US09152665B2

A system includes generation of a first interval encoding of a first version of a hierarchy of nodes, determination of a second version of the hierarchy of nodes, and determination of a first interval delta based on the first interval encoding and the second version of the hierarchy of nodes.
US09152664B2

A partition management system is disclosed for a database comprising at least one database table. The system comprises a partition controller arranged to automatically create at least one table partition in advance so that at least one table partition is available prior to when the table partition is required by the database. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
US09152662B2

The present subject matter relates to systems and methods for determining quality of data. In one implementation, the method comprises identifying at least one column of the data repository based on an importance index associated with the at least one column, wherein the importance index is indicative of the criticality of the data stored in the at least one column; and retrieving at least one data quality analysis rule associated with the at least one column. The method further comprises assigning a rule weightage parameter to each of the at least one data quality analysis rule and a column weightage parameter to each of the identified columns and analyzing the data stored in the identified columns based on the at least one data quality analysis rule. Based in part on the analysis a data quality score, indicative of the quality of data stored in the data repository is computed.
US09152661B1

System and method for searching a data structure are disclosed. The method includes providing a data structure that includes a plurality of data entries stored in an external random access memory (RAM) and a portion of the data structure is stored in an internal cache memory, performing one or more hash functions on each entry of the data structure to generate an encoding that maps to a location in the external RAM, maintaining a count of encodings that map to the location in the external RAM, receiving a search string, performing the one or more hash functions on the search string to generate an index to the count of encodings, and searching the data structure in accordance with the count of encodings stored in the internal cache memory and in the external RAM.
US09152658B2

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object. These mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object can allow for centralized management of a team in association with an object. For example, members of the team may be automatically identified (e.g. without manual intervention) for receiving notifications in association with an object.
US09152657B1

A device receives, in a technical computing environment (TCE), a heterogeneous array that includes columns and rows, and receives a command that references multiple columns and one or more rows of the heterogeneous array. The device determines, based on the command, that the referenced multiple columns of the heterogeneous array include a same data type. The device creates, based on the command and based on determining that the referenced multiple columns of the heterogeneous array include the same data type, a homogeneous array that includes the referenced multiple columns and the referenced one or more rows of the heterogeneous array. The device outputs the homogeneous array for further processing.
US09152655B2

Systems and methods for the management of contact information, which may include automatic transfer processes, automatic update processes, automatic customization processes, automatic delivery processes, automatic storage processes, automatic portability processes, and/or automatic radial mining processes.
US09152651B2

A ticket entry system and method includes a program management system that receives contact information and a search criteria for a locate request. The program management system transmits the search criteria to a spatial management system that geocodes the search criteria and retrieves map data from a data management system corresponding to the search criteria geocode. The spatial management system transmits the map data to the program management system, which transmits the map data to a user interface. The user interface receives an indication of a site location where the operation is to be performed. The program management system transmits the site location indication to the spatial management system. The spatial management system geocodes the site location indication and transmits the site location geocode to the program management system. The program management system creates a locate ticket, which comprises the site location geocode and the contact information.
US09152650B1

A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for recovering mobile device data is disclosed. In some embodiments, this includes using a processor to access a server with a unique identifier, determining data to be recovered from the server to a target mobile device, transmitting the determined data to the target mobile device, and storing the transmitted data on the target mobile device. The determined data may come from a source mobile device, and the determined data may be recovered to a target mobile device or multiple target mobile devices.
US09152647B2

Multiple applications request data from multiple storage units over a computer network. The data is divided into segments and each segment is distributed randomly on one of several storage units, independent of the storage units on which other segments of the media data are stored. At least one additional copy of each segment also is distributed randomly over the storage units, such that each segment is stored on at least two storage units. This random distribution of multiple copies of segments of data improves both scalability and reliability. When an application requests a selected segment of data, the request is processed by the storage unit with the shortest queue of requests. Random fluctuations in the load applied by multiple applications on multiple storage units are balanced nearly equally over all of the storage units. This combination of techniques results in a system which can transfer multiple, independent high-bandwidth streams of data in a scalable manner in both directions between multiple applications and multiple storage units.
US09152640B2

A storage system may store files on multiple nodes. One or more logs may indicate operations performed on the files stored in the storage system and may identify the nodes that requested the operations. A new allocation or file placement scheme may be determined to reduce network traffic.
US09152637B1

An improved technique generates formatted file system metadata in increments only when metadata for those increments are specifically requested. A location on a storage volume designated for storing file system metadata is read and tested to determine whether it stores a predetermined pattern indicating an unformatted state. If the pattern is found, metadata for the designated location are generated and returned. Otherwise, metadata are returned as initially read from the storage volume.
US09152634B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing selecting relevant and diverse advertisements. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an initial query, selecting one or more additional queries relating to the initial query, identifying one or more content items for each query, forming a content block, balancing each content block, and providing, for each query, a content block along with search results associated with the initial query for display or other processing by a device.
US09152632B2

An information management system creates data structures based entirely on the content of source files, then compares these data structures to discover synergies and commonalities. In one embodiment, the system accepts a first collection of source files, and extracts text from each source file. The text is compared to tags in one or more dictionaries, which comprise hierarchical listing of tags. Tags matching the text are associated with each source file. The system then generates a virtual relational network in which each source file having matching tags is a node. Tags associated with two or more source files are links between the nodes. This virtual relational network may be compared with another virtual relational network to discover common nodes or links. Source files later added to a collection are massively linked by associating all tags from all source files with the newly added source file, and vice versa.
US09152623B2

A natural language processing system is disclosed herein. Embodiments of the NLP system perform hand-written rule-based operations that do not rely on a trained corpus. Rules can be added or modified at any time to improve accuracy of the system, and to allow the same system to operate on unstructured plain text from many disparate contexts (e.g. articles as well as twitter contexts as well as medical articles) without harming accuracy for any one context. Embodiments also include a language decoder (LD) that generates information which is stored in a three-level framework (word, clause, phrase). The LD output is easily leveraged by various software applications to analyze large quantities of text from any source in a more sophisticated and flexible manner than previously possible. A query language (LDQL) for information extraction from NLP parsers' output is disclosed, with emphasis on its embodiment implemented for LD. It is also presented, how to use LDQL for knowledge extraction on the example of application named Knowledge Browser.
US09152619B2

Systems and methods for constructing a markup language template and corresponding input data structure specification are provided. A plurality of different markup language representations of a user interface can be obtained multiple times for different input data for a web application. The different markup language representations can be aligned and compared to identify both common elements and variable elements. A markup language template can be constructed that includes the common elements. The variable elements can represent the input data associated with markup language representations. From a detected variable element, three things can be generated: (1) a data field associated with the variable element in an input data structure corresponding to the markup language template; (2) a template processing instruction that maps the data field of the input data structure to the newly constructed markup language template; and (3) an instance of the input data structure.
US09152601B2

An approach and a method for efficient execution of nested map-reduce framework workloads to take advantage of the combined execution of central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) and lower latency of data access in accelerated processing units (APUs) is described. In embodiments, metrics are generated to determine whether a map or reduce function is more efficiently processed on a CPU or a GPU. A first metric is based on ratio of a number of branch instructions to a number of non-branch instructions, and a second metric is based on the comparison of execution times on each of the CPU and the GPU. Selecting execution of map and reduce functions based on the first and second metrics result in accelerated computations. Some embodiments include scheduling pipelined executions of functions on the CPU and functions on the GPU concurrently to achieve power-efficient nested map reduce framework execution.
US09152597B2

A network switch, based on the PCI Express protocol, is disclosed. The switch includes a processor, local memory and a plurality of non-transparent bridges. By configuring the non-transparent bridges appropriately, the network switch can facilitate a number of different communication mechanisms, including TCP/IP communication between servers, server clusters, and virtualized I/O device utilization. For example, the network switch may configure the non-transparent bridges so as to have access to the physical memory of every server attached to it. It can then move data from the memory of any server to the memory of any other server. In another embodiment, the network switch is connected to an I/O device, and multiple servers are given access to that I/O device via virtualized connections.
US09152590B2

Deterministic message processing in a direct memory access (DMA) adapter includes the DMA adapter incrementing from a sub-head pointer, the sub-tail pointer until encountering an out-of-sequence packet. The DMA adapter also consumes packets between the sub-head pointer and the sub-tail pointer including incrementing with the consumption of each packet, the sub-head pointer until determining that the sub-head pointer is equal to the sub-tail pointer. In response to determining that the sub-head pointer is equal to the sub-tail pointer, the DMA adapter determines that the next in-sequence packet is not in the first FIFO message queue. In response to determining that the next in-sequence packet is not in the first FIFO message queue and that the first FIFO message queue exceeds a threshold capacity, the DMA controller copies the contents of the first FIFO message queue into the second FIFO message queue.
US09152589B2

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a DMA process. Accordingly, a DMA process is initiated for moving data from contiguous first locations to contiguous second locations and to a third location or third locations. Within the DMA process the data from each of the contiguous first locations is retrieved and stored in a corresponding one of the contiguous second locations and in the third location or corresponding one of the third locations. The DMA process is performed absent retrieving the same data a second other time prior to storing of same within the corresponding one of the contiguous second locations and in the third location or corresponding one of the third locations.
US09152587B2

A method and circuit for a data processing system provide a partitioned interrupt controller with an efficient deferral mechanism for processing partitioned interrupt requests by executing a control instruction to encode and store a delay command (e.g., DEFER or SUSPEND) in a data payload with a hardware-inserted partition attribute (LPID) for storage to a command register (25) at a physical address (PA) retrieved from a special purpose register (46) so that the partitioned interrupt controller (14) can determine if the delay command can be performed based on local access control information.
US09152581B2

An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including an output driver. The integrated circuit device includes a first register to store a value representative of a drive strength setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the drive strength setting. The integrated circuit device also includes a second register to store a value representative of an equalization setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the equalization setting. The integrated circuit device further includes a third register to store a value representative of a slew rate setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the slew rate setting.
US09152577B2

A method for managing a transcoder pipeline includes partitioning a memory with a numbered region; receiving an incoming media stream to be transcoded; and atomically loading, using a security central processing unit (SCPU), a decryption key, a counterpart encryption key and an associated region number of the memory into a slot of a key table, the key table providing selection of decryption and encryption keys during transcoding. The atomically loading the decryption and encryption keys and the associated numbered region ensures that the encryption key is selected to encrypt a transcoded version of the media stream when the media stream has been decrypted with the decryption key and the transcoded media stream is retrieved from the associated numbered region of the memory.
US09152576B2

Various embodiments of the present invention are related to integrated circuits for processing data at a microcontroller interface. The microcontroller interfaces to a memory. The method is employed to process input data provided by the microcontroller during a memory write operation, or input data extracted from the memory during a memory read operation, respectively. A write/read control is used to indicate the memory write or read operation, and a logic address is translated to at least one physical address in the memory. The write/read control and the logic address are further employed to determine a data process mode. In various data processing modes, the input data are processed according to at least one of a plurality of data processing methods to result in processed data in different data formats. Data in different formats may be stored in various regions of the memory.
US09152573B2

A lightweight technique for sharing memory pages within a virtual machine (VM) is provided. This technique can be used on its own to implement intra-VM page sharing or it can be augmented with sharing across VMs. Memory pages whose content can be described by some succinct grammar, such as a regular expression or simple pattern, are identified for sharing within a VM. If the content of a page matches some simple pattern, it is proposed to share such a page, but only in the scope of the VM to which it belongs, i.e., intra-VM sharing. All other pages, i.e., those that are not simple patterns, can be candidates for sharing in the scope of all currently active VMs, i.e., inter-VM sharing. Either fully functional page sharing across VMs and/or page sharing in the context of each VM can be implemented.
US09152560B2

A method of managing data in a system including a nonvolatile memory includes storing a root object of application data, and at least one sub object referenced by the root object in the nonvolatile memory, and mapping virtual addresses of the root object and sub object to physical addresses of the nonvolatile memory respectively, in a page unit. The root object stored in the nonvolatile memory includes a pointer that references the sub object stored in the nonvolatile memory.
US09152559B2

A method includes responding to a wear-level operation request by copying data from a first portion of a first memory array to a second portion of the first memory array, and copying metadata associated with the data from a third portion of a second memory array to a fourth portion of the second memory array. The first memory array includes a NAND or NAND-based memory array, and the second memory array includes non-volatile memory including at least one of the group consisting of: phase-change memory, EEPROM, and NOR flash memory.
US09152554B2

A memory system includes a non-volatile memory, a compressor capable of compressing data, an encryptor which encrypts data, a decryptor which decrypts data, and a data flow controller. The data flow controller is configured to perform first and second processes. In the first process, the data flow controller causes the encryptor to encrypt user data received from a host in a non-compressed state, and causes the encrypted user data to be written into the non-volatile memory via the second area. In the second process, the data flow controller causes the encrypted user data to be read out from the non-volatile memory, causes the decryptor to decrypt the encrypted user data, causes the compressor to compress the decrypted user data, causes the encryptor to encrypt the compressed user data, and causes the encrypted and compressed user data to be written into the non-volatile memory.
US09152543B1

A method of testing software may include generating a symbolic value for a return value of a software function of a software program during mixed symbolic and abstraction execution (“mixed execution”) of the software program. Additionally, the mixed execution may maintain symbolic values, abstract values, and constraints of one or more variables of the software function. The method may also include deriving, during the mixed execution, an abstraction for the symbolic value. The abstraction may constrain the symbolic value and may be derived based on the return value of the paths that satisfy the abstraction. Further, the method may include exploring, during the mixed execution, the one or more paths of the software function that correspond to the return value based on the symbolic value, as constrained by the abstraction, such that a number of the one or more paths explored during the symbolic execution is constrained by the abstraction.
US09152541B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for automatically testing and verifying mobile applications. A mobile application is obtained from a source entity. The mobile application is automatically installed in different mobile computing devices in a testing environment. Execution of the mobile application is automatically initiated in the different mobile computing devices. Whether the mobile application meets performance criteria is automatically verified for each of the different mobile computing devices.
US09152537B2

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for instrumenting a “semantic stack trace” (SST), where semantic information and dependency relationships between a plurality of code elements (“elements”) are captured during runtime execution of various front-end declarative languages, and are subsequently extracted for display in a SST-enabled interactive user interface with traversing capability. Embodiments of the present invention enable a framework for traversing and debugging complex code, providing an unprecedented lens into understanding code behavior in mixed imperative and declarative construction languages.
US09152527B2

Various aspects of the present disclosure enable a docking host that manages a docking environment to establish an initial connection between the docking host and one or more wireless peripheral devices to perform functionality determination of the wireless peripherals devices. The docking host may store the results of the functionality and, upon receiving a request from a dockee to access the functionality that the docking host may provide, will update the results. In one aspect of the disclosed approach, the docking host may determine the current state of the wireless peripheral devices before advertising any functionality information to the dockee. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US09152523B2

In a portable computing device having a node-based resource architecture, resource requests are batched or otherwise transactionized to help minimize inter-processing entity messaging or other messaging or provide other benefits. In a resource graph defining the architecture, each node or resource of the graph represents an encapsulation of functionality of one or more resources controlled by a processor or other processing entity, each edge represents a client request, and adjacent nodes of the graph represent resource dependencies. A single transaction of resource requests may be provided against two or more of the resources. Additionally, this single transaction may become forked so that parallel processing among a client issuing the single transaction and the resources handling the requests of the single transaction may occur.
US09152518B2

A re-characterization process is provided that adjusts one or more operating parameters of a processor to improve the health (e.g., reduce errors) of the processor. The parameters include voltage and/or clock frequency, as examples. The processor can be an inactive or active processor for which the re-characterization process is performed. It is performed, in one instance, by a hardware controller in real-time.
US09152517B2

Test equipment provides interrupt capability to automatic testing as a means of actively controlling temperature of the device under test. A processor coupled to memory is responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the memory. A test socket is coupled to a device under test and coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to interrupt an application pattern running on the device under test. In response to interrupting the application pattern, the processor is configured to cause a control pattern to run on the device under test and then cause the application pattern to restart running from the point of interruption on the device under test.
US09152488B2

A storage module and low-complexity methods for assessing the health of a flash memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, data is written to a subset of memory cells in a memory of a storage module. Error statistics for the subset of memory cells are determined, and cell error rate parameters for the memory are estimated by fitting the determined error statistics for the subset of memory cells with a parametric statistical model. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.
US09152484B2

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating predictive diagnostics via a package update manager. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and updates available for the installed set. A notification tool, in conjunction with the package manager, can monitor the user's selection of package update options, and compare those updates to a diagnostic database, a current state of the client machine, and/or other resources. Based on those determinations, the notification tool can generate notifications to the user advising them of potential conflicts, faults, or other conditions that may arise due to, or may surround, the prospective package update. The notification can permit the user to continue or terminate selected updates, before those updates are attempted and cause potential conflicts.
US09152483B2

A method, computer readable medium, and system independently managing network applications within a network traffic management device communicating with networked clients and servers include monitoring with a network device a plurality of applications communicating over a plurality of direct memory access (DMA) channels established across a bus. The network device receives a request from a first application communicating over a first DMA channel in the plurality of DMA channels to restart the first DMA channel. In response to the request, the first DMA channel is disabled with the network device while allowing other executing applications in the plurality of applications to continue to communicate over other DMA channels in the plurality of DMA channels. A state of the first DMA channel is cleared independently from other DMA channels in the plurality of DMA channels, and communications for the first application over the first DMA channel are resumed with the network device.
US09152475B1

Plural change events are associated with corresponding listeners, where the plural change events represent distinct groups of one or more changes made to a collection of items. In response to a further change of the collection of items, the plural change events are modified to include the further change. The listeners are notified of respective plural change events.
US09152471B2

A method, system, and computer program product for improving system performance using cooling configuration information are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A set of components in a data processing system is indexed according to corresponding amounts of cooling available to the components in the set. Priorities are assigned to component users in a set of component users. Using a processor and a memory, a component whose index value represents a higher than threshold amount of cooling availability to the component is allocated to a component user whose priority is higher than a threshold priority.
US09152470B2

Systems and methods for dynamic development and deployment of computing applications including a development framework, a visual design subsystem, and a deployment subsystem, where at runtime the deployment subsystem is operable to dynamically deploy a computing application by sending a request at runtime for graphs and components identified in the computing application.
US09152469B2

A method for tuning workflow settings in a distributed computing workflow comprising sequential interdependent jobs includes pairing a terminal stage of a first job and a leading stage of a second, sequential job to form an optimization pair, in which data segments output by the terminal stage of the first job comprises data input for the leading stage of the second job. The performance of the optimization pair is tuned by determining, with a computational processor, an estimated minimum execution time for the optimization pair and increasing the minimum execution time to generate an increased execution time. The method further includes calculating a minimum number of data segments that still permit execution of the optimization pair within the increased execution time.
US09152466B2

A cloud file event server transmits file events necessary to synchronize a file system of a file share client. A tree queue director circuit receives file events and stores each one into a tree data structure which represents the hierarchical paths of files within the file share client. An event normalization circuit sorts the file events stored at each node into sequential order and moots file events which do not have to be performed because a later file event makes them inconsequential. A thread scheduling circuit assigns a resource to perform file events at a first node in a hierarchical path before assigning one or more resources to a second node which is a child of the first node until interrupted by the tree queue director circuit or until all file events in the tree data structure have been performed.
US09152464B2

Methods, apparatus and computer program products for allocating a number of workers to a worker pool in a multiprogrammable computer are provided, to thereby tune server multiprogramming level. The method includes the steps of monitoring throughput in relation to a workload concurrency level and dynamically tuning a multiprogramming level based upon the monitoring. The dynamic tuning includes adjusting with a first adjustment for a first interval and with a second adjustment for a second interval, wherein the second adjustment utilizes data stored from the first adjustment.
US09152463B2

An apparatus and method of providing conditional access to an electronic data store including a storage controller and a data storage resource. The method includes receiving, at the storage controller, a network request for access to the data storage resource from a client, the request including at least one required parameter defining the requested connection, obtaining information on the performance of the data storage resource, determining, based upon the information, whether a) the data storage resource can meet the or each required parameter of the request; and b) meeting the or each required parameter of the request will not violate any previously agreed parameters defining existing connections on the data storage resource; and denying the request if at least one of a) and b) are determined to be negative.
US09152462B2

A parallel processing device improves operation rates of cores in a computation device having a plurality of processor cores in a process in which there are a large number of tasks that can be processed in parallel even though parallelism within the tasks is low. The device acquires tasks into which an application has been divided, sets the number of simultaneously executed tasks in each thread array, sets the number of threads in each thread array, sets the total number of arrays, generates the threads and thread arrays, secures a resource for the number of simultaneously executed tasks in each of the thread arrays, determines the task to be processed by each thread and causes the task thus determined to be executed by each of the threads.
US09152459B2

In some implementations, a processor is configured to receive a current pending packet number representing a number of packets of data that currently remain to be transferred between two devices, determine whether to adjust a priority of a thread based on the current pending packet number, a previous pending packet number, and a priority pending packet number, and adjust or maintain the priority of the thread based on determining whether to adjust the priority of the thread. The thread is to be executed by the processor to perform a transfer of the packets of data between the two devices, the previous pending packet number represents a number of packets of data that previously remained to be transferred between the two devices, and the priority pending packet number corresponds to the current priority of the thread.
US09152458B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining image search results. One of the methods includes scheduling a first computation for execution on each of a first plurality of worker processes. The first computation changes a respective state of each of one or more of the first worker processes from a first state to a second state. A respective second computation is scheduled for execution on each of a second plurality of worker, where each respective second computation will use a different value for a particular variable for two or more of the second plurality of worker processes. The respective state of each of the second plurality of worker processes is updated from the second state to a third state, where the third state corresponds to execution of the second computation using a first value of the particular variable.
US09152448B2

Embodiments perform migration-aware load balancing in virtual data centers. One or more load balancing modules in a host distribute data requests from clients to one or more servers implemented as virtual machines (VMs). The load balancing modules are notified of VM migration (e.g., live migration) prior to the VM migration and reduce the load on the VM to be migrated. After being notified of completion of VM migration, the load balancing modules increase the load on the migrated VM. Such migration notifications enable the load balancing modules to prevent or reduce performance degradation and migration duration, among other aspects.
US09152442B2

The use of callback functions when executing intermediate instructions in a virtual machine is described. The virtual machine receives and evaluates intermediate instructions. The virtual machine evaluates the instructions based on a function table referencing definitions of the functions. A callback is loaded into the virtual machine platform, and a callback loader modifies the function table to cause a function in the table to point to the callback instead of the standard definition. Thus, when the intermediate code is evaluated, it is evaluated based on the modified functionality of the callback rather than the standard definition.
US09152440B2

Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with engineering perceptual computing systems that includes user intent modeling are disclosed herewith. In embodiments, one or more storage medium may include instructions configured to enable a computing device to receive a usage model having a plurality of user event/behavior statistics, and to generate a plurality of traces of user events/behaviors over a period of time to form a workload. The generation may be based at least in part on the user event/behavior statistics. The workload may be for input into an emulator configured to emulate a perceptual computing system. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
US09152434B2

In one embodiment, a method is illustrated as rendering an application User Interface (UI) to be modified to reflect a use case, and initiating a guided procedure relating to the use of an elected privilege to modify the application UI. Further, in one embodiment, a method is illustrated as including displaying a configuration rule, the configuration rule used to govern a UI configuration, detecting a selection of the configuration rule as an elected privilege relating to modifying a UI element and a layout element, and storing the elected privilege. In some cases, the UI is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) UI.
US09152408B2

A program update device that is provided in a vehicle in which a battery can be charged from the outside and updates a software program used in the vehicle includes a charging time acquiring unit that acquires the charging time of the battery, an update time acquiring unit that acquires the time required to rewrite the program, a comparison unit that compares the charging time acquired by the charging time acquiring unit and the program rewrite time acquired by the update time acquiring unit, and an update unit that rewrites the program on the basis of the comparison result of the comparison unit. According to this structure, it is possible to appropriately determine a program which can be updated within the battery charging time and reliably update the program while the vehicle is being charged.
US09152396B2

Techniques for managing user interface (UI) building blocks (UIBB) include presenting, by a form repeater UIBB, initial UI representations of structured entities through a graphical user interface (GUI), each initial UI representation including one or more fields; receiving a trigger from a user through the form repeater UIBB; determining, based on the trigger, an event condition; and based on the event condition, replacing, by a substitute UIBB, an initial UI representation of a particular structured entity of the initial UI representations of the structured entities with a substitute UI representation of the particular structured entity.
US09152394B2

An application model build processor generates one or more application model build artifacts based on an application model. In one example, a method includes receiving inputs identifying application model subsets and audiences, and associating application model subsets with the audiences. The method further includes receiving inputs identifying semantic constructs of the application model with the application model subsets. The method further includes generating application model build artifacts based on the application model and defined subsets. The method further includes generating documentation topics for semantic constructs in the application model based on the semantic construct, the subsets to which it belongs, the audiences associated with those subsets, and other semantic constructs in those subsets.
US09152382B2

In an embodiment, a fused multiply-add (FMA) circuit is configured to receive a plurality of input data values to perform an FMA instruction on the input data values. The circuit includes a multiplier unit and an adder unit coupled to an output of the multiplier unit, and a control logic to receive the input data values and to reduce switching activity and thus reduce power consumption of one or more components of the circuit based on a value of one or more of the input data values. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09152375B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a technician to access a systems interface to back-end legacy systems by voice input commands to a speech recognition module. Generally, a user logs a computer into a systems interface which permits access to back-end legacy systems. Preferably, the systems interface includes a first server with middleware for managing the protocol interface. Preferably, the systems interface includes a second server for receiving requests and generating legacy transactions. After the computer is logged-on, a request for voice input is made. A speech recognition module is launched or otherwise activated. The user inputs voice commands that are processed to convert them to commands and text that can be recognized by the client software. The client software formats the requests and forwards them to the systems interface in order to retrieve the requested information.
US09152362B2

Systems and methods for managing print jobs associated with multiple customers. Customer-editable design templates for printed products and design software tools enabling creation by customers of custom print product designs are provided, via a network, to multiple customers operating corresponding electronic devices. Individual print jobs corresponding to custom print product designs created by multiple different customers via the electronic devices are received and automatically aggregated into an aggregate print job comprising individual print jobs from different customers. The aggregated individual print jobs in the aggregate print job are printed simultaneously on one or more units of a shared substrate when the aggregate print job is printed.
US09152354B2

A method for printing a coded document includes receiving a print job, generating a document-file identifier, storing a document-file table entry into a document-file table, and printing a coded document. The document-file table entry includes the document-file identifier and the original document-file path. The coded document includes the received document-file data and the generated document-file identifier. A method for scanning a coded document includes receiving scan-document data indicative of a coded document, extracting the document-file identifier from the scan-document data, and searching a plurality of document-file table entries for the scanned document-file identifier. Each of the plurality of document-file table entries includes an entry document-file identifier and an entry document-file path, and may also include a table entry lifetime and/or a plurality of document-file variations. A pull-copy system includes an image forming apparatus, a storage unit, and a processor. The processor may perform the methods for printing and scanning a coded document.
US09152352B1

A method of an aspect includes receiving a request to move between filemarks at a network interface. A filemark cache is accessed with an offset into an open virtual tape file based on the received request. A determination is made that the offset is in the filemark cache. Filemark metadata corresponding to the offset is read from the filemark cache. The filemark cache is separate from the open virtual tape file. Other methods, apparatus, and articles are also disclosed.
US09152350B2

According to an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a controller and a second storage unit. The controller is configured to control a write process of writing data into a first storage unit in which data supplied from a host device are stored or a read process of reading the data stored in the first storage in response to a request from the host device. The second storage unit is temporarily used in the write process or the read process. The second storage unit includes a nonvolatile third storage unit having an area for storing a duplicate of the data to be written by the write process; and a nonvolatile fourth storage unit having a work area for the write process or the read process and having a higher read/write speed than the third storage unit.
US09152348B2

A data transmitting method for a memory controller is provided. A host system executes threads to transmit commands through a human interface device (HID) interface. The method includes: receiving a command packet from the host system; executing an operation corresponding to a command according to the command packet to generate responding data, which is divided into at least one responding data packet by the memory controller; transmitting a responding packet and the responding data packet to the host system by the memory controller; determining if one of the at least one responding data packet is lost according to the responding packet by the host system; if a responding data packet is lost, transmitting a retransmitting packet to the memory controller by the host system to request the memory controller to retransmit the lost responding data packet. Accordingly, the data transmission amount is improved, and the integrity of data is ensured.
US09152342B1

In one example, a method for writing data includes receiving a write request that includes one or more data blocks, and has an offset and an end. Next, a data structure is examined and an offset of a leading data block residing in the data structure is identified. The last position of the leading data block is then calculated. If the last position of the leading data block is less than the offset of the write request, the one or more data blocks of the write request are stored in the data structure. Alternatively, if the last position of the leading data block is equal to or greater than the offset of the write request, then the one or more data blocks of the write request are merged with the leading data block to produce a merged, defragmented data block, which is then stored in the data structure.
US09152334B2

Remote office deduplication comprises calculating one or more fingerprints of one or more data blocks, sending the one or more fingerprints to one or more backup servers via a network interface, receiving from the one or more backup servers an indication of which one or more data blocks corresponding to the one or more fingerprints should be sent to the one or more backup servers, and if the indication indicates one or more data blocks to be sent to the one or more backup servers, sending the one or more data blocks to the one or more backup servers via the network interface.
US09152333B1

Techniques for a method of estimating deduplication potential are disclosed herein. The method includes steps of selecting randomly a plurality of data blocks from a data set as a sample of the data set, collecting fingerprints of the plurality of data blocks of the sample, identifying duplicates of fingerprints of the sample from the fingerprints of the plurality of data blocks, estimating a total number of unique fingerprints of the data set depending on a total number of the duplicates of fingerprints of the sample based on a probability of fingerprints from the data set colliding in the sample, and determining a total number of duplicates of fingerprints of the data set depending on the total number of the unique fingerprints of the data set.
US09152329B2

An information processing device includes: a calculator that calculates the number of pages used for storing management information in a first storage medium; a storage processor that sets pages corresponding to the calculated number of pages as free pages and stores the management information in the set free pages to thereby store the management information in the first storage medium; and an update processor that performs a process of updating position management information that indicates a storage position of the management information in the first storage medium. The information processing device can quickly write out logs on a memory.
US09152328B2

Methods and structure for automatic creation of Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) volumes are provided. The system comprises A RAID controller that includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores information describing storage devices of a storage system. The processor is able to receive a request to generate a RAID volume, to access the memory to identify a first group of storage devices that each have a first storage capacity, and to determine an expected size of a volume implemented by the first group. The processor is further able to access the memory to identify a second group of storage devices that each have a second storage capacity, to determine an expected size of a volume implemented by the first group and the second group, and to select one or more of the groups to create the requested volume based on the expected sizes.
US09152323B2

