event, the system can automatically acquire image data of the vehicle environment, and transmit the acquired image data to the traffic event center.
US09685083B2 Computer program product and driver assistance system for a vehicle
A non-transitory computer readable medium stores a computer program causing a computer to execute a process. The process includes determining traffic regulations which are applicable in a region of current surroundings of a vehicle. The process further includes determining if a driver of the vehicle violates at least one of the determined traffic regulations and determining a degree of severity of a violation. The process further includes determining a parameter illustrating a driving behavior of the driver of the vehicle based on the classified degree of severity of the violation. A message is then output including the determined parameter with at least one output device.
US09685079B2 Short-time stopping detection from red light camera evidentiary photos
A method for detecting a vehicle running a stop signal includes acquiring at least two evidentiary images of a candidate violating vehicle captured from at least one camera monitoring an intersection. The method includes extracting feature points in each of the at least two evidentiary images. The method includes computing feature descriptors for each of the extracted feature points. The method includes determining a correspondence between feature points having matching feature descriptors at different locations in the at least two evidentiary images. The method includes extracting at least one attribute for each correspondence. The method includes determining if the candidate violating vehicle is in violation of running the stop signal using the extracted attribute.
US09685075B2 Data communication systems and methods and devices for data communication between electronic device with serial data output and client device with audio port
A data communication system including an electronic device including a serial port, a client device including at least an audio port and an interface device is provided. The electronic device is configured to obtain serial data and output the serial data via the serial port. The interface device is coupled between the electronic device and the client device and includes a serial port connected to the serial port of the electronic device, a signal conversion device and an audio port connected to the audio port of the client device, wherein the interface device receives first serial data from the electronic device via the serial port, converts the received first serial data to first audio signals via the signal conversion device, and outputs the first audio signals to the client device via the audio port, such that the client device obtains the serial data according to the first audio signals.
US09685069B2 Device for emergency signaling from a vehicle, system for emergency signaling and method of operation
The invention describes a device for emergency signaling from a vehicle, having: a housing; a detection device, which is arranged in the housing and which is suitable for recording measurement information concerning an emergency vehicle state from one or more sensor arrangements, which are formed in a housing and/or externally; a data communication management, which is arranged in the housing and configured for emitting data signals concerning an emergency message via a data interface, wherein the emergency message comprises the electronic measurement information at least partially and/or electronic vehicle status information derived therefrom; and a plug-in device, which is arranged on the housing and has a plug connector for plugging into a motor vehicle socket. The invention further relates to a method for operating the device.
US09685064B2 Automated detection of an emergency by a user device
A user device may determine that an environmental parameter, sensed by the user device, satisfies a condition, and may detect an emergency based on detecting that the environmental parameter satisfies the condition. The user device may output, via the user device, an alarm notification, and may determine whether an input is received by the user device to cancel the alarm notification. The user device may notify an emergency device when the user device determines that input is not received by the user device to cancel the alarm notification.
US09685046B2 Gaming machine with buy feature games
A gaming system comprising an input device for placing wagers. The wagers include a first wager consisting of a base wager, and second and third wagers, each consisting of a base wager portion and an additional wager portion. The third wager has a higher ratio of the additional wager portion to the base wager portion than the second wager. An outcome is based on the first, second or third wager, such that upon said second wager being made and an designated event associated with the second wager occurring, a first additional benefit relative to when the first wager is made is provided, and upon said third wager being made and a designated event associated with the third wager occurring, a second additional benefit relative to when the first wager is made is provided. The second additional benefit is a greater benefit than the first additional benefit.
US09685037B2 Anti-cheating system
An electromechanical gaming machine constructed to receive real world credits from a user, including a real world engine that provides a randomly generated payout of real world credits for a wager, an entertainment software engine that executes an entertainment game, a game world engine that manages the entertainment software engine and communicates gambling events and wager results, and an anti-cheating module that applies an anti-cheating measure to the entertainment game and allows the execution of the entertainment game based upon a determination that the anti-cheating measure has been applied to the entertainment game.
US09685014B1 Remote control system using different types of carrier waves for polling signals
A carrier wave is selected based on a state of a target device such as a vehicle. A polling signal is generated using the selected carrier wave for transmission from the target device for receipt by a portable controller. A sinusoidal carrier wave is selected when the target device is in a state that is more sensitive to electrical noise interference caused by the polling signal being generated using the carrier wave than to electrical energy consumed in generating the polling signal using the carrier wave. A non-sinusoidal periodic carrier wave is selected when the target device is in a state that is more sensitive to electrical energy consumed in generating the polling signal using the carrier wave than to electrical noise interference caused by the polling signal being generated using the carrier wave.
US09685005B2 Virtual lasers for interacting with augmented reality environments
Systems and methods enabling users to interact with an augmented reality environment are disclosed. Real-world objects may have unique markers which are recognized by mobile devices. A mobile device recognizes the markers and generates a set of virtual objects associated with the markers in the augmented reality environment. Mobile devices employ virtual pointers and virtual control buttons to enable users to interact with the virtual objects. Users may aim the virtual pointer to a virtual object, select the virtual object, and then drag-and-drop the virtual object to a new location. Embodiments enable users to select, move, transform, create and delete virtual objects with the virtual pointer. The mobile device provides users with a means of drawing lines and geometrically-shaped virtual objects.
US09685001B2 System and method for indicating a presence of supplemental information in augmented reality
A method and system are provided for indicating a presence of supplemental information in augmented reality to a user. The method includes capturing a field of view of a camera, obtaining supplemental information for at least one object in the captured field of view, displaying the captured field of view on a display and tracking a point of regard of the user. The point of regard is indicative of an area on the display at which the gaze of the user is focused. The method also includes, for each object associated with supplemental information, displaying, overlaid the captured field of view, a respective indicator that the supplemental information is associated with the object if one or more criteria are satisfied. The one or more criteria are based on at least a proximity between an image of the object in the captured field of view and the point of regard.
US09684993B2 Flight path correction in virtual scenes
A method includes receiving a first motion path for an object, where an orientation of the object is not aligned with the first motion path for the object for at least a portion of the first motion path. The method also includes receiving a first motion path for a virtual camera and determining a speed of the object along the first motion path for the object. The method additionally includes calculating a second motion path for the object based on the speed of the object along the first motion path for the object and the orientation of the object, where the second motion path of the object is aligned with second motion path. The method further includes calculating a second motion path for the virtual camera based on a difference between the first motion path of the object and the second motion path of the object.
US09684992B2 Visualization of objects along a street
For visualization of objects along a length of street, a user selection of a street is received. The selected street is displayed in an above-street view. At least a first plurality of street view images are concurrently displayed for objects along at least a first side of the selected street.
US09684973B2 Systems and methods for selecting imaging data for principle components analysis
A method is provided that includes acquiring, with a detector defining a field of view (FOV), emission imaging data of an object over the FOV. The method also includes determining, with one or more processing units, a volume of interest (VOI) of the emission imaging data, wherein the VOI defines a volume smaller than an imaged volume of the object. Further, the method includes performing, with the one or more processing units, a multivariate data analysis on the VOI to generate a waveform for the VOI. Also, the method includes determining, with the one or more processing units, an amount of motion for at least the VOI based on the waveform. The method further includes displaying, on a display unit, at least one of the amount of motion or an image reconstructed based on the emission imaging data.
US09684966B2 Foreground / background separation in digital images
A method for providing improved foreground/background separation in a digital image of a scene is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first map comprising one or more regions provisionally defined as one of foreground or background within the digital image; and providing a subject profile corresponding to a region of interest of the digital image. The provisionally defined regions are compared with the subject profile to determine if any of the regions intersect with the profile region. The definition of one or more of the regions in the map is changed based on the comparison.
US09684962B2 Method and system for calibrating surveillance cameras
A method and a system for calibrating a plurality of surveillance cameras are provided. The method includes: sampling a plurality of first images in a monitoring scene of the plurality of surveillance cameras by a sampling device and sampling a second image by each of the plurality of surveillance cameras; performing a feature matching on the plurality of first images to obtain a matching result between the plurality of first images; reconstructing a three-dimensional point set of the monitoring scene according to the matching result between the plurality first of images; and calculating parameters of each of the plurality of surveillance cameras according to the three-dimensional point set and the second image sampled by each of the plurality of surveillance cameras.
US09684955B2 Cardiac contour propagation
The invention relates to a method for analyzing a multidimensional cardiac image set, the multidimensional cardiac image set comprising: a first image set of a heart; and a second image set of a heart, wherein the first image set is segmented resulting into respective first cardiac contours for each image within the first image set; and the second image set is segmented resulting into respective second cardiac contours for each image within the second image set, the method comprising: determining resulting cardiac contours for each image within the first image set and for each image within the second image set from the first cardiac contours and the second cardiac contours.
US09684951B2 Efficient convolutional sparse coding
Computationally efficient algorithms may be applied for fast dictionary learning solving the convolutional sparse coding problem in the Fourier domain. More specifically, efficient convolutional sparse coding may be derived within an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) framework that utilizes fast Fourier transforms (FFT) to solve the main linear system in the frequency domain. Such algorithms may enable a significant reduction in computational cost over conventional approaches by implementing a linear solver for the most critical and computationally expensive component of the conventional iterative algorithm. The theoretical computational cost of the algorithm may be reduced from O(M3N) to O(MN log N), where N is the dimensionality of the data and M is the number of elements in the dictionary. This significant improvement in efficiency may greatly increase the range of problems that can practically be addressed via convolutional sparse representations.
US09684949B2 Camera system encoder/decoder architecture
An image capture accelerator performs accelerated processing of image data. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator includes accelerator circuitry including a pre-processing engine and a compression engine. The pre-processing engine is configured to perform accelerated processing on received image data, and the compression engine is configured to compress processed image data received from the pre-processing engine. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator further includes a demultiplexer configured to receive image data captured by an image sensor array implemented within, for example, an image sensor chip. The demultiplexer may output the received image data to an image signal processor when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in a standard capture mode, and may output the received image data to the accelerator circuitry when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in an accelerated capture mode.
US09684943B2 Multi core graphic processing device
A multi core graphic processing device includes a first graphic core that processes a first segment of a graphic frame divided into a plurality of segments and generates a first local decision that defines a scene property of the first segment, a second graphic core that processes a second segment of the graphic frame different from the first segment and generates a second local decision that defines a scene property of the second segment, and a global decision unit that receives the first local decision and the second local decision from the first graphic core and the second graphic core, and selects one of the received first local decision and second local decision as a global decision.
US09684940B2 Information processing apparatus, method and computer-readable medium
In one example embodiment, an information processing apparatus causes a display device to display a first image from images associated with an observation target object. The images include the first image and a second image which corresponds to an annotation mark. In this embodiment, the information processing apparatus also causes the display device to display the annotation mark corresponding to the second image. In this embodiment, the displayed annotation mark overlaps the first image.
US09684925B2 Precision enabled retail display
A system includes a highlighter that is installed in a store to highlight a physical position of an item on display in the store. The system also includes a processor installed in the store to determine a location and identification (ID) of a mobile device, and retrieve a profile of a user of the mobile device based on the ID. The processor controls the highlighter to highlight the item when the location of the mobile device is determined to be within a predetermined distance of the item, and when the item is determined to be of interest to the user of the mobile device based on information obtained in the profile.
US09684919B2 Item delivery using 3D manufacturing on demand
Methods and systems can be provided for providing items manufactured on demand to users. A user request for an item can be received. The item can have 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith. A delivery method for the item can be determined. A manufacturing apparatus can be selected to manufacture the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions. Instructions can be sent to the manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions. Delivery instructions can be provided for delivering the item according to the delivery method.
US09684918B2 System and method for candidate domain name generation
A system and method for the generation of candidate domain names are presented. The method includes receiving, by at least one server communicatively coupled to a network, a request to access or purchase access to a software application, the request being received from a user. Keywords associated with at least one of the user, a website of the user, and a business of the user are generated and a candidate domain name relevant to the keywords is generated. A user interface is displayed including the candidate domain name. The user interface enables the user to register the candidate domain name.
US09684915B1 Method, medium, and system including a display device with authenticated digital collectables
A fan network system provides portals that can be accessed by fan mobile devices to buy, sell, or trade digital trading cards. The fan network system can keep track of these purchases and trades using a database that keeps track of cards and a database that keeps track of user accounts. The fan network system also provides portals that can be accessed by fan mobile devices to buy or cancel subscriptions, such as magazine subscriptions or television channel subscriptions. The fan network system also provides portals that can be accessed by fan mobile devices to redeem codes for digital trading cards, the codes given during sporting events, or in exchange for subscriptions, or through fan club memberships, or through fantasy league memberships.
US09684913B2 Retail photo system configuration module and system
The present invention is a configuration module for a Retail Photo System. The configuration module is a memory module that provides system configuration information for use with a network connected Retail Photo System. Physical and digital controlled access to the configuration module is provided by a locking enclosure, password protected access, and an automatic scenario based activation means. Access to the configuration module is limited to authorized personnel and remote access, or via scenario based activation.
US09684911B2 Method of communicating and repartitioning vehicles
Described herein is, inter alia, a method and a device for providing a number of rental vehicles at a station, determining at least one of a number of rental vehicles available at the station and a number of vehicle-receiving spaces available at the station, and sending the at least one of a number of rental vehicles available at the station and a number of vehicle-receiving space available at the station to a user. A distance and historical use of stations are also considered to suggest preferred stations and provide incentives associated therewith. A graphical user interface and a systems adapted to carry the method are also provided hereby.
US09684910B1 Method and apparatus for generating an electronic communication
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may include providing a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of content generators for providing content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include providing a first content generator of the plurality of content generators with a set of selection parameters, and receiving a first bid for one of the plurality of content slots from the first content generator. The first content generator may determine the bid based at least in part on the set of selection parameters. The method may also include assigning the first content generator to the one of the plurality of content slots based on the bid.
US09684905B1 Systems and methods for data verification
Systems and methods for verifying data including income and employment, assets, healthcare claims, clinical data, and other types of data subject to various regulatory and/or privacy restrictions.
US09684897B2 Intelligent credit card system
A new credit card system which enables improved reading and other operations. Reading can be done in the short edge of the credit card thereby shortening the aspect ratio and size of the card reader. The reader can be electrical, reading information via contacts, or can be optical readers.
US09684894B2 Method and apparatus for invoking a degraded mode architecture
An apparatus for invoking a degraded mode architecture is provided. The apparatus may include a desktop application, a branch processor, and/or a data center. The branch processor may be in communication with the data center and the desktop application. The branch processor may transmit activities that occurred in the branch processor and the desktop application to the data center. During a termination of communication between the data center and the branch processor, the branch processor may save branch processor activities and desktop application activities. After the termination of communication, the branch processor may transmit the saved activities to the data center. In addition, many components which may be found on the desktop application may also be found on the branch processor. This may enable the branch processor to perform the desktop application capabilities when there is a termination of communication between the desktop application and the branch processor.
US09684888B2 Online fraud solution
Various embodiments of the invention provide solutions (including inter alia, systems, methods and software) for dealing with online fraud. Some embodiments function to access and/or obtain information from (and/or receive data from) a data source; the data might, for example, indicate a possible instance of online fraud. Certain embodiments, therefore, can be configured to analyze the data, e.g., to determine whether the data indicate a likely instance of online fraud. Such instances may be further investigated, and/or a response may be initiated. Data sources can include, without limitation, web pages, email messages, online chat sessions, domain zone files, newsgroups (and/or postings thereto), etc. Data obtained from the data sources can include, without limitation, suspect domain registrations, uniform resource locators, references to trademarks, advertisements, etc.
US09684881B2 System and method of workforce optimization
A method of workforce optimization includes acquiring video data. The video data is obtained from a plurality of video cameras in a facility comprising a plurality of departments. A customer load for each of the plurality of departments is identified. A location of each of a plurality of employees in the facility is identified. A customer-to-employee ratio is determined for each department. The determined customer-to-employee ratio for each department is provided to a computing device. At least one employee deployment notification is provided from the computing device to another computing device.
US09684877B2 System and method for improved consumption models for analytics
Described herein are systems and methods for generating user interfaces that include a meta-chart framework for organizing and analyzing multi-dimensional hierarchical data in an efficient and intuitive graphical user interface with which a user can explore and consume prepared analytical elements. The predetermined structure of such user interfaces can include customizable and scalable graphical and/or alphanumeric analytic elements with contextual controls that can guide a user on a preconfigured analytical path, or “drill-down path,” to better explore and understand the multidimensional data. Such embodiments provide a turnkey analytical framework from which users can both immediately understand data and learn how to explore the data in greater depth.
US09684864B1 Method of making RFID antenna by placing wire on fabric
An RFID device assembly is fabricated by positioning an electrically conductive wire onto a fabric as a pattern that forms an antenna, and securing the wire to the fabric by stitching a non-electrically conductive thread over the wire and to the fabric. The two ends of the electrically conductive wire are positioned for coupling to antenna contact pads on an RFID device. The RFID device is attached to the fabric either before or after the electrically conductive wire is secured to the fabric by the stitched non-electrically conductive thread.
US09684862B2 Microelectronic smart tags
A smart tag comprises a processor, a non-volatile memory, at least one of an internal power source and an external power source, and a transceiver configured for two-way communication with a reader external to the smart tag. The smart tag is formed as an integrated circuit chip less than 10 cubic millimeters in size to less than 0.000125 cubic millimeters in size. An apparatus comprising the smart tag may further include an antenna connect to the smart tag.
US09684860B2 Personal cards formed from precious metals or precious metal alloys
An example embodiment includes a transaction card. The transaction card includes a card body and information. The card body is made from a precious metal alloy. The card body has a front surface and a back surface. At least some portion of the information is defined by disruptions to the precious metal alloy of the card body.
US09684858B2 Image processing system, image generation-output control apparatus, method of processing image, and storage medium of program to execute method of processing image, to control plural output apparatuses to output same output image
An image processing system for executing a plurality of processes includes a process execution control apparatus to control an execution of the plurality of processes, and an image generation-output control apparatus to control an execution of image generation-output operation, The process execution control apparatus includes a process execution controller to control the execution of the processes, a control-side drawing information generator to generate drawing information to be referred when performing the image generation-output operation based on information of a target image to be output. The image generation-output control apparatus includes an output-side drawing information generator capable of generating the drawing information based on the information of the target image to be output acquired from the process execution control apparatus, and an execution controller to execute the image generation-output operation by using the image forming apparatus based on the drawing information generated by the output-side drawing information generator.
US09684850B2 Biological information processor
According to one embodiment, a biological information processor includes: an area detection unit configured to detect an area in which a person is displayed from image information; a feature extraction unit configured to extract feature information based on a characteristic portion of a person from the area detected by the area detection unit from the image information; and a determination unit configured to determine an extraction precision indicating whether or not the characteristic portion of the person can be extracted, with respect to the feature information extracted by the feature extraction unit based on a position of the characteristic portion.
US09684846B2 Viewpoints of a point of interest
A method, computer program product, and a computer system is provided. A processor determines a first viewpoint of the point of interest, the first viewpoint includes a first image group captured from a first location. A processor retrieves an image from an online repository. In response to content of the image matching content of the first image group, a processor assigns a location of the image to the first viewpoint. A processor determines a second viewpoint of the point of interest, the second viewpoint includes a second image group captured from a second location. A processor determines a first ranking score for the first viewpoint based, in part, on the first image group. A processor determines a second ranking score for the second viewpoint based, at least in part, on the second image group. A processor generates a ranked list of the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint based.
US09684838B2 Empirical data modeling
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to pattern identification and pattern recognition. In some particular implementations, the invention provides a flexible pattern recognition platform including pattern recognition engines that can be dynamically adjusted to implement specific pattern recognition configurations for individual pattern recognition applications. In some implementations, the present invention also provides for a partition configuration where knowledge elements can be grouped and pattern recognition operations can be individually configured and arranged to allow for multi-level pattern recognition schemes.
US09684836B1 Combining multiple estimates of an environment into a consolidated estimate for an autonomous vehicle
A vehicle is provided that may combine multiple estimates of an environment into a consolidated estimate. The vehicle may receive first data indicative of the region of interest in an environment from a sensor of the vehicle. The first data may include a first accuracy value and a first estimate of the region of interest. The vehicle may also receive second data indicative of the region of interest in the environment, and the second data may include a second accuracy value and a second estimate of the region of interest. Based on the first data and the second data, the vehicle may combine the first estimate of the region of interest and the second estimate of the region of interest.
US09684821B2 Method and apparatus for user recognition
A method for user recognition, comprising receiving user information from an information unit of a user; detecting the user face in a captured user image; and recognizing the user identity in the captured image according to a predetermined gesture associated with the user information and performed by the user.
US09684820B2 Method and apparatus for subject identification
Comprehensive 2D learning images are collected for learning subjects. Standardized 2D gallery images of many gallery subjects are collected, one per gallery subject. A 2D query image of a query subject is collected, of arbitrary viewing aspect, illumination, etc. 3D learning models, 3D gallery models, and a 3D query model are determined from the learning, gallery, and query images. A transform is determined for the selected learning model and each gallery model that yields or approximates the query image. The transform is at least partly 3D, such as 3D illumination transfer or 3D orientation alignment. The transform is applied to each gallery model so that the transformed gallery models more closely resemble the query model. 2D transformed gallery images are produced from the transformed gallery models, and are compared against the 2D query image to identify whether the query subject is also any of the gallery subjects.
US09684809B2 Scanner assembly with removable shock mount
An indicia scanning assembly having a housing with a shock mount receiving space; and an elastomeric scan engine receiving shock mount positioned in the shock mount receiving space. The scan engine receiving shock mount has a first end with a scan engine receiving space.
US09684805B2 Method and apparatus for securing computer interfaces
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for securing otherwise unsecured internal and external computer communications. According to one aspect, the invention relates to methods and apparatuses for implementing device gatekeeping. According to another aspect the invention relates to methods and apparatuses for encrypting and decrypting data sent over an external or internal interface. According to another aspect, the invention relates to methods and apparatuses for implementing device snooping, in which some or all traffic passing between a host and a connected device is captured into memory and analyzed in real time by system software. In embodiments, the software can also act upon analyzed information. According to certain additional aspects, the security functions performed by methods and apparatuses according to the invention can be logically transparent to the upstream host and/or to the downstream device.
US09684795B2 Inspecting code and reducing code size associated to a target
Code is associated to a target based on an inspection of the code. A target may be a device or a user. A number of code components may be inspected at one time and then transferred or otherwise associated to a target based on the target's profile. A code component may be a policy of an information management system.
US09684792B2 Critical data transmission architecture in avionics systems
A critical data transmission architecture in avionics systems is disclosed. The system includes a module of production, a module of consumption, and at least one physical pathway linking the module of production to the module of consumption. The module of production is configured to transmit each critical datum by at least two data, one of a first independent type and one of a second independent type that cannot interfere with one another. Each datum of the first type or the second type is transmitted in the form of a data transmission unit including a portion of an application message and a message. The additional message of each transmission unit includes a verification sequence and each datum of the first type and the second type is transmitted by the same physical pathway and is generated by different module of generation.
US09684787B2 Method and system for inferring application states by performing behavioral analysis operations in a mobile device
Methods, systems and devices compute and use the actual execution states of software applications to implement power saving schemes and to perform behavioral monitoring and analysis operations. A mobile device may be configured to monitor an activity of a software application, generate a shadow feature value that identifies actual execution state of the software application during that activity, generate a behavior vector that associates the monitored activity with the shadow feature value, and determine whether the activity is malicious or benign based on the generated behavior vector, shadow feature value and/or operating system execution states. The mobile device processor may also be configured to intelligently determine whether the execution state of a software application is relevant to determining whether any of the monitored mobile device behaviors are malicious or suspicious, and monitor only the execution states of the software applications for which such determinations are relevant.
US09684784B2 Systems and methods for securely storing data
Various embodiments of systems and methods for securely storing data are provided. In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage module is provided for securely storing data. A storage-side processor is provided for selectively granting access to the stored data on the computer-readable storage module. A user-side memory for storing an output generation record is also provided. A user-side processor configured to provide a password receiving module for receiving a password candidate, an output generation module for using the password candidate received to attempt to access the output generation record and for generating an output based on whether the attempt to access the output generation record is successful, and an output communication module for communicating the output generated by the output generation module to the storage-side processor are also provided. The storage-side processor is configured to grant access to at least some of the data if the output received corresponds to an authorized output, the storage-side processor being configured to otherwise deny access to the data. The user-side processor is further configured to conceal whether the attempt to access the output generation record was successful until the storage-side processor receives the output generated. The output generation module is configured to generate the authorized output if the password candidate is an authorized password and the output generated is not the authorized output if the password candidate is not the authorized password.
US09684778B2 Extending user authentication across a trust group of smart devices
Particular embodiments described herein provide for a wearable electronic device with a biometric sensor and logic. At least a portion of the logic is implemented in hardware. The logic is configured to receive input data indicative of biometric input and attempt to authenticate the input data based, at least in part, on at least one biometric credential of an authorized user. The logic is configured to establish a wireless connection to a smart device, determine whether the smart device is included in a trust group of one or more smart devices, and send a communication to unlock the smart device when the input data is successfully authenticated and when the trust group includes the smart device.
US09684777B2 Identity authentication method of an internet account, identity authentication device of an internet account and server
An identity authentication method of an internet account, an identity authentication device of an internet account and a system are provided. The method may includes: receiving an identity authentication request sent by a client device, where the identity authentication request includes account information; acquiring identity authentication information corresponding to the account information, where the identity authentication information is pre-generated based on the account information and includes at least one authentication question and at least two answer options corresponding to the authentication question; sending the identity authentication information to the client device; and receiving, from the client device, answer information obtained by choosing an answer from the at least two answer options corresponding to the authentication question, determining whether the answer information meets a preset condition and providing an identity authentication response to the client device according to a determined result.
US09684775B2 Methods and systems for using behavioral analysis towards efficient continuous authentication
A computing device processor may be configured with processor-executable instructions to implement methods of using behavioral analysis and machine learning techniques to identify, prevent, correct, and/or otherwise respond to malicious or performance-degrading behaviors of the computing device. As part of these operations, the processor may perform multifactor authentication operations that include determining one or more of a transaction type criticality value, a user confidence value, a software integrity confidence value, and a historical behavior value, using the one or more of these values to determine a number of authentication factors that are be evaluated when authenticating a user of the computing device, and authenticating the user by evaluating the determined number of authentication factors.
US09684774B2 Flexible authentication using multiple radius AVPs
An apparatus, method and machine readable storage medium, for an authentication server such as a RADIUS server, for authenticating a subscriber are disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a request message including a plurality of attributes such as attribute value pairs (AVPs) having respective attribute names and respective attribute values; retrieving an authentication profile object; identifying a plurality of authentication attributes to use for authentication from the authentication profile object; extracting the plurality of authentication attribute values from the message; pre-processing one or more of the extracted attribute values; and authenticating the request message based on the pre-processed extracted attribute values.
US09684762B2 Rules-based approach to rendering medical imaging data
Systems and methods that allow transfer criteria to be defined based on one or more of several attributes, such as a particular user, site, or device, as well as whether individual images and/or image series are classified as thin slices, and applied to medical images in order to determine which images are downloaded, viewed, stored, and/or any number of other actions that might be performed with respect to particular images.
US09684761B1 Method for representing a photonic waveguide port and port specification
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an interactive design tool for designing electronic and photonic circuits, where features of the design may be displayed on the interactive layout GUIs as design objects. Design objects in a design database may include various types of design features, such as circuits, pins or ports, wires, and photonic waveguides. The design objects may be displayed on interactive layout GUIs according to the attribute data stored in the design database. The design objects may also be displayed according to a type of design feature represented by the design object. For example, the embodiments described herein may represent a “port” as having a shape and size that comports with the eccentricities of both electrical and photonic designs. A port may be a hierarchical connection element in the database allowing the logical and physical connection between an instance and the geometries in the corresponding instance master.
US09684759B2 De-coupling capacitance placement
A method, executed by one or more processors, includes receiving IR-drop information as a function of location for a placement for a plurality of circuit blocks corresponding to an integrated circuit, calculating a target density for decoupling capacitors as a function of location based on the IR-drop information, placing a plurality of decoupling capacitors according to the target density to provide placed decoupling capacitors. The placed decoupling capacitors may be locally clustered to improve decoupling performance. The method may also include incrementally moving circuit elements or placed decoupling capacitors to avoid collisions within one or more circuit blocks, and routing the integrated circuit. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed herein.
US09684757B2 Cross-hierarchy interconnect adjustment for power recovery
Embodiments relate to cross-hierarchy interconnect adjustment. An aspect includes receiving chip layout data corresponding to a chip design, wherein a first portion of a metal stack of the chip design is assigned to a first hierarchy and a second portion of the metal stack is assigned to a second hierarchy based on a contract between the first and second hierarchy. Another aspect includes determining an unused portion of the first portion of the metal stack. Another aspect includes moving an interconnect of the second hierarchy from the second portion of the metal stack that is assigned to the second hierarchy to the unused portion of the first portion of the metal stack in the chip layout data. Another aspect includes performing power recovery on the chip layout data after moving the interconnect based on an amount of slack margin generated in the chip design by the moving of the interconnect.
US09684753B2 Techniques for generating nanowire pad data from pre-existing design data
In one aspect, a CAD-based method for designing a lithographic mask for nanowire-based devices is provided which includes the steps of: create a design for the mask from existing (e.g., FINFET or planar CMOS) design data which includes, for each of the devices, one or more nanowire mask shapes (FINFET design data) or continuous shapes (planar CMOS design data); for FINFET design data, merging the nanowire mask shapes into continuous shapes; expanding the continuous shapes to join all of the continuous shapes in the design together forming a single polygon shape; removing the continuous shapes from the single polygon shape resulting in landing pad shapes for anchoring the nanowire mask shapes; for CMOS design data, dividing the continuous active shapes into one or more nanowire mask shapes; and merging the landing pad shapes with the nanowire mask shapes to form the lithographic mask.
US09684751B2 Slack redistribution for additional power recovery
A system and method to implement an integrated circuit design are described. The method includes obtaining a timing database of current timing slack values based on current cell selection, placement, and routing for a plurality of cycles defined by a plurality of cycle boundaries, each cycle representing devices between a corresponding pair of the plurality of cycle boundaries, identifying candidate cycle boundaries among the plurality of cycle boundaries for slack redistribution, every one of the candidate cycle boundaries being associated with a positive timing slack, and selecting redistribution cycle boundaries among the candidate cycle boundaries. A modified timing database is generated based on redistributing the positive timing slack associated with the redistribution cycle boundaries, and power recovery is performed using the modified timing database to reduce power at one of more of the redistribution cycle boundaries.
