Document	Document Title
US09915997B2	Electronic device, power control method and storage medium storing program thereof In an electronic device, a first sensor detects a detection target on a first region. A second sensor detects a detection target on a second region. A third sensor detects a detection target on a third region. A power control unit turns on the second sensor in a case where the first sensor detects the detection target on the first region. The power control unit turns on the third sensor and turns off the first sensor in a case where the second sensor detects the detection target on the second region.
US09915988B2	Data storage device for a device accessory An accessory associated with a wireless device includes a first interface configured to communicate with the wireless device using a wired communication technique and a second interface configured to communicate with the wireless device using a wireless communication technique. The accessory further includes a data storage device and a controller coupled to the first interface, to the second interface, and to the data storage device. The controller is configured to activate the first interface in response to a message received via the second interface.
US09915986B2	Active cooling debris bypass fin pack Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to active cooling or removing heat generated by a processor in a computing device. More specifically, a cooling system in a computing device may include a heatpipe which moves heat along a fin pack. The fin pack may include top and bottom ends as well as a plurality of fins. The fins may extend only a portion of the way between the ends thus creating an air duct. The air duct may allow debris to move along an edge of the fin and out of the computing device. The fins may also be curved to promote the forcing of debris through the fin pack while still allowing the heat to be expelled through the fins.
US09915976B2	Pivotable vehicle mounting system for mobile computing devices A mounting device includes a cradle including a first recess and configured to be mounted in a vehicle, a pivotable hinge member coupled to the cradle, and a docking tray coupled to the pivotable hinge member. The docking tray is configured to lock in a first position within the first recess in the cradle, and lock in a second position extending outward from the first recess in the cradle. The docking tray includes a second recess shaped and dimensioned to receive an electronic computing device.
US09915975B2	Protective case for use with a mobile device A protective case for use with a mobile device is provided. The protective case includes an attachment device that is configured to couple to one of a handle assembly, a battery source, and a fascia plate when a void is provided on the protective case. When the handle assembly is coupled to the protective case, the handle assembly is configured to pivot about the protective case for moving the handle assembly from a closed configuration to an open configuration. When the battery source is coupled to the protective case, the battery source is configured to charge the mobile device, and, when the fascia plate is coupled to the protective case, the fascia plate is configured to fill the void, that is otherwise filled by one of the handle assembly and the battery source.
US09915973B2	Unit frame for touch panel and touch panel unit A unit frame 10 for touch panel for supporting a touch sensor and a display panel, both of which are in the rectangular shape, with a predetermined space therebetween, includes a frame body 11 in the rectangular shape, a support member 12, having a height corresponding to the predetermined space and provided at each corner of the frame body 11, configured to support each corner of a rear face of the touch sensor, and a holding member 13, provided at each corner of the frame body 11 on an opposite face to a face where the support member 12 supports the touch sensor, configured to clip the display panel in cooperation with the support member 12 corresponding to the holding member 13.
US09915971B2	Transmission apparatus There is provided a transmission apparatus including: a shift register configured to generate a plurality of timing pulses indicating different timings, from a frame pulse synchronized with a frame signal; and a plurality of signal processors configured to sequentially process the frame signal based on timings indicated by one or more timing pulses among the plurality of timing pulses.
US09915962B2	Power management device and electronic device including the same A power management device includes at least one switching regulator to generate a conversion voltage from an input voltage, a plurality of low drop-out regulators to generate a plurality of output voltages from the conversion voltage, and a controller to estimate drop-out voltages of the low drop-out regulators based on output currents of the low drop-out regulators and to dynamically control the conversion voltage based on the estimated drop-out voltages.
US09915958B2	Lightweight plenum system for spacecraft application A gas distribution system for use in an enclosed volume wherein the system includes a distribution duct and a first inflatable duct portion in fluid communication with the distribution duct. The system further includes a passageway defining an opening which extends through the passageway, wherein: the opening is in fluid communication with the first inflatable duct portion; the passageway includes a valve with a flapper positioned within the opening of the passageway; and the flapper is moveable in relationship to the opening by way of a bi-metallic temperature sensing member. The system further includes an inflatable enclosure in fluid communication with the opening of the passageway, wherein the inflatable enclosure is configured to define a volume within and separated from the enclosed volume.
US09915953B2	Method and a device for aiding piloting of an aircraft during an approach phase for landing A method and device for aiding piloting of an aircraft during an approach phase for the purpose of landing. The device includes a guidance system for guiding the aircraft according to a first guidance mode during an initial phase upstream of a transition point, then guiding the aircraft according to a second guidance mode during a terminal phase between the transition point and the landing, the device further including a computing system for automatically computing the coordinates of the transition point, the guidance system also configured for automatically disabling the second guidance mode upstream of the transition point.
US09915950B2	Autonomous vehicle interface system In embodiments of an autonomous vehicle interface system, system nodes are each implemented as a distributed node for independent data processing of low-level sensor data and/or high-level system data. The high-level system data is abstracted from the low-level sensor data, providing invariance to system configuration in higher-level processing algorithms. The autonomous vehicle interface system includes at least one real-time bus for data communications of the low-level sensor data and the high-level system data between the system nodes. The system also includes an application programming interface (API) configured for access by the system nodes to the low-level sensor data and the high-level system data that is published on the real-time bus and accessible via the API.
US09915949B2	Self-driving vehicle systems and methods Self-driving vehicles have unlimited potential to learn and predict human behavior and perform actions accordingly. Several embodiments described herein enable a self-driving vehicle to monitor human activity and predict when and where the human will be located and whether the human needs a ride from the self-driving vehicle. Self-driving vehicles will be able to perform such tasks with incredible efficacy and accuracy that will allow self-driving vehicles to proliferate at a much faster rate than would otherwise be the case.
US09915948B2	System and method for controlling motion of vehicle A method selects from a memory a first model of motion of vehicle, a second model of the motion of the vehicle, a first constraint on the first model for moving along a desired trajectory of the vehicle, and a control invariant set joining states of the first model with states of the second model. For each combination of the states within the control invariant subset there is at least one control action to the second model that maintains the state of the second model within the control invariant set for every modification of the state of the first model satisfying the first constraint. A portion of the desired trajectory satisfying the first constraint is determined using the first model while a sequence of commands for moving the vehicle along the portion of the desired trajectory is determined using the second model. The sequence of commands is determined to maintain the sequence of the states of the second model and a sequence of the states of the first model determined by the portion of the desired trajectory within the control invariant subset. The vehicle is controlled using at least one command from the sequence of commands.
US09915937B2	Systems and methods for time-based parallel robotic operation Example systems and methods may allow for parallel operation of robotic devices within a workcell, such as industrial robots controlled to manufacture an output product. One example method includes receiving ordered sequences of operations for a plurality of corresponding robotic devices, determining time-based sequences of operations for each of the robotic devices, where a time-based sequence of operations indicates positions within the workcell at corresponding timesteps of a global timeline, determining one or more potential collisions involving the robotic devices that would result from parallel execution of the time-based sequences of operations within the workcell, modifying the time-based sequences of operations in order to prevent the one or more potential collisions, and providing instructions for parallel execution of the modified time-based sequences of operations at timesteps of the global timeline by the robotic devices within the workcell.
US09915931B2	Remote command learning Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to learn and share remote commands are disclosed. An example method to configure a playback device to be controlled by a remote control includes receiving by the playback device a first code for a first command from the remote control. The example method includes identifying by the playback device a second code for a second command based on the received first code. The example method includes receiving by the playback device the second code from the remote control. The example method includes executing the second command by the playback device.
US09915925B2	Initiated test health management system and method A system and method for verifying the response capabilities of a control effector include processing, in a test module, at least command data and sensor data associated with the control effector to generate control effector health data representative of control effector health. The control effector health data are processed in a reasoner to selectively indict and clear one or more faults, determine a failure is uncertain based on the one or more indicted faults, determine one or more test excitation signals to supply to the control effector to verify whether the uncertain failure is present or absent, and supply the one or more test excitation signals to a controller that is in operable communication with the control effector.
US09915920B2	Holographic image generation Briefly stated, technologies are generally described for providing a computer-generated holography (CGH). Example devices/systems described herein may use one or more of a server device and/or a client device. The server device may be configured to provide CGH data to a client device including a holographic image display unit. The server device may receive information on the holographic image display unit from the client device, calculate the CGH data from three-dimensional image data and the information on the holographic image display unit, and/or transmit the CGH data to the client device. The client device may be configured to provide a holographic image. The client device may reconstruct the holographic image on the holographic image display unit using CGH data and a reconstruction beam, transmit information on the holographic image display unit to the server device, and/or receive the CGH data from the server device.
US09915904B2	Image formation system, image forming apparatus and image formation method with tone correction An image formation system includes an image forming section that includes a belt and a roller. The image forming section forms, in a predetermined region of a sheet, either: a first patch image for performing tone correction of a toner image formed on the sheet, or a second patch image for monitoring color variation of the toner image formed on the sheet. The image forming system further includes a controller that controls the image forming section to form only one of the first patch image and the second patch image on any one sheet.
US09915903B2	Image forming apparatus having blocking member for optical sensor An image forming apparatus includes optical sensor units provided opposed to an image bearing member; light blockers provided between the image bearing member and the optical sensor units, respectively, the blockers being movable between locking and exposing positions, respectively; calibration members provided where the light is incident when the blockers are in the blocking positions, respectively, the calibration members calibrating data acquired by the optical sensor units; a movable link connected with the blockers; a switching portion for switching the blockers between the exposing and blocking positions; and a positioning portion for determining the blocking position, the positioning portion being disposed at a position where at least one of the blockers is contacted to the positioning portion when the blockers are switched from the exposing positions to the blocking positions.
US09915898B2	Image forming apparatus, control method, and non-transitory storage medium for efficiently reducing operational start time An image forming apparatus has an operating state and a non-operating state with power consumption smaller than in the operating state. The image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device for thermally fixing a toner image on a print material; an execution unit for executing warm-up to heat the fixing device up to a printable temperature for fixing the toner image on the print material, upon power-on or in shifting from the non-operating state to the operating state; and a temperature control unit for maintaining a waiting state to keep the fixing device at the printable temperature or higher, after completion of warm-up or printing. The temperature control unit increases the temperature of the fixing device higher in a waiting state after printing a predetermined number of times since power-on or in a waiting state after the non-operating state for a predetermined time or longer, than in any other waiting state.
US09915895B2	Developer storage container and image forming device equipped with same A developer storage container (30) includes a container body (37), a developer discharge port (377), a movable wall (32) and a stirring member (35). The movable wall moves in a first direction in an internal space from an initial position on one end side in the first direction to a final position on the other end side while conveying developer in a container space toward the developer discharge port. At the final position of the movable wall, an upstream end portion of an outer circumferential portion of the movable wall in the first direction is disposed upstream, in the first direction, of an upstream end portion of the developer discharge port in the first direction and a conveying surface of the movable wall is disposed at a distance from the stirring member.
US09915893B2	Developing device, image forming apparatus including developing device, fitting method of coil board to developing device A developing device includes a housing for housing therein a developer containing toner and magnetic carrier, and a first sensor including an oscillation circuit and a coil board which is part of the oscillation circuit and on which a coil pattern is formed. A fitting portion formed by recessing an outer surface of the housing is provided in the housing so as to allow the coil board to be fitted at a position closer to the developer than the outer surface of the housing. The coil board is fitted into the fitting portion.
US09915875B2	Illumination optical assembly for projection lithography An illumination optical assembly for projection lithography serves for illuminating an illumination field, in which an object field of a downstream imaging optical assembly is arrangeable, with illumination light of an EUV light source. The illumination optical assembly has a pupil illumination unit, on which the illumination light impinges and which includes facets for illuminating a pupil in the illumination beam path with the illumination light with a predefined pupil intensity distribution. The pupil illumination unit is embodied such that a plurality of illumination channels of the pupil illumination unit illuminate only a part of the entire object field. This results in an illumination optical assembly in which an excessively high illumination intensity on the facets of the pupil illumination unit can be reduced.
US09915873B2	Reflective optical element, and optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus A reflective optical element (50) having a substrate (52) and a multilayer system (51) that has a plurality of partial stacks (53), each with a first layer (54) of a first material and a second layer (55) of a second material. The first material and the second material differ from one another in refractive index at an operating wavelength of the optical element. Each of the partial stacks has a thickness (Di) and a layer thickness ratio (Γi), wherein the layer thickness ratio is the quotient of the thickness of the respective first layer and the partial stack thickness (Di). In a first section of the multilayer system, for at least one of the two variables of partial stack thickness (Di) and layer thickness ratio (Γi), the mean square deviation from the respective mean values therefor is at least 10% less than in a second section of the multilayer system.
US09915868B2	Imprint apparatus, imprint method, and article manufacturing method An imprint apparatus performs an imprint process by which an imprint material on a substrate is molded using a mold having a pattern region. A detector detects marks formed in each of a plurality of shot regions on the substrate. The plurality of shot regions include a first region in which all of the marks to be formed in one shot region are formed, and a second region in which some of the marks to be formed in one shot region are formed. When performing the imprint process on the second shot region, a controller obtains a shape of the second shot region based on a shape of the first shot region obtained by detecting the marks formed in the first shot region, and an amount of deformation of the pattern region by the deformation unit by using the obtained shape of the second shot region.
US09915866B2	Focused radiation beam induced deposition A semiconductor device fabrication method includes irradiating a first surface of a substrate with a radiation beam. While irradiating the first surface of the substrate, a precursor gas is introduced near the first surface to deposit a layer including a first material. The precursor gas is removed from near the first surface after the depositing the layer. After the removing the precursor gas and prior to forming another layer over the layer, while irradiating a second surface of the layer, a cleaning gas is introduced near the second surface of the layer to transform the first material into a second material.
US09915863B2	Projection apparatus and illumination system An illumination system including a coherent light source device, a light delivery module, and a light wavelength conversion module is provided. The coherent light source device includes a light emitting source and a light collimating element. The light emitting source is adapted to emit at least one coherent light beam. The light collimating element is located on a transmission path of the at least one coherent light beam from the light emitting source and collimates the at least one coherent light beam. The light delivery module is located on a transmission path of at least one coherent light beam from the light collimating element and includes a first lens. The first lens has a lens array surface adapted to diverge any of the coherent light beam from the light collimating element. A projection apparatus is also provided.
US09915862B2	Discharge lamp driving device, projector, and discharge lamp driving method In a discharge lamp driving device, a mixed period is provided, in which a first period in which an alternating current is supplied and a second period in which a direct current is supplied are alternately repeated and a third period alternately including a first direct current period and a second direct current period in which a direct current having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the direct current in the first direct current period is supplied. Length of the second direct current period is smaller than 0.5 ms. A total of lengths of the first direct current periods in the third period is larger than length of the second period. The third period is not provided at least when the inter-electrode voltage is smaller than a first predetermined value or when a cumulative lighting time of the discharge lamp is smaller than a second predetermined value.
US09915852B2	Systems for nonlinear optical wave-mixing A system for conversion or amplification using quasi-phase matched nonlinear optical wave-mixing includes a first radiation source for providing a pump radiation beam, a second radiation source for providing a signal radiation beam, a bent structure for receiving the pump radiation beam and the signal radiation beam, and an outcoupling radiation propagation portion for coupling out an idler radiation beam generated in the bent structure. A radiation propagation portion of the bent structure is made of a uniform three-dimensional material at least partly covered by a two-dimensional or quasi-two-dimensional material layer and has a dimension taking into account the spatial variation of the nonlinear optical susceptibility along the radiation propagation portion as experienced by radiation traveling along the bent structure for obtaining quasi-phase matched nonlinear optical wave-mixing in the radiation propagation portion. The dimension thereby is substantially inverse proportional with the linear phase mismatch for the nonlinear optical process.
US09915849B2	Optical modulator Provided is a technique for reducing, using a simple circuit configuration, an amplitude difference between electric signals that are input to respective optical waveguide arms. An optical modulator includes: an optical demultiplexer that splits continuous wave light as received; first and second optical waveguide arms through which the continuous wave light as split propagates; an optical phase π shifter that introduces a phase shift of π to the continuous wave light as split; an optical multiplexer combines the continuous wave light propagating through the first and second optical waveguide arms; first and second signal electrodes that respectively input the electric signals to the first and second optical waveguide arms; a junction capacitance connected in shunt to at least one of the first and second signal electrodes; and a DC voltage source that applies a DC voltage to the junction capacitance.
US09915847B2	Display device with pixel arrangemnt for high resolution A display device is provided. The display device can include a first pixel portion comprising a first thin-film transistor provided at the intersection between a first gate line and a first data line, and a first pixel electrode connected to the first thin-film transistor, and a second pixel portion comprising a second thin-film transistor provided at the intersection between a second gate line and the first data line, and a second pixel electrode connected to the second thin-film transistor, wherein the first pixel portion and the second pixel portion are arranged parallel to the first data line, and directions extended the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are extended in such a direction as to face each other.
US09915845B2	Liquid crystal display device According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a gate line extending in a first direction, a first signal line, a second signal line, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, an insulating film, a first contact hole, a second contact hole, a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode. The second contact hole is located opposite to the first contact hole in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
US09915842B2	Display panel, method of manufacturing the same and display device The invention discloses a display panel, a method of manufacturing the same and a display device so as to simplify a process of transmitting an electrical signal between a first substrate and a second substrate of the display panel at a lower cost. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other. The first substrate has a concave groove surrounded by a convex section and facing the second substrate. The display panel also includes an electrode layer on the surface of the groove and having at least one first conductive section extending outward from inside of the concave groove to the top end face of the convex section; and at least one second conductive section on the second substrate and electrically connected with the respective first conductive section.
US09915836B2	Liquid crystal display An LCD including first to third pixel areas, each including first and second subpixel areas, the LCD including first and second substrates, first to third color filters on the first or second substrate, the first color filter in the first subpixel area of the first pixel area, the second color filter in the first subpixel area of the second pixel area, and the third color filter in the first subpixel area of the third pixel area, a white filter on the first or second substrate, the first color and white filter in the second subpixel area of the first pixel area, the second color and white filter in the second subpixel area of the second pixel area, and the third color and white filter in the second subpixel area of the third pixel area, the white filter surrounds the first, second and third color filters in the second subpixel area.
US09915834B2	Lighting-on apparatus A lighting-on apparatus comprises at least one gate line pin and further comprises a gate line pin moving unit. The at least one gate line pin is moved by the gate line pin moving unit so that the at least one gate line pin corresponds with a gate line interface of a liquid crystal display panel under test. The lighting-on apparatus according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is configured to perform a test on the liquid crystal display panel, and is capable of simplifying test work of liquid crystal display panels, saving test time and cost, and improving work efficiency.
US09915829B2	Method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens with a passive event-based coloration system The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for methods and apparatus for manufacturing an Ophthalmic Lens with passive event coloration mechanisms, which may not require a power source. In some embodiments, the passive event coloration mechanisms may be combined with Rigid Inserts or Media Inserts, wherein the inserts may provide additional functionalities.
US09915828B2	Lens driving device A lens driving device includes a housing having a base, an upper cover engaged with the base, and a receiving space formed by the base and the upper cover; a permanent magnet mounting base arranged on the base; a permanent magnet fixed on the permanent magnet mounting base; a lens barrel used for holding a lens group therein and movable along a direction parallel to an optic axis of the lens group; a driving coil surrounding an outer surface of the lens barrel, and opposite to the permanent magnet mounted on the permanent magnet mounting base; an anti-shake coil opposite to the permanent magnet mounted on the permanent magnet mounting base; an elastic part suspending and connecting with the lens barrel; an OIS elastic part fixed to an upper surface of the permanent magnet mounting base for restoring the permanent magnet mounting base to a predetermined position.
US09915821B2	Device for measuring a vehicle A device for measuring a vehicle has at least one image capturing device, that includes at least one camera having at least one light incidence region configured to allow light from an object to be captured by the camera to strike the camera through the at least one light incidence region. The device also has a device for keeping the light incidence region clean and/or for cleaning the same, that features at least one deflecting element that is movable over the light incidence region in a way that allows it to prevent the deposition of dust and dirt on the light incidence region and/or to remove dust and/or dirt from the at least one light incidence region.
US09915819B2	Fiber-optic methods and devices enabling multiphoton imaging with improved signal to-noise ratio The present invention is directed to a fiber optic device that enables multiphoton imaging with improved signal-to-noise ratio having a single piece of double-clad fiber (DCF). The device also includes all components for focusing, scanning and signal collection within an endomicroscope probe of 2.1 mm outer diameter (OD). The unprecedented imaging capability of this miniature endomicroscope is demonstrated herein via both ex vivo and in vivo experiments.
US09915816B2	System and method for mounting a specimen on a slide One embodiment includes a system for mounting a specimen on a slide, the system having an immersion chamber, a stage, and a pump. The immersion chamber is configured to hold a liquid and includes at least one wall, a closed bottom, and an open top. The stage is configured to support the slide, and the stage is arranged within the immersion chamber such that the specimen may be supported substantially above the stage by the liquid. The pump is configured to draw the liquid from the immersion chamber such that the level of liquid in the immersion chamber decreases and the specimen is dispensed onto the slide.
US09915810B2	Projection apparatus and projection lens with three lens groups A projection lens and a projection apparatus are provided. The projection lens has a screen side and an image side. The projection lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. The first lens group disposed between the screen side and the image side includes a first, a second, and a third lenses arranged sequentially from the screen side to the image side. The second lens group disposed between the first lens group and the image side includes a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, an eighth, a ninth, and a tenth lenses arranged sequentially from the screen side to the image side. The third lens group disposed between the second lens group and the image side includes an eleventh and a twelfth lenses, and a distance between the twelfth lens and the light valve is a constant.
US09915808B2	Optical image lens system An optical image lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element has positive refractive power. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof, wherein at least one surface of the fifth lens element is aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein at least one surface of the sixth lens element is aspheric, and the image-side surface of the sixth lens element has at least one inflection point thereon.
US09915806B2	Super wide angle optical lens system An optical lens including, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens having a negative refractive power, a second lens having a negative refractive power, a third lens, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power, a fifth lens having a negative refractive power, and a sixth lens having a positive refractive power, wherein the second lens has a concave object side surface.
US09915803B2	Optical system, optical apparatus, and method for manufacturing the optical system The present invention has, in order from an object: a first lens (L1) having negative refractive power; a second lens (L2), which is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object; an aperture stop (S); and a third lens (L3) having a convex surface facing the object, and satisfies the following conditional expression (1): 6.6<\|f12/f\| (1) where f12 denotes a composite focal length of the first lens (L1) and the second lens (L2), and f denotes a focal length of the optical system (WL).
US09915800B2	Lens driving device A lens driving device includes a housing with an accommodation space, a barrel accommodated in the housing, a coil wound around the barrel and a magnet fixed to the housing. The lens driving device further includes a spring piece at least partially made of amorphous alloy materials, and the spring piece support the described barrel to perform the to-and-fro motion along the axis. Comparing to the relevant technologies, the lens driving device has good performance and high reliability.
US09915798B2	Downhole cable with reduced diameter An optical/electrical cable for downhole environments includes a plurality of optical fibers disposed within an interior metal tube. An electrically conducting layer surrounds the interior metal tube, an insulation layer surrounds and contacts the electrically conducting layer, and an exterior metal tube surrounds and contacts the insulation layer.
US09915792B2	Fiber optic cable demarcations inhibiting movement of optical fibers relative to strength members, and related assemblies and methods Fiber optic cable demarcations inhibiting movements of optical fibers relative to strength members, and related cable assemblies and methods, are disclosed. By bonding optical fibers to strength members with a bonding agent received into at least one cavity, a demarcation may be formed inside the cable jacket at a cable jacket interface. The at least one cavity may be disposed within a cable jacket of a fiber optic cable and at the cable jacket interface. The demarcation may bond at least one optical fiber and at least one strength member together to inhibit longitudinal movement of the at least one optical fiber relative to the at least one strength member. In this manner, the demarcation may inhibit optical fiber movement within the fiber optic connector, which may cause tensile forces and/or buckling of the optical fiber resulting in optical fiber damage and/or optical attenuation.
US09915788B2	Sealable communication cable connection assemblies Communication device connection assemblies are described. The sealable connection assemblies are configured to provide water-tight connections for various data transmission elements, including cables, network devices, and computing devices. The connection assemblies may be used for various data transmission protocols, such as fiber optic connections. A compression element of the connection assembly may be configured to engage and compress a sealing element against a communication cable extending through the sealable connection assembly when a tension element is coupled to the inner body, thereby forming a seal between the sealable element and the communication cable. The connection assemblies may include a retainer body configured to form a grip or retention force with a communication cable sufficient to reduce and/or eliminate any forces on the communication cable (i.e., bending and/or straight pull forces) from being transferred to and/or otherwise effecting other components of the connection assembly, such as sealing elements thereof.
US09915778B2	LED lamp strip structure and control method thereof, backlight module, liquid crystal display device Embodiments of the present invention provide an LED lamp strip structure, a backlight module, a liquid crystal display device and a method of controlling the LED lamp strip structure. The LED lamp strip structure comprises: a circuit board; and at least a first LED sequence and a second LED sequence arranged in parallel on the circuit board, the first LED sequence having a plurality of predetermined intervals, and each LED in the second LED sequence corresponding to one of the plurality of predetermined intervals respectively.
US09915777B2	Container of quantum dot bar and backlight unit comprising the same A quantum dot bar container of a quantum dot bar and a backlight unit including the same is provided. In one embodiment, the quantum dot bar container includes a first fixing part including a first guide groove extending in a first direction, a second fixing part facing the first fixing part and including a second guide groove corresponding to the first guide groove, and a plurality of first connection parts each connecting the first fixing part and the second fixing part. The quantum dot bar including quantum dots is slidably inserted between the first guide groove and the second guide groove.
US09915776B2	Light guide mechanism of fingerprint recognition plate A light guide mechanism of a fingerprint recognition plate includes a frame, a light guide plate, first electrodes, second electrodes and light emitting diodes. The frame has a hollow portion and receiving troughs. Each of the receiving troughs forms a first through hole and a second through hole penetrating the frame. The light guide plate covers the hollow portion. The first electrodes are in the first through holes, and the second electrodes are in the second through holes. Each of the light emitting diodes is in the receiving trough and includes a first electrode pin and a second electrode pin. The first electrode pin pierces the first through hole to be connected to the first electrode. The second electrode pin pierces through the second through hole to be connected to the second electrode. The first electrode pin and second electrode pin are exposed from the bottom of the frame.
US09915767B2	Polarizer and display device having the same A display device includes a display panel which displays an image with light, a backlight unit which generates and provides the light to the display panel, and a polarizer which is coupled to the display panel and includes a polarizing film to polarize the light. The polarizing film includes a base film defining a first optical surface thereof from which first grooves are defined recessed and a second optical surface thereof which opposes the first optical surface and from which second grooves are defined recessed; a polarizing layer including the first grooves recessed from the first optical surface; and a light blocking layer including the second grooves recessed from the second optical surface.
US09915761B2	Optical system having optical thin film including amorphous silicon oxide-based binder An MgF2 optical thin film is formed on an optical surface of a base material. The MgF2 optical thin film includes MgF2 particles and an amorphous silicon oxide-based binder which exists on the surfaces of the MgF2 particles and between the MgF2 particles. Owing to this amorphous silicon oxide-based binder, the optical thin film can have high mechanical strength and high adhesion to the base material, while having excellent environment resistance and a lower refractive index.
US09915755B2	Virtual ambient weather condition sensing A system for providing weather conditions includes a server in communication with a weather data provision service. The server includes a middleware application operable to process weather data requests. The system also includes a gps module, and at least one component control system, operable to adjust at least one parameter associated with at least one vehicle component. Finally, the illustrative system includes a vehicle computing system, in communication with the GPS module, the at least one component control system, and the server. In response to a request for data from the component control system, the vehicle computing system passes GPS data to the server, including the request for data, and the vehicle computing system responsively receives the requested data from the server. The vehicle computing system relays the received data to the component control system that requested the data.
US09915747B2	Inground transmitter with roll orientation pattern based frequency change A transmitter for use in an inground tool transmits a locating signal for tracking an underground position of the inground tool. The locating signal is characterized by a transmission frequency which changes responsive to detecting a roll orientation pattern in which the transmitter is held stationary for a predetermined period of time.
US09915742B2	Method and system for geophysical modeling of subsurface volumes based on label propagation Method and system are described for generating a stratigraphic model of a subsurface volume. Measured geophysical data are converted into a vector volume (106) by assigning to each sample in each trace in the data volume a vector representing dip, azimuth or confidence. Then a labeled volume is generated from the vector volume by assigning a label to each sample in an initial trace (1006), then selecting a propagation pattern (1008) and propagating the labels to other traces (1010). Horizons can be extracted (110) from the labeled volume, and utilized to enhance the process of producing hydrocarbons (114).
US09915741B2	Method of making semiconductor X-ray detectors Disclosed herein is a method of making an apparatus suitable for detecting x-ray, the method comprising: obtaining a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate comprises an electronics system in or on the substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of electric contacts are on the first surface; obtaining a first chip comprising a first X-ray absorption layer, wherein the first X-ray absorption layer comprises an electrode; bonding the first chip to the substrate such that the electrode of the first X-ray absorption layer is electrically connected to at least one of the electrical contacts.
US09915731B2	Radio sensing device and radar system A radio sensing device includes N antennas, N being a natural number which is one or more, a switching control unit that sequentially switches the antennas and scans radio waves in some directions or all directions in a circular shape or a spherical-shell shape, and a random number generating unit that generates random numbers. The switching control unit performs an operation of switching selecting orders of the N antennas on the basis of the generated random numbers within a time which is M (M; positive integer) times a unit time required to sequentially scan each of all the N antennas once.
US09915730B2	Method and system for through-the-wall radar imaging A method and system for generating an image of a scene behind a wall, wherein the scene is represented as a grid, by first transmitting a radar pulse through the wall using a transmitter and receiving a set of echoes corresponding to the radar pulse being reflected by the scene in a receiver at a known location. Based on the location, an imaging operator that relates the set of echoes to the grid is determined. Using the imaging operator, a sparse delay kernel that matches a response of a current image to a similar response in the set of echoes is determined. Then, the current image is updated, based on the set of echoes, the imaging operator, and the sparse delay kernel. The transmitting, the receiving, the determining, the obtaining, and the updating steps are repeated for different locations until a termination condition is reached.
US09915727B1	Agile sensing for radar and metal detection Methods, systems, and apparatus for transmitting a first set of stepped-frequency CW signals having first signal parameters, where the first signal parameters includes a first bandwidth and a first step size between signal frequencies. Detecting reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals. Identifying an indication of a potential target in a frequency range of the reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals from the detected reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals. Determining second signal parameters for a second set of stepped-frequency CW signals in response to identifying the indication of the potential target. The second signal parameters include a second bandwidth and a second step size between signal frequencies, and where the second signal parameters focus on the frequency range in which the indication of the potential target is identified. Transmitting the second set of CW signals.
US09915726B2	Personal LADAR sensor A lightweight, low volume, inexpensive LADAR sensor incorporating 3-D focal plane arrays is adapted specifically for personal electronic appliances. The present invention generates, at high speed, 3-D image maps and object data at short to medium ranges. The techniques and structures described may be used to extend the range of long range systems as well, though the focus is on compact, short to medium range ladar sensors suitable for use in personal electronic devices. 3-D focal plane arrays are used in a variety of physical configurations to provide useful new capabilities to a variety of personal electronic appliances.
