US09405329B2

Provided is a cover structure used for a touch panel, including: a substrate and a masking layer buried in the substrate. The region where the masking layer is located defines a non-visible region of the touch panel. In addition, a method for fabricating the cover structure and a touch panel including the cover structure are also provided.
US09405321B2

When the lid is rotated in the closing direction toward the first predetermined state from a second predetermined state where the lid is in an open state and the outer lid at a locked position, the projection of the outer lid and a wall portion of the case are brought into contact with each other in the gap, an inclined surface is formed on at least one of a portion, which is brought into contact with the wall portion of the case, of the projection of the outer lid and a portion, which is brought into contact with the projection of the outer lid, of the wall portion of the case, wherein the inclined surface is formed in an inclined manner such that as the inclined surface is farther from the axis of rotation, the inclined surface becomes farther from the predetermined surface.
US09405320B1

An electronic device docking station is used to support an electronic device. The electronic device docking station includes a main portion and a keyboard. The main portion is rotatably connected to the keyboard. The main portion defines a receiving space and a receiving groove. The electronic device is received in the receiving groove. The keyboard can rotate between a closed position and a working position. When the keyboard is in the closed position, the keyboard is received in the receiving space. When the keyboard is in the working position, the keyboard and the main portion are substantially aligned in a plane. A base assembly is also provided.
US09405315B2

A first first-in-first-out (FIFO) memory may receive first processor input from a first processor group that includes a first processor. The first processor group is configured to execute program code based on the first processor input that includes a set of input signals, a clock signal, and corresponding data. The first FIFO may store the first processor input and may output the first processor input to a second FIFO memory and to a second processor according to a first delay. The second FIFO memory may store the first processor input and may output the first processor input to a third processor according to a second delay. The second processor may execute at least a first portion of the program code and the third processor may execute at least a second portion of the program code responsive to the first processor input.
US09405300B2

Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. The controller receives information related to a condition of the process over a first communication network, determines a control signal based on the received information and the programmed process, and sends the control signal over a second communication network to a benchtop utility tower. In one example, the utility tower can include transmitters for temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen that send information related to a condition of the process to the controller over the first communication network, and an agitation system, a gas control system, a temperature control system and a pump control system that perform a control action based on the control signal affecting the process condition. The utility tower can include a computer with a human-machine interface that communicates with the controller over a third communication network.
US09405294B2

Method and system for guiding a robotic garden tool (100) is disclosed. The robotic garden tool (100) may include at least two sensing means (108, 110, and 202). The robotic garden tool (100) is equipped to follow along a guiding wire (402) on a lawn (400). While the robotic garden tool (100) moves along the guiding wire (402), the sensing means (108, 110, and 202) may detect a magnetic field strength generated from current carrying guiding wire (402). The method (500) and the system (300) is equipped to provide instructions to the robotic garden tool (100) to follow the guiding wire (402) based on the difference of magnetic field strength sensed by at least two sensing means (108, 110, and 202).
US09405288B2

A robot apparatus comprises: a robot body having a multi joint arm including a plurality of joints; a motor provided as a driving source of at least a part of the plurality of joints; and a controlling system capable of controlling the motor. The controlling system comprises a motion controlling unit configured to input a current to the motor to rotate the motor, a heat generation controlling unit configured to input the current to the motor to generate heat, without rotating the motor, and a controlling unit configured to calculate a temperature raising current necessary to rise up to a predetermined temperature without rotating the motor, to generate a current instruction for temperature raising to set the heat generation controlling unit to output the temperature raising current, and to transmit the current instruction for temperature raising to the heat generation controlling unit at stopping the robot body.
US09405267B2

A developing apparatus includes a developing unit having a developing member, a photosensitive unit hinge-connected to the developing unit and having an image carrier, and a pushing unit disposed below the photosensitive unit and configured to selectively push a lower portion of the developing unit, wherein the pushing unit includes a pushing member disposed to move linearly in a base and having an end configured to be in contact with the lower portion of the developing unit, a link member having a first end connected to the pushing member, a crank arm rotatably connected to a second end of the link member, an elastic member disposed on the link member and that elastically supports the pushing member, and a rotation shaft rotatably disposed in the base and connected to the crank arm.
US09405266B2

A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a housing which accommodates developer therein, a receiving member which receives a driving force output member provided in an image forming apparatus, a developing roller which rotates by the driving force received by the receiving member, and a detectable rotary member including a detectable portion, which is a detection target to be detected by a detection member provided in the image forming apparatus, and a contact portion which is provided away from the detectable portion. The detectable rotary member rotates from a retreat position to an initial position where the detectable rotary member is rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member, by the contact portion contacting an interference member fixed in the image forming apparatus in a process of mounting the developing cartridge into the image forming apparatus.
US09405264B2

Provided is a fall prevention device that prevents an installation object from falling over by supporting a leg member including a base portion and a shaft portion when an installation surface oscillates. The fall prevention device includes a support portion supported by the installation surface, a first restricting portion supported by the support portion, correspondingly disposed above an upper surface of a base portion, and having a first shaft-penetrating portion through which a shaft portion penetrates, and a second restricting portion disposed above the first restricting portion at a bottom-portion-side end portion of the shaft portion. The second restricting portion has a second shaft-penetrating portion through which the shaft portion penetrates. A gap that is smaller than a gap between the first shaft-penetrating portion and the shaft portion is formed between the second shaft-penetrating portion and the end portion of the shaft portion.
US09405260B2

A power transmitting apparatus includes a driving source, a driving member rotated by the driving source, a driven member linked with the driving member to rotate, a transmitting member disposed between the driving member and the driven member, the transmitting member being rotated by the driving member, axially moved along a rotation direction of the driving member so that the transmitting member is connected to the driven member, and an elastic member disposed between the transmitting member and the driven member, the elastic member providing an elastic bias into the transmitting member so that the transmitting member is separated from the driven member.
US09405258B2

An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, a conveyance unit, an opening, and a movement unit. The storage unit stores, in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, a sheet having an image. The conveyance unit conveys the sheet having the image to the storage unit. The opening exposes the stored sheet to an outside of the apparatus body. The movement unit is movable to a first position where the sheet conveyed to the storage unit can be stored in the storage unit and a second position. The stored sheet is moved when the movement unit moves from the first to the second position, and is stopped in an exposed state where a part of the sheet is exposed to outside the apparatus body from the opening. The movement unit moves from the second to the first position when the sheet is in the exposed state.
US09405254B2

Described herein is a device that generates a beam of light with uniform intensity. The device includes an array of light sources. The light generated passes through a beam splitter. One beam is used for feedback to maintain uniform intensity. The other beam passes through a barrel which is used to mold the beam with uniform intensity into the desired shape and to reduce divergence. The device can be used as part of a quality control system for testing a photoreceptor drum.
US09405253B2

An image forming system includes an input control part and a display control part. The input control part receives an operation input from a user. The display control part selectively displays a setting screen for mode setting and a job list screen displaying a list of jobs. In more detail, the display control part displays the job list screen on the display part when a first instruction which is a display instruction for the job list screen is received during a setting operation period for mode setting. Further, the display control part hides the job list screen and displays an information display screen relating to an operation which is performed during the setting operation period, on the display part, when a second instruction which is a non-display instruction for the job list screen is received while the job list screen is being displayed.
US09405248B2

An image heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film; a roller contacting the film; a nip forming member contacting an inner surface of the film and cooperating with the roller to form a nip for nipping a sheet carrying an image; an opposing member opposing an inner surface of an end portion of the film along generatrix direction the film. A lubricant is provided between the film and the nip forming member. The film is longer than the roller. At least a part of the curved surface portion is provided in a region outside a contact region of the film and the roller. A portion of the curved surface portion outside the contact region is provided with a groove extending in a rotational moving direction of the film, the groove having a wall effective to remove from the film the lubricant.
US09405245B2

A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heat source, a pressing member, a heating stop device and a deformation preventing member. The deformation preventing member is configured to face an inner circumferential face of the fixing belt. In a state where the fixing belt is not broken in a circumferential direction, the fixing belt and the deformation preventing member are arranged at an interval, and when the fixing belt is broken in the circumferential direction, the fixing belt is deformed and comes into contact with the deformation preventing member so that the fixing belt is prevented from being deformed to a side far from the heating stop device.
US09405240B2

An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit, a fixing unit with a heater, an end temperature sensor to detect a temperature in an end area an end area of the fixing unit, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to perform a width obtaining step to obtain the width of the sheet, a temperature obtaining step to obtain the detected temperature of the fixing unit, a comparison step to compare the detected temperature with a threshold, a cooling step to let the end area of the fixing unit cool down when the detected temperature is one of higher and equal to the threshold, and a threshold-setting step to set one of a first value and a second value to be the threshold depending on the width of the sheet obtained in the width obtaining step.
US09405236B2

An image forming device capable of performing both-side printing, statically transferring, by application of a transfer voltage, an unfixed image formed on an image carrier to a recording sheet when passing through a transfer position, and then thermally fixing the unfixed image when the recording sheet passes through a fixing position where a heating rotating body is disposed. The image forming device acquires an index value of a water content at each of a plurality of sheet-passing-direction positions of the recording sheet having undergone thermal fixing of an unfixed image statically transferred onto a first side thereof, and controls, for each of the positions, a transfer voltage applied for statically transferring an unfixed image onto a second side of the recording sheet, so that the lower the water content indexed by the index value of the position, the greater an absolute value of the transfer voltage.
US09405235B2

Provided is a resin composition including at least: polyolefin in an amount of from 50% by mass to 90% by mass; an electro-conductive agent; and a compound represented by General Formula (1) below, In General Formula (1), R is preferably a divalent group having a number overage molecular weight of 1,000 or greater and derived from acrylic polymer.
US09405230B2

A developing apparatus includes a developer vessel that is provided with a first transporting path, a second transporting path and a third transporting path. The first transporting path and the second transporting path are communicated with each other, and a developer is circulated in the first transporting path and the second transporting path. The third transporting path is provided in an upstream side in a transporting direction of the developer in the second transporting path. If a toner is consumed while forming an image on a paper, a toner corresponding to a consumption amount is resupplied together with a carrier from a toner cartridge to the developer vessel. A carrier and/or a developer that overflows from the second transporting path to the third transporting path is discharged from a discharge port.
US09405219B2

A developing device 43 includes a first rotation control portion and a second rotation control portion. When a developing process is performed, the first rotation control portion causes a developer carrying member to rotate in a first rotation direction at a first rotation speed previously determined. When the developing process is not performed, the second rotation control portion causes the developer carrying member to rotate at a second rotation speed V2 faster than a rotation speed V1 during the developing process in a direction X2 reverse to a development rotation direction X1, and then, causes the developer carrying member to rotate at a third rotation speed V3 slower than the second rotation speed V2 in the direction X2.
US09405218B2

An image forming device includes a plurality of developing devices, and a plurality of sloping members disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of developing devices. Each developing device includes a developer accommodating chamber and a developing roller disposed above the developer accommodating chamber. Each developing device is movable between a first position and a second position lower than the first position in a height direction generally parallel to a vertical direction. Each sloping member has a sloped surface movable in the height direction and a biasing member biasing the sloped surface upward in the height direction. Each sloping member is movable between a third position where the corresponding developing device is placed on the sloped surface and a fourth position where the corresponding developing device is released from being pressed by the sloped surface in a predetermined direction generally perpendicular to the vertical direction.
US09405211B2

A light source drive circuit for driving a light source is disclosed including a drive current generating unit generating a drive current, the drive current including a predetermined current for obtaining a predetermined light amount from the light source, a first auxiliary current input to the light source prior to input of the predetermined current, and a second auxiliary current added to the predetermined current in synchronization thereto; and a signal generating unit generating a first signal and a second signal, the first signal causing the first auxiliary current to be input for a first period and the second signal causing the second auxiliary current to be applied to the predetermined current for a second period. The first period is shorter than a period from a rise of the predetermined current to when a light amount from the light source reaches the predetermined light amount with the predetermined current.
US09405209B2

An image forming unit includes: a photoconductive drum; a charging member extending in a direction along a rotary shaft of the photoconductive drum; and a holding member holding the charging member at a frame member. While held at the frame member with the holding member in between, the charging member is arranged in parallel to the photoconductive drum in contact with a circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum with their rotary shafts in parallel. The holding member and the frame member respectively have interference-preventing-shaped parts provided at a tip part of the holding member in a direction where the holding member is attached and at a position of the frame member receiving the holding member. The interference-preventing-shaped parts are capable of first making contact with each other upon attachment of the charging member to the frame member to thereby prevent interference between the holding member and the photoconductive drum.
US09405206B2

Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of suppressing a voltage fluctuation and occurrence of a black spot under a high-temperature/high-humidity environment. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes: a support; a first intermediate layer formed on the support; a second intermediate layer formed on the first intermediate layer; and a photosensitive layer formed on the second intermediate layer, in which the first intermediate layer contains metal oxide particles having a number-average primary particle diameter of from 30 to 450 nm; and the second intermediate layer contains a cured product of a composition containing an electron transport substance having a polymerizable functional group represented by the formula (1) or (2), and having a molecular weight of from 100 to 1,000, and a crosslinking agent having 3 to 6 groups reactive with the polymerizable functional group represented by the formula (1) or (2), and having a molecular weight of from 200 to 1,300.
US09405199B2

A method of forming a resist pattern, and a film including a metal-containing compound formed on the resist pattern while developing the resist pattern. The method uses an organic solvent developer liquid, in which a metal compound capable of generating a hydroxyl group upon hydrolysis is dissolved in an organic solvent that does not have a functional group that reacts with the metal compound.
US09405198B2

A black-and-white developing solution and a silver halide solution physical developing solution are used in sequence to provide electrically-conductive film elements from conductive film element precursors that contain photosensitive silver halide emulsions on one or both supporting sides of a transparent substrate. The two developing solutions have unique combinations of developing agents and other essential components to provide complete development of imagewise exposed silver halide and highly conductive silver metal in desired patterns on a transparent substrate.
US09405196B2

Electrically-conductive articles are prepared to have electrically-conductive silver metal electrode grids on one or both supporting sides of a transparent substrate. Such articles are prepared by imagewise exposing conductive film element precursors having photosensitive silver halide layers, followed by development, fixing, and conductivity enhancement. The resulting silver image(s) can be treated with a stabilizing solution containing 0.5-50 mmol/l of specific stabilizing agents.
US09405193B2

An imprint apparatus include: a substrate stage; a dispense unit; an irradiation unit; a receiving unit configured to receive an imprint material that is dummy dispensed from the dispense unit; and a controller configured to cause the dummy dispensed imprint material to be irradiated by an energy beam from the irradiation unit without bringing the dummy dispensed imprint material into contact with the mold.
US09405191B2

A resist composition includes (A1) a resin which includes a structural unit represented by formula (a4), a structural unit represented by formula (II), the resin has no acid-labile group, (A2) a resin having an acid-labile group, and an acid generator: wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R4 represents a C1 to C24 saturated hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom where a methylene group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group; R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1 to C6 alkyl group that may have a halogen atom; ring X1 represents a C2 to C36 heterocyclic group containing a nitrogen atom and a carbonyl group, a hydrogen atom contained in the heterocyclic group may be replaced by a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1 to C24 hydrocarbon, a C1 to C12 alkoxyl group, a C2 to C4 acyl group, or a C2 to C4 acyloxy group, and a methylene group contained in the heterocyclic group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group.
US09405186B1

Methods, program products, and systems for improving optical proximity correction (OPC) calibration, and automatically determining a minimal number of clips, are disclosed. The method can include using a computing device to perform actions including: calculating a total relevancy score for a projected sample plan including a candidate clip, and wherein the relevancy score is derived from at least one relevancy criterion and a relevancy weight; calculating a relevancy score for the candidate clip, the relevancy score for the candidate clip being a contribution from the candidate clip to the total relevancy score; and adding the candidate clip to a sample plan for the IC layout and removing the candidate clip from the plurality of clips in response a difference in relevancy score between the projected sample plan and one or more previous sample plans substantially fitting a non-linear relevancy score function.
US09405184B2

Here are disclosed a pellicle for EUV and an assembly made up of this pellicle and a mask, which brings about a projection of low contrast (intensity) shadows of a mesh structure on the mask, thus minimizing the adverse effect of the shadow on the lithographic printing; also a method for assembling such assembly is disclosed wherein the pellicle is rotated relative to the mask to minimize the shadow contrast, in terms of a contrast ratio, of the mesh structure; the angle of the rotation is 30 degrees or smaller, and the resultant contrast ratio should be 25% or lower.
US09405181B2

A projection assembly for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as quadrotors. The projection assembly includes a projection screen with a rear surface and a front surface, and the projection screen has a level of opacity and/or other physical qualities that enables it to function as a rear-projection surface. The projection assembly includes a vehicle attachment member adapted for coupling with a frame of the UAV, and the projection screen is supported at a first end by the vehicle attachment member. The apparatus includes a projector projecting light, and the projected light is directed onto the rear surface of the projection surface to generate a displayed image visible on the front surface. The projection screen can be formed from a mesh sheet with a porosity allowing air to flow through the projection screen. The mesh sheet may be formed of plastic threads that provide the rear-projection surface function.
US09405180B2

Optical systems are provided that include illumination sources, micro-mirror array optical modulators, and an optical element. The micro-mirror array optical modulators can selectively modulate light beams, redirect light by diffraction and reflection, and provide an output modulated light beam that exhibits a diffraction handedness dependent on the spectral bandwidth of the light incident thereupon. The optical element has a color dependent aperture that defines portions of output modulated light beams that are transmitted and remaining portions that are blocked. An efficiency and contrast of each the output modulated light beams acquired by the optical element can be independently determined by a narrow spectral bandwidth of each of the light beams, the spectral characteristics of the color dependent aperture, and the diffraction handedness of the micro-mirror array optical modulators for the associated spectral bandwidth.
US09405165B2

A controller system configured to control an electrochromic device and method thereof are provided, wherein the controller system includes an electrochromic device having a first substantially transparent substrate, a second substantially transparent substrate approximately parallel to the first substantially transparent substrate such that a chamber is defined by the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and an electrochromic medium between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and a controller in communication with the electrochromic device, wherein the controller is configured to monitor electrical power supplied to the electrochromic device and adjust the electrical power supplied to the electrochromic device to maintain the electrochromic device in an approximately minimum transmission state.
US09405164B2

An electrochromic device comprises (i) a conductive layer, (ii) an electrochromic material, on the conductive layer, (iii) an electrolyte, on the electrochromic material, and (iv) a counter-electrode, on the electrolyte. The conductive layer has a surface roughness factor (SRF) of at least 10, and the conductive layer comprises a semi-metal.
US09405158B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display including a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix of pixel rows and pixel columns, the liquid crystal display including: a plurality of gate lines formed on a first substrate and disposed two between every pixel row; a plurality of data lines formed on the first substrate and disposed one between every two adjacent pixel columns; a common voltage line formed on the first substrate and extending in a pixel row direction along a vertical center of the pixel; and a plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes formed on the first substrate and overlapping with each other with an insulating layer therebetween, each pixel electrode positioned in a pixel, and in which two pixel electrodes in the two pixel columns disposed between two adjacent data lines among the plurality of data lines are both connected to any one of the two data lines.
US09405151B2

A display apparatus includes a display panel and a backlight unit. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first base substrate and a wavelength transforming member. The wavelength transforming member is formed on a first surface of the first base substrate to change a wavelength of light to emit visible light having a predetermined wavelength. The second substrate includes a second base substrate and a light shutter member. The second base substrate faces the first base substrate. The light shutter member is formed on a first surface of the second base substrate facing the first surface of the first base substrate. The light shutter member controls light transmittance of the light received from the wavelength transforming member. The backlight unit provides the display panel with the light. Thus, color purity of image is increased, thereby improving image display quality.
US09405148B2

A light source module, backlight assembly, and display device including the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the light source module includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of light sources arranged over the printed circuit board, and a plurality of optical lenses respectively arranged over the light sources. Each of the optical lenses has upper and lower surfaces opposing each other. The light source module further includes a plurality of reflection patterns respectively formed on the optical lenses. Each of the reflection patterns includes a first reflection pattern formed on the lower surface of the corresponding optical lens and a second reflection pattern formed on the upper surface of the corresponding optical lens.
US09405146B2

A quantum dot color filter is used for a liquid crystal panel comprising a plurality of pixels. Each pixel has a plurality of sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel corresponds to one color. The color filter includes subregions disposed in one to one correspondence with the sub-pixels. At least one subregion is formed of a quantum dot material and the quantum dot material generates light of the same color as a corresponding sub-pixel after excitation.
US09405142B2

The inventive concept provides a liquid crystal display including an insulation substrate; a roof layer which is formed on the insulation substrate; a pixel electrode which is formed on the insulation substrate and under the microcavity supported by the roof layer; and a liquid crystal layer which is disposed in the microcavity. The opening corresponding to unit microcavity includes portions having a first width and a second width. According to the inventive concept, configurations of the pixel and the opening which may minimize the remaining liquid crystal are provided to adjust a size of the liquid crystal injection hole between a plurality of microcavities into which the liquid crystal is injected, which may prevent an orientation error of the liquid crystal caused by the remaining liquid crystal outside the microcavity and thus prevent the display error.
US09405137B2

A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter may include an optical action zone configured to be inserted in an optical waveguide, and a bipolar transistor structure configured so that, in operation, collector current of the bipolar transistor structure crosses the optical action zone perpendicular to the axis of the optical waveguide.
US09405136B2

A non-reciprocal device incorporating metamaterials which exhibit non-reciprocity through angular momentum biasing. The metamaterial, such as a ring resonator, is angular-momentum biased. This is achieved by applying a suitable mechanical or spatio-temporal modulation to resonant inclusions of the metamaterial, thereby producing strong non-reciprocity. In this manner, non-reciprocity can be produced without requiring the use of large and bulky magnets to produce a static magnetic field. The metamaterials of the present invention can be realized by semiconducting and/or metallic materials which are widely used in integrated circuit technology, and therefore, contrary to magneto-optical materials, can be easily integrated into the non-reciprocal devices and large microwave or optical systems. The metamaterials of the present invention can be compact at various frequencies due to the enhanced wave-matter interaction in the constituent resonant inclusions. Additionally, by using the metamaterials of the present invention, the power consumed in the biasing network is drastically reduced.
US09405126B1

A device that allows viewing of 3D and virtual reality that is displayed on a portable device such as a cell phone for example an iPhone or any such type known as a smartphone. The device has vertical and horizontal panels that are hinged together to fold flat and to unfold into a box shape. One end is an attachment frame that allows attaching of the display source device so that its screen can be seen through the open box from the other end. On the other end is a lens frame on which are a pair of spaced apart lens for viewing separately of each eye thereby allowing 3 D viewing. The device can be equipped with a sterol separator wall to prevent vision confusion. All the parts are hinged together so as to allow the entire device to fold into a generally flattened package.
US09405119B2

An imaging device is presented for use in an imaging system capable of improving the image quality. The imaging device has one or more optical systems defining an effective aperture of the imaging device. The imaging device comprises a lens system having an algebraic representation matrix of a diagonalized form defining a first Condition Number, and a phase encoder utility adapted to effect a second Condition Number of an algebraic representation matrix of the imaging device, smaller than said first Condition Number of the lens system.
US09405116B2

A MEMS micro-mirror assembly (250, 300, 270, 400) comprising, a MEMS device (240) which comprises a MEMS die (241) and a magnet (231); a flexible PCB board (205) to which the MEMS device (240) is mechanically, and electrically, connected; wherein the flexible PCB board (205) further comprises a first extension portion (205b) which comprises a least one electrical contact (259a,b) which is useable to electrically connect the MEMS micro-mirro rassembly (250, 300, 270, 400) to another electrical component). There is further provided a projection system comprising such a MEMS micro-mirror assembly (250, 300, 270, 400).
US09405115B2

An automated adaptive optics and laser projection system is described. The automated adaptive optics and laser projection system includes an adaptive optics system and a compact laser projection system with related laser guidance programming used to correct atmospheric distortion induced on light received by a telescope. Control of the automated adaptive optics and laser projection system is designed in a modular manner in order to facilitate replication of the system to be used with a variety of different telescopes. Related methods are also described.
US09405109B2

An off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces includes an aperture, a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and a detector. The aperture is located on an incident light path. The primary mirror is located on an aperture transmitted light path. The secondary mirror is located on a primary mirror reflected light path. The tertiary mirror is located on a secondary mirror reflected light path. The detector located on a tertiary mirror reflected light path. A primary mirror surface and a tertiary mirror surface have a same freeform surface equation, and the freeform surface equation is a sixth order x′y′ polynomial. A secondary mirror surface is a tenth order aspherical surface.
US09405106B2

An imaging lens includes: a first lens group having a positive refractive power which is fixed during focusing operations; a second lens group having a positive refractive power which moves during focusing operations; and a third lens group which is fixed during focusing operations. The first lens group includes a 1a lens group having a positive refractive power, an aperture stop, and a 1b lens group having a positive refractive power. The 1a lens group includes a positive lens, a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, a positive meniscus lens, a negative lens, a positive lens, a negative lens, and a cemented lens formed by a positive lens and a negative lens.
US09405101B2

An imaging lens substantially consists of six lenses, composed of a negative first lens, a positive second lens, a negative third lens, a positive fourth lens, a positive fifth lens, and a negative sixth lens, disposed in order from the object side, and satisfies, when the distance between the first lens and the second lens is taken as Db12, the center thickness of the second lens is taken as D3, the focal length of the second lens is taken as f2, the focal length of the entire system is taken as f, the paraxial radius of curvature of the object side surface of the first lens is taken as R1f, and the paraxial radius of curvature of the image side surface of the first lens is taken as R1r, conditional expressions given below: 1.0<(Db12+D3)/f  (1) f2/f<1.68  (2) 1.1<(R1f+R1r)/(R1f−R1r)<2.2  (3-3).
US09405096B2

An optoelectronic module includes one or more image sensors including photosensitive regions. The module includes a first imager including a first stack of beam shaping elements disposed over the image sensor(s) to direct incoming light to a first photosensitive region, and a second imager including a second stack of beam shaping elements disposed over the image sensor(s) to direct incoming light to a second photosensitive region. Each particular stack includes a respective high-dispersion beam shaping element, where the high-dispersion beam shaping element of the first stack forms part of an achromatic doublet at an object side of the first stack. The high-dispersion beam shaping element in the second stack is part of a laterally contiguous array of beam shaping elements that does not include the high-dispersion beam shaping element that forms part of the achromatic doublet at the object side of the first stack.
US09405094B2

Provided is a photographing lens (ML) including a first lens group (G1) having positive refractive power, a second lens group (G2) having negative refractive power, and a third lens group (G3) having positive refractive power, the photographing lens being configured such that the second lens group (G2) moves along the optical axis upon focusing from an object at infinity to an object at a finite distance. The first lens group (G1) includes a front lens group (G1a) and a rear lens group (G1b) having a longest air interval from the front lens group (G1a) in the first lens group (G1), and the second lens group (G2) includes a negative lens (L21) and a cemented lens in which a positive lens (22) and a negative lens (23) are cemented in order from the object.
US09405093B2

An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.
US09405068B2

An adapter for a fiber optic connector has provides strain relief for a jacketed cable connected to the adapter and the connector. The adapter preferably has two portions that act together to engage the jacketed cable and a boot that applies pressure to the adapter to secure the adapter. The two portions of the adapter may also be rotatably connected to one another. The boot has a projection that cooperates with an optical component to seal the adapter and optical component from outside particulates.
US09405067B2

A micro-truss sheet having material properties varying across the sheet. The sheet may include a plurality of truss members intersecting at nodes. The diameter of the truss members at one point in the sheet may differ from the diameter of the truss members at another point in the sheet. In one embodiment the spacing between adjacent truss members may be different in one part of the sheet from the spacing between adjacent truss members in another part of the sheet.
US09405064B2

An apparatus is provided. There is a circuit assembly with a package substrate and an integrated circuit (IC). The package substrate has a microstrip line, and the IC is secured to the package substrate and is electrically coupled to the microstrip line. A circuit board is also secured to the package substrate. A dielectric waveguide is secured to the circuit board. The dielectric waveguide has a dielectric core that extends into a transition region located between the dielectric waveguide and the microstrip line, and the microstrip line is configured to form a communication link with the dielectric waveguide.
US09405052B1

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an optical device comprising: a transparent foil including a series of ridges and furrows, a first distal portion configured to receive light, and a second distal portion to emit at least a portion of the received light, wherein the series of ridges and furrows diverges in a direction from the first distal portion to the second distal portion.
US09405048B2

A multilayered reflective polarizing film is provided that has high polarization performance comparable to that of an absorption-type polarizing plate, and is preferred as a polarizing plate attached to a liquid crystal cell. An optical member for liquid crystal display devices, and a liquid crystal display device formed from such a multilayered reflective polarizing film are also provided. Specifically, the reflective polarizing film includes a uniaxially stretched multilayered film in which a specific aromatic polyester containing (alkylenedioxy)di-2-naphthoic acid as a part of dicarboxylic acid components is used as a first layer, and an optically isotropic polyester having an average refractive index of 1.50 to 1.60 is used as a second layer, and that has a predetermined refractive index difference between the layers. The reflective polarizing film has an angle of orientation of 2 degrees or less.
US09405046B2

Embodiments provided herein describe low-e panels and methods for forming low-e panels. A transparent substrate is provided. A reflective layer is formed above the transparent substrate. An over-coating layer is formed above the reflective layer. The over-coating layer includes first, second, and third sub-layers. The second sub-layer is between the first and third sub-layers, and the first and third sub-layers include the same material.
US09405037B2

Methods are described for wettability characterization based on NMR measurements, which are sensitive to the surface wetting conditions of oil and water at the pore scale. The described methods make use of surface relaxation effects on the NMR relaxation (T2). Workflows are described to obtain wettability profiles of a porous media such as a rock either in the native state or prepared to a certain state in the laboratory. An underlying forward model is also described for the mixed wet and fractionally saturated pore spectrum. Outputs of the described inversion include continuous saturation and wettability profiles as a function of the pore sizes in the porous media, as well as an averaged value for saturation and wettability over the entire pore spectrum.
US09405033B2