US09684726B2 Realtime ingestion via multi-corpus knowledge base with weighting
An approach is provided for updating corpora in a Question and Answer (QA) system. Ingestion of a first set of sources into a first corpus and a second set of sources into a second corpus with the second set of sources including updates to the first set of sources. A question is received. The system identifies candidate answers to the question using the sources included in the corpuses. Each candidate answer has a weighting. The system determines whether the first and second corpuses have an overlapping source from which two candidate answers were identified. If an overlapping source is found, the candidate answer from the overlapping source in the first corpus is assigned a lower weighting than the candidate answer from the second corpus. Likely answers are selected from the candidate answers based on the weighting and returned to the requestor.
US09684722B2 Server apparatus and filtering method
According to one embodiment, an output unit performs filtering on input data for each filtering condition for performing data filtering and outputs a result of the filtering to an output destination. A receiving unit receives information indicating whether the output result of the filtering is appropriate or inappropriate from the output destination. A cumulative counting unit cumulatively counts the numbers of times determined to be appropriate and appropriate for each filtering condition based on the received information. A switching unit switches the filtering at the output unit between being valid and invalid for each filtering condition based on cumulative values of the numbers of times the output result of the filtering for each filtering condition has been determined to be appropriate and inappropriate and a switching condition that switches the filtering condition between being valid and invalid.
US09684713B2 Methods and systems for retrieval of experts based on user customizable search and ranking parameters
Methods and systems for finding experts based upon user customizable search and ranking criteria, and providing the search results at a person or expert level are disclosed. The methods generally entail cataloging data within one or more document databases, and includes the steps of (a) inputting disparate data sources which may include publications, awarded grants, clinical trials, and/or patents; (b) processing the data within each document in the document database(s); (c) creating a document profile for each document using relevant keywords; (d) assigning weighting factors to the relevant keywords based upon selected attributes; (e) assigning an identifier to each document and document author; (f) removing duplicate document data using a disambiguation algorithm; (g) extracting author level attributes from the retrieved documents; and (h) creating or updating each document profile. The method steps may be implemented using a system of computer servers communicatively linked to a plurality of clients via a global network.
US09684705B1 Systems and methods for clustering data
A computer-implemented method for clustering data may include (1) identifying a plurality of samples, (2) locating a sample, from within the plurality of samples, that is a centroid of a cluster, (3) locating another sample that is, among the plurality of samples, next closest to the centroid relative to a most-recently located sample, (4) determining whether an attribute of the next-closest sample matches an attribute of the centroid, (5) determining whether to adjust a radius of the cluster based on whether the attribute of the next-closest sample matches the attribute of the centroid, and (6) repeating the steps of locating the next-closest sample, determining whether the attributes match, and determining whether to adjust the radius of the cluster, until the attribute of the next-closest sample does not match the attribute of the centroid. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09684703B2 Method and apparatus for automatically creating a data warehouse and OLAP cube
A data warehouse design that combines data from multiple source ledgers or modules is constructed and from that an associated, single physical Star or Snow-Flake schema and OLAP hyper-cube analytic structure is generated to enable cross-functional analysis of any those multiple source ledgers or modules. The step of constructing the data warehouse or the step of generating the associated OLAP cube is achieved without significant human intervention using software.
US09684702B2 Database redistribution utilizing virtual partitions
In some embodiments, a partitioned database is stored in a plurality of logical or physical partitions on at least a logical or physical first data storage node, and a subset of a first partition among the plurality of logical partitions is configured as a virtual partition. An input indicating an allocation of a second physical data storage node to store the partitioned database is received. A second partition is configured on the second data storage node. In response to the input, the partitioned database is redistributed over the first and second data storage nodes by moving data within the virtual partition on the first partition to the second partition.
US09684690B2 Flights search
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for information retrieval. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a search query in a search interface; determining that the received search query is a flights-related query; and in response to determining that the search query is a flights-related query and without further user input, providing a flight search interface including a plurality of search dimensions and a plurality of flight search results, each dimension associated with an attribute of flight search and each dimension having an associated value, wherein one or more dimension values correspond to values extracted from the search query, and wherein the plurality of flight search results are filtered according to the dimension values.
US09684685B2 Using message-passing with procedural code in a database kernel
Each of a plurality of database objects can be assigned to a specific message-passing worker of a plurality of message-passing workers, each executing on a first logical core that shares with at least a second logical core one or more resources of a physical processor core of a plurality of physical processor cores. The second logical core can execute a job worker of a plurality of job workers that implement procedural code. Exclusive write access can be provided to a database object of the plurality of database objects via a message-passing worker of the plurality of message-passing workers while read-only access is provided to any database object of the plurality of database objects via any of the plurality of job workers. Operations can be executed by the message-passing worker in an order in which request messages are received in a message queue of the message-passing worker.
US09684677B2 Method for reliable and efficient filesystem metadata conversion
A method for converting metadata in a hierarchical configuration within a filesystem from a first format to a second format includes reading metadata in the first format within the hierarchical configuration; writing the metadata from the hierarchical configuration into a flat file; and writing the metadata back into the hierarchical configuration, the metadata being in the second format. The method can also include increasing the size of each of a first inode and a second inode within a first inode chunk in the filesystem, assigning the first inode to the first inode chunk, and assigning the second inode to a second inode chunk.
US09684672B2 System and method for data storage
In some examples, a system configured to provide data storage is described. The system may include a write server configured to receive data from a first client for storing on the system and computer storage media configured to receive and to store the data. The system may also include a read server configured to receive the data from the write server and to store the data in the read server for a duration. The read server may be further configured to provide the data from the read server to a second client during the duration and, after the duration, to access the data from the computer storage media and to provide the data accessed from the computer storage media to the second client.
US09684671B1 Parallel streaming of external data
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for streaming external data in parallel from a second distributed system to a first distributed system. One of the methods includes receiving a query that requests a join of first rows of a first table in a first distributed system with second rows of an external table, the external table representing data in a second distributed system. Each of the segment nodes communicates with a respective extension service that obtains fragments from one or more data nodes of the second distributed system according to location information for the respective fragments, and provides to the segment node a stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table. Each of the segment nodes computes joined rows between the first rows of the first table and the stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table.
US09684663B2 SWAT command and API for atomic swap and trim of LBAs
Exemplary embodiments provide access to an updated file performed by at least one processor, wherein responsive to receiving a first list of logical block addresses (LBAs) and a second list of LBAs for an update, wherein the first list of LBAs is mapped to a first list of physical block addresses (PBAs), and the second list of LBAs is mapped to a second list of PBAs, the method, comprising: atomically remapping the first list of LBAs so that the first list of LBAs is mapped to the second list of PBAs; trimming a mapping of the first list of LBAs to the first list of PBAs; and unmapping the mapping of the second list of LBAs to the second list of PBAs.
US09684661B2 Method for correlating data
A method for correlating data stored in a database implements a web crawler element and an analyzer element to discover data correlations between a first set of data and a second set of data. The web crawler element searches online for a plurality of electronic files, and inspects said electronic files in order to determine a file type for each of the electronic files. A plurality of accepted files is marked for review; the accepted files being the electronic files having the file type being a data structure. Each of the accepted files is inspected for chronological tags, wherein a plurality of relatable files is stored in a database, each having chronological tags. The first set of data is then selected from the database to determine data correlations with the second set of data; the second set of data being uploaded by a user account or selected from the database.
US09684659B1 Fine-grain policy-based snapshots
Providing a snapshot copy of data includes selectively collecting a plurality of data objects based on evaluation of a predicate associated with each of the data objects and performing a snapshot operation in connection with modifying at least one of the plurality of data objects. The snapshot operation may be performed prior to modifying the at least one of the plurality of data objects. The snapshot operation may be a copy on write operation. Providing a snapshot copy of data may also include providing a data structure that maintains a plurality of snapshot instances. The data structure may be a table. Each of the snapshot instances may include at least one of: an object set description, a timestamp indicating when the snapshot was initiated, a snapshot name and a handling policy.
US09684657B2 Dynamically updating content in a live presentation
A method for dynamically updating content in a live presentation. The method includes a computer processor determining a first content of a live presentation. The computer processor monitors a plurality of data sources and determines at least one of the plurality of data sources includes the first content and a second content. The computer processor retrieves information related to the second content. The computer processor then updates the live presentation with the information related to the second content.
US09684656B2 Creating personalized and continuous playlists for a content sharing platform based on user history
A method for creating personalized and continuous playlists for a content sharing platform based on user history is disclosed. The method includes grouping content items into groups based on whether users access the content items close together in time and whether the content items appear together in search results and are both selected by the users, the groupings representing a relatedness between pairs of the content items, determining probabilities that the users transition between the groups when viewing the content items, assigning, for a user of the users, a score to each group in a subset of the groups, wherein the scores represents preferences of the user for viewing the content items of the subset, selecting, for the user, a group in the subset based on the assigned scores and the probabilities, and providing a content item from the selected group to include in a playlist generated for the user.
US09684648B2 Disambiguating words within a text segment
Determining a subject type for an entity in a text segment. A text segment is selected, which includes one or more single-word or multi-word entities. Natural language processing is performed on the selected text segment to identify entities that constitute subjects of the selected text segment. One entity is selected. A variant annotation is associated with the selected entity. The variant annotation reflects multiple subject types for the selected entity and a value for each subject type. The most probable subject type is determined for the selected entity, based on a combination of natural language processing rules and dictionary listings. The value of the annotation is incremented for the subject type corresponding to the most probable subject type for the selected entity, so that the highest value of the annotation indicates the most probable subject type for the selected entity within the selected text segment.
US09684642B2 Method and device for updating electronic document and associated document use records
A method for a device to update an electronic document includes obtaining data update information and use record information of the electronic document, the data update information including a first position in the electronic document where an updating is to be performed, the use record information including a second position; determining whether the first position in the data update information is before the second position in the use record information; adjusting the use record information according to the data update information, if it is determined that the first position in the data update information is before the second position in the use record information; and updating the electronic document according to the data update information and the adjusted use record information.
US09684637B1 Collaborative workflow through messaging conversations
A networked application and email application were described herein that provide for an intuitive system by which users can participate in collaborative workflow relating to a network document. In one implementation, a system includes a messaging server component to provide messaging services and an application server component to provide a networked application. The application server component interacts with the messaging server component in response to a user command to initiate collaboration on the network document. The interaction with the messaging server component includes providing a link that refers to a version of the network document as created or edited by the user.
US09684632B2 Parallel processing and internal processors
Systems, internal processors, and methods of parallel data processing in an internal processor are provided. In one embodiment, an external controller sends instructions to a memory device, and the internal processor on the memory device executes the instructions on the data. The internal processor may include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs), and each ALU may perform an operation on an entire operand, such that one or more operands may be processed in parallel by one or more ALUs in the internal processor. The operations may be completed on each operand in one or more cycles through the circuitry of the ALU, and the path of the operands through the ALU may be based on the width of the ALU, the size of the operands, or the type of operation to be performed.
US09684628B2 Mechanism for inserting trustworthy parameters into AJAX via server-side proxy
A system for retrieving information from a remote server is disclosed. The system includes a browser having a webpage executing JavaScript adapted to communicate a request with client identifying information to a first server. The first server has a proxy adapted to dynamically insert information into the request received from the client and communicate the request with inserted information to a second server, whereby the request with inserted information is trusted by the second server. The second server and first server are each adapted to also provide a response to the request. A method of communicating in a networked environment is also disclosed.
US09684627B1 Determining a likelihood of completion of a task
Methods and apparatus related to determining a likelihood that a task is completed. One or more task completion entities with which the user can interact to complete the task may be determined. One or more activity data indicators may be determined for a given entity of the task completion entities. The activity data indictors are indicative of the user performing the action through interaction with the given entity. User activity data may be received and compared with the activity data indicators to determine one or more matching activity data indicators of the activity data indicators that match the user activity data. A likelihood that the task is completed may be determined based on the matching activity data indicators.
US09684619B2 I2C router system
An I2C router system includes an I2C router part, a first slave device and a second slave device. The I2C router part includes a first I2C router configured to output a first I2C signal via a first I2C bus, and a second I2C router configured to output a second I2C signal via a second I2C bus. The first slave device can be configured to receive the first I2C signal via the first I2C bus. The second slave device can be configured to receive the second I2C signal via the second I2C bus.
US09684616B2 Motor control apparatus and motor control method
A motor control apparatus includes: a driving control unit that performs driving control of a motor in accordance with a drive command; an interrupt control unit that starts and executes interrupt processing for performing the driving control at an interrupt cycle; a first processing unit that executes same first processing every time the interrupt processing starts; and a second processing unit that selects and executes a different piece of processing from second processing every time the interrupt processing starts. The interrupt control unit executes at least one piece of the first processing before executing the second processing in the interrupt processing.
US09684614B2 System and method to convert lock-free algorithms to wait-free using a hardware accelerator
A method to convert lock-free algorithm to wait-free using a hardware accelerator includes (i) executing a plurality of software threads by a plurality of processing units associated, the plurality of software threads is associated with at least one operation, (ii) generating at least one of a read request or a write request at the hardware accelerator based on the execution, (iii) generating at least one operation includes PARAM and read request or the write request at the hardware accelerator, (iv) checking, an operation specific condition of at least one software thread of the plurality of software threads, and (v) updating, at least one read value or write value and at least one state variable upon the operation specific condition being an operation success. The operation specific condition includes an operation success or an operation failure based on the PARAM, the read request, or the write request.
US09684595B2 Adaptive hierarchical cache policy in a microprocessor
A method for determining an inclusion policy includes determining a ratio of a capacity of a large cache to a capacity of a core cache in a cache subsystem of a processor and selecting an inclusive policy as the inclusion policy for the cache subsystem in response to the cache ratio exceeding an inclusion threshold. The method may further include selecting a non-inclusive policy in response to the cache ratio not exceeding the inclusion threshold and, responsive to a cache transaction resulting in a cache miss, performing an inclusion operation that invokes the inclusion policy.
US09684594B2 Write back coordination node for cache latency correction
A coordinating node acts as a write back cache, isolating local cache storage endpoints from latencies associated with accessing geographically remote cloud cache and storage resources.
US09684586B2 System test compliance tool
An apparatus includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores a test plan, a plurality of performed steps, a configuration for a test environment in which the test was performed, and a result of the test. The processor compares the plurality of performed steps to the plurality of planned steps, compares the configuration for a first test environment and the configuration for the second test environment, and determines whether an action of the plurality of actions resulted in a failure. The processor presents a first chart, a second chart, and a third chart the results of the comparisons and determination. The processor deploys an application corresponding to the test plan if each step of the plurality of planned steps was performed during the test, if the second test environment was configured according to the configuration for the first test environment, and if the failure was fixed.
US09684584B2 Managing assertions while compiling and debugging source code
The present disclosure relates to maintaining assertions in an integrated development environment (IDE) tool. According to one embodiment, while the IDE tool is compiling the source code of a development project, the IDE tool generates at least a first compiler warning. The first compiler warning generally corresponds to at least one line of source code in a first source code component of the development project. A first set of assertions to add to the source code of the development project is determined based on the line of source code that resulted in the first compiler warning. The IDE tool adds the first set of assertions to the source code of the development project. The first set of assertions are compiled as part of the source code of the development project.
US09684578B2 Embedded universal serial bus (USB) debug (EUD) for multi-interfaced debugging in electronic systems
Embedded Universal Serial Bus (USB) debug (EUD) for multi-interfaced debugging in electronic systems are disclosed. Electronic systems contain complex integrated circuits (ICs) that require extensive testing and debugging to ensure good quality and performance. In exemplary aspects, an EUD is provided in an electronic system. The EUD is configured to send control information to and/or collect debugging information from multiple internal debugging interfaces in the electronic system. The EUD is also configured to convert the debugging information into a USB format so that the debugging information can be externally accessed through a USB interface provided by the electronic system. The EUD can provide non-invasive monitoring of the electronic system. The electronic system is able to use a USB port for communications in a mission mode while EUD is enabled. Additionally, the electronic system can turn on or off all system clocks during power-saving mode while the EUD continues to function.
US09684577B2 Shared storage system and method for controlling access to storage device
According to one embodiment, a shared storage system includes a plurality of host servers, a plurality of storage devices, and a management server. The management server manages each of a plurality of logical units using first address management information, and manages a revision of the first address management information using first revision data. The host servers each hold respective copies of the first address management information and first revision data. When a first host server has requested a first storage device to execute access, based on a copy (second revision data) of the first revision data, the first storage device executes the requested access on condition that the second revision data coincides with revision data notified by the management server.
US09684572B2 Signal protection
A signal protector utilizes a variable latency station to provide error correction.
US09684570B1 Systems, methods, and apparatuses for fixing logical or physical corruption in databases using immutable LSM trees
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for fixing logical or physical corruption in databases using immutable LSM trees including, for example, means for storing records in a LSM database at the host organization; processing transactions to the LSM database by writing the transactions into immutable extents for subsequent merge into the LSM database; recording a history of the transactions in a log; identifying corruption in at least one of the records of the LSM database represented within the immutable extents prior to merge of the immutable extents to the LSM database; and correcting the identified corruption to the at least one of the records of the LSM database based at least in part on the recorded history of the transactions in the log during live operation of the LSM database. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09684565B2 Plural architecture master data management
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for managing data within a plurality of data management architectures comprises at least one processor. The system persists an entity managed by a first data management architecture to a second data management architecture. The first data management architecture manages entity data within one or more data sources, while the second data management architecture manages persisted entities with data from the one or more data sources within a common repository. A modification to data of the persisted entity is detected within the one or more data sources, and the modified data is synchronized with the persisted entity in the repository of the second data management architecture. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for managing data within a plurality of data management architectures in substantially the same manner described above.
US09684560B2 Apparatus, system, and method to increase data integrity in a redundant storage system
In various embodiments, an apparatus, system, and method may increase data integrity in a redundant storage system. In one embodiment, a request is received for data stored at a storage system having a plurality of storage elements, where one or more of the plurality of storage elements include parity information. A determination is made that one of the plurality of storage elements is unavailable, the unavailable storage element being a functional storage element and including at least a portion of the data. Responsive to the determination, the data is reconstructed based on at least a portion of the parity information and data from one or more of the plurality of storage elements other than the unavailable storage element; a response is provided to the request such that the response includes the reconstructed data.
US09684559B1 Methods and apparatus for storing error correction information on a memory controller circuit
A memory controller circuit is disclosed. The memory controller circuit is coupled to an external memory device. The memory controller circuit selectively generates error-correction information for a user input. The selection is based on whether the user input is one of predefined inputs. In order to facilitate that, the memory controller circuit includes a command processor circuit and a memory circuit. The error-correction information is stored within the memory circuit located within the memory controller circuit. Selectively generating the error-free correction information may significantly reduce the amount of memory storage that is required within the memory controller circuit.
US09684550B2 Robust and adaptable management of event counters
Embodiments include a method for verifying a counter design within a tolerance window within which a race condition occurs between a context event and a design event. The method includes receiving a plurality of events within the counter design, the plurality of events including the context event and the design event. The method also includes dynamically determining the tolerance window around the context event by setting a first portion of the tolerance window to precede an occurrence of the context event and by setting a second portion of the tolerance window to follow the context event. Additionally, the method includes performing a verification of whether the design event is within the first portion of the tolerance window or the second portion of the tolerance window.
US09684549B1 Event management architecture
Generally described, aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of event data. In one aspect, an event management service obtains information related to one or more events and implements steps related to the collection of event data. In another aspect, based on the collected information, the event management service can implement one or more event data management protocols. For example, the event management service can track the progression of data analysis related to the event data, such as implementing various error analysis tools or methodologies. In another example, the event management service can implementing tracking methodologies that can determine when to implement various escalations or follow up actions based on the processing of event data. In still a further aspect, the event management service can implement various reporting or auditing related to the collection of the event data, the processing of the event data or both.
US09684542B2 Smart cloud workload balancer
A method and system. A cloud computing system is configured into an operative status by defining a virtual machine (VM) topology representing a respective virtual machine assignment for each physical server of the cloud computing system. An objects database (ODB) stores: a respective software cost per software application in one or more software license pools, and a power cost of the cloud computing system. It is determined that the cloud computing system does not perform optimally with respect to a total cost of the cloud computing system, which is a sum of the respective software cost and the power cost. The workload of the cloud computing system is distributed pursuant to a new VM topology that has a minimum total cost of the cloud computing system.
US09684541B2 Method and apparatus for determining thread execution parallelism
An apparatus and method for determining thread execution parallelism. For example, a processor in accordance with one embodiment comprises: a plurality of cores to execute a plurality of threads; a plurality of counters to collect data related to the execution of the plurality of threads on the plurality of cores; a dependency analysis module to analyze the data related to the execution of the threads and responsively determine a level of inter-thread dependency; and a control module to responsively adjust operation of the plurality of cores based on the determined level of inter-thread dependency.
US09684526B2 Techniques for configuring a generic program using controls
According to some aspects, a method of operating a data processing system is provided wherein at least one computer program is configured, the data processing system comprising least a first control, a second control and a third control, the first, second and third controls comprising at least user interface portions and operational portions, the method comprising rendering a first user interface based on the user interface portion of the first control, receiving first user input through the first user interface, the first user input providing configuration information for the at least one program, identifying the second control based at least in part on the operational portion of the first control, rendering a second user interface based on the user interface portion of the identified second control, and receiving second user input through the second user interface, the second user input providing configuration information for the at least one program.
US09684525B2 Apparatus for configuring operating system and method therefor
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for configuring an operating system. An apparatus for configuring an operating system may comprise a system resource management part managing system resources by assigning control permission for system resources which interwork with the operating system to a first domain of the operating system; and a system operation part executing an application program in a second domain of the operating system which is independent from the first domain by utilizing the system resources managed by the system resource management part. Therefore, performance of the operating system may be enhanced at the same time of supporting high security of the operating system so that reliability of the operating system can also be enhanced.
US09684520B2 Computing system with non-disruptive fast memory restore mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method for operating a computing system includes: monitoring a central interface for a power event; accessing a high-speed memory for pre-shutdown data; accessing a non-volatile memory during the power event for the pre-shutdown data previously stored on the high-speed memory; selecting a multiplexer for allowing external access to the high-speed memory; and formatting the pre-shutdown data in the non-volatile memory for access through a non-disruptive interface.
US09684518B2 Option read-only memory use
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to altered option read-only memory. A copy of an option read-only memory is stored. The copy is used during a boot process based on a determination that the option read-only memory has been altered.
US09684516B2 Register renamer that handles multiple register sizes aliased to the same storage locations
A processor may include a physical register file and a register renamer. The register renamer may be organized into even and odd banks of entries, where each entry stores an identifier of a physical register. The register renamer may be indexed by a register number of an architected register, such that the renamer maps a particular architected register to a corresponding physical register. Individual entries of the renamer may correspond to architected register aliases of a given size. Renaming aliases that are larger than the given size may involve accessing multiple entries of the renamer, while renaming aliases that are smaller than the given size may involve accessing a single renamer entry.
US09684505B2 Development environment system, development environment apparatus, development environment providing method, and program
There is provided a development environment system that appropriately controls the version of a development environment and prevents a conflict between a plurality of users over the same program. The development environment system includes a work area managing unit that allocates a work area 126 associated with user information, to a development environment apparatus when a user logs in; and a development environment managing unit 122 that extracts, from a development environment repository 123, a development environment associated with a development environment ID included in a development environment use request from the user, and makes the allocated work area 126 and the extracted development environment available. The development environment managing unit 122 disposes, on a development environment server 100, a development environment service unit 125 that executes a development environment service for a program and disposes, on a client terminal 200, a development environment client unit 202 which is a user interface of the development environment service unit 125.
US09684504B1 Methods and systems for transferring data over a network
A method of distributing a software upgrade to user computer systems having a software application installed thereon is disclosed. A determination is made as whether the software upgrade is to be a forced upgrade or a recommended upgrade for a first user based on a parameter related to the first user or the software upgrade. A determination is made as to whether a software upgrade file is to be downloaded to a user computer using a trickle mode or a burst mode.
US09684499B2 Systems and methods for facilitating installation of software applications
In at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating installation of a software application is provided. The system includes a communications component configured to communicate with external devices, and a processor configured to detect an intent to install the software application to a computing device, cause the communications component to provide an installer of the software application for retrieval by the computing device, and direct the communications components to communicate with a mobile device such that the mobile device serves as a guide in installation of the software application to the computing device.
US09684488B2 Combined adder and pre-adder for high-radix multiplier circuit
Circuitry accepting a first input value and a second input value, and outputting (a) a first sum involving the first input value and the second input value, and (b) a second sum involving the first input value and the second input value, includes a first adder circuit, a second adder circuit, a compressor circuit and a preprocessing stage. The first input value and the second input value are input to the first adder circuit to provide the first sum. The first input value and the second input value are input to the preprocessing stage to provide inputs to the compressor circuit, which provides first and second compressed output signals which in turn are input to the second adder circuit to provide the second sum. The preprocessing stage may include circuitry to programmably zero the first input value, so that the first sum is programmably settable to the second input value.
US09684487B2 Line-multiplexed UART
A line multiplexed UART interface is provided that multiplexes a UART transmit and CTS functions on a transmit pin and that multiplexes a UART receive and RTS functions on a receive pin. In this fashion, the conventional need for an additional RTS pin and an additional CTS pin is obviated such that the line multiplexed UART interface uses just the transmit pin and the receive pin.
US09684472B2 Cluster families for cluster selection and cooperative replication
Cluster families for cluster selection and cooperative replication are created. The clusters are grouped into family members of a cluster family base on their relationships and roles. Members of the cluster family determine which family member is in the best position to obtain replicated information and become cumulatively consistent within their cluster family. Once the cluster family becomes cumulatively consistent, the data is shared within the cluster family so that all copies within the cluster family are consistent.
US09684468B2 Recording dwell time in a non-volatile memory system
In at least one embodiment, a data storage system includes a non-volatile memory array, such as a flash memory array, and a controller coupled to the memory array. The controller records, for each of a plurality of valid pages in the memory array, a respective indication of a dwell time of each valid page.
US09684457B2 Gathering sensed data from devices to manage host command transmission and cooling of the devices
Provided are a computer readable storage media, method, and system for gathering sensed data from devices to manage host command transmission and cooling of the device. Host commands are retrieved from a host memory in a host to perform Input/Output operations with respect to a device. The retrieved host commands are transmitted to the device to perform the I/O operations of the host command. A monitor command is transmitted to obtain sensed data from the device while processing the host commands. A rate of transmitting the host commands is adjusted in response to determining that the sensed data received from the device in response to the monitor command satisfies a condition.
US09684456B1 Techniques for modeling disk performance
Described are techniques for determining whether to move data between devices. A first cost metric is determined for a first device and a second device. At least one portion of data is selected for movement from one of the first device and the second device to another of the first device and the second device. A second cost metric is determined for the first device and the second device based on moving said at least one portion of data between said first device and said second device. It is determined using the first cost metric and the second cost metric whether to move the at least one portion of data.
US09684444B2 Portable electronic device and method therefor
An electronic device is provided including a display, a processor and a memory. The processor is coupled to the display and the memory to carry out a method of facilitating user interface navigation in the electronic device. In a first view shown on the display, a first application interface provides a visual representation of a first application. In response to receiving a navigational command to access a second application visually represented by a second application interface, a transitional view is displayed including a transition between the first application interface and the second application interface. The displayed transition can be dependent on a property of the received navigational command. The first and second application interfaces can be displayed to appear in a non-overlapping arrangement on a planar surface, and can have sheet-like properties or behaviors.
US09684442B2 Moving an object displayed on a display screen
A method, system, and/or computer program product moves a movable object displayed on a display screen using an electronic device. The method comprises the electronic device displaying a first frame around a first area on a display screen, and displaying a second frame around a second area on the display screen. The second frame displayed is larger than the first frame, and adjusts in size until it intersects a movable object. Once the second frame intersects the movable object, a half line is displayed from the first frame to the movable object, and in response to receiving a movement signal, a display of the movable object is then displayed in the first area.
US09684437B2 Memorization system and method
A system for memorization of content includes a memory storing the content. The memory includes a tangible computer readable medium with an instruction set, and at least one database. The database has information corresponding to the content. A processor communicating with the memory is configured to: execute the instruction set to present information corresponding to an original discrete portion of the content, and conduct an accuracy analysis of at least one version of the discrete portion audibly repeated by a user. An audio input device communicating with the processor receives the version from the user for use in the accuracy analysis by the processor. An input device inputs a user predetermined quantity of repetitions of the version presented to the user prior to the user progressing to a next discrete portion of the original discrete portion when a user predetermined accuracy threshold of the accuracy analysis is met.
US09684436B2 User interface for providing consolidation and access
Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. To provide greater access and consolidation to frequently used items in the graphical user interface, a userbar is established which includes a plurality of item representations. To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.
US09684435B2 Camera selection interface for producing a media presentation
To generate a media presentation of a live event, a user interface is coupled to at least three cameras that share substantially the same vantage point. One of the cameras (e.g., a context camera) provides a context view of the event that is displayed on a screen of the user interface. The views of the other two cameras are superimposed onto the context view to define sub-portions that are visually demarcated within the context view. Based on user interaction, the user interface can switch between the cameras views and control the cameras to capture different portions of the context view. Based the image data captured by the views of the cameras within the context view, the user interface generates a media presentation that may be broadcast to multiple viewers.
US09684433B2 Trusted device identification and event monitoring
A method includes identifying individuals that are affiliated with a user. The method includes incorporating trusted devices associated with the identified individuals into an event monitor network that is configured to monitor for an occurrence of a monitored event. The method includes identifying a particular input that suggests the occurrence of the monitored event. The method includes communicating to the trusted devices, an input sample that is used for recognition of the particular input from general input that is measured by sensors of the trusted devices. The method includes receiving from at least one of the trusted devices, an event message that indicates the particular input is observed by at least one of the sensors. In response to the event message, the method includes communicating to a user interface of a user device associated with the user, an alarm message that indicates the occurrence of the monitored event.