US09915721B2	Techniques for estimating a position of a user device using a WPS dedicated device and optimized scanning In various embodiments, a WPS dedicated device is used to estimate the position of a user device. The WPS dedicated device is configured to be receive-only and lacks WLAN packet transmission capabilities, or is configured to provide limited-transmission and is capable of transmitting only a predefined subset of WLAN packets supported by a WLAN protocol. The WPS dedicated device may be used with optimized scanning procedures that include a plurality of phases that are progressed through until WLAN information sufficient to identify at least a threshold number of more WLAN APs is obtained, that simultaneously scan on multiple WLAN channels, or that provide other types of optimization.
US09915702B2	Channel sharing for testing circuits having non-identical cores Various aspects of the disclosed techniques relate to channel sharing techniques for testing circuits having non-identical cores. Compressed test patterns for a plurality of circuit blocks are generated for channel sharing. Each of the plurality of circuit blocks comprises a decompressor configured to decompress the compressed test patterns. Test data input channels are thus shared by the decompressors. Control data input channels are usually not shared by non-identical circuit blocks in the plurality of circuit blocks.
US09915698B2	Device of contacting substrate with probe card and substrate inspection apparatus having same A device of contacting a substrate with a probe card includes a mounting table 15 that transfers a wafer W together with a wafer plate 24 to a position facing the probe card 19; a lifting device 15a that contacts multiple electrodes of semiconductor devices formed on the wafer W with multiple probes of the probe card 19 by moving the wafer plate 24 and the wafer W toward the probe card 19 and then further moves the wafer W toward the probe card 19; a depressurization path 26 that decompresses a space S between the probe card 19 and the wafer plate 24 and maintains a contact state between the electrodes of the semiconductor devices and probes 19b of the probe card 19; and the lifting device 15a that separates a chuck member 14 on the mounting table 15 from the wafer plate 24.
US09915682B2	Non-permanent termination structure for microprobe measurements A structure and method of facilitating testing of an electronic device (device under test or DUT) using a non-permanent and reusable structure to terminate contact pads and contact pin holes on a surface of the DUT.
US09915671B2	Cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, a corresponding measuring system, and a corresponding method The present invention is directed to a cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, in particular a blood sample, comprising a cartridge body having at least one measurement cavity formed therein and having at least one probe element arranged in said at least one measurement cavity for performing a test on said sample liquid; and a cover being attachable on said cartridge body; wherein said cover covers at least partially said at least one measurement cavity and forms a retaining element for retaining said probe element in a predetermined position within said at least one measurement cavity. The invention is directed to a measurement system and a method for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid.
US09915666B2	MCAM as a biomarker for fluid homeostasis The application discloses MCAM as a new biomarker for fluid homeostatic imbalance; methods for predicting, diagnosing, prognosticating and/or monitoring fluid homeostatic imbalance based on measuring said biomarker; and kits and devices for measuring said biomarker and/or performing said methods.
US09915646B2	Immunity to folate receptors This document provides methods and materials related to assessing immunity to folate receptors. For example, methods and materials for assessing FRα immunity in a mammal are provided. This document also provides methods and materials related to stimulating immunity to folate receptors.
US09915643B2	Spatial orientation determination in portable clinical analysis systems The present invention covers the integration and utility of accelerometer features into a clinical analysis system. For example, measurement of dynamic acceleration and orientation of a blood-testing instrument with respect to Earth's gravitational field may be used to determine reliability of a test procedure and optionally to provide corrective elements thereof.
US09915638B2	Bio-reactive food expiry label A food expiry label includes a layer of material (such as a water-swollen mammalian gelatine) that undergoes a phase transition (such as from solid to liquid) upon exposure to bacteria or fungi that result in food spoilage. The label may incorporate a tactile surface that the user can feel underneath the layer of gelatine once the gelatine has changed from solid to liquid. Thus a user can detect when a foodstuff is likely to have spoiled or been on the shelf for a predetermined period simply by feeling the label.
US09915621B2	Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) substrate inspection system with simplified optics and method of manufacturing thereof An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) substrate inspection system and method of manufacturing thereof, includes: an EUV source directing EUV illumination through an aperture; a light detector detecting mask illumination with reduced off axis rays reflected off from a substrate; and a computing device processing image data detected by the light detector.
US09915613B2	Systems and methods for distinguishing optical signals of different modulation frequencies in an optical signal detector Systems and method for detecting optical signals, and for discriminating optical signals emitted by an emission moiety that is excited by an associated excitation signal from background signals and other optical noise, employing digital techniques for determining the portion of a detected optical signal having a modulation frequency corresponding to a modulation of the associated excitation signal.
US09915608B2	Optical sensor for determining the concentration of an analyte A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining a concentration of glucose in a subject using optical excitation and detection is provided. The method includes emitting an exciter beam (B1) to irradiate a portion (130) of tissue of the subject, causing physical and chemical changes in the surface, and causing an initial back scattering (D1) of light. The method further includes periodically emitting a probe beam (B2) which irradiates the portion of tissue and causes periodic back scatterings (D2) of light. The initial and periodic back scatterings are detected and converted into electrical signals of at least the amplitude, frequency or decay time of the physical and chemical changes, the back scatterings being modulated by the physical and chemical changes. By differentiating over time at least one of the amplitude, frequency or decay time of the physical and chemical changes, the concentration of glucose may be determined.
US09915606B2	Method for transferring between spectrometers The present invention relates to a method for characterizing a sample-product X by spectral analysis by means of a novel spectrometer II using information acquired by means of a first spectrometer I.
US09915603B1	Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
US09915600B2	Devices, systems and methods for detecting particles A particle detector includes a housing, a light source, and a photo-responsive material. The housing includes a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and encloses a detection cavity. The light source directs irradiating light to particles of a sample fluid flowing in the detection cavity. The photo-responsive material faces the detection cavity, and receives measurement light propagating from the particles in a plurality of measurement light paths angled relative to a longitudinal axis. The particle detector may be utilized to measure scattered light and/or light emitted due to autofluorescence. Fluids sampled may include aerosols, bio-aerosols, and liquids.
US09915592B2	Methods of analyzing an H and E stained biological sample Methods comprising probing multiple targets in an H&E stained biological sample are provided. The methods include the steps of providing a hematoxylin and eosin stained biological sample containing multiple targets, optionally detecting H&E staining of the sample, removing the hematoxylin and eosin signals, and detecting additional features or targets in the biological sample. The detecting step may include performing the steps of binding at least one probe to one or more targets to the sample, detecting a signal from the probe and contacting the sample with a bleaching agent. The process of binding, detecting and bleaching may be iteratively repeated.
US09915589B2	System and method for determining a location of fouling on boiler heat transfer surface Detecting fouling of a heat exchanger of a boiler includes emitting a spray of pressurized fluid from a nozzle of a sootblower element when the nozzle is adjacent to a surface of the heat exchanger, and sensing a value indicative of a reactive force created by an impact of the pressurized fluid on the surface of the heat exchanger and translated back to the sootblower element through the spray of the pressurized fluid. The method also includes determining when a substantial deposit is on the surface of the heat exchanger indicating fouling based on the value indicative of the reactive force.
US09915579B1	Apparatus, system and sensor housing assembly utilizing fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring operating conditions within a structural member Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and sensor housing assemblies configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members. To this end, such fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored.
US09915575B1	Sensor and methods of detecting target materials and situations in closed systems Disclosed is a passive, in-situ pressure sensor. The sensor includes a sensing element having a ferromagnetic metal and a tension inducing mechanism coupled to the ferromagnetic metal. The tension inducing mechanism is operable to change a tensile stress upon the ferromagnetic metal based on a change in pressure in the sensing element. Changes in pressure are detected based on changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal when subjected to an alternating magnetic field caused by the change in the tensile stress. The sensing element is embeddable in a closed system for detecting pressure changes without the need for any penetrations of the system for power or data acquisition by detecting changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal caused by the tensile stress.
US09915573B2	Bulk amorphous alloy pressure sensor Pressure sensing systems comprising bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys and pressure-sensitive switches containing bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys. The bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are capable of repeated deformation upon application of pressure, and change their electrical resistivity upon deformation, thereby enabling measurement of the change in resistivity and consequently, measuring the deformation and amount of pressure applied.
US09915571B2	Temperature measurement and calibration circuit, passive radio frequency identification tag and method for measuring temperature The present invention relates to the field of radio frequency identification, in particular to a temperature measurement and calibration circuit and a passive radio frequency identification tag. Meanwhile, the present invention further relates to a method for performing temperature measurement by using the tag. The temperature measurement and calibration circuit of the tag generates an upper reference voltage value limit and a lower reference voltage value limit, which do not change with temperature, then calibrates the upper reference voltage value limit and the lower reference voltage value limit to a uniform upper voltage value limit and a uniform lower voltage value limit, and eliminates the problem of different reference voltages of tags due to the power supply voltage fluctuation and process deviation. Meanwhile, a temperature measurement voltage generator circuit of the tag generates a calibration voltage value under a uniform calibration temperature. After the calibration voltage value is subjected to translational calibration, the calibration voltage values of the tags to be measured are equal, so that the consistency of temperature values of different tags is ensured. The circuit and tag provided by the present invention may be widely applied to ambient temperature detection, animal temperature detection, cold chain temperature detection or other fields, and have high accuracy of measurement.
US09915564B1	Inspecting a slab of material According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, a system for inspecting a slab of material may include a single mode optical fiber, a broadband light source configured to emit light over the optical fiber, a beam assembly configured to receive the light over the optical fiber and direct the light toward a slab of material, a computer-controlled etalon filter configured to receive the light over the optical fiber either before the light is directed toward the slab of material or after the light has been reflected from or transmitted through the slab of material, filter the light, and direct the light over the optical fiber, and a computer-controlled spectrometer configured to receive the light over the optical fiber after the light has been filtered by the etalon filter and after the light has been reflected from or transmitted through the slab of material and spectrally analyze the light.
US09915563B2	Method and apparatus for multiplexed Fabry-Perot spectroscopy A method of optical spectroscopy and a device for use in optical spectroscopy. The device includes a substrate, and a plurality of etalon cavities affixed to or coupled to the substrate. A signal is received from a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The signal is sampled using the device according to a generalized Nyquist-Shannon sampling criterion. The signal is sampled using the device according to a phase differential criterion for wave number resolution. An input spectrum for the signal is reconstructed based on the signal sampled according to the generalized Nyquist-Shannon sampling criterion and the signal sampled according to the phase differential criterion for wave number resolution.
US09915562B2	Method of increasing power within an optical cavity with long path lengths A cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy instrument has an optical cavity with two or more cavity mirrors, one mirror of which having a hole or other aperture for injecting a light beam, and the same or another mirror of which being partially transmissive to allow exit of light to a detector. A spherical-spherical configuration with at least one astigmatic mirror or a spherical-cylindrical configuration where the spherical mirror could also be astigmatic prevents a reentrant condition wherein the injected beam would prematurely exit the cavity through the aperture. This combination substantially increases the number of passes of the injected beam through a sample volume for sensitive detection of chemical species even in less than ideal conditions including low power laser or LED sources, poor mirror reflectivity or detector noise at the wavelengths of interest, or cavity alignment issues such as vibration or temperature and pressure changes.
US09915559B2	Systems and methods for wirelessly monitoring a brochure box This invention relates generally to electronics, mechanics, and software, and more specifically, to systems and methods for wirelessly monitoring a brochure box. In one embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus that provides for remote content monitoring, the apparatus including a receptacle, the receptacle configurable to storing content; and a sensor node, the sensor node disposed proximate to the receptacle, the sensor node associated with a unique identifier, the sensor node configurable to monitor the existence of any stored content, the sensor node configurable to transmit a signal containing the unique identifier to a remote device, the signal being any of a cellular, satellite, and wireless network signal.
US09915558B2	Parallelogram linkage structure for a scale Monolithic linkage structure having a base body and a load receiver guided in a Z direction relative to the base body by a plurality of parallel guide elements, wherein at least one parallel guide element is connected, via a first joint, on a first end to the base body and, via a second joint, on a second end distanced from the first end in an X direction to the load receiver, wherein the base body is configured on both sides of a plane, which extends in the Z direction and in an X direction, and wherein at least one parallel guide element has, on at least one outer surface facing away from the plane between the first joint and the second joint, at least one recess penetrating the at least one parallel guide element in the Z direction, through which projects a base body portion of the base body.
US09915556B2	Illuminated indicator structures for electronic devices A composite laminate assembly for an electronic device provides integrated backlighting for one or more indicator shapes defined by the assembly. The assembly includes a substantially opaque cover member to obscure at least parts of the electronic device. Translucent indicator structures in the cover member define respective indicator shapes to allow backlighting to pass through the cover member. An optical matrix layer of an optically conductive material is attached to an inner face of the cover member, with a plurality of lighting devices embedded in the optical matrix layer and laterally offset from associated indicator structures. The plurality of lighting devices may be connected to an electric circuit carried on the inner face of the cover member.
US09915555B2	Ultrasonic sensor An ultrasonic sensor, which can prevent a breakdown caused by the infiltration of water from the outside occurring due to the jet of high-pressure wash water or the like without the deterioration of the sensitivity of an ultrasonic transducer within the range of the fixing-clamping caused by an elastic member, is obtained. The ultrasonic sensor includes a cylindrical sensor case, an ultrasonic transducer that is disposed close to an opening face in the sensor case and includes a vibration surface, and an elastic member that is provided between the ultrasonic transducer and the sensor case and covers a side surface and a bottom of the ultrasonic transducer. An exposed surface end of the elastic member close to the opening face is formed to be thinner than a portion of the elastic member that covers the side surface of the ultrasonic transducer.
US09915554B2	Terminal block structure and stator for resolver The width of a terminal block is decreased by decreasing a space between an external connecting terminal at each end of the external connecting terminals and an end portion of the terminal block, whereas a space between a winding terminal at each end of the winding terminals of terminals and an end portion of the terminal block is sufficiently obtained. A terminal 7 is provided with an external connecting terminal 71 and a winding terminal 72, and the terminal 7 has a shape such that a center line Lp in the width direction of the winding terminal 72 is shifted from a center line Le in the width direction of the external connecting terminal 71. A plurality of the terminals 7 are arranged on a terminal block 11 so that pitches between the winding terminals 72 are unequal.
US09915553B2	Safe position measuring apparatus A scanning head for scanning a material measure on which markings with a period are formed periodically in the measuring direction includes at least two individual sensors configured to produce sensor signals by scanning the markings. The scanning head further includes a digital signal processing apparatus configured to produce at least one highly accurate output signal from the sensor signals. The scanning head is configured to output at least two different types of output signals. The at least two different types of output signals comprises at least one safe output signal and the at least one highly accurate output signal.
US09915547B2	Enhanced navigation information to aid confused drivers A method of providing enhanced navigation information in a vehicle in response to a finding of driver confusion includes the steps of monitoring behavior of a driver, determining whether the driver is confused based on the behavior of the driver, and providing additional points of interest data to the driver if the driver is determined to be confused.
US09915525B2	Interferometric measurement method for end face surface angle of multi-fiber ferrules and connectors An interferometric measurement method aims at calculating end face surface angle of multi-fiber connector or ferrule taking into account parallelism deviation angles of the connector or ferrule guide holes. The parallelism deviation angles are measured by scanning the side surfaces of guide pins inserted into the guide holes, which is done simultaneously with the end face scanning. Interferometric data from connector or ferrule end face and side surfaces of the guide pins is gathered during one scanning session—either one simultaneous scan or several scans without moving or re-inserting the connector or ferrule.
US09915523B2	System for monitoring the position of a tube's distal end relative to a blood vessel The invention relates to a system for monitoring a position of a distal end of a tube with respect to a blood vessel of a mammal. The system comprises a source for generating an outgoing beam of electromagnetic radiation having a predefined electromagnetic spectrum. The system furthermore comprises a guideway for guiding the outgoing beam to the distal end, and for guiding an incoming beam of electromagnetic radiation reflected by surroundings of the distal end in response to said outgoing beam to a measurement arrangement, which is arranged for measuring a parameter associated with an electromagnetic spectrum of the incoming beam. The system furthermore comprises a comparator arrangement for comparing said parameter with a reference parameter associated with a reference electromagnetic spectrum representing a predefined location of the distal end inside the mammal.
US09915522B1	Optimized spatial modeling for optical CD metrology Provided are scatterometry techniques for evaluating a 3D diffracting structure. In one embodiment, a method involves providing a 3D spatial model of the diffracting structure and discretizing the model into a 3D spatial mesh. The method includes approximating 3D fields for each element of the 3D mesh using 3D spatial basis functions and generating a matrix including coefficients of the 3D spatial basis functions approximating the fields. The coefficients of the 3D spatial basis functions are computed and used in computing spectral information for the model. The computed spectral information for the model is compared with measured spectral information for the diffracting structure. If the model is a good model fit, the method involves determining a physical characteristic of the diffracting structure based on the model of the diffracting structure.
US09915520B2	Apparatus and methods for one or more wavelength swept lasers and the detection of signals thereof An optical instrument including at least a first and second wavelength swept vertical cavity laser (VCL) sources. The wavelength sweeping ranges spanned by the first and second VCL sources may differ with a region of spectral overlap. The first and second VCL sources may be operable under different modes of operation, wherein the modes of operation differ in at least one of: sweep repetition rate, sweep wavelength range, sweep center wavelength, and sweep trajectory. A VCL source may also exhibit sweep-to-sweep variation. Apparatus and methods are described for aligning sample signal data from the first VCL and sample signal data from the second VCL to generate output digital data. The output digital data is aligned with respect to at least one of: wavelength, wavenumber, and interferometric phase. The apparatus and methods can also be used to phase stabilize successive sweeps from the same VCL source or wavelength swept source.
US09915511B1	Unpowered railgun field validation for safe-arm fuzing Embodiments are directed to unpowered railgun field validation for safe-arm fuzing. Embodiments use a wire coil having an induced electromotive force voltage. At least one positive duration circuit measures the positive portion of the induced voltage. At least one positive peak duration circuit measures the peak value of the positive portion of the induced voltage. At least one negative duration circuit measures the duration value of the negative portion of the induced voltage. At least one negative peak detector circuit measures the peak value of the negative portion of the induced voltage.
US09915505B2	Small smart weapon and weapon system employing the same A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead including destructive elements and a guidance section with a seeker configured to guide the weapon to a target. The seeker includes a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from the target, memory configured to store target criteria and a correction map, and a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on the distorted signal, the target criteria and the correction map to guide the weapon to the target.
US09915502B2	Backlit sighting device Kits, apparatus, assemblies, and methods for mounting sighting devices are disclosed. A sighting device includes a base for coupling the sighting device to an object at a first interface, a mounting element connected to the base at a second interface, and a sighting element connected to the mounting element. A channel disposed in the bottom of the base is aligned with a channel disposed in the surface of the object and a channel insert is secured within both channels to securely couple the sighting device to the object. The secure coupling can resist movement of the sighting device relative to the object in at least one direction. The sighting element has a non-opaque body displaying a reticle. An illuminating element backlights the reticle from a first vantage point. The device optionally includes an opaque mounting body and a magnifying optic aligned with the sighting element in an open sight configuration.
US09915501B2	Weapon sight and weapon formed therewith A weapon includes a firearm having a front sight and a rear sight. The front sight includes a front channel. The rear sight includes a rear channel. The front channel and the rear channel are aligned along a sight line. The front channel and the rear channel provide an unobstructed field of view toward a target along the sight line.
US09915490B2	Firearm with an improved arming member A firearm (1) comprising a firing mechanism. (600) comprising a trigger (601), a firing pin (6), a locking element (7) of the firing pin (6). The firearm comprises an arming device (10) comprising transmission means (50) connected to the trigger (601) and an arming member (100) comprising a plurality of engagement elements (151, 156, 157) suitable for engaging the transmission means (50) and/or the firing pin (6) and/or the locking element (7). The arming member (100) comprises: a) a firing pin operating body (110) for engagement with the firing pin (6); b) a lock operating body (120) for engagement with the transmission means (50) and with the locking element (7) of the firing pin (6), wherein the firing pin operating body (110) is engageable in rotation by the lock operating body (120) to be moved in rotation.
US09915483B2	Fluid heat exchanging apparatus A small-sized fluid heating/cooling apparatus for heating or cooling a large amount of gas or liquid at a low cost. Structures where a flow passage for a fluid is formed in a heated or cooled base formed in a plate shape or a column shape, and a fluid which has passed through the narrowed flow passage impinges on a wall of a side face of the base vertically to perform heat exchange are connected in series. Heat exchange is instantaneously performed in a small space and manufacture of a mechanism performing such an operation is easy. A material constituting the flow passage may be a metal or ceramics, and a small-sized fluid heat exchanging apparatus can be manufactured at a low cost.
US09915478B2	Thermoelectric energy storage system with an intermediate storage tank and method for storing thermoelectric energy A system and method are provided for storing electric energy in the form of thermal energy. A thermoelectric energy storage system includes a working fluid circuit for circulating a working fluid through a heat exchanger, and a thermal storage medium circuit for circulating a thermal storage medium. The thermal storage medium circuit includes at least one hot storage tank, an intermediate temperature storage tank, and a cold storage tank connected together via the heat exchanger. A proportion of the storage medium is redirected to or from the intermediate storage tank from or to the hot or cold storage tank, joining another proportion which flows directly between the cold and hot storage tank.
US09915477B2	Recovery and re-use of waste energy in industrial facilities Configurations and related processing schemes of specific inter-plants and hybrid, intra- and inter-plants waste heat recovery schemes for thermal energy consumption reduction in integrated refining-petrochemical facilities synthesized for grassroots medium grade crude oil semi-conversion refineries to increase energy efficiency from specific portions of low grade waste heat sources are described. Configurations and related processing schemes of specific inter-plants and hybrid, intra- and inter-plants waste heat recovery schemes for thermal energy consumption reduction in integrated refining-petrochemical facilities synthesized for integrated medium grade crude oil semi-conversion refineries and aromatics complex for increasing energy efficiency from specific portions of low grade waste sources are also described.
US09915472B2	Portable beverage cooler assembly A portable beverage cooler assembly includes a cooler that insertably receives a beverage container. The cooler includes a freezable gel. The cooler is frozen thereby facilitating the freezable gel to be frozen. The freezable gel maintains the beverage container at a cooled temperature. A lid is removably coupled to the cooler and the lid has an opening extending therethrough. The opening is aligned with an opening in the beverage container. Thus, a beverage in the beverage container may be consumed.
US09915470B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a basket assembly slidably coupled to a first door in a front-to-rear direction of the first door, wherein the basket assembly comprises: a basket configured to accommodate food; a first base provided to be slidable in the front direction of the first door by passing through the opening of the first door, the basket being placed on an upper surface of the first base; a second base provided to be slidable in the rear direction of the first door, the first base being slidably coupled to an upper surface of the second base; and a third base of which a front end is fixed to a rear surface of the first door, wherein the second base is slidably coupled to an upper surface of the third base.
US09915459B2	Use of thermoelectric elements for clear ice making, ice harvesting, and creating a temperature condition for clear ice making An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.
US09915455B2	Cooling circuit, cold drying installation and method for controlling a cooling circuit A cooling circuit is equipped with a coolant, a compressor, a condenser and evaporator expansion valve combinations, whereby the outlets of the evaporators are connected to a collection pipe connected to the compressor. The cooling circuit comprises a control unit connected to a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor affixed in the collection pipe and connected to the expansion valves for the control of them. The control unit is provided with an algorithm for controlling the expansion valves on the basis of the temperature sensor and pressure sensor to control the superheating in the collection pipe.
US09915452B2	Support sheet arrangement for falling film evaporator A falling film evaporator for a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes an evaporator housing and a plurality of evaporator tubes located in the evaporator housing and arranged into one or more tube bundles. A volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed through the plurality of evaporator tubes. One or more support sheets located along a length of the plurality of evaporator tubes to position and support the plurality of evaporator tubes in the housing, the one or more support sheets including one or more vapor flow passages to allow flow of vapor refrigerant along a length of the evaporator.
US09915446B2	Method for electrocaloric energy conversion The present invention lies in the field of electrocaloric energy conversion. More specifically, the present invention relates to improvements in systems and methods which employ electrocaloric materials as a source of temperature variation in electrocaloric refrigeration processes. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to the application of electrocaloric materials in combination with a working fluid communicating with a heat source and a heat sink in counter flow.
US09915445B1	Parabolic trough modules Parabolic trough modules include a generally elongated parabolic trough including a pair of spaced-apart trough end walls and a trough panel extending between the trough end walls. The trough panel is generally semi-circular in cross-section and has a concave light reflective surface.
US09915443B2	Heating element and heating implement containing the same The present invention relates to a heating element (1) having an exothermic composition containing an oxidizable metal, a carbon component and water. Tri-alkali metal phosphate is contained in the heating element (1), and the content of water in the heating element (1) is equal to or larger than 50 parts by mass and equal to or smaller than 90 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the oxidizable metal, and the content of tri-alkali metal phosphate as a phosphate group is equal to or larger than 0.5 parts by mass and equal to or smaller than 1.1 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the oxidizable metal.
US09915440B2	Device for regulating the air flow in a pipe This device (D) for regulating the air flow in a pipe includes a flap (6) delimiting, relative to an inner surface (104) of a pipe (10) of the device (D), an air passage section (S), and an adjusting calibrating element (8) movable between a first position and a second position. The device includes a sealing wall (12), extending between the calibrating element and an inner surface (106) of the duct (10), suitable for preventing the passage of air from the side of the duct (10) opposite the air passage section (S). The sealing wall (12) is rotatable relative to the pipe (10) under the action of the movement of the calibrating element, and the calibrating element includes a front wall (86) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X-X′) of the duct (10) which, in the first position of the calibrating element, does not protrude past the circumference of the duct.
US09915431B2	Gas pilot burner assembly A pilot tube assembly for easy repair and/or replacement of a pilot hood is disclosed. In one example, a field configurable burner tube assembly may include a burner tube, a pilot hood, wherein the pilot hood engages the burner tube and can be secured to the burner tube in any of two or more different orientations in the field, a thermo-electric device, and a bracket for carrying the pilot hood and burner tube assembly adjacent to the thermoelectric device.
US09915426B2	Impinging-type temperature uniformity device An impinging-type temperature uniformity device includes an outer case portion; and a temperature uniformizer provided in the outer case portion, spaced apart inwardly from an inner surface of the outer case portion and connected to the outer case portion, wherein the temperature uniformizer includes: a head portion provided in the outer case portion; and a body portion spaced apart inwardly from the inner surface of the outer case portion and including at least one through-hole.
US09915423B2	Rotational flow and sink flow-coupling integrated system for ultra-clean desulphuration and dedusting and desulphuration and dedusting method therefor An example rotational flow and sink flow coupling integrated system may include a spray layer, a slurry pool, a circulating pump, a rotational flow and sink flow coupling device, and a tube bundle-type dedusting and demisting device. The rotational flow and sink flow coupling device, which includes a plurality of rotational flow and sink flow coupling units and supporting beams for supporting the rotational flow and sink flow coupling device which are located therebelow, is mounted above the slurry pool and below the spray layer. The tube bundle-type dedusting and demisting device is arranged on top of a tower body; each rotational flow and sink flow coupling unit includes a rotational flow cylinder, a rotational flow rotor, and a flow guiding device. Both the components described in this paragraph and any other additional components may be implemented in various ways according to the present disclosure.
US09915420B2	Illuminating device with sealed optics An illuminating device can include a housing having one or more sidewalls defining a housing interior. The device can include at least one light element and an optics assembly. The optics assembly can include an outer face and at least one lens. The at least one lens can be configured to allow light from the at least one light element to pass therethrough. The optics assembly can include a skirt extending from the outer face into the housing interior and surrounding the at least one lens. The skirt can have an interior surface defining a skirt interior and an outer surface facing the one or more sidewalls of the housing. Potting material can be positioned between the outer surface of the skirt and the one or more sidewalls to prevent water ingress into the skirt interior. In some cases, no potting material is positioned within the skirt interior.
US09915418B2	Phosphor wheel, illumination apparatus and projection type image display apparatus A disk-shaped substrate made of a heat conductive material is provided with, along an outer periphery of one surface of the substrate, a ring-shaped phosphor that emits light by irradiation with blue laser light that is excitation light. The substrate is provided with, on another surface of the substrate, a plurality of convex portions dotting a region corresponding to a region provided with the phosphor. In a phosphor wheel, the substrate is driven by a motor to rotate about an axis of rotation.
US09915416B2	Method, apparatus, and system for occupancy sensing Embodiments of the present invention include an occupancy sensing unit configured to monitor an environment illuminated by a lighting fixture. An inventive occupancy sensing unit may include an occupancy sensor to detect radiation indicative of at least one occupancy event in the environment illuminated by the lighting fixture according to sensing parameters. The occupancy sensor can be coupled to a memory that logs sensor data, which represent the occupancy events, provided by the occupancy sensor. A processor coupled to the memory performs an analysis of the sensor data logged in the memory and adjusts the sensing parameters of the occupancy sensor based on the analysis.
US09915413B2	Illumination apparatus A light with higher luminance is radiated while lights of a plurality of different wavelengths are appropriately selected and light guiding efficiency is improved. An illumination apparatus including three or more light sources which are arranged so that optical axes of the light sources intersect at one point and which respectively emit lights of different wavelength ranges, an optical device which transmits a light from one of the light sources while reflecting lights from the other light sources so as to make the lights enter an optical path of the light from the one of the light sources, and an optical device rotator which rotates the optical device in a direction in which the light sources are arranged.
US09915406B2	Illumination device for vehicles An illumination device for vehicles, in particular rear light, with a light-emitting unit to generate a predetermined light function. The device comprises a plurality of light sources and an optical unit. The optical unit comprises a light guide with means for the deflection of the light coupled in the same, and a retroreflective unit to generate a retroreflective function. The light guide is designed as a low-profile light guide, which is arranged in the main radiation direction in front of the retroreflective unit. The means for deflecting the light are distributed on or in the low-profile light guide such that the first light beam emitted from the light source and coupled into a narrow side of the low-profile light guide is coupled out at a front flat side of the low-profile light guide to produce the predetermined light function. A second light beam coming from the outside passes the front flat side and a rear flat side of the low-profile light guide and is incident on the retroreflective unit and is reflected by it back through the rear flat side and the front flat side of the low-profile light guide in the main radiation direction to generate the retroreflective function.
US09915403B2	Vehicle lamp Provided is a vehicle lamp with high visibility of road signs. This vehicle lamp (1) is provided with a light source (10) which emits light of a prescribed spectrum and an optical member (30) which is provided on an optical path of the light and increases the number of peaks in the spectrum of the light.
US09915391B2	Systems and methods for insulating a pipe A pipe insulation product including a core of insulating material and a laminate. The core includes a cylindrical outer surface; a cylindrical inner surface; and a wall extending between the cylindrical outer surface and the cylindrical inner surface. The laminate includes a metallized polymeric film sheet layer forming an inner layer, a scrim, a porous media sheet layer, and a polymeric film sheet layer forming an outer exposed layer bonded together via an adhesive. The laminate is coextensive with and bonded to the cylindrical outer surface of the core and the laminate and core are flexible so that the core and laminate can be opened, placed about a pipe, and closed without degrading the laminate.