An electromagnetic energy transmitter is provided for induced polarization mapping with a borehole to surface electromagnetic (BSEM) transmitter. The transmitter is lowered into a well borehole to a desired location in a well borehole to emit electromagnetic energy. An array of receivers spaced over an area of the earth surface senses the induced polarization response to the emitted electromagnetic energy in areas of interest for mapping. Maps are formed of the induced polarization responses sensed by the array of receivers.
US09405029B2

Wide azimuth data acquisition systems using at least three streamer sets achieve shorter survey time and enhanced angular coverage relative to conventional systems using two streamer sets. Various techniques such as high-density seismic source activation and alternating surveyed bands with skipped bands lead to data quality similar to the conventional system, while maintaining the increased productivity advantage.
US09405026B2

Method for estimating fluid heterogeneity in a subsurface region from seismic wave attenuation or velocity dispersion that is either measured or extracted from geophysical data (210). A rock physics model in the form of a mathematical relationship is selected that relates attenuation or velocity to frequency and to physical properties that are related to fluid heterogeneity (220). The model, or asymptotes (230) representing the model's behavior at frequency extremes, is inverted (240) and that relationship is used to obtain (250) one or more of the physical properties related to fluid heterogeneity, such as characteristic length scale for fluid saturation heterogeneities (270) and relative volume fractions of the fluids saturating the pore space (280).
US09405009B2

A method and system for transmitting navigation data to a satellite navigation receiver for reducing time to first fix is provided. A signal generation system generates a navigation data structure comprising a first sub-frame and a second sub-frame for accommodating selective ephemeris data, a third sub-frame for accommodating first parameters of almanac data, and a fourth sub-frame for accommodating a text message comprising second parameters of almanac data, and transmits the selective ephemeris data and the first and second parameters of almanac data to the satellite navigation receiver. The configuration of the navigation data structure enables the satellite navigation receiver to collect the navigation data in reduced time. Each satellite of a constellation simultaneously transmits distinct first parameters of the almanac data in the third sub-frame of the navigation data structure to the satellite navigation receiver, thereby allowing the satellite navigation receiver to receive collective almanac data in reduced time.
US09404998B2

A computerized device for use with an object location system and method thereof is provided. The computerized device includes at least one processor in communication with a memory device, the memory device storing a quantity of programmable code having a plurality of processor-executable instructions. A communication element is connected between the processor and at least one monitoring unit. The at least one monitoring unit is positioned remote from the computerized device and a locating circuit substantially secured to an object intermittently communicates an omnidirectional signal to the at least one monitoring unit. A calculator is in communication with the processor. The calculator directs the processor to determine a duration of transmission time of the omnidirectional signal communicated from the locating circuit to the at least one monitoring unit directs the processor to calculate a location of the locating circuit using the determined duration of transmission time of the omnidirectional signal.
US09404996B2

A position estimation device including: a provisional position setting unit which sets current position information indicating an estimated current position of a wireless terminal; a distance estimation unit which estimates, using receiving strengths of signals received from plural wireless stations, distance information indicating distances from the plural wireless stations to the wireless terminal; a possible area calculation unit which calculates, using the distance information and map information indicating a spatial structure, an area in the spatial structure which can maintain the distances indicated in the distance information, as a possible area in the spatial structure in which the wireless terminal is likely to be present; and a correction unit which corrects the current position indicated in the current position information to a position within the possible area when the current position is outside the possible area.
US09404992B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide an electromagnetic sensor (400) for detecting a microstructure of a metal target, comprising: a magnetic device (410, 420) for providing an excitation magnetic field; a magnetometer (430) for detecting a resultant magnetic field induced in a metal target; and a calibration circuit (450, 551, 552, 553, 554) for generating a calibration magnetic field for calibrating the electromagnetic sensor, wherein the calibration reference magnetic field is generated by an electrical current induced in the calibration circuit by the excitation magnetic field.
US09404986B2

Methods, devices and systems are disclosed for measuring biological tissue parameters using restriction spectrum magnetic resonance imaging. In one aspect, a method of characterizing a biological structure includes determining individual diffusion signals from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in a set of MRI images that include diffusion weighting conditions (e.g., diffusion gradient directions, diffusion gradient strengths, sensitivity factors (b-values), or diffusion times), combining the individual diffusion signals to determine a processed diffusion signal corresponding to at least one location within one or more voxels of the MRI data, calculating one or more parameters from the processed diffusion signal by using the diffusion weighting conditions, and using the one or more parameters to identify a characteristic of the biological structure, in which the one or more parameters include values over a range of one or more diffusion length scales based on at least one of diffusion distance or diffusion rate.
US09404983B2

A radio frequency coil is disclosed that is suitable for use with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The radio frequency coil comprises first and second conductive loops connected electrically to each other by a plurality of conductive rungs. The conductive rungs each include a section that is relatively thin that will result in less attenuation to a radiation beam than other thicker sections of the rungs. Insulating regions are also disposed in areas of the radio frequency coil that are bound by adjacent rungs and the conductive loops. Portions of the insulating regions can be configured to provide a substantially similar amount of attenuation to the radiation beam as the relatively thin sections of the conductive rungs.
US09404981B2

A magnetic resonance apparatus includes a magnet unit and a housing unit enclosing the magnet unit. A noise prevention unit is provided which is arranged between the magnet unit and the housing unit enclosing the magnet unit and which has at least one noise prevention element made of an insulating foam. The at least one noise prevention element has a D-shaped cross-sectional area.
US09404977B2

A battery simulator is configured to provide large energy pulses for hot plug testing while maintaining the ability to quickly respond during random order testing. A simulator can comprise a plurality of cell simulators “cellsims” coupled to a DC power supply. Each cellsim can include a bidirectional DC converter, a bulk capacitor on the primary side of the converter, and a switchable discharge capacitor on the secondary side of the converter. The bidirectional DC converter enables the simulator to cooperate with a battery control module (BCM) to perform active cell balancing. Energy received from the BCM can be stored at the bulk capacitor. The discharge capacitor can be coupled to an output link to provide a high energy pulse to the BCM to simulate hot plug conditions, and can be decoupled from the link during random order testing. Output link voltage and current can be monitored for fault detection.
US09404974B2

A motor drive device of the present invention includes: a rectification circuit configured to rectify an AC voltage; a power source unit configured to smooth a DC voltage by a capacitor; an inverter unit configured to drive a motor by converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage; a current detection unit configured to measure a current flowing through a resistor which is connected to a coil of the motor and the capacitor; a voltage detection unit configured to measure a value of a voltage across the capacitor; a second switch that grounds the capacitor; and an insulation resistance detection unit configured to detect an insulation resistance value of a motor by using two sets of a current value and a voltage value measured in two states where the second switch is turned off and turned on.
US09404972B2

Patterns used to detect a failure in a semiconductor chip are analyzed to determine a subset of logic in a design where a semiconductor chip, fabricated based on the design, contains a fault in the subset. Parts of the semiconductor chip can be pre-calculated to identify a key subsection of logic, based on the patterns, with that subsection being stored in a computer readable file. Good-machine simulation is performed on the subsection of logic using truncated rank-ordered simulation. The results are compared to the results of the testing of the physical semiconductor chip.
US09404966B2

A performance characteristic monitoring circuitry includes a first delay circuitry providing a first delay path, where transmission of a data value over that first delay path incurs a first delay that varies in dependence on the performance characteristic. Reference delay circuitry is also included to provide a reference delay path, where transmission of the data value over the reference delay path incurs a reference delay. The reference delay circuitry includes components configured to provide a capacitive loading on the reference delay path in order to produce a self-compensating effect on the reference delay that causes the reference delay to be less sensitive than the first delay to variation in the performance characteristic. Comparison circuitry is then used to generate the output signal of the monitoring circuitry in dependence on a comparison of the first delay and the reference delay.
US09404964B2

There are provided: a first buffer circuit which includes buffers being circuits to be measured connected in series, whose output and input are connected to a first input terminal and a second output terminal of a control circuit, respectively; a second buffer circuit which includes buffers being circuits to be measured connected in series whose number is the same as a number of the buffers included in the first buffer circuit, whose output and input are connected to a second input terminal and a first output terminal of the control circuit, respectively; and the control circuit which makes the entire circuit is a negative logic when a first operation is set, and simultaneously outputs signals with different logics from the output terminals at a time of a start of an oscillation operation and makes the entire circuit is a positive logic when a second operation is set.
US09404962B2

An apparatus for measuring the optoelectronic characteristics of a light-emitting diode includes: a container including a light input port and a light output port; a measurement module connected to the light output port of the container; a sample holder under the container for holding a light-emitting diode under test, wherein a surface of the measurement module reflects more than 50% of the luminous flux generated by the light-emitting diode under test; and a light gathering unit between the container and the sample holder, wherein an interior wall of the light gathering unit reflects more than 50% of the luminous flux generated by the light-emitting diode under test.
US09404957B2

This invention publishes a fault diagnosis and location system for transformer core looseness, consists of vibration sensors, data collection and computer. It is of power transformer fault intelligent diagnosis technology technical field. Fault diagnosis and location method uses three vibration sensors positioned on the top of transformer tank, to obtain vibration signal, uses signal processing to analyze the signal, and obtains fault characteristics of the transformer core looseness. The characteristics respectively are 50 Hz, 150 Hz and 300 Hz frequency components, in which 300 Hz is main feature. When they reach a certain value at one position, it suggests that transformer core looseness near this position. By the comparison of differences among signals of three positions, fault location can be done. This invention manifests fault characteristics accurately and detects core looseness efficiently.The invention uses the electricity grid frequency of 50 Hz for example, for 60 Hz power system, above 50 Hz, 150 Hz, 300 Hz characteristic frequencies are 60 Hz, 180 Hz and 360 Hz.
US09404953B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a variety of structures and method for detecting abnormalities in the back-end-of-line (BEOL) stack and BEOL structures located in close proximity to through-silicon vias (TSVs) in a 3D integrated chip. The detected abnormalities may include stress, strain, and damage that will affect metallization continuity, interfacial integrity within a metal level, proximity accuracy of the TSV placement, and interlevel dielectric integrity and metallization-to-TSV dielectric integrity. Additionally, these structures in conjunction with each other are capable of determining the range of influence of the TSV. That is, how close to the TSV that a BEOL line (or via) needs to be in order to be influenced by the TSV.
US09404949B2

A shunt resistance-type current sensor is provided, in which a voltage detection terminal electrically connects a busbar and a circuit board. The voltage detection terminal may include a first extension piece that extends from a side edge of the busbar away from the circuit board. The voltage detection terminal may include a second extension piece that extends from the first extension piece in a direction toward the circuit board. The circuit board may be electrically connected to the busbar via a connection portion extending from the second extension piece. In one example, the connection portion may extend through the circuit board. Additionally, an intermediate portion may be disposed between and connect the first extension piece and the second extension piece such that a surface of the intermediate portion faces a surface of the circuit board.
US09404939B1

A device may be or include a cartridge configured to receive a head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a storage device and electrically connect the HGA to a HGA testing device. The cartridge may include a pre-amplifier configured to be electrically connected with corresponding electrical traces of the HGA and to the HGA testing device; a plurality of probe pins electrically connected to the pre-amplifier and configured to be electrically connected to corresponding electrical traces of the HGA; and a clamper including a dielectric layer and configured to selectively assume an open or closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the plurality of probe pins is electrically connected to corresponding ones of the plurality of electrical traces of the HGA. The clamper, in combination with at least some of the probe pins, forms an electrical filter configured to at least condition signals to and from the pre-amplifier and the HGA.
US09404938B2

An acceleration sensor where the accuracy of acceleration detection is unlikely to fall even when the ambient temperature changes. A piezoelectric substrate includes a polarized central portion and first and second end portions. A first electrode is formed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric substrate so as to extend from the first end portion to the second end portion. A second electrode is formed inside the piezoelectric substrate so as to extend across the second end portion and the central portion. The second electrode opposes the first electrode in the central portion in a thickness direction. A supporting member clamps the second end portion. The piezoelectric substrate is formed such that a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the second end portion is greater than a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the central portion.
US09404937B2

A device for measuring the acceleration of a moving body includes a pendulum capable of oscillating about an instantaneous center of rotation and a detection system capable of detecting an oscillation of the pendulum that is likely to result from the acceleration. The pendulum has a geometric configuration enabling it to interact with the detection system. The geometric configuration is such that the detection system only indicates an oscillation of the pendulum that exceeds a threshold oscillation value.
US09404936B2

A pitot tube system having a pitot tube containing a porous hydrophobic fabric that blocks water and contaminants from reaching a pressure sensor. The distance in the pitot tube between the fabric and a front orifice of the tube is less than 2.4 times the height of the orifice, and preferably less than or equal to 0.38 times the height. The section of the tube through which the fabric extends defines an opening characterized by a minimum dimension greater than 0.15 inches, and preferably being at least 0.21 inches. The tube is a removable structure that attaches to a mount that forms a passage for communicating the pressure in the tube. That passage contains a second porous hydrophobic fabric that also blocks water and contaminants from reaching a pressure sensor.
US09404932B2

Methods of diagnosis or of quantitation of pathological conditions comprise conducting an immunoassay to measure neo-epitope containing protein fragments naturally present in a biofluid sample, and associating an elevation of the measure in the patient above a normal level with the presence or extent of pathology. The immunoassay is conducted by a method comprising: contacting protein fragments naturally present in the sample with an immunological binding partner reactive with a neo-epitope formed by cleavage of a protein by a proteinase and measuring the extent of binding of peptide fragments to the immunological binding partner to measure therein protein fragments comprising the neo-epitope. Neo-epitopes from, collagen type I, collagen type III, collagen type IV, collagen type V, collagen type VI, elastin, biglycan, decorin, lumican, versican, C-reactive protein, ApoE and laminins are described.
US09404929B2

This disclosure relates to methods for identifying an antibody, a target molecule, or an agent by analyzing the immunoglobulin repertoire sequence data in a sample and by determining the most dominant VH and VL chains present in said sample, as well as materials used therewith.
US09404920B2

Methods and apparatuses relating to large scale FET arrays for analyte detection and measurement are provided. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes.
US09404918B2

It is provided a method for detection and/or quantification of at least one molecule presents in blood by a MALDI-MS analysis of a dried fluid spot without the presence of any digestion step or liquid extraction step, which permits to further analyze the physical distribution of at least one molecule within a dried fluid spot.
US09404909B2

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for selectively applying an electrical potential to a top surface of a membrane having a nanopore to repel or attract a molecular strand from the top surface of the membrane, applying a second electrical potential to a bottom surface of the membrane to repel or attract the molecular strand from the bottom surface of the membrane, applying a third electrical potential to an electrolyte solution to apply a transport force on the molecular strand to displace a section of the molecular strand into the nanopore, arresting the section of the molecular strand in the nanopore by adjusting of the first electrical potential, the second electrical potential, the third electrical potential, or combinations thereof, and measuring a signal at the nanopore to identify the section of the molecular strand. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09404904B2

Disclosed non-destructive inspection methods comprise non-contact determination of the location of a non-destructive inspection probe and identification of the location on a test structure where test data is acquired by the probe. Determination may include capturing the positions of the probe and the test structure with one or more electronic cameras. Identification may include associating the acquired test data with the location of the probe relative to the test structure. Further, methods may comprise visualization of the test data relative to the identified location. Disclosed non-destructive inspection systems comprise a probe, one or more electronic cameras, a computer, and a display, together configured to determine the location of the probe, to acquire test data with the probe, to identify a location on a test structure associated with the test data, and to visualize the test data in relation to the test structure.
US09404902B2

Automated fluid handling system comprising a housing and two or more fluid handling units arranged as interchangeable modular components with an external fluidics section and an internal non fluidics section, and wherein the housing comprises a liquid handling panel with two or more of component positions for receiving said interchangeable modular components such that the external fluidics section is separated from the non fluidics section by the liquid handling panel.
US09404901B2

Disclosed is a fluid sample holder 20 for delivering or receiving a fluid sample to or from fluid processing equipment such as a chromatography column 5 (FIG. 1). The sample holder 20 comprises a sliding seal 25 within a reservoir. The sliding seal 25 is displaceable within the reservoir 15 by means of a fluid pressure differential and includes a valve 260 operable when the sliding seal reaches or substantially reaches an end of its displacement, said valve including a stem 251 having a tapered portion 259 for cooperating with a tapering aperture 262 having a complementary taper, for substantially preventing fluid flow when so cooperating, said stem 251 being displaceable away from said aperture 262 and out of said cooperation at said end of its displacement, to open the valve 260.
US09404894B2

A standing wave amplification device for vibration signal collection includes a sensing rod (11) acting as standing wave transmission medium. A standing wave formation device includes two fixing support devices (12) distributed along the axial direction and connecting the sensing rod (11) to an operating arm (14). The two fixing support devices (12) respectively collect vibration waves and transmit them to the sensing rod (11) from two different locations of the operating arm (14). The vibration waves are superimposed to form a standing wave on the sensing rod (11). A vibration sensor (13) is connected to the sensing rod (11) and the vibration sensor (13) is between the two fixing support devices (12). A wave detected by the vibration sensor (13) is the standing wave. Compared with transverse wave or longitudinal wave transmitted in the transmission medium of prior art, the standing wave has advantages of larger amplitude and more obvious vibration effect. A ladle slag vibration signal detection method based on the device also has said advantages. The sensing rod (11) can make physical resonance, by which the standing wave signal is amplified and real warning rate of ladle slag is improved effectively.
US09404887B2

The described embodiments may provide a method of fabricating a chemical detection device. The method may comprise forming a microwell above a CMOS device. The microwell may comprise a bottom surface and sidewalls. The method may further comprise applying a first chemical to be selectively attached to the bottom surface of the microwell, forming a metal oxide layer on the sidewalls of the microwell, and applying a second chemical to be selectively attached to the sidewalls of the microwell. The second chemical may lack an affinity to the first chemical.
US09404886B2

A microelectrochemical sensor having a diaphragm, a web, a first and a second electrode. The diaphragm is permeable to ions of a chemical species, is arranged transversely with respect to a cutout in a base body, and closes off the cutout in a fluid-tight fashion. The web is arranged on a first side of the diaphragm between a first partial surface and a second partial surface, and is designed to adjust a temperature of the diaphragm to an operating temperature using electrical energy. The first electrode has a first partial electrode and a second partial electrode, is permeable to fluid, and is arranged on the first side of the diaphragm. The web prevents electrical contact between the first electrode and the diaphragm. The second electrode has a third partial electrode and a fourth partial electrode, is also permeable to fluid, and is arranged on a second side of the diaphragm.
US09404882B2

A method of producing a multi-microchannel, flow-through element, including the steps of providing a body of material, and producing multiple microchannels within the body, wherein the microchannels extend through the body to produce a multi-microchannel, flow-through element. Such an element can be used as a micromixer, a sensor element, a filter, a fuel element or a chromatographic element.
US09404879B2

An apparatus for measuring electrical conductivity of liquid is disclosed. The present invention as disclosed accurately and consistently measures infinitesimal conductivity of liquid by applying a stable reference signal to a conductivity sensor controlled with a constant temperature, and by low-noise processing on an output signal from the conductivity sensor. More specifically, infinitesimal conductivity of liquid can be repeatedly and accurately measured and change in performance of the detection apparatus over time can be minimized, by minimizing temperature variations, unstability of a reference signal, and noise effects to ensure stablility of a baseline as a measurement reference of the conductivity and accuracy of conductivity measurements.
US09404871B2

A method and system for steering an insertion tube of a video inspection device is disclosed for detecting a precise steering request made by displacing a pointing device from its stationary position and then returning the pointing device to or near its stationary position within a short interval of time. This precise steering request is then used by the video inspection device to steer the insertion tube a fixed distance in a direction based on the direction of the displacement of the pointing device for precise positioning of the camera head of the insertion tube.
US09404869B2

A live biological specimen is imaged by generating a plurality of light sheets; directing the plurality of light sheets along an illumination axis through the biological specimen such that the light sheets spatially and temporally overlap within the biological specimen along an image plane, and optically interact with the biological specimen within the image plane; and recording, at each of a plurality of views, images of the fluorescence emitted along a detection axis from the biological specimen due to the optical interaction between the light sheets and the biological specimen. The temporal overlap is within a time shift that is less than a resolution time that corresponds to a spatial resolution limit of the microscope.
US09404864B2

A system for imaging captured cells comprising: an illumination module configured to illuminate a target object; a platform configured to position the target object in relation to the illumination module; a filter module configured to filter light transmitted to the target object and/or to filter light received from the target object, an optical sensor configured to receive light from the target object and to generate image data; and a focusing and optics module configured to manipulate light transmitted to the optical sensor. The system can further comprise one or more of: a control system configured to control at least one of the illumination module, the platform, the focusing and optics module, the filter module, and the optical sensor; a tag identifying system configured to identify and communicate tag information from system elements; a thermal control module configured to adjust temperature parameters of the system; and an image stabilization module.
US09404860B2

A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) optical sensor, method of detecting sound using the MEMS optical sensor and method of manufacturing. The MEMS optical sensor including a substrate having a base portion and a vertically extending support portion. The sensor further including a top plate having a compliant membrane configured to vibrate in response to acoustic waves, the top plate connected to the support portion and having a reflective surface. The sensor also includes a back plate connected to the support portion, the back plate having a grating portion positioned below the reflective surface portion and a base plate connected to the support portion at a position below the back plate. A light emitter, a light detector and circuitry operable to tilt the top plate and the back plate with respect to the base plate so as to direct the reflected laser light toward the light detector are further provided.
US09404859B2

Systems for very early smoke detection are disclosed, including details of tube hangers that may be used to hang sampling tubes for very early smoke detection systems. The systems and components thereof may be temporarily installed in aerospace vehicles during manufacturing. The tube hangers are generally compact, allowing use in confined spaces and/or near obstructions. Tube hangers comprise a support coupling mechanism, a tube clamp, and one or more suspension arms that span between the support coupling mechanism and the tube clamp. Tube hangers may be a unitary body that defines a tube clamp, one or more suspension arms, and a support coupling mechanism. Tube clamps define a tube clamp opening generally facing away from the support coupling mechanism.
US09404849B2

Micro volume inline optical sensor comprising a flowcell having a sample chamber which has a volume less than 0.4 mL and increases in diameter from two ends toward the middle, a flow passageway intersecting the chamber where the diameter is the greatest, monitoring ports with optically transmissive windows at the ends of the chamber, mounting rings on opposite sides of the flowcell disposed coaxially of an optical axis that passes through the monitoring ports and the sample chamber, and a light source and an optical detector mounted on the mounting rings in alignment with each other along the optical axis. In one embodiment, the sample chamber has a side wall with oppositely inclined frusto-conical sections, and the ends of the chamber are closed and sealed by the monitoring port windows and O-ring gaskets that surround the open ends and are compressed between the body of the flowcell and the windows.
US09404846B2

A method of manufacturing a nozzle assembly may include the step of over molding a nozzle housing, or a portion of a nozzle housing, onto at least one nozzle component, such as an injection tube. Nozzle assemblies and flow cytometers incorporating nozzle assemblies may include any combination of straight smooth injection tubes, improved features for securing a nozzle assembly, improved features for debubbling a nozzle assembly, and aggressive orienting geometries. A method of sorting cells may include the step of magnetically coupling a nozzle assembly with a flow cytometer.
US09404845B2

A device for measuring the quality of an operating substance and/or additive, in particular a reduction agent, stored in a tank, includes a reference container connected to the operating substance and/or the additive via a semi-permeable diaphragm, in which the reference container is filled with a medium which has a known osmotic pressure relative to the used operating substance and/or additive.
US09404839B2

Apparatus and methods for testing sediment submerged in liquid and manufacturing the apparatus. The apparatus and methods of the present embodiment can provide for nano/micro characterization of mechanical properties of materials submerged in liquid, facilitating specimen preparation and installation, and can provide hydrated materials. The apparatus can include cell walls with optical magnifying lenses so that the materials can be viewed without the aid of a microscope.
US09404838B2

A particle manipulation system uses a MEMS-based, microfabricated particle manipulation device which has an inlet channel, output channels, and a movable member formed on a substrate. The movable member moves parallel to the fabrication plane, as does fluid flowing in the inlet channel. The movable member separates a target particle from the rest of the particles, diverting it into an output channel. However, at least one output channel is not parallel to the fabrication plane. The device may be used to separate a target particle from non-target material in a sample stream. The target particle may be, for example, a stem cell, zygote, a cancer cell, a T-cell, a component of blood, bacteria or DNA sample, for example. The particle manipulation system may also include a microfluidic structure which focuses the target particles in a particular portion of the inlet channel.
US09404830B2

A nacelle test apparatus for testing a wind turbine nacelle is provided. The test apparatus includes a physical tower model apparatus realized to model the behavior of a wind turbine tower and/or a physical rotor model apparatus realized to model the behavior of a wind turbine rotor, and an exciter apparatus for exciting a physical model apparatus. Also provided is a method of testing a wind turbine nacelle, which method includes mounting the nacelle onto a physical tower model apparatus of a nacelle test apparatus, which physical tower model apparatus is realized to model the behavior of a wind turbine tower, and/or mounting a physical rotor model apparatus of the nacelle test apparatus to a hub of the nacelle, which physical rotor model apparatus is realized to model the behavior of a wind turbine rotor, and exciting the physical tower model apparatus and/or the physical rotor model apparatus.
US09404827B2

An ionization gauge to measure pressure and to reduce sputtering yields includes at least one electron source that generates electrons. The ionization gauge also includes a collector electrode that collects ions formed by the collisions between the electrons and gas molecules. The ionization gauge also includes an anode. An anode bias voltage relative to a bias voltage of a collector electrode is configured to switch at a predetermined pressure to decrease a yield of sputtering collisions.
US09404820B2

The invention relates to a method for measuring the forces and the moments generated by the tire-road contact from the combination of unit deformation or strain signals measured in different angular and radial positions of the wheel. The angular positions in which the sensors are placed are those permitted by the geometry of the tire. The combination of deformation signals results in six or more signals that are independent of the angular position of the measuring sensors with respect to the tire-road contact point. The effect of temperature and loads that generate deformation signals that do not depend on said angular position of the measuring points, such as centrifugal forces, have been eliminated from the aforementioned signals. Said signals provide estimates of the loads by means of the resolution of two systems of linear equations with constant matrices and three unknowns each.
US09404818B2

A pressure sensor carrier system of fasteners is provided for conveniently and removably attaching a pressure sensor carrier to the top surface of a bed mattress in a manner that minimizes stress concentrations, wrinkles and folds in the carrier. The carrier includes pliable elastic straps at each corner and articulated semi-rigid flaps at each longitudinal side. The tension in the elastic straps and the position of the articulated flaps are independently adjustable to accommodate mattresses of different dimensions.
US09404805B2

A composite material for a temperature sensor and a method of manufacturing the temperature sensor using the composite material are provided. The composite material contains four or more kinds of metal oxides combined with highly insulating materials to produce a material with semiconductor-like properties to more accurately measure a temperature at high temperatures in the range of 500° C. and above. The sensor includes electrode wires having a predetermined diameter inserted into the metal oxide of the temperature sensor when the metal oxide is press-molded to form the temperature sensor. Through the connection of the electrode wires to the temperature sensor device, disconnection of the electrode wires from the device even at a high temperature.
US09404800B2

Systems and methods for non-invasive optical imaging are provided. One or more time-lenses can be utilized to perform an optical Fourier transform, and the time-to-wavelength conversion can generate a wavelength-encoded image of optical scattering, analogous to optical coherence tomography. This optical Fourier transform provides improved axial resolution and simplifies digital signal processing after data acquisition.
US09404795B2

An optical detector includes a first set of one or more photodiodes configured to generate a first photocurrent according to a first spectral response function of an incident light, a second set of one or more photodiodes configured to generate a second photocurrent according to a second spectral response function of the incident light, and a third set of one or more photodiodes configured to generate a third photocurrent according to a third spectral response function of the incident light. The optical detector further includes a module configured to output an indication of the intensity of the incident light according to a fourth spectral response function based on each of the first photocurrent, the second photocurrent, and the third photocurrent.
US09404781B2

Ultrasound tomography arrays and vortex shedding devices are provided which measure average flow velocity through Doppler shift of the fluid as well as cross sectional multiphase fluid composition in pipe or tubing conduits. Multiple tomographic arrays in conjunction with correlation of sensed flow patterns in time provided determination of flow velocity as well as cross sectional multiphase fluid composition. The tomographic arrays may be arranged in a skewed or slanted plane to measure velocity fluctuations downstream of a vortex shedding device where the period and amplitude of the fluctuations is correlated with the mass flow of the fluid. Additionally, the tomographic arrays provide the relative composition of the multiphase fluid. The multiple arrays together with correlation to determine velocity fluctuations downstream of a vortex shedding device where the period and amplitude of the fluctuations is correlated with the mass flow of the fluid. Additionally the tomographic arrays output the relative composition of the multiphase fluid.
US09404766B2

A method of providing a sequence of turn-by-turn navigation instructions on a device traversing a route is provided. Each turn-by-turn navigation instruction is associated with a location on the route. As the device traverses along the route, the method displays a turn-by-turn navigation instruction associated with a current location of the device. The method receives a touch input through a touch input interface of the device while displaying a first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a first map region that displays the current location and a first location associated with the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction. In response to receiving the touch input, the method displays a second turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a second map region that displays a second location associated with the second turn-by-turn navigation instruction. Without receiving additional input, the method automatically returns to the display of the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and the first map region.
US09404765B2

An on-vehicle display apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire a first display image to be displayed on a display of a navigation apparatus, extract a portion of the first display image based on a layout information relevant to a layout of the first display image, and generate a second display image by use of the extracted part of the image, and displays on a head-up display the second display image generated by the controller. The display apparatus displays on the head-up display a guide image generated by the controller. It is possible to display an image of the navigation apparatus on the head-up display, without a connection between the navigation apparatus and the display apparatus.
US09404764B2

One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for generating path side imagery are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving optical data measured in three-dimensional geographic coordinates and image data from at least one image bubble. The optical data is projected onto at least one predefined two-dimensional plane. A pixel value for a point of the optical data on the two-dimensional plane is calculated according to the image data. The pixel value may correspond to color or another graphical attribute. The two-dimensional plane is stored or displayed as street side imagery or other path side imagery. An image file including the pixel value for each point of the optical data may be stored in memory or a map database.
US09404761B2

