US09098194B2
A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a display and a controller. The controller is configured to display input characters and a cursor in a display window and to display a keypad in the display. The controller is further configured to display the keypad with a plurality of keys and to display the plurality of keys including display characters. The controller is further configured to change a font of the display characters corresponding to a font of an input character adjacent the cursor of the input characters.
US09098188B2
Disclosed herein are a display device and a method for controlling the same. Herein, the method for controlling the display device includes the steps of displaying a first object and a second object, wherein the first object is displayed so that at least a portion can overlay a first region of the second object, determining a first pressure condition being required for controlling the first object within the first region of the second object, detecting a first touch input touching a region in which the first object is displayed, detecting a second touch input controlling the first object, controlling the first object corresponding to the second touch input, when a pressure level of the first touch input satisfies the first pressure condition, and allowing the second touch input to bypass the first object, when the pressure level does not satisfy the first pressure condition.
US09098186B1
Techniques for determining whether touch-input gestures approximate straight lines and for animating a display with such gestures are described. Some techniques receive a gesture input through a display, define an oriented bounding box for the gesture, and determine whether the gesture approximates a straight line based on an amount of the gesture that is contained within the oriented bounding box. Other techniques determine a linear regression line for pixel locations comprising a gesture, determine distances of the pixel locations from the linear regression line, and render the set of pixel locations to the display based on the distances and a threshold. Further techniques record a gesture input through a display, determine a sequence of frame updates for the gesture, each frame update including a part of the gesture, and provide the frame updates for sequential updating of the display to effect an animation of the gesture on the display.
US09098181B2
Provided is an information processing apparatus configured to: display on a screen a display target range, which is a part of a display region including display elements arranged therein; and move the display target range in the display region in accordance with a direction of a scroll instruction when the scroll instruction is received from a user in a state in which the display target range is displayed, in which a movement amount of the display target range in accordance with the scroll instruction is changed based on a position of the display target range in the display region.
US09098179B2
A method of enhancing features in a computing environment wherein a software application comprising compiled source code is executed, the method comprising inserting at least one content object into a canvas page of the software application. Each content object comprises code defining functionality attributed to the content object. The content object code is executed in response to interaction with the content object thereby to supplement host software application functionality with the attributed functionality.
US09098173B2
A method for sharing notes of an electronic book (E-book) is illustrated. The method includes steps of: comparing an identification information of a note file with a book information of the electronic book for determining whether the note file corresponds to the electronic book; receiving and transferring the note file to an electronic reader displaying the electronic book when the note file corresponds to the electronic book; stacking and displaying at least one note layer included in the note file above an electronic page of electronic book displayed on a user interface of the electronic reader, wherein the note layer includes an auxiliary annotation associated with content of the electronic page and the note layer is independent of the electronic page. Therefore, reader may read the E-book and review related annotations on the user interface at the same time, and share the note file independently to other readers.
US09098164B2
System and method for editing a graphical diagram. A graphical diagram, such as a graphical program, is displayed on a display device. User input may be received editing the graphical diagram, thereby generating an edited graphical diagram. Placement of one or more elements in the graphical diagram may be adjusted in response to the editing based on determined forces applied to the one or more elements in the edited graphical diagram based on the said editing, resulting in an adjusted edited graphical diagram. The adjusted edited graphical diagram may be displayed on the display device, which may include displaying an animation illustrating the movement of the elements to an equilibrium state in which the forces balance and movement ceases. The editing, adjusting, and displaying may be performed sequentially and/or concurrently, as desired.
US09098161B2
A display device integrated with a touch screen panel, and a method of driving the same, can prevent parasitic capacitance that would otherwise increase the load during a touch operation, lower the accuracy of touch sensing, or make touch sensing impossible. The display device includes data lines, gate lines, and a plurality of electrodes spaced apart from each other. A common voltage is applied to the electrodes in a display driving mode and a touch drive signal is applied to one or more of the electrodes in a touch driving mode. A data voltage is applied to the data lines in the display driving mode. A scan signal is supplied sequentially to the gate lines in the display driving mode and the touch drive signal or a signal corresponding to the touch drive signal is applied to one or more of the gate lines in the touch driving mode.
US09098158B2
The present invention relates to a method comprising providing one or more information carrier(s) with a dielectric and/or conductive pattern and a detection device having a capacitive touch screen and inducing an interaction between the information carrier and the touch screen, wherein the interaction is based on a difference in the dielectric coefficient and/or the conductivity of the pattern and generates a touch signal and wherein the interaction is induced by relative motion between the information carrier and the touch screen. The invention further relates to a system comprising an information carrier comprising a dielectric and/or conductive pattern which encodes information and a detection device having a touch screen; the detection device is able to decode the information upon interaction between the information carrier and the touch screen, wherein the interaction is caused by a difference in the dielectric coefficient and/or the conductivity of the pattern.
US09098152B2
In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a substrate comprising a first surface. The touch sensor also includes a plurality of first electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials on the first surface. The touch sensor further includes a dielectric layer attached at least indirectly to the first electrodes and at least a portion of the first surface. The dielectric layer is configured to face an electronic display panel with an air gap between the dielectric layer and the electronic display panel. The dielectric layer has a refractive index of less than approximately 1.5.
US09098151B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an input device comprises: a first main electrode extending in a first direction; and a plurality of first branching electrodes which extend in a second direction from the first main electrode, and which have mutually different surface areas depending on their position; and the surface areas of the first branching electrodes either progressively broaden or decrease in the first direction.
US09098147B2
A ranging apparatus including an image sensor, an imaging lens, and a processor is provided. The imaging lens is configured to image an object on the image sensor to produce an image signal having at least one image parameter, wherein the at least one image parameter changes with a change of an object distance of the object. The processor is configured to determine the change of the object distance according to a change of the at least one image parameter. A ranging method and an interactive display system are also provided.