A virtual keyboard providing an indication of received input and method of controlling the same is provided. The method comprises receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard displayed on a display, and highlighting a key in the virtual keyboard which corresponds to the input character when the input character belongs to a current set of characters which is incomplete.
US09152322B2

A method of Webpage navigation can include a computer device loading a Webpage having at least a first portion and a second portion, arranging the Webpage in order to present the first portion in the display area of the computer device and to place the second portion out of the display area, and presenting a navigation map corresponding to the Webpage in the display area. In response to a control command input with respect to the navigation map, the Webpage can be arranged in order to present the second portion in the display area.
US09152311B2

An automated method and apparatus for providing color selection capability to a user wherein a first display is generated on a display apparatus of an array of color family groups disposed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Upon selection of a particular color family group, a second display is generated comprising an enlarged display of a particular selected color family group and a reduced size miniature version of the array of color family groups. A third display may further be generated in response to selection of a color chip on the second display during which generation a color chip selected on the second display is caused to appear in an enlarged form in the third display.
US09152302B2

A method to obtain a cloud-stored virtual desktop includes a set of user preferences, applications and shortcuts to files that a user desires to access. The method includes (A) transferring from a client device to a cloud broker a virtual desktop request comprising a user identification and a client device type identification; (B) passing the virtual desktop request to a cloud desktop agent responsible for maintenance of virtual desktops and virtual desktop metadata in the cloud storage system; (C) selecting by the cloud desktop agent a list of available virtual desktops for the user and the client device type based on a comparison with the virtual desktop metadata; (D) transferring the list of available virtual desktops to the cloud broker; and (E) forwarding the list of available virtual desktops from the cloud broker to the client device to enable the user to select a virtual desktop to be opened.
US09152289B2

An installation structure of electronic paper and a resistive film type touch panel, includes electronic paper, a resistive film type touch panel disposed on a back surface side of the electronic paper, and a multitude of protrusions that are disposed between the electronic paper and the resistive film type touch panel, and that are fixed to at least one of the electronic paper and the resistive film type touch panel.
US09152281B2

In one aspect, a method of manufacturing a touch screen panel including forming sensing electrodes for touch sensing on a substrate; forming metal patterns for electrical connection of the sensing electrodes on the sensing electrodes; forming a first protective layer including any one of silicon nitride (SiN) and silicon oxide (SiO) on the metal patterns; and forming a second protective layer including the other of the silicon nitride (SiN) and the silicon oxide (SiO) on the first protective layer is provided.
US09152274B2

An optical touch panel apparatus for detecting a position of a light blocking object on a flat panel 2 includes a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements arranged along a side of the rectangular flat panel 2. The optical touch panel apparatus sets a peripheral area on the flat panel 2, and performs position detection in an area other than the peripheral area while not performing position detection within the peripheral area. The peripheral area is an area proximal to the light emitting elements or light receiving elements, in which resolution for position detection is deteriorated and unsatisfactory light blocking is likely to occur. By limiting the area for which position detection is performed to the area other than the peripheral area, deterioration in resolution for position detection and occurrence of unsatisfactory light blocking can be prevented, making it possible to stably perform position detection.
US09152268B2

A device and method are provided for increasing touch screen response.
US09152262B2

A touch sensor integrated type display device includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines which are formed to cross over each other; a plurality of pixel electrodes respectively formed in areas defined by crossings of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines; a plurality of first electrodes, each of which is formed between the pixel electrodes and in parallel with the gate line, the pixel electrodes being adjacent to each other with the gate line interposed therebetween; a plurality of second electrodes formed in parallel with the data lines, at least a portion of each of the plurality of second electrodes overlapping the pixel electrode; and a shielding electrode formed between each first electrode and each second electrode.
US09152256B2

A touch screen and a method for manufacturing the touch screen are provided. The touch screen can include: an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film deposited on the upper surface of a flexible plastic film; a primary metal layer deposited on the ITO film; and a secondary metal film plated on the primary metal layer. The touch screen is durable and has excellent sensitivity.
US09152253B2

The present invention discloses a remote control method, apparatus, and display apparatus. Said remote control method is applied in a remote control apparatus for remotely controlling display of one or more signal sources in a display screen of a display apparatus. Said method comprises: determining a layout control image, one or more windows being comprised in said layout control image; generating layout control information according to the layout of said one or more windows in said layout control image; and sending said layout control information to said display apparatus, so that said display apparatus sets correspondingly the layout of said one or more signal sources in the display screen of said display apparatus according to the layout of said one or more windows in said layout control image. Therefore, a user can implement flexible control operations of display configuration in a visual manner, and the user experience can be improved.
US09152248B1

Techniques for selecting a portion of a 3D virtual environment are disclosed, where the portion of the 3D virtual environment may be one or more objects in the 3D virtual environment or one of scenes in the 3D virtual environment. A motion sensitive device (controller) is used. The controller generates sensor data sufficient to derive position and orientation of the controller in six degrees of freedom. In one embodiment, when selecting the portion of the 3D virtual environment, the controller generates a ray to an interaction of a display screen provided to display the 3D virtual environment, wherein the ray is further projected into the 3D virtual environment by a ray tracing technique as if the user had a real laser pointer that crosses from the physical world into the 3D virtual environment being displayed. Further a user is optionally to use a secondary input device to select one or more points or objects in a 3D space to control a distance along the ray being used.
US09152245B2

The embodiments of the present invention disclose a rolling type input apparatus, a method for setting sensitivity thereof and electronic equipment. The method comprises: detecting a rolling direction and the rolling distance of a rolling device (1) in the rolling process of the rolling device (1) and generating corresponding interrupts; identifying the number and the direction of the interrupts; responding to the interrupts once by transmitting a moving event signal (10) for controlling a cursor (80) to move on a screen (8) when the number of the interrupts in the same direction reaches a threshold value; detecting parameters reflecting the speed and the amplitude of operations of a user for rolling the rolling device (1); and setting the threshold value according to the detected parameters. The technical solution can improve the automation degree of the rolling type input apparatus.
US09152237B1

A circuit having a core circuit for sinking a first current from a first internal power supply node; a power bouncing reduction circuit for receiving power from a second internal power supply node and sourcing a second current to the first internal power supply node in accordance with a comparison between a voltage at the first internal power supply node and a low-pass filtered voltage of the first internal power supply node; and a package for coupling the first internal power supply node and the second internal power supply node to a first external power supply node and a second external power supply node, respectively.
US09152235B2

A new user interface and display system for a video display device with a touch screen makes it possible to peek at, that is view briefly, a selected video content while watching other content. During a video peek, video from a second video source will be seen to partially displace and temporarily replace a portion of a video presently being viewed. Selection of the other video sources can be controlled, for example, by swiping with one, two, three or four finger tips and by swiping inwardly from any one of the four edges of a video display. Moreover, the video presently being viewed can be interchanged with the video being peeked at.
US09152212B2

There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode.
US09152209B2

A method and apparatus for controlling an operation mode in a mobile terminal provides the mobile terminal to determine whether a predetermined time has elapsed, after a lapse of which it enters a first power-saving mode, and drive a camera module if the predetermined time has elapsed. Meanwhile, the mobile terminal determines whether a predetermined subject is recognized by the camera module, and then delays changing to the first power-saving mode if the predetermined subject is recognized, and enters the first power-saving mode if the predetermined subject is not recognized.
US09152205B2

A mechanism is described for facilitating faster suspend/resume operations in computing systems according to one embodiment of the invention. A method of embodiments of the invention includes initiating an entrance process into a first sleep state in response to a sleep call at a computing system, transforming from the first sleep state to a second sleep state. The transforming may include preserving at least a portion of processor context at a local memory associated with one or more processor cores of a processor at the computing system. The method may further include entering the second sleep state.
US09152201B2

Apparatus and methods for reducing power consumption of a data transfer interface in a computer system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for reducing power consumption of a data transfer interface between a first device and a second device, includes, identifying a free interval between a first data and a second data, disabling the data transfer interface during the free interval, enabling the data transfer interface at the end of the free interval, and transmitting the second data. The method may also include a step of notifying the second device that the data transfer interface is being temporarily disabled. Another embodiment, for example, includes the transfer of display data (or video frames) over an interface, such as, a DisplayPort interface, between a graphics controller device and a timing controller device in a computer system.
US09152192B2

Apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed for a power supply adapted to receive power from an outlet, the power input having a property, such as amperage, frequency or voltage. An indicator is provided on the connector to the power cord to indicate a value for the property to the power supply, wherein the power supply adapts to the value for the property. By providing an indication of the property the system is capable of reducing functionality to meet the capabilities of the power supply. A power cord may be provided with a male plug at one end capable of being inserted into a socket with a minimum value for a property, and the other end of the power cord may have a connector with an indicator to identify the minimum value for the power cord.
US09152190B2

In one embodiment a housing for an electronic device comprises a first section, a second section, and a collapsible chimney coupled to the first section and the second section to provide an airflow path from a portion of the first section. Other embodiments may be described.
US09152188B2

An attachment mechanism for fastening an expansion card includes a bracket and a bar. The bracket is fastened to a first end of the expansion card. The bar abuts a side of the expansion card adjoining the first end, and is fastened to both of the first end of the expansion card and a second end of the expansion card opposite to the first end.
US09152187B2

A docking station includes a docking body and a hinge structure. The docking body includes a casing having an articulated portion and an operation interface disposed at the casing. The hinge structure is connected with the docking body vertiginously and includes a hinge assembly and a pivot portion. The hinge assembly includes a pivot, a fixed rack, a rotating rack, a first positioning cam set and a second positioning cam set. The pivot is connected with the pivot portion, while the pivot portion is articulated with the articulated portion. One end of the pivot is connected with the fixed rack. The fixed rack is connected with the docking body. The rotating rack is rotatable relative to the fixed rack and has a first spacing angle by the first positioning cam set and a second spacing angle by the second positioning cam set.
US09152181B2

An apparatus for mounting in a secure manner a stylus pen in an information device, in which there are a casing and the stylus pen. A guide unit having an inlet and an outlet is configured to have an opened top at the inlet and a closed bottom at the outlet, extended along a length direction of the casing, for accommodating the stylus pen.
US09152179B2

Methods and devices for controlling the displayed output associated with applications in connection with a multiple screen device are provided. More particularly, an application presented by the device in a dual portrait orientation can utilize the first screen to display control information, and can utilize the second screen to display content information. An application presented by the device in a dual landscape orientation can utilize both the first screen and the second screen to display content information.
US09152172B1

A multi-positionable computer comprises a user interface portion and a processing portion. The user interface portion includes a path along its back surface. The user interface portion can include a slot for receiving computer peripherals. The processing portion includes a connecting member for slidably coupling the processing portion to the user interface portion, and a rolling surface for contacting an external surface. The processing portion allows the user interface portion to be oriented in one of a plurality of positions along the path. In one orientation of the user interface portion, content is automatically displayed to align with the orientation of the user interface portion. In some embodiments, a virtual keyboard is displayed when the user interface portion is oriented in a predetermined position. The processing portion includes sides adjacent to the rolling surface. In some embodiments, ports and/or connections are accessible from at least one of the sides.
US09152158B2

A linear regulator integrated circuit may be formed having four external terminals including a voltage input (Vin) terminal, a voltage output (Vout) terminal, a Set terminal, and an operational amplifier (op amp) power terminal. A user connects an external resistor to the Set terminal for creating a reference voltage. An op amp controls a pass (or series transistor) to cause an output voltage at the Vout terminal to equal the reference voltage. The op amp has a first power supply terminal internally coupled to the Vin terminal and a second power supply terminal coupled to the op amp power terminal. The op amp power terminal allows a user to externally couple the op amp second power supply terminal to either the Vout pin (for high voltage applications), system ground (for medium voltage applications), or another voltage (to provide additional headroom in very low voltage applications).
US09152147B2

A method for transportation of material includes operating a material transportation vehicle according to a material transportation plan. The plan includes a representation of one or more regions within a geographical area, each of the regions being associated with a group of one or more communication stations and a representation of a route of travel within the geographical area. The route of travel traverses a first region of the one or more regions within the geographical area. The operating includes causing the vehicle to travel along the route of travel including causing the vehicle to enter the first region, accepting control information originating from a first communication station of the communication stations associated with the first region, the first communication station being authorized to control a material transportation resource of the vehicle in the first region, and causing an exchange of the material according to the accepted control information.
US09152144B2

In a distributed directory configuration, different nodes can retain information pertinent an industrial control configuration. As information changes in one node, replicas of the information in other nodes can be updated. However, updating can take time and a query can be run upon the directory while nodes have conflicting information. Conflicting information can be identified and resolved such that a query obtains a correct answer.
US09152141B2

A disclosed example method for generating control data for the formation of a tooth flank by milling a workpiece on a numerically controlled machine tool with at least 5 axes, at a universal machine tool, through successive passes with a milling cutter on the machine tool based on generated control data involves defining a geometry of a tooth flank, determining a contact pattern area on the predefined tooth flank geometry, determining parameters to vary the predefined tooth flank geometry, and generating control data on the basis of tooth flank geometry modified based on the defined contact pattern area and of the defined parameters.
US09152140B2

A change monitor as part of an online editor of a sequential function chart (SFC) programming environment monitors edits to a control routine. The change monitor provides warning to users before taking actions that would result in a reset of the control routine currently being executed by an industrial controller. The change manager reduces or eliminates many situations that would otherwise result in a reset as well by instructing online editor as to what language elements need to be assembled to implement the change. The change monitor also filters the manner in which reset warnings are given to reduce unnecessary distractions.
US09152128B2

Escapement mechanism (3) for a watch movement including a pallet lever (7) with a fork (13) and a roller device (4) with an impulse-pin coupled to a balance (2). The fork includes an entry horn (19) and an exit horn (21), the impulse-pin including a first cam portion (12a, 12b) configured to engage the entry horn, and a second cam portion (14a, 14b) configured to engage the exit horn. The first cam portion includes a first cam surface (12a) configured to engage the entry horn on a first level (10a, 10b), and the second cam portion includes a second cam surface (14b) configured to engage the exit horn on a second level (10b, 13b), the first and second levels being staggered in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the roller device.
US09152125B2

An image forming unit includes a first unit and a second unit. The first unit includes a first engagement portion and a rotatably supported image bearing body. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the image bearing body. A second unit includes a second engagement portion and a rotatably supported developer material bearing body. The developer bearing body develops the electrostatic latent image with a developer material into a developer image. The second unit is coupled to the first unit such that the first engagement portion engages the second engagement portion. A plurality of urging members that are mounted in a vicinity of one end of an axis of rotation of developer material bearing body, and urge the first unit and the second unit in directions such that the image bearing body and the developer material bearing body are urged against each other.
US09152120B2

Provided is a cleaning blade for cleaning a surface of an image holding member, including a contact member that contacts the surface of the image holding member at a corner portion of a tip end of the cleaning blade, wherein, when the position of the corner portion in a state where the image holding member is stopped is set to be a standard, a movement distance of the cleaning blade to the position of the corner portion in a state where the image holding member is driven is from 10 μm to 30 μm.
US09152113B2

An image forming apparatus including a first memory unit configured to store screen transition information in which a screen transition of applications is described in a hierarchical structure; a second memory unit configured to store conditional information in which UIs for previous screens and posterior screens are associated for each screen; a display unit configured to display the screen transition in the hierarchical form based on the screen transition information; and a customization control unit configured to control customization based on the conditional information corresponding to a screen to be customized and update the screen transition information when the screen transition displayed in the display unit is customized.
US09152108B2

A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. An opposed rotary body is pressed against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A belt holder contacts and supports each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. The belt holder is isolated from the opposed rotary body with a first interval interposed therebetween in the axial direction of the endless belt.
US09152107B2

Embodiments in accordance with the current invention encompass a fixing device that includes an endless heat generating section including a conductive layer, a magnetic-flux generating section configured to generate a magnetic flux and generate an induction current in the conduction layer, a first magnetic-flux regulating section having a first magnetic flux concentration force and configured to regulate the magnetic flux of the magnetic flux generating section, a second magnetic-flux regulating section arranged adjacent to the first magnetic-flux regulating section, having a second magnetic flux concentration force larger than the first magnetic flux concentration force, and configured to regulate the magnetic flux of the magnetic-flux generating section, and an auxiliary heat generating section including a magnetic body arranged in a position opposed to the magnetic-flux generating section via the heat generating section, the position being a region extending across the first magnetic-flux regulating section and the second magnetic-flux regulating section.
US09152103B2

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, a temperature sensor, a storage unit, a drive-frequency initial setting unit, a power measuring unit, and a drive-frequency adjusting unit. The fixing unit is configured to perform induction heating using a coil unit. The drive-frequency initial setting unit is configured to establish an initial-setting value for a drive frequency of the coil unit based on the temperature-frequency relationship information stored in the storage unit and on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor immediately before a power activation of the fixing unit. The power measuring unit is configured to measure power consumption of the fixing unit at the drive frequency established by the drive-frequency initial setting unit. The drive-frequency adjusting unit is configured to adjust the drive frequency of the coil unit based on the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit.
US09152094B2

A transfer assist blade including a plurality of layers, one of the layers being a check film layer including a thermoplastic layer and a plurality of nanodiamonds.
US09152089B1

A developer unit according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing a developer mix that includes toner and magnetic carrier beads. A magnetic roll includes a stationary core and a sleeve positioned around the core that is rotatable relative to the core. The stationary core includes at least one permanent magnet having circumferentially spaced magnetic poles. At least one external shunt is composed of a magnetically permeable metal and is positioned at each axial end of the magnetic roll axially outboard of the core and in close proximity to the outer surface of the sleeve along a first circumferential portion of the core. At least one internal shunt is positioned at each axial end of the core inside of the sleeve. Each internal shunt has a shunt portion composed of a magnetically permeable metal and positioned along a second circumferential portion of the core.
US09152088B1

Provided is a developer replenishing cartridge excellent in accuracy with which an image forming apparatus is replenished with a developer irrespective of a use environment even when the developer is in a consolidated state. The developer replenishing cartridge includes: a developer replenishing container and a developer, being removably mountable to a developer replenishing apparatus; in which: the developer replenishing container includes a pump portion that operates so that a state where the internal pressure of a developer containing portion is lower than the atmospheric pressure and a state where the pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure alternately repeatedly switch with each other; and the developer contains toner having a uniaxial collapse stress at a maximum consolidation stress of 10.0 kPa, of 2.5 kPa or more and 3.5 kPa or less.
US09152087B2

A toner transportation device according to the present disclosure includes a transportation screw that has a rotational shaft and a transportation fin formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotational shaft and a toner transportation pipe that has a circular shape in cross section. The transportation screw is rotatably positioned in the toner transportation pipe. A support member is attached to the rotational shaft that has a bearing portion having an annular shape and rotatably fitted onto the rotational shaft and that has a plurality of leg portions radially protruding outward from an outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion. A distance between an axis of the rotational shaft and a tip of each leg portion is greater than a radius of the transportation fin and equal to or less than a radius of an inner circumferential surface of the toner transportation pipe.
US09152086B2

Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus are provided capable of reducing rotation torque on startup even if a toner is solidified. The toner cartridge includes a toner stirring member having a rotating shaft and a stirring blade; a toner discharge member having a spiral-shaped conveyance blade attached to a conveyance shaft; a second gear having a bearing projection protruding radially inwardly from an inner peripheral surface of an annular base part, which is rotatably supported in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft; an abutment member protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, against which the bearing projection abuts under rotation of the second gear; first and third gears for transmitting rotation of the second gear to the conveyance shaft; and a rotationally driving section for imparting a rotating force to the second gear.
US09152085B2

A developing device includes a first agitating member and a second agitating member. Each of the first and second agitating members includes a screw having a helical portion formed helically so as to define a hollow portion, and a plurality of ribs formed on the helical portion in the longitudinal direction of the screw. On at least one of the first and second agitating members, there is disposed a paddle opposed to the communicating portion on a downstream side in a transport direction of the developing powder. The paddle has a flat surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a width of a distal end of the paddle is smaller than a width of a proximal end of the paddle disposed to the agitating member in a plan view.
US09152075B2

An image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a body provided with an opening at one side thereof, a developing tray movably installed at the opening, a plurality of developing units mounted to the developing tray, and a pair of frames forming opposite inner sides of the body. The frames are provided with a plurality of seating grooves to support lower ends of the developing units such that the developing units are supported by the frames, and therefore the positions of the photosensitive bodies of the developing units with respect to other constituents supported by the frames may be accurately regulated.
US09152065B2

A magnetic toner includes: magnetic toner particles containing a binder resin and a magnetic body; and inorganic fine particles that are present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles and are not a magnetic iron oxide and magnetic iron oxide particles that are present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles, wherein the inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles contain metal oxide fine particles, the metal oxide fine particles containing silica fine particles, and optionally containing titania fine particles and alumina fine particles, and a content of the silica fine particles being at least 85 mass % with respect to a total mass of the silica fine particles, the titania fine particles and the alumina fine particles; when a coverage ratio A (%) is a coverage ratio of the magnetic toner particles' surface by the inorganic fine particles and a coverage ratio B (%) is a coverage ratio of the magnetic toner particles' surface by the inorganic fine particles that are fixed to the magnetic toner particles' surface, the coverage ratio A and B/A satisfy prescribed ranges; and the magnetic iron oxide particles present on the magnetic toner particles' surface are from at least 0.10 mass % to not more than 5.00 mass % with respect to the total amount of the magnetic toner.
US09152059B2

An exposure apparatus and a fabrication method thereof include an obtaining unit configured to obtain data of a first imaging position at which light from a first pattern having, as a longitudinal direction thereof, a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of a projection optical system forms an image via the projection optical system, and data of a second imaging position at which light from a second pattern having, as a longitudinal direction thereof, a second direction which is not parallel to the first direction and is perpendicular to the optical axis forms an image via the projection optical system, when the first pattern and the second pattern are respectively placed on an object plane of the projection optical system, and a control unit configured to control a stage so that a substrate is positioned at a target position of the substrate along the optical axis.
US09152058B2

An exposure apparatus including a movable table, a member, movably separate from the table and located on a top surface of the table, to provide a surface substantially co-planar with a top surface of an object in or on the table, a projection system configured to project a radiation beam onto a radiation-sensitive target portion of a substrate, and a liquid supply system configured to provide a liquid to a space between the projection system and the object.
US09152053B2

According to one embodiment, a method of forming a pattern includes forming a monolayer on a substrate, selectively exposing the monolayer to an energy beam and selectively modifying exposed portions thereof to form patterns of exposed and unexposed portions, forming a block copolymer layer includes first and second block chains on the monolayer, and causing the block copolymer layer to be phase-separated to form patterns of the first and second block chains of the block copolymer layer based on the patterns of the exposed and unexposed portions of the monolayer.
US09152050B2

A polymer capable of increasing alkali solubility under the action of acid, as a base resin is blended with a polymer comprising recurring units derived from a styrene having 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol as a polymeric additive to formulate a resist composition. The photoresist film formed using the resist composition is effective for minimizing outgassing therefrom during the EUV lithography, reducing LWR after development, and suppressing formation of blob defects after development because of its hydrophilic surface.
US09152037B2

The present invention provides a pattern correction method of, when a plurality of pattern elements on a mask used to process a line pattern formed on a substrate are transferred to the substrate, performing proximity effect correction of each pattern element such that a transferred image obtains a dimension equal to a target dimension, comprising setting, based on a density of a pattern element in a peripheral region surrounding a pattern element of interest, a dimension of the pattern element whose transferred image formed under the density of the pattern element has a dimension equal to the target dimension as a reference value for the pattern element of interest, and calculating a dimension of transferred image of the pattern element of interest while changing around the reference value and determining the dimension of the pattern element of interest based on the calculation result.
US09152021B2

A light source device includes a light emitting element and a wavelength conversion device. The wavelength conversion device includes a stationary member, a moveable carrier made of a transparent material carrying one or more wavelength conversion materials and moveable relative to the stationary member, and a stationary first filter. The first filter is fixed on the stationary member and disposed adjacent the moveable carrier. The excitation light from the light emitting element passes through the first filter and illuminates the wavelength conversion materials on the moveable carrier. The wavelength conversion materials convert the excitation light into converted light as the output of the light source device. The size of the first filter is smaller than the size of the moveable carrier and smaller than a carrying area of the moveable carrier that carries the wavelength conversion material. A wavelength conversion method using the wavelength conversion device is also described.
US09152004B2

A first electro-optic display comprises first and second substrates, and an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material disposed between the first and second substrates, the adhesive layer comprising a mixture of a polymeric adhesive material and a hydroxyl containing polymer having a number average molecular weight not greater than about 5000. A second electro-optic display is similar to the first but has an adhesive layer comprising a thermally-activated cross-linking agent to reduce void growth when the display is subjected to temperature changes. A third electro-optic display, intended for writing with a stylus or similar instrument, is produced by forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode; depositing a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the electro-optic material; and polymerizing the polymerizable liquid material.
US09152001B2

One object of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic device having improved insulating film structure to reduce electrical leakage. The improved structure includes a lower conductive layer, upper transparent conductive layer, an electrochromic electrode layer, a counter electrode layer, and at least one ion-conductor layer sandwiched between the electrochromic electrode layer and the counter electrode layer. The lower transport conductive layer is scribed and the gap formed from the scribing is filled with the layer(s) formed above the lower conductive layer, such as the electrode layer formed directly above the lower conductive layer. The effective linewidth of the scribe is greater than the migration length of the lithium ions intercalated into the electrode layer, such that the electrode materials occupying the gap do not convert the electrode layer into an electrically conductive region.
US09151999B2

A liquid crystal display device having a uniform gap between a TFT substrate and a CF substrate even in cases where a sealant is to be applied to a slim frame formed on the outside of the effective display area is provided. A liquid crystal display device includes an effective display area, a color resist coated area, and a seal area which overlaps the color resist coated area and in which a sealant for sealing liquid crystal is provided, wherein the color resist coated area overlapping the seal area has slits formed therein.
US09151992B2

A color filter substrate includes a substrate in which a plurality of pixel areas are defined; a black matrix formed on the substrate, and having a plurality of openings in correspondence to the pixel areas; a color filter layer formed on the substrate, and including a red color filter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter that are sequentially arranged in a first direction in correspondence to the pixel areas; and a plurality of first column spacers and a plurality of second column spacers formed over the black matrix, and having different heights, wherein a height of each of the first column spacers is higher than a height of each of the second column spacers, and an arrangement density of the first column spacers is lower than an arrangement density of the second column spacers.
US09151988B2

Disclosed herein are a cyclic olefin compound, a photoreactive polymer, and an alignment layer comprising the photoreactive polymer, where the cyclic olefin compound can be used to provide the photoreactive polymer having not only excellences in liquid crystal alignment and alignment rate but also readiness for change in the alignment direction depending on the polarization direction.
US09151987B2

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device in which display defects and reduction in the voltage holding ratio are not likely to occur even without alignment films. That is, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates each substantially having no alignment film; a liquid crystal layer which is disposed between the pair of substrates and contains a liquid crystal material; and a polymer layer which is formed on a surface of at least one of the substrates and controls alignment of liquid crystal molecules, the polymer layer being formed by polymerization of one or more kinds of radical polymerizable monomers added to the liquid crystal layer, at least one kind of the radical polymerizable monomers being a compound generating radicals through a self-cleavage reaction by exposure to light and having at least two radical polymerizable groups.
US09151985B2

In one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first source line and a second source line extending in a first direction, a main pixel electrode arranged between the first source line and a second source line and extending in the first direction, and a pair of first main common electrodes arranged on the first source line and the second source line interposing an insulating layer and extending in the first direction, respectively. The second substrate includes a pair of second main common electrode arranged above the first main common electrode and extending in the first direction, and the first main common electrode is connected with the second main common electrode. A liquid crystal layer is held between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US09151982B2

A manufacturing system is provided with a supplying apparatus of a first sheet material supplying after cutting into a predetermined length, and a supplying apparatus of a second sheet material supplying after cutting into a predetermined length, and the supplying apparatus of the first sheet material and the supplying apparatus of the second sheet material are structured such that one supplying apparatus cuts a long sheet material having a width corresponding to a short side into a length corresponding to a long side, and the other supplying apparatus cuts a long sheet material having a width corresponding to the long side into a length corresponding to the short side, in correspondence to the long side and the short side of the optical display unit.
US09151978B2

A display device having an input function includes: a display panel; a touch panel disposed on a front side of the display panel; and a flexible substrate connected to the touch panel and bent toward a back side of the display panel, wherein the touch panel includes a first light-shielding film and a second light-shielding film at portions facing a part of the flexible substrate.
US09151970B2

A pixel structure having a first region and a second region adjacent to each other is provided. The pixel structure includes a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode. The first pixel electrode forms a plurality of first V-shaped electrode patterns. A tip of the first V-shaped electrode patterns is located at a boundary of the first region and the second region. The second pixel electrode includes a plurality of second V-shaped electrode patterns and a first protrusion electrode pattern. The first protrusion electrode pattern is connected to one of the second V-shaped electrode patterns and protrudes towards an adjacent first V-shaped electrode pattern from the tip of the second V-shaped electrode pattern.
US09151969B2

A color tunable substrate is disclosed. The color tunable substrate includes multiple layers. A color of the color tunable substrate can be tuned by altering or adjusting characteristics of the layers included in the color tunable substrate.
US09151968B2

Integrated optical waveguide interferometer for evanescent sensing of chemical and/or physical quantities, comprising a substrate carrying a waveguide layer structure provided with: —a first waveguide core layer sandwiched between two first cladding layers formed by a first lower and a first upper (6) cladding layer, of a lower refractive index than the first waveguide core layer, —a second waveguide core layer sandwiched between two second claddings layers formed by a second lower and a second upper (6) cladding layer, of a lower refractive index than the second waveguide core layer, —a splitter (2) and a combiner (5) for optically coupling said first and second waveguide core layers at first and second junctions, respectively, characterized by —a modulation section of a polymer cladding material (9) included in one of the first upper cladding layers (6) and/or included in one of the second upper cladding layers (6), the polymer cladding material covering an identifiable area of said first waveguide core layer and/or said second waveguide core layer between the first and second junctions, said polymer cladding material having an index of refraction between 1.46 and 2.5 that varies with temperature, thereby changing the phase of radiation propagating through said first and second waveguide core layers, means (10) for raising and lowering the temperature of said polymer cladding material (9).
US09151955B2

The invention provides a projection system and a light-homogenizing device adjustment element for adjusting the position of a light-homogenizing device. The light-homogenizing device adjustment element has an actuator, and the actuator leans against one side of the light-homogenizing device and has a plurality of curved surfaces with different radii of curvature. When the actuator rotates, different curved surfaces push the light-homogenizing device to cause the light-homogenizing device to move in at least one direction from an initial position.
US09151952B2