A method and apparatus for autonomous vehicle lane routing and navigation are provided. Autonomous vehicle lane routing and navigation may include identifying vehicle transportation network information including road segment information and lane information, wherein the road segment information for at least one road segment from the plurality of road segments includes lane information representing at least two adjacent lanes, identifying an origin, identifying a destination, generating a plurality of candidate routes from the origin to the destination, wherein each route from the plurality of routes indicates a distinct combination of road segments and lanes, and wherein at least one candidate route from the plurality of candidate routes includes at least one of the adjacent lanes, identifying an optimal route from the plurality of candidate routes, the optimal route having a minimal route cost, and operating the autonomous vehicle to travel from the origin to the destination using the optimal route.
US09404750B2

Embodiments include one or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (110) capable of persistent station-keeping having one or more electromagnetic (IR/Visual/RF) sensor elements or suites (112, 337) for purposes of survey and/or signal gathering. Embodiments include one or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (110) capable of persistent station-keeping having a directable laser (331). Embodiments include a group of four or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (611-614) configured as GPS repeaters.
US09404748B2

An apparatus for driving and sensing motion in a gyroscope including a dielectric mass, an anchor, a spring coupled between the anchor and the dielectric mass, a substrate adjacent the dielectric mass, an insulator layer on the substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode on the insulator layer. When an alternating current voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, an electric field gradient is generated in the dielectric mass and causes the dielectric mass to move relative to the anchor. When the dielectric mass has motion relative to the anchor and a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, the movement of the dielectric mass generates a current at the first and second electrodes proportional to the motion.
US09404744B2

A handheld current profiler (HCP) system and method for wading discharge measurement is disclosed. The disclosed HCP has dual capabilities. It serves as a single point current meter that can measure velocity in as little as 3 cm of water. It becomes a current profiler with an additional near surface velocity measurement cell in water about 15 cm or deeper. The HCP has a surface tracking acoustic beam that measures the water level. Thus, in most cases, no manual measurements for water depth and transducer depth are required because both depths may be measured acoustically. In addition, the disclosed HCP can have a very small transducer with a form factor which can lead to minimum flow disturbance.
US09404734B2

An instrument system that includes an elongate body, an optical fiber, a localization sensor and a controller is provided. The optical fiber is operatively coupled to the elongate body and has a strain sensor provided on the optical fiber. The localization sensor is operatively coupled to the elongate body. The controller is operatively coupled to the optical fiber and to the localization sensor and is adapted to receive a first signal from the strain sensor, receive a second signal from the localization sensor, and determine a position or orientation of the elongate body based on the first signal and the second signal.
US09404733B2

Provided is a winding apparatus that is provided with a splitter that splits radiant light from a light source unit into measurement light applied to a side face part of a first sheet and a second sheet and reference light applied to a reference surface, an interference detector that detects interference light formed by interference between the reference light reflected by the reference surface and the measurement light reflected by the side face part, a position detector that detects the position of the first sheet and the position of the second sheet on the basis of the detected interference light, and a decision processor that decides the quality of the wound body on the basis of the detected positions of the first sheet and the second sheet.
US09404732B2

An electronic component thickness measurement method includes extracting, from a plurality of second reference lines in first image data and a plurality of second reference lines in second image data, only a second reference line at which a difference in intensity peak between respective second reference lines at a same position in the first image data and the second image data is smallest, and forming third image data including a first reference line and the extracted second reference line, and calculating a thickness of the electronic component from a distance between the first reference line and the second reference line in the third image data.
US09404712B2

A method of aligning a point of aim with a point of impact for a projectile device is disclosed. Using at least one superposition device coupled to the projectile device, multiple optical reference points are superposed within a first target area. Positions for at least two of the optical reference points are noted. A projectile is shot from the projectile device at a second target area, while the positions of the at least two optical reference points are maintained, to create the point of impact. The point of aim for the projectile device is adjusted to correspond with the point of impact while the positions of the at least two optical reference points are maintained. A system for aligning a point of aim with a point of impact for a projectile device is also disclosed.
US09404709B2

The present invention relates to systems and methods for aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in AK rifle variants. The magazine well attachment includes a well attachment body having a slit configured to slide over a trigger guard of a firearm during the assembly process. The attachment body includes a beveled well opening for guiding a tilt-lock magazine into the firearm. The beveled well opening includes beveled steps for funneling and centering the magazine during insertion and also includes an angled front well ramp for guiding the magazine into the rifle at an appropriate angle. In order to accommodate the dimensional variances between receivers made by different manufacturers, a front retainer secures the attachment to the magazine opening. The magazine well attachment also includes a rear overhang secured to a ledge of the firearm's trigger guard.
US09404706B2

A crossbow bowstring drawing mechanism comprises (1) a generally cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end; (2) a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing has a first end that at least partially extends through the housing first end; (3) at least one rope spool received on, and rotationally fixed to, the shaft intermediate the shaft first and second ends; (4) a handle operatively coupled to the shaft; and (5) a clutch mechanism received on the shaft. At least one of the rope spools is configured to attach to a first and a second end of a rope that is configured to he releasably attached to a bowstring. The clutch mechanism is configured to at least temporarily rotationally fix the shaft to the housing to prevent the shaft from rotating in a first direction and an opposite second direction until a force is exerted on the handle to overcome the frictional forces exerted by the clutch mechanism.
US09404704B2

A muzzle flash suppressor is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed flash suppressor includes a plurality of prongs having inner surfaces which taper along their length, providing angled expansion of the primary bore of the flash suppressor in the direction of projectile travel. The inner prong surfaces located along the gas flow path angle outwardly, a multi-radius surface is formed between each pair of neighboring prongs, and chamfers and radii are provided at the prong ends. Some embodiments provide for balanced and gradual gas expansion axially and/or radially along the projectile path, thereby allowing muzzle gases to expand/bleed off in a substantially laminar pattern. In some cases, this reduces secondary ignition of muzzle gases and the ambient air, thereby reducing muzzle flash. Also, some embodiments provide for easy clearance or correction of muzzle obstructions, thereby protecting against damage to the flash suppressor and host weapon.
US09404703B2

A feeding and positioning device for toy gun comprises a barrel and a friction cylinder. The barrel has a bore, a convex hole, and a guiding groove. Two groove sides are formed at two sides of the guiding groove with circular cone shape. A width and a depth of the guiding groove are gradually decreased from the first end of the barrel inwardly. The friction cylinder has a hollow and elastic cylinder body covered at the first end of the barrel and a friction portion arranged inside the cylinder portion and inserted into the convex hole inwardly. The bullet is aligned by the groove sides and then cooperated with the friction portion to form three-point guiding position to downwardly press the bullet to be precisely fed. It may prevent the bullet from skewed error and improve the range of firing, effective potential energy, and hit rate.
US09404699B1

A trigger lock that can be mounted to the trigger guard of a handheld firearm. The trigger lock has a cover assembly displaceably mounted to a lock housing assembly. The cover assembly is displaceable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A mount adapter is removeably mated to a housing body within the lock housing assembly. The removeable mount adapter has a mount surface shaped to correspond with the outer surface of the trigger guard, allowing the trigger lock to be used on various makes and models of firearms. The trigger lock includes a locking means which in one embodiment has a lock rotor with a caroming surface to displace one or more locking members into the cover assembly.
US09404691B2

A condensing heat recovery unit for a portable fluid heater has a heat exchanger with a plurality of hollow rectangular heat recovery panels, a flue gas collection hood that funnels flue gas from the portable fluid heater into one side of the heat exchanger, and a condensate collector connected to the opposite side of the heat exchanger that collects flue gas condensate.
US09404689B2

A heat exchange matrix includes a plurality of generally planar foils including a water retaining material, arranged in spaced, substantially parallel relationship. Each foil defines a main plane having a flow direction and a transverse direction and the foils include strips that extend a strip length in the transverse direction and are separated from each neighboring strip in the flow direction and each strip is offset from the main plane by a distance that is different from that of its neighbor. The matrix may be provided in a flow channel for air to be humidified and cooled.
US09404687B2

A magnetic pump in a pump well in a molten metal furnace with a long, relatively thin side wall that wraps around a significant fraction of the circumference of the pump, which facilitates creation of an eddy current based flow field in the molten material with better magnetic coupling, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the pump. Breach of the well wall will not result in spillage of metal outside the furnace, and the well can be monitored for any such breach or other change so that the pump can be lifted out of the well to protect it from contact with the molten metal in the event of such a breach, or other appropriate action can be taken.
US09404683B2

Refrigerator appliances are provided. A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber and including a mullion extending between and defining the fresh food chamber and freezer chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door including an inner surface and an outer surface, the door further including an ice container mounted thereon. The refrigerator appliance further includes a hinge connecting the mullion and the door, and a freezer door connected to the cabinet for accessing the freezer chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes a drain assembly for draining a liquid from the ice container, the drain assembly providing a flow path through the hinge and the mullion to an exhaust location.
US09404681B2

In an air-conditioning apparatus equipped with an outdoor unit having outdoor devices including a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, a flow switching valve that switches the flowing direction of the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air, a first expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, an excess-refrigerant container that retains an excess refrigerant of the refrigerant, and a second expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant; and an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and indoor air, the air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor-heat-exchanger refrigerant injection port provided in a refrigerant pipe that is directly connected to the outdoor heat exchanger, and an excess-refrigerant-container refrigerant injection port provided in a refrigerant pipe that is directly connected to the excess-refrigerant container.
US09404675B2

A tubular heat-absorbing element partly enclosed in an insulating layer or jacket, has absorbing surface that is accessible to solar radiation. The thermal insulation is designed to provide entry to solar radiation by way of a cavity. The absorbing surface can be substantially planar.
US09404671B2

A radiant heat lifting device for outdoor flame heater comprises a glass tube having a section of heat-resistant net tube made of high-temperature resistant material and mounted on an upper opening thereof; a heat-resistant net tube including countless meshes at a periphery thereof, a top outlet sealed and a bottom outlet connected to the upper opening of the glass tube; and a cover being a bowl-shaped arranged on the heat-resistant net tube and including a multitude of circulation holes at a periphery thereof; whereby a flame emitted from the flame outlet along the glass tube up to the top outlet of the heat-resistant net tube by chimney effect to accumulate the heat and produce infrared to increase the radiation thermal of the glass tube; an exhaust in the glass tube outflows from the meshes of the heat-resistant net tube to the circulation holes of the cover and discharges upward.
US09404668B2

A heating ventilation and cooling system includes an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The ERV is configured to produce an inlet airstream and an exhaust airstream. An enthalpy wheel within the energy recovery ventilator is operable to transport heat between the inlet and exhaust airstreams. A pressure transducer is configured to determine a backpressure across the enthalpy wheel. A controller is configured to determine, in response to the backpressure, an operational characteristic of the enthalpy wheel.
US09404666B2

An improved humidifier system for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system. The humidifier system includes an air path that is configured to accept air from a first HVAC duct and return air to a second HVAC duct. A damper is disposed in the air path to selectively substantially block the flow of air in the air path, or to substantially not block the flow of air in the air path. In some cases, the damper may be a motorized damper, and the humidifier system may include a controller that is configured to cause the motorized damper to not substantially block the flow of air in the air path during a call for humidifier operation, and to substantially block the flow of air in the air path after the call for humidifier operation ends. Alternatively, the damper may be manually actuated, and an HVAC controller may be configured to notify when the damper should be moved (e.g. between seasons).
US09404662B2

A microwave appliance is provided. The microwave appliance includes a cabinet and a duct mounted to the cabinet. A filter is mounted to the duct at an opening of the duct. The filter has projections that are received within channels of the duct. The projections and channels can assist with properly positioning and/or orienting the filter within the duct.
US09404661B2

Provided is an electric oven, which includes a main body, a cooktop, and an oven part. The cooktop is disposed in an upper portion of the main body to heat an object. The oven part is disposed within the main body under the cooktop, and includes a cavity including a cooking chamber, a door selectively opening and closing the cooking chamber, and a first heating unit and a second heating unit, which supply radiant energy into the cooking chamber. Before the cooktop is installed, or after the cooktop is removed, a top of the main body is opened, and the first heating unit is installed in or removed from the cavity through the opened top of the main body. The second heating unit is installed in or removed from the cooking chamber through an open front of the cooking chamber. Accordingly, a heater can be protected, and be conveniently installed and removed.
US09404659B2

A late lean injection combustor assembly may include a first interior in which a first fuel supplied thereto is combustible, a flow sleeve annulus including a second interior in which a second fuel supplied thereto is combustible, at least one fuel injector disposed about the second interior, and at least one elongate premixing conduit disposed about the flow sleeve annulus and in fluid communication with the at least one fuel injector. The at least one elongate premixing conduit may be in fluid communication with a compressor discharge air and the second fuel such that the compressor discharge air and the second fuel are premixed within the elongate premixing conduit before entering the second interior by way of the at least one fuel injector.
US09404647B2

An optical assembly including a mounting board and an LED coupled to the mounting board. An optic component, for example a lens, is coupled to the mounting board and encloses the LED. A shield member including 5 VA rated material is positioned to have a first surface in contact with the mounting board and a second surface in contact with the optic component.
US09404642B2

A lighting module for illuminating device may include at least one lighting component; at least one lighting component bracket bearing its corresponding lighting component; and one mounting trail, wherein each lighting component bracket is mounted onto the mounting trail and fixed onto a shell of the illuminating device by the mounting trail.
US09404638B2

An optical element according to the present invention includes a light receiving surface which is designed to cover an emitting surface of a planar light source device, a reflecting surface, a light exit surface which is contiguous to the periphery of the reflecting surface. When the center of the emitting surface is designated as a point O and an axis which passes through the point O and is perpendicular to the emitting surface is designated as an optical axis of the optical element, the reflecting surface has a concave portion around the optical axis and an outer edge surrounding the concave portion.
US09404628B2

A lighting fixture includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion includes a base and a wall extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the base. A top portion of the wall includes one or more hinges extending outwardly therefrom. The second housing portion includes a front panel and a side panel extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the front panel. A top portion of the front panel includes at least one slot. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an open position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel is disposed elevationally above the base. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an operational position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel covers the base.
US09404627B2

A light conversion assembly 100, a lamp and a luminaire is provided. The light conversion assembly 100 comprises a first layer 108 and a second layer 106. The first layer 108 comprises first luminescent material. The first luminescent material comprises particles showing quantum confinement and have at least in one dimension a size in the nanometer range. The first layer is arranged to receive light 110 from a light source emitting light of a first spectral distribution in a violet or blue spectral range. The first spectral distribution has a first peak wavelength. The first layer 108 is configured to convert substantially all the received light 110 towards light 104 of a second spectral distribution in the blue spectral range, independently of the position of first spectral distribution in the violet or blue spectral range. The second spectral distribution has a second peak wavelength which is a longer wavelength than the first peak wavelength. The second layer 106 comprises a second luminescent material. The second layer is arranged to receive light 104 of the second spectral distribution and is configured to at least partially convert the received light 104 towards light 102 of a third spectral distribution being different from the first spectral distribution and the second spectral distribution.
US09404616B2

An equipment transfer device is provided that is transferrable from one support to another support. The transport device is formed as a housing that has two spaced apart, generally parallel recesses, which form docking cups that are open to the bottom. Each docking cup is configured to receive a docking cone that is supported on a structure and is capable of moving in generally a vertical direction into engagement or out of engagement with their respective docking cups. A support post is also supported by the housing and protrudes from the upper end thereof as a base to which an equipment support structure is attached. In this manner the transfer device can be transferred from one docking cone to another with minimal handling and virtually no possibility of dislodgement.
US09404606B2

A backplate for installation between a utility box and an exterior surface of a building has a plate body having a first side and a second side. A moisture dam on the plate body extends outward from the first side of the plate body. The moisture dam defines a receptacle that is sized and shaped to receive the utility box such that when the plate body is installed between the utility box and the exterior surface of the building. The moisture dam receives and extends around an outer perimeter of a rear surface of the utility box. Apertures through the plate body receive one or more utility lines and for receiving a mounting system. There are one or more seals on the second side of the plate body for sealing between the apertures and an outer perimeter of the plate body.
US09404597B2

A gas metering valve (1) having at least one valve seat (2) and at least one closure member (3) which can be pressed against the valve seat, the closure member in a maximum open position is raised at least in regions from the valve seat (2) and in a maximum closed position is pressed against the valve seat. The gas metering valve (1) has an adjusting device (5) which is spring-loaded by a spring loading device (4) of the gas metering valve (1) for adjusting the closure member (3) in a closing direction (6) from the maximum open position into the maximum closed position. The spring loading device (4) of the adjusting device (5), preferably when viewed in the closing direction (6), has at least two spring bodies (7a, 7b) which are connected mechanically in series, the spring bodies (7a, 7b) have elastic characteristics which are different from each other.
US09404586B2

The invention relates to a valve device and to a method for transferring a transfer medium, said valve device and method having an inflow, an outflow and two valve disks which are arranged one behind another in the direction of flow and are pivotable about a common rotational axis for opening and closing the lumen which surrounds them, wherein the inflow and the outflow are formed by two housing sections which are lockable together, the ends of which facing one another receive in each case a valve disk with a fixedly connected half-shaft, wherein, with the housing sections in the locked state, the two half-shafts form one common shaft which is pivotable about the rotational axis and the valve disks abut closely against one another, and wherein, with the housing sections in the non-locked state, the valve disks in each case close the lumen of the housing section receiving them.
US09404572B1

A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission having a position-controlled clutch with a synchronizer sleeve and a synchronizer fork, an input member with an input speed, and an output member with an output speed, and a controller. The controller is programmed to register a slip-away condition when the input speed falls within a calibrated speed band and the output speed remains below a calibrated threshold speed. In response to the registered slip-away condition, the controller records a diagnostic code indicative of the synchronizer sleeve being disengaged, changes an engaged position of the synchronizer sleeve by a calibrated amount to thereby adapt the engaged position, and commands the clutch to disengage and the fork to move to a neutral position after increasing the engaged position. The controller also moves the synchronizer sleeve toward the adapted engaged position and applies the clutch when the synchronizer sleeve attains the adapted engaged position.
US09404560B2

A unitary stretch belt installation and removal tool includes an installation component having a slot for positioning the tool on the rim of a pulley and a wedge shaped element to stretch and guide a belt into a pulley groove as the pulley is rotated and further having an integral removal component including a slot and a shaped, generally convex belt guide surface for stretching and guiding a belt from a pulley as the pulley is rotated.
US09404558B2

The invention relates to a heavy-duty chain containing chain-links comprising synthetic polymeric yarns, wherein when said chain is kept at least taut onto an essentially planar surface, each chain-link has an orthographic projection onto said planar surface, said projection having a foot print area (A), wherein the foot print areas denoted as A1 and A2 of every two adjacent links are in a relation 80% A2≦A1≦100% A2 with A1 being the smallest of said two areas and wherein the projection is done in such a way that the ratio of the foot print areas A2 to A1 is maximized.
US09404556B2

An illustrative embodiment of a damper for use with rotary machinery may include a damper mass connected to an electronics housing via one or more piezo elements. The illustrative embodiment of the damper may include one or more electrical components wherein the electrical components, piezo elements, and/or damper mass may be tuned such that the damper is configured with an electrical resonance frequency corresponding to a mechanical resonance frequency present in a component of the rotary machinery. The piezo elements may be extension/retraction type or bending type, and they may have any orientation with respect to the rotational axis of the rotary machinery depending on the specific embodiment and/or application of the damper.
US09404555B2

A centrifugal pendulum damping device includes a support body provided with a pair of first curved tracks and fixed to a rotating shaft, inertial masses provided with a pair of second curved tracks and supported on an outer peripheral part of the support body, and pins rollably fitted in a section where a first and second curved track intersect each other. Since the shapes of the pair of first curved tracks are different from each other and the shapes of the pair of second curved tracks are different from each other, the inertial mass moves rotationally and translationally in the peripheral direction of the support body, which improves damping low frequency vibration performance. Since the inertial mass moves rotationally, it is less likely to extend outside the region of the support body.
US09404547B2

A steel for high-strength spring has an Ac3 transformation temperature as an indicator of the decarburization performance, which is calculated by Equation (1) below, is from 859 to 885° C., a maximum hardened diameter DI as an indicator of the hardening performance, which is calculated by Equation (2) below, is from 70 to 238 mm, and a temper hardness HRC as an indicator of the spring performance, which is calculated by Equation (3) below, is from 50 to 55. Ac3=910−203×√{square root over (C)}−15.2Ni+44.7Si+104V+31.5Mo+13.1W  (1) DI=DO×fSi×fMn×fP×fS×fCu×fNi×fCr  (2) HRC=38.99+17.48C+2.55Si−2.28Ni+2.37Cr+8.04Ti  (3) wherein, D0=8.65×√{square root over (C)}, fSi=1+0.64×% Si, fMn=1+4.10×% Mn, fP=1+2.83×% P, fS=1−0.62×% S, fCu=1+0.27×% Cu, fNi=1+0.52×% Ni, and fCr=1+2.33×% Cr.
US09404546B2

A copper-free friction material composition for a brake lining includes a fibrous form of an aluminum magnesium alloy, and a solid lubricant having a sulfur. The friction material composition can be disposed over at least a region of a backing plate of a brake pad to form a brake lining. The aluminum magnesium alloy contains about 4.5% to about 5.6% magnesium by weight. The friction material composition includes, by weight, about 5% to about 6% of the solid lubricant, about 5% to about 9.75% of the fibrous form of an aluminum magnesium alloy, about 7% to about 10% of an organic filler composition, and about 13% to about 17% of an abrasive composition, and can also include an inorganic filler, and a binder that develops the other components in the friction material composition into a thermosetting matrix. The friction material composition has a dynamic coefficient of friction of about 0.43.
US09404545B2

A combined power take-off and hydraulic pump assembly includes a power-take off including a housing portion having an opened end, an input put mechanism that is adapted to be connected to a source of rotational energy, and an output mechanism that is rotatably driven by the input mechanism. The assembly also includes a hydraulic pump including a housing portion having an opened end, a fluid inlet port that is adapted to communicate with a reservoir containing a quantity of relatively low pressure hydraulic fluid, and a pumping mechanism that is rotatably driven by the output mechanism of the power take-off. An intermediate housing has a first opened end that cooperates with the opened end of the housing portion of the power take-off and a second opened end that cooperates with the opened end of the housing portion of the hydraulic pump. The intermediate housing also has a fluid outlet port that communicates with the pumping mechanism and that is adapted to communicate with a hydraulically driven device. The intermediate housing may also support a bearing that, in turn, supports a portion of the output mechanism of the power take-off.
US09404529B2

A foil journal bearing. A single foil engages an inner surface of and is mounted to the bearing housing. The single foil extends circumferentially of the inner surface and has a generally flat top foil portion and a bump foil portion which is disposed between the top foil portion and the inner surface of the housing. The bump foil portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced ridges which engage the top foil portion and further comprises a plurality of generally flat portions between the ridges respectively and which engage the inner surface of the housing.
US09404527B2

A driveshaft assembly for a downhole motor including a driveshaft having a longitudinal axis, first and second ends, and a convex spherical bearing surface disposed at the first end configured to transfer axial loads. The assembly also includes a connection lug disposed at the driveshaft first end, extending circumferentially between first and second ends, and including a recess in the first end of the lug, the recess comprising a concave cylindrical surface concentrically disposed about a pivot axis oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The assembly also includes a torque transfer key disposed within the recess and having a central axis radially spaced from the pivot axis, a convex cylindrical surface concentrically disposed about the pivot axis, and a planar surface. The convex cylindrical surface of the key slidingly engages the concave cylindrical surface of the recess; and the pivot axis intersects the key.
US09404526B2

The rotary suction device includes a suction disk, a middle cover, and an upper cover. The suction disk includes a base and a soft disk. The base includes a peripheral wall, a guide block, an inclined surface, and a central circular trough. The middle cover includes a central through hole around the peripheral wall and a guide trough. The guide trough is around the guide block, and the middle cover is capable of axial displacement relative to the suction disk. The upper cover includes a central pivot, a sliding block, and an elastic component. The central pivot is accommodated in the central circular trough such that the upper cover is capable of rotating relative to the suction disk. The elastic component is disposed between the upper cover and the suction disk. The sliding block is forced to against the inclined surface by the elastic force of the elastic component.
US09404520B1

Systems and devices using t-slot profiles and clamping devices to form a structure that may position an object in three-dimensional space. The clamping devices clamp two t-slot profiles together, either parallel or perpendicular to each other. The clamping device may be unlocked allowing t-slot profiles to move relative to each other, and then re-clamped, to lock the t-slot profiles in a new position. In some embodiments, the t-slot profiles and clamping devices form a structure that may position a camera in three-dimensional space over a table that supports at least one item to be photographed, and optionally digitized. The photographed items may comprise blueprints, artwork, architectural plans, and more.
US09404514B2

A hydraulic block for a hydraulic unit of a slip-controlled hydraulic vehicle brake system includes a row of receptacles for brake pressure buildup valves and a row of receptacles for brake pressure reduction valves arranged parallel to the row of receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves. The hydraulic block further includes installation spaces for damper chambers arranged between the receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves to allow space-saving accommodation of damper chambers. The installation spaces emerge at longitudinal sides of the hydraulic block and run parallel to the rows of receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves. The installation spaces for the damper chambers viewed from a front side are arranged below the receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves, close to a rear side of the hydraulic block.
US09404509B2

A turbocharger includes a compressor housing, a bearing housing and a back plate. A discharge scroll chamber has such a shape that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually increases toward a discharge port in a circumferential direction. The compressor housing includes a scroll piece assembled to a shroud piece. The scroll piece includes a suction port-forming portion, a suction-side concave surface and a scroll outer periphery. The shroud piece includes a shroud fit-in portion, an inner peripheral concave surface, a shroud surface and a diffuser surface. The back plate includes a facing surface, an outer peripheral annular fit-in portion and an outer peripheral concave surface. The outer peripheral concave surface has such a shape that a cross sectional shape thereof formed by a plane including a rotation axis of an impeller gradually changes in the circumferential direction.
US09404508B2

The invention relates to a suction housing (1) for an internal combustion engine, especially for arranging between a first (2) and a second (3) compressor of an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the suction housing (1) comprises an inner space (8) defined by a bottom element (9), a first (10) and a second (11) opposing lateral wall elements projecting from the bottom element (9), and a first (12) and a second (13) opposing front wall elements projecting from the bottom element. An open end (14) having an inlet (14a) via which charge air can enter the inner space (8) of the suction housing (1) is formed opposite the bottom element (9), and a web element (17) projecting from the bottom element (9) and arranged between the first (10) and the second (11) lateral wall elements is located in the inner chamber, said web element interconnecting the first (12) and the second (13) front wall elements. The first lateral wall element (10) has a first outlet (15) and the second lateral wall element (11) has a second outlet (16) for respective flow towards a compressor inlet (2b, 3b).
US09404506B2

An impeller of a rotary machine, in which the direction of flow changes from an axial direction to a radial direction as it goes from the inside in the radial direction of a fluid flow passage to the outside in the radial direction thereof, includes a hub surface constituting at least a portion of the fluid flow passage. The impeller also includes a blade surface constituting at least a portion of the fluid flow passage, and a bulge that bulges toward the inside of the fluid flow passage at a corner where a pressure surface, which configures the blade surface, comes in contact with the hub surface in the vicinity of an inlet of the fluid flow passage.
US09404503B2

Provided is a compressor motor that can achieve reduction in length of a motor lead wire, compactification of a motor housing, and reduction in size and weight of an electric compressor, and also provided is an electric compressor including the compressor motor. A cluster block (39) that is connected to a stator coil end of a motor (10) via a motor lead wire is placed in an outer circumferential region of a stator coil end cover (38) or a bobbin (37A) of the motor (10) such that a terminal connection port of the cluster block (39) faces an outer circumferential side. An opening (34) and a placement bearing surface (35) for inserting and placing a hermetic terminal (8) are provided in an outer circumferential region of a motor housing (4), the outer circumferential region facing the cluster block (39) provided on the motor (10) side. The hermetic terminal (8) is inserted and placed from an outer circumferential side of the motor housing (4) to the opening (34) and the placement bearing surface (35), to be thereby made directly connectable to the terminal connection port of the cluster block (39).
US09404502B2

A centrifugal fan device includes an impeller supported to rotate about a center axis extending in an up-down direction; a motor arranged to rotate the impeller; and a housing arranged to surround the impeller. The housing includes an intake portion positioned above the impeller and an exhaust portion positioned radially outward of the impeller. The impeller includes a base extending in a direction orthogonal to the center axis, a ring-shaped shroud positioned above the base and having a diameter which decreases as it goes upward, and a plurality of blades arranged between the base and the shroud. The housing further includes a plurality of ribs protruding from an inner surface of the intake portion toward the shroud.
US09404497B2

A compressor may include a shell, a bearing housing supported within the shell, an orbiting scroll, a non-orbiting scroll meshingly engaged with the orbiting scroll, fasteners and a drive shaft. The bearing housing may include a central body defining a bore and arms extending radially outward from a central body and defining circumferentially extending grooves. The circumferentially extending grooves may include inner side walls, outer side walls and base regions extending regionally between the inner and outer side walls and defining fastener receiving apertures. The orbiting scroll may be supported on the bearing housing and a non-orbiting scroll may be meshingly engaged with the orbiting scroll and may include flanges defining flange apertures. The fasteners may extend through the flange apertures and the fasteners receiving apertures and secure the non-orbiting scroll to the bearing housing. The drive shaft may extend through the bore and be engaged with the orbiting scroll.
US09404490B2

The invention provides a finger-type peristaltic pump (2) having a body (4) and a housing (6). The body contains two or more finger-type valves (16) and a processor (22) configured to operate the valves according to a predetermined temporo-spatial pattern. The housing has a passageway (18) configured to receive a conduit. The housing has a first position in which a conduit in the passageway is positioned adjacent to the valve fingers, and a second position in which a conduit in the passageway is not adjacent to the valve fingers. The invention also provides a housing for use in the pump of the invention.
US09404487B2