US09098143B2
Methods and devices for detecting touch, e.g. by a finger touching a touch-sensitive surface of the device, are disclosed. In particular, detection of touch can be by influencing, by touch, propagation of light within the touch-sensitive device and detecting a resulting change of light arriving to at least one detector device of the touch-sensitive device. Three paths for light can intersect (or at least substantially intersect) at a primary zone of intersection. Thus, three coordinates for a touch at the touch-surface may be provided, and a redundancy of coordinates may be provided for a touch.
US09098141B2
The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner.
US09098140B2
A power-saving touch pad apparatus includes a control unit, a proximity sensing unit, an electric charge induction unit, a touch pad driving-operation unit, and a touch pad unit. The electric charge induction unit is formed by a sputtering process. The electric charge induction unit informs the proximity sensing unit when the electric charge induction unit inducts electric charges. The proximity sensing unit informs the control unit. The control unit is configured to control the touch pad driving-operation unit to wake up the touch pad unit. The electric charge induction unit informs the proximity sensing unit when the electric charge induction unit does not induct electric charges. The proximity sensing unit informs the control unit. The control unit is configured to control the touch pad driving-operation unit to control the touch pad unit to enter a power-saving mode.
US09098134B2
An LCD device includes a plurality of gate lines and data lines cross-arranged on a lower substrate to define a plurality of pixels, a pixel electrode disposed in each of the pixels, a plurality of common electrode blocks pattern-formed that generate an electric field with the pixel electrode and sensing a touch of a user, a plurality of sensing lines, a plurality of pad parts arranged to be separated from each other at predetermined intervals along a corresponding sensing line, and having a line width thicker than the sensing line, and a contact part disposed between a corresponding pad part and a corresponding common electrode block, and electrically connecting a corresponding sensing line and the common electrode block. When the sensing lines are electrically connected to one of the common electrode blocks, the sensing lines are electrically insulated from the other common electrode blocks.
US09098130B2
When an input indicating a position on a screen has been provided by a pointing device, coordinate values indicating the position are set as coordinate values of a starting point position. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a state where the position on the screen is being continuously indicated by the pointing device has changed to a non-indicative state where the position on the screen is not indicated by the pointing device. As a result, when the state has changed to the non-indicative state, the coordinate values output from the pointing device before the change to the non-indicative state are set as coordinate values of an end point position, and a direction from the starting point position to the end point position is specified. Then, a virtual object is caused to move such that a moving direction of the virtual object is a direction different from the specified direction.
US09098128B2
A system and method in a television receiver (e.g., a television receiver external to a television) for providing user-selection of objects in a television program, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
US09098126B2
A method comprising in which electricity and/or information signals is/are passed between an accessory device or power supply and an apparatus through a cable comprising one or more electric or optical wires. Mechanical manipulation of the cable by a user is detected. Responsive to detecting of manipulation of the cable, controlling operation is caused in an apparatus that is in operational connection with the cable to enable the user to control the apparatus by manipulation of the cable.
US09098124B2
An electronic device may be provided with a touch screen display that is controlled based on information from a proximity sensor attached underneath a display layer. The proximity sensor may have a light source that emits infrared light and a light detector that detects reflected infrared light. When the electronic device is in the vicinity of a user's head, the proximity sensor may produce data indicative of the presence of the user's head. Variations in proximity sensor output due to smudges on the proximity sensor can be detected by providing the proximity sensor with an additional light source. The additional light source may be used to inject light into the display layer. The injected light may be guided within the display layer by total internal reflection. In the presence of smudge, the internally reflecting light may deviate from its normal propagation path.
US09098120B2
An apparatus and method for inputting a character using a keyboard displayed on a touch screen in a portable terminal. The apparatus and method determines if a touch signal is generated, with the keyboard displayed. Upon generation of the touch signal, a touched character is recognized by analyzing the touch signal. The character is displayed enlarged in a predetermined screen area. It is then determined if the touch has been completed, while the character is displayed enlarged. Upon sensing the touch completion, the character is displayed in a main screen area.
US09098117B2
Different types of user inputs can be input by a user via a keyboard of an input device. These different types of user inputs include, for example, key strikes, multi-touch interactions, single finger motions, and/or mouse clicks. Touch information regarding the pressure applied to the keys of a pressure sensitive keyboard over time (or the contact area of the user input for other types of keyboards over time) is used to classify the intent of the user input as one of the various types of user inputs.
US09098114B2
A comprehensive user control system for use with therapeutic wellness devices is described, comprising such a wellness device, data equipment capable of connection to a data communications network, and a removable data link capable of permitting data communication between the wellness device and data equipment. Other embodiments comprise a general purpose computer capable of connection to a data communications network and programmed to control a wellness device across a removable data link; a method of controlling a wellness device including obtaining over certain data communications connections a program for controlling the device and operating the device in accordance with the program; and a method of controlling a wellness device comprising presentation of a request for therapeutic relief not specifying a particular mechanical action to be performed by the device, and translation of that request into at least one command executable by at least one wellness device.
US09098111B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media providing focal feedback and control in a three-dimensional display. Focal anchors are provided at different depths and used to determine at what depth the user is currently focusing. The focal anchors are also used to receive input from the user. By looking at a focal anchor, the use can cause the portion of content associated with the focal anchor to be displayed more prominently relative to content displayed at different depths. In one embodiment, predictive feedback is provided at a depth associated with one of the focal anchors.