US09684432B2 Web-based system for collaborative generation of interactive videos
Systems and methods are provided for adding and displaying interactive annotations for existing online hosted videos. A graphical annotation interface allows the creation of annotations and association of the annotations with a video. Annotations may be of different types and have different functionality, such as altering the appearance and/or behavior of an existing video, e.g. by supplementing it with text, allowing linking to other videos or web pages, or pausing playback of the video. Authentication of a user desiring to perform annotation of a video may be performed in various manners, such as by checking a uniform resource locator (URL) against an existing list, checking a user identifier against an access list, and the like. As a result of authentication, a user is accorded the appropriate annotation abilities, such as full annotation, no annotation, or annotation restricted to a particular temporal or spatial portion of the video.
US09684430B1 Linguistic and icon based message conversion for virtual environments and objects
Systems and methods that convert messages to virtual actions and behaviors of virtual objects are provided herein. An example method includes receiving a message in from a user, the message having linguistic content, performing a lexical analysis of the linguistic content to determine one or more tokens within the linguistic content, where a token includes words or phrases of the linguistic content that are indicative of an emotion, and selecting one or more expressions for an avatar of the user based on the one or more tokens present in the linguistic content.
US09684429B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications
An electronic device displays a first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device. The device detects a first input and in response, displays a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with. The multitasking user interface includes a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing, and a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user.
US09684427B2 Three-dimensional interface
A three-dimensional virtual-touch human-machine interface system (20) and a method (100) of operating the system (20) are presented. The system (20) incorporates a three-dimensional time-of-flight sensor (22), a three-dimensional autostereoscopic display (24), and a computer (26) coupled to the sensor (22) and the display (24). The sensor (22) detects a user object (40) within a three-dimensional sensor space (28). The display (24) displays an image (42) within a three-dimensional display space (32). The computer (26) maps a position of the user object (40) within an interactive volumetric field (36) mutually within the sensor space (28) and the display space (32), and determines when the positions of the user object (40) and the image (42) are substantially coincident. Upon detection of coincidence, the computer (26) executes a function programmed for the image (42).
US09684417B2 Touch-sensing electrode structure and touch-sensitive device
A touch-sensing electrode structure includes multiple first electrodes and multiple second electrodes. Each of the first electrodes includes at least a first major part and a second major part, the first major part and the second major part cross over each other to form at least one interconnect section, the interconnect section includes a first connecting line extending in a first direction and a second connecting line extending in a second direction different to the first direction. Each of the second electrodes includes a plurality of electrode sections and third connecting lines, each of the third connecting lines is connected between two adjacent electrode sections, the third connecting lines extend in a third direction different to the first direction and the second direction, and at least one of the third connecting lines overlaps the interconnect section.
US09684412B2 Method and apparatus for generating a three-dimensional user interface
A method for providing a three-dimensional user interface includes generating an image of a three-dimensional scene according to a set of camera parameters. The three-dimensional scene includes a plurality of three-dimensional graphical elements. The three-dimensional graphical elements are associated with a plurality of applications stored on a computing device. The method further includes receiving a user input; adjusting the camera parameters according to the user input; and updating the image of the three-dimensional scene according to the adjusted camera parameters.
US09684399B2 Touch element and manufacturing method thereof, and touch screen
The present invention provides a touch element and a manufacturing method thereof, and a touch screen. The touch element includes a substrate and a touch layer arranged on the substrate, the touch layer is made of a doped carbon nanotube material, and the doped carbon nanotube material is formed by doping and modifying a carbon nanotube material with a strong oxidizing material. The touch element has higher conductivity and lower sheet resistance, which makes the touch element have a good touch performance, thus making a touch product with the touch element achieve the same touch performance while reducing the cost of the touch product; at the same time, the touch layer made of the doped carbon nanotube material has good characteristics of bending resistance, scratch resistance and knocking resistance, so that the touch element can be well applied to the touch of a flexible display product.
US09684398B1 Executing a default action on a touchscreen device
A computer-implemented method for executing a default action on a touchscreen device is provided. The method includes receiving a touch input from a user on a touchscreen device and determining a context associated with the touch input. The context is associated with one or more actions including a default action. The method also includes determining that the received touch input comprises a default gesture, and performing the default action associated with the determined context. The default gesture may be a two-finger double-tap gesture. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
US09684395B2 System and method for context driven voice interface in handheld wireless mobile devices
A wireless communication device with a voice-input and display-touch interface has an interface processor that enables, in part (i) an either display-touch or a voice-input based interface, and in part (ii) only a voice-input based interface for efficiently searching information databases. A sequence of context based search verb and search term is selected via either touch or voce selection and then the human articulated voice query is expanded using a culture and a world intelligence dictionary for conducting more efficient searches though a voice-based input.
US09684375B2 Systems and methods for stabilizing a haptic touch panel or touch surface
Systems and methods for stabilizing haptic touch panels or touch surfaces are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes a housing having a base; and a touch sensitive input device. The apparatus further includes a first support member coupled to the base via a first hinge and coupled to the touch sensitive input device via a second hinge; a second support member coupled to the base via a third hinge and coupled to the touch sensitive input device via a fourth hinge; wherein the first support member and the second support member are configured to facilitate movement of the touch sensitive input device in a first degree of freedom.
US09684374B2 Eye reflection image analysis
Example methods and devices are disclosed for generating life-logs with point-of-view images. An example method may involve: receiving image-related data based on electromagnetic radiation reflected from a human eye, generating an eye reflection image based on the image-related data, generating a point-of-view image by filtering the eye reflection image, and storing the point-of-view image. The electromagnetic radiation reflected from a human eye can be captured using one or more video or still cameras associated with a suitably-configured computing device, such as a wearable computing device.
US09684371B1 Virtual reality system for providing individuals with customized live experiences
An interactive system and method of the present invention provides a customized experience to individual spectators of a live performance. An input device receives a performance parameter selected by a spectator, and physical features of the spectator are scanned into a processor. Real time data collectors are associated with performers in the live performance, wherein the processor receives the performance parameter from the input device and real time performance data from the real time data collectors, and generates an individually customized real time performance based on the performance parameter and the physical features of the spectator as superimposed with the real time performance data, and further provides the customized real time performance to a virtual reality device for real time presentation to the spectator.
US09684367B2 Power trace port for tracing states of power domains
A power trace port included in a system (e.g., a microcontroller system) having multiple power domains includes a power trace port that outputs digital signals indicating the states of the power domains. If each power domain is independent of other power domains in the system, each power domain can have its own set of power trace pins in the power trace port that are at least partially external to the system. If a power domain has multiple states, multiple pins can be used to indicate the multiple states. In some implementations, the power trace port can include performance level pins for providing performance level signals. The power trace port can be coupled to power trace probes of a power analyzer that is external to the system for generating power traces.
US09684361B2 Devices routing wakeup signals using physical layer directly to power management circuit without waking up link layer
In a method of operating a device, signals associated with wakeup of the device are detected using a first physical layer among a plurality of physical layers, and a detection signal is generated based on the detected signals. The detection signal is transmitted directly to a power management circuit. The first physical layer is included in logical lane #0 or physical lane #0.
US09684359B2 Storage device and method for processing power disable signal
A storage device for connection with a host device via an interface bus, includes a storage unit and a storage controller configured to control access to the storage unit and receive a power disable signal from the host device. The storage controller includes a plurality of processing units, each of which receives an interrupt signal to initiate power disable processing, in response to assertion of the power disable signal.
US09684351B2 Discovery of connectivity between PDU outlet and device
Power distribution management comprises: detecting an establishment of a connection between a PDU outlet of a PDU and a device to be powered by the PDU; and causing the identification specific to the connection to be shared between the PDU and the device over optical communication in response to establishment of the connection. Corresponding system and power cable are also disclosed. According to embodiments of the present inventive subject matter, the connection relationship between any devices and PDU outlets can be determined efficiently and effectively by checking and matching the connection identifications.
US09684337B2 Smartphone/tablet stand
A mounting stand for a portable electronic device that includes: a base; a pedestal at one end of a top surface of the base; an arm extending from the pedestal; a cradle at a distal end of the arm; and a audio speaker on the top surface of the base abutting the pedestal. Preferably, the base is rectangular in shape and includes a LED light surrounding the perimeter of the base. In one particular embodiment, the cradle includes side supports, a bottom support and a back support. Preferably the arm is flexible allowing rotation of the cradle. The speaker connects to a portable electronic device, where the portable electronic device includes a smartphone or a tablet.
US09684336B2 Mechanism device with rotary holder and display device therewith
A mechanism device includes a hinge mechanism, a holding base, a guiding member and a fixing member. The holding base is pivoted to the frame by the hinge mechanism and includes a main casing, a first holding casing and a second holding casing. The first holding casing and the second holding casing extend from two opposite sides of the main casing along a direction away from the hinge mechanism, such that the main casing, the first holding casing and the second holding casing cooperatively define a holding slot with openings formed on two sides thereof, so as to hold an electronic device. The guiding member is disposed within the holding slot and for guiding the electronic device into the holding slot. The fixing member is disposed within the holding slot and for fixing the electronic device inside the holding slot after the electronic device enters the holding slot.
US09684333B2 Electronic device and case member
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first flexible member, a rigid member positioned on one surface of the first flexible member, and a second flexible member positioned on the one surface of the first flexible member in at least a part of a periphery of the rigid member. The first flexible member is attached to a case member of the electronic device with the rigid member and the second flexible member being interposed therebetween.
US09684328B2 Systems and methods for overvoltage protection of power converters
A system includes an excitation system configured to regulate one or more outputs of a power generating system. The excitation system includes a power conversion module (PCM). The PCM includes a direct current (DC) link, a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) configured to generate an output to the system, and a nonlinear resistor configured to limit a voltage of the DC link to a predetermined threshold.
US09684320B2 DC-DC converter and method for controlling the same and power supply of energy storage system including the same DC-DC converter
A DC/DC converter includes n converters connected in parallel to each other and configured to adjust a level of an input voltage according to a duty ratio of a first pulse signal applied to a first switch device to output an output voltage, wherein the n is an integer of 2 or more; and a control unit configured to compare an average of n sensing currents with the n sensing currents sensed from the converters, respectively, to adjust the duty ratio of the first pulse signal.
US09684317B2 Thermostat facilitating user-friendly installation thereof
A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system and related systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating user-friendly installation of the thermostat are described. For one embodiment, automated installation verification is performed by the thermostat by automatically sensing which wires have been inserted, selecting a candidate HVAC operating function (e.g., heating or cooling) that is consistent with a subset of HVAC signal types indicated by the inserted wires, applying control signals to the HVAC system to invoke that HVAC operating function, and processing a time sequence of acquired temperature readings to determine whether that HVAC operating function was successfully carried out. For one embodiment, the initial automated testing of the heating and cooling functions are only carried out at times for which such heating or cooling function would normally be invoked during normal operation of the thermostat. Automated determination of a heat pump call convention is also described.
US09684315B2 Control valve
A control valve includes a poppet valve moving in an axial direction relative to a seat hole so as to change a flow-path cross-sectional area of the seat hole and a spring disc biasing the poppet valve in a valve opening direction against the return spring. The spring disc includes: a secondary-pressure receiving surface being a portion moving along with a movement of the poppet valve, the secondary-pressure receiving surface configured to receive secondary pressure introduced to the secondary port; and a pilot-pressure receiving surface configured to receive pilot pressure serving as a reference pressure. The spring disc deforms elastically in accordance with pressure difference between the secondary pressure and the pilot pressure to cause the poppet valve to move in the axial direction.
US09684291B2 Goal-driven human-machine interface
A Human-Machine Interface (HMI) for industrial equipment which is operable to assume several operating states, and to achieve several user-selectable goals, each achievable from one or more operating states. The HMI is designed to be coupled with an equipment control unit of the industrial equipment. The equipment control unit is designed to determine a current operating state assumed by the industrial equipment based on received equipment operating data; in response to a goal selection, to cause the industrial equipment to achieve the selected goal; and to execute equipment-related functions including user-selectable functions, each of which is associated with one or more user-selectable goals and is executed by the equipment control unit in response to a function selection. The HMI comprises a display unit and a display control unit, which is coupled with the display unit and is couplable also with the equipment control unit to acquire therefrom data.
US09684290B2 Motor controller and method for controlling a motor after a power-loss event
A motor controller and methods of controlling a variable speed motor using the motor controller after a power-loss event are described. The motor controller is configured to be coupled to a motor. The motor controller includes a computing device configured to determine power is being supplied to the motor controller a power-loss event. The computing device is also configured to operate the motor in accordance with a predetermined operating schedule such that the computing device operates the motor at a first speed for a first time period, and after completion of the first time period, the computing device operates the motor at a second speed for a second time period.
US09684287B2 Controlling device and controlling method
A controlling device includes an upper limit elapsed time measuring portion measuring an elapsed time TH after updating of a manipulated variable upper limit value OH1 through communication, a lower limit elapsed time measuring portion measuring an elapsed time TL after updating of a manipulated variable lower limit value OL1 through communication, an upper limit automatic reset portion storing, as a new manipulated variable upper limit value OH1, a manipulated variable upper limit value OH2 when the elapsed time TH has arrived at a specified time TR, and a lower limit automatic reset portion storing, as a new manipulated variable lower limit value OL1, a manipulated variable lower limit value OL2 when the elapsed time TL has arrived at the specified time TR.
US09684285B2 Mechatronic assembly for driving an external member using a brushless motor and a simple assembly of electronic components
The present disclosure relates to a mechatronic assembly for positioning a member including a control unit and an actuator, the control unit including a control algorithm and a power bridge, the algorithm controlling the power bridge, the power bridge outputting a two-wire electric signal, the actuator including a polyphase brushless electric motor having N phases (N being or higher), binary probes for detecting the position of the rotor of the motor, and power switches suitable for supplying the N phases of the motor from the two-wire electric signal, and states of the power switches is controlled directly by a signal emitted by the detection probes.
US09684282B2 System, method and apparatus for wavelength-coded multi-focal microscopy
A volume holographic imaging system, apparatus, and/or method enables the projection of a two-dimensional (2D) slice of a four-dimensional (4D) probing object. A 4D probing source object is illuminated to emit or scatter an optical field. A holographic element having one or more recorded holograms receives and diffracts the optical field into a diffracted plane beam having spectral information. A 4-f telecentric relay system includes a pupil filter on the relayed conjugate plane of the volume hologram and images the pupil of the volume hologram onto the front focal plane of the collector lens. A collector lens focuses the diffracted plane beam to a 2D slice of the 4D probing source object. The focused 2D slice is projected onto a 2D imaging plane. The holographic element may have multiple multiplexed holograms that are arranged to diffract light from the corresponding slice of the 4D probing source object.
US09684280B2 Cooling device including air blower, and image forming apparatus including cooling device
A cooling device includes an air blower, a first support frame, and a second support frame. The first support frame supports the air blower and has a first groove portion extending from a blowing port of the air blower to a predetermined discharge port. The second support frame supports a driving portion for transmitting a driving force to a portion to be driven of an image forming apparatus, and is configured such that the first support frame is connectable thereto. The second support frame has a second groove portion. The second groove portion is engaged with the first groove portion, in a state where the first support frame is connected to the second support frame, to form an air duct configured to guide air blown from the air blower, to the discharge port.
US09684279B2 Image forming apparatus with an insertion port configured for a process cartridge, usable with the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus in which an apparatus main body has: an insertion port through which a process cartridge cannot pass when an image bearing member and a developer bearing member are separated from each other and through which the process cartridge can pass when the image bearing member and the developer bearing member are in contact with each other; and guides that guide one of a first frame and a second frame when the process cartridge is inserted into the insertion port. The image forming apparatus has a separation mechanism that separates the image bearing member and the developer bearing member from each other when the process cartridge is further inserted after the other of the first frame and second frame has passed through the insertion port.
US09684278B2 Image forming apparatus and process for supporting cartridge used for the same
An image forming apparatus includes a movement member arranged to move a cartridge and is movable between a first position for disposing the cartridge at a position where image formation is possible and a second position where the cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the movement member. At least one coupling provided in the cartridge is, when the movement member is at the first position, moved to a drive position where the coupling is arranged to engage with a drive member to rotate at least one rotating member, and while the movement member is being moved from the second to first positions, the at least one coupling is at an inclined position.
US09684274B2 Transmission device for photosensitive drum and drum device having same
The invention relates to a transmission device for engagement with a photosensitive drum having a drum axis, comprising a shell detachably attached to the photosensitive drum coaxially to the drum axis; a sleeve coupled with the shell coaxially to the drum axis, such that the shell and the sleeve define at least one guiding groove therebetween; and a transmission unit comprising a shaft disposed to the sleeve coaxially to the drum axis, such that the shaft is rotatable about the drum axis relative to the sleeve and movable along the drum axis relative to the sleeve, wherein ranges of the rotation and motion of the shaft relative to the sleeve are subjected to the at least one guiding groove. Accordingly, the transmission device can be connected with and separated from the drive member smoothly.
US09684270B2 Fixing apparatus having storage device for storing characteristics of fixing member
A fixing apparatus fixes an image onto a recording material. A first fuse and a second fuse are connected in series each other. A power supply line is connected to one end of the first fuse. A signal line is connected to a connection point between another end of the first fuse and one end of the second fuse. A ground line is connected to another end of the second fuse. Information regarding the fixing apparatus is held in accordance with melt states of the first and second fuses.
US09684267B2 Roller coating
A method of preparing the surface of a roller comprising adding a coating comprising isocyanate to a ground surface of the roller. A roller comprising a ground surface, the ground surface having unreacted hydroxyl (—OH) groups on the surface of the roller and a layer of isocyanate layered over the unreacted hydroxyl (—OH) groups on the surface of the roller, the isocyanate forming a urethane bond on the surface of the roller.
US09684260B2 Image forming apparatus with control of transfer bias and charging bias
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a charging voltage source, an exposure device, a developing device, a developing voltage source, a transfer member, a transfer voltage source, a detecting member, a setting portion for setting, a transfer voltage applied to the transfer member on the basis of a detection result of the detecting member, and an adjusting portion for increasing a potential difference between the potential of the photosensitive member charged and the developing voltage so as to be large when an absolute value of the transfer voltage set by the setting portion is a first threshold or more and an absolute value of the current flowing at the time of application of the transfer voltage to the transfer member is a second threshold or less.
US09684258B2 Image forming apparatus capable of switching operation mode
An image forming apparatus includes: first and second photosensitive drums; first and second developing rollers each defining an axis in an axial direction; first and second driving-force inputting sections; first and second couplings; and a connecting mechanism. A driving force inputted to each coupling is transmitted to each developing roller via each driving-force inputting section when each coupling is connected to the corresponding driving-force inputting section. The connecting mechanism is movable between a first position and a second position to cause the first and second couplings to move in the axial direction such that the first and second couplings are connected or disconnected relative to the first and second driving-force inputting sections.
US09684257B1 Toner compositions with antiplasticizers
Disclosed herein include styrene-acrylic-based binder compositions containing an antiplasticizer with particles having a core-shell type structure and methods for their preparation.
US09684252B2 Optical element with an antireflection coating, projection objective, and exposure apparatus comprising such an element
An optical element (14) transparent for radiation with a wavelength λ in the ultraviolet wavelength range below 250 nm, in particular at 193 nm, comprises a substrate (17) with a refractive index ns larger than 1.6, and an antireflection coating (16) formed on at least part of the surface of the substrate (17) between the substrate (17) and an ambient medium with a refractive index nA, preferably with nA=1.0. The antireflection coating (16) consists of a single layer of a material with a refractive index nL of about nL=√{square root over (nAnS)}, in particular nL>1.3, and the optical thickness dL of the single layer is about λ/4. The optical element (14) is preferably part of a projection objective (5) in a microlithography projection exposure apparatus (1) and located adjacent to a light-sensitive substrate (10).
US09684251B2 Microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and method of correcting optical wavefront deformations in such an apparatus
A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a correction device configured to correct optical wavefront deformations. The correction device includes first and second optical elements and a drive mechanism configured to move the first and second optical elements between a first arrangement and a second arrangement. In the first arrangement the first optical element is an inner optical element having at least a portion that is arranged in a projection light path, and the second optical element is an outer optical element that is arranged completely outside the projection light path. In the second arrangement the second optical element is the inner optical element, and the first optical element is the outer optical element. The correction device further includes a temperature control device configured to modify a temperature distribution in the outer optical element.
US09684249B2 Lithographic apparatus with a metrology system for measuring a position of a substrate table
A lithographic apparatus comprises a substrate table for accommodating a substrate; a projection system for imaging a pattern onto the substrate, and a metrology system for measuring a position of the substrate table with respect to the projection system. The metrology system comprises a metrology frame connected to the projection system, a grid positioned stationary with respect to the metrology frame, and an encoder connected to the substrate table and facing the grid for measuring the position of the substrate table relative to the grid. The metrology frame has a surface oriented towards the substrate table, and the surface has been configured, e.g., by writing or etching, so as to form the grid.
US09684248B2 Lithographic apparatus having substrate table and sensor table to measure a patterned beam
A lithographic apparatus includes a substrate table capable of holding a substrate, a projection system that projects a patterned beam of radiation onto the substrate held by the substrate table, and a sensor table that is not capable of holding a substrate but that includes a sensor capable of sensing a property of the patterned beam of radiation. In addition, a first positioning system is connected to the substrate table and displaces the substrate table into and out of a path of the patterned beam of radiation, and a second positioning system is capable of positioning the sensor table into the path of the patterned beam of radiation when the substrate table is displaced out of the path of the patterned beam of radiation.
US09684247B2 Polarization-modulating element, illumination optical apparatus, exposure apparatus, and exposure method
There is disclosed a polarization-modulating element for modulating a polarization state of incident light into a predetermined polarization state, the polarization-modulating element being made of an optical material with optical activity and having a circumferentially varying thickness profile.
US09684246B2 Polarization-modulating element, illumination optical apparatus, exposure apparatus, and exposure method
There is disclosed a polarization-modulating element for modulating a polarization state of incident light into a predetermined polarization state, the polarization-modulating element being made of an optical material with optical activity and having a circumferentially varying thickness profile.
US09684243B2 Blocking element for protecting optical elements in projection exposure apparatuses
A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography, in particular an EUV projection exposure apparatus, having a beam path along which propagates electromagnetic radiation with which the projection exposure apparatus is operated, and having at least one filter (55) arranged in the beam path, wherein the projection exposure apparatus furthermore comprises at least one sensor device for monitoring the filter, wherein at least one blocking element (60) is provided which is movable between a standby position and a bather position, and wherein the movement of the blocking element can be effected at least in a manner dependent on a signal of the sensor device. An associated method for operating an apparatus of this type is also disclosed.
US09684241B2 Compositions and methods for pattern treatment
Pattern treatment compositions comprise a block copolymer and an organic solvent. The block copolymer comprises a first block and a second block. The first block comprises a unit formed from a first monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group and a hydrogen acceptor group, wherein the hydrogen acceptor group is a nitrogen-containing group. The second block comprises a unit formed from a second monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group and an aromatic group, provided that the second monomer is not styrene. Wherein: (i) the second block comprises a unit formed from a third monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group, and the second monomer and the third monomer are different; and/or (ii) the block copolymer comprises a third block comprising a unit formed from a fourth monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group. Also provided are pattern treatment methods using the described compositions. The pattern treatment compositions and methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices for providing high resolution patterns.
US09684238B2 Fluorene-type compound, photopolymerization initiator comprising said fluorene-type compound, and photosensitive composition containing said photopolymerization initiator
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a novel fluorene-based compound and a photopolymerization initiator using the fluorene-based compound. The fluorene-based compound according to an embodiment of the present invention is represented by the general formula (1). A photopolymerization initiator having additionally high sensitivity can be provided by using the fluorene-based compound. In addition, a photopolymerization initiator that can impart additionally excellent characteristics can be provided by appropriately selecting, for example, a substituent.
US09684236B1 Method of patterning a film layer
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first patterned hard mask over a material layer. The first patterned hard mask defines an opening. The method also includes forming a direct-self-assembly (DSA) layer having a first portion and a second portion within the opening, removing the first portion of the DSA layer, forming spacers along sidewalls of the second portion of the DSA layer and removing the second portion of the DSA layer. The spacers form a second patterned hard mask over the material layer.
US09684235B2 Directed self-assembling composition for pattern formation, and pattern-forming method
A directed self-assembling composition for pattern formation includes a block copolymer. The block copolymer includes a polystyrene block having a styrene unit, and a polyalkyl (meth)acrylate block having an alkyl (meth)acrylate unit. The block copolymer has a group that is bound to at least one end of a main chain of the block copolymer and that includes a hetero atom.
US09684234B2 Sequential infiltration synthesis for enhancing multiple-patterning lithography
Simplified methods of multiple-patterning photolithography using sequential infiltration synthesis to modify the photoresist such that it withstands plasma etching better than unmodified resist and replaces one or more hard masks and/or a freezing step in MPL processes including litho-etch-litho-etch photolithography or litho-freeze-litho-etch photolithography.
US09684232B2 Glass substrate for mask blank, and method for producing the same
A glass substrate for a mask blank has a rectangular planar shape. In four square regions each positioned at each corner of a first region (quality assurance region) and having one side of 8 mm, an angle between a least square plane in each the square region and that in the first region is 3.0 μad or less, and a PV value relative to the least square plane is 30 nm or less. In four strip regions each positioned in an area between one side of the first region and 8 mm inside the side and excluding the square regions, an angle between a least square plane in each the strip region and that in the first region is 1.5 μad or less, and a PV value relative to the least square plane is 15 nm or less.
US09684231B2 Projector comprising a light-shape adjusting element
A projector includes at least one light source, a light combination assembly, a light-shape adjusting element, an illuminating assembly, and an imaging assembly. The light source is used for emitting at least one light beam. The light combination assembly is disposed at the transmission path of the light beam for transferring the light beam to an illumination beam. The light-shape adjusting element is disposed in the light combination assembly and located at the transmission path of the light beam for adjusting a light shape of the light beam, in which the light shape of the light beam is adjusted to be an elliptical shape. The imaging assembly is disposed at the transmission path of the illumination beam for transferring the illumination beam to an image beam. The imaging assembly is disposed at the transmission path of the image beam for projecting the image beam.
US09684229B2 Camera accessory and camera
The camera accessory is attachable to a camera. The camera accessory includes an accessory mount to be detachably coupled with a camera mount). The accessory mount is provided with accessory bayonet claws and brought, by relative rotation with the camera mount, from a first state in which each of the accessory bayonet claws is inserted between camera bayonet claws provided in the camera mount into a second state in which the accessory bayonet claws engage with the camera bayonet claws to complete coupling of the accessory and camera mounts. The camera accessory is further provided with accessory contact surfaces arranged in a relative rotation direction of the mounts in the accessory mount. The accessory contact surfaces includes a first accessory contact surface used for indicating type of the camera accessory and is provided adjacent to the accessory bayonet claw.
US09684222B2 Optical waveguide and optical device based on the same
Disclosed is a technology related to an optical waveguide which is insensitive to an ambient temperature and is capable of adjusting a wavelength error due to a manufacturing processing deviation. The optical waveguide includes: a clad layer positioned on a substrate; a core layer positioned between the substrate and the clad layer, and including patterns positioned in a first region and a second region; and a wavelength adjusting unit positioned in the first region between the substrate and the clad layer, and configured to adjust a wavelength of an optical signal propagated through patterns passing through the first region based on received electric energy, in which the clad layer includes a material having a Thermo-Optic Coefficient (TOC) with an opposite sign to that of a material included in the core layer.
US09684221B2 Broadband terahertz generation of metamaterials
Provided are systems and methods to generate single-cycle THz pulses from a few tens of nanometers thin layer of split ring resonators (SRRs) via optical rectification of femtosecond laser pulses. The emitted THz radiation, with a spectrum ranging from about 0.1 to 4 THz, arises exclusively from pumping the magnetic-dipole resonance of SRRs around 200 THz. This resonant enhancement, together with pump polarization dependence and power scaling of the THz emission, underpins the nonlinearity from optically induced circulating currents in SRRs, with a huge effective nonlinear susceptibility of 0.8×10−16 m2/V that far exceeds surface nonlinearities of both thin films and bulk organic/inorganic crystals and sheet nonlinearities of non-centrosymmetric materials such as ZnTe.
US09684214B2 Display device
The present invention relates to a display device, comprising: a substrate comprising a display region and a non-display region surrounding the display region; a first conductive layer disposed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate and partially covering the first conductive layer; and a second conductive layer disposed on a top surface of the semiconductor layer; and there is a spacing between a first side of the semiconductor layer and a second side of the second conductive layer from a top view, wherein the first side of the semiconductor layer is adjacent to the second side of the second conductive layer; wherein the spacing in the display region is a first distance, the spacing in the non-display region is a second distance, and the first distance is smaller than the second distance.
US09684206B2 Copolymer, and liquid crystal alignment layer including cured product thereof
Provided is a liquid crystal alignment layer of which a constituent member is a polymer represented by the general formula (I).
US09684205B2 Display panel and manufacturing method thereof
A display panel including a first substrate, a pixel array disposed on the first substrate, a first alignment layer covering the pixel array, a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate, a second alignment layer disposed on the second substrate and a display medium disposed between the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer is provided. The first alignment layer has first alignment particles. A number of the first alignment particles each having an area ranged from 250 nm2 to 1000 nm2 occupies 40% or less of a total number of the first alignment particles in a unit area. The second alignment layer has second alignment particles. A number of the second alignment particles each having the area ranged from 250 nm2 to 1000 nm2 occupies 40% or less of a total number of the second particles in the unit area.
US09684200B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate including an insulative substrate and a color filter layer formed on that side of the insulative substrate, which is opposed to the first substrate, the color filter layer including a first color filter of red, a third color filter of blue which is spaced apart from the first color filter, a fifth color filter of red which is spaced apart from the third color filter, a second color filter which is located between the first color filter and the third color filter and has a color which is different from red and blue, and a fourth color filter which is located between the third color filter and the fifth color filter and has a color which is different from red and blue, and a liquid crystal layer.
US09684189B2 Adornment assembly for a wearable item
The embodied invention is a design that provides components for attaching adornment articles to eyewear and adornment holders. The design ensures that only the adornment article will be visible and maintain proper orientation. Additionally, the adornment article is held securely in place yet is easily removable and interchangeable with a variety of other adornment articles.