Apparatus and methods for generating a partial vacuum in a cavity are disclosed. In one method, a suction unit is disposed on a surface and includes a plurality of embedded suction generation devices that suction gas therethrough. The suction generating devices are powered-on to form a cavity defined by at least the surface and the suction unit and gas is evacuated from the cavity to generate the partial vacuum.
US09404486B2

A cryopump includes a nested array of cryopanels. A hydrogen molecule incident into a clearance in the nested array of cryopanels is reflected by a cryopanel. The reflected hydrogen molecule is adsorbed by another cryopanel. Each of the cryopanels may have an inverted frustum shape.
US09404480B2

A closed-loop, solid-state system generates electricity from geothermal heat from a well by flow of heat, without needing large quantities of water to conduct heat from the ground. The present invention contemplates uses for depleted oil or gas wells and newly drilled wells to generate electricity in an environmentally-friendly method. Geothermal heat is conducted from the Earth to a heat exchanging element to heat the contents of pipes. The pipes are insulated between the bottom of the well and the surface to minimize heat dissipation as the heated contents of the pipes travel to the surface.
US09404469B2

An ignition timing control device (31) has a knocking detection device (41) that detects knocking of internal combustion engine (1) and an ignition timing adjustment device (43) that receives a knocking signal outputted from the knocking detection device (41) and a signal concerning the ignition timing of internal combustion engine (1) outputted from an external electronic control unit (37) and adjusts the ignition timing of internal combustion engine (1) according to the knocking signal and the signal concerning the ignition timing. Further, the knocking detection device (41) and the ignition timing adjustment device (43) are electrically connected and formed integrally with each other.
US09404467B2

An ignition unit (11) has a superimposed voltage generation circuit (17) that feeds, between electrodes of an ignition plug (9), a superimposed voltage of the same direction as a discharge voltage, and in an operation range wherein an engine rotation speed is equal to or lower than a given speed and an engine load is equal to or lower than a given load, feeding of the superimposed voltage is carried out. Although the energization time for a primary coil (15a) is basically set in accordance with the engine rotation speed, the energization time TDWLON for the superimposed voltage feeding is set shorter than the energization time TDWLOFF for the superimposed voltage non-feeding. With this, temperature increase of the ignition unit (11) caused by the feeding of the superimposed voltage is suppressed.
US09404459B2

A method includes: filling a chamber having a recirculating valve, a piston, a cap valve, an injector valve and an injection orifice with a liquid by closing the injector valve and circulating the liquid from a source through the recirculating valve and the cap valve; then isolating the chamber from the source by closing the recirculating valve and the cap valve then allowing pressure within the chamber to follow a cylinder pressure by mechanically coupling the cylinder pressure into the chamber; and energizing an injector coil with electric current that pulls a solenoid assembly in an upward direction opening the injector valve, further motion of the solenoid assembly drawing the piston upward, wherein liquid in the chamber is compressed by the piston to a higher pressure than the cylinder pressure, which has the effect of injecting an electronically controlled stream of liquid out of the chamber through the injection orifice.
US09404455B2

A method for operating an internal combustion engine is disclosed, in which method test injections are carried out in order to adapt, during the operation of the internal combustion engine, the injection parameters used for the control of the injection processes. For this purpose, during the test injections, an electric machine which is coupled to the internal combustion engine generates negative torque impulses in a manner synchronized with the positive torque impulses generated by the test injections, which negative torque impulses counteract the torque impulses generated by the test injections. In this way, rotational speed oscillations generated by the test injections are eliminated. Also described is an internal combustion engine of said type.
US09404448B2

Methods and systems for an engine are provided. In one example, a system for an engine comprises an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas is configured to flow from the engine, a turbocharger with a turbine positioned in the exhaust passage, an exhaust gas treatment system disposed in the exhaust passage upstream of the turbine and including at least one exhaust gas treatment device and a bypass with a bypass valve, the bypass valve configured to be adjusted to reduce exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas treatment system in response to a transient engine operating condition, and an exhaust gas recirculation system coupled between the exhaust passage and an intake passage of the engine, the exhaust gas recirculation system including an exhaust gas recirculation passage and at least one exhaust gas recirculation valve, an inlet of the exhaust gas recirculation system positioned upstream of the exhaust gas treatment system.
US09404447B2

A cooler for an internal combustion engine may include a cooler block including a gas path for communicating a gas flow along a gas flow direction and a coolant path for communicating a coolant flow. The gas path and the coolant path may be thermally coupled to each other and may be fluidly separated from each other. The cooler may include a liquid separator for separating a liquid from the gas flow. The liquid separator may be arranged on the cooler block at an outlet side of the gas path. The liquid separator may include a reservoir for the separated liquid and an evaporator for evaporating the separated liquid.
US09404439B2

A piston may include a piston crown including radially inner and outer crown mating surfaces, the crown defining at least in part a cooling gallery extending about a periphery of the crown. The piston may include a piston skirt including a pair of oppositely disposed pin bosses, the pin bosses each defining a piston pin bore. The piston skirt may have a radially inner skirt mating surface cooperating along a radially inner interface region with the radially inner crown mating surface, and a radially outer skirt mating surface cooperating along a radially outer interface region with the radially outer crown mating surface such that the cooling gallery is substantially enclosed. The piston may include at least one cooling fin extending from an interior surface of the cooling gallery.
US09404432B2

Methods are provided for accurately learning part-to-part variability of an intake or exhaust oxygen sensor. A correction factor is learned based on a sensor reading in dry air conditions, the dry air reading learned by applying a higher reference voltage to the sensor. An ethanol transfer function is then adjusted based on the learned correction factor so as to improve the accuracy of combusted fuel ethanol content estimation.
US09404431B2

A method and a device operate an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with which are associated respective injection valves for metering fuel, and having an exhaust gas probe which is arranged in an exhaust gas tract and the measurement signal of which is characteristic of the air/fuel ratio in the respective cylinder, and having a crankshaft angle sensor the measurement signal of which is representative of a crankshaft angle of the crankshaft. Within a predefined operating range of the internal combustion engine, and when at least one predefined condition is fulfilled, a rough-running based cylinder-individual diagnosis (CYBL-HOM) with regard to harmful emissions is carried out before activation of a cylinder-individual lambda control (CILC) is enabled.
US09404430B2

A fuel door and a sliding door are on the same side of a vehicle. The sliding door has power locking and power child locking. To prevent the sliding door from interfering with the fuel door during refueling, a lock controller responds to the fuel door moving to the open position by 1) preserving a current outside locked or unlocked state and a current inside locked or unlocked state of the sliding door, 2) initiating or maintaining the outside locked state and inside locked state, and 3) after the fuel door moving to the closed position, restoring or maintaining the preserved current outside locked or unlocked state and the preserved current inside locked or unlocked state.
US09404428B1

An internal-combustion engine achieves much higher thermodynamic cycle efficiency than it is possible to achieve in other engines of the same type. It achieves this by operating with a much higher expansion ratio, without an increase in effective compression ratio. The engine geometric compression ratio is considerably larger than it is in conventional engines of the same type. It operates unthrottled most of the time, and the control of the volume of the intake air retained in the cylinder is performed by varying the timing of the intake valve closure. Ignition timing is after the top-dead-center most of the time. Suitable coordination of ignition timing control with intake valve timing control insures that the peak combustion pressure and temperature remain within acceptable limits.
US09404427B2

An engine assembly includes an engine block defining a cylinder, an exhaust system, and an exhaust gas recirculation system. A first exhaust valve is configured to control the flow of fluid from the cylinder to the exhaust system. A second exhaust valve configured to control the flow of fluid from the cylinder to the exhaust gas recirculation system. The second valve is deactivatable independently of the first valve, thereby enabling EGR flow.
US09404415B2

A system and method for operating an engine turbocharger is described. In one example, the turbocharger is rotated in different directions in response to operating conditions. The system and method may reduce engine emissions.
US09404411B2

A turbocharger system is provided. The turbocharger system includes a turbine positioned downstream of a combustion chamber and a turbine bypass conduit in fluidic communication with a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet. The turbocharger system further includes a wastegate positioned in the turbine bypass conduit, a wastegate actuator coupled to the wastegate adjusting a position of the wastegate, and an air-cooled solenoid valve coupled to wastegate actuator adjusting a position of the wastegate actuator, the air-cooled solenoid valve receiving cooling airflow from an intake conduit positioned upstream of a compressor mechanically coupled to the turbine.
US09404390B2

A device for installing and removing a component, preferably a burner or a transition pipe of a gas turbine, on or in a stationary gas turbine, is provided. The device includes a rail system having a frame carriage that can be moved along the rail system, on which frame carriage an insertion unit having a carrier unit for the component that can be moved along a movement axis is arranged. In order to specify an especially space-saving and especially rigid design, by means of which components of a gas turbine can be installed and removed relatively simply and quickly, the rail system is designed as a two-track rail system and the movement axis extends between the two rails transversely to an area that extends between the rails.
US09404387B2

A seal for a turbo machine is provided. The seal includes a plurality of honeycomb cells, at least one circumferential groove within the plurality of honeycomb cells, and at least one swirl brake within the at least one groove.
US09404378B2

A seal configuration includes a housing and a rotatable member rotationally mounted relative to the housing. The rotatable member has at least one portion defining an outer perimetrical face that is configured to contact the housing during operational conditions that cause a radial dimension of the at least one portion to increase. The at least one portion has opposing axial surfaces with each of the opposing axial surfaces being dimensionally axially nearer to the other of the opposing axial surfaces immediately radially inwardly of the outer perimetrical face than a furthest part of the outer perimetrical face.
US09404376B2

A sealing component for reducing secondary airflow in a turbine system includes a first end segment configured to be disposed between, and retained in a radial direction by, a first land on a first rotor disk and a first turbine bucket platform operatively coupled to the first rotor disk. Also included is a second end segment configured to be disposed between, and retained in a radial direction by, a second land on a second rotor disk and a second turbine bucket platform operatively coupled to the second rotor disk. Further included is a main body portion extending axially from the first end segment to the second end segment.
US09404375B2

A shaft seal device includes a seal piece-laminated body with a plurality of thin seal pieces laminated in a circumferential direction along a rotating shaft. Outer ends of the plurality of thin seal pieces in the radial direction are connected to each other. Inner ends of the thin seal pieces in the radial direction are formed as free ends. A small gap is formed between each adjacent pair of the thin seal pieces. A small gap is formed between the rotating shaft and the seal piece-laminated body. A wear-resistant treatment layer is formed on a surface of a portion of each of the thin seal pieces close to the inner end.
US09404369B2

An airfoil includes an airfoil body that defines a longitudinal axis. The airfoil body includes a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first side wall and a second side wall that is spaced apart from the first side wall to define a camber line there between. The first side wall and the second side wall join the leading edge and the trailing edge and at least partially define a cavity in the airfoil body. Multiple ribs extend longitudinally in the cavity and are laterally spaced apart from each other relative to the longitudinal axis. In at least one plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each of the ribs connects the first side wall and the second side wall along respective minimum distance directions that are perpendicular to the camber line. At least two of the respective minimum distance directions are non-parallel.
US09404365B2

A steam diffusing apparatus may include a steam inlet tube having steam-dispersion openings adjacent a lower end thereof and a mass of filaments surrounding the plurality of steam dispersion openings. The steam diffusing apparatus may also include a retaining tube surrounding the mass of filaments, a housing surrounding the retaining tube and having outlet openings therein, and an upper end cap coupled to an upper end of the housing and having an opening therein receiving the steam inlet tube. A lower end cap may be coupled to a lower end of the housing.
US09404354B2

Closed loop methods for drilling twin wells are disclosed. The disclosed method make use of a bottom hole assembly including a rotary steerable tool. An electrical current is induced in the target well. The corresponding magnetic field about the target well is measured in the twin well and used to guide drilling of the twin well.
US09404351B2

This invention relates to controlling production fluids downhole in an oil well. More specifically, this invention relates to control of water and pressure downhole. Provided are apparatus for controlling production fluids and pressures and methods of using the apparatus to control production fluids and pressures.
US09404350B2

A flow control device for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment may include a main flow passage and a weep hole, wherein the main flow passage closes when a fluid is supplied to a first end of the valve that exceeds a selected rate and opens when the fluid supplied is below the selected rate and wherein the weep hole continues to allow the fluid therethrough.
US09404348B2

Apparatus and method for completing a wellbore including providing a packer having an inner mandrel, alternate flow channels along the inner mandrel, and a sealing element external to the inner mandrel, including connecting packer to tubular body, then running the packer and connected tubular body into the wellbore. In one aspect, the packer and connected tubular body may be placed along an open-hole portion of the wellbore. Tubular body may be a sand screen, with the sand screen comprising a base pipe, a surrounding filter medium, and alternate flow channels. The method includes setting a packer and injecting a gravel slurry into an annular region formed between the tubular body and the surrounding wellbore, and then further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow the gravel slurry to at least partially bypass sealing element of the packer.
US09404340B2

A downhole communication and control system configured for use in a non-sequential order of treating a borehole, the system includes a string having at least three ports including first, second, and third longitudinally spaced ports arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string; at least three frac sleeve systems including first, second, and third frac sleeve systems arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string and arranged to open and close the first, second, and third ports, respectively, each frac sleeve system having self-powered, electronically triggered first and second sleeves; and, communication signals to trigger the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems into moving the first and second sleeves to open and close the ports. Also included is a method of completing downhole operations in a non-sequential order.
US09404337B1

A caged ball fractionation plug for use in a wellbore with a crown engagement having a tapered nose cone and various load ring, slips, slip backups, lubricating spacers and seals can all be slidably engaged to the mandrel. Upon applying pressure, the slidably engaged components can be compressed against each other and the plug can expand and bite into the casing of the wellbore. The caged ball portion of the plug seats the ball internal to the plug to create two separate fractionation zones in the wellbore.
US09404335B2

The present invention relates to an annular barrier system (100) connected with a well head (40) via a well tubular structure (3), comprising a first annular barrier (1) and a second annular barrier (21) to be expanded in an annulus (2) between the well tubular structure and an inside wall (4) of a casing (20) or a borehole (5) downhole for providing zone isolation between a first zone (8) and a second zone (9), each annular barrier comprising a tubular part (6) extending in a longitudinal direction for mounting as part of the well tubular structure, an expandable sleeve (7) surrounding the tubular part and defining a space (13), an opening (11) for letting fluid into the space to expand the sleeve, and a first connection part (15) and a second connection part (16) connecting the expandable sleeve with the tubular part, and wherein the first connection part is arranged nearest to the well head, the system further comprising a flow line (17) fluidly connecting the well head with the opening for supplying fluid to the opening for expanding the expandable sleeve. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a well completion system and method.
US09404332B2

A well apparatus system that includes a wellhead, a tree, a tubing hanger, a tubing spool that is located between the wellhead and the tree, and a production isolator surrounded by the tree and the tubing spool. The tree component of this system can include a vertical or horizontal tree. More importantly, this system can be constructed in a number of different sequences. In addition, this well apparatus system allows for installation, retrieval, and/or work-over the tubing hanger and associated completion system without disturbance of the tree. The presented system also allows for installation and retrieval of the tree independent of the tubing hanger and associated completion system. Some embodiments can include valve-type mechanisms to serve as production environmental barriers. These mechanisms are integral to the production isolator.
US09404321B2

A modular tool body having upper and lower sections, a pair of longitudinal members define a central open region, the longitudinal members joined at one end having a lifting feature formed therein configured to accept a manipulator. The lifting feature is positioned such that when the modular tool body and a rig tool connected thereto are lifted by the manipulator, they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with a working drillpipe or other rig tool while minimizing possibility of the manipulator slipping off. The lower section includes a threaded end mating with a mating end of a rig tool, a central longitudinal bore, and an upper end formed to accept the lower ends of the longitudinal members of the upper section. Elongate slots in each longitudinal member define one or more manipulating handles. A pair of generally horizontal hand holds may be formed in each longitudinal member.
US09404316B2

A well tool apparatus for damping torsional vibration of a drill string comprises stabilizing members projecting radially outwards from a housing that is, in operation, rotationally integrated in the drill string, to stabilize the drill string by engagement with a borehole wall. The stabilizing members are displaceably mounted on the housing to permit limited angular movement thereof relative to the housing about its rotational axis. The well tool apparatus includes a hydraulic damping mechanism to damp angular displacement of the stabilizing members relative to the housing, thereby damping torsional vibration of the housing and the connected drill string, in use.
US09404312B2

A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two conical cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a conical cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle, and at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a negative back rake angle.
US09404308B1

Some embodiments relate to cutting element assemblies including a superabrasive cutting element that may be axially compressed to enhance the damage tolerance thereof, enclosed in an enclosure that exposes the superabrasive cutting element therethrough, enclosed in an enclosure that restricts rotation of the superabrasive cutting element, or combinations of the foregoing. Additionally, some embodiments relate to cutting element assemblies in which a superabrasive cutting element is mechanically fastened to a base, such as a substrate or directly to a bit body of a rotary drill bit. Some embodiments also relate to cutting element assemblies including one or more superabrasive cutting elements that are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the cutting element assembly, that may be axially compressed to enhance the damage tolerance thereof, that may be enclosed in an enclosure that exposes the superabrasive cutting element therethrough, or combinations thereof.
US09404306B2

A ladder is provided comprising a first pair of spaced apart rails and a plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. A pair of hooks are located such that each hook is positioned adjacent and upper end of an associated rail. A securing apparatus is coupled adjacent the upper end of the first pair of spaced apart rails. The securing apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart engaging members and may include a cross-member coupled therebetween. Each of the engagement members is pivotal with respect to an associated rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails. In one embodiment, the securing apparatus lacks any biasing members (e.g., springs or actuators) or locking members. The engagement members and hooks cooperatively encircle and overhead, generally horizontal support member to support and secure the ladder in a desired position.
US09404301B2

A tilt-up door for a building having an opening and a pair of substantially vertically juxtaposed channel members. The door can be pivotally coupled to carriages arranged for vertical movement along the vertically juxtaposed members. An actuator or actuators can be connected to the carriages to move the carriages along the vertically juxtaposed channel members. When the actuator or actuators are operated to move the carriages vertically along the vertically juxtaposed channel members.
US09404300B1

A hinge structure may comprise a first assembly including a central post with an outer surface and a first connector element on the central post for mounting on a first structure, a second assembly pivotally coupled to the first assembly and including a ring extending about the central post, a ring connector connected to the ring, and a second connector element on the ring for mounting on a second structure. A braking element may apply a selectable amount of resistance to pivot movement of the second connector element with respect to the first connector element and including a friction pad extending about a portion of the central post, a pressure band for pressing the friction pad against the central post, and a connecting structure connecting the ends of the band and being adjustable to move the ends closer toward each other and to relax the ends away from each other.
US09404282B2

A plastic, preferably recycled plastic, canopy leg anchor plate is used with a portable collapsible canopy unit. It encloses a canopy frame leg and covers the canopy leg's welded attached footplate, and, by ground pegging through the plate and/or placing weight on the plate, provides wind stabilization for the canopy unit. The plate can be molded into various decorative shapes for attractiveness, uniqueness and occupation recognition.
US09404278B2

A portable container is provided which comprises a passing room(s) allowing entry into a second area into a first area, the passing room having at least two openings with a walkway in-between. Barrier device(s) can be located in the walkway but not connected to the first or second opening. A control room(s) can also be provided, the control room being connected to the passing room(s).
US09404264B2

A support foot (1) for supporting a free standing structure on a flat roof includes a holding means (34; 62; 63) for holding a profiled section (40) to which other parts of said structure can be mounted. The support foot comprises a base part (2) with a guiding structure (22). The support foot (1) furthermore comprises a skid part (3; 6), which includes the holding means (34; 62; 63) for the profiled section (40) and which is slidably mounted on the guiding structure (22) of the base part (2) so as to position the holding means (34; 62,- 63) for the profiled section (40) in a desired angular position allowing to compensate for a possible slope of the flat roof. The support foot (1) also includes securing means for securing the skid part (3, 6) in said desired angular position on the base part (2).
US09404261B2

According to one aspect, a roofing system includes a plurality of insulation boards adapted for overlying a roof deck to form a layer of insulation. Each of the plurality of insulation boards includes a first polyisocyanurate foam having a first foam density. The roofing system further includes a plurality of cover boards adapted for overlying the layer of insulation. Each of the plurality of cover boards includes a second polyisocyanurate foam having a second foam density, and the second foam density is greater than the first foam density. Each of the insulation boards and cover boards may have a facer on at least one major surface. The second foam density may be selected to provide the cover boards with a compressive strength to resist deformation.
US09404257B2

An apparatus for spacing and stabilizing truss members is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated channel member having a middle portion, a first arm portion, and a second arm portion. The first arm portion and second arm portion extend outwardly from the middle portion. A plurality of U-shaped clamp members may be disposed along the length of the elongated channel member. At least one U-shaped clamp member can be attached to a central truss member providing a centered layout for spacing a first truss member in relation to a second truss member. A hinge member may pivotally attach the middle portion of the elongated channel member to the second arm portion, allowing the second arm portion to swing onto an additional third truss member.
US09404256B2

A system comprising a boom having a first end, a longitudinal length, and a slit that extends along the longitudinal length of the boom; a drum having an elliptic cross section and a longitudinal length; an attachment mechanism coupled with the first end of the boom and the drum such that the boom and the drum are substantially perpendicular relative to one another; an inner shaft having a longitudinal length, the inner shaft disposed within the drum, the longitudinal length of the inner shaft is aligned substantially parallel with the longitudinal length of the drum, the inner shaft at least partially rotatable relative to the drum, and the inner shaft is at least partially rotatable with the drum; and at least two cords coupled with the inner shaft and portions of the boom near the first end of the boom.
US09404253B2

A board includes a pattern to facilitate attachment of the board to a frame structure using fasteners. The pattern comprises a first array of first marks disposed in rows spaced apart a first predetermined distance, and a second array of second marks disposed in rows spaced apart a second predetermined distance apart, with the first and second marks being different, and with the first and second distances being different. The board may be used in a variety of construction applications, with the pattern facilitating the quick attachment of the board to the underlying frame by placing the fasteners using the first markings of the first array or the second markings of the second array.
US09404230B2

A shield is provided on top of a support column that protects liquid or debris from falling onto the support column from the structure above. Additionally, gaskets are provided around the center of the shield to contact components on top of the support column to further provide protection from liquid and debris. The shield is sloped and provides channels to guide liquid or debris and the outer most edge of the shield extends beyond the outer most surface of the support column in the radial direction whether the support column uses a cover or not. The shield may be in a rounded or quadrilateral form and is manufactured in segments to be connected upon installation using a clam shell type design. Mechanical connection schemes including a collar or fastener are provided to secure the shield segments in a connected state.
US09404229B2

The present invention relates to a composite tool comprising at least two milling tool holders, to a milling tool holder for such a composite tool and to a milling drum equipped with such milling tool holders. According to the present invention, a milling tool holder is utilized for supporting a tool replacement device during tool replacement of the milling tool in the milling tool holder that precedes it in the peripheral direction. To this end, according to the present invention, a supporting area is provided on the base element of the milling tool holder, which supporting area provides appropriate stabilized guidance for the tool replacement device.
US09404224B2

Paper products, such as hand towels, have high absorbency, high caliper, and good perceived softness. The paper products are made using a structuring fabric that has a high adjusted 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, with the contact area ratio and the volume of pockets being calculated on the basis of a non-rectangular, parallelogram unit cell.
US09404214B2

A method for treating a fabric for protection from ultraviolet radiation is disclosed which comprises the steps of dispensing a suspension of zinc oxide particles treated with an acid polymer into a washing machine during a time in which a fabric is being washed in the washing machine and mixing the treated zinc oxide particles and the fabric for the treated zinc oxide particles to bind to the fabric. Other methods for treating a fabric for protection from ultraviolet radiation are also disclosed.
US09404206B2

A feeder for a knitting machine includes a feeder arm with a dispensing area configured to feed a strand toward a knitting bed of the knitting machine. The feeder also includes a pushing member that is operably supported by the feeder arm. The pushing member is configured to push a portion of the knit component to provide clearance for the strand to be incorporated in a knit component.
US09404203B2

A blended yarn comprises a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. A coefficient of friction of the second fibers is greater than a coefficient of friction of the first fibers. Abrasion resistance characteristics of the second fibers are greater than abrasion resistance properties of the first fibers. A gripping ability of the second fibers is greater than a gripping ability of the first fibers. The plurality of second fibers are combined with the plurality of first fibers such that the first fibers extend along the length of the blended yarn and the second fibers do not extend along the length of the blended yarn at least a portion of the second fibers are engaged with and extend from the plurality of first fibers effectively to define surface characteristics of the blended yarn.
US09404192B2

Electrolytic acid or alkaline water having a NMR half line width using 17O of from about 45 to less than 51 Hz, and an oxide reduction potential of from −1000 to +200 mV, or from +600 to +1300 mV, topical compositions that contain such water, uses for such water to hydrate skin, deliver drugs and treat various skin and mucosal conditions, and methods and apparatus for manufacturing the water.
US09404186B2

A plurality of pre-formed controlled particles for use in an aerosol deposition method by which an aerosol with brittle material fine particles dispersed in a gas is sprayed toward a substrate to form a structure made of the brittle material fine particles. Each of the controlled particles includes an assembly packed with a plurality of fine particles which are not chemically bonded together, which include the brittle material fine particles, and have a mean primary particle diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 5 μm or less. The controlled particles have a mean circle-equivalent diameter of 20 μm or more.
US09404185B2

A method of smoothing the surface of a ceramic matrix composite material part that presents a surface that is undulating and rough. The method includes depositing a refractory vitreous coating on the surface of the part, the vitreous coating essentially containing silica, alumina, baryte, and lime.
US09404177B2

Embodiments of an obstructing member and methods for its use in a fluidized bed reactor are disclosed. The obstructing member comprises a plurality of receiving members, each receiving member comprising a tubular wall defining a passageway dimensioned to receive an internal reactor component, and a plurality of connecting elements connecting the receiving members, wherein the obstructing member occupies from 15-60% of a horizontal cross-section of a reaction chamber of the fluidized bed reactor.
US09404175B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a selection is made for a first major constituent, a second major constituent and a minor constituent for forming a desired material. The method can include mixing the first major constituent, the second major constituent and the minor constituent in a single mixing step to provide a mixture of constituents. The method can include drying the mixture of constituents to provide a dried mixture of constituents and calcining the dried mixture of constituents to provide a calcinated mixture of constituents. The method can include processing the calcinated mixture of constituents to provide a powder of constituents. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09404173B2

Methods of preparing a surface of a cast zirconium alloy substrate for oxidation, the method including hot isostatic pressing a cast substrate of near shape dimensions, heating the cast substrate, machining the cast substrate to desired shape dimensions, and treating the surface of the cast substrate to accept an oxide layer. in some examples, treating the surface of the cast substrate may include polishing the surface, peening the polished surface, and finishing the peened surface. Additional or alternative examples may include heat treating a cast substrate of near shape dimensions to define a homogenized grain structure within the cast substrate, machining the heat treated cast substrate to desired shape dimensions, and surface treating the machined cast substrate to modify its structure to define a recrystallized modified grain structure defining a reduced grain boundary size.
US09404168B2

A process for recovering a precious metal from ore includes adding process water containing thiocyanates to ore particles to obtain a pulp. The pulp having a basic pH is contacted with an oxidizing gas containing ozone; and the pulp is contacted with cyanide. Contacting the pulp with cyanide can include adding cyanide subsequently to contacting the pulp with the oxidizing gas containing ozone.
US09404162B2

According to the invention there is provided a strain of lactic acid bacteria of the genus Bifidobacteria obtainable by isolation from resected and washed feline gastrointestinal tract having a probiotic activity in animals. Methods of use and compositions comprising the Bifidobacteria of the present invention are also provided.
US09404158B2

[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED]An object of the present invention is to provide a novel tumor marker and use thereof. In more detail, the present invention provides a novel tumor marker, a method for measuring said tumor marker and a measurement kit, a method for detecting cancer using the same, a kit for detecting cancer, a method for screening a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for cancer, as well as a medicament such as cancer vaccine.[SOLUTION]According to the present invention, a method for measuring an alternative splicing variant of OATP1B3 mRNA in a sample to be examined is provided. Said measurement method comprises measuring mRNA comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing table in a sample to be examined isolated from living organism with differentiation from a mRNA comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. Said measurement method is useful for detecting cancer or screening a preventive and/or therapeutic agent.
US09404154B2

The present invention relates to amplification primers with a universal tag and sequencing primers comprising at least one non-natural nucleobase capable of hybridizing to a complementary non-natural nucleobase. The present invention further relates to amplification methods of nucleic acid amplification and sequencing using an amplification primer with a universal tag and sequencing primers, as well as kits and solid supports comprising such primers and tags.
US09404151B2

The present disclosure provides a non-contact real time micro Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) system comprising; a chip having a reaction chamber for holding a sample and an embedded metal heater below the reaction chamber for heating the sample; an optical unit comprising an associated LED driver and a photo detector amplifier placed above the chip to detect fluorescence; an induction heater mounted around the chip and inductively coupled to the metal heater; an infrared temperature sensor mounted below the chip for measuring a temperature of the metal heater, wherein the infrared temperature sensor is interfaced with a signal conditioner; and a controller interfaced with the signal conditioner and the induction heater for regulating the power to the induction heater based on feedback received from the infrared temperature sensor through the signal conditioner.
US09404150B2

Provided herein are products and processes for the amplification, detection and sequencing of short-stranded nucleic acid in the presence of a high background of long-stranded genomic material (e.g., host or maternal nucleic acids). The methods rely on the use of inside and outside primers introduced at varying concentrations, as well as universal amplification reactions that preferentially amplify short, low copy number nucleic acid.
US09404145B2

There has been a demand for a codon-optimized gene for the mutated catalytic domain of Oplophorus luciferase, which is capable of efficiently expressing a protein both in a cultured animal cell and Escherichia coli. There has also been a demand for a substrate coelenterazine analog showing a higher activity than that of native 19 kDa protein. The invention provides a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. According to the invention, bis-coelenterazine is used as a substrate coelenterazine analog suitable for the photoprotein encoded by the polynucleotide comprising the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
US09404143B2

