US09304982B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for manipulating image annotations. One method includes receiving an image of an individual's anatomy; automatically determining, using a processor, one or more annotations for anatomical features identified in the image of the individual's anatomy; determining a dependency or hierarchy between at least two of the one or more annotations for anatomical features identified in the image of the individual's anatomy; and generating, based on the dependency or hierarchy, a workflow prompting a user to manipulate the one or more annotations for anatomical features identified in the image of the individual's anatomy.
US09304980B1
Target files in a search space are scanned to identify which versions of software components are present in the search space. A reference library is populated with indicia such as source code fragments of known versions of software components. A file scanner reads file data used to identify matches between the reference library content and target files, and a version detector determines which match candidates represent unique component versions. Once a component version is identified, a vulnerability module determines based on data in a vulnerabilities database what vulnerabilities are associated with the identified version, and a license module identifies which if any licensing schemes are applicable to the identified version. In one embodiment a report is automatically produced providing an indication of all matched files, their versions, vulnerabilities, and licensing schemes.
US09304953B2
A device can include an interface circuit configured to translate memory access requests at a controller interface of the interface circuit into signals at a memory device interface of the interface circuit that is different from the controller interface, the interface circuit including a write buffer memory configured to store a predetermined number of data values received at a write input of the controller interface, and a read buffer memory configured to mirror a predetermined number of data values stored in the write buffer memory; wherein the memory device interface comprises an address output configured to transmit address values, a write data output configured to transmit write data on rising and falling edges of a periodic signal, and a read data input configured to receive read data at the same rate as the write data.
US09304952B2
According to one embodiment, a memory control device includes: queues in channels; first controller; generator; and second controller. The queues hold write commands for data pieces. The first controller causes: (i) when a read command is received, and until the write commands are held in the queues, the channels are synchronized with each other, and processes of the write commands become ready to be performed, a read process based on the read command prior to the write commands; and, (ii) when the processes of write commands become ready to be performed, synchronization of the channels and write processes for the data pieces based on the write commands. The generator generates error correction codes based on the data pieces when the channels are synchronized with each other and the processes based on the write commands are performed. The second controller writes the error correction codes on the storage medium.
US09304938B2
A data transferring method of a storage device is provided. The method may include transferring a first data to a first outbound area, transferring the first data sent to the first outbound area to a first area of a main memory corresponding to a first address programmed by an address translation unit, transferring a second data to a second outbound area in response to an indication that the address translation unit is to be reprogrammed, and transferring the second data sent to the second outbound area to the first outbound area.
US09304933B2
Techniques are described to configure a cache line structure based on attributes of a draw call and access direction of a texture. Attributes of textures (e.g., texture format and filter type), samplers, and shaders used by the draw call can be considered to determine the line size of a cache. Access direction can be considered to reduce the number of lines that are used to store texels required by a sample request.
US09304928B2
Systems and methods which provide for improved prefetching schemes for caching data in a storage network are described. In one embodiment, a dynamically adaptive prefetching mechanism based on block access history information and prior effectiveness of prefetching is provided. Embodiments may take into account prefetch efficiency; a dynamic value indicating the usefulness of past prefetches, prefetch wastage, in conjunction with prefetch resources available at any point in time, to determine the number of blocks to read-ahead during a prefetch. Such embodiments provide improvements over file-based prefetching and previous block schemes, as they provide a finer grain of control over both prefetch block selection, and the number of blocks to prefetch based on block (or block range) access history.
US09304927B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a method for dynamically changing a prefetching configuration in a computer system, wherein the prefetching configuration specifies how to change an ahead distance that specifies how many references ahead to prefetch for each stream. During operation of the computer system, the method keeps track of one or more stream lengths, wherein a stream is a sequence of memory references with a constant stride. Next, the method dynamically changes the prefetching configuration for the computer system based on observed stream lengths in a most-recent window of time.
US09304921B2
A method, system, and computer readable medium to share data on a global basis within a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) computer system are disclosed. The method may include grouping a plurality of processor cores into a plurality of affinity groups. Global data may be copied into a plurality of group data structures. Each group data structure may correspond to an affinity group. The method may read a first group data structure by a thread executing on a processor core associated with a first affinity group.
US09304916B2
A method is provided for facilitating processing within a multiprocessor computer system by: setting, in association with invalidate page table entry processing, a storage key at a matching location in central storage of a multiprocessor computer system to a predefined value; and subsequently executing a request to update the storage key to a new storage key, the subsequently executing including determining whether the predefined value is an allowed stale value, and if so, replacing in central storage the storage key of predefined value with the new storage key without requiring purging or updating of the storage key in any local processor cache of the multiprocessor computer system, thus minimizing interprocessor communication pursuant to processing of the request to update the storage key to the new storage key.
US09304894B2
A method, system and computer program product for testing software comprises discovering, by an agent executing on a computer, testable code configured to execute on the computer; receiving, by the agent, a request related to testing the testable code from a requestor; in response to the request, sending the requestor a property of the testable code; receiving, by the agent, data related to the property; activating; by the agent, the testable code wherein the received data is associated with the property in order to produce a result from the activated testable code; and returning, by the agent, the result to the requestor.
US09304885B2
Aspects of the present invention provide a solution for passively monitoring a computer system. In an embodiment, a read-only target is created based on the configuration of the virtual server disk used by the virtual server to access the storage associated therewith. This read-only target can be used to expose the virtual server disk for access by a monitoring crawler. Using the read-only target, a monitoring crawler can acquire a set of features regarding the virtual server from the virtual server disk. One or more of this set of features can be analyzed to perform passive monitoring of the virtual server.
US09304867B2
A group of computers is configured to implement a block storage service. The block storage service includes a block-level storage for storing data from a set of distinct computing instances for a set of distinct users. An interface is configured to allow the set of distinct users to specify respective destinations for storing backup copies of respective data stored in the block-level storage for the distinct users. At least some of the respective destinations are for different storage systems remote from one another. A backup copy function is provided for creating backup copies of data stored in the block-level storage by the set of distinct computing instances for the set of distinct users. The backup copies are stored in different destination locations specified by respective ones of the plurality of distinct users via the interface.
US09304865B2
For efficient handing of semi-asynchronous RAID write failures using a processor device in a computing environment, a write operation is committed on a primary copy of data on a primary entity while sending the data to a secondary entity while awaiting an acknowledgment by the secondary entity. The acknowledgment indicates to the primary entity that metadata for the write operation has arrived at the secondary entity without necessarily indicating the data has arrived at the secondary entity. The acknowledgment is sent from the secondary entity regardless of a write failure and allowing the secondary entity to perform a recovery operation if a write failure occurs.
US09304863B2
A method of backstepping through a program execution includes dividing the program execution into a plurality of epochs, wherein the program execution is performed by an active core, determining, during a subsequent epoch of the plurality of epochs, that a rollback is to be performed, performing the rollback including re-executing a previous epoch of the plurality of epochs, wherein the previous epoch includes one or more instructions of the program execution stored by a checkpointing core, and adjusting a granularity of the plurality of epochs according to a frequency of the rollback.
US09304860B2
Various embodiments for arranging data handling in a computer-implemented system comprising a plurality of existing physical entities include assigning at least one reliability rating to various said existing physical entities of the computer-implemented system; and using the assigned reliability ratings in accordance with reverse predictive failure analysis, to provide a designated cumulative reliability rating, the designated cumulative reliability rating being determined in accordance with the following equation: 1−[PAF(f+Δf, n+Δn)]=1−[PAF(f, n)+(∂PAF/∂f)*Δf+(∂PAF/∂n)*Δn], where PAF is a probability of failure of the computer-implemented system, f is a probability of failure of a physical entity, and n is a number of drives in the computer-implemented system.
US09304859B2
An improved technique applies polar codes to storage data to improve the reliability of a storage system that uses high-performance, solid-state disks as part of a RAID group for storing frequently-accessed data. Along these lines, a high-performance storage system having n solid-state disks assigns k of those disks as payload disks. The storage system partitions the payload data into a data vector that has k data symbols. The storage system then applies, to the k payload symbols, a (n, k) polar code generator matrix derived from k rows of the ┌ log2 n┐-times Kronecker product of the matrix ( 1 0 1 1 ) to produce n encoded symbols and stores each of the encoded payload symbols in a solid-state disk of the RAID group.
US09304853B2
In various embodiments, an apparatus, system, and method may increase data integrity in a redundant storage system. In one embodiment, a request is received for data stored at a storage system having a plurality of storage elements, where one or more of the plurality of storage elements include parity information. A determination is made that one of the plurality of storage elements is unavailable, the unavailable storage element being a functional storage element and including at least a portion of the data. Responsive to the determination, the data is reconstructed based on at least a portion of the parity information and data from one or more of the plurality of storage elements other than the unavailable storage element; a response is provided to the request such that the response includes the reconstructed data.
US09304852B2
Example apparatus and methods produce a set of rateless erasure codes (e.g., fountain codes) for a file stored in a primary data store (e.g., hard drive) or in an archive system. The archive system may store the file in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID). A first subset of the rateless erasure codes are stored in an object storage using a synchronous protocol. A second subset of rateless erasure codes are stored in the object storage using an asynchronous protocol. The object storage system may inform the archive system when desired redundancy has been achieved or when desired redundancy has been lost. The archive system may buffer rateless erasure codes before providing the codes to the object storage to improve performance. A failure in the archive system or object storage system may be mitigated by retaining the file in the primary data store until the desired redundancy is achieved.
US09304850B1
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and articles associated with remediation workflow. A method may include determining one or more test failures related to a policy test within a computer network, and reviewing the one or more test failures. The method may further include, based upon a result of the reviewing, creating a remediation work order that includes at least one of the one or more test failures. Each test failure within the remediation work order may be approved or denied. For each test failure that is approved for remediation, a remediation process may be executed.
US09304841B2
A dispatcher framework to provide non-blocking inter-application communication is disclosed. In various embodiments, a call to a service that is blocking with respect to the service is received from a calling process. The service is called on behalf of the calling process in a manner that does not require the calling process to remain blocked during at least a portion of a time during which the call to the service is performed.
US09304839B2
A technique for resending messages can include determining if a particular message with a first unique identifier has been received by a recipient task among a number of potential recipient tasks in a distributed streaming system, notifying the number of potential recipient tasks to ignore the particular message with the first unique identifier, and resending the particular message with a second unique identifier.
US09304822B2
A method and apparatus for managing a service is disclosed. A program system running on a computer system in a network data processing system identifies the service on the computer system and a set of resources used by the service. The program system collects information about the service and the set of resources used by the service. The program system uses the information collected to identify a change to a configuration for the service which will increase performance of the service. The program system then makes the identified change to the configuration for the service.
US09304818B2
According to an embodiment, a control apparatus for controlling a target device includes an estimation unit and an issuing unit. The estimation unit is configured to estimate a second amount of energy required for the entire system including the target device and the control apparatus until the target device completes an execution of its function that is requested in accordance with an execution request for the target device. The issuing unit is configured to issue a control command for causing the target device to execute its function in accordance with the execution request, when the first amount of energy at a time point of receiving the execution request is greater than the second amount of energy.
US09304817B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for configuring a scheduling a job request in a data processing platform are disclosed. The method receives a new job request having a priority selected by a user, submits the new job request to an online job queue comprising a plurality of jobs, wherein each one of the plurality of jobs comprises a respective priority selected by a respective user and schedules the new job request and the plurality of jobs in the online job queue to one or more available worker nodes in a unit time slot based upon a comparison of the priority of the new job and the respective priority of the plurality of jobs in the online job queue, wherein the scheduling algorithm is based on one of: blocks having a variable size and a static processing time or blocks having a static size and a variable processing time.
US09304813B2
A computing device for performing scheduling operations for graphics hardware is described herein. The computing device includes a central processing unit (CPU) that is configured to execute an application. The computing device also includes a graphics scheduler configured to operate independently of the CPU. The graphics scheduler is configured to receive work queues relating to workloads from the application that are to execute on the CPU and perform scheduling operations for any of a number of graphics engines based on the work queues.
US09304805B2
A cloud manager monitors available resources on host computer systems, including a number of hardware threads supported by CPUs on the host computer systems and whether or not the CPUs have split core enabled. The cloud manager receives a request to provision a virtual machine (VM) that includes a hardware multithreading parameter that specifies whether hardware multithreading is allowed on the host computer system. The cloud manager then selects a host computer system for the VM taking into consideration the hardware multithreading parameter, the hardware threads supported by the CPU, and the split core settings. The VM is then placed on the selected host computer system using the hardware multithreading parameter. The result is more efficient utilization of CPU resources in a host for a virtual machine.
US09304803B2
Application resource scheduler module is provided to achieve cooperative application workload scheduling for a consolidated virtual environment. The application resource scheduler aids an application workload scheduler that is part of a distributed computing application, such as Hadoop, to achieve a specified relative priority of the application workload virtual machines to other virtual machines in the virtual environment. The application resource scheduler assists in achieving cooperative workload scheduling by revising the amount of resources that the application workload scheduler sees as available and by setting resource controls for the virtual machines of the distributed computing application to influence the resources the virtual machines receive from the underlying consolidated virtual environment.
US09304798B2
A scalable, multi-tenant network architecture for a virtualized datacenter is provided. The network architecture includes a network having a plurality of servers connected to a plurality of switches. The plurality of servers hosts a plurality of virtual interfaces for a plurality of tenants. A configuration repository is connected to the network and each server in the plurality of servers has a network agent hosted therein. The network agent encapsulates packets for transmission across the network from a source virtual interface to a destination virtual interface in the plurality of virtual interfaces for a tenant in the plurality of tenants. The packets are encapsulated with information identifying and locating the destination virtual interface, and the information is interpreted by switches connected to the source virtual interface and the destination virtual interface.
US09304795B2
Technologies are provided for function-targeted virtual machine switching. In some examples, function usage times on a virtual machine (VM) may be profiled by a virtual machine manager (VMM) and used to manage VM switching in order to preferentially switch VMs during specific targeted functions. The targeted functions and/or VM switching preferences may be adjusted over time in order to provide switching unpredictability, for example to frustrate side-channel attackers by forcing the attackers to gather data for much longer periods of time (e.g., weeks or months) if they want to detect or attack.
US09304786B2
An information processing apparatus includes a display apparatus that is provided with a button that can be used by users of different native language-types with names that are registered as character strings in language-types displayable on the display apparatus. Accordingly, when a user switches language-types to be displayed, the button is displayed with a name as a character string in the switched language-type among the registered character strings, which allows users of different native language-types to understand the button name, thus enhancing the usability of the apparatus.
US09304785B2
Localizing a software product is improved. A plurality of attributes of a plurality of interface elements according to a specified type of user interface are retrieved. Responsive to user input, one or more countries in which the software product is to be localized are specified. An interface element for the user interface is selected. From the attributes of the selected interface element, it is determined whether the interface element is consistent with the specified countries. If not, an alert on a computer display is displayed, in the event the selected interface element is not consistent with the countries specified by the user. The invention also calculates a cost of localizing the selected interface element, wherein the projected cost of localizing the user interface is incremented with the cost of localizing the selected interface element. An alert for the projected cost of localizing the user interface is displayed on the computer display.
US09304775B1
An embodiment of a computing system is configured to process data using a multithreaded SIMD architecture that includes heterogeneous processing engines to execute a program. The program is constructed of various program instructions. A first type of the program instructions can only be executed by a first type of processing engine and a second type of program instructions can only be executed by a second type of processing engine. A third type of program instructions can be executed by the first and the second type of processing engines. An instruction dispatcher is configured to identify and remove program instruction execution conflicts for the heterogeneous processing engines to improve instruction execution throughput.
US09304772B2
A system and method is provided for improving efficiency, power, and bandwidth consumption in parallel processing. Rather than requiring memory polling to ensure ordered execution of processes or threads in wavefronts, the techniques disclosed herein provide a system and method to allow any process or thread in a wavefront to run out of order as long as needed, but ensure ordered execution of multiple ordered instructions when needed. These operations are handled efficiently in hardware, but are flexible enough to be implemented in all manner of programming models.
US09304770B2
A method and system are provided for deriving a resultant software code from an originating ordered list of instructions that does not include overlapping branch logic. The method may include deriving a plurality of unordered software constructs from a sequence of processor instructions; associating software constructs in accordance with an original logic of the sequence of processor instructions; determining and resolving memory precedence conflicts within the associated plurality of software constructs; resolving forward branch logic structures into conditional logic constructs; resolving back branch logic structures into loop logic constructs; and/or applying the plurality of unordered software constructs in a programming operation by a parallel execution logic circuitry. The resultant plurality of unordered software constructs may be converted into programming reconfigurable logic, computers or processors, and also by means of a computer network or an electronics communications network.
US09304768B2
In a DFA scanning engine used to match regular expressions or similar rules, instructions to execute DFA state transitions are accessed through an instruction cache. Each DFA instruction may indicate varying numbers of transitions or branches from a current state. The cache pre-fetches a requested number of additional instructions consecutively following an accessed instruction. The DFA engine accesses an instruction from the cache corresponding to a state within a small number of transitions from the root state. When a low-branching instruction is executed to access a next instruction from the root state, or when a low-branching instruction is executed to access a next instruction from the cache, a fixed or configurable pre-fetch length is requested. Some instructions such as low-branching instructions may contain a pre-fetch hint.
US09304765B1
Tracking changes to application model definitions for application model migration is described. A combined history file is created based on changes associated with application model definition files. A first property for a first model definition file of the application model definition files is identified that depends on a second property for a second model definition file of the application model definition files. A change for the second property is identified based on the combined history file. A transformation file is constructed that includes a change for the first property based on the change for the second property.
US09304763B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for big data integration and configuration. In use, a plurality of components associated with a big data solution are defined in a domain specific language utilizing one or more code generation tools. Additionally, relevant artifacts for the plurality of components associated with the big data solution are generated. Further, the relevant artifacts are packaged into a manifest, the manifest including elements required to support at least one business process. In addition, environment dependent variables of the manifest are replaced with target values associated with a target big data environment to which the manifest is to be deployed. Moreover, the manifest is deployed into operation in the target big data environment.
US09304755B2
A method, system and apparatus for the prioritized distribution of application components based upon computing process impact. An application component distribution system which has been configured in accordance with the present invention can include a resource management system configured to manage communicatively coupled client computing devices over a computer communications network. A data store can be arranged to store prioritization data specifying which of the client computing devices are to first receive distributions of specified application components. Finally, a selective deployment processor can be programmed to selectively deploy application components to the client computing devices based upon the prioritization data.
US09304748B2
The various aspects leverage the novel observation that the number of call sites in code is directly correlated with the code's compile time and provide methods implemented by a compiler operating on a computing device (e.g., a smartphone) for performing inline throttling based on a projected number of call sites in the code that would exist after performing inline expansion. The various aspects enable the compiler to improve the performance of the generated code by aggressive inlining while carefully managing increases in compile time, thereby decreasing the power required to compile the code while increasing performance of the computing device. Thus, by inlining enough call sites to reduce the costs of handling calls while accounting for the costs of inlining, the various aspects provide for an effective balance of short compile times and effective code performance.
US09304747B1
A method for automating evaluation of grammars associated with one or more programming languages is disclosed. The computer system accesses first grammar data associated with a first grammar and second grammar data associated with a second grammar, wherein a grammar comprises one or more rules that define a programming language. The computer system determines from the first grammar data and the second grammar data whether the first grammar and the second grammar correspond to the same programming language. Determining further includes applying one or more transformational steps to both the first grammar data and the second grammar data. After each transformational step, the computer system determines whether the first and second grammar data correspond. In accordance with a determination that the first grammar data and the second grammar data correspond, the computer system determines that the first and second grammar both correspond to the same programming language.
US09304745B2
The various embodiments of the present invention provide a PAS model for software design and development with a product layer including basic product level business objects (BO) to provide a basic functionality offered by software. An application layer is built on the product layer to include the application level business objects to provide inputs for a solution required by a user and to achieve desired business requirements. A solution layer is built on the application layer to include the solution level business object to address the specific business requirement of the user. The solution level business object is created using the application level business objects which is in turn created using the product level business objects to provide solution to meet the specific business requirement of the user.
US09304743B1
A device may receive input text via a programming environment associated with a programming language. The device may tokenize the input text to generate tokenized text. The device may identify an invalid token string, based on the tokenized text, that is invalid for the programming language. The device may identify a token category pattern based on the invalid token string. The token category pattern may be a first sequence of token categories. The device may identify a replacement pattern based on the token category pattern. The replacement pattern may be a second sequence of token categories that is different from the first sequence of token categories. The device may identify a replacement token string based on the replacement pattern. The device may determine valid program code, associated with the programming language, based on the replacement token string. The device may provide the valid program code.
US09304742B2
A method for modifying a middleware shared by multiple tenants by preparing a data packet comprising modification information and tenant information, the modification information comprising information of a specific class to be modified in the middleware as well as modification content for the specific class, the tenant information indicating a specific tenant of the plurality of tenants to which the modification content is directed; and in response to acquisition of the data packet: modifying the specific class in the middleware in runtime according to the modification information to create a modified specific class; and applying the modified content only to the specific tenant. When multiple tenants share a same middleware, different versions of the middleware may be provided for respective tenants, without affecting the use by other tenants, thereby satisfying sharing and customization requirements of each of the multiple tenants.
US09304740B2
Various methods and systems related to chaos-based pseudo-random number generation are presented. In one example, among others, a system includes a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) to generate a series of digital outputs and a nonlinear post processing circuit to perform an exclusive OR (XOR) operation on a first portion of a current digital output of the PRNG and a permutated version of a corresponding first portion of a previous post processed output to generate a corresponding first portion of a current post processed output. In another example, a method includes receiving at least a first portion of a current output from a PRNG and performing an XOR operation on the first portion of the current PRNG output with a permutated version of a corresponding first portion of a previous post processed output to generate a corresponding first portion of a current post processed output.
US09304739B1
Embodiments of the present invention set forth a technique for optimizing the performance and efficiency of complex, software-based computations, such as lighting computations. Data entering a graphics application programming interface (API) in a conventional arithmetic representation, such as floating-point or fixed-point, is converted to an internal logarithmic representation for greater computational efficiency. Lighting computations are then performed using logarithmic space arithmetic routines that, on average, execute more efficiently than similar routines performed in a native floating-point format. The lighting computation results, represented as logarithmic space numbers, are converted back to floating-point numbers before being transmitted to a graphics processing unit (GPU) for further processing. Because of efficiencies of logarithmic space arithmetic, performance improvements may be realized relative to prior art approaches to performing software-based floating-point operations.
US09304729B2
A client device may cause an information memory to store communication information related to whether or not two devices are capable of directly communicating, and decide a specific communication path using the communication information. The specific communication path may be a path capable of supplying print data to a print device. The client device may send a print indication to a first device that is to perform a process performed first among one or more processes performed sequentially for realizing a print. In a case where a data format of target data is not a data format which the print device is capable of interpreting, the client device may decide the specific communication path such that the converting device is present on the specific communication path.
US09304710B2
A storage system is described and includes a storage apparatus for storing data used by an external apparatus, first and second temporary data storage units, a host interface, a disk interface, and first and second controllers. The first controller is configured to select as a data transfer process, when the host interface receives a command from the external apparatus, one of a first data transfer process and a second data transfer process based on the command. The first data transfer process is a data transfer from the first temporary data storage unit to the external apparatus by the host interface. The second data transfer process is a data transfer from the first temporary data storage unit to the second temporary data storage unit by the second controller, and a data transfer from the second temporary data storage unit to the external apparatus by the host interface.
US09304706B2
A network appliance includes a first processor, a second processor, a first storage device, and a second storage device. A first status information is stored in the first storage device. The first processor is coupled to the first storage device. A queue of data is stored in the second storage device. The first status information indicates if traffic data stored in the queue of data is permitted to be transmitted. The second processor is coupled to the second storage device. The first processor communicates with the second processor. The traffic data includes packet information. The first storage device is a high speed memory only accessible to the first processor. The second storage device is a high capacity memory accessible to multiple processors. The first status information is a permitted bit that indicates if the traffic data within the queue of data is permitted to be transmitted.
US09304702B2
A system and method for of prioritizing accumulation of time-dependent data is disclosed. In an embodiment, a plurality of data elements are identified to be retrieved. The data elements include a high-priority data element and a low-priority data element. A first data retrieval operation is performed to retrieve the high-priority data element, to store a copy of the high-priority data element in a memory structure, and to reserve a memory space in the memory structure for the low-priority data element based on the low-priority data element corresponding to the high-priority data element. In parallel with the first data retrieval operation, a second data retrieval operation is performed to analyze the memory structure to detect the reserved memory space, upon detecting the reserved memory space, to retrieve the low-priority data element, and to store a copy of the low-priority data element in the reserved memory space.
US09304693B1
Systems and methods for writing data to a data storage structure are provided. A data storage structure includes an array of storage locations. A plurality of write ports are configured to write a number of elements to the array simultaneously. The array of storage locations is arranged logically into N groups. Each group of the N groups is associated with a single multiplexer of a plurality of multiplexers. The single multiplexer is configured to receive inputs from the plurality of write ports and to select a single input to be written to a storage location of the associated group.
US09304692B2
An apparatus and other embodiments associated with solid-state drive command grouping are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a hardware memory configured to store a plurality of commands that are to be executed on a solid-state drive. The apparatus also includes organization logic implemented with at least hardware and configured to arrange at least two commands of the plurality of commands into a command pack based, at least in part, on one or more attributes of the at least two commands.
US09304690B2
Techniques for peer-to-peer Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) storage transfers are disclosed. In some embodiments, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing peer-to-peer storage transfers between PCIe devices including providing, in memory of a first PCIe device, a queue for data communicated between the first PCIe device and a target PCIe device, receiving, at the first PCIe device, queue memory allocation information transmitted from a host device communicatively coupled to the first PCIe device and the target PCIe device, and generating, using a computer processor of the first PCIe device, a storage command.
US09304687B1
Virtual data stores may be sparsely provisioned by virtual data storage services in a manner that controls risk of implementation resource shortages. Relationships between requested data storage space size, data storage server capacity, allocated data storage space size and/or allocated data storage space utilization may be tracked on a per data store, per customer, per data storage server, and/or a per virtual data storage service basis. For each such basis, a set of constraints may be specified to control the relationships. The set of constraints may be enforced during implementation resource allocation, and by migration of data storage space portions to different implementation resources as part of a sparse provisioning load balancing. Sparse provisioning details may be made explicit to virtual data storage service customers to varying degrees including explicit, aggregate on a per customer basis, and aggregate on a per virtual data storage service basis.
US09304680B2
Methods, devices, and computer readable storage device for navigation of a touchscreen display include calculating a scaled position based on a scaling factor. The scaling factor is based on dimensions of a region of reach and dimensions of the touchscreen display.
US09304677B2
A touch-based user interface system comprising an arrangement for scanning a tactile sensor array to produce a corresponding array of measurement values that are presented to a processor for computation. The computation produces a plurality of running sums created from selected measurement values or functions of selected measurement values. A post-scan computation algorithm derives at least three independently-adjustable interactive control parameters responsive to at least displacements or angles the contact of a single area of threshold contact or threshold proximity. The system provides output control signals responsive to the independently-adjustable interactive control parameters. In one aspect of the invention, n algorithmic element for handling of regions of threshold contact or threshold proximity having non-convex shapes. In another aspect of the invention, an algorithmic element calculates the rate of change of one or more of the independently-adjustable interactive control parameters. Other aspects of the invention include shape and gesture recognition.
US09304669B2
A method and system for displaying images captured by an in vivo imaging device are disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention display image sequence data in a first display area. When a first annotated image is displayed in the first display area, a first thumbnail image in a second display area corresponding to the first annotated image is replaced to indicate an occurring correspondence between the first annotated image and the first thumbnail image corresponding to the first annotated image being displayed. In one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying the first thumbnail image in the second display area when one other image of the image sequence data is displayed in the first display area after the first annotated image is displayed.
US09304667B2
A system, platform and network are disclosed. The system may be at least partially enabled by one or more processors, and may include a first device having a display for displaying a selected content item made accessible to the first device via download and/or streaming from a network. The first device may have a first device input to interact with the content item. A second device may be coupled to the network and may be configured to control access to and/or to monitor the use of the content item by the first device. A heuristics module may be included for determining whether the first device has utilized the content item to a level of utilization greater than a predetermined value and to form a suggestion based on the determination made by the heuristics module. A communication module may be included to send the suggestion to the second device to provide the first device with an updated and/or a second content item.
US09304664B2
A method for generating multi-language menus comprises grouping language-dependent menu resource files on a storage medium, and selecting only those menu resource files from a group that are labeled with an indication that matches the preferred menu language of the respective player.
US09304659B2
A preferred contact group centric interface for a communication device can be used to facilitate communications by a user. The user interface can be arranged to activate from a user's “home page” on the display, from an idle screen that is accessed after a timeout period expires, or any other appropriate mechanism that activates the preferred contact group centric experience. A user selects the preferred contact group from among an array of the user's contacts. Once the contact group is configured, a minimal number of navigation/selection features is necessary to activate any number of communication modes available to the contacts. The contact group is configured such that simple and quick navigation between the contact members is achieved. The contact group can be presented in 2D and 3D arrangements, in any number of list or geometric configurations. A pricing plan can optionally be tied to each member of the contact group.
US09304655B2
Graphical user interface (GUI) that receives directional input to change face for receiving passcode
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes instructions stored thereon. When executed by at least one processor, the instructions may be configured to cause a computing system to at least generate a graphical user interface (GUI), receive selections of characters and directional input, and compare the selections of the characters and the directional input to a stored passcode combination. The GUI may include at least one face and a plurality of buttons inside the at least one face. At least some of the plurality of buttons may include characters in a random or pseudorandom sequence. The GUI may be configured to receive selections of the characters and directional input to the at least one face.
US09304648B2
Methods and apparatus related to identifying a video for completing a task and determining a plurality of video segments of the identified video based on one or more attributes of the task. A task and a plurality of how-to videos related to the task may be identified. A how-to video may be selected and a plurality of video segments of the selected how-to video may be determined. One or more video segments may be associated with one or more task attributes that relate to performing the task. The selected video may be provided to a user and segmented, indexed, and/or annotated based on the associated video segments. In some implementations a given object utilized in performing the task may be identified and one or more video segments corresponding to the given object may be identified and/or provided to the user.
US09304640B2
A noise immunity of a detected capacitance is prevented or inhibited from lowering on a driving electrode different in width from the other driving electrodes, provided in an input device. A touch panel serving as an input device has a plurality of driving electrodes extending in an X-axis direction and arranged in a Y-axis direction intersecting with the X-axis direction, and a driving electrode arranged outside one side of an arrangement of the driving electrodes and extending in the X-axis direction. Further, the touch panel TP1 has a plurality of detecting electrodes extending in the Y-axis direction and arranged in the X-axis direction. The width of the driving electrode is smaller than the widths of the driving electrodes and the detecting electrode includes an expanding portion for expanding the area of the detecting electrode on the side opposite to the plurality of driving electrodes via the driving electrode.