US09098083B1
An automatic timing measurement system provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed/position measurements are used to track the position of a the watercraft. Position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. The passage of a watercraft through mapped courses may be detected for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of the watercraft past key points in the course, and for modifying the behavior of the speed control portion of the apparatus if necessary. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current.
US09098079B2
A method of joint planning and control of a rigid, separable non-holonomic mobile robot using a harmonic potential field approach is provided. A controller, including a processor and memory, may receive parameters of the robot and a plan having a reference velocity field vector. The controller calculates a synchronization signal and a control signal. The control signal is used to synchronize an actual velocity of the robot in order to navigate the robot according to the plan.
US09098068B2
A timepiece includes a chime mechanism (1) having an hours component (2), a quarters component (4) and a minutes component (6), the hours (2), quarters (4) and minutes (6) components being pivot-mounted about one and the same spindle (3), the quarters component (4) and the minutes component (6) being kinematically linked by a first driving member collaborating with a first driving toothset (34). Out of the hours component (2) and the quarters component (4), one includes a second driving toothset (21) and the other includes a second driving member designed to be capable of collaborating with the second driving toothset (21) and of kinematically linking the hours component (2) and the quarters component (4), thereby eliminating the dead time between the chimes for the hours and those for the quarters, or between those for the hours and those for the minutes when there isn't a quarter to chime.
US09098062B2
A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, including a shaft member and an elastic layer therearound, for developing operation while contacting an image bearing member with a peripheral speed difference; a toner supplying roller contactable to the developing roller; a regulating member, contactable to the developing roller, wherein a length of the regulating member is shorter than that of the developing roller; and a cleaning blade, contactable to the image bearing member. The developing roller has a region capable of carrying the toner regulated by the regulating member and a region, outside thereof, both of which regions are contactable to the image bearing member, wherein the cleaning blade extends over the regions when the cleaning blade is contacted to the image bearing member. The shaft member has an outer diameter in a region outside a first contact region between the regulating member and the developing roller, and an outer diameter in a second contact region between the toner supplying roller and the developing roller wherein the former outer diameter is smaller than the latter outer diameter.
US09098060B2
A cleaning device includes a cleaning member for removing a developer from a surface of a member to be cleaned and the cleaning member includes a blade portion, and a flexible plate-like supporting member configured to support the blade portion, the supporting member including one end portion, in which the blade portion is provided, the other end portion, which has a portion to be fixed to a frame member, a bent portion, which is positioned between the one end portion and a side plate portion projecting from a side end of the one end portion, and a sealing member, which is provided between the cleaning member and the frame member, configured to prevent the developer from leaking from a storage chamber and fixed to one of the side plate portion and the frame member.
US09098056B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member unit, a development device, a developer collection mechanism and a unit support tray. The developer collection mechanism is arranged on a downstream side in a first direction where the development device and the image carrying member unit are fitted into the main body of the image forming apparatus and the toner discharge portion of the image carrying member unit is coupled to the developer collection mechanism. The unit support tray is provided such that the unit support tray can be moved horizontally in the first direction and a second direction where the development device and the image carrying member unit are removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus; the unit support tray is moved in the first or second direction such that the toner discharge portion and the developer collection mechanism are coupled or the coupling is cancelled.
US09098055B2
An image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a drive coupler positioned to provide rotational force to a corresponding drive coupler of a replaceable unit when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. The image forming device is configured to rotate the drive coupler of the image forming device in an operative rotational direction of the drive coupler of the replaceable unit until the drive coupler of the image forming device locks with the drive coupler of the replaceable unit upon receiving a lock command and to rotate the drive coupler of the image forming device in a direction opposite the operative rotational direction of the drive coupler of the replaceable unit until the drive coupler of the image forming device unlocks from the drive coupler of the replaceable unit upon receiving an unlock command.
US09098046B2
The present invention aims to shift a printing apparatus to a job processable state by releasing a manual stapling mode in response to an execution instruction of a predetermined job requested by a user. To achieve this, a control method of the printing apparatus comprises: printing an image on a sheet by executing a job; transporting the sheet on which the image was printed, to a post-processing apparatus; causing the post-processing apparatus to perform a post-process; shifting the printing apparatus to a mode of permitting to perform the post-process to the sheet inserted by a user; and controlling, in a case where an execution request of the job is newly accepted, to release the mode according to a kind of the job.
US09098038B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a number-of-revolutions determining unit, and a stopping unit. The fixing device includes a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image, a fixing member that fixes toner to a recording medium, a pressure member that conveys the recording medium, a driving unit that rotates the pressure member to allow the fixing member to perform slave rotation, and a number-of-revolutions sensing unit that senses the number of revolutions of the fixing member. The number-of-revolutions determining unit determines, based on the number of revolutions of the fixing member sensed by the number-of-revolutions sensing unit, the number of revolutions of the driving unit. The stopping unit stops the driving unit when the number of revolutions determined by the number-of-revolutions determining unit is not equal to a specific number of revolutions.
US09098036B1
A fixing device includes a primary winding, a fixing portion, a secondary winding, and a magnetic core body. The primary winding is configured to receive a supply of AC current from an AC power source. The fixing portion includes a heat source that generates heat when an electric current is supplied to the heat source, the fixing portion being configured to execute a fixing process onto a sheet with a toner image formed on the sheet, at a predetermined fixing temperature by using the heat from the heat source. The secondary winding is electrically connected to the heat source. The primary winding and the secondary winding are wound around the magnetic core body. The magnetic core body is made of a predetermined material whose permeability is lowered when a temperature thereof becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined fixing temperature upon receiving the heat from the heat source.