US09684187B2 Flexible, silicone eyeglass frame without legs
The silicone eyeglass frame (1) according to the invention consists of a highly flexible and mobile siloxane structure. It is capable of being folded without being broken and of being directed to particular surfaces. Thanks to the material providing the frame to stand on the nose, the need for legs extending to the ears in the eyeglass frame (1) is eliminated.
US09684186B1 Glasses with changeable lens
A pair of glasses with changeable lenses is revealed. A right frame and a left frame are communicated by a channel disposed on a bridge of an eyeglass frame. The eyeglass frame is divided into an upper part and a lower part by the channel, each of which is arranged with a magnetic part. The lenses are positioned by the magnetic parts attracted each other to close the channel. Or the two magnetic parts are pulled and separated to open the channel so that the lenses are able to be replaced. Therefore the lenses can be disassembled and assembled easily.
US09684184B2 Upright mounted camera actuator component with trapezoidal magnet for optical image stabilization
Some embodiments provide an actuator module for optical image stabilization of a lens assembly relative to an image sensor in a camera. In some embodiments, the actuator module includes a coil mounting structure. One or more optical image stabilization (OIS) coils is mounted to the coil mounting structure. The actuator module further includes a lens assembly structure configured to hold a lens assembly. One or more autofocus coils is affixed to the lens assembly structure. The actuator module further includes a spring assembly for coupling the coil mounting structure to the lens assembly structure, such that the lens assembly structure is movable relative to the coil mounting structure. The actuator module further includes a plurality of trapezoidal magnets affixed to the lens assembly structure for magnetic interaction with one or more of the one or more optical image stabilization coils and the one or more autofocus coils.
US09684171B2 See-through computer display systems
Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the see-through computer display systems with a wide field of view.
US09684168B2 Apparatus for digital projection using holographic techniques
An apparatus for generating and displaying a projected digital image includes an actuator, a holographic encoded medium with a holographic pattern, a light source, and a controller. The holographic encoded medium is disposed in operable communication with the actuator. The light source is configured to produce a coherent light disposed in optical communication with the holographic encoded medium. The controller is operable to control synchronization of the coherent light from the light source with a position of the holographic encoded medium as driven by the actuator to produce the projected digital image on a projection surface based on directing the coherent light to different portions of the holographic pattern at different times.
US09684162B2 Optical sensors
An optical sensor includes an array of pixels configured to convert photons into electrons for forming an image. A tunable filter assembly is optically connected to the array of pixels for passing an adjustable bandwidth of photons to the array of pixels. The tunable filter assembly includes a first mirror defining an optical axis and a second mirror spaced apart from the first mirror along the optical axis. A first electrode is mechanically connected to the first mirror and a second electrode is fixed relative to the second mirror. The first and second electrodes are positioned relative to one another to adjust the position of the first mirror with respect to the second mirror when a voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes to tune the spectral bands being passed through the filter assembly to the array of pixels.
US09684158B2 Reference mirror converter of Linnik interferometer
Provided is a reference mirror converter of a Linnik interferometer in which a first object lens 30 focuses light emitted from a beam splitter 20 on a reference mirror 40, a plurality of reference mirrors 40 reflects light incident from the first object lens 30, a plurality of reference mirrors 40 is disposed on a plurality of reference mirror brackets 45, respectively, the plurality of reference mirror brackets 45 is disposed on a rotary plate 60 at the same angles, and the rotary plate 60 is rotated using a motor 70 to control a rotation of the rotary plate 60 to select the reference mirror 40 having a reflectivity similar to that of a target 200 to be measured from among the plurality of reference mirrors 40. Accordingly, since a separate state between articles is maintained at all times, adhesiveness between articles packaged with an easily adhesive material may be prevented.
US09684157B2 Projection zoom lens and projection type display device
A projection zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a negative refractive power provided most toward the magnification side, which is fixed when changing magnification; and at least two movable lens groups that move to change the relative distance therebetween in the direction of an optical axis when changing magnification. The first lens group is constituted by, in order from the magnification side to the reduction side, a front group having a negative refractive power and a rear group having a negative refractive power. The front group is fixed and only the rear group moves in the direction of the optical axis during focusing operations. Conditional Formula (1) related to the focal length f1a of the front group and the focal length f1b of the rear group is satisfied: f1b/f1a<0.8  (1).
US09684145B2 Distributed split configuration for multi-dwelling unit
Installing a fiber distribution system in a building having multiple floors includes routing a feed fiber to a first enclosure located at one of the floors of the building; disposing pre-connectorized ends of distribution fibers within the first enclosure; routing optical ferrules, which terminate second ends of the distribution fibers without connector bodies, through the building via a sheath; accessing the optical ferrules of the distribution fibers at respective floors; attaching connector bodies around the optical ferrules; and disposing the connector bodies within fiber distribution terminals at the appropriate floors.
US09684141B1 Techniques for reducing ingress of foreign matter into an optical subassembly
Techniques are disclosed for filling gaps formed between a press-fit component and an optical subassembly housing to introduce a seal or barrier that can prevent or otherwise mitigate the ingress of contaminants. In an embodiment, a layer of sealant material is applied to one or more surfaces of an optical component prior to press-fitting the component into an optical subassembly housing. Alternatively, or in addition to applying sealant to one or more surfaces of an optical component, a layer of sealant material may be disposed on an interface formed between an outer surface of the optical subassembly housing and the optical component press-fit into the same. Techniques disclosed herein are particularly well suited for small form-factor optical subassemblies that include one or more optical components press-fit into openings of a subassembly housing during manufacturing.
US09684136B2 Fiber optic connector with ferrule boot
A fiber optic connector for a plurality of optical fibers includes: a housing portion, a ferrule assembly at least partially disposed in the housing portion, a spring push positioned behind the ferrule, and a spring positioned between the spring push and ferrule. The ferrule assembly includes a ferrule defining an end face of the fiber optic connector and having a plurality of bores arranged in at least two linear rows. The ferrule assembly also includes a ferrule boot coupled to the ferrule, with the ferrule boot including a fiber alignment portion and a cover portion. The fiber alignment portion defines a first groove for a first row of the optical fibers and a second groove for a second row of the optical fibers.
US09684132B2 Optical slip ring arrangement
A slip ring arrangement is simple to produce for contactless data transmission for high-frequency data signals, wherein two optical components are provided which are rotatable relative to one another about a common axis of rotation. The first optical component has a plurality of optical fibers which are disposed along at least one circular arc segment having a radius on a first end face. For this purpose the fibers are guided in a first carrier which has a coupling surface to which a first planar optical waveguide chip configured as a combiner is coupled.
US09684130B2 Fiber optic connector with polarity change
A fiber optic connector includes a boot receiving an optical fiber; a connector body for receiving the optical fiber and terminating the optical fiber; and a latch coupled to the connector body, the latch for engaging an adapter for receiving the fiber optic connector, the latch repositionable relative to the connector body to enable polarity change of the fiber optic connector without changing a relative position of the connector body and the optical fiber.
US09684128B2 Method and system for coupling optical signals into silicon optoelectronics chips
A method and system for coupling optical signals into silicon optoelectronic chips are disclosed and may include coupling one or more optical signals into a back surface of a CMOS photonic chip comprising photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. The devices may be integrated in a front surface of the chip and one or more optical couplers may receive the optical signals in the front surface of the chip. The optical signals may be coupled into the back surface of the chip via one or more optical fibers and/or optical source assemblies. The optical signals may be coupled to the grating couplers via a light path etched in the chip, which may be refilled with silicon dioxide. The chip may be flip-chip bonded to a packaging substrate. Optical signals may be reflected back to the grating couplers via metal reflectors, which may be integrated in dielectric layers on the chip.
US09684125B2 Transport of polarized laser-radiation using a hollow-core fiber
Plane-polarized laser-radiation from a laser-source is converted to circularly polarized radiation by a quarter-wave plate. The circularly polarized radiation is input into a hollow-core fiber for transport to a point of use. The transported radiation is converted back to plane-polarized radiation by another quarter-wave plate between the fiber and the point of use.
US09684113B2 Light guide plate, and backlight unit and display device including the same
The present invention relates to a light guide plate, and a backlight unit and display device including the same. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light guide plate, including: a light output surface configured to output light toward the outside; a reflective surface positioned at the opposite side of the light output surface; a light incident surface provided on at least one side surface among the side surfaces connecting the light output surface to the reflective surface to receive light irradiated from a light source; and a reflective pattern having a quadrilateral shape when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the reflective surface, and having a concave portion recessed toward an inner portion of the reflective surface and an embossed portion protruding from an edge of the concave portion toward an outer portion of the reflective surface.
US09684095B2 Hydrophilized carbosiloxane vinylic monomers
The invention provides a hydrophilized carbosiloxane vinylic monomer which comprises (1) a poly(carbosiloxane) segment, (2) one sole ethylenically unsaturated group, and (3) at least one terminal or pendant group which is a hydrophilic group or hydrophilic polymer chain. The present invention is also related to a polymer, an actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymer, a silicone hydrogel polymeric material, or a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises monomeric units derived from a hydrophilized carbosiloxane vinylic monomer of the invention.
US09684078B2 Method for optically scanning and measuring an environment
A method, system and computer program product are provided for displaying three-dimensional measurement points on a two-dimensional plane of a display screen having a plurality of pixels. The method includes projecting the measurement points onto the plane. Each of the measurement points is assigned to one of the pixels. A depth value is assigned to each of the pixels. A first pixel is selected having a first measurement point and a first depth value. A first side is searched for a second pixel having a second measurement point and a second depth value. A second side is searched for a third pixel having a third measurement point and a third depth value. It is determined whether the second and third measurement points are on a same plane. The first depth value of the first pixel is changed when the second and third measurement points are on the same plane.
US09684077B2 Frequency quadrupled laser using thulium-doped fiber amplifier and method
An apparatus, method and associated fiber-laser architectures for high-power pulsed operation and pumping wavelength-conversion devices. Some embodiments generate blue laser light by frequency quadrupling infrared (IR) light from Tm-doped gain fiber using non-linear wavelength conversion. Some embodiments use a fiber MOPA configuration to amplify a seed signal from a semiconductor laser or ring fiber laser. Some embodiments use the frequency-quadrupled blue light for underwater communications, imaging, and/or object and anomaly detection. Some embodiments amplitude modulate the IR seed signal to encode communication data sent to or from a submarine once the modulated light has its wavelength quartered. Other embodiments transmit blue-light pulses in a scanned pattern and detect scattered light to measure distances to objects in a raster-scanned underwater volume, which in turn are used to generate a data structure representing a three-dimensional rendition of the underwater scene being imaged for viewing by a person or for other software analysis.
US09684076B1 Frequency multiplexed ranging
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for measuring and mapping ranges, reflectivities, and/or velocities of multiple locations on an object by illuminating the locations with uniquely frequency-encoded sensing beams, which may be generated using one or more acousto-optic devices. A detector is used to sense the interference of the sensing beams reflected from the object and one or more reference beams, which may be co-propagating with the sensing beams to/from the object and/or may be provided via a separate reference path. A processor is used to estimate lateral coordinates, ranges, reflectivities, and/or velocities of the illuminated locations based on the frequencies, phases, amplitudes, and Doppler shifts, respectively, of the corresponding spectral components of the temporal beat signal produced by the detector in response to the interference of the sensing and reference beams. The processor may also disambiguate the range at each measured location using a pair of closely-spaced spectral components.
US09684072B2 Range determination apparatus and method
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus (100) for detecting an erroneous measurement of a range of a target object 20 from a subject object 5. A transmitter transmits a signal (111S) having a first frequency from the subject object (5) to the target object (20). A detector (113) detects a portion of the signal (113S) reflected from the target object (20) back to the subject object (5); a controller is configured to determine the range (202) of the target object (20) from the subject object (5) by reference to a time of flight of the portion of the signal (111S), (113S) from the transmitter (111) to the detector (113); determine the rate of change of the range (203) by reference to a difference between the first frequency and an apparent frequency of the reflected portion of the signal (113S) detected by the detector; and provide an indication (206) that an erroneous measurement of range has been made if the range (202) increases while the rate of change of range (203) is negative.
US09684068B2 Methods for detecting sensor degradation in distance sensors
A method for detecting a sensor degradation in distance sensors, having the following: a) sending out at least one transmit pulse; b) acquisition of a sensor signal at least in a decay interval; and c) determination of a degree of degradation based on a frequency response of the acquired sensor signal. Also described is a computer program product, a distance sensor unit, and a driver assistance system for carrying out such methods.
US09684065B2 Method and device for detecting structures in an object under investigation
A method for detecting structures (41, 42) such as edges and material transitions on and/or in an object (40) under investigation has an antenna arrangement which transmits microwave signals and registers the signals reflected from the object (40) under investigation in magnitude and phase. A three-dimensional image of the object (40) under investigation is reconstructed at sampling points of the object under investigation from the latter. It operates with the method steps: determination of a spatial position of a structure (41, 42) from the magnitude of the reflected signal, determination of the sign of the reflection coefficient of the reflected signal at the spatial position of the structure (41, 42), and identification of structures (41, 42) on the basis of the spatial arrangement of the sign of the reflection coefficient.
US09684058B2 Method of estimating the position of a user device using radio beacons and radio beacons adapted to facilitate the methods of the invention
Disclosed is the estimation of the position of a user device (18) using radio beacons (B1-B4) which are operable at a plurality of transmit power levels. The radio beacons (B1-B4) may transmit their position and current transmit power level. Estimates of distance between a user device and a radio beacon can take into account both received signal strength and the current transmit power level of the radio beacon. The position of the user device (18) can be estimated taking into account whether a radio beacon (B1-B4)) can be detected at a given transmit power level. The transmit power level of the radio beacon may vary according to a cycle. The transmit power level of the radio beacon may be changed to facilitate positioning, for example in response to a signal from a user device. A radio beacon (B1-B4) changes transmit power level in a cycle. The radio beacon can reduce transmit power level responsive to a signal. The radio beacon (B1-B4) may be compatible with Bluetooth short range wireless connectivity standard core specification version 4.0.
US09684053B2 Wafer for testing and a test system
To test a probe card with an examination apparatus that tests a device under test, provided is a test system that tests a device under test and includes a test section that includes a plurality of test units that input or output a signal; a probe card that includes a plurality of probe terminals connected to a terminal of the device under test, and transmits signals between the device under test and the test section; and a wafer for testing that is connected to the probe card, instead of the device under test, when testing the probe card, and includes a connection wire that electrically connects two of the probe terminals to each other. The test section measures output of at least one of two test units connected to the two probe terminals, and judges pass/fail of the two probe terminals.
US09684047B2 Method and system for rapid MRI acquisition using tailored signal excitation modules (RATE)
A system and method for rapid acquisition of MRI data at multiple points in time in an. MRI scan using tailored excitation modules, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining tailored signal excitation modules by using RF excitation pulses in combination with one or more magnetic field gradients; acquiring an aliased k-space dataset at a point in time using a pulse sequence that employs said obtained tailored signal excitation modules, which tag and overlap distinct k-space points; repeating steps (a) and (b) for acquiring aliased k-space datasets at multiple time points in a scan while tagging the overlapped, k-space points as a function of time to obtain an accelerated k-t dataset; undoing k-space aliasing m the acquired k-space datasets by Fourier transforming them along the time axis followed by a filtering process to separate the overlapped points; and performing a Fourier transformation along one or more axes, of the un-aliased k-space datasets to generate image frames for the different time points at which data was acquired.
US09684045B2 Imaging the teeth by means of magnetic resonance technology with non-unique gradients
A gradient system according to the invention generates three superimposed gradient fields of which at least one of the three gradient fields is not unique in space (i.e. not bijective) and at least one of the three gradient has areas of the same field strength, which extend in parallel or orthogonally to a approximately U-shaped center plane of the teeth of one jaw of a patient.
US09684043B2 Mounting for a body coil of a magnetic resonance device
A mounting device for a body coil of a magnetic resonance device is provided. The mounting device includes a suspension device that has at least one suspension element. The at least one suspension element is mechanically connectable to a counterpart piece of the body coil. The suspension device is configured for suspension and coarse adjustment of the body coil in the magnetic resonance device during an adjustment process of the body coil. The mounting device also includes an adjustment device that has an adjuster for changing a position of the body coil, and adjustment indicators for displaying the position of the body coil. The adjustment device is provided for fine adjustment of the body coil during the adjustment process. The mounting device includes an attachment device differing from the suspension device. The attachment device includes at least one attachment element for mechanical interaction with the body coil.
US09684040B2 Magnetic field probe and probe head thereof
A magnetic field probe and a probe head thereof are disclosed herein. The probe head includes an inner metal layer, a shielding unit, and a filtering unit. The inner metal layer receives a magnetic field to be measured. The shielding unit, including a first shielding metal layer and a second shielding metal layer, shields the inner metal layer. The first and the second shielding metal layer are respectively stacked above and below the inner metal layer. The filtering unit, including a first filtering metal layer and a second filtering metal layer, filters out an electric field interfering with the inner metal layer. The first filtering metal layer is stacked between the first shielding metal layer and the inner metal layer. The second filtering metal layer is stacked between the second shielding metal layer and the inner metal layer.
US09684039B2 Fluxgate magnetic sensor readout apparatus
Compact, low power fluxgate magnetic sensor readout circuits and apparatus are presented in which demodulator or rectifier circuit to modulates a sense signal from the fluxgate sense coil, and the demodulated signal is provided to an amplifier circuit with a transconductance or other amplifier and one or more feedback capacitors connected between the amplifier input and amplifier output to integrate the amplifier output current and provide a voltage output signal indicating the magnetic field sensed by the fluxgate sensor.
US09684035B1 Magnetic tunnel junction loaded ring oscillators for MRAM characterization
Circuits are provided for modeling and characterizing the switching of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) elements. More specifically, ring oscillators loaded with MTJ elements are used to characterize magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element performance. The circuits can include a ring oscillator (RO) having an odd number of inverters connected in series with a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element inserted between each inverter. In some embodiments, the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements are arranged to act as a load to the inverters. The circuits optionally include one or more of a time to amplitude converter, a pulse distribution analyzer and/or PFET(s) and NFET(s). Methods of characterizing the switching characteristics of MTJ elements are also provided herein. Such MTJ elements can be suitable for use in magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) devices. Methods of making the ring oscillator are further provided herein.
US09684031B2 Contact probe and semiconductor element socket provided with same
The invention provides a contact probe and a semiconductor element socket provided with the same, the contact probe capable of smooth inspection of a device while securing good conductivity. A contact probe has an upper plunger having a contact stem portion, a lower plunger having an insertion hole with which the contact stem portion is capable of coming into contact, and a coil spring connected to the upper plunger and the lower plunger in such a way as to cover the contact stem portion. The coil spring is configured by helically winding a wiring, and includes a guide portion wound tight in the axial direction of the coil spring by the wire, the guide portion located on the lower plunger side of the coil spring and also includes the upper plunger side portion than an upper end portion of the insertion hole.
US09684030B2 Drum-type IC burn-in and test equipment
Disclosed is drum-type IC burn-in and test equipment including burn-in equipment. The burn-in equipment includes therein a first working platform, a second working platform, a drum-type burn-in device, and a parts pickup device. The first working platform includes a first parts disposition section and a parts feeding device. The second working platform includes a parts transferring device. The drum-type burn-in device is rotatably mounted between the first and second working platforms and includes multiple planar sections circumferentially mounted thereto with each planar section having at least one burner mounted thereon. This arrangement allows a parts feeding device to sequentially dispose unburned ICs and a parts transferring device to sequentially pick up completely-burned ICs. As such, the drum-type burn-in device helps increase the number of ICs disposed and also helps improve the throughput and increase the manufacturing speed.
US09684029B2 Transmission line pulse and very fast transmission line pulse reflection control
An approach for transmission line pulse and very fast transmission line pulse reflection control is provided. The approach includes using a power splitter to split an incident pulse into two identical pulses with one going to a device under test (DUT) through a delivery cable and the other going down an open ended delay cable. The structure of the power splitter, along with having the delivery cable and the open ended delay cable with the same signal propagation time and pulse transmission characteristics enable the canceling of pulse reflections from the DUT.
US09684017B2 Current measurement device and method using a Rogowski type current transducer
A current measurement device for measuring a current through a primary conductor is provided. The current measurement device comprises a current transducer of the Rogowski type, the current transducer comprising a conductor winding connected to a pair of transducer terminals and adapted to induce there between a measurement voltage indicative of a current through the primary conductor; a pair of calibration terminals adapted for providing a calibration current to a calibration current path conforming to the primary conductor, so that the calibration current induces a calibration response voltage component between the pair of transducer terminals; and a control circuit. The control circuit comprises a calibration current generator for generating the calibration current and connected to the pair of calibration terminals for providing the calibration current via the pair of calibration terminals to the calibration current path, and a voltage analyzer connected to the pair of transducer terminals for receiving the calibration response voltage component induced between the pair of transducer terminals.
US09684012B2 Damped fiber optic accelerometers, sensors, and sensor assemblies, and methods of assembling the same
A fiber optic sensor is provided. The fiber optic sensor includes: a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest; a moveable portion; a spring member positioned at least partially between the fixed portion and the moveable portion; an optical fiber wound in contact with the fixed portion and the moveable portion such that the optical fiber spans at least a portion of the spring; and an elastomeric material provided in contact with at least one of the fixed portion, the moveable portion, the spring member, the body of interest, and the optical fiber.
US09684011B2 Method for detecting turbulence conditions, using the interaction of a laser beam with a thin photochromic film, and device for implementing said method
A method for assessing turbulence parameters of a medium comprises the following steps: the illumination, by a laser beam being propagated in said medium, of a film of photochromic organic material that can comprise molecules of azobenzene, or of spyropyrane, or of stilbene, or of coumarin, or of fulgide, said illumination creating a surface grating in said film comprising scratches, the deformations of which are a function of the turbulence parameters; a step of acquisition of images comprising individual areas of structures linked to said scratches, more or less reduced and representative of the turbulence parameters of said medium; a step of processing of said images that makes it possible to assess the turbulence parameters of said medium. A device is also provided.
US09684007B2 Storage and supply for vessel holders
An automated system and method for processing vessels containing biological samples are presented. The system comprises vessel holders, a transport medium for transporting the vessel holders between the components of the system, a work cell for processing, a storage module for empty vessel holders, wherein the storage module is connected to the transport medium, a robotic manipulator for engaging and/or disengaging the vessels with empty vessel holders, an empty vessel holder transfer unit for introducing empty vessel holders into or retrieving them from the storage module, and an empty vessel holder detection unit, including an empty vessel holder detector for discriminating between filled and empty vessel holders as well as a transfer initiator configured to initiate the introduction or re-introduction of an empty vessel holder detected in or on the transport medium into the storage module by the empty vessel holder transfer unit.
US09684003B2 Detection device, detection kit, and detection method
Disclosed is a detection method, including steps of: providing an elongated carrier with a plurality of recognition substances fixed thereon; bringing a first end of the elongated carrier in contact with a liquid sample to permit the liquid sample to move towards an opposite second end along the elongated carrier, therewith a plurality of coloring elements in the liquid sample forming a colored band on the elongated carrier; and determining whether the liquid sample contains analytes based on the length of the colored band. Accordingly, the analytes can be detected by recognizing the agglutination based on the length of the colored band. Additionally, the present invention also provides a detection device and a detection kit for the aforementioned detection process.
US09683999B2 Diagnostic blood test for sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by granulomatous inflammation in affected organs. We have developed a blood test using mycobacterial catalase-peroxidase that has a high positive predictive value for confirming a diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
US09683998B2 Tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A specific antibodies and compositions and uses thereof
The present invention provides antibodies, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically bind to tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (TL1A). The invention further provides a method of obtaining such antibodies and nucleic acids encoding the same. The invention further relates to compositions and therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies for the treatment and/or prevention of TL1A mediated diseases, disorders or conditions.
US09683989B2 Optically sensitive cell network
A neural network is disclosed. The neural network comprises a plurality of optogenetically modified neural cells being three-dimensionally distributed in a hydrogel medium and being disconnected from any solid support having a shear modulus above 1 GPa.
US09683985B2 Methods for assessing and identifying or evolving conditionally active therapeutic proteins
Methods for evolving or selecting or producing therapeutic proteins that exhibit reduced adverse side-effects and the resulting proteins are provided. For example, provided herein is an in vitro assay to identify conditionally active therapeutic proteins that exhibit better activity within one in vivo environment compared to another in vivo environment. The methods include the steps of a) testing the activity of a protein under conditions in which normal or increased activity is desired; b) testing the activity of the protein under conditions in which reduced activity compared to normal is desired; and c) comparing the activity in a) with b) and selecting/identifying a protein that has greater activity in a) compared to b). The selected/identified protein is a conditionally active protein.
US09683979B1 Method for expressing protein quality of flour
A method for forming a grain composition includes mixing a first grain powder composition with water using a mixing apparatus to form a mixture. Mechanical energy applied to the mixture is calculated from the measured torque. The protein quality is expressed as the measured torque as a function of mechanical energy and is compared to a standard. If the protein quality of the first grain powder composition does not meet the standard, a second grain power composition is formed having a different weight percent of the first source of grain powder than the first grain powder composition.
US09683978B2 Systems and methods for detecting water/product interfaces during food processing
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for manufacturing food products. In a general embodiment, systems for manufacturing a food product include at least one heat exchanger, at least one food product tank, at least one conduit downstream of the food product tank for flow of the food product, and a flow detection device coupled to an exterior of the conduit. The flow detection device includes a processor and a computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform a spread spectrum analysis of the flow of the food product through the conduit. Methods for manufacturing food products are also provided.
US09683975B2 Volumetric flow regulation in multi-dimensional liquid analysis systems
A multi-dimensional liquid analysis system includes a first dimension system and a second dimension system, wherein outflow from the first dimension system is separated at a flow splitter under controlled conditions. The flow splitter separates the first dimension outflow into first and second split outlet flows, with one of the split outlet flows being metered to a designated flow rate with a flow metering device disposed downstream from the flow splitter. The flow metering device selectively closes or opens an outlet flow path to define a volumetric flow rate along that outlet flow path, so that the other split outlet flow is correspondingly controlled.
US09683972B2 Method and device for examining a sheet-shaped or card-shaped valuable document having a security feature having one or more cavities
A method is for examining a sheet-shaped or card-shaped value document with a security feature having one or more cavities configured in the value document. The width of the cavity or cavities is in at least one respectively specified direction exceeding 10 μm. Transmission values are established in a locally resolved manner for the transmission of ultrasound in a specified frequency range. In employing the transmission values, it is checked whether a specified number of transmission values is greater than a specified transmission threshold value.
US09683969B2 Method of characterizing an object including, at least locally, a plane of symmetry
A method of characterizing an object that includes, at least locally, a plane of symmetry, the method including performing at least one observation of ultrasound transmitted through the object, each observation being performed on an axis perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, each observation resulting from an emission of ultrasound generated along a respective one of the axes and meeting the object along the axis at an angle of incidence other than normal, the ultrasound meeting the object to follow a path that is symmetrical relative to the plane of symmetry.
US09683964B2 Trapping ion mobility spectrometer with parallel accumulation
The invention relates to the operation of trapping ion mobility spectrometers based on pushing ions by a gas flow against a counter-acting electric DC field barrier, preferably in combination with a mass analyzer as ion detector. The invention provides an additional RF ion trap upstream of the trapping ion mobility spectrometer, wherein the RF ion trap is operated as an accumulation unit in parallel with the trapping ion mobility spectrometer such that a first group of ions can be analyzed in the trapping ion mobility spectrometer while a second group of ions from an ion source are simultaneously collected in accumulation unit.
US09683956B2 Method of manufacturing nano gap sensor using residual stress and nano gap sensor manufactured thereby
Provided are a method of manufacturing a nano gap sensor and a nano gap sensor manufactured by the method. According to the method of manufacturing the nano gap sensor, fine cracks are formed in a substrate including a silicon wafer, etc. in order to form the nano gap with simplified processes and low manufacturing costs, and after that, a metal catalyst layer is stacked on the nano gap to manufacture a sensor capable of selectively detecting a certain material or a gas such as hydrogen. In particular, when palladium or a palladium alloy is used as the metal catalyst layer, highly sensitive hydrogen sensors capable of responding various concentrations of hydrogen may be produced in large quantities.
US09683953B2 XRF analyzer communication
An x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis system 10 can include an XRF analyzer 20 which can communicate wirelessly with other devices. The system 10 can also include remote-processor software configured to be loaded onto a handheld electronic device 23 and/or remote-computer software configured to be loaded onto a remote-computer 28. The XRF analyzer 20 can include a microphone 18 and/or an output device 31 to allow a user 19 to communicate conveniently with the XRF analyzer 20.
US09683948B2 Systems and methods for iterative multi-material correction of image data
Systems and methods for iterative multi-material correction are provided. A system includes an imager that acquires projection data of an object. A reconstructor reconstructs the acquired projection data into a reconstructed image, utilizes the reconstructed image to perform a multi-material correction on the acquired projection data to generate a multi-material corrected reconstructed image, and utilizes the multi-material corrected reconstructed image to perform one or more iterations of the multi-material correction on the projection data to generate an iteratively corrected multi-material corrected image.
US09683945B2 Apparatus and method for inspecting a flexible glass ribbon
An apparatus (10) is provided for inspecting a flexible glass ribbon. In one example, the apparatus includes at least one storage roll (16) for storing a length of the flexible glass ribbon (12). In another example, the apparatus further includes an inspection device (50). In yet another example, the inspection device can inspect a characteristic of an unrolled portion (28) of the flexible glass ribbon (12) spanning along a travel path (14) of the flexible glass ribbon.
US09683934B2 Terahertz spectroscopy for predicting stability of amorphous drugs
A method for characterizing an amorphous material involves an evaluation of a rate of change with temperature of an interaction of the amorphous material with electromagnetic (EM) radiation. The interaction is at an energy of between 6.6×10−24 J and 6.6×10−21 J, which corresponds to EM radiation in the terahertz band, between 10 GHz and 10 THz. The rate of change of the interaction is evaluated in a temperature range below a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the amorphous material. The rate of change can then be compared with a predetermined value in order to characterize the amorphorphous material. An apparatus is provided to carry out the method, and the method can produce amorphous materials having desired properties, such as stability against crystallization.