US09304628B2
A touch sensing module including a plurality of image sensors and a processing unit is provided. The image sensors are disposed beside a reference plane and configured to detect the reference plane and to convert a detection result into a plurality of image signals respectively. The processing unit is configured to receive and process the image signals from the image sensors. When an object moves with respect to the reference plane in a plurality of first times and intersects or approaches the reference plane in each of the first times, the processing unit selects one first diagonal having the least length variation in the first times from a plurality of first diagonals of a first polygon surrounding the object in each first time to be a first orientation diagonal corresponding to a real orientation of the object. A touch sensing method and a computer program product are also provided.
US09304625B2
Embodiments described herein synchronize a switching frequency of switched power supplies with timing events associated with updating a display screen or performing touch sensing. For example, a touch event may be the time needed for a touch controller to scan a plurality of sensing electrodes. Because noise is introduced each time switched power supplies switch between different stages, the touch controller may instruct a power management controller to switch between the stages (i.e., adjust the switching frequency) at the same time during each touch event. Even though the switched power supplies are permitted to introduce noise into the touch system, the noise happens at the same time during each touch event. Accordingly, the effect of the noise is the same for each touch event and is cancelled out. A similar process may be used for synchronizing the switching frequency to display events.
US09304613B2
A multimedia apparatus and a method for controlling operations thereof are provided. The multimedia apparatus includes an input unit for receiving a selection signal, a sensing unit for sensing disposition of the multimedia apparatus, and a controller for, if the selection signal is input, performing different operations depending on the disposition. Accordingly, various operations of the multimedia apparatus may be controlled by simple manipulation.
US09304612B2
A method includes capturing stylus input via a background task running on a mobile device, wherein the stylus input is from user interactions with the stylus separate from the mobile device, suppressing display of stylus input on a display screen of the mobile device while capturing stylus input via the background task, and storing the stylus input on a computer readable storage device accessible by the mobile device.
US09304610B2
An aspect provides an expandable pen, including: an internal portion; an external portion that is flexible; and a biased component that is flexible and positioned between the internal portion and the external portion; the biased component applying force to the external portion to flex it away from the internal portion. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09304609B2
A digitizing tablet is provided, comprising: a display surface with a digitizer which detects a location of a front tip of a digitizing stylus, a pen sensor configured to detect the digitizing stylus being placed flatly on the display surface and, in response, to transmit a detecting signal, and a controller electrically coupled to the pen sensor. The controller is configured to execute instructions for: receiving the detecting signal from the pen sensor; and placing the digitizing tablet into a suspend mode upon receipt of the detecting signal.
US09304608B2
Various embodiments for inserting data are disclosed. One embodiment is a system that comprises a stylus device and a computing device. The stylus device comprises an input device configured to capture data, memory configured to store the captured data, and logic for transmitting the stored data. The computing device comprises a touchscreen display, a stylus interface for receiving the transmitted capture data, and an application executable in the computing device, where the application comprises logic that inserts the data received by the stylus interface on the touchscreen display.
US09304595B2
In one example, a method includes outputting, by a computing device and for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a group of keys. The method may further include receiving an indication of a first portion of a gesture to select a first key, and determining, based at least in part on the first key, one or more predicted next characters. The method may further include determining a path from a first location of the graphical keyboard to a second location of the graphical keyboard, the first location corresponding to the first key, the second location corresponding to one of the one or more predicted next characters. The method may further include comparing a second portion of the gesture with the determined path, and selecting, based at least in part on the comparison, the one of the one or more predicted next characters.
US09304580B2
An electronic circuit includes a processor having a functional mode and a low power mode, said processor comprising state flip-flops and additional flip-flops; said state flip flips are arranged to store state information about a state of the processor when the processor is in the functional mode; said state flip-flops comprise non-reset flip-flops that are arranged to store at least one non-reset value when the processor exits the functional mode; a power management circuit for providing power to the processor when the processor is in the functional mode, and for preventing power from the processor when the processor is in the low power mode; a non-reset value identification module, coupled to the state flip-flops, said non-reset value identification module is arranged to identify the non-reset flip-flops and to generate non-reset information that identifies the non-reset flip-flops; and a recovery circuit, coupled to a memory module and to the state flip-flops.
US09304576B2
Apparatus, systems, and/or methods may provide power management. An attachment portion may secure an apparatus to a user. In one example, an apparatus includes a wearable wristwatch having a wristband attachment portion. A context corresponding to a user state may be determined from context data such as, for example, sensor context data, database context data, companion context data, and/or user context data. The context may be used to specify a power mode applicable to a part of the apparatus to manage power.
US09304573B2
In an embodiment, a system may include multiple processors and an automatic power state controller (APSC) configured to switch the processors between various operating points. The operating points may be described by data programmed into the APSC, and the APSC may include a register that is programmable with a target operating point request identifying a target operating point for the processors from among the described operating points. The data describing the operating points may also include an indication of whether or not the number of processors that may be concurrently active at the operating point is limited. Based on the indication and the number of active processors, the APSC may override the requested operating point with a reduced operating point. In some embodiments, a digital power estimator (DPE) may monitor operation of the processors and may throttle the processors when high power consumption is detected.
US09304568B2
Disclosed embodiments relate to a system that changes transmitter and/or receiver settings to deal with reliability issues caused by a predetermined event, such as a change in a power state or a clock start event. One embodiment uses a first setting while operating a transmitter during a normal operating mode, and a second setting while operating the transmitter during a transient period following the predetermined event. A second embodiment uses similar first and second settings in a receiver, or in both a transmitter and a receiver employed on one side of a bidirectional link The first and second settings can be associated with different swing voltages, edge rates, equalizations and/or impedances.
US09304560B2
A data storage device (DSD) includes a power supply from a host and a charge storage element. A current transient is detected on the power supply from the host and it is determined whether the current transient exceeds a current threshold. When the current transient exceeds the current threshold, power is drawn from the charge storage element to reduce power drawn from the host.
US09304552B2
A protection device includes a cladding cover and a folding cover. A portable electronic device is detachably disposed on the cladding cover. The cladding cover includes a first connector and a first combining portion. The first connector includes a first joint and a second joint. The first joint contacts a first terminal set of the portable electronic device since the portable electronic device is disposed on the cladding cover. The folding cover includes a second terminal set and a second combining portion. The second terminal set contacts the second joint since the cladding cover is assembled with the folding cover. The first/second combining portions are respectively disposed around the first/second terminal sets. The second combining portion is rotatably combined with the first combining portion so that the cladding cover is switched relative to the folding cover between a first position and a second position.
US09304551B1
An apparatus is adapted to function as a laptop computer with an additional piano-style keyboard. The computer has disposed within the lower computer keyboard area a separate integrated piano keyboard. The piano keyboard of the apparatus is fully functional in conjunction with certain applications loaded to the laptop.
US09304550B1
This application relates to methods and apparatus relating to an adhesive bond that includes an integrated release mechanism. The adhesive bond can secure components in a portable electronic device, such as a battery, to the housing of the portable electronic device. The release mechanism can be embodied as a thin layer of polymeric material sandwiched between a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer. The first and second adhesive layers are joined to one another by a number of pillars that extend through openings in the release mechanism. A portion of the release mechanism can protrude from the adhesive bond allowing a technician or user to pull the release mechanism out of the adhesive bond, which severs the pillars that hold the adhesive layers together. In this way, the release mechanism allows for efficient separation of the adhesively secured components.
US09304547B2
A portable electronic apparatus includes a portable electronic device and a data access device installed on the portable electronic apparatus. The data access device includes a main body, a rotary arm and a sliding arm. The rotary arm is pivoted to the main body. When the rotary arm rotates to a folding position relative to the main body, the rotary arm is contained inside the main body. When the rotary arm rotates to a fixing position relative to the main body, the rotary arm protrudes out of the main body. The sliding arm is slidably disposed on the rotary arm so as to adjust a relative position between the sliding arm and the rotary arm. The sliding arm fixes the portable electronic device with the main body as the rotary arm rotates to the fixing position relative to the main body.
US09304541B2
An electronic device including a first body, a second body, and a linking-up member is provided. The second body connected to the first body is capable of being opened and closed relative to the first body. The second body has a first and second restriction member. The linking-up member is assembled to the first body. Two opposite ends of the linking-up member is coupled to the first restriction member and the second restriction member respectively, where the first restriction member provides a first stroke and the second restriction member provides a second stroke to the linking-up member. One of the first stroke and the second stroke is a linear path and another one is a curved path. When the first body is expanded relative to the second body, the liking-up member combines the first stroke and the second stroke to drive the second body rotating relative to the first body.
US09304538B2
An apparatus and a method are provided. The apparatus comprises: a display panel; a film extending across the display panel and beyond a periphery of the display panel; and a curved support configured to support the film outside the periphery of the display panel.
US09304532B2
A receiver circuit includes a deserialization unit, a sampling clock control unit and a sampling clock generation unit. The deserialization unit is configured to receive sampling clock signals, sample a plurality of input data signals, and generate a plurality of internal data signals. The sampling clock control unit is configured to generate a delay control signal and a synchronization completion signal in response to the plurality of internal data signals and a first group of clock signals. The sampling clock generation unit delays the first group of clock signals and provides the delayed first group of clock signals as the sampling clock signals in response to the delay control signal, and provides a second group of clock signals having a phase leading by a predetermined amount with respect to the first group of clock signals, as the sampling clock signals in response to the synchronization completion signal.
US09304531B2
Disclosed are various embodiments providing processing circuitry that generates an output for each clock cycle of a clock signal using a logic block, the logic block being powered by a supply voltage. The processing circuitry detects whether the output has stabilized at a point in time before the end of a clock cycle of the clock signal, the point in time being based at least upon a delay line. In response to detecting whether the output has stabilized at a point in time, the processing circuitry dynamically adjusts at least one of the supply voltage or the frequency of the clock signal.
US09304530B1
A strobed signaling interface generates a reduced-frequency replica of an incoming strobe signal and applies the replica to extend the interval over which strobe-sampled write data values remain available for transfer to a clocked timing domain. Quadrature instances of the reduced-frequency strobe replicas may be generated and occasionally sampled by skew control logic within the memory component to obtain a coarse measure of the skew between the strobed and clocked timing domains. When the strobe-to-clock domain skew is outside a predetermined boundary, the skew control logic selects an alternative clock signal edge (i.e., earlier or later edge) to sample strobed data, thereby reducing the effective skew between the two timing domains.
US09304529B2
An apparatus for reducing a clutch pedal effort for a vehicle may include a pedal arm lever provided at an upper portion of a pedal arm and protruding forward, a torsion lever, one end of which is installed to be rotatable with respect to a pedal member and positioned at a front side of the pedal arm lever, and a back force link that is rotatably installed in the pedal member between the pedal arm lever and the torsion lever so that one end is connected to the pedal arm lever and the other end contacts the torsion lever, and that decreases the effort by generating turnover force when the pedal arm rotates forward and increases return force when the pedal arm rotates backward.
US09304520B2
An operation mode is determined based on user behavior data, an environmental data of the electronic device is determined and a system operating data of the electronic device is determined. A system control parameter can be adjusted based on the environmental data and the system operating data to regulate the heat generating element and/or the cooling element to achieve the operating mode.
US09304511B2
Mechanisms are provided for virtualizing physical sensors and providing sensor data to a requestor using the virtualized physical sensors. The mechanisms obtain sensor data from a plurality of physical sensors and storing the sensor data in a virtual sensor storage system of the data processing system in at least one standardized format. A request from a requestor for a first type of sensor data is received which does not specify a particular physical sensor. A portion of the sensor data stored in the virtual sensor storage system is retrieved in response to receiving the request, the portion of sensor data corresponding to the type of sensor data requested in the request from the requestor. The retrieved portion of the sensor data is returned to the requestor in a format corresponding to a physical sensor configured to provide the requested type of sensor data.
US09304499B2
The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for verifying the consistency of the values given by an angle of attack probe of an aircraft. The method and apparatus verifies the proper operation of the angle of attack probe by using the aircraft's vertical load factor measurement provided by an accelerometer to estimate the angle of attack and then comparing the estimated angle of attach with the measure angle of attack.
US09304496B1
A multi-purpose tool watch comprising, a wristband housing having a bottom surface, an outer edge and a sidewall that extends upwards from said bottom surface outer edge, said sidewall having an inner surface, a watch body having a boundary edge and top and bottom surfaces, a watch face, and the bottom surface, a tubular member, a flange. The tubular member of the tool watch is mounted to the watch body boundary edge, wherein the flange interacts with the wristband housing to lock and unlock the tubular member to the housing. Tool members have a configuration to be moved from a stored position to an extended position for use, and wherein the tool members in a stored position are located between said tubular member outer surface and said sidewall of the wristband housing when said watch body bottom surface is adjacent said wristband housing bottom surface.
US09304490B2
A method for irradiating a medium with a wave which is designed to focus on a particular portion in the medium, the method includes: irradiating the medium with an electromagnetic wave which is scattered in the medium, and is not designed to focus on the particular portion in the medium; detecting a first signal caused by irradiating the medium with the electromagnetic waver; irradiating the medium with a reconstructed wave which is designed to focus on the particular portion in the medium; detecting a second signal caused by irradiating the medium with the reconstructed wave; and monitoring, based on the first and second signals, that the particular portion is irradiated by the reconstructed wave.
US09304487B2
An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing member movably provided in the apparatus main body and configured to take a closing position to close a first opening and a second opening and an opening position to open the first opening and the second opening. The opening/closing member includes a first opening/closing portion configured to close the first opening at the closing position and a second opening/closing portion configured to close the second opening at the closing position and provided so as to be movable with respect to the first opening/closing portion. A cartridge support member moving, at the opening position, in a pull-out direction from an inner position to an outer position causes the second opening/closing portion to move downstream in the pull-out direction.
US09304483B2
A cartridge includes a receiving recessed portion, a contact portion and a main assembly electrical contact. In a state in which the cartridge is mounted at an image forming position of the main assembly, the cartridge includes a first positioning projection held in the receiving recessed portion; a second positioning projection, provided at a position different from a position of the first positioning projection, contacting the contact portion; and an information storing member including a storing element for storing information and a storing element contact electrically connected with the storing element, wherein the storing element contact contacts the main assembly electrical contact. Moment, about the first positioning projection, applied to the cartridge by a force applied from the main assembly electrical contact to the storing element contact acts in a direction of urging the second positioning projection to the contact portion.
US09304481B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, an image reading unit that is provided above the image forming unit so as to read an image of a document, a frame that accommodates the image forming unit therein, including a pair of front and rear planar members disposed so as to face each other and a beam portion that connects the pair of planar members and supports upward the image reading unit, and a cover that covers at least a portion of the frame, provided with an opening portion of which an upper edge portion is supported by the beam portion.
US09304475B2
A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface. Each prong may include an extension member extending perpendicular to the prongs and the cross-sectional area of the extension members may be less than the cross-sectional area of the prongs.
US09304474B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a movable image bearer bearing an image thereon which is transferred to a recording medium when the image comes into contact with the recording medium; and a twining prevention member which is arranged in the vicinity of the image bearer on the side downstream of a portion of the contact between the recording medium and the image bearer in a moving direction of the image bearer to prevent the recording medium from twining around the image bearer, wherein the twining prevention member includes, in the portion of the contact with the recording medium, a high friction resistance portion which regulates movement of the recording medium.
US09304455B2
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a heating section that heats an image on a sheet formed of decolorable color material; an image forming section that transfers the image formed of the decolorable color material to the sheet; a diagnosis image generating section that instructs the image forming section to generate a diagnosis image formed of a predetermined image on a sheet; a control section that controls the heating section to switch a fixing temperature for fixing the image formed of the decolorable color material on the sheet to a decoloring temperature for decoloring the image formed of the decolorable color material on the sheet; and a first transporting route that transports the sheet on which the diagnosis image of the decolorable color material is formed through the image forming section to the heating section maintained at the decoloring temperature.
US09304454B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a pressing member, heat generators, temperature detectors, a power source, and a heat controller. The heat generators include a first heat generator and second heat generators corresponding to an imaged area and a blank area, respectively, of a recording medium. The heat controller controls a power source according to data provided by the temperature detectors, such that a heating area of the fixing member heated by one of the second heat generators located adjacent to the first heat generator acquires a temperature of T1−ΔT, where T1 is a temperature corresponding to the imaged area higher than a temperature T2 corresponding to the blank area, and ΔT is a temperature lower than a difference between T1 and T2. The heat controller changes ΔT between when a first side thereof is printed upon duplex printing and upon single-sided printing.
US09304449B1
A printer for printing to electrically printable media is described. During printing, a drum surface having first and second portions is charged to a first voltage, and the second portions of the surface are selectively discharged. A transfer electrode has a uniform voltage applied thereon. A first erase electrode and a second erase electrode have a fixed voltage differential between them. The printer receives the electrically printable medium between the first erase electrode and the second erase electrode to expose the electrically printable medium to the fixed voltage differential, and to move the electrically printable medium proximal to the drum and the transfer electrode to expose the electrically printable medium to a first voltage differential that results from the first voltage of the first portions and the uniform voltage, and a second voltage differential that results from the second voltage of the second portions and the uniform voltage.
US09304448B2
An intermediate transfer member that contains a mixture of a polyimide, an optional conductive component, and a perfluoropolyether phosphate.
US09304445B2
A developing roller includes a roller main body disposed to face, without contact, an outer circumferential surface of an image carrier. The roller main body includes an aluminum oxide thin film and a resin coat layer, the aluminum oxide thin film being formed on an outer circumferential surface of a base body that is made of a metal including aluminum, the resin coat layer being formed on a surface of the aluminum oxide thin film that has been subjected to a predetermined heating process, the resin coat layer being made of a resin material and having electric conductivity.
US09304442B2
A developing device includes a case, an agitating member, a moving mechanism and a detecting device. The case contains a developer inside. The agitating member is rotated in the case to agitate the developer while conveying the developer in a rotation axis direction. The moving mechanism reciprocates the agitating member in the rotation axis direction in accordance with the rotation of the agitating member. The detecting device detects a developer amount contained in the case.
US09304432B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device, a bias applying unit, a leak detecting unit, a bias controller and a leak detection controller. The developing device includes a magnetic roller and a developer layer. The bias applying unit applies development biases to the magnetic roller and the developing roller. The leak detecting unit detects a leak generated between the image carrier and the developing roller or a leak generated between the developing roller and the magnetic roller. The leak detection controller performs a leak detecting operation for detecting the value of an inter-peak voltage of the alternating current voltage of the development bias applied to the developing roller, at which the leak is generated, while changing the inter-peak voltage at a time different from that during the developing operation.
US09304428B2
Provided are a toner containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, the toner having a specific hue angle and an absorbance at a specific wavelength in reflectance spectrophotometry, and a full-color image-forming method involving the use of the toner, the method including the steps of: forming an electrostatic image on a charged electrostatic image bearing member; developing the formed electrostatic image with the toner to form a toner image; transferring the formed toner image onto a transfer material; and fixing the transferred toner image to the transfer material to form a fixed image.
US09304426B2
The present disclosure relates to an electrostatic latent image developing toner containing a toner particle including a toner core containing a binder resin and a shell layer coating a surface of the toner core. The shell layer contains a unit derived from a monomer of a thermosetting resin, and a unit derived from a thermoplastic resin. The thermosetting resin is one or more resins selected from the group of amino resins consisting of a melamine resin, a urea resin, and a glyoxal resin. The toner particle contains fine particles in an interfacial portion between the toner core and the shell layer, and the fine particles have a charge property opposite to that of the toner, or have a volume resistivity lower than both a volume resistivity of the binder resin and a volume resistivity of the shell layer.
US09304423B2
An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing an amorphous polyester resin (a1), a crystalline polyester resin (a2), and a styrene-acrylic resin (b) containing 2-carboxyethyl acrylate as a polymerization component.
US09304421B2
An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes a toner base particle which contains at least a binder resin, and has a domain-matrix structure, in which a matrix contains a styrene-acrylic resin, a domain contains an amorphous resin which is formed by combining a vinyl-based polymerized segment and a polyester-based polymerized segment, and the domain containing the amorphous resin and having a diameter of 100 nm or larger has a number-average domain diameter which falls in the range from 150 to 1000 nm.
US09304418B2
A system for pigment milling includes a pulsing direct current (DC) source that generates a DC pulse, an electromagnetic field generating subunit that includes an electromagnetic coil coupled to the pulsing DC source to receive the DC pulse and to generate a magnetic field, and a rotating container subunit that includes a container for holding magnetic particles and ink pigment particles in an ink carrier, and a rotating subunit to rotate the container. A portion of the container is disposed within the electromagnetic coil and generation of the magnetic field causing motion of the magnetic particles thereby dispersing the ink pigment particles within the ink carrier.
US09304411B2
A method of patterning substrates using a lithographic apparatus. The method comprising providing a beam of radiation using an illumination system, using a patterning device to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section, and using a projection system to project the patterned radiation beam onto target portions of a lot of substrates, wherein the method further comprises performing a radiation beam aberration measurement after projecting the patterned radiation beam onto a subset of the lot of substrates, performing an adjustment of the projection system using the results of the radiation beam aberration measurement, then projecting the patterned radiation beam onto a further subset of the lot of substrates.
US09304400B2
An illumination system for EUV microlithography includes an EUV light source which generates EUV illumination light with an etendue that is higher than 0.01 mm2. The EUV light source generates a sequence of EUV light pulses having a pulse sequence frequency. An illumination optics of the illumination system is used to guide the illumination light from the light source to an object field. At least one optical modulation component of the illumination system is preferably modulatable synchronously with the pulse sequence frequency. The result is an illumination system where a homogeneity of an object field illumination is improved.
US09304395B2
A black-and-white silver halide conductive film element precursor has at least one first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide and a first hydrophilic overcoat disposed over the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer. This first hydrophilic overcoat is the outermost layer and contains one or more immobilized radiation absorbers such as immobilized ultraviolet radiation absorbers, in a total amount of at least 5 mg/m2. These precursors can be imagewise exposed and processed to provide conductive film elements with various conductive silver patterns (or grids) with narrow conductive silver lines on one or both sides. In many instances, the precursors have the same or different layers on both sides of a transparent substrate and the resulting conductive film element has the same or different conductive silver patterns on both sides.
US09304385B2
An exposure method that uses a substrate (M) held by a holding member (28) to perform exposure processing, comprising a holding process, which holds a prescribed region (AR3) of the substrate as the holding region by means of the holding member, and a deformation process, which selectively deforms one side of the holding region of the substrate held by the holding process with respect to the other side. According to the present invention, a prescribed region of the substrate is held as a holding region by means of a holding member, and one side of the holding region of said held substrate is selectively deformed with respect to the other side, so it is possible to selectively eliminate the nonlinear deformation components attributable to holding of the substrate with respect to one side from among the two sides of the substrate using the holding region as a reference. Since it is possible to put the pattern projected via the substrate into a linearly correctable status, it is possible to reduce warping of the pattern.
US09304381B2
According to an embodiment, an image projection apparatus includes a light source unit, an image forming unit that forms an image using light from the light source unit, and a heat releasing unit that is provided to the image forming unit and releases heat from the image forming unit, and projecting the image formed by the image forming unit. The image projection apparatus includes a facing member that faces an installation surface on which a main body of the apparatus is installed; and a foot that allows the facing member to support the image forming unit. The heat releasing unit is provided between the facing member and the image forming unit.
US09304379B1
In some examples, the intensity of an image projected onto a surface at an oblique angle may be controlled to equalize the intensity, and thereby to eliminate from the image perceptible variations in brightness. For instance, a first distance to a closer portion of the image and a second distance to a farther portion of the image may be used to determine an amount of change to be made to the intensity of at least one portion of the image. In some implementations, a filter may be used to control changes to the intensity of the image. In other implementations, the image information may be modified, such as on a pixel level, to control the intensity of the image.
US09304377B2
A camera housing including a self-cleaning function is disclosed. More particularly, a self-cleaning camera module including a fluid based cleaning system is disclosed. A self-cleaning camera module including a fluid based cleaning system for providing accurate imaging in an uncontrolled environment is disclosed. A monitoring system including one or more self-cleaning camera modules is disclosed.
US09304364B2
Provided is a liquid crystal display (LCD), the LCD includes: an insulating substrate; a first gate line and a second gate line which are formed on the insulating substrate and extend parallel to each other; a data line formed on the insulating substrate, insulated from the first and second gate lines, and crossing the first and second gate lines; a first subpixel electrode connected to the first gate line and the data line by a first switching device and includes a plurality of first fine protruding patterns at an edge thereof; and a second subpixel electrode connected to the second gate line and the data line by a second switching device and including a plurality of second fine protruding patterns at an edge thereof, wherein the first fine protruding patterns are separated from each other by a first gap, and the second fine protruding patterns are separated from each other by a second gap, wherein the sum of a width of the first gap and a width of each of the first fine protruding patterns is greater than the sum of a width of the second gap and a width of each of the second protruding patterns.
US09304362B2
In a liquid crystal display device including: TFT substrate; color filter; counter electrode; interlayer insulation film; pixel electrode; alignment film; liquid crystal layer; counter substrate; and Si semiconductor layer. The color filter, counter electrode, interlayer insulation film, pixel electrode, and alignment film being formed on the side where the TFT substrate is provided, the counter substrate being disposed in facing relation to the TFT substrate with the liquid crystal layer put between the counter substrate and TFT substrate, the Si semiconductor layer is formed between the pixel electrode and interlayer insulation film. Even when light from a backlight is absorbed by the color filter and sufficient light cannot reach the alignment film, electric charges accumulated on the alignment film can escape to the pixel electrode in an early stage by the Si semiconductor layer formed under the alignment film, thereby capable of erasing the afterimage in an early stage.
US09304361B2
A display substrate includes a first display substrate comprising a display area having an array of switching elements and a peripheral area surrounding the display area, a second display substrate facing the first display substrate, a color filter disposed on the display area of the first display substrate, a first backflow-blocking pattern including a material substantially the same as the color filter and disposed on the peripheral area and an insulation layer covering the color filter and the first backflow-blocking pattern, the insulation layer having a hole exposing, for outgas testing purposes, a corresponding portion of the first backflow-blocking pattern.
US09304357B2
A photoalignment equipment includes a light emitting device, a platform, a pipe assembly, and a blower. The light emitting device has an ultraviolet light source and an accommodating space. The ultraviolet light source is located in the accommodating space. When the ultraviolet light source emits an ultraviolet light, at least a portion of air in the accommodating space is transformed into a plurality of ozone molecules. The platform is under the light-emitting device. The pipe assembly has a first opening and at least one second opening. The first opening is communicated with the accommodating space, and the second opening faces the platform. The blower is communicated with the pipe assembly to draw the ozone molecules in the accommodating space by the first opening of the pipe assembly and exhausts the ozone molecules from the second opening of the pipe assembly.
US09304355B2
Disclosed are an optical member and a display device having the same. The optical member includes a first substrate, a plurality of wavelength conversion parts provided on the first substrate while being spaced apart from each other, and a sealing layer on a top surface of the wavelength conversion parts and at a lateral side of the wavelength conversion parts. Each of the wavelength conversion parts includes a host on the first substrate, and a plurality of wavelength conversion particles in the host.
US09304349B2
The disclosure of the present invention discloses a touch display panel. The touch display panel comprises a color filter substrate, an array substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a touch sensing film positioned at a side of the color filter substrate which is away from the liquid crystal layer, wherein the color filter substrate comprises a substrate and a black matrix provided with a plurality of opening areas which are in array distribution; the touch sensing film comprises a substrate, one side of the substrate is provided with a plurality of first electrodes, the other side surface of the substrate is provided with a plurality of second electrodes, the projections of the first electrodes and the second electrodes on the color filter substrate are intersected with each other, the first electrodes are color filter electrodes, and the projections on the color filter substrate are opposite to the opening areas.
US09304348B2
A flexible display device having a touch and bending sensing function includes a plurality of pixels on a display area of a first substrate, and a pressure sensor portion between the first substrate and the plurality of pixels, the pressure sensor portion including a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes above the first electrodes and arranged in a second direction.
US09304343B2
A first substrate includes first and second gate lines extending in a first direction. First, second, and third source lines respectively extend in a second direction orthogonally crossing the first direction and crossing the first and second gate lines. A first pixel electrode is arranged adjoining the first source line and extends in the second direction. A second pixel electrode is arranged adjoining the third source line and extends in the second direction. A second substrate includes a common electrode arranged above the second source line extending in the second direction between the first source line and the third source line. The first and second source lines, the first and second gate lines, and the first pixel electrode form a first pixel, and the second and the third source lines, the first and second gate lines, and the second pixel electrode form a second pixel.
US09304339B2
The invention is a method for continuously manufacturing an inspected liquid crystal display panel, includes: a liquid crystal cell feeding step including feeding a liquid crystal cell having a first substrate and a second substrate; a first polarizing plate providing step including providing a first polarizing plate from a first polarizing plate roll; a first polarizing plate laminating step including laminating the first polarizing plate to the first substrate; a second polarizing plate providing step including providing a second polarizing plate from a second polarizing plate roll; a second polarizing plate laminating step including laminating the second polarizing plate to the second substrate to obtain a liquid crystal display panel after laminating the first polarizing plate to the first substrate; and an inspecting step including optically inspecting the liquid crystal display panel without applying voltage to the liquid crystal panel, wherein the first substrate is less susceptible to electrostatic decay in the liquid crystal cell than the second substrate.
US09304332B2
Systems and methods for creating fully custom products from scratch without exclusive use of off-the-shelf or pre-specified components. A system for creating custom products includes a computer communicatively coupled with an image capture device and configured to construct an anatomic model of the user based on captured image data and/or measurement data. The computer provides a configurable product model and enables preview and automatic or user guided customization of the product model. A display is communicatively coupled with the computer and displays the custom product model superimposed on the anatomic model or image data of the user. The computer is further configured to provide the customized product model to a manufacturer for manufacturing eyewear for the user in accordance with the customized product model.
US09304331B2
The eyeglasses (1) with high flexibility in use comprise a system for measuring the wearer's heart rate, the measuring system comprising a microcontroller (11), at least one heart rate sensor (12), means (13) for generating a visual and/or audible signal correlated to the measured heart rate, and an autonomous electrical power source (14), the measuring system further comprising adjustable means for positioning the sensor (12) against an anatomical area suitable for measuring the heart rate.
US09304318B2
A display device for a vehicle includes a deploying and accommodating mechanism configured to change a state of disposition of a combiner between a position of a use state in which a display can be seen in the observation region and a position of an unused state in which a display cannot be seen in the observation region. The deploying and accommodating mechanism includes a restricting unit configured to restrict an inclination, with respect to a prescribed direction, of a surface of the combiner to a predetermined angle of a ghost suppression state at least when the combiner is located at the position of the use state.