US09098035B2
A heater used for a fixing device includes a substrate, first and second conductor patterns formed at either end of the substrate in the short direction of the substrate, a third conductor pattern formed between the first and second conductor patterns and separated from the two conductor patterns, a first heating member disposed between the first and third conductor patterns and electrically connected to the two conductor patterns, and a second heating member disposed between the second and third conductor patterns and electrically connected to the conductor patterns. The heater has both end regions in which the widths of the third conductor pattern in the short direction is smaller than that of a middle portion of the third conductor pattern. The widths of the first and second heating members in the end regions are smaller than the widths of the first and second heating members in the other region, respectively.
US09098032B2
An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable cylindrical belt; a heater, provided inside the belt, for heating the belt; and an overheating preventing element, including a circuit which is opened when abnormal temperature rise occurs, for interrupting electric power supply to the heater. The overheating preventing element is provided at a position, inside the belt, where the overheating preventing element is free from direct heat radiation emitted from said heater.
US09098031B2
A printer is provided having a fuser assembly having a belt, a heater to heat the belt, a backup roll positioned to engage the belt thereby defining a fusing nip with the belt, a main temperature sensor associated with the heat transfer member, the first temperature sensor associated with the backup roll for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup roll, the second temperature sensor associated with a distal end region of the heat transfer member for sensing the temperature of the distal end region. A controller is coupled to the fuser assembly for controlling a throughput of the printer based on at least one of the backup roll temperature and the temperature at the distal end region of the heater.
US09098029B2
A fixing device which heats a heating object through induction heating by using a plurality of coils includes a plurality of coil drivers that drive the plurality of coils respectively, a drive circuit that controls ON/OFF states of a plurality of switching elements simultaneously to control the drive of the plurality of coil drivers, a control unit that controls a voltage supplied to each of the plurality of coils in accordance with the control of the ON/OFF states of the plurality of switching elements by the drive circuit, and a plurality of voltage control circuits that individually change the voltages supplied to the plurality of coils in accordance with the voltage control of the control unit.
US09098027B2
In an image heating apparatus in which a heating rotating body heats a recording material bearing an image and a rubbing member rubs the heating rotating body to eliminate gloss streaks, an image failure, such as gloss unevenness, does not occur on normal plain paper and coated paper, and a toner gloss on the coated paper can be enhanced. A longitudinal temperature difference of a heating rotating body 91 is controlled within a predetermined temperature, so that the surface of the heating rotating body can be uniformly roughed. Consequently, an image failure due to scuffs on the surface of the heating rotating body and gloss unevenness due to unevenness of roughness of the surface of the heating rotating body are prevented, and thus a good fixed image can be obtained.
US09098025B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heating member that heats a recording medium, a backup member that rotates and contacts the heating member, and a pressure mechanism that supports one of the heating member and the backup member such that the one of the heating member and the backup member moves relative to the other. The apparatus includes a main body including the fixing unit inside, and has a first opening on a downstream side of the fixing unit and a second opening on a side of the main body different from the first opening. Also the apparatus has first and second covers that open and close the first and second openings, respectively, and an interlocking mechanism that causes the pressure mechanism to move the one of the heating member and the backup member in conjunction with movement of the first cover and the second cover.
US09098011B2
A typical configuration of a development device for an image forming apparatus includes a development sleeve and an electrode portion. In the development device, a pre-bias is applied between the electrode portion and the photosensitive drum, a DC voltage is applied to the development sleeve, a development bias is applied between the development sleeve and the photosensitive drum, the toner in the developer on the development sleeve is moved to the photosensitive drum, and an electrostatic latent image is developed on the photosensitive drum. In the development device, the electric field intensity between the electrode portion and the development sleeve by the pre-bias is larger than the electric field intensity between the image bearing member and the development sleeve by the development bias.
US09098010B2
An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a development device that has no developer supply member and with which the decrease in density at a back end of a solid image and occurrence of ghosting are suppressed. A development roller having dielectric portions scattered on a surface thereof is provided and components are configured so that the position of the dielectric portions in a triboelectric series is on the same polarity side, relative to a regulating blade, as the normal charge polarity of the toner.
US09098009B2
A developing device including a housing, a developing roller, a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, and a layer thickness regulation blade including a blade main body, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in an axial direction of the developing roller is in contact with an inner surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein the blade rubber part has an inclined surface at each end thereof in the axial direction, the inclined surface extending toward an upstream side in a rotating direction of the developing roller while extending toward an outer side in the axial direction so as to extend to the seal member.
US09098007B2
A charging member includes a conductive elastic layer, and a conductive surface layer that is disposed on the conductive elastic layer, is in contact with an image holding member, and contains a resin, porous resin particles, and silicone oil, wherein a content of the porous resin particles is from 3 parts by weight to 25 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin, and a content of the silicone oil is from 0.1 part by weight to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin.
US09097987B2
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a support structure configured to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to pattern a beam of radiation according to a desired pattern; a substrate table configured to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate; a liquid supply system configured to provide liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate; and a shutter configured to isolate the space from the substrate or a space to be occupied by a substrate.
US09097986B2
A substrate conveyance device that conveys a substrate having been exposed with a pattern image via a projection optical system and a liquid, the substrate conveyance device comprising: a liquid detector that detects the liquid adhering on the substrate.
US09097984B2
Microlithography projection objectives for imaging into an image plane a pattern arranged in an object plane are described with respect to suppressing false light in such projection objectives.
US09097977B2
A method for patterning a substrate with reduced defectivity is described. Once a pattern is formed in a layer of radiation-sensitive material using lithographic techniques, the pattern formed on the substrate is post-treated. The post-treating of the pattern in the layer of radiation-sensitive material is performed to reduce a roughness of the pattern. The post-treating includes performing a treatment process on the pattern to alter a solubility of an exposed surface of the pattern, wherein the treatment process involves performing a first chemical treatment of the pattern using a liquid-phase chemical solution containing a first surfactant, or exposing said pattern to second EM radiation different than said first EM radiation. Following the treatment process, the post-treating includes hard baking the pattern, and performing a second chemical treatment of the pattern using a vapor-phase chemical solution to reduce the roughness.