US09683917B2 Method of determining sidewall aggression performance parameters
A powered massaging assembly includes a handle and a massage head each having an enclosure that presents a chamber. The massage head includes a drive shaft that extends into and out of the chamber. The massage head also includes a driven massage element drivingly attached to the drive shaft and mounted outside the chamber to manipulate tissue. The enclosures include connectors rotatably attached to each other to provide a swivel joint that rotatably interconnects the handle and head.
US09683916B2 Rough road simulation
A system includes a platform for receiving a test device programmed to output a data signal. A shaft is spaced from the platform. A plurality of impact objects are disposed on the shaft and are configured to strike the platform. A motor is coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft. A processor is programmed to identify an anomaly in the data signal as a result of the plurality of impact objects striking the platform.
US09683915B2 Inspection device
Provided is an inspection device, including: pressurizing means for pressurizing an outer member of a rolling bearing toward an inner member of the rolling bearing, the rolling bearing including the outer member and the inner member rotatable relative to each other through intermediation of balls; rotary drive means for rotating the inner member about an axial center of the inner member under a state in which the outer member is pressurized toward the inner member; detecting means for detecting vibration generated along with the rotation of the inner member so that whether or not the rolling bearing is an accepted product is determined based on values obtained through the detection; and vibration control means to be interposed between the outer member and the pressurizing means, the vibration control means including a holding portion configured to hold the detecting means in a fixed manner.
US09683908B2 Method and system for monitoring gas pressure for reference cavity of capacitance diaphragm gauge
A system and method detect the presence of an unacceptable quantity of gas molecules in the reference vacuum cavity of a capacitance diaphragm gauge (CDG). An independent pressure transducer has an active portion exposed to the reference vacuum cavity. The transducer includes a ring anode, a cylindrical inner wall surface that forms at least one cathode, and a magnet positioned with respect to the ring anode such that the magnetic flux of the magnet is generally aligned with the central axis of the ring anode. A high voltage source applies a voltage between the ring anode and the cathode. A current sensor senses a magnitude of any current flowing between the ring anode and the cathode via ionized gas molecules. A monitoring unit monitors the magnitude of the current sensed by the current sensor and activates an alarm when the magnitude of the current exceeds an acceptable magnitude.
US09683901B2 Acoustic measurement system incorporating a temperature controlled waveguide
For a gas turbine engine (10), a method and apparatus for determining temperature of combustion gas in a flow path (17) of the engine. In one embodiment a waveguide (30) includes a cavity (36) with a first waveguide end (32) including a barrier layer (58) which may be a membrane. With the first end positioned to inject an acoustic signal into the flow path, the barrier layer (58) isolates the cavity from combustion gas. Acoustic instrumentation positioned along the surface (38i) of a wall (38) of the waveguide provides generation and propagation of acoustic signals into the flow path for detection and measurement after reflection back into the cavity. The wall may include sections of two different materials, one material having a higher melting temperature than the other, or one material having greater electrically isolating properties than the other section.
US09683886B2 Photoelectric converting module
A photoelectric converting module includes a circuit board, at least one light emitting/receiving unit and an optical coupler both mounted on the circuit board. Each light emitting/receiving unit includes a light emitter and a light receiver, the light emitter and the light receiver each include at least one positioning projection. The optical coupler includes positioning parts to engage with the positioning projections for aligning the optical coupler with the light emitting/receiving unit precisely.
US09683884B2 Selective audio/sound aspects
Certain aspects relate to providing an at least one audio source to at least one user. Certain aspects relate to selectively modifying an at least one first sound source to be provided to the at least one user, wherein the at least one first sound source is combined with an at least one second sound source, and wherein the selectively modifying is performed relative to the at least one audio source based at least in part on at least some specific information of the at least one first sound source. Other aspects relate to selectively modifying the at least one first sound source to be provided to the at least one user relative to the at least one second sound source based at least in part on at least some specific information of the at least one first sound source.
US09683883B2 Weighing module for measuring wheel contact forces
The present invention relates to a weighing module for measuring wheel contact forces of rail-bound vehicles, comprising a measuring rail and a number of strain gauges, wherein the strain gauges are applied directly on the measuring rail. The measuring rail comprises a load introduction region, made of at least one load introduction part, and at least two deformation bodies, which are connected fixedly in each case to a load output plate and, via a hinge, to the load introduction region. The strain gauges are arranged on the deformation bodies and capture the shear strain acting between the hinges and load output plates.
US09683882B2 Microwave module
A microwave module 1 for a fill level measuring device 2 operating with the runtime method, has a chip for generating and/or receiving microwave signals and a carrier element. To provide an advantageous as possible microwave module, the chip is located in a cavity 9 of the carrier element 8.
US09683876B2 Differential-pressure measuring assembly having effective-pressure lines and method for detecting plugged effective-pressure lines
A differential-pressure measuring assembly comprising a differential-pressure measuring transducer for detecting the difference between the first media pressure and a second media pressure and for providing a differential-pressure measurement signal that depends on the difference between the first media pressure and the second media pressure; a first effective-pressure line, which is connected to a first pressure inlet of the differential-pressure measuring transducer in order to apply the first media pressure to the differential-pressure measuring transducer; a second effective-pressure line, which is connected to a second pressure inlet of the differential-pressure measuring transducer in order to apply the second media pressure to the differential-pressure measuring transducer; at least one temperature sensor for outputting a temperature signal that correlates with a temperature of the effective-pressure lines; and a processing unit for processing the differential-pressure measurement signal and the temperature signal; wherein the processing unit is designed to detect a significant correlation between a change in the temperature signal and the differential-pressure signal on the basis of the differential-pressure measurement signal and the temperature signal, and to assess the detection of a significant correlation as an indication of a plugged effective-pressure line.
US09683868B2 Sensor comprising a magnet and a Hall-effect probe
A sensor includes a Hall-effect probe fastened only by way of its connection pins and includes a sensing element, a magnet having a cavity having a base, and in which cavity the sensing element is housed, and a cylindrical hole having an axis and which extends from the base toward the interior of the magnet, the Hall-effect probe being capable of moving inside the cavity.
US09683865B2 In-use automatic calibration methodology for sensors in mobile devices
A method, system and computer readable medium for calibrating an accelerometer in a portable device is disclosed. The method, system and computer readable medium comprises receiving data from the accelerometer, and providing accelerometer samples from the data based upon one or more selection rules that adaptively selects data that satisfy certain criteria. The method system and computer readable medium also includes fitting the accelerometer samples to a mathematical mode. The method system and computer readable medium further includes providing a bias of the accelerometer based upon a center of the mathematical model.
US09683859B2 Method for providing navigation using wearable device and vehicle for carrying out the same
A method for providing navigation using a wearable device by a vehicle includes performing wireless connection with the wearable device, receiving monitoring information regarding a driver from the connected wearable device, and determining, after setting of a destination, a walking course and a vehicle traveling course to the set destination in consideration of the monitoring information. Navigation for the walking course is provided by the wearable device and navigation for the vehicle traveling course is provided by a head unit of the vehicle.
US09683852B2 Dispatching map matching tasks by a cluster server
There is disclosed a method, comprising: determining a road segment group set that corresponds to a current time period, and a correspondence relationship between each road segment group in the road segment group set and a computing node of the cluster server, wherein the road segment group is a group of road segments which are grouped according to the number of computing nodes of the cluster server and the dissimilarity between divided road segments in a road network; in response to receiving multiple GPS sampled data from a vehicle, generating a map matching request according to the multiple GPS sampled data; and in response to generating a map matching request and obtaining a road segment to which the latest location of the vehicle belongs, sending the map matching request to a computing node that corresponds to a road segment group to which the obtained road segment belongs.
US09683849B2 Vehicle navigation system with adaptive gyroscope bias compensation
Adaptive gyroscope bias compensation allows a vehicle navigation module to estimate position and velocity reliably during temperature changes.
US09683837B2 Optical measurement method and measurement system for determining 3D coordinates on a measurement object surface
A measurement object surface is illuminated with a pattern sequence of various patterns using a projector, which is recorded with a camera system, and the 3D coordinates for the measurement points are determined by evaluation of the image sequence. While the image sequence is being recorded translational and/or rotational accelerations of the projector, the camera system and/or the measurement object are measured at least at a measurement rate such that in each case a plurality of values for the accelerations are acquired. It is thus possible, on the basis of the measured accelerations, to take into account algorithmically, when determining the 3D coordinates, movements of the projector, the camera system and/or the measurement object, which movements occur during the illumination times of the respective individual images of the image sequence and provoke unsteadiness and/or motion blur in the respective individual images of the image sequence.
US09683836B2 Vehicle classification from laser scanners using fisher and profile signatures
Methods, systems and processor-readable media for vehicle classification. In general, one or more vehicles can be scanned utilizing a laser scanner to compile data indicative of an optical profile of the vehicle(s). The optical profile associated with the vehicle(s) is then pre-processed. Particular features are extracted from the optical profile following pre-processing of the optical profile. The vehicle(s) can be then classified based on the particular features extracted from the optical feature. A segmented laser profile is treated as an image and profile features that integrate the signal in one of the two directions of the image and Fisher vectors which aggregate statistics of local “patches” of the image are computed and utilized as part of the extraction and classification process.
US09683833B2 Surveying apparatus having a range camera
Embodiments described herein include a surveying apparatus for surveying a measurement scenery. The surveying apparatus may include a base defining a vertical axis; a support tiltable around the vertical axis; a telescope unit tiltable around the vertical axis and around a horizontal axis that is orthogonal to the vertical axis and comprises means for distance measurement; motor means for rotational driving of the support and the telescope unit; and angle determination means for detecting an orientation of the telescope unit with respect to the base. In some embodiments, the telescope unit comprises a first camera capable to take a visible image of the measurement scenery and/or means for capturing coordinates of 3D-points of the measurement scenery. In some embodiments, the surveying apparatus comprises a display capable to display at least a portion of the visible image taken by the first camera and/or at least a portion of the 3D-points.
US09683820B1 Aircraft, missile, projectile or underwater vehicle with reconfigurable control surfaces and method of reconfiguring
The present invention relates to an aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle with an improved control system and a method for increasing the maneuverability or stability of an aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for increasing the maneuverability or stability of an aircraft, missile, underwater vehicle or projectile through the use of removable control surfaces. The technical advantage of the removable control surface system (or “removable control surface”) over other systems is that the removable control surface system enables the aircraft, missile, underwater vehicle or projectile to have two or more design configurations, each configuration being tailored to the aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle's specific stability or maneuverability requirements during a specific portion of the flight.
US09683819B2 Arrowhead
A broadhead arrowhead having fully retractable blades wherein a plunger of the tip of the arrowhead causes the blades to shear a shear pin and deploy when the arrowhead strikes a target. In an alternative embodiment, the blades are retained in the arrowhead by a friction fit that is overcome to deploy the blades when the arrowhead strikes a target.
US09683812B2 Optic cover with releasably retained display
A cover for use with an optic device to hold and display shooting information. The cover may have resilient retention members that allow a display to be releasably attached and detached from the cover. The display may be made from a single substrate or multiple substrates in order to make the shooting information contained thereon highly visible in a variety of conditions and shooting preferences.
US09683807B2 Magnus effect cylindrical projectile and launcher
A toy projectile and launcher system. The projectile is tubular in shape and lightweight. The projectile has an exterior surface that is symmetrically disposed about an imaginary longitudinal axis. The launcher has a holding trough that receives and holds the tubular projectile. Within the launcher is a spring loaded element. The spring loaded element selectively moves between a cocked position and a released position. The spring loaded element contacts the projectile in the holding trough as the spring loaded element moves from its cocked position to its released position. Contact with the spring loaded element causes the tubular projectile to launch into flight in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. Simultaneously, contact with the spring loaded element imparts a spinning rotation to the projectile, wherein the projectile spins about its longitudinal axis in flight. The spinning creates a Magnus effect on the projectile.
US09683796B2 Systems for aiding the insertion of detachable firearm magazines and methods thereof
The present invention relates to systems and methods for aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in AK rifle variants. The magazine well attachment includes a well attachment body having a slit configured to slide over a trigger guard of a firearm during the assembly process. The attachment may include a front retainer for securing the magazine well attachment to a front portion of the magazine opening of the firearm. A magazine release latch shield may be added as a modification to the magazine well attachment.
US09683767B2 Cooling system and control method thereof
A cooling system and a control method thereof are provided. The cooling system may include a first compressor, a second compressor disposed downstream of the first compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger the performs heat exchange between refrigerant compressed in the first and/or second compressor and external air, an expansion device that decompresses the refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger, a cooling evaporator evaporating the refrigerant decompressed in the expansion device, a bypass tube that guides refrigerant compressed in the first compressor to the outdoor heat exchanger, bypassing the second compressor, and a valve device controlling the flow of refrigerant discharged from the first compressor so as to selectively introduce refrigerant into the second compressor.
US09683762B2 Heat exchanging device and heat pump
A heat exchange apparatus (300) includes a first heat exchanger (14), an ejector (11), a first extractor (12), a first pump (13), and a liquid path (15). The ejector (11) produces a merged refrigerant flow using a refrigerant vapor and a refrigerant liquid flowing from the first heat exchanger (14). The first extractor (12) receives the merged refrigerant flow from the ejector (11), and extracts the refrigerant liquid from the merged refrigerant flow. The first pump (13) is provided in the liquid path (15). The refrigerant liquid is pumped by the first pump (13) from the first extractor (12) to the ejector (11).
US09683760B2 Outdoor unit of air-conditioner, two-pipe air-conditioning system and three-pipe air-conditioning system having the same
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioner and two-pipe and three-pipe air-conditioning systems having the same are provided. The outdoor unit includes a compressor defining an outlet and an inlet; a first four-way valve defining a first valve communicated with the outlet, second and third ports communicated with the inlet; a second four-way valve defining second and third ports communicated with the inlet; an outdoor heat exchanger defining a first refrigerant valve Communicated with the fourth port of the first four-way valve; a first gas pipe defining a first end connected with the second and third ports of the first and second four-way valves and, the inlet; a second gas pipe defining a first end connected with the fourth port of the second four-way valve; a third gas pipe defining a first end connected with the outlet and a second end connected with the first port of the second four-way valve.
US09683756B2 Modular, fluid thermal transfer device
A modular thermal panel can include a heat exchanger having connected top and bottom plates with channels formed there between for receiving a heat exchange fluid. An architectural tile (e.g., a paver, stone, acoustic tile, or any other architectural element) can rest on the top of the modular thermal panel, while an insulator panel is positioned below the modular thermal panel. The heat exchanger can transfer heat between the architectural tile and the heat exchange fluid to either cool or heat the architectural panel. Additional implementations include heat transfer systems including such modular thermal panels, and methods of collecting and utilizing thermal energy using such modular thermal panels.
US09683735B2 System and device for supporting horizontal boiler tubes
A system for supporting horizontal boiler tubes comprises a support plate, a vertical stringer tube, and a shear lug. The shear lug attaches the support plate to the vertical stringer tube through a slot in the support plate. A plurality of supporting arms extend outwardly from the first and second sides perpendicular to a main body portion of the support plate. Each supporting arm includes a retaining lip extending upwardly from a distal end of the supporting arm and a rounded recess, the rounded recess and retaining lip defining a cradle within which a horizontal boiler tube may rest.
US09683733B2 Method for operating a steam generator
A method for operating a steam generator comprising a combustion chamber having a plurality of evaporator heating surfaces which are connected in parallel on the flow medium side is provided. An object is to provide a steam generator which has a particularly long service life and which is particularly reliable. For this purpose, a flow medium is introduced into an inlet of a first evaporator heating surface at a temperature which is lower than the temperature of the flow medium introduced into the inlet of a second evaporator heating surface.
US09683729B2 Battery-conserving flashlight and method thereof
A battery-conserving flashlight and method thereof are provided. The flashlight includes a body having a first end and a second end, the first end including an illumination source and the second end including an opening for accessing an interior of the body; at least one battery disposed in the body via the opening in the second end, the at least one battery coupled to and configured for powering the illumination source; and a controller disposed in the body configured to determine if the body is in motion, wherein if the body is not in motion for a predetermined period of time, the controller decouples the at least one battery from the illumination source to conserve energy in the at least one battery. Optionally, the flashlight may include a visual or audible indicator to alert a user that the flashlight will shutdown.
US09683719B2 Luminous flux control member, light-emitting device, surface light source device, and display device
This luminous flux control member has: an incidence surface through which light emitted from a light-emitting element enters; an emission surface through which the light entering from the incidence surface is emitted to the outside; and multiple ridges that are formed on the back side so as to surround the central axis (CA) and that have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. Each of the multiple ridges has a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a ridge line which is the line of intersection of the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface. An imaginary line containing the ridge lines intersects the central axis (CA) at a position closer to the front side than the ridge lines.
US09683718B2 Light duct elbow for ducted illumination
A light duct elbow having two light conduits capable of transporting light along two different propagation directions. A light diverter is located between the light conduits and has a reflector for directing light along the light conduits. In the light duct elbow, a light ray propagating within a collimation angle in the first light conduit that intersects the reflector is diverted to a second light ray propagating within the collimation angle in the second light conduit.
US09683714B1 Book lamp with flexible diffuser shade
Disclosed book light embodiments 100 may include the construction of a flexible diffuser shade 200, flexible back binding system 300 contained and attached to a first back cover 400 and a second back cover 410. A book light may take the form of a closed book when not in use. When a light source is desired a book light may expand to open to any angle, all the way open to 360 degrees and expose a folded flexible diffuser shade 200. The first and second back covers may be opened in any position to accommodate a desired spread of the flexible diffuser shade. Magnets in the first and second back covers help to retain the back covers in a desired position and to mate or chain other book lights together.
US09683707B2 Ultraclean autosampler with syringe delivery for mass spectrometry
A system can include a valve assembly including a first valve and a second valve in fluid communication with the first valve. The valve assembly can be configured to deliver one or more of a sample, a chemical (e.g., an acid, a base, an organic chemical, etc.), and a standard via flow of a working fluid facilitated by one or more syringe pumps. Further, the one or more of the sample, the chemical, and the standard can maintain a physical separation from the one or more syringe pumps during delivery of the one or more of the sample, the chemical, and the standard.
US09683704B2 Heating and cooling system for an on-board gas adsorbent storage vessel
In one aspect, a system for controlling the temperature within a gas adsorbent storage vessel of a vehicle may include an air conditioning system forming a continuous flow loop of heat exchange fluid that is cycled between a heated flow and a cooled flow. The system may also include at least one fluid by-pass line extending at least partially within the gas adsorbent storage vessel. The fluid by-pass line(s) may be configured to receive a by-pass flow including at least a portion of the heated flow or the cooled flow of the heat exchange fluid at one or more input locations and expel the by-pass flow back into the continuous flow loop at one or more output locations, wherein the by-pass flow is directed through the gas adsorbent storage vessel via the by-pass line(s) so as to adjust an internal temperature within the gas adsorbent storage vessel.
US09683703B2 Method of storing and transporting light gases
A method and system of storing and transporting gases comprising mixing the gases with liquid natural gas to form a mixture. The mixture is a liquid-liquid mixture or slurry, and is stored in vessel configured for maintaining the mixture at a first location. The mixture is transported to a second location for storage in vessel for maintaining the mixture. The mixture is removed from the second location storage vessel for separation and use in additional processes.
US09683698B2 High pressure tank
The high pressure tank comprises a tank main body including a liner made of a resin and a mouthpiece made of a non-resin material and mounted to an open end of the liner; and a reinforcement layer provided to cover the entire tank main body and have pressure resistance. The liner includes a first contact surface arranged approximately perpendicular to a central axis of the liner to come into contact with the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece includes a second contact surface arranged to come into contact with the first contact surface of the liner. One of the first contact surface and the second contact surface includes projections, and the other includes recesses in which the projections being fitted. The second contact surface is formed in an approximately circular shape.
US09683693B2 Self-opening supporting device
A self-opening supporting device for a display is provided. The self-opening supporting device comprises a securing element, a first moving element, a stand and an elastic element. The securing element is formed with a first slide extending along an inclined direction. When an external force is applied to the first moving element, the first moving element uses a first sliding block to slide along the first slide so as to drive the stand to swing out from the display. When the stand is swung out exceeding an angle, the elastic element is actuated.
US09683689B2 Flange fixing structure
A flange fixing structure is provided that fixes flange parts respectively provided to two pipe conduits by means of a fixture in a butting manner via a gasket. In this flange fixing structure, when an effective length of the fixture is denoted by L0, a linear expansion coefficient of the fixture is denoted by α0, thicknesses of n (where n is an integer of 1 or more) members held by the fixture are respectively denoted by t1 to tn, and linear expansion coefficients of the n members are respectively denoted by α1 to αn, a product L0α0 of the effective length L0 of the fixture and the linear expansion coefficient α0 of the fixture is substantially equal to a sum Σtiαi (i=1 to n) of products of the respective thicknesses t1 to tn and the respective linear expansion coefficients α1 to αn.
US09683687B2 Spherical exhaust pipe joint
A spherical exhaust pipe joint 1 includes an outer case 6, an inner case 8, a seal body 13 facing an inner peripheral surface 9 of the outer case 6 and an outer peripheral surface 11 of the inner case 8, a seal body 16 facing the inner peripheral surface 9 of the outer case 6 and the outer peripheral surface 11 of the inner case 8, and a wave spring 17 which is disposed between the outer case 6 and the inner case 8 to resiliently urge the seal bodies 13 and 16 in an axial direction toward one of the outer case 6 and the inner case 8.
US09683676B2 Valve with proof of closure
A valve with proof of closure includes a valve body with a first port and a second port separated by a valve member that is biased toward a closed position. A piston is mounted within a pressure chamber with a pressure fluid port for connecting to a source of pressurized fluid. Piston is biased toward a retracted position and is moved to an extended position in response to pressurized fluid entering through pressurized fluid port. A control member is attached to valve member and is engaged by piston as it is moved a first distance from retracted position toward extended position. A valve position indicator with a closed state and as open state is biased toward the closed state and is actuated by piston as piston moves a second distance from retracted position toward extended position to move valve position indicator from closed state toward open state.
US09683674B2 Regulating device
A regulating device may include a housing that defines an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, with a flow restriction seat between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. A flow restriction valve is movable relative to the flow restriction seat to adjust the flow between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber of the regulating device. A servo valve having a servo chamber may be used to adjust the position of the flow restriction valve. The servo chamber may be fluidly coupled to the inlet chamber though a fixed flow restriction and to the outlet chamber though an adjustable flow restriction. A stepper motor may be used to adjust the servo valve to adjust the adjustable flow restriction between the servo chamber and the outlet chamber. This causes a change of the servo pressure, which moves the flow restriction valve and adjusts the flow of the regulating device.
US09683663B2 Electroactive actuators, systems equipped therewith, and methods of use and manufacture
Actuators and methods utilizing electrical properties of polymer materials. The actuators have a multilayer structure that includes an electroactive polymer layer between and bonded to first and second electrodes so that the polymer layer has a thickness dimension therebetween. The multilayer structure is adapted so that application of an electric potential to the electrodes causes the electroactive polymer layer to expand in at least one dimension thereof transverse to the thickness dimension of the electroactive polymer layer. The actuators can be used in sealing elements to provide a resealing capability once a condition has occurred of a type that may precede a seal failure.
US09683660B2 Method of controlling a double clutch in a vehicle transmission, and clutch control system for controlling a double clutch
The present invention concerns a method of controlling a double clutch transmission (1) comprising two clutches (2a, 2b) one of which that is transmitting torque being the active clutch while the other one constituting the incoming clutch characterized by combining the incoming clutch preparation and the torque handover from the active clutch by over actuating the incoming clutch and shutting off the active clutch in a non proportional way, based on a feedback signal from the incoming clutch.
US09683658B2 Hybrid system
A hybrid system includes an engine, a speed change device, a differential device, a rotary machine, a first engagement device, a case, and a cover wall. The first engagement device is configured to shift the speed change device, and be actuated by hydraulic pressure. The first engagement device includes a first oil chamber. The rotary machine is arranged between the first engagement device and the engine. The case houses the rotary machine, the speed change device, the differential device, and the first engagement device, and is connected to the engine and has an opening on the engine side. The cover wall covers the opening, and operating oil is supplied to the first oil chamber via the cover wall.
US09683657B2 Biasing force adjustment device, hydraulic control valve having the same, and method of manufacturing biasing force adjustment device
A biasing force adjustment device includes: a cylindrical component having a first thread part; a reciprocate component accommodated in the cylindrical component; a biasing portion that biases the reciprocate component in a first direction; and a biasing force adjustment component that adjusts a biasing force of the biasing portion. The biasing force adjustment component has a second thread part engaged with the first thread part so as to control the position of the biasing force adjustment component relative to the cylindrical component, and a regulation part that regulates movement of the biasing force adjustment component relative to the cylindrical component by being deformed in a radial direction by external force applied in the first direction.
US09683632B2 Multistage gearbox for motor vehicles
The invention relates to a multistage gearbox for motor vehicles, having a plurality of forward gears and at least one reverse gear, consisting of a plurality of 3-shaft gearboxes and a plurality of shifting elements, with a driveshaft (W1), an output shaft (W2) and a plurality of gearbox shafts, differential shifts and sum shafts, wherein: a first differential shaft (d1.1) of a first 3-shaft gearbox (RS1) is connected for conjoint rotation to a first differential shaft (d1.2) of a second 3-shaft gearbox (RS2); the driveshaft (W1) and a sum shaft (s2) of the second 3-shaft gearbox (RS2) are connected for conjoint rotation; a fourth gearbox shaft (W6; W76) and a second differential shaft (d2.2) of the second 3-shaft gearbox (RS2) are connected for conjoint rotation; the fourth gearbox shaft (W6; W76) or a fifth gearbox shaft (W7) is connected for conjoint rotation to a first differential shaft (d1.3) of a third 3-shaft gearbox (RS3); and a third gearbox shaft (W5) and a second differential shaft (d2.1) of the first 3-shaft gearbox (RS1) are connected for conjoint rotation. A high functionality can be achieved by connecting a sum shaft (s1) of a first 3-shaft gearbox (RS1) for conjoint rotation to a sum shaft (s3) of the third 3-shaft gearbox (RS3), and by connecting the output shaft (W2) and a second differential shaft (d2.3) of the third 3-shaft gearbox (RS3) for conjoint rotation.
US09683623B2 Pressure valve for gas spring
A pneumatic spring strut assembly comprises a cylinder comprising a working end and a boosting chamber. The working end includes a first volume of gas and the boosting chamber includes a second volume of gas. A temperature control valve assembly is disposed in the interior volume separating the working end from the boosting chamber and includes an over-pressure valve configured to release the second volume of gas into the working end when the pressure within the boosting chamber increases above the normal pressure range of operation. A valve is disposed in the wall of the cylinder, in the working end thereof, and is configured to yield, to thereby vent the first volume of gas to atmosphere, when the pressure within the interior volume of the working end increases above the normal pressure range of operation.
US09683619B2 Electromagnetic active brake
An electromagnetic active brake which is de-energized in the brake standby state, including—a brake body (1), —a brake device with at least two opposing brake shoes (9, 12) which are spaced from a component to be braked in the de-energized state of the active brake, —and an electromagnet (5) which is arranged in the brake body (1) and the armature (6) of which interacts with a brake lever (2). The armature (6) of the electromagnet (5) is rigidly connected to a spring compressor (3) which is guided in the brake body (1) and which is moved by the armature (6) in the axial direction of the armature (6) when the electromagnet (5) is energized and in this manner clamps a spring (16) against an abutment (20) that interacts with the brake lever (2) and is arranged in an axially adjustable manner in the direction of the path of the spring compressor (3). The active brake according to the invention is highly energy-saving and thus economical.
US09683609B1 Flexible couplings with improved torque transmitting insert
A flexible coupling and flexible belt or insert therefor, the belt or insert comprising a plurality of equally spaced circumferentially disposed identically shaped lobes centrally joined together by radial segments of a constant width.
US09683608B2 Universal joint bearing, joint cross, universal joint, and multi-row needle roller bearing
A universal joint bearing for a joint cross of a universal joint includes a hollow cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and a base in an end region of the body, at least one first needle roller set including a first plurality of rollers inside the cylindrical body and at least one second needle roller set including a second plurality of rollers inside the cylindrical body. The first needle roller set is disposed adjacent to the second needle roller set in a direction of the longitudinal axis, and at least one of the first plurality of rollers is longer than at least one of the second plurality of rollers.
US09683602B2 Slide bearing set
The invention relates to a slide bearing set (4), comprising a slide bearing combination consisting of a radial bearing (6) with a radial bearing slide surface (7) and comprising a first axial bearing (8) with an axial bearing slide surface (9), wherein the first axial bearing (8) is arranged next to the radial bearing (6) in an axial direction (10), and with a lubricant supply device, which comprises a supply line (20) for a lubricant to the radial bearing slide surface (7) of the radial bearing (6). At least one first transversal groove (22) is disposed in the radial bearing (6) such that at least one part of the lubricant is deviated towards the first axial bearing (8) and the first axial bearing (8) can be supplied with the lubricant solely via the radial bearing (6).
US09683601B2 Generating radial electromagnetic forces
An electromagnetic actuator can exert a radial electromagnetic force on a body that is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The actuator includes a radial control magnetic pole assembly that includes radial control poles adjacent to and spaced apart by air gaps from the body. The actuator includes a permanent magnet (PM) magnetized along the axis, having one pole in contact with an axial face of the assembly and located proximate to a lateral surface of the body. The PM is magnetically coupled to the body in a non-contact manner resulting in a bias magnetic flux in the air gaps. The actuator includes a control coil around the radial control poles located radially outwards from the PM. Electrical current in the coils generates control magnetic flux in air gaps. The non-uniform net magnetic flux distribution around the body results in a radial electromagnetic force exerted on the body.
US09683598B2 Device for reducing pressure in hollow bodies in media at higher temperatures
The invention relates to the field of materials science and to a device for reducing pressure in cavities in media at higher temperatures, such as those devices which can be used for devices for hot-dip coating metal materials in the metal processing industry for example. The aim of the invention is to provide a device by means of which pressure can be reduced in the cavity of the hollow bodies in a reliable and controlled manner and simultaneously the penetration of the media can be delayed or completely prevented at the higher temperatures. This is achieved by a device for reducing pressure in hollow bodies in media at higher temperatures, wherein at least one opening to the cavity of the hollow body is provided in hollow body regions which are not used for the intended application, said opening being closed from the medium surrounding the hollow body by at least one component made of a gas-permeable metal or ceramic material.