US09304317B2
An optical scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning apparatus, the optical scanning apparatus includes a dust-proof shutter having an opening portion. The opening portion has a side-surface opening portion and a top-surface opening portion. The side-surface opening portion is formed in a side surface of the dust-proof shutter. A cleaning member used for cleaning a dust-proof glass is inserted through the side-surface opening portion. The top-surface opening portion guides a moving direction of the cleaning member inserted through the side-surface opening portion, to a direction along a longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass. When the dust-proof shutter is located at a first position, a light beam passed through the dust-proof glass passes through the top-surface opening portion.
US09304315B2
An optical scanning unit includes a rotatable multi-faceted mirror having a plurality of faces reflecting light flux emitted from a light source to scan a scanning area in a main scanning direction. A width of the light flux striking the rotatable multi-faceted mirror is smaller than a length of a face of the rotatable multi-faceted mirror. The entire of light flux striking the rotatable multi-faceted mirror is reflected at a first face when the light flux reflected by the rotatable multi-faceted mirror is directed to the center portion of the scanning area. A part of the light flux striking the rotatable multi-faceted mirror is reflected at the first face while the remaining of the light flux is reflected at a second face when the light flux reflected by the rotatable multi-faceted mirror is directed to a least one of the two end portions of the scanning area.
US09304314B1
A method and apparatus for resonant rotational oscillator have been disclosed. In one version a moving coil is mounted on a rotating member. By using a magnetic assembly and the moving coil the rotating member is made to rotate.
US09304308B2
The present application discloses various implementations of a laser scanning module. In one implementation, such a laser scanning module comprising an optical isolator including first and second linear polarizers, a collimating optics configured to receive light produced by a laser light source and to pass a substantially collimated light beam to the first linear polarizer, and a scanning unit situated to receive light passed by the second linear polarizer. The first linear polarizer is separated from the collimating optics by a first distance less than a second distance separating the second linear polarizer from the scanning unit.
US09304301B2
An apparatus for capturing an image includes a plurality of lens elements coaxially encompassed within a lens housing. One of the lens elements includes an aspheric lens element having a surface profile configured to enhance a desired region of a captured image. At least one glare-reducing element coaxial with the plurality of lens elements receives light subsequent to the light sequentially passing through each of the lens elements. An imaging chip receives the light subsequent to the light passing through the at least one glare-reducing element. The imaging chip includes a plurality of green, blue and red pixels.
US09304287B2
A light concentrating apparatus is presented. Disclosed apparatuses include a collection of shaped reflectors capable of redirecting incident light, sunlight for example. The reflectors are configured to modify the spatial distribution of the redirected light in a manner where the distribution of light associated with a first dimension is modified differently than the distribution of light associated with a second, different dimension, via a relay of reflections. Contemplated apparatuses generate a substantially collimated output beam subsequent to the relay of reflections.
US09304284B2
A lens apparatus includes: a fixed barrel with a movable barrel therein holding an optical element and moving along an optical axis; a first operating unit rotatable outside the fixed barrel; a movable stop in the fixed barrel, the stop including a movable unit rotatable to change aperture diameter; a second operating unit outside the fixed barrel; and transmission barrel engaging with the fixed barrel in the fixed barrel and connected to the second operating unit at a first portion and to the movable unit of the stop at a second portion, the transmission barrel having an opening between the first and second portions separated from each other in the optical axis direction, in which the movable barrel is connected to the first operating unit through the opening of the transmission barrel, and moves along the optical axis by a rotation-translation converting mechanism by rotating the first operating unit.
US09304272B2
The present disclosure allows connection between optical and electrical devices at high frequencies and high bit rate. The present disclosure provides an electro-optical device that includes an optical interface for optical signal transmission and reception; an electrical interface for electrical signal transmission and reception; a data and signal unit located inside an integrated circuit chip coupled to the optical interface and to the electrical interface for manipulating data received through said interfaces; and a processing unit located inside the integrated circuit chip coupled to the optical interface and to the electrical interface for processing digital data received through said interfaces. The present disclosure provides devices that achieve smaller physical dimensions with an increased number of interfaces to allow greater throughput of data into and out of the integrated circuit. This allows increased input/output bandwidth and increased amount of logic can be placed directly into the integrated circuit.
US09304271B2
A connecting element for connecting a fiber-optic light guide to a light source one time and detaching the fiber-optic light guide from a light source one time is provided. The connecting element includes a housing having a wall, where the housing encloses a cavity, a fiber-optic light guide that passes through the housing and the cavity, a connecting piece corresponding to a connecting section of the light source for establishing the connection to the light source, where the connecting section can be reused after the detachment, and prevention device configured to prevent repeated use of the connecting element and/or the light guide.
US09304260B2
An optical fiber assembly includes an optical fiber with a bulbous portion at a first end of the optical fiber and an optical tip attachment surrounding a segment of the optical fiber proximate the bulbous portion. The optical tip attachment is configured to bend the segment of the optical fiber. The optical fiber tip attachment is configured to maintain an air gap between a cylindrical surface of the segment and an inner surface of the optical fiber tip attachment.
US09304257B2
The number of wavelength selective switch (WSS) units in a WSS device can be doubled by using polarization properties of optical beams propagating through the WSS device. Beams from different WSS units are orthogonally polarized at the front end, propagated through collimator, wavelength dispersing element, and a focusing element, and impinge on a polarizing beamsplitter, which directs sub-beams at different polarizations to different directing elements of a director array. A polarization diversity configuration at the back end can be used to reduce polarization dependent loss.
US09304256B2
An apparatus may be provided. The apparatus may comprise a first edge having a first area and a second edge having a second area larger than the first area. The apparatus may further comprise a volume of material disposed between the first edge and the second edge. The volume of material may have a first numeral aperture value at the first area and a second numeral aperture value at the second area. The second numeral aperture value may be less than the first numeral aperture value.
US09304255B2
An optical device includes an SOI substrate, the embedded insulating layer having a thickness of 200 nanometers (nm) or less; an optical waveguide comprising a Group III-V compound semiconductor material formed on top of the SOI substrate; and an optical leakage preventing layer formed inside the SOI substrate on a bottom side of the optical waveguide to prevent leakage of light from inside the optical waveguide towards the SOI substrate.
US09304251B2
To provide a plastic optical fiber using amorphous fluorinated polymers whereby transmission loss and bending loss are low, no cracking takes place during stretching, and a wide range of molding conditions is acceptable.A plastic optical fiber comprising an inner layer, an outer layer having a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the inner layer, and a protective coating layer covering the outer periphery of the outer layer, wherein the inner layer contains an amorphous fluorinated polymer (a) having no C—H bond, the outer layer contains an amorphous fluorinated polymer (c) which may have a C—H bond only at a terminal of the main chain, the glass transition temperature (Tgc) of the fluorinated polymer (c) is at least the glass transition temperature (Tga) of the fluorinated polymer (a), the plastic optical fiber is a stretched one, the fracture elongation of the fluorinated polymer (a) and the fracture elongation of the fluorinated polymer (c) are at least 120% and larger than the stretching ratio.
US09304245B2
Disclosed is a display device having a slim and narrow structure. The display device comprises a liquid crystal panel; a light source for providing light to the liquid crystal panel; a light guide of a glass material, wherein the light source is combined with one side of the light guide; a reflector formed on at least one of both surfaces of the light guide; and an adhesive member formed on one surface of the light guide confronting the liquid crystal panel, and provided to attach the liquid crystal panel and the light guide to each other.
US09304239B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing a thin polarizer, and a thin polarizer prepared using the same, the method including forming a film laminate by attaching a non-stretched polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film having a thickness of 10 to 60 μm to at least one surface of a non-stretched base film, using attractive force therebetween; and stretching the film laminate such that the thickness of the PVA film is 10 μm or less.
US09304237B1
Optical filters and methods of making optical filters are provided. The optical filter can include a first and second stack of layers. The first stack of layers can be configured to provide a cut-on edge for s-polarized radiation incident at a second wavelength value and a cut-off edge for s-polarized radiation incident at a third wavelength value. The second stack of layers can be configured to provide a cut-off edge for s-polarized radiation incident on the second stack of layers at a fourth wavelength value. Further, the fourth wavelength value can lie between the second wavelength value and the third wavelength value. Furthermore, a curve or line of full-width half-maximum (FWHM) values of the optical filter pass-band can define a first derivative with respect to angle-of-incidence values at at least one angle-of-incidence value that is substantially positive or substantially zero.
US09304230B2
An ophthalmic device includes a hydrogel lens and a media insert removably attached to the hydrogel lens. A method for removably attaching the media insert to the hydrogel lens includes receiving a first hydrogel lens including an annular opening, at least partially inserting a media insert into the annular opening of the first hydrogel lens, removing the media insert from the annular opening of the first hydrogel lens, receiving a second hydrogel lens including an annular opening, and at least partially inserting the removed media insert into the annular opening of the second hydrogel lens.
US09304225B2
The method and sensor unit allow the location and detection of metallic or metal-containing objects and materials. A coil arrangement (1.2) comprises a transmission coil and a reception coil, which are arranged on top of one another, wherein the reception coil generates a reception coil output signal. A closed compensation control regulates the reception coil output signal in the receiving coil for compensating changes which occur in the detection range of the reception coil and influence the reception coil. To this end, compensation currents are fed into the receiving branch of the reception coil and are controlled relative to each other such that the reception coil output signal or average values which are detected from the reception coil output signal after demodulation are continuously regulated relative to each other to zero even in the case of metal influence. As a result, a coil with an unregulated transmission current can be used, in which a zero output signal is continuously generated. At the same time, the structural requirements for a compact structure of a sensor arrangement having a one-sided detection range are established.
US09304219B2
An acquisition device includes a pair of input terminals for connection to an analog seismic sensor generating a seismic signal. The device includes a detector for detecting a disconnection of the sensor, which includes a current source for injecting a low current in the sensor to generate an offset signal which depends on electrical resistance of the sensor and is added to the seismic signal. The offset signal encroaches on only a part of an operating range of the acquisition device. The voltage measured at the input terminals is applied to an analog-digital converter and a filter to obtain a measured value of the offset signal. A processing unit either analyzes a temporal variation of the measured value and triggers an alarm if a determined condition is satisfied, or transmits the measured value to a remote device adapted to analyze the temporal variation.
US09304215B2
A seismic exploration system includes a survey area defined by a perimeter and including a first plurality of sub-areas and a second plurality of sub-areas adjacent the first plurality of sub-areas; two or more seismic energy sources installed within the perimeter of the seismic survey area; a first plurality of groups of seismic energy receivers installed in the first plurality of sub-areas, each of the groups of seismic energy receivers in the first plurality of groups including two or more seismic energy receivers per wavelength of seismic energy generated by the two or more seismic energy sources; and a second plurality of groups of seismic energy receivers installed in the second plurality of sub-areas, each of the groups of seismic energy receivers in the second plurality of groups including less than two seismic energy receivers per wavelength of seismic energy generated by the two or more seismic energy sources.
US09304212B2
A scintillator panel is provided with a substrate which transmits radiation ray and a phosphor layer which is present on the surface of the substrate and which is made of a thallium-activated cesium iodide that can convert an incident radiation to visible light. The phosphor layer is covered with a moisture-proof film. The phosphor layer is an alternating laminate composed of high thallium concentration layers and low thallium concentration layers that have a thallium concentration lower than that of the high-thallium concentration layers, wherein the thickness of one thallium concentration cycle in the lamination direction is 40 nm or less.
US09304211B2
A scintillation detector array includes a scintillator array comprising a plurality of scintillator elements, a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetector elements, an active light guide separating the scintillator array from the photodetector array. The active light guide formed of a scintillator material having different emission properties than the plurality of scintillator elements.
US09304205B2
An electronic device for tracking a distance traveled by a user along a course comprises a location determining element, a memory element, and a processing element. The location determining element is configured to receive location signals from a satellite-based positioning system and to determine a current geolocation of the user. The memory element is configured to store geolocations for a start point, an end point, and a plurality of intermediate event points that are passed by the user as he travels along the course, wherein each event point is positioned at a known distance from a stored geolocation such as the start point or another event point. The processing element is configured to determine a measured distance based on the current geolocation of the user and to determine a calibrated distance as a function of the measured distance and the known distances of the event points.
US09304201B2
Provided is an image detection device including a light-emitting unit that emits light toward an image holding member, a first light-receiving unit that is disposed at a position where specular reflected light of the light emitted toward the image holding member is received, a second light-receiving unit that is disposed at a position where diffuse reflected light of the light emitted toward the image holding member is received, a light-emission control unit that controls an intensity of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit, and a reference member that is disposed at a position through which light having an intensity that is less than an intensity detectable by the second light-receiving unit passes in a case of the first intensity and through which light having an intensity that is equal to or higher than the intensity detectable by the second light-receiving unit passes in a case of the second intensity.
US09304200B2
A method of identifying and locating an acoustic reflector is described by interrogating underwater objects with a sonar and deploying one or more of the steps of • a. identifying objects that apparently reflect the acoustic interrogation with a double echo, measuring the separation of the two echoes and comparing those measurements with anticipated measurements for underwater acoustic reflectors that may be present in the search area, and accepting or rejecting the reflected acoustic wave as potentially including the echo from the front of such an acoustic reflector and the echo from the shell at the rear of the reflector; • b. measuring the target strength of the echoes in a double echo received from an object and rejecting the object as one of interest if the target strength in the first echo of a double echo exceeds that of the second echo; • c. measuring the total target strength of an echo from an object, the object being rejected as being a potential underwater acoustic reflector of interest if the target strength is less than a predetermined minimum; • d. measuring the acoustic width of an object and comparing that with the acoustic width of known acoustic reflectors, the object being rejected as being potentially an underwater acoustic reflector of interest if the acoustic width is not that of a known underwater acoustic reflector; • e. measuring the frequency response of an object, the object being accepted or rejected as being potentially an acoustic reflector of interest if the frequency response corresponds to the known frequency response of such an underwater reflector; and • f. measuring the phase response of an object, the object being accepted or rejected as potentially an underwater acoustic reflector of interest if the phase response corresponds to the known phase response of such an underwater acoustic reflector. The target is being rejected as being an acoustic reflector of interest if the measured characteristics do not match the known characteristics of a reflector of interest.
US09304199B2
Obstacle and terrain warning radar system (1) for a rotorcraft (2), the system having at least two assemblies (10), each having at least one radar unit, said rotorcraft (2) including at least one main rotor (20) having at least two blades (22) and a rotor head (23). Each radar unit transmits a centrifugal radar beam (17) with angular beam width in azimuth α of at least 5° and beam width in elevation ε of at least 5°. Said assemblies (10) of at least one radar unit are positioned directly on said rotor head (23) between said blades (22), said radar system (1) electronically scanning the surroundings with angular coverage in elevation of at least +/−15° and mechanically scanning the surroundings with angular coverage in azimuth of 360°, and then informing the pilot of said rotorcraft (2).
US09304193B2
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises a transducer array for transmitting ultrasonic beams to a subject, a multiplexer for sequentially selecting one channel of reception signal in every N number of channels of reception signals out of a plurality of channels of reception signals outputted from the transducer array which has received receiving ultrasonic echoes from the subject, a plurality of reception signal processors for sequentially processing an N number of channels of reception signals selected by the multiplexer to produce reception data, a beam former for performing beam forming on reception data sequentially produced by the plurality of reception signal processors and having time difference to produce sound ray signals, and an image producing unit for producing an ultrasound image based on the sound ray signals produced by the beam former.
US09304192B2
A beamforming method includes generating a control signal for implementing a delay time for each of a plurality of transducers of each of a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) transducer-arrays, transmitting the control signal to a plurality of driving units respectively corresponding to the plurality of 2D transducer-arrays via an interposer that electrically connects the plurality of 2D transducer-arrays to each other, and driving each 2D transducer-array of the plurality of 2D transducer-arrays with a corresponding driving unit of the plurality of driving units according to the control signal transmitted via the interposer.
US09304191B2
A subject information obtaining apparatus according includes: plurality of conversion elements configured to convert an elastic wave from a subject into a plurality of reception signals, a delay and sum unit configured to perform a delay and sum process by using the plurality of reception signals and output a plurality of scanning line signals, a scanning line synthesis unit configured to add the plurality of scanning line signals between adjacent scanning lines and output a plurality of synthesis scanning line signals, and an FDI adaptive processing unit configured to perform a frequency domain interferometry and an adaptive signal processing by using the plurality of synthesis scanning line signals and obtain a power intensity distribution.
US09304176B2
The present invention provides a thin-film magnetic sensor including: a giant magnetoresistive film having a giant magnetoresistive effect, and thin-film yokes each composed of a soft magnetic material and electrically connected to both ends of the giant magnetoresistive film, in which each of the thin-film yokes includes an outer yoke which is composed of a first soft magnetic material and is provided outward with respect to the giant magnetoresistive film and an inner yoke which is composed of a second soft magnetic material and is provided between the giant magnetoresistive film and the outer yoke; the first soft magnetic material is composed of a crystalline or microcrystalline soft magnetic material; the thin-film magnetic sensor is obtained by (1) forming the each outer yoke, the giant magnetoresistive film and the each inner yoke in this order, and (2) performing a heat treatment for improving soft magnetic characteristics of the each outer yoke before forming the giant magnetoresistive film; and a length L2 of the each inner yoke satisfies the following equation (a) and equation (b): L2/t1≧1 (a) L2×100/(L1+L2)≦50 (b) where t1 is a thickness of the each outer yoke, and L1 is a length of the each outer yoke.
US09304167B2
Apparatus of three-dimensional integrated-circuit chip using fault-tolerant test through-silicon-via
An apparatus of three-dimensional integrated-circuit (3D-IC) chip is provided. The apparatus uses a test through-silicon-via (TSV). The test TSV is used as a redundant TSV operated under a normal mode. Vice versa, the test TSV is remained to be used as a traditional test TSV under a scan mode. The present invention significantly reduces the number of redundant TSVs and the production cost of the chip.
US09304166B2
A system and method for wafer level testing of semiconductor chips are provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of semiconductor chips disposed in a wafer, each semiconductor chip having at least one port for receiving test data and at least one connection disposed in a kerf region of the wafer between at least one port of a first semiconductor chip and at least one port of at least one second semiconductor chip in the plurality of semiconductor chips, wherein the first semiconductor chip is configured to send the test data to the at least one second semiconductor chip via the at least one connection. Additionally, the plurality of semiconductor chips may comprise at least one core logic configured to pass the test data to the at least one second semiconductor chip via the at least one connection.
US09304159B2
A method of detecting and locating a micro-interface abnormality within an electrical system having a plurality of conductors and a plurality of electrical connections includes identifying a subset of the plurality of electrical connections by detecting an acoustic signal within the electrical system and analyzing the detected acoustic signal and determining that the detected acoustic signal is indicative of an electrical fault, measuring a contact resistance of each of the subset of the plurality of electrical connections, and identifying at least one of the subset of the plurality of electrical connection points as having a micro-interface abnormality based on the measured contact resistances.
US09304155B2
A MEMS capacitive sensing interface includes a sense capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, and having associated therewith a first electrostatic force. Further included in the MEMS capacitive sensing interface is a feedback capacitor having a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the feedback capacitor having associated therewith a second electrostatic force. The second and the fourth terminals are coupled to a common mass, and a net electrostatic force includes the first and second electrostatic forces acting on the common mass. Further, a capacitance measurement circuit measures the sense capacitance and couples the first terminal and the third terminal. The capacitance measurement circuit, the sense capacitor, and the feedback capacitor define a feedback loop that substantially eliminates dependence of the net electrostatic force on a position of the common mass.
US09304149B2
A low-cost and high-precision current sensing device and methods for use and manufacturing. In one embodiment, the current sensing apparatus comprises a Rogowski-type coil which is manufactured in segments so as to facilitate the manufacturing process. In an exemplary embodiment, the current sensing apparatus segments are asymmetric in shape and/or composition (e.g., bobbin shape, size, and/or winding configuration) so as to account for asymmetries in the magnetic field distribution around a bus bar, or to accommodate its shape in a more compact form factor, and/or to improve the immunity to the effects of an external magnetic field. Methods of manufacturing and using the aforementioned current sensing apparatus are also disclosed.
US09304148B2
A mixed-domain oscilloscope (MDO) includes a signal generator configured to generate a test signal having a span ranging from a user-configurable start frequency to a user configurable stop frequency, an output channel coupled to the signal generator and configured to transmit the test signal, an RF input channel configured to receive a return signal based on the test signal, an acquisition section configured to acquire and digitize the return signal as an acquisition record, and a ramp busy signal generator configured to substantially time-align the acquisition record with the test signal. The test signal includes a chirp signal that is a linearly swept sine wave that spans between the user-configurable start frequency and the user-configurable stop frequency. Methods include calibrating the chirp signal, connecting the MDO in various test configurations relative to external return loss bridge and DUT equipment, and performing measurements such as S21 (db), S11 (db), and distance-to-fault type measurements.
US09304145B2
To detect near-field light, which is generated by a thermal assist type magnetic head element, and leaking light with high sensitivity and to more accurately obtain the spatial intensity distribution of a near-field light generation area, an inspection apparatus for a thermal assist type magnetic head element is adapted so that a distance between a cantilever and the surface of a specimen and the excitation amplitude of the cantilever are set to be small to detect near-field light with high sensitivity by the suppression of an influence of other light components, a distance between the cantilever and the surface of the specimen and the excitation amplitude of the cantilever are set to be large to detect other light components present in the vicinity of near-field light with high sensitivity by the suppression of an influence of the amount of detected near-field light when other light components are measured.
US09304137B2
Methods are provided for identifying biomarker proteins that exhibit differential expression in subjects with a first lung condition versus healthy subjects or subjects with a second lung condition. Also provided are compositions comprising these biomarker proteins and methods of using these biomarker proteins or panels thereof to diagnose, classify, and monitor various lung conditions. The methods and compositions provided herein may be used to diagnose or classify a subject as having lung cancer or a non-cancerous condition, and to distinguish between different types of cancer (e.g., malignant versus benign, SCLC versus NSCLC).
US09304136B2
The present invention pertains to the field of toxicological assessments for risk stratification of chemical compounds. Specifically, it relates to a method for diagnosing increased peroxisomal proliferation. It also relates to a method of determining whether a compound is capable of inducing such peroxisomal proliferation in a subject and to a method of identifying a drug for treating increased peroxisomal proliferation. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a data collection including characteristic values of at least five metabolites, a data storage medium including data collection, and a system and a device for diagnosing increased peroxisomal proliferation. Finally, the present invention pertains to the use of a group of metabolites or means for the determination thereof for the manufacture of a diagnostic device or composition for diagnosing increased peroxisomal proliferation in a subject.
US09304135B2
The present disclosure relates to stomach cancer diagnosis using tryptophan metabolism rate in one aspect, and it relates to an invention using change of tryptophan metabolism rate in a stomach cancer patient, which is different from a normal person.
US09304134B2
The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as anti-IL-6 antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat anemia (e.g., anemia associated with chemotherapy) including persons on a treatment regimen with a drug or chemotherapy and/or radiation for cancer (e.g., head and neck cancer) that is associated with increased risk of anemia.
US09304114B2
A method and apparatus is presented. A signal may be sent into a structure at an incidence angle from a transducer array. A response signal reflected from the structure in response to the signal sent into the structure may be detected at the transducer array to form a received response.
US09304112B2
The density of gold and tungsten are almost identical, allowing for substitution by unscrupulous entities. The detection of the replacement is difficult to detect by common nondestructive testing methods, and repositories have resorted to drilling, cutting and melting samples of gold bars to certify their integrity. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy allows a digital fingerprint to be produced, which has been shown to be effective in the detection of tampering. These spectra are representative of the dimensions, density and elastic constants of any solid object. Since the dimensions and density are essentially identical for pure and adulterated gold samples, only the elastic constant variance changes the spectral fingerprint. The method described in this application provides a reliable and accurate process to certify the integrity of gold samples.
US09304109B2
The present inventions provides a magnetizing apparatus 100 for magnetic particle testing of a wheel 7 that includes a hub 71, a plate 72, and a rim 73 in sequence from inward to outward in a radial direction of the wheel. The apparatus includes: a conductor 1 inserted through a bore 711 of the hub 71; and a pair of auxiliary conductors 2 connected to respective opposite end portions of the conductor 1, and so disposed as to face respective opposite side surfaces of the wheel 7, and to extend from the hub 71 to the rim 73 outwardly in a radial direction of the wheel 7, wherein the pair of auxiliary conductors 2 and the conductor 1 are energized with alternating current.
US09304095B2
A dosimeter includes a platinum-ruthenium (PtRu) nanoparticle-decorated, -coated, or -deposited carbon nanostructure element. The PtRu nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanostructure element is foulably sensitive to a gas.
US09304093B2
A device and method for measuring dynamic thermal conductivity of micro-structure fluid. The device includes an upper fixing plate (110a) and a lower fixing plate (110b) which are vertically spaced apart from each other, a lower body (150b) which defines a side surface of a separation space formed between the upper fixing plate and the lower fixing plate, a rotating plate (120) which is disposed in the separation space in such a way that gaps are respectively formed among the rotating plate and the upper and lower fixing plates, a shaft (140) which passes through the upper fixing plate and is coupled to the rotating plate, a heater which installed on an upper portion of the upper fixing plate, and thermocouples (118a) and (118b) which are respectively installed in the upper and lower fixing plates.
US09304092B2
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for examining test bodies (P), in particular electronic subassemblies and electronic devices, comprising at least one radiation source (2) for X-raying at least one test body (P), at least one detection unit (3) for detecting radiation (S) emitted by means of the radiation source (2), at least one holding element (4) for holding the at least one test body (P) and for positioning the latter between the radiation source (2) and the detection unit (3), and a movement unit (5), coupled to the holding element (4), for moving the holding element (4), wherein the movement unit (5) is constructed as a parallel-mechanism movement unit.
US09304091B2
An apparatus for inspecting an article includes a laser assembly which is operable to direct a laser beam against a series of locations disposed along a line which extends across discontinuities in a surface of the article. The position of at least of one location against which the laser beam is directed is detected. The at least one location is spaced from discontinuities in the surface of the article.
US09304071B2
Apparatus and methods for testing sediment submerged in liquid and manufacturing the apparatus.
US09304070B2
Sample preparation device that allows for a complete bind, wash, elute, buffer-exchange and concentration process to be carried out without sample transfer between multiple devices. The device includes a reservoir, a column for holding chromatography media, a holder region for holding a filtration device, and an outlet. The filtration device plugs into the holder region of the centrifugal device, and the assembly can be placed in an optional holder. The assembly, with or without the optional holder, can be placed in a conventional centrifuge tube for centrifugation. The entire bind, wash, elute, buffer exchange and concentration steps can be carried out with the apparatus without any pipette transfers (and the associated sample losses. The sample preparation device also can be used for binding and washing steps, in which case the filtration device is not needed, and for buffer exchange and concentration steps, in which case the media is not needed.
US09304067B2
Methods, apparatus and systems for collecting thin tissue samples for imaging. Thin tissue sections may be cut from tissue samples using a microtome-quality knife. In one example, tissue samples are mounted to a substrate that is rotated such that thin tissue sections are acquired via lathing. Collection of thin tissue sections may be facilitated by a conveyor belt. Thin tissue sections may be mounted to a thin substrate (e.g., by adhering thin tissue sections to a thin substrate via a roller mechanism) that may be imaged, for example, by an electron beam (e.g., in an electron microscope). Thin tissue sections may be strengthened before cutting via a blockface thinfilm deposition technique and/or a blockface taping technique. An automated reel-to-reel imaging technique may be employed for collected/mounted tissue sections to facilitate random-access imaging of tissue sections and maintaining a comprehensive library including a large volume of samples.
US09304061B2
Methods and systems for controlling and/or diagnosing an emission control system of a vehicle having a first SCR region upstream of a second SCR region are provided herein. One exemplary method includes, indicating degradation based on a first SCR region performance during a first condition; and indicating degradation based on a second SCR region performance during a second condition, the first condition different than the second condition. In this way, different levels of degradation among different SCR regions may be used to indicate emissions levels have increased above a threshold value, for example.
US09304055B2
The system utilizes electroscan equipment including a voltage source and current meter with a cable having one end grounded and one end having an electric probe thereon sized to fit within an underground pipe. The probe is able to complete an electric circuit back to ground when the probe is adjacent a defect through which electric currents can pass, thus producing varying electric current. A cable reel is provided with portions of the cable supported thereon and with a cable distance sensor coupled to the reel along with the current meter and voltage source in the form of a battery. The current meter and distance sensor transmit wireless signals to an on-site processor, such as a smartphone, for on-site data evaluation. Such unconditioned data is also transmitted to a remote location for conditioning of the data and retransmission of the conditioned data back to the on-site processor.
US09304047B2
The invention provides a method and a device for on-line measuring the inner temperature of a cable joint, the device includes a built-in temperature measurer and an outside receiver. The built-in temperature measurer measures the temperature of the cable joint or a core wire surface by means of direct contact measuring method, and transmits the data to the outside receiver through an insulating layer by means of the radio frequency identification technique. At the same time, the outside receiver supplies power energy to the built-in temperature measurer by means of the radio frequency signal, so it resolves the problem of supplying power to the built-in temperature measurer. The device of the invention has the advantage of accurately measuring temperature, small volume, superior applicability and so on.
US09304035B2
An embodiment relates to a device comprising an optical pipe comprising a core and a cladding, the optical pipe being configured to separate wavelengths of an electromagnetic radiation beam incident on the optical pipe at a selective wavelength through the core and the cladding, wherein the core is configured to be both a channel to transmit the wavelengths up to the selective wavelength and an active element to detect the wavelengths up to the selective wavelength transmitted through the core. Other embodiments relate to a compound light detector.
US09304030B2
A mass flow controller comprises a flow rate measuring part that measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a flow channel and outputs a measured flow rate value, a control valve, a valve control part that controls an opening degree of the control valve based on an entirely-close command to entirely close the control valve compulsorily or a set flow rate value set as a target value, and an external output part that outputs an external output flow rate value based on the measured flow rate value to the outside, and at a time when the valve control part receives the entirely close command or zero as the set flow rate value, the external output part outputs zero as the external output flow rate value, irrespective of the measured flow rate value.
US09304018B2
A measurement apparatus includes a body suit for a body that includes an appendage having a pivotable joint, the body suit comprising a sleeve to cover the appendage, wherein a first portion of the sleeve is configured to cover the pivotable joint. One or more multi-core optical fiber sensors is/are within or on the sleeve in a routing pattern that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve except within the first portion and that is at least partially transverse to the longitudinal axis within the first portion. An optical shape sensing system coupled to the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors sends light into the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors and determines a position of each of the multiple appendages based on reflected optical signal measurements detected from one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors.