US09915387B2	System and method for manufacturing electrically isolated connection for electromagnetic gap sub assembly A gap sub assembly and methods for using the gap sub provide an electrical isolating joint that is mechanically strong enough to withstand the rigors of drilling environments, resistant to environmental effects (heat, corrosive liquids and gases, and high pressures), and maintainable. The gap sub assembly provides a male member and a female member that may be connected together, wherein a non-conductive material is applied between the two at the attachment points. A locking ring or collar affixes to both male and female members to prevent back off while drilling and preserving the electrical isolation of the gap joint. Non-conductive material may be injected between the locking ring and one or more of the male or female members.
US09915369B2	Solenoid valve having improved opening and closing behavior A solenoid valve for controlling fluids includes: a closing element, which opens and closes at least one outlet opening on a valve seat; a magnetic circuit having an armature, an internal pole and a magnetic return path; and a coil. The armature is connected to the closing element. The magnetic circuit includes (i) a nonmagnetic separating element for interrupting the magnetic circuit and (ii) a magnetic choke device closing the magnetic circuit on the nonmagnetic separating element, which magnetic choke device is a separate individual component which is fixed using a form-locking and/or a force-locking connection.
US09915364B2	Gravity drain valve A drain valve has a housing defining a drain conduit for the passage of fluids to be drained, the drain conduit having a first rim defining an inlet to the drain conduit opposite a second rim defining an outlet from the drain conduit. One or more non-return valves are within the drain conduit between the first rim and the second rim and have a closed configuration and an open configuration adapted to allow fluids to flow through the outlet of the drain conduit. A vent conduit extends within the drain conduit and comprises internally a lower valve seat, an upper valve seat and a bypass valve positioned between the lower valve seat and the upper valve seat. The bypass valve is adapted to allow gas to bypass the one or more non-return valves and escape to atmosphere when the gas reaches a predetermined pressure.
US09915345B2	Piston assembly Provided is an oil ring (13) for a piston assembly that can minimize the frictional resistance without impairing the oil control function such as the scraping of lubricating oil from the cylinder wall surface by the oil ring. The oil ring consists of an upper side rail (16), a lower side rail (17) and an annular expander (18) interposed between the two side rails, and is received in an oil ring groove (8) with a prescribed vertical clearance (20) that permits tilting of the side rails. An outer peripheral surface (16E, 17E) of each side rail is provided with a radially inward slant. Therefore, during the upward stroke of the piston, the upper side rail tilts in the radially outward direction so that the effective slant angle of the outer peripheral surface of the upper side ring is adjusted to an optimum value.
US09915341B2	Geared drive assemblies A geared drive assembly (10) comprising the driven gear (12) arranged to mesh with the driving gear (14) and a rotary actuator operatively connected to the driving gear (14) by the pulley belt (22) engaging with an first pulley wheel (18) of the rotary actuator and a second pulley wheel (24) rigidly and coaxially connected to the driving gear (14), wherein the pulley belt (22) comprises first (26) and second (28) pulley belt portions extending between the first (18) and second (24) pulley wheels, wherein the first pulley belt portion (26) is maintained, in use, under tension, and wherein the second pulley belt portion (28) is slack, in use. Advantages of the invention, compared with known anti-backlash gearboxes, include: significant weight reductions, reduced complexity, reduced drag, smaller motor sizes, reduced part count, reduced play and backlash. Embodiments of the invention may advantageously provide a lightweight, simple anti-backlash gearing assembly that are particularly suited for use in motorized camera mounts, e.g. pan/tilt heads.
US09915340B2	Housing for a steering gear A housing for a steering gear and a plastic housing, wherein the plastic housing comprises a base body made of a plastic material, and elastomer layer and at least one closure element.
US09915334B2	Flex spline for use with a compound harmonic generator A method and system providing a flex spline for a compound harmonic generator having a harmonic wave generator, a primary ring gear, and a secondary ring gear, includes a primary flex spline with a first number of primary teeth, the primary flex spline driven by the harmonic wave generator and in meshed contact with the primary ring gear, and at least one secondary flex spline with a second number of secondary teeth, the at least one secondary flex spline driven by the harmonic wave generator and in meshed contact with the secondary ring gear, wherein the at least one secondary flex spline rotates independently from the primary flex spline.
US09915332B1	Motor vehicle clutch assembly including shock absorber for smoothing clutch engagement A motor vehicle clutch assembly is provided. The motor vehicle clutch assembly includes a clutch pack including a first clutch plate; an axially movable piston for engaging the clutch pack; and a shock absorber fixed to the first clutch plate. The shock absorber is configured to contact the piston and elastically deform during engagement of the clutch pack by the piston to absorb torque shock from the piston. A method of forming a motor vehicle clutch assembly is also provided. The method includes providing a clutch pack including a first clutch plate; providing an axially movable piston for engaging the clutch pack; and fixing a shock absorber to the first clutch plate. The shock absorber is configured to contact the piston and elastically deform during engagement of the clutch pack by the piston to absorb torque shock from the piston.
US09915328B2	Centering posts for positioning a hub A cover hub assembly for a torque converter comprising: an axis of rotation; a cover including: an outer surface; an inner surface; and, at least two extruded pins protruding from inner surface and symmetrical about the axis of rotation; and, a cover hub including: a cylindrical wall having: a thickness; an inner cylindrical surface, symmetrical about the axis of rotation, forming an opening; and, an outer cylindrical surface symmetrical about the axis of rotation; a cover mounting portion including at least two mating holes for receiving said extruded pins; and, at least one flow groove extending from the outer cylindrical surface to the inner cylindrical surface.
US09915327B2	Transmission for a motor vehicle A motor vehicle transmission having at least two sub-transmissions, each with at least one input shaft. The input shafts are arranged on an input side on an input axis. The two sub-transmissions have a single output shaft. A countershaft assembly having two countershafts aligned on a countershaft axis. A main shaft arranged on the input axis can be connected, via range groups, to the output shaft. At least one of the input shafts can connect to the output shaft via at least one of a gear plane, a shift element and the main shaft. At least three shift devices are arranged with at most one of the shift devices is arranged on the countershaft axis. The first three shift devices are arranged, relative to torque flow, downstream of the input side of the transmission on the input axis.
US09915319B2	Compact parallel eccentric rotary actuator A rotary actuator (101) is provided which includes a crankshaft (103), first and second eccentric gears (121), first and second end plates (123), a first crosslink (117) which is disposed between the first eccentric gear and the first end plate, a second crosslink which is disposed between the second eccentric gear and the second end plate, a stator (113) disposed between the first and second eccentric gears, and a rotor (109). Preferably, the rotary actuator further includes first and second support plates (115) which are disposed concentrically about the crankshaft and which are attached to first and second surfaces of the stator, respectively. The foregoing configuration allows the stator to serve as a major structural element, which may enhance the stiffness and reduce the weight of the actuator, while simplifying many of its active components.
US09915308B2	Electric brake device An electric brake device that allows reduction of generation of an operating noise without impairing a function of a brake, is provided. The electric brake device includes a brake rotor, a brake pad, an electric motor (2), a linear motion mechanism, and a controller (9). Vehicle speed detector (44) configured to detect a vehicle speed, is provided, and the controller (9) includes: a motor angular velocity control section (40) configured to control an angular velocity of the electric motor (2); and angular-velocity-corresponding-to-vehicle-speed limiting section (41) configured to limit, in a no-load state where a clearance is between the brake pad and the brake rotor, the angular velocity by the motor angular velocity control section (40) such that the lower the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detector (44) is, the lower the angular velocity of the electric motor (2) in the no-load state is.
US09915306B2	Rotor cover and bicycle wheel assembly A rotor cover comprises a cover body and a biasing member. The cover body is configured to at least partially cover a disc brake rotor rotatable relative to a bicycle frame about a rotational center axis. The biasing member is configured to bias the cover body in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis. The biasing member is provided between the cover body and the bicycle frame in the axial direction.
US09915304B2	Materials for damped heatsink disk brake assembly A friction disk brake system may comprise a plurality of rotor friction disks and a plurality of stator friction disks. At least one of the friction disks may be a split disk friction disk. The split disk friction disk may comprise a first disk half and a second disk half. A carbon foam damping feature may be located between the first disk half and the second disk half.
US09915303B1	Clutch system for manual transmission vehicles A vehicle includes an engine, a manual transmission, and a clutch that selectively couples the engine to the transmission. The clutch includes a disk biased to engage a flywheel of the engine, a first actuator that disengages the disk in response to depression of a clutch pedal, and a second actuator that disengages the disk in response to an electric signal from a vehicle controller.
US09915301B2	Magnetically actuated mechanical diode A one-way diode includes a first plate including a coil and cams distributed about an axis, a second plate axially facing the cams and including pockets and a second coil, and struts, each strut supported in one of the pockets for pivoting axially relative to the cams in response to an electromagnetic field induced by current in the coil and the second coil.
US09915299B1	Hydrostatic clutch system and method for making power under acceleration A hydrostatic clutch system for dually charging the accumulators while speeding up and slowing down. The hydrostatic clutch system includes a hydraulic pump having a pump housing with openings therein; a manifold/end cover; and a fluid circuit assembly in operable communication with the hydraulic pump. The hydrostatic clutch system may be used with at least one transmission or gear set in operable communication with the hydrostatic clutch. The hydrostatic clutch system may be used to create a variable speed from a fixed input speed. The hydrostatic clutch system may also be used as a hybrid system by changing the pump into a motor for launch and for powering the vehicle with the engine disconnected using accumulated hydraulic pressure. The hydrostatic clutch system captures the resistance of the weight of the vehicle in order to make power while the vehicle is accelerating.
US09915298B2	Electromagnetic pulse disconnect system and methods Methods and systems are provided for operating an electromagnetic pulse disconnect assembly for selectively engaging two rotating components of a vehicle drivetrain. A disconnect assembly is needed that is not powered by vacuum diverted from an engine of the vehicle, as modern engines are being developed to reduce vacuum production and remove vacuum lines for powering peripheral devices such as disconnects. An electromagnetic pulse disconnect assembly is provided that operates via pulses of electrical current and includes an electromagnetic coil for translating a clutch ring assembly and a latching ring assembly to selectively couple two rotating components.
US09915294B2	Protective device for a universal shaft and protective arrangement with a universal shaft and such a protective device A protective device for a universal shaft (3) has an attachment element (6), a tubular guard (7) and at least one latching device (24, 25). The attachment element (6) is positioned around a shaft journal (2) projecting from a housing (1). The tubular protective guard (7) extends along a longitudinal axis L and is positioned around a universal shaft (3) connected to the shaft journal (2). The at least one latching device (24, 25) attaches the protective guard (7) on the attachment element (6). The protective guard (7) has at least one joining lines (9, 10) extending in the longitudinal direction L. The protective guard (7) can be separated and opened to receive the universal shaft (3).
US09915288B2	Bearing assembly A bearing assembly includes two rolling-element bearings having inner and outer rings and rolling elements between the rings, the rolling-element bearings being configured to be axially preloaded, at least one of the inner and outer rings including an axially adjustable flange ring forming a flange for the rolling elements, the flange ring having a first section axially slidably mounted on one of the bearing rings and a second section axially adjacent to the first section, the second section including a thread, and the thread being configured to threadably engage a counterthread of a separate component at a location axially spaced from the bearing ring.
US09915276B2	Valve, in particular pilot-operated proportional pressure control valve A valve, in particular a pilot-operated proportional pressure control valve, has a valve housing (5) with a pressure supply port (7), a working port (9), and a drain port (11). In the valve housing (5), a main valve piston (15) can be moved by a pilot stage (13) for control of the fluid flow between the pressure supply port (7) and the working port (9). The pilot stage (13) has a valve closing element (43) for a pilot chamber (41). The valve closing element (43) is movable from an open position (OS) into a closed position (SS) by an actuating apparatus (45). The valve closing element (43) can actuate a leakage reduction stage (53).
US09915268B2	Ceiling fan having reinforcements A ceiling fan includes blade (11) that is integrally formed of root (12), vane (13), and step (14) for maintaining vane (13) in a state inclined from horizontal. Blade (11) includes bend (16), first reinforcement (17) on upstream side (11c), and a plurality of second reinforcements (18) between bend (16) and first reinforcement (17). First reinforcement length (17a) is longer than second reinforcement length (18a). Further, the ceiling fan includes blade drop prevention portion (37) for locking blade (11) to support (10).
US09915259B2	Apparatus for controlling electric pump In an apparatus for controlling an electric pump supplying operating oil to a driving system or the like of a vehicle, control satisfying both responsiveness and reduction in power consumption is performed even in a case in which an oil temperature sensor and a pump characteristic are abnormal. After starting of the electric pump, feedback control is performed in which a rotation number Nm of a driving motor is settled in a target rotation number Na set to satisfy predetermined performance. After satisfying a predetermined condition in which the motor rotation number Nm is in a stable state, motor current Im is settled in an indicated current Ip within a range of being equal to or less than a current limit value IL while the motor rotation number Nm is maintained equal to or greater than a required rotation number Np corresponding to the indicated current Ip.
US09915255B2	Compressor A compressor (10) for compressing air for a compressed air system of a motor vehicle has a cylinder housing (14) and a cylinder head (16) connected thereto. A compressor piston is moveable in oscillation up and down in a cylinder in the cylinder housing (14). A lamella (34, 36) is received in a depression (38) in an underside (30) of the cylinder head (16) facing the compressor piston. The delivery rate of the compressor (10) can be regulated by closing or opening a control channel (60, 60′) in the cylinder head (16) via the lamella. A bearing end (44) of the lamella (34, 36) is hinged in a pivotably guided manner on a bearing contour (54) of this depression (38). As a result, a separate bearing journal for pivotable mounting of the lamella (34, 36) on the cylinder head (16) may be omitted.
US09915246B2	Wind turbine rotor shaft arrangement A wind turbine rotor shaft arrangement, e.g. of horizontal type, comprising a rotor shaft for supporting wind turbine blades, a non-rotating first housing structure for supporting the rotor shaft, and a first rolling bearing arranged to support, in a first axial direction, the rotor shaft in relation to the first housing structure at a first support point. The first rolling bearing is a single row self-aligning bearing comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, and a set of rolling elements formed of rollers arranged in an intermediate configuration between the inner and outer rings. Each roller is a symmetrical bearing roller having a curved raceway-contacting surface arranged contacting a curved inner raceway of the inner ring and a curved outer raceway of the outer ring. A contact angle between each roller and the inner and/or outer raceway is inclined in relation to the radial direction of the rotor shaft.
US09915244B2	Wind power plant frequency control A method of operating a wind power plant, with at least one wind turbine generator connected to an electrical grid is provided. The method includes monitoring a frequency parameter and comparing it with a frequency set point, as to select a low or high frequency event and determining a power reference to the a least one wind turbine generator, based on the frequency parameter. In case a high frequency event is detected, the power reference is determined as a minimum of a selection of at least a first and a second minimum power reference. And in case a low frequency event is detected, the power reference is determined as a maximum of a selection of at least a first and a second maximum power reference, dispatching the power reference to the at least one wind turbine generator.
US09915240B2	Method and system for engine auto-ignition detection and mitigation A system and method for detecting and mitigating automatic ignition in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The method includes providing a first sensor for sensing and determining a crank angle of a crankshaft of the engine. A second sensor is provided for detecting a change in an engine vibration frequency caused by Auto Ignition (AI). The engine vibration signal of the second sensor is processed into a knock intensity signal. The knock intensity signal is indicative of the cylinder pressure and is acquired when the crank angle is between a first predetermined crank angle and a second predetermined crank angle. At least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is determined and the at least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is compared to at least one predetermined characteristic threshold. If the at least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is determined to exceed the at least one predetermined characteristic threshold, then at least one auto ignition mitigating action is performed to mitigate the auto ignition event.
US09915233B2	Internal combustion engine with supercharger The compressor of a forced induction device is provided in the intake passage of an internal combustion engine. An introduction passage for introducing purge gas into the intake passage is connected to the intake passage. A bent portion is provided at a position of the intake passage that is upstream of the compressor. The curvature of the bent portion in the direction in which the intake passage extends is greater than the curvatures of the portions of the intake passage that are located upstream and downstream of the bent portion. The introduction passage is connected to a part of the bent portion that is on the inner side of the bending direction.
US09915231B2	Laser heating system A method for vaporizing fuel is provided. The method comprises heating the fuel in a cylinder of an engine via radiation to vaporize the fuel without ignition. In this way, the fuel may be heated to increase vaporization efficiency prior to ignition.
US09915229B2	Bleed duct assembly for a gas turbine engine A bypass duct has a support unit comprising a pair of aerofoils arranged as an “A” frame. A bleed duct assembly is provided on the radially inner wall of the bypass duct annulus and the aerofoils project from the surface and extend across the annulus between the inner wall and an outer wall of the annulus. The aerofoils lean at an acute angle to the surface with the first flank facing toward the inner wall and adjoining a bleed duct opening. The bleed duct having a bleed duct passage and a submerged scoop.
US09915227B2	Discharge system of a separated twin-flow turbojet for an aircraft, corresponding turbojet and associated design method A discharge system of a separated twin-flow turbojet for an aircraft, supported by a suspension mast, is disclosed. The system includes a main nozzle delimited by an annular cowl with a slot of annular shape defining upstream and downstream portions of the cowl and which is traversed by the suspension mast. The downstream portion of the cowl of the main nozzle includes a first part extending downstream from the upstream portion of the cowl to a trailing edge of the main nozzle, on either side of the suspension mast along two predefined angular sectors; and a second part formed from an internal contour of the slot and having a trailing edge with a diameter smaller than that of the trailing edge associated with the first part of the downstream portion of the cowl. Connecting walls laterally connect the first and second parts of the downstream portion.
US09915226B2	Variable area fan nozzle hidden blocker door thrust reverser A thrust reverser of an aircraft comprises a blocker door and a variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) panel configured to conceal the blocker door from a duct associated with a bypass fan flow when the VAFN panel is in a closed position.
US09915220B2	Sliding assembly A sliding assembly for utilization in an internal combustion engine may include at least one piston ring and a cylinder head provided with a through cavity defining an internal surface. The internal surface may define a TDC portion in a proximity of a top dead center, a central portion, and a BDC portion in a proximity of bottom dead center. The TDC portion, central portion, and BDC portion may present surface finishes having a first roughness, a second roughness, and a third roughness, respectively, each defined by a structure of recesses and projections, at least one of which may be substantially uniform. The second roughness may be less than the first roughness value. The piston ring may present at least part of a contact surface upon which a ceramic coating may be applied by a physical vapor deposition.
US09915219B2	Method and system for fuel injection Methods and systems are provided for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an engine. In one example, a system may include a hollow cone-shaped injector and a control unit to control the injector. The control unit may detect the position of an inlet valve and trigger the injection process, wherein the injector may be configured to spray fuel out of an inlet duct, through an annular gap, and into the combustion chamber of an engine in an injection process.
US09915217B2	Methods and systems to derive health of mating cylinder using knock sensors A method of deriving the health of a first cylinder in a reciprocating device includes receiving a first signal from a first knock sensor in proximity to the first cylinder, receiving a second signal from a second knock sensor in proximity to a second cylinder, processing the first signal and the second signal, and deriving the health of the first cylinder by determining whether the first signal is coherent with the second signal.
US09915212B2	Engine system having unknown-fuel startup strategy A control system is provided for use with an engine. The control system may have a plurality of fuel valves, at least one sensor, a starter motor, and a controller in communication with the plurality of fuel valves, the at least one sensor, and the starter motor. The controller may be configured to set at least a first of the plurality of fuel valves to a first admission setting, to set at least a second of the plurality of fuel valves to a second admission setting different from the first admission setting, and to cause the starter motor to crank the engine. The controller may also be configured to determine, based on the signal, which one of the first and second admission settings results in combustion initiation during cranking, and to responsively set all of the plurality of fuel valves to the one of the first and second admission settings.
US09915210B2	Method and apparatus for controlling an engine based on a target pressure curve An illustrative example method of controlling an engine of a vehicle, includes determining a target pressure curve for a cylinder of the engine, determining a heat release model for the cylinder, determining a mass flow of fuel from the heat release model to achieve the target pressure curve, and automatically controlling opening of an injector of the cylinder of the engine to provide the determined mass flow of fuel to the cylinder.
US09915199B2	Bi-directional compression fan rotor for a gas turbine engine A fan rotor has a hub, and a plurality of axial flow fan blades extending radially outwardly of the hub. A radial compressor impeller is positioned radially inwardly of the fan blades. The radial compressor impeller has an upstream inlet which extends generally in an axial direction defined by an axis of rotation of the hub. The radial flow compressor impeller has an outlet that extends radially outwardly of the inlet, and into a supply passage for supplying air to a core engine. An engine is also disclosed.
US09915198B2	Belt pulley arrangement for a belt drive for driving auxiliary units of a motor vehicle and method for driving an auxiliary unit of a motor vehicle connected via a belt pulley arrangement A belt pulley arrangement for a belt drive to drive auxiliary units of a motor vehicle, having a belt pulley for introducing a torque that can be provided via a flexible drive means, an output shaft for driving an auxiliary unit, in particular a cooling water pump, and an electric machine for the transmission of torque between the belt pulley and the output shaft, wherein the electric machine has a rotor connected to the belt pulley and a stator connected to the output shaft. As a result of the power flow between the belt pulley and the output shaft, which can be influenced by the electric machine, it is not necessary to design the auxiliary unit that is attached via the output shaft for the least beneficial operating point, so that the auxiliary unit can be dimensioned smaller and a reduction in the installation space for motor vehicle components, in particular the installation space for auxiliary units of a motor vehicle that can be driven via the belt drive, is made possible.
US09915196B2	Control arrangement of an exhaust-gas turbocharger A control arrangement (1) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger (2), having a bearing bushing (3); having a control shaft (4) which is connected at a first end (5) to a connecting lever (6) and which is guided in the bearing bushing (3); and having a connecting piece (7) which is arranged on the connecting lever (6). The connecting piece (7) is arranged on a lever surface (8), which faces toward the bearing bushing (3), of the connecting lever (6).
US09915188B2	Hybrid opposed-piston engine system An opposed-piston engine system equipped for full hybrid compressed-air/combustion includes capacity for storing air compressed by the engine during a combustion mode of operation. The hybrid opposed-piston engine system includes a control mechanization for operating the opposed-piston engine in a combustion mode by provision of fuel, in a compressed-air mode by provision of stored compressed air, and in a combustion mode supplemented by provision of stored compressed air. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle equipped with an opposed-piston engine includes storing air compressed by the engine during a combustion mode of operation and operating in the vehicle a compressed-air mode by provision of stored compressed air.
US09915184B2	Waste heat exchanger A waste heat exchanger may include an inner tube, an outer tube, a fin assembly and a plurality of heat electric modules The inner tube has a plurality of holes. Disposed inside the inner tube is a plurality of inlet channels and a plurality of outlet channels. The plurality of inlet channels and the plurality of outlet channels are disposed to correspond to each other. The plurality of inlet channels and the plurality of outlet channels are connected to the plurality of holes. A fluid flows through the plurality of inlets and the plurality of holes to get into the outlet channels. The outer tube is disposed outside the inner tube. The conductive assembly is positioned between the inner tube and the outer tube. The conductive assembly is disposed on an outside surface of the inner tube and an inside surface of the outer tube.
US09915181B2	Internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine has a multi-link crankshaft drive with a plurality of coupling elements rotatably mounted on crankpins of a crankshaft and a plurality of articulated connecting rods rotatably mounted on crankpins of an eccentric shaft, wherein each of the coupling elements is pivotally connected to a piston connecting rod of a piston of the internal combustion engine and to one of the articulated connecting rods. A balance shaft, which is driven by a crankshaft via a phase adjuster, is provided in order to at least partially attenuate second-order inertia forces occurring in the internal combustion engine.
US09915177B2	Control of system with gas based cycle System (2) for carrying out a gas based thermodynamic cycle in which a gas is compressed in at least one compressor (8) in one part of the cycle and is expanded in at least one expander (10) operating simultaneously in an upstream or downstream part of the cycle, wherein the change in absolute internal power with gas mass flow rate differs as between the compressor and the expander and wherein the system comprises a control system configured to make selective adjustments so as individually to control, either directly or indirectly, the respective gas mass flow rates through each of the compressor and expander. The system may be an energy storage system including a pumped heat energy storage system configured to provide independent graduated control of system pressure and output power by selective adjustment of the respective gas mass flow rates through each half-engine.
US09915176B2	Shroud assembly for turbine engine A shroud assembly for a turbine engine includes a shroud having a front side confronting the blades of a turbine and a back side opposite the front side, a hanger configured to couple the shroud to with casing of the turbine, a cooling conduit extending through the hanger to supply a cooling fluid stream to the back side of the shroud, and a particle separator having a through passage forming part of the cooling conduit and a scavenge conduit branching from the through passage.
US09915169B2	Gas turbine engine end-wall component An end-wall component of the mainstream gas annulus of a gas turbine engine having an annular arrangement of vanes, the component including a cooling arrangement having ballistic cooling holes (33) through which, in use, dilution cooling air is jetted into the mainstream gas upstream of the vanes to reduce the mainstream gas temperature adjacent the end-wall, wherein the cooling holes are arranged in one or more circumferentially extending rows and wherein the axial position of the cooling holes in the or each row varies.
US09915163B2	Cam-follower active clearance control A blade outer air seal (BOAS) assembly is provided. The BOAS assembly may comprise an outer case, a first support arm, a second support arm, a control rod, a blade outer air seal (BOAS), and a unison ring. The unison ring may be located radially inward of the outer case and in mechanical communication with the control rod. The BOAS may be configured to expand or contract in response to a rotation of the control rod. The first support arm may be fixed to the outer case. The second support arm may be fixed to the outer case. The control rod may be coupled to the first support arm and the second support arm, wherein the control rod may be configured to rotate about a control rod axis. The BOAS may comprise a first segment and a second segment.
US09915161B2	Process gas compressor/gas turbine section A process gas compressor/gas turbine section including a process gas compressor and a gas turbine which is coupled to the shaft of the process gas compressor in order to drive said compressor is provided. The process gas compressor is designed to compress combustible process gas and is equipped to seal the process gas compressor inner chamber from the atmosphere using a shaft seal which can be sealed with a seal gas and which has at least one leakage line. The leakage line can conduct leakage gas away from the shaft seal and is connected to the air inlet of the gas turbine such that the leakage gas together with the inlet air at the air inlet can be conducted into the gas turbine during the operation of the process gas compressor/gas turbine section.
US09915157B2	Aircraft engine air flow straightening vane and associated flow straightening structure A flow straightening vane made of composite materials includes a core made up of three-dimensional woven textile rods which core is surrounded by a textile covering, this core and this covering being consolidated using a thermoset resin.
US09915152B2	Turbine wheel A turbine wheel (4) having a hub (29); a multiplicity of turbine wheel blades (30) arranged around the hub (29); a turbine wheel back wall (31) which is arranged on the hub (29) adjacent to an edge region (32) of the turbine wheel blades (30); wherein the wall thickness (W) of the turbine wheel (4) back wall is reduced in regions.
US09915128B2	Machines, systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products to test and certify oil and gas equipment Embodiments of machines, systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products certify oil and gas well equipment. Embodiments identify a selected well equipment device, a device test specification, and testing sequences to be performed by a corresponding testing apparatus. Embodiments select a testing sequence responsive to the selected device. Embodiments control the testing apparatus for the selected testing sequence so that the corresponding testing apparatus performs the sequence responsive to the device test specification. Embodiments generate testing data for the selected testing sequence and link the testing data for the selected testing sequence to the device identifier for the device so that a certificate can be generated. Embodiments generate a certificate for the selected device responsive to the testing sequences having been performed upon the selected device and link the certificate for the selected device to the device identifier so that the certificate can be readily recalled.
US09915126B2	High pressure circulating shoe track with redundant pressure isolation feature A dual barrier system withstands pressure differentials well above those of the check valves in a float shoe used to allow circulation of a bottom hole assembly on the way to a desired depth. The bottom hole assembly can have screens and an internal wash pipe that pushes a sleeve to hold open a lower flapper for running in. The wash pipe also holds open an upper flapper that has opposed orientation to facilitate circulation when running in. Once on location an annulus packer closes off the producing zones where the screens are located from a lower zone that can have higher pressures. A high pressure packer is set against the shoe track and the wash pipe is retracted through this packer. Retracting the wash pipe allows closure of both flappers. Flow is blocked in opposed directions by the flappers and packer in the shoe track.
US09915121B2	Seal pressure relaxation device prior to release of retrievable packer A retrievable packer has its sealing system unloaded before the slip system is relaxed by separation of slip cones from slips that flank the seal assembly. The mandrel is cut so that the portion above the cut can be raised to take a cone up and away from collet heads which previously were trapped by the cone. The collet heads are disposed between opposed sloping surfaces so that the retraction of the cone from under the heads allows the residual rubber pressure to force the heads toward the mandrel into the space created by relative movement of the mandrel that took the wedge cone uphole. The heads are at ends of fingers having a radially inward bias to further assist retraction of the heads toward the mandrel. With the heads retracted the sealing element stretches out before slip cones are moved relative to the slips.
US09915112B2	Smart shaker room This disclosure is generally drawn to systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods, related to monitoring a shaker used for separating solids from fluid. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods relate to controlling an actuated arm to inspect, remove, replace, repair, clean, and/or install screen assemblies based on monitoring the shaker and its screen assemblies. In some examples, a system may include an actuated arm, a monitoring tool, and a controller. The actuated arm may be adjacent a shaker for separating one or more solids from a fluid. The monitoring tool may be coupled to the actuated arm and may monitor a screen assembly in the shaker. The controller may be in electrical communication with the actuated arm and the monitoring tool, and may control the actuated arm based on the monitoring of the screen assembly.
US09915110B2	Power tongs testing system A test stand, for testing several parameters of power tongs used to make and break drill and casing pipe segments, includes a base having a vertical, rotating shaft bearing along its length one or more disk brakes for stopping rotation of the shaft induced by tongs. In a particular embodiment, a vertical mast on the base supports a rotatable gantry which can lift and move power tongs into place above the test stand. Sensors detect several parameters which determine tong performance. Measurements of torque, RPM, temperature, pressure and speed are contrasted to standards for power tongs of like size and capacity and feedback as to the tongs' ability to make and break drill and pipe joints is provided. In another embodiment, a derrick sits atop the base and supports a second, inverted test stand for testing integrated power tongs.
US09915104B2	Downhole expandable control line connector An example control line connector includes an expandable housing having a helical body that defines one or more windings and a helical shroud disposed about the one or more windings, wherein a helical conduit chamber is defined between the helical body and the helical shroud, a matable connector at least partially disposed within the expandable housing and providing a mating face that faces tangentially with respect to the expandable housing so as to angularly mate with an opposing matable connector, and a splitter block coupled to the expandable housing and conveying one or more communication media into the helical conduit chamber to communicate with the matable connector.
US09915103B2	Transmission line for wired pipe A wired pipe system includes a wired pipe segment having a first end and a second end, a first coupler in the first end and a second coupler in the second end and a transmission line disposed in the wired pipe segment between the first and second ends. The transmission line includes a transmission cable that includes an inner conductor and an insulating material disposed about the inner conductor as well as a a wire channel surrounding the insulating material and the inner conductor for at least a portion of a length of the transmission cable. The wire channel and the insulating material are mated together by at least one mating feature.
US09915102B2	Pointed working ends on a bit In one aspect of the present invention, a drill string has a drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The working face has a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. At least one blade has a cutting element with a carbide substrate bonded to a diamond working end with a pointed geometry. The diamond working end also has a central axis which intersects an apex of the pointed geometry. The axis is oriented between a 25 and 85 degree positive rake angle.