US09683589B2 Shelf display
A shelf display that is easily attached to a store merchandising fixture in a retail or wholesale environment is disclosed. It extends away from the merchandising fixture to increase visibility. The shelf display includes separate pieces that can be snapped together without the use of tools and provide flexibility in positioning the shelf display. A frame is mounted into a clip that slides along one edge of the frame. The clip is part of a ball joint so that the frame can be rotated or tilted. The ball joint attaches to an arm with breakaway lines so the length of the arm can be adjusted. The display may be formed in multiple sizes and shapes, and is oriented so that both sides of the shelf display can be used for graphic statements.
US09683586B2 Hydraulic sectional control valve with multiple relief slots
A working valve section for a sectional fluid control valve comprising a valve section housing having a substantially planar surface for being attached to an adjacent valve section housing; a main control spool bore (43) extending into the housing substantially parallel to the planar surface; a compensator spool bore (46) extending into the housing substantially parallel to the planar surface, the compensator spool bore being spaced from the main control spool bore; a first relief slot (49a) extending across the planar surface substantially coextensive with the main control spool bore; and a second relief slot (49b) extending across the planar surface substantially coextensive with the compensator spool bore.
US09683585B2 Hydraulic drive system
A hydraulic driving system includes a hydraulic pump, a driving source, a hydraulic cylinder, a closed circuit hydraulic path between the pump and cylinder, a pump-flow-rate control unit controlling a discharge flow rate of the pump, a flow rate control valve between the pump and the cylinder in the fluid path, a directional control unit, a target flow rate setting unit and a control device. The directional control unit allows a flow of fluid from the pump to the cylinder and prohibits a flow of fluid from the cylinder to the pump when fluid is supplied from the pump to the cylinder via the flow rate control valve. The control device controls fluid flow to the cylinder with the flow rate control valve when the target flow rate is within a prescribed range, and with the pump-flow-rate control unit when the target flow rate is greater than the prescribed range.
US09683584B2 Brake device for vehicle
The brake device for a vehicle generates two master pressures by controlling one single servo pressure to accurately control braking force. The pressure increasing characteristic is set based on the first pressure increasing characteristic obtained from the relationship between the servo pressure and the first master pressure upon increasing the servo pressure and the second pressure increasing characteristic obtained from the servo pressure and the second master pressure. The pressure decreasing characteristic is set based on the first pressure increasing characteristic obtained from the relationship between the servo pressure and the first master pressure upon decreasing the servo pressure and the second pressure decreasing characteristic obtained from the servo pressure and the second master pressure. Thus, the total braking force of the brake device is the sum of a braking force generated by the first master pressure and a braking force generated by the second master piston.
US09683580B2 Hinge interface for two-piece fan shroud
A cooling fan shroud for an internal combustion engine has a fan port including a fixed cylindrical segment and a movable cylindrical segment mounted by a hinge. A pivot plate on the movable cylindrical segment is compressed with a base plate on a shroud main body so that a loading rib on one plate provides a frictional resistance. A dual-position locking mechanism retains the movable cylindrical segment in an extended position or a retracted position. The mechanism is comprised of a tab extending from the movable cylindrical segment and a ratchet pocket in the main body receiving the tab, wherein the ratchet pocket has a pair of stop notches separated by a deflector rib. The movable cylindrical segment is bendable to allow the tab to ride over the deflector rib in response to a predetermined pivot force applied to the movable cylindrical segment.
US09683577B2 Axial blower, a blower rotor
An axial blower where each socket includes a device for mounting of a rotor blade out of the number of rotor blades being, at a proximal end, at the rotor hub, provided with a blade foot to the effect that the blade foot can be received and retained in the socket in such a manner that the rotor blade extends from the socket and radially outward from the hub surface on the rotor hub, and the blade foot and the socket are configured such that the rotor blade can be mounted and retained at two or more different angles about a blade axis extending from the rotor hub and completely or partially radially outwards from the rotor hub.
US09683575B2 Pump as well as a recirculation device for a pump
Disclosed is a pump for conveying a pump having a pump rotor rotatably supported about an axis of rotation in a pump stator in the operating state and a rotor shaft is arranged in a shaft leadthrough such that a lubricating film of a lubricating fluid formed from the pump fluid can be formed in a ring gap between the rotor shaft and the shaft leadthrough; and wherein a separation device is provided at the rotor shaft by which a predefinable quantity of an ingredient can be separated from the pump fluid by means of a centrifugal force for providing the lubricating fluid at the ring gap in the operating state, wherein a recirculation device is provided so that a gas can be recirculated with the aid of the separation device.
US09683561B2 Drive train cooling arrangement and method for operating same
A drive train cooling arrangement for motor vehicles has a first cooling circuit and a second cooling circuit and has a pump arrangement, by means of which coolant can be fed to the first and the second cooling circuit. The pump arrangement has a bidirectional pump, which has a first pump port and a second pump port and which can be driven by a pump electric motor. The first pump port is connected to the first cooling circuit, wherein the second pump port is connected to the second cooling circuit. A coolant volume flow which is provided for at least one of the first and the second cooling circuit can be adjusted by changing the rotational speed of the pump electric motor.
US09683554B2 Acoustic noise monitoring system for a wind turbine
The present invention relates to an acoustic noise monitoring system for a wind turbine, comprising: a microphone for monitoring acoustic noise, the microphone adapted to be mounted to the exterior of a wind turbine nacelle; an input, the input adapted to receive operating conditions data from a wind turbine; a processor, the processor adapted to receive data from the microphone and the input; and storage memory, adapted to store the acoustic noise data and the operating conditions data. The processor is adapted to apply a transfer function to said acoustic noise data to correlate said data with a set of acoustic noise data measured at a remote location from the wind turbine. The system may comprise a controller adapted to generate a control signal, for outputting to a wind turbine controller, for adjusting the operating parameters of the wind turbine in dependence on said correlated data.
US09683552B2 System and method for robust wind turbine operation
The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for optimizing wind turbine operation. For example, the present disclosure is configured to generate operating data for at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine for a predetermined time period. The system can then determine a robustness measurement of at least a portion of the operating data. In general, the robustness measurement indicates the tendency of the operating data to be affected by outliers present in the operating data. In addition, the robustness measurement is typically a function of a distribution of the operating data. The present disclosure is then configured to determine at least one optimal set point for the operational parameter as a function of the robustness measurement and a power production of the wind turbine. The wind turbine can then be operated based on the optimal set point.
US09683551B2 Optimization of power production in a wind turbine at below rated power
The rotor blades of a wind turbine each have a plurality of fiber-optic pressure variation sensors which can detect the onset of a stall condition. The output of the stall condition sensors is input to a stall count circuit which increases a stall count signal each time a stall indication is received. The stall count signal is decayed exponentially over time and the current signal is summed with the decayed signal from a previous sampling period to form a value from which a stall margin is determined. An λ:θ curve of tip speed to wind speed ratio λ against pitch angle reference θ is then determined from the stall margin.
US09683549B2 Turbine with dynamically adaptable savonius blades
An apparatus may include a cage that rotates around a cage axis and a turbine located at an end of the cage and rotating around a turbine axis. A turbine blade may have an adaptable shape. A frame of the turbine blade may have a first frame portion that pivots relative to the second frame portion. The curvature of the turbine blade may be controlled by shortening a connection while concurrently lengthening another connection. Controllers may control the rotation of the cage(s) and/or turbine(s) based on a speed, a direction, a velocity, an acceleration of wind, and/or a load carried by the apparatus. The apparatus may be a Savonius machine. Rotation of the cage(s) and/or turbine(s) may induce a Magnus effect. A seat and user controls near the seat may be included. The user controls may control the rotation of the cage(s) and/or turbine(s).
US09683545B2 Manufacture of wind turbine blades
A structural shell for a wind turbine blade is formed from one or more elongate reinforcing members, each in the form of a stack (3) of pultruded fibrous composite strips positioned between two layers of structural foam (4). The foam layers (4) have a thickness which is greater than that of the stack (3). The edges of the foam layers (4) are formed with a void (11). With the stack (3) and foam layers (4) positioned in a mould, a strip of pre-cured glass fibre (5) is placed on the stack (3) and the edges of the foam layers (4). A vacuum is applied to the stack (3) and the foam layers (4), causing the glass fibre strip (5) to press on the stack (3) and foam layers (4) and to conform to the underlying surfaces. As a result, the void (11) is reduced in size and the step-shaped transition between the surfaces of the stack (2) and the foam layers (4) transformed into a smooth transition, so as to reduce the stresses within the glass fibre strip (5) in the region of the abutment of the stack (3) and the foam layers (4). In other embodiments, the stepped transition is smoothened by replacing the upper-edge region of each foam layer (4) with a strip of low-stiffness foam.
US09683535B2 Method and system for detection of hot spark plug fouling
Methods and systems are provided for inferring spark plug fouling due to accumulation of fuel additives thereon. In one example, an engine controller may infer spark plug hot fouling based on higher than expected exhaust temperatures by correlating the elevated exhaust temperature with late combustion phasing due to additive accumulation. A confidence factor of the spark plug hot fouling detection may be enhanced based on data regarding concurrent misfire and/or pre-ignition events.
US09683534B2 Starter and engaging device thereof
An engaging device and a starter comprising the engaging device, the starter comprises an electric motor, a speed reducer connected with the electric motor, an overrunning clutch comprising a driving piece connected with the speed reducer and a driven piece, and an engaging device with a main shaft connected with the driven piece of the overrunning clutch. A quick engagement may be achieved and a certain initial engagement depth is guaranteed. During the engaging process, the pinion may mesh into a ring gear in its own initiative, reducing the effect of teeth milling phenomenon on the ring gear to a maximum extent.
US09683526B2 Canister
A canister includes: a casing provided with a cylindrical case member having one end closed as a bottom portion and another end opened as an opened portion, and a cylindrical bottom case member closing the opened portion of the cylindrical case member, the casing being formed with a fuel vapor introducing port, a purge port and an air communication port; an adsorbent material disposed within the cylindrical case member; a pad member disposed between the adsorbent material and the cylindrical bottom case member; a grid member disposed between the adsorbent material and the cylindrical bottom case member, the pad member and the grid member being laminated as a lamination layer; and an air ventilation path formed to the grid member so as to extend in axial and radial directions of the casing in a meandering manner.
US09683513B2 Methods and systems for learning variability of a direct fuel injector
Systems and methods for improving fuel injection of an engine that includes a cylinder receiving fuel from a direct fuel injector are disclosed. In one example, a transfer function or gain of a direct fuel injector is adjusted in response to an exhaust lambda value and a pulse width of a plurality of split fuel injections provided to an injector of the cylinder during a cylinder cycle.
US09683503B2 Managing load sharing among multiple engines
A method and a system of managing load sharing among a plurality of power sources are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, the method includes determining a total power output to be directed from the plurality of power sources to at least one power consumer. The method also includes retrieving a Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) curve associated with each of the plurality of power sources. The method further includes determining an operating priority for each of the plurality of power sources based on operating constraints associated with the respective power source. The method further includes determining a load share for each of the plurality of power sources based on at least the total power output, the BSFC curves, and the operating priorities.
US09683500B2 Method and system for control of an EGR valve during lean operation in a boosted engine system
Methods and systems are provided for reducing EGR estimation errors during lean engine operating conditions. During lean engine operation, EGR is disabled if the estimated exhaust air-fuel ratio becomes leaner than a lean threshold. The lean threshold is adjusted based on an upper limit of EGR errors that may be tolerated by the engine at a given engine speed and load.
US09683492B2 Vehicle operation system and method
A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, an engine control unit (ECU), a throttle operator, and a throttle body fluidly communicating with the engine. A throttle valve disposed in the throttle body regulates fluid flow to the engine. A throttle valve actuator is connected thereto for controlling a throttle valve position. A key receiver is configured to link to a key. The method includes linking a key to the key receiver and initiating engine operation. If the key is linked to the key receiver and engine operation has been initiated, an identification code of the key is read and an authorization status of the key is thereby determined. If the key is determined to be authorized, the throttle valve position is controlled based in part on a throttle operator position. If the key is determined to be unauthorized, the throttle valve position is limited to a security limit.
US09683483B1 Exhaust leakage management
Methods and systems are provided for exhaust leak management in an engine. The exhaust leakage management system may include a port disposed to capture leaked exhaust along a movable portion associated with a turbine. The exhaust leakage management system may also include a three-way valve at a bifurcation of the port, directing leaked exhaust either to a first passage fluidically connected to a crankcase of the engine or to a second passage fluidically connected to a downstream portion of an exhaust pipe, depending on engine operating conditions.
US09683480B2 Spark ignition type internal combustion engine
In a spark ignition engine, a thermal insulation thin layer is formed over a wall surface, facing an inside of a combustion chamber, of a base material forming the combustion chamber, and for a thermal conductivity λ [W/(m·K)], a thermal diffusivity κ [mm2/s], and a thickness L [μm] of the thermal insulation thin layer, L≧16.7×λ and L≦207.4×(κ)0.5 are satisfied. With such a configuration, a heat loss Q_total escaping from gas in a cylinder to the wall of the combustion chamber over all strokes can be reduced, and the thermal efficiency can be improved without inducing degradation of knocking due to an increase in an amount of heating Q_intake of the gas in the cylinder during an intake stroke.
US09683477B2 Method and device pertaining to limiting the temperature of a dosing unit in a SCR system
A method pertaining to an SCR system for cleaning of exhaust gases from an engine (150). A dosing unit (250) is in thermal contact with the engine's exhaust system and supplies a reducing agent to an exhaust duct (240) of the exhaust system. Determining (s340) whether there is an undesired temperature level of the dosing unit (250). If yes, limit (s360) the temperature of the exhaust duct (240) by controlling operation of the engine. Also, a computer program product containing program code (P) for implementing the method. Also a device and a motor vehicle (100) which is equipped with the device are disclosed.
US09683473B2 Exhaust gas control apparatus
An exhaust gas control apparatus includes an exhaust passage, a urea water tank, a urea adding valve, a urea pump, a pipe, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to drive the urea pump to perform a filling control when a condition requiring an execution of urea water addition to the exhaust gas in the exhaust passage by the urea adding valve is satisfied so that the pipe is filled with the urea water. The electronic control unit is configured to execute the filling control when an exhaust pressure of the exhaust passage is equal to or less than a specified value. The electronic control unit is configured to stop the filling control when the exhaust pressure of the exhaust passage exceeds the specified value during the execution of the filling control.
US09683471B2 Exhaust emission control device
An exhaust emission control device including a selective reduction catalyst; urea water as reducing agent being added in the pipe upstream of the reduction catalyst depurate NOx through reduction; an oxidation catalyst arranged in the pipe upstream of an added position of the urea water, the oxidation catalyst physically adsorbing NOx in the exhaust gas at a temperature lower than a lower active limit temperature of the reduction catalyst and discharging the adsorbed NOx at a temperature higher than a lower active limit temperature of the oxidation catalyst; and a fuel injection device for adding fuel into the exhaust gas upstream of the oxidation catalyst is disclosed. The start of the fuel addition by the fuel injection device is refrained until exhaust temperature on an inlet side of the reduction catalyst is increased to a preset temperature comparable with the lower active limit temperature of the oxidation catalyst.
US09683469B2 System for treating the exhaust gases of a motor vehicle engine and method for controlling same
A system for treating exhaust gases of an engine on a motor vehicle including a particle filter, in which regeneration of the particle filter is controlled by bringing temperature of gases that are upstream from the particle filter to a first set temperature to initiate combustion of soot accumulated in the particle filter. A critical area and a normal area are defined on the basis of a point of operation of the engine, by a load of the engine and a speed. The temperature of the exhaust gases is brought to the first set temperature in the normal area and to a second set temperature, which is lower than the first set temperature, in the critical area.
US09683459B2 Securing part structure of turbine nozzle and turbine using same
A securing part structure of a turbine nozzle provided with a plurality of turbine nozzle segments, each having a plurality of stator vanes, arranged annularly around an axis of a jet engine and secured between a turbine case and a shroud of the jet engine, wherein in the turbine nozzle segment, an arc-shaped outer band coupling distal ends of the plurality of stator vanes to each other is provided, a hook of the outer band is engaged with a nozzle support groove of the turbine case from behind, a recessed portion of the outer band is fitted with an anti-rotation tab from behind, and an anti-rotation slot formed in the shroud is fitted with a protruding portion from behind so that the turbine nozzle segment is secured between the turbine case and the shroud. Reduction of performance loss and extension of a life of the turbine case can be realized.
US09683453B2 Turbine casing clearance management system
Systems and devices configured to reduce thermal design clearances (e.g., between stationary nozzles connected to the inner casing and rotor buckets connected to the rotor) in turbines by actively controlling casing movements and/or locations during turbine operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a clearance management system includes: a first inner casing support arm shaped to connect to an inner casing of a turbine and extend through an outer casing of the turbine; a seal system disposed about the first inner casing support arm and configured to connect to the outer casing; and a set of actuators disposed on a turbine foundation of the turbine and connected to the first inner casing support arm, the set of actuators located external to the outer casing and configured to adjust a position of the inner casing relative to the outer casing via manipulation of the first inner casing support arm.
US09683447B2 Components resistant to traveling wave vibration and methods for manufacturing the same
Components resistant to traveling wave vibration and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The component comprises a component body and a plurality of features disposed thereabout according to an asymmetry pattern that separates a pair of repeated eigenvalues associated with a targeted mode that deflects in excess of a threshold deflection limit in response to traveling wave excitation. The method comprises identifying, in a model of a rotationally periodic component, one or more modes thereof that deflect in excess of a threshold deflection limit in response to a traveling wave excitation. Each of the modes has a pair of repeated eigenvalues associated therewith. An asymmetry pattern is determined that separates each pair of repeated eigenvalues by a desired frequency split. A plurality of features are formed and disposed according to the asymmetry pattern about the component body defining an asymmetrical component comprising the component resistant to traveling wave vibration.
US09683443B2 Method for making gas turbine engine ceramic matrix composite airfoil
A method for making a gas turbine engine ceramic matrix composite airfoil is disclosed. The method includes fabricating an airfoil preform that has a slotted forward end and a continuous trailing end. The slotted forward end of the airfoil preform is coupled to an airfoil core insert. A ceramic matrix composite covering is applied to cover the slots of the airfoil perform. The continuous trailing end of the airfoil preform is removed to expose the slots. A gas turbine engine airfoil is also disclosed.
US09683440B2 Downhole method and assembly for obtaining real-time data
A method for obtaining real-time data relating to a well construction activity includes locating wellbore-lining tubing comprising at least one non-magnetic tubing section in a wellbore of a well. At least one downhole parameter is measured at a location external of the wellbore-lining tubing using at least one sensor associated with the non-magnetic tubing section. A magnetic field generating device is positioned within the non-magnetic tubing section and the device is activated to inductively couple the device to the at least one sensor. Data relating to the at least measured parameter is then transmitted through the non-magnetic tubing section to the magnetic field generating device by means of the inductive coupling. The data retrieved from the at least one sensor may then be transmitted to surface using a fluid pressure pulse generating device associated with the magnetic field generating device.
US09683439B2 Safety cable for downhole communications
An example system for transmitting signals may include a signal source, a signal target, and a transmission cable coupled to the signal source and the signal target. The transmission cable may include a first conductor and a second conductor surrounding the first conductor. A resistive layer may be between the first conductor and the second conductor and allow current flow between the first conductor and the second conductor.
US09683434B2 Apparatus and method for controlling a downhole device
Apparatus for controlling a downhole device in a well has a body with a control slot and pin movable in the slot. The slot has a first inactive loop in which the pin can cycle between different idling configurations, and a second active loop in which the pin can move between different configurations which correspond to active and inactive configurations of the downhole device. The pin can be switched between the first and second loops, and can cycle between the different configurations within without switching between the different loops. The slot can be provided on a piston, and the axial movement of the piston in the bore can drive the relative movement of the pin and the slot.
US09683433B2 Method for the use of nitrates and nitrate reducing bacteria in hydraulic fracturing
A slick water fracturing fluid including a brine, an inorganic nitrate, a nitrogen reducing bacteria, a scale inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylate polymer, a polyacrylate copolymer, a polyacrylate terpolymer, and mixtures thereof, and a friction reducer, wherein the friction reducer is a polyacrylamide.
US09683432B2 Hybrid LPG frac
A fracturing method comprises: pumping a first stream of liquefied petroleum gas and gelling agent with a first frac pressure pump; pumping a second stream of lubricated proppant with a second frac pressure pump; combining the first stream and the second stream within a wellhead into a combined stream; pumping the combined stream into a hydrocarbon reservoir; and subjecting the combined stream in the hydrocarbon reservoir to fracturing pressures. A fracturing apparatus comprises: a first frac pressure pump connected to a first port of a wellhead; a second frac pressure pump connected to a second port of the wellhead; a frac fluid source connected to simply a stream of frac fluid comprising liquefied petroleum gas to the first frac pressure pump; a gel source connected to supply a gelling agent into the frac fluid; and a proppant supply source connected to supply lubricated proppant to the second frac pressure pump.
US09683430B1 Gas-lift plunger
A plunger for use in a downhole well includes a body having a bore formed axially-therethrough. An inner surface of the body that defines the bore forms a seat. A stop extends at least partially laterally through the bore. An obstructing member is positioned within the bore and configured to move axially within the bore between the seat and the stop. The obstructing member is configured to prevent fluid flow through the bore in one axial direction when in contact with seat, and to allow fluid flow through the bore in an opposite axial direction when in contact with the obstructing member as the plunger descends in the well.
US09683429B2 Flow control device and method
A fluid flow control device includes a housing having a fluid inlet (7) and at least one fluid outlet (8). A first fluid flow restrictor (1) serves as an inflow port to a chamber (B) in the housing, and a second fluid flow restrictor (2) serves as an outflow port from the chamber (B). The first fluid flow restrictor and the second fluid flow restrictor are configured to generate different fluid flow characteristics; and the chamber (B) includes an actuating device (5a-1) that is responsive to fluid pressure changes (ΔP2) in the chamber. The first fluid flow restrictor (1) and the second fluid flow restrictor (2) are configured to impose respective different fluid flow characteristics based on different fluid properties.
US09683422B2 Rotating flow control diverter having dual stripper elements
A rotating flow control diverter apparatus having an upper and a lower stripper element mounted on upper and lower tubular shaft, respectively, each of which is axially rotatable by means of an upper and lower sealed bearing assembly, respectively, within a central bore of a housing. An upper and lower seal assembly seal the annular space between the central bore and the upper and lower tubular shaft, respectively to define a purge chamber. The purge chamber is in fluid communication with the central bore via the lower tubular shaft, and may be provided with valved ports. The housing may be constructed in removably mounted upper and lower portions, to which the upper and lower sealed bearing assemblies, respectively, and upper and lower seal assemblies, respectively, are mounted.
US09683419B2 Actuation dart for wellbore operations, wellbore treatment apparatus and method
An actuation dart for actuating a target tool in a tubing string, the actuation dart includes: a body conveyable through the tubing string to reach the target tool; a control module configured to respond to contact with at least one downhole tool in the tubing string to locate the target tool; and an actuation mechanism for actuating the target tool when it is located.
US09683409B2 Pressure compensation system for a motor bearing assembly
In an oil-sealed bearing assembly in the bearing section of a mud motor, in which a mandrel is rotatably disposed within a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical sleeve is disposed coaxially within the mandrel with the sleeve being non-rotatably mounted to an inner surface of the mandrel, thereby forming an annular piston chamber forming part of a generally annular oil reservoir. An annular piston is axially movable within the piston chamber without rotation relative to either the mandrel or the sleeve.
US09683408B2 Pivoting stairs
A swiveling staircase is provided for access to a device disposed above the ground at a distance that a person of an ordinary height is not able to reach. The staircase includes an immobile upright stanchion and a staircase assembly pivotally coupled to the stanchion. The staircase assembly includes a platform on the top of a plurality of stairs. The staircase assembly rotates between a first position where the staircase is docked out of way for storage and a second position where the staircase assembly is facing the front side of the device so that an operator standing on the platform may be able to reach the device.
US09683403B2 Closure assembly with a window and a method of making the same
A closure assembly and a method of making the closure assembly with a window. The closure assembly includes front and rear panels defining a space between them; an aperture in each of the front and rear panels, the apertures being aligned to form an aperture in the closure assembly for the window; a frame at least partly positioned between the front and rear panels and extending along the aperture of the closure assembly, delineating a portion of the space and defining a cavity between the front and rear panels; and filling material located in the cavity and bonding the front and rear panels together in a one-piece structure.
US09683395B2 Advanced latch for emergency oxygen container deployment
An advanced latch for a main door of an aircraft emergency oxygen container can be manually released by a manual release actuator pin to move the main door to an intermediate test position, while pushing the manual release actuator pin further releases the latch completely, causing the main door to open. The latch also can be operated automatically by utilizing a small, lightweight motor or an equivalent pneumatic actuator mechanism to rotate a gear mechanism of the latch.
US09683394B1 Simplified system and method for secure shipment of high-value cargo
A simplified locking and mounting execution methods for protecting high-value cargo enclosed in a container, while maintaining the container indistinguishable from similar low value shipments, including an OnBoard Identity Module (OBIM) providing lock and unlock actuation activities for the Internal Locking Mechanism (ILM), both of which are externally undetectable. The OBIM interacts with a Securing Rod or similar securing feature which engages one or more container components in a manner preventing the container from being opened until a properly encoded unlocking signal is sent to the locking system via wireless methods from a remote point directing the OBIM to actuate again to unlock the container. This simplified locking mechanism provides components of a size suitable for repeated use, removal, transport, and reuse elsewhere over-and-over or cost effective solutions suitable for single use disposable applications.
US09683388B2 Lock re-pinning fixture
An exemplary lock re-pinning fixture includes a first housing releasably joined with a second housing, and a follower bar positioned at least partially in the second housing. The follower bar may be structured for a plurality of orientations within the housings, and may be biased toward the first housing. The first housing may be configured to receive a lock cylinder such that the plug of the cylinder is aligned with the follower bar. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
US09683380B2 Standard and ledger of a scaffolding system, and method for erecting the same
A standard (10) of a scaffolding system (1), comprising an elongate tubular wall (12), having a central longitudinal axis (Ls), and at least one supporting projection (14) that protrudes radially outwardly from said tubular wall (12). When the standard (10) is in a vertical orientation, the supporting projection (14), seen in a tangential direction (Ts) relative to the longitudinal axis (Ls), forms an annular supporting surface (16) that encircles the tubular wall (12) and that defines alternating elevations (18) and depressions (20). Also disclosed is a ledger (30) with ledger couplings (40) configured for cooperation with said standard (10).
US09683369B2 Fixture support for membrane roof
A method comprises selecting a mounting bracket having opposite horizontal, parallel wings, and a raised portion between the wings, applying a coating of an uncured first sealant material to a first area of a roof surface above decking of the roof, the first area having an outer perimeter greater than overall area of the bracket, urging undersurfaces of wings of the bracket into the uncured sealant material, securing the mounting bracket to the roof by screws applied into the roof decking through holes provided in the wings of the bracket, and applying a second sealant material over heads of the screws on upper surfaces of the wings of the bracket.
US09683364B2 Fire-rated wall construction product
Fire-rated wall construction components and wall systems for use in building construction. Embodiments can include tracks for holding studs which incorporate various geometries capable of receiving fire-retardant material, including but not limited to intumescent material. The fire-retardant material can be attached to compressible backer rods inserted within deflection gaps in the wall systems such that the fire-retardant material expands and seals gaps and/or areas between the tracks and wall components such as ceilings, floors, and drywall. Various assemblies and methods can be used to cover the deflection gap.
US09683360B1 Automated pipe clearer
An automated pipe clearer that is permanently mounted to a building. The pipe clearer has a spool of cable that extends a head assembly down a pipe. The sealed head assembly contains a motor and has a tip at a forward end. A computer control actuates a feeder to extend the cable and connected head assembly down a pipe towards a clog. When the clog is cleared the feeder re-spools the cable leaving the head assembly in the pipe ready for the next clearing operation.
US09683356B1 Auger arrangement for unclogging pipes
An auger type device for unclogging a clogged plumbing system is disclosed. The device includes a housing defining an inner cavity and having a side wall, an end wall, an opening, a rotatable shaft, and a handle. The opening provides a passageway for the wire in an extended condition. The housing has a multi-functional adaptor structured on the outside of the housing. In one condition, the adaptor adapts the device to engage a plumbing system, wherein a unified plumbing cleaning system is created. In another condition, the adaptor adapts the device to an introducer cap wherein the nozzle-shaped protrusion of the cap directs the wire of the device into the drain. The multi-functional adaptor is sized and shaped to engage a normal plumbing system and the introducer cap.
US09683347B2 Systems and methods to reinforce excavation walls
A soldier pile wall for shoring an excavation site includes a plurality of drilled shafts drilled along an edge of the excavation site, a plurality of soldier piles, each of the plurality of soldier piles being positioned within a respective drilled shaft, and a pre-stressing system coupled to at least some of the plurality of soldier piles. The pre-stressing system is configured to induce stresses to counteract working stresses of the soldier pile wall. Related methods are also provided.
US09683342B2 Single net capture marine barrier system
A marine barrier has a plurality of column modules, each having a vertical column, and an impact net attached to and extending between the column modules. Each of the columns has four buoyant horizontal legs extending from its lower portion. A distal end of each of the legs is attachable to a distal end of a corresponding leg of an adjacent column module to form a series of diamond-shaped supports between the columns to support the columns and the impact net. When the barrier is floating in a body of water and a moving vessel impacts the impact net, the impact net deflects to transfer a force of the impact to one or more of the column modules, which in turn engage the water to transfer the force of the impact to the water, to arrest the motion of the vessel.
US09683341B2 Blade for removing material from surfaces
A blade is provided having runners on the blade that extend forward of the blade's leading edge. These runners traverse surface irregularities allowing the blade to avoid colliding with surface irregularities.
US09683333B2 Rail tie gripping mechanism having gripper fingers with teeth
A gripping mechanism is provided for use with an apparatus for removing and inserting a rail tie that needs repair or replacement from a railroad track, and includes at least one gripper lever constructed and arranged to be actuated between a closed position and an open position, and a plurality of gripper fingers. Each gripper finger is configured for being individually attachable to and removable from a corresponding one of the at least one gripper lever for grasping the rail tie.