US09304013B2
A storage device is configured such that a multiplicity of location information objects, which in each case represent a location, is stored, and that a distance information object, which in each case represents the distance by road from the location of a location information object to the freeway exit closest to the location, is stored in association with the location information objects in each case. A navigation system is provided with the storage device.
US09304007B2
Computer implemented methods are disclosed for providing geographical information to a user. One method may include receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, user input data including at least the destination location and a break point parameter and calculating one or more routes from the start location to the destination location, based on the user input data. The method may also include identifying one or more intermediate break point locations along the one or more routes based on the break point parameter received from the user and identifying a range extending around each intermediate break point location, and potential break points. A step may also be executed in which a density or type of points of interest within each potential break point may be evaluated by the electronic device and a recommended for a break point made.
US09303996B2
Techniques of determining a point of interest (POI) location using anonymous application usage data are described. A POI location determination system can determine geographic coordinates of a POI based on anonymous application usage data received from multiple mobile devices. The system can associate an application program with a POI. The anonymous application usage data can include an identifier or a category of the application program launched by the mobile devices, and a device location of each mobile device at time of launching the application program. Based on the device locations, the system can determine that launching of the application program is concentrated in a geographic area. The system can designate a centroid of the geographic area as a location of the POI.
US09303994B2
A planar Coriolis gyroscope includes at least two counter oscillating masses attached to a common rigid frame by one or more elastic members defining an excitation axis. The frame is attached to a support region by one or more additional elastic members which together with the masses define a Coriolis resonator. The Coriolis resonator responds to inertial rotation of the gyroscope and in conjunction with a position pickoff provides a signal indicative on the gyroscope inertial rotation.
US09303989B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing 3D imaging. The system comprises: a) two or more cameras for allowing to generate stereoscopic information only for selected regions in a common or coincident field of view captured simultaneously by both of said two cameras, in order to provide distance measurements information to object(s) located in said selected regions; b) at least one 3DLR module for providing 3D image, wherein said two cameras and said 3DLR module are positioned in such a way that, at least partially, they will be able to capture similar or coincident field of view information; and c) a processing unit for generating said 3D imaging according to said stereoscopic information and said 3D image by using image processing algorithm(s) in order to provide 3D imaging information in real-time.
US09303987B2
The invention provides a tilt angle detecting device which has a two-liquid tube (19), comprising a transparent container (16) containing a first liquid (17) and a second liquid (18) having different property, specific gravity, and optical transmissivity from each other, wherein a movement occurs between the first liquid and the second liquid by tilting of the transparent container.
US09303984B2
An apparatus for detecting a lead distance between a user vehicle and a target vehicle includes first and second position sensitive devices (PSD) arranged in the user vehicle orthogonal to the distance and each having first and second light receivers configured to receive light emitted from the target vehicle, in which the first and second PSDs output voltage corresponding intensity of light received by the first and second light receivers, and a controller configured to receive voltages output from the first and second PSDs and calculate the distance using Equation 1: L=(KD/d)/(v1−v2).
US09303982B1
Approaches to enable a computing device, such as a phone or tablet computer, to determine depth information about an object captured by a single camera of the device without requiring multiple cameras to capture that object in their field of view. For example, the computing device may track the object throughout a sequence of images using a single rear-facing camera and then determine the depth information of that object by combining data about the object's changes in size (throughout the sequence of images) and information about the distance between the computing device and a user's face (or other user's feature) that can be determined using two or more front-facing cameras configured for stereo imaging. The depth information of the object may include the distance between the computing device and the object, the distance between the object and the user's face, or the physical dimensions of the object, among other such information.
US09303979B2
In an optical position measuring device for detecting the relative position of a measuring standard and at least one scanning head, which are movable relative to each other in at least one measuring direction, the effective measuring point of the scanning is spaced apart from the measuring standard at a defined distance in the particular direction that has an orientation that faces away from the scanning head.
US09303974B2
A method, apparatus, and system for improving the angular resolution of an image. A plurality of photon beams originating from a scene are received at a sensor system. Each of the plurality of photon beams is interfered with a corresponding source photon beam in a plurality of source photon beams to form a plurality of interference beams. Each of the plurality of source photon beams has a non-classical state. Fluctuations in a photon-number of the each of the plurality of source photon beams are reduced to within selected tolerances. An output signal is formed based on the plurality of interference beams. The output signal is configured for use in generating an image of the scene.
US09303969B2
A method for detecting a pattern offset amount of exposed regions comprises forming at least one pair of conductive detecting marks with a predetermined position relationship by a patterning process including two exposing processes; detecting an electrical characteristic of the at least one pair conductive detecting marks, if the detected electrical characteristic does not meet a predetermined position relationship, it is determined that the pattern offset amount of the exposed regions in two exposure steps is not qualified; and if the detected electrical characteristic meets the predetermined position relationship, it is determined that the pattern offset amount of the exposed regions in two exposure steps is qualified.
US09303960B2
The present invention is directed to an electronic target for use with a pulsed beam of laser light. The electronic target may include a housing, which includes a window and a solar cell. The solar cell may be disposed in the window for receiving a pulsed beam of light that may be emitted from a gun barrel or simulated weapon. The beam of light may have a predominant wavelength of between approximately 635 nm and 650 nm, as well as a pulse duration of between 1 ms and 50 ms, and a pulse modulation frequency of approximately 2 KHz. The electronic target may be tuned to the emission characteristics of the beam of light. The electronic target may be used to count a user's consecutive hits, drill how quickly a user can place a shot of laser light on the electronic target, and simulate a magazine change or burst shooting.
US09303958B2
A laser-weapon module (12) as may be used in a laser weapon (10), such a portable laser gun is provided. A first mount assembly (18) includes recesses (20) distributed in mount assembly (18). Laser beamlet assemblies (22), such as may include laser diodes, are disposed in recesses (20). A second mount assembly (24) is disposed forwardly from mount assembly (18) and includes recesses (26) distributed in mount assembly (24). Laser beamlet assemblies (28) are disposed in the recesses (26) in mount assembly (24), which includes a plurality of beamlet-transmissive portions (30) positioned to pass laser beamlets from laser beamlet assemblies (22). A focusing lens (32) is positioned forwardly of mount assemblies (18, 24) to focus respective laser beamlets (34) emitted from either of laser beamlet assemblies (22, 28) to form a beam (36) of laser energy to be directed to a target (38). The power level of beam 36 may be scalable.
US09303955B2
A fixing mechanism includes a mounting plate of a small arm accessory, a fixing member and an adjusting member. The mounting plate has a surface that faces the small arm when the mounting plate is fixed to the small arm. A first direction is defined as normal to the surface. The fixing member extends from the surface of the mounting plate in the first direction. The fixing member includes an aperture defined therein having an axis that defines a second direction different from the first direction. The adjusting member provides a fixing force to fix the small arm accessory to the small arm when inserted into the aperture of the fixing member.
US09303945B1
A crossbow system is illustrated with a rail, a stock and a riser assembly. In certain embodiments, flexible limbs extend forward from riser assembly, in the direction of shooting, and include cams at the limb tips for the power cable arrangement at their ends. In certain embodiments, the riser assembly is made in a triangular arrangement with a crosspiece and a pair of struts extending rearward and are braced at an apex. Optionally, the crosspiece and struts can be formed separately and connected during assembly, facilitating manufacture and ease of assembly of the crossbow and allowing greater flexibility in the choice of manufacturing methods, materials and mounting arrangements.
US09303938B2
A blank handling device is provided for receiving and firing a blank cartridge for use in a non-gun. The handling device includes a housing having a blank receiving chamber sized and configured for holding the blank during firing. The blank receiving chamber includes a first axis and a first diameter. A gas discharging passageway capable of being coupled to a barrel of a non-gun, is provided that has a second axis and a second diameter. A gas flow passageway is fluidly coupled to and extends between the blank receiving chamber and the gas flow passageway for conducting gasses discharged by the firing of the blank cartridge between the blank receiving chamber and the gas discharging passageway. The gas flow passageway has a third axis and a third diameter. The third diameter is less than the first diameter for preventing the passage through the gas flow passageway of a projectile discharged in the blank receiving chamber.
US09303936B2
A frame assembly for facilitating disassembly of a striker-fired pistol is disclosed. The frame assembly facilitates removal of the slide from a striker-fired pistol without trigger manipulation and with minimized potential for a round to be chambered. The frame assembly includes a takedown safety lever and a takedown actuation lever. Movement of the takedown safety lever causes the sear to be moved such that subsequent slide motion will not result in the storage of striker energy. Movement of the takedown safety lever is only possible while the slide is refracted beyond the point at which a chambered round would be ejected. Removal of the slide does not require pulling the trigger. The positioning of the takedown safety lever motion for disassembly may be precluded by the presence of a magazine in the gun, thereby eliminating the possibility that a round could be chambered during subsequent slide motion.
US09303934B1
An ammunition loading assembly includes a magazine that has a top end and the magazine may insertably receive ammunition. A biasing member is positioned within the magazine and the biasing member urges the ammunition upwardly toward the top end. A loading unit is positioned within the magazine. The loading unit compresses the biasing member to facilitate the ammunition to be loaded into the magazine.
US09303933B1
A bolt carrier gas impingement system is provided. The bolt carrier gas impingement system may include a bolt carrier assembly including a bolt carrier and a bolt; a gas key having a gas passageway; a gas tube configured for routing gas from a discharged round to a gas key tube and the gas passageway of the gas key; and a bypass duct formed in the bolt carrier, wherein the bypass duct may be configured to provide a duct between the gas passageway and an exterior of the bolt carrier assembly, such that the discharged gas flows out of the bypass duct without contacting internal components of the bolt carrier assembly.
US09303926B2
Vapor condensers and cooling apparatuses facilitating vapor condensation cooling of a coolant employed in cooling an electronic device or electronic subsystem. The vapor condenser includes a thermally conductive base structure having an operational orientation when the condenser is facilitating vapor condensate formation, and a plurality of thermally conductive condenser fins extending from the thermally conductive base structure. The plurality of thermally conductive condenser fins have a varying cross-sectional perimeter along at least a portion of their length. The cross-sectional perimeters of the plurality of thermally conductive condenser fins are configured to increase in a direction of condensate travel through the thermally conductive base structure.
US09303925B2
A refrigeration system including a refrigeration circuit that has an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and a heat exchanger. The evaporator, compressor, and condenser are fluidly connected and arranged in series with each other. A liquid line fluidly connects the evaporator to the condenser and a suction line fluidly connects the compressor to the evaporator. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of first refrigerant flow tubes that is in fluid communication with one of the suction line and the liquid line, and a second refrigerant flow tube that is in fluid communication with the other of the suction line and the liquid line. Each of the first refrigerant flow tubes and the second refrigerant flow tube have microchannels, and the second refrigerant flow tube positioned between and cooperates with the first refrigerant flow tubes to heat vapor refrigerant flowing in the suction line.
US09303924B1
A heat exchanger that is constructed with a heat exchanger shell having inlet and outlet plenums and fluid inlet and outlet ports, and a tube sheet construction disposed in the heat exchanger shell. The tube sheet construction includes at least two separate tube sheets and a plurality of tubes that extend between the separate tube sheets. Each tube sheet includes at least two planar tube sheet segments and an interstitial layer disposed between the at least two tube sheet segments, and at least one sensor element supported by each of the interstitial layers. A control monitor controls flow through the shell by a feedback control from the sensor to an inlet control valve and/or a stimulus device excites the media layer.
US09303923B2
An enclosure having a base with a chamber for holding water, right and left side panels, front and rear frames for supporting grilles or other air passages, and a top panel. At least the base, the side panels and the top panel are blow molded as separate components each having an exterior wall and an interior wall, each wall having a contour which differs from that of the other wall, each wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and each wall connected at its periphery to the other wall.
US09303909B2
A refrigeration, air conditioning or other cooling system is disclosed. The refrigeration system includes a refrigerant storage tank fluidly connected to a refrigerant expansion device which is fluidly connected to a refrigerant evaporator for absorbing ambient heat, a refrigerant vapor compressor fluidly connected to the refrigerant evaporator and a refrigerant condenser fluidly connected to the refrigerant compressor and the refrigerant storage tank. A liquid refrigerant pump and eductor are included in the system along with a refrigerant receiving tank and associated controls that maintain the appropriate Net Positive Suction Head at the inlet to the pump along with proper flow and pressure control in the system.
US09303908B2
An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit configured to interconnect a heat source unit and a utilization unit, a transmission line that exchanges a signal between the heat source unit and the utilization unit, an information obtaining section, an operation controlling section capable of performing a refrigerant quantity judging operation, a refrigerant quantity judging section, and a condition setting section. The information obtaining section obtains information on the utilization unit connected to the heat source unit via the transmission line. The refrigerant quantity judging section judges the adequacy of the refrigerant quantity in the refrigerant circuit by using the operation state quantity of constituent equipment or refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit in the refrigerant quantity judging operation. The condition setting section sets a condition for the refrigerant quantity judging operation according to the information on the utilization unit obtained by the information obtaining section.
US09303898B2
An apparatus and method for portably heating water for the purpose of showering or cleanup. A flow of water, originating from a supply container, is warmed as it passes through a heat exchanger transferring energy from a heat source. The heated flow of water is deposited into an accumulating container. The water temperature is actively and automatically controlled by a temperature-responsive valve. Responding to the temperature of the flowing water, the temperature-responsive valve varies the flow of water so as to produce an accurate water temperature within the accumulating container. The flow of water is gravitationally motivated by a pressure head differential between the supply container positioned at an upper elevation and the accumulating container positioned at a lower elevation.
US09303891B2
An air conditioning ventilator includes a ventilation unit, an air conditioning unit and a bypass channel. The ventilation unit has an air supply channel configured to supply air from an outdoor space to a target space, and an air supply fan configured to create a first airflow from the outdoor space to the target space within the air supply channel. The air conditioning unit has an intake channel configured to take in air from the target space, a temperature regulator configured to regulate the temperature of air that has passed through the intake channel, a discharge channel configured to discharge temperature-adjusted air that has been regulated by the temperature regulator to the target space, and an air-conditioning fan configured to create a second airflow from the intake channel to the discharge channel via the temperature regulator. The bypass channel bypassed the air supply channel and the discharge channel.
US09303882B2
An air handling unit includes an enclosure, a heat exchanger having a first section and a second section, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed within the enclosure, and at least one heating element substantially co-located with the heat exchanger within the enclosure. The at least one heating element is at least partially located between the first section of the heat exchanger and the second section of the heat exchanger.
US09303880B1
A radiant tube heater, primarily for agricultural buildings and preferably intended for poultry breeding buildings, includes a burner box or heat creator, which is an enclosure with pressurized and non-pressurized sides, a gas control valve and orifice assembly; ignition control and components, a burner assembly, and an air proving switch. Attached to the burner box is a heat distributor which includes a radiant heating tube unit. The radiant heating tube unit is comprised of an elongated two-section tube extending from the burner box, wherein the first tube has a round cross section and a cross section having a diameter less than the width of the second tube. The second tube is characterized by having a non-round or oblong, preferably oval cross section, wherein one set of opposing sides of the oblong tube are longer than the ends of the tube. A transition piece connects the first tube with the section tube. An open reflector is situated for reflecting the radiant heat to a desired location.
US09303870B2
This disclosure may relate generally to systems, devices, and methods for a injecting a solid compound in line with a pressurized fluid, through a sootblower burner or other utility furnace hardware, such that the compound can be delivered to targeted areas on the inside of a utility furnace.
US09303861B2
The present invention provides a highly-protective, heat dissipating LED light source module that may be waterproof or non-waterproof. In an embodiment, the present invention provides an LED light source module comprising: a waterproof housing comprising a metal substrate and a plastic cover integrally disposed on one or more surfaces of the metal substrate; and at least one light emitting diode, electronic component, and power line disposed on and operably connected with the metal substrate and encapsulated thereon by the plastic cover. In other embodiments are provided LED light source modules comprising: a circuit board with at least two through holes disposed at selected positions; at least one light emitting diode, electronic component, and power line disposed on the circuit board and operably connected therewith; and a plastic cover comprising at least two pins disposed and shaped for interconnection with corresponding through holes of the circuit board. The simple LED light source models disclosed may be efficiently and inexpensively produced and are capable of withstanding the harsh environments in which they are sometimes used.
US09303857B2
An LED based lamp has an optically transmissive enclosure connected to a base. The base may include a heat sink. A substrate is positioned in the enclosure and supports a plurality of LEDs where the periphery of the substrate has alternating recessed portions and protruding portions that define a plurality of laterally extending projections. One LED is located on each of the projections to increase the amount of down light generated by the lamp.
US09303856B2
A backlight unit includes a chassis, an LED, a light guide plate, a duct member, and dissipative LED attachment portion. The chassis includes a light exit portion through which light exits. The LED is arranged close to an end portion of the chassis. The light guide plate is arranged closer to a middle area of the chassis than the LED and light from the LED is guided toward the light exit portion thereby. The duct member is arranged on the side opposite to the light exit portion side of the chassis and has an air passage therein. The dissipative LED attachment portion is provided to the duct member and includes one part facing the air passage and another part protruding to inside of the chassis and to which the LED is attached.
US09303844B2
Provided is a lighting device, including: a lens unit including one or more lenses; and a light source unit which converts light emitted from a light emitting unit to surface light source and supplies the light to the lens unit, wherein the light source unit is integrally connected to the lens unit, whereby an entire thickness and volume of the product can be reduced and the lighting device can be applied to the fields of various illumination technologies, thereby having generality.
US09303839B2
An element for ventilating a housing containing an electrical, mechanical, electromechanical or similar member includes a rigid body having an outer cylindrical wall, closed at a first end by a closure part, the cylindrical wall being open at a second end coupled to the housing, the body containing an internal member of at least partly yieldable material having a first end close to the closure part of the rigid body and carrying a filtering membrane, and an open second end facing the housing. From the closure part an internal cylindrical portion projects containing the member and couples to this latter by interference so as to retain it within the body.
US09303835B2
A flashing lighting module includes: a base, a light guide unit, and a control circuit. The light guide unit includes at least two light-transmitting plates, each of which has an end forming a fixing section. The fixing sections are respectively received in corresponding mounting holes formed in the base and each includes a light incident surface at the side thereof opposite to the light-transmitting plate. The control circuit includes two light-emitting elements respectively corresponding to the light-transmitting plates and is connectable to a power supply for driving the two light-emitting elements to get lightening and darkening in sequence. As such, when a power supply is conducted on, each of the light-emitting elements gives off light transmitting to the interiors of the light-transmitting plates to make each of the light-transmitting plates show an effect of flashing in response to the lightening and darkening of the corresponding one of the light-emitting elements.
US09303834B1
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an LED light bar and an LED light bar thereof. The method includes: providing a metal substrate and a plurality of LED lights; forming a graphene layer on the metal substrate in such a way that the graphene layer includes hollow sections formed to correspond to the LED lights; mounting the LED lights to the metal substrate in the hollow sections; and forming silicone layers in the hollow sections. The LED light bar includes a graphene layer formed on a metal substrate and silicone layers are provided for planarization and heat transfer so as to effectively enhance heat dissipation performance of the LED light bar and extend lifespan of the LED light bar.
US09303832B2
A portable, hand-held flashlight that has a plurality of operative configurations. The flashlight includes a variable intermediate section that allows the flashlight to be in a collapsed configuration or one or more expanded configurations. The flashlight is configured to be repeatedly varied between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration(s), with the intermediate section configured to self-retain a shape and length when bent, extended, or collapsed by a user. The flashlight also includes a movable clamp jaw body and a hook that both allow the flashlight to be temporarily mounted to a suitable structure, so that the flashlight does not need to be held by hand while providing illumination. The flashlight may also include magnets.
US09303825B2
A high bay luminaire system and method for forming the same includes a body member, a power supply, and a light source. The body member includes a plurality of end sections, a plurality of intermediate sections which may be attached to the plurality of end sections, a central section which is positioned between the plurality of intermediate sections and is attached to the plurality of end sections, and a plurality of side sections which are attached to an end section of the plurality of end sections and/or an intermediate section of the plurality of intermediate sections. The light source is in electrical communication with the power supply. The cavity is defined by the plurality of end sections and the central section. The plurality of end sections, the plurality of intermediate sections, the central section, and/or the plurality of side sections are formed of sheet metal.
US09303823B2
A SEPIC driver circuit with low input current ripple is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide a driver circuit that accommodates universal input, has a wide output voltage range and good efficiency. An LED lighting system using such as circuit is also disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the circuit is configured as a single-ended primary inductor converter circuit using a magnetic element, and a floating capacitor is connected between the input winding and the output winding of the magnetic element. In some embodiments, an inductor is also included at the DC input to the circuit. An output rectifier such as a diode can also be connected to the output winding of the magnetic element, and an output capacitor can be connected across the output of the circuit. An FET, a bipolar transistor, or a plurality of FETs can be used as the switching device.
US09303822B2
A lighting device may be provided that includes: a heat sink; a member which has a polygonal pillar shape having at least three sides and is disposed on the heat sink, wherein the sides are inclined at a predetermined angle toward the center of the heat sink; and a light source which is disposed on at least one among the sides of the member, wherein the light source includes: a substrate; at least two light emitting devices which are symmetrically disposed on the substrate with respect to the center of the substrate; and at least two lens units which are disposed on the light emitting devices respectively, and consequently, it is possible to meet U.S. Energy Star and ANSI specifications, to remarkably improve rear light distribution characteristics and to remove a dark portion.
US09303819B2
Described embodiments include a system and a method. A described system includes a pipeline system that transports flowable natural gas hydrate slurries. The pipeline system including a transportation conduit configured to contain natural gas hydrate slurry flowing from a first geographic location to a second geographic location. The natural gas hydrate slurry includes a natural gas hydrate and a liquid. A removal system is configured to withdraw a portion of the liquid from the flowing natural gas hydrate slurry. The pipeline system includes a cooling system configured to cool the withdrawn liquid to a target temperature range predicted to provide a selected stability of the natural gas slurry during transit of the natural gas slurry over at least a portion of the distance from the first geographic location to the second geographic location. A mixing system is configured to reintroduce the cooled withdrawn liquid into the flowing natural gas slurry.
US09303816B1
The present application is directed to containers operationally configured to capture, contain or otherwise store or hold fluids and solids. A suitable container may be travelable and include a first member defining the outer surface and inner surface of the container and one or more second members housed within the first member for forming the perimeter of the container. The one or more second members are suitably operationally configured to allow the container to be folded.
US09303805B2
For a heatable medium pipe having at least one pipe connector and heating element, wherein the heating element has a few wires, in particular one or two wires, wherein the wire(s) extend continuously along the medium pipe and along the at least one pipe connector. In a method for producing a heatable medium pipe, comprising the medium pipe, at least one pipe connector, a transition area between the medium pipe and the pipe connector, and at least one heating element, wherein the heating element has a few wires, in particular one or two wires, the medium pipe is pre-assembled with the at least one pipe connector, the wire or the few wires of the heating element are pre-assembled as a double-laid, one or two-part element or as an element connected to form a continuous part, the wire(s) are fastened on the outside of the pipe connector, transition area and medium pipe, and the ends of the wire(s) are guided into a feed-in connector for connecting to a current source or voltage source.
US09303804B2
A fitting for plumbing systems, such as drain/waste/ventilation (DWV) systems that is chemically and mechanically joinable is described. A socket of the fitting has an interior surface configured for chemically joining with tubing. An exterior surface of the socket includes a plurality of projections extending radially outward therefrom. A collar that includes a sidewall with a plurality of bayonet-style channels configured to engage respective projections is provided. Interaction of the projections with the channels during rotation of the collar with respect to the fitting draws the collar toward the fitting and compresses an O-ring between the collar, socket, and tubing inserted therein to form a fluid-tight seal and/or mechanically couple the tubing in the socket. The collar may include longitudinally depending flanges that are depressed against the tubing by a compression ring to mechanically couple the tubing in the socket.
US09303801B2
A pipe coupling includes a sleeve and a clamping ring. The sleeve includes a flange at least one end. The clamping ring is mounted to the flange. The clamping ring carries a seal and includes two spaced apart bolt engagement portions. The clamping ring further includes two separate clamping ring portions that are removably connected together at a coupling portion of each respective separate clamping ring portion so that each clamping ring portion is separable from the other one. The two separate clamping ring portions function as a unitary ring when the coupling portions are brought into abutting contact such that the coupling portions are fixed relative to each other.
US09303791B2
Apparatus and methods for supporting one or more elongated members are provided. A support member for supporting one or more elongated members can include a body; at least four support arms extending from the body, and at least one curved surface disposed between the support arms. Each curved surface can be concave relative to a centerline of the body. At least one curved surface can have a length that is at least twice as long as at least one other curved surface.
US09303788B2
Provided is a load lock device which includes: a container with an opening formed therein and configured to be selectively maintained at an atmospheric environment and a vacuum atmosphere; a holding unit arranged within the container and configured to hold objects to be processed; an elevation mechanism configured to vertically move the holding unit; and a pressure regulating mechanism configured to vacuum-evacuate the container through the opening of the container. The elevation mechanism includes at least two vertically-extended elevation shaft members connected to the holding unit; and a drive unit configured to vertically move the elevation shaft members. The elevation shaft members are arranged opposite each other with the opening interposed therebetween.
US09303786B2
Apparatus and associated methods relate to an autonomous controllable valve system for providing turbulent flow to a cleaning solution during a valve-cleaning operation, the valve system includes a valve and a valve controller, the valve has an MR sensor array arranged to receive a magnetic field from a magnet coupled to the valve stem, the MR sensor array generating signals indicative of a valve stem position, the valve controller receiving the position signals and generating a control signal for a valve actuator to move the valve stem to a cleaning position between a closed position and a maximal-open position. The cleaning position may be less than twenty percent of a distance between the closed position and the maximal open position. In an illustrative embodiment, the cleaning position may be predetermined to cause a turbulent flow of the cleaning solution.
US09303785B2
An automatic detecting and repairing wisdom valve apparatus includes a valve having a valve sheet; a valve switch connected to the valve sheet through a stem; a driver connected the valve switch; a position detector for detecting positions of the valve sheet with respect to time; a near field controller connected to the driver and the position detector and has a logic unit and a comparator; the logic unit storing rules for determining valve state; a far end control unit for receiving data about the valve; the far end control unit being monitored by monitoring members; and a fault elimination unit; the fault elimination unit storing rules for eliminating of faults about the valve automatically or reporting the faults to the far end monitoring members to do necessary actions. The comparator compares the position-time track of the valve sheet with the standard track the state of the valve.
US09303784B2
An apparatus and method for controlling a pressure drop of a fluid is disclosed. A sleeve includes a plurality of flow passages in a wall of the sleeve. A member slides relative to the sleeve to reveal at least a portion of the plurality of flow passages to control flow of the fluid through the flow passages. The plurality of flow passages are at azimuthally-and axially-staggered locations around the sleeve.
US09303773B2
A valve seat apparatus for use with fluid valves is described. An example valve seat apparatus includes a seat ring having an outer surface that includes a first annular recess and a second annular recess adjacent the first annular recess to form a stepped profile. A seal assembly is disposed within the first groove and a retainer is disposed in the second annular recess to retain the seal assembly in the first annular recess of the seat ring.
US09303771B2
A valve including a valve body having a central bore for passage of fluid there through and a longitudinal axis. The valve can also include a seal installed within the valve body along the central bore. The seal can include a first seal member having an annular ring portion and a hub portion extending from the annular ring portion. The seal can also include a second seal member including an annular ring configured to engage a distal end of the hub portion and create a sealing engagement between the hub portion and the annular ring when a compressive force is applied to the first and the second seal members.
US09303768B2
A valve stem seal device has a valve stem guide, a cylindrical metallic ring retained to an outer periphery of the valve stem guide, a rubbery elastic seal lip integrally formed in one end side of the metallic ring, and hermetically sliding to the valve stem, and a valve stem seal having the cylindrical metallic ring and the seal lip and fixed to the valve stem guide side. The valve stem seal device has a stop ring retained between a circular-truncated-cone-shaped surface which is expanded toward a side of the seal lip formed in an outer peripheral surface of the valve stem guide, and a cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the metallic ring. The stop ring has a cut part, and a movement limiting means for limiting a movement in an axial direction of the stop ring is provided in the other end side of the metallic ring.
US09303767B2
A seal ring 100 is configured by the combination of a first divided body 100A on a high pressure side and a second divided body 100B on a low pressure side with respect to an axis direction. The seal ring that stabilizes sealing performance while reducing rotary torque and including a recessed section 140 provided centrally in a width direction and extending in a circumferential direction and a pair of raised sections 150 provided on both sides of the recessed section 140. A through hole 141 a is provided so as to lead to a bottom surface of the recessed section 140 from an inner peripheral surface side and allows a sealed fluid to be introduced into the recessed section 140 from the inner peripheral surface side.
US09303766B2
One possible embodiment of the invention could be an oil seal for a DELCO REMY 50DN heavy duty automotive alternator comprising a top collar; a bottom collar nested within the top collar to form a ring body; an annular polymer sealing member attaches to the top collar to form a mating flange that generally extends from an inner edge of the top collar to further denote a portion of an inner passage of the oil seal, the mating flange forming clockwise orientated splines to substantially denote a set return grooves in a spaced-apart, parallel, and clockwise orientation; wherein during alternator operations, a spacing collar spinning within the inner passage brings oil from the interior of the alternator into contact with the mating flange, the splines on the mating flange then direct the oil to the return grooves, which then direct the oil back towards the interior of the alternator.
US09303762B2
Disclosed is a hydraulic control device for a continuously variable transmission which changes the transmission gear ratio by changing the hydraulic pressure supplied to hydraulic pressure chambers for pulleys in the continuously variable transmission via control valves is changed. In this hydraulic control device, line pressure regulation hydraulic pressure which corresponds to the magnitudes of the oil pressure supplied to the hydraulic pressure chambers is introduced into a regulator valve, and line pressure which is input into the control valves according to the magnitudes of the oil pressure is subjected to feedback regulation. In the hydraulic control device for the continuously variable transmission, after the valve element of the control valve is driven in the valve opening direction, a vibration restriction control operation which temporarily restricts the displacement of the valve element is executed.
US09303761B2
A method for controlling a speed of a machine is disclosed. The machine may have a controller in communication with an operator interface and a hydraulic system configured to control tracks of the machine. The method may include the controller setting a current value for a speed limit on the machine according to a first predetermined value; the controller providing a display on the operator interface indicating the current value of the speed limit, the current value being the first predetermined value; the controller receiving input from the operator interface to change the speed limit to a second value; the controller setting the current value for the speed limit on the machine according to the second value; and the controller changing the display to indicate the current value of the speed limit being the second value.