US09915100B2	Underreamer for increasing a bore diameter An underreamer for increasing the diameter of a bore. The underreamer includes a substantially cylindrical body. A mandrel may extend axially through the body. One or more cutter blocks are movably coupled to the body. A ratio of a height of the cutter block to a diameter of the body is between about 0.35:1 and about 0.50:1.
US09915099B2	Drill bit for a drilling apparatus A down-hole drilling apparatus includes a bearing housing defining a longitudinal axis and upper and lower portions. The upper portion of the bearing housing is configured for connection to a drill string, and at least one annular bearing package disposed within the bearing housing. A drill bit is coupled to the bearing housing and rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis. The drill bit includes a leading body supporting a plurality of cutters thereon for engaging a subterranean rock formation, a shank portion projecting from the leading body, and a mandrel portion engaging the shank portion and defining an inseparable connection therewith. The mandrel portion extends longitudinally into the bearing housing and through the at least one annular bearing package.
US09915097B2	Bearing section of a downhole drilling motor A bearing assembly for a downhole motor is provided. The bearing assembly includes a housing and a drive shaft designed to rotate with respect to the housing. The bearing assembly also includes stackable thrust bearings, each pre-loaded via a corresponding spring component. Some thrust bearings are arranged such that their spring components distribute axial loads from the housing in a first direction to the thrust bearings. Other thrust bearings are arranged such that their spring components distribute axial loads from the drive shaft in the first direction to the thrust bearings. Thus, the bearing assembly may be tailored via the stackable bearings to distribute axial thrust forces on the downhole motor evenly across the different thrust bearings. The bearing section may include a machinable spacer used to provide a double shouldered connection between the drive shaft and a drive shaft cap used to compress the stackable bearings.
US09915091B2	Low power environment management for an automobile For low power environment management for an automobile, a method is disclosed that includes sensing an environmental condition at an automobile, comparing a level of the environmental condition to a selected threshold value, and adjusting the opening of one or more windows of the automobile based on the sensed environmental condition.
US09915090B2	Systems and methods for vehicle interior protection from precipitation Systems and methods are provided for preventing damage to a vehicle interior due to precipitation. The systems can include a location module, window control module, and rain sensor all communicatively linked to a processor. In the event a vehicle's windows are determined to be down, the processor can determine the likelihood of precipitation in the area of the vehicle's location. If precipitation is likely, the processor causes the rain sensor to be powered. If the rain sensor indicates the presence of precipitation, the processor directs the window control module to close the vehicle's windows.
US09915089B2	Method of controlling a sunroof of a parked vehicle A method of controlling a sunroof of a parked vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: monitoring a state of an engine; monitoring a state of the sunroof; monitoring a state of at least one accessory; initiating a timer when the state of the engine changes to an off state, the state of the sunroof is an open state, and the state of the at least one accessory is an off state; and closing the sunroof a period of time after initiation of the timer. The method may further include sensing for precipitation throughout the period of time, and closing the sunroof upon sensing precipitation regardless of whether the period of time has elapsed. The method may further include sensing for an occupant within the vehicle when the period of time has elapsed or when precipitation is sensed, and foregoing the step of closing the sunroof if an occupant is sensed.
US09915087B2	Roller carriage for the reception of a sliding door with a height adjusting device A roller carriage for the reception of a sliding door includes a roller module for the displaceable affixing at a roller running path and a basic body for the attachment to the sliding door. The basic body is supported at the roller module to be displaceable along a direction of gravity (SKR) for a fine-tuning movement, wherein a first adjusting component for an adjusting movement is supported at the basic body to be movable. For a movement of the basic body along a direction of gravity in relation to the roller module when performing the adjusting movement, the first adjusting component is in operative connection with a second adjusting component of the roller module.
US09915086B2	Triaxial hinge and electronic device using the same The triaxial hinge includes a first hinge shaft attached to a first casing via a first bracket, a second hinge shaft attached to a second casing via a second bracket and a third hinge shaft coupled to one end portion of a first coupling part and one end portion of a second coupling part. Respective other end portions of both coupling parts are attached to the first hinge shaft. There is a gear type synchronous rotation unit for transmitting a rotation of one of the first hinge shaft and the second hinge shaft accompanied by an opening and closing operation of the both casings to the other hinge shaft via the third hinge shaft, which is made to move in a forward and backward direction as accompanied by an opening and closing operation of the both casings.
US09915083B2	Door securing system A door closing mechanism utilizing a motor and a worm gear to engage with a gear drive attached to an engagement mechanism that is capable of pressing against a force applied to a door and shutting the door against such force.
US09915080B2	Deployable shelter structure A shelter structure arranged to be deployed from a stowed configuration above a vehicle to a deployed configuration, having a number of elongate stays for supporting a flexible awning, the stays being movable to fan out from a stowed configuration to a fanned out configuration when deployed. The structure is provided with a mounting permitting the structure to move with respect to the mounting when deployed to selectively cover alternative sheltered zones in a deployed configuration.
US09915048B2	Method for river/lake level regulation and water conservancy system A method for river/lake level regulation and a water conservancy system. The method for level regulation employs a non-closure mode; a water reservoir system is built on one side of a river/lake, water from the river/lake enters into the reservoir system when the water level of the river/lake exceeds a warning water level, and the river/lake is replenished with the water stored in the reservoir system when the water level of the river/lake is unduly low; the conservancy system, which employs the non-closure mode, is built on one side of a river/lake waterway and includes the water reservoir system and a first water passage, the water reservoir system communicates with the river/lake waterway through the first water passage. The method for river/lake level regulation and the water conservancy system realize river/lake level regulation during drought and flood periods without any river/lake closure, so that water resources are control effectively.
US09915046B2	Self alignment structure for applications joining extruded members A self alignment structure for joining extruded members. The self-aligning structure includes one or more decking members including an upper panel and a lower panel connected by webbing members. One side of the decking member has a void space between the upper panel and lower panel and another side the decking member may have a vertical webbing member between the upper panel and the lower panel. The self aligning structure further includes an upper shelf and lower shelf, each shelf extending horizontally relative to the vertical webbing member. The shelves being operable to align a neighboring decking member, forming abutment joints in preparation for a friction stir welding process.
US09915041B2	Self-propelled construction machine and method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, which possesses an undercarriage which has front and rear—in the working direction—wheels or travelling gears, a machine frame which is borne by the undercarriage, and a working means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine. The invention is based on the detection of objects O situated in the ground at a time at which the objects O can be readily detected. The construction machine according to the invention possesses a means for generating predictive object signals which are characteristic of the position of objects which lie in a portion of the ground which lies in the working direction A in front of the working region of the working means. Furthermore, the construction machine has a signal processing means which receives the object signals, which means is configured such that during the advance of the construction machine object signals relating to the working means are obtained from the predictive object signals, these signals being characteristic of the position of the objects in a portion of the ground which relates to the working region of the working means.
US09915038B2	Durable joint seal system with detachable cover plate and rotatable ribs A system which creates a durable seal between adjacent horizontal panels, including those that may be curved or subject to temperature expansion and contraction or mechanical shear. The durable seal system incorporates plurality of ribs, a flexible member between the cover plate and the ribs and may incorporate a load transfer plate to provide support to the rib from below, and/or cores of differing compressibilities.
US09915037B2	Simple application of an adhesive material to a substrate with excellent adhesion to asphalt A method for producing a roadway structure includes: applying pellets of an adhesive composition to a non-tacky surface of a substrate having a support structure, wherein the adhesive composition has at least one solid epoxy resin and at least one thermoplastic polymer that is solid at room temperature; and applying a bitumen-based bearing course. The method permits rapid and efficient production of a roadway structure with good adhesion between the substrate and the asphalt and is suitable in particular for the restoration of asphalt coverings, which must be carried out under time pressure. The application of primer courses is not required.
US09915036B2	Stackable mat construction A stackable mat includes a first industrial mat, a second industrial mat and an internal support structure. The mats each have a plurality of layers or plies of construction materials for forming the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the stacker mat, and have a thickness that provide support for vehicle movement thereover. The internal support structure includes a truss or elongated members for retaining the first and second mats in parallel spaced relation at a distance that is greater than the thickness of the first industrial mat. Preferably, the internal support structure and the second industrial mat or both the first and second industrial mats are configured with sufficient openings to allow water to flow therethrough so that the stacker mat may be placed in wet areas to form a temporary roadway or platform.
US09915027B2	Core-free thermoplastic polyurethane yarn formed with resin and method for producing same The present invention relates to a resin for a thermoplastic polyurethane yarn, comprising: thermoplastic polyurethane; and silica nanopowder. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a thermoplastic polymer yarn having a thickness of 50 denier or less by use of silica nanopowder having a particle size of 5-30 nm as a thickener. The thermoplastic polyurethane resin according to the present invention has desired processability and physical properties.
US09915026B2	Core-free thermoplastic polyurethane yarn formed with masterbatch and method for manufacturing same The present invention relates to masterbatches for a TPU yarn and a method for manufacturing a TPU yarn using the same wherein while TPU is not coated onto the surface of a polyester or nylon yarn, unlike the above-mentioned prior arts, the masterbatches are made by compounding the TPU and nano silica, and next, they are compounded with TPU, so that the compounded material is melted and extruded through an extruder for yarn processing, thereby manufacturing a TPU yarn having no core.
US09915020B2	Washing machine and control method thereof A washing machine is disclosed. The washing machine includes a sensing unit to sense various kinds of inputs, an output unit to display an operation state of the washing machine, a door display unit disposed at a door to display a light pattern, a memory to store a plurality of input information corresponding to a plurality of commands, and a controller to determine whether the sensed input matches with any one of the input information when the sensing unit senses an external input, and control at least one of the output unit and the door display unit to be driven in response to the matched input information.
US09915017B2	Tufted patterned textiles with optimized yarn consumption A method is provided for optimizing the yarn consumption in patterned textiles by applying cell automata algorithms to bitmapped-type pattern designs including operator selected rules to influence the general appearance of the pattern design.
US09915014B2	Flexible second gas barrier with improved fatigue strength and method for manufacturing the same A flexible second gas barrier for a liquefied gas storage tank which includes a stiffener fabric weaved with two or more kinds of fiber yarn selected from a group consisting of a glass fiber, a carbon fiber, an aramid fiber, and a synthetic fiber. The stiffener fabric is weaved so that a hybrid fiber yarn is made by 2-ply yarning two or more kinds of a single yarn or a twisted yarn of fiber yarn selected from a group consisting of a glass fiber, a carbon fiber, an aramid fiber, or a synthetic fiber, is included in the weft and/or warf so that repeated fatigue resistance, even under cryogenic conditions, is achieved, which ultimately has the effect of solving the problems associated with repeated load increase imposed on the second gas barrier as the thickness of LNGC Foam increases.
US09915009B2	Method for growing beta-Ga2O3-based single crystal, and beta-Ga2O3-based single crystal substrate and method for producing same Provided is one embodiment which is a method for growing a β-Ga2O3-based single crystal including contacting a flat plate-shaped seed crystal with a Ga2O3-based melt, and pulling up the seed crystal such that a flat plate-shaped β-Ga2O3-based single crystal having a principal surface which intersects a surface is grown without inheriting a crystal information of a vaporized material of the Ga2O3-based melt adhered to the principal surface of the seed crystal, wherein when growing the β-Ga2O3-based single crystal, a shoulder of the β-Ga2O3-based single crystal is widened in a thickness direction (t) thereof.
US09915006B2	Reactive-type chemical conversion treatment composition and production method of member with chemical conversion coated surface A production method of a member having a surface provided thereon with a chemical conversion coating includes a contacting step and a washing step. The contacting step causes a reactive-type chemical conversion treating acidic composition to contact with a base material having a metal-based surface thereby forming a chemical conversion coating on the metal-based surface of the base material. The washing step washes the base material having been subjected to the contacting step to obtain a member having a surface provided thereon with the chemical conversion coating. The reactive-type chemical conversion treating acidic composition contains a water-soluble trivalent chromium-containing substance, a water-soluble titanium-containing substance, and a carboxylic acid compound. The acidic composition is free from a water-soluble cobalt-containing substance.
US09915001B2	Chemical vapor deposition process and coated article A chemical vapor deposition process and coated article are disclosed. The chemical vapor deposition process includes positioning an article in a chemical vapor deposition chamber, then introducing a deposition gas to the chemical vapor deposition chamber at a sub-decomposition temperature that is below the thermal decomposition temperature of the deposition gas, and then heating the chamber to a super-decomposition temperature that is equal to or above the thermal decomposition temperature of the deposition gas resulting in a deposited coating on at least a surface of the article from the introducing of the deposition gas. The chemical vapor deposition process remains within a pressure range of 0.01 psia and 200 psia and/or the deposition gas is dimethylsilane. The coated article includes a substrate subject to corrosion and a deposited coating on the substrate, the deposited coating having silicon, and corrosion resistance.
US09915000B2	Method and an apparatus for depositing a layer onto a workpiece using plasma Various embodiments relate a method for depositing a layer onto a workpiece using plasma. The method comprises arranging the workpiece and a source material inside a vacuum chamber. The method also comprises applying energy to the source material to cause atoms of the source material to be ejected from a surface of the source material into a plasma. The method further comprises orientating the workpiece with respect to the source material to prevent direct propagation of the ejected atoms from the source material to a work surface of the workpiece and to permit deposition of the layer onto the workpiece by ejected atoms which impact the work surface after colliding with particles of the plasma. Various embodiments also provide a corresponding apparatus.
US09914992B2	Coated metal strip having an improved appearance The present invention provides a process for manufacturing a metal strip having a metallic corrosion protection coating. The process includes making the metal strip pass through a bath of molten metal having between 2 and 8 wt. % aluminum, 0 to 5 wt. % magnesium and up to 0.3 wt. % addition elements, the balance being zinc and inevitable impurities. The bath is maintained at a temperature between 350 and 700° C. Nozzles wipe the coated metal strip spraying a gas on either side of the strip. The coating is cooled in a controlled manner until it has completely solidified. A metal strip and a metal part obtained by deformation of this strip are also provided.
US09914980B2	Primers for the detection and typing of carbapenemase-producing bacterial strains, and detection method and kit Some pairs of primers are provided, being used for detection of carbapenemase genes and carbapenemase-producing bacterial strains, and a diagnosis method using said set of primers. Furthermore, there is also disclosed, preferably, the use of probes within each amplification reaction, more preferably multiplex PCR, for selective identification and detection of carbapenemase genes from a biological sample. The primers object of this invention may be used for preparing a kit for carbapenemase genes identification and detection, preferably carbapenemases contained in bacterial strains producing said enzymes.
US09914978B2	Methods, kits, and compositions useful in selecting an antibiotic to treat MRSA The present invention provides a method, a kit and composition for determining MRSA and other Staphylococcus strain resistance to one or more antibiotic agents through detecting the presence of the respective antibiotic resistance gene. The methods include real-time PCR assays, and the kits and compositions include oligonucleotides used as primers and probes.
US09914969B2	Fads regulation The present invention relates methods to increase the expression of fatty acid desaturases (FADS) and increase cellular and tissue levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) by modulating one or more of the FADS via the action of specific classes of drugs (e.g., statins and LXR agonists). The present invention also relates to methods of treating conditions (e.g., tumor and cancer) involving deficient function of FADS by administering statins and/or LXR agonists. The present invention further relates to methods of determining the need for statins or dietary LCPUFA in subjects.
US09914963B2	Methods and compositions for detection of nucleic acids based on stabilized oligonucleotide probe complexes Provided are nucleic acid detection methods wherein targeted primer extension or products or amplification products incorporate a probe-anchoring modification introduced using a primer incorporating a probe-anchoring primer modification, wherein oligonucleotide detection probes incorporate a probe-anchoring probe modification, the primers and probes designed to place the binding site of the oligonucleotide probe proximate to the probe-anchoring primer modification in the detected target sequence. The probe-anchoring modifications of the probe and the primer-extension product form a stabilized complex comprising a detectible duplex of the probe with the detected target sequence. In certain aspects, the probe-anchoring modified primer also incorporates a probe-directing sequence. The methods allow use of exceptionally short oligonucleotide probes (e.g., 10-mer and shorter) enabling establishment of a complete probe inventory or universal library containing a probe complementary to any target nucleic acid sequence. Real-time and post-amplification detection methods are provided, along with detection kits.
US09914959B2	Multiplexed homogeneous oligonucleotide detection A new kit is provided for detecting or quantifying the amount of one or multiple nucleic acid targets in a biological sample, and a detection or quantification method using this kit. The present kit is constituted by a universal energy donor probe, a universal energy acceptor probe and a couple of adaptors.
US09914957B2	Devices, systems and methods for thermal control of droplet detection A droplet detection system comprises a first channel in fluid communication with a carrier fluid reservoir and a second channel in fluid communication with a sample reservoir. The first channel and second channel can meet at an intersection. The sample reservoir can include a sample or partition thereof. During use, an emulsion comprising one or more droplets can be generated at the intersection. The emulsion flows from the intersection along a detection channel to a collection reservoir. A detection assembly that is coupled to at least a portion of the detection channel is configured to detect a signal from the one or more droplets. An energy providing member can be in thermal communication with at least one of the carrier fluid reservoir, the sample reservoir, the intersection, the detection channel and the detection assembly. The energy providing member is configured to transfer energy to the emulsion.
US09914954B1	Method for measurement of bioavailable testosterone Provided are methods for determining level of bioactive testosterone in a biological sample. In one aspect, aromatase enzyme is utilized to convert free, bio-available testosterone into estradiol and the amount of estradiol is measured before and after the addition of enzyme. The difference in measurements provides the amount of bioactive testosterone in the sample. In another aspect, a competitor of testosterone binding to SHBG is utilized to displace testosterone bound to SHBG. Measurements of total testosterone in the sample before addition of competitor and afterwards are taken, such that the delta reflects the amount of testosterone that was bound on SHBG.
US09914950B2	Homopolymer mediated nucleic acid amplification According to some aspects of the invention, provided herein are methods of amplifying nucleic acids using homopolymer-mediated ligation. The methods, in some embodiments, comprise adding a first homopolymer of at least 12 nucleotides to each 3′ end of blunt-ended double-stranded nucleic acid containing a target nucleic acid, thereby producing a partially double-stranded nucleic acid.
US09914943B2	Modified bacteria for the production of bioalcohol The present invention provides a modified bacterial strain capable of fermenting both hexose and pentose sugars for production of bioalcohol wherein a promoter of pyruvate dehydrogenase operon (PDH) is replaced with a promoter of a gene that is expressed under anaerobic conditions. The present invention further provides a method of obtaining modified bacterial strain capable of fermenting both hexose and pentose sugar for production of bioalcohol. The present invention also provides a method of fermenting lignocellulosic biomass having hexose and pentose sugar using the modified bacteria for production of biomass.
US09914936B2	Nucleic acid silencing sequences The present invention features compositions and methods for introducing, into cells, nucleic acids whose expression results in chromosomal silencing. The nucleic acids are targeted to specific chromosomal regions where they subsequently reduce the expression of deleterious genes, or cause the death of deleterious cells. Where the nucleic acid sequence is a silencing sequence, it may encode an Xist RNA or other non-coding, silencing RNA. Accordingly, the present invention features, inter alia, nucleic acid constructs that include a transgene (e.g., a silencing sequence encoding an Xist RNA or other non-coding RNA that silences a segment of a chromosome); first and second sequences that direct insertion of the silencing sequence into a targeted chromosome; and, optionally, a selectable marker.
US09914932B2	Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of lipomyces This disclosure provides Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods for the oil-producing (oleaginous) yeast Lipomyces sp., as well as yeast produced by the method. Such methods utilize Agrobacterium sp. cells that have a T-DNA binary plasmid, wherein the T-DNA binary plasmid comprises a first nucleic acid molecule encoding a first protein and a second nucleic acid molecule encoding a selective marker that permits growth of transformed Lipomyces sp. cells in selective culture media comprising an antibiotic.
US09914925B2	Down-regulating gene expression in insect pests The present invention relates to genetic control of infestation by insect pest species, particularly prevention and/or control of pest infestation of plants, using interfering ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. Compositions and combinations containing the interfering RNA molecules of the invention for use in topical applications, for example in the form of insecticides.
US09914923B2	Treatment of reprogramming factor related diseases by inhibition of natural antisense transcript to a reprogramming factor The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of a Reprogramming factor, in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of a Reprogramming factor. The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of Reprogramming factors.
US09914916B2	Dimeric bacteriophage lysins The present invention provides isolated dimeric Streptococcus-specific phage lysins having two Streptococcus-specific phage lysin monomers covalently linked to each other, and having killing activity against one or more Streptococcus bacteria. Also provided for are pharmaceutical compositions of dimeric lysins and their use in therapeutic treatment or alleviation of infections or bacterial colonizations. The dimeric lysins may also be used to decontaminate porous and non-porous surfaces or devices.
US09914906B2	Process for solid-state cultivation of mycelium on a lignocellulose substrate In one embodiment, the process combines a fraction (up to 15%) of a lignocellulose substrate with supplemental nutritional material and hydrates the fraction to a moisture content of from 40% to 70% by weight. The hydrated substrate fraction is heat processed to remove ambient bioburden (yeast, mold, bacteria) and to maintain the hydrated substrate fraction in an aseptic condition. Thereafter, the hydrated substrate fraction is inoculated with a fungus and incubated to obtain a myceliated substrate which is then reduced into discrete particles. The remaining fraction of the substrate is combined with water and then combined with the discrete particles of myceliated substrate and incubated to obtain a second myceliated substrate which is then reduced into discrete particles. The second myceliated substrate is combined with supplemental nutritional material and incubated to obtain a third myceliated substrate composed of at least 10% mycelium.
US09914904B2	Microbial experiment cooling and temperature-sensing multipurpose rack A multi-function cooling and thermo-sensitive rack includes horizontal bars, a base, positioning holes, connectors, a lateral frame, connecting holes, a temperature-displaying prompter, and N temperature sensors. The lateral frame and the base are connected through the connectors. The lateral frame and the base have their surfaces facing each other symmetrically provided with plural connecting holes thereon. The horizontal bars have two ends thereof received in the corresponding symmetrical connecting holes. The positioning holes are distributed over the surface of the base. The N temperature sensors have output ends thereof for outputting sensing signals connected with input ends of the temperature-displaying prompter for inputting the N temperature-sensing signals. The present invention is applied to apparatuses used in microbiology experiment.
US09914897B2	Subcritical water assisted oil extraction and green coal production from oilseeds Provided herein are methods of optimizing energy recovery from oilseeds. The methods disclosed provide at least the ability to swell oilseeds and disrupt the cell walls (hulls) without changing the functionality and quality of oil; the process integration of removing the impurities from oilseeds, oil extraction, protein hydrolysis, and green coal production to maximize the energy recovery in the form of crude oil, polypeptides, oligopeptides, amino acids, and/or green coal from oilseeds; and heat integration during processing stages including subcritical water pretreatment, oil extraction, subcritical water post-treatment, and subcritical water carbonization to minimize the process heat requirement.
US09914896B2	Lubricant composition with phosphorus-functionalized polymers The present invention relates to a lubricant composition comprising at least one polyalkyl(meth)acrylate including repeating units derived from (meth)acrylates having 6 to 22 carbon atoms in the alcohol radical, wherein the polyalkyl(meth)acrylate includes repeating units derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers having at least one covalently bonded phosphorus atom. The present invention further relates to a polyalkyl(meth)acrylate suitable for such a lubricant composition and to the use of a polyalkyl(meth)acrylate having repeating units derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers having at least one covalently bonded phosphorus atom for reducing friction.
US09914891B2	Process for maximizing diesel production using a heavy heavy naphtha stream Methods of maximizing diesel production are describes. The methods include providing a stream of heavy heavy naphtha; and blending the stream of heavy heavy naphtha with a diesel stream from the crude distillation zone to increase diesel production while maintaining the blended diesel stream within a specification for diesel. Various apparatus for maximizing diesel production are also described.
US09914890B2	Gasification system A gasification system method and apparatus to convert a feed stream containing at least some organic material into synthesis gas having a first region, a second region, a gas solid separator, and a means for controlling the flow of material from the first region to the second region. The feed stream is introduced into the system, and the feed stream is partially oxidized in the first region thereby creating a solid material and a gas material. The method further includes the steps of separating at least a portion of the solid material from the gas material with the gas solid separator, controlling the flow of the solid material into the second region from the first region, and heating the solid material in the second region with an electrical means.
US09914883B2	Processes for producing a transportation fuel from a renewable feedstock Processes for the production of transportation fuel from a renewable feedstock. A gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is used to deoxygenate and hydrogenate the glycerides to produce long chain hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons may be isomerized to improve cold flow properties to provide a diesel fuel. Prior to isomerization, the long chain hydrocarbons can be separated or the separation can be after isomerization. Recycle gas streams from the isomerization and the deoxygenation and hydrogenation reactions may be used to supply at least a portion of the gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Synthesis gas may also be used to supply at least a portion of the gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
US09914877B2	Liquid crystal medium and liquid crystal display The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal display device and to a liquid crystal medium having a negative dielectric anisotropy Δ∈.
US09914868B2	Methods and compositions for using temporary compacted materials as well servicing fluids in a subterranean formation Provided is a method of treating a subterranean formation comprising: preparing a well servicing fluid comprised of a base fluid, a temporary compacted material wherein the temporary compacted material is a compacted organic acid; placing the well servicing fluid into a subterranean formation; and allowing the temporary compacted material to gradually dissolve.
US09914852B2	Reduction in large particle counts in polishing slurries The present disclosure provides a method for reducing large particle counts (LPCs) in copper chemical mechanical polishing slurry by way of using high purity removal rate enhancer (RRE) in the slurry. The conductivity of the RRE in deionized water solutions correlates very strongly with the number of LPCs in the RRE, and thus in a slurry using the RRE.
US09914850B2	Antireflection film, optical member, and method of producing optical member An antireflection film includes a first layer including hollow particles. The first layer includes the hollow particles, a binder, and a fluorine compound; has a refractive index of 1.22 to 1.30; and has a contact angle between the surface thereof and n-hexadecane of 50° to 70°.
US09914848B1	Refinish coating composition The present invention is directed to a coating composition comprising an alkyd resin; an acrylic polymer; a metallic drier; an adhesion promoter; and a solvent. Also disclosed are coatings formed from the coating composition. Also disclosed are methods of coating a substrate.
US09914844B2	Ink composition There is provided an ink composition, including: a combination of specific dyes, in which the dynamic contact angle of the ink to a silicon wafer is 24° or lower at 100 msec after dropping, and is 9° or lower at 5,100 msec after dropping.
US09914843B2	Ink jet recording method An ink jetting ink set includes an ink composition for recording supplied to and used in an ink flow path and containing at least one of a glitter pigment and a metal oxide as a coloring material, and an auxiliary ink composition used in cleaning of the ink flow path, in which, in cases where a dynamic viscosity at 20° C. in the ink composition for recording is η1 (mm2/s) and a surface tension at 20° C. is γ1 (mN/m), and the dynamic viscosity at 20° C. in the auxiliary ink composition is η2 (mm2/s) and the surface tension at 20° C. is γ2 (mN/m), the following formula (1) and the following formula (2) are satisfied at the same time. η1≦η2 (1) γ1≧γ2 (2)
US09914837B2	Composite structure, method for producing same, packaging material and formed product using same, and coating liquid The method disclosed includes: a step (I) of preparing a dispersion liquid (S) including an aluminum compound (A); a step (II) of mixing the dispersion liquid (S) and a predetermined phosphorus compound (B) so as to prepare a coating liquid (U); a step (III) of applying the coating liquid (U) onto the base (X) so as to form a precursor layer of the layer (Y); and a step (IV) of subjecting the precursor layer to heat treatment at a temperature of 110° C. or more so as to form the layer (Y). The aluminum compound (A) can be formed by adding an acid to a solution including an aluminate. The number of moles (NM) of aluminum atoms derived from the aluminum compound (A) and the number of moles (NP) of phosphorus atoms derived from the phosphorus compound (B) satisfy 0.8≦(NM)/(NP)≦4.5.
US09914833B2	Biodegradable polymer composition for the manufacture of articles having a high heat deflection temperature This invention relates to a biodegradable polymer composition which is particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of articles having a high heat deflection temperature (HDT) by injection molding and thermoforming.
US09914827B2	Concentrated polymeric compositions of vinyl aromatic polymers and/or copolymers The present invention relates to a concentrated polymeric composition which comprises: a) vinyl aromatic polymers and/or copolymers in an amount ranging from 10% to 90% by weight, calculated with respect to the overall composition, with respect to the overall composition, b) at least one compound containing epoxy functional groups in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 5% by weight, calculated with respect to the overall composition, with respect to the overall composition, c) at least one infrared absorbing agent, in an amount ranging from 10% to 90% by weight, calculated with respect to the overall composition, with respect to the overall composition.
US09914817B2	Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon functionalized isobutylene copolymers for dispersing graphene and graphite Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) functionalized isobutylene copolymers, methods for making a PAH functionalized isobutylene copolymer comprising combining a halogenated copolymer with a PAH in a solvent under basic conditions at a temperature ranging from 30° C. to 150° C., the use of these PAH functionalized copolymers as a dispersant in elastomeric nanocomposite compositions comprising a halobutyl rubber matrix and nanoparticles of graphite or graphene, and a tire innerliner or innertube produced from these elastomeric nanocomposite compositions is disclosed.
US09914808B2	Masterbatch for thermoplastic polyurethane yarn and method for manufacturing thermoplastic polyurethane yarn using the same The present invention relates to masterbatches for a TPU yarn and a method for manufacturing a TPU yarn using the same wherein while TPU is not coated onto the surface of a polyester or nylon yarn, unlike the above-mentioned prior arts, the masterbatches are made by compounding the TPU and nano silica, and next, they are compounded with TPU, so that the compounded material is melted and extruded through an extruder for yarn processing, thereby manufacturing a TPU yarn having no core.
US09914804B2	Method for synthesising a block copolymer alloy having improved antistatic properties The invention relates to a method for synthesising a block copolymer alloy including at least one rigid polyamide block PA, including the steps of: a) producing said block copolymer; b) adding, during step a) and to at least a portion of said block copolymer, 0.1 to 30 wt % of at least one organic salt in the molten state relative to the total weight of the alloy, so that the alloy thus obtained has improved antistatic properties and identical mechanical properties when compared to the same polymer produced without adding an organic salt. The invention also relates to a block copolymer alloy having improved antistatic properties and obtained by said method, to the use thereof in a polymer matrix, and to a composition containing same.
US09914793B2	Spheroidal catalyst for olefin polymerization A solid, spheroidal polymerization catalyst having a particle size distribution characterized by a Dm/Dn of less than 3.0, the catalyst comprising a phosphinimine catalyst, a cocatalyst and a magnesium chloride support. A process for the polymerization of ethylene with one or more alpha olefin catalyzed by a solid, spheroidal polymerization catalyst having a particle size distribution characterized by a Dm/Dn of less than 3.0, the catalyst comprising a phosphinimine catalyst, a cocatalyst and a magnesium chloride support.
US09914789B2	Ziegler-natta catalyst systems comprising a 1,2-phenylenedioate as internal donor and process for preparing the same A catalyst composition for use as precursor for Ziegler-Natta catalyst system, said catalyst composition comprising a combination of magnesium moiety, titanium moiety and an internal donor containing at least one 1,2-phenylenedioate compound of structure (A). Also, the present invention provides a process for preparing the aforesaid catalyst composition. Further, the present invention provides a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system incorporating the aforesaid catalyst composition and a method for polymerizing and/or copolymerizing olefins using the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system.