A display panel driving apparatus includes a user position data output part and a move control part. The user position data output part receives user image data and outputs user position data based on the user image data. The user image data is generated by photographing a user. The user position data is generated by mapping a position of the user to a display panel. The move control part compares a plurality of set area data with the user position data and outputs a move control signal based on the comparison of the user position data and the set area data. The set area data is set to the display panel. The move control signal controls a movement of the display panel.
US09151942B2

A microscope system including a stage on which a specimen is mounted and that can be moved in a direction that intersects with an optical axis of illumination light irradiated on the specimen; an observation optical system that acquires an image of the specimen on which the illumination light is irradiated; a viewing-range setting unit that sets a viewing range of the image acquired by the observation optical system and displayed on a display unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of the viewing range of the image, which is set by the viewing-range setting unit, relative to a maximum image-acquisition area that can be captured by the observation optical system; and a stage controller that controls a moving speed of the stage in accordance with the ratio calculated by the ratio calculating unit.
US09151941B2

A microscope device for inspecting structured objects, including: a camera; an optical imager capable of producing, on the camera, an image of the object according to a field of view, and including a distal lens arranged on the side of the object; and a low-coherence infrared interferometer including a measurement beam capable of producing measurements by means of interferences between retroreflections of the measurement beam and at least one separate optical reference. The device also includes coupler for injecting the measurement beam into the optical imaging means in such a way that the beam passes through the distal lens, and the low-coherence infrared interferometer is balanced in such a way that only the measurement beam retroreflections, taking place at optical distances close to the optical distance covered by the beam to the object, produce measurements.
US09151938B2

A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, first to fourth lens units having positive, negative, positive and positive refractive powers, respectively. The intervals between adjacent lens units vary during zooming. The first lens is disposed nearer to an object at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end. Each of the first lens unit to the fourth lens unit includes at least one negative lens. The lens total length Lt, the focal length ft, the mean value N2an of the refractive indices of materials of negative lenses of the second lens unit, the mean value NAan of the refractive indices of materials of the negative lenses included in the entire system, and the mean value NAap of the refractive indices of materials of the positive lenses included in the entire system are appropriately configured.
US09151937B2

An optical system which forms an optical image on an image pickup element, comprising in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, which includes a plurality of lenses, a stop, and a second lens unit which includes a plurality of lenses, wherein the first lens unit includes a first object-side lens which is disposed nearest to an object, and the second lens unit includes a second image-side lens which is disposed nearest to an image, and the first lens unit includes a negative lens, and a positive lens which is disposed on the object side of the negative lens, and the following conditional expressions are satisfied: β≦−1.1  (15) 0.08
US09151928B2

An assembling device includes: a base, a first pressing plate, a second pressing plate and an ejecting unit. The base defines an accommodating portion which includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface. The top surface defines a plurality of receiving grooves for receiving the moveable frames, the side surface defines a plurality of first through holes, the bottom surface defines a plurality of second through holes, the first through holes and the second through holes are communicated with the receiving grooves. The first pressing plate is configured for assembling a shaft on a first surface of the moveable frame. The second pressing plate is arranged on the side surface and being configured for assembling a magnet on a second surface of the moveable frame. The ejecting unit includes a plurality of ejectors, and configured for ejecting the movable frames in the receiving grooves.
US09151926B2

A lens mount for a strip lens is provided, in which the strip lens can be deformed substantially perpendicular to its optical axis, in order to linearize the imaging of a beam scanning over the strip lens. The lens mount includes a slotted distance strip, a support strip and a base plate. The support strip is rigidly connected to the strip lens via the distance strip that has only a very low bending stiffness and can be deformed relative to the base plate by means of adjusting screws, whereby the strip lens can be deformed. By inserting a distance strip, the installation space that is required for the lens mount is essentially moved away from the optical axis in order to provide, for example, installation space for adjacent optical or mechanical components.
US09151922B2

The invention relates to a cable support (6,7,8) for distribution boxes (1), in particular for FTTH environments, the cable support (6,7,8) comprising at least one cable passage (6d, 7d, 8d), the cable passage (6d,7d,8d) adapted to receive at least one cable (19). Further, the invention relates to a distribution box (1) for cable distribution arrangements, in particular for FTTH environments, comprising a housing (2) and a cable support (6,7,8), the cable support (6,7,8) comprising a plurality of cable passages (6d,7d,8d), each cable passage (6d,7d,8d) adapted to receive at least one cable (19). To facilitate the maintenance of distribution systems and the installation of additional cables, the cable support (6,7,8) is a stackable modular assembly of at least two segment blocks (6a,6b,6c,7a,7b,7c,8a,8b,8c), each of which form, at a respective end (31,32) thereof pointing in or against a stacking direction (S), a part of at least one cable passage (6d,7d,8d).
US09151920B2

A cable support device having a first portion at a back side thereof and a second portion at a front side opposite the back side of the cable support device, the first portion adapted to couple to a front side of a housing, and the second portion adapted to support a length of at least one cable extending along a direction of the front side of the cable support device, wherein the cable support device is transitionable between a first state and a second state, wherein, in the first state, the second portion extends at a first angle with respect to the front side of the housing, and in the second state, the second portion extends at a second angle with respect to the front side of the housing, the second angle being different from the first angle.
US09151919B2

A fire resistant optical cable includes: a plurality of optical fibers; at least one tubular layer of a ceramifiable material surrounding the plurality of optical fibers; and at least one flame shielding layer surrounding the tubular layer. The tubular layer of the ceramifiable material is able to mechanically protect the optical fibers not only during heating but also when the fire is extinguished, since it forms a sufficiently robust layer to withstand the mechanical stresses caused by the collapsing of the materials still surrounding the cable, especially in the transition portions between hot and cold zones. The tubular layer of the ceramifiable material is protected by means of at least one flame shielding layer which prevents the flames from directly acting on the ceramifiable material.
US09151916B2

A device structure and system for connecting optical waveguides to optical transmit and receive components is described. The structure is made of two parts. The lower part contains active optoelectronic components, such as lasers and photodetectors, and optical lenses. The lower part can be assembled by steps of aligning and bonding planar components. The upper part contains optical waveguides and lenses for coupling light into and out of the waveguides. The top part is mechanically connected to the lower part to form a mechanically sound connection. The lens system provides some tolerance to mis-alignment between the top and bottom parts. The system has features that enable fiber optic components to operate and survive in harsh environments, particularly large temperature extremes.
US09151914B2

An optical communication system includes a transceiver with a light source, a transition lens and an optical medium. Each of the light source, the transition lens and the optical medium define a corresponding axis. The light source defines a normal launch axis. The transition lens defines an optical axis. The optical medium defines a longitudinal axis. A relative misalignment from a coaxial alignment of the corresponding axes of at least one the light source, the transition lens and the optical medium is used to reduce a back reflection incident at the light source. Such misalignments can be achieved by one or both of angular adjustments and offsets of the axes.
US09151906B2

A ferrule fixing member for fixing a ferrule to a holding member with a holding hole into which the ferrule is inserted. The ferrule fixing member includes a first plate part and a second plate part configured to face each other while sandwiching an resilient member arranged on an outer periphery of the ferrule in a radial direction thereof, a pressing part configured to press the resilient member such that the ferrule is pressed against a bottom side of the holding hole by a resilient force of the resilient member, a locked part configured to be engaged with a locking part formed in the holding member, and an extending part configured to extend from the second plate part to the locked part. The locking of the locked part and the locking part is released by moving the first plate part and the second plate part close to each other.
US09151902B2

A wavelength selective switch includes a light input and output part in which light input/output ports are arranged in a predetermined direction, the light input/output ports including a first port for inputting light, a second port for outputting the light, and at least one third port for inputting or outputting the light, a wavelength dispersive element optically coupled to the light input and output part, and a phase modulation element which includes a plurality of pixels performing phase modulation and diffractively deflects an optical path of the light arriving from the first port via the wavelength dispersive element by presenting a diffraction-grating-shaped phase modulation pattern, and the light input/output ports are arranged so that a 1st order light of the light is incident on the second port, and the first port and the third port are spaced from an optical axis of a −1st order light of the light.
US09151895B2

Thermal removal of optical fiber coatings by insertion through heated ferrules to form ferrule assemblies for fiber optic connectors, and related assemblies are disclosed. An optical fiber includes a glass fiber, having a cladding and core, surrounded by a protective coating. By removing the coating at an end portion of the optical fiber, the end portion may be precisely positioned and secured within a ferrule to enable reliable optical communications. The coating may be thermally removed, or substantially thermally removed, by inserting the optical fiber through a rear opening of the ferrule which has been heated above a temperature sufficient to change the coating to a non-solid state. In this manner, the coating may be efficiently removed from the end portion of the optical fiber while being inserted into the ferrule bore of the ferrule to enable efficient forming of a ferrule assembly for a fiber optic connector.
US09151893B2

A radiation-emitting semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body. The semiconductor body has a semiconductor layer sequence having an active region provided for generating radiation. The semiconductor component has a waveguide, which is provided for laterally guiding the radiation generated in the active region and which extends between a mirror surface and a coupling-out surface. The waveguide meets the mirror surface perpendicularly and forms an acute angle with a normal to the coupling-out surface.
US09151888B2

An optical waveguide including a first cladding layer; a core layer, including first and second core sections with cladding sections on sides thereof in the in-layer direction; and a second cladding layer. A refractive index distribution in the in-layer direction in the core layer, from the first core section to an adjacent cladding section, has a continuous change and a region with a first peak, a first dip, and a second peak in this order; the first peak at a position of the first core section, the second peak with a maximum value of refractive index smaller than of the first peak, at a position of the cladding section, and a portion, from the first cladding layer to the first core section, corresponded to a refractive index distribution in the layer-stacking direction, discontinuously changing at the boundary between the first cladding layer and first core section.
US09151881B2

Spectral Purity Filters, or SPFs, are disclosed. Such SPFs are designed to block out the 1030 nm drive laser and other undesired out of band light in a EUV mask inspection system. Different phase grating configurations for near normal incidence and grazing incidence are provided in the present disclosure and are configured specifically for EUV mask inspection.
US09151878B2

An optical mold including a spacer cavity portion, a lens cavity portion and a flow stop control portion for allowing optical lens material to flow between the spacer cavity portion and the lens cavity portion and an optical lens array formed therefrom. The optical mold may further include a pedestal located within the spacer cavity portion for supporting the mold during a puddle dispensing process. A method for using the optical mold including the spacer cavity portion, the lens cavity portion, and the flow cavity portion, and optionally the pedestal.
US09151870B2

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an optical film having a large phase difference value, small moisture-induced fluctuation in the phase difference value, small photoelastic coefficient and excellent bondability with a polarizer. The optical film includes a cellulose ester (A) which satisfy formulae (1) and (2) below and a vinyl-based polymer (B). A content ratio of the cellulose ester (A) and the vinyl-based polymer (B) is from 95:5 to 50:50 by mass, the vinyl-based polymer (B) is composed of a non-aromatic vinyl-based monomer having a solubility parameter of 17.5 (MPa1/2) or larger and smaller than 20.0 (MPa1/2) and a weight average molecular weight of the vinyl-based polymer (B) is from 500 to 10,000: where 1.0≦X+ΣYi<2.0  formula (1) 4.0≦2×X+Σ(ni×Yi)<6.0.  formula (2)
US09151866B2

A multi-channel downhole telemetry system for enabling communication in a wellbore. The system includes a downhole transmitter operable to optically transmit a first data stream on a first optical channel and a second data stream on a second optical channel. A downhole receiver is operable to receive the first data stream and the second data stream. An optically transmissive fluid disposed in the wellbore provides a medium for the optical transmission of the first data stream and the second data stream between the downhole transmitter and the downhole receiver. The optically transmissive fluid contains suspended solids having refraction surfaces that scatter the optically transmitted data streams in the wellbore.
US09151857B2

A system for seismic exploration of a submerged sub-surface comprises a plurality of bases (4) located at predetermined seabed positions, each base comprising an elongate stem penetrating the seabed, at least a seismic sensor (10, 12) within said stem, a radially extending support zone (19) connected to the upper end of the stem, said upper end projecting from the seabed, and a respective plurality of modules (6) each incorporating a data storage unit and a power source, each module being mechanically and electrically connected to the upper end of said stem, said module being capable of being connected to, and disconnected from, the base by an underwater vehicle.
US09151855B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a barrier detection system that includes a plurality of sensors that are coupled in series to a seismograph. The seismograph receives a signal from the sensors. The system includes a computer system including computer storage and a processor. The computer system is in communication with the seismograph so that the computer system receives signals from seismograph and stores them in the computer storage. The system can include an object detection system that can process the signals received by the computer system from the seismograph. The object detection system can select a first portion of the signal to analyze based a predetermined time interval, create a baseline value for the first portion, and select a plurality of peaks from the first portion. The object detection can also analyze an amplitude, frequency, and periodicity of the first portion to assess the origin of the signal.
US09151849B2

An optical fiber can include a polymer and a scintillation quencher. The optical fiber can be a member of a radiation sensor or radiation detecting system. The scintillation quencher can include a UV-absorber or a scintillation resistant material. In one embodiment, the radiation sensor includes a scintillator that is capable of generating a first radiation having a wavelength of at least about 420 nm; and a scintillation quencher is capable of absorbing a second radiation having a wavelength of less than about 420 nm. The optical fiber including a scintillation quencher provides for a method to detect neutrons in a radiation detecting system.
US09151844B2

Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments are disclosed for improving the speed and sensitivity of position determination by wireless communication devices using assisted Global Navigation Satellite Systems (A-GNSS). Example embodiments include multi-SIM mobile wireless devices having an A-GNSS location detection capability, with one or more RF modems that may communicate with one or more wireless carriers.
US09151840B2

In embodiments a circuit provides a circuit for use in detecting close proximity objects in an acoustic distance sensing system. The circuit produces a close proximity zone flag when the time after transmitting an acoustic distance sensing pulse corresponds to the defined close proximity range. The circuit can also include a time of flight counter for determining the time of flight of a received echo. The circuit can further produce a close proximity time if flight valid flag indicating that echoes are being received in close proximity time frame.
US09151834B2

A network resource can be operatively coupled to personal electronic devices that include or are operatively coupled to micro-impulse radars (MIRs).
US09151830B2

Measuring three surface sets on an object surface with a measurement device and scanner, each surface set being 3D coordinates of a point on the object surface. The method includes: the device sending a first light beam to the first retroreflector and receiving a second light beam from the first retroreflector, the second light beam being a portion of the first light beam, a scanner processor and a device processor jointly configured to determine the surface sets; selecting the source light pattern and projecting it onto the object to produce the object light pattern; imaging the object light pattern onto a photosensitive array to obtain the image light pattern; obtaining the pixel digital values for the image light pattern; measuring the translational and orientational sets with the device; determining the surface sets corresponding to three non-collinear pattern elements; and saving the surface sets.
US09151826B2

Ultrasonic locationing of a tag with an emitter transducer operable to emit a single frequency ultrasonic burst. A receiver with at least two microphones is operable to receive the ultrasonic burst. Each microphone receiver contains two narrowband filters to extract frequencies above and below the ultrasonic burst frequency. A processor derives a low frequency waveform indicative of the phase difference between the dual frequency pulses coming from each microphone receiver. A correlator then determines the time difference of arrival (TDOA) between each microphone receiver by correlating the phase difference waveforms. This invention enables the creation of an ultrasonic locationing system requiring microsecond accuracy on TDOA data, as is necessary with microphone spacing of less than one foot, while using a simple single high frequency emitter source.
US09151822B2

A method for determining the location and orientation of a transmitter object by measuring a set of complex electromagnetic field magnitude and phase strengths within a space using one or more receivers is provided. The method includes modeling a set of expected complex electromagnetic strengths to estimated position and orientation of the transmitter object. And estimating parameters related to the transmitter object position based on the residual error between the measured set of complex electromagnetic field values and a set of expected electromagnetic field values. Further embodiments include a method as above including a plurality of receivers with known positions within a limited space including the transmitter object. A sensor network including a plurality of receivers to perform the above method is also provided. The receivers may communicate using a wireless channel.
US09151820B2

Disclosed is a laterally-adjusted automatic solar tracking device. The upper ends of two support posts are fastened to a north-south rotary shaft via which a sunlight collector rack is connected to the support posts. A light intensity signal collector is mounted on the top surface of the sunlight collector rack. A worm gear transmission mechanism and a controller are disposed at the lower portions of the two support posts, wherein output torque from the worm gear transmission mechanism is borne by a lift rod. A telescopic sleeve is disposed outside the lift rod and a hinge ring is provided on the outer upper end of the lift rod. The lift rod is fastened to an edge of the sunlight collector rack via a thrust bearing and a joint bearing. The lower end of the lift rod is arranged in an oil sump.
US09151815B2

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a first imaging unit, an identifying unit, and a second imaging execution unit. The first imaging execution unit acquires, after applying a labeling RF pulse to blood flowing into the myocardium of a subject, multiple non-contrast MR data for which the time intervals between labeling and acquiring data are different by performing sequential imaging of an imaging area including the myocardium in each segment of a k-space for a given time interval. The identifying unit identifies a time interval taken by the labeled blood to reach a given position in the imaging area. The second imaging execution unit sets the identified time interval and, after applying a labeling RF pulse to the blood flowing into the myocardium of the subject, acquires non-contrast MR data by imaging the imaging area including the myocardium.
US09151809B2

In various embodiments, a Hall sensor arrangement for the redundant measurement of a magnetic field may include a first Hall sensor on a top side of a first semiconductor substrate; a second Hall sensor on a top side of a second semiconductor substrate; a carrier having a top side and an underside; wherein the first Hall sensor is arranged on the top side of the carrier and the second Hall sensor is arranged on the underside of the carrier; and wherein the measuring area of the first Hall sensor projected perpendicularly onto the carrier at least partly overlaps the measuring area of the second Hall sensor projected perpendicularly onto the carrier.
US09151802B2

Systems and methods for detecting fault conditions in a rotor of an electric induction motor are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method for detecting fault conditions may include sampling a plurality of currents from an electric induction motor to obtain a plurality of current data points, calculating a global maximum magnitude of the plurality of current data points in the frequency domain over a range of predetermined frequencies, calculating an average magnitude of the plurality of current data points in the frequency domain over the range of predetermined frequencies, and declaring a motor rotor fault condition based on a comparison between the average magnitude and a first predetermined threshold, a comparison between a difference between the global maximum magnitude and the average magnitude and a second predetermined threshold, and a comparison between the global maximum magnitude and at least a third predetermined threshold.
US09151778B2

A test socket for connecting a device under test (DUT) electrically to a high-frequency power source comprises a plurality of pogo pins each having an electrode, an electron-to-heat conversion plate supporting bottoms of the pogo pins, the electron-to-heat conversion plate configured to convert kinetic energy of free electrons emitted from the pogo pins to thermal energy, and a heat sink wall formed on the electron-to-heat conversion plate, the heat sink wall having a predetermined height and isolating the plurality of pogo pins from one another.
US09151774B2

A capacitive transducer and a readout circuit for processing a signal from a capacitive transducer. The readout circuit includes a high gain circuit element, two summing amplifiers and two feedback path. The high gain circuit element generates an amplified transducer signal, and the summing amplifiers sum the amplified transducer signal with a positive reference voltage and the negative reference voltage, respectively, to generate a first summation signal and a second summation signal. The feedback paths feed back the summation signals to the transducer. Output circuitry generates an output signal based on the summation signals. The high gain circuit element can be a switched capacitor integrator. The output circuitry can generates the output signal based on the first and second summation signals.
US09151768B2

A method that enables quantification of cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein 3 (HDL3) in a test sample without requiring a laborious operation is disclosed. The method for quantifying cholesterol in HDL3 comprises reacting, with a test sample, a surfactant that specifically reacts with high-density lipoprotein 3, and quantifying cholesterol. The method enables specific quantification of HDL3 cholesterol in a test sample using an automatic analyzer without requirement of a laborious operation such as ultracentrifugation or pretreatment. Further, quantification of the HDL2 cholesterol level can also be carried out by subtracting the HDL3 cholesterol level from the total HDL cholesterol level obtained by a conventional method for quantifying the total HDL cholesterol in a test sample.
US09151759B2

The subject matter disclosed in this specification pertains to a method for detecting cells with elastic cell membranes. A plurality of cells are fixed to an impedimetric transducer and osmotic stress is applied. Those cells with elastic membranes, including cancer cells, undergo a volume change which is detected by the impedimetric transducer.
US09151753B2

A method, test strip and method of manufacturing a test strip useful for detecting one or more analytes, such as an antibiotic, in a test sample such as a milk sample. The test strip and method include a labeled specific binder and test capture agent for the specific binder that increases test sensitivity to the analyte for which the specific binder has affinity while decreasing test sensitivity to an analyte for which a multianalyte binder has affinity.
US09151750B2

Method and system for carrying out heterogeneous chemical or biological reactions are disclosed. The method comprising providing an analytical device having at least one liquid processing unit having at least one reaction chamber and a first inlet channel in fluid communication with the reaction chamber. The method further comprises supplying to the reaction chamber via the first inlet channel or a second inlet channel analyte capturing particles, supplying to the reaction chamber via the first inlet channel or the second inlet channel a liquid sample containing an analyte of interest, and confining by an equilibrium of forces the analyte capturing particles in a particle rearrangement zone within the reaction chamber. The forces comprise a drag force Fd generated by flowing liquids and a counter-oriented force Fg. The method also comprises capturing analytes present in the liquid sample with the particles in the particle rearrangement zone.
US09151748B2

The present invention relates to microspheres comprising protein signal precursor molecules, or a carrier protein bonded to signal precursor molecules, wherein said signal precursor molecules are activatable to generate a detectable signal whilst remaining bonded to the carrier protein. Also disclosed is a method of making such microspheres comprising the steps of mixing protein molecules with a matrix former in solution; adding a reducing reagent to the mixture; removing the reducing reagent; and removing the matrix former to leave microspheres of protein molecules. Also disclosed are bioassay methods using the microspheres to provide signal amplification, including an amplification cycling procedure.
US09151747B1

Kits and methods detect sucralose or determine sucralose concentration in a sample by using polyclonal or monoclonal anti-sucralose antibodies. An ELISA assay or other immunoassay detects sucralose or determines sucralose concentration in various samples.
US09151744B2

The present invention provides for an engineered three dimensional (3D) pulmonary model tissue culture which is free of any artificial scaffold.
US09151741B2

An RFID-based analyte sensor is provided with an antenna adapted to receive energy from an RF field and produce a signal. A sensing material is electrically connected to the antenna and has an electrical property which varies in the presence of an analyte. An energy storage device is also electrically connected to the antenna and is adapted to receive and store energy from the antenna and selectively discharge the stored energy. An initializing element is electrically connected to the energy storage device and is energized by the stored energy discharged by the energy storage device. When the initializing element is energized, it operates to reduce the analyte content of at least a portion of the sensing material, effectively initializing the sensing material.
US09151738B2

Solvent extraction to quantify contamination of a sample by a hydrocarbon contaminant is performed by providing a defined quantity of the sample, providing a defined quantity of a siloxane solvent, mixing the defined quantity of the siloxane solvent and the defined quantity of the sample to extract the hydrocarbon contaminant from the sample to form a contaminant solution with the siloxane solvent, and separating the contaminant solution from the sample. A concentration of the hydrocarbon contaminant in the contaminant solution can be measured by vibrational spectroscopy. Siloxane solvents are CFC free, VOC exempt, odorless, colorless, low to moderately flammable, non-toxic, and safe for incidental skin contact. Some are even used in cosmetic products.
US09151737B2

A tank ventilation system having an intake tract, the tank ventilation system including a hydrocarbon reservoir, a sensor, and a valve. The valve and the sensor are arranged in a fluid line that couples the hydrocarbon reservoir to the intake tract. The sensor captures a hydrocarbon concentration of a fluid in the fluid line. A captured value of the hydrocarbon concentration is measured using the sensor. When the open valve, a mass flow of the fluid flowing through the fluid line into the intake tract is captured or determined. An air/fuel ratio of an air/fuel mixture fed to the internal combustion engine is determined. An estimated value of the hydrocarbon concentration in the fluid line is determined according to the mass flow of the fluid and the air/fuel ratio. The sensor is calibrated according to the captured value of the hydrocarbon concentration and the estimated value of the hydrocarbon concentration.
US09151733B1

A sensor array for non-destructively monitoring a structure to detect a critical structural event. The sensor array includes at least one discrete AE sensor node for producing an electrical signal in response to a structural event and at least one shear wave sensor assembly. The shear wave sensor assembly includes at least one shear wave sensor. A gate module is connected to the at least one discrete AE sensor node and to the at least one shear wave sensor assembly, whereby the gate module is adapted to pass through the electrical signal from the at least one discrete AE sensor node in response to a pre-determined signal from the at least one shear wave sensor assembly. The sensor array may further include a signal processing module for receiving and processing the discrete AE sensor output signal. In addition, a data collection system may be located downstream of the signal processing module.
US09151730B2

This invention relates to a non-destructive means to determine electrochemical characteristics in biosensor test strips, including first applying a cyclic oxidative and reductive electric potential onto the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode, on which lies a drop of enzyme reagent solution, to homogenize the electrochemical characteristics of the biosensor test strips, and then applying an inspection electric potential within a short period of time over the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode to measure its electrical resistance to identify any abnormal biosensor test strips if present. Afterwards, embodiments of the present invention applies a reverse electric potential, having the same time interval as the inspection electric potential, onto the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode to prevent degradation on mediators such as potassium ferricyanide.
US09151728B2

Provided is a gas sensor in which a connection terminal can be favorably fitted onto a cylindrical sensor element without causing a breakage of the connection terminal. An oxygen sensor (1) includes an outer connection terminal (29) having an outer fitting portion (53), an extension portion (55) extending inwardly from an axially intermediate point of the outer fitting portion (53) and pulling prevention portions (75) and (77) formed on rear end parts of the outer fitting portion (53) at positions adjacent to the extension portion (55). When the extension portion (55) of the outer connection terminal (29) is inserted in and pulled out from a through hole (23) of a separator (27), the extension portion (55) can be prevented from further pulling in the through hole (23) by contact of the pulling prevention portions (75) and (77) with a front end surface of the separator (27).
US09151719B2

When it is tried to detect a microscopic defect, it is desired that the width of the above-mentioned illuminated region in the minor axis direction should be short. In the related art, although an illuminated region is formed by converging light by some means, it is not easy to form an illuminated region with a narrower width. This is because various aberrations possessed by optical elements themselves used for convergence, aberrations possessed by other optical elements disposed on optical paths, assembly errors, and the like have undesired influence on the formation of linear illumination. In the related art, sufficient consideration has not been paid to the above points. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a system for changing the wavefront of light.
US09151718B2

The disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing illumination for reticle inspection. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a multiplexing mirror system receives pulses of illumination from a plurality of illumination sources and directs the pulses of illumination along an illumination path to a plurality of field mirror facets. The field mirror facets receive at least a portion of illumination from the illumination path and direct at least a portion of the illumination to a plurality of pupil mirror facets. The pupil mirror facets receive at least a portion of illumination reflected from the field mirror facets and direct the portion of illumination along a delivery path to a reticle for imaging and/or defect inspection.
US09151712B1

A design feature in a design file including a pattern to be formed on a substrate may be selected as a metrology target, alignment target or inspection proxy. Metrology or inspection may be performed on the substrate using a printed feature on the substrate that corresponds to the design feature as a metrology target or inspection proxy.
US09151711B2

An optoelectronic shutter, a method of operating the same, and an optical apparatus including the optoelectronic shutter are provided. The optoelectronic shutter includes a phototransistor which generates an output signal from incident input light and a light emitting diode serially connected to the phototransistor. The light emitting diode outputs output light according to the output signal, and the output signal is gain-modulated according to a modulation of a current gain of the phototransistor.
US09151707B2

A method for checking an inspection device for a product flow, where the proper functioning of the inspection device can be checked even without using test containers specially provided for such checking, and having a radiation detector for measuring an inspection radiation after interacting with the products in order to detect a characteristic test radiation, and a further check is made as to whether the detected test radiation fulfills a target requirement characteristic of proper functioning of the inspection device.
US09151702B2

In accordance with an embodiment, a sample includes a base material and a metal-based heavy element compound. The base material includes a tunnel structure portion with a cavity portion. The metal-based heavy element compound fills the cavity portion of the tunnel structure portion. The metal-based heavy element compound has a thickness that at least locally allows passage of a charged particle beam.
US09151700B2

Sampling arrangement adapted for extracting a fluid sample from a fluid flowing in a flow path. The arrangement comprises a sampling valve, such as a ball valve, comprising an outer body and an inner body rotationally supported within it. The inner body is rotationally supported about a rotation axis and comprises a cavity with a first opening adapted to be rotated into and out of fluid connection with the flowing fluid, and a second opening which faces in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the inner rotating body.
US09151690B2

This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for testing hoses, and also to a configuration for an intensifier for increasing the pressure and temperature of oil within the hoses to be tested.
US09151686B2

The invention provides a method for reducing the noise in a signal from a torque sensor caused by near magnetic field sources. The torque sensor has a partially hollow longitudinally extending member, and a magneto-elastically active region including one region magnetically polarized such that the magnetized polarity becomes increasingly helically shaped as the applied torque increases; a plurality of primary magnetic field sensors arranged approximate the at least one region for outputting a first signal corresponding to a torque-dependent magnetic flux emanating from the active region; at least one secondary magnetic field sensor axially spaced in a first direction by a pre-determined first distance from the plurality of primary magnetic field sensors for outputting a second signal corresponding to an ambient magnetic flux emanating from a near magnetic field source; at least one secondary magnetic field sensor axially spaced in a second direction opposite the first direction by a pre-determined second distance from the plurality of primary magnetic field sensors for outputting a third signal corresponding to the ambient magnetic flux emanating from the near magnetic field source; means for adjusting the first signal using the second and the third signals thereby compensating for the effects of the near magnetic field.
US09151683B2

A method of analyzing a load bearing member (12), comprises providing the load bearing member in a condition in which it is secured to a formation with a securing assembly (14). A predetermined load is applied to the load bearing member, thereby stressing the securing assembly. A signal is transmitted through a component (24, 108) of the securing assembly transverse to the direction at which the load is applied, and a measurement is taken of an effect on the signal to determine the aforesaid load.
US09151681B2

The present disclosure is directed to a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of a component. The temperature detector may receive a first signal indicative of the temperature of the component, with the first signal being received from a first type of temperature sensor. The temperature detector may further receive a second signal indicative of the temperature of the component, with the second signal being received from a second type of temperature sensor different from the first type of temperature sensor. The temperature detector may combine the first and second signals to generate an output indicative of the temperature of the component.
US09151676B2