US09097969B2
A compound represented by general formula (b1) shown below (in the formula, Y1 represents a divalent linking group; W represents S, Se or I; R1 represents a hydrocarbon group; represents an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; when W represents I, m+n=2, and when W represents S or Se, m+n=3, provided that m≧1 and n≧0; p represents an integer of 0 to 5; and X− represents a counteranion.
US09097968B1
An audiovisual presentation system includes a transparent system enclosure and at least one projector outside the system enclosure and generally directed toward an exterior surface of the system enclosure. The system enclosure is formed in a dome shape, a hemispherical shape, a spherical shape, or any other reasonable shape. The system can include a plurality of projectors to present individual images or can be computer altered to present a continuous, panoramic image. The image can be of any quality or format, including high definition (HD) three-dimensional (3D), and others. A plurality of audiovisual input stations may be disposed about an interior of the enclosure. Each station may include a podium, a computer, a video recorder, an audio device, and a user control interface. The station enables the user to manipulate the video camera and/or the video image as desired.
US09097960B2
A lens barrel includes an oscillatory wave motor which drives a lens; a manual connection ring which is operated manually to cause the lens to move along an optical axis; a slip ring which is in contact with the manual connection ring; a roller which is in contact with the slip ring and with the oscillatory wave motor; and a roller support ring which supports the roller. The slip ring is structured such that frictional resistance on a contact surface between the manual connection ring and the slip ring is smaller than frictional resistance on a contact surface between the roller and the slip ring.
US09097954B2
In a liquid crystal display substrate, the array substrate includes comb-shaped first and second electrodes. The counter substrate faces the array substrate via a liquid crystal layer and includes a comb-shaped third electrode. In a cross-section perpendicular to the first through third longitudinal directions, comb teeth of the first and second electrodes have a positional relationship in which one is shifted from the other in a first horizontal direction. Comb teeth of the first and third electrodes have a positional relationship in which one is shifted from the other in a second horizontal direction which is opposite to the first horizontal direction.
US09097940B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, comprising a first substrate and a second substrate assembled face to face, each having a display area and a peripheral area around the display area, liquid crystal, and sealant formed between the peripheral area of the first substrate and the peripheral area of the second substrate. On the first substrate, at least one first obstructing frame is formed between the sealant and the display area of the first substrate; on the second substrate, at least one second obstructing frame is formed between the sealant and the display area of the second substrate; the first obstructing frame and the second obstructing frame are disposed at an interval and parallel to each other; each of the first obstructing frame and second obstructing frame has a thickness smaller than a cell gap, and a sum of the thicknesses of a pair of the first obstructing frame and second obstructing frame that are adjacent to each other is greater than the cell gap.
US09097935B2
A display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel configured to display an image, and a backlight unit configured to emit light to the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the backlight unit includes a bottom chassis comprising an accommodation space configured to accommodate a plurality of light sources, a middle mold provided on the bottom chassis, a diffusing plate provided on the middle mold, and a fixing member provided on an outer surface of the bottom chassis and configured to contact one side of the diffusing plate and prevent movement of the diffusing plate.
US09097934B2
In the disclosed backlight unit, multiple LEDs are arranged as a light source at prescribed intervals on a substrate in a rectangular ring. Light irradiated from the LEDs is diffused through a lens, a prism plate and a diffusion plate, and is transmitted to a liquid crystal panel. There are roughly V-shaped concavities in the incidence surface of the lens, and triangular cross-section prisms for diffusing incident light are further arranged on the incidence surface of the prism plate. The LEDs are arranged on a highly thermally conductive LED cooling pattern, and the LED cooling pattern is in contact with a heat-dispersion housing. For that reason, heat emitted by the LEDs is conducted from the LED cooling pattern to the housing and dispersed to the ambient air. By this means, the backlight unit can save energy and be more compact.
US09097929B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate, a first electrode on the first glass substrate, a second electrode on the second glass substrate, a liquid crystal portion, and a seal around the liquid crystal portion. The first electrode includes a first portion corresponding to the liquid crystal portion, a second portion corresponding to the seal, and a third portion electrically connecting the first portion and the second portion. The third portion is configured to disconnect an electrical connection between the first portion and the second portion when the second portion of the first electrode and the second electrode are short-circuited.
US09097925B2
To suppress a variation in characteristics of a transistor due to a released gas from an organic insulating film so that reliability of a display device is increased. The display device includes a transistor, an organic insulating film which is provided over the transistor in order to reduce unevenness due to the transistor, and a capacitor over the organic insulating film. An entire surface of the organic insulating film is not covered with components (a transparent conductive layer and an inorganic insulating film) of the capacitor, and a released gas from the organic insulating film can be released to the outside from exposed part of an upper surface of the organic insulating film.
US09097922B2
There is provided a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that prevents light leaks near spacers. The LCD device controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed opposite each other, by means of an electric field generated in the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer. The LCD device includes spacers on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one substrate, signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the other substrate, an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines, and electrodes on the insulating film's upper surface. Each electrode contributes to controlling the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer. Each spacer has a vertex surface disposed opposite to the signal lines. A portion of each electrode extends to the upper surface of a corresponding signal line. The extended portion is opposite to a part of a spacer's vertex surface disposed opposite to the corresponding signal line.