Provided are methods and compositions which are useful for separating, isolating, detecting, and quantifying compounds of interest which have been modified chemically, enzymatically or catalytically from other compounds which have not been so modified. The modifications may take the form of functional groups which are gained, lost or retained by the compounds of interest.
US09404141B2

A method of detecting the presence or absence of a target microbe in a test sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a test mixture that includes organic micro particles in a form that promotes the formation of a microbial biofilm, operative amounts of essential vitamins and elements needed to support growth of the target microbe, and a metabolizable substrate which can be metabolized by the target microbe t the extent needed to support continued reproductive growth thereof, and which cannot be metabolized by other viable microbes in the test sample, whereupon a sensible characteristic of the sample is altered when the substrate is metabolized; b) providing a test sample obtained from a biological, environmental, or food source, and combining the test sample in unprocessed form with the test mixture to form an admixture: and c) detecting the presence or absence of target microbes in the sample based on the presence or absence of the detectable characteristic. The micro particles are in a relative amount within the test mixture that is effective to accelerate the formation of microbial biofilms within the admixture of the test sample and the test mixture.
US09404136B2

The invention relates to increasing the availability of fermentable sugars from plant biomass, such as glucose and xylose. As described herein, α-xylosidases can be employed with cellulases to enhance biomass conversion into free, fermentable sugar residues.
US09404126B2

The invention provides processes for the producing compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle, wherein said virus-like particle is a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) an oligonucleotide, wherein said oligonucleotide is packaged into said virus-like particle. The invention further provides processes for producing nucleotide compositions comprising oligonucleotides suitable to be used in the processes mentioned before. The invention further provides nucleotide compositions obtainable by the processes of the invention and uses thereof. The invention further provides compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle, wherein said virus-like particle is a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) an oligonucleotide, wherein said oligonucleotide is packaged into said virus-like particle, wherein said compositions are obtainable by the processes of the invention and wherein said compositions preferably comprises a purity of at least 98%, most preferably of at least 99%.
US09404124B2

Provided is a method of producing an iPS cell, comprising bringing (a) Oct3/4 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, (b) Klf4 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, and (c) Sox2 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, as well as (d1) L-Myc or a nucleic acid that encodes the same and/or (d2) a functional inhibitor of p53, into contact with a somatic cell. It is preferable that (a) a nucleic acid that encodes Oct3/4, (b) a nucleic acid that encodes Klf4, (c) a nucleic acid that encodes Sox2, (d1) a nucleic acid that encodes L-Myc and (e) a nucleic acid that encodes Lin28 or Lin28b be inserted into an episomal vector having loxP sequences placed in the same orientation on the 5′ and 3′ sides of a vector constituent essential for the replication of the vector, that (d2) a nucleic acid that encodes an shRNA against p53 be inserted into a vector ensuring transient expression (plasmid vector and the like), and that all these nucleic acids be transferred to a somatic cell.
US09404122B2

The invention generally regards methods for providing endothelial cells and precursors of endothelial cells from a variety of cell sources, such as pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are therapeutic compositions including the provided endothelial cells, and methods of using them for the treatment of subjects.
US09404106B2

A method for preventing, reducing and/or eliminating the fouling of a composite material is provided, the composite material comprising (1) a plurality of conductive or semiconductive nanotubes, which are aligned parallel to one another, and (2) a matrix arranged between the conductive or semiconductive nanotubes, the composite material in the form of an isoporous membrane with nanopores which correspond to the pores of the conductive or semiconductive nanotubes and optionally to the pores of the matrix arranged between the conductive or semiconductive nanotubes, the method comprising applying an electric field to the composite material, wherein the fouling is prevented, reduced and/or eliminated at the surface, at and in the pores of the composite material.
US09404100B2

The present application provides for compositions comprising high concentrations of acid α-glucosidase in combination with an active site-specific chaperone for the acid α-glucosidase, and methods for treating Pompe disease in a subject in need thereof, that includes a method of administering to the subject such compositions. The present application also provides methods for increasing the in vitro and in vivo stability of an acid α-glucosidase enzyme formulation.
US09404090B2

The invention relates to a cell line in which an expression construct is introduced into genomic DNA, the expression construct including: (a) a promoter operable in animal cells and heterologous to adenoviruses; and (b) a modified adenovirus El coding gene sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32 operatively linked to the promoter. The cell line of the invention is less likely to produce a replication competent adenovirus (RCA). The adenovirus producing cell line of the invention has a low possibility of producing RCA due to homologous recombination, when compared with conventional cell lines. Therefore, this makes it possible to regulate the required amount of virus during gene therapy using the adenovirus and prevent tissue damage and toxic effects caused by overproduction of the adenovirus. Also, the cell line of the invention shows superior adenovirus producing ability, as compared with an HEK 293 cell which is one of conventional adenovirus producing cell lines.
US09404083B2

A technique is needed which can amplify NK cells in vitro and prepare optimum number of NK cells for the adoptive immunotherapy.A method for amplifying NK cells is provided which comprises steps of: preparing cell population which is comprised of NK cells, removing T cells from the cell population which is comprised of NK cells, and, after removal of T cells, cultivating the remaining cells in a medium supplemented with 2500 to 2831 IU/mL of IL-2. The method for amplifying NK cells of the present invention may comprise a step of removing hematopoietic progenitor cells from the cell population. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for adoptive immunotherapy, comprising NK cells which are prepared by the amplifying method of the present invention.
US09404080B2

The present invention relates to proliferating human taste cells, wherein the cells are the cells deposited under the DSMZ deposit accession number DSM ACC3169 or taste cells derived thereof. The present invention further relates to the proliferating human taste cells of the invention for use in research. Further, the present invention relates to in vitro methods for analyzing the signalling response of taste cells to a molecule involved in taste signalling, in vitro methods of identifying agents capable of eliciting a taste response in taste cells as well as in vitro methods of identifying modulators of taste signalling.
US09404079B2

Well-defined, xeno-free culture media which comprise a TGF-beta isoform or the chimera formed between IL6 and the soluble IL6 receptor (IL6RIL6), which are capable of mainataining stem cells, and particularly, human embryonic stem cells, in an undifferentiated state are provided. Also provided are cell cultures comprising the culture media and the stem cells and methods of expanding and deriving embryonic stem cells in such well-defined, xeno-free culture media. In addition, the present invention provides methods of differentiating ESCs or EBs formed therefrom for the generation of lineage specific cells.
US09404074B2

An incubation apparatus, including a temperature-controlled room adjusted to be a predetermined environment condition, and incubating a sample of an incubation container inside the temperature-controlled room, includes a carrying apparatus, an imaging section, and an image analyzing section. The carrying apparatus carries the incubation container in the temperature-controlled room. The imaging section photographs a whole of the incubation container inside the temperature-controlled room. The image analyzing section analyzes an operation state of the incubation apparatus or an incubating environment state of the sample based on a total observing image of the incubation container photographed at the imaging section, and outputs an error signal notifying an abnormality of the operation state or the incubating environment state in accordance with the analysis result.
US09404068B2

The present application relates to anti-foam compositions and methods of making and using such compositions as well as consumer products that comprise such compositions and the use of same. Such anti-foam compositions have low viscosities yet are effective antifoamers.
US09404067B2

The present invention generally relates to methods for removing silica or silicate deposits comprising contacting a cleaning composition with a surface in contact with a liquid containing silica or silicates, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a salt of a nitrogen base having a fluoro inorganic anion. In particular, these methods for removing silica or silicate deposits can be used in steam generators, evaporators, heat exchangers, and the like that are used in produced water plant unit operations.
US09404063B2

A system and process are described for clean separation of biocrudes and water by-products from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) product mixtures of organic and biomass-containing feedstocks at elevated temperatures and pressures. Inorganic compound solids are removed prior to separation of biocrude and water by-product fractions to minimize formation of emulsions that impede separation. Separation may be performed at higher temperatures that reduce heat loss and need to cool product mixtures to ambient. The present invention thus achieves separation efficiencies not achieved in conventional HTL processing.
US09404056B2

An apparatus for carrying out a carbon monoxide shift reaction, which includes converting carbon monoxide and water into carbon dioxide and hydrogen, the converting proceeding in a liquid phase with removal of a product gas including carbon dioxide and hydrogen, is provided. The apparatus includes dry methanol, as a first solvent in a first region for an absorption of carbon monoxide with simultaneous formation of methyl formate, and water, as a second solvent in a second region for a liberation of the product gas in order to avoid losses of hydrogen in a carbon dioxide region.
US09404052B2

The present invention relates to the application of ionic liquids individually or in formulation to dry and desalt crudes oils having API gravities in the range of 8 to 20 (median, heavy and extra-heavy) when applied at concentrations ranging from 500 and up to 5000 ppm. The ionic liquids have a cation consisting of quaternary ammonium, wherein the substituents R, R1 and R2 are independent radicals represented by alkyl chains including 2 to 8 carbon atoms; and anion selected from the group consisting of ethylsulfate, methylsulfate and chloride.
US09404048B2

The present invention provides a novel process and system in which a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen synthesis gas, or syngas, is converted into hydrocarbon mixtures composed of high quality distillates, gasoline components, and lower molecular weight gaseous olefins in one reactor or step. The invention utilizes a novel supported bimetallic ion complex catalyst for conversion, and provides methods of preparing such novel catalysts and use of the novel catalysts in the process and system of the invention.
US09404044B2

A selective removal of chlorine and phosphorus that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
US09404035B2

A fluorescent material-containing sealing resin (20) production method of the present invention includes: a kneading step of kneading a powder mixture (24), which has been obtained by mixing a powder of silicone resins (21) and a powder of fluorescent materials (22) together, while melting the powder mixture (24) by heat, so that a kneaded mixture (25) is obtained; and an extruding step of extruding the kneaded mixture (25) in a form of a cord from an output port (37b) of a twin screw extruder (37).
US09404031B2

Stabilizers that include hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymers may be utilized as compositions or in methods for controlling particulate migration in a subterranean formation. For example, a method may include providing a treatment fluid that comprises a base fluid and a hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymer (HMAP), the HMAP comprising a plurality of hydrophobic modifications on an amine-containing polymer; introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation comprising a plurality of particulates; and allowing the HMAP to coat at least some of the particulates.
US09404030B2

A swellable article, including a matrix material and an exfoliatable graphene-based material disposed in the matrix material. The exfoliatable graphene-based material is operatively arranged to facilitate swelling of the swellable article upon exposure to a selected fluid by sorbing particles in the fluid. The swelling enables the swellable article to engage an adjacent structure. Methods of making and using a swellable article are also included.
US09404024B2

An adhesive composition includes an acrylic copolymer having at least one alkyl group, at least one hydroxyl group, and at least one furyl based group; and a curing agent.
US09404018B2

A polyol having the formula Si(O—R1—OH)m(O—R2)nR3. Each R1 is a divalent radical derived from diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, or tripropylene glycol, each R2 is an aliphatic group, and R3 is an alkyl group or aromatic group. The value m is 2 or 3 and n is 0 or 1. A process of making the above polyol by: providing a reactant having the formula Si(O—R2)3R3, and reacting the reactant with a diol having the formula HO—R1—OH. An antifouling coating comprising a thermoset formed by reacting a polyisocyanate with the above polyol. The coating is not a foam.
US09404010B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a multilayer coating film, capable of achieving excellent curability under low-temperature, short-time conditions, and forming a multilayer coating film having excellent chipping resistance and an excellent finished appearance. This method comprises sequentially applying an aqueous first colored coating composition (X), an aqueous second colored coating composition (Y), and a clear coating composition (Z) to a substrate, and simultaneously bake-curing the resulting multilayer coating film. In this method, the aqueous first colored coating composition (X) comprises an aqueous film-forming resin (A) and a specific blocked polyisocyanate compound (B), and the clear coating composition (Z) comprises a hydroxy-containing acrylic resin (K) having a hydroxy value in a specific range, a polyisocyanate compound (L), and an organometallic catalyst (M) containing a metal compound (M1) selected from a specific range and an amidine compound (M2).
US09404009B2

The present invention relates to novel polymer dispersants and to a liquid compositions containing solid fine particles, such as organic or inorganic pigments and fillers, and the polymer dispersants. The polymer dispersants have at least one functional moiety of the formula I, which is bound to one of the termini or to the backbone of the polymer: (I) where # indicates the point of attachment to the terminus and/or to the polymer backbone; k is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, m is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, A is a chemical bond or a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkylene, —O—(C2-C6 alkylene), —C(═O—O—(C2-C6 alkylene), —NR3—(C2-C6 alkylene) and C(═O)—NR3—(C2-C6 alkylene), where the C2-C6 alkylene part is attached to Q; Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NH— and —S—; R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —COOCH3, —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)2, —NO2, —S(═O)2R4, C1-C20 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, halogen, aryloxy, aryl, heteroaryl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —S(═O)2R4, C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C1-C4-alkyl and heteroaryl-C1-C4-alkyl; R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —S(═O)2R4, C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; R4 is selected from the group consisting of OH, —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)2, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, aryl and heteroaryl.
US09404007B2

Aqueous wax dispersions useful as surface modifiers for paints, inks and coatings. More particularly, aqueous particulate wax dispersions useful as surface modifiers to provide improved properties in primers, paints, inks and other coating formulations. The dispersions are stable, substantially homogenous, have a high solids concentration at low viscosities, and comply with the applicable FDA regulations for use in food packaging applications.
US09403999B2

An aqueous coating composition containing a compound of formula (I) wherein R1 is a C2-C20 hydrocarbyl group; and R2 and R3 independently are C1-C10 alkyl or HO(CH2CH2O)xCH2—, wherein x represents an integer from 0-5.
US09403998B2

A composite structure disclosed includes a base (X) and a layer (Y) stacked on the base (X). The layer (Y) includes a reaction product (R). The reaction product (R) is a reaction product formed by a reaction at least between a metal oxide (A) and a phosphorus compound (B). A peak for a binding energy of an oxygen-atom 1s orbital observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the layer (Y) is located at 532.0 eV or higher, and the peak has a half width of less than 2.0 eV.
US09403996B2

The present invention relates to semiconducting pigments based on flake-form substrates which have a doped tin dioxide layer on the surface and to the use of the pigments in paints, coatings, printing inks, plastics, security applications, floorcoverings, films, formulations, ceramic materials, glasses, paper, for laser marking, in thermal protection, in dry preparations, in pigment preparations and in particular as varistor pigment.
US09403993B2

Disclosed are corrosion resistant compositions and processes for the preparation thereof that involve the application of a plurality of layers comprised of at least one tetraalkoxysilane and at least one functionalized silane layer to a supporting substrate.
US09403991B2

The present invention relates to a hard coating composition, and, more particularly, to a hard coating composition used in forming a hard coating film exhibiting high hardness and excellent properties. The hard coating composition can be used to form a high-hardness hard coating film that is not easily curled.
US09403988B2

The present invention relates to an economic process for preparing surface-reacted calcium carbonate. The present invention further relates to a surface-reacted calcium carbonate having an increased specific BET surface area, and the use of a process for adjusting the specific BET surface area.
US09403985B2

Cyanine dye compounds having a substituted methine moiety that are nucleic acid stains, particularly for fluorescent staining of RNA, including compounds having the formula where R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl, sulfoalkyl, carboxyalkyl or C1-C6 alkoxy; each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, fused benzo, trifluoromethyl, amino, sulfo, carboxy and halogen, that is optionally further substituted; at least one of R3, R4, and R5 is an alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cyclic, or heterocyclic moiety that is optionally substituted by alkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, carboxy, nitro, or halogen; and the remaining R3, R4 or R5 are hydrogen; X is S, O, or Se; and D is a substituted or unsubstituted pyridinium, quinolinium or benzazolium moiety.
US09403984B2

The present invention relates to a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing 12 wt % or more of zirconium salt in terms of zirconium oxide and 2 wt % or more of phosphorus compound in terms of phosphorus. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber, and the method includes treating a regenerated collagen fiber with a zirconium salt to incorporate the zirconium salt into the regenerated collagen fiber, and then treating the regenerated collagen fiber with a phosphorus compound to incorporate the phosphorus compound into the regenerated collagen fiber, thereby obtaining a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing 12 wt % or more of zirconium salt in terms of zirconium oxide and 2 wt % or more of phosphorus compound in terms of phosphorus. The present invention also relates to a fiber bundle for hair including 30 to 100 wt % of the water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber and 0 to 70 wt % of polyester-based fiber.
US09403983B2

The present invention provides a case for installing semiconductor element for use in LED etc. formed from a white thermosetting silicone resin composition and a cured material thereof that have low light transmittance rate, excellent moldability and are difficult to cause a burr to occur in molding. Provided is a white thermosetting silicone resin composition for a light-emitting semiconductor device, comprising: (A) a resin organopolysiloxane having a hydroxy group, and exhibiting a weight-average molecular weight of 500 to 20,000 based on polystyrene conversion, (B) an organopolysiloxane having a straight-chain diorganopolysiloxane residue, (C) a white pigment, (D) an inorganic filler other than (C), (E) a silane coupling agent in which a refractive index difference from the resin organopolysiloxane (A) is higher than or equal to 0.02 and a boiling point at atmospheric pressure is higher than or equal to 200° C., and (F) a curing catalyst.
US09403982B2

A curable silicone composition comprises at least (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups in a molecule, (B) an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule, (C) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst, (D) an approximately spherical silica fine powder having an average particle diameter of 50 μm or less and (E) glass fibers having an average fiber length of 1,000 μm or less and an average fiber diameter of 30 μm or less. A cured product produced by curing the curable silicone composition is also disclosed.
US09403980B2

A polyamide resin composition includes (A) a polyamide resin in an amount of about 30 to about 80% by weight, (B) inorganic filler in an amount of about 10 to about 60% by weight, (C) white pigment in an amount of about 5 to about 50% by weight; and (D) photostabilizer in an amount of about 0.05 to about 2 parts by weight and (E) inorganic fine particles in an amount of about 0.05 to about 3 parts by weight, wherein each of (D) and (E) is based on about 100 parts by weight of the polyamide resin (A). The polyamide resin composition can have good light reflectance and yellowing resistance.
US09403971B2

Rubber composition for a tread, which enables not only improving handling stability, abrasion resistance, and fuel economy in a balanced manner, but also improving wet grip performance and processability in a balanced manner, in a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises a terminally-modified solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber, a butadiene rubber synthesized in the presence of a rare earth catalyst, and a particular type of reinforcing agent.
US09403970B2

A styrene based resin composition having a low linear thermal expansion coefficient and high formability, a formed article thereof, and an optical element made from the formed article are provided. The formed article is produced by forming a styrene based resin composition containing a styrene based resin and silica particles, wherein the number average particle diameter of primary particles of the silica particles is 0.5 nm or more and 40 nm or less, and the content of the silica particles is 40 percent by volume or more and 75 percent by volume or less relative to a total of the styrene based resin and the silica particles.
US09403968B2

A heavy release additive for a release sheet comprises a condensation reaction product of dehydrative condensation reaction between (A) a polydiorganosiloxane of average polymerization degree of 500 to 10,000 and has at least one hydroxy or hydrolysable group per molecule and (B) a polyorganosiloxane resin composed of a (SiO4/2) unit and a (R3SiO1/2) unit (wherein R's independently represent a C1-12 monovalent hydrocarbon group or a C2-6 alkenyl group each having no aliphatic unsaturated bond), has a ratio of the (R3SiO1/2) unit to the (SiO4/2) unit of 0.6 to 1.2 by mole, and contains the hydroxy group and the hydrolysable group in the total content of 2.1 mass % or more and less than 10.0 mass %. The heavy release additive can have the effect of achieving an extremely great peel force compared with cases in which no additive is added.
US09403957B2

A sealing material is provided, which maintains excellent sealing property for a long period of time. The sealing material of the invention is characterized by being prepared by vulcanizing and foaming a mixture containing a rubber component containing a copolymer rubber of ethylene, an α-olefin having 3 or more carbon atoms, and a non-conjugated diene, a vulcanizing agent, and a blowing agent, wherein the mixture contains a thermoplastic resin having a melting point of 80° C. or less.
US09403946B2

The present invention relates to semiaromatic and semicrystalline thermoplastic polyimides obtained by polymerization of at least one aromatic compound comprising two anhydride functions and/or carboxylic acid and/or ester derivatives thereof and a diamine comprising between 13 and 22 carbon atoms. These polyimides may be converted into plastic articles by various methods, such as injection-molding.
US09403945B2

Polyhexahydrotriazine (PHT) and polyhemiaminal (PHA) materials form highly cross-linked polymers which can be used as binder resins in composite materials. A filler element functionalized with a primary amine group can be covalently bonded to the PHA/PHT polymer resins. Example filler elements include, without limitation, carbon nanotubes, silica materials, carbon and glass fibers, and nanoparticles. Filler materials are incorporated into polymeric materials to improve the mechanical strength or other characteristics of the polymeric material for various applications. Typical composite materials use thermosetting materials that, once set, are intractable. PHT and PHA materials can be reverted to starting materials by exposure to acids. Thus, composite components formed using these materials are recyclable.
US09403941B2

Provided herein are long circulating material free (LCMF) poloxamer compositions and uses thereof. In particular, provided are LCMF poloxamer 188 compositions and uses thereof. Also provided are supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) methods and high pressure (subcritical) methods for preparing poloxamer compositions, particularly the LCMF poloxamer compositions.
US09403931B2

The present invention relates to iron (III) complexes of the formula Fe(L)x(Y)3-x, where the ligand L has the formula (I). Such complexes are especially suitable as a catalyst for two-component polyurethane compositions. The invention also relates to two-component polyurethane compositions comprising at least one polyisocyanate as the first component, at least one polyol as the second component and at least one iron (III) complex of this kind as a catalyst. In addition, the invention relates to various uses of these two-component polyurethane compositions.
US09403929B2

The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of acrylic polymer beads, said process encompassing the step of washing the acrylic polymer beads with purified water.
US09403926B2

The present invention is directed to a process of polymerizing propylene in at least three stages. In the first, and optionally in the second, polymerization stage propylene, ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms are introduced into the polymerization reactors as fresh monomer feeds. In the third polymerization stage propylene and optionally ethylene is introduced as fresh monomer feed.
US09403923B2

A process for preparing a polyethylene wax by polymerization of ethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system composed of titanium tetrachloride and dialkylaluminium halide, wherein the polymerization temperature is in the range from 170 to 200° C., the polymerization is carried out essentially in the absence of solvents and the Al/Ti molar ratio is less than 1.6, gives a wax having the following property profile: dropping point of from 115 to 125° C.; penetration number of not more than 1 mm·10−1; viscosity at 150° C. of less than 60 mPas; density of from 0.945 to 0.960 g/cm3 at 23° C.; molar mass of less than 1500 g/mol and crystallinity of more than 70%.
US09403913B2

Anti-VASA antibodies (mAbs), particularly humanized mAbs that specifically bind to VASA with high affinity, are disclosed. The amino acid sequences of the CDRs of the light chains and the heavy chains, as well as consensus sequences for these CDRs, of these anti-VASA mAbs are provided. The disclosure also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the anti-VASA mAbs, expression vectors, host cells, methods for making the anti-VASA mAbs, and methods for expressing the anti-VASA mAbs. Finally, methods of using the anti-VASA mAbs to isolate and/or purify cells expressing VASA are disclosed.
US09403910B2

The disclosure provides, among other aspects, neutralizing antibodies and portions thereof that bind to ActRIIB and uses for same.
US09403900B2

Provided herein are antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to the fusion (F) protein of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Also provided are methods for of prevention, treatment and diagnosis of viral infection and/or the treatment of one more symptoms of RSV-mediated disease. Methods of generating antibodies that immunospecifically bind RSV F protein also are provided.
US09403883B2

An object of the present invention is to create a novel engineered Protein A ligand having better antibody dissociation properties in the presence of an acid than conventional engineered Protein A ligands and a further object of the present invention is to create a novel engineered Protein A ligand having higher alkali resistance. The present invention is to provide a protein having an affinity for an immunoglobulin, including an amino acid sequence derived from any of E, D, A, B and C domains of Protein A, wherein at least one Gly residue in the amino acid sequence is replaced with an amino acid other than Ala, and the protein has a lower affinity for an Fab region of an immunoglobulin than a protein including an amino acid sequence in which the Gly residue is replaced with Ala. Also, the present invention is to provide the protein having an affinity for an immunoglobulin, which has improved chemical stability in an alkaline condition compared to the corresponding domain.
US09403879B2

Provided herein are nucleic acid sequences that encode novel consensus amino acid sequence of HBV core protein, as well as genetic constructs/vectors and vaccines that express said protein sequences. Also provided herein are methods for generating an immune response against HBV using the nucleic acid sequences that are provided.
US09403876B2

A composition which is reversible inhibitor of at least one neuron-specific PDZ domain comprising wherein R is a molecular transporter with or without a linker amino acid; R1 is at least about one amino acid covalently bound; and, R2 is isoleucine, leucine, alanine, phenylalanine, or valine, and methods of use.
US09403870B2

The invention is directed to methods for extracting phosvitin from egg yolk involving contacting the egg yolk or egg yolk protein granules with a solution having a salt concentration of about 10% to form a mixture; optionally, heating the mixture; adjusting the pH of the mixture to separate phosvitin from other proteins; recovering the phosvitin. The phosvitin extract may be dephosphorylated and hydrolyzed to produce phosvitin phosphopeptides.
US09403868B2

The invention relates to crystalline tripeptide keto epoxide compounds, methods of their preparation, and related pharmaceutical compositions.
US09403867B2

The present invention relates to particulate forms of anamorelin monohydrochloride or a composition comprising anamorelin monohydrochloride having controlled chloride content, preferably isolated in an amorphous and/or fine particulate state, processes for making the particulate forms, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the particulate forms.
US09403866B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for increasing telomerase activity in cells. Such compositions include pharmaceutical formulations. The methods and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in cells or tissue of a patient. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and for enhancing proliferation of stem and progenitor cells.
US09403862B2

Provided are methods for the efficient stereoselective formation of glycosidic bonds, without recourse to prosthetic or directing groups.
US09403843B2

The invention provides for novel cysteine protease inhibitors and compositions comprising novel cysteine protease derivatives. The invention further provides for methods for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases comprising administration novel cysteine protease inhibitors or compositions comprising novel cysteine protease inhibitors. In some embodiments, the cysteine protease inhibitors are calpain inhibitors.
US09403841B2

The present invention relates to novel chemical compounds, to methods for synthesis of such compounds, and to the use of these novel compounds in the synthesis of other chemical compounds that, inter alia, may be used in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, and for eliciting enhancing effects on sexual behavior. The invention also relates to remarkable biological properties of the novel compounds in their capacity of inducing aggressive behavior.
US09403835B2

The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) as M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators for the treatment of diseases mediated by the muscarinic M1 mediator.
US09403830B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein A1, A2, L1 and B are as defined herein. The compounds of formula (I) are useful as inhibitors of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) and treating LTA4H related disorders. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I), methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, and processes for preparing these compounds.
US09403828B2

Purine scaffold Hsp90 inhibitors are useful in therapeutic applications and as radioimaging ligands.
US09403827B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): (I) as described herein, pharmaceutical preparations comprising such compounds, uses and methods of use for such compounds in the treatment of a disorder or a disease mediated by the activity of as MDM2 and/or MDM4, and combinations comprising such compounds.
US09403821B2

A method for making the compound is set forth utilizing the starting material
US09403820B2

Polymorphs of chemical compounds that modulate kinase activity, including PI3K activity, and chemical compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment of diseases and conditions associated with kinase activity, including PI3K activity, are described herein.
US09403818B2

This invention provides novel 4-oxoquinolizine compounds and their uses for a series of broad-spectrum antibiotics having no cross-resistance to existing or emerging classes of antibiotics. In addition the novel 4-oxoquinolizine compounds are useful against CDC Category A and B pathogens The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising certain 4-oxoquinolizines in combination with subinhibitory concentrations of polymyxin B against clinical isolates which are resistant to quinolones, carbapenems and other antimicrobial agents.
US09403807B2

The present invention is directed to compounds of the Formula I as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that are useful for treating aldosterone-mediated diseases. The invention furthermore relates to processes for preparing compounds of the Formula I, to their use for the therapy and prophylaxis of the abovementioned diseases and for preparing pharmaceuticals for this purpose, and to pharmaceutical compositions which comprise compounds of the Formula I.
US09403803B2

This invention is directed to a compound of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and X are as defined herein. The compounds of Formula I are useful as receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors and can be used to treat such diseases as cancer, blood vessel proliferative disorders, fibrotic disorders, mesangial cell proliferative disorders and metabolic diseases.
US09403801B2

The present invention provides novel heteroaryl compounds, pharmaceutical acceptable salts and formulations thereof useful in preventing, treating or lessening the severity of a protein kinase-mediated disease. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of protein kinase-mediated disease.
US09403798B2

There is provided a novel triazinone compound that has an excellent T-type voltage-dependent calcium channel inhibitory activity and is specifically useful for treatment of pain. A compound of Formula (I), a tautomer of the compound, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof: where each substituent is defined in detail in the description or claims, for example R1 is H or C1-6 alkoxy, etc., each of L1 and L2 is independently a single bond or NR2, etc., L3 is C1-6 alkylene, etc., A is C6-14 aryl or 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl which is optionally substituted, etc., B is C3-11 cycloalkylene, etc., D is C6-14 aryl or 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl which is optionally substituted, etc.
US09403792B2

Described herein are compounds that activate pyruvate kinase, for use in a method for increasing lifetime of the red blood cells, for regulating 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels in blood and for treating sickle cell anemia.
US09403789B2

Benzofuran-containing amino acid compounds are provided that are potent inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. The compounds have the general structure where at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 is —S(O)n—(CH2)0-3-(benzofuranyl), —(CH2)1-5—N(R)(—SO2-benzofuranyl), —C(O)n—(CH2)0-3-(benzofuranyl), —(CH2)1-5—N(R)(C(═O)-(benzofuranyl), or C1-C6 alkylene-(benzofuranyl). Pharmaceutical compositions containing the inhibitors are provided and these compositions can act as boosters to improve the pharmacokinetics, enhance the bioavailability, and enhance the therapeutic effect of drugs that undergo in vivo degradation by cytochrome P450 enzymes.
US09403787B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing the corrosion of a reactor and reducing waste in the production of 2-furaldehyde from a sugar raw material containing a hexose as a constituent component, and another object of the invention is to provide an industrially advantageous method for producing 2-furaldehyde, which suppresses a decrease in the activity of a catalyst in a case of using an acid catalyst and provides a higher yield. The present invention relates to a method for producing 2-furaldehyde comprising heating a sugar raw material containing a hexose as a constituent component in an aprotic polar solvent in the presence of a solid acid catalyst.
US09403785B2