US09303756B2
A shift device capable of improving positioning accuracy of a center of pivot of a shift lever assembly is provided. The device includes a shift lever plate that is integrally provided with a supporting shaft and a supporting hole, and a shift lever assembly that is integrally provided with the other of the supporting shaft or the supporting hole. The shift lever assembly is supported by the shift lever plate so as to be capable of pivoting by insertion of the supporting shaft into the supporting hole from the axial direction, and operates a vehicle transmission. The shift device further includes a lever guide housing including a pressing tab that has both a pressing portion and a restricting portion engageable with the supporting shaft. When the supporting shaft is pressed by the pressing portion of the lever guide housing, the restricting portion of the pressing tab enters between the supporting shaft and the supporting member so as to restrict movement of the supporting shaft.
US09303753B2
A device for ventilating a transmission includes a first component configured for fixed arrangement on the transmission and a second component configured for movable arrangement on an outer side of a transmission housing of the transmission. The first and second components are connected to one another by a joint which permits a movement of the first and second components relative to one another. A pipeline extends along the first and second components and has first and second ends for an air exchange, with the first end of the pipeline arranged on the first component and with the second end of the pipeline arranged on the second component. The second component has a center of gravity which is located opposite to the second end of the pipeline in relation to a connecting point between the joint and the second component.
US09303752B2
The twin clutch-type transmission can include a hydraulic twin clutch including the first clutch and the second clutch disposed on main shafts. The shift change controlling apparatus is configured to control shift change operation to and adjacent speed change stage by alternately changing an engagement state of the first clutch and the second clutch. The shift change controlling apparatus can also execute a pre-shift change of supplying a pre-pressure on one of the first and second clutches, while another of the first and second clutches is engaged. The pre-pressure provides a pre-engagement of the unengaged clutch. First and second clutch actuators are configured to actuate the first and second clutches, respectively. When the pre-shift change is executed, the pre-pressure is applied for a predetermined period and then removed prior to a driving of a shift gear or actuating a shift change.
US09303750B2
A mounting system for a differential, comprising a cross shaft, a first stub shaft, a second stub shaft, and a yoke. The cross shaft comprises a long axis and a passageway through the cross shaft perpendicular to the long axis, the passageway comprising a first hole and a second hole. The first stub shaft comprises a long axis parallel to a central axis of the first hole. The second stub shaft comprises a long axis parallel to a central axis of the second hole. The yoke is in the passageway and comprises a first portion extending in to the first stub shaft and a second portion extending in to the second stub shaft.
US09303749B2
A power switching device includes a power transmission unit and a driving unit. The transmission unit includes a differential, an axle aligned with the differential, and a coupler sleeved movably on one of the differential and the axle. The driving unit includes a controller, a first transmission mechanism driven by the controller, and a second transmission mechanism driven by the first transmission mechanism. The controller is a solenoid or an electric actuator, and is operable to activate the second transmission mechanism. The coupler can be moved by the second transmission mechanism to interconnect the differential and the axle, so as to allow for co-rotation of the axle with the differential.
US09303746B2
A vehicular torque converter includes: a pump impeller having a pump covering and vanes disposed within an output-side portion of the pump covering; a turbine impeller having vanes opposed to the pump impeller vanes; a stator impeller; a one-way clutch between the stator impeller and a stationary member; and a lock-up clutch configured to connect the turbine impeller to an inner surface of a wall of said pump covering. The vanes are offset with respect to the one-way clutch toward the output side. The vehicular torque converter further includes: a thrust bearing between the stator impeller and the turbine impeller, the thrust bearing having a sliding surface with respect to the stator impeller, the sliding surface being positioned radially outwardly of the one-way clutch and offset from an end face of each of sprags of the one-way clutch toward the output side.
US09303737B2
A mechanism and method for motion conversion is disclosed. This mechanism can be easily fabricated using standard bulk micromachining technology. Based on this method with appropriate design, a horizontal, in-plane motion can be converted to a vertical or angular displacement out-of-plane. This design has great advantages in micro devices, which are built from a single layer, i.e. wafer fabrication, where an in-plane force is easy to implement, such as by the use of comb drive mechanisms, but an out-of-plane motion may be hard to achieve. The mechanism comprises a pair of beams of different heights, rigidly connected together at a number of points along their length, such that application of an in-plane force to the double beam structure results in out-of-plane motion of the double beam structure at points distant from the point of application of the force.
US09303732B2
An automated manual transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft (INPUT) configured to allow a rotational force to be transmitted from a power source, an output shaft configured to be disposed in parallel with the input shaft so as to draw out power, and a plurality of shifting gear pairs including driving gears and driven gears installed on the input shaft and the output shaft respectively so as to be circumscribed in pairs and provide different shifting stages for respective pairs, wherein at least two of the shifting gear pairs are respectively configured so that one of the driving gear and the driven gear is connected to the input shaft or the output shaft so as to control power by planetary gearsets, and the other is connected to the input shaft or the output shaft so as to control power by a synchronizer.
US09303727B2
A planetary transmission includes an annulus on which a cover is arranged and a planet spider having a planet spider journal facing the cover. The planetary transmission further includes an intermediate element connected to the planet spider journal or to a sun wheel shaft such that the intermediate element is arranged at least partially between the planet spider journal or the sun wheel shaft and the cover. One or more of the planet spider journal and the sun wheel shaft are configured to be moved relative to the cover.
US09303726B2
A bicycle chain comprises a first inner link plate. The first inner link plate comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first intermediate portion. The first end portion includes a first opening, a first chamfered section, and a first chamfer-free section. The first chamfer-free section is provided in at least a first chamfer-free angular range when viewed from an axial direction parallel to a first center axis. The first chamfer-free angular range is defined from a first circumferential end of the first chamfered section to a first inner-link longitudinal centerline of the first inner link plate. The first chamfer-free angular range is equal to or greater than 30 degrees with respect to the first center axis.
US09303724B2
Three links (40) within one width-direction unit (54) are included in respectively different link units (46). The links in the first row and the sixth row from the right end and the left end of a chain are included in the same link unit (first link unit 46-1). The links in the second row and the fifth row are included in the same link unit (second link unit 46-2). The links in the ninth row and the tenth row are included in the same link unit other than the link unit in which the links in the second row and the fifth row are included (first link unit 46-1 or third link unit 46-3). With the above structure, the stress amplitude of the links forming a chain for a chain-type continuously variable transmission can be reduced.
US09303723B2
An anchor system including at least one flexible interconnection device. A restraint device is on the at least one flexible interconnection device. The restraint device and the flexible interconnection device form a combination. The anchor system includes a terminal object having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines a duct for receiving a portion of the flexible interconnection device. The duct has a first end, a second end, and an interior portion. The terminal object includes a metallic-iron-free load-bearing structure that defines a load-bearing surface such that when the flexible interconnection device is positioned through the duct and when a tensional force is applied to the interconnection device, the tensional force urges the combination against the load-bearing surface such that the metallic-iron-free load-bearing structure impedes the combination from traversing the duct in response to the tensional force by bearing the resultant load.
US09303719B2
A powertrain mechanism comprising a carrier plate connected to the crankshaft, a drive plate connected to the gearbox shaft and at least one spring positioned between at least one first spring housing provided on the carrier plate and at least one spring housing provided on the drive plate, in order to transfer the torque, obtained from the crankshaft, to the gearbox shaft in vehicles having internal combustion engine.
US09303717B2
Rate-dependent, elastically-deformable devices according to various embodiments can be stretched and recovered at low elongation rates. Yet they become stiff and resistive to stretching at high elongation rates. In one embodiment, a rate-dependent, elastically-deformable device includes an elastically-deformable confinement member; one or more filaments placed inside the elastically-deformable confinement member; and a fluid that substantially fills the remaining volume inside the elastically-deformable confinement member. The resistance force to extension of the device is designed to increase as the extension rate of the device increases. At low elongation rates the filaments can readily slide past each other. At high elongation rates, the fluid transforms to a less flowable material that greatly increases the force and energy required for elongation; or transforms to a non-flowable material that resists elongation. The devices thus can be stretched and recovered at low elongation rates, but become extremely stiff and resistive to stretching at high elongation rates.
US09303710B2
A shock strut for an aircraft landing gear is disclosed. The shock strut may include a piston with a piston inner surface and a piston outer surface. A telescoping component may be coaxially aligned and slidably engagable with the piston. At least one of the piston and the telescoping component may be a titanium material. A groove defined by an upper lip and a lower lip may be coupled to at least one of the piston or the telescoping component. A piston ring may be in direct contact with the titanium material. The piston ring may be non-metallic and provide sliding engagement with the titanium material to seal a radial space between the piston and the telescoping component. The piston ring may be at least partially held within the groove, and the groove may limit axial movement of the piston ring.
US09303709B2
A shock damper is disclosed. The shock damper may have a variable shear control apparatus through which a shear-thickening fluid may flow. In this manner, the shock damper may compress at different rates for different applied impulse forces, in response to the changing viscosity of the shear-thickening fluid.
US09303705B2
A disc brake for a vehicle axle includes a brake rotor, a brake caliper that straddles the brake rotor, a wheel hub, and a plurality of brake rotor mounting elements that couple the brake rotor to the wheel hub. The brake rotor includes a friction ring portion and a rotor mounting portion radially inward of the friction ring portion. The rotor mounting portion is formed on a radially inner circumference of the brake rotor, and includes a plurality of splines extending radially inward toward an axis of rotation of the brake rotor and a radially inward extending axial motion limiting feature disposed between each adjacent pair of the plurality of splines.
US09303700B2
A torque converter includes a torus with an impeller and a turbine having respective shells, a cover shell, and a first damper plate. The impeller shell has a radial wall disposed radially outside of the torus and the turbine shell has a radial wall arranged for frictionally engaging the impeller shell radial wall. The cover shell has a radial wall and the first damper plate has a radial wall for transmitting a turbine shell thrust force to the cover shell radial wall. In an example embodiment, the torque converter includes a friction material ring fixedly attached to the turbine shell radial wall or the impeller shell radial wall. In some example embodiments, the torque converter includes a friction material ring fixedly attached to the cover shell radial wall or the first damper plate radial wall.
US09303691B2
The invention relates to a rolling bearing arrangement for a rotational connection for a roller/ball combination raceway system, for the purpose of relative movement of a plurality of rotating elements, in particular two rolling bearing rings supported on one another. At least one rolling element raceway is hardened along its annular shape in the contact area between rolling element and rolling bearing ring. The invention is characterized in that provided at the beginning and the end of the at least one hardened rolling element raceway is at least one overlap region which extends along the rolling element raceway, the overlap region comprising a region of lower hardness than the surrounding hardened region, the lower hardness gap region, extending at an inclination through the overlap region.
US09303676B2
A threaded rod hanger has quick lock plunger mechanism that includes plunger pieces within a tapered hole in a housing. The plunger pieces have tapered outer surfaces. A spring within the housing presses the plunger pieces toward the narrow end of the bore, with the spring located between the plunger pieces and a back plate that closes off part of a wide end of the tapered bore. The plunger pieces have internally threaded surfaces that engage threads on a threaded rod that is inserted into the bore, between the plunger pieces. Once the threaded rod has been inserted between the plunger pieces and released, the plunger pieces are pushed toward the narrow bore end. This causes the plunger pieces to press inward, automatically causing the internal plunger half threads to engage the external threads on the threaded rod.
US09303674B2
A bolt for the detachable connection of two component parts provided with at least one through-hole and a clamping system serving for detachably, rapidly and reliably interconnecting objects provided with through-holes. A plug-in pin includes a bolt housing having through-openings; a clip means supported in the through-openings; and a clamping device arranged in the housing's interior and provided with an external thread, which meshes with an internal thread of the housing and during clamping, forces the clip means out of the housing such that an outer portion of the clip means protrudes from the through-openings. The clip means is made at least as one sliding element supported in the bolt housing in a rotationally fixed fashion and the sliding element's outer portion has a support surface in the form of a lateral area segment of a truncated cone or an annular support surface.
US09303672B2
A rivet fastener includes a fastener body and a fastener pin which is inserted into the fastener body. A head of the fastener body defines a channel for receiving a head of the fastener pin, with lateral lands of the fastener body head exposed outwardly of sides of the fastener pin head. The exposed surface of the fastener body head defines hollows or recesses to accommodate tips of fingers of an installer.
US09303671B2
A method of isolating a metallic fastener from a carbon-fiber composite panel includes inserting the metallic fastener within an electrically isolating annular collar; inserting the metallic fastener and electrically isolating annular collar within a hole defined by the carbon-fiber composite panel; and securing the metallic fastener to the carbon-fiber composite panel. The annular collar may be circumferentially disposed about the metallic fastener such that the annular collar separates and electrically isolates the entire metallic fastener from the carbon-fiber composite panel. As such, the annular collar may minimize the galvanic reaction between the fastener and the carbon-fiber composite panel.
US09303668B2
A method is provided for producing a joint member of a metal joint, such that reduction of assembly manhours and reduction of the thickness and weight can be achieved at the same time without reducing the strength of a product or increasing the cost of production. In the case of a nut-side thin joint member, a metal plate of boron steel obtained by adding boron to low-carbon steel is burred such that the resulting cylindrical body obtains a surface that is sufficient for threading, then a threaded portion having a plurality of threads is formed on that surface, after which, quenching is carried out to increase the strength of the threads so that a nut having sufficient strength can be integrally provided even though the thickness and weight of the joint member are reduced.
US09303667B2
An elastically averaged alignment system includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first alignment member and an elastically deformable alignment element fixedly disposed with respect to the first alignment member. The second component includes a second alignment member and an alignment feature fixedly disposed with respect to the second alignment member. The elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage the alignment feature. The elastically deformable alignment element includes a lobular hollow tube having a cross-section having at least three outwardly oriented lobes relative to a central axis of the hollow tube, and the alignment feature includes a circular aperture. Portions of the elastically deformable alignment element when inserted into the alignment feature elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the first alignment member with the second alignment member in four planar orthogonal directions.
US09303664B2
A non-friction, interlocking fastener with a bolt that is locked into a retainer incorporating an integral spring with limited compression and which is axially constrained to prevent non-linear movement.
US09303660B2
A valve includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet. A spool is fixed within the housing and defines a flow window therethrough for fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. A piston is slidingly engaged in a piston compartment of the spool. A sleeve is slidingly engaged with the spool on an outer surface of the spool. The piston and sleeve are operatively connected for common motion along a sliding axis relative to the spool and housing between a first position in which the sleeve occludes the flow window to inhibit flow from the inlet to the outlet, and a second position in which the sleeve unoccludes the flow window to allow flow from the inlet to the outlet.
US09303648B2
An electrical submersible pump assembly has a rotary pump, an electrical motor, and a seal section. A drive shaft extends from the motor into the pump. A radial bearing for the shaft includes a bearing sleeve secured to the shaft for rotation. A bushing rotatably receives the bearing sleeve in sliding contact. A support member has a receptacle into which the bushing locates. The receptacle has a greater inner diameter than an outer diameter of the bushing, defining an annular gap. A bearing carrier has a bore into which the support member is secured against rotation and radial movement relative to the bearing carrier. A compliant member in the gap in engagement with the bushing and the support member prevents rotation of the bushing relative to the support member and allows limited radial movement of the bushing relative to the bearing carrier.
US09303643B2
An internal gear pump includes a pinion and an annulus as a return pump in a hydraulic vehicle brake system. The internal gear pump further includes an axial disk and an intermediate piece. The intermediate piece is configured to be acted upon by an outlet pressure of the internal gear pump and press the axial disk against a side face of the pinion and of the annulus.
US09303641B2
A piston for a pump a hub portion defining opposing outer portions, and inserts configured to provide an adjustable surface coupled to each of the opposing outer portions. The hub portion includes a first hub portion and a second hub portion configured to abut one another. Each of the inserts includes an outer shell and a base portion. The first hub portion includes a plurality of the opposing outer portions, and each of the base portions of the inserts is adjustably coupled to respective opposing outer portions of the first hub portion. A pump includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and at least two pistons having a hub portion and inserts. The pump may be a positive-displacement, rotary pump, and the pistons may be circumferential pistons.
US09303638B2
According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons, a second plurality of pistons, a first cam, a second cam, and a coupling device. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The first cam is disposed about the first plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second cam is disposed about the second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The coupling device is operable to couple the cylinder block to a cylinder block of a second radial fluid device.
US09303632B2
An energy recovery control circuit is provided with an energy recovery system for recovering energy of a work equipment. The energy recovery control circuit includes an recovery control valve block in which a plurality of valves that constitute the energy recovery system are incorporated. The recovery control valve block includes a main spool, in which a plurality of control characteristics concerning recovery of energy are consolidated.
US09303631B1
A vacuum mechanism for flattening bowed panel samples includes a support structure with coplanar support elements and a fixture with a movable component actuated by a vacuum source. The movable component has a top surface disposed above the support elements when no vacuum is applied and is capable of being drawn to a substantially coplanar position with the support elements when actuated by the vacuum source. The top surface is fluidly connected to the vacuum source and adapted to adhere to the overlaying surface of the sample when vacuum is applied, thereby flattening the sample when the movable component is drawn in by the same vacuum source.
US09303630B2
A device for converting thermal energy into electric energy intended to be used in combination with a hot source including: a capacitor of variable capacitance, including two electrodes separated by an electrically-insulating material, one of these electrodes being deformable and being associated with an element forming a bimetallic strip, said bimetallic strip including at least two layers of materials having different thermal expansion coefficients, said bimetallic strip being free to deform when it is submitted to the heat of said hot source; a second capacitor having a first electrode connected to a first electrode of said capacitor of variable capacitance; a harvesting circuit electrically connected between the second electrode of the capacitor of variable capacitance and the second electrode of the second capacitor, said harvesting circuit being capable of conducting the current flowing between said second electrodes.
US09303626B2
A control system for mitigating loads on a wind turbine comprising a plurality of blades in yaw error events includes a yaw error calculation unit for calculating a yaw error of the wind turbine, a pitch angle reference command calculation unit for calculating a plurality of pitch angle reference commands respectively corresponding to the plurality of blades at least based on the calculated yaw error, and a controller for producing a plurality of pitch commands at least based on the plurality of pitch angle reference commands, to respectively regulate the pitch angles of the plurality of blades.
US09303624B2
A novel oscillator comprises a curved sheet structure. The curved sheet structure comprises a curved sheet and a tensioner. The curved sheet structure oscillates when the tensioner of the curved sheet structure is extended between two rigidly or semi rigidly fixed points and the curved sheet structure is exposed to a fluid flow. The oscillation results in oscillating tension in the tensioner and oscillating motion of the tensioner in directions perpendicular and parallel to the direction of fluid flow. Energy conversion devices to couple the energy out of the oscillator include a coupling in line with the tensioner and a coupling generally perpendicular to the extension of the tensioner.
US09303615B2
There is provided an ignition timing control device for an internal combustion engine capable of appropriately performing knock learning by performing knock learning adapted to an engine combustion phenomenon. The inventor has found the principle of a knock reduction effect due to ignition retard is that “if a combustion period moves toward the retard side, a cylinder volume during the combustion period increases, resulting in curbing of rise in the temperature and pressure of unburned gas”. An ignition timing control device according to the present invention is capable of new knock learning based on the principle, which learns a “cylinder volume rate”. The cylinder volume rate is a parameter determined from the amount of change in cylinder volume. Even when an operational status changes, learned ignition timing obtained from knock control means can be set to an appropriate value by reflecting the learned cylinder volume rate.
US09303612B2
A hydrostatic starter device (10) for an internal combustion engine (2) having a hydrostatic power unit (11) connected with the output shaft (4) of the internal combustion engine (2) is driven with hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid accumulator (12). The hydrostatic starter device (10) has an electrohydraulic charging device (30) to charge the hydraulic fluid accumulator (12) with hydraulic fluid and the hydrostatic power unit (11) is in a drive connection by a clutch device (25) with the internal combustion engine (2). The hydrostatic power unit (11) can be connected in a drive connection with the internal combustion engine (2) by the clutch device (25).
US09303609B2
A method of producing a fuel distribution pipe includes providing a forged bar made of metal, forming a main bore in the forged bar so as to extend along an axial direction of the forged bar, forming an injector bore having an injector opening in the forged bar, forming a bolt through hole having a bolt opening in the forged bar, obtaining a base pipe having the main bore, the injector bore and the bolt through hole from the forged bar, and bending the base pipe such that the injector opening of the injector bore and the bolt opening of the bolt through hole are provided along a line parallel to the axis of the main bore. The injector bore directly communicates with the main bore and the bolt through hole does not communicates with the main bore.
US09303602B2
There is provided an intake apparatus of an engine for an outboard motor. An intake manifold, a throttle body and an intake silencer box are arranged at one side of an engine block configured such that an axial direction of a cylinder coincides with a front and rear direction of the outboard motor. The intake silencer box includes a main body part having a first air passage configured to guide air in the axial direction of the cylinder and coupled to the upstream end of the throttle body, and a cover part having a second air passage coupled to the first air passage and opened to an outside. An air filter element arranged orthogonal to an air flowing direction and interposed between the first air passage and the second air passage is fixed to a mating surface of the main body part and cover part.
US09303601B2
The evaporative fuel treatment apparatus includes: a fuel tank configured to store fuel for an engine; a sub-tank that communicates with the fuel tank; an adsorber provided inside the sub-tank and configured to adsorb evaporative fuel generated inside at least one of the fuel tank and the sub-tank; a purge mechanism configured to carry out purging for introducing evaporative fuel from the adsorber into the engine; and an in-tank fuel adjustment unit configured to adjust an amount of fuel inside the sub-tank in response to an operating state of the engine, the in-tank fuel adjustment unit including a fuel introduction pump configured to be able to introduce fuel from an outside of the sub-tank to an inside of the sub-tank, the fuel introduction pump being formed of a jet pump configured to be driven by at least part of fuel discharged from the fuel pump.
US09303599B2
Methods are provided for reliving excess vacuum from a fuel tank. In response to elevated fuel tank vacuum levels, a canister purge valve is opened to dissipate the vacuum to an engine intake manifold while the engine is not combusting. Alternatively, the purge valve is opened to dissipate the excess vacuum to the intake manifold while the engine is combusting during conditions when the likelihood of air-fuel ratio errors are lower or when any incurred errors are better tolerated.
US09303594B2
An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber defined by a cylinder, a piston defining a piston top, a cylinder head with an intake port and an exhaust port, and a corresponding intake valve and an exhaust valve. The internal combustion engine further includes an intake manifold for supplying air to the combustion chamber and an exhaust manifold for drawing exhaust gas from the combustion chamber. The flow dynamics of the internal combustion engine are improved by including textured surfaces on one or more of the piston top, the cylinder head, the intake valve, the intake port, the exhaust valve, the intake manifold, the exhaust manifold, or the fuel supplier. The textured surface may include indentations, protrusions, or combinations.
US09303590B2
An aircraft nacelle having a fixed structure fixed relative to an aircraft pylon, a translating thrust reverser sleeve translatable aftward, relative to the fixed structure, and a translating variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) panel translatable aftward, relative to the translating thrust reverser sleeve. The nacelle may also include a VAFN actuator mounted on the translating thrust reverser sleeve and a VAFN drive unit attached to the fixed structure. The VAFN drive unit may be coupled to drive the VAFN actuator via first and second coupling components when the translating thrust reverser sleeve is stowed. When the translating thrust reverser sleeve is deployed, the first and second coupling components may decouple, disconnecting the VAFN drive unit from the VAFN actuator.
US09303585B2
A housing for an internal combustion engine is provided with a bore, which is formed by at least two bore sections at a distance from each other. The bore may be a bearing tunnel in a crankcase or a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. A rotating, machining tool is provided to machine the bore. The tool is introduced into the bore by axial displacement and the bore is used as a counter-bearing for the tool for radially supporting the tool. The counter-bearing is in one piece with the housing.
US09303581B2
Methods and systems are provided for injecting and combusting an amount of gaseous fuel during an exhaust stroke of a cylinder combustion event in order to reduce turbo lag and reduce a duration of time required for an exhaust catalyst to light-off during transient events. In one example, when an increase in torque demand is greater than a threshold, a first amount of gaseous fuel may be combusted during a compression stroke of a cylinder combustion event and a second amount of gaseous fuel may be combusted during an exhaust stroke of the combustion event. The second amount may be adjusted based on the increase in torque demand.
US09303580B2
A method for diagnosing a performance issue in a vehicle system having a diesel engine, a fuel system, and an on-board diagnostic system. The method includes cranking the engine, and, if a pressure sensed in the fuel system during or after the engine cranking differs by a threshold amount from the pressure sensed during a previous operation of the engine, indicating excessive fuel viscosity in the on-board diagnostic system.
US09303579B2
A method of monitoring a particulate filter of an exhaust aftertreatment device includes sensing a first pressure drop across the particulate filter at a first instant in time, and sensing a second pressure drop across the particulate filter at a second instant in time. A controller may then calculate a rate-of-change of the pressure drop between the first instant in time and the second instant in time while sensing a flow rate of an exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust aftertreatment device. Using the sensed exhaust flow rate, the controller may determine a rate-of-change threshold, and subsequently compare the calculated rate-of-change to the rate-of-change threshold. The method further includes updating a soot model using the sensed second pressure drop if the calculated rate-of-change is less than the rate-of-change threshold.
US09303577B2
Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting an injection profile for fuel injected into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors during engine start and crank. By splitting injection of fuel during start so that a portion of fuel is port injected and a remaining portion is direct injected as one or multiple injections, the soot load of the engine can be reduced and fuel economy can be improved.
US09303576B2
Methods and systems for controlling an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are presented. In one example, a method adjusts an amount of current to an electric device applying torque to an engine to adjust an amount of air that is pumped through the engine to a catalyst. The methods and systems may reduce engine emissions.
US09303568B2
An output control device configured to control the output of a running drive source mounted on a vehicle includes an anomaly discriminator which judges that the output control device is anomalous, if excess acceleration G (output difference index) of the vehicle remains greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value G1, . . . , G7 for a predetermined time t1, . . . , t7 or longer, wherein the predetermined time t1, . . . , t7 for the anomaly discrimination is set so as to shorten with increase in the threshold value G1, . . . , G7 of the excess acceleration of the vehicle.
US09303561B2
A turbocharger and a method are disclosed. The turbocharger includes a casing having an inlet end and an outlet end. A flow passage within the casing may have a substantially continuous inner surface and may be configured to pass inlet air from the inlet end to the outlet end. A compressor wheel may be located in the casing and may have at least one main blade and may be configured to rotate within the casing to compress the inlet air. A flow disrupting feature on the casing may be configured to disrupt the continuity of the inner surface and may be located at a leading edge of the at least one main blade. The flow disrupting feature may be closed to upstream communication with the flow passage except via the flow passage.
US09303555B2
An exhaust manifold for at least a portion of an internal combustion engine having a defined number of combustion chambers includes a plurality of inlet ports and four outlet ports. A first pair of the four outlet ports are disposed in gas flow communication with a first subset of the plurality of inlet ports, and a second pair of the four outlet ports different from the first pair are disposed in gas flow communication with a second subset of the plurality of inlet ports different from the first subset.
US09303551B2
In a hybrid vehicle, when using an ignition start to start a direct injection engine while any one of the cylinders has stopped near top dead center, engine revolutions are raised by producing a first explosion in a first cylinder, which is situated before a second cylinder in an ignition sequence and is in an expansion stroke and in which an exhaust value is not open, by directly injecting fuel into the first cylinder and igniting the fuel. Furthermore, assistance in increasing the engine revolutions is started by transmitting assist torque output from a motor-generator to the direct injection engine via a clutch, in a peak section immediately after the start of increase in the engine revolutions. The stopped direct injection engine can be started using a sufficient required assist torque, namely, electrical energy, whereby the electrical energy for engine starting that is always reserved in a battery (accumulator apparatus) is reduced and therefore a travel range is increased and vehicle fuel consumption is improved appropriately.
US09303549B2
Various embodiments for a thermal management system are provided. In one example, a thermal management system includes a coolant pump that provides coolant to a first cooling circuit and a second cooling circuit in parallel. The first cooling circuit includes an air-to-coolant radiator system and the second cooling circuit includes an engine coolant jacket. The thermal management system further comprises a fan and a cooling shutter for controlling a flow of air through the air-to-coolant radiator system.
US09303548B2
A diesel engine fluid reservoir system having a reservoir of diesel exhaust fluid in thermal communication with a heating element, a first conduit for the flow of engine coolant fluid to the heating element, a temperature sensor disposed to sense ambient temperature and/or a temperature of the diesel exhaust fluid, a controller communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor and communicatively coupled to a sprung gate valve included in the first conduit. The gate valve has a no-flow position and a flow position for control of the flow of engine coolant and includes an endless elastic band sandwiched between a first gate member and a second gate member each defining an opening therethrough alignable with the first conduit in the flow position. In response to a sensed temperature at which the diesel exhaust fluid is frozen, the controller signals the gate valve to be in the flow position.
US09303545B2
A system to detect the presence of a catalyst includes an exhaust gas tube, a first temperature sensing device, a second temperature sensing device, a flow rate measurement device, and a processing device. The first temperature sensing device measures a first temperature of exhaust gas upstream of the exhaust gas tube. The second temperature sensing device measures a second temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the exhaust gas tube. The processing device estimates an expected time delay between the measured inlet and outlet exhaust gas temperatures corresponding to a system with a catalyst present. The processing device may also determine the presence of a catalyst by comparing the measured second temperature to the measured first temperature and comparing the measured second temperature to an estimated delayed first temperature associated with the expected time delay.
US09303538B2
A universal oil pan die tooling is provided for forming alternative oil pans for alternative internal combustion engines with and without an oil cooler circuit. The die tooling includes a first die member defining a cavity and a second die member having a protruding portion designed to be inserted in the cavity of the first die member to define a mold cavity therebetween that defines a shape of the oil pan. A first die insert is used along with the first die member and the second die member to form oil pans for use with an engine having an oil cooler. An alternative second die insert is used in place of the first die insert along with the first die member and the second die member to form oil pans for use with an engine without an oil cooler.
US09303534B2
A cylinder valve system in an engine is provided. The cylinder valve system includes a first oil pressurized bore corresponding to a cylinder valve and in fluidic communication with a control valve assembly, the control valve assembly comprising at least one hydraulic valve and a second oil pressurized bore corresponding to the cylinder valve and in fluidic communication with the control valve assembly.
US09303531B2
A quick engine change assembly, comprises a first circular frame member, a plurality of doublet supports spaced about the first circular frame member, the doublet supports being contoured along the axial direction, a flow surface defined between the plurality of doublet supports and, a plurality of cradles, each of the cradles including the doublet supports, the doublet supports from a lower portion of the cradle to the flow surface.
US09303524B2
A gas turbine engine (100) variable nozzle (460) includes an outer shroud (461), an inner shroud (462), a variable nozzle airfoil (463), and a position selector (470). The inner shroud (462) is located radially inward from the outer shroud (461). The variable nozzle airfoil (463) extends radially between the outer shroud (461) and the inner shroud (462). The variable nozzle airfoil (463) includes a vane shaft (464) extending radially outward from the variable nozzle airfoil (463) through the outer shroud (461). The position selector (470) is coupled with the variable nozzle airfoil (463) to fixedly lock the variable nozzle airfoil (463) into one of a plurality of preselected positions.