US09097921B2
An active matrix display device has: a first auxiliary wiring line (700); a second auxiliary wiring line (710) positioned outside of a plurality of second lead-out wiring lines (250) and a first driver circuit in a plan view; and an external auxiliary wiring line (790). Along each of a plurality of connecting wirings (900) are disconnected portions (91) inhibiting electrical connections between a plurality of transmission terminals and first common wiring lines (130). A plurality of intersections (901), where the first auxiliary wiring line (700) and the plurality of connecting wirings (900) intersect, are positioned more to the side of the plurality of transmission terminals than to the disconnected portions (91) in each of the plurality of connecting wiring lines (900).
US09097918B2
A mask for curing frame sealant and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel manufacturing method are provided in the present invention. A gradient shading region is formed in a joining area between a shading region and a transparent region, such that the gradient shading region is integrally formed. When the mask is utilized for exposure, the irradiation transmittance in the gradient shading region is smaller than the irradiation transmittance in the transparent region, but the irradiation transmittance in the gradient shading region is higher than the irradiation transmittance in the shading region. The pre-polymerization reaction of the irradiated monomers occurrence can be avoided in the present invention, and the pre-tilt angles in the liquid crystal layer are kept to be all the same during the alignment process.
US09097900B2
Some systems described herein include a frequency dependent phase plate for generating multiple phase-contrast images of a sample, each from a different frequency range of light, each phase-contrast image for frequency range of light formed from light diffracted by the sample interfered with undiffracted light that has a frequency-dependent baseline relative phase shift from the phase plate. In some embodiments, the multiple phase-contrast images may be used to generate a quantitative phase image of a sample. The phase-contrast images or the produced quantitative phase image may have sufficient contrast for label-free auto-segmentation of cell bodies and nuclei.
US09097897B2
In an optical deflector including a mirror, a support frame surrounding the mirror, at least one torsion bar arranged along an axis of the mirror having an end coupled to an outer circumference of the mirror, a pair of piezoelectric actuators arranged between the support frame and the torsion bar, and a piezoelectric sensor inserted between the torsion bar and one of the piezoelectric actuators, the piezoelectric sensor includes at least one piezoelectric sensor element having a width being smaller than two-fifths of a width of the one of the piezoelectric actuators and being arranged at a wide portion within two-fifths of the width from an inner end of the one of the piezoelectric actuators.
US09097896B2
The invention disclosed here teaches methods and apparatus for altering the temporal and spatial shape of an optical pulse. The methods correct for the spatial beam deformation caused by the intrinsic DC index gradient in a volume holographic chirped reflective grating (VHCRG). The first set of methods involves a mechanical mean of pre-deforming the VHCRG so that the combination of the deflection caused by the DC index gradient is compensated by the mechanical deformation of the VHCRG. The second set of methods involves compensating the angular deflection caused by the DC index gradient by retracing the diffracted beam back onto itself and by re-diffracting from the same VHCRG. Apparatus for temporally stretching, amplifying and temporally compressing light pulses are disclosed that rely on the methods above.
US09097883B2
A catadioptric optical system includes a first imaging optical system including a catadioptric part configured to condense a light flux from an object and to form an intermediate image of the object, and a second imaging optical system including a dioptric part configured to form an image of the intermediate image on an image surface. The light flux from the object passes through the light transmission part of the first optical element, the negative lens, the backside reflection part of the second optical element, the negative lens, the backside reflection part of the first optical element, the negative lens, and the light transmission part of the second optical element, in this order, and is emitted to the second imaging optical system. An Abbe number of a material of the negative lens is larger than that of a material of the second optical element.
US09097878B2
An image capture module is disclosed, which includes a holder and a lens unit. A plurality of through holes are disposed on the holder, wherein at least one light blocking portion is disposed between the two adjacent through holes. The lens unit is disposed in the holder and has a plurality of light gathering regions and at least one non-light gathering region, wherein the light gathering regions respectively align with each of the through holes, and the non-light gathering region aligns with the light blocking portion.
US09097872B2
A telecommunications patching system is provided having a panel and at least one cassette movably received in the panel. The cassette receives a plurality of telecommunication jacks. The panel and cassettes are oriented horizontally. Each jack includes a front cavity adapted to receive a patch cord plug having a patch cord cable extending therefrom. The cassette has first and second ends. A cable management tab extends from the first end of the cassette so that the cassette may be readily moved to different positions in the panel.
US09097871B2
An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining rearward cable connections and forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. Openings permitting access to the rearward and forward cable connections of the adapters are provided. The chassis further including a removable rear chassis portion to provide access to cable routing areas within the chassis interior.
US09097866B2
An optical connector includes a printed circuit board, a photoelectric element, a lens element, and an adhesive. The photoelectric element is positioned on and electrically connected to the printed circuit board. The positioning element is an enclosing wall extending from the printed circuit board and enclosing the photoelectric element. The lens element includes a bottom surface, an internal lens formed on the bottom surface, and a supporting leg, which is an enclosing wall extending from a periphery of the bottom surface. The supporting leg is positioned on the printed circuit board and fittingly engaged with the positioning element. The adhesive is applied between the supporting leg and the printed circuit board.
US09097855B2
An adhesive for adhering a protective film, the protective film having a water vapor transmission rate of about 100 g/m2·day or less at 40° C. and about 90% RH during manufacture of an optical member including a polarizing plate, a polarizing plate including an adhesive layer prepared from the adhesive, and an optical member including the polarizing plate, the adhesive including a (meth)acrylic copolymer, the (meth)acrylic copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of about 800,000 g/mol or more; a curing agent; and a silane coupling agent, wherein an adhesive layer prepared from the adhesive has a storage modulus, after curing, of about 8×103 Pa or more at about 85° C. and a frequency of about 10−3 rad/s to about 102 rad/s.