US09914785B2	Engineered immunoglobulin heavy chain-light chain pairs and uses thereof The present invention provides heterodimer pairs comprising a first heterodimer and a second heterodimer wherein each heterodimer comprises an immunoglobulin heavy chain or fragment thereof and an immunoglobulin light chain. At least one of the heterodimers comprises amino acid modifications in the CH1 and/or CL domains, amino acid modifications in the VH and/or VL domains or a combination thereof. The modified amino acid residues are part of the interface between the light chain and heavy chain and are modified in order to create preferential pairing between each heavy chain and a desired light chain such that when the two heavy chains and two light chains of the heterodimer pair are co-expressed in a mammalian cell, the heavy chain of the first heterodimer preferentially pairs with one of the light chains rather than the other. Likewise, the heavy chain of the second heterodimer preferentially pairs with the second light chain rather than first.
US09914780B2	Depletion of plasmacytoid dendritic cells The present invention relates to antibodies targeted to BDCA2 that deplete plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and methods of using the antibodies to treat disorders associated with pDC.
US09914779B2	Administration of alpha4beta7 hetero-dimer-specific antibody There is provided a method of treating a subject afflicted with a condition that is associated with inappropriate trafficking of cells expressing alpha4beta7 to the gastrointestinal tract, comprising administering to the subject an alpha4beta7 heterodimer specific antibody in an amount and at an interval sufficient to ameliorate the condition.
US09914777B2	Human CD3 binding antibody The invention is among others concerned with human CD3 binding antibodies comprising a heavy chain and light chain wherein said heavy chain comprises a variable region that comprises the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 61):QVQLV QSGGG VVQPG RSLRL SCVAS GFTFS SYGMH WVRQA PGKGL EWVAA IWYX1X2 RKQDY ADSVK GRFTI SRDNS KNTLY LQMNS LRAED TAVYY CTRGT GYNWF DPWGQ GTLVT VSS with 0-5 amino acid insertions, deletions, substitutions, additions or a combination thereof at one or more positions other than the position indicated by X1X2; wherein X1=N and X2=A; X1=N and X2=T; X1=S and X2=G; X1=H and X2=G; X1=D and X2=G; or X1=H and X2=A. The invention is also concerned with bispecific antibodies that have a heavy chain as defined herein above. The invention is also concerned with methods of production of the antibody, cells producing the antibody and with (medical) uses of the antibody.
US09914773B2	Anti-human folate receptor beta antibodies and methods of use Human anti-human folate receptor beta antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof are described, as well as methods of using such antibodies and fragments to treat inflammatory disorders or cancers expressing cell surface FRβ.
US09914770B2	Cloning, expression and purification method for the preparation of ranibizumab A polynucleotide sequence and a method for Ranibizumab cloning, expression and production having better yield and biologically active protein.
US09914761B2	Oligomers for TNF superfamily inhibition Methods for constructing efficient inhibitors of target TNF superfamily receptors, single chain target TNF superfamily ligands that inhibit of target TNF superfamily receptors while failing to engage or inhibit non-target TNF superfamily receptors, and methods of their use to treat diseases are provided. Single chain RANKL, TNF, and TRAIL ligands that effectively inhibit their target receptors while failing to inhibit non-target TNF superfamily receptors are also provided.
US09914760B2	Methods of identifying, isolating and using odorant and aroma receptors Provided here are new methods to identify specific families of mammalian odorant receptors for odorants or aroma, particularly indole and skatole malodors and their use in assays that may be used to discover compounds that modulate (blocking, enhancing, masking or mimicking compounds) their activity. Orphan mouse odorant receptors are identified from olfactory sensory neurons that respond to target compounds. The resulting receptors as well as their human counterparts can be screened in assays against test compounds to confirm their identity as odorant or aroma receptors, particularly malodor receptors and subsequently discover for example modulators that inhibit the perception of the malodor in humans.
US09914759B2	Targeted modified TNF family members The present invention relates to a modified cytokine of the TNF superfamily, with reduced activity to its receptor, wherein said modified cytokine is specifically delivered to target cells. Preferably, said modified cytokine is a single chain variant of the TNF superfamily, even more preferably, one or more of the chains carry one or more mutations, resulting in a low affinity to the receptor, wherein said mutant cytokine is specifically delivered to target cells. The targeting is realized by fusion of the modified cytokine of the TNF superfamily to a targeting moiety, preferably an antibody or antibody-like molecule. The invention relates further to the use of such targeted modified cytokine of the TNF superfamily to treat diseases.
US09914752B2	Agonists of guanylate cyclase useful for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, cancer and other disorders The invention provides novel guanylate cyclase-C agonist peptides and their use in the treatment of human diseases including gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation or cancer (e.g., a gastrointestinal cancer). The peptides can be administered either alone or in combination with an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase. The gastrointestinal disorder may be classified as either irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or excessive acidity etc. The gastrointestinal disease may be classified as either inflammatory bowel disease or other GI condition, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and cancer.
US09914750B2	Synthetic peptides and peptide mimetics The present invention provides Parotid Secretory Protein peptides, nucleic acids encoding the peptides, and methods of using the peptides, and methods of screening GL13 mimetics.
US09914749B2	Surface neutralization of apatite The present invention discloses methods of neutralizing apatite surfaces, for example during chromatography and before protein elution.
US09914747B2	Extended betulinic acid analogs Compounds having drug and bio-affecting properties, their pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are set forth. In particular, betulinic acid derivatives that possess unique antiviral activity are provided as HIV maturation inhibitors, as represented by compounds of Formulas I and II: These compounds are useful for the treatment of HIV and AIDS.
US09914746B2	Oligonucleotides containing high concentrations of guanine monomers This invention pertains to methods for oligonucleotide synthesis, specifically the synthesis of oligonucleotides that contain a high content of guanine monomers. In more detail, the invention relates to a method for coupling a nucleoside phosphoramidite during the synthesis of an oligonucleotide to a universal support, to a first nucleoside, or to an extending oligonucleotide. The invention further relates to oligonucleotides obtainable by the methods of the invention.
US09914745B2	Morpholino-based antisense agent Morpholino-based oligomers suitable as antisense agent comprising modifications of phosphorodiamidate backbone or modification with 5-substituted pyrimidines of morpholino compound that is soluble in culture medium and sufficient for cell penetration thereby eliminating the need for injecting into the cells. Monomers comprising the said oligomers and its method of manufacture, method of manufacture of the said oligomers and its dye, fluorophore, drug, biomolecule conjugate wherein the said oligomers find different end use but not limited to regulation of gene expression, tissue culture with improved transfection efficiency and related studies on cellular transfection.
US09914737B2	Triazolopyrimidinone or triazolopyridinone derivatives, and use thereof The present invention relates to a novel triazolopyrimidinone or triazolopyridinone derivative, a tautomer thereof, a stereoisomer thereof and their mixture, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating a tankyrase-related disease, which contains the same as an active ingredient.
US09914734B2	Cyclic energetic nitramines desensitized with linear nitramines Propellant compositions containing cyclic nitramines that are susceptible to unintentional detonation are desensitized by the incorporation of a linear nitramine having a backbone containing one to three ethylene groups and one or two nitramine groups.
US09914733B2	Biisoquinoline compounds and methods of treatment The instant invention describes biisoquinoline compounds having therapeutic activity, and methods of treating disorders such as cancer, tumors and cell proliferation related disorders, or affect cell differentiation, dedifferentiation or transdifferentiation.
US09914729B2	Amides of acetic and propionic acids The invention relates to novel amides of acetic and propionic acids, methods for production and use thereof for the production of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and for improving perception, concentration, learning ability and memory.
US09914728B2	Heteroaryl piperidine and heteroaryl piperazine derivatives as fungicides Heteroarylpiperidine and -piperazine derivatives of the formula (I) in which the symbols A, X, Y, L1, L2, G, Q, p, R1, R2 and R10 are each as defined in the description, and salts, metal complexes and N-oxides of the compounds of the formula (I), and the use thereof for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi and processes for preparing compounds of the formula (I).
US09914726B2	2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-1-(5-substituted-pyridin-2-yl)-3-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)propan-2-ols and processes for their preparation Provided herein are 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-1-(5-substituted-pyridin-2-yl)-3-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)propan-2-ols and processes for their preparation.
US09914723B2	Small molecule inhibitors of Mcl-1 and uses thereof This invention is in the field of medicinal chemistry. In particular, the invention relates to a new class of small-molecules having a [(1-Piperazinyl)-4-pyridinylmethyl]-Naphtho[1,2-b]furan structure which function as inhibitors of Mcl-1 protein, and their use as therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
US09914718B2	Anhydrous crystalline form of S-equol An anhydrous crystalline form of S-equol has been discovered. Form I, the anhydrous crystalline form of S-equol has been isolated and characterized for the first time. As compared to other forms of S-equol, such as the known hydrate or other solvate forms, the anhydrous crystalline form of S-equol has improved properties.
US09914717B2	Cycloalkenyl hydroxamic acid derivatives and their use as histone deacetylase inhibitors The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof, wherein W, X, n, s, t, and Ra are as described herein. The present invention relates generally to selective inhibitors of histone deacetylase and to methods of making and using them.
US09914716B2	Catalyst system for oxidation of o-xylene and/or naphthalene to phthalic anhydride The present invention relates to a catalyst system for oxidation of o-xylene and/or naphthalene to phthalic anhydride (PA), comprising a plurality of catalyst zones arranged in succession in the reaction tube, which has been produced using antimony trioxide consisting predominantly of the senarmontite modification of which all primary crystallites have a size of less than 200 nm. The present invention further relates to a process for gas phase oxidation, in which a gas stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed through a catalyst system which comprises a plurality of catalyst zones arranged in succession in the reaction tube and which has been produced using an antimony trioxide consisting predominantly of the senarmontite modification with a median primary crystallite size of less than 200 nm.
US09914708B2	Benzoimidazol-1,2-yl amides as Kv7 channel activators Optionally substituted benzoimidazol-1,2-yl amides, such as compounds of Formula 1 or Formula 2, can be used to treat disorders associated with a Kv7 potassium channel activator. Compositions, medicaments, and dosage forms related to the treatment are also disclosed herein.
US09914705B2	1-aryl-3-aminoalkoxy pyrazoles as sigma ligands enhancing analgesic effect of opioids and attenuating the dependency thereof The invention relates to the use of a group of sigma receptor ligands of formula (I) for the potentiation of the analgesic effect of opioids and opiates and at the same time for decreasing the dependency induced by them.
US09914701B2	Use of stable lipophilic hydroxylamine compounds for inhibiting polymerization of vinyl monomers The present invention generally relates to compounds and methods for inhibiting the radical polymerization of unsaturated compounds, particularly vinyl monomers. More particularly, it relates to the use of stable hydroxyl amines to inhibit the polymerization of unsaturated compounds (e.g., vinyl monomers) wherein said stable hydroxylamine is soluble in organic solvents, particularly hydrocarbon solvents consisting of unsaturated and, therefore, polymerizable constituents.
US09914700B2	Enhanced extraction of impurities from mixture comprising nitriles Disclosed herein are methods for recovering phosphorus-containing ligand from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the phosphorus-containing ligand.
US09914697B2	Methods for making polymorphs of bromfenac sodium and bromfenac sodium formulations Different polymorphs of bromfenac sodium may be prepared and interconverted using crystallization/recrystallization, drying and/or hydration techniques.
US09914694B2	Purification of cadaverine using high boiling point solvent The present invention relates to a method for the purification of cadaverine from an aqueous cadaverine salt composition comprising one or more involatile impurities, the method comprising: (1) mixing the aqueous cadaverine salt composition with one or more bases selected from the group consisting of Ca(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, CaO and MgO to provide an aqueous cadaverine composition; and (2) distilling or evaporating the aqueous cadaverine composition to produce purified cadaverine; wherein one or more solvents are added to the evaporation/distillation system before the evaporation/distillation stops, and the one or more solvents comprise at least one or more high boiling point (HBP) solvents.
US09914691B2	(3R) epimer of octahydro-7,7-dimethyl-8-methylene 1H-3a, 6-methanoazulene-3-yl acetate, composition, synthesis process and use of said epimer The first subject matter of the invention is the (3R) epimer of octahydro-7,7-dimethyl-8-methylene-1H-3a,6-methanoazulen-3-yl acetate [(octahydro-7,7-dimethyl-8-methylene-[3R,3aR,6R,8aR]-1H-3a,6-methanoazulen-3-yl acetate) or (R)-norzizaenylacetate] of formula I (I). The subject matter of the invention is also compositions comprising (R)norzizaenyl acetate and also a novel synthesis process and the use of said ester.
US09914682B2	Highly efficient neopentyl glycol preparation method and device therefor Disclosed are a highly efficient neopentyl glycol preparation method and a device therefor. The method includes adding a hydroxypivaldehyde solution and hydrogen to a hydrogenation reactor that includes a hydrogenation catalyst. The hydroxypivaldehyde solution includes 6 to 30% by weight of hydroxypivaldehyde, 35 to 70% by weight of neopentyl glycol, 10 to 30% by weight of alcohol, and 10 to 30% by weight of water.The neopentyl glycol preparation method does not require separate heating in a section of a feed vessel to an inlet of a hydrogenation reactor unlike conventional technologies to save energy, and, at the same time, by-products with a high boiling point are not generated in the section to prevent poisoning of a hydrogenation catalyst in a reactor due to the by-products with a high boiling point and increase a hydrogenation yield, and a device therefor can be provided.
US09914681B2	Preparation of high-quality oxo process alcohols from inconstant raw material sources The preparation of high-quality oxo process alcohols from inconstant raw material sources is the technically demanding problem which is addressed by a process for continuously preparing an alcohol mixture, in which an input mixture which contains an olefin and has a composition that changes over time is subjected to an oligomerization to obtain an oligomerizate and at least a portion of the olefin oligomers present in the oligomerizate are hydroformylated with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a hydroformylation in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst system to give aldehydes, at least some of which are converted to the alcohol mixture by subsequent hydrogenation. The process provides a constant plasticizer quality to be produced over a long production period and, optionally, a higher throughput with the same product quality. This is achieved a) by control of the temperature and/or the conversion of the oligomerization as a function of the current composition of the oligomerizate; and b) by control of the composition of the catalyst system and/or of the pressure of the hydroformylation as a function of the current composition of the aldehydes.
US09914680B2	Method for producing fluorinated organic compounds Provided is a process for making 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane. The process has the step of hydrofluorinating 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of SbCl3, SbCl5, SbF5, TiCl4, SnCl4, Cr2O3, and fluorinated Cr2O3.
US09914676B2	Selective hydrogenation using a flow index A process includes hydrogenating, in a reaction zone, a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon received from a hydrocarbon stream to yield a product having an unsaturated hydrocarbon, the hydrogenating step occurring in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst which has a selectivity for conversion of the highly unsaturated hydrocarbon to the unsaturated hydrocarbon of about 90 mol % or greater based on the moles of the highly unsaturated hydrocarbon which are converted to the product, the hydrogenating step occurring in a reaction zone under conditions which include a flow index (IF) in a range of about 0.09 to about 35, wherein the IF is defined as: I F = F × [ CO ] V , wherein F is the flow rate of the hydrocarbon stream into the reaction zone in units of kg/h, [CO] is the concentration of carbon monoxide in the hydrocarbon stream in units of mol %, and V is the volume of the reaction zone in units of ft3.
US09914674B2	Process for alkylation using low ionic liquid volume fraction An alkylation process utilizing less than 10 vol % of a halometallate based ionic liquid catalyst is described. By decreasing the catalyst volume fraction, the level of subsequent undesirable reactions may be minimized. The total residence time is typically in the range of about 1 min to about 30 min. The alkylate typically has a research octane number of at least about 93, and the olefin conversion is typically at least about 96%.
US09914671B1	Solid electrically controlled propellants The present application discloses an improved electrically controlled propellant wherein the electrically controlled propellant comprises at least one compound selected from the group comprising organosilanes, siloxanes, and poly(dimethylsiloxane)s.
US09914670B1	Process for making a fully water-soluble humic acid granule Disclosed is a process for making a water-soluble granule enriched in humic acid. Disclosed also is a water-soluble granule enriched in humic acid. Such a granule is useful as an organic aid to crop growth, particularly in applications where solubility is desirable or necessary.
US09914669B2	Systems and methods for plasma-based fluid treatment The disclosed invention relates to a liquid treatment system comprising a fluid input channel and a plasmatron coupled to the fluid input channel, the plasmatron operative to affix nitrogen to liquid received from the fluid input channel resulting in treated liquid. The system further comprises a liquid chamber connected to the plasmatron for storing treated liquid and a treated fluid output channel connected to the liquid chamber.
US09914663B2	Manufacturing facility for quicklime, and manufacturing facility and manufacturing process for slaked lime A manufacturing facility for quicklime is provided, which can manufacture highly active quicklime by a simple manufacturing facility, and which can also separate and recover, in a high concentration, CO2 gas generated at the time of manufacturing quicklime. The manufacturing facility for quicklime is configured by including: a regenerative calciner 11 which has a supply port 11a for supplying granular limestone C into the regenerative calciner 11, heating means capable of maintaining the temperature of the atmosphere in the regenerative calciner 11 at a temperature not less than the calcination temperature of the limestone, an exhaust pipe 15 connected to an upper part of the regenerative calciner 11 so as to discharge combustion exhaust gas of the heating means and CO2 gas generated by the calcination of limestone, and a discharge port 14 for taking out quicklime produced by the calcination; and a heat medium 16 which has a particle diameter larger than the particle diameter of the limestone and which is filled in the regenerative calciner 11.
US09914661B2	Articles including anticondensation and/or low-E coatings and/or methods of making the same Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to articles including anticondensation and/or low-E coatings that are exposed to an external environment, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the anticondensation and/or low-E coatings may be survivable in an outside environment. The coatings also may have a sufficiently low sheet resistance and hemispherical emissivity such that the glass surface is more likely to retain heat from the interior area, thereby reducing (and sometimes completely eliminating) the presence condensation thereon. The articles of certain example embodiments may be, for example, skylights, vehicle windows or windshields, IG units, VIG units, refrigerator/freezer doors, and/or the like.
US09914659B2	Process and apparatus for coloring glass containers A process and an apparatus for imparting coloration to a glass container having a strikable glass container composition. One or more portions of the glass container are selectively and locally exposed to a temperature at or above a glass container striking temperature to affect a color change in the one or more portions of the glass container. The coloration process may be carried out by passing the glass container through an interior of an apparatus having a heating system configured to locally heat a first region within the interior to a temperature at or above a glass container striking temperature and a cooling system to locally cool a second region within the interior to a temperature below the glass container striking temperature.
US09914657B2	Apparatus and method for thermal profile control in an isopipe A glass fusion draw apparatus for molten glass stream thermal profile control, including: a first enclosure; and a first isopipe situated within the first enclosure, the first enclosure can include at least one first heating element assembly integral with the wall of the first enclosure, and the at least one first heating element is in proximity to a portion of molten glass stream over-flowing the first isopipe within the enclosure. The apparatus can also include a proximity or temperature sensing system associated with the first enclosure that senses and controls the thermal gradient properties of the molten glass stream or streams in the first enclosure. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the fusion apparatus.
US09914654B2	PEPS—portable evaluation pilot skid In the drinking water industry, pilot plants have played a big role in assisting water professionals, utilities, and engineering firms in generating information about the behavior of large full scale systems. Due to the identification of new contaminants, stringent regulations, and demand for improved water quality the demand for novel water treatment challenges across North America have significantly increased. A portable evaluation pilot skid (PEPS) accommodates all water qualities. A vent valve screen is mounted inside the contactor with holes large enough to prevent clogging. Air is introduced into the contactor prior to the screen. The screen is mounted such that it breaks the air into small bubbles creating the effect of a stone diffusor. Air flow is easily adjusted with a needle valve.
US09914650B2	Water treatment unit A water treatment unit performs a normal operation during which discharge parts generate an electric discharge in a state where water flows into a treatment vessel and treated water flows out of the treatment vessel. When the water treatment unit starts operating, the water treatment unit performs a preparatory operation for a predetermined period of time before starting the normal operation. During the preparatory operation, the discharge parts generate an electric discharge in a state where an outflow of the water from the treatment vessel is stopped. As a result, the water which has been stagnating in the treatment vessel while the water treatment unit is not operating and in which bacteria have grown is sufficiently sterilized.
US09914648B2	Process for producing hematite for ironmaking A process is provided for obtaining a hematite-containing material that can be used for ironmaking. The process includes separating a leach residue from a hydrometallurgical refining plant into an overflow and an underflow using a wet cyclone under a condition that the wet cyclone is adjusted to have a setting between 1 μm or less and 2 μm or less as a classification particle size for the overflow. The process then includes separating the overflow into a strong magnetic substance and a weak magnetic substance using a strong-magnetic-field magnetic separator under a condition that magnetic field intensity is 5 to 20 [kGauss]. The process then includes using a superheated steam drying system for adjusting a moisture content of the strong magnetic substance after the separation, to be 10 wt % to 17 wt %.
US09914644B1	Energy efficient method for stripping CO2 from seawater A method including increasing modifying a volume of seawater that holds an amount of dissolved inorganic carbon; acidifying the amount of seawater; and collecting an amount of carbon dioxide from the acidified seawater. A system including an electrodialysis unit including an acidified solution compartment, a basified solution compartment, a membrane and an acidified solution output compartment; a vessel coupled to an inlet of the acidified solution compartment and operable to contain a modified volume of seawater therein; and a desorption unit coupled to the acidified compartment output, the desorption unit operable to receive carbon dioxide gas from a solution from the acidified output compartment.
US09914634B2	Injection molded saddle with cover A saddle may be manufactured through the injection molding of a core. The core may then be reinforced by the application of a pliable reinforcement layer, such as pre-impregnated epoxy glass, which may then be hardened. A finishing layer may then be applied to the reinforcement layer to complete the saddle.
US09914624B2	Systems and methods for object guidance and collision avoidance Systems and methods for object guidance and collision avoidance are provided. One system includes a location sensor disposed on a movable crane. The system also includes a plurality of sensors disposed on a plurality of objects within a facility. The system further includes a controller having a receiver for monitoring signals transmitted from the location sensor disposed on a movable crane and the plurality of sensors disposed on a plurality of objects within the facility. The controller is configured to generate a travel path for the movable crane to move an object coupled with the movable crane based on the one or more intersection regions and generate an output signal to an alarm device to provide an alert, when at least one object of the plurality of objects is within a predetermined proximity of at least the object being moved by the crane.
US09914619B2	Elevator rope sway mitigation A method of operating an elevator system includes detecting a building sway which causes sway of elevator suspension or compensation members. An elevator control system is switched into a building sway mode, and operation of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system is changed via the building sway mode to mitigate vibratory effects of the building sway on the one or more elevator cars.
US09914617B2	Elevator power management to augment maximum power line power A system for managing elevator power includes a power line connected to a power grid, a motor connected to the power line and configured to receive power from the power line to drive an elevator, an alternative power source connected to the motor, and a power control system configured to control the power line to supply power to the motor to drive the elevator, to detect a predetermined threshold value of power supplied from the power line, and to supply both power from the power line and power from the alternative power source to the motor based on a determination that the predetermined threshold value of power is supplied from the power line.
US09914607B2	Sheet conveyor and image recording apparatus A sheet conveyor includes: a housing defining a conveyance path and a first side surface having an opening; a cover; a shaft defining a pivot axis of the cover and inserted in an elongated hole; and a limiter provided at the housing and having a contact surface that contacts the cover pivoted from a standing position to a lower position. The contact surface has a first end and a second end that is nearer to the conveyance path than the first end. The contact surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction such that the first end is located below the second end. The elongated hole permits the cover to move in such a direction that a pivoting distal end of the cover moves away from the opening, with the cover being in contact with the contact surface.
US09914598B2	Squaring device and counter ejector, and box-manufacturing machine A squaring device provided to a counter ejector part that stops flat cardboard boxes fed from an upstream, using a front stop, in a downstream part of a box-manufacturing machine, receives and stacks the flat cardboard boxes in a stacking part in a hopper part, and ejects the stack as a batch. It includes a squaring plate that, while the stacking part retains in a stack position during a retention interval, squares the cardboard boxes stacked on the stacking part, in conjunction with the front stop, the retention interval being set in accordance with a feed speed of the cardboard boxes and a count setting for a stack of the cardboard boxes. A reciprocation driving unit drives the squaring plate to reciprocate toward and away from the front stop, and is configured to vary a speed ratio of a squaring speed for reciprocating the squaring plate, to the feed speed.
US09914597B2	Article supply device for supplying articles according to type An article supply device includes a plurality of storage units in which a plurality of types of articles are respectively stored, a plurality of supply paths, a plurality of open/close stoppers that control the supply amounts of articles for each supply path, a plurality of partition/passing-through members that form gaps depending on the types of the articles, between the surfaces of the supply paths and the plurality of partition/passing-through members, and a driving unit that allows the supply paths and the partition/passing-through members to relatively move each other.
US09914593B1	System and method of rolling material in a conveyor environment A transportation system with a roll of material having an unsecured material portion is disclosed. The transportation system includes a first roller and a second roller spaced apart from the first roller. The spacing between the first roller and the second roller define a cradle. The cradle is operable to receive the roll of material, the roll of material having the unsecured material portion. At least one of the first roller and the second roller is rotatable about its axis to facilitate a securing of the unsecured material portion of the roll of material.
US09914591B2	Cleanable conveyor frame assembly including snap-on components A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. The conveyor includes at least one toolbar and one or more auxiliary components mounted to the toolbar using a snap clamp having a protrusion that mates with a channel on the toolbar.
US09914586B2	Parcel sorting system and method Provided are a parcel sorting system and method, solving the problem that parcel sorting efficiency needs to be improved in the prior art. The parcel sorting system comprises a parcel sorting device and a parcel collecting device. The parcel sorting device is provided thereon with a plurality of parcel inspection inlets and a plurality of parcel outlets. The parcel collecting device is located under the parcel sorting device. The parcel outlets on the parcel sorting device communicate with the parcel collecting device. The parcel outlets are respectively located at the middle or/and edges of the parcel sorting device. The parcel collecting device is provided thereon with storage devices at positions under respective parcel outlets; and diameter of the storing device is larger than that of the parcel outlet. When the method is used, the parcel sorting efficiency is obviously improved; the implementation is convenient; and popularization and application are facilitated.
US09914580B1	Pocket wax dispenser A pocket wax dispenser is constructed of an elongated tubular casing with carriage of an appropriate profile to match the casing slidably fitted within the casing to travel axially within the casing without rotating, and with a piston at the distal end of the carriage. An end cap snaps or screws onto the distal end of casing. This construction results in a wax reservoir being defined in the distal part of the dispenser, i.e., within the casing and between the piston and the end cap and adapted for holding a fill of wax. The end cap has a discharge port, i.e., an opening or aperture, through which wax from within the wax reservoir can be extruded. A cutter blade may be mounted on the cap to cut the extrusion at the discharge port.
US09914568B2	Two directional slide and lock package A two piece thermoformed container comprising a tray and a lid for holding large and small objects is provided. The container is portable, recloseable and provides easy access to the contents. The tray includes a front wall, rear wall and opposing side walls. Each side wall defines an elongated rib. The lid comprises front and rear covering portions, a recessed covering portion and side walls. The lid side walls form grooves which receive the tray ribs. The lid is moveable in a sliding fashion in two directions between a fully closed position in which the lid is substantially aligned with the tray and an opened position in which lid is positioned partly forward or rearward with respect to the tray.
US09914560B2	Bucket handle A handle for attachment to a bail member of a bucket is disclosed. The handle includes a base formed from two interlocking members, a first member frictionally engages a second member, locking the two members together without tools. Upon the interlocking of the first member and second member, a base structure is formed providing a receptacle constructed in a range for receipt of the bail member along an upper section. A centrally disposed cavity may be included in the upper section for receipt of a tubular sleeve commonly found on buckets and employing bail members for carrying heavy weights. The base structure is positioned beneath the bail member wherein a portion of the bail member is insertable into the receptacle. A cover member is secured to the top section of the base structure to conceal the receptacle and secure the bail member within the handle.
US09914557B2	Tooth protector for beverage bottle and beverage bottle enclosure Tooth protector devices are disclosed for attachment to the top of a bottle to provide protection against injury, including chipping of teeth that can occur during drinking from a glass bottle. One embodiment comprises a concentric sleeve with top lip for insertion over the end of a bottle. Sleeve inner portion is adapted for engaging the bottle outer surface to hold the sleeve in place. The outer and top portions of the sleeve protect the consumer from the top edge of the bottle. When installed, a tooth protector according to the present invention cushions the teeth and mouth from any blunt force or impact that can occur when a bottle is hit or knocked. Also disclosed is a beverage cap with cushioned outer and upper surfaces that remain in place on the beverage bottle after opening the bottle to protect the consumer, and another bottle enclosure without such cushioned surfaces.
US09914556B2	Bottle structure This invention is related to a bottle structure. At least an embedded slot is disposed on a bottle body. A positioning member is disposed on the opening of the embedded slot. The inner edge of the positioning member projects toward the inner side of the opening of the embedded slot to form a stop edge. An embedded fixing part may coordinate with a spirally fixed element to lock the bottle body to a bicycle body. An embedded block of the embedded fixing part is embedded into the embedded slot of the bottle body and against the stop edge of the positioning member. A lug connected the bottom of the embedded block is located against positioning bumps disposed on inner edges of the positioning member to stably install the bottle body on the bicycle body.
US09914547B2	Aircraft equipped with a device for monitoring the electronic management of the engines An aircraft comprising at least two engines and an electronic management arrangement comprising a control computer for each engine, each computer being configured for monitoring the operation of its associated engine and for activating an engine protection mode when the engine operation exceeds predetermined operational limits. The electronic management arrangement furthermore comprises an engine interface device to which the control computers are connected, the device prohibiting the activation of a protection mode by a control computer when a protection mode is activated by another control computer. A monitoring device is connected to the control computers and receives an information signal from each control computer to indicate if a protection mode is activated and transmits, in the case where a protection mode is activated on at least two engines, a control signal to the control computer having last activated a protection mode to cancel the activation of the protection mode.
US09914544B2	Mechanical aircraft sill height indicator An evacuation system is provided. The system may comprise a door sill, a girt coupled to the door sill, a slide coupled to the girt, and a measurement device coupled the girt and/or the slide. The measurement device may further comprise a line having a predetermined length and a weight coupled to the line, and the measurement device may be configured to adjust a length of the slide in response to a position of the weight. A method is also provided. The method includes opening a door to expose a door sill, inflating the emergency slide with the emergency slide coupled to the door sill, and deploying a measurement device configured to measure a height of the door sill from a surface. The measurement device may comprise a line coupled to the door sill and a buoyant weight coupled to the line, and wherein the line has a predetermined length.
US09914542B2	Ram air fan housing A fan housing of a ram air fan assembly is provided including a flange having at least one tab. The at least one tab includes a first portion extending generally perpendicularly from the flange and a second portion extending generally parallel to the flange. A notch is formed by an inclined surface and a curved surface at an intersection between the first portion and the second portion. The second portion is elongated and extends about 0.020 inches beyond a front surface of the first portion.