US09303505B2
A method of generating a directional response of a drill bit based on one or more drilling parameters includes performing actual or simulated tests with a drill bit in a test material having a strength under different experimental drilling parameters and recording the results of the plurality of tests. A representation of an expected directional response of the drill bit is formed based on the results. Current drilling parameters are receiving current drilling parameters at a computing device and the directional response is generated based on the current drilling parameters by utilizing the representation.
US09303503B2
Three-phase separation is achieved downhole in a production well by forming an oil/liquid separation zone in the well between two packers which are positioned between producing and disposal zones. Gas is permitted to separate above the top packer. A pump is used to pump an oil/water mixture from above the top packer into the separation zone. Adequate residence time is permitted in the separation zone to achieve the separation. A check valve in the bottom packer is used to provide pressure to raise the oil to the wellhead. A control valve at the wellhead is used to control pressure in the separation zone and the relative sizes of the streams issuing therefrom.
US09303497B2
Non-halogenated molecules having 10-30 carbons including aliphatic, aromatic, saturated, unsaturated (and combinations thereof) alcohols, ketones, organic acids, organic acid salts, sulfonated derivatives, and/or other derivatives are used as tracers to measure oil and/or water fluid returns, such as from a hydraulic fracturing job. The non-halogenated molecules may be combined with substrates and introduced into a subterranean location, desorbed and recovered from the subterranean location with a fluid, reacted with a reagent (e.g. pentafluoro benzyl chloride) to give a derivatized tracer. Alternatively, the tracer molecule release can be delayed by use of an emulsion or a coating that allows slower diffusion of the tracer into the fluid. The presence of the derivatized tracer is then detected in the recovered fluid. A different non-halogenated tracer may be used for each hydraulic fracturing stage, e.g. to determine from which fracturing stage water is produced and from which oil is produced.
US09303496B2
A submersible pump system that is operable to permit selective access into a production zone of a well bore while a submersible pumping device is operating includes a Y-tool, a submersible pumping device, a control valve assembly and a power conduit. The control valve assembly is also operable to selectively permit access between the interior of the submersible pumping system and the exterior of the submersible pumping system. The valve is operable to form a dynamic seal. The power conduit is operable to convey both power and a pre-designated control signal simultaneously. A method for accessing the production zone of the well bore with a well bore tool uses the submersible pump system while the submersible pump system is producing production zone fluid. The submersible pumping device continues to operate without interruption after transmission of the pre-designated pump control signal.
US09303480B2
A method and system for coupling a riser to a subsea wellhead are disclosed. A first terminal end of a riser comprised of an inner riser and an outer riser is coupled to the platform and a second terminal end of the riser is coupled to a wellhead. The second terminal end of the inner riser is coupled to an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (“ITBC”) having a main body. The ITBC is landed on a landing shoulder disposed within the subsea wellhead. A downward weight is applied to the main body. The application of the downward weight to the main body couples the ITBC and the subsea wellhead.
US09303479B2
An accumulator for hydraulically actuating subsea equipment includes a hydraulic fluid chamber and a gas chamber. The hydraulic fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the subsea equipment and comprises a hydraulic piston slidably received, at least partially, within the hydraulic chamber. The gas chamber comprises a charge piston slidably received within the gas chamber, the charge piston dividing the gas chamber into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the gas chamber is configured to receive ambient hydrostatic pressure therein, and the second portion of the gas chamber is configured to receive precharge gas therein.
US09303478B2
A method of deploying a tool in a wellbore includes installing a tool body at an upper end of a tubular string extending from a wellbore, the body having at least one control line groove formed on its outer surface with the at least one control line housed therein. The method also includes providing an assembly strung on the at least one control line. The assembly includes an element with at least one ring on each end thereof; at least one ring on each end of the element; a locking ring at an upper end of the assembly. The method further includes installing the assembly over the body to house the at least one control line between the body and the assembly.
US09303469B1
This dual opening elevator is a hydraulic actuated drill pipe handling tool for use with oilfield top drives. This tool eliminates the need for a typical complicated elevator rotation mechanism with troublesome concentric hydraulic seals. In operation, after opening the front, picking up a stand at the racking board and putting it in the string, the back may then be opened to allow moving the elevator off the drill pipe toward the front of the rig to prevent elevator wear while drilling and to allow drilling down close to the rig floor. Time is saved because no rotation is required, and down time is saved because there are no troublesome concentric seals which commonly leak.
US09303467B2
A top-tensioned riser (TTR) is supported by a tensioning system on the deck of a floating platform. The tension ring may include an elastomeric layer which permits small angular and lateral displacements of the tension joint. The tension joint comprises a tapered section to resist the bending moment and shear imposed by the vessel's motion. The riser tension joint may be supported laterally by rollers below the tension ring. The rollers react on the tapered section when the riser strokes up and down. The tapered section may be engineered to maximize the use of the tension joint, and to reduce bending moment and shear loads imposed on the tensioning system. In certain embodiments, there may be a small gap between the rollers and the tapered section. In certain other embodiments, the rollers may be spring-loaded to increase the stability of surface equipment on the upper terminus of the riser.
US09303466B2
A coupling assembly is disclosed for connecting and centralizing a first threaded-end member and a second threaded-end member, the coupling assembly comprising: a mandrel having a rotor receiving surface bounded by a first stop and a second stop, the mandrel having a first threaded pin at a first end for connection to a first threaded box coupling for the first threaded-end member, and a second threaded pin at a second end for connection to a second threaded box coupling for the second threaded-end member; each of the first stop and the second stop having respective outer diameters and the respective outer diameters being less than or equal to the respective outer diameters of the first threaded box coupling and the second respective box coupling; and a rotor with raised fins mounted on the rotor receiving surface between the first stop and the second stop.
US09303460B2
Earth-boring tools include a cutting element mounted to a body that comprises a metal or metal alloy, such as steel. A cutting element support member is mounted to the body rotationally behind the cutting element. The cutting element support member has an at least substantially planar support surface at a first end thereof, and a lateral side surface extending from the support surface to an opposing second end of the cutting element support member. The cutting element has a volume of superabrasive material on a first end of a substrate, and a lateral side surface extending from the first end of the substrate to an at least substantially planar back surface. The at least substantially planar back surface of the cylindrical substrate abuts an at least substantially planar support surface of the cutting element support member.
US09303455B2
An ice auger has a rotatable rod adjacent and parallel to the central shaft supported at the bottom in a cylindrical receptacle. A vertical ice reaming blade is attached to the rod above the receptacle and a retaining loop affixed to the shaft and positioned above the blade prevents the rod from rising out of the receptacle. A right angled handle at the top of the rod extends outward above and in the same plane as the blade. A spring biased latch assembly disposed near the top of the shaft engages the handle with the blade in rest position. Releasing the latch frees the rod to rotate 180° and move the blade to use position extending outward beyond the standard auger members to ream the bottom of the ice hole. Vertical support posts stabilize the system and prevent wobble. One post functions as a stop and back support for the blade during use.
US09303454B2
A drilling system includes a magnetic coupling and an oscillation absorber. The magnetic coupling has a rotor that rotates about an axis of rotation. The oscillation absorber is in operable communication with the magnetic coupling and includes an outer layer coupled to a separator layer of the magnetic coupling to form an enclosed area. An absorber shaft of the oscillation absorber is at least partially within the enclosed area and is coupled to the rotor. The absorber further includes an outer mover arranged such that rotation of the absorber shaft causes the outer mover to rotate due to interaction of inner absorber shaft magnets and outer mover magnets.
US09303453B2
A power-free automatic driver structure of a sunshade includes a transmission body, a shape-memory elastic body, a light condensation body, a driving body, and a rotary axle. The shape-memory elastic body is made of a material that undergoes deformation when heated to reach a predetermined level of temperature. The light condensation body condense and irradiates sunlight to the shape-memory elastic body to cause deformation thereof so as to have the shape-memory elastic body drive the transmission body and thus drive, via the driving body and the rotary axle, blind slat pull cords of the sunshade to move. When sunlight radiates and causes the shape-memory elastic body to reach the predetermined level of temperature, the shape-memory elastic body deforms and drives the transmission body, the driving body, and the rotary axle to operate so as to pull the blind slat pull cords of the sunshade upwards/downwards.
US09303442B2
Passive verification of operator presence in handling requests for vehicle includes initiating activation of a power-operated vehicle component that is subject to a supervised control mechanism. The activation is initiated in response to a request from an operator-controlled device. The passive verification also includes verifying a presence of the operator-controlled device indicative of a presence of an operator of a vehicle, transmitting intermittent signals to the operator-controlled device, monitoring response signals received in response to the intermittent signals, and continuing activation of the power-operated vehicle component until the activation is complete so long as the response signals are received responsive to the monitoring.
US09303441B2
The invention described herein relates to a utility vault door, or access door, positionable between closed, partially opened, and fully opened orientations and including at least one compression spring lift-assist mechanism for countering the weight of the vault door when positioning between the various orientations. The door may be selectively locked in the partially opened orientation and opened sufficiently for the convenient ingress and egress of large equipment therethrough.
US09303439B2
An automatic locking apparatus mounted to a trash bin is provided. The automatic locking apparatus may also include a pair of lock bar arms and a lock bar that pivots from an unreleased position to a released position. The automatic locking apparatus may include a pivot bar, a biasing mechanism and a pivot rod. The pivot rod may rotate from a locked position to an unlocked position. The pair of lock bar arms may be perpendicularly joined to the pivot bar. The biasing mechanism may be disposed about the pivot bar so as to engage an upper tab provided by the bar pivot rod, when the bar pivot rod is in the locked position. When the pair of lock bar arms rotate to the released position, torque may be transmitted through the pivot bar to the biasing mechanism so as to urge the lock bar arms back to the unreleased position. When the pivot rod may be in the unlocked position the upper tab may be disengaged from the biasing mechanism so as to bypass biasing mechanism, when moving the pivot bar to the released position.
US09303437B1
A closure assembly is provided including a closure having a closure hinge, a closure hinge cover and a linkage between the closure and the cover. When the closure is in a closed position, the cover extends in a plane overlying the closure hinge. When the closure is an opened position the cover is displaced to an open position to allow the closure hinge to pass through the plane that the cover assumes when the closure is closed.
US09303430B2
Disclosed in one aspect is the fixed door pull handle assembly that includes an elongated door pull handle with two or more support standoffs projecting away from the elongated door pull handle and securing the elongated door pull handle to the doorframe or to the body of the door. One of the support standoffs is user rotatable, and rotatably engages a door latch assembly within the door. In another aspect, the support standoff is not user rotatable. Instead, a center-pivoting handle is mounted in-line with one of the support standoffs and rotatably engages the door latch assembly within the door. The center-pivoting handle is recessed within the elongated handle.
US09303429B2
Stackable anchors for use in sand, snow and the like including dead man plates, a unitary cord providing means for anchoring devices and for retrieval of the dead man plate from its buried location. In addition, an optional feature of the dead man plate includes means for receiving the unitary cord wrapped about a plurality of dead man plates to retain the anchors in stacked, adjacent relationship for compact storage.
US09303423B2
A novel design and construction method for the creation of a Deployable Flexible Flood Mitigation Device manufactured from textile and membrane materials. The Flexible Flood Mitigation Device comprises a textile/membrane panel configured to be movable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position, the panel forms a barrier against flood water; and a spool that is manually or electrically operated is used to move the panel from the closed position to the opened position. The spool can also be eliminated and the panel can be manually folded for storage. The Flexible Flood Mitigation Device can be configured for use in many applications including subway tunnels, vehicular tunnels, stairwells, ventilation shafts, and other openings that can be threatened by flooding. It can be used in any orientation (vertical, horizontal or at an angle with respect to gravity), and can stop fluids approaching from either side. It can also be shaped to fit any opening. Although its primary use is flood mitigation, the device is also applicable to containment of smoke from fire, chemical or biological agents, or other transient media.
US09303422B2
In a plastic sheeting material incorporating an array of bubble cells, the cells are shaped with two chambers connected by a constricted region. The chambers are part-spherical e.g. in the form of truncated spheres. The constricted region has concave side walls and/or a concave top wall. The sheeting may have two, three or more layers. Molds for producing the sheeting material have suitably-placed suction holes.
US09303408B1
A multi-pitch gable pediment integrally molded for depending from a gable-type roof. The multi-pitch gable pediment may include one or more incremental markings. At least one incremental marking illustrates a pitch angle. The incremental marking may be used to separate a portion of the integrally molded multi-pitch gable pediment from a remaining portion to contour to a predetermined pitch angle of a roof.
US09303406B2
A permanent stressed end cap for a post tensioned concrete member includes a grout retention feature adapted to retain a filler material within a void formed by a pocket former. The grout retention feature may be a generally knob or mushroom shaped, hex-headed, or square body extending from the cap. The grout retention feature may include one or more protrusions extending from the exterior of the cap. The grout retention feature may include one or more surface textures on the exterior of the cap.
US09303400B2
A kit for forming a wall comprises at least one building block having an exterior surface adapted to be closely stacked with a plurality of corresponding adjacent blocks and having at least one hollow in at least one surface thereof. A plurality of connecting ties each extending between first and second ends and having an enlarged portion located at at least one end thereof are utilized to connect and tie the building blocks together. The enlarged portions are adapted to be received within the hollows so as to span a pair of adjacent building blocks.
US09303394B2
A washing device for dispensing water in the sanitary field, in particular in a shower or a sink, including an outlet for spraying fluids with a lower throughput rate, as well as a delivery device for increasing the fluid pressure before the spraying. The washing device includes a heating device for heating the water. Atomization is accomplished by way of a fluid jet hitting an obstacle with a high relative speed. Thereby, the obstacle may be a moved or stationary solid body or at least one further fluid jet. Spraying is accomplished by way of the outlet including at least one nozzle set with at least two nozzles, for producing impacting fluid jets and for atomizing the fluid.
US09303381B2
An anti-theft insert capable of preventing unauthorized access to a handhole and manhole and preventing the theft of the internal components of the handhole and manhole, the anti-theft insert comprises a cap, the cap including a chamfer and a top surface, a post member, the post member including a keyway, and at least one anchor point. The post member is configured to support the cap. An outer diameter of the cap is sized to fit within an inner diameter of the handhole and manhole. The weight of the anti-theft device is of a sufficient amount so as to prevent the unauthorized removal of the anti-theft device from the handhole and manhole.
US09303368B2
An apparatus including a multidirectional positioning system and a scanner. The scanner scans the volume of a three-dimensional cavity, and the scanner is attached to the multidirectional positioning system. A processor receives volume data of the cavity and stores the volume data in a data storage memory. A material depositing mechanism is attached to the multidirectional positioning system, and the material depositing mechanism is controlled to move with respect to a shape of the cavity based on the volume data stored in the processor so as to fill in the cavity with a filler material.
US09303363B2
Paper products, such as hand towels, have high absorbency, high caliper, and good perceived softness. Two-ply products have a caliper of at least about 260 mils/8 sheets and an SAT capacity of at least about 650 g/m2. The paper products are made using a structuring fabric that has a high planar volumetric index, which indicates a relation between the contact area ratio of a papermaking web contacting surface of the structuring fabric and the volume of pockets of the fabric.
US09303360B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the characteristics of paper substrates. The method involves adding to a paper substrate an NCC-polymer. NCC polymers have unique chemical properties which result in improvements in wet strength, dry strength and drainage retention properties of the paper substrates.
US09303356B2
A profiled film structure, textiles comprising at least two layers of the structure, and methods of making the structure and textiles. Each film layer is profiled with regularly arranged protrusions, separated by planar land areas. Portions of at least one side wall of the protrusions are slit to create apertures extending through the film and top members forming coplanar latching means extending over the apertures. When the upper surface of a first layer of the film is brought into contiguous relationship with the upper surface of a second layer of the film, and the protrusions of each of the respective layers are aligned between adjacent protrusions of the other layer, the latching means of each layer are received and retained within the apertures of the opposing layer, resulting in an efficiently assembled self-locking structure having selectable permeability for fluid flow through the structure.
US09303352B2
A washing machine (1) is described comprising a hub (5) which extends from the middle of the rear wall of the tub (3) into the drum (2) and wherein the shaft (4) is supported, at least one drum baffle (9) disposed at the inner surface of the drum (2), wherein water is transferred in case of an unbalanced load, a cylindrical housing (6) disposed at the center of the rear wall of the drum (2) around the horizontal axis, surrounding the hub (5) concentrically such that a gap remains between the hub (5) and the cylindrical housing (6) and rotating together with the drum (2), more than one ring-shaped gasket (7) arranged one after the other and in parallel to each other in the gap between the housing (6) and the hub (5), the outer edges of which are secured to the inner surface of the housing (6), rotating together with the housing (6) and the inner edges of which contact the cylindrical outer surface of the hub (5), more than one slot (8) disposed between the gaskets (7), at least two water inlet lines (13, 113) which provide water taken from the water mains to be delivered to the slot (8) for the balancing process of the unbalanced load, one ends of which are connected to the water mains and the other ends connected to the slot (8) and which are stationary together with the tub (3) and a control unit (12) which opens/closes the water inlet valves (11, 111) by determining the amount and position of the unbalanced load when unbalanced load is detected and which determines how much water should be delivered into which drum baffle (9) and chamber (10, 110).
US09303348B2
A washing machine including a tub, a spin basket rotatably mounted in the tub, a pulsator rotatably mounted in the spin basket and having a pulsator hub part extending downward from a center portion of the pulsator, a driving device to generate rotational force, a wash shaft to transmit the rotational force generated from the driving device to the pulsator, and a buoyancy clutch upwardly and downwardly movably mounted to the pulsator hub part and configured to move up and down by buoyancy. The buoyancy clutch is configured to rotate together with the pulsator. When the buoyancy clutch moves down, the spin basket is engaged with the buoyancy clutch and receives the rotational force.
US09303341B2
Disclosed herein is a nonwoven fabric comprising within the range of from 1 to 49 wt %, by weight of the fabric, of a reactor grade propylene-α-olefin copolymer possessing; within the range of from 5 to 35 wt %, by weight of the copolymer, of units derived from one or more of ethylene and/or C4 to C12 α-olefins; a melt flow rate (230° C./2.16 kg) within the range of from 600 to 7500 g/10 min; and a weight average molecular weight of less than 200,000; and a second polypropylene having a melting point, Tm, of greater than 110° C. and a melt flow rate (230° C./2.16 kg) within the range of from 20 to 7500 g/10 min; wherein the fabric has a Handle value of less than 60% (measuring the fabric of 35 g/m2 basis weight). The fabric can be used in structures comprising one or more layers of the fabric described herein, and can include any number of other fabric layers made from other materials.
US09303340B2
A process is disclosed for creating air laid, high loft, non-woven, variable density web structures. The fiber manipulation and distribution necessary to produce a variable weight and density web is accomplished by creating variable, negative pressure regions across the surface of a condenser or other vacuum screen, which causes fibers to migrate toward areas of lower pressure. Also disclosed are embodiments of condenser and vacuum screens for producing such variable density web structures.
US09303339B2
Methods and apparatuses for forming a nonwoven web are described herein. The apparatus includes a mixing partition defining one or more openings therein that permit fluid communication between two fluid flow streams, at least one of which includes a fiber. The apparatus also includes an enclosed region surrounding at least a portion of the mixing partition. The enclosed region is adapted to provide an applied pressure to a fluid flow stream to urge the stream through one or more of the openings in the mixing partition. The apparatus also includes a receiving region designed to receive at least a combined flow stream and form a nonwoven web by collecting fiber from the combined flow stream.
US09303334B2
An apparatus is disclosed for forming a non-woven web.
US09303326B2
A gold alloy plating solution and plating method thereof that provides a gold plating solution with high deposition selectivity by using a gold plating solution that contains gold cyanide, cobalt ions, hexamethylene tetramine, and specific glossing agents.
US09303324B2
The present disclosure includes a system and method for producing a first product from a first region of an electrochemical cell having a cathode and a second product from a second region of the electrochemical cell having an anode. The method may include a step of contacting the first region with a catholyte comprising carbon dioxide. The method may include another step of contacting the second region with an anolyte comprising a sulfur-based reactant. Further, the method may include a step of applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce a first product recoverable from the first region and a second product recoverable from the second region. An additional step of the method may include removing the second product and an unreacted sulfur-based reactant from the second region and recycling the unreacted sulfur-based reactant to the second region.
US09303323B2
Apparatus for seawater acidification including an ion exchange, cathode and anode electrode compartments and cation-permeable membranes that separate the electrode compartments from the ion exchange compartment. Means is provided for feeding seawater through the ion exchange compartment and for feeding a dissociable liquid media through the anode and cathode electrode compartments. A cathode is located in the cathode electrode compartment and an anode is located in the anode electrode compartment and a means for application of current to the cathode and anode is provided. A method for the acidification of seawater by subjecting the seawater to an ion exchange reaction to exchange H+ ions for Na+ ions. Carbon dioxide may be extracted from the acidified seawater. Optionally, the ion exchange reaction can be conducted under conditions which produce hydrogen as well as carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen may be used to produce hydrocarbons.
US09303314B2
An ion implantation system having a grid assembly. The system includes a plasma source configured to provide plasma in a plasma region; a first grid plate having a plurality of apertures configured to allow ions from the plasma region to pass therethrough, wherein the first grid plate is configured to be biased by a power supply; a second grid plate having a plurality of apertures configured to allow the ions to pass therethrough subsequent to the ions passing through the first grid plate, wherein the second grid plate is configured to be biased by a power supply; and a substrate holder configured to support a substrate in a position where the substrate is implanted with the ions subsequent to the ions passing through the second grid plate.
US09303307B2
A method for manufacturing an alumina-based layer structure having transition regions between layers is disclosed. The method may include ion milling a stainless steel structure surface to partially reduce a metal oxide layer from, and create an exposed portion of, the surface. The method may include oxidizing the exposed portion of the surface to form a crystallized metal oxide bonding layer, growing a crystallized alumina layer onto the metal oxide bonding layer, and diffusing metal from the surface into the crystallized alumina layer, to form a graded aluminate spinel layer. The method may include forming a first transition region from the graded aluminate spinel layer to a crystalline alumina layer, growing the crystalline alumina layer from the first transition region, forming a second transition region from the crystalline alumina layer to an amorphous alumina layer, and growing the amorphous alumina layer from the second transition region.
US09303299B2
A method of production of inexpensive aluminum alloy is provided which enables precipitation of fine particles of Al—Fe—Si-based compounds and primary crystal Si to an aluminum alloy melt which is comprised of Si: 10 to 20 mass %, Fe: 0.5 to 4 mass %, P: 0.003 to 0.02 mass %, and further, if necessary, one or more of Mn, Ni, and Cr or furthermore, if necessary, one or more of Mg, Ti, Cr, Zr, and V, and has a balance of Al and unavoidable impurities. To the melt is added 0.01 to 1 mass %, in terms of silicide, of a substance, which includes fine particles of a metal silicide which are present as a solid phase in the melt, when the Al—Fe—Si-based compound is crystallized.
US09303298B2
Porous UO2 sintered pellets to be fed into an electrolytic reduction process for the purpose of metallic nuclear fuel recovery, include one or more hollow spaces formed from the surfaces toward the interiors thereof. When the porous UO2 sintered pellets are used in the electrolytic reduction process, the efficiency increases.
US09303295B2
Disclosed embodiments include fuel assemblies, fuel element, cladding material, methods of making a fuel element, and methods of using same.
US09303294B2
An installation for the dry transformation of a material microstructure of semi-finished products, especially for dry bainitization, includes a quenching chamber and a microstructure transformation chamber situated downstream from it in the processing flow, in each case the inner space of the two chambers having applied to it excess gas pressure, at least during the respective method step, for the transformation of the material microstructure. Device(s) are provided for maintaining a minimum excess gas pressure acting on the semi-finished product, during the moving of the semi-finished product from the quenching chamber into the microstructure transformation chamber.
US09303288B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for enhancing the speed and sensitivity of helicase-dependent amplification through the use of an endonuclease.
US09303284B2
A molecular construct comprises a donor label, an acceptor label, a linker peptide disposed between the donor and the acceptor, the linker having a cleavage site sequence, and a spacer between at least one of (a) the donor and the cleavage site sequence and (b) the acceptor and the cleavage site sequence. Preferably, the construct is selected from the group consisting of CFP-(SGLRSRA)-SNAP-25-(SNS)-YFP (SEQ ID NO: 9), and CFP-(SGLRSRA)-synaptobrevin-(SNS)-YFP (SEQ ID NO: 10). In preferred embodiments, the linker peptide is a substrate of a botulinum neurotoxin selected from the group consisting of synaptobrevin (VAMP), syntaxin and SNAP-25, or a fragment thereof that can be recognized and cleaved by the botulinum neurotoxin. Advantageously, the spacer increases the electronic coupling between the donor label and the acceptor label relative to a corresponding construct without the spacer.
US09303283B2
A combined sterilization indicator incubator and reader system, including a sterilization indicator vial containing one of a variety of selected biological indicators and a liquid, at least two incubator blocks, each incubator block independently operable to incubate the sterilization indicator vial at a plurality of independently selectable temperatures, each of the incubator blocks including at least one heating element operable to heat the incubator block to any one of the plurality of independently selectable temperatures; a light source, a photodetector and a control system configured to operate the combined system to determine the efficacy of a variety of sterilization processes. The system calculates and compares a slope to a predetermined threshold slope for the biological indicator, and provides output based only on the comparison of the calculated slope to the predetermined threshold slope without first determining either a baseline or a minimum value of the output from the photodetector.
US09303272B2
Provided is a gene targeting vector that enables highly efficient gene targeting. The gene targeting vector has a structure comprising a positive selection marker flanked by a DNA homologous to a 5′-upstream region of a target site and a DNA homologous to a 3′-downstream region of the target site, wherein a splice acceptor site and a DNA sequence allowing for bicistronic expression are added 5′-upstream of the positive selection marker, and another splice acceptor site is also added 5′-upstream of the DNA homologous to the 5′-upstream region of the target site.
US09303267B2
The present invention relates to the field of plant genetic engineering. More specifically, the present invention relates to seed specific gene expression during a defined period of embryogenesis. The present invention provides promoters capable of transcribing heterologous nucleic acid sequences in seeds, and methods of modifying, producing, and using the same.
US09303263B2
The invention generally relates to aptamers that bind CD271. In certain aspects, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid ligand that binds to CD271, in which the nucleic acid ligand includes the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
US09303259B2
The present invention relates to RNAi constructs with improved tissue and cellular uptake characteristics and methods of use of these compounds in dermal applications.
US09303256B2
The present invention relates to the immobilization of enzymes by adsorbing enzymes, a polyfunctional amine and a cross-linking agent onto a particulate porous carrier in a mixer apparatus or in a fluid bed apparatus.
US09303251B2
The present invention provides a recombinant baculovirus. The baculovirus has a genome into which a gene encoding γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) and a gene encoding DT-diaphorase (NQO1) are incorporated.The present invention further provides a method for producing a recombinant vitamin K-dependent protein by using the recombinant baculovirus.
US09303250B2
A method of predicting an intein insertion site in a protein that will lead to a switching phenotype is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of C/T/S sites within the protein; selecting from the plurality of C/T/S/ sites those that are ranked 0.75 or higher by a support vector machine, within ten angstroms of the active site of the protein, and at or near a loop-β-sheet junction or a loop-α-helix junction. A method of controlling protein activity and hosts including proteins with controlled activity are also provided. Also, intein modified proteins and plants containing intein modified proteins are provided.
US09303239B2
The present invention provides a cleaning method by which the performance of a microchip can be recovered and a cleaning liquid. A method for cleaning a microfluidic device comprising: cleaning a channel that is formed in the microfluidic device, has a surface having a polymer coating, and has been brought into contact with a sample containing nucleic acid and/or protein, by bringing the channel into contact with a cleaning liquid comprised only of an organic solvent having solubility in at least the same volume of water at 25° C., or a cleaning liquid containing 50 vol % or more of the organic solvent in a buffer solution. The method wherein the buffer solution has a pH of 8 to 10. The method wherein the buffer solution further contains 3 to 8M of a protein denaturant. The method wherein the buffer solution has a pH of 2 to 4.
US09303238B1
A headlight lens surface cleaner composition which cleans and restores the dirt and oxidation layers restoring the transparency of the lens that is also useful in cleaning and shinning chromium plated surfaces. The composition includes vanilla extracts or flavoring vanilla imitation solution, fatty acid, preferable coconut oil, carnauba wax, calcium oxide and aqueous diluted ammonia.
US09303231B2
The invention concerns a method of preparing an oil enriched with ethyl esters of DHA produced by fermenting microorganisms, characterized in that it comprises a step of purification by so-called “short path” molecular distillation.
US09303230B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a sliding member suitable to a soft mating member low in hardness. The present invention relates to a sliding member for sliding with a mating member having a ferrite phase at least on a surface thereof, the sliding member including a coating layer containing a binder resin, molybdenum disulfide, and hard substance particles.
US09303222B2
The invention is directed to the use of a combination of ethanol and water in an amount of water between 1 and 10 wt. % on the basis of the weight of the ethanol, in gasoline based motor fuel for keeping the internal and external environment of internal combustion engines cleaner then when using gasoline or ethanol-gasoline blends, having the same ethanol-gasoline ratio.
US09303220B2
A process and apparatus is provided to produce desulfurized diesel at low pressure with high cetane rating. A hydrotreated stream is stripped and fed to a saturation reactor. The saturated stream is stripped again and fractionated to provide diesel product. Unconverted oil may be hydrocracked and stripped with the saturated product.
US09303218B2
Processes are provided for using employing lower activity hydrodesulfurization catalysts while achieving a desired product sulfur content. After determining effective reaction conditions for hydrodesulfurization using a reference catalyst system, an upstream portion of the catalyst system can be replaced with a lower activity upstream portion. The process allows tailored product sulfur levels to be achieved using reaction conditions similar to those for the reference catalyst system.
US09303217B2
Disclosed herein is a process for catalytically reforming naphtha, comprising, in the presence of hydrogen gas, contacting naphtha with at least one reforming catalyst under the conditions of a pressure ranging from 0.15 to 3.0 MPa, a temperature ranging from 300 to 540° C., a volume space velocity ranging from 2.1 to 50 h−1, to carry out a shallow catalytic reforming reaction so as to achieve a naphthene conversion ratio of greater than 85 mass %, and a conversion ratio of paraffins to arenes and C4− hydrocarbons of less than 30 mass %.