US09097851B2
An autofocus system and method designed to account for instabilities in the system, e.g. due to instabilities of system components (e.g. vibrating mirrors, optics, etc) and/or environmental effects such as refractive index changes of air due to temperature, atmospheric pressure, or humidity gradients, is provided. An autofocus beam is split into a reference beam component (the split off reference channel) and a measurement beam component, by a beam splitting optic located a predetermined distance from (and in predetermined orientation relative to) the substrate, to create a first space between the beam splitting optic and the substrate. A reflector is provided that is spaced from the beam splitting optic by the predetermined distance, to create a second space between the reflector and the beam splitting optic. The measurement beam component is directed at the substrate and a reflected measurement beam component through the first space between the substrate and the beam splitting optic, while the reference beam component is directed at the reflector and a reflected reference beam component is directed from the reflector through the second space between the beam splitting optic and the reflector. The reflected reference and measurement beam components are returned to the beam splitting optic, and emerge substantially collinear from the beam splitting optic. The reference and measurement beam components are then detected, and provide information that enables compensation for changes in the z position of the substrate that are due to instabilities in the autofocus system components and/or environmental factors.
US09097849B2
A display device includes a flat panel display (object image generator) that generates an object image, a retrotransmissive material (imaging element) that has an element surface tilted with respect to an image generation surface of the object image generator, reflects light emitted from the object image located at one side of the element surface twice, and forms the object image as a real image in a plane-symmetrical location with the element surface in a space at the other side of the element surface, and a diffusion angle limiting film (diffusion angle limiting member) that limits a diffusion angle of light from the object image generator toward the imaging element within a predetermined angle range.
US09097846B2
A waveguide coupler includes a first waveguide and a second waveguide. The waveguide coupler also includes a connecting waveguide disposed between the first waveguide and the second waveguide. The connecting waveguide includes a first material having a first index of refraction and a second material having a second index of refraction higher than the first index of refraction.
US09097839B2
The invention provide a method for making silicone hydrogel based on the Lightstream Technology from a monomer mixture with a curing time of less than about 100 seconds. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made according to methods of the invention.
US09097837B2
An optical film is provided and has retardations satisfying relations (1) to (3): 0≦Re(550)≦10; (1) −25≦Rth(550)≦25; (2) and |I|+|II|+|III|+|IV|>0.5 (nm), (3) with definitions: I=Re(450)−Re(550); II=Re(650)−Re(550); III=Rth(450)−Rth(550); and IV=Rth(650)−Rth(550), wherein Re(450), Re(550) and Re(650) are in-plane retardations measured with lights of wavelength of 450, 550 and 650 nm, respectively; and Rth(450), Rth(550) and Rth(650) are retardations in a thickness direction of the optical film, which are measured with lights of wavelength of 450, 550 and 650 nm, respectively.
US09097836B2
The present invention can provide a methacrylic resin which has excellent transparency and color and less defects such as fish eyes and thus suitable for optical films by adding (A) a polymeric dispersant represented by formula (1) below and (B) an inorganic salt and/or organic salt selected from alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and ammonium salts when methyl methacrylate alone or a monomer mixture containing methyl methacrylate as one component is subjected to suspension-polymerization: (n=10 to 60 mol %, m=40 to 90 mol %, R1 is hydrogen or a methyl group, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and M is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or NH4.)
US09097832B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) system is provided. The LCD system includes a light source and a self-contained display unit including at least a LCD panel and a light guide plate coupled together, wherein the light guide plate is configured to guide light from the light source to the LCD panel as backlight and to structurally support the LCD panel. Further, a plurality of pre-made hollow spaces are contained in the display unit configured to host components of the LCD system. The LCD system also includes a controller contained in the plurality of pre-made hollow spaces and coupled to the LCD panel to control the LCD panel such that the light passing through the light guide plate is used as backlight for operation of the LCD panel.
US09097824B2
A light mixing module (3) for receiving light from a first set of light sources (4) and a second set of light sources (5), said light mixing module comprising: —an annular light guiding element (11), said annular light guiding element having an inner edge (13), a peripheral edge (12), a first intermediate surface (15) extending between said inner and peripheral edges and arranged to face said light sources, and a second intermediate surface (16) extending between said inner and peripheral edges opposite said first intermediate surface, wherein said inner edge (13) defines a cavity (18) with an opening arranged to face said light sources, wherein said opening is arranged to receive light from said first set of light sources (4) and said first intermediate surface (15) is arranged to receive light from said second set of light sources (5); and —a first reflective surface (17) arranged to close said cavity in an end opposite said opening so as to form a first mixing chamber (18), wherein said annular light guiding element (11) and said first reflective surface (17) is arranged in such a way that light entering via said opening is mixed in said first mixing chamber (18), coupled into said annular light guiding element (11) through said inner edge (13), guided through the annular light guiding element (11) in a radial direction by means of total internal reflection and coupled out through the peripheral edge (12), and light received by said first intermediate surface (15) is guided through said light guiding element (11) by means of total internal reflection and out-coupled through said second intermediate surface (16).
US09097817B2
An apparatus includes a cable; and seismic sensors that are disposed in the cable. The apparatus also includes spacers that are distributed in the cable such that each seismic sensor is disposed in an interval of the cable separating a different adjacent pair of the spacers. The spacers of each pair are separated by at least twenty-five centimeters.
US09097816B2
An EM receiver instrument suitable for making underwater electric field measurements. The EM receiver comprises a dipole antenna; an AM modulator for applying modulation to a signal detected by the antenna; a fiber-optic voltage sensor and an application of AM demodulator for applying demodulation to the signal. The fiber-optic sensor may be an interferometric voltage sensor or a phase sensitive voltage sensor.