US09914539B1	Airlift package protection airbag An airlift package protection (APP) airbag may protect a package (e.g., an item or a number of items) that is dropped from within a predetermined height range by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The APP airbag may at least partially surround the package and create a container for the package. In some embodiments, the APP airbag may be inflated just prior to dropping of the package from the UAV. After inflation, the APP airbag may be at least partially sealed to reduce or inhibit deflation of the APP airbag, but possibly not to completely prevent airflow from the APP airbag upon contact with the ground. The APP airbag may exhaust some air upon impact with the ground, thereby reducing a deceleration of a package contained inside of the APP airbag.
US09914536B2	Method of activating an electric motor in a hybrid power plant of a multi-engined aircraft, and an aircraft A method of driving rotation of a rotor of an aircraft, said aircraft having at least two fuel-burning engines and an electric motor suitable for driving rotation of said rotor. Said rotor is driven by using said engines together. An authorization is generated only during at least one predetermined stage of flight, said authorization authorizing the use of the electric motor in order to drive said rotor in rotation. While said authorization is valid and if one of said engines has failed, then an operation order is generated to require said electric motor to operate. While said operation order is valid, said rotor is driven by each engine that has not failed together with said electric motor.
US09914534B2	Method for static balancing of aircraft rotor blades A method of assembling a rotor blade includes determining first spanwise and chordwise moments of a first component of the blade and comparing the first spanwise and chordwise moments to respective target first spanwise and chordwise moments. The first spanwise and/or chordwise moment(s) of the first component is/are adjusted based upon corresponding results of the comparison to provide balancing of the first component. Second spanwise and chordwise moments of a second component of the blade are determined and compared to respective target second spanwise and chordwise moments. The second spanwise and/or chordwise moment(s) of the second component is/are adjusted based upon corresponding results of the comparison to provide balancing of the second component. The balanced first and second components are assembled to each other so that target spanwise and chordwise moments of the blade are met.
US09914528B2	Airframe-integrated propeller-driven propulsion systems Propeller-driven craft (e.g., aircraft) are provided with at least one propulsion system having at least one engine and at least one aerial tractor propeller which generates a propeller propwash airflow when driven by the engine. At least one airfoil is disposed in the propeller propwash airflow of the at least one aerial tractor propeller. The airfoil is contoured and oriented relative to a swirl rotation angle (ω) of the propeller propwash airflow in order to induce a forward force component on the craft in response to the propeller propwash airflow over the at least one airfoil, thus improving the craft's performance and/or reducing fuel consumption.
US09914526B2	Galley system, method for operating electrical galley devices, and use of a fuel cell in a galley system A galley system comprises at least one electrically operated galley device, at least one fuel cell, a plurality of compartments for housing the galley devices, and an air extraction means. At least one of the plurality of compartments comprises at least one air extraction port couplable with the air extraction means. The at least one compartment is adapted for housing at least one of the at least one fuel cell and for removing at least a part of heat emanated from the at least one fuel cell through the air extraction means. At least one of the at least one electrically operated galley device is electrically couplable with the at least one fuel cell unit.
US09914523B2	Wing hinge assembly including hinged torque boxes A wing assembly comprises a fixed section, a foldable section, and a hinge assembly for hinging the foldable section to the fixed section. The hinge assembly includes a plurality of interleaved torque boxes that are hinged together.
US09914521B1	Balloon launching apparatuses Aspects of the disclosure relate to techniques for launching high-altitude balloons. In one aspect, a balloon launching system is provided. The balloon has a balloon envelope, a payload attached to the balloon envelope and a launching projection. The launching system includes a releasable restraint attached to the balloon between an apex and bottom of the balloon envelope. The releasable restraint is arranged to temporarily hold the balloon envelope. The launching system also includes a payload positioning assembly. The payload positioning assembly is configured to position the payload during launch of the balloon and includes a member configured to attach to the launching projection. When attached, the member is also configured to maintain the position of the payload relative to the balloon while the releasable restraint is temporarily holding the balloon envelope.
US09914509B1	Wake enhancer A wake enhancer can be configured to be quickly and easily coupled to and decoupled from a boat even when the boat is in water and without requiring any modification/alteration to the boat. The wake enhancer can include a base, an arm that extends from the base to form a forward facing surface for diverting the flow of water, and opposing sidewalls that extend between the base and the arm to provide support to the arm. The wake enhancer can also include suction cup assemblies that are integrated into the base and function to couple the wake enhancer to the hull of a boat. The opposing sidewalls can include recessed ends which facilitate access to handles of the suction cup assemblies to in turn facilitate coupling and decoupling the wake enhancer.
US09914503B2	Boat having an improved ability to get on plane and improved method of getting a boat on plane A boat includes at least three trim devices positioned aft of the boat's transom. To improve the boat's ability to get on place, each trim device is initially positioned to a deployed position. The speed of the boat is then determined as the boat gains speed. When the speed of the boat exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the first trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. When the speed of the boat exceeds a second predetermined threshold, the second trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. When the speed of the boat exceeds a third predetermined threshold, the third trim device is moved from the deployed position to a non-deployed position. At least one of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds is different from the other two of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds.
US09914498B2	Vehicle pneumatic cylinder and pendulum/valve controlled G-force compensator A suspension system with a frame pivotally coupled to a control arm, an actuator pivotally coupled between the frame and the control arm, a control valve fluidly coupled to the actuator, a valve core positioned within the control valve and being slidable between a first position and a second position, and a pendulum coupled to the valve core having a neutral position and an offset position. Further, when the pendulum is in the neutral position, the valve core is in the first position and when the pendulum is in the offset position the valve core is in the second position.
US09914493B2	Motor vehicle having a wheel arch A motor vehicle (1) has a wheel arch (3), in which a wheel (4) is arranged, and has an air guiding apparatus (20) for guiding an air flow (8) that flows onto the wheel arch (3) during operation of the motor vehicle. The air guiding apparatus (20) is configured and arranged in such a way that a first part air flow (11) is guided past an inner side of the wheel (4) and a second part air flow (12) is guided past an outer side of the wheel (4). The two part air flows (11, 12) then are combined again behind the wheel arch (3) in a vehicle longitudinal direction.
US09914491B2	Method for producing a motor vehicle component from aluminum A method for producing a motor vehicle component, is disclosed having the steps of—providing a blank composed of a 5000 grade naturally hard aluminum alloy with an initial yield strength, completely heating the blank to a forming temperature between 150° C. and 350° C., preferably between 200° C. and 300° C. in less than 20 s, preferably less than 10 s and in particular in 2 to 5 s, and performing forming in a forming tool in less than 20 s, preferably less than 10 s and in particular between 2 and 5 s, the temperature being held between 150° C. and 350° C. in at least one first region of the blank, and cooling to a temperature lower than 250° C., in particular lower than 200° C., being performed in a second region during or after the deformation.
US09914485B2	Vehicle hood assemblies including a hood reinforcement strap with lobe structures and vehicles including the same A vehicle hood assembly includes an outer hood panel and an inner hood panel coupled to and positioned below the outer hood panel in a vehicle vertical direction. A hood reinforcement strap is coupled to at least one of the outer hood panel and the inner hood panel. The hood reinforcement strap includes a strap base and lobe structures spaced-apart along a length of the strap base that extend outward from the strap base in the vehicle vertical direction.
US09914482B2	Vehicle side structure The configuration of a vehicle side structure according to the present invention is characterized by including an upper pillar reinforcing member that forms an upper edge of a front door opening of a vehicle, a pillar hinge reinforcing member that forms a front edge of the front door opening, and a side sill strengthening member that forms a lower edge of the front door opening, wherein the pillar hinge reinforcing member has a hinge bulged portion that is bulged toward the vehicle exterior, along a vertical direction, the hinge bulged portion has at least one ridge line that is curved so as to protrude toward the vehicle front side, and the at least one ridge line links a joining point between the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the upper pillar reinforcing member and a joining point between the pillar hinge reinforcing member and the side sill strengthening member.
US09914467B2	Attachment and support members for modular building structures A clamp assembly is provided for securing to preexisting studs or support members. The clamp assembly comprises a compression fitting adapted to be secured to a plurality of different sized studs or wall supports, and further to support additional supports including, but not limited, horizontal support members. A support and movement device is further provided that is selectively connectable to clamp and support members of the disclosure.
US09914465B2	Top of rail resilient bar An applicator for applying a friction modifying material to the surface of a rail is provided. The applicator comprises a resilient body for applying a composition to a surface of a rail. The resilient body comprises an outer impervious surface and defines a sealed passageway that extends through the resilient body for the composition to flow through; and an applicator support, wherein the resilient body is secured to the applicator support. A rail applicator assembly and methods for using the applicator are also provided.
US09914464B1	Railroad hopper car with bottom discharge doors having angled seals and actuating assemblies Methods and systems are provided for a railroad hopper car bottom discharge door having two door plates, where at least one is rotatable between open and closed positions for the bottom discharge door. A seal member is fixedly connected to a distal end of each door plate, respectively, and each seal member has a seal lip protruding from the corresponding door plate. One seal lip comprises a first obtuse angle on a lower surface of the seal lip, while the other seal lip comprises a second angle smaller than the first obtuse angle on an upper surface of the seal lip. When the bottom discharge door is closed, the two angles on the two seal lips interlock to form a seal. Methods and systems for a door-actuating assembly that utilizes a pick-up shoe and a rechargeable battery to minimize the occurrence of rail sparks inside dump sites are also provided.
US09914463B2	Autonomous driving device Disclosed is an autonomous driving device in which a threshold value for switching to manual driving which is used for switching the driving state from autonomous driving to manual driving with respect to a value indicative of a degree to which of any of a steering operation is carried out, an acceleration operation, and a braking operation by the driver is calculated by a calculation unit of the autonomous driving device according to the surrounding environment of the host vehicle recognized by an environment recognition unit. Thereby, the ease of switching the driving state from autonomous driving to manual driving conforms to a surrounding environment of the host vehicle.
US09914462B2	Preconditioning electrified vehicle subsystems based on weather forecasts A method for preconditioning various subsystems of an electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, scheduling preconditioning of a battery pack, an interior cabin, a transmission and an engine of the electrified vehicle prior to a next expected usage time based at least on a weather forecast.
US09914457B2	Method for setting a clutch torque A method for setting a clutch torque between an engine and a drive of a vehicle during a starting process of the vehicle includes increasing the clutch torque during a first phase, limiting the clutch torque to a first torque value during the first phase, and further increasing the clutch torque in a second phase after an engine rotational speed reaches a rotational speed limit.
US09914451B2	Electronic 4WD system having reinforced ABS cooperative control performance and method of controlling same The present invention relates to an electronic 4WD system having reinforced ABS cooperative control performance, in which an ABS ACT signal by an ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) controller and a 4WD_OPEN signal by the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) controller are used. When the ABS ACT signal and the 4WD_OPEN signal are recognized, it is determined that it is an ESC vehicle and a 4WD mode is stopped. When only the ABS ACT signal is recognized, it is determined that it is an ABS vehicle and the intention of a user is determined on the basis of whether a brake pedal has been pressed down or an accelerator pedal has been released, and then a 4WD mode is stopped.
US09914440B2	Hydraulic brake system and method for operating a hydraulic brake system A hydraulic braking system and a method for operating the hydraulic braking system. The hydraulic braking system has a first pressure generating unit and a second pressure generating unit. The first pressure generating unit is hydraulically interruptibly and uncircumventably connected to the second pressure generating unit via a first interrupting element in such a way that with the first interrupting means in a closed position, a hydraulic connection between the first and second pressure generating unit is no longer possible.
US09914438B2	Vehicle braking force controller Provided is a vehicle braking force controller that can realize both improvement of passengers' riding comfort and feeling, and quick responsiveness, and that is excellent in stability against noise. The vehicle braking force controller provides a braking force command value in response to a stroke amount of a brake pedal operated by a driver, to a braking device which provides braking force to wheels. A stroke amount detection unit which detects a stroke amount inputted to the brake pedal is provided. A path-corresponding braking force command value changing unit is provided which changes the relationship between the stroke amount and the braking force command value determined based on the stroke amount, in response to an increase-decrease path that the stroke amount inputted from the brake pedal is following.
US09914434B2	Wiper apparatus A wiper apparatus which removes foreign matters from a windshield by rotating by a pivot of a vehicle may include an arm piece connected to one end of an arm retainer to connect a wiper blade, and a coupling portion having a step portion formed to extend along a longitudinal direction so that an upper surface of the arm piece and an upper surface of the arm retainer form a same surface when coupled to correspond to a coupling hole formed in the arm retainer.
US09914424B2	Inflator and air bag device An inflator (3) includes an inflator main body (10) which is has a tubular shape and has a plurality of gas injection holes (11) on a circumferential surface, and a steel-made collar member (20) which has a gas jet reception part (28) that is disposed so as to face a gas injection holes formation area (R) of the inflator main body (10) across a space.
US09914423B2	Side curtain airbag for vehicle A side curtain airbag for a vehicle includes a serial main chamber that inflates and deploys along an interior side surface of the vehicle; a protruding chamber disposed at a front side of the main chamber to further protrude toward an interior of the vehicle relative to the main chamber; and a cutting line arranged between the main chamber and the protruding chamber to partially separate the protruding chamber from the main chamber such that the protruding chamber overlaps with a portion of the main chamber upon non-inflation of the airbag. In this configuration, upon a vehicle collision, the head portion of the occupant is prevented early from being ejected toward the front of the vehicle.
US09914422B2	Structure for deploying seat side airbag A structure for deploying a side airbag installed in a seat of a vehicle is provided. The structure includes an interior pad is disposed adjacent to a first side of a side airbag and an exterior portion surrounded by an interior covering. An exterior pad is disposed adjacent to a second side of the side airbag and has an exterior portion surrounded by an exterior covering. An interior reinforcing fabric penetrates a pad aperture portion formed between the interior pad and the exterior pad and surrounds a first side of the side airbag. An exterior reinforcing fabric is integrally coupled to the exterior covering and surrounds the exterior portion of the exterior pad. The interior reinforcing fabric is spaced apart from the interior covering and disposed in a path different from a path of the interior covering. The collision performance is easily adjusted and production costs and weights are reduced.
US09914419B2	Radar mounting device An exemplary radar mounting device for attaching a component to a vehicle body may include a resilient grommet secured within an opening formed in the component. The device may also have a stud for attachment to the vehicle body. The stud may have a ball portion received within the resilient grommet for attaching the component to the stud. In addition, the device may have a nut fastened to the stud to secure the component to the stud.
US09914417B2	Device and method for preventing discharge of emergency call (eCall) system backup battery A device for preventing an eCall system backup battery for a vehicle from discharging is provided. The device includes a GPS configured to provide current position information of the vehicle in which an eCall system is mounted. A sales area information storage is configured to form and store the GPS information on all sales areas as a sales area information database. A microcomputer is configured to determine whether the vehicle is located within a sales area which is a final destination by using the information acquired from the GPS module and the sales area information storage and to control whether the backup battery operates depending on the determination result. A power supply manager is configured to select and manage any one of a main battery and the backup battery as supply power of the eCall system by a control of the microcomputer.
US09914416B2	System and method for closing a contactor on early wake to improve vehicle start time A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling an electrified vehicle by closing a contactor prior to a key on condition of the electrified vehicle.
US09914407B2	Head unit with interchangeble functional bezel The rear side of a head unit bezel is shaped and arranged to receive and retain an electronic device such as a radio, cell phone, GPS receiver, roadway toll payment transponder, stolen vehicle transponder, WI-FI or Bluetooth transceiver or an antenna. Electrical connectors provided to the rear side mate with connectors on the front side of a head unit. When the bezel and head unit are connected, the electronic device in the bezel is mechanically and electrically connected to the head unit.
US09914405B2	Inner decorative trim panel for a support The present disclosure relates to an assembly for a flexible decorative inner panel and a support such as the inner wall of a vehicle door for example. The panel comprises at least one support layer obtained in a foam or similar material and a layer of adhesive on said lower face of the support layer in order to allow bonding of the panel on the support. The support has a groove to receive the peripheral edge of the panel. The panel, at its periphery on its lower face, includes a non-adhesive strip having a width substantially equal to the overhang of the panel relative to the outer wall of the groove. During placement of said panel, the latter is not bonded on the support outside the groove, and after the peripheral edge of the panel becomes embedded in the groove, the adhesive layer bonds to the inner wall of the groove.
US09914391B2	Vehicle proximity notification apparatus A vehicle proximity notification apparatus has first and second loudspeakers which output warning sound notifying proximity of a vehicle to an outside, and an adjusting unit. The adjusting unit adjusts the sound output from the first loudspeaker so that a sound collecting signal, which is obtained when the second loudspeaker collects the sound output from the first loudspeaker, coincides with a reference signal, in a state in which the first loudspeaker functions as a sound outputting element and the second loudspeaker functions as a sound collecting element. In addition, the adjusting unit adjusts the sound output from the second loudspeaker so that a sound collecting signal, which is obtained when the first loudspeaker collects the sound output from the second loudspeaker, coincides with a reference signal, in a state in which the second loudspeaker functions as a sound outputting element and the first loudspeaker functions as the sound collecting element.
US09914388B2	Lighting and/or signaling assembly, including an adapter that can be housed in a motor vehicle lighting module A motor vehicle lighting and/or signaling assembly including: a lighting module and an adapter that can be placed and retained in position in a housing of support means of an optical collector, and separate means for pressing the adapter against the support means of the module in a first direction and for adjusting the adapter in the housing of the support means in a second direction other than the first direction, these pressing and adjustment means being carried by the module and/or by the adapter. The invention further concerns the associated adapter and the associated module in this lighting and/or signaling assembly.
US09914381B2	Seatback, flexible panel for seatback and method A new easy-assemble seatback includes a seatback frame adapted to be connected to a seat. The seat back frame has a pair of opposite sides. The frame supports at least two flexible panels from a top panel connection so the panels hang and rotate freely from the connection on the frame. The panels are formed from a flexible material which may include wood, metal, metal alloy or plastic. Panel-to-frame assembly is done by hand. The frame includes a stop member connected to the frame that impedes free rotation of the flexible panels. Since the panels cover most all of the load bearing seatback area, fewer metal supportive elements are necessary. The new seatback is longer lasting, lighter in weight and more deployable as a result.
US09914377B2	Actuation device for a vehicle seat, and vehicle seat An actuation device (100), for a vehicle seat, has at least one locking mechanism (23). The actuation device (100) has an actuation handle (152), which is mounted on a housing (110), for unlocking the at least one locking mechanism (23). A connection device (200) couples the actuation device (100) to the at least one locking mechanism (23). The actuation handle (152) can be actuated in two different directions and the at least one locking mechanism (23) can be unlocked by actuating the actuation handle (152) in one direction and by actuating the actuation handle (152) in the other direction. As a result, an operating direction of the actuation handle (152) that is oriented in the movement direction of the vehicle seat is available for each movement direction of the vehicle seat. A vehicle seat (1) is also provided having at least one locking mechanism (23) and an actuation device (100).
US09914373B2	Seat slide device A seat slide device includes: a first rail which extends in a longitudinal direction; a second rail which extends in the longitudinal direction and is joined to the first rail to be capable of relative movement in the longitudinal direction; lock holes which form the first rail, are open in a portion facing the second rail, are provided to extend such that one end in a short direction of the first rail forms an opening portion, another end forms a base portion including a base wall, and which are disposed at an equal interval in the longitudinal direction; and a lock lever which is joined to the second rail in a state of being capable of reciprocal movement in the short direction and is provided integrally with engaging protrusions capable of entering and exiting any of the lock holes in accordance with the reciprocal movement.
US09914371B2	Seat mover system A seat system for use in a vehicle includes a vehicle seat and a seat mover system. The vehicle seat is arranged to support an occupant above a vehicle floor included in the vehicle. The seat mover system is configured to vary a tilt, height, and longitudinal position of the vehicle seat relative to the vehicle floor.
US09914359B2	Vehicle control system A vehicle can be controlled based on feedback from a driver of the vehicle when a mobile device is connected to a computer system. A profile for a driver can be used. The system can receive data about the driver from the mobile device. The data and answers can be sent to a natural language processing (NLP) system for analysis. The NLP system can return a determination that the user is cognitively disengaged, and thus unable to safely drive the vehicle. The system can then control the vehicle.
US09914358B2	Vehicle control system A vehicle can be controlled based on feedback from a driver of the vehicle when a mobile device is connected to a computer system. A profile for a driver can be used. The system can receive data about the driver from the mobile device. The data and answers can be sent to a natural language processing (NLP) system for analysis. The NLP system can return a determination that the user is cognitively disengaged, and thus unable to safely drive the vehicle. The system can then control the vehicle.
US09914357B1	Differential carrier with integrated drive gear and method of making the same A powertrain includes a front differential configured to distribute torque to two front half-shafts. The differential includes a carrier body and a drive gear formed into an exterior surface of the carrier body. The powertrain further includes a power take-off unit configured to transfer torque from the carrier body to a rear axle. The unit has a PTU gear meshed with the drive gear.
US09914355B2	Back-of-cab fuel system and vehicle assemblies A fuel system for a vehicle is provided. The fuel system is configured to couple to a frame rail of the vehicle. A fuel system frame assembly of the fuel system is configured to couple with the frame rail directly or with another component that is coupled, directly or indirectly, with the frame rail. A cowling of the fuel system can include a fuel pressure vessel. The fuel pressure vessel configured to be placed within and supported by the fuel system frame assembly. The fuel system is configured to enhance component arrangement efficiency when mounted to a vehicle frame rail.
US09914350B1	Drive device A drive mechanism includes a pair of driven axles, a center section and a pump and a motor rotatably disposed on one side of the center section. A clutch mechanism is located adjacent an opposite side of the center section to drive the pair of axles. The clutch includes at least one clutch fork disposed adjacent to the center section and being rotatable along an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the pump input shaft and motor output shaft, and also perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the axles.
US09914347B2	Torque roll axis mounting system for serial range extenders without a through-drive A mounting device is provided for oscillatingly mounting a range extender, which consists of an internal combustion engine and a generator, on a body and/or a chassis of a motor vehicle by way of vibration-damping elements. At least two of the vibration-damping elements are integrated in load-carrying bearings and one additional one is integrated in a supporting bearing for supporting moments. The mounting device is characterized in that the vibration-damping elements of the mounting device at least for the load-carrying bearings are secured to the range extender, i.e. a first vibration-damping element is secured to the internal combustion engine and a second vibration-damping element is secured to the generator.
US09914342B2	Shading device for a transparent surface part of a motor vehicle Shading device for a transparent surface part of a motor vehicle having a flexible shading structure, two non-parallel lateral guide arrangements fixed with respect to the vehicle and having a dimensionally stable pull-out profile displaceable in parallel fashion by in each case one guide carriage in the respective lateral guide arrangement via a drive device, lateral shading structure sections protruding, in a manner dependent on the displacement travel of the shading structure, into lateral receiving spaces fixed with respect to the vehicle. To the lateral shading structure sections, there are fastened in each case two support bodies spaced apart from one another in the pulling-out direction of the shading structure and the thickness of which is greater than a thickness of the respective shading structure sections. The support bodies are guided in transversely supported fashion with play in complementary support channel sections of the receiving spaces.
US09914337B2	Vehicle with adsorption-based thermal battery Systems and methods are provided for the continuous operation of an air conditioning unit or climate control system in a vehicle. The system may include a power generating unit, such as an engine or a fuel cell stack, and an exhaust loop in fluid communication with the power generating unit. First and second adsorption-based thermal batteries are provided in thermal communication with the exhaust loop. The vehicle may be configured to simultaneously operate in both an air conditioning operational mode powered by the first thermal battery, and a charging operational mode that regenerates the second thermal battery. A thermoelectric generator may also be provided such that the system is entirely self-powered, reducing or eliminating a need for supplemental, i.e. plug-in, charging.
US09914331B2	Explosion-proof tire The present invention relates to an explosion-proof tire, comprising a safety airbag, trigger sensors and a safety switch, wherein the safety airbag is arranged between a tire and a hub; the hub is provided with grooves; trigger devices of the safety airbag are arranged in the grooves; one end of each trigger sensor sticks into the tire; and the other end thereof is connected with a trigger device. The safety switch is arranged on the valve stem of the tire; and positive and negative electrodes on the valve stem are each connected with a trigger device.The safety switch disclosed by the present invention ensures that the safety airbag will not be triggered accidentally, and when a vehicle tire bursts, the safety airbag provided can instantly provide enough support force to ensure traffic safety.
US09914329B2	Tyre for heavy load vehicle wheels A tire includes a tread provided with blocks formed among substantially longitudinal and transverse grooves, wherein among the blocks particularly broad intersections are formed, for example, by staggering substantially transverse grooves of circumferential rows axially in side-by-side relationship, of blocks with rounded corners, and wherein, inside such broad intersections, a stocky-shaped protrusion is arranged which has a lateral stiffness greater than the lateral stiffness of the surrounding blocks.
US09914319B2	Apparatus for turning page and method for turning page An apparatus which turns a page of an open book includes a tuning mechanism, a drive unit and a control unit. The turning mechanism brings a predetermined member into contact with a page at a departure position and separates the page from the predetermined member at a destination position. The page is moved with the predetermined member. The drive unit drives the turning mechanism to make the predetermined member perform a to-and-fro movement between the departure position and the destination position. The control unit which controls the drive unit to temporarily stop the movement of the predetermined member on a way to the destination position from the departure position.
US09914310B2	ION writing unit with heating An ion writing unit includes a housing, an electrode assembly, and a heating mechanism. The housing includes a chamber at least partially containing an ion generator. The electrode assembly includes an array of electrode nozzles on one exposed exterior surface of the housing and aligned to receive and guide generated ions. The heating mechanism applies heat to at least one of the chamber and at least a portion of the array of electrode nozzles.
US09914308B2	Liquid ejection apparatus and liquid ejection head A liquid ejection apparatus of the invention is a liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid storage container that stores liquid, a circulation mechanism that circulates liquid in a circulation path, and a liquid ejection head fluidly-connected to the liquid storage container, the liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection openings, wherein the liquid ejection head includes at least a pair of common passages and a plurality of individual passages that connect one of the pair of common passages to the other one of the pair of common passages and communicate with the plurality of ejection openings, respectively, and at least a pair of pressure adjustment mechanisms whose pressures are set to different control pressures is connected to respective upstream sides or downstream sides of the pair of common passages.
US09914303B2	Liquid ejecting head A liquid ejecting head includes a first member on which a flexible members is arranged, a second member having a facing surface facing the flexible member, an elastic body that is interposed between the flexible member and the facing surface, a first support portion disposed on the flexible member which supports one end of the elastic body, a second support portion disposed on the facing surface which has a recess of which a side surface has a tapered portion formed therein to guide the other end of the elastic body toward a bottom surface of the recess, and a protruding portion that is disposed on either the flexible member or the facing surface and that becomes interposed between the flexible member and the facing surface around the periphery of the recess when the flexible member is flexibly bent toward the facing surface.
US09914299B2	Inkjet head and inkjet recording apparatus According to an embodiment, an inkjet head includes nozzles. The nozzles are arranged on a nozzle plate. The inkjet head further includes actuators arranged corresponding to the nozzles one to one on the nozzle plate. The inkjet head further includes common electrodes and individual electrodes that apply voltage to the actuators. A connection terminal of the common electrode is arranged between connection terminals of the individual electrode.
US09914291B2	Forming device for three-dimensional printing machine, and a three-dimensional printing machine A forming device for a three-dimensional printing machine is connected to a height adjusting mechanism of the three-dimensional printing machine, and is driven by the height adjusting mechanism to move vertically. The forming device includes an universal joint, a forming platform, a coupling shaft interconnecting the universal joint and the forming platform, and a clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes a clamping arm adapted to interconnect the height adjusting mechanism and the universal joint, and having first and second arm portions movable relative to each other between a locking state to tightly clamp the universal joint, and a releasing state to release the universal joint so that the forming platform is movable relative to the clamping mechanism.
US09914286B2	Polymer interlayers having improved optical properties An interlayer comprised of a thermoplastic resin, at least one high refractive index plasticizer and, optionally, a conventional plasticizer. The use of a thermoplastic resin, a high refractive index plasticizer, and, optionally, a conventional plasticizer reduces or minimizes the optical defects caused by different refractive indices without sacrificing other characteristics of the interlayer.
US09914281B2	Assembly for producing an endless corrugated cardboard web laminated on at least one side The invention relates to an assembly for producing an endless corrugated cardboard web laminated on at least one side, the assembly comprising a first corrugating roller and a second corrugating roller for producing a corrugated web provided with a corrugation as well as a glue application assembly. The glue application assembly comprises a glue container for receiving glue, a glue application roller for applying the glue disposed in the glue container to tips of the corrugation of the corrugated web, and at least one glue wave inhibiting assembly arranged in the glue container for inhibiting the formation of glue waves of the glue disposed in the glue container. The assembly for producing an endless corrugated cardboard web laminated on at least one side further has a pressure assembly for pressing a cover layer against the tips, provided with glue, of the corrugated web.
US09914273B2	Method for using a stacked integrated component media insert in an ophthalmic device This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing a media insert with an energy source to an ophthalmic lens. The energy source is capable of powering a component included within the ophthalmic lens. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast molded from a silicone hydrogel and the component includes an electro-optical lens portion.
US09914261B2	Transfer device, molded material and transfer method A transfer device that transfers a fine transfer pattern formed on a master mold to a molded material, includes a first transfer unit that transfers the fine transfer pattern formed on the master mold to a replica mold made from a material that transmits light; and a second transfer unit that transfers a fine transfer pattern formed on the replica mold by the first transfer unit to the molded material.
US09914255B2	Method for making multiple durometer seals Method for making multiple durometer bulb seals and any other types of multiple durometer seals and moldings includes cooling separately at least one structural member and at least one sealing portion, which have different durometers and shapes. At least a first extrusion is drawn through an extruder, forming a structural member profile and the extruded material is pulled along a longitudinal axis to a first calibrator device and first cooling tank to cool the structural member profile to a predetermined temperature. Cooling medium directly contacts the outer and inner surfaces of the first profile. Downstream, the sealing portion is extruded and affixed onto the cooled structural member and pulled further downstream to a second calibrator device and through a second cooling tank to cool the final profile a predetermined amount. Disparity in cooling expansion and cooling differential between the multiple durometers and shapes is avoided or overcome.
US09914248B2	Method for producing a hybrid composite component from organo sheets and a metallic reinforcing element A method for producing a hybrid composite component from organo sheets and a metallic reinforcing element in such a way that the method may be inexpensively and simply performed and the hybrid composite component has the lowest possible weight and may absorb relatively high forces.
US09914244B2	Bladder system for curing composite parts Method and apparatus for use in curing of a composite charge having an internal cavity. Apparatus includes a flexible bladder adapted to be placed in the cavity for applying pressure on the composite charge during curing. An end fitting is operatively coupled to the flexible bladder. The end fitting defining a bolt bore and a horizontal bore. When a vent bolt is operatively coupled to the bolt bore of the end fitting, the vent bolt and the horizontal bore define a pressure passageway that allows an interior of the bladder to become subjected to external pressure.
US09914232B2	Rotary knife fixture for cutting spiral, textured potato pieces A rotary knife fixture for cutting vegetable products into spiral shapes. The knife fixture includes a blade holder driven rotatably within a hydraulic product flow path. The blade holder includes at least one cutting blade, wherein the blade is twisted with a sharpened leading edge set at a desired pitch angle. By controlling the pitch angle of the blade in relation to the blade rotational speed and velocity at which the potato travels along the hydraulic flow path, the resultant spiral cut shape is selected. By using multiple cutting blades at known axially spaced positions and selecting the angular position of each cutting blade in succession, the number of spiral shapes cut from each potato is selected. The blades can have a nontextured straight-cut edge, or a textured crinkle-cut edge, or a combination.