An infrared (IR) detector including a plurality of thermal sensing elements for generating an image of an object is provided. The IR detector comprises a first thermal sensing element and includes a thermopile and a first switch. The thermopile is configured to receive at least a portion of a thermal output from the object and to provide a modulated electrical output indicative of at least a portion of the received thermal output. The first switch is operatively coupled to the thermopile and is configured to provide a bypass in the event the thermopile is damaged such that remaining thermal sensing elements of the plurality of thermal sensing elements are capable of providing an electrical output therefrom.
US09151670B1

The present disclosure provides a spectrometer. In one aspect, the spectrometer includes at least one slit element located at an object plane, an optical sub-system having at least one optical element, at least one dispersive element, and at least one detecting element located substantially at an image plane. The optical sub-system is configured to substantially collimate, at said dispersive element, electromagnetic radiation emanating from said at least one slit element, configured to substantially image the substantially collimated electromagnetic radiation from said dispersive element onto the image plane, and configured to have a substantially variable focal length.
US09151666B2

A sensor chip includes: a substrate that has a planar portion; and a diffraction grating on the planar portion and having a metal surface, the diffraction grating having a target substance thereon and including: a plurality of first protrusions periodically arranged in a period equal to or greater than 100 nm and equal to or less than 1000 nm in a first direction parallel to the planar portion, a plurality of base portions located between two adjacent first protrusions and configures abase of the substrate, a plurality of second protrusions formed on upper faces of the plurality of first protrusions, and a plurality of third protrusions formed on the plurality of base portions.
US09151664B2

An optical submount has a circumscribed 4-faced depression on its bottom surface and a 3-faced depression at an edge of its bottom surface. An optical signal is transmitted through a face of the 3-faced depression and internally reflected from a face of the 4-faced depression. A set of additional depressions and intervening areas on the submount bottom surface act as an alignment mark.
US09151663B2

An optical module includes a circuit board including a mount surface and a non-mount surface opposite the mount surface, a photoelectric conversion element mounted on the mount surface of the circuit board, an optical coupling member for holding an optical fiber and optically coupling the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element, a semiconductor circuit element mounted on the mount surface of the circuit board, and electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element, a plate-shaped supporting member arranged so as to sandwich the optical coupling member between the supporting member and the circuit board, and an electrically conductive body supported by the supporting member, extended in a thickness direction of the supporting member, and connected at one end to an electrode provided on the non-mount surface of the circuit board.
US09151660B2

A method for validating pharmaceutical compositions' weight is disclosed. The method may involve a pharmaceutical composition weight validation system, which may include a pharmaceutical manufacturing process, a barcode scanning, weighing the pharmaceutical compositions with a pharmaceutical balance, sending the barcode scanning and weight information to a database, and having a user accessing the information through a user interface. Additionally, the method for validating pharmaceutical compositions' weight may include entering inventory into the system, formulating the batch, storing weight information, manufacturing the batch, assigning and printing a barcode on the pharmaceutical products, scanning the barcode, weighing the pharmaceutical compositions, populating and storing the weight data, checking if weight is correct in pharmaceutical compositions, and correcting the weight of pharmaceutical compositions.
US09151650B2

A flow velocity meter is disclosed. The flow velocity meter utilizes a phase locked loop to generate an output signal and outputs the output signal to a current under test. The flow velocity meter receives a reflection signal from the current under test to calculate a speed of the current under test according to a reflection signal and a frequency difference between the output signal and the reflection signal. The flow velocity meter further includes an inclinometer for measuring a depression angle between a water level and a normal direction of the flow velocity meter and measuring a horizontal angle. The flow velocity meter can be adjusted its orientation when being installed according to the measured angles.
US09151646B2

An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. The apparatus includes a curved, elongated support member elastically deformable and having first and second ends. The apparatus also include an opposing support member configured to position a tube against the curved, elongated support member between the first and second ends. Deformation of the curved, elongated support member by movement of the first and second ends toward each other reduces an internal volume of the tube.
US09151643B2

The present disclosure provides a measuring apparatus including a platform, a measuring head movably arranged on the platform, pneumatic balls supporting the platform, an inflator, and a controlling device controlling the inflator to inflate the pneumatic balls while the measuring head is moving towards a next measuring point from a current measuring point. The controlling device controls the inflator to inflate the pneumatic balls with the required air inflation amount within the required time evenly during the movement of the measuring head, therefore, the vibration of the platform during the movement of the measuring head and the inflation of the pneumatic ball can be reduced, which can keep the platform horizontal quickly after the measuring head stops moving, reduce the measurement errors of the measuring head, further improve the productivity of the liquid crystal panel. The present disclosure further provides a controlling method of the above measuring apparatus.
US09151636B2

A guidance prompt used for guidance for a guide branch point ahead of a movable object is selected from among a plurality of potential guidance prompts, based on whether a distance from a guidance starting point where guidance starts to a guidance ending point by which guidance is required to be finished is greater than a distance traveled by the movable object while guidance is being spoken. The selected guidance prompt is then set as the guidance prompt for the guide branch point, and guidance for the guide branch point by the set guidance prompt is performed when the movable object reaches the guidance starting point associated with the set guidance prompt.
US09151635B2

There is provided a route search apparatus including a measuring unit configured to measure a traveling distance or a traveling time, a position information acquiring unit configured to acquire position information of a current point. a start point registering unit configured to register the position information, which is acquired by the position information acquiring unit when the measuring unit starts the measurement, as position information of a start point, and a route searching unit configured to, if an operation of returning to the start point is detected, search a return route between the current point designated as a departure point when the operation of returning to the start point is detected and the start point designated as a destination.
US09151632B2

A method and a system implemented for providing driving route information of an electric vehicle to a telematics terminal by a telematics server may include checking a driving pattern of a driver corresponding to the electric vehicle; checking information on a current position and a destination of the electric vehicle; calculating at least one candidate route from the current position to the destination; calculating expected power consumption corresponding to each of the at least one candidate routes based on the driving pattern, the current position, and the destination; and transmitting information on the at least one candidate route and the expected power consumption corresponding thereto to the telematics terminal.
US09151630B2

Evaluation indication systems, methods, and programs display a current position of a vehicle and a map around the current position on a display unit, acquire current evaluations that indicate evaluations of fuel consumption in current travel of the vehicle by unit sections, and acquire previous evaluations that indicate evaluations of fuel consumption of the vehicle in a past prior to the current travel by unit sections. The systems, methods, and programs indicate the current evaluations and the previous evaluations together by unit sections on the map.
US09151627B2

To provide navigation directions in mapping applications, an indication of a geographic location and an indication of a map viewport that includes the geographic location are received. Several candidate starting points from which people are more likely to access the geographic location than from other locations within the map viewport are identified. A starting point is selected from among the several candidate starting points, and navigation directions for guiding a user of the user device from the starting point toward the geographic location are generated for display on the user device.
US09151622B2

A method of estimating a moving direction of a user of an apparatus is provided. The method includes obtaining change information of acceleration according to motions of the user from an acceleration sensor mounted in an apparatus for estimating the moving direction of the user, calculating a reaction vector of force applied to a ground surface by feet of the user based on the change information of the acceleration, calculating an included angle between the moving direction of the user based on the reaction vector and an axis of a geomagnetic sensor that is included in the apparatus and detects change information of a magnetic field according to a position of the user, and determining the moving direction of the user based on a moving direction measurement value of the geomagnetic sensor mounted in the apparatus and the included angle.
US09151613B2

Methods and apparatus for detecting, measuring, and/or mitigating effects of moving an inertial navigation device's cradle are provided. In an example, provided are methods and apparatus to mitigate cradle rotation-induced inertial navigation errors. In an example, a method for mitigating an inertial navigation error includes receiving inertial sensor data and processing the inertial sensor data with a first navigation algorithm having a non-holonomic constraint (NHC). A second navigation algorithm, lacking a NHC, also processes the inertial sensor data simultaneously with the first algorithm. A cradle rotation is detected by the second navigation algorithm. A first navigation algorithm result, produced from the inertial sensor data generated during the cradle rotation, is discarded. The first algorithm can be computationally realigned, based on a second navigation algorithm result produced from the inertial sensor data generated during the cradle rotation.
US09151612B2

A vibratory gyro which is provided with a ring-shaped vibrating body, leg portions flexibly supporting the ring-shaped vibrating body, a plurality of electrodes formed by having a piezoelectric film sandwiched between an upper-layer metallic film and a lower-layer metallic film in the thickness direction, and a fixed potential electrode. The plurality of electrodes include a bank of driving electrodes for exciting primary vibration, detection electrodes for detecting secondary vibration, and suppression electrodes for suppressing the secondary vibration on the basis of a voltage signal from the detection electrodes. The driving electrodes, the detection electrodes and the suppression electrodes are disposed in the region from an outer peripheral edge of the ring-shaped vibrating body to a vicinity of the outer peripheral edge and/or a region from an inner peripheral edge thereof to a vicinity of the inner peripheral edge.
US09151600B2

The invention provides a shape measuring device, a shape measuring method, and a shape measuring program capable of easily adjusting a posture of a measuring object to a state appropriate for shape measurement before the shape measurement of the measuring object. A measuring object is irradiated with light having a pattern for posture checking by a light projecting unit before the shape measurement. An image of the measuring object captured by a light receiving unit is displayed on a display section in this state. The posture of the measuring object is adjusted with the measuring object being irradiated with the light having the pattern for posture checking by the light projecting unit.
US09151591B2

A position measuring system detects an extreme position of a guide rod which extends along a path that is rectilinear relative to a guide system and can be moved along the rectilinear path, wherein the system operates reliably, and requires a minimum of electrical lines. The position measuring system is equipped with a plurality of sensor elements and a magnetic element, wherein the magnetic element is configured to form a magnetic field. The magnetic element is connected to the guide rod. Each sensor element is configured to detect a magnetic field within a detection region, a field strength of the magnetic field being greater at the location of the sensor element than a predefined threshold value. At least one sensor element is connected to the guide system and is arranged in an environment of the path. A corresponding measuring method uses the position measuring system to detect the extreme positions.
US09151585B2

A template tool that is adapted to quickly and easily define standard cabinet front edge position, whether for base or wall cabinet, and whether from stud or drywall wall.
US09151582B2

A remote treatment system may include a syringe assembly and a cone assembly. The syringe assembly may further include a cannula that has a solid bevel tip and an exit port on a longitudinal side of the cannula. The cone assembly may include a fore-end ring at the cone assembly apex and a base ring at a center of the cone assembly base. The fore-end ring and base ring may carry the cannula and the fore-end ring may be shiftable along the longitudinal axis of the cannula between an extended first position and a retracted second position. The fore-end ring may be in a sealing relation with the cannula exit port in the extended first position, while the exit port may be unsealed in the retracted second position. In response to an impact between the cone assembly and a target, the fore-end ring may shift to its second position.
US09151577B2

A bunker comprising an exterior pyramid or cone structure made from an energy-absorbing material and an interior hollow spherical structure. The bunker may further comprise a sloped enclosing structure disposed around the exterior pyramid or cone structure. The energy absorbing material may be a solid, liquid or gel, and may be a compressible material. The combination of an outer pyramid or cone structure and an inner spherical structure is very stable. Persons or materials are housed in the inner hollow structure, and are protected from the impact of projectiles such as bombs or shells, or from other dynamic loads, by this combination of two strong geometric shapes with an energy-absorbing material in between.
US09151569B2

A sight includes a power-changed unit and a bullet impact correction unit. The power-changed unit includes an outer barrel, a rotary frame disposed around the outer barrel, a frame screw disposed in the rotary frame, and a resilient member disposed between the outer barrel and the frame screw. The bullet impact correction unit includes an elevation adjustment screw and a windage adjustment screw, both of which abut the power-changed unit.
US09151563B2

A tool for cleaning the bolt and bolt carrier of a firearm and a method using the tool are disclosed. The tool is preferably made from a single piece of rectangular metal having a longitudinal channel cut in one end to define first and second legs. The first leg is sized to fit within the bore a bolt. The channel is of a width to place an edge of the second leg adjacent the surface of the bolt. Rotating the tool in relation to the bolt scrapes an edge of the second leg against the surface of the bolt thereby removing carbon residue from the surface of the bolt.
US09151562B1

Designs and methods are provided for an adjustable rifle stand. In one embodiment the rifle stand includes a three legged support with a moveable head for holding the rifle at a first support location on the rifle forward of the trigger such that the rifle can pivot about the first support location. The rifle stand also includes a rear brace with two extendable legs and a head that holds the rifle at a second support location on the rifle behind the trigger, wherein the lower ends of the legs of the rear brace are pivotally connected to two of the legs of the three legged support. The legs of the rear brace may be extended or contracted by unlocking a leg extension lock in each leg.
US09151560B2

The present invention is for a firearm sound suppressor which is attached to the barrel of a firearm to reduce the noise and flash generated by the firearm. The firearm sound suppressor improves the dissipation of heat and provides a breach head on the end thereof for use as a ramming and breaching instrument.
US09151559B2

A firearm for mechanically and electronically firing a weapon including a trigger rotatably mounted to a sear and having an actuator attached thereto. A secondary sear is rotatably mounted to the sear, and a switch is mounted to the lower receiver behind the trigger and adapted to be contacted by the actuator when the trigger is pulled. An electronic circuit is electrically connected to the switch such that when the switch is contacted the circuit is energized to operate a prime mover that operates the firearm. The sear assembly may also comprise a main sear and an auxiliary sear controlled by a selector switch having cam surfaces and adapted to be rotated to a plurality of positions, wherein in a first position comprises a safety mode, a second position comprises a mechanical mode of fire and a third position comprises an electronic mode of fire.
US09151549B2

A heat exchange system includes an electrode configured to electrostatically control a flow of a heated gas stream in the vicinity of a heat transfer surface and/or a heat-sensitive surface.
US09151545B2

The invention is directed at devices, systems, and processes for managing the temperature of an electrochemical call including a device 10 comprising an inlet for receiving a heat transfer fluid; one or more electrochemical cell compartments 12 for receiving one or more electrochemical calls 20; one or more thermal energy storage material compartments 14 containing one or more thermal energy storage materials 18; and one or more heat transfer fluid compartments 16 for flowing the heat transfer fluid through the device; wherein the space between the one or more heat transfer fluid compartments 16 and the one or more electrochemical cell compartments 12 preferably includes one or more first regions 22 (i.e. portion) that are substantially free of the thermal energy storage material 18; and the space between the one or more heat transfer fluid compartments 16 and the one or more thermal energy storage material compartments 14 preferably includes one or more second regions 24 (i.e. portion) that are substantially free of an electrochemical cell 20; so that the heat transfer fluid compartment 16 is in direct thermal communication with both the thermal energy storage material compartment 14 and the electrochemical cell compartment 12.
US09151544B2

A liquid-cooling heat-dissipating module is configured for allowing a cooling liquid to be filled therein and includes a casing and a cooling assembly. The casing has a hollow interior and is provided with an inlet and an outlet in communication with its interior. The cooling assembly is provided in the casing and formed with a conical eddy generation region at a position corresponding to the outlet. The cooling liquid generates an eddy in the eddy generation region to flow into the outlet. By this structure, the staying time of the cooling liquid in the heat exchange module is increased, so that the cooling effect and the heat-dissipating efficiency of the cooling liquid are improved greatly.
US09151541B2

A heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger includes an outer sleeve and a microchannel unit. The outer sleeve has an interior surface defining a cavity and an exterior surface configured to be in direct thermal communication with the first fluid. The microchannel unit is received in the cavity. The microchannel unit has a plurality of microchannels configured to receive the second fluid therein and be in direct thermal communication with the second fluid. The microchannel unit has an exterior surface in direct thermal communication with the interior surface of the outer sleeve to transfer heat therebetween. At least one of the interior surface of the outer sleeve and the exterior surface of the microchannel unit has grooves defining breach channels for the first fluid or the second fluid should a breach in the outer sleeve or the microchannel unit occur.
US09151539B2

A liquid-to-air heat exchanger includes an air inlet header, an air outlet header, and a core. The air inlet header has an air inlet connection and the air outlet header has an air outlet connection. The core is connected to the air inlet header and the air outlet header. The core is angled relative to the air inlet connection and the air outlet connection. The air inlet connection and air outlet connection do not align in a straight flow path. The core is disposed at an acute angle relative to one of the air inlet connection and the air outlet connection and is disposed at an obtuse angle relative to the other of the air inlet connection and the air outlet connection.
US09151530B2

An automatic icemaker includes a swing arm, an actuator swinging the swing arm, and a transmission section transmitting movement of the actuator to the swing arm. The transmission section includes a cam rotated by the actuator, a pivotally movable lever including an abutting portion abutting the cam and pivotally moved by the rotation of the cam, and a joint member to transmit the movement of the pivotally movable lever to the swing arm. As the swing arm, one of the first, second, and third swing arms is selected and provided. As the joint member, one of the first, second, and third joint members which corresponds to the selected one of the first, second, and third swing arms is selected and provided. At different positions on a board which extends in a vertical direction, the first, second, and third supporting portions support the first, second, and third joint members, respectively.
US09151522B2

An air conditioning system has a controller and a receiver located between an indoor and outdoor units. The receiver serves as an auxiliary reservoir for refrigerant. The controller generates signals to adjust the amount of refrigerant to be stored in this reservoir as a way of adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing in the system during various modes of operation. By increasing or decreasing the amount of refrigerant in the receiver, the controller may achieve or maintain a desired level of performance and/or efficiency.
US09151520B2

A heat pump including at least two devices for displacement of droplets of liquid by electro-wetting, where one includes a control unit such that it forms a compressor of the pneumatic fluid confined between the droplets of liquid, where the other includes a control unit such that it forms an expander to expand the pneumatic fluid confined between the droplets of liquid, where the high-pressure end of the compressor is connected to the high-pressure end of the expander through a thermal exchanger of a hot source, and where the low-pressure end of the expander is connected to the low-pressure end of the compressor through a thermal exchanger with a cold source, and where the unit formed by the compressor, the expander, and the thermal exchangers forms a single channel.
US09151515B2

An electric radiator is provided using calculating processors as a heat source and includes a heating body where the heat transfer between the heat source and the ambient air takes place; a number of processors distributed over a number of printed circuit boards forming the heat source of the radiator and a power resource carrying out calculations by external computer systems; a man-machine interface enabling the control of the calculating and calorific power supplied by the radiator; a power source stabilized for the different electrical components; and a network interface for connecting the radiator to the external networks.
US09151513B1

An apparatus and method are described for inserting angle plates in transverse duct flanges. The apparatus is especially useful in inserting angle plates into transverse duct flanges of duct fittings. Packages for holding angle plates are also described.
US09151506B2

A water heating system and method of operating the same. The system includes a first water heater having a first heating source of a first type. The system further includes a second water heater having a second heating source of a second type. A valve having a first interface that is connected to the cold water source, a second interface that is connected to a first cold water inlet of the first water heater, a third interface that is connected to a second hot water outlet of the second water heater, and a fourth interface connected to the hot water outlet of the first water heater. A motor positions the changeover valve to one of at least three positions. A control circuit includes a temperature sensor near the first hot water outlet of the first water heater, and a controller coupled to the first temperature sensor and the motor.
US09151503B2

Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for a coaxial fuel supply for a micromixer. According to one embodiment, the micromixer may include an elongated base nozzle structure, a number of mixing tubes in communication with the elongated base nozzle structure, and an air inlet configured to supply the plurality of mixing tubes with air. The elongated base nozzle structure may be configured to supply a fuel to the mixing tubes.
US09151502B2

A system and method for reducing combustion dynamics includes first and second combustors, and each combustor includes a fuel nozzle and a combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle. Each fuel nozzle includes an axially extending center body, a shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the axially extending center body, a plurality of vanes that extend radially between the center body and the shroud, a first fuel port through at least one of the plurality of vanes at a first axial distance from the combustion chamber, the plurality of vanes being located at a second axial distance from the combustion chamber. A second fuel port is provided through the center body at a third axial distance from the combustion chamber. The system further includes structure for producing a combustion instability frequency in the first combustor that is different from the combustion instability frequency in the second combustor.
US09151488B2

Disclosed herein is a once-through evaporator comprising an inlet manifold; one or more inlet headers in fluid communication with the inlet manifold; one or more tube stacks, where each tube stack comprises one or more substantially horizontal evaporator tubes; the one or more tube stacks being in fluid communication with the one or more inlet headers; where one or more tube stacks are used for a start-up of the once-through evaporator; one or more outlet headers in fluid communication with one or more tube stacks; a separator in fluid communication with the one or more outlet headers; a first flow control device in fluid communication with the separator and at least one of the tube stacks used for startup; a second flow control device in fluid communication with a superheater to bypass the separator and at least one of the tube stacks used for startup; and a controller for controlling the actuation of the first and second flow control devices in response to a parameter of the evaporator.
US09151479B2

This utility model disclose one kind of vibration light-emitting devices, including base plate, power supply set at one side of the base plate, vibration switch and LED light set at the other side of the base plate, the said LED light is set on the same side as the vibration switch. This utility model also disclose one kind of electronic light-emitting rings assembled with vibration light-emitting devices, the said electronic light-emitting ring is integrated silica gel, there are one opening and one cavity at the internal side of the said light-emitting ring, the said opening and cavity are connected, and the said vibration light-emitting device is set inside the cavity. This utility model can enhance the decorative effects and entertainment effects, with simple structure, it is convenient to wear and not easy to fall off.
US09151473B2

An electronic apparatus and a light-transmissive cover plate are disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes an image display device; and a light-transmissive cover plate that includes a first surface facing the image display surface and a second surface positioned on the opposite side of the first surface. The light-transmissive cover plate is made of a single crystal that contains alumina (Al2O3) as a main component and has a step-terrace structure in at least a portion of the second surface.
US09151469B2

The invention relates to a lighting device comprising: —at least one light source (11); —a reflective member (20) comprising a reflective surface (22) and an edge (21) (“first edge”) forming a light cut-off of light rays passing in a region adjacent to this first edge (21); —a light-modifying member (30) adapted to modify lighting feature(s) of light rays and having an edge (“second edge”). The light-modifying member (30) extends from the reflective member (20) to this second edge (31) over a surface area defined to receive a part of the light rays passing in said region. The second edge is designed such that, among said part of light rays, the light-modifying member (30) modifies proportionally more light rays passing proximate the first edge than light rays passing less proximate the first edge (21). The invention relates also to said light-modifying member (30) per se.
US09151468B2

High lumen output and brightness illumination modules using an excitation light source and wavelength conversion part with multi-channel heat dissipation are disclosed. The exciting light source is a light emitting diode or a laser diode emitting in the UV and/or blue region. The luminescent material in the wavelength conversion part absorbs the excitation light and emit longer wavelength light. The enhancement approaches for brightness and polarization is disclosed.
US09151466B2

The present invention relates to a backlight unit having a reflective portion, including a light source module for emitting a light, a first reflective portion arranged spaced a first distance away from one side of the light source module to have an open region, and a second reflective portion arranged spaced a second distance which is greater than the first distance away from the other side of the light source module to have at least a portion with a sloped surface for reflecting the light toward the open region of the first reflective portion.
US09151458B2

A solar panel device is provided which can be simply attached to an existing fluorescent lamp or LED lamp to construct a power-generating lamp.A solar panel device includes a solar panel (11) that has an arc band shape in a cross-sectional view with an arc length in a range which is equal to or greater than ⅕ of an outer circumference of a lamp tube (14) in a cross-sectional view and equal to or less than ½ of the outer circumference in a width direction and that receives light from a rear surface of the lamp tube and generates an electromotive force, a power supply line (12) that outputs the electromotive force of the solar panel, and a tubular base (13) that has a tube shape, that has the solar panel attached to an inner surface or an outer surface thereof in a length direction, that is externally fitted to the lamp tube to cover the lamp tube, and that holds the solar panel so that a light-receiving surface of the solar panel comes in contact with the surface of the lamp tube or is located with a gap of 10 mm or less from the surface of the lamp tube.
US09151456B2

An assembly for releasably attaching a junction housing to a ceiling panel for a recessed lighting fixture. The assembly is in the form of a spring clamp and includes an outer section located over and movable along an outer surface of the housing when the housing is received within an opening in the panel, and an inner section movable along an inner surface of the housing when the housing is received within the opening in the panel. The inner section includes a finger-engageable element spring-biased to a locking position for locking the housing onto the panel, engageable by a user's finger to move the spring clamp to a releasing position releasing the housing for movement within the panel to a locking or releasing position with respect to the housing.
US09151449B2

The attaching/removing workability of the collecting vessel of a conditioning apparatus with respect to a port block is increased. A primary-side port and a secondary-side port are formed in a port block 13, and a female screw part 27 that is screwed to a male screw part 23 is provided to the collecting vessel 24 that is mounted to the port block 13. An annular lock member 31 is mounted to the opening end of the collecting vessel 24 so as to be movable in the axial direction. A tongue piece 38 that presses the annular lock member 31 towards the outside in the axial direction of the collecting vessel 24 is provided to the inside of the annular lock member 31. A movable-side engagement part 41 that engages a fixed-side engagement part 42 of the port block 13 when the collecting vessel 24 is rotated to a position of fastening completion is provided to the annular lock member 31.
US09151446B2

A monitoring device for monitoring a spatial area comprises at least one image recording unit. A three-dimensional image of the spatial area is recorded and displayed in order to configure. the monitoring device. A configuration plane is defined using a plurality of spatial points which have been determined within the three-dimensional image. Subsequently, at least one variable geometry element is defined relative to the configuration plane. A data record which represents a transformation of the geometry element into the spatial area is generated and transferred to the monitoring device.
US09151444B2

The invention pertains to a centralized combination grease and/or oil lubricating system for lubricating bearings where a dual line parallel system is connected to a series progressive system with an inlet designed not to halt the flow of lubrication to the entire system if a single lubrication point becomes blocked but where a single terminal sensor will still alert the user of the blockage to the single lubrication point and a method of using the same.
US09151441B2

An adjustable suspension apparatus and method. One embodiment provides a substrate mounting apparatus that provides the ability to mount the apparatus on a substrate and move the location of a suspended object in at least a substantial two-dimensional planar area. One embodiment allows the suspended object to be moved vertically, laterally, and tilted or leveled with respect to the substrate by merely sliding one or more components of the apparatus from one place to another on the apparatus, without moving the components of the apparatus mounted on the substrate. One embodiment includes a laterally extending element, a peaked or inverted-peaked structure, and interconnecting supports providing for mounting of the laterally extending element to the substrate and sliding support for laterally slidable members. The laterally extending element provides lateral adjustability, with these three features combined cooperatively providing lateral, vertical, and tilting or leveling adjustability of an object mounted on a substrate.
US09151438B2

An apparatus of an automated object manipulation system includes a support base; a finger assembly mechanically coupled to the support base; a first drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a first axis; a second drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a second axis; a third drive unit operable to rotate the finger assembly about a third axis, and a processor capable of conducting a profile assessment; determining a manipulation program in response to the profile assessment; and controlling the finger assembly in response to the manipulation program where the finger assembly has a support bracket with a set of parallel jaws and the support bracket is mechanically coupled to the first drive unit, a linking bracket mechanically coupled to the second drive unit and a circular frame mechanically coupled to the finger assembly and the third drive unit.
US09151434B2

A head assembly 52, 152 for a pulverized coal nozzle includes removeable wear-resistant inserts having vanes 54, 151, 153. The vanes 54, 151, 153 may be flat or curved to direct a stream of air and pulverized solid fuel particles from the inlet port 60, 160 toward the outlet port 62, 162. The curved vanes 151, 153 curve in two dimensions to evenly distribute the stream of air and pulverized solid fuel away from the outer surfaces reducing wear and corrosion. The pipe elbow has a removable cover 70, 170 that allows for easy access. The vanes are attached to a wear-resistant replaceable liner 185 thus allowing them to be easily removed and replaced. The wear-resistant liner 185 may be made from several parts 187, 189 for ease of removal and replacement.
US09151430B2

Valve for throttling the flow rate of a fluid, distinguished in that it comprises a bolt (12), a pipe section (8) having inner dimension adapted to enclose the bolt sealingly, a groove (13) in at least one of the outer surface of the bolt and the inner surface of the pipe section, the groove providing a fluid passageway between the enclosed bolt and pipe section, an inlet port having fluid connection to an upstream end of the groove, an outlet port having fluid connection to a downstream end of the groove, and means to adjust a coaxial position of the bolt (12) relative to the pipe (8), by moving one or both of the bolt and pipe section, in order to adjust the throttling effect of the valve. System comprising valves of the invention.
US09151428B2

An injection-molded load line connection spillage container for catching and retaining liquid spilled when liquids are pumped between storage tanks and tankers provides an injection-molded reservoir and an injection-molded cover attached to the reservoir by hinges. Reinforcing ribs molded into the reservoir provide strength and ruggedness without the need for reinforcing steel collars and saddles. Gussets molded into the reservoir hinge brackets ensure repeated stresses produced by energetic opening of the cover does not result in failure of the hinge brackets. An optional load line mounting assembly permits secure mounting of the load line container directly onto the load line. An optional cleanout assembly provides a valved suction line for removing retained spillage, and an optional sampling assembly provides a valved sample line for sampling the liquid being transferred.
US09151421B2

Profiled clamp that includes two half shells, each having a clamping head on a respective first end and a connection geometry on a respective second end. The profiled clamp also includes a clamping element to which the clamping heads are connected and a spring element preloaded to bear against an inside of the half shells. At least one of the two half shells is tiltable with respect to the clamping element.
US09151419B1

A seal pressing device for a pipe coupling including a sealing member having an axial length and an outer curved contour pressable against an inner diameter of a seal, the sealing member having an axial row of mounting apertures for receiving therein mechanical fasteners, and at least one winged extension extending from an end of the sealing member bent inwards from the outer curved contour of the sealing member.
US09151410B2

The pipe access device is comprised of a curved plate adapted to engage an underground pipe along an arc of the outer surface of the pipe, and a boss extending upwardly from the curved plate about an aperture in the curved plate. The curved plate extends along an arc of the outer surface of the curved plate that corresponds to a central angle of the pipe less than or equal to 180°. The curved plate includes a concave surface with a radius of curvature less than a radius of curvature of the outer surface of the pipe so as to bias the curved plate against the outer surface of the pipe when the curved plate is flexed to engage the pipe. The pipe access device is for use in providing access to the buried pipe that requires minimal excavation and disruption of the soil.
US09151396B2

A valve assembly includes an electronics housing and a valve housing assembly engaged to the electronics housing. The valve housing assembly includes a valve body defining a plurality of fluid ports in fluid communication with the valve bore. A plurality of fluid dampeners is disposed in the fluid ports. A sensor plate is engaged to the valve body. The sensor plate defines a plurality of sensor ports that are generally aligned with the fluid ports of the valve body. At least four fluid sensors are disposed in the plurality of fluid ports of the valve body. A cover is engaged to the sensor plate. The cover defines a cavity. A circuit board is disposed in the cavity of the cover. The circuit board is in electrical communication with the fluid sensors.
US09151387B2