The present invention provides a non-solvated amorphous form of (2α,5β,7β,10β,13α)-4-acetoxy-13-({(2R,3S)-3[ (tert-butoxy carbonyl) amino]-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoyl}oxy)-1-hydroxy-7,10-dimethoxy-9-oxo-5,20-epoxytax-11-en-2-yl benzoate or Cabazitaxel (I), and process for preparation thereof. The present application also provides a non-solvated amorphous form of (2α,5β,7β,10β,13α)-4-acetoxy-13-({(2R,3S)-3[ (tert-butoxy carbonyl) amino]-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoyl}oxy)-1-hydroxy-7,10-dimethoxy-9-oxo-5,20-epoxytax-11-en-2-yl benzoate or Cabazitaxel (I) having an XRPD pattern as per FIG. 1, and IR spectrum as per FIG. 3 and is useful as an active pharmaceutical in a pharmaceutical composition comprising thereof and has anti-cancer activity.
US09403773B2

The present invention provides a quinolone compound represented by General Formula (1) or a salt thereof, wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, etc.; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, etc.; R3 represents a phenyl group optionally being substituted with one or more substituents, etc.; R4 represents a halogen atom; R5 represents a hydrogen atom or halogen atom; R6 represents a hydrogen atom; and R7 represents a hydroxyl group, etc. The quinolone compound have a functional improvement effect, which suppresses progression of neurological dysfunction by inhibiting the chronic progression of Parkinson's disease or protecting dopamine neurons from the disease etiology, thereby prolonging the period before first administration begins.
US09403760B2

Disclosed are compounds of the general formula I and II (as further defined herein) are useful in the production of inhibitors of sphingolipid synthesis the production of sphingolipids. Suitable sphingolipids, include, but not limited to, sphingosine and compounds incorporating sphingosine or that may use sphingosine as an intermediate or a starting material in their synthesis (including, but not limited to, sphingosine-1-P, ceramide, gangliosides and sphingomyelin). In one contemplated use, compounds of the general formula I and II are useful in the production of sphingosine. In another contemplated use, compounds of the general formula I and II are useful in the production of a sphingofugin. Methods of manufacturing each of the above compounds are also provided.
US09403758B2

Antibacterial compounds of formula (I) are provided: as well as stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of treating bacterial infections by the administration of such compounds; and processes for the preparation of such compounds.
US09403734B2

A method and integrated reactor system are provided for producing one or more organic acids, organic acid degradation compounds, and combinations thereof, from various types of biomass, including sludge from a pulp and paper mill.
US09403728B2

A flame-retardant batch, and the use thereof, primarily contains—at least 30% by weight of a coarse-grain olivine raw material with a forsterite content of, e.g. at least 70% by weight and having grain sizes of, e.g. 100% by weight over 0.1 mm, —at least 35% by weight in magnesia in meal form with grain sizes of, e.g. 100% by weight.
US09403726B2

A process for the preparation of a ceramic or glass ceramic shaped article using stereolithography and using a slip based on a radically polymerizable binder, polymerization initiator and filler, which comprises (A) at least one acidic monomer of general formula I (B) photoinitiator, and (C) ceramic and/or glass ceramic particles.
US09403724B2

A ceramic material for radome is illustrated comprising: —about 80-95% (% wt) of Si3N4; about 5-15% (wt %) of magnesium aluminosilicates including 2.5-12.5% (wt %) of SiO2, 0.5-3% (wt %) of MgO and 2-6% (wt %) of Al2O3; and having a density not lower than 2.5 g/cm3 and a dielectric constant not exceeding 6.5. A process for producing a radome is also illustrated.
US09403718B2

Disclosed is a process for calcining active blending material involving feeding material outside of a kiln head and the blending material obtained. The process comprises feeding material from outside of kiln head of rotary kiln into inside of kiln hood and to grate cooler, wherein the material is coal gangue, shale, clay, peat, mud and the like which can form active cement component through low temperature calcining, and calcining the material at low temperature. Disclosed also is a cement production apparatus for carrying out the process provided, comprising feeder nose(s) provided on the kiln hood and/or grate cooler for feeding the material.
US09403712B2

Provided herein are conductive glass-metal compositions, as well as methods of making and using such compositions. In one example, the compositions include gold (Au) doped lithium-borate glasses shown to exhibit a transition from ionic to electronic conduction within the same sample. This is achieved via appropriate heat treatment, and particularly by heat treatment after annealing, wherein the post-annealing heat treatment is performed at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (Tg). The methods described herein are believed to introducing polarons formed from the trapping of electrons at partially ionized gold atoms. This unique electrical response provides new functionality to this class of nanocomposites. Additionally, increased thermal conductivity can be provided to an otherwise low conductive glass composition using the inventive methods and other subject matter provided herein.
US09403711B2

A cover window manufacturing apparatus includes a plurality of fixed plates, a plurality of moving plates, a plurality of molds and a driver. The plurality of fixed plates is layered and spaced apart at a distance from each other. The plurality of moving plates is layered, spaced apart at a distance from each other and respectively disposed under the plurality of fixed plates. A plurality of connection members integrally connects the plurality of moving plates with each other. The plurality of molds is respectively provided on the plurality of moving plates, and inner spaces for molding the cover window are respectively defined in the plurality of molds. The driver is coupled to one of the plurality of moving plates, and is configured to move the plurality of moving plates towards the plurality of fixed plates such that the plurality of molds are pressed to the plurality of fixed plates.
US09403704B2

There is provided a water treatment method using a water treatment flocculant that suffers from minimal secondary contamination with flocculation residues and contains an alkaline solution of a phenolic resin. A water treatment method involving the addition of a flocculant to water to be treated and subsequent membrane separation treatment. The flocculant contains an alkaline solution of a phenolic resin having a melting point in the range of 130° C. to 220° C. The water treatment flocculant is produced by a resole-type second-order reaction in the presence of an alkaline catalyst in which an aldehyde is added to an alkali solution of a novolak phenolic resin. The novolak phenolic resin is produced by a reaction between a phenol and an aldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst.
US09403703B2

Cationic polymers and methods for using the same are provided. The method can include contacting an aqueous medium with a cationic polymer. The cationic polymer can include a polymer formed by reacting an aldehyde, and optionally an aldehyde-reactive compound, in the presence of a sufficient amount of guanidine to provide the polymer with a net cationic charge.
US09403701B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide for anion exchange membranes and processes for their manufacture. The anion exchange membranes described herein are made the polymerization product of at least one functional monomer comprising a tertiary amine which is reacted with a quaternizing agent in the polymerization process.
US09403692B2

Treatment of wastewater containing contaminants is provided. More specifically, treating wastewater through capture and recirculation of percolated fluid effluent through and from one or more infiltration field systems is provided.
US09403679B2

A hydrogen generator that includes a solid fuel mixture, a liquid reactant, a liquid delivery medium (LDM), a movable boundary interface (MBI), a reaction zone, wherein the MBI provides constant contact between a reacting surface of the solid fuel mixture and the liquid reactant delivered by the LDM to form the reaction zone, and a product separation media, fluidly coupled to the reaction zone by a fluid junction, that degasses a product. The hydrogen generator may further include auxiliary LDMs disposed throughout the hydrogen generator, wherein said auxiliary LDMs may be operated based on a ratio of the liquid reactant flow rate to the hydrogen generation rate.
US09403676B2

The semiconductor component, in particular for use as a component that is sensitive to mechanical stresses in a micro-electromechanical semiconductor component, for example a pressure or acceleration sensor, is provided with a semiconductor substrate (1,5), in the upper face of which an active region (78a,200) made of a material of a first conductivity type is introduced by ion implantation. A semiconducting channel region having a defined length (L) and width (B) is designed within the active region (78a, 200). In the active region (78a,200), each of the ends of the channel region located in the longitudinal extension is followed by a contacting region (79, 80) made of a semiconductor material of a second conductivity type. The channel region is covered by an ion implantation masking material (81), which comprises transverse edges defining the length (L) of the channel region and longitudinal edges defining the width (B) of the channel region and which comprises an edge recess (201,202) at each of the opposing transverse edges aligned with the longitudinal extension ends of the channel region, the contacting regions (79,80) that adjoin the channel region extending all the way into said edge recess.
US09403674B2

A method for packaging a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device with an integrated circuit die using through mold vias (TMVs) is provided. According to the method, a MEMS substrate having a MEMS device is provided. A cap substrate is secured to a top surface of the MEMS substrate. The cap substrate includes a recess corresponding to the MEMS device in a bottom surface of the cap substrate. An integrated circuit die is secured to a top surface of the cap substrate over the recess. A housing covering the MEMS substrate, the cap substrate, and the integrated circuit die is formed. A through mold via (TMV) electrically coupled with the integrated circuit die and extending between a top surface of the housing and the integrated circuit die is formed. The structure resulting from application of the method is also provided.
US09403666B2

A rack-serving unit for storing boxes having an open box bottom, including a load pick-up device and at least one substantially horizontally telescopic article transport gripper including at least one rest for the articles for gripping under an article, is provided with a single telescopic gripper pin serving as article transport gripper and having a rest for the articles for gripping under the article in a just unstable position and at least one telescopic flank and/or a telescopic hold-down device for setting a stable transport position of the gripped article. In an order-picking warehouse equipped with said rack-serving unit having storing boxes with bottoms which are open in the center thereof, the telescopic gripper pin includes a rest for the articles of a width which is transverse to the telescoping direction for supporting the article in a just unstable position on the rest for the articles and the box bottom opening being just slightly broader than the width.
US09403664B2

The present invention provides techniques relating to an operating device exhibiting superior dust resistance and water resistance, and more particularly to an operating device exhibiting few design restrictions and a small assembly operation load, and to a moving apparatus including the operating device. In an operating device having, in a casing, a detection unit for detecting input relating to an instruction to operate a driving device that drives movement of an object, a plurality of the detection units are arranged over a partial or entire range of a circumference of the casing in accordance with movement directions of the object.
US09403654B2

A stacker on which a sheet that has entered with a direction intersecting a vertical direction as an approach direction in a state where a recording surface faces upward in the vertical direction is loaded in a state where the recording surface faces downward in the vertical direction, includes: an elastic plate capable of applying a pushing force to the sheet from a non-recording surface that is the rear surface of the recording surface; and a medium loading section on which the cut sheet can be loaded.
US09403651B2

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a sheet feeding cassette, an image forming section, a delivery member, a conveying member, a lift plate, a driving section, a first switching section, a second switching section, and a driving control section. The conveying member is disposed in the reverse conveying path. The lift plate is enabled to change a position thereof between a sheet feeding position and a retracting position. The first switching section transmits the driving force to the delivery member and the conveying member. The second switching section transmits the driving force to the lift plate. The driving control section controls the first switching section, with the lift plate being placed in the sheet feeding position, to rotate the delivery member, and when the sheet is conveyed through the reverse conveying path, moves the lift plate from the sheet feeding position to the retracting position.
US09403647B2

A gripping-and-holding device for gripping and holding containers has a support body, pivotable spring-loaded gripper arms on the support body, three securing elements, two of which are on the gripper arms, and a traction spring that exerts a force towards a center defined between its first and second spring ends. The first two securing elements secure the traction spring. Meanwhile, a first end of the third securing element engages the traction spring outside its spring ends. Its second end is arranged on the support body.
US09403645B2

An alignment transfer section (30) transfers measurement containers (60) that align along an alignment rail (32). A step (66) of each measurement container (60) that is formed by a body and a neck comes in contact with an upper side (32a) of the alignment rail (32). The alignment rail (32) is disposed to slope downward toward the end thereof. The alignment transfer section (30) includes an upthrust plate (34) that comes in contact with the bottom of the measurement containers (60) supported by the alignment rail (32), and transfers the measurement containers (60) toward the end of the alignment rail (32) by causing the upthrust plate (34) or the alignment rail (32) to make an upward-downward motion.
US09403636B2

A metering valve for an aerosol receptacle, is provided with a valve body having an internal chamber (17) for contact either with the internal face of the valve or with the external face of the valve, a stem (41) provided with closure means (42) and placed partly inside the internal chamber (17) for moving between a closed position in which the internal chamber contacts the internal face of the valve, but isolated from its external face, and an open position in which the internal chamber contacts its external face but isolated from its internal face, and a reservoir (R) able to be filled with the stem in the closed position and emptied with the stem in the open position. The reservoir is on the side of the internal face of the valve, outside the valve body, contacting its internal chamber, and formed by at least one flexible membrane (2).
US09403626B2

A proppant storage vessel has a container having a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The first and second end walls extend between opposite ends of the first and second side walls. The walls define an interior volume of the container. The walls have a rigidity suitable for retaining no less than 30,000 pounds of proppant therein. A top hatch is formed centrally on the top wall and is movable between an open position and a closed position. A bottom batch is formed generally centrally on the bottom wall of the container and is movable between an open position and a closed position.
US09403625B2

A bottle includes a neck portion having an opening configured to permit filling and emptying of the bottle, a shoulder portion connected to a lower end of the neck portion, a sidewall connected to a lower end of the shoulder portion and extending vertically downward from the shoulder portion, and a base connected to a lower end of the sidewall and forming a bottom surface of the bottle. The sidewall has a plurality of annular ribs extending around a periphery of the sidewall. Each of the annular ribs includes a plurality of sequential enlarged portions interconnected by bridges, with each of the enlarged portions having a vertical width that is greater than a vertical width of each of the bridges.
US09403620B2

A silica container contains a substrate having a rotational symmetry, containing mainly a silica, and gaseous bubbles in a peripheral part of the substrate; a transparent silica glass in an inner peripheral part of the substrate; and an inner layer, formed on an inner surface of the substrate and containing a transparent silica glass; wherein the substrate contains Li, Na, and K in a total concentration of 50 or less ppm by weight; the substrate has a linear light transmittance of 91.8% to 93.2% at a light wavelength of 600 nm; the inner layer contains Li, Na, and K in a total concentration of 100 or less ppb by weight and at least one of Ca, Sr, and Ba in a total concentration of 50 to 2000 ppm by weight; and the inner layer has a linear light transmittance of 91.8% to 93.2% at a light wavelength of 600 nm.
US09403607B2

A method of mounting cars on a free standing space elevator tower. The actively stabilized space elevator tower has a segmented elevator core structure, each segment being formed of at least one pneumatically pressurized cell. The method of mounting the elevator cars allows the cars to ascend or descend on the outer surface of the elevator core structure or in a shaft on the interior of the elevator core structure. The elevator cars grip the structure without use of a track and are able to pass other cars enabling bi-directional traffic flow using a twisting motion. The freestanding tower can be used for launch activities, tourism, observation, wind-energy generation, scientific research, and communications.
US09403603B2

Provided is a system in which a camera monitors safety of a galley arranged in a cabin of an aircraft. A galley 100 includes a storage space 130 of carts divided by structural members 110, and carts 150 are stored. Turn retainers 200 in closed positions prevent the carts 150 from flying out. Hinged doors 310 are attached to front sides of compartments 300, and latches 320 lock the hinged doors 310. A monitoring camera 500 determines safety or unsafety of the turn retainers 200 and the latches 320 by an image and displays the safety or unsafety on a display device 600 or on a PDA terminal device 800 carried by a cabin attendant CA.
US09403597B2

A passenger seat assembly for a vehicle, particularly an aircraft, which is adapted to provide self-contained, individual seating and sleeping accommodation for a passenger, said seating assembly includes a supporting structure (42) for supporting said assembly off the floor of a vehicle; one or more movable, passenger-bearing, structural components (71,72); and means for connecting said movable, structural components to said structure such that said components can be selectively moved between a seat configuration, in which a plurality of passenger-bearing surfaces on said one or more structural, movable components (71,71) or said supporting structure form a seat for the passenger, and a bed configuration, in which a plurality of said bearing surfaces (47,48,67,74,76) are disposed substantially coplanarly and substantially contiguously to form a bed for the passenger; characterized in that at least one of said movable components (72) is double-sided, comprising first and second opposite sides, one of said sides having a first seat surface (73) that forms part of the seat in said seat configuration, and the other side having a second bed surface (74) that forms part of said bed in said bed configuration.
US09403596B2

A tray table that facilitates consumption of entertainment and various other media via a electronic device is disclosed herein. The tray table includes an inner tray secures the electronic device for use. One or more channels at the inner tray receive at least a first portion of the electronic device, while a movable stop helps ensure the electronic device is secured to the inner tray. The inner tray is capable of rotating between an open and closed position, while the tray table itself may rotate between a stowed and service position.
US09403593B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a distributed system architecture for unmanned air vehicles. One of the methods includes obtaining information identifying flight information of a UAV, with the flight information including flight phase information or a contingency condition associated with a flight critical module included in the UAV. The obtained information is analyzed, and one or more first payload modules are determined to enter a modified power state. Requests to enter the modified power state are caused to be transmitted to each determined payload module in the one or more first payload modules.
US09403585B2

A one-person watercraft, with a unique design and basic innovative modular catamaran style structure that makes the craft transformable, and useful for different hybrid water sports. The watercraft enables the user to either stand or sit while providing power to the craft. The craft comes in multiple versions, and the user may provide power to the craft through elliptical movement, hand-driven levers or foot-driven pedals/skis while standing up and/or sitting down and moving in an elliptical motion. These turn a propeller, at the back of the craft. Embodiments of the craft utilize the Venturi effect (with a flexible drive shaft and a retractable propeller rudder system) to increase the propulsion created by water flowing through the propeller. The craft is designed to float stably to ensure users' safety, and may be used for leisure recreational activity, exercise, physical rehabilitation, transportation to travel across water, or any combination of the above.
US09403583B2

A personal flotation apparatus having a main body member, a primary support member, a head support member, and a foot support member, each made of flexible, buoyant, flotation material. The primary support member, head support member, and foot support member are each connected to the main body member, such that they are substantially perpendicular to the main body member and can provide stability, buoyancy and support in various floating and swimming positions. Some embodiments include multiple main body members to increase stability, buoyancy, support and comfort, and allow for heavier users.
US09403574B2

This invention comprises a frame for an electric motorcycle. Electric motorcycles have vastly different component requirements compared to internal combustion engine motorcycles, and, therefore, require a radical redesign of the frame in order to maximize the efficiency of the system.
US09403567B2

A trailer including a frame supporting a trailer bed and having rotatable wheels and a tongue for pivotal attachment to a land vehicle hitch. The trailer frame includes left and right side structural members and crossbeam members attached between the side members. Each side member includes a U-shaped portion having a branch leg and attachment leg and an L-shaped portion including a branch leg and attachment leg. The branch leg of the U-shaped portion is integrally formed with the branch leg of the L-shaped portion. The crossbeam members are Z-shaped and the flanges thereof are attached to the attachment legs of the U-shaped portion and the L-shaped portion with rivets. Front and rear U-shaped end members are attached to the terminal ends of the side members. A torque tube is also attached between the side members. A tongue pocket is attached to the torque tube and the front end member.
US09403561B2

A mounting structure of a sheet metal panel including mounting brackets which are mounted on a peripheral edge portion of a glass-mounting opening formed on a rear-side panel of a cab, and after tentatively holding the sheet metal panel, a peripheral edge of the sheet metal panel is adhered to the rear-side panel in a periphery of the glass-mounting opening, wherein an inclined surface protruding toward a rear of the cab is provided to the rear-side panel along the glass-mounting opening, and the peripheral edge of the sheet metal panel is bent along the inclined surface and extended in the inclined surface direction to make clearance between the peripheral edge and the inclined surface gradually narrowed, to provide an adhesive reservoir between the sheet metal panel and the rear-side panel, and the peripheral edge of the sheet metal panel is in close contact with the inclined surface thereby sealing therebetween.
US09403558B1

An engine mount assembly includes a frame member and a cradle member. The frame member defines a frame hole and the cradle member defines a cradle hole. A bolt fixedly mates the frame member to the cradle member. The bolt has a bolt body, which is disposed within the frame hole and the cradle hole, and a bolt flange oriented downward relative to the vehicle. A well is defined by the frame hole or the cradle hole. The well is a volume around the bolt body capable of retaining water in contact with the frame member and or cradle member. A washer, having an interior hole and a perimeter edge, is disposed between the bolt flange and the well. At least one channel is defined in the washer and provides fluid communication between the well and the perimeter edge.
US09403550B2

The invention relates to a seat attachment for a stroller, single stroller and double strollers. The seat attachment includes left and right seat attachment portions, wherein the seat attachment portion comprise a connector portion capable of removably connecting to a stroller frame and a left seat support element removably connecting a seat in either a forward or backward position More specifically, versions of the seat attachment relate to a seat attachment for a stroller capable of supporting a seat such as, but not limited to, a stroller seat, a baby seat, bassinet, a pram, a car seat, or a baby carrier, for example.
US09403548B2

Examples of systems and methods for controlling or monitoring a fleet of human-propelled, wheeled carts and cart retrievers are described. The carts can be shopping carts at a retail facility, and the cart retrievers can be used to collect and return the shopping carts from a parking lot near the facility to a cart collection area. The carts or cart retrievers can monitor various status or usage parameters (such as retriever battery charge, cart collection trip speed, cart collection path or duration, etc.) and transmit the parameters to a central control unit. The central control unit can analyze and process the status or usage parameters. The system can provide a user interface for access to the status or usage parameters of the cart and cart retriever fleet.
US09403525B2

A shift control system and method that determine whether an ABS is operating in a running vehicle to operate a transmission of the vehicle are provided. The system determines whether the vehicle can be shifted to a neutral stage (N) based on vehicle conditions. A shift control signal is then generated and transmitted to a transmission to execute a shift of the vehicle to the stage N.
US09403522B2

A float sled comprising a body with a substantially flat upper surface, a lift plate operationally associated with the body and adapted to move from a first position in proximity to the upper surface of the body to a second position above the first position and above the body, a set of pneumatic air bag lifts associated with the lift plate to raise and lower the lift plate to various horizontal orientations with differing degrees of tilt, and an air bearing adapted to raise the body above the ground.
US09403520B2

The disclosure relates to a valve for controlling fluids, including a valve body defining a passage opening, a tapering valve seat formed on the valve body, a closing element configured to open up and to close off the passage opening at the tapering valve seat, and a protruding region adjoining the tapering valve seat. The protruding region extends over only part of a circumference of the tapering valve seat.
US09403515B2

A pressure transmission device for a power-assisted braking system of a vehicle; at its inlet, the pressure transmission device being connectible in a hydraulically operative manner to a master brake cylinder of the power-assisted braking system, and at its outlet, the pressure transmission device being connectible in a hydraulically operative manner to a wheel brake cylinder of the power-assisted braking system; the pressure transmission device including an accumulator and a linkage, which transmits a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet to the accumulator and stores it in this.
US09403512B2

A hydraulic brake control apparatus including a body portion, a hydraulic brake control mechanism, and a lever portion. The body portion has a first section configured to fit within an interior of a bar opening and a second section configured to be mounted outside of the interior of the bar opening. The hydraulic brake control mechanism includes a hydraulic brake pressure cylinder having a piston chamber therein, where at least a portion of the hydraulic brake control mechanism is housed within the first section of the body portion. The lever portion connected to the body portion and configured to actuate the hydraulic brake control mechanism. The body portion includes a port fluidly connected to the piston chamber by a conduit. The port is provided on the second section in order to allow bleeding of air from within the piston chamber when the body portion is mounted to the bar opening.
US09403510B2

The present invention is directed to a wiper brush appendage that easily attaches to a wiper blade to aid in the removal of compacted solids, insect remains, light frost and the like. The wiper brush appendage is an elongated member of pliable plastic, such as one of the varieties of thermoplastics. The invention has a slot on the top side that runs the entire length that easily spreads to allow it to encompass a wiper blade, as well as multiple rows of brush hairs along the underside. It has a specific inside pocket with inturned flanges and small depressions that put pressure on the wiper blade and limits the movement of the invention while in use. Once installed over the wiper, the user turns on the wiper assembly and the brushes scrub against the windshield.
US09403509B2

This invention concerns a method to detect the wetness state of a vehicle windshield surface (S) comprising a windshield wiper unit (1), the windshield wiper unit (1) comprising: —wiper blades (5) configured to wipe the windshield surface (S) when set in motion, —at least one motor (7) configured to set the wiper blades (5) in motion, —a controller (9), configured to control the at least one motor (7), the method comprising the steps: —measuring the power consumption of the at least one motor (7), —determining the wiping speed (W) of the wiper blades (5), —using the measured power consumption and determined wiping speed (W) to deduce a friction related coefficient of the windshield surface (S), —comparing the deduced value to at least one predetermined value in order to determine the wetness state of the vehicle windshield surface (S).
US09403497B2

In one form, the invention relates to a transmission device for transmitting an electric current to a component of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, including a rotor which is to be arranged on the steering wheel such that it is rotatable along with the steering wheel; a stator which is to be arranged on a component of the vehicle that is stationary as compared to a rotary movement of the steering wheel; at least one conductor element by which the rotor is electrically connected with the stator; and a temperature determination device for determining the temperature of the conductor element or in the region of the conductor element. In another form, the invention also relates to a method for transmitting an electric current to a component of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle.
US09403483B2

A vehicle image processing apparatus includes a group of cameras, a drawing unit that converts a captured image into an image viewed along a line of sight running from a predetermined position in a predetermined direction, a viewing-line-of-sight changing unit that detects whether a first line of sight is switched to a second line of sight, and a viewing-line-of-sight generation/updating unit that acquires parameters concerning the first and second lines of sight after detecting the switching and generates a parameter which is gradually changed from the parameter of the first line of sight to the parameter of the second line of sight. Moreover, the drawing unit generates, on the basis of the gradually changed parameter, an image which is gradually changed from an image viewed along the first line of sight to an image viewed along the second line of sight.
US09403472B2

A recreational vehicle is described, which comprises a living department and a driving department. The driving department is elevated above the living department, providing windows to all sides for driver and passengers to enjoy surround view while travelling. The driving compartment comprises sufficient seats for all occupants of the recreational vehicle while travelling. Seats in the living compartment are not used while driving.
US09403465B2

A crew rest compartment for a means of transport includes a first bunk and a second bunk, wherein the first bunk is located above the second bunk. Each bunk includes a sleeping area for accommodating a sleeping crew member, wherein each sleeping area has a longitudinal direction. The first bunk is aligned such that the longitudinal direction of the first bunk and a longitudinal direction of the crew rest compartment enclose an angle which differs from 0° and 90°.
US09403447B2

A vehicle seat comprises a latch mechanism, a seat frame bracket, a seat back bracket and an interlock assembly. The interlock assembly is configured to inhibit movement of the seat back bracket from the folded position to the upright position when the latch mechanism is in an unlatched condition. The interlock assembly includes a lever movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The lever is coupled to the latch mechanism such that movement of the latch mechanism from the latched condition to the unlatched condition moves the lever to the extended position. The lever is coupled to the latch mechanism such that movement of the latch mechanism from the unlatched condition to the latched condition permits the lever to move to the retracted position.
US09403446B2

A driving-force controller for an electric vehicle including at least two motors that independently drive left and right wheels, includes a detector that detects driving operation by a driver, and a controller that calculates a demand torque Tr of the driver, the torque difference ΔT applied to the left and right wheels during cornering, left and right torque-difference maintaining torques TLK and TRK of the motors when generating the demand torque Tr while maintaining the torque difference ΔT, and controls the motors based on the torque-difference maintaining torques TLK and TRK. The controller determines the priorities of a demand torque mode that generates the demand torque Tr and a torque difference mode that generates the torque difference ΔT depending on the driving operation detected by the detector.
US09403445B2

A motor controller includes a motor, an encoder, and a control circuit. The motor drives a target object to be controlled. The encoder outputs a pulse signal synchronously with rotation of the motor. The control circuit rotates the motor based on a count value of the pulse signal. The control circuit switches to a sleep mode when making sure that a rotation position of the motor is stable after finishing rotating the motor or when a predetermined time necessary for the rotation position of the motor to be stable elapses after finishing rotating the motor. When a change in the pulse signal during a period of time where the control circuit is in the sleep mode is not smaller than a predetermined amount, the control circuit performs a learning process to learn a reference position of the motor when returning to a wakeup mode from the sleep mode.
US09403440B2

A wireless charging station, an electric vehicle charged wirelessly, and a method of charging an electric vehicle are provided. A wireless charging station include a charging unit configured to transmit power wirelessly to an electric vehicle, using a source resonator installed in the charging station; and a driving unit configured to move a target resonator connected to the source resonator from a position at which the target resonator is mounted on the charging unit to an installation space of the electric vehicle, when the electric vehicle is disposed in a charging area of the charging station.
US09403430B2

To provide an insulator that can reduce an abnormal noise made when stopper surfaces abut and separate. A first mounting hole engaging a vehicle body side is formed in a first portion. A second mounting hole is formed in a second portion and arranged separately from the first portion. The first portion and the second portion form a first stopper surface and a second stopper surface, respectively. At least one of the first stopper surface and the second stopper surface opposite to one another is formed in a curved surface shape as a part of a cylindrical side surface. The first stopper surface and the second stopper surface can have a non-linear property when abutting and separating. Accordingly, an abnormal noise made when abutting and separating can be reduced.
US09403429B2

A motorized hub for electric powering of an axle of a hybrid drive automotive vehicle, said motorized hub comprising a hub designed to receive a wheel, the hub being mounted rotationally relative to a hub carrier about a hub axis, the motorized hub comprising an electric drive motor, the electric motor comprising an external stator connected to the hub carrier and an internal rotor whose axis of rotation is remote from the hub axis, the motorized hub comprising reduction means acting between the rotor of the electric motor and the hub, the motorized hub comprising coupling/uncoupling means capable of adopting a coupling position in which rotation of the electric motor is coupled to the rotation of the hub and an uncoupling position in which rotation of the electric motor is uncoupled from the rotation of the hub, the motorized hub being characterized in that the coupling/decoupling means are arranged between the reduction means and the hub.
US09403416B2