US09683331B2 Sanitary tissue products
Sanitary tissue products employing fibrous structures that exhibit a novel combination of compressibility properties, plate stiffness properties, and slip stick coefficient of friction properties, and methods for making same.
US09683329B2 Methods of producing a paper product
An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes.
US09683328B2 Preparation of biofuels and other useful products such as 5-(hydroxymethyl)-furfural
Polycarbon biofuels may be made from feedstock such as wood waste, agricultural wastes and waste paper. The feedstock may be cooked under acidic conditions to convert cellulose and similar material in the feedstock into a biofuel that is hydrophobic, readily pelletized, and has a high energy density. The biofuel may be blended with coal or other fuels to provide blended fuels that may be burned in conventional burners. One process forms a slurry of the feedstock, sparges carbon dioxide through the slurry to achieve a pH below 5 and cooks the slurry at temperatures in the range of 170 C to 300 C until conversion of the feedstock to polycarbon biofuel has occurred. The biofuel may be separated from liquids in the slurry by filtration.
US09683327B2 Cutting and double-face leather integrated dyeing process for tan sheep skin
A cutting and double-face leather integrated dyeing process for Tan sheep skin, which comprises the following steps: cutting→washing with water→retanning→primary dyeing→primary color fixing→secondary dyeing→fatliquoring→secondary color fixing→bleaching→drying→a finished product. Tan sheep skin leather boards and fleeces dyed by the process of the invention have no cross color and color fading with each other, a high color fastness, and uniform dyeing; the prepared Tan sheep skin products such as clothing, etc., not only have the characteristics of a high added value and good practicability, but also can more largely increase product benefits and lower the production cost.
US09683325B2 Clothes treating apparatus
Provided is a clothes treating apparatus that includes a cabinet that defines an outer appearance of the clothes treating apparatus, a clothes receiving device provided in the cabinet and configured to receive clothes therein, a hot air supply device provided with a heat exchanger to heat air supplied into the clothes receiving device and a compressor connected to the heat exchanger to compress a refrigerant, and a bracket assembly provided in the cabinet to support the compressor. The bracket assembly may include a main bracket having a compressor accommodation region in which the compressor is accommodated and a sub-bracket that extends from the main bracket.
US09683310B2 Hollow fiber with gradient properties and method of making the same
There is provided a hollow fiber and method of making. The hollow fiber has an inner-volume portion having a first-core portion and one or more hollow second-core portions. The first-core portion has nanostructures and one or more first polymers. The nanostructures act as an orientation template for orientation of the first polymers in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fiber. The first-core portion is in contact with and encompasses the hollow second-core portions. The hollow fiber further has an outer-volume portion having one or more second polymers. The outer-volume portion is in contact with and completely encompasses the inner-volume portion. The inner-volume portion has at least one of a tensile modulus and a strength that are higher than at least one of a tensile modulus and a strength of the outer-volume portion.
US09683307B2 Partial plating device and partial plating method
A partial plating device includes a drum jig which has a plurality of positioning pins provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and which feeds a metal member around the outer periphery thereof by engaging the metal member with the positioning pins; a rotating shaft which rotatably supports the drum jig, a jet unit that supplies plating liquid to the metal member, and a brake unit that reduces the circumferential speed of the drum jig, and which is fitted to the rotating shaft. A plating device and a partial plating method in which plating is not carried out on the first region of a metal member on the carrying-in side of the drum jig, but in which plating is carried out on the second region of a metal member on the carrying-out side.
US09683305B2 Metal surface and process for treating a metal surface
A surface treatment for metal surfaces can be used to create one or more desired effects, such as functional, tactile, or cosmetic effects. In one embodiment, the treatment involves selectively masking a portion of the surface using a photolithographic process. The mask can protect the masked portion of the surface during subsequent treatment processes such as texturizing and anodization. The mask can result in the creation of a surface having contrasting effects. A pattern can be formed by the contrasting effects in the shape of a distinct graphic, such as a logo or text.
US09683304B2 Resin-metal bonded body and method for producing the same
Disclosed is a resin-metal bonded body of an aluminum metal member and a thermoplastic resin member, which has improved bonding strength and good durability. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a resin-metal bonded body. Specifically disclosed is a resin-metal bonded body which is obtained by bonding an aluminum metal member with a thermoplastic resin member. In this resin-metal bonded body, the aluminum metal member and the thermoplastic resin member are bonded together by an anodic oxide coating having a film thickness of 70-1500 nm or an anodic oxide coating having a triazine thiol in the inner and upper portions. The anodic oxide coating has an infrared absorption spectrum peak intensity ascribed to OH group at 0.0001-0.16.
US09683303B2 Method of obtaining a yellow gold alloy deposition by galvanoplasty without using toxic metals or metalloids
The invention relates to a make-up solution for a galvanic bath comprising organometallic components, a wetting agent, a complexing agent and free cyanide, wherein the make-up solution further comprises copper in the form of copper II cyanide and potassium, and complex indium allowing, after addition of alkaline aurocyanide, to galvanically depositing a gold alloy.
US09683302B2 Composition for metal electroplating comprising leveling agent
A composition comprising a source of metal ions and at least one leveling agent comprising a linear or branched, polymeric imidazolium compound comprising the structural unit of formula L1 (L1) wherein R1, R2, R3 are each independently selected from an H atom and an organic radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R4 is a divalent, trivalent or mutlivalent organic radical which does not comprise a hydroxyl group in the a or β position relative to the nitrogen atom of the imidazole rings is an integer.
US09683281B2 Laser assisted oxide removal
A method of forming a thermal barrier coating on a metal part includes laser cleaning a surface of the metal part to remove undesirable oxides and residues from the surface of the part. It further includes depositing an aluminum containing bondcoat on the part and thermally interdiffusing the bondcoat and the part with a heat treatment. Laser cleaning a surface of the bondcoat to remove oxides and debris from the surface forms an alpha aluminum oxide layer on the bondcoat. A ceramic topcoat is then deposited on the alpha aluminum oxide layer at a temperature above 1800° F. (982° C.).
US09683272B2 Gas purging element and associated gas feed line
The invention relates to a gas purging element at a metallurgical vessel as well as a corresponding gas supply pipe.
US09683270B2 Method of recovering chrome from a tannery process
A system and method for a chromium recovery process for recovering chromium from byproducts resulting from a tannery process. A system and process for solubilizing chromium contained in the oil byproduct into the remaining water content within the oil and extracting the water from the oil with the chromium sufficiently solubilized in the water such that the chromium content in the oil is sufficiently reduced below hazardous levels.
US09683266B2 Glucose and insulin sensors and methods of use thereof
Described herein are glucose and insulin sensors. The sensors are composed of host cells with DNA specifically designed to produce fluorescence when the cells come into contact with glucose and/or insulin in the sample. Once the fluorescence has been quantified, it can be correlated with the amount of glucose and/or insulin present in the sample.
US09683265B2 CD38 as a prognostic indicator in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
The subject invention discloses a method for determining the prognosis and probable clinical course of a subject diagnosed with B-CLL. Specifically, the invention involves comparing CD38 expression in a biological sample from the subject containing B-CLL cells to a baseline level of CD38 expression, wherein an elevated level of CD38 expression in relation to the baseline level of CD38 expression may indicate poor prognosis or aggressive course of disease in the subject. Also disclosed is a method for determining whether the Ig V genes of the B-CLL cells of a B-CLL patient are mutated, comprising comparing CD38 expression in a biological sample from the subject containing B-CLL cells to a baseline level of CD38 expression, wherein a lower level of CD38 expression in relation to the baseline level indicates IG V gene mutation.
US09683262B2 Methods of isolating and purifying CD8 T cells
Methods are provided for isolating CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, methods for purifying a subset of IL-13 expressing CD8 T cells are provided, such methods comprising the steps of marking the CD8+ T cells by labeling CD8, or selectively removing non-CD8 cells, and then purifying a subset of IL-13 expressing CD8+ T cells by marking a human biomarker such as C10orf128. Related antibodies and antiserums are also described, such antibodies related to a cell surface domain peptide for biomarker C10orf128, and human homologs of related mouse “activated” CD8IL-13 cell surface biomarkers Tm4sf19 and 1830127L07Rik.
US09683254B2 Compositions and methods for identifying enzyme and transport protein inhibitors
The invention is directed to compositions, e.g., cell-based and multiplexed platforms, to screen for small molecule drugs that inhibit enzymes such as proteases, e.g., viral proteases, e.g., HIV proteases; and methods for making and using these compositions. The invention provides compositions and methods for identifying compositions, e.g., drug molecules, that can inhibit proteases, e.g., viral proteases such as HIV proteases. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides cell-based platforms or assays to screen for compositions, e.g., small molecules or drugs, that inhibit or modify the activity of enzymes such as calcium-dependent protein convertases involved in HIV envelope protein processing, including cleavage of the HIV gp160 envelope precursor, resulting in gp120 and gp41 envelope products. In one embodiment, the invention provides a cell-based or multiplexed platform for monitoring the activity of enzymes, e.g., proteases such as viral proteases.
US09683238B2 Vascular endothelial growth factor-binding aptamers
Disclosed is providing a novel VEGF-binding aptamer whose affinity to VEGF is higher than those of known VEGF-binding aptamers. By an in silico maturation method starting from a known VEGF-binding aptamer, 4 kinds of aptamers whose affinities to VEGF are higher than that of the known VEGF-binding aptamer were prepared. By linking two molecules of an obtained aptamer to each other via a linker, an aptamer having an even higher affinity to VEGF was obtained. The polynucleotide of the present invention contains the base sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 4, and binds to vascular endothelial growth factor.
US09683237B2 Multiple targeted RNAI for the treatment of cancers
The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using a RNAi capable of reducing expression of two or more genes, comprising: a first RNAi molecule that reduces the expression of a first target gene; a second RNAi molecule that reduces the expression of the first or a second target gene; and optionally a third RNAi molecule that reduces the expression of the first, the second, or a third target gene, wherein the RNAi molecules reduce the expression level of, e.g., mutated KRAS, SRC-3, EGFR, PIK3, NCOA3, or ERalpha1, and can be, e.g., miRNAs, shRNAs, or bifunctional shRNAs.
US09683236B2 Modulation of huntingtin expression
Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of huntingtin mRNA and protein in an animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate Huntington's disease, or a symptom thereof.
US09683233B2 Artificial nucleic acid molecules for improved protein or peptide expression
The invention relates to an artificial nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one 5′UTR element which is derived from a TOP gene, at least one open reading frame, and preferably at least one histone stem-loop. Optionally the artificial nucleic acid molecule may further comprise, e.g. a poly(A)sequence, a poyladenylation signal, and/or a 3′UTR. The invention further relates to the use of such an artificial nucleic acid molecule in gene therapy and/or genetic vaccination.
US09683228B2 Method for stabilizing cholesterol oxidase
The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a cholesterol oxidase, a method for preserving a cholesterol oxidase, and a stabilized composition of cholesterol oxidase. A method for stabilizing a cholesterol oxidase and a method for preserving a cholesterol oxidase which comprises allowing the cholesterol oxidase to coexist with an α-keto acid in an aqueous medium, and, a stabilized composition of cholesterol oxidase which comprises the cholesterol oxidase being allowed to coexist with an α-keto acid in an aqueous medium. The method for stabilizing a cholesterol oxidase, the method for preserving a cholesterol oxidase, and a stabilized composition of cholesterol oxidase according to the present invention are useful for clinical diagnosis such as metabolic syndrome.
US09683219B2 Acyl-ACP reductase with improved properties
The disclosure relates to acyl-ACP reductase (AAR) enzyme variants that result in improved fatty aldehyde and fatty alcohol production when expressed in recombinant host cells. The disclosure further relates to methods of making and using such AAR variants for the production of fatty alcohol compositions having particular characteristics.
US09683210B2 Cell separation apparatus and methods of use
The present invention provides automated devices for use in supporting various cell therapies and tissue engineering methods. The present invention provides an automated cell separation apparatus capable of separating cells from a tissue sample for use in cell therapies and/or tissue engineering. The cell separation apparatus can be used in combination with complementary devices such as cell collection device and/or a sodding apparatus to support various therapies. The automated apparatus includes media and tissue dissociating chemical reservoirs, filters, a cell separator and a perfusion flow loop through a graft chamber which supports a graft substrate or other endovascular device. The present invention further provides methods for using the tissue grafts and cell samples prepared by the devices described herein in a multitude of therapies including revascularization, regeneration and reconstruction of tissues and organs, as well as treatment and prevention of diseases.
US09683207B2 Method for growing cells in hollow fibers
A system and method for culturing cells is provided that includes an extra-capillary space between at least one permeable hollow fiber and an enclosed chamber. Cells are placed in the extra-capillary space to grow. One or more reservoirs containing cell-culture media and/or an oxygen-containing gas are provided in communication with the at least one fiber. The system is configured to generate alternating flows of both the cell-culture media and the gas through a lumen of the hollow fiber(s), thereby passing both nutrients and gas through the walls of the fiber(s) to the cells in the extra-capillary space to provide a suitable environment for growth and/or proliferation of the cells. Flows of liquid and gas through the hollow fiber(s) can be produced by gravity and/or various pumping configurations.
US09683198B2 Cleansing composition for skin or hair
The present invention provides a cleansing composition for skin or hair which can provide a good durability of foam and rinse feel, give good combability and softness from during rinsing to after drying while imparting manageability to hair when the cleansing composition is applied to hair, and give good moist feeling to skin when the cleansing composition is applied to skin. The cleansing composition for skin or hair is a cleansing composition comprising an internal olefin sulfonate (A) having 12 or more and 24 or less carbon atoms.
US09683193B1 Color-stable transmission fluid compositions
The present disclosure describes transmission fluid compositions, additive packages, and methods for lubricating a transmission, particularly transmission fluid compositions having color stability that are able to meet or exceed vehicle transmission fluid specifications for different makes of vehicles. The transmission fluid composition contains a base oil and an additive composition having at least one thiadiazole compound the selected from compounds of the Formulas (I)-(II): wherein n is 1-5; R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having 1-100 carbon atoms; and R2 is a hydrogen or is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having 1-100 carbon atoms, wherein the transmission fluid composition is adapted for use in a transmission.
US09683192B2 Lubricant composition based on polyglycerol ether
A lubricant composition includes at least one branched polyglycerol ether, and more particularly at least one branched polyglycerol ether and at least one dispersant. A method for reducing fuel consumption of a vehicle utilizing a lubricant composition is also provided. Furthermore, a use of a branched polyglycerol ether as a friction modifier in a lubricant composition is disclosed.
US09683173B2 Nematic liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display element using same
A liquid crystal composition of the present invention is used for a liquid crystal display device of an active matrix driving method, which requires fast response. The liquid crystal composition has negative dielectric anisotropy and a large absolute value thereof, and low viscosity. The liquid crystal composition is chemically stable to heat, light, water, and the like, and is suitable as a liquid crystal composition capable of low-voltage driving and practicable and having high reliability. A liquid crystal display device using the liquid crystal composition can be preferably used for a liquid crystal display device of a VA mode, a PASV mode, a PSA mode, or the like.
US09683172B2 Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display including the same
A liquid crystal composition includes at least one polar liquid crystal compound represented by Chemical Formula PI-1 to PI-4: in which each n, n1, and n2 in Chemical Formula PI-1 to PI-4 is any one of 1, 2, and 3, in Chemical Formula PI-1 to PI-4, each A, A1, and A2 includes one of each L1 to L8 includes one of —H, —F, —Cl, —OCF3, —CF3, —CH2F, and —CHF2, each Z, Z1, and Z2 includes one of single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CF2O—, —OCF2—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —SCH2—, —CH2S—, —CH2CH2—, —C2F4—, —CH2—CF2—, —CF2CH2—, —(CH2)Z— (z is 1 to 3), —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CF—, —CF═CH—, —C═C—, and —CH═CHCH2O—, and R includes one of hydrogen, halogen, a cyano group, alkyl group, and an alkoxy group including 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
US09683166B2 Hydrocarbon well treatment methods and fluids
A treatment method for a hydrocarbon well includes placing a well treatment fluid containing a viscosifying agent in the well and, using the viscosifying agent, attaining a first viscosity of the fluid in the well. The method includes combining a porphyrin compound with the fluid and, using the porphyrin compound, decreasing viscosity of the fluid in the well to a second viscosity less than the first viscosity. A hydrocarbon well treatment fluid includes an aqueous carrier fluid, a polymer viscosifying agent, and a chlorophyll compound.
US09683165B2 Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation
The fracturing methods can provide an advantage over the current fracturing methods. The disclosed fracturing methods can change the fracture gradient of the downhole subterranean formation. For example, one or more of the fracture gradients of the low and high stress zones of the downhole subterranean formation can be changed. Furthermore, the methods of present disclosure, in relation to current practices, can decrease the extent and/or degree of fracturing within low stress downhole formations and increase the degree of fracturing within high stress formations.
US09683156B2 Heat transfer fluids comprising difluoromethane, pentafluoroethane, tetrafluoropropene and optionally propane
A composition includes between 11 and 13 wt. % of difluoromethane; between 58 and 62 wt. % of pentafluoroethane; between 18 and 29 wt. % of tetrafluoropropene; and between 0 and 7 wt. % of propane. The tetrafluoropropene can be 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene or 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. The composition can be used as a heat transfer fluid in a vapor compression circuit.
US09683149B2 Oriented structural adhesives
A solid, dry to the touch at ambient temperature, heat curable, generally non-foaming structural adhesive that exhibits shape memory characteristics. The adhesive can be cured at an elevated temperature and contains a high molecular weight polymeric constituent that can be oriented such that at an elevated temperature below the curing temperature the material will shrink in one plane while increasing its thickness at a temperature in the range of from above the elevated temperature to below the curing temperature.
US09683147B2 Encapsulated polymerization initiators, polymerization systems and methods using the same
A polymerizable system includes a curable composition and one or more encapsulated initiator particles. The curable composition can include one or more 1,1-disubstituted alkene compounds and the encapsulated initiator particles can include one or more polymerization initiators encapsulated by a cured composition. The cured composition includes one or more 1,1-disubstituted alkene compounds.
US09683145B2 Pressure-sensitive adhesives with onium-epoxy crosslinking system
A pre-adhesive composition is described comprising an acid- and epoxy-functional (meth)acryloyl copolymer, which when crosslinked with or without using an ionic photoacid generator (PAG) provides a pressure-sensitive adhesive and pressure-sensitive adhesive articles having desirable properties.
US09683140B2 Adhesive tape and its use
An adhesive bonding system joins flat webs when changing rolls of such webs. The adhesive bonding system comprises two adhesive tape boundary edges, and further comprises a top carrier layer and a bottom carrier layer, a flat connecting element that connects the two carrier layers to one another and is suitable for opening the connection under the conditions of a static or flying roll change. At least one of the boundary edges of the connecting element does not extend in a straight line, and a straight-line emphasis line is defined in relation to this boundary edge, the emphasis line of this boundary edge extends along a preferential direction, and this boundary edge has a multiplicity of regions lying on one side of its emphasis line and also a multiplicity of regions lying on the other side of its emphasis line.
US09683136B2 Articles, compositions, systems, and methods using selectively detackified adhesives
Adhesive compositions are described which can be selectively detackified or deadened. Articles using such adhesive compositions are also described. Also described are techniques in which select regions of adhesive layers in the articles are detackified. Also described are systems and methods using the various articles and adhesive compositions. And particular label constructions are described.
US09683129B2 Polythioether sealants with extended working time
Thiol-terminated polythioether compositions and sealants prepared using the thiol-terminated polythioether compositions that exhibit extended working time and that rapidly cures at room temperature at the end of the working time are disclosed.
US09683120B2 Fixer fluids
The present disclosure provides fixer fluid compositions and related systems and methods. In one example, a fixer fluid can comprise a liquid vehicle, a surfactant, and a cationic polymer. The liquid vehicle can include water and co-solvent having a boiling point from 160° C. to 250° C., the co-solvent present in the fixer fluid in an amount of 1 wt % to 40 wt %. The surfactant can be present in the fixer fluid in an amount of 0.1 wt % to 10 wt %. The cationic polymer can be present in the fixer fluid in an amount of 0.1 wt % to 25 wt %. The fixer fluid can be formulated for printing on non-porous media and does not include more than 5 wt % volatile co-solvent and more than 3 wt % non-volatile co-solvent.
US09683118B2 Oil-based pigment ink composition and oil-based pigment ink writing tool
An oil-based pigment ink composition contains titanium dioxide pigment, mica pigment, dispersant, oil-soluble resin, and organic solvent, whose viscosity at a shear velocity of 76 (l/s) is 50 mPa-s or lower. The ink composition produces writing with sufficient covering property and legibility, does not form hard cakes, and can release ink in a stable manner from the tip of a writing tool.
US09683107B2 Copper oxide infrared pigment
Copper oxide particles having particular starting size and surface area characteristics can be processed by heat and milling to achieve sizes and particle size distributions that give the copper oxide properties as an infrared reflective pigment without addition of other metals or oxides.
US09683105B2 Photoluminescent pigment, and photoluminescent paint composition and automobile outer panel coating material containing same
A bright pigment of the present invention is a bright pigment including flaky particles and a metal oxide layer covering each surface of the flaky particles. The bright pigment has a particle diameter corresponding to a 90% volume-cumulative particle diameter from a small particle diameter side, in a particle size distribution, of 55 μm or less. The flaky particles are formed of a material having a refractive index of 1.4 to 1.8. The flaky particles have an average thickness of 0.35 to 0.55 μm and substantially do not contain flaky particles having a thickness of 0.15 μm or less.
US09683101B2 Batteries, separators, components, and compositions with heavy metal removal capability and related methods
In accordance with at least certain embodiments of the present invention, a novel concept of utilizing PIMS minerals as a filler component within a microporous lead-acid battery separator is provided. In accordance with more particular embodiments or examples, the PIMS mineral (preferably fish meal, a bio-mineral) is provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler component in a silica filled lead acid battery separator (preferably a polyethylene/silica separator formulation). In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to new or improved batteries, separators, components, and/or compositions having heavy metal removal capabilities and/or methods of manufacture and/or methods of use thereof.
US09683090B2 Polyester resin composition containing amino-triazine derivative
A polyester resin composition containing 100 parts by mass of a polyester resin and 0.01 to 10 parts by mass of a 2-amino-1,3,5-triazine derivative of Formula [1]: a polyester resin molded body obtained by the composition, and a crystal nucleating agent including the triazine derivative. A polyester resin composition containing a crystal nucleating agent that makes it possible to produce, with high productivity, a polyester resin molded product that promotes polyester resin crystallization and maintains high transparency after crystallization and is applicable for a wide variety of uses can be provided.
US09683089B2 Methods for treating rubber-containing particles and products produced therefrom
Methods for treating rubber-containing particles to produce materials suitable for blending with thermoplastic or thermoset polymers are disclosed. The rubber-containing particles are mixed with a fatty acid-containing material in a friction mixer to produce a rubber-containing particulate mixture. The rubber-containing particles may comprise virgin or recycled particulate rubber such as from used tires.
US09683088B2 Process for regenerating sulfur-crosslinked rubber vulcanizates to give regenerates
A process for regenerating sulfur-crosslinked rubber vulcanizates to regenerates, wherein at least one regenerating agent is used in the regeneration. The regenerating agent is selected from the group consisting of dithiophosphoryl polysulfides and/or silanes having a polysulfane group. Regenerates which have been produced by means of the process lead to improved or equal rolling resistance indicators and a lower compression set in vulcanized rubber mixtures compared to regenerates known in the prior art.
US09683080B2 Tire
A tire includes a circular tire frame formed of a resin material, the resin material including a polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomer having a weight average molecular weight of from 15,700 to 75,000. Included with the tire may be side portions and a crown portion that serves as an outer peripheral portion that is in communication with the side portions.
US09683079B2 Particulate amine-functionalized polyaryletherketone polymer and copolymers thereof
Particles of an amine-functionalized polyaryletherketone polymer or copolymer thereof. The amine-functionalized polyaryletherketone polymer or copolymer thereof is selected from the group consisting of: polyaryletherketone polymer with terminal amine or protected amine functional group(s); polyaryletherketone-imide copoplymer with terminal amine or protected amine functional group(s); and polyaryletherketone-sulphone copolymer with terminal amine or protected amine functional group(s).
US09683077B2 Copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide without production of propylene carbonate
Copolymers of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide and homopolymers of propylene oxide are made using two dimensional double metal cyanide complexes having the formula Co[M(CN)4] or hydrated or partially dehydrated form thereof. There is no propylene carbonate by product in the copolymerization.
US09683076B2 Processes for recovering and purifying polyhydroxyalkanoates from cell cultures
A process for recovering and purifying polyhydroxyalkanoates from a cell culture may include: (a) acidifying the culture to obtain a pH value less than or equal to 6, and submitting the culture to a cell fractionation treatment using high-pressure homogenization at a temperature greater than or equal to 10° C. and less than or equal to 80° C. to obtain a suspension; (b) basifying the suspension to obtain a pH value greater than or equal to 8; (c) diluting the suspension and submitting the diluted PHA suspension to tangential filtration to obtain a concentrated suspension as retentate and an aqueous phase as permeate; (d) submitting the concentrated suspension to bleaching; (e) diluting the suspension after the bleaching and submitting the diluted bleached suspension to tangential filtration to obtain a concentrated bleached suspension as retentate and an aqueous phase as permeate; and/or (f) submitting the concentrated bleached suspension to drying.
US09683071B2 Rigid polyurethane foam
A rigid polyurethane foam includes the reaction product of an isocyanate and an isocyanate reactive component in the presence of a blowing agent. The isocyanate reactive component includes an aromatic polyester polyol, a rigid polyol, and an aliphatic polyester polyol. The rigid polyurethane foam has a tensile adhesion of greater than 35 kPa (5 psi) when disposed on a metal substrate or a polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy coated metal substrate, each having a substrate temperature of greater than 41° C. (105° F.), and tested in accordance with ASTM D1623-09. A method of forming a composite article comprising a substrate and the rigid polyurethane foam includes the steps of combining the isocyanate reactive component and the isocyanate in the presence of the blowing agent to form a reaction mixture and applying the reaction mixture to the substrate having a substrate temperature of greater than 41° C. (105° F.) to form the composite article.
US09683068B2 Amphiphilic graft copolymers
A novel amphiphilic graft copolymer is described. A process to make amphiphilic graft copolymers via grafting either poly(ethylene oxide) or polylactide side chains onto an EVA platform using oxo-anion ring-opening polymerization chemistry is also described. Polyethylene or polypropylene based graft copolymers are prepared starting from poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) or maleic anhydride grafted isotactic polypropylene respectively. The amphiphilic character will result from the incorporation of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) side-chains. Various applications of the novel amphiphilic graft copolymer are also described including, but not limited to, thermoplastic elastomer, films, fibers, fabrics, gels, breathable packaging materials, additive for biodegradable system, surfactant, antistatic additives, polymer compatibilizers, phase transfer catalysts, solid polymer electrolytes, biocompatible polymers, or incorporation into the materials listed above.
US09683063B2 Process
Process for polymerizing olefins in a polymerization reactor system including at least first and second introduction points by which the same reaction component may be introduced directly at different locations on the reactor system. At a first time, the reaction component is introduced through at least the first introduction point, such that a proportion X of the reaction component which is introduced through the first and second introduction points is introduced through the first introduction point. At a second, later, time the same reaction component is introduced through at least the second introduction point and such that a proportion Y of the reaction component which is introduced through the first and second introduction points is introduced through the first introduction point. Y is less than X, and at least one of the first and second introduction points is located on the reactor system at a location not on the reactor.
US09683056B2 Activating agents for hafnium-based metallocene components
The present invention discloses an active metallocene catalyst system prepared with a hafnium-based metallocene catalyst system and an activating agent comprising an aluminoxane and a sterically hindered Lewis base.
US09683052B2 Hetero-dimeric immunoglobulins
The present invention relates to engineered hetero-dimeric immunoglobulins or fragments thereof and methods of making the same.
US09683050B2 Stable compositions of high-concentration allotype-selected antibodies for small-volume administration
Disclosed are methods, compositions and uses of high concentration antibody or immunoglobulin formulations for subcutaneous, intramuscular, transdermal or other local (regional) administration, in a volume of than 3, less than 2 or less than 1 ml. Preferably, the formulation contains a high concentration formulation (HCF) buffer comprising phosphate, citrate, polysorbate 80 and mannitol at a pH of about 5.2. The formulation more preferably comprises at least 100, 150, 200, 250 mg/ml or 300 mg/ml of antibody. The methods for preparing the high concentration formulation include ultrafiltration and diafiltration to concentrate the antibody and exchange the medium for HCF buffer. Other embodiments concern use of non-G1m1 (nG1m1) allotype antibodies, such as G1m3 and/or a nG1m1,2 antibodies. The nG1m1 antibodies show decreased immunogenicity compared to G1m1 antibodies.
US09683047B2 Methods for treating progressive multiple sclerosis
The present invention concerns methods for treating progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in a patient, and an article of manufacture with instructions for such use.
US09683045B2 Biological materials related to c-Met
The present invention relates to biological materials related to c-Met possibly in combination with VEGF and/or EGFR, and more in particular to polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides; to methods for preparing such polypeptides; to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such polypeptides; to compositions and in particular to pharmaceutical compositions that comprise such polypeptides, for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. Methods and kits for assessing the responsiveness of a patient to c-Met therapy are also described and provided.
US09683044B2 Molecules with antigen binding and polyvalent FC gamma receptor binding activity
The current invention involves biologically active proteins termed stradobodies. The stradobodies have two or more domains that create stradobody multimers. The stradobodies have both antigen-binding capacity and the ability to bind Fc receptors (FcR), and are useful in the treatment and prevention of disease.
US09683037B2 Method of treating atopic dermatitis with IL-31 monoclonal antibodies
The present invention relates to methods of treating pruritic diseases, including but not limited to Contact dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis, Drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma, Bullous pemphigoid, Alopecia wereata, Vitiligo, Acne Rosacea, Prurigo nodularis, Scleroderma, Herpes simplex virus, or combination thereof by administering IL-31 monoclonal antibodies. The invention further provides the hybridomas that generate the monoclonal antibodies.