US09303216B2
A process for upgrading hydrocarbon oil including mixing hydrocarbon oil with hydrogen gas and heating the hydrogen-enriched hydrocarbon oil before passing the oil through a cavitation apparatus to induce hydrotreating. Hydrotreating is achieved by hydrodynamically generating hydrogen-filled cavitation bubbles and collapsing the bubbles in the hydrocarbon oil under static pressure. The hydrotreating process can increase the API gravity of the hydrocarbon oil and reduce the viscosity of the hydrocarbon oil.
US09303214B2
One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur-containing hydrocarbons. The process can include sending a stream including one or more alkaline compounds, one or more hydrocarbons, and one or more sulfur compounds to a stack of a disulfide separator, and sending a fluid downstream of a distributor to a vortex contacting device for providing a gas having no more than about 100 ppm, by weight, sulfur. Often, the stack includes one or more walls surrounding a void and the distributor positioned within the void, and is adapted to receive the stream having one or more phases.
US09303211B2
A process for extraction of bitumen and other oil products from sand, other sedimentary deposits and from mine tailings, may comprise flowing solvent through these bitumen-containing materials held in a filter press, where elevated pressures and temperatures may be used. After exposure to solvent the sedimentary deposits may be exposed to hot water, steam and/or vacuum to remove residual solvents. Further embodiments of the bitumen extraction process may include substituting the solvent with hot water or steam. Filter press systems for extracting bitumen are also described.
US09303206B2
A phosphor and a light emitting device including the phosphor may be provided that emits light having a peak wavelength between a green wavelength band and a yellow wavelength band and has a triclinic system crystal structure of which the chemical formula is MSi2N2O2, M=CaxSryEuz(x+y+z=1), wherein, when three sides of a unit crystal lattice of the crystal structure are a, b and c and corner angles are α, β and γ, the crystal structure has relationships of a≠b≠c and α≠β≠γ, and wherein, in a, b and c, any one of them is more than twice as much as one of the other two, and the values of the other two are so similar that they do not exceed the double of each.
US09303201B2
The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting the formation or agglomeration of gas hydrates using amidines or guanidines. The invention further relates to compositions comprising amidines or guanidines that find use as gas hydrate inhibitors, as well as processes for preparing alkylated amidinium or guanidinium salts.
US09303196B2
An abrasive article includes a bonded abrasive body having abrasive particles contained within a bond material. The abrasive particles include silicon carbide and are essentially free of carbon-based and boron-based sintering aid materials. In an embodiment, the bond material can include a phenolic resin. In another embodiment, the bonded abrasive body can include an oxide phase disposed interstitially between the silicon carbide abrasive particles. In an additional embodiment, the abrasive particles can consist essentially of silicon carbide and aluminum oxide in a ratio of silicon carbide to alumina of at least about 8:1.
US09303161B2
The present invention relates to a process comprising contacting a stable aqueous dispersion of pre-formed polymer particles with a monomer emulsion under emulsion polymerization conditions to form a stable aqueous dispersion of pre-formed particles protuberating from polymer particles arising from the polymerization of the monomer emulsion; these multistage polymer particles show exceptional compatibility with pigment particles. In another aspect, the present invention is a composition relating to the pre-formed particles.
US09303150B2
A composition contains a polymer component comprising a crosslinked product of a polyarylene, a crosslinked product of a substituted polyphenylene, a crosslinked product of a polyphenylene sulfide and a polyphenylsulfone, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and a mesoporous silicate having an average pore size of about 5 nanometers to about 50 nanometers. The composition has high-temperature elastomeric properties and excellent mechanical strength. The compositions are useful in oil and gas downhole applications. Methods for the manufacture of the composition and articles comprising the composition are also disclosed.
US09303148B2
The invention relates to a rubber composition devoid of or practically devoid of zinc or zinc derivative, usable in particular for the manufacture of tires or tire treads, comprising at least: a diene elastomer; an inorganic filler as reinforcing filler; optionally carbon black, in an amount less than 5 phr; a silane polysulfide of formula (I): in which: the symbols R1 and R2, which may be identical or different, each represent a monovalent hydrocarbon group selected from among alkyls, whether straight-chain or branched, having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and the phenyl radical; the symbols R3, which may be identical or different, each represent hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group selected from among alkyls, whether straight-chain or branched, having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkoxyalkyls, whether straight-chain or branched, having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; the symbols Z, which may be identical or different, are divalent bond groups comprising from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; x is an integer or fractional number equal to or greater than 2.
US09303146B2
An alkyl-modified PVA solution is provided which has low viscosity at high temperatures leading to superior handleability, accompanied by rapidly increased viscosity upon lowering of the temperature, even in the case in which the concentration of the alkyl-modified PVA in a solution is increased. An alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer solution containing an alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer, a surfactant and water. The alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer has a monomer unit that includes an alkyl group having 5 to 29 carbon atoms. The percentage content of the monomer unit is no less than 0.05 mol % and no greater than 5 mol %. The degree of saponification of the alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer is no less than 20 mol % and no greater than 99.99 mol %. The surfactant is a compound represented by the following formula (I) having hydrophilic groups X1 and X2, and an alkyleneoxy group having 3 to 5 carbon atoms (—R1—O—). X1—OR1—OmR2—X2 (I)
US09303145B2
The present invention relates to a molding composition, a process for the manufacturing of this molding composition, the molded parts obtainable from this molding composition as well as the use of the molding composition for the manufacturing of molded parts used in the automotive industry, for housings, latches, window winding systems, wiper systems, pulleys, sun roof systems, seat adjustments, levers, gears, claws, pivot housing, brackets, wiper arms or seat rails. The molding composition contains at least one polyoxymethylene having terminal OH-groups between 20 mmol/kg and 50 mmol/kg, at least one polyisocyante coupling agent, at least one reinforcing glass fiber that has been sized, and optionally at least one formaldehyde scavenger. The moldings produced from this molding composition are distinguished by their improved mechanical properties while having low formaldehyde emissions and excellent tensile strength while having a good flex fatigue and creep performance.
US09303143B2
The invention relates to aqueous, binding agent-free pigment preparations, containing: (A) 1.0-to 75.0 wt. % of at least one organic or inorganic white or colored pigment or a mixture of different organic and inorganic white or colored pigments; (B) 0.01 to 8.0 wt. % of at least one phosphatide of formula (I), wherein R represents a group containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms and optionally nitrogen and sulfur atoms; 0.01 to 12.0 wt. % of a fatty acid alkanol amide ethoxylate of the formula (II), wherein a represents an integer between 3 and 50, R3 represents C7- to C21-alkyl or -alkenyl; and (G) water.
US09303142B2
An ink-jet recording apparatus for recording on a recording sheet with an ink containing at least a pigment, a resin, and water includes at least two color inkjet heads. The at least two color inkjet heads are arranged in a conveyance direction of the recording sheet. The color inkjet head discharges the ink containing resin-encapsulated pigment particles with a largest number average particle diameter among the at least two color inkjet heads is arranged in a most downstream of the conveyance direction of the recording sheet.
US09303141B2
The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing copolymer composition comprising: (A) a fluorine-containing copolymer having a repeating unit based on fluoroolefin and a repeating unit based on a monomer having no fluorine atom; potassium carbonate; and an organic solvent, in which an amount of potassium carbonate contained is from 5 ppm to 80 ppm, on the K2O basis, based on the fluorine-containing copolymer (A).
US09303140B2
PVC plasticizers are composed of epoxidized bioesters of vegetable oil fatty acids obtained by partial transesterification with an alcohol, and glycerin and further acetylation and epoxidation, and PVC compounds plasticized with bioesters resulting from partial transesterification, acetylation and epoxidation, belonging to the technical field of polymer additives that were developed to improve the properties of PVC polymers, in addition to providing a lower cost for renewable compounds, such as those obtained with the use of vegetable oils. The epoxidized bioesters are composed by mixtures of epoxidized ethyl esters and acetylated and epoxidized mono, di and triglyceril esters, presenting oxirane index equal to or less than 8.
US09303138B2
Elastomeric polymers and compounded elastomers have reduced amounts of leachables. The compound comprises a polymer and 50 to 100 phr of filler. The polymer is prepared by reacting a mixture of i) a C4 to C7 isoolefin monomer, ii) a styrene based monomer, and optionally iii) a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer wherein the polymer contains 5 to 15 wt % of styrene derived units. At least 5% of the filler is precipitated silica.
US09303134B2
A method for recycling rubber tires includes mixing the rubber tires and a hydrophobic ionic liquid in a vessel. The hydrophobic ionic liquid is heated to an elevated vapor temperature to produce dissolved components from the rubber tires. A precipitate is produced from at least some of the dissolved components.
US09303132B2
A transparent exterior window film composite comprising a base sheet material having an outer PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film layer which has been surface treated to elevate adhesion thereto and which is impregnated with an ultra violet light absorber (UVA), the treated surface being coated with a UV stabilized acrylic polymer or co-polymer undercoat having a UV stabilized hard coat layer thereon formed from at least one aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer and at least one multifunctional acrylate monomer, the undercoat layer having a thickness which is at least as thick as the hard coat.
US09303125B2
Particles having an average diameter of at least 30 nanometers include a polymerization product of a silanol, a cyclic silazane, and an isocyanate. The particles are formed in an oil-in-water emulsion which includes less than 0.1 weight percent of a hydrophobic costabilizer. The particles are formed by a method including the step of reacting the silanol and the cyclic silazane and the isocyanate and the step of forming the oil-in-water emulsion.
US09303119B2
A current breaker case including a polycarbonate resin composition that includes a polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer and has a viscosity-average molecular weight of 18000 to 25000.
US09303114B2
The present invention discloses one liquid type cyanate ester-epoxy composite resin composition comprised of (A) cyanate ester resin, (B) epoxy resin and (C) latent curing agent. The present one liquid type cyanate ester-epoxy composite resin composition is characterized in that the above (C) latent curing agent is comprised of a modified amine (a), which has one or more amino group having active hydrogen within a molecule, obtained by a reaction of a polyamine compound (a-1) with an epoxy compound (a-2), and a phenol resin (b), and that the above polyamine compound (a-1) is a polyether polyamine compound and/or the above epoxy compound (a-2) is a polyether polyepoxy compound.
US09303113B2
Lignocellulosic composites are made by pressing a mixture of a particulate lignocellulosic material with polymeric MDI, in the presence of a fatty amine ethoxylate anti-masking agent.
US09303111B2
The present invention relates to a thickeners that are the polymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising: (a) at least one C3 to C30 olefin; (b) at least one monomer that contains at least one carboxylic acid group; (c) at least one ethylenically unsaturated ester monomer; and (d) one or more crosslinking compounds. Optionally, the above multi-purpose polymer compositions can further include any combination of one or more of: (e) at least one functional monomer; (f) at least one associative hydrophobic monomer; and/or (g) at least one chain transfer agent (CTA) and/or at least one polymeric stabilizer. The thickeners of the present invention are useful in a variety of products including, but not limited to, personal care products, health care products, household care products, institutional and industrial care products, and industrial applications.
US09303105B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of sevelamer, in particular sevelamer hydrochloride and sevelamer carbonate/bicarbonate, by means of a process that allows sevelamer to be obtained with good yields and using conventional reactors, without requiring to use specific and expensive equipment.
US09303097B2
Ink jet printing on a non-absorbent substrate involves a wet primer having a primer viscosity. The wet primer is applied on the non-absorbent substrate. An ink jet ink having an ink jet viscosity lower than the primer viscosity is jetted over the wet primer while the primer is still wet. The wet primer and ink are simultaneously cured on the substrate.
US09303092B2
The invention generally relates to hapten compounds comprising either (+) methamphetamine or (+) amphetamine conjugated to a linker. Generally speaking, hapten compounds of the invention may be used to elicit an immune response to one or more of (+) methamphetamine, (+) amphetamine, or (+) MDMA.
US09303091B2
The present application relates to a method of treating disorders of the cardiovascular system which includes administration of homeopathically potentized form of at least one antibody to an antigen, wherein the homeopathically potentized form is obtained by repeated consecutive dilution combined with external impact, and the antigen is a substance or a pharmaceutical agent capable of regulating cardiovascular disorders and pharmaceutical agents thereof.
US09303085B2
Proteins that bind IL-1α and IL-1β are described along with their use in compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing IL-1-related disorders and for detecting IL-1α and IL-1β in cells, tissues, samples, and compositions.
US09303076B2
The present invention relates to the identification and functional characterization of human cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and their use; in particular as transfection vehicles.
US09303070B2
The present invention relates to use of multimeric multi-epitope peptide-based compositions for immunizing subjects against influenza by administering the compositions to the subject prior to or together with seasonal or pandemic influenza vaccines. The present invention also relates to compositions that include a multimeric multi-epitope polypeptide and a seasonal or pandemic preparation against influenza.
US09303069B2
The present disclosure relates to peptides for treating cancer, wherein the peptides suppress BRCA1-IRIS expression or activity. The peptides may include an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2. Further, the present disclosure provides methods for treating cancer, wherein the cancer may be breast or ovarian cancer, including administering one of said peptides to a subject in need thereof.
US09303066B2
The present invention provides new uroguanylin derivatives that are useful for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The present invention also provides compositions and methods of treating gastrointestinal disorders and pharmaceutical compositions for accomplishing the same. In some embodiments, these pharmaceutical compositions include oral dosage forms.
US09303062B2
A solid oxidized glutathione salt is produced by heating an oxidized glutathione at 30° C. or higher while the oxidized glutathione is brought into contact with an aqueous medium in the presence of a substance for providing a cation, to produce the salt of the oxidized glutathione and the cation as a solid, wherein the aqueous medium is composed of water and/or a water-soluble medium, and the cation is at least one selected from an ammonium cation, a calcium cation and a magnesium cation.
US09303060B1
A method of preparing a thioic acid intermediate of fluticasone propionate includes: treating a 17β-[(N,N-dimethyl carbamoyl)thio]carbonyl compound in a solution including an alcohol and an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline-earth metal hydroxide, or a mixture thereof to cleave an amide from the 17β-[(N,N-dimethyl carbamoyl)thio]carbonyl compound; treating the solution to separate an aqueous portion; and adding an acid to the aqueous portion to obtain the thioic acid intermediate of fluticasone propionate. A method of preparing fluticasone propionate includes preparing the thioic acid intermediate of fluticasone propionate, and alkylating the thioic acid intermediate of fluticasone propionate to prepare the fluticasone propionate.
US09303056B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide a monomer for RNA synthesis which can be efficiently produced and therefore by which the producing cost of RNA can be remarkably decreased, and a method for efficiently producing the monomer in a small number of steps. In addition, the objective of the present invention is also to provide a method by which RNA can be efficiently produced even when a approximately stoichiometry amount of the monomer for RNA synthesis is used. The monomer for RNA synthesis according to the present invention is represented by the following formula (I) or (I′): wherein R1 is a protective group of the hydroxy group and R2 is an alkyl group or the like.
US09303055B2
A method of modulation of synthesis capacity on and cleavage properties of synthetic oligomers from solid support is described. The method utilizes linker molecules attached to a solid surface and co-coupling agents that have similar reactivities to the coupling compounds with the surface functional groups. The preferred linker molecules provide an increased density of polymers and more resistance to cleavage from the support surface. The method is particularly useful for synthesis of oligonucleotides, oligonucleotides microarrays, peptides, and peptide microarrays. The stable linkers are also coupled to anchor molecules for synthesis of DNA oligonucleotides using on support purification, eliminating time-consuming chromatography and metal cation presence. Oligonucleotides thus obtained can be directly used for mass analysis, DNA amplification and ligation, hybridization, and many other applications.
US09303050B2
Intermediates and methods of their use in the synthesis of analogs of halichondrin B are provided.
US09303030B2
The invention relates to new pyridopyrazine and naphthyridine derivative compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds, to processes for the preparation of said compounds and to the use of said compounds in the treatment of diseases, e.g. cancer.
US09303028B2
Azetidine and piperidine compounds of formula (I): as defined in the specification, compositions containing them, and processes for preparing such compounds and intermediates thereof. Provided herein also are methods of treating cognitive disorders or diseases treatable by inhibition of PDE10, such as Huntington's Disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the like.
US09303026B2
This invention relates to compounds of formula I their salts, and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and their use in the treatment of picornavirus infections in mammals, as well as novel intermediates useful in the preparation of the compounds of formula I.
US09303013B2
The present invention relates in part to chemical compounds, and methods for producing these compounds. The compounds may also be incorporated into compositions to enhance quit rates or reduce relapse in smoking cessation and further in treating nicotine-related dependence.
US09303012B2
The invention relates to CB2 agonists of formula (I) wherein R1 to R4 are defined as in the description and in the claims. The compound of formula (I) can be used as a medicament.
US09303008B2
A method of manufacturing a compound represented by the formula R1C(OR7)3, wherein R1 represents a C1-C19 alkyl group and R7 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group by reacting a compound represented by the following formula (15): wherein R1 represents a C1-C19 alkyl group, R7 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group and X represents Cl, Br, I, HSO4 or NO3, with a compound represented by the formula R7—OH, wherein R7 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group, in a solvent which forms a bilayer system.
US09303004B2
Disclosed is a method of crystallizing a taxane comprising combining the taxane and methylene chloride to obtain a solution and adding an anti-solvent to the solution to obtain a crystalline taxane, wherein the anti-solvent is selected from the group consisting of hexane and heptane.
US09302996B2
This is to provide a continuous arycyclic compound having a DGAT1 inhibitory activity, and useful for prophylaxis and/or treatment of obesity or hyperlipidemia caused by obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, lipid metabolism disorder, fatty liver, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, etc., as well as to provide a DGAT1 inhibitor comprising the continuous arycyclic compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an effective ingredient. Disclosed is the continuous arycyclic compound is represented by the formula: wherein the substituents in the formula are the same as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09302992B2
Novel quinoline derivatives are disclosed. Also disclosed are synthesis and use thereof for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In one aspect, the invention relates to a compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: (I) wherein R1 is hydrogen, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)alkylene(C3-C8)cycloalkyl, (C1-C8)haloalkyl, or (C1-C8)alkylene(C6-C20)aryl; R2 is hydrogen or halogen; R3 is hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C8)alkyl, or (C1-C8)alkoxy; R4 is hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)alkoxy, or (C1-C8)haloalkyl; R5 is hydrogen or (C1-C20)alkanol; R6 is hydrogen; and R7 is (C1-C20)alkanol, (C1-C8)alkylene (C3-C8)heterocyclyl(C1-C20)alkanol, (C1-C8)alkylene (C3-C8)heterocyclyl(C1-C20)alkyl, (C1-C8)alkylene(C1-C6)alkylamino(C1-C6)alkynyl, (C1-C8)alkyleneamino(C1-C20)alkanol, or (C1-C8)alkyleneamino(C1-C20)alkanol(C1-C8)alkylene substituted (C3-C20)heteroaryl; (II) or wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4 and R6 are each defined in (I) above; R5 is (C1-C20)alkanol; and R7 is hydrogen, (C1-C20)alkanol, (C1-C8)alkylene (C3-C8)heterocyclyl(C1-C20)alkanol, (C1-C8)alkylene (C3-C8)heterocyclyl(C1-C20)alkyl, (C1-C8)alkylene(C1-C6)alkylamino(C1-C6)alkynyl, (C1-C8)alkyleneamino(C1-C20)alkanol, or (C1-C8)alkyleneamino(C1-C20)alkanol(C1-C8)alkylene substituted (C3-C20)heteroaryl.
US09302988B2
The invention relates to pyrrole carboxamides bearing a fluoromethyl-moiety as voltage gated calcium channel blockers, to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and also to these compounds for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of pain and further diseases and/or disorders.
US09302986B2
The preparation and pharmaceutical use of substituted 3-haloallylamine derivatives as SSAO/VAP-1 inhibitors having the structure of Formula I: is described. Methods of using compounds of Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivatives thereof, for the treatment of a variety of indications, e.g., inflammatory diseases, ocular diseases, fibrotic diseases, diabetes-induced diseases and cancer, are also described.
US09302983B2
The present invention relates to gas phase phosgenation of amines for preparation of isocyanates. In the present invention, phosgene is prepared by reacting chlorine with an excess of carbon monoxide in a gas phase. The obtained phosgene-containing reaction mixture is divided into two streams by a thermal and/or a membrane separating process. The first stream is a low-carbon monoxide stream of no more than 1% by weight of carbon monoxide, based on a total weight of the first stream. The second stream is a carbon monoxide-rich stream of more than 10% by weight of carbon monoxide, based on a total weight of the second stream. The first stream is used as the phosgene-containing reactant stream in the gas phase phosgenation of amines to prepare isocyanates. The second stream can be recycled into the phosgene synthesis.
US09302974B1
A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the water concentration is controlled in the side stream between two columns. Controlling the water concentration by a recycle rate of the light liquid phase maintains the hydrogen iodide concentration in the side stream to be up to 50 wppm.
US09302972B2
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of azelaic acid or alkyl azelate starting from mono-unsaturated 9-octadecenedioic acid or its corresponding alkylester characterized in that the process comprises at least the following step: •reacting the mono-unsaturated 9-octadecene dioic acid or its corresponding alkylester with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an organic carboxylic acid other than 9-octadecene dioic acid and a suitable catalyst to effect cleavage of the double bond in the mono-unsaturated 9-octadecene dioic acid or its corresponding alkylester. The invention further relates to the azelaic acid or alkyl azelate obtainable by the process according to the invention and to the use of azelaic acid or alkyl azelate or monomers derived there from for the preparation of a polymer, especially a polyamide.
US09302966B2
A process for converting polyhydric alcohols to monoalcohols in a counter current column reactor with a metal based catalyst supported on a porous membrane coated over a tubular system that delivers hydrogen where a hydrocarbon (low polarity) liquid solvent is fed at the bottom of the column reactor and an aqueous liquid having polyhydric alcohols therein is fed into the top of the reactor such that the aqueous liquid flows countercurrent to the low polarity solvent liquid and further wherein the low polarity solvent liquid is less dense than the aqueous liquid such that the two liquids are subject to phase separation. Monoalcohols are formed by hydrogenolysis reactions of polyhydric alcohols on the metal catalyst. Monoalcohols phase separate from the aqueous phase to the hydrocarbon solvent. Monoalcohols are further separated from the organic solvent.
US09302961B2
The invention relates to a fluorination process, alternately comprising reaction stages and regeneration stages, wherein the reaction stages comprise reacting a chlorinated compound with hydrogen fluoride in gas phase in the presence of a fluorination catalyst to produce a fluorinated compound, and the regeneration stages comprise contacting the fluorination catalyst with an oxidizing agent-containing gas flow.
US09302956B2
A process for increasing a yield of an isomerization zone by removing at least a portion of the C6 cyclic hydrocarbons from a stream prior to it being passed into the isomerization zone. Additionally, disproportionation reactions occur producing valuable C3 hydrocarbons and C4 hydrocarbons. Also, a higher ring opening conversion of C5 cyclic hydrocarbons is observed.
US09302954B2
The invention provides methods and compositions useful for synthesizing alkylaromatics from an n-alkanes.
US09302950B2
The invention is generally applicable to a composting container. More specifically, a compositing container is provided that includes a body defining a cavity for receiving material to be composted and an agitator mechanism for agitating or otherwise moving, stirring, shifting, disturbing, disrupting or displacing the material in the cavity. In various additional embodiments, a grating is situated in the cavity that divides the cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion.
US09302946B2
The invention relates to a process for producing a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) part by infiltration of a suspension (S) of a ceramic powder into a fibrous reinforcement (14). A suspension (S) of ceramic powder containing particles of chosen particle size, dispersed in at least one solvent, is prepared. The infiltration of the suspension is carried out in a single step in the fibrous reinforcement (14) positioned between a mold (12) and a permeable membrane (16), which makes it possible to apply a vacuum (V) and to subsequently remove the solvent from the suspension through the permeable membrane (16). The invention applies to the production of large-sized parts of complex shape, in particular in the field of aeronautics and aerospace engineering.
US09302938B2
Chemically strengthened glass and a method for making utilizing differential areal density are provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a glass chemical structure. Host alkali ions are situated in the chemical structure. The substrate has a treatment-rich volume and a treatment-poor volume located as opposed to each other in the substrate. The method also includes providing an exchange medium characterized by having an areal density, associated with an ion exchange rate, of invading alkali ions having an average ionic radius that is larger than an average ionic radius of the host alkali ions. The method also includes providing a modified exchange medium characterized by having a modified areal density, associated with a modified ion exchange rate, of the invading alkali ions. The method also includes applying the exchange mediums and conducting ion exchange to produce the strengthened substrate.
US09302936B2
An insulating glass (IG) window unit includes first and second substrates, and a low-emissivity (low-E) coating supported by one of the substrates. The low-E coating has two silver based infrared (IR) reflecting layers and allows the IG window unit to realize an increased SHGC to U-value ratio, and an increased thickness ratio of an upper silver based layer of the coating to a bottom silver based layer of the coating. The low-E coating is designed to have a low film-side reflectance, so that for example when the low-E coating is used on surface number three of an IG window unit the IG window unit can realize reduced visible reflectance as viewed from the outside of the building on which the IG window unit is mounted or is to be mounted.
US09302933B2
A method of making an article having a textured glass surface, including, for example: attaching microencapsulated particles to a portion of a glass surface of the article; and contacting the glass surface having the attached microencapsulated particles with an etchant to form the textured surface. A glass article prepared by the method including: at least one textured surface having excellent haze, distinctness-of-image, surface roughness, and uniformity properties, as defined herein.A display system that incorporates the glass article, as defined herein, is also disclosed.
US09302923B2
A wastewater treatment apparatus includes an air diffusing unit, a denitrification confirming unit, a nitrification confirming unit, a gas supply-amount control unit. The air diffusing unit supplies gas to nitrogen-containing water. The denitrification confirming unit provided at a first predetermined position confirms a denitrification state whether a desired proportion of the nitrate has been denitrified. The nitrification confirming unit provided at a second predetermined position confirms a nitrification state whether a desired proportion of the ammonia has been nitrified. The gas supply-amount control unit controls a gas supply amount at least on an upstream side of the denitrification confirming unit, so that the desired proportion of the nitrate is denitrified at the first predetermined position, and controls the gas supply amount at least on an upstream side of the nitrification confirming unit, so that the desired proportion of the ammonia is nitrified at the second predetermined position.
US09302921B2
A bio-inspired method for detoxifying contaminated water is disclosed. In the method, polydopamine, a mussel-inspired adhesive catecholamine was used as an adsorbent to effectively remove from contaminated water three major classes of toxic agents: heavy metal ions (e.g., Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu, and Cd), toxic organic species (e.g., 4-aminopyridine), and radioisotopes (e.g., Lutetium-177). Furthermore, the polydopamine adsorbent was regenerated by treatment with acid or hydrogen peroxide.
US09302911B2
The present invention is for extremely pure solutions of chlorine dioxide, methods for making such solutions and to compositions and methods for storing, shipping and using such solutions. Generally, the chlorine dioxide solutions of the invention are aqueous solutions containing about 2500 ppm or less of total impurities. The chlorine dioxide solution can be prepared by passing dilute highly pure chlorine gas through a bed of substantially solid sodium chlorite and contacting the resulting chlorine dioxide gas with a liquid.
US09302905B1
A method for forming a feature in a device layer, including forming a first layer of a liftoff material and a second layer of photoresist over the liftoff material, exposing the photoresist and developing the photoresist and the liftoff layer. The photoresist develops at a slower rate than the liftoff layer. The development results in a first opening in the lift off layer and a second opening in the photoresist layer wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening because of the different developing rates. The device layer is then dry etched or ion milled through the opening. Subsequent removal of the first layer and second layer leaves a clean surface of the patterned device layer, without the fences that can be formed using other methods.
US09302902B2
A system and method for controlling temperature of a MEMS sensor are disclosed. In a first aspect, the system comprises a MEMS cap encapsulating the MEMS sensor and a CMOS die vertically arranged to the MEMS cap. The system includes a heater integrated into the MEMS cap. The integrated heater is activated to control the temperature of the MEMS sensor. In a second aspect, the method comprises encapsulating the MEMS sensor with a MEMS cap and coupling a CMOS die to the MEMS cap. The method includes integrating a heater into the MEMS cap. The integrated heater is activated to control the temperature of the MEMS sensor.
US09302896B2
A method and apparatus for sterilizing containers, such as cans, bottles, or similar containers. The method involves relatively moving a container and an elongated electron radiation treatment member with respect to one another, such that the treatment member is located in the container. The treatment member is used to treat the entire inside surface of the container with identical or essentially identical radiation power, and then is removed from the container.
US09302876B2
The present invention provides apparatus for stacking media items, comprising a base member for supporting a stack of media items, at least one first registration member extending generally upwardly with respect to the base member, and at least one further registration member extending generally upwardly with respect to the base member and spaced apart from the first registration member, wherein at least a one of the first and further registration members is selectively moveable towards or away from a remainder one of the first and further registration members in an input direction of the media items. A method of stacking media items is also provided.
US09302872B2
A web winding and measuring system is provided. The system includes a rotatably-mounted spool onto which a web of material is wound to form a roll. The system additionally includes a light-emitting device configured to illuminate the roll by light, providing a line on a cylindrical surface of the roll in a cross-machine direction, a light-receiving device configured to detect the line and generate measurement data from the detected line, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the light-receiving device and configured to receive the measurement data and calculate a diameter of the roll.
US09302865B2
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion on which sheets are stacked, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion, a slope portion arranged downstream of the sheets in a feeding direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion and configured to separate the sheets from each other, the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit being bent when contacting the slope portion, and a contact width variable mechanism configured to change a contact width in which the slope portion and a leading edge of the sheet, in the feeding direction, fed by the sheet feeding unit are in contact with each other by moving part of the slope portion in the feeding direction or in a direction opposite to the feeding direction.
US09302849B2
In a method of controlling operation of a pneumatic conveying system (1) including a source (6) for generating transport air flow in an active state, transport piping (4) and multiple material inlet points in at least one branch (B1, B2, B3, B4) of the transport piping and communicating with the system through discharge valves (3) controlling emptying of associated material inlet points, material transport conditions of the system are sensed for each inlet point emptying operation, the material transport conditions are sensed at one or more remote locations from the material inlet points and a valve open time for the material inlet point discharge valves is determining for each emptying operation and based on a processing of feedback from material transport condition sensors (11, 12) of the system. A pneumatic conveying system as well as a system (16) for controlling operation of the pneumatic conveying system are also provided.
US09302847B2
A cassette support portion (706) is provided for supporting a cassette (701) containing film (702) on a support (704) for rotation in a waste storage device. The cassette support portion (706) includes a support contacting portion (740) and a cassette contacting portion (742) angled inwardly therefrom. There is further provided a cassette support (704) including said cassette support portion (706), a cassette (701) mounted on said cassette support portion (706) and a waste storage device including said cassette support (704) and support portion (706).