A method for detecting a fault in a cooling circuit of a motor vehicle, the cooling circuit having, in the flow direction of a refrigerant, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator, includes the following steps: measuring a first refrigerant pressure when the compressor is turned off; turning on the compressor; and is characterized by the steps: measuring a second refrigerant pressure after a certain time interval; forming a differential value from the second refrigerant pressure measured previously and the first refrigerant pressure; and comparing the differential value with at least one differential value for detecting a fault in the cooling circuit.
US09403411B2

The inventive technology relates to methods and apparatus for an improved self-contained extendable trailer mount that may be independently used, and/or retrofitted to existing vehicle mount/hitch systems.
US09403410B2

A method for decreasing tire pressure includes providing a wheel assembly which defines a chamber that houses a pressurized fluid. A wheel valve assembly is provided in fluid communication with the chamber. The wheel valve assembly is operable between an open position and a closed position and includes an area having a first flow capacity. A variable area valve assembly is provided and is selectively in fluid communication with the wheel valve assembly. The variable area valve assembly includes an area formed in a perforation that has a second flow capacity. The second flow capacity is less than the first flow capacity. A target tire pressure is selected. If a pressure of the pressurized fluid in the chamber is greater than the target tire pressure, then the pressure of the pressurized fluid in the chamber is decreased.
US09403407B2

A tire of the present invention has a roughness motif maximum length A in a predetermined range on at least a part of the tread surface. In addition, a tire forming mold of the present invention has a roughness motif maximum length A in a predetermined range on at least a part of the tread-surface molding surface.
US09403402B2

A method and a device for generating postal items with: a linearly formed first feed channel for feeding first documents of a postal item, with a first transport device, which transports the first documents in a first transport direction along a first straight transport line; an identification device for identifying the first documents; a second feed channel for feeding second documents of a postal item; an identification device for identifying the second documents; a collecting channel arranged downstream of the first feed channel and downstream of the second feed channel, for receiving first documents or groups of first documents from the first feed channel and/or of second documents or groups of second documents from the second feed channel, wherein the documents received in the collecting channel are collected as document group, wherein each document group forms the content of a postal item; and an envelope stuffing device arranged downstream of the collecting channel, in which the document groups coming from the collecting channel are inserted into an envelope. To achieve a higher throughput of postal items generated, the second transport device deflects the second documents, without stopping the documents, from a second transport direction along a second straight transport line into a third transport direction along a third straight transport line.
US09403401B2

A thermal eraser for erasing tactile drawing features from a tactile drawing medium, along with methods of erasing tactile drawing features formed on a tactile drawing medium, are disclosed. The thermal eraser has a heated tip that can be heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the tactile drawing feature to flow back into the surface of the tactile drawing medium. The heated tip has a tip temperature that can be controlled by a temperature-regulating circuit. A set-point temperature can be used to set the tip temperature and maintain the tip temperature. The thermal eraser can be controlled by hand or by an electro-mechanical device such as a tactile printer.
US09403398B2

A notepad cover for support and protection is provided. The notepad cover includes at least three panels that are removably attachable to a notepad. The at least three panels include a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel. The first panel and third panel are hingedly connected to opposing ends of the second panel. A notepad is securable within the first panel and the second panel via an elastic band. The third panel is adapted to fold in between the notepad secured therein to provide support and protection for the notepad pages therein. The third panel may also fold behind the second panel and serve as a rigid support to write or draw thereon.
US09403379B2

For each of a plurality of areas in at least one of a sheet width direction and a sheet conveying direction included in a sheet trailing edge area during printing on a first surface, information regarding an ink application amount to the area is acquired. According to a combination of acquired pieces of information regarding the ink application amounts to the plurality of areas, waiting time until a printing start on a second surface from an end of printing in the sheet trailing edge area is determined.
US09403365B2

A method for fabricating a fluid ejection device includes forming a drive circuitry layer on a substrate, fabricating at least one fluid ejection element on a top portion of the substrate, grinding the substrate from a bottom portion of the substrate up to a predetermined height, etching the top portion of the substrate to configure at least one slot within the top portion of the substrate, depositing a layer of an etch-stop material over the top portion of the substrate while filling the at least one slot with the etch-stop material, etching the bottom portion of the substrate to configure at least one fluid feed trench within the bottom portion of the substrate, removing the layer of the etch-stop material from the top portion of the substrate, and laminating a flow feature layer and a nozzle plate as a single unit over the top portion of the substrate.
US09403363B2

A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a nozzle plate formed with a nozzle; a first flow passage formation body stacked on the nozzle plate and formed with a liquid flow passage including a pressure chamber in communication with the nozzle; a piezoelectric element arranged on a surface of the first flow passage formation body on the side opposite to the nozzle plate and configured to apply a pressure to a liquid in the pressure chamber; and a second flow passage formation body arranged on the side opposite to the nozzle plate with respect to the first flow passage formation body so as not to hinder driving of the piezoelectric element. The second flow passage formation body is formed with a liquid storing chamber and a throttle flow passage configured to restrict an amount of the liquid flowing from the liquid storing chamber into the pressure chamber.
US09403354B2

There is described a numbering device (1) for carrying out numbering in sheet-fed or web-fed numbering presses, the numbering device (1) comprising a numbering unit (6) with rotatable numbering wheels (7) carrying alpha-numerical symbols thereon, which numbering wheels (7) are disposed next to each other and rotate about a common rotation axis (17), the numbering device (1) further comprising electro-mechanical actuation means for setting the position of the numbering wheels (7). The electro-mechanical actuation means are entirely located within the numbering device (1) and are mechanically autonomous, the electro-mechanical actuation means comprising a plurality of independent driving means (15, 18-23; 23*) for actuating a corresponding plurality of the numbering wheels.
US09403348B2

The present invention relates to sheets. The sheets include an adhesive layer, a base layer formed on the adhesive layer, a resin layer formed on the base layer, and a printed layer formed on the resin layer. Each of the adhesive layer and the resin layer includes a polylactic acid (PLA) resin. The sheets are biodegradable.
US09403346B2

A method of producing image carrying laminated material comprises the steps of forming an image by ink jet printing on a first surface of a sheet of interlayer using solvent based ink, solvent based paint or solvent based dye system(s), interposing an interlayer comprising the sheet of interlayer between two sheets of material, and joining the two sheets of material to form the laminate by activating the interlayer. In addition, a method of producing an image carrying laminated safety glass comprising the steps of mechanically stabilizing a sheet of heat softening interlayer, forming an image on a first surface of the interlayer by ink jet printing using solvent based ink, solvent based paint or solvent based dye, removing the mechanical stabilization, interposing an interlayer comprising the sheet of heat softening interlayer between two sheets of glass and joining the two sheets of glass to form the laminated safety glass by heating the interlayer. Further, an image carrying laminated sheet, comprising two sheets of material joined by an interlayer comprising a sheet of interlayer having an image formed on a first surface of the interlayer by ink jet printing using solvent based ink, solvent based paint or solvent based dye system(s).
US09403332B2

A tire with certain tread features and a method for manufacturing the tread for such a tire are provided. More particularly, a tire and method for manufacturing a tire having a tread portion with sipes that can be of minimal thickness and varying geometries, densities, and profiles may be provided. The sipes can also be hidden until after a period of tread wear has occurred.
US09403329B2

A method of increasing the tensile strength of polymer films is provided. The creation of the load distribution elements in polymer films necessary to achieve this result is described. Application of the present invention to increase suture retention in a surgical polymer film is also provided.
US09403328B1

A method and apparatus for reworking a structure. A compaction blanket comprising a number of magnets is placed on the structure. A heat source is applied on the compaction blanket, wherein the compaction blanket is between the heat source and a rework of the structure and heat is conducted from the heat source through the compaction blanket to heat the rework.
US09403324B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a part using a deposition technique. A layered composite is built up in layers, the individual layers each containing particulate material and binding material as well as optionally, a treatment agent. The layers maintain a predetermined porosity. The layer composite is built up in the absence of hardening agent. Once construction is complete, the layer composite is hardened.
US09403323B2

In a method for producing form bodies for heat exchangers, comprising a thermomagnetic material, said form bodies having channels for passage of a fluid heat exchange medium, a powder of the thermomagnetic material is introduced into a binder, the resulting molding material is applied to a carrier by printing methods, and the binder and if appropriate a carrier are removed subsequently and the resulting green body is sintered.
US09403315B2

A plastic film is drawn by a method different from a conventional one. The plastic film is intermittently fed in the longitudinal direction. A drawing member and a support base are installed in a plastic film feeding path, oppositely to each other, on both sides of the plastic film in the thickness direction. When the plastic film is temporarily stopped, the drawing member advances toward the support base between the lateral both side edges of the plastic film and is pressed against the plastic film and the support base to draw the plastic film in the longitudinal direction. Then, the drawing member retreats from the support base, and is separated from the plastic film.
US09403312B2

An apparatus (1) for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms (10) into plastics material containers (10a), with at least one shaping station (8) which has a blow molding device (4) which forms a cavity, inside which the plastics material pre-forms (10) are capable of being shaped into the plastics material containers (10a) by being acted upon with a gaseous medium, wherein the blow molding device (4) is constructed in several parts and has at least one first blow mold part (4a) and one second blow mold part (4b), and wherein the shaping station (8) has a blow mold carrier device (6) for holding the blow mold parts (4a, 4b), wherein the blow mold carrier device (6) has a first carrier part (6a) and a second carrier part (6b) which are movable with respect to each other in order to open and close the blow molding device (4), and wherein at least one coolant channel (7) is provided which is used for conveying a flowable coolant for cooling the blow molding device (4) and/or the blow mold carrier device (6), wherein this coolant channel (7) is integrated in a cooling circuit (60), wherein the apparatus (1) has a clean room (20) inside which the plastics material pre-forms (10) are capable of being expanded to form the plastics material containers (10a). According to the invention the cooling circuit (60) has at least one heating element (80) capable of being switched on for heating the flowable coolant.
US09403310B2

A plastic preform is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a closed bottom portion and a lower portion extending upwardly from the lower portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening; threads positioned below the dispensing opening; a tamper-evident formation positioned below the threads; and a support flange positioned below the tamper-evident formation, the support flange having an upper surface and lower surface. In an embodiment, the preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET); the threads comprise multiple-lead threads; the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.500 inches or less. A method is also disclosed.
US09403309B2

In the manufacturing of a semi-finished product made of elastomeric material, a method for controlling the heating of an extrusion device which includes multiple structural units having respective different working temperatures and thermal inertias includes: a) setting, for all of the above-mentioned units a heating temperature to a value equal or close to the working temperature of the unit which has the lowest working temperature; b) simultaneously heating all of the above-mentioned units; c) when said unit is approaching or has reached the heating temperature, setting for the other units a new heating temperature to a value equal or close to that of the working temperature of the unit, the working temperature of which is closest to the heating temperature; and d) iteratively repeating the operations mentioned in b) and c), until all of the above-mentioned units have reached the respective working temperature.
US09403306B2

An insulating plate (20) made of synthetic resin for transferring heat transferred from conductors to nuts (10) to a heat sink (40) is provided with nut accommodating recesses (21) for accommodating the nuts (10). Each nut accommodating recess (21) includes a bottom plate (22) to be sandwiched between the nuts (10) and the heat sink (40) and a surrounding wall (23) vertically extending from the bottom plate (22) to surround the side surface of the nut (10). The surrounding walls (23) are provided with first and second pressing surfaces (28, 29) to be pressed by ejector pins (83).
US09403304B2

A molded waterway assembly for a centerset faucet including a hot water inlet tube, a cold water inlet tube, and a central body of a coupler overmolded within hot and cold water bodies of the coupler.
US09403303B2

The present invention discloses a thermoplastic polyurethane which is comprised of the reaction product of (1) a hydroxyl terminated polyester intermediate, (2) a polyisocyanate, and (3) a glycol chain extender; wherein the hydroxyl terminated polyester intermediate is comprised of repeat units that are derived from 1,3-propylene glycol and a dicarboxylic acid; wherein the hydroxyl terminated polyester intermediate has a number average molecular weight from 500 to 10,000; and wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane includes hard segments that are the reaction product of the polyisocyanate and the glycol chain extender. This thermoplastic polyurethane is unique in that it has a greatly reduced tendency to bloom. This is highly desirable in applications where high clarity is desired because blooming causes articles containing the thermoplastic polyurethane to be hazy or foggy in appearance. Blooming can also reduce the ability of an article made with the thermoplastic polyurethane to be securely bound to another article with an adhesive.
US09403301B2

A method of processing a porous article includes distributing a blended material that includes an electrically conductive material and a binder into a cavity of a mold that is at a temperature below a curing temperature of the binder. The electrically conductive material is formed from particles of the electrically conductive material that have a size distribution such that 10 vol % of the particles are less than 12 micrometers in diameter, 50 vol % of the particles are less than 27 micrometers in diameter, and 90 vol % of the particles are less than 53 micrometers. The blended material is compressed within the cavity under a molding pressure, and the mold is heated to a curing temperature of the binder to form a molded article.
US09403300B2

The present disclosure generally relates to patterned gradient polymer films and methods for making the same, and more particularly to patterned gradient optical films that have regions that include variations in optical properties such as refractive index, haze, transmission, clarity, or a combination thereof. The variation in optical properties can occur across a transverse plane of the film as well as through a thickness direction of the film.
US09403296B2

An enhanced multiobject potting fixture for exposure to a curing modality that sets an adhesive includes a fixture housing supporting a plurality of objects, the fixture housing having a wall defining a plurality of bonding wells with each the bonding well receiving a first portion of one of the objects, each the bonding well including an aperture in the wall proximate the first portion wherein each bonding well includes a target zone for selective cure of the adhesive to inhibit the adhesive from exiting the aperture; and a fixture enhancement structure integrated into the wall concentrating the curing modality in each the target zone.
US09403294B2

Method of making a droplet-generating device. In the method, a first droplet-generating device may be produced. The first droplet-generating device may include a molded portion created at least in part with a mold and also may include a plurality of droplet generators each formed at least in part by the molded portion. A set of droplets may be generated with each of one or more of the droplet generators. A property of at least one set of generated droplets may be determined. The mold may be modified based on the property. A second droplet-generating device may be produced that includes a molded portion created at least in part with the modified mold.
US09403279B2

A method and apparatus for moving an object. A verbal instruction for moving the object is received. The verbal instruction is converted into text. A logical representation of the verbal instruction is generated. A movement of a robotic system that corresponds to the verbal instruction for moving the object using a model of an environment in which the object and the robotic system are located is identified. A set of commands used by the robotic system for the movement of the robotic system is identified. The set of commands is sent to the robotic system.
US09403278B1

Systems and methods for detecting and picking up a waste receptacle, the system being mountable on a waste-collection vehicle, and including an arm for grasping the waste receptacle, a processor, a camera, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and an arm-actuation module. The processor is configured for generating a pose candidate based on an image captured by the camera, verifying that the pose candidate matches a template representation stored on the medium, and calculating a location of the waste receptacle. The arm-actuation module can be configured to automatically move the arm in response to the calculated location, in order to grasp the waste receptacle, lift, and dump the waste receptacle into a waste-collection vehicle.
US09403270B2

A tool box has two bodies, two inner boxes, a positioning device, a positioning block, and a buckle unit. The inner boxes are respectively mounted in the bodies. Each positioning device has a fixing base mounted in one of the inner boxes and a fixing elastic plate. The fixing base has two hooking portions and two recesses respectively formed in two ends of the hooking portions. The fixing elastic plate is detachably mounted on the fixing base and has an inserting portion and two hooking portions respectively engaged with the recesses. The positioning block is mounted on the inserting portion and has multiple tool recesses. The buckle unit is mounted on the bodies.
US09403267B2

A telescopic pipe structure for a pole saw includes an inner pipe, an outer pipe fitted to the inner pipe and moving relative to the inner pipe, and an adjusting device. The adjusting device includes a body, a pressing unit, and an adjusting unit. The outer pipe is penetratingly disposed at a sleeve hole of the body. The pressing unit is pivotally disposed a pressing portion of the body to press against inner pipe and stop movement of the inner pipe. The adjusting unit is disposed at a positioning portion of the body and has a driving element and a positioning element driven by the driving element. The driving element can be at first and second positions, and thus the positioning element moves in one and another directions of the sleeve hole, so as to enable and disable the positioning of the outer and inner pipes, respectively.
US09403262B2

A handtight clamp comprising two parallel rods that are press-fit into a stable handle and which have a moving handle that is movable across the parallel rods. The handtight clamp also comprising a first coil spring and a second coil spring around the two parallel rods, the first coil spring having less bearing pressure than the second coil spring, and the first coil spring laying adjacent to the moving handle. The handtight clamp additionally comprising a jaw extending from the stable handle and the moving handle, the jaw having a rigid inner jaw portion and a semi-rigid outer jaw portion.
US09403258B2

A method of forming a lapping plate. The method includes providing a lapping plate having a surface, spraying an adhesive onto the surface, spraying a slurry of abrasive particles and solvent onto the adhesive, and curing the adhesive to form an abrasive coating on the lapping plate. The adhesive may be, for example, epoxy, and the abrasive particles may be, for example, diamonds.
US09403252B2

A milling machine table device comprises a rigid longitudinal body having longitudinal surfaces parallel to each other along a length of the body configured to be attachable to a vise; and two rigid legs of equal length extending from the longitudinal body in a fixed position, each leg comprising a portion configured to engage a t-slot of the milling machine table there beneath. Also, a milling machine table device comprises two legs of equal length extending from the longitudinal body, each leg configured with a portion configured to engage a t-slot of the milling machine table and indicators disposed in one of the body and the two legs, the indicators comprising an adjustable probe configured to indicate an orthogonal distance from one of a vise jaw and an edge of a t-slot to an end of the probe. A method for calibrating and squaring the device is also included herein.
US09403239B2

Methods of manufacture include welding two or more elongate members together to define an elongate weldment, wherein the welding results in a weld region that is in tension and regions adjacent to the weld region that are in compression, and longitudinally stretching the elongate weldment. Tools and systems for manufacturing elongate weldments, as well as apparatuses, such as aircraft, that include elongate weldments, also are disclosed.
US09403238B2

Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.
US09403231B2

Welding power is generated by first generating two different current waveforms, and comparing the waveform values for control intervals to select which waveform provides the greater current. The waveforms are for different transfer modes, such as one for a pulsed arc portion, and another for a short-circuit transfer mode or for short-circuit clearing. The waveforms may be programmed by settings in a state machine. A balance or relative prioritization in the comparison may be influenced by user inputs. The resulting hybrid process has aspects of both spray transfer and short-circuit transfer modes.
US09403229B2

An electric heating tool includes a body to which a power supply member is mounted. A heating device includes a power receiving connector, a seat mounted to the power receiving connector, two connection legs, and a heating element. The power receiving connector is mounted to the power supply member and has two electrodes electrically connected to two electrodes of the power supply member. Each connection leg is received in one of two through-holes of the seat and includes a connection end and a heating end. The connection ends of the connection legs are electrically connected to the electrodes of the power receiving connector. The heating element is connected to the heating ends of the connection legs.
US09403225B2

A miter saw has a base, a working table arranged above the base and rotatably connected with the base around a pivoting axis, and a cutting assembly having a cutting blade arranged above the working table. A first locking assembly is arranged between the base and the working table for positioning the base and the working table at a certain angle. The first locking assembly includes an operating button rotating about a first pivoting shaft to force the first locking assembly to be in a locked state or an unlocked state, the working table has a shift position hole having a locked type shift position and a released type shift position for locking the rotation positions of the operating button, and the first pivoting shaft is parallel to the cutting blade.
US09403221B2

A plunge base for a power tool includes a base plate having a generally flat bottom surface and defining an opening through which a router bit of a router supported by the plunge base extends to engage a workpiece. A carriage support extends vertically upward from the base plate on one side of the opening. A router carriage is slidably retained on the carriage support. The router carriage is slidable toward and away from the base plate between a first position and a second position and is configured to releasably secure a router thereto the router aligned with the opening in the base. A plunge lock mechanism is configured to retain the router carriage at any position between and including the first position and the second position in relation to the carriage support.
US09403217B2

A drill-chuck body is rotatable about an axis and formed with a plurality of passages opening axially rearward at a rear face of the body and radially outwardly at windows in a side of the body. Jaws displaceable between front and rear positions in the passages each have a row of teeth exposed radially outwardly at the respective windows. A tightening ring rotatable about the axis is formed with an internal screwthread engaged at the windows with the teeth such that rotation of the ring moves the jaws between the front and rear positions. A tightening sleeve fitted around and coupled rotationally to the tightening ring extends axially rearward past the windows. This brace ring is radially inwardly engaged with the body and engages radially outwardly between the windows and the rear face with the tightening sleeve so as to coaxially center it on the body.
US09403211B2

A method for equipping a film material with at least one electrically conductive conductor structure, wherein a dispersion containing metallic nanoparticles in the form of a conductor structure is applied to a thermostable transfer material and the metallic nanoparticles are sintered to form an electrically conductive conductor structure. The electrically conductive conductor structure of sintered metallic nanoparticles is then transferred from the thermostable transfer material to the non-thermostable film material. A method for producing a laminate material using the film material using at least one electrically conductive conductor structure, and to the corresponding film material and laminate material are described.
US09403206B2

A spline rolling rack assembly for cold-forming external surface configurations upon a metal workpiece is provided, having a durable carriage of the type secured upon a reciprocating slide assembly, a perishable rack insert that is removably secured upon the carriage, a locating key disposed between the rack insert and the carriage for properly aligning the rack insert upon the carriage, a locating assembly disposed upon the carriage and engageable with the rack insert for assisting in properly aligning the rack insert and the carriage between load and work positions, and multiple clamping assemblies disposed within said carriage for releasably securing the rack insert upon the carriage. The perishable rack insert is designed for quick and convenient replacement, reducing maintenance cost and idle time for these devices. The single-use insert relieves inventory burden and ensures that replacement tools are ordered in a timely manner.
US09403205B2

A steam generator includes a lower integrated tubesheet and plenum (ITP) configured to receive feedwater and a first set of heat transfer tubes fluidly coupled to a plurality of stubs protruding from a first side of the lower ITP. A second set of heat transfer tubes fluidly couples to plurality of stubs protruding from a second side of the lower ITP. The first set of heat transfer tubes is coiled in a substantially clock-wise direction, and the second set of heat transfer tubes is coiled in a substantially counter-clockwise direction. The steam generator further includes an upper ITP fluidly coupled to the first and second set of heat transfer tubes, wherein the feedwater entering the lower ITP is converted to steam in the first and second sets of heat transfer tubes. The upper ITP is configured to transport the steam away from the steam generator.
US09403203B2

A diameter-reduction apparatus for can-trunk for performing a diameter-reduction process on a trunk part of a can-body having a closed-end cylindrical shape with an open end, including: a can-body holder holding a bottom part of the can-body, which is provided with: a base pad abutting on the bottom part of the can-boy; and a first clamping-ring having substantially a cylindrical shape which clamps an outer circumference surface of a trunk part of the can-body at the bottom side and which moves back and forth relative to the base pad along a can-axis direction; a die unit for diameter-reduction provided with a die for a diameter-reduction process of the trunk part by moving back and forth with respect to the can-body holder along the can-axis direction; and a first clamping-ring moving device moving the first clamping-ring backward along the can-axis direction along with an advance of the die.
US09403202B2

A method of lubricating an interior of a tube includes applying a lubricant including a mixture of an additive and a solvent into an interior of a tube. A flow of drying agent is injected into a first end of the tube to force the solvent from the interior of the tube via a second end of the tube thereby leaving a coating of additive at the interior of the tube. The drying agent is heated to remove additional solvent from the interior of the tube via evaporation.
US09403199B2

An expandable tube portion including slots arranged in a staggered fashion is expanded. When the expandable tube portion is expanded, the individual slots open to a cut end portion of the expandable tube portion are transformed to open in V-shape while the whole body of the expandable tube portion is transformed to a lattice configuration. Hence, the tube expansion only need to apply a working force required to bend intersections of the lattice configuration, resulting in the reduction of the working force for tube expansion. As a result, the working force for tube expansion does not open a butt connection portion of a subject matter, negating the need for previously weld bonding the butt connection portion of the subject matter.
US09403196B2

A treatment device for transport and storage boxes according to the invention comprises a plurality of decontamination modules (24-27) supported by a common chassis (100) and arranged in a row of at least one column (23c) of modules superposed one on top of the other. Each decontamination module (24-27) comprises its own pumping means (6) having at least a primary pump (8a) housed in a primary pumping compartment (8c) that is longitudinally offset from the decontamination chamber (5). Access to the decontamination modules (24-27) is had via side access doors which are all oriented on one and the same access side and which are acted upon by actuating means that automatically close and open them. A lateral transfer zone is provided on the access side, and comprises a robot (29) capable of moving the transport and storage boxes between a frontal loading-unloading station (23a) and the decontamination chambers (5) of each of the decontamination modules (24-27). The amount of space occupied by and the throughput of the treatment device (23) are thus optimized.
US09403190B2

A solvent composition comprising an organic solvent; dispersed nanoparticles; and a non-volatile electrolyte is provided. A method of forming a liquid composite composition is provided.
US09403186B2

A versatile and rapid sol-gel technique for the fabrication of high quality one-dimensional photonic bandgap materials. For example, silica/titania multi-layer materials may be fabricated by a sol-gel chemistry route combined with dip-coating onto planar or curved substrate. A shock-cooling step immediately following the thin film heat-treatment process is introduced. This step was found important in the prevention of film crack formation—especially in silica/titania alternating stack materials with a high number of layers. The versatility of this sol-gel method is demonstrated by the fabrication of various Bragg stack-type materials with fine-tuned optical properties by tailoring the number and sequence of alternating layers, the film thickness and the effective refractive index of the deposited thin films. Measured optical properties show good agreement with theoretical simulations confirming the high quality of these sol-gel fabricated optical materials.
US09403184B2

The invention is related to a method and an apparatus for the automated fabrication of a molecular layer made from amphiphilic molecules, in particular lipids for a lipid bilayer membrane, in the apparatus, which has a support substrate for supporting the molecular layer, a rotation element, which can be rotated on top of the support substrate, and an actuator device, by means of which the rotation element can be automatically rotated, wherein the rotation element has an outer surface, which is formed hydrophobic at least in sections, the method having the following steps: placing a first solvent, which contains amphiphilic molecules, in a region above the support substrate; causing the automatic rotation of the rotation element above the support substrate; moving the first solvent between the support substrate and the rotation element by the interaction of the rotating rotation element with the first solvent, thus forming the molecular layer.
US09403182B2

Described is a high solids coating composition having exceptional rheological properties and appearances comprising (a) a thermosetting binder, (b) from about 0.1 to about 10 wt. % based on binder solids of solid polyurea particles prepared by the reaction of a mixture of a polyisocyanate and an amino reactant comprising a primary or secondary monoamine that optionally has a hydroxyl or ether group or both, and (c) from about 5 to about 20 wt. % based on binder solids of a cellulose mixed ester having a number average molecular weight of from about 1000 to about 5600, a polydispersity of from about 1.2 to about 3.5, and a total degree of substitution per anhydroglucose unit of from about 3.08 to about 3.5.
US09403171B2

An air quality enhancement system that includes an enclosure and an electrostatic particle ionization system. A plurality of objects is located in the enclosure. The enclosure has an interior height that is greater than a height of the objects. The plurality of objects emits particles that become airborne. The electrostatic particle ionization system includes at least one corona point and a corona point mounting mechanism. The corona point mounting mechanism operably mounts the at least one corona point within the enclosure for movement between an extended position and a retracted. When in the extended position, the at least one corona point is closer to the plurality of objects than the enclosure. When in the retracted position, the at least one corona point is closer to the enclosure than the plurality of objects.
US09403169B2

A mechano-chemical reactor comprising, driving means extended along one or more parallel axis, a mass made oscillating by the driving means along the direction of a vertical axis and an elastic system for a partial compensation of the inertial forces generated by the oscillating mass. The oscillating mass includes at least one restricted environment loaded with solid and/or liquid substances are loaded in order to be treated by the kinetic energy of milling bodies. The elastic system comprises flexible elements made of a titanium alloy which are either one-dimensional, i.e. a plurality of rectilinear parallel rods, or bi-dimensional, i.e. at least a polygonal plate having two sides parallel to the axis of the driving means. In rest conditions the flexible elements are extended substantially perpendicular to the direction of the oscillations of the mass.
US09403166B2

An oats processing equipment comprises at least two groups of awners and at least two groups of oat grinders, with awners within the same group being connected in parallel or in series, and oat grinders within the same group being connected in parallel or in series, preferably 3 to 4 groups of awners and oat grinders are included. An oat processing method comprises steps of: (S00) classifying oats subjected to surface processing according to grain sizes; (S10) feeding oats of a certain class into a plurality of groups of awners for more than two stages of awn removing; and (S20) feeding the oats subjected to the awn removing into a plurality of groups of oat grinders for more than three stages of grinding. The inputted load of a single awner and an oat grinder is limited, thus achieving the technical effect of grinding oats gently and separating the oats finely.
US09403162B2

Ionomers and ionomer membranes, consisting of a non-fluorinated or partly fluorinated non-, partly or fully-aromatic main chain and a non- or partly-fluorinated side chain with ionic groups or their non-ionic precursors, have a positive impact on the proton conductivity of the ionomers. Various processes produce these polymeric proton conductors. The membranes are useful for fuel cell applications.
US09403152B2

The disclosure provides molybdenum and/or tungsten containing catalyst materials useful for the sour gas shift reactions and methods for using such catalyst materials, for example, for converting carbon monoxide and steam to carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
US09403150B2

Embodiments include metal catalyst compositions and methods of forming metal catalyst compositions. A metal catalyst composition can be formed by (a) contacting a supported metal catalyst surface with a ligand-containing alumina precursor for a predetermined contact time to form an intermediate layer having a plurality of aluminum moieties that chemically bond to the supported metal catalyst surface, optionally, contacting the intermediate layer of aluminum moieties with an inert gas for a predetermined intermediate stripping time to remove unreacted ligand-containing alumina precursors, (b) reacting the aluminum moieties with an oxidation reagent for a predetermined reaction time to convert at least a portion of the ligands to hydroxyl groups thereby forming a layer of the alumina over-coat on the supported metal catalyst surface or a previously formed layer of the alumina over-coat, (c) contacting the layer of the alumina over-coat formed in step (b) with an inert gas for a predetermined stripping time to remove unreacted oxidation reagents, replicating the sequential steps (a-c) to form an additional layer of the alumina over-coat, and (d) activating the alumina over-coat, after forming a final layer of the alumina over-coat, to form a plurality of pores therein.
US09403148B2