A metallic seal design that reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing production steps and also lowers the sealing force by incorporating a thin-wall, high height/width ratio annular column. The seal has two horizontal ribs which constrain the thin-wall column from unstable buckling to thereby reduce or eliminate the tendency of the sealing dams to become inclined to sealing flange surfaces.
US09151385B2

A multi-part piston for a brake saddle of a hydraulically and/or mechanically and/or electromechanically actuated disk brake is described herein. The piston is a pot open on one side and including a base and a wall attached thereto in one piece. The base can be impinged by brake pressure coming from the inside of the pot so that an outward-facing abutting surface of the base can be pressed against a brake lining. The inside of the pot receives at least one pressure piece associated with a parking brake mechanism. For simplified manufacture in the form of a modular piston system for use in various applications, it is proposed that the pressure piece and the base comprise conical surfaces facing one another for transferring braking pressure.
US09151375B2

A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement, particularly hydrodynamic torque converter, wherein at least one torsional vibration damper arrangement comprises at least two torsional vibration dampers which are arranged so as to be radially staggered and substantially aligned axially with respect to one another, wherein the first torsional vibration damper is arranged on the radially outer side of the second torsional vibration damper, and wherein the at least one torsional vibration damper arrangement is coupled with the other torsional vibration damper arrangement in an area radially between the first damper element unit and the second damper element unit.
US09151371B2

A ball screw device of a screw axis with a helical groove on its outer circumference for balls to circulate thereon includes a nut with a helical groove on its inner circumference for balls to circulate thereon, a number of balls to circulate in an orbit along the helical groove of the screw axis and the helical groove of the nut, and a tunnel raceway for the balls to circulate unlimitedly. The device has a through-hole formed within the wall of the nut for the balls to circulate from one end of the helical groove to the other end, the through-hole having a guidepath on either end of the helical groove to feed the balls into the tunnel raceway. Means are provided between the helical groove on one end face of the nut and the helical groove on the screw axis to prevent the balls from exiting either helical groove.
US09151358B2

A loop rope assembly includes at least two loop rope assemblies, each of the at least two loop rope assemblies having a main rope segment with a first rope strand and a second rope strand continuous and uninterrupted with each other and having first and second ends; a free first end loop provided on the first end of the main rope segment; a free second end loop provided on the second end of the main rope segment; at least one sinusoidal intermediate loop defined by the first rope strand, the at least one sinusoidal intermediate loop continuous with the first end loop and the second end loop; and the second rope strand devoid of intermediate loops; and a coupling mechanism operable to releasably couple at least a first one of the at least two rope assemblies to at least a second one of the at least two rope assemblies.
US09151357B2

A thermoplastic endless belt has a smooth outer surface substantially free of discontinuities and an inner surface with a plurality of teeth at a given belt pitch. The teeth are adapted to engage a pulley with circumferentially spaced sheaves at a pulley pitch greater than the belt pitch. The belt is slightly stretchable so that the pulley can drive the endless belt when engaging the teeth within a range of load on the belt. Means are provided to minimize friction between the belt and the drive pulley. Also, a position limiter ensures that the driven tooth stays engaged optimally with the drive sheave.
US09151354B2

A valve device for electrically regulating a pressure in a hydraulic fluid flow through the valve device in response to an actuating force during a normal operation and mechanically regulating said pressure during a fail-safe operation when no actuating force is present is disclosed. The valve device has a valve chamber. A first valve member is movable within the valve chamber in an axial direction to interact with a first valve seat in response to the actuating force in order to restrict the hydraulic fluid flow into the valve chamber during normal operation. The first valve member is spring-loaded away from the second seat in a direction opposite that of the actuating force such that the first valve member is movable in the axial direction. A second valve member forms a movable chamber wall portion defining a part of the valve chamber. The second valve member is spring-loaded in the direction of the actuating force. The second valve member has a through hole for allowing hydraulic fluid flow out of the valve chamber during normal operation. The spring-loaded first valve member is arranged to close the flow passage during fail-safe operation such that the pressure is mechanically regulated by the second valve member acting on the second valve seat.
US09151345B2

A transmission clutch module including inner and outer races, a plurality of race engaging pawls and an actuator ring incorporates an actuator having a rotatable spool header adapted to rotate an attached actuator lever between at least two angular positions. The actuator lever moves the actuator ring to selectively block the pawls so inner and outer races may freewheel relative to one another in at least one operating mode. The actuator may be electric or hydraulic powered, and may be spring-biased to a default position in event of power failure. An elongated axially moveable plunger is secured to and supported within a piston at a first end, and has a radially extending pin at its second end. A fixed spool sleeve to which the spool header is supported includes a helical slot through which the pin extends. As the plunger moves reciprocally, the pin undergoes both translational and rotational movement.
US09151341B2

A speed changing mechanism includes a pump (1) including a liquid suction channel (6), a liquid drainage channel (8) and working components (3, 4) moving relatively to each other forming working volumes. A relative movement of the working component leads to a periodic increase and decrease of the working volume, so that the fluid is sucked through the liquid suction channel and discharged through the liquid drainage channel, and the pressure energy discharging the fluid is increased by the excursion of the working components. A part of working components is connected to an input component, another part of working components are connected to an output component. The movement of the part of working components relative to another part of working components is changed by changing the flow rate of the pump. Therefore, the speed changing mechanism can realize the switch-on/off of power transmission and change the transmitted power.
US09151340B1

A clutch device for a clutch system has a nose cap and a piston that is movable in an axial direction with respect to the nose cap. A seal disposed in the axial direction between the nose cap and the piston automatically locks the clutch device when a threshold amount of wear has accrued in a friction interface of the clutch device. If the seal is not compressed in the axial direction, then a pressurized fluid can flow past the seal and the piston is displaced in the axial direction away from the nose cap. If the seal is compressed in the axial direction, then the pressurized fluid does not flow past the seal and the piston is not displaced in the axial direction away from the nose cap.
US09151338B2

A friction clutch having a counter-pressure plate and a pressing plate that is rotationally fixed and axially movable in relation to the latter, a cover part which is firmly connected to the counter-pressure plate, a lever spring clamped between the pressing plate and cover part having an encircling power rim and levers extending radially inward and distributed around the circumference and support zones extending radially outward, a clutch plate having friction linings which may be brought into frictional engagement between the counter-pressure plate and the pressing plate dependent on an axial engaging force applied to the levers contrary to the effect of a lining resiliency, a compensation spring effectively countering the lining resiliency between the counter-pressure plate and the pressing plate, and an adjusting device having a drive spring in the form of an opened ring situated on the lever spring.
US09151333B2

A transmission clutch including: a carrier; a clutch pack; friction plates; a compression plate including a portion; and a first ramp ring including: a first portion in contact with the portion of the compression plate; and a second portion. The clutch includes a second ramp ring including a third portion axially aligned with the second portion; a lever spring; and a piston. The piston displaces the spring in an axial direction such that: the spring applies a force to the second portion; the first ramp ring rotates in a circumferential direction and axially displaces in the axial direction; and the first ramp ring urges the compression plate in the axial direction to contact the clutch pack. The piston displaces the lever spring further in the axial direction such that the compression plate clamps pressure plates and friction plates in the clutch pack to rotationally fix the carrier to the housing.
US09151327B2

A pressurized backup lubricant reservoir (36) with a lubricant line (31) to a rotor bearing (21). A control valve (43) on the backup lubricant line is normally closed. A monitor/controller (44) monitors multiple parameters of the bearing, and initiates an emergency protection sequence under combinations of conditions, including when a temperature of the bearing exceeds a threshold and a flow rate or pressure of a primary lubricant is outside a normal range and the rotor is rotating. The emergency protection sequence initiates a shut-down procedure for the rotor, and opens and modulates the control valve to meter a backup lubricant (33) from the backup reservoir to the bearing in proportion to a rundown rate of the rotor, such that lubrication of the bearing from the backup lubricant reservoir continues until the rotor stops turning. The protection sequence may also include coordinating braking of the rotor with the backup lubricant flow.
US09151324B2

A double-row angular contact ball bearing is provided with inner and outer rings, balls in two rows, a cage for holding the balls, and non-contact sealing devices made of a substantially disc-like member. Radial outer end portions of a metallic sealing device are respectively fit and swaged into grooves arranged at both axial end portions of the outer ring's inner circumferential surface. The ratio Ts/Tr is equal to or lower than 0.07, where Ts is the sealing device thickness and Tr is the outer ring thickness at the bottom portion of the groove. In addition, the ball diameter is equal to or greater than 75% of a half a bearing width to equal to or greater than 83% thereof. Furthermore, an axial width Tc of the radial outer end portion having a substantially U-shape is equal to or smaller than 2.7 mm.
US09151317B1

A fastening system for airplane cowls that uses a countersunk bushing that has a countersunk hole for the installation of a #10 screw that can be used with a nut plate attached to the substructure of the cowling.
US09151315B2

Devices, systems, and methods for securing a component to a surface are disclosed. The fastening device can include a base member having a threaded projection extending from a base plate. A base sealing gasket can be provided between the base plate and a surface on which the base plate is mounted to ensure a water-tight fit. A capping nut having a nut aperture can be threadably engaged to the treaded projection, and a structural fastener can be inserted through the nut aperture for securing a structural component of a building-mounted structure. A nut sealing gasket can be disposed between within the capping nut to ensure a water-tight fit between the capping nut and the base member.
US09151311B2

Multi-connectors for extendable conveyors are disclosed. An example multi-connector to connect an external component to an extendable conveyor is disclosed. The extendable conveyor is to convey articles and includes a base unit, a mechanically extendable section to be supported in a cantilevered manner and to be selectively positioned relative to the base unit, and a conveying surface to convey articles. The conveying surface is to extend at least partially on an upper side of the mechanically extendable section. The multi-connector includes a mechanical connection section to mechanically attach the external component, a fastening section to fasten the multi-connector to the extendable conveyor, and a functional/powered connection section to provide at least one of electric power or a vacuum supply to the external component.
US09151308B2

A system including a vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device dimensioned to suppress a vortex-induced vibration of a support structure, the VIV suppression device having a base portion that encircles at least a portion of the support structure and a support member formed along the base portion. The system further including a collar having a body portion defining an annular channel and a flange portion extending outwardly from the annular channel, the flange portion dimensioned to form a receiving channel around the support structure for receiving the support member. The support member is received within the receiving channel to secure the VIV suppression device to the support structure and the VIV suppression device is capable of rotating around the support structure along the receiving channel.
US09151299B2

A fan includes a base and a nozzle mounted on the base. The base includes an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller to generate an air flow. The nozzle includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and an annular casing which defines a bore through which air from outside the fan is drawn by air emitted from the air outlet. An ionizer is located within the bore of the nozzle for treating the air drawn through the bore.
US09151294B2

The present invention is related to a fan device with fluidic air function, wherein the fan device is configured with an air guide frame which provides each air molecule with higher space freedom and surface area existing in the space by more frequent collision and a longer fluidic path. Thus, after propelling from the fan and colliding with the air guide frame by following the swirly blades, the air flow becomes more comfortable and feels like a nature breeze when it touches human skin, and the present invention is applicable in all types of electric fan or any structure blowing the air.
US09151289B2

A fuel pump is disclosed wherein a substantially cylindrical plunger bore is provided with an annular drain groove fluidically coupled to a drain duct. A pump plunger is driven by a drive system located in a separate mechanical compartment that holds a reservoir of lubricating oil. An annular seal is provided adjacent the drain groove substantially at the end of the bore and retained in position by a seal support. Exemplary embodiments provide the drain groove and seal as being positioned immediately adjacent one another so that the seal forms a lower wall of the drain groove.
US09151277B2

A method of power generation, including: igniting a biomass boiler; starting a solar concentrating collector; measuring water temperature t3 at water outlet main of the solar concentrating collector; opening a second control valve arranged between the water outlet main and the boiler drum when t3 is greater or equal to 95° C.; closing the second control valve and the third control valve to prevent water in the solar collector tube from running and to maintain the water in a heat preserving and inactive state if the water temperature t3 decreases and t3 is less than 95° C.; turning the turbonator unit into a thermal power generation mode; opening a first control valve arranged between the water outlet main and a water supply tank if the water temperature t3 continues decreasing and when t3 is between 5 and 9° C.; and turning the turbonator unit into a biomass boiler power generation mode.
US09151269B2

A run-of-the-river or ocean current turbine may comprise a hatch and a slanted block having protector ribs for directing water flow to a waterwheel. The hatch may be controlled by a plurality of Transgear™ gear assemblies for varying the amount of water flow to the waterwheel from extreme drought to flood conditions so that the waterwheel may turn at rated speeds and within a predetermined range. The Transgear gear assemblies may comprise an accumulator for accumulating a rough and a fine tuned waterwheel speed. The Transgear assemblies may comprise embodiments of power take-off switches for, for example, bi-directional or clockwise and counterclockwise waterwheel shaft rotation. The turbine may be aligned for top-feed, side-feed or bottom feed of water and may comprise a tail wing or first and second turbines facing in opposite directions to capture high and low tidal flow.
US09151264B2

An ignition timing controlling apparatus for an engine includes an ignition timing map in which high-torque timings are stored, an ECU for changing a high-torque timing obtained from the ignition timing map into a fuel-conserving ignition timing, and an advance angle target amount map in which advance angle target amounts with which the high-torque timing is to be changed into the fuel-conserving ignition timing are stored. The ECU is operable to calculate an advance angle target amount for each of cylinders of the engine based on the advance angle target amount map when a running state of a vehicle is in a cruize state in which little acceleration or deceleration is included, and also to execute advance angle control of changing the ignition timing of each of the cylinders stepwise with respect to the advance angle target amount for each of the cylinders.
US09151255B2

A spill resistant fuel supply system (16) for a marine engine (12). The system (16) includes a generally sealed housing (46) in which is disposed a vapor separator (26), a high pressure pump (28) and/or a suction pump (24). The housing (46) prevents fuel that might leak from these components from openly collecting in the marine vessel (10). The housing (46) includes one or more walls (48, 50, 52) formed with included air columns (58) which act as thermal barriers to reduce the amount of heat energy transferred from the outside in. The included air columns (58) are preferably arrayed in side-by-side fashion and closed at both ends to trap air therein.
US09151250B2

Disclosed is a simplified system of cooling an exhaust from an internal combustion engine by drawing ambient air through a heat exchanger which comprises a venturi in the exhaust circuit to drive said cooling medium therethrough. The disclosed device could also be used in the cooling of other media.
US09151247B2

A plunger lifting mechanism of a rotary-valve gas carburetor includes a carburetor body, a cam, a plunger, a torsion spring, a fixed plate, a throttle wire bracket, a main measuring needle, a sleeve and a main jet pipe. The plunger is rotatablely mounted in the carburetor body, which passes through the cam, the torsion spring and fixed plate in turn and then extends out of the carburetor body, and a top of the plunger is connected with the throttle wire bracket and then fixedly connected with the sleeve; the fixed plate is fixedly connected with the carburetor body; one end of the torsion spring is elastically suppressed by the fixed plate, and the other end of the torsion spring is elastically suppressed by protrusions on side walls of the plunger. The configuration can ensure sufficient flexibility of its plunger and improve the reliability of the carburetor.
US09151244B2

An aircraft jet engine comprising a nozzle to eject a gas stream, and a system for reducing the noise generated by the ejection of the gas stream. This system comprises several ducts which each are connected upstream to a recess divided into several chambers and open, downstream, at the outlet of nozzle. In this way, each duct ejects a fluid jet deriving from the recess and which interacts with the gas stream of the engine. The system also comprises a pulsation means for the fluid jet which brings about its ejection at the nozzle outlet and/or modulates its speed by varying the volume contained in the recess.
US09151231B2

An internal combustion engine which is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to control a closing timing of an intake valve. The expansion ratio is made higher at the time of engine low load operation compared with at the time of engine high load operation. A fuel containing alcohol is used as the fuel, and the expansion ratio at the time of engine low load operation is made to fall when an alcohol concentration in the fuel is high compared with when the alcohol concentration in the fuel is low.
US09151226B2

A corrugated shield comprises a mounting base and a corrugated ring section. The mounting base is disposed at an aft end of the ring section for securing the shield ring section within a generally annular cavity. The generally annular cavity is defined at least in part by a hot fluid flow path boundary wall, and a radially adjacent and spaced apart cold fluid flow path boundary wall. The corrugated ring section is configured to substantially block a line of sight between the hot fluid flow path boundary wall and the cold fluid flow path boundary wall.
US09151223B2

A gas-turbine combustion chamber arrangement includes a flame tube, a diffuser element arranged upstream of the flame tube in the flow direction, the diffuser element including an annular duct, and an axial compressor arranged upstream of the diffuser element. The diffuser element features an annular guide vane area in which guide vanes are arranged, which for redirecting an incoming flow are provided at an angle (α) in a range between 28° and 32° relative to a central axis of the gas turbine. Downstream of the guide vane area, a diffuser area is arranged, the diffuser area not being provided with flow-guiding elements affecting the flow, where burners arranged in the annular combustion chamber are provided with their burner axes at an angle (β) between 40° and 50° relative to the central axis.
US09151217B2

An engine system comprises a first turbocharger including a first wastegate, first wastegate actuator, and first turbocharger sensor, a second turbocharger including a second wastegate, second wastegate actuator, and second turbocharger sensor, and a controller configured to adjust the first wastegate actuator so that a parameter of the first turbocharger matches a parameter of the second turbocharger, based on output from the first and second turbocharger sensors. In this way, turbocharger output between the two turbochargers may be balanced.
US09151214B2

Methods and systems are provided for purging condensate from a charge air cooler to an engine intake while reducing misfire events related to the water ingestion. During the purging, a spark timing is adjusted based on the amount of condensate purged per cycle. The spark timing is adjusted differently when the condensate is purged during a tip-in versus a pro-active clean-out routine.
US09151210B2

A fluid control valve includes a body portion provided at a circulation flow passage that circulates fluid between an internal combustion engine and a heat exchanger, an inflow passage, an outflow passage, a valve element, a valve seat including a contact portion relative to the valve element, the contact portion being provided to face a downstream side of a circulating direction of the fluid, a solenoid causing the valve element to make contact with the valve seat in a state where the solenoid is supplied with an electric power, and a spring mechanism holding the valve element to be balanced at a position at which the valve element is away from the valve seat by a predetermined distance in a case where the solenoid is inhibited from being supplied with the electric power and the fluid is inhibited from flowing.
US09151209B2

A lower cam housing is formed to be a separate body from a cylinder head and the lower cam housing is arranged at a joint surface of the cylinder head, a first upper oil passage reaching from an oil entry passage to the joint surface is formed inside the cylinder head and an upstream end of the first upper oil passage is opened at the joint surface, and a second upper oil passage through which the oil reaches to the joint surface via an upper side than the joint surface is formed in the lower cam housing, where an upstream end of the second upper oil passage is in communication with the oil entry passage side at the joint surface, and a downstream end of the second upper oil passage is in communication with the first upper oil passage at the joint surface.
US09151205B2

Methods and apparatus for detecting the filtering state of a filter, such as a particulate filter. Some embodiments include one or more capacitive sensors that provide a signal corresponding to the filtered state of the filter with a change in measured capacitance. A novel ECT based sensing technique for soot load estimation in a diesel particulate filter is presented. The sensing technology is based on principle that deposited soot thickness inside DPF causes a variation in the dielectric constant which has a direct impact on the capacitance of ECT system and its output voltage. The sensor can be built into the DPF outer shell as indicated in the design. The simulation results demonstrate that there is a direct relationship between the amount of soot load in the DPF and the output voltage of the ECT system which can be used to estimate the soot load.
US09151199B2

A method for operating an exhaust gas treatment device having at least one heater and at least one supply device for a reducing agent includes initially carrying out a test in order to determine if the reducing agent is to be supplied, and subsequently implementing different heating strategies in each case. In the event that the reducing agent is to be supplied, the exhaust gas treatment device is heated with the heater until a first threshold temperature is reached, if a first temperature lies below the first threshold temperature. In the case when no reducing agent is to be fed, the exhaust gas treatment device is heated with the heater until a second threshold temperature is reached, if a second temperature lies below the second threshold temperature. A motor vehicle having the device is also provided.
US09151196B2

In one embodiment, a ducting system comprises a feed duct for feeding air and exhaust gases to an internal combustion engine, a discharge duct for discharging the exhaust gases produced by the internal combustion engine from the internal combustion engine, in which one or more exhaust gas aftertreatment units are arranged for aftertreatment of the exhaust gases, and a heating device arranged in the feed duct. The heating device is configured to perform a heating process for preheating the air that is fed to the internal combustion engine. A duration of the heating process and/or heat output given off by the heating device is controlled as a function of a variable approximately representing a state of ageing of at least one of the one or more exhaust gas treatment units.
US09151193B2

A system and method are provided for controlling an electric motor driven lubrication supply pump that is supplied with electrical power from a power bus, and that supplies lubricant to a rotating machine that is at least part of a vehicle subsystem. A determination is made that the subsystem is being started-up. Moreover, one or more lubricant parameters, power bus electrical state, and one or more lubricant load states are determined. The electrical power supplied from the power bus to the electric motor is varied, based on the one or more lubricant parameters, the power bus electrical state, and the one or more lubricant load states.
US09151189B2

An internal combustion engine includes a variable valve timing control apparatus including a driving-side rotating member rotating about a rotary axis by rotational force transmitted from a crankshaft, a driven-side rotating member including at least one fluid pressure chambers partitioned and formed with at least one advanced angle chambers and at least one retarded angle chambers and integrally rotating with a camshaft for opening and closing a valve, and a lock mechanism configured with a lock member provided at one of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotary member to be engageable and disengageable with a recessed portion formed at the other of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotary member, and an engine control unit for stopping the internal combustion engine to position a portion where the lock mechanism is formed below a virtual line passing through the rotary axis when the internal combustion engine is stopped.
US09151174B2

A sealing assembly for use with a rotary machine is described herein. The sealing assembly includes a stator shroud coupled to the casing. The stator shroud includes an inner surface that at least partially defines the cavity within the casing. At least one stator labyrinth tooth extends outwardly from the stator shroud inner surface towards a rotor assembly positioned within the casing. At least one protective member is coupled to the stator shroud upstream from the at least one stator labyrinth tooth to facilitate reducing a flow of combustion gas across the at least one stator labyrinth tooth.
US09151173B2

An improved nozzle vane for a gas turbine engine, comprising a vane wall having inner and outer wall surfaces, the wall surfaces being spaced from one another to define a plurality of fluid passageways for a cooling medium; discreet cavities formed by interior wall members disposed between the inner and outer wall surfaces and within the fluid passageway for the cooling medium; a plurality of impingement cooling sleeves disposed in the discreet cavities defined by the inner and outer wall surfaces and by interior wall members; and a plurality of non-round, e.g., serrated, openings in each of the impingement cooling sleeves, with the openings being sufficient in size and number to accommodate the flow of a cooling media.
US09151172B2

The present disclosure relates to a torque converter, and more particularly, to a torque converter containing a stator having blades with non-linear edges and non-ruled surfaces to increase fluid flow within the torque converter and improve the performance thereof.
US09151148B2

A method for fluid treatment of a borehole including a main wellbore, a first wellbore leg extending from the main wellbore and a second wellbore leg extending from the main wellbore, the method includes: running a wellbore tubing string apparatus into the first wellbore leg; conveying a plug into the wellbore tubing string apparatus to actuate a plug-actuated sleeve in the wellbore tubing string apparatus to open a port through the wall of the wellbore tubing string apparatus covered by the sleeve; employing a plug retainer to retain the plug in the tubing string against passing outwardly from the tubing string apparatus; allowing fluids to flow toward surface outwardly from the tubing string apparatus; and performing operations in the second wellbore leg.
US09151136B2

A system and method facilitate sidetracking by eliminating one or more trips downhole. A sidetracking system includes a whipstock assembly and a stinger assembly. The stinger assembly has a running/stinger assembly which extends at least partially through the whipstock assembly. The running/stinger assembly is designed for disconnection from the whipstock assembly after delivery downhole. After disconnecting the stinger assembly, the sidetracking system enables delivery of cement slurry down through the stinger assembly to form a cement plug at a desired location.
US09151135B2

A cylindrical, hollow stuffing box arranged to be able to take up geometrical differences between drill pipes and tool joints includes an outer housing, an upper and a lower set of support plates and also a sleeve-shaped, flexible sealing element arranged rotationally between said support plates and enclosed by a liquid filled, a pressurized annulus which in a fluid sealing manner is defined by a central part of the stuffing box housing, the outside of the sealing element and said support plates; each of the upper and lower support plate sets comprise two halves connected to an actuator each arranged for radial displacement of the halves; each of the support plate halves comprise a cut-out arranged to be able to encircle a peripheral portion of the drill string; and the inside and the ends of the sealing element comprise cast-in, ceramic elements.
US09151124B2

A method for drilling a wellbore includes drilling the wellbore by injecting drilling fluid into a top of a tubular string disposed in the wellbore at a first flow rate and rotating a drill bit. The tubular string includes: the drill bit disposed on a bottom thereof, tubular joints connected together, a longitudinal bore therethrough, a port through a wall thereof, and a sleeve operable between an open position where the port is exposed to the bore and a closed position where a wall of the sleeve is disposed between the port and the bore. The method further includes moving the sleeve to the open position; and injecting drilling fluid into the port at a second flow rate while adding a tubular joint(s) to the tubular string. The injection of drilling fluid into the tubular string is continuously maintained between drilling and adding the joint(s).
US09151114B2

A locking mechanism for selectively securing and unsecuring the linkage of individual ladder sections of a telescopic ladder. The locking mechanism is shifted into a locked position by pivoting a lever toward a first rotational trajectory, urging a track follower in a first direction along a guiding track, and linearly displacing at least one securing rod into an aperture through multiple ladder sections, securing the linkage of the ladder sections. A lever-securing mechanism form-fittingly secures the lever within a bridge element of the locking mechanism when in a locked position. The locking mechanism is shifted into an unlocked position by pivoting the lever toward a second rotational trajectory opposite the first rotational trajectory, urging the track follower in an opposite direction along the guiding track, and linearly displacing the securing rods out from the aperture through the multiple ladder sections, unsecuring the linkage of the ladder sections.
US09151113B2

A folding step stool includes a front rail assembly. The step stool includes a rear rail assembly, pivotally connected to the front rail assembly, having a crossbar. The step stool includes a step pivotally attached to the front rail assembly having notches which fit over the crossbar when the stool is in an open position. The step stool includes a linkage assembly pivotally and fixedly attached to the step and pivotally and fixedly attached to the crossbar. The linkage assembly compresses to allow the notches to fit over the crossbar and the linkage assembly exerting a force to maintain the crossbar in the notches when the stool is in the open position. A method for securing a step stool includes the steps of moving the notches of a step against a crossbar of a rear rail assembly pivotally connected to a front rail assembly of the step stool. There is the step of compressing a linkage assembly pivotally and fixedly attached to the step and pivotally and fixedly attached to the crossbar to allow the notches to fit over the crossbar. There is the step of exerting a force with the linkage assembly to maintain the crossbar in the notches when the stool is in the open position.
US09151111B2

A barrier for the inside of a home. The barrier includes two partitions that slide relative to each other to increase and decrease a distance between ends of the barrier. The partitions slide into and out of confronting relationships with each other. The partitions engage each other at upper and lower locations and further at a medial location where an elongate member of one partition is received in a tube engaged to the other partition. A threaded piece upon being turned brings pressure to bear upon an end of the tube such that the partitions can be incrementally expanded apart and thereby pressurized between two locations within the home so as to block off one portion of the home. The threaded piece is slideable along the elongate member.
US09151104B2

The present invention is a wide channel door frame cooperating with a wide width knife edge of a door and latching mechanism: to accommodate a gap between finger stock seals when the wide knife edge door is in the open position, to provide electrical connectivity between the door and door frame when the wide knife edge door is received into the wide channel door frame in the closed position, to accommodate ease of manufacturing a straight channel, to accommodate ease of cleaning the channel after installation of the finger stock seals, and to accommodate ease of closing/latching and opening/delatching the door. An alternative embodiment includes a third strip of beryllium copper finger stock seals attached to the base of the channel for increased electrical conductivity or the addition of weather seals for exterior applications. Wide channels and knife edges can be made of desirable material, for example 304 stainless steel.
US09151103B2

A movable partition system includes a movable partition including coupled panels and a lead post engaged with and movable along a track. A motor control system includes a motor coupled to the movable partition and a switching circuit coupled to the motor and for selectively coupling the motor to a positive power source and a negative power source responsive to one or more PWM signals. An encoder is configured for generating one or more rotation signals indicative of operational direction and operational speed of the motor. A motor controller is coupled to the switching circuit and is configured for improving airflow around the panels of the movable partition when the lead post of the movable partition is between a predefined position and a fully retracted position indicative of a billowing effect for the panels by adjusting pulse widths of the PWM signals to control rotational speed of the motor.
US09151100B2

A door closer is provided to automatically pull a storm or screen door to a fully closed position without user action. The door closer includes a bracket housing with a cam switch movable along a track as the door opens and closes. The closer cylinder rod is engaged with the cam switch until the door is fully opened. The cam switch biases the closer cylinder and rod as the door approaches the closed position.
US09151094B2

A device for connecting operating units (8) for doors and windows comprising: a control element (4) mounted on the operating side (3 a) of a mobile frame (3); a rod segment (5) that is slidably mounted in a groove (C), made at least in the operating side (3a) and is connected to the control element (4) in such a way as to slide in both directions within the groove (C) to define the open and closed configurations of the door/window (1a, 1b); the rod segment (5) being associated by respective connecting means (10, 12), with elements (105, 6) that are functional or accessory to the operation of the rod segment (5), said elements (105, 6) protruding from the groove (C); these connecting means comprise at least one base (10) connected to at least one functional or accessory element (105, 6) defined by an operative portion (9); the size of the base (10) is such that, in use, it covers a free front section of the rod segment (5), the base (10) being frontally applicable to the rod segment (5) before the latter is inserted into the groove (C), and a bottom end extension (12) protruding transversally of the base (10), shaped to match the profile of the operating rod segment (5) and designed to be coupled to a respective slot (5a) formed on the rod (5) in such a way as to create a portion for uninterruptedly connecting and stiffening the rod segment (5) itself.
US09151093B2