US09914231B2	Device for cutting extruded plastic profiles to length A device for cutting a preferably thick-walled, extruded pipe to length, has at least one cutting tool and a receiving unit for the cutting tool. The cutting tool is radially movable in relation to the extrusion axis, is rotatable via a further component about the pipe to be cut to length, in order to cut the pipe to length, and is in operative connection with a ring element, which ring element can be moved via an axial drive, and the depth of penetration of the cutting tool and the path of movement can be defined using an adjustment unit. The depth of penetration of the cutting tool and the path of movement can be defined via the axial drive, wherein toothed rails can be moved more or less in order to achieve the desired depth of penetration.
US09914225B2	Robot apparatus The present invention provides a robot apparatus which can determine a contact state at a contact point without increasing the contact point, can be miniaturized, and also can decrease the cost. Contact points are provided in a hand device. Contact points are provided in a tool device, which come in contact with the contact points, respectively, when the tool device has been mounted on the hand device. A voltage detecting circuit is provided in the tool device, which detects a voltage between the contact points. The controlling circuit determines contact states between the contact points and the contact points, by using a value of the voltage which has been detected by the voltage detecting circuit.
US09914221B2	Teleoperation of machines having at least one actuated mechanism and a fault detection and recovery system A machine has at least one actuated mechanism is remotely located from a control station. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. A controller at the machine location has program code that is configured to determine from data from one or more sensors at the machine location if an actual fault has occurred in the machine when the machine is performing its predetermined function and to determine for an actual fault one or more types for the fault and transmit the one or more fault types to the control station for analysis. The code in the controller is configured to be a preprogrammed trap routine specific to the machine function that is automatically executed when an error in machine operation is detected at the machine location. The controller also has a default trap routine that is executed when the specific routine does not exist.
US09914216B2	Robot control with improved safety For controlling a robot in a safe way, a highest voltage required for a desired robot movement is calculated. A voltage level in a DC-bus is set on the basis of the highest voltage, and current is supplied to a motor at a robot axis from the DC-bus. By limiting the voltage level in the DC-bus to correspond to an actual need for a desired robot movement at each instant unnecessary fast robot movements are prevented even in the event that an inverter controlling motor currents would by mistake attempt to drive the motor faster than desired by the operator.
US09914212B2	Systems and methods for sensing objects Disclosed is a tactile sensing and integrated vision system that surmounts problems of existing systems. The tactile sensing skin can be formed into any shape, size, or form factor, including large areas. Computer-implemented algorithms can detect position-orientation and force-torque at landmark points for a given object set. The result is a modular sensing system that is highly scalable in terms of price, quantity, size and applications. Such skin technology and associated software can comprise a sensing package that integrates tactile and visual data with accompanying software for state estimation, situational awareness, and automatic control of machinery. The addition of tactile data can serve to constrain and/or augment visual pose estimation methods as well as provide pose estimation to visually occluded objects.
US09914209B2	Tool box storage assembly A storage assembly 10 which has a plurality of unique storage components 12, 14, and 800 which may be selectively connected in order to provide an optimal storage solution for a wide variety of applications.
US09914206B1	Tool bag The tool bag of the present application comprises a rigid frame, a flexible cover and a removable container. The cover is disposed over the frame and the removable container passes through an aperture formed by one wall of the frame and the bottom of the frame.
US09914205B2	Auxiliary handle and electric tool having the same An auxiliary handle for removable connection with a housing of an electric tool having a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion and a third engaging portion. The auxiliary handle includes a handling portion, a fixing portion and a locking portion. The handling portion enables the user to handle the auxiliary handle and operate the locking portion. The fixing portion is engaged with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion so as to connect the auxiliary handle to the housing. The locking portion interacts with the third engaging portion so as to lock the auxiliary handle.
US09914204B2	Power tools and hand operated electrical devices A power tool (10) comprises a motor for driving a driven element of the power tool (10) and a handle section (12), wherein the power tool (10) incorporates first and second pressure sensitive switches (18,20) operable to control operation of the motor.
US09914203B2	Connectable tool assembly A tool assembly including a hammer to which a secondary tool, such as a dual-ended pry bar, is connectable. The hammer and the secondary tool are connectable via a slidable locking mechanism, including a detent pin that engages with a corresponding slot on a rail disposed on the secondary tool. One embodiment of the secondary tool includes multiple rails, which allows for the secondary tool to be attached to the hammer in multiple different orientations. The different orientations in which the secondary tool can be connected to the hammer allows for the first working end of the secondary tool or the second working end of the tool to be used alternatively as needed.
US09914199B2	Abrasive disc An abrasive article including a disc including a central axis; a primary outer edge substantially coaxial with the central axis and having a circumferential length, L1; a secondary outer edge substantially coaxial with the central axis and coplanar with the primary outer edge, the secondary outer edge having a circumferential length, L2, wherein L2 is less than L1; and a structurally weakened portion extending substantially adjacent to the secondary outer edge. In an embodiment, the abrasive article further includes a shedable portion configured to rupture the structurally weakened portion when the shedable portion is removed from the abrasive disc. In another aspect, an abrasive article having an initial outer circumferential length, LI, and a length of deliberately exposable circumferential edge surface, LOE, wherein LOE is greater than LI.
US09914195B2	System of polishing external pieces for a timepiece A system of polishing a concave surface of an external piece for a timepiece, including a securing device including a support that carries the piece, and a grinding device including an abrasive mechanism rotatably mounted along a first axis and configured to polish the piece along a first curvature. The securing device further includes a moving mechanism of the support so that the support imparts a back-and-forth motion along a second axis and a contact surface of the abrasive mechanism is curved to polish the piece along a second curvature in addition to the first curvature. The system can be applied to the field of crystals for a timepiece.
US09914193B2	Powered sharpener with cold forging member Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool having a blade portion with a cutting edge, such as but not limited to a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, a powered sharpener has an abrasive medium that is advanced by a motor and an edge guide surface adjacent the abrasive medium, wherein the cutting edge of the cutting tool is sharpened by bringing a first portion of the cutting edge into contacting engagement with the edge guide surface and drawing a second portion of the cutting edge across the abrasive medium. A plurality of spaced apart channels are formed in the sharpened cutting edge by contactingly engaging the sharpened cutting edge with a cold forging member with sufficient force to displace portions of the sharpened cutting edge. The channels in the sharpened cutting edge constitute locally deformed, work hardened notches.
US09914190B2	Blast gate for vacuum system A blast gate for a vacuum system includes a chassis connectable to a duct and defining a flow passage therethrough, and a gate connected to the chassis and rotatable about a central axis. The gate includes a first portion, an intermediate portion and a second portion spaced apart circumferentially about the central axis. The first portion defines a flow aperture, the intermediate portion defines an auxiliary flow aperture, and the second portion includes a partition. Each of the first portion, second portion and third portion is selectively rotatable into fluid alignment with the flow passage. The blast gate further includes a motor connected to the gate and selectively operable to rotate the gate about the central axis.
US09914186B2	Water jet peening device The water jet peening device of the present invention is provided with: a swiveling mechanism for swiveling a spray nozzle in the horizontal direction centered on a positioning member that is positioned at the upper end of an instrumentation tube support; a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the spray nozzle in the vertical direction with respect to the positioning member that is positioned at the upper end of the instrumentation tube support; and a rotation mechanism for supporting the spray nozzle so as to be able to rotate centered on a downward-inclined rotation shaft center on the positioning member end of the vertical direction, disposing a spray port aimed toward the side of the rotation shaft center in a direction that is at a slant from the rotation shaft center, and rotating the spray nozzle centered on the rotation shaft center.
US09914173B2	Particle production apparatus A particle production apparatus including a generating device, a conveying device, and a straightening device is provided. The generating device includes a tank filled with a dense medium, an electric power source, a first and a second electrical conducting element received in the dense medium and coupled to an anode and a cathode of the electric power source respectively. The conveying device is configured to convey a metal wire into the tank and make the metal wire to contact the first electrical conducting element and the second electrical conducting element in a straight-line direction, so as to produce an electric explosion to form a plurality of particles in the dense medium.
US09914165B2	Collar delivery systems for swage guns Systems and methods are provided for delivering collars to swage guns for swaging. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a frame, arms movably attached to the frame, a tensioner mechanism that applies force to drive the arms towards each other, and fingers that each extend from an arm. The fingers each include a lengthwise structure. The lengthwise structure includes an arcuate portion dimensioned to mate with an arcuate portion of another finger to form a hollow cylindrical receptacle. The lengthwise structure also includes a channel extending to the arcuate portion, dimensioned to mate with a channel of another finger to form a hollow tunnel for delivering a collar to the receptacle when the fingers are partially apart from each other. The arms of the apparatus each include a contact area.
US09914153B2	Method and apparatuses for screening A screening machine includes wall members, screen assembly guide members, a screen assembly and a compression assembly. The screen assembly includes a frame with a plurality of side members and a screen supported by the frame. The compression assembly is attached to at least one wall member and forms the screen assembly into a concave shape.
US09914149B2	Process and apparatus for supply of particulate material to a particulate printing process A process and apparatus for depositing particulate material in a predetermined pattern onto a moving surface is disclosed. A particulate material may be fed under gravity from a hopper to a discharge zone containing a feed opening. A gas may be supplied, by a gas supply assembly, under pressure to the bulk of particulate material within the hopper discharge zone. The particulate material may be transferred through the feed opening to the surface of a transfer device, which contains a pattern of particulate-receiving recesses. The transfer device may rotate to a deposition zone and transfer the particulate material to a carrier layer.
US09914142B2	Device for dispensing fluid jets without a rotating joint The disclosure relates to a device for dispensing one or more jets of cryogenic fluid, particularly liquid nitrogen, comprising a fluid conveying pipeline feeding one or more fluid dispensing nozzles arranged at the downstream end of said pipeline, and a motor collaborating with the fluid conveying pipeline via a rotary transmission shaft and a transmission mechanism.
US09914138B2	Separation disc for a centrifugal separator and a method for manufacturing the separation disc A separation disc for a centrifugal separator and a method for manufacturing the separation disc are disclosed. The separation disc is of metal material and adapted to be compressed in a stack of separation discs inside a centrifugal rotor for separating a liquid mixture. The separation disc has a truncated conical shape with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of spacing members extending a certain height above at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface for providing interspaces between mutually adjacent separation discs in the stack. The spacing members are of such small size that each one of them has a width which is less than 2 mm along the surface of the separation disc. The surface of the separation disc is configured with a distribution pattern of the small-sized spacing members, in such a way as to provide equidistant interspaces in the compressed disc stack.
US09914136B2	Process for reducing soluble organic content in produced waters associated with the recovery of oil and gas A chemical treatment process and separation module are described for removal of soluble organic compounds and suspended or emulsified oils and/or solids from produced waters that accompany operations for oil and gas recovery. The process occurs in its entirety within an interval of several minutes. The solubility of organic compounds is first reduced, in an optional step, by pH reduction, followed by treatment with coagulants and flocculants, the latter in conjunction with microbubble flotation. The organic compounds that are rendered insoluble, along with other oily solids, are captured in the floe created by the coagulant and flocculant treatment, and simultaneously made buoyant by the concurrent addition of microbubbles. The water and floe is passed over an array of sloped strainers that separates and diverts the floe from the effluent water, which contains significantly reduced soluble organic content. The separated stream of oily solids can be dewatered for disposal as waste.
US09914133B2	Air purifier An electrostatic precipitator for an air purifier includes a first spiral strip having a continuous conductive electrode, a second spiral strip having a continuous conductive electrode and nested with the first strip, a plurality of combs. Each comb extends from an outer periphery of the precipitator to an intermediate region between the outer periphery and a center of the precipitator.
US09914131B2	Wood-based cement additive A wood-based cement additive is formed by mixing high-density pellet particles of various sizes. The additive is to be introduced into a cement source to create a slurry mixture. The density of the mixture of pellet particles is selected to be less than the density of the particular cement type in which the pellet particles are introduced. The pellet particles are formed from sawdust or fiber pressed under high pressure, resulting in brittle pellets. The pellets may then be crumbled and screened into particles of an appropriate size. The particles do not disassociate into their constituent materials when mixed with the cement, and thus maintain their density during use in the cementing process.
US09914128B2	Rotor for a rock crusher A top wear plate for the rotor of a rock crusher, wherein the rotor includes a rotor body, the rotor body having an upper surface. The top plate includes a lip positioned about and descending vertically from the underside of the outer circumference of the lip wear plate, the lip including a protrusion to engage with a complementary recess on the top surface of the rotor body.
US09914126B2	Storage container for biosensor test elements A component for a storage container configured to receive vertically oriented articles. The component includes a tubular sidewall extending longitudinally from a base, and at least one spacer portion extending from an underside of the base and configured for engagement with an interior surface of a corresponding storage container. The component also includes at least one pair of retainer elements extending laterally from an inner surface of the tubular sidewall and inwardly into an interior region of the component, and with the retainer elements being oppositely oriented and configured to retain a vertically oriented article therebetween by frictional engagement with opposite longitudinal edges of the article, and wherein an insertion force for resilient deflection of the retainer elements during insertion of the article is less than a removal force for resilient deflection of the retainer elements during removal of the article.
US09914119B2	Test cartridge with integrated transfer module A system that includes a cartridge housing and a hollow transfer module, according to an embodiment is described herein. The cartridge housing further includes at least one sample inlet, a plurality of storage chambers, a plurality of reaction chambers, and a fluidic network. The fluidic network is designed to connect the at least one sample inlet, a portion of the plurality of storage chambers and the portion of the plurality of reaction chambers to a first plurality of ports located on an inner surface of the cartridge housing. The hollow transfer module includes a second plurality of ports along an outer surface of the transfer module that lead to a central chamber within the transfer module. The transfer module is designed to move laterally within the cartridge housing. The lateral movement of the transfer module aligns at least a portion of the first plurality of ports with at least a portion of the second plurality of ports.
US09914112B2	Process for producing water-absorbent polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution The present invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbent polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution in a surrounding heated gas phase in a reactor comprising a gas distributor (3), a reaction zone (5) and a fluidized bed (27), the gas leaving the reactor is treated in a condenser column (12) with an aqueous solution, the treated gas leaving the condenser column (12) is recycled at least partly to the fluidized bed (27), wherein the gas leaving the condenser column (12) comprises from 0.05 to 0.3 kg steam per kg dry gas and the steam content of the gas entering the gas distributor (3) is less than 80% of the steam content of the gas leaving the condenser column (12).
US09914108B2	Exfoliating laminar material by ultrasonication in surfactant Disclosed herein is a method for exfoliating a laminar material to form an exfoliated material, in which the laminar material is ultrasonicated in a solution of a surfactant for sufficient time to form the exfoliated material. At all times during the ultrasonication the concentration of the surfactant in the solution is maintained sufficient to form a complete monolayer on the surfaces of the laminar material and the exfoliated material in the solution, or sufficient to sterically stabilize the laminar and exfoliated materials against aggregation.
US09914107B2	Urea plant revamping method Disclosed is a method of increasing the capacity of an existing urea plant. With reference to the regular components of a urea plant, including a synthesis section comprising a high pressure carbamate condenser and a reactor, and a recovery section, the method comprises installing an additional reactor between the recovery section and the high pressure carbamate condenser. The additional reactor is preferably installed in connection with an ejector, so as to allow ground placement of the additional reactor.
US09914104B2	Methods and apparatus for three phase contacting and reactions in a cross flow reactor Methods, apparatus and processes for three phase contacting and reactions in a cross flow reactor with reduced feed vaporization, low pressure operation, higher liquid holdup, lower reactor pressure drop, low severity operation, and reduced product inhibitory effects. A cross flow reactor for three phase catalytic hydroprocessing, having at least one reactor stage is disclosed. The reactor stage has a central gas distributor with perforated lateral surface for distributing gas, a middle region accommodating a packed catalyst bed, and an outer gas space for removal of effluent gases from the middle region. The middle region receives a liquid reactant and gas from central gas distributor to carry out three phase catalytic hydroprocessing reaction.
US09914103B1	Method and apparatus for shockwaves processing with low acoustic and thermal environmental impacts A method for processing liquids and suspensions using shockwaves that includes providing an apparatus including a shockwaves generation and processing sections and a reaction products dumping tank or reservoir; placing media to be processed into the shockwaves processing section through continuous or intermittent injection; introducing a pressurizing gas into the shockwaves generation section; introducing a detonable mixture into the shockwaves generation section; causing formation of at least one of a shockwave within the shockwaves generation section by igniting the detonable mixture so that at least one of a shockwave propagates from detonation section into shockwaves processing section; utilizing physical, chemical, biological or mechanical effects of the shockwaves in the shockwaves processing section; purging detonation products and pressurizing gas from the shockwaves generation section into reaction products dumping tank; and repeating to achieving a pre-determined degree of processing liquids, liquid suspension, colloids, gels, pastes located in the shockwaves processing section.
US09914099B2	Self-assembled block copolymer membrane Embodiments of the invention include methods for the production of porous membranes. In certain aspects the methods are directed to producing polymeric porous membranes having a narrow pore size distribution.
US09914090B2	Vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses and methods for removing contaminants from gas streams Vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses and methods for removing contaminants from gas streams are provided. In an embodiment, a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus includes a vortex contacting stage having a contacting zone bound by a wall and defining an axis, a radially inner region surrounding the axis, and a radially outer region adjacent the wall. The vapor-liquid contacting apparatus also includes a feed conduit configured to direct flow of a feed gas into the radially outer region of the contacting zone in a direction tangential to the axis to form a vortex. Further, the vapor-liquid contacting apparatus includes a liquid conduit configured to deliver a liquid absorbent stream to the radially inner region in the contacting zone.
US09914089B2	Absorption method and absorption device An absorption method includes: a step for preparing a minute passage; a main circulation step for circulating, in the minute passage, a gas as a first fluid containing a component to be absorbed and an absorbing liquid as a second fluid so that the component to be absorbed is absorbed from the gas into the absorbing liquid; and a sub-circulation step for circulating, while the gas and the absorbing liquid are circulated in the minute passage, a third fluid in the minute passage in order to raise the pressure inside the minute passage.
US09914087B2	Sorbent devices and methods of using them Certain aspects and examples are directed to sorbent devices and methods of using them. In certain embodiments, a sorbent device comprising a body comprising a sampling inlet, a sampling outlet and a cavity between the inlet and the outlet, the cavity comprising a serial arrangement of at least four different sorbent materials is described. In some embodiments, the sorbent materials are arranged from a material with a weakest sorbent strength to a material with a strongest sorbent strength with the weakest sorbent strength material adjacent to the sampling inlet.
US09914086B2	General ventilation system with automatic cleaning cycle A general ventilation and air filtration system includes an air filtration control unit that monitors and controls an air flow through an air filter and maintains the air flow at a target velocity set point. The target velocity set point is maintained by monitoring and regulating the power of a motor powering a blower that generates an air flow though the air filtration system and through the air filter. By regulating the air flow and maintaining it in the target set point, power consumption and air filter life are significantly improved.
US09914085B2	Filter element and filter system The invention relates to a filter element (10), comprising a filter body (12) having a longitudinal axis (L) arranged between a clean side (50) and a crude side (52) of the filter element, as well as comprising at least one first end disk (16) arranged on an end face (15) of the filter body (12). The end disk (16) has a sealing arrangement (22) for forming a seal between the clean side (50) and the crude side (52). In addition, the sealing arrangement (22) has a sealing region (23) that forms a radial seal and a separate holding region (20) arranged concentrically with the sealing region (23) and acts as a radial floating bearing. The invention also relates to a filter system (100) for replaceable installation of such a filter element (10).
US09914077B2	End member for spiral separation membrane element, spiral separation membrane element and separation membrane module An end member (3A) for a spiral separation membrane element includes: an inner annular portion (31); an outer annular portion (32) surrounding the inner annular portion (31) at a distance from the inner annular portion (31); a plurality of connecting portions (33) connecting the inner annular portion (31) and the outer annular portion (32); and a shield plate (34) disposed between at least one pair of the connecting portions (33) and forming an opening (41) between the shield plate (34) and the outer annular portion (32). According to this configuration, a radially outwardly spreading flow is formed by the shield plate (34), and therefore suspended solids in a feed liquid can be effectively directed to the peripheral region.
US09914067B2	Flexible building segment A flexible building segment includes a first outer-section, a second outer-section, a central-section, a first ribs-section and a second ribs-section. The first outer-section includes a first magnet embedded therein. The second outer-section includes a second magnet embedded therein. The central-section includes a central magnet embedded therein and at least two central attachment slots at opposite sides thereof. The first ribs-section includes a first flexible portion and respective ribs. The first flexible portion couples the central-section with the first outer-section. The ribs, respective of the first ribs-section, are attached to the first flexible portion and parallel to each other. The second ribs-section includes a second flexible portion and respective ribs. The first flexible portion couples the central-section with the second outer-section. The ribs, respective of the second ribs-section, are attached to the second flexible portion and parallel to each other.
US09914066B2	Electromagnetically coupled building blocks A building block is described which has a plurality of faces each with an associated coupling element, such that a first coupling element is adjacent to a first face and a second coupling element is adjacent to a second face, etc. An RF switch in the block is arranged to selectively couple two of the coupling elements together under the control of a processor. The processor controls the RF switch in response to signals received from a transceiver module. A sensing and switching arrangement within the building block selectively connects the processor to one of the coupling elements based on a detected orientation of the block (e.g. so that power harvested from the transceiver module can be used to power the processor). The coupling elements are either all antennas or all electrodes.
US09914064B2	Children's foam play den A foam play den includes a rectangular base having perimeter edges. Walls include two side panel walls, a front wall and a rear wall, where each of the walls have a linear bottom edge and a curved top edge and forms and arched-shaped panel covered by a fabric. A front half section of each curved top edge of each side panel wall is attached to a top edge section of the front wall. A back half section of each side panel wall edge is attached to a top edge section of the back wall at opposing sides. Each of the plurality of walls meet at the high point of their curves to form an apex. The front wall includes an opening sized to accommodate a human entry; and the attached walls form a freestanding den wherein structural support for the den is provided by the joined plurality of walls.
US09914062B1	Wirelessly communicative cuddly toy A wirelessly communicative cuddly toy including a stuffed animal toy having a motorized, articulated robotic interior member disposed therein surrounded by flocculent stuffing material. The robotic interior member includes a transceiver wirelessly communicable by NFC protocol with any appropriate peripheral device. An articulated head member is disposed upon the robotic interior member and configured to animate a mouth of the stuffed animal toy when a speaker, disposed to play audio signals relayed by the transceiver, is activated. Audio executed on the peripheral device is thus playable through the speaker on the robotic interior member and the articulated head member animates the stuffed animal toy in simulation of verbal communication with a user.
US09914061B2	Combined type toy top separated through induction control A combined type toy top separated through induction control, includes a main top, an auxiliary top and an elastic part. When the combined type toy top is in a first state, the main top is limited and fixed by the auxiliary top, above the auxiliary top, and meanwhile the main top compresses the elastic part so that the elastic part is compressed. The combined type toy top is characterized in that a sensing mechanism is arranged in the auxiliary top. The sensing mechanism can controllably relieve limiting fixation of the main top from the auxiliary top under a second state through induction control. The main top pops up under an elasticity action of the elastic part, and, accordingly, the main top and the auxiliary top rotate independently.
US09914060B1	Controller docking device for portable electronics and method of use A controller docking device comprising a controller casing having a mobile device receptacle extending inward from a casing front panel. Common game controller user input devices are integrated into the front panel, preferably locating a directional controller on a left side and an action controller on a right side of the mobile device receptacle. Additional user input devices can be integrated into the controller casing. The additional user input devices can include additional controller inputs located proximate one or both of the common game controller user input devices, along an intermediary circumferential panel of the casing, and the like. Various mobile device controller communicative buttons can be integrated into the controller casing providing the user with an interface for operational capabilities of the mobile computing device.
US09914056B2	Storage medium having stored therein an image generation program, image generation method, image generation apparatus and image generation system In an exemplary image generation system, a virtual camera is set in accordance with a position and an orientation of an object in a virtual space. While a predetermined operation is being performed, an orientation of a display device is detected by using an angular velocity sensor provided in the display device, and an orientation of the virtual camera is changed based on the detected orientation. When the predetermined operation is not performed, the virtual camera is positioned based on an original orientation which is determined in accordance with the position and the orientation of the object.
US09914053B2	Systems and methods for fitness and video games In some aspects, a system is provided that includes (1) a plurality of mobile devices; and (2) an application on each mobile device, the application adapted to (a) allow exercisers to form an exercise group; (b) track position or change in position of each exerciser in the exerciser group; and (c) display an avatar having a position that is controlled by a position or change in position of one or more member of the exercise group. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US09914051B2	Massive multi-player online (MMO) games server and methods for executing the same Video server systems and methods for providing video streams to a plurality of remote clients are described. In one implementation, the video streams are based on game states received from a remote game server. The game states are dependent on game commands received by the video server system from the remote clients and forwarded to the remote game server. The video server system is configured to appear, from the point of view of the game server, as more than one client. For example, the video server system may receive game states from the remote game server at more than one different Internet Protocol address and each of these Internet Protocol addresses may be associated with a different game session.
US09914050B2	Guitar shaped video game controller A guitar-shaped video game controller includes a body having a shape that resembles a guitar body, and a neck that is pivotally coupled to the guitar body via a hinge so that the neck can pivot between an extended position and a folded position relative to the guitar body. A latch assembly is actuatable to selectively lock the neck in the extended position to the body. A cable extends between and electrically connects the neck and the body to maintain an electrical connection between the neck and the body when the neck is in the extended and the folded positions.
US09914045B1	High roll dice casino table game A casino table game and method of play using between eight and twelve dice, which game is played on a game surface including a dice throw box, a first roll wagering area for wagering on the highest ranking and greatest number of like kind indicia dice resulting from a first dice roll, a first and second roll wagering area for wagering on the actual number of like kind indicia dice that will result from the first dice roll or a first and second dice roll, a large payout wagering area for wagering that most or all of the dice will result with the same indicia face up, and a second roll wagering spot for the players to pay an ante in order to be eligible to wager on the results of a second dice roll, which game provides exciting play with the additional possibility of winning a jackpot or lottery-sized payout.
US09914024B2	Putter When hitting a ball to a target with a putter, the ball often travels to a point which is deviated to the right from the target. When a golfer looks at the target just after taking his address, he turns his head to a target about a rotation axis which extends through the back of his head. When this rotation axis is not horizontal and an angle defined by the rotation axis and his sighting line to a putter head is not 90°, he has an optical illusion which tricks him into believing that he has to correct his address position. The patter of the present invention is provided with a thin-plate pendulum thereby allowing him to turn his head about the rotation axis while keeping the angle defined by the rotation axis and his sighting line at 90°.
US09914014B2	Multi-axis adjustable exercise machine A multi-axis adjustable exercise machine which is pivotable about both a pitch axis and a roll axis with respect to a base for allowing an exerciser to perform a wide range of exercises on a pitched or rolled exercise machine. The multi-axis adjustable exercise machine generally includes an exercise machine which is adjustable with respect to a base. The exercise machine may be pivoted about a roll axis to adjust the roll angle of the exercise machine or may be pivoted about a pitch axis to adjust the pitch angle of the exercise machine. One or more actuators may be connected between the base and the exercise machine to effectuate the pivoting of the exercise machine about either or both axes with respect to the base.
US09914012B2	Treadmill belts that enhance a users comfort and stability A treadmill comfort belt includes a strap having a first end portion and a second end portion. Each of the first end portion and the second end portion has a securing member. A lumbar support portion is disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion. A compressible sleeve is disposed over the lumbar support portion. A collar is slidingly disposed over the first end portion and the second end portion. The collar is adapted to slide between the securing members and the sleeve. A method of using the belt is also provided.
US09914007B2	Variable weight kettlebell A kettlebell may comprise a main body configured to retain one or more removable exercise weights and a handle connected to the main body at two attachment points on a top side of the main body. The main body may have an opening disposed on the top side and between the two attachment points configured to receive the one or more removable exercise weights.
US09914004B2	Device and method for passive flexibility training The present invention comprises a device and method for achieving a passive stretch, wherein the device has an anchor, a foot strap, a handle strap and at least one handle. The anchor secures the device to the user such that an opposing force can be applied to the device. A foot strap is attached to the anchor and extends under the heel and plantar surface of the user's foot. The foot strap maintains contact with the user's entire foot. The foot strap extends past the user's toes and connects to a set of handles by way of a handle strap. The user can apply force by pulling the handles toward the user's body thereby achieving a stretch through the user's foot and calf muscle, into the hamstring muscle in particular embodiments.
US09914003B2	Monocolumn unweighting systems An unweighting system includes a frame having a base and a vertical bar extending therefrom. The base is configured to connect to or at least partially encircle an exercise device. A height adjustable cantilevered arm assembly is coupled to the vertical bar at a fulcrum, and the cantilevered arm assembly is configured to receive and couple to the user. A resilient member is coupled to the cantilevered arm assembly and configured to unload a portion of the user's weight while the user is coupled to the cantilevered arm assembly and exercises on the exercise device.
US09914001B1	Fire extinguisher A fire extinguisher includes a barrel having a chamber with an opening covered by an upper cover that includes a guide-out passage having a tubular portion with a guide-in groove and an inlet. A guide-out groove is defined above a sealing edge and extends to the outside. A gas inlet unit is mounted to the upper cover and is connected to a high pressure steel bottle. A high pressure gas in the high pressure steel bottle can flow through a gas inlet passage into the chamber. A guide-out unit includes a guiding tube unit connected to the tubular portion and a valve connected to the guiding tube unit. The valve is opened when subjected to a pressure from the high pressure steel bottle. A piston valve normally and sealingly abutting a sealing edge of the tubular portion can be moved to a position in sealing contact with the sealing edge.
US09913991B2	Defibrillation apparatus for wireless data exchange with a patient monitoring apparatus A defibrillator with wireless communications with a patient monitor. The wireless communications transmits patient data collected by measurement modules between the defibrillator and the patient monitor using wireless nodes when a patient is under cardiac arrest. The transmitted data is integrated with the data already residing on each respective device using data integration modules, and then displayed to the code team in the patient's room on displays, thereby allowing every member of the code team to see data from both devices by reading just one of the displays. The integrated data is also associated with synchronized clocks between the two devices. The integrated data is then compiled into a single unified report comprising the data from both devices and attached to the patient's electronic health record located on a patient record database.
US09913984B2	Stimulation configuration management systems and methods An exemplary stimulation configuration management system may 1) obtain electric field imaging (EFI) data for a plurality of stimulation configurations associated with an electrode included in an intracochlear electrode array that is a part of a cochlear implant system associated with a patient, 2) identify, based on the EFI data, a stimulation configuration included in the plurality of stimulation configuration and that focuses an electric field produced by current applied to the electrode more than any other stimulation configuration included in the plurality of stimulation configurations, and 3) direct the cochlear implant system to use the identified stimulation configuration for the electrode during a normal operation of the cochlear implant system.
US09913982B2	Obstructive sleep apnea treatment devices, systems and methods Devices, systems and methods of neurostimulation for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The system is adapted to send an electrical signal from an implanted neurostimulator through a stimulation lead to a patient's nerve at an appropriate phase of the respiratory cycle based on input from a respiration sensing lead. External components are adapted for wireless communication with the neurostimulator. The neurostimulator is adapted to deliver therapeutic stimulation based on inputs.