A method of forming the highly selective ultra-small pore amorphous adsorbent includes introducing an ion-exchange material to a sodium aluminosilicate zeolite such that an ion-exchanged zeolite forms, calcinating the ion-exchanged zeolite at a calcination temperature such that the ion-exchanged zeolite collapses and forms the decationized amorphous adsorbent, and introducing a back ion-exchange material to the decationized amorphous adsorbent such that the highly selective ultra-small pore amorphous adsorbent forms. The highly selective ultra-small pore amorphous adsorbent has a pore aperture size operable to permit carbon dioxide to adsorb into the amorphous adsorbent and operable to deny methane from adsorbing into the amorphous adsorbent.
US09403139B2

A mixing device for mixing concurrently-flowing streams of vapor and liquid in a vessel contains flow baffles forming a tangential inlet orifice through which the liquid and vapor streams flow at high flow velocity and in a tangential direction into a swirl box. The high momentum of the streams in the inlet orifice, the tangential direction of the streams, and the large distance between the inlet orifice and the vessel centerline, result in a violent swirling flow and a large number of fluid rotations in the swirl box, thereby thoroughly mixing the streams entering through the inlet orifice. A mixed stream of vapor and liquid exits the mixing device through an outlet opening in the bottom of the mixing device. An impingement plate located below the outlet opening spreads the liquid and decreases the velocity of the mixed stream. The temperature and chemical composition of the mixed stream are equilibrated.
US09403121B2

A composite membrane for separations includes a fabric with a non-woven array of intermingled carbon nanotubes, and a dopant incorporated with the fabric to form a non-porous, permeable composite. The composite membrane may be used to separate a target gas from a liquid by mounting the composite membrane in a housing chamber, and conditioning a permeate side of the chamber to establish a driving force for the target gas across the non-porous, permeable composite membrane.
US09403118B2

A nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing method and a nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing apparatus which minimize variations in the compressor load in order to ensure satisfactory utilization of the performance of the compressor. Specifically, a nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing method for separating a nitrogen-enriched gas from a raw material air containing nitrogen gas using a plurality of adsorption tanks packed with an adsorbent the method including a pressurization and adsorption step, a depressurization and equalization step, a depressurization and regeneration step, and a pressurization and equalization step, wherein in the pressurization or depressurization and equalization step, the raw material air which has been compressed by the compressor is stored in a compressed raw material air tank provided on a branch line between the compressor and the adsorption tanks, and in the pressurization and adsorption step, the raw material air stored in the compressed raw material air tank is introduced into the adsorption tank and used as a portion of the gas that pressurizes the inside of the adsorption tank.
US09403117B2

A purge system and methods are described. The system allows purging of closed vessels in a precise and reproducible manner under microprocessor and sensor control. The process includes automated valves that allow repeated purge cycles with little or no operator attention. The purge parameters may be stored in memory for recall at a later time to repeat the purge process on the same or a different vessel. In a preferred embodiment the equipment and process allows for purging and desiccation of deep-sea vehicles without the need to carry compressed gas cylinders out to sea.
US09403109B2

Disclosed is a solid/liquid separation apparatus including an extruder press combined with a solid/fluid separation module for separating fluid from a mass of solids compressed by the extruder at elevated pressures. The extruder includes two or more extruder screws with flighting intercalated at least along a part of the extruder barrel. The separation module forms a continuation of the barrel, receives the pressurized mass and at least a portion of the twin screws, and includes a filter pack consisting of a filter plate and a backer plate. The filter plate has a throughgoing filter slot extending away from a core opening and into the filter plate for directing fluid away from the core opening. The backer plate has a core opening shaped and sized equal to the barrel and defines a passage for guiding fluid collected in the filter slot to an exterior of the filter pack.
US09403098B1

Swing assemblies and systems for providing unique user experiences are disclosed. The swing assemblies may include a polygonal base, a plurality of vertical support beams and a plurality of swings. Each of the plurality of swings being attached to optional horizontal beams or to the vertical support beams. The swing assemblies further include a plurality of outer wing structures, each of the outer wing structures associated with one of the plurality of vertical beams and each of the outer wing structures extending radially outward of its respective associated vertical beam. In some examples, the swing assemblies may include a rotating assembly or an elastic resistance device to further add to the user experience.
US09403097B2

A server device stores a plurality of first messages and a plurality of second messages to be made available to a player as a result of a use condition being satisfied. The server device generates, if the use condition is not satisfied, a first message list including only the first fixed messages and generates, if the use condition is satisfied, a second message list including at least one of the second fixed messages. In response to a request from a player terminal, the server device generates, before the use condition is satisfied, data of a game screen including a selection operation area allowing a player to select a message from the first message list and generates, after the use condition is satisfied, data of a game screen including a selection operation area allowing a player to select a message from the second message list.
US09403095B2

The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN ONLINE GAME MANAGER (“OGM”) transform user social graph and online behavioral pattern data inputs via OGM components into optimized server computational load reports. In one embodiment, the OGM may process a user server migration request for a user by obtaining user social graph data identifying co-users, and social activity pattern data associated with the user and the co-users. The OGM may also obtain server load indices of servers associated with the co-users, and server load analysis rules. By analyzing the server load indices using the server load analysis rules, the OGM may identify a subset of the servers as non-overloaded transfer candidate servers. The OGM may calculate transfer candidate server scores for the non-overloaded transfer candidate servers using the user social graph data and the social activity pattern data.
US09403087B2

A system and method for associating virtual spaces with physical analogs in the real world. Associating virtual spaces with physical analogs may enable various aspects of the virtual spaces, such as the content of the virtual spaces, the manner in which the virtual spaces are accessed by users, and/or other aspects of the virtual spaces, to correspond to the real world. For example, upon initiation of a client that provides a view of one or more virtual spaces to a user, the user may automatically be provided with a view of a virtual space associated with one or more physical analogs that are proximate to the user in the real world. As another example, content within the virtual space may reflect ambient conditions at or near associated physical analog(s), the presence and/or condition of objects at or near the associated physical analog(s), the location and/or condition of the physical analog(s), and/or other information related to the physical analog in the real world.
US09403068B2

A golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing and surface roughening to accommodate a plurality of different shots.
US09403066B2

An adjustable golf club system is described herein. The adjustable golf club system includes a club shaft, a club head, a hosel, and an adjustment assembly that is removably coupled to the club head and the hosel to facilitate adjusting an orientation of the hosel with respect to the club head. The club head includes a club head cavity that extends between a toe portion and a heal portion. The hosel includes a first end that is coupled to the club shaft and a second end that includes a fastener head. The adjustment assembly includes a sliding member and a hosel fastener that is coupled to the sliding member. The sliding member is positioned within the club head cavity and movable between the toe portion and the heal portion. The hosel fastener extends through the fastener head to the sliding member to couple the hosel to the club head.
US09403061B2

Swimming goggles include a frame body, lenses, buckles attached to left and right portions of the frame body, and a head strap passed through the buckles. Each of the buckles has a base having a connecting portion and a guiding portion, and an operating portion. With the head strap being frictional engaged with the guiding portions and retained by the operating portion and being stretched after wearing of the swimming goggles, the head strap is adjustable through the buckles without taking off the swimming goggles, so as to provide a quick and easy adjustment, and a lower cost of manufacturing because of simplified structure.
US09403058B2

An apparatus compares athletic information relating to a user performing an athletic activity. The apparatus has a module (503, 505, 509) that generates a first set of athletic data corresponding to athletic information corresponding to the athletic activity performed by the user. The module has a memory (511) storing a second set of athletic data. The module compares the first set of athletic data to the second set of athletic data and communicates content to the user based on the comparison of the first set of athletic data to the second set of athletic data. The apparatus also has a module (803, 805) that determines the expected time of athletic activity and selects a set of feedback data having a duration proximate the expected time of athletic activity, wherein the module communicates the selected set of feedback data to the user.
US09403056B2

A rehabilitation system that combines robotics and interactive gaming to facilitate performance of task-specific, repetitive, upper extremity/hand motor tasks, to enable individuals undergoing rehabilitation to improve the performance of coordinated movements of the forearm and hand is disclosed. More specifically, the rehabilitation system includes a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) robotic, upper limb rehabilitation system and interactive gaming hardware that is coupled to a computer, to provide a virtual reality-like environment.
US09403052B2

A stationary bicycle with a frame. A crankset is rotatably mounted to the frame to receive a pedaling actuation from a user of the stationary bicycle. A seat is mounted to the frame to support the user using the crankset in the pedaling actuation. A handlebar is mounted to the frame to serve as a hand/arm support for the user during the pedaling actuation. Translational joints between the frame and the seat and the handlebar are provided for translational displacement of the seat or handlebar with respect to the crankset. A mechanism is connected to the translational joint for locking the translational joint in a selected position, the mechanism allowing movement of the translational joint solely by a selected actuation displacing the translational joint proportionally in the direction of the translational displacement.
US09403049B2

A suspended footrest device for supporting and exercising a user's feet and legs. The footrest device includes a pair of footrests that are pivotally connected to the opposed ends of a rigid elongated member. A non-rigid suspension member is connected to a medial section of the elongated member to suspend the footrests. The footrests are pivotally connected to the rigid elongated member.
US09403040B1

A method for the restoration of dentition, including dissolving a phosphate salt in water to define a calcium-free aqueous phosphate solution and applying the aqueous phosphate solution to dentition. The calcium-free aqueous phosphate solution has a phosphate concentration of between about 10 ppm and about 10000 ppm.
US09403033B1

An apparatus and method for loading brachytherapy carriers with radioactive seeds in order to implement brachytherapy treatment protocols with more precise and predictable dosimetry. These apparatuses and methods enable a medical team to create a radionuclide carrier for each patient and tumor reliably, reproducibly and efficiently.
US09403030B2

Methods and systems are provided for delivering visible or infrared biostimulatory energy to bone marrow to subjects having or developing Alzheimer's disease. The radiation is delivered to sites remote from the brain at a dose sufficient to cause stimulated mesenchymal stem cells to appear in the brain and degrade β-amyloid. The energy may be coherent light and can be administered transcutaneously, subcutaneously, or via an intramedullary probe.
US09403026B2

An automated external defibrillator (AED) 10 has a changeable language placard (20) which enables the AED to instruct the user in one or more languages. The placard includes a controlling element (120) which is sensed by the AED, and causes the AED to automatically switch the language mode into the corresponding placard language. The placard also includes visual guidance instructions (224, 226).
US09403023B2

One aspect provides a method of forming a feedthrough device for an implantable medical device. The method includes providing a bulk insulator having a longitudinal length extending between first and second end faces, and including one or more conducting elements extending therethrough between the first and second end faces, the bulk insulator having a perimeter surface along the longitudinal length, and depositing one of a metal, metal alloy, or cermet on the perimeter surface to form a ferrule directly thereon, wherein the ferrule can be joined to other components of the implantable medical device.
US09403016B2

The invention relates to improved cardiac pacemakers and methods of use thereof. In particular the cardiac pacemakers are useful for normalizing heart rates over resting heart rates in order to condition the heart to improve overall cardiac output.
US09403010B2

A site-specific deep brain stimulation for enhancement of memory is described. A method of the site-specific deep brain stimulation for enhancement of memory may include implanting intracranial depth electrodes in a patient, wherein the electrodes are placed in right and/or left entorhinal regions, and stimulating the electrodes with current set below an after-discharge threshold. The method may include stimulation at a specific brain site in the medial temporal lobe, stimulation (ODTS) at specific stages of information processing. A system for site specific deep brain stimulation of entorhinal regions during specific stages of information processing is also described.
US09403009B2

A device is disclosed that includes an external unit configured to communicate with an implant unit beneath the skin of a subject and an indicator associated with the external unit. The indicator is configured to produce an indicator signal when the external unit is within a predetermined range of the implant unit. In addition, the indicator may be configured to vary the indicator signal according to a distance between the external unit and the implant unit. Furthermore, a method of locating an external unit with respect to an implant unit is disclosed that includes detecting a distance between the external unit and the implanted unit located beneath the skin of a subject, producing an indicator signal when the external unit is within a predetermined range of the implant unit, and varying the indicator signal as a function of a distance between the external unit and the implant unit.
US09403006B2

The present invention is an improved fitting and training system for a visual prosthesis. Fitting a visual prosthesis through automated means is challenging and fitting a visual prosthesis manually is tedious for clinician and patent, and provides great opportunity for error. A hybrid of computer controlled and manual fitting provides effective, efficient and controlled fitting process. The process includes testing a group of electrodes in random order by providing a prompt followed by stimulation and the patient responding if they saw a percept. After each set, a maximum likelihood algorithm is used to determine the next stimulation level, or if further stimulation is needed for each electrode.
US09403001B2

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating or preventing gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, and other functional gastrointestinal disorders. The methods comprise transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers, particularly those in a vagus nerve. The methods provide damaged interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) with trophic factors via vagal afferent nerve fibers, thereby reversing ICC damage, and as a consequence improving gastric motility. The methods also increase levels of inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain so as to decrease neural activity within the area postrema, or they deactivate a resting state neural network containing parts of the anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex, which will thereby reduce abnormal interoception and visceral hypersensitivity.
US09402989B2

A medical device lead. The lead includes one or more jacketed conductive elements. The jacket comprises one or more covers. A first cover of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is in direct contact with the at least one conductive element. The at least one conductive element and the PTFE cover are coiled. The coiled conductive element can substantially retain its original coiled shape.
US09402988B2

A Wearable Medical System includes a support structure that is configured to be worn by a person. The WMS also includes an electronics module, a cable assembly, and at least one electrode that can be configured to be coupled to the support structure. The cable assembly includes a base member and a cable coupled to the base member. The support structure can be dimensioned relative to the person's body to be worn with tension, and be resiliently stretched under the tension. The stretching of the support structure can stretch the base member of the cable assembly, thus increasing the effective length of the cable, while reducing or even eliminating slack in the cable.
US09402985B2

A self-cleaning suction device has a user's suction end that self-sanitizes externally and internally before and after use, as well as self-sanitizes internally during use. A cover opens to reveal the user's suction end within a containment unit. As the cover opens, the suction end travels from a lower chamber, proceeds through a middle chamber of a sanitizing agent, and is presented for use. After suction is complete, the suction end retracts through an upper chamber with, a scraping feature that removes debris from the outer surface of the mouthpiece, and proceeds down through the middle chamber of a sanitizing agent and a scraping feature that removes debris and the sanitizing agent from the outer surface of the user's suction end. Upon the sealing closure of the cover, the upper and middle chambers are flushed with a sanitizing agent, which is suctioned away along with any collected debris. The user's suction end resides within a lower chamber and can be decontaminated by a UV-C light entering into the lower chamber and/or corresponding chambers. The suction device can also include a liquid-hydration delivery system.
US09402984B2

The invention relates to a device for inserting needles, including a body defined by a proximal end and a distal end, a mounting movably mounted inside the body, at least one needle secured to the mounting, a drive means suitable for driving the mounting towards said distal end, said mounting comprising a distal surface onto which the needle projects, said distal end comprising a contact area intended for contacting the tissue, the mounting being configured so as to reach a position, after activating the driving means, in which the distal surface thereof, relative to said proximal end, is more distant than said contact area, wherein the device is further configured so as to enable a gradual passive return movement of the mounting once said position has been reached.
US09402983B1

A variably expanding balloon catheter comprises a sequentially stepped outer shell when fully inflated, such as three sequentially increasing steps followed by three sequentially decreasing steps. For example, a balloon catheter comprises a sequentially stepped outer shell, when fully inflated, such that a first section of the outer shell is constrained to a first diameter by the sequentially stepped outer shell, and a second section, adjacent to the first section and attached to the first section by a step transition. The step transition provides a discontinuous change in diameter from the first diameter to the second diameter along a length of the balloon catheter, which may be abrupt.
US09402977B2

A robotic catheter system is provided. The robotic catheter system includes a housing and a drive assembly coupled to the housing. The drive assembly is configured to impart movement to a catheter device. The catheter system includes a release structure permitting the drive assembly to be decoupled and removed from the housing without removing the catheter device from a patient.
US09402975B2

A venous catheter having a catheter tip comprising recessed diffusion holes for increasing the snag-resistance of the venous catheter. The invention further provides systems and methods for providing axial ridges interposed between diffusion holes for increasing the rigidity of the vented catheter tip.
US09402974B2

A primable catheter including a thermoreactive, viscoelastic material that is internally supported with a trocar wire. The primable catheter further includes a multi-chamfered tip and a gap interposed between an inner surface of the catheter and the outer surface of the trocar, such that a priming fluid is permitted to flow through the catheter and purge air trapped between the trocar and the inner surface of the catheter. Following insertion of the catheter, the trocar is removed and a therapeutic is infused via the catheter.
US09402971B2

A lung volume reduction system is disclosed comprising an implantable device adapted to be delivered to a lung airway of a patient in a delivery configuration and to change to a deployed configuration to bend the lung airway. The invention also discloses a method of bending a lung airway of a patient comprising inserting a device into the airway in a delivery configuration and bending the device into a deployed configuration, thereby bending the airway.
US09402957B2

An automatic injection apparatus including a delay mechanism for properly delivering medication prior to the needled syringe of the apparatus being retracted. In one form, the delay mechanism includes a shuttle for the syringe, a follower, a locking member, a damping compound between the follower and a supporting surface to dampen rotation of the follower relative to the shuttle, and a dual functioning biasing member acting between the shuttle and the follower. When the locking member moves to a release position during an injection, the dual functioning biasing member first provides a torsional force to force the follower to rotate relative to the shuttle from a latching position to an unlatching position, and then the dual functioning biasing member provides an axial force to force the shuttle axially relative to the follower to move the shuttle for retracting the syringe needle into the housing of the apparatus after injection.
US09402955B2

A device (1) for the medical care of a patient in an emergency which comprises an item of clothing (2) which may be worn by the patient on the body and monitoring devices (8, 9) arranged on the item of clothing (2), which may monitor at least one physiological function of the patient, in order to detect an emergency. The device further comprises a cardiac compression device (3, 4) arranged on the item of clothing (2), which is operatively connected to the monitoring device (8, 9), in order to treat the patient with a cardiac resuscitation when the monitoring device (3, 4) determines an emergency, and a defibrillator (5, 6, 7) as well as the intraosseous delivery of drugs into the bone marrow cavity of the breast bone. Moreover, a device (1) for the medical care of a patient in an emergency, which comprises as a therapeutic device a respiratory therapeutic device (10, 11, 12, 13) which is able to supply oxygen and/or a drug for pulmonary resuscitation into the respiratory system of the patient.
US09402940B2

A wound healing system for promoting healing of a wound of a patient includes a positive pressure source, a reduced pressure source, and a porous foam positioned in contact with the wound. The porous foam includes a plurality of flow channels in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source. The system further includes a filler member having a flexible wall defining an interior chamber. The interior chamber is in fluid communication with the positive pressure source, and a cover member is positioned over the filler member.
US09402938B2

A method for capturing dislodged vegetative growth during a surgical procedure is provided. The method includes maneuvering, into a circulatory system, a first cannula having a distal end and an opposing proximal end, such that the first cannula is positioned to capture the vegetative growth en bloc. A second cannula is positioned in fluid communication with the first cannula, such that a distal end of the second cannula is situated in spaced relation to the distal end of the cannula. A suction force is provided through the distal end of the first cannula so as to capture the vegetative growth. Fluid removed by the suction force is reinfused through the distal end of the second cannula. Subsequent to becoming dislodged, the vegetative growth is captured by the first cannula. A method for capturing a vegetative growth during removal of a pacemaker lead is also provided.
US09402937B2

The invention relates to a suction device for suctioning liquids, comprising a suction element, which is provided with at least one suction opening for receiving the liquid, and a pump which is connected to the suction element and which is equipped to generate a suction vacuum in the suction element, wherein a control device and at least one sensor which is connected to the control device are provided, wherein the control device is equipped to influence the suction power acting at the suction opening dependent on the signals received from the sensor.The object of the invention is to provide a suction device for suctioning liquids, said device working with greater efficiency than known suction devices. Additionally, there is a requirement in the medical field to provide a medical suction device which to the greatest possible extent prevents the damage that occurs to blood components during automatic operation.This object is achieved by the fact that the sensor is designed as an acoustic wave sensor. The acoustic wave sensor is equipped to detect acoustic waves which are generated by the suction element during the operation thereof.
US09402936B2

A medical device includes an alloy having a microstructure that provides desirable properties. The alloy can be a eutectoid composition of e.g. titanium as a major constituent and any combination of iridium, platinum, chromium, gold, silver, bismuth, manganese, palladium, cobalt, copper, iron, and/or nickel as a minor constituent, wherein the alloy forms at least a portion of the medical device.
US09402935B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic sinusitis, including cystic fibrosis, interstitial fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neoplasia. The method involves administration, preferably oral, nasal or pulmonary administration, of anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative drugs (rapamycin or paclitaxel and their analogs) and an additive.
US09402934B2

A method for preparing tissue for medical applications, in particular tissue for use for an artificial heart valve, wherein the method has the steps of decellularizing the tissue by means of a detergent and subsequently cross-linking the collagen fibers of the tissue by means of a suitable cross-linking agent. At least one lipopeptide, such as surfactin, for example, is used as the detergent for decellularization.
US09402923B2

The present application discloses solid compositions for the oral administration of dyes, and diagnostic use thereof. Preferably, such diagnostic use is aimed at the diagnostic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract.
US09402920B2

Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.
US09402914B2

The present invention provides membrane lytic poly(amido amine) polymers, polyconjugates, compositions and methods for the delivery of oligonucleotides for therapeutic purposes.
US09402913B2

The present invention describes Cyclosporine A/steroid hybrid analogs. These single drug entities are formed by connecting a steroid with Cyclosporine A. Upon topical application to the eye, the conjugate hybrid would undergo enzymatic and/or hydrolytic cleavage to release the individual drugs.
US09402911B2

The present invention relates to dendrimer synthesis. Specifically, the present invention relates to dendrimer compositions (e.g., scaffolds) capable of copper-free click conjugation for use in the synthesis of functionalized dendrimers, and methods of use of the same.
US09402910B2

The present invention is generally directed to internally functionalized graphene substrates, methods of making such substrates and methods of using such substrates. In one aspect, the present invention is a graphene substrate. The substrate comprises edge and non-edge regions. Organic or inorganic molecules are bound to the non-edge regions of the substrate, and the organic or inorganic molecules are present on the substrate edges at a population greater than about one molecule per 10,000 nm2.
US09402908B2

The present invention provides polymer aggregates as delivery vehicles for therapeutics and diagnostics. The present invention additionally provides methods of synthesis and uses for such aggregates.
US09402907B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition containing compound I or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient, which is favorably dissolved in the neutral region. The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing (A) N1-(5-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N2-((1S,2R,4S)-4-[(dimethylamino)carbonyl]-2-{[(5-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-2-yl)carbonyl]amino}cyclohexyl)ethanediamide or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, and (B) an acid or a salt thereof.
US09402892B2

The invention provides an attenuated polio virus having a 5′ non-coding region consisting of the 5′ non-coding region of Sabin 3, modified so that it does not have a base pair mismatch in stem (a) or (b) of domain V, wherein seven or eight of the base pairs in stems (a) and (b) are U-A or A-U base pairs; and a capsid protein from the Sabin 1, Mahoney, MEF or Saukett strain.
US09402886B2

One aspect of the present invention relates to mutants of chondroitinase ABCI. Such chondroitinase ABCI mutants exhibit altered chondroitin lyase activity or increased resistance to inactivation from stressors including exposure to UV light or heat. Methods of using chondroitinase ABCI mutant enzymes are also provided.
US09402873B2

The present invention relates to a composition comprising STP-1, a bacteriophage isolated from nature, capable of infecting Salmonella Typhimurium so as to kill the same as an active ingredient, and a method for preventing and treating Salmonella Typhimurium infection using the said composition. According to the present invention, the bacteriophage STP-1, an active ingredient of the composition, has a killing activity against Salmonella Typhimurium and has the genome represented by SEQ. ID. NO: 1.
US09402864B2

Methods of normalizing iron levels, treating iron deficiency and disorders related thereto, such as anemia, as described. Pharmaceutical compositions effective for such treatments are also described.
US09402863B2

A method for preventing mesothelial cell trauma is described. The method comprises applying at pool of conditioning techniques prior and/or during surgery for decreasing detrimental factors and optimally using beneficial factors. The pool of conditioning techniques thereby comprises at least applying an irrigation liquid to irrigate at least part of the area of surgery wherein the irrigation liquid is a pH buffering liquid.
US09402861B2

Compositions and methods for making a composition comprising a polymer and one or more chelators covalently coupled to polymer, wherein the one or more chelators has a benzene ring with more than one hydroxyl group at any position that is free, or a derivative of the chelator, or a salt of the chelator and methods of use.
US09402860B2

A method for treating onychomycosis and skin conditions such as urushiol-induced allergic contact dermatitis comprises coating the affected nail or skin with a solution comprising an at least a primary diamine with modified diphenylmethane diisocyanates and a carrier solvent/reactant.
US09402857B2

A dietary supplement composition is formulated in a therapeutic amount to treat and alleviate symptoms of joint pain. The composition includes pro-inflammatory low molecular weight microbial fermented sodium hyaluronate fragments having a molecular weight of 0.5 to 300 kilodaltons (kDa) and astaxanthin in an oral dosage form. The astaxanthin may be derived from a natural or synthetic ester or synthetic diol. The composition may include a mixture of cartilage and salt and boron.
US09402854B2

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising arformoterol and fluticasone furoate (preferably for once daily administration), to a process for preparing such a composition and to the use of such a composition for the treatment and/or prevention of respiratory, inflammatory or obstructive airway disease.
US09402839B2

The present invention provides a composition and related methods for delivering cargo to a mitochondria which includes (a) a membrane active peptidyl fragment having a high affinity with the mitochondria and (b) cargo. The cargo may be selected from a wide variety of desired cargos which are to be delivered to the mitochondria for a specific purpose. Compositions and methods are disclosed for treating an illness that is caused or associated with cellular damage or dysfunction which is caused by excessive mitochondrial production of reaction oxygen species (ROS). Compositions which act as mitochondria-selective targeting agents using the structural signaling of the β-turn recognizable by cells as mitochondria) targeting sequences are discussed. Mitochondria and cell death by way of apoptosis is inhibited as a result of the ROS-scavenging activity, thereby increasing the survival rate of the patient.
US09402837B2

Provided is a method of increasing the stability of wild-type β-glucocerebrosidase. Also provided are methods of treating and/or preventing an individual having a neurological disease in which increased expression or activity of β-glucocerebrosidase in the central nervous system would be beneficial. This method comprises administering an effective amount of a pharmacologic chaperone for β-glucocerebrosidase, with the proviso that the individual does not have a mutation in the gene encoding β-glucocerebrosidase. Further provided are β-glucocerebrosidase inhibitors which have been identified as specific pharmacologic chaperones and which have been shown to increase activity of β-glucocerebrosidase in vivo in the central nervous system.
US09402820B2

The identification of pO2 lowering agents as transient hypoxia-inducers is disclosed herein. Provided is a method of enhancing the efficacy of a hypoxia-sensitive agent in a subject, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the hypoxia-sensitive agent and a therapeutically effective amount of a pO2 lowering agent. Methods of treating a subject with a tumor, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pO2 lowering agent and a therapeutically effective amount of a hypoxia-sensitive agent are also disclosed.
US09402811B2

The present invention relates to low dose estradiol solutions for oromucosal administration suitable in replacement therapy or suppletion of low estradiol levels and also for preventing, alleviating or treating symptoms associated with low endogenous levels of estradiol in female subjects.
US09402797B2

A cosmetic agent (A) is applied to the fibers and is allowed to act for a period of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, after which a cosmetic agent (B) is applied to the keratinic fibers, which continue to be acted on by agent (A). Both agents (A) and (B) are allowed to act for a period of 5 to 45 minutes, after which the agents (A) and (B) are rinsed out. Agent (A) (a1) contains no oxidation dye precursors of the developer type, (a2) contains one or more oxidation dye precursors of the coupler type, (a3) has a pH of 8.0 to 12.0, and agent (B) (b) contains one or more oxidation dye precursors, (b2) contains one or more oxidizing agents, and (b3) has a pH of 8.0 to 12.0.
US09402796B2

Kit comprising an aqueous hair conditioning composition comprising a cationic surfactant and fatty alcohol, and an anhydrous activator composition which comprises polyalkylene glycol. Method of treating the hair comprising applying an activator composition to a hair conditioning composition, mixing, and then applying to the hair. Method of treating the hair comprising applying a hair conditioning composition to the hair and then applying an activator composition to the hair. Method of texturising a hair conditioning composition by mixing with an activator composition.
US09402794B2

Disclosed is a topical skin care composition, and method for its use, that includes 55 to 65% by weight of water, 15 to 20% by weight of a combination of 3,3,5-Trimethylcyclohexyl 2-hydroxybenzoate (homosalate), 1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)propane-1,3-dione (avobenzone), 2-ethylhexyl 2-hydroxybenzoate (octisalate), and 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl-2-propenoate (octocrylene), 3 to 4% by weight of distearlydimonium chloride, and 1 to 3% by weight of a combination of euterpe oleracea fruit extract, punica granatum sterols, caprooyl tetrapeptide-3, tocopherol or tocopherol acetate, and niacinamide, wherein the composition has a sun protection factor of at least 15 or about 15 to 20.
US09402791B1

Silicon particle nano-clusters formed with crystalline cores and amorphous shells are used for absorbing ultraviolet wavelength radiation. Silicon nano-particles are synthesized by plasma-chemical sputtering of bulk silicon crystal to form particles which are then quenched in an atmosphere of oxygen or oxygen and nitrogen. Analysis of these particles is presented for their scattering and absorption properties for use as ultraviolet protection elements.
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