A latch assembly (10) is mounted to a follower door (275) of a double door (257) and includes a latch (231) and a pressing board (453) pivotably received in a cutout (411) of the latch (231). When the follower door (275) moves from an open position to a closed position, a pressing side (457) of the pressing board (453) is pressed by a top beam (35) of a door frame (31). The pressing board (453) pivots and presses against a bottom face (413) of the cutout (411) of the latch (231), moving the latch (231) from an unlatching position to the latching position until the pressing side (457) of the pressing board (453) completely enters the cutout (411), and then a slant face (236) of the latch (231) presses against the door frame (31), causing movement of the latch (231) from the latching position to the unlatching position.
US09151088B2

A striker positioning assembly adjusts a striker mechanism on a door frame for latching a door. The striker positioning assembly includes a plate having a slot for receiving a projecting portion of the striker mechanism. The striker positioning assembly includes a fastener for temporarily fastening the plate to the door. The fastener allows for the plate to be removable after adjustment of the striker mechanism. The plate and slot are arranged such that closing the door into a desired position with respect to the door frame causes the striker positioning assembly to move the striker mechanism into a position on the door frame for latching the door in the desired position with respect to the door frame when the striker mechanism is secured on the door frame and when the striker positioning assembly is removed. Methods of adjusting the striker mechanism on the door frame are also provided.
US09151085B2

A vehicle passive entry side door latch release system engageable with a release cable connected a door latch. The door latch release system may include a movable linkage assembly engageable with the release cable, a motor including an output shaft having a pinion engageable with a rack affixed to or formed with the linkage assembly to move the release cable to unlatch the door latch, and an electronic control unit for controlling the motor. The electronic control unit may operate the motor upon receiving an actuation signal. The invention also provides a vehicle including the door latch release system described above, and various embodiments thereof.
US09151082B2

A security apparatus to prevent unauthorized opening of a ratchet type gunlock. A hook is permanently anchored to the housing of the lock and a groove is provided in the rotatable ratchet arm. When the hook is within the groove this forms, in essence, a closed loop so that the only way to force open the ratchet arm is to break the lock by breaking the hook or the arm even if the gunlock is attempted to be opened by severe force.
US09151078B2

A truck box is provided having latch elements, one or more locking mechanisms and a keyless entry system which is operative independently of the locking mechanisms to move the latch elements to an unlatched position in order to permit opening of the lid of the truck box.
US09151075B2

A fencing/railing assembly adapted to be positioned between a pair of posts and mounted thereto includes a plurality of pickets, a plurality of rails extending transverse to the pickets, and one or more pivoting, sliding connectors for connecting a picket to a rail, with the sliding, pivotal connection concealed by the rail. The connector is slidably mounted to the rail and is pivotally connected to the picket. In one embodiment, an elongated connector strip is concealed by the rail and spans multiple pickets. In another embodiment, the assembly includes a plurality of shorter connectors, one for each picket/rail connection.
US09151067B2

A method of attaching a cabinet assembly to a spa. The method includes providing a frame that has a channel that forms a perimeter. A spa is placed on the frame such that a flange or lip of the spa extends past the perimeter created by the channel. A plurality of slats are then secured between the flange of the spa and the channel of the frame in order to form a cabinet around the spa. The spa having a pan and a toe kick secured adjacent its bottom end.
US09151064B1

A plurality of devices used alone or in combination for releasing moisture from a building are provided. The devices are especially suitable for use in new or existing masonry and frame buildings with low-slope roofs, on parapet walls and mansard roofs, and on masonry walls and foundation walls. The devices give buildings adequate wall and roof system ventilation and moisture vapor release portals so as to better prevent mold and other water related damage. The devices may be used individually or in combination wherein the devices are placed on or against a parapet wall, masonry wall or foundation wall of a building. Further, the devices may be used in connection with a joist or truss system of a building to prevent moisture damage to the joists or truss system and to prevent compromises and other structural integrity problems to a building which often occur with moisture.
US09151059B2

A roofing system, especially suited for use with metal roofing panels includes a V-shaped vent cover located above an air circulation vent at the crest or apex of a sloping roof. A vent closure strip in the form of a composite member is located in the gap between the vent cover and the roofing panels, which contain a series of ribs or protrusions forming an uneven surface. An air impermeable backing strip, which can be a closed cell foam, includes fastening blocks through which fasteners extend to fasten the vent cover to the roofing panels. Air permeable members are adhered to the backing strip. These air permeable members can be a reticulated foam with a convoluted lower surface for compressively conforming to the uneven upper surface of the roofing panels. The air permeable members are more porous and more dense than the air impermeable members.
US09151051B2

An assembly of at least two parts of blocks made of light weight concrete, wood, or rock separated by a channel void or filled with an insulating substance. Channels provide a sound barrier and insulation. Attachment of the blocks can be made by means of angular steel pins fixing blocks two by two, by means of adhesive fiber glass wrapping the blocks, by means of adhesive construction glue, or by means of crossed tie resisting to shear forces. Central channels in the blocks are dug to pass a metal rod to strengthen the whole assembly of blocks; a central passage pierced in a top face of a central block wherein a metal rod is inserted and continues through an end groove of an upper and a lower block. Or, channels are dug all along the periphery of the block, and horizontal and a vertical rods are affixed against the channel.
US09151048B2

A prefabricated composite floor system composed of a prestressed, pre-cambered assembly of a top corrugated composite steel deck (1), a mid corrugated steel deck (2) and optionally (for additional strength) a flat bottom steel sheet (3), all fastened with self drilling screws. The concrete topping acts under compression, the steel module under tension and the longitudinal shear between them is transferred via the self drilling screws.
US09151047B2

The present invention provides a technique in undercut excavation that allows a continuous steel reinforced concrete floor to be set up or installed over a large width and length and installing continuous steel reinforced concrete floors in any subsequent lifts. Using the present invention, the continuous concrete floor can be extended at a later date if the stopping area is extended at some future date.
US09151042B2

In a ceiling passage with an opening through which a pipe extends in the vertical direction, the pipe being surrounded by a fire-prevention sleeve, the fire-prevention sleeve includes, for example, fire-prevention additives embodied in a rectangular strip. A plurality of notches are provided along only one longitudinal side of the rectangular strip. The plurality of notches are used to form flaps at a bottom edge of the rectangular strip and are bent backwards. The flaps are supported at an inner wall of the ceiling passage near a bottom of the ceiling passage.
US09151041B2

A soundproof panel connection structure including: a plurality of posts spaced apart from each other on the floor by a given distance; a plurality of soundproof panels each located between the neighboring posts and having fastening portions disposed on both end portions thereof; bending portions each extended from one side surface of each soundproof panel; soundproof materials each interposed between each fastening portion and each bending portion in such a manner as to be supportedly brought on one surface thereof into contact with one side surface of each post; and a plurality of connection joints each coupled on both ends thereof to the fastening portions disposed on both side surfaces of each post, wherein the post located at the corner portion in the plurality of posts has supports located at the outer surfaces thereof.
US09151040B2

A tape material comprising: a thin flexible substrate; and a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) substance carried on a single side of the substrate, the PSA substance being provided in an intermittent pattern along a length of the substrate.
US09151038B2

An anchor bolt device includes an anchor bolt having a threaded first end and a second end. A flange portion has the threaded first end of the anchor bolt extending freely therefrom. The flange portion defines a planar surface aligned in parallel with a surface of a concrete foundation when the second end of the anchor bolt is received in the concrete foundation. A raised column projection having a threaded portion through which the threaded first end of the anchor bolt is threadably received. The raised column projection is set to a user defined position. The flange portion extends radially outward from and is integrally connected to the raised column projection. The flange portion has at least one offset tab used to position the device a defined distance away from a boundary of a concrete foundation wall. The offset tab includes a series of marks defining multiple break points.
US09151033B2

Embodiments of the invention provide automatically retractable screens, adapted for installation into a storm drain curb inlet, configured such that the automatically retractable screens are biased toward the closed position and thereby reliably closed during periods of no, low, or moderate surface runoff water flows, yet also reliably open when surface runoff water flow rates increase to moderate or high levels.
US09151032B2

A shower arm for a shower WC or a bidet comprising a spherical swirl chamber for generating swirl in the shower jet and a corresponding shower device and a corresponding shower WC.
US09151030B2

A universal kit for installing a flush lever (22) on a toilet water tank wall (12A), and a toilet with the kit components installed therein, whereby the same components can be used to quickly and efficiently install the handle on the front face, side face, or angled portion of the toilet tank. The kit comprises a fixture (66) for mounting a flush rod actuation handle (20) on a tank wall, whereby the handle can be rotated about an axis (58, 60) extending perpendicularly from the wall into the tank. A flush rod (34) is angulated in three dimensions and has opposite end portions (36, 38), having the same shape, such that either end portion is selectively securable in the mounting fixture (66) for corotation with the handle.
US09151026B2

A sanitary outlet fitting (1) having a water outlet (2) with an internally threaded receiving opening (3) is provided, having a sleeve-shaped outlet nozzle (7) which has an external thread on its periphery which can be screwed in a releasable manner into the internal thread of the receiving opening, and having a jet regulator or similar sanitary insert part that is retained in the sleeve interior of the outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle (7) includes on its outlet end side, at least one slot, a profiling or a similar tool attachment surface, and a ring element (5) is mounted in a freely rotatable manner at the outlet end region of the outlet nozzle (7) that encloses the outlet nozzle and serves for vandal proofing. The outlet fitting (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the internal diameter (d1) of the receiving opening (3) at the outer end region of the fitting corresponds, at least approximately, to the external diameter (d2) of the outlet nozzle (7) in the region of the freely rotatably mounted ring element (5), and the axial depth (l1) of the receiving opening (3) is adapted to the axial extension (l2) of the outlet nozzle (7) such that the outlet nozzle (7) only has part of the longitudinal extension of the ring element (5) projecting beyond the receiving opening (3).
US09151018B2

A hydraulic system is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a pump with variable-displacement, a first linear actuator, and a second linear actuator coupled to the first linear actuator to operate in tandem. The first and second linear actuators may be connected to the pump in closed-loop manner, and each of the first and second linear actuators may have a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a piston. The hydraulic system may also have an accumulator in fluid communication with the second chamber of only the second linear actuator.
US09151010B2

An article for joining concrete piles having an annular plate mounted at one end of the pile, a central opening, a front surface an obverse surface and an interlocking profile having a plurality of first and second complementary configurations. Each configuration is defined in a substantially equalized sector and arranged radially in an alternate fashion on the front surface, the first configuration is a protrusion and the second configuration is a recess, wherein the lateral edges of each protrusion carries a horizontally extending groove. When mating of two identical articles, each mounted at the ends of two separate piles, the protrusions of one article mate with the recesses of another article forming of a passageway by two adjacently positioned grooves of two contiguous protrusions of the mated articles, the passageway allows interlocking of the mated articles by inserting a pin there through.
US09151005B1

The present disclosure relates to improved convenience in helping to improve environmental and animal health and comfort. The present disclosure relates to disposable pet wipe and waste collection bags, series of disposable pet wipe and waste collection bags, and the manufacture thereof. More specifically, the present disclosure presents a disposable reversible receptacle for picking up and disposing pet waste, wherein the disposable reversible bag further comprises a moistened wipe, which may allow a user to sanitarily wipe the pet and pick up the waste.
US09151002B2

A fastener apparatus for a railroad rail and tie includes a yoke plate support frame and a yoke plate. The yoke plate support frame includes opposing securing arms coupled by a perpendicular yoke plate support. The opposing securing arms are spaced apart to detachably seat the yoke plate support over the railroad tie. Attachment tabs extend above the perpendicular yoke plate support from the opposing securing arms. The yoke plate includes a first plate extending along a first plane, a second plate extending out from an edge of the first plate and along a second plane which is at a different angle from the first plane, and yoke plate attachment tabs coupled to the first plate and the second plate. The yoke plate attachment tabs are configured to detachably couple the yoke plate to the yoke plate support frame through the attachment tabs of the opposing securing arms.
US09150999B2

A loop rope assembly includes loop rope assembly includes a main rope segment having a plurality of rope strands and first and second ends, the plurality of rope strands of the same material and coextensive with the main rope segment; a first end loop provided on the first end of the main rope segment; a second end loop provided on the second end of the main rope segment, the first end loop and the second end loop connecting and establishing continuity between the plurality of rope strands at the first and second ends, respectively, of the main rope segment; the plurality of rope strands disposed in closely adjacent proximity to each other at each of a plurality of spaced-apart intervals along each of the plurality of rope strands; at least one of the plurality of rope strands axially movable with respect to another of the plurality of rope strands at each of the plurality of spaced-apart intervals; and at least one sinusoidal intermediate loop defined by the at least one of the plurality of rope strands between the plurality of spaced-apart intervals, the at least one sinusoidal intermediate loop selectively size adjustable by axially moving the at least one of the plurality of rope strands with respect to the another of the plurality of rope strands at the plurality of spaced-apart intervals.
US09150995B2

A laundry machine (100) is proposed. The laundry machine includes a drum (115) for housing the laundry to be treated, an encasing portion (105,120) for encasing the drum (115), and a lighting apparatus (245) for illuminating the inside of the drum (115). The lighting apparatus (245) includes one or more lighting devices (250) associated to the drum (115), and a power feeding assembly for power supplying said one or more lighting device (250). In the solution according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the power feeding assembly includes an electro-magnetic apparatus (265) arranged for power supplying, at least partially contactless, said one or more lighting devices (250).
US09150993B2

The invention provides a method of laundering fabric which uses a pourable liquid detergent composition comprising 10-40% wt of surfactant, essentially consisting of nonionic and/or anionic surfactant (typically less than 90% wt LAS and at least 10% wt of nonionic surfactant) in which 10-40% wt of surfactant preferably passes the Calcium Tolerance Test described in the patent. The composition comprises no more than 15% wt of soap, (present as a minority in wt % terms of the total surfactant). In the method, the composition is diluted by a factor of greater than 500 to obtain a wash liquor which comprises 0.8-0.05 g/l of surfactant, and, the wash liquor is contacted with fabrics. The composition may further comprise one or more of and preferably combinations of lipase, polyethyleneimine, a blue violet dye, preferably with an optical adsorption peak in the range 540-600 nm, a fluorescer, a dye transfer inhibition polymer, a polycarboxylate anti-redeposition agent, a soil release polymer and a perfume (preferably encapsulated).
US09150989B2

The present invention provides a spunbonded non-woven fabric having excellent productivity, stretchability, touch and fuzz resistance without adhesion thereof on a roll and the like just after fiber deposition during the production. The spunbonded non-woven fabric comprises long fibers of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (A) containing ethylene bisoleic acid amide and/or crosslinked organic fine particles and having a hardness of 75 to 85, and the spunbonded non-woven fabric comprises the long fibers of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (A) and long fibers of a thermoplastic resin (B) other than the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (A). The present invention also provides uses thereof.
US09150985B2

A method of producing a fiber preform, including forming a weaved preform fabric with a connection zone and multiple layers extending therefrom, each layer having an edge attached to the connection zone with a remainder of the layers extending freely from each other and from the connection zone, the attached edges being parallel and adjacent one another, each of the layers having a weaved structure including warp yarns extending at least substantially parallel to the attached edges and weft yarns extending at least substantially perpendicularly to the warp yarns, deforming at least one of the layers along a direction at least substantially parallel to the warp yarns until the weft yarns thereof have a corresponding desired orientation with respect to the warp yarns, and attaching the layers together away from the attached edges. A method of forming a weaved preform fabric for a fiber preform is also discussed.
US09150979B1

Focused Electric Field Imprinting (FEFI) provides a focused electric field to guide an unplating operation and/or a plating operation to form very fine-pitched metal patterns on a substrate. The process is a variation of the electrochemical unplating process, wherein the process is modified for imprinting range of patterns of around 2000 microns to 20 microns or less in width, and from about 0.1 microns or less to 10 microns or more in depth. Some embodiments curve a proton-exchange membrane whose shape is varied using suction on a backing fluid through a support mask. Other embodiments use a curved electrode. Mask-membrane interaction parameters and process settings vary the feature size, which can generate sub-100-nm features. The feature-generation process is parallelized, and a stepped sequence of such FEFI operations, can generate sub-100-nm lines with sub-100-nm spacing. The described FEFI process is implemented on copper substrate, and also works well on other conductors.
US09150975B2

An electrorefiner system according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may include a vessel configured to maintain a molten salt electrolyte and configured to receive a plurality of alternately arranged cathode and anode assemblies. The anode assemblies are configured to hold an impure nuclear feed material. Upon application of the power system, the impure nuclear feed material is anodically dissolved and a purified metal is deposited on the cathode rods of the cathode assemblies. A scraper is configured to dislodge the purified metal deposited on the cathode rods. A conveyor system is disposed at a bottom of the vessel and configured to remove the dislodged purified metal from the vessel.
US09150973B2

A process for recovering at least one metal from a metal containing resource, in particular containing at least one metal oxide. The process including the step: providing a crucible containing a chloride salt melt, at least one cathode and an anode connected to the salt melt, heating means for heating the salt melt, and an aluminum melt present at the bottom of the crucible, said aluminum melt forming a part of the anode.
US09150970B2

Process for electrolysis of alkali metal chlorides with oxygen-consuming electrodes having specific operating conditions for startup and shutdown, which prevents damage to constituents of the electrolysis cell.
US09150964B2

There is a vacuum processing apparatus which can reduce the amount of foreign particle occurrence by enhancing the ease of maintenance of a gas diffuser installing portion in the vacuum processing apparatus. A gas diffuser chamber for accommodating a gas diffuser is installed in the vacuum processing apparatus.
US09150959B2

A vapor deposition system includes a filter-diffuser device connected to a vapor inlet within a vacuum chamber for simultaneously filtering inflowing vapor to remove particulate matter while injecting vapor containing perfluordecanoic acid (PFDA) into the chamber through radially arranged porous metal filters to enable the deposition of a uniform monolayer of PFDA molecules onto the surfaces of a micromechanical device, such as a digital micromirror device.
US09150957B2

A method of making sputter targets from a BCC metal or BCC metal alloy is provided. The ingot is e-beamed melted and subjected to vacuum arc reduction. The ingot is then tri-axially forged, keeping the centerline of the ingot in the center of the ingot during the tri-axial forging step. The ingot is then vacuum annealed and clock rolled. During the clock rolling, the center line of the ingot is maintained in the center of the ingot and perpendicular to the compressive forces used during the clock rolling. The clock rolled ingot is then vacuum annealed and provided in a near net shape for usage as a sputter target. Tantalum target materials are disclosed having a purity of at least 99.5% and an interstitial content (CONH) of less than about 25 ppm. Tantalum targets, in accordance with the invention, have a grain size of about 50 to 100 microns and a mixed {100}/{111} texture with a higher % {111} gradient towards the center.
US09150950B2

Method for the production of indexable inserts, which exhibits the following: Deposition of a layer of cutting tip material forming the indexable inserts (40) by means of a PVD method on a dissolvable profiled substrate (10), and—dissolving of the substrate to produce the form of free-standing parts as indexable inserts.
US09150940B2

A high-strength alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet obtained by subjecting the surface of a high-strength steel sheet to alloyed hot-dip galvanization, and formed from a steel sheet containing, in mass %, main components, and containing at least 40 vol % bainite and/or martensite, 8-60 vol % retained austenite, and less than 40 vol % ferrite, with the remainder comprising unavoidable structures. In the alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the total thickness of the Gamma1 layer and the Gamma layer (Tgamma1+Tgamma) is 2 μm or less in the alloy layers formed by hot-dip galvanization, and the Gamma1 phase/Gamma phase thickness ratio (Tgamma1/Tgamma) is 1 or less. A tensile strength of 980 MPa or above can be easily imparted to the alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. The alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet has excellent coating adherence, and coating separation during machining can be suppressed.
US09150931B2

A plurality of probes are immobilized on a carrier for detecting food poisoning bacteria, the plurality of probes being selected, either alone or in combination, respectively from two or more groups among a first probe group for detecting Escherichia coli, a second probe group for detecting Listeria, a third probe group for detecting Campylobacter, a fourth probe group for detecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a fifth probe group for detecting Staphylococcus aureus, a sixth probe group for detecting Salmonella, and a seventh probe group for detecting Bacillus cereus. Two or more types of food poisoning bacteria among Escherichia coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Bacillus cereus can be specifically and simultaneously detected using the carrier.
US09150927B2

Without limitation, this disclosure relates to compositions and methods for detecting and quantifying the expression of insulin receptor isoform A (IR-A) and/or insulin receptor isoform B (IR-B) in a tissue sample. The disclosure also relates to methods of diagnosis and classification based at least in part upon detecting and quantifying the expression of insulin receptor isoform A (IR-A) and/or insulin B (IR-B) in a tissue sample. Methods of treating a subject based upon such a classification are among additional aspects of the disclosure presented herein.
US09150923B2

Four and a Half LIM domains protein 1 (FHL-1) mutations at positions 128 or 224 that are associated with X-linked muscular myopathy, methods of screening subjects to identify those susceptible to muscular myopathy including muscular dystrophy and cardiomyopathy and kits.
US09150922B2

The present invention provides methods and non-fluorescent carbocyanine quencher compounds having the general formula: Wherein the A moiety is a substituted pyridinium, unsubstituted pyridinium, substituted quinolinium, unsubstituted quinolinium, substituted benzazolium, unsubstituted benzazolium, substituted indolinium, or substituted indolinium. The invention further provides luminescent donor molecule-quencher pairs and luminescent donor molecule-quencher-luminescent acceptor molecule conjugates wherein the quencher is a cyanine compound of the present invention. The energy transfer pairs are used to detect an analyte of interest in a sample.
US09150921B2

This document provides methods and materials for detecting genetic and/or epigenetic elements. For example, methods and materials for detecting the presence or absence of target nucleic acid containing a genetic or epigenetic element, methods and materials for detecting the amount of target nucleic acid containing a genetic or epigenetic element within a sample, kits for detecting the presence or absence of target nucleic acid containing a genetic or epigenetic element, kits for detecting the amount of target nucleic acid containing a genetic or epigenetic element present within a sample, and methods for making such kits are provided.
US09150910B2

Methods and compositions which can be used to increase the strength and/or probability of forming a binding complex comprising a target molecule and a substrate are disclosed. In one aspect, linking molecules are disclosed which can be used to increase the number of intra-complex binding interactions. Covalent bonds can be introduced to further increase the strength of these binding interactions. Inter-complex cross-linking can be utilized in connection with these methods to further strengthen and stabilize the disclosed binding complexes.
US09150906B2

A method of determining whether or not a nucleic acid having an expected sequence or one or more variants of the expected sequence are present in a sample containing nucleic acids after replication, transcription or editing (or other transformation) of a substrate nucleic acid. The method involves deciding an expected sequence likely to be formed in the sample upon the replication, transcription or editing of the substrate nucleic acid, and possible variants of the expected sequence, providing primer pairs for a polymerase chain reaction, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction or ligase chain reaction, carrying out the polymerase chain reaction or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in one or more steps to form amplicons, and analyzing the amplicons to determining whether or not a nucleic acid having the expected sequence and/or variants are present in the sample. The primers of the primer pairs are designed to anneal to regions of the nucleic acid of the expected sequence and the variants, the regions being selected to reveal unambiguously the presence or absence in the sample of the nucleic acid of the expected sequence or the variants thereof according to the presence or absence of specific amplicons amplified by the primers.
US09150903B2

Methods for increasing plasmin activity in a patient in need thereof are provided, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutic amount of an agent which binds to α2-antiplasmin at a binding site to increase conversion of cc2-antiplasmin from an inhibitor to a plasmin substrate, thereby increasing plasmin activity in the patient. Also provided are methods for the identification of compounds or molecules that increase plasmin activity, comprising determining whether the compound or molecule binds to a binding site on α2-antiplasmin which increases the conversion of α2-antiplasmin from an inhibitor to a plasmin substrate, wherein the compound or molecule is not an antibody, thereby identifying a compound or molecule which increases plasmin activity. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use thereof for the treatment of myocardial infarction, thrombosis, ischemic stroke, and pulmonary embolism.
US09150892B2

Disclosed are processes for producing Arginine by fermentation in which sugars obtained by enzymatic starch hydrolysis from inexpensive starch containing agro-wastes, such as Cassava bagasse and Jackfruit seed powder, are fermented in the presence of microorganisms to produce a fermentated liquor containing Arginine, and recovering Arginine from the liquor. The process can economically be scaled up for the production of Arginine from unrefined sugar sources as it produced Arginine in higher yields, when compared to more expensive synthetic carbon sources, like dextrose or sucrose.
US09150889B2

The disclosure provides a process that converts CO2 to higher alcohols (e.g. isobutanol) using electricity as the energy source. This process stores electricity (e.g. from solar energy, nuclear energy, and the like) in liquid fuels that can be used as high octane number gasoline substitutes. Instead of deriving reducing power from photosynthesis, this process derives reducing power from electrically generated mediators, either H2 or formate. H2 can be derived from electrolysis of water. Formate can be generated by electrochemical reduction of CO2. After delivering the reducing power in the cell, formate becomes CO2 and recycles back. Therefore, the biological CO2 fixation process can occur in the dark.
US09150885B2

A method of producing isopropyl alcohol includes: culturing an isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli under a bacterial cell growth condition in which the Escherichia coli stably proliferates in an isopropyl alcohol production period while continuously supplying a substrate solution to a culture tank and continuously removing a product-containing culture solution from the culture tank, the substrate solution containing a plant-derived raw material, the number of cells of the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli in the culture tank being maintained during the culturing, and the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli having isopropyl alcohol production ability introduced or modified by genetic recombination; bringing the isopropyl-alcohol-producing Escherichia coli into contact with the plant-derived raw material in the culture tank to produce isopropyl alcohol; and recovering the isopropyl alcohol produced by the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli from the culture solution that contains the product and that has been removed from the culture tank.
US09150878B2

The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 41-26 RZ, which exhibits a combination of traits inclusing resistance against downy mildew races Bl:1 to Bl:28 and Ca-V to Ca-VIII, resistance against currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0, resistance against Lettuce Mosaic Virus (LMV)), as well as medium green mature leaves with a hollow main vein. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 41-26 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 41-26 RZ.
US09150875B2

The present invention relates to a rice (Oryza sativa)-induced Oryza sativa modifier of plant type (OsMPT) protein which is involved in adjusting tillering angle or angle of attachment between a leaf and a stem, a gene encoding the protein, a recombinant plant expression vector including the gene, a plant transformed by the recombinant plant expression vector, a method for modifying architectures of plants by adjusting the level of the gene in the cells thereof, to a method for manufacturing an architecturally modified plant transformed by the gene, to a plant with increased yield which is manufactured by the method, and to a composition containing the gene for modifying the architectures of plants and increasing the yield thereof.
US09150874B2

Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these delta-9 elongases in plants.
US09150869B2

Disclosed are nucleic acid constructs comprising coding sequences operably linked to a promoter not natively associated with the coding sequence. The coding sequences encode Pichia stipitis proteins that allow recombinant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing the protein to grow on xylose, and allow or increase uptake of xylose by Pichia stipitis or Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing the coding sequences. Expression of the coding sequences enhances uptake of xylose and/or glucose, allowing increased ethanol or xylitol production.
US09150867B2

Materials and methods related to using multimeric DNA aptamers to treat demyelinating diseases are provided herein.
US09150866B2

A method for single-cycle selection of aptamers is provided. More specifically, a method comprising single-cycle selection of aptamers for proteins blotted on a membrane is provided. In some embodiments, the present methods can comprise a deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) mediated aptamers selection strategy that may be capable of isolating strong binding aptamers for target proteins from a crude protein extract. Aptamers selected using the present method are further provided. More specifically, the presently selected aptamers may be thermally stable, modifiable and easily produced through single-cycle synthesis process. The present aptamers may provide unique affinity reagents for use in diagnosing and detecting infectious disease (for example Hepatitis B), for research and biochemical studies (e.g. into molecular mechanisms). Further, the present aptamers may be utilized to develop unique assays or kits for clinical application, such as monitoring disease treatment and outcome.
US09150862B2

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is a chemical signal produced by cells that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, and overexpression of VEGFA can lead to undesirable physiological conditions. Through the identification of new siRNA and modifications that improve the silencing ability of these siRNA in vivo, therapeutic compositions and methods have been invented to address the problems associated with this overexpression.
US09150861B2

The present invention, at least in part, relates to the discovery of efficacious delivery of an RNAi agent (in preferred aspects of the invention, an siRNA) to a transplantable tissue. Organ rejection, transplantation-mediated transmission of viral infection, and triggering of apoptosis in transplanted tissues can each be minimized by the methods and compositions of the instant invention. The RNAi agent(s) of the instant invention can be delivered as “naked” molecules, or using liposomal and other modes of delivery, to transplantable tissues. Such delivery can occur via perfusion of the RNAi agent in solution through the vasculature of a whole or partial organ; or tissues including transplantable cells and cell lines may be bathed, injected or otherwise treated with RNAi agents. Preferred transplantable tissues include, for example, pancreas, liver, kidney, heart, lung, and all cells and cell lines derived from such tissues (e.g., pancreatic islet cells that may, e.g., be transplanted as a treated population).
US09150854B2

The current invention relates to a method for targeted alteration of acceptor DNA, for example duplex acceptor DNA. The method comprises the use of an oligonucleotide having at least one mismatch relative to the targeted (duplex) acceptor DNA. The mismatch is located at specific positions within said oligonucleotide. Also provided is a kit that comprises instructions for performing the method according to the inventions, and in a preferred embodiment, comprises an oligonucleotide suitable for use in the method.
US09150849B2

The invention provides methods and compositions for screening polypeptide libraries that include variants comprising unnatural amino acids. In addition, the invention provides vector packaging systems and methods for packaging a nucleic acid in a vector. Compositions of vectors produced by the methods and systems are also provided.
US09150845B2

This invention provides polypeptides having lyase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention is directed to polypeptides having ammonia lyase activity, e.g., phenylalanine ammonia lyase, tyrosine ammonia lyase and/or histidine ammonia lyase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides of the invention can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial contexts.
US09150840B2

The present invention relates to a novel epoxide hydrolase enzyme which aims to achieve a high degree of resolution towards a broader range of substrates with high enantioselectivity and yields with minimal product inhibition. The invention further relates to a new bacterial strain Achromobacter sp. MTCC 5605 isolated from a petroleum-contaminated sludge sample, capable of producing the said enzyme. It is notable that the enzyme can be used as whole bacterial cell preparation, which allows continuous hydrolysis of substrates at even higher concentration and have an advantage of being recycled. The invention further relates to a process for the hydrolysis of different aryl epoxides which are potential synthons of intermediates for the synthesis of chiral amino alcohols and bioactive compounds like β-blockers.
US09150830B2

Oogonial stem cell (OSC)-derived compositions, such as nuclear free cytoplasm or isolated mitochondria, and uses of OSC-derived compositions in autologous fertility-enhancing procedures are described.
US09150828B2