US09302823B2
An apparatus includes first and second panels continuously joined along a first side edge, a second side edge and a bottom edge. A top portion of the respective first and second side panels defines an opening of the bag. A pair of hems each extend along the top portion of the bag. Drawstrings are enclosed within respective ones of the hems and short seals are provided to weld the first panel, the second panel, and respective ends of the drawstrings together. The short seals are each located proximate to respective ones of the side edges. A first reduced opening seal is provided to weld the first panel, the second panel, and the drawstrings together. The first reduced opening seal is located adjacent to the first side edge and includes a convex polygonal shape.
US09302820B2
A flexible pouch having a printed wireless information tag thereon. The flexible pouch has a panel with at least one side seam, at least one inseam and a wireless information tag printed on the panel. The panel can have a foil layer included therewithin and an insulator layer between the panel and the wireless information tag. Also, the wireless information tag is printed with conductive ink.
US09302818B2
The reusable envelope that may include a scannable tag can be scanned by a smartphone to access a data storage location through the internet where customizable video and audio greetings can be provided for viewing by a recipient of the reusable envelope and re-recording when the reusable envelope is to be reused. The reusable envelope has spaces thereon where address and return labels and postage can be removably placed or permanently affixed such as for finite number of shipments using a permanently affixed postage area, for example. The reusable envelope also includes a resealable closure allowing the interior of the envelope to be closed and reopened multiple times for multiple uses (shipments, receiving) or optionally to use a finite number of times by exposing the permanent adhesive to the flat and mating surface depending on user preference.
US09302817B2
A self-mailer and a method receive correspondence and articles for mailing and/or delivery via a special service. The self-mailer is foldable and has an interior portion that provides space for printing a communication thereon. The self-mailer has a printable and detachable portion that is removed before folding, assembly and sealing the self-mailer. The interior portion of the self-mailer has a pocket for holding and/or mailing documents, envelopes, forms, checks and/or the like via the special service.
US09302813B2
A bottle has a body and an opening at a first end of the bottle. A closure for the opening is movable relative to the body. The bottle, optionally the closure, comprises first and second elements lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a main axis extending between the first end and an opposite second end of the bottle when the closure is in the closed position, the first and second elements being respective portions of the first end that are furthest along the main axis from the second end. The bottle, optionally the closure, also comprises a recessed portion extending between the first and second elements, the recessed portion being recessed from the plane in a direction along the main axis towards the second end, whereby the first and second elements are separated from each other in the plane by a gap.
US09302810B2
A tray, such as for baked goods, includes a base and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from side edges of the base. A front wall and a rear wall extend upward from a front edge and a rear edge of the base. The front wall and rear wall each have at least a portion that is shorter than the side walls. The front wall and rear wall each include an inner wall portion spaced inwardly of an outer wall portion. The front wall and rear wall each including at least one portion of reduced width at an upper edge of the front wall and the rear wall. The portion of reduced width accommodates the notches of a similar tray cross stacked thereon.
US09302809B1
Molded plastic fuel containers comprise a plastic, with a pair of sides and gently inclined, integral front and rear faces. An integral handle spanning the top of the body extends over and between front and rear faces. A channel-like trough is defined at the bottom, beneath spaced-apart bottom portions. The trough is configured to snugly receive a handle when units are stacked vertically. Front portions of the handles and each trough are wider than corresponding rears. When a handle mated to and seated within a trough during stacking, stability is increased because both lateral (i.e., side-to-side) movements and linear (i.e., forward and rearward) movements are resisted by the locking action of the mating process.
US09302808B2
A case for an electronic device, which is shaped as a book and has: a rear cover, which is provided with a housing pocket to house the electronic device; a front cover, which is hinged to the rear cover; and a locking element, which is hinged to the rear cover and has an upper wall and a lower wall, which are parallel and opposite to one another. The locking element is equipped with a hook-shaped coupler which projects from the lower wall of the locking element. The front cover has a coupling hole, which is arranged at the coupler, when the locking element overlaps the front cover, and is adapted to receive, on the inside, the coupler.
US09302806B2
A collapsible container having thick corrugated walls with double crease corners. The double crease corners define two 45° angles instead of one 90° to allow the container to maintain a generally rectangular shape and reduce the tendency of the side panels to bias outward when the container is filled with a flowable material.
US09302804B2
The present invention includes: a label opening unit, which preliminarily opens a tubular label folded in a sheet; a label expansion unit, which expands the preliminarily opened label; a bottle lifting unit having a mounting, on which the bottle is mounted and which can rise and fall; and a bottle pull-up unit, which lifts the bottle while holding with the bottle an upper end portion of the label attached to the bottle. After the bottle lifting unit has lifted the mounting on which the bottle is mounted, thereby inserting the bottle into the label expanded by the label expansion unit, the bottle pull-up unit pulls up the bottle, thereby removing expansion claws from the label and moving the bottle to above clamp members of the label opening unit.
US09302801B2
A developer accommodating unit includes: a developer bag in which a developer is incorporated. The developer bag includes: a filling port for filling the developer; a filling region where the developer is filled; a non-filling region, provided outside the filling region, where the developer is not filled, and a folded portion formed by folding the filling region and the non-filling region. The folded portion includes a welding portion.
US09302799B2
This application is directed to a method for minimizing oxidative discoloration of a chemical compound such as a monomer during shipping, storing, and/or aging.
US09302797B2
An apparatus for stacking truss plates, each truss plate having a flat side and a pronged side, receives an odd number of plates. An even number of input channels underlie a stationary shelf and a movable shelf. The channels receive a first odd set of plates in a first cycle with the movable shelf in a first position, each of the first plates being received and falling input channels during the first cycle. The channels receive a second odd set of plates during a second cycle, the movable shelf in a second position during the second cycle. A roller and transport track assembly move each of the odd number of plates to an output so that an even number of plates is output during each cycle.
US09302794B2
A method produces and fills containers (1) made of thermoplastic plastic, in which an extruded plastic hose is inserted into an open mold having movable mold parts. The mold parts forming the container (1) are closed. The hose is expanded by a pressure gradient acting on the hose to form the container (1), preferably in the form of a bellows. The container is filled with filling material. The level of the filling material is raised by reducing container volume in the direction of the container opening. A container closure (5) for the container opening is formed from the hose by closing head jaws of the mold. In the region of the container closure (5), one section of the plastic hose remains unclosed to form a venting cannula (3). When the container volume is reduced, the level of the filling material is raised such that at least air is displaced from the container (1) through venting cannula (3). The venting cannula (3) is closed by closing auxiliary head jaws.
US09302784B2
The invention relates to the safety of airport runways.The invention provides a side bather preventing foreign object debris (FOD) from entering a runway and taxiway and endangering aircraft.The barrier having ground attachment means and being constructed to collapse if the landing wheels of an aircraft impact the barrier and thus allow the aircraft to safely continue landing/takeoff/taxiing.
US09302783B2
Systems and methods are provided for docking an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a vehicle. The UAV may be able to distinguish a companion vehicle from other vehicles in the area and vice versa. The UAV may take off and/or land on the vehicle. The UAV may be used to capture images and stream the images live to a display within the vehicle. The vehicle may control the UAV. The UAV may be in communication with the companion vehicle while in flight.
US09302777B2
A system capable of detecting the hazardous accumulation of ice on the surfaces, engines, instruments and air intakes of aircrafts or other objects of interest. The system consists of an electromagnetic microwave resonator capable of detecting the formation of ice directly where it could cause problems. The sensor could be mounted around the air intake of pitot tubes, static ports, engines intake, engines core, and can be embedded in the aircraft skin. The system uses algorithms based on the variations of the complex dielectric permittivity of water substance with frequency to distinguish the various types of ice from each other and from water.
US09302768B2
The aircraft capable of takeoff/landing via the fuselage thereof and the takeoff/landing system of the aircraft according to the present invention are configured such that multiple takeoff/landing rollers are arranged in a sliding direction such that the aircraft fuselage having a landing surface formed at the bottom thereof can safely land and slide in a sliding direction, thus enabling the aircraft fuselage to contact a running surface and takeoff/land without separate landing gear. Thus, not only can the weight of the aircraft be reduced, but the fuel consumption of the aircraft can be reduced as well, the useful space in the aircraft can be broadened, the length of the runway can be shortened due to the frictional force generated by the takeoff/landing device, and the safety during the takeoff/landing of the aircraft can be improved.
US09302767B2
A nose landing gear arrangement for an aircraft and a method of assembling the nose landing gear arrangement are disclosed herein. The nose landing gear arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a wheel assembly, a shock strut extending upwards from the wheel assembly towards a fuselage of the aircraft, and a torque arm assembly coupled to the wheel assembly and to the shock strut. The torque arm assembly is configured to transmit torque to the wheel assembly. The torque arm assembly is disposed forward of the shock strut with respect to a direction of travel of the aircraft.
US09302755B2
A pedal propulsion device for use on a small watercraft, having a lightweight portable frame with integral foot-engagement cranks. A propeller and rudder assembly driven by the foot cranks automatically will adjust for obstacles within and below the water, while maintaining direct drive by utilizing a depth stabilizer assembly extending from the support frame.
US09302751B1
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a multipurpose swim vest for keeping a user safe around a body of water while also providing the user with entertainment. The swim vest may include a swim vest configured to accommodate a user's torso, a water pistol removably attached to vest fabric of the swim vest, the water pistol having a toy tube extending therefrom, a vest tube positioned within a channel in the swim vest, the vest tube extending from a position proximate to a user's side through the channel and out of a bottom surface of the swim vest, and a siphon tube attached to the vest tube. Water may be siphoned through the siphon tube, the vest tube, and the toy tube into the water pistol when the user pulls a trigger on the water pistol, which may also cause water to squirt out of the water pistol.
US09302750B2
A self-leveling boat bumper system attached to a nautical structure can include a floating bumper arrangement having a float element, a float extension, and a boat bumper; and a receiver, fixed to the nautical structure and moveably engaged with the arrangement, or fixed to the arrangement and moveably engaged with a guide fixed to the nautical structure. When floating within a body of water, the float element can provide a buoyancy force that maintains the boat bumper in a static position between, and including, first and second positions, and as the level of the water changes.
US09302747B2
A floating offshore platform is disclosed with one or more extension plates fixedly coupled to one or more pontoons on the offshore platform and extending from the pontoons. As the floating platform moves, the pontoon-coupled extension plates separate the water and cause drag on the platform. The water moving with the extension plates also increases the dynamic mass. The added drag and dynamic mass increases the natural period of the motion away from the wave excitation period to minimize the wave driven motion compared to a platform without the extension plates. The extension plates can be coupled to the pontoons during fabrication at the yard directly or through frame members. The extension plates generally are generally located inclusively between the top and bottom elevations of the pontoons, and therefore do not significantly reduce the clearance between the seabed and the hull at the quayside.
US09302744B2
A transfer system is described including a subsea installation fixed relative to a seabed, and a transfer element for transfer of fluid, electrical signals, or electric current between the subsea installation and a floating arrangement. The transfer element is configured to connect to the subsea installation and includes a connector for connecting to the floating arrangement. The transfer system includes a buoyancy element anchored to the seabed, and has a through-going hole in the vertical direction. The transfer element extends through the hole and is movable in both directions through the hole. The transfer element includes a fender system that extends at least partially around the circumference of the transfer element. The fender system abuts the buoyancy element when the transfer element is suspended. When the transfer element is suspended, the transfer element forms an S-shape or J-shape between the subsea installation and the buoyancy element.
US09302743B2
A multi-directional signal assembly includes a signal display assembly having one or more display surfaces, and at least one signal indicia affixed to each display surface. The multi-directional display assembly comprises a buoyant construction such that the signal indicia affixed to the display surface(s) are readily visible above the surface of a body of water in which the assembly is deployed. A counterweight assembly is mounted to the signal display assembly to maintain the signal display assembly in a substantially upright, operative orientation when deployed. An illumination assembly comprising one or more illumination members is mounted to the signal display assembly, and is actuated to increase visibility of the signal display assembly while it is deployed on the surface of a body of water.
US09302742B2
An arch shaped structural member suitable for use as a wakeboard tower including a pair of legs and a crosspiece supported by the legs, both of the legs and the crosspiece being a coreless cast structural member characterized as a cast structural member and devoid of a hollow interior enclosed by solid portions.
US09302731B2
A vehicle height adjustment device includes a jack chamber for supporting a spring receiver supporting a suspension spring's one-side end portion and a fluid-pressure driving unit for supplying/discharging an operating fluid into/out of the jack chamber and elevating up/down the spring receiver. The fluid-pressure driving unit includes a pump for selectively supplying the operating fluid to a first or second channel and a tank connected to the first or second channel not receiving an operating fluid's supply from the pump. The vehicle height adjustment device further includes a jack channel allowing the first channel and the jack chamber to communicate with each other, a valve body closing the jack channel, capable of opening/closing, a spring for urging the valve body in a direction for shutting off the jack channel, and a pilot line for having a second channel's pressure act on the valve body so the jack channel is opened.
US09302720B2
A floor panel includes: an article storage portion formed to protrude downwardly at a position spaced apart from each of two frame members on vehicle widthwise opposite sides thereof; and a pair of right and left lateral coupling portions each provided between a respective one of the frame members and the article storage portion. A storage bottom of the article storage portion has an upwardly or downwardly convex curved surface, and a storage wall of the article storage portion is configured such that each of right and left upper ends thereof is located below a corresponding one of two joint sections between respective ones of the lateral coupling portions of the floor panel and respective ones of the frame members. At least one of the pair of lateral coupling portions is formed by a downwardly inclined planar or curved surface.
US09302717B1
A truck bed extension is configured to connect to a right striker post and a left striker post on a truck having a tail gate. The truck bed extension has a tail gate attachment plate, mechanically coupled to the tail gate. A back plate is rotationally connected to the tail gate attachment plate with a first back plate hinge assembly, a second back plate hinge assembly, a third back plate hinge assembly and a fourth back plate hinge assembly. Right and left plates are rotationally connected to the back plate with two plate hinge assemblies. A right plate bracket is attached to the right plate and configured to receive the right striker post. A left plate bracket is attached to the left plate and configured to receive the left striker post.
US09302716B2
A compensator assembly for a vehicle frame includes a base member having a clip engaging a first frame component spaced from a second frame component. An extension member is threadably coupled with the base member. A fastener extends coaxially through the base and the extension members to engage the first and second frame components. Rotation of the fastener unthreads the extension member until it contacts the second frame component.
US09302703B2
A hydraulic steering assist assembly is provided for a vehicle with a mechanical steering assembly operable by a user to steer the vehicle. The hydraulic steering assist assembly includes a hydraulic actuator adapted to be coupled to the mechanical steering assembly and has a first side and a second side. A bi-directional hydraulic pump is placed in fluid communication with the first side and the second side of the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic steering assist assembly further includes a valve in fluid communication with the first side and the second side of the hydraulic actuator, and a control system for controlling the bi-directional hydraulic pump and the valve. The bi-directional hydraulic pump provides a pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator, which applies a force on the mechanical steering assembly to assist steering the vehicle. The valve can act as a steering damper.
US09302698B2
A steering apparatus includes a rack shaft moving in a vehicle width direction for steering steered wheels, a rack end in a moving side, which is provided in the rack shaft and integrally moving with the rack shaft, a housing body in a fixed side, which does not move in the vehicle width direction and controls the movement of the rack shaft by collision from the rack end to the housing body and a shock absorbing member provided between the rack end and the housing body to absorb a shock from the rack end to the housing body, in which the shock absorbing member includes a low-spring rate portion and a high-spring rate portion having a higher spring rate than that of the low-spring rate portion in the vehicle width direction.
US09302697B2
A steering apparatus configured to inhibit a driver from feeling uncomfortable when an end bush impact occurs is provided. The steering apparatus includes a rack shaft that makes a linear motion in a rack housing in response to rotation of a steering shaft, and a ball joint fitted to an end portion of the rack shaft. The steering apparatus further includes an elastic body disposed between the rack housing and the ball joint, an end plate, and a projection of the rack housing. When the elastic body is compressively deformed due to collision of the ball joint with the elastic body, the end plate comes into contact with the projection to restrict compressive deformation of the elastic body by an amount exceeding a length. The length is set larger than a length of a compression deformation length with respect to an axial force due to a reverse input.
US09302696B2
An energy absorbing device for a steering column assembly includes a first end configured to couple to a first component of the steering column assembly and a second end configured to couple to a second component of the steering column. An intermediate portion extends between the first end and the second end. The intermediate portion includes a curved portion having a radius and a leg portion extending between the curved portion and the second end. The leg portion includes a plurality of localized surface features to tune a collapse characteristic of the energy absorbing device and to facilitate maintaining the radius constant when a force moves the first end relative to the second end and deforms the energy absorbing device.
US09302695B2
A tray is mounted on a mount of a stroller and includes a tray structure, a first mounting latch and a mounting arm formed from the tray structure. The first mounting latch is disposed on the mounting arm and has a first button movably disposed on the mounting arm, a clamping base connected to the first button and disposed in the mounting arm, and an elastic member disposed on the clamping base for providing a first elastic force to bias the clamping base toward a latched position to clamp the mount cooperatively with the mounting arm when the mounting arm is mounted on the mount and the first button is engaged with an engaging groove of the mount. When the first button is pressed for moving the clamping base to an unlatched position, the clamping base is separate from the mount to make the mounting arm detachable from the mount.
US09302694B2
A convertible baby stroller assembly converts into a playpen as needed. The assembly includes a support having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A top edge of the support defines an access opening into an interior space of the support wherein the interior space is configured for receiving a child. A plurality of panels is coupled to the support. The panels are positionable in a deployed position wherein each of the panels extends upwardly above the top edge around the access opening defining an upper enclosure of the assembly. A frame has an upper section and a lower section. The upper section defines a handle. The support is coupled to the frame at a juncture between the upper and lower sections. A plurality of wheels is coupled to the lower section of the frame.
US09302693B2
A coiled tubing servicing system comprising a servicing cart comprising two or more support frames, a length of coiled tubing supported by the servicing cart, a servicing fixture disposed about a portion of the length of coiled tubing adjacent the servicing cart, wherein the servicing fixture is movable along a longitudinal axis of the length of coiled tubing and radially about the longitudinal axis of the length of coiled tubing; and a servicing tool coupled to the servicing fixture.
US09302692B2
A shopping cart features a frame forming a chassis portion and a handle portion. A number of casters are attached to the chassis portion while a basket attached to the handle portion. A pair of basket supports are positioned on opposite sides of the basket. The pair of basket supports include a pair of base portions connected to the chassis portion, a pair of forward tilting lower portions attached to the base portions, and a pair of rearward tilting upper portions attached to the pair of forward tilting lower portions.
US09302686B2
A track brake for a rail vehicle has a plurality of elongated brake shoes affixed at intervals one behind the other to a continuous brake beam. The brake shoes have inserts incorporated in recesses inside their braking surfaces. The inserts are made of a friction-generating material that is resistant to temperatures under the braking load.
US09302681B2
Mobile transport platforms for producing hydrogen and structural materials, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a mobile transport platform and a chemical reactor carried by the mobile transport platform. The chemical reactor is configured to dissociate a donor into first and second constituents in a non-combustion reaction. The reactor has a donor entrance port, a first constituent exit port, and a second constituent exit port. A donor supply is carried by the mobile transport platform and is coupled to the donor entrance port to deliver the donor to the reactor. A first collector is coupled to the first constituent exit port to receive the first constituent from the reactor. A second collector is coupled to the second constituent exit port to receive the second constituent.
US09302680B2
A transportation system includes a vehicle, a track having a traveling road surface on which the vehicle travels and guide parts which extend to both sides in a width direction of the traveling road surface. The track has a first section in which the vehicle is guided by the guide parts and travels on the track, and a second section in which the vehicle travels on the track by steering of the vehicle.
US09302677B2
A method for providing interaction with an operator of a vehicle includes receiving request, from the operator of the vehicle and using a telematics system of the vehicle, for support or assistance regarding use of the telematics system, establishing a remote voice communication link between the vehicle and a remotely located call center, using the telematics system, and establishing a remote data communication link between the vehicle and the remotely located call center, using the telematics system. The method further includes providing verbal interaction or instruction regarding the use of the telematics system through the established remote voice communication, using the telematics system and/or providing audio/visual remote control, demonstrating or executing the use of the telematics system through the established remote data communication link, using the telematics system.
US09302669B2
Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle, which makes it possible to manually select a degree of acceleration in tune with user's preferences and user's intended running quality. Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle 1 including an engine and a motor for assisting the engine with power, in which an ECU 20 is provided with a first changing unit, which prepares to increase the assist amount of the motor 12 in response to a user depressing a Plus Sport mode switch 30, and subsequently increases the assist amount of the motor 12 in response to the user pressing an accelerator pedal to cause a variation ΔAP in an accelerator position to be at least a predetermined value.
US09302646B2
A retractor including a rotatable shaft including a coupling feature, a lock base having a recess, a spool configured to rotate about an axis of rotation to wind and unwind the seat belt, a longitudinal member, and a drive member. The spool includes a central bore that extends along the axis of rotation and is configured to receive a first portion of the shaft therein. The longitudinal member includes a longitudinal bore and a transverse bore that intersects with the longitudinal bore, the longitudinal bore being configured to receive a second portion of the shaft therein. The drive member includes a first portion passing through the transverse bore and a second portion disposed in the recess, the first portion including an engaging feature, where a load is transmitted between the shaft and drive member when the engaging feature is coupled to the coupling feature.
US09302640B2
A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a load detection device placed at a front and a rear of one of a right-left pair of the attachment members so as to be spaced apart from each other, the load detection device measuring a load applied to a seat to distinguish an existence of a passenger and a type of a passenger, a detection influence determination device determining an existence of an influence on a passenger determination performance of the load detection device in a case where a collision load value detected by the load detection device in the case of a collision of the vehicle corresponds to a detected value between a preset first collision load value and a preset second collision load value, and a collision influence alert device outputting an alert in a case where the detection influence determination device determines that the passenger determination performance is influenced.
US09302623B2
The invention relates to a device for mounting an object to a structure in a vibration-free manner. The device has an elastic arrangement that supports the object at the structure in a stiff manner in the directions of at least two of the total of six translational and rotational degrees of freedom and in a soft manner in the directions of at least one of the total of six translational and rotational degrees of freedom. Main modes of motion of the object in the directions of the rigid support have natural frequencies that are higher than any main mode of motion of the object in any direction of the soft support at least by a factor of ten. The soft support is undamped, and a damping device is provided for any main mode of motion of the object in any direction of the soft support.
US09302618B2
A child safety and alert system and method that detect and monitor access and egress for assignable locations within a motor vehicle by identifying designated positions within the vehicle, by monitoring at least one of the motor, the driver door and other doors or closures in the vehicle, by activating a timer if the motor is stopped or the driver door is opened and closed, and by triggering an alarm if the designated doors or closures are not opened within a predefined time interval after the motor stops or the driver door is opened. The alarm can be deactivated from the driver seat or by a remote device. The system and method are similarly useful for alerting a driver to retrieve objects from storage locations within a vehicle.
US09302611B2
In a vehicle lamp control device, a control unit is configured to a) hold a road surface angle reference value and a vehicle posture angle reference value in a volatile manner, b) generate an optical axis adjusting signal using a vehicle posture angle in response to variation in a total angle during the stop of the vehicle, c) avoid generating or outputting the optical axis adjusting signal or output an optical axis holding signal, and hold a road surface angle as a new reference value, in response to variation in the total angle during travelling of the vehicle. The control unit, in response to receiving the turn-off signal of the switch, d-1) writes at least the road surface angle reference value in the storage unit or continues to execute the step (c) while delaying the step (d-1).
US09302605B1
A motorized expedition vehicle has a truck cab, an engine and riding gear package, and a cabin. The cabin can serve any as a living, camping or office area. The wherein the cabin is expandible and collapsible between expanded and collapsed extremes. To do this, the cabin has an openable rectangular box structure. Namely, there is a rectangular and open-topped lower-sidewall/floor portion, a rectangular and open-bottomed upper-sidewall/roof portion, and one more rectangular-hoop shaped, intermediate sidewall sections. A crawlspace hatchway is formed between the cabin and cab.
US09302604B2
A bulk material transport apparatus which includes a containment structure on a wheeled frame which is formed of perimeter wall members about a bulk material containment area, further includes at least one modular hopper unit mountable at a bottom side of the containment area for discharging contents of the bulk material containment area therethrough. The modular hopper units can be readily interchanged with other hopper units which are different in gate opening size, gate opening height, gate opening orientation, and/or other characteristics relative to one another. One optional modular hopper unit is a side discharge unit which is reversible for discharging to a selected one of two laterally opposed sides of the transport apparatus.
US09302602B2
A seat heater provided in a seat cushion of a vehicle seat includes a first heater wire and a second heater wire which are arranged on the opposite side to each other through the groove provided on the surface of a cushion pad, and a groove portion heater wire provided in the groove for connecting the second heater wire with the first heater wire. The groove portion heater wire includes one end portion extending toward a groove bottom beyond a first corner of the groove, the other end portion extending toward the groove bottom beyond a second corner of the groove, and a folded portion folded in the central part of the groove bottom. The extending direction of at least one of the one end portion and the other end portion of the groove portion heater wire is inclined with respect to the depth direction of the groove.
US09302593B2
An electric vehicle supply equipment receives an external AC power source. The electric vehicle supply equipment includes a relay apparatus and a controller. The relay apparatus has a master relay, an auxiliary relay, and a controllable switch. The master relay is connected to a master power loop. The controllable switch is connected in series to the auxiliary relay to form a series path and connected to an auxiliary power loop. When the controller detects the external AC power source, the controller turns on the auxiliary relay. Afterward, when the controller detects that the external AC power source is in a zero-crossing condition, the controller drives the controllable switch to be turned on. Accordingly, the relays are controlled in coordinated timing, and further the external AC power source is detected, thus implementing the zero-voltage and zero-current turning on of the relay apparatus.
US09302586B2
A vehicle (100) comprising a wading information display (1020), a memory and a processor, the memory containing a program configured to run on the processor to calculate the maximum wading depth of the vehicle from the measured suspension travel, and to display the maximum wading depth on the display. The display may also show a dual wading depth, an advisory wading speed, and vehicle inclination.
US09302576B2
A power transmitting apparatus for a hybrid vehicle can transmit the driving force of engine E to the motor M or reversely the driving force of motor M to the engine E when the vehicle is stopped while avoiding transmission of the driving force of either of them to the driving wheels D such that the vehicle remains stopped. In some embodiments, a power transmitting apparatus for a hybrid vehicle can comprise a first clutch operatively posited between an engine mounted on a vehicle to driving wheels in a power transmission system and configured to transmit or cutoff driving force of the engine to or from the driving wheels; a second clutch operatively positioned between a motor mounted on a vehicle to the driving wheels in a power transmission system and configured to transmit or cut off driving force of the motor to or from the driving wheels. The first and second clutches can operated based on the vehicle operating conditions such that power can be transmitted from one of the engine and the motor to the other of them by connecting them to each other while cutting off power transmission from the engine and the motor to the driving wheels.
US09302570B2
An automotive rain shield system including: an air compressor that injects and sucks air to operate a rain shield; a shield module including a lift tube that operates an X-shaped frame so that the rain shield like a tent expands, by expanding when the air compressor injects air into the lift tube, and a rain shield tube that expands when the air compressor injects air into the rain shield tube so that the rain shield like a tent expands; an external switch that inputs a signal for making the air compressor inject air, outside a vehicle; and a door sensor that senses a door of the vehicle closing so that the air compressor returns the rain shield by sucking the air.
US09302568B2
A light filtering transparent or semitransparent visor intended to prevent flash blindness and other hazards associated with the adverse affects associated with bright lights impacting the eyesight of occupants of a vehicle. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the visor comprises a larger, tinted body surrounding a smaller, much more heavily tinted body intended to filter the bright rays of sun to enable safe viewing of the sun through the filter. The entire apparatus is designed to be repositioned directly in the line of sight between the viewer and the sun in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
US09302563B2
An electric heater for an automobile vehicle, with an electronic controller and a heat transmitting net, whereby the heat transmitting net contains a multitude of PTC-heating elements, a multitude of contact sheets and heat dissipating fins, whereby the PTC-heating elements are respectively arranged between two adjacent contact sheets and form a heating element with the contact sheets whereby some of the contact sheets are connected to connectors, which are arranged at the electronic controller and are connected to either a positive pole of a power supply or a negative pole of a power supply and are arranged in an alternating order, whereby the quantity of connectors that are connected to a positive pole of a power supply and the quantity of connectors that are connected to a negative pole of a power supply differs by one.
US09302559B2
An independent suspension system with self-compensated floating swing arm is provided. The independent suspension system with self-compensated floating swing arm includes at least one of an independent suspension apparatus with self-compensated floating swing arm for controlling wheels of a vehicle to perform linear motion constantly along vertical direction of car body of the vehicle, and a scissors-type anti-skew bar apparatus controlled by centrifugal force for balancing skew force when the vehicle is cornering. The two mechanisms can be used together or independently. Also, they may be applicable for front wheels or rear wheels.
US09302552B2
A pneumatic tire has an asymmetric tread pattern. The width of an outboard shoulder main groove (3) is 3 to 4% of the tread width TW. The width of an inboard shoulder main groove (4) is 5 to 6% of TW. The width of an outboard crown main groove (5) is 6 to 7% of TW. The width of an inboard crown main groove (6) is 6 to 7% of TW. In each of the grooves (4, 5, 6), an outboard groove face's angle θ1 is more than an inboard groove face's angle θ2, wherein θ1 is 13 to 19 degrees, and θ2 is 9 to 14 degrees. In the groove (3), an outboard groove face's angle θ3 is 9 to 14 degrees, and an inboard groove face's angle θ4 is 5 to 8 degrees.
US09302549B2
A heavy duty pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a crown main groove and a middle axial groove. The middle axial groove extends axially outwardly from its axially inner end axially outwardly spaced apart from the crown main groove and inclines with respect to the tire circumferential direction at an angle of from 45 to 75 degrees. In a cross section along the widthwise center line of the middle axial groove, an end wall of the axially inner end is inclined at an angle 0 to 50 degrees with respect to the normal direction to the tread from the radially outer edge of the end wall toward the groove bottom, and a corner between the end wall and the groove bottom is chamfered by an arc having a radius of curvature of 1 to 10 mm.
US09302538B2
Embodiments described herein provide for one or more of: (1) airflow enhancement around a rim using cusps that create virtual surfaces of air with the bike in motion, which also encourage favorable air attachment around the rim; (2) wake reduction by streamlining the airfoil around the rim using trip edges at various points of rim surface transition, which cause a laminar flow to go turbulent for enhancing the streamline effect; (3) a double rim surface, which provides an air slot between the two rim surfaces at a distance that enhances flow attachment and adds energy of air flow around the rim by moving air between areas of high and low pressure; and (4) a tubeless tire rim kit capable of converting conventional rims into tubeless ones and also promoting the sealing of the tire to the rim with minimal air pressure necessary to create the seal.