US09683035B2 Polynucleotides encoding VHNAR anti-cytokine domains
The present invention concerns therapeutic compositions containing proteins that are the variable regions of IgNAR immunoglobulins, denominated vNAR, that specifically bind and neutralizes cytokines involved in a diversity of process such as inflammation and neovascularization, its ability to reach, bind, and neutralize the activity of one antigenic molecule localized in an immunoprivileged organs, are also described.
US09683032B2 Anti-S100A4 antibody molecules and their uses
Anti-S100A4 antibody molecules that are capable of inhibiting the biological activity of S100A4 in promoting tumor progression and/or in inducing tumor metastasis are described. The antibody molecules are also useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. The properties of the antibodies are demonstrated using in vitro and in vivo assays.
US09683021B2 Identification of protective antigenic determinants of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and uses thereof
The invention relates to a polypeptide of a protective antigenic determinant (PAD polypeptide) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and nucleic acids encoding a PAD polypeptide. The PAD polypeptide and nucleic acids encoding a PAD polypeptide are useful in the development of antibodies directed to PAD, vaccines effective in providing protection against PRRSV infection, and diagnostic assays detecting the presence of PAD antibodies generated by a PAD-specific vaccine. The invention also discloses methods of generating antibodies to PAD, for vaccinating a pig to provide protection from PRRSV infections, a method of preparing the vaccine, a method of treating PRRSV infections in a pig, and a method of detecting antibodies to PAD of PRRSV.
US09683006B2 Method of purifying/concentrating sugar chains with a sugar chain-trapping molecule and method of analyzing sugar chain structure
The present invention provides substance which can specifically interact with sugar chains. Further, the present invention provides a method for separating, concentrating, or purifying sugar chains or a sugar chain-containing substance in a sample, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a sugar chain-trapping carrier comprising a substance which can specifically interact with sugar chains with the sample in a fluid phase under conditions that the sugar chain-trapping carrier can react with the sugar chains or sugar chain-containing substance; b) isolating a composite of the sugar chain-trapping carrier and the sugar chains or sugar chain-containing substance from the fluid phase; and c) exposing the composite to the conditions that the interaction between the sugar chain-trapping carrier and the sugar chains or sugar chain-containing substance is at least partially eliminated.
US09683004B2 Coated nanoparticles
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a composition comprising nanoparticles of a noble metal functionalized with at least one type of metal complex and surfactant. The method comprises providing a first solution comprising nanoparticles and surfactant, and a second solution comprising a first type of metal complex, and adding the second solution to the first solution. Each nanoparticle has a loading of at least 500 and the method permits independent control of particle size and loading and enables large particles with high loading to be reproduced without agglomeration.
US09682995B2 Amino-substituted isothiazoles
The present invention relates to isothiazoles of general formula (I) which inhibit the mitotic checkpoint: in which A, R1 and R2 are as defined in the claims, to methods of preparing said compounds, to intermediate compounds useful for preparing said compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising said compounds and to the use of said compounds for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease, in particular of neoplasms, as a sole agent or in combination with other active ingredients.
US09682988B2 Solid salt form of α-6-mPEG6-O-hydroxycodone as opioid agonists and uses thereof
Solid forms of certain opioid agonists are provided herein. Methods of preparing the solid forms, methods of using the solid forms, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the solid forms are also provided herein.
US09682987B2 Solid forms of an antiviral compound
Amorphous and crystalline solid forms of the anti-HCV compound (1-{3-[6-(9,9-difluoro-7-{2-[5-(2-methoxycarbonylamino-3-methyl-butyryl)-5-aza-spiro[2.4]hept-6-yl]-3H-imidazol-4-yl}-9H-fluoren-2-yl)-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl]-2-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carbonyl}-2-methyl-propyl)-carbamic acid methyl ester (Compound I) were prepared and characterized in the solid state: Also provided are processes of manufacture and methods of using the amorphous and crystalline forms.
US09682985B2 (Indazol-4-yl) hexahydropyrrolopyrrolones and methods of use
Compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, amides, or radiolabelled forms thereof, wherein GAr, L1, Z1 and Z2 are as defined in the specification, are useful in treating conditions or disorders prevented by or ameliorated by voltage-gated sodium channels, e.g., Nav1.7 and/or Nav1.8. Methods for making the compounds are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions of compounds of formula (I), and methods for using such compounds and compositions.
US09682984B2 Methods for the preparation of alcaftadine
The invention relates to new and improved processes for the preparation of Alcaftadine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as well as an intermediate for the preparation of Alcaftadine. The new process saves a number of steps compared to the known process and results in a higher yield.
US09682980B2 Positive allosteric modulators of mGluR2
The disclosure generally relates to compounds of formula I, including their salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds modulate the mGluR2 receptor and may be useful for the treatment of various disorders of the central nervous system. Formula (I):
US09682978B2 2,6,7 substituted purines as HDM2 inhibitors
The present invention provides 2,6,7 substituted purines as described herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The representative compounds are useful as inhibitors of the HDM2 protein. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the above compounds and potential methods of treating cancer using the same.
US09682977B2 Bicyclic heteroaryl indole analogues useful as ROR gamma modulators
The present disclosure is directed to compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein X, X1, M, R2, R3, R4, R5, m, n, and p are as defined herein, which are active as modulators of retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). These compounds prevent, inhibit, or suppress the action of RORγt and are therefore useful in the treatment of RORγt mediated diseases, disorders, syndromes or conditions such as, e.g., pain, inflammation, COPD, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
US09682964B2 Amide compound
A method is provided for producing an amide compound having an excellent control effect on arthropod pests. The method includes an arthropod pest control agent that contains the compound, and a step of applying an effective amount of the compound to control the arthropod pest or an arthropod pest-infested area.
US09682963B2 Pyridine derivatives as soft rock inhibitors
The present invention relates to new kinase inhibitors of Formula (I) or a stereoisomer, tautomer, racemic, salt, hydrate, or solvate thereof, and more specifically to ROCK inhibitors, compositions, in particular pharmaceuticals, comprising such inhibitors, and to uses of such inhibitors in the treatment and prophylaxis of disease. In addition, the invention relates to methods of treatment and use of said compounds in the manufacture of a medicament for the application to a number of therapeutic indications including Respiratory and Gastro-Intestinal diseases.
US09682955B2 Quinazoline derivatives useful as CB-1 inverse agonists
The present invention is directed to quinazoline derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing said derivatives and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions mediated by the CB-1 receptor; more particularly, in the treatment of disorders and conditions responsive to inverse agonism of the CB-1 receptor. For example, the compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment of metabolic disorders.
US09682949B2 Process for the preparation of thietane derivatives
The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of thietane derivatives of the formula IA and thietane derivatives of the formula IB wherein R1, R2, A1, A2, A3, A4, B, and n are as defined in the claims. The invention also relates to intermediates useful in the processes, as well as the compounds of formula IA and IB and their use as pesticides.
US09682943B2 Benzylideneguanidine derivatives and therapeutic use for the treatment of protein misfolding diseases
The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), or a tautomer and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R1 is alkyl, Cl, F or Br; R2 is H or F; R3 is selected from H and alkyl; R4 is selected from H and C(O)R6; R5 is H; or R4 and R5 are linked to form a heterocyclic group which is optionally substituted with one or more R10 groups; R6 is selected from R7, OR7 and NR8R9; R7, R8 and R9 are each independently selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl and aryl, each of which is optionally substituted with one or more R10 groups; each R10 is independently selected from halogen, OH, CN, NO2, COO-alkyl, aralkyl, SO2-alkyl, SO2-aryl, COOH, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, NH2, NH-alkyl, N(alkyl)2, CF3, alkyl and alkoxy; X and Z are each independently CR11, and Y is selected from CR11 and N; and R11 is H or F; for use in treating a disorder associated with protein misfolding stress and in particular associated with accumulation of misfolded proteins.
US09682935B2 Process for preparation of indacaterol or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts
A novel process the for preparation of Indacaterol or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and novel intermediates employed in the preparation thereof that is economically significant for large scale.
US09682932B2 Process for production of high purity beta-carotene and lycopene crystals from fungal biomass
The present invention relates to a simple and economic method of extracting a crystalline Carotenoid compound, such as Beta-carotene, Lycopene, with a purity of at least 99%. The present invention further describes a process to prepare such a highly pure crystalline Carotenoid compound from microbial biomass, using an Anti-purity compound removal process followed by a mono-solvent extraction method. Further the process describes value addition of the co-products recovered during the extraction process thus resulting in a highly economical industrial method for the production of such high purity crystalline Carotenoids compound.
US09682930B2 Rheumatoid arthritis treatment
A compound of formula (I) R-L-CO—X  (I) (wherein R is a C10-24 unsaturated hydrocarbon group optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms or groups of heteroatoms selected from S, O, N, SO, SO2, said hydrocarbon group comprising at least 4 non-conjugated double bonds; L is a linking group forming a bridge of 1 to 5 atoms between the R group and the carbonyl CO; and X is an electron withdrawing group) for use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
US09682929B2 Metalloprotease inhibitors, methods for producing same, and therapeutics uses thereof
The invention relates to new α-vinyl carbonylated compounds corresponding to general formula (I), wherein R1, R2,R3, R4, R5 and Y are as defined in claim 1, their isomers, their diastereoisomers and acid addition salts or a pharmaceutically acceptable base. The invention also relates to a method for producing said compounds (I). It further relates to the use of said compound (I) as selective metalloprotease inhibitors, especially matrix metalloproteases 12 (MMP-12) and/or 9 (MMP-9). The compounds (I) are particularly useful for the prevention and/or treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly emphysema induced by cigarette smoke.
US09682928B2 Bumetanide analogs, compositions and methods of use
The present invention provides bumetanide analogs and compositions comprising such analogs. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing these bumetanide analogs and methods for their use. These analogs are particularly useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of conditions that involve the Na+K+Cl− co-transporter or GABAA receptor including but not limited to addictive disorders, Alzheimer's Disease, anxiety disorders, ascites, autism, bipolar disorder, cancer, depression, endothelial corneal dystrophy, edema, epilepsy, glaucoma. Huntington's Disease, insomnia, ischemia, migraine, migraine with aura, neuropathic pain, nociceptive neuralgia, nociceptive pain, ocular diseases, pain, Parkinson's disease, personality disorders, postherpetic neuralgia, psychosis, schizophrenia, seizure disorders, tinnitus, and withdrawal syndromes.
US09682926B2 Cancer chemotherapeutic agent/formulation, manufacture and use thereof
A cancer chemotherapeutic agent that is particularly kinase suppressing and/or any other signaling pathway interfering agents and pharmaceutical formulations/compositions involving the same and its process of manufacture is provided. A potential the cancer chemotherapeutic agent is provided which apart from stated anticancer activity as a proven kinase suppressing and/or any other signaling pathway interfering agent could also involve specific potential binding affinity towards the intramolecular G-Quadruplex DNA structure and/or other potential quadruplex forming sequences over duplex DNA structures favors further diverse end use and application including but not limited to antiaging, antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, antitumor, antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and multiple anticancer therapeutics, and also possesses favorable cytotoxicity values towards uncontrollably proliferative cells by inducing apoptosis irrespective of cells' p53 status, without being cytotoxic to normal cells.
US09682921B2 β-substituted γ-amino acids and analogs as chemotherapeutic agents
β-Substituted γ-amino acids, β-substituted γ-amino acid derivatives, and β-substituted γ-amino acid analogs and (bio)isosteres and their use as chemotherapeutic agents are disclosed. The β-substituted γ-amino acid derivatives and β-substituted γ-amino acid analogs and (bio)isosteres are selective LAT1/4F2hc substrates, capable of passing through the blood-brain barrier, and exhibit rapid uptake and retention in tumors expressing the LAT1/4F2hc transporter. Methods of synthesizing the β-substituted γ-amino acid derivatives and β-substituted γ-amino acid analogs and (bio)isosteres and methods of using the compounds for treating tumors are also disclosed. The β-substituted γ-amino acid derivatives and β-substituted γ-amino acid analogs and (bio)isosteres exhibit an improved selectivity toward tumor cells expressing the LAT1/4F2hc transporter and accumulate in cancerous cells when administered to a subject in vivo. The β-substituted γ-amino acid derivatives and β-substituted γ-amino acid analogs and (bio)isosteres exhibit an increased efficacy on a variety of tumor types.
US09682903B2 Process for separation and purification of renewable propane
A method for treating a gas stream comprising hydrogen and propane, where a combination of membrane separation and elevated pressure distillation is used to separate the hydrogen gas from the propane gas.
US09682902B2 Membrane separation process using mixed vapor-liquid feed
The present invention pertains to a pervaporation membrane process for the separation of high octane fuel components from a gasoline feed stream comprising feeding a mixed phase vapor-liquid feed to a cyclone separation means to separate the liquid from the vapor, then sending the saturated vapor to the membrane, thereby extending the useful life of the membrane.
US09682900B2 Hydrocarbon conversion
This disclosure relates to the conversion of methane to higher molecular weight (C5+) hydrocarbon, including aromatic hydrocarbon, to materials and equipment useful in such conversion, and to the use of such conversion for, e.g., natural gas upgrading.
US09682897B1 High density fuels from oxygenated terpenoids
A method for the efficient synthesis of useful deoxygenated terpenoids from an abundant renewable source, using catalytic conversion of oxygenated terpenoids. Oxygenated terpenoids such as 1,4-cineole and 1,8-cineole are, for example, major components of turpentine and essential oils. These oxygenated terpenoids can also be produced from sugars via a biosynthetic approach. Catalytic deoxygenation of these substrates can be used to efficiently generate commercially important chemicals and high density fuels for turbine or diesel propulsion.
US09682895B1 Bead milled spray dried nano-explosives
An effective, safe and economical method of manufacture of an insensitive high explosive molding powder usable as a booster HE. The method preferably involving the steps of adding a binder and a crystalline high explosive to water, grinding that suspension in a bead mill until the crystalline high explosive is nano-sized, and precipitating the binder and crystalline high explosive using a spray dryer. Alternatively, an aqueous suspension of the crystalline high explosive can be ground in the bead mill and the binder subsequently added, prior to spray drying. A fatty alcohol, water defoaming/dispersant/surfactant agent can be added to the dissolved binder/suspended crystalline high explosive, to aid in the manufacturability.
US09682888B2 Coated granules for construction applications
Provided are construction material granules. In one embodiment, the granules include a core enclosed by a layer comprising a conductive material and a layer comprising a dielectric material. Also provided are related methods of constructing such materials.
US09682883B2 Method for production of glass components
A method for the production of glass components, an apparatus for carrying out the method, and a glass component that is obtainable through the method are provided. The method is a drawing method wherein a forming zone of a preform is heated to a temperature that allows drawing of the glass. The method includes a forming zone of the preform that is very small. Thereby the width of the preform is decreased to a smaller extent than its thickness. The glass components that can be obtained by this method have very smooth surfaces.
US09682879B2 System and method for treating waste water by means of passive phosphorus capture
The invention relates to a system and a method for treating waste water using a passive phosphorus-capture filter lined with wood activated by the impregnation of a metal in the form of hydroxide, more specifically aluminum hydroxide or iron hydroxide. This system demonstrates phosphorus removal performances which are very closely linked to the release of iron and which support the observation that iron releases follow a cyclical trend. The method according to the invention also clearly demonstrates the cyclical nature of the reduction of phosphorus, directly linked to the same cycle of iron release at the outlet. When the medium is aerobic, it can precipitate the released iron in the form of hydroxide and thereby limit the release of iron into the outflow water and consequently its residual phosphorus. This model thus allows the service life of the system to be extended, while simultaneously taking advantage of the precipitation/solubilization cycle of the iron observed in the medium under reducing conditions.
US09682875B2 Electrochemical system and method for the treatment of water and wastewater
Contaminants are removed from untreated raw water or discharge water by applying direct current through an array of spaced, alternately charged electrodes positioned within and electrically isolated from a housing to eliminate or minimize clogging of the electrodes with precipitated contaminants. The housing is surrounded with container structure that cooperates with the housing to define an inlet chamber positioned between the source of untreated water and the housing containing the spaced array of electrodes. The container structure further includes an outlet chamber defined between the housing and the container structure for accumulating and draining water treated by the spaced electrode array.
US09682871B2 Apparatus for killing and preventing growth of algae and bacteria in the piping, filtering and pumping components of watermaker systems during periods of non-use
An algae and bacteria contamination preventing apparatus and subsystem including a conduit forming a flush-water flow path between a potable water supply and a connection to a feed water entry port of a watermaker system. A check-valve and flush-water connector is installed in the feed water entry conduit. The flush-water flow path includes a valve means for opening and closing the flow path, a filter/ion-generator component a controller for sensing flush-water flow in the flow path, and in response thereto, applying electrical power to an ion-generating element of the filter/ion-generator component. The filter/ion-generator component also includes a filter element which removes undesirable chemicals from the potable flush-water before the ion-generating element introduces copper and/or silver ions into the flush-water. The valve means may be manually operated or be controlled by a watermaker system shut down controller.
US09682867B2 Non-oxidizer particles
Particles containing a strong oxidizer (classified as PG I according to the standard test method of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, 5th revised Edition, sub-section 34.4.1) and at least one other constituent, the amount and nature of the constituent(s) other than the strong oxidizer in the particles being such that the particles are classified as non-oxidizer according to the standard test method of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, 5th revised Edition, sub-section 34.4.1. Process for the production of these particles.
US09682858B2 Electronic device, physical quantity sensor, pressure sensor, altimeter, electronic apparatus, and moving object
An physical quantity sensor includes a substrate, a piezoelectric resistive element that is disposed on one surface side of the substrate, a wall portion that is disposed on the one surface side of the substrate so as to surround the piezoelectric resistive element in a plan view of the substrate, and a ceiling portion that is disposed on an opposite side to the substrate with respect to the wall portion and forms a cavity along with the wall portion, in which the wall portion includes an insulating layer, and wiring layers that surround the insulating layer together and have higher resistance to an etchant which can etch the insulating layer than resistance of the insulating layer.
US09682852B2 Apparatus for forming a tube of pocket material and method for manufacturing a pocket spring string
An apparatus for forming a tube (54) of pocket material (22) for manufacturing a pocket spring string includes a cartridge (30) for guiding the pocket material (22). The cartridge (30) has at least one first element (61) and at least one second element (62). A relative position between the at least one first element (61) and the at least one second element (62) may be set in a direction (60) perpendicular to an axis (50) of the cartridge (30), in order to adjust a spacing between sides of the cartridge (30).
US09682851B2 Scoop and funnel
A single serving scoop and funnel both conveniently measures a correct amount of any liquid, gel, solid, granulated, or any pourable material, and facilitates pouring the measured material into a container. The funnel is moveably attached to a scoop handle, and may be moved between a first position over the scoop, and a second position withdrawn from the scoop. In one embodiment the funnel is hingedly attached to the scoop handle and rotates 180 degrees to latch opposite to the scoop, and may contain projections on each side of a funnel handle allowing single had use. In another embodiment the funnel slides along the handle away from the scoop.
US09682848B2 System and method for a self-contained lifting device
A modular lifting system, including an enclosable lifting device support structure. The enclosable lifting device support structure includes a deployable top, a plurality of lateral sides, a base coupled to the plurality of lateral sides, and a plurality of extension arms. The deployable top is configured to support a lifting device on a first side of the deployable top. The plurality of extension arms are configured to extend and support the deployable top when the deployable top is deployed.
US09682843B2 Elevator group management system
When a specific destination floor call is made, the control unit assigns an elevator of which waiting time is within the reference time from the plurality of elevators to the specific destination floor call, the waiting time being a time from a time when the specific destination floor call is made to a time when the specific user can get on an elevator at the specific floor. Further, when a general destination floor call is made, the control unit assigns one of the plurality of elevators in response to the general destination floor call such that an elevator of which waiting time to the specific destination floor call that is made after the general destination floor call is within the reference time is left.
US09682840B2 Folding roller with rubber-elastic inserts
A folding roller for use in a folding device for folding a fold is disclosed. At the folding device a substrate to be folded is pushed into an inlet roller nip of folding rollers rotating in opposite directions by a folding knife for forming a fold. The folded-away substrate is transferred from the folding rollers to a belt line guided about the folding rollers and consisting of transport belts for the purpose of onward transporting the folded product. The folding roller in the regions in axial extension in which at least one transport belt at least partially wraps the folding roller includes at least one rubber-elastic insert.
US09682834B2 Transport apparatus
A lead-in path through which a sheet is led in; a first branch path and a second branch path which branch from the lead-in path; a first switchback path which extends from the first branch path; a second switchback path which extends from the second branch path; a first joining path and a second joining path through which the switched-back sheet is transported; and a lead-out path which extends from a joining point at which the first joining path and the second joining path join with each other, are provided. The lead-out path passes through between the first switchback path and the second switchback path. A first connection point at which the first switchback path and the first joining path are connected to each other is disposed above a second connection point at which the second switchback path and the second joining path are connected to each other.
US09682831B1 Method and apparatus for intermodal container handling
A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.
US09682821B2 Article transport facility
An article transport facility comprises storage sections, a transport device, a controller, and a learning module. The transport device has a transfer device having a support portion, and a light-emitter-receiver. The controller is caused to store information that indicates a second target position at which the transfer device is located when transferring an article, and information that indicates a first target position to which the support portion is moved. Each of a plurality of storage sections is provided with a reflector. A learning control performed by the controller is a control in which a first target position and a second target position are learned based on information of an image of the reflector captured by the imaging device of the learning module and pre-learning position information. Each reflector has a first area which forms the periphery of the reflector, and a second area in the first area. The relationship between the reflectance and the wave length of the reflected light is different between the first area and the second area.
US09682813B2 Food packaging
A gum packaging 100 holding a plurality of gum products is provided. Advantageously, and in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, one or more gum packet portions 200 can be torn from the gum packaging 100 in order to reduce the size of the gum packaging 100. Here, each gum packet portion 200 contains a dosage of gum. Consequently, a retail outlet may sell gum packaging 100 having a user required number of gum dosages by tearing from a main gum packaging 100 a sub gum packaging 100 for purchase, wherein the sub gum packaging 100 has the required number of gum packet portions 200 according to the buyers wishes. Furthermore, a user may purchase a main gum packaging 100 and remove a sub gum packaging 100 having a required dosage for that day or activity, where the sub gum packaging 100 has the required number of gum packet portions 200 according to the selected dosage. This is advantageous because the user only has to carry around the gum required. Moreover, as the gum is consumed and the used gum packet portions 200 torn or otherwise separated from the gum packaging 100, the gum packaging becomes smaller, and therefore more comfortable to carry around.
US09682805B2 Closure for container
A canister includes a container and a closure. The container is formed to include a product-storage region and an open mouth that opens into the product-storage region. The closure is configured to couple to the container to close the open mouth.
US09682795B1 Box container and display
A corrugated box container with a main component including a base section and first and second side sections. The box container additionally includes first and second side support components associated with the first and second side sections for reinforcing the first and second side support sections. The box container further includes a cover component that is capable of engagement with the main component or the first and second side support components, such that the main component and the cover component present a fully enclosed space within the box container. The box container is erected from a knockdown configuration by folding the first and second side sections until the side sections are generally perpendicular with the base section; connecting the first and second side support components with the first and second side sections respectively; and connecting the cover component with the main component or the first and second side support components.
US09682792B2 Triangular shipping container
Disclosure is directed to a preconfigured planar container template (“container template”) that can be assembled into a triangular shipping container (“container”). The container template is a substantially planar panel/flat sheet having a specified number of fold lines at specified positions in the planar panel, and which can be assembled into the container by folding at the fold lines. While not only assembling the container template into the container is very easy, making or manufacturing the container template is also very easy. The making or the manufacturing of the container template can include cutting a planar panel, e.g., made of some preferable material, into a container template of a specified shape and size and making a specified number of fold lines on the container template. The container template can be manufactured without using any securing products, such as glue and staple.
US09682786B2 Isolation systems for image data gathering devices
An image gathering system includes an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) device, an isolation system with a damper, and a controller operatively associated with the damper. The damper has a vehicle coupling and a payload coupling, and the payload coupling is connected to the ISR system. The controller is operatively associated with the damper to change the damping coefficient of the damper based on an expected vibration signature of a vehicle coupled to the isolation system through the vehicle coupling of the damper.
US09682785B2 Data retrieval system in an aircraft with data stored during a flight and wirelessly transmitted to a ground system after landing using a electromagnetically sealed device which can be open or closed
An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in a first location, for example a bay (8), in a aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; and wireless apparatus (18) comprising an antenna (28), at least the antenna (28) being located in a second location, for example an undercarriage bay, in the aircraft (2) that is different to the first location, the wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after landing, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6); the second location (10) being a location that can have a closed or open configuration and which will be in the closed configuration for at least a majority of the flight and in the open configuration, for a purpose other than retrieving the stored data, after the aircraft (2) has landed.
US09682779B2 Vehicle seat
A vehicle seat, in particular an aircraft seat, includes at least one seating device, which has at least one seat unit and at least one bench unit, which is arranged at one side of the seat unit in a transverse direction oriented at least substantially perpendicular to a seat unit longitudinal direction. The bench unit, in at least one seat position, can have at least one bench unit section which projects rearward beyond the seat unit in relation to the seat unit longitudinal direction.
US09682777B2 System and method for controlling a remote aerial device for up-close inspection
The method and system may be used to control the movement of a remote aerial device in an incremental step manner during a close inspection of an object or other subject matter. At the inspection location, a control module “stabilizes” the remote aerial device in a maintained, consistent hover while maintaining a close distance to the desired object. The control module may retrieve proximal sensor data that indicates possible nearby obstructions to the remote aerial device and may transmit the data to a remote control client. The remote control module may determine and display the possible one or more non-obstructed directions that the remote aerial device is capable of moving by an incremental distance. In response to receiving a selection of one of the directions, the remote control module may transmit the selection to the remote aerial device to indicate the next movement for the remote aerial device.
US09682773B2 Systems and methods for blade attachment
Systems and methods for blade attachment are proved. The systems and methods include an aircraft system having a rotor hub including a blade connector and a composite blade including a lug fitting assembly. The lug fitting assembly includes a fitting core including a lug fitting aperture, a lug bushing coupled within the lug fitting aperture, and an outer fitting substantially surrounding the fitting core.
US09682772B2 Multi-stage tilting and multi-rotor flying car
The present invention provides a multi-stage tilting and multi-rotor flying car including: a main frame externally shaped like a rectangle and internally partitioned to have a grid structure; a body mounted at a center of the main frame in consideration of balance; a plurality of rotors mounted to the main frame to face upward; a plurality of wheels mounted to the main frame to face downward; body wings provided at opposite sides of the body; and an automatic driving controller provided in the body and controlling the rotors and the wheels, thereby having effects on spending only the minimum necessary flying time for taking off and landing in a narrow area, and improving flight performance three times higher in flight time and flight speed and five times higher in fight distance than a rotary-wing aircraft such as a helicopter while flying in the fixed-wing mode.
US09682763B2 Apparatus and methods for attaching panels to support structures
Apparatus and methods for attaching a panel to a supporting structure. Hinged assemblies having open and closed hinge states are attached to at least two elements of the supporting structure. A multiplicity of clips are bonded to the back surface of the panel. The clips are hooked on respective hinged assemblies while the latter are in their respective open hinge states, whereby the panel is coupled to the at least two elements of the supporting structure with loose fit engagement. Then the hinged assemblies are manipulated so that their respective states transform from open to closed, whereby the panel is attached to the at least two elements of the supporting structure with positive snap fit engagement. No fasteners or tooling are required when installing or removing the panels.
US09682759B1 Trolling motor lift cord clamp device
Included is a trolling motor lift cord attachment device for attaching a trolling motor lift cable, or cord to a support of a trolling motor. The device comprises a clamping bracket having a first clamp section and a second clamp section. Each clamp section includes a center section, a center axis passing through the center section, at least two arm portions extending from the center section, and a concave engagement area formed by the center section and at least two arm portions. Each arm portion includes a fastening area positioned to align with one of the fastening areas on another arm portion when the center axes of the clamp sections are aligned. The concave engagement area of each clamp section is shaped to form an orifice shape to substantially surround the support of the trolling motor when the center axis of the first section is aligned with the center axis of the second section.
US09682752B2 Deflection absorbing tensioner frame
An example deflection absorbing tensioner frame for a platform of an offshore vessel may include at least one metal beam supporting a tensioner. A deflection absorber may be coupled to at least one metal beam. The deflection absorber may be configured to absorb axial, rotational, and lateral deflections in a platform deck coupled to the deflection absorber.
US09682749B2 Towing device with a hinged fairlead
A towing device, intended to be fitted to the deck of a ship, comprises a winch, a cable and a fairlead, the cable running through the fairlead under the action of the winch. The fairlead comprises at least a first and a second sector, the sectors allowing the cable to be guided in a groove made in each of the sectors, a first articulation with a degree of freedom to rotate about an axis, the articulation connecting the two sectors, the axis being substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the cable runs substantially through the fairlead at the articulation, and limiting means that limit the angular travel of the articulation. The sectors and the limiting means are dimensioned so as to prevent the cable from exceeding a lower limit of radius of curvature.
US09682729B2 Fiber composite support for vehicular components
A vehicular instrument panel having a reinforcement that includes a plurality of chopped carbon fibers within a nylon resin, a substrate coupled to the reinforcement comprising a plurality of chopped carbon and chopped glass fibers within a nylon resin, and a steering column bracket defined from the substrate comprising a plurality of chopped carbon fibers within a nylon resin. The bracket engages a steering column such that the substrate and bracket support the steering column. The plurality of chopped carbon and glass fibers in the substrate can be segregated such that the carbon fibers and the glass fibers are each substantially concentrated within respective driver-side and passenger-side portions of the substrate.
US09682725B2 Lane change assistance apparatus
The apparatus includes: a lane change assistance unit configured to perform the lane change assistance after elapse of a margin time set in advance from the time when a direction indicator at the adjacent lane side is switched to an ON-state by a driver of the vehicle; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an amount of steering to the adjacent lane side by the driver during the margin time is equal to or greater than a steering amount threshold value, or to determine whether or not the vehicle moves to the adjacent lane side due to a driver's steering during the margin time by a lateral distance set in advance.