The present invention relates to a lactobacillus mutant, a nucleotide sequence for lactobacillus mutant, and primers for nucleotide sequence of lactobacillus mutant. The lactobacillus mutant is Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1, and deposited with Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ, Inhoffenstr. 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany) on Nov. 18, 2013, wherein the accession number of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 is DSM 28047. In the present invention, a nucleotide sequence for NTU 101 and the primers for the nucleotide sequence are proposed in order to facilitate the person skilled in Lactobacillus filed capable of carrying out the strain (mutant) identification of the NTU 101 according to the present invention. Moreover, the person skilled in Lactobacillus filed can also rapidly complete the strain (mutant) identification of the NTU 101 by using DNA molecular marker technology, without culturing any isolated Lactobacillus strain or live Lactobacillus bacteria.
US09150822B2

An aqueous fabric conditioner composition comprising (a) from 2 to 9 wt % of a fabric softening active, by weight of the total composition, wherein the fabric softening active is an ester-linked quaternary ammonium compound having fatty acid chains comprising from 20 to 35 wt % of saturated C18 chains and from 20 to 35 wt % of monounsaturated C18 chains, by weight of total fatty acid chains; and (b) from 0.01 to 0.5 wt %, by weight of the total composition, of a floc prevention agent, which is a non-ionic alkoxylated material having an HLB value of from 8 to 18, wherein the aqueous fabric conditioner composition has a viscosity of greater than 50 cps, preferably from 55 to 200 cps as measured on a cup and bob viscometer; the viscosity being continuously measured under shear at 106 s″1 for 60 seconds, at 25° C. and wherein the composition leads to little or no floc formation upon addition to water.
US09150818B2

The present invention relates to both stable liquid laundry cleaning compositions and dry powdered laundry cleaning compositions with good solubility in water. More particularly, this invention relates to a concentrated soap-based formulation to be mixed with a limited quantity of water in a mixing container to render an amount of dilute liquid laundry cleaning solution with lasting stability and good cleaning properties.
US09150816B2

A method for purification of a first polyunsaturated fatty acid from an initial mixture is provided. The initial mixture comprises at least one second fatty acid in addition to the first polyunsaturated fatty acid. The method may comprise separating the first polyunsaturated fatty acid and the second fatty acid in a liquid phase in at least one step of a chromatographic separation process, so as to recover, on the one hand, a stream enriched in the first polyunsaturated fatty acid, and on the other hand, a stream enriched in the second fatty acid. The method may further comprise a step of processing the stream enriched in the first polyunsaturated fatty acid to decrease the peroxide value and/or anisidine value of this stream. The disclosure also provides systems or devices suitably adapted for the implementation of such methods.
US09150815B2

Organic solvent-free processes for obtaining krill oil compositions are disclosed. The processes include a) cooking krill in a cooker vessel for a time and temperature sufficient to denature the protein content of the krill and cause a first solid krill fraction and first liquid krill fraction to be formed while substantially avoiding emulsification of the first solid and first liquid krill fractions; b) removing the first solid and first liquid krill fractions from the cooker vessel at a temperature of at least about 90° C.; c) separating the first solid fraction and the first liquid fraction; and d) obtaining krill oil with neutral enriched from the first liquid fraction, and e) by pressing of first solid fraction to obtain press liquid or a second liquid krill fraction for obtaining krill oil with phospholipids enriched krill oil, the separating and the obtaining steps being carried out without the use of organic solvents.
US09150812B2

Disclosed are compositions of a major amount of alkylated aromatics compounds, in particular alkylated naphthalene and alkylated benzene, optionally combined with API Group II, Group III, Group IV and/or ethylene copolymers, showing improved thermo-oxidation performance when containing an additive combination including an alkylated or non-alkylated diarylamine and a sulfur-containing metal passivator. Particularly, the lubricating compositions include at least 55 wt % of a base oil selected from the group consisting of alkylated naphthalene, alkylated benzene and combinations thereof, and from 0 wt % to 45 wt % of another base oil component. The ratio of amine component to sulfur component in the additive combination is from 1:1 to 20:1. The compositions contain an amount of base oil other than alkylated naphthalene, alkylated benzene and API Group II, Group III, Group IV and/or ethylene copolymers of less than 10 wt % based on the total weight of the components comprising the lubricating composition.
US09150810B2

An additive for lubricating oil of the present invention contains an amide compound represented by the following general formula (1). A lubricating oil composition of the present invention contains: a lubricating base oil containing a mineral base oil and/or a synthetic base oil; and an amide compound represented by the following general formula (1). R1R2N—COCH2OH  (1) (In the general formula (1), R1 and R2 may be the same or different and each represents an alkyl group having 16 to 22 carbon atoms.)
US09150806B1

A device and method for cleaning producer gas includes a filter bed chamber, a microwave chamber, a first catalytic chamber and a second catalytic chamber. The filter bed chamber comprises an inlet for carbon-based material and a spent carbon outlet. The microwave chamber comprises a permeable top and wave guides around the perimeter through which microwaves can be introduced into the device using magnetrons. The first catalytic chamber is connected to the microwave chamber, and the second catalytic chamber is connected to the first catalytic chamber. The method comprises using the device by filling the filter bed chamber with carbon-based material, introducing microwaves into the microwave chamber using the magnetrons and wave guides, dissociating heavy carbons entrained within the gas by passing the gas through carbon-based material in the filter bed chamber, the microwave chamber, the first catalytic chamber and the second catalytic chamber.
US09150794B2

The present invention relates to a method of improving a heavy hydrocarbon, such as bitumen, to a lighter more fluid product and, more specifically, to a final hydrocarbon product that is refinery-ready and meets pipeline transport criteria without the addition of diluent. A solid asphaltene by-product is created for easy handling and further processing. The invention is targeted to enhance Canadian bitumen, but has general application in improving any heavy hydrocarbon.
US09150774B2

According to an embodiment, a cement composition for use in an oil or gas well, the cement composition comprises: cement; water; and a polymer, wherein the polymer: (i) comprises a monomer or monomers capable of forming a polyester; and (ii) is capable of providing a thickening time of at least 2 hours at a temperature of 400° F. (204.4° C.) and a pressure of greater than about 500 psi (3.4 MPa) for a test composition consisting essentially of: the cement; the water; and the polymer, and in the same proportions as in the cement composition. According to another embodiment, a method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprises: introducing the cement composition into the subterranean formation; and allowing the cement composition to set.
US09150773B2

Embodiments relate to cementing operations and, more particularly, in certain embodiments, to settable compositions that comprise kiln dust and wollastonite and methods of use in subterranean formations. An embodiment discloses a method of cementing comprising: providing a settable composition comprising kiln dust, wollastonite, and water; and allowing the settable composition to set.
US09150766B2

An anti-fog composition is provided that includes a superabsorbent polymer that along with a wetting agent are dissolved in a solvent. The superabsorbent polymer excludes hydroxylated acrylate and methacrylate polymers. The composition upon being applied to a substrate with the excess composition removed, an anti-fog film is formed on the substrate without resort to heat treatment and vacuum processing or other complex application processes associated with. The composition is well suited for formation of an end user kit for applying such a film to a substrate. Such a kit includes a container for the composition or a wipe wet with the composition. The container being a bottle or a propellant filled aerosol canister. Upon wiping residual composition from the substrate, the anti-fog film is produced without resort to prior art and complex application processes.
US09150763B2

Laminate structures comprising one or more sheets of material bonded together with an adhesive polymer. The adhesive polymer is a polyester amide, polyester urethane, or polyester urea.
US09150760B2

Provided is a flame retardant adhesive sheet having an adhesive agent layer on at least one surface of a base material, which even when the adhesive agent layer does not contain a flame retardant agent, has both excellent flame retardant properties and adhesive properties. The present invention is concerned with a flame retardant adhesive sheet including an adhesive agent layer on at least one surface of abase material, wherein the base material has flame retardant properties adapted to VTM-0 in a test according to the UL94 standard; a thickness per surface of the adhesive agent layer is 0.6 μm or more, and a total thickness of the adhesive agent layer is not more than 2.2 μm; the adhesive agent constituting the adhesive agent layer does not contain a flame retardant agent but contains (A) an acrylic copolymer and (B) a specified urethane resin.
US09150758B2

The polishing composition of the present invention contains an oxidizing agent and a scratch-reducing agent represented by general formula (1) or (2) below. In the formulas, X1 and X2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a phosphate group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkyl polyamine group, an alkyl polyphosphate group, an alkyl polycarboxylate group, an alkyl polyaminopolyphosphate group, or an alkyl polyaminopolycarboxylate group.
US09150753B2

A method for forming an aqueous polyurethane dispersion including providing an isocyanate (NCO)-terminated prepolymer with a side-chain reactive functional group by admixing (i) at least one diisocyanate, (ii) at least one difunctional polyol, (iii) a short-chain diol monomer having a side-chain reactive functional group or a modified clay thereof, (iv) at least one hydroxy carboxylic acid compound and (v) a hydrophilic cosolvent; neutralizing the NCO-terminated prepolymer with a tertiary amine; dispersing the NCO-terminated prepolymer in water; and admixing the NCO-terminated prepolymer with at least one chain extending agent comprising a hydrophilic diamine; wherein the short-chain diol monomer (iii) is expressed by structural formula (I): wherein, A is an azetidine-2,4-dione functional group or a malonamide-linked alkyl group and B is a nitrogen-linked di-hydroxy terminal group or tertiary amine-linked di-hydroxy terminal group wherein IDD was synthesized by methylenedi-p-phenyl diisocyanate and isobutyryl chloride using triethylamine as catalyst.
US09150743B2

A photopolymerizable composition includes diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate and methacrylic acid ester having a phosphoric group.
US09150738B2

The present invention relates to a process for the production of precipitated calcium carbonate, comprising the following steps: a) providing a reaction vessel containing an aqueous phase at an initial temperature; b) injecting a carbon dioxide generating compound into the aqueous phase until the pH of the aqueous phase is in the range of around 5 to around 7; and c) subsequently adding a calcium hydroxide slurry at an initial temperature to the reaction vessel while continuing the injection of the carbon dioxide generating compound, in order to obtain an aqueous slurry of the precipitated calcium carbonate. The addition rate of the calcium hydroxide slurry to the reaction vessel in step c) is such that an average electrical conductivity of the reaction contents in the reaction vessel during the reaction is in a range of 100 to 6 000 μS/cm.
US09150726B2

Curable silicone mixture containing an alkenyl-functional silicone, an Si—H functional silicone, an epoxy-functional silicone, a ferrocene, and a hydrosilylation curing catalyst, provide thermally stable silicones which are also adherent. The compositions are particularly useful for embedding power semiconductor devices.
US09150714B2

A sulfur-crosslinkable rubberizing mixture for strengthening elements in motor vehicle pneumatic tires comprises 70 to 100 phr (parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of total rubbers in the mixture) of natural rubber, up to 30 phr of at least one polybutadiene, up to 15 phr of at least one carbon black, 20 to 100 phr of at least one high-dispersibility silica, at least one silane coupling agent and a bonding system. The invention further relates to motor vehicle pneumatic tires comprising the sulfur-crosslinked rubberizing mixture. For improved resistance to cracking and growth of cracks with good adhesion and good mechanical and dynamic properties, the high-dispersibility silica has a CTAB number to ASTM D 3765 of more than 130 m2/g.
US09150699B2

A film that is formed from a biodegradable polymer blend of different aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters is provided. More specifically, the blend contains a first copolyester formed from a terephthalic acid monomer. The use of a terephthalic acid monomer results in a polymer chain containing 1,4-(para-)terephthalate units linked in a generally linear configuration (e.g., ˜180°). The blend also contains a second aliphatic-aromatic copolyester formed from a phthalic acid and/or isophthalic acid monomer.
US09150694B2

A composition for use in an optical material is disclosed which is capable of providing an optical material satisfying a high refractive index (ne is 1.73 or more), a high strength (an elongation is 10% or more in a three-point bending test and drilling resistance is good), and a high thermostability (a softening point measured by TMA is 70° C. or higher). The optical material such as a lens for two-point frame spectacles is formed by polymerizing and curing a composition for use in an optical resin material containing (a) an inorganic compound having a sulfur atom and/or a selenium atom, (b) an episulfide compound, and (c) a xylylenedithiol compound.
US09150690B2

A method of producing a polylactic acid block copolymer constituted of a segment(s) composed of L-lactic acid units and a segment(s) composed of D-lactic acid units, includes obtaining a mixture by mixing poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid one of which has a weight average molecular weight of 60,000 to 300,000 and the other of which has a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 50,000, the mixture having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 90,000 and a degree of stereocomplexation (Sc) satisfying: Sc=ΔHh/(ΔHl+ΔHh)×100>60 (wherein ΔHh represents the heat of fusion of stereocomplex crystals (J/g), and ΔHl represents the heat of fusion of crystals of poly-L-lactic acid alone and crystals of poly-D-lactic acid alone (J/g)); and subsequently subjecting the mixture to solid-phase polymerization at a temperature lower than the melting point of the mixture.
US09150689B2

The present invention provides a method of preparing a flame retardant polyester fiber that makes it possible to prepare a flame retardant polyester fiber having excellent shape stability while preventing a lumping phenomonon and reducing powder generation and discoloration during the preparing process of the flame retardant polyester fiber, and a flame retardant polyester fiber prepared therefrom.
US09150688B2

A method for releasing viruses includes the steps of: preparing a first negatively charged complex, comprising a plurality of viruses, a plurality of polyethyleneimine particles, and a copolymer; transferring the complex to an acidic region, thereby transforming the complex into a positively charged complex to release a portion of the viruses in the acidic region; and transferring the complex to a non-acidic region, thereby transforming the positively charged complex into a negatively charged complex. One embodiment of the copolymer has the following chemical formula: wherein R1 represents aliphatic compounds or aromatic compounds, and R2 includes at least one negatively charged group.
US09150681B2

The invention provides an ethylene-based polymer formed from at least the following: ethylene and a “monomeric chain transfer agent (monomeric CTA),” comprising a “copolymerization end” and a “chain transfer end.”
US09150679B2

The present invention provides a saponification product of a vinyl ester/ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having superior tolerance of the aqueous thickening liquid against mechanical shear. More specifically, the present invention provides a saponification product of a vinyl ester/ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having the superior tolerance, by polymerizing a mixture where the molar ratio of the vinyl ester/ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester is from 8/2 to 3/7, and saponifying the obtained copolymer in a mixed solvent where the mass composition ratio of an aqueous organic solvent/water mixture solvent is from 3/7 to 8/2.
US09150676B2

Catalysts comprising thio-salalen ligands. Also, catalyst systems comprising the catalyst and an activator; methods to prepare the ligands, catalysts and catalyst systems; processes to polymerize olefins using the catalysts and/or catalyst systems; and the olefin polymers prepared according to the processes.
US09150675B2

A water-soluble copolymer comprising, by mass relative to the total mass of the copolymer: 1 to 40% of at least one cationic monomer; 59.99 to 98% of at least one nonionic monomer; 0.01 to 10% of at least one monomer of formula (I); in which: R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical; Z is a divalent group —C(═O)—O—, or —C(═O)—NH—; n is an integer between 2 and 200; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a carbon-containing radical which is saturated or unsaturated, optionally aromatic, linear, branched or cyclic, comprising 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and from 0 to 4 heteroatoms chosen from the group comprising O, N and S; the copolymer having a cationic charge density between 0.05 and 3 meq/g.
US09150666B2

Disclosed are compositions that comprise vinylarylalkylene ethers of cyclodextrins optionally containing ether-linked adhesion-promoting groups, in combination with copolymerizable monomer or monomers. The copolymerizable monomer or monomers may include vinylarylalkylene ethers of oligohydroxy compounds (for example, sorbitol divinylbenzyl ether and others). The composition further may include stabilizers (for example, 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-(tert)-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene and others), and polymerization initiators (for example, phenylbis[2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl]phosphine oxide and others) and reinforcing materials (for example, imogolite). Methods of preparing the compositions as well as the components of compositions and methods for their use in dental and other applications are also disclosed.
US09150665B2

This invention provides cellulose ester interpolymers, and methods of oxidizing cellulose interpolymers and cellulose ester interpolymers. The invention also provides routes to access carboxylated cellulose ester derivatives with high acid numbers wherein the carboxyl group is attached directly to the cellulose backbone by a carbon-carbon bond. Through functionalization of an intermediate aldehyde, the corresponding cationic or zwitterionic cellulose ester derivatives can also be accessed. The interpolymers of the present invention have a number of end-use applications, for example, as binder resins in various types of coating compositions and as drug delivery agents.
US09150661B2

Cancer treatments use a therapy that: 1) interferes with the interaction between CD200 and its receptor to block immune suppression thereby promoting eradication of the cancer cells; and 2) directly kills the cancer cells either by complement-mediated or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity or by targeting cells using a fusion molecule that includes a CD200-targeting portion. The therapy includes the administration of novel antibodies, functional fragments thereof or fusion molecules containing portions thereof.
US09150658B2

Isolated human monoclonal antibodies which bind to human TF and related antibody-based compositions and molecules, are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the antibodies.
US09150656B2

The present invention relates to antibodies and their fragments that are immunoreactive to the mammalian, and more particularly, the human B7-H3 receptor and to uses thereof, particularly in the treatment of cancer and inflammation. The invention thus particularly concerns humanized B7-H3-reactive antibodies and their immunoreactive fragments that are capable of mediating, and more preferably enhancing the activation of the immune system against cancer cells that are associated with a variety of human cancers.
US09150653B2

Antigen binding proteins which bind to human IL-7 receptor (CD127) are provided. The antigen binding proteins are typically antibodies, and are useful in the treatment of diseases or disorders in humans, particularly autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
US09150652B2

The present application relates to compositions of humanized and humanized/deimmunized anti-endoglin antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof. One aspect relates to antibodies having one or more modifications in at least one amino acid residue of at least one of the framework regions of the variable heavy chain, the variable light chain or both. Another aspect relates to antibodies which bind endoglin and inhibit angiogenesis. Another aspect relates to the deimmunization of humanized antibodies to reduce immunogenicity. Another aspect relates to the use of humanized and humanized/deimmunized antibodies which bind endoglin for the detection, diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition associated with endoglin, angiogenesis or a combination thereof.
US09150651B2

The disclosure provides an anti-TGFbetaRII immunoglobulin single variable domain. Suitably, an anti-TGFbetaRII immunoglobulin single variable domain in accordance with the disclosure is one having an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:1-28 having up to 5 amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions. The disclosure further provides a polypeptide and pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease associated with TGFbeta signalling and suitably a disease selected from the group of: tissue fibrosis, such as pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; liver fibrosis, including cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis; rheumatoid arthritis; ocular disorders; fibrosis of the skin, including keloid of skin; Dupuytren's Contracture; kidney fibrosis such as nephritis and nephrosclerosis; wound healing; scarring reduction; and a vascular condition, such as restenosis.
US09150649B2

Linkers for binding drugs to cell binding agents are modified to hydrophilic linkers by incorporating a polyethylene glycol spacer. The potency or the efficacy of the cell-binding agent-drug conjugates is surprisingly enhanced several folds in a variety of cancer cell types, including those expressing a low number of antigens on the cell surface or cancer cells that are resistant to treatment. A method for preparing maytansinoids bearing a thioether moiety and a reactive group which allows the maytansinoid to be linked to a cell-binding agent in essentially a single step is also provided.
US09150648B2

The present invention provides antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to cells expressing acid-sensing ion channel-1 (ASIC1). According to certain embodiments of the invention, the antibodies inhibit acid-induced, ASIC1-mediated ion currents in cells expressing human ASIC1. The antibodies of the invention are useful for the treatment of pain, including pain associated with surgical intervention and various diseases and disorders.
US09150643B2

Methods for treating diabetes by administering an inhibitor of GDF-8, or a related member of Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily of structurally-related growth factors (e.g., GDF-11) are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for upregulating expression of hexose transporters, such as GLUT4 and GLUT1, in a subject by administering an inhibitor of GDF-8. Also disclosed are methods for increasing glucose uptake by cells in a subject, by administering an inhibitor of GDF-8.
US09150623B2

Disclosed is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least 90% identical to a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 4, wherein the protein has an aspartic acid (Asp) at amino acid position 106 Transgenic plants compπsing the nucleic acid have reduced or delayed softening and detenoration of fruit compared to wild-type plants Methods of genetic screening for plants having reduced or delayed softening and detenoration of fruit, isolated oligonucleotides, and a method of imparting to a plant the dfd trait are also disclosed.
US09150612B2

Disclosed are RNA targeting compounds having the formula: wherein j is an integer from 1 to 100; each i is the same or different and is zero or an integer from 1 to 100; each Z1 represents the same or different linking moiety; each R1 is the same or different and represents an alkyl group or an aryl group; each Q1 represents the same or different RNA binding ligand; Q2 is an alkyl group; Q3 is a halogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an amine. Also disclosed are RNA targeting compounds that include a polymer backbone and two or more pendant RNA binding ligands that are bound to the polymer backbone. Methods for using the subject RNA targeting compounds to treat myotonic dystrophy and other diseases are also disclosed, as are compounds that can be used to prepare the subject RNA targeting compounds.
US09150607B2

Synthetic methods for preparing deoxycholic acid and intermediates thereof are provided.
US09150605B2

The present invention provides compositions comprising at least one oligomeric compound comprising an alternating motif and further include a region that is complementary to a nucleic acid target. The compositions are useful for targeting selected nucleic acid molecules and modulating the expression of one or more genes. In preferred embodiments the compositions of the present invention hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA. The present invention also provides methods for modulating gene expression.
US09150602B2

A precursor used for labeling hepatocyte receptors and applied to radiotracers for imaging or pharmaceutical compositions for liver cancers is revealed. The precursor is a bifunctional compound. The bifunctional group includes a trisaccharide structure and a diamide dimercaptide (N2S2) ligand. The trisaccharide has high affinity to asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPR) on surfaces of hepatocytes while N2S2 ligand reacts with radioisotopes to form neutral complexes. Thus the precursor stays on surfaces of hepatocytes to provide radioisotope labeling or treatment effect of liver cancers.
US09150593B2

Provided herein are novel fluoroergoline derivatives and compositions thereof. In other embodiments, provided herein are methods of treatment, prevention, or amelioration of a variety of medical disorders such as, for example, migraine using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of agonizing receptors such as, for example, the 5-HT1D and/or the 5-HT1B receptor, without agonizing the 5-HT2B receptor using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of antagonizing or inhibiting activity at receptors such as, for example, the adrenergic alpha2A and/or the alpha2B receptors using the compounds and compositions disclosed herein.
US09150581B2

Compounds and compositions for promoting smoking cessation or decreasing tobacco use or nicotine addiction are provided. The compounds are 2′-fluoro-3′-(substituted phenyl) deschloroepibatidine analogs. The compounds have been found to modulate neuronal nicotine acetylcholine receptors and are useful in methods for the treatment of conditions or disorders influenced by the modulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
US09150580B2

The present application relates to novel substituted imidazopyridazines having the following formula (I): to processes for their preparation, to their use, alone or in combinations, for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and to their use for production of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders.
US09150568B2

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), a stereoisomer, enantiomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or an amino acid conjugate thereof; wherein variables are as defined herein; and their pharmaceutical compositions, which are useful as modulators of the activity of Farnesiod X receptors (FXR).
US09150567B2

Crystalline salts of 5-ethyl-2-{4-[4-(4-tetrazol-1-yl-phenoxymethyl)-thiazol-2-yl]-piperidin-1-yl}-pyrimidine, compositions thereof, methods for their preparation, and methods for their use are disclosed.
US09150566B2

The present invention relates to 2-(1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)benzamide and 3-(1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)picolinamide derivatives of formula (I) wherein Ar1, Q, and R1 to R5 are as described in the description, to their preparation, to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and to their use as pharmaceuticals, to pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more compounds of formula (I), and especially to their use as orexin receptor antagonists.
US09150564B2

Certain substituted urea derivatives selectively modulate the cardiac sarcomere, for example by potentiating cardiac myosin, and are useful in the treatment of systolic heart failure including congestive heart failure.
US09150561B2

The present invention is related to thiazole derivatives of Formula (I) in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders and/or inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neturodegenerative diseases, bacterial or viral infections, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, transplantation, graft rejection or lung injuries.
US09150560B2

This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4, Q, X, Y, Z and have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US09150553B2

The present invention relates to novel carboxamide compounds of the formula I and their use for the manufacture of a medicament. The carboxamide compounds are prodrugs of inhibitors of calpain (calcium dependant cysteine proteases). The invention therefore also relates to the use of these carboxamide compounds for treating a disorder associated with an elevated calpain activity. R1 is C1-C10-alkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl, C3-C7-cycloalkyl, C3-C7-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, aryl, hetaryl, aryl-C1-C6-alkyl, aryl-C2-C6-alkenyl, hetaryl-C1-C4-alkyl or hetaryl-C2-C6-alkenyl, R2 is C3-C7-cycloalkyl, C3-C7-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, aryl, O-aryl, O—CH2-aryl, hetaryl, aryl-C1-C6-alkyl, aryl-C2-C6-alkenyl, hetaryl-C1-C4-alkyl or hetaryl-C2-C6-alkenyl, R3a and R3b together form a moiety S-Alk-S, O-Alk-S or O-Alk-O, wherein Alk is linear C2-C5-alkandiyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted with 1, 2, 3 or 4 radicals selected from C1-C4-alkyl or halogen; X is a radical of the formulae C(═O)—O—Rx1, C(═O)—NRx2Rx3, C(═O)—N(Rx4)—(C1-C6-alkylene)-NRx2Rx3, C(═O)—N(Rx4)NRx2Rx3, n is 0, 1 or 2, one of the variables Y1, Y2, Y3 or Y4 is a nitrogen atom, and the remaining variables Y1, Y2, Y3 or Y4 are CH; Ry is e.g. OH, SH, halogen, NO2, NH2, CN, CF3, CHF2, CH2F, O—CF3, O—CHF2, O—CH2F, COOH, OCH2COOH, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C6-alkylthio etc. W is a radical of the formulae W1 or W2 which is linked via nitrogen: in which * means the linkage to the 6-membered heteroaromatic ring, and # means the linkage to R2, m is 0, 1 or 2, and Rw is e.g. OH, SH, halogen, NO2, NH2, CN, CF3, CHF2, CH2F, O—CF3, O—CHF2, O—CH2F, COOH, OCH2COOH.
US09150552B2

The present invention relates to a substantially crystalline and free solid state form of 3-(6-(1-(2,2-difluorobenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamido)-3-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid (Form I), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treatment therewith.
US09150545B2

The present invention relates to novel carboxamide compounds and their use for the manufacture of a medicament. The carboxamide compounds are inhibitors of calpain (calcium dependant cysteine proteases). The invention therefore also relates to the use of these carboxamide compounds for treating a disorder associated with an elevated calpain activity. The carboxamide compounds are compounds of the general formula (I) in which R1, R2 and n have the meanings mentioned in the claims and the description, Y is a radical of the formulae (Y1) or (Y2) where # indicates the point of attachment of Y to the pyridine ring, R3, R4, R5, Ry and m have the meanings mentioned in the claims and the description, A is (CH2)p with p being 1, 2, 3 or 4, where one or two hydrogen atoms may be replaced by a radical R6, where A is attached to the 3- or 4-position of the pyrazole radical and R6 has the meaning mentioned in the claims and the description; A1 is (CH2)q with q being 0, 1, 2 or 3, where one or two hydrogen atoms may be replaced by halogen or C1-C4-alkyl; and A2 is (CH2)r with r being 0, 1, 2 or 3, where one or two hydrogen atoms may be replaced by halogen or C1-C4-alkyl, provided that that r+q is 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; their tautomers, the hydrates thereof, the pharmaceutically suitable salts of the carbox-amide compounds (I), the prodrugs of (I) and the pharmaceutically suitable salts of the prodrugs, tautomers or hydrates of (I).
US09150544B2

The invention relates to new sulphonylaminopyrrolidinone compounds having antithrombotic activity which, in particular, inhibit blood clotting factor IXa and/or factor Xa, to processes for their preparation and to use thereof as drugs.
US09150541B2

To provide a pharmaceutical, in particular a compound which can be used as a therapeutic agent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It was found that a tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-one derivative having an amide group at the 4-position or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has an excellent bombesin 2 (BB2) receptor antagonistic action. It is also found that the tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-one derivative is highly effective on bowel movement disorders. From the above, the tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-one derivative of the present invention is useful as a therapeutic agent for diseases associated with a BB2 receptor, in particular IBS.
US09150536B2

The present invention relates to a novel cycloalkene derivative, and an organic electronic device using the same. The cycloalkene derivative according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may act as a hole injection, a hole transport, an electron injection, an electron transport, or a light emitting material in an organic light emitting diode and an organic electronic device, and in particular, may be used alone as a light emitting host or a dopant.
US09150529B2

The invention relates to a compound of formula (I), where R1, R2, R7, m, n, and L1 are as defined in claim 1, and to the methods for preparing same, to the pharmaceutical compositions containing same, and to the uses thereof in the treatment of diseases associated with insulin resistance syndrome.
US09150528B2

Since a compound represented by formula (I) wherein all of the symbols are the same as defined in the specification, a salt thereof, a solvate thereof, a prodrug thereof, a mixture with a diastereomer thereof in an arbitrary ratio, or a cyclodextrin clathrate thereof have a contracting activity of bladder detrusor and a relaxing activity of urethral sphincter, they can ameliorate bladder contraction dysfunction and/or urethral relaxation dysfunction, and for example, are effective for underactive bladder. Additionally, the compound of the present invention has little risk of side effects on the urinary system, the circulatory system and the digestive system, and exhibits excellent pharmacokinetics, such as oral absorbability etc. Therefore, the compound of the present invention is useful as a superior agent for preventing, treating and/or ameliorating underactive bladder.
US09150511B2

Methods of making saxagliptin, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and hydrates thereof and intermediates thereof.
US09150506B2

Described are sulfonated aromatic compounds and methods of making said compounds. The compounds are useful as monomers in a variety of polymers such as polyamides and polyesters, and can impart flame resistant properties.
US09150493B2

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of aromatic amines in the liquid phase by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding nitroaromatic compounds in at least two reaction spaces connected in series, wherein at least one reaction space is operated isothermally and at least the reaction space connected downstream thereof is operated adiabatically, and in preferred embodiments the sudden adiabatic temperature change is used for monitoring the reaction.
US09150492B2

The invention relates to nonyl alcohols with a low degree of branching and derivatives produced using them. In particular the present invention relates to mixture of primary nonyl alcohols in which at least 80% of the alkyl chains are linear and at least 15% of the alkyl chains are branched at the 2-carbon position and its derivatives. The low degree of branching produces derivatives that are more elongated and less bulky that similar derivatives produced with more highly branched alcohols.
US09150487B2