US09913977B2	Process and system for iontophoretic wrinkle reduction A method and related systems and apparatus for wrinkle reduction. The method includes the steps of positioning and applying a patch to skin of a consumer and adhesively securing the patch to the skin. A chemical composition on the patch includes both active ingredients and adhesive. A pair of electrodes are connected to a battery-driven, microprocessor-based controller. A current is applied through the electrodes in the patch for a selected time. The chemical composition in the patch is propelled into the consumer through use of the current in order to relax the skin or the consumer. The patch is removed and any residue of the chemical composition is massaged into the skin.
US09913943B2	Trigger assembly for an automatic injection device A trigger assembly for an automatic injection device which by its operation releases a biased element of the device for movement. The trigger assembly includes a button pressable by a user, and a lock member. Prior to the button being plunged, a blocking element on the button is abutted by a button-engaging surface of the lock member to prevent lock member rotation, thereby allowing an engagement surface on the lock member to remain in engagement with an engagement surface of the biased element so as to restrain motion of the biased element. When the button is plunged, the blocking surface moves clear of the button-engaging surface to allow the lock member to rotate, during which rotation the engagement surfaces disengage to release the biased element for movement.
US09913929B2	Bone marrow aspirate enhanced bone graft A method of preparing a bone graft. Mixing bone marrow aspirate with an effective amount of a binding reagent that is capable of binding with red blood cells in the bone marrow aspirate. The bound red blood cells are aggregated. The aggregated bound red blood cells are separated from the bone marrow aspirate to provide a supernatant. At least a portion of the supernatant is associated with an osteoconductive matrix to form the bone graft.
US09913925B2	Synthetic surfactant-free finish, sheet having synthetic surfactant-free finish, articles having sheet with synthetic surfactant-free finish, and related methods Nonwoven (and film) topsheet and acquisition/distribution materials treated with a hydrophilic, synthetic surfactant-free finish, absorbent articles for infant or incontinence care that contain these materials, and methods for apply such finishes and/or making such absorbent articles.
US09913912B2	Carrier-linked prostanoid prodrugs The present invention relates to carrier-linked prostanoid prodrugs of formula (I) Z1—(X0-L0-PG0)y (I), wherein Z1, X0, L0, PG0 and y have the meaning as indicated in the description and claims; pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. It further relates to their use as medicaments, especially for treating, controlling, delaying or preventing pulmonary arterial hypertension.
US09913911B2	Carrier nanoparticles and related compositions, methods and systems Carrier nanoparticles comprising a polymer containing a polyol coupled to a polymer containing a boronic acid and a linkage cleavable under reducing conditions, configured to present the polymer containing a boronic acid to an environment external to the nanoparticle and related compositions, methods and systems.
US09913907B2	RNAi pharmaceutical composition for suppressing expression of KRAS gene The present invention provides a composition for suppressing the expression of a KRAS gene, comprising a lipid particle containing, as a drug, a double-stranded nucleic acid having an antisense strand having a sequence of bases complementary to the sequence of at least 19 continuous bases of any one KRAS gene's mRNA of sequence Nos. 1 to 3; anda cationic lipid represented by the following formula (I):wherein R1 and R2, which are the same or different, are each linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl having a carbon number of from 12 to 24; L1 and L2, which are the same or different, are each —CO—O— or —O—CO—; a and b, which are the same or different, are each 1 to 3; and R3 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl having a carbon number of from 1 to 6, or alkenyl having a carbon number of from 3 to 6, and the like.
US09913904B2	Use of an agent consisting of antibodies and/or insulin-like growth factor antagonists The present invention relates to the use of a composition selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody fragments, insulin-like growth factor antagonists, Toll-like receptor antagonists and mixtures thereof for the treatment or the prophylaxis of certain diseases.
US09913895B2	Cross-reactive T cell epitopes of HIV, SIV, and FIV for vaccines in humans and cats The subject invention concerns methods and materials for inducing an immune response in an animal or person against an immunodeficiency virus, such as HIV, SIV, or FIV. In one embodiment, a method of the invention comprises administering one or more antigens and/or immunogens to the person or animal wherein the antigen and/or immunogen comprises one or more evolutionarily conserved epitopes of immunodeficiency viruses. In one embodiment, the epitope is one that is conserved between HIV and SIV, or between HIV and FIV. In another embodiment, the epitope is one that is conserved between HIV, SIV, and FIV.
US09913886B2	DNA vaccine containing specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a) The present invention provides an agent for the treatment or prophylaxis of arteriosclerosis comprising an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a), wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.
US09913877B2	Methods and compositions for the treatment of axonal and neuronal degeneration The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions for preventing or treating axonal and/or neuronal degeneration in a subject by administering a composition comprising a peptide that comprises the amino acid sequence Arginine-Glycine-Aspartate (RGD).
US09913875B2	Botulinum neurotoxin-specific capture agents, compositions, and methods of using and making The present application provides stable peptide-based Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotype A capture agents and methods of use as detection and diagnosis agents and in the treatment of diseases and disorders. The application further provides methods of manufacturing BoNT serotype A capture agents using iterative on-bead in situ click chemistry.
US09913872B2	Diabetic nutritional composition The present invention provides nutritional compositions as powders, lozenges, tablets or liquids that are employed as oral supplementation to the human diet. The compositions of the present invention provide for supplementation to the diet of the human system, and specifically for those humans predisposed to, or suffering from, the diabetic human condition. It is believed that the key ingredients of the present invention work synergistically together to aid in the slowing, stopping, or reversing the symptoms and metabolic disorder characteristic of the human diabetic condition. These essential components are comprised of uniquely-selected minerals, phytonutrients and vitamin combinations.
US09913869B2	Formulations comprising herbal extracts The present invention relates to a formulation comprising extracts of Hedera helix, Pelargonium sidoides and Echinacea purpurea for use in the treatment, prevention of, or the alleviation and/or elimination of the symptoms of various respiratory tract diseases, as well as to a method for preparing this formulation.
US09913867B2	Composition comprising extract of mixture of Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls and ascidian shells for treating atopic dermatitis The present invention relates to a composition comprising an extract of a mixture of Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls and ascidian shells for treating atopic dermatitis, wherein the composition has the excellent effect of treating atopic dermatitis through the synergistic interaction of the anti-inflammatory effect of Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls and the cell regenerative effect of ascidian shells. The composition of the invention is not involved in the suppression of cytokine production. However, it is assumed that the composition has the effects of suppressing inflammation as well as regenerating skin.
US09913865B2	Induced pacemaker and Purkinje cells from adult stem cells Adult stem cells are reprogrammed to form pacemaker cells and Purkinje cells through the sequential activation of SHOX2>TBX5>HCN2. These Purkinje cells spontaneously surround and connect with the larger pacemaker cells, thus forming an induced sinoatrial body that produces funny current and can make cardiovascular tissues beat in a manner similar to a natural sinoatrial node.
US09913856B2	Drug formulations The invention provides derivatives of decitabine with superior chemical stability and shelf life, with similar physiological activity. The derivatives are provided in a non-aqueous formulation, which further stabilizes the derivatives. Methods of treating one or more myelodysplastic syndromes, leukemia, or solid tumours using the formulations are described.
US09913840B2	Formulations for aripiprazole delivery transdermally Formulations for topical application of aripiprazole are provided. The formulations, when applied topically to the skin of a subject, provide a therapeutic amount of aripiprazole in the blood for a sustained period of time for treatment of conditions responsive to aripiprazole including but not limited to depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
US09913835B2	Methods for controlled proliferation of stem cells / generating inner ear hair cells using N-(alkylcarbamoyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-nicotinamide based compounds The present invention relates to methods of inducing the self-renewal of stem/progenitor supporting cells, including inducing the stem/progenitor cells to proliferate while maintaining, in the daughter cells, the capacity to differentiate into hair cells. Specifically, the invention relates to methods of using compounds comprising a N-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-nicotinamide moiety having a Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09913834B2	Bis-benzylidine piperidone proteasome inhibitor with anticancer activity We describe a bis-benzylidine piperidone, RA190, which covalently binds to the ubiquitin receptor RPN13 (ADRM1) in the 19S regulatory particle and inhibits proteasome function, triggering rapid accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins. Multiple myeloma lines, even those resistant to bortezomib, were sensitive to RA190 via ER stress-related apoptosis. RA190 stabilized targets of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoprotein, and preferentially killed HPV-transformed cells. After p.o. or i.p. dosing of mice, RA190 distributed to plasma and major organs excepting brain, and potently inhibited proteasome function in skin and muscle. RA190 administration i.p. profoundly reduced growth of multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer xenografts, and oral RA190 treatment retarded HPV+ syngeneic mouse tumor growth, without impacting spontaneous HPV-specific CD8+ T cell responses, suggesting its therapeutic potential. The bis-benzylidine piperidone RA190 is a new orally-available proteasome inhibitor. Multiple myeloma, cervical and ovarian cancers are particularly sensitive to RA190.
US09913833B2	Methods of treating developmental disorders using pipradrol Methods of treating developmental disorders by administering a pharmaceutical composition of pipradrol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are provided. The methods may be used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome.
US09913825B2	Method of ameliorating uremia A method of ameliorating symptoms of uremia includes administering a therapeutic agent including beraprost or each isomer constituting beraprost, or a salt thereof as an effective ingredient to an animal belonging to the Family Canidae, wherein an effective dosage is a dosage that does not significantly lower blood pressure.
US09913815B2	Treating androgen deprivation therapy induced hot flashes and bone loss in men using cis-clomiphene This invention provides: 1) a method of treating androgen-deprivation induced osteoporosis, bone fractures, loss of bone mineral density (BMD), and/or hot flashes in a male subject suffering from prostate cancer; 2) a method of preventing androgen-deprivation induced osteoporosis, bone fractures, loss of bone mineral density (BMD), and/or hot flashes in a male subject suffering from prostate cancer; 3) a method of suppressing or inhibiting androgen-deprivation induced osteoporosis, bone fractures, loss of bone mineral density (BMD), and/or hot flashes in a male subject suffering from prostate cancer; and 4) a method of reducing the risk of developing androgen-deprivation induced osteoporosis, bone fractures, loss of bone mineral density (BMD), and/or hot flashes in a male subject suffering from prostate cancer, by administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising cis-clomiphene or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09913812B2	Methods for the treatment of skin neoplasms Methods of treating skin neoplasms using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, e.g., a propynylaminoindan (such as rasagiline) are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising monoamine oxidase inhibitors are also provided.
US09913809B1	Anti-cancer activity of (E)-1-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl) butadiene The present invention provides a method of using (E)-1-(3′, 4′-dimethoxyphenyl) butadiene to induce anti-tumorigenic effects in pancreatic carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma, lung carcinoma, lymphoblastoma, melanoma and colorectal carcinoma. The invention also provides a method of using (E)-1-(3′, 4′-dimethoxyphenyl) butadiene to prevent cancer metastasis.
US09913803B2	Single-layer oral dose of neuro-attenuating ketamine The present invention is directed to oral neuro-attenuating ketamine (NAKET) tablet formulations, and methods of administration, which ensure the steady release of a therapeutically effective concentration of ketamine from an oral tablet without neurologically toxic spikes in ketamine concentration. In particular, the present invention provides single layer oral tablet formulation of NAKET. In a specific embodiment, the NAKET tablet formulation, and methods of administration provide steady administration of NAKET to a subject for 24 hours or greater, for example, up to 36 hours, after a single administration event.
US09913783B2	Dentifrice compositions having optimized preservatives A dentifrice composition comprising 45% to 75% water, by weight of the composition; 25% to 50% of a calcium-containing abrasive by weight of the composition; greater than 0.10% to 0.30% benzyl alcohol, by weight of the composition; 0.01% to 0.11% of a paraben by weight of the composition; and an alkaline pH.
US09913781B2	Detergent composition comprising polyvinyl alcohol-containing pigment granules The present invention relates to [1] a detergent composition including pigment granules containing (A) from 10 to 95% by mass of a water-insoluble pigment, and (B) at least two compounds selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl alcohol derivative, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and a polyvinyl pyrrolidone derivative; and [2] a process for producing the detergent composition according to the above [1], including the steps of mixing and granulating a powder containing the water-insoluble pigment (A) and a solution of the component (B) to obtain a granulated product; drying the resulting granulated product to obtain the pigment granules; and mixing the pigment granules with a detergent. The detergent composition is capable of not only can satisfying both of rich foaming and good preparation stability, but also exhibiting sufficient coloration of foams and readily controlling a coloring time of the foams without damage to motivation of the user to use the detergent, and therefore can provide a comfortable feeling of use and a suitable configuration of use according to the applications by the user.
US09913775B2	Safety mechanisms for belt cartridge used with chest compression devices Safety mechanisms for compression belt cartridges used in chest compression devices. The safety mechanisms include a breakable link, liner socks, belt guards and a rapid-release connector. The breakable link ensures that unsafe belt tension will not occur. The liner socks protect the patient from friction and contain the breakable link. The belt guards protect foreign objects from entering the belt drive platform. The rapid-release connector allows the belt to be removed safely even during compressions.
US09913773B2	Mobility assistance device A mobility assistance apparatus includes first and second frames positioned on left and right sides of a user; a hinge arm mechanism coupled to the first and second frames; and a harness or a walking seat coupled to the frames to transfer at least a portion of the user's body weight from the legs and to transfer weight through the user's hip or pelvis to the first and second frame enabling the user to stand and walk or work for an extended period without requiring the user's arms to hold the frame.
US09913770B2	Climate management topper with shape change actuators for regulating coolant distribution One embodiment of a climate management topper includes a flowpath boundary which defines a flowpath adapted to carry a stream of fluid in a principal direction. A flow compliant filler occupies at least part of the flowpath. The filler includes a spacer and a set of shape change actuators (SCA's) each of which is made of a shape change material (SCM). The properties of the SCM include a critical temperature T0. The SCA's are configured to regulate distribution of the fluid stream through the flowpath in a direction transverse to the principal direction as a function of temperature. In one example the flowpath boundary is formed by liner panels and the SCA's are linear elements that elongate at a temperature TH which is higher than T0 thereby distending the spacer and reducing its resistance to fluid flow. One suitable shape change material is a nickel/titanium alloy known as NiTiNOL.
US09913767B2	Portable, inflatable mattress for lifting and transporting corpses An inflatable mattress is placed in a deflated state at a location a human corpse departed from life. The inflatable mattress may include two elongated chambers and one rectangular mattress chamber that supports the human corpse. The inflatable mattress may include one or more devices for coupling the human corpse to a top surface of the inflatable mattress. An inflation device coupled to the inflatable mattress is used to inflate the inflatable mattress to a selected height in less than about 2 minutes with the human corpse coupled to the inflatable mattress. The inflatable mattress is movable, with the human corpse coupled to the inflatable mattress, from the location the human corpse departed from life to a secondary location.
US09913762B2	Surgical towels with reduced lint particle generation Absorbent surgical towels with reduced lint particle generation are provided. The surgical towels are formed from fibrous substrates containing binder material that limits lint particle generation to 5,000 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. The binder material can limit lint particle generation to 500 or less.
US09913755B2	Elastic bandage that can be used, in particular, for the treatment and prevention of vein diseases A compression bandage formed by the assembling of a nonwoven based on short conjugate fibers which have been crimped and of a nonelastic material. The compression bandage can be used in a bilayer compression system, in particular for the prevention or treatment of venous pathologies.
US09913754B2	Self-adhesive elastic bandage that can be used, in particular, for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the veins A self-adhesive compression bandage, in particular for the treatment and prevention of pathologies of venous origin and lymphedema. This bandage is manufactured by the assembling of two self-adhesive nonwovens based on short conjugate fibers which have been crimped. The fibers are preferably made of polyester. The bandage can in addition comprise a supplementary layer.
US09913743B2	Methods of implanting a prosthesis and treating an aneurysm A method of implanting a prosthesis in a patient at a treatment site includes advancing an outer catheter of a prosthesis delivery system in the patient distal to the treatment site. An inner sheath and a curved guidewire lumen of the delivery system are advanced from the outer catheter to the treatment site along a guidewire while the outer catheter remains stationary relative to the patient. Advancing the inner sheath causes rotation of the prosthesis to thereby rotationally align the prosthesis at the treatment site. The inner sheath is retracted to deploy a prosthesis from within the inner sheath and at the treatment site. The delivery system is then retracted from the patient.
US09913730B1	Spinal fixation system and related methods The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for use in spinal surgery. In particular, the disclosed devices relate to a spinal fixation system and an intervertebral spinal implant assembly sized and dimensioned for the lumbar spine implantable via an anterior or anterolateral approach. The devices include an implant, bone screws, and an improved locking mechanism to prevent the back out of screws.
US09913720B2	Joint prosthesis system with positionable head A method includes inserting a stem into a bone, positioning a solid articulating portion of a mounting element within a tapered bore so that the mounting element is substantially free to pivot in multiple degrees of freedom relative to the stem while maintaining substantially contiguous engagement between the solid articulating portion and a portion of a surface of the tapered bore defining a circle, engaging the joint component to the mounting element, manipulating the mounting element to vary an angular position of the joint component with the mounting element positioned in the tapered bore while maintaining the substantially contiguous engagement, and mechanically locking the solid articulating portion in the tapered bore to fix a position of the mounting element relative to the stem after manipulating the mounting element by forcing the solid articulating portion toward a bottom of the tapered bore.
US09913716B2	Actively controllable stent, stent graft, heart valve and method of controlling same A delivery apparatus can include a handle portion and at least one rotatable drive shaft. The handle portion can have an actuation mechanism with a motor. The rotatable drive shaft can have a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion of the rotatable drive shaft can be coupled to the motor, and the distal end portion of the rotatable drive shaft can be configured to be releasably coupled to a prosthetic heart valve. The actuation mechanism can be configured to control and monitor expansion of the prosthetic heart valve and to control and monitor torque of the motor.
US09913707B2	Implant and method for production thereof A method for producing an implant and the implant itself, particularly an intraluminal endoprosthesis, wherein the implant is produced from a preferably hollow cylindrical semifinished article (10), wherein the semifinished article contains magnesium or a magnesium alloy, the method comprising preparing the semifinished article (10), and shaping the semifinished article at a temperature of between 250° C. and 550° C. using a tool, which has a metallic lubricant containing gallium and/or a gallium compound on at least a part of its surface that will come into contact with the semifinished article.
US09913704B1	Craniofacial surgery implant systems and methods Various embodiments of craniofacial implants, surgical instruments, and techniques are described to provide improved surgical results.
US09913696B2	Controller definition of a robotic remote center of motion A robotic surgical system employs a surgical instrument (20), a robot (40) for navigating the surgical instrument (20) relative to an anatomical region (10) within a coordinate system (42) of the robot (40), and a robot controller (43) for defining a remote center of motion for a spherical rotation of the surgical instrument (20) within the coordinate system (42) of the robot (40) based on a physical location within the coordinate system (42) of the robot (40) of a port (12) into the anatomical region (10). The definition of the remote center of rotation is used by the robot controller (43) to command the robot (40) to align the remote center of motion of the surgical instrument (20) with the port (12) into the anatomical region (10) for spherically rotating the surgical instrument (20) relative to the port (12) into the anatomical region (10).
US09913694B2	Grip force control in a robotic surgical instrument Surgical assemblies, instruments, and related methods are disclosed that control tissue gripping force. A surgical assembly includes an end effector including a jaw operable to grip a patient tissue and a spring assembly. The spring assembly includes an output link drivingly coupled with the jaw, an input link drivingly coupled to an articulation source, and a spring coupled with the input and output links to transfer an articulation force from the input link to the output link. The spring is preloaded to inhibit relative movement between the input link and the output link while the transferred articulation force is below a predetermined level and so as to allow relative movement between the input link and the output link when the transferred articulation force is above the predetermined level.
US09913689B2	Breast support and immobilization device for radiotherapy A comfortable, light weight device to properly position and elongate breast tissue for extended periods of time during radiotherapy and other medical procedures. In one embodiment, the breast fixation device is a generally cylindrical inflatable enclosure that wraps around the breast tissue. In another embodiment, the breast fixation device is composed of multiple rings that are placed around the breast tissue and inflated. In a further embodiment, the breast fixation device consists of multiple inflatable fingers which drape around the breast tissue and then squeeze the breast tissue into an elongated position as they are inflated.
US09913686B2	Microwave applicator A microwave applicator having a probe which comprises an elongate shaft (14), the shaft having an external tubular wall (18), a radiating portion (15) disposed at the distal end of the shaft (14), a transmission line (17) extending to the radiating portion internally of the tubular external wall (18), and an elongate flow dividing member (19) which co-extends with the transmission line (17) longitudinally of the shaft (14), the side wall of the transmission line (17) and the side wall of the flow dividing member (19) contacting each other and contacting the internal surface of the external tubular wall (18) at two-spatially separated discrete positions, thereby defining a pair of flow channels (20, 21) inside the shaft (14). In use, cooling fluid can pass down one channel (20) and return via the other channel (21). The structure of the probe is uncomplicated and the probe is straightforward to assemble.
US09913682B2	Methods and devices to treat nasal airways Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.
US09913677B2	Valve control mechanism and method A valve controller includes a housing, and a lever extending from the housing. The lever includes a protrusion rigidly attached to the lever, and the lever is biased to an initial position. A switch has an open and a closed position. A linkage is pivotally connected to the switch, and the linkage includes a centrally disposed slot configured to receive the protrusion such that movement of the switch controls movement of the linkage and the lever such that moving the switch to the closed position closes a valve controlled by the lever regardless of a position of the lever.
US09913676B2	Milled bone graft materials and methods of use A bone material for hydration with a liquid is provided, the bone material comprising a coherent mass of milled and demineralized bone fibers, the coherent mass having no binder disposed in or on the coherent mass. In some embodiments, a bone material for hydration with a liquid is provided, the bone material comprising a coherent mass of cartridge milled, lyophilized and demineralized bone fibers, the coherent mass having no binder on the coherent mass. In some embodiments, a method of implanting a bone material is provided, the method comprising contacting the bone material with a liquid, the bone material comprising a coherent mass of cartridge milled, lyophilized and demineralized bone fibers, the coherent mass having no binder disposed in or on the coherent mass; molding the bone material into a shape to implant the bone material; and implanting the bone material at the target tissue site.
US09913675B2	System for use in treatment of vertebral fractures Methods and devices that displace bone or other hard tissue to create a cavity in the tissue. Where such methods and devices rely on a driving mechanism for providing moving of the device to form a profile that improves displacement of the tissue. These methods and devices also allow for creating a path or cavity in bone for insertion of bone cement or other filler to treat a fracture or other condition in the bone. The features relating to the methods and devices described herein can be applied in any region of bone or hard tissue where the tissue or bone is displaced to define a bore or cavity instead of being extracted from the body such as during a drilling or ablation procedure.
US09913674B2	Bone anchor and bone anchoring assembly comprising the same A bone anchor includes: a main body defining a longitudinal axis and including a head; at least one insertion hole which extends from a first opening formed in the head to a second opening formed in the main body, the at least one insertion hole having an axis which is arranged to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main body at an angle, and the insertion hole being configured to receive and guide therethrough a pin-shaped element to be anchored within a bone or bone fragment; and a locking device configured to lock the position of the pin-shaped element inserted within the at least one insertion hole in an axial direction.
US09913669B1	Systems and methods for performing spine surgery A digitizer pointer is provided as part of a system for correcting a curvature or deformity in a patient's spine based on the digitized locations of implanted screws and tracking the placement of the rod as it is placed in a minimally invasive fashion. The digitizer pointer is includes an offset adjustment feature, a swivel feature, and a translation feature.
US09913668B2	Interspinous fixation implant An implantable assembly for stabilization of two adjacent spinous processes in a spinal column includes an elongated first component extending along a first axis, an elongated second component extending along a second axis, a hub spacer, means for inserting and securing the hub spacer transversely through the interspinous ligament separating the first and second spinous processes and means for clamping and securing first and second spinous processes of first and second adjacent vertebras, respectively, between the first and second components. The first and second components are arranged opposite and parallel to each other and are separated by the hub spacer.
US09913666B2	Plates configured to rigidly fix fragments of a pars interarticularis to one another An apparatus for securing a vertebra during healing of a fracture within a pars area of the vertebra is described. In certain embodiments, the apparatus is a plate that has an outer shape similar to a shape of a pedicle and/or lamina of the vertebra, and an inner section that facilitates access to the pars area when the plate is secured to the vertebra.
US09913663B2	Anchoring group for an external fixator An anchoring group (20) for an external fixator (1), comprising: a connecting body (11) designed to be coupled to a bar (2) of an external fixator (1), said connecting body (11) being crossed by a median plane (M); a first locking device (10) for locking first unicortical pins and connected to the connecting body (11), said first locking device (10) comprising at least one seat; and a second locking device (10) for locking second unicortical pins and also connected to the connecting body (11), said second locking device (10) comprising at least one auxiliary seat, which is not aligned with the at least one seat of the first locking device (10), said first and second locking devices (10) extending from different side of said median plane (M), wherein the connecting body (11) has at least two fastening seats (110a, 110b) for each the first and the second locking devices (10) so as to allow at least two alternative mounting configurations from each side with respect to the median plane (M) of the connecting body (11).
US09913652B2	Device and method for occluding the left atrial appendage An implantable medical device for insertion in the left atrial appendage includes a cap coupled to a frame. The cap constrains movement of the legs of the frame during collapse and expansion of the device, such that the device can be deployed, recalled and redeployed without the device being damaged or the legs of the frame getting tangled.
US09913642B2	Surgical instrument comprising a sensor system A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft assembly, a first sensor configured to detect a condition of the surgical instrument, and a second sensor configured to detect the condition of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument can further comprise a processor, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are in signal communication with the processor, wherein the processor receives a first signal from the first sensor, wherein the processor receives a second signal from the second sensor, wherein the processor is configured to utilize the first signal and the second signal to determine the condition, and wherein the processor is configured to communicate instructions to the surgical instrument in view of the condition.
US09913641B2	Surgical instrument and tissue dissecting unit A surgical instrument includes an insertion section, a first jaw and a second jaw provided at a distal end portion of the insertion section, having predetermined curved shapes and configured to grasp tissue; a guide section formed along the predetermined curved shape and disposed in at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw; an actuation section which is movable by being guided by the guide section; a shaft body provided at the actuation section and configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to a center line of the shaft body; and a blade section connected to the shaft body at a position apart from the rotation axis in a direction across to the shaft body and configured to be directed to the shaft body, the blade section being rotatable about the rotation axis.
US09913637B2	Soft tissue fixation system A soft tissue fixation assembly includes a plurality of deformable bone anchors and a suture that is configured to fixedly attach to each of the bone anchors. One or more of the bone anchors can be inserted into a bone, and one or more of the bone anchors can be inserted through soft tissue and into the bone. The suture can be inserted through the bone anchors, and energy can be applied to the anchors, thereby causing a deformable material of the bone anchors to deform, thereby capturing the strand of suture in the bone anchor. The strand of suture can be placed in tension, and can extend over the soft tissue so as to retain the soft tissue in contact with the bone.
US09913635B2	Vascular closure device having a flowable sealing material Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.
US09913632B2	Puncture needle for endoscope In a puncture needle for an endoscope, in a state in which a distal end of an outer sheath is located in an observation field of an observation optical system of an endoscope and a needle slider is retracted to abut a needle slider engaging section, a distal end of an inner sheath is located closer to a distal side than a proximal end of a raising base in the outer sheath, and a proximal end of the inner sheath is located closer to a proximal side than a needle tip of a needle tube in the outer sheath.
US09913629B1	Tissue removal system A tissue removal device includes a housing, an outer tube having a distal portion configured for transcervical insertion into a uterus, an inner tube slidably disposed within the outer tube lumen, a vacuum generation chamber disposed within the housing, a movable piston slidably disposed in the vacuum generation chamber, a collection chamber, a manual actuator moveably coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the piston, and proximal and distal one-way valves. The outer tube has an outer tube lumen, a tissue in-take opening proximate a distal end thereof, and a proximal end coupled to the housing. The inner tube has an inner tube lumen extending from an open inner tube distal end to an open inner tube proximal end, the open inner tube distal end comprising a cutting edge configured to sever intrauterine tissue extending through the tissue in-take opening in the outer tube.
US09913622B2	X-ray CT apparatus and image processing device According to an embodiment, an X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire projection data that is based on a spectrum representing an amount of X-rays with respect to energy of a radiation having passed through a subject; select a plurality of materials; generate, from the projection data, first density images for each of the selected materials; generate a monochromatic image of specific energy from the first density images; reconstruct the projection data corresponding to the specific energy to generate a reconstructed image; compare the monochromatic image and the reconstructed image; and provide a notification indicating a result of the comparison.
US09913610B2	Systems and methods for selecting a desired quantity of follicular units Systems and methods for selecting follicular units in a distribution of follicular units are provided. A selection parameter, such as a distance-related parameter separating the follicular units to be selected, may be used to determine a desired quantity of follicular units to be selected, such as a desired percentage of follicular units to be selected, and to help provide a substantially uniform distribution of selected follicular units. In addition, a characteristic parameter, such as a characteristic distance or characteristic density, may be determined. The characteristic parameter may be used in determining the desired quantity of follicular units to be selected and or may be used for treatment purposes.
US09913602B2	System and method for measuring blood parameters The present invention provides techniques for measuring one or more parameters of a subject using a probe having an optical assembly configured and operable for applying optical measurements to a measurement location in a subject and generating optical measured data indicative thereof comprising at least one of pulsatile and occlusion measurements, a pressure system configured and operable for controllably applying pressure to the subject in the vicinity of the measurement location and measuring pressure inside the pressure system and generating pressure data indicative thereof, and a control system configured and operable for receiving and processing the pressure data to identify whether the optical measured data is valid, and for processing the valid optical measured data and determining at least one relation between the valid optical measured data and the corresponding pressure data indicative of at least one parameter of the subject.
US09913589B2	Device and method for the geometric determination of electrical dipole densities on the cardiac wall Disclosed are devices, a systems, and methods for determining the dipole densities on heart walls. In particular, a triangularization of the heart wall is performed in which the dipole density of each of multiple regions correlate to the potential measured at various locations within the associated chamber of the heart.
US09913584B2	Pressure-sensing intravascular devices, systems, and methods Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one pressure sensing component within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electrical, electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical pressure-sensing components is secured to an elongated substrate such that the pressure-sensing component is mounted perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the device. In some implementations, the elongated substrate has a cylindrical profile. Methods of making, assembling, and/or using such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.
US09913581B2	Photography apparatus and photography method To accurately position a past photography position and a photography position this time in follow up using polarization OCT images.In follow up, multiple polarization-sensitive tomographic images are positioned based on multiple polarization planar images of an object, corresponding to multiple polarization-sensitive tomographic images obtained by photographing the object at another time.
US09913573B2	Endoscopic imaging system An endoscopic imaging system includes a reusable control cabinet having a number of actuators that control the orientation of a lightweight endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope is used with a single patient and is then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. A polymeric articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the control cabinet. The endoscope is coated with a hydrophilic coating that reduces its coefficient of friction and because it is lightweight, requires less force to advance it to a desired location within a patient.
US09913565B2	Squeegee devices with one or more collection features A squeegee device is provided that includes a blade support and a deflector. The blade support has a front support and a rear support, which are configured to secure a squeegee blade therebetween. The deflector has a lower portion and an upper portion, which are configured so that the lower portion of the deflector depends upward from the blade support and a leading edge of the upper portion is forward, with respect to a pushing direction, from the blade support.

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