Provided is a simple filtering operation method capable of conducting a filtering operation without clogging in a ceramic filter for a long period of time, in the operation of filtering fine crystals of terephthalic acid in an oxidation reaction mother liquor obtained in a process of terephthalic acid production by a cross-flow filtration using the ceramic filter. The present invention can be accomplished by conducting an operation for filtering the fine crystals and a back washing operation with a filtrate while maintaining a flowing circulation operation of the oxidation reaction mother liquor under predetermined conditions.
US09150475B2

A process for produce ethanol by hydrogenation acetic acid and/or esters thereof is disclosed. The process involves reacting hydrogen feed stream with an acetic acid feed stream in a reactor operated in the presence of a catalyst to form an ethanol mixture and monitoring carbon monoxide concentration of the fresh hydrogen feed stream and adjusting temperature in the reactor in response to the carbon monoxide concentration of the fresh hydrogen feed stream.
US09150461B2

A high efficiency, environmentally friendly bioorganic product for treating agricultural and ornamental plants combining fertilizing, stimulating and protective property is proposed, in the first variant intended for pre-sowing seed treatment (tubers, bulbs); in the second variant for foliar application on cereals, vegetables, ornamental crops and potatoes.Each of the variants of the proposed bioproduct contains microbiologically fermented organic agricultural waste, for example, cow or poultry manure, with microelements including copper, cobalt and zinc and macroelements: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in bound form available to plants, wherein the biological and organic constituents are combined. The product contains substances that have fungicidal and bactericidal properties, i.e., sulfur and benzoic acid, and phytohormones: auxins, gibberellics and cytokinines in different combinations for each of the variants of the product. One variant of the product also contains humic acids; the other, fulvic acids.
US09150460B1

Colorized components of a fertilizer concentrate blend may be apportioned according to a reference hue that may be associated with a target plan growth cycle and the apportionment may be refined according to referenced and measured electrical conductivity values of the blend in progress.
US09150450B2

A sealing device and method are described herein that can be used to manufacture a hermetically sealed glass package. In one embodiment, the hermetically sealed glass package is suitable to protect thin film devices which are sensitive to the ambient environment (e.g., oxygen, moisture). Some examples of such glass packages are organic emitting light diode (OLED) displays, sensors, and other optical devices. The present invention is demonstrated using an OLED display as an example.
US09150445B2

A wastewater treatment process elicits microorganisms to convert a waste stream/organic resource to intracellular biopolymer polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). The process includes (i) waste stream/organic resource composition feed criteria, (ii) configuration coupled with operational parameters, and (iii) PHA-laden biomass separation and stabilization. A waste stream/organic resource capable of producing enhanced levels of PHA may be selected based on a combination of criteria, which may include short chain fatty acid concentration, protein concentration, polysaccharides concentration, and total suspended solids concentration. The waste stream is introduced into an aeration basin upon a specific configuration and operated under various parameter combinations for selecting/enriching microorganisms capable of producing PHA. The PHA-laden biomass is separated and stabilized for downstream PHA related product beneficial uses. The present process achieves concurrent wastewater treatment and PHA production, where PHA level (of more than 10% on a cell-weight basis) otherwise could not be obtained.
US09150439B2

A method for extending the use of water during the production of products for human consumption in food production facilities for an extended period of time of at least two production days and up to seven production days by delivering an initial chemical charge at the beginning of each production day to return the process water to the desired antimicrobial solution concentration to provide acceptable antimicrobial control of the process water over the extended period of time. The method providing acceptable antimicrobial control in the processing of any protein or non-protein based food products that require batch or continuous chilling as part of the production process. The length of time that the water may be used in a processing tank may be dramatically and safely increased before the processing tank is emptied for cleaning, sanitizing and refilling.
US09150434B2

Disinfecting a sample of water includes generating a current using an array of photovoltaic cells, using the current to power an array of light emitting diodes, wherein the array of light emitting diodes emits a germicidal wavelength of radiation, and exposing the sample of water to the radiation. Another method for disinfecting a sample of water includes placing the sample of water within a container, wherein the container includes an array of photovoltaic cells encircling an exterior wall of the container and an array of light emitting diodes encircling an interior wall of the container, placing the container in a location exposed to solar radiation, converting the solar radiation to a current using the array of photovoltaic cells, and powering the array of light emitting diodes using the current, wherein the array of light emitting diodes emits a germicidal wavelength of radiation sufficient to disinfect the sample of water.
US09150422B2

Disclosed is a porous metal oxide obtained by subjecting metal alkoxide and/or a partially hydrolyzed condensate of the metal alkoxide to a sol-gel reaction in the presence of terminally branched copolymer particles represented by the following general formula (1) and having a number average molecular weight of not more than 2.5×104 to obtain an organic-inorganic composite and removing the terminally branched copolymer particles from the composite.
US09150416B2

Provided is a method of manufacturing a hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet to mass-produce a high-quality hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet at a low temperature in a safe process.The method of manufacturing a hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet includes (a) obtaining an alkali metal ion or alkali earth metal ion from a salt mixture including at least two kinds of alkali metal salt or alkali earth metal salt, (b) preparing a hexagonal boron nitride interlayer compound by inserting the alkali metal ion or alkali earth metal ion into layers of hexagonal boron nitride, and (c) obtaining a hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet by removing the alkali metal ion or alkali earth metal ion from the hexagonal boron nitride interlayer compound.
US09150413B2

A resonator structure is disclosed. In some embodiments, the resonator structure may include a metal-insulator-metal waveguide comprising a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and an insulating layer between the first metal layer and the second metal layer, wherein the insulating layer comprises a resonating cavity. The resonator structure may further include a mirror formed in the resonating cavity, wherein the mirror comprises at least one nanoscale metallic reflector positioned at least partly in the insulating layer.
US09150410B2

A device has a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) component with at least one surface and a coating disposed on at least a portion of the surface. The coating has a compound of the formula M(CnF2n+1Or), wherein M is a polar head group and wherein n≧2r. The value of n may range from 2 to about 20, and the value of r may range from 1 to about 10. The value of n plus r may range from 3 to about 30, and a ratio of n:r may have a value of about 2:1 to about 20:1.
US09150403B2

The present invention discloses a MEMS microphone device and its manufacturing method. The MEMS microphone device includes: a substrate including a first cavity; a MEMS device region above the substrate, wherein the MEMS device region includes a metal layer, a via layer, an insulating material region and a second cavity; a mask layer above the MEMS device region; a first lid having at least one opening communicating with the second cavity, the first lid being fixed above the mask layer; and a second lid fixed under the substrate.
US09150399B2

An automatic, portable water bottle filling apparatus includes an elongated frame that defines a continuous conveying path with opposite first and second ends; a conveyor system that moves bottles along the conveying path; a water filling station adjacent to the conveying path second end that is configured to fill an empty bottle with liquid from the user's water source; a capping station positioned downstream from the water filling station that is configured to close a filled bottle with a cap; a sensor system configured to detect the presence of an empty, uncapped bottle at the water filling station; and a controller that automatically controls operations of the water filling station, capping station and conveyor system in response to signals received from the sensor system.
US09150386B2

The present invention concerns a wind power installation working gallery comprising a working platform and a railing arranged on the working platform, wherein the railing can be closed off by means of a closure element and the closure element is arranged in a transfer region to a lift.The invention concerns in particular a wind power installation having a locking device with a locking mechanism for receiving a first locking element and a second locking element, wherein the first locking element is connected to the lift and the second locking element is connected to the closure element, and the locking mechanism is adapted to release one of the two locking elements by means of the locking of the respective other locking element relative to the locking device.The invention further concerns a locking device, a lift and a wind power installation.
US09150379B2

A wire travelling device including a wire-feed-roller circumferential-speed calculation unit and a wire-collection roller circumferential-speed calculation unit that calculate each circumferential speed of the wire feed roller and the wire collection roller, a circumferential-speed-difference holding unit that calculates a difference between the circumferential speed of the wire feed roller and the circumferential speed of the wire collection roller as a circumferential speed difference and holds therein the calculated circumferential speed difference, and a wire-feed-roller speed control unit and a wire-collection roller speed control unit that control the wire feed roller and the wire collection roller, in changing a traveling speed of the wire, by a wire-feed-roller speed instruction value and a wire-collection roller speed instruction value generated so that the circumferential speed difference before changing the traveling speed of the wire is maintained after the changing.
US09150378B2

In an apparatus structure having a sheet discharge mode to store sheets at a stack tray from a sheet discharging path and a sheet discharge mode to store binding-processed sheet bundles with collating and stacking, sheet holding means is arranged above a sheet placement face of the stack tray as a sheet pressurization force being variable in two steps, and then, the pressurization force of the sheet holding means is adjusted in two steps in accordance with the sheet discharge mode for storing sheets at the stack tray.
US09150373B2

An image forming apparatus includes a discharge path through which the recording medium that has passed through the printing path is discharged; a reverse path in which the recording medium that has passed through the printing path is reversed; a resupply path in which the recording medium which reversely travels along the reverse path is guided to the printing path; a connection portion in which the printing path, the discharge path, the reverse path, and the resupply path cross one another; and a first guide member that is disposed in the connection portion.
US09150359B2

A link member having a curved bearing surface and a conveyor belt comprising a link member having a curved bearing surface are described. The link member can be comprised in any type of conveyor belt, including a grid-type conveyor belt, a smaller-radius grid-type conveyor belt or a flat-wire conveyor belt. The link member eliminates the objectionable noise caused by pivot rods jumping the corner of conventional links having curved bearing surfaces. According to one embodiment, the link member comprises a pair of leg portions, each leg portion comprising a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end, and a connecting portion that connects the pair of leg portions, the connecting portion comprising a curved bearing surface between first and second side surfaces. The first and second side surfaces extend in a direction toward the proximal end of the leg portions.
US09150358B2

A magnet conveyance positioning device including a conveyance unit and an attachment device attached to the conveyance unit to move integrally with the conveyance unit. The attachment device includes a support unit abutting on a object and supporting the conveyance unit from the object, a holding unit provided movably relative to the support unit to detachably hold the magnet, and a driving unit moving the holding unit so that the magnet approaches the object in a state where the support unit is abutted on the object.
US09150352B1

A receptacle includes a base panel and a sidewall having first and second sets of opposed side panels. First and second retention assemblies are formed through the first and second sets of side panels, and the first retention assembly is vertically offset from the second retention assembly. The first and second retention assemblies each include a plurality of tiered engagements, which engagements have a hole and a rigid finger projecting downwardly into the hole. Bags are applied to the receptacle and retained by the engagements in a tiered, nested fashion. The receptacle is collapsible from an assembled condition to a disassembled condition or a storage condition.
US09150346B1

The vitamin dispensing machine is constructed of a canister that is divided into a plurality of individual sections. The canister is transparent and divided into individual sections configured to store a plurality of a certain vitamin or pill-shaped object. The canister includes a snap on lid that has a plurality of snap on caps, which correspond to each of the individual sections in order to refill the respective individual section with the certain vitamin. The canister also includes a plurality of dispense knobs that are able to pull outwardly in order to enable a single vitamin to be dispensed along with other selected sections via a wheel.
US09150344B2

A blank made of a polymeric material is provided and used to form the body of a drink cup or other container. A floor can be coupled to the body to define an interior region of the cup.
US09150341B2

The present invention provides a unit assembly for storing and dispensing a film strip. The unit assembly includes a first and second panel each having a perimetrical edge; wherein the first and second panels are substantially opposed to each other; and at least one gusseted side panel disposed between at least a portion of the panels along a common side thereof, the gusseted side panel configured to facilitate access to at least one film strip which is stored in a perimetrically sealed, substantially planar cavity within the unit assembly.
US09150339B2

A child-resistant container including a container body, a lid, and at least one resilient tab is provided. The lid is pivotable about an axis through a hinge joining the lid to the container body to open and close the container. The resilient tab has a proximal portion fixed to the lid, a distal portion projecting from the lid, and at least one abutment on the distal portion. The abutment on the distal portion of the tab is normally biased into engagement with an abutment on the container body when the lid is in its closed position. The distal portion of the tab is displaceable against the bias to disengage the abutment of the tab from the abutment of the container. Displacement of the tab releases the lid so that it can be pivoted about the hinge to open the container.
US09150338B2

A locking system for an enclosure (10) wherein the enclosure (10) includes a base (12) and a moveable cover (14). The cover (14) is moveable only when a key operated slide (70) is moved by a key (26) inserted into a key slot (24). Once the cover (14) is moved, the key (26) cannot be removed from the key slot (24) until the cover (14) is returned to the closed positioned. A moveable latch (50) holds the cover (14) to the base (12). The key operated slide (70) selectively connects and disconnects from the latch (50) to allow the cover (14) to be moved. The latch (50) cooperates with a clip (94) on the slide (70) which allows the slide (70) to return to the locked position to allow the key (26) to be removed from the key slot (24) only when the cover (14) and the latch (50) are closed. One or two latches can be provided with a corresponding number of key operated slides (70). The key (26) is rotatable to move the slide (70) from an extended and locked position to a retracted and unlocked position.
US09150335B2

A drink bottle with a removable lid includes an inner lid attached to the mouth of the bottle and an outer lid or cover pivotably mounted on the inner lid. The outer lid or cover may be locked into a closed position covering the drinking tube. A push button on the inner lid can be operated to release the locked outer lid, permitting the outer lid to open so as to permit drinking from a drinking tube positioned therein. The push button moves a lid slide that extends to a point on the inner lid generally opposite to the hinge and contains an extension that engages with a notch in the upper lid to hold the upper lid closed. On actuating the push button, the lid slide is pulled in the direction of the push button and the extension located on the other end of the lid slide moves out of engagement of the outer lid, thereby opening the outer lid.
US09150334B2

A fluid dispenser comprises a dispenser valve defining a fluid dispenser passage, and a container comprising a deformable inner pouch and a deformable outer shell that co-operate with each other to define an intermediate gap therebetween. The deformable outer shell includes a collar in engagement with the dispenser valve, and an annular flange that extends radially inwards inside the collar in such a manner as to define an edge that defines a central opening. The deformable inner pouch includes a neck that is engaged in the central opening in engagement with the edge of the annular flange and with the dispenser valve in fluid communication with the dispenser passage. The dispenser valve comprises an inlet sleeve in engagement with the neck of the deformable inner pouch and a fastener ring that in engagement with the collar of the deformable outer shell.
US09150325B2

A recyclable article having an external surface with an image printed thereon by droplets of ink is provided. The droplets of ink comprise a composition that includes a hydrophilic component. In embodiments, the hydrophilic component can facilitate the separation or loosening of the image from the external surface of the container when the image is exposed to a liquid-based solution at an elevated temperature. Methods for facilitating recycling of recyclable articles having printed images are also disclosed.
US09150324B2

An outsert application system is disclosed that includes a vacuum assembly and a pivot arm. The vacuum assembly is for accommodating passage of a vacuum to an engagement surface at a first end thereof for engaging an outsert. The pivot arm is rotatably coupled at a first end thereof to a second end of the vacuum assembly, and the vacuum assembly is adapted to rotate with respect to the pivot arm about a first axis. A second end of the pivot arm is adapted for rotation about a second axis that is substantially parallel with the first axis. The system further includes a translation device that causes the first axis to move with respect to the second axis as the vacuum assembly rotates about the first axis.
US09150320B2

Base configurations for plastic containers having an inner wall and up-stand wall geometries to accommodate internal container pressures after hot-filling and sealing, corresponding plastic containers, and systems, methods, and base molds thereof. In some embodiments, the up-stand wall geometries include a plurality of stacked rings. The inner wall and up-stand wall geometries can be co-operatively operative to accommodate pressure variations within the jar.
US09150297B2

An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.
US09150296B2

An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.
US09150294B2

An outboard motor control system includes a plurality of outboard motors, a vibration detecting section, and a control section. The outboard motors are mounted on a stern of a watercraft. Each of the outboard motors includes a propeller. The outboard motors are configured to be steered independently of one another. The vibration detecting section is configured to detect a vibration of the outboard motors. The control section is configured and programmed to execute a vibration suppression control when the vibration detecting section detects a vibration of the outboard motors. With the vibration suppression control, the control section is configured and programmed to change a propeller rotational axis direction and/or a propeller position of at least one of the outboard motors.
US09150293B1

The invention is an amorphous bag designed and shaped, that when deployed, slipped around the body up to the neck and secured to a flotation means, so when floating in the ocean, provides a user deterrent protection from shark attack. It is sized to enclose a person, made of a flexible, impermeable, multi-colored, metallic polyester, and/or any material that can be formed into a thin film of a durable thickness; with the top end open, and bottom end sealed closed. The exterior has various camouflaging color patterns to disguise the device by blending in with the surrounding ocean to reduce the risk of shark attack. The interior is a reflective silver color for signaling to rescue craft. The amorphous bag further includes two flaps made of the excess material from the amorphous bag extending from front and rear sides of top open end. The seal created using excess material flaps substantially envelope a user to prevent leaking of body fluids that can escape and attract sharks. The cover provided by excess material flaps creates a thermal chamber which slows the onset of hypothermia or sun damage, thus increasing survival duration.
US09150289B1

A boat comprising a wake shaping system comprising starboard and port wake shaping devices located aft of the transom, each wake shaping plate device comprising a first mounting portion coupled to the transom and a second plate portion pivotably coupled to the first mounting portion. A portion of the second plate potion of each wake shaping device is operable to pivot approximately 90° between a first, non-deployed position behind the transom and a second, deployed position extending below the transom. When the portion of the second portion of the starboard wake shaping device is in the deployed position, a port wakesurf wake is created. When the portion of the second portion of the port of the wake shaping device is in the deployed position, a starboard wakesurf wake is created. When neither wake shaping device is deployed, a symmetrical wakeboard wake is created.
US09150283B2

A canopy apparatus for a kayak comprises a bracket configured to be mounted to a kayak deck and a canopy. The canopy has a base member adapted to engage the bracket to releasably secure the canopy to the kayak deck and a cover pivotally connected to the base member. The cover is selectively movable between collapsed and expanded positions. The forward edge of the cover may further be adapted to carry a plurality of lights, preferably LEDs.
US09150282B2

A water craft has a body portion and at least two water engaging means. The body portion is at least partially suspended above the at least two water engaging means by a suspension system, and locating means are provided to connect each water engaging means to the body portion to permit substantially vertical and pitch direction motions of the water engaging means relative to the body. The suspension system includes at least one front pitch support ram and at least one back pitch support ram, the front and back pitch support rams providing support for at least a portion of the body relative to the at least two water engaging means.
US09150273B2

A tricycle may be operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle. In both such first and second modes, the frame of the tricycle is configured to rotatably support the rear wheels and configured to support the head tube at a distance from the rear wheels such that a distance between the head tube and rear wheels need not necessarily be changed even when the front wheel axis location is changed from one mode to another.
US09150254B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body structure in which it is possible to improve a side collision performance of a vehicle. For this reason, a vehicle body structure 1 includes a roof side rail 10 that is disposed at an upper side position of a vehicle, and extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a center pillar 14 which extends in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and an upper end portion of which is joined at a position in the way in which the roof side rail 10 extends. Each of fragile portions 20 and 22 is provided at a position apart from a joining spot of the center pillar 14 in the roof side rail 10 so as to have strength lower than that of other portions of the roof side rail 10.
US09150250B2

A vehicle subframe includes a hollow body part and a loft suspension support part provided to a left end part of the body part. The left suspension support part has a left front connecting part, and the left front connecting part is opened downward ward and laterally outward, whereby a left suspension arm is connected from a laterally outward side. A parting line mark of the subframe is formed in a bottom end part of a front connecting wall, and is formed in a laterally outward side part of the front connecting wall so as to extend upward from the bottom end part along the laterally outward side part.
US09150241B2

Construction of a tilt steering apparatus is provided that is capable of preventing the occurrence of unpleasant noise during height adjustment of a steering wheel 1, and maintains sufficient durability and smooth operation. The tilt steering apparatus of the present invention is provided with stoppers 65 in at least two locations in a buffer member 21 c that are rotationally symmetric about the center axis of an adjustment rod 14, and that when a driven-side cam 15b is rotated as the axial dimension of a cam apparatus 47 is expanded or contracted, controls rotation of the driven-side cam 15b so that a convex engaging portion 39c does not collide with the front-side edge or rear-side edge of a vertically long hole 35b.
US09150232B2

A slab handling device for facilitating movement of slabs around a facility is presented. The slab handling device includes a base frame disposed horizontally in parallel to a floor surface, wherein a first end of the base frame comprises a projection extending from the base frame. The base frame hosts a second frame disposed vertically on the base frame to form a viewing side and a stacking side. Pluralities of side wheels are coupled to the base frame, wherein the diameter of the plurality of track wheels is greater than the diameter of the plurality of side wheels. A first set of end stoppers are disposed on the base frame and configured to hold a slab in position on the viewing side and a second set of end stoppers are disposed on the base frame and configured to hold multiple slabs in place on the stacking side.
US09150231B2

A maintenance and retrieval cart is provided for use with a push back storage rack having a plurality of nested trays riding on a pair of inclined rails. The maintenance and retrieval cart comprises a base with a safety rail secured thereto. The base is supported on an undercarriage which facilitates movement along the inclined rails. A drive mechanism is operatively connected to move the cart along the inclined rails.
US09150227B1

A receive attenuation system for a locomotive consist having a communication network is disclosed. The system may have a trainline communication processor and an adjustable attenuator. The adjustable attenuator may be configured to be connected to the network and variably attenuate a signal received via the network before transmitting the signal to the trainline communication processor. The system may also have a gain controller coupled to the adjustable attenuator. The gain controller may be configured to identify a transmitting locomotive from which the signal was sent, determine a tuned attenuation control value based on a distance between the transmitting locomotive and a receiving locomotive, and control the adjustable attenuator according to the tuned attenuation control value.
US09150216B2

A drive force control system includes an engine for controlling an output in accordance with an operation of an accelerator of a vehicle, a drive motor assisting a torque of the engine, an operation state detection portion detecting an operation state of the accelerator, and a control portion performing an advancing compensation control by the drive motor together with a drive control of the engine on the basis of an amount of change of the operation state of the accelerator generated within a predetermined time to provide greater acceleration than a case where the operation state of the accelerator is maintained.
US09150210B2

A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
US09150209B2

A method (e.g., for monitoring a braking system of a vehicle system) includes monitoring fluid pressures of a braking system and modeled braking efforts of the braking system in a vehicle system traveling along a route, identifying one or more time periods at least one of before a brake event of the braking system or after the brake event, calculating residual forces exerted on the vehicle system during the one or more time periods, and determining at least one of an estimated braking effort of the braking system or an estimated propagation rate at which the estimated braking effort is applied by the braking system using the residual forces that are calculated.
US09150207B2

The vehicle brake-specific diaphragm of the invention includes a vessel-form member and a flange portion formed at a peripheral edge of an opening in the vessel-form member, wherein the vessel-form member and the flange portion are each formed of a rubber body including silicone rubber and a substrate fabric embedded in the rubber body, the substrate fabric including aramid short fibers or polyester fibers, and having a thickness of 0.25 mm or more. Accordingly, the inventive diaphragm does not only have durability during operation in both the high-temperature and the normal-temperature area but also exerts much better durability during operation in the low-temperature area.
US09150197B2

The present invention discloses a wiper blade, comprising a frame type long strip skeleton, a connector to be connected to a wiper arm of an automobile and a rubber strip. The skeleton includes one elastic main beam. The body of the main beam has a curved locus, continuous concave downward curve, both end portions of the main beam register with the curved locus and a middle portion of the main beam registers with or deviates from the curved locus. The skeleton includes one or two elastic sub beams, located below and approximately parallel to the main beam which supports the rubber strip. Between the main beam and the sub beams is a means to constitute various frame structures or to adjust a distance between them so that the pressure applied along the entire length of the wiper blade to a windshield can be distributed evenly as far as possible.
US09150192B2

A coil spring is provided in a compressed state between a coupling wall section provided at a clutch guide and an inner-side locking section. The clutch guide is provided with a support section which supports one axial-direction end section of the coil spring from a side opposite to the clutch cover in an axial direction of the clutch guide. The clutch cover is provided with a leading-end protruding section which is projected with respect to the inner-side locking section so as to be inserted in the other axial-direction end section of the coil spring. The leading-end protruding section is inclined, with respect to a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the clutch cover, toward a support section side, so that the coil spring is curved so as to be convex to the support section side.
US09150184B2

An air bag (20) for use in a vehicle (200) having a border region (22) having a top (24) situated about at least one inflatable region (30, 30a, 30b); the top of the border region configured to be secured directly or indirectly to a portion of the vehicle or component of the vehicle; wherein the border region includes at least one slit.
US09150172B2

A vehicle-side connector (10) is provided for connection to a battery of a vehicle. The vehicle-side connector includes a housing main body (30) for mating with a charging connector (50) that is connected to a charger. An indication device (20) with LED indicators (21) is mounted into the housing main body (30) and insulated wires (27) are drawn out from the LED indicators (21). Wire holders (28) are provided in the indication device (20) and hold the insulated wires (27) against a pulling force when the insulated wires (27) are pulled. The housing main body (30) includes mounting portions (35) to be mounted to a body of the vehicle and partition walls (22D) are formed between the wire holders (28) and the mounting portions (35).
US09150171B2

A vehicle seat comprising a seat main body including a seat cushion that supports buttocks and thighs of an occupant and a seatback that supports the upper body of the occupant; and a USB connector provided at the seat main body.
US09150161B2

Vehicular mounted load carrier racks can include a lock cover to shroud an operator-engageable portion of a clamp device from unauthorized access in an installed and locked position. The operator-engageable portion can secure and release the clamp device to and from a surface such as a vehicle. The locking cover can be mounted in an installed and locked position on the clamp device to shroud the operator-engageable portion of the clamp device from unauthorized access in the installed and locked position. The locking can comprise a cover body and a lock. The cover body can have perimeter walls defining a receiving cavity within which the operator-engageable portion of a respective clamp device is located in the installed and locked position of the cover body on the clamp device. The lock can be coupled to the cover body. The lock can have an engagement portion transitional between locked and unlocked configurations.
US09150158B2

The invention is a ventilated vehicle roof rack carrier such as a cargo box for transporting items such as athletic equipment or other personal items on top of a car. The cargo box has a rigid housing shell. The housing has a top shell and a bottom shell. The top shell and the bottom shell are connected together by one or more hinges. The top shell further has at least two opposing vents for drawing air into the housing shell body and allowing air to exit the housing shell body. The cargo box also has a means in communication with the housing for attaching the housing to the vehicle. The means for attaching is a rail system with engagement means for attaching the rail system to the vehicle. The rail system further has a first articulating rail and a second articulating rail oriented in parallel relationship to each other. The pair of articulating rails are mounted to the lower shell and permit the housing to slide beyond a top surface of the vehicle and hinge downward relative to the top surface of the vehicle.
US09150157B1

In a convertible mirror assembly for a vehicle visor, a flexible mirror is operably coupled to a housing and is operable between first and second display states. A slider mechanism is slidably supported on the housing and operably coupled to the flexible mirror. The slider mechanism is adapted to move along the housing between retracted and extended positions, whereby the flexible mirror is in the first display state when the slider mechanism is in the retracted position, and in the second display state when the slider mechanism is in the extended position. When moved to the extended position, the slider mechanism urges the flexible mirror to an outwardly curved or convex configuration to define a conversation mirror configuration.
US09150156B2

A vehicle mirror assembly includes a vehicle attachment member, a mirror housing, a mirror and a camera. The vehicle attachment member is configured for attachment to a vehicle. The mirror housing is telescopically coupled to the vehicle attachment member between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the vehicle attachment member. The mirror housing defines a camera receiving recess. The mirror is coupled to the mirror housing. The camera is coupled to the vehicle attachment member and disposed in the camera receiving recess of the mirror housing at a fixed position relative to the vehicle attachment member while the mirror housing is moved between the extended position and the retracted position.
US09150154B2

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for masking an in-coming call from a portable communication device (PCD) in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of a driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver. The controller is further configured to transmit a first signal to a PCD to block a notification of an incoming call in the event the driver status signal indicates that the driver is the secondary driver.
US09150153B2

A method of emanating a sound from a vehicle includes detecting a transmission state and a brake state of the vehicle and determining whether a vehicle movement state indicates intent to move the vehicle from a stationary state based on the transmission state and the brake state. The method further includes emanating the sound when the vehicle movement state indicates intent to move the vehicle, and refraining from emanating the sound when the vehicle is in the stationary state and the vehicle movement state fails to indicate intent to move the vehicle.
US09150151B2

A power supply route for a light source includes a first route that closes when a microcomputer is operated and a second route that opens when the microcomputer is operated. When the microcomputer stops operating, the power supply route of the light source is automatically switched from the first route to the second route. When the microcomputer is operated and a position lamp switch is turned on, current is supplied to the light source through the first route. When the microcomputer stops operating and the position lamp switch is turned on, current is supplied to the light source through the second route.
US09150143B2

Disclosed is a headlamp control system for a vehicle capable of illuminating a location of a user by controlling lighting of the vehicle's headlamps and controlling driving of the headlamps through actuators based on communication with a radio signal transmitter possessed by the user. The headlamp control system can include: headlamps; one or more actuators installed in the headlamps for driving the headlamps upward, downward, left, and right; a plurality of radio signal receivers at two or more locations of the vehicle for receiving a radio signal; a portable radio signal transmitter for transmitting a radio signal to the radio signal receiver; and a controller for determining a position of the radio signal transmitter based on the radio signal and controlling the headlamp and the actuator to irradiated the position of the radio signal transmitter.
US09150135B1

Example embodiments disclose a coupling device that includes a support member and a pivot member. The support member may include a first wall, a second wall a third wall, and a fourth wall. The pivot member may be pivotally supported in the support member. In example embodiments, the pivot member may include a first stanchion penetrating the first wall and a second stanchion penetrating the second wall. In example embodiments the support member may further include one of a third stanchion on the third wall and a first aperture in the third wall and one of a fourth stanchion on the fourth wall and a second aperture in the fourth wall.
US09150133B2

The invention relates to a seat part of a motor vehicle seat, comprising a base part having a transverse supporting element and an adjustable part.
US09150129B2

A seat that includes a seat bottom and seat back, an endbay assembly positioned to one side of the seat bottom, and an armrest positioned within the endbay assembly and selectively moveable between an upper position for use as an armrest and a lower position level with an upper seating surface of the seat bottom for allowing ingress and egress to the seat.
US09150125B2

A vehicle slide rail device is provided. The slide rail device includes a locking portion 51 which forms a region that is located between the first supported portion 50a and the second supported portion 53 of the lock spring 50, a pressed portion 50b, which is pressed by the lock release lever 40, formed on a portion of the lock spring between the second supported portion and the locking portion 51 that is positioned closest to the first supported portion, and a fracture-inducing portion provided on a portion of the lock spring between the pressed portion and the locking portion that is positioned closest to the first supported portion of the lock spring.
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