US09097814B2
A photoelectric sensor comprises a control unit which is configured to store in a memory data on the amount of received light input from a light-receiving unit or measurement data obtained by a measuring process, and to perform a sampling process in which the data stored in the memory are read at fixed intervals as sampling data, the sampling process being performed within a limited reading period. Further, the control unit outputs the thus read sampling data so as to correspond to the order in which they are stored in the memory.
US09097813B2
A system for sensing a pipe joint within a well structure bore comprises a body connectable in line with the well structure. The body has a central bore therethrough and includes a plurality of blind bores extending radially inwards from the outer surface. The system further includes at least one sleeve being locatable within one of the plurality of blind bores wherein each of the sleeves has a magnet located at an end thereof at least one sensor being locatable within one of the at least one sleeves. The at least one sensor is operable to output a signal representing the width of a metallic object located within the central bore. The system may further include a display operable to receive the output signal from the at least one sensor and to display an output to a user indicating the width of the metallic object within the central bore.
US09097811B2
A flat panel detector (FPD) includes an imaging panel having pixels arranged in a matrix, a gate driver for turning thin film transistors (TFTs) of the pixels ON and OFF, a radiation detecting section for detecting the start of x-ray radiation from the x-ray source, and a controller. The controller controls the gate driver to turn the TFTs ON periodically to reset dark charges of the pixels. Before starting a charge accumulating operation for accumulating signal charges for imaging, the controller controls the gate driver to turn the TFTs OFF so that the radiation detecting section may detect the start of x-ray radiation on the basis of charge leaks from the pixels. When the start of x-ray radiation is detected, the controller starts the charge accumulating operation while keeping the TFTs in the OFF condition. Thereafter, the TFTs are turned ON to read out the accumulated signal charges.
US09097807B2
A method for analysing the effect of temperature on at least one nuclear fuel rod, a rod comprising packed zones completely filled with fuel and intermediate zones partially filled with fuel, comprises: acquiring at least two count profiles, a first count profile being associated with a non-migrating isotope and a second count profile being associated with a migrating isotope; locating the intermediate zones by using the first count profile; determining an indicator Ki_1 indicative of the depth in the first profile of a measurement dip located at an intermediate zone i; determining an indicator Ki_2 indicative of the depth in the second profile of a measurement dip located at the intermediate zone i; determining for this intermediate zone i an indicator Δi by comparing the indicators Ki_1 and Ki_2.
US09097803B2
A method including carrying out, by means of an underwater vehicle moving above a given zone of the sea bed, observations on the basis of which the positions of elements of relief and of objects present on the bed are estimated. These observations are associated with fictitious objects, tied together by fictitious elastic links so as to constitute a fictitious elastic network. The network is in equilibrium as long as no action is exerted on one or the other of the fictitious objects constituting the network. The objects then occupy fixed positions, positions assigned to the corresponding observations. On the other hand, when two observations assumed to correspond to one and the same object are fused into a single observation, the two corresponding fictitious objects are brought closer together. This bringing closer together induces the appearance of stresses in the fictitious elastic network. These stresses, transmitted by the fictitious elastic links, are resolved by the modification of the positions of the fictitious objects of the network, the modified positions being assigned to the corresponding observations. In this way, when the estimated position of an object having formed the subject of two fused observations is corrected, the measurement of the estimated position of each of the objects that has given rise to an observation represented in the fictitious elastic network benefits advantageously from this correction.
US09097796B2
A radar apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a signal processor. The transmitter outputs a radar wave. The receiver includes a plurality of receiving antennas and a plurality of receiving devices. Each of the receiving devices mixes a reception signal from the corresponding receiving antenna with a local signal and outputs a beat signal. The signal processor samples the beat signal while selecting one of the receiving devices in order with a selecting period that is less than a half of a sampling period. The signal processor samples the beat signal with the sampling period and derives position information of a target by pair matching of peaks of a rising-modulation signal and a falling-modulation signal of the beat signal.
US09097792B2
An atmospheric correction system (ACS) is proposed, which accounts for the errors resulting from the in-homogeneities in the operational atmosphere along the slant path by constructing atmospheric profiles from the data along the actual target to sensor slant-range path. The ACS generates a slant-range path based on the arbitrary geometry that models the sensor to target relationship. This path takes the atmosphere and obstructions between the two endpoints into account when determining the atmospheric profile. The ACS uses assimilation to incorporate weather data from multiple sources and constructs an atmospheric profile from the best available data. The ACS allows the user to take advantage of variable weather and information along the path that can lead to increased accuracy in the derived atmospheric compensation value.
US09097788B1
A luggage tracking assembly for tracking luggage during air travel and providing location information or other luggage related information to a remote device. The assembly includes a housing. Each of a processor, a transceiver, and a positioning mechanism are coupled to the housing. The transceiver is communicatively coupled to the processor. The positioning mechanism is configured for determining a physical location of the housing relative to earth. The housing is insertable into an interior space of a pouch coupled to a piece of luggage. A closure is coupled to the pouch securing the housing in the interior space of the pouch. A fastener couples the pouch to the piece of luggage. The transceiver is configured for transmitting location data to a remote device wherein the physical location of the housing relative earth is determinable through operation of the remote unit.
US09097786B2
A method for reporting of positioning data in a communication network comprises obtaining (202) of positioning data comprising a definition of a polygon in a lateral plane with information of altitude associated to each polygon corner. The method further comprises approximating (204) the polygon with an ellipsoid point having altitude and uncertainty ellipsoid and reporting (206) of the ellipsoid point having altitude and uncertainty ellipsoid over an interface of the communication network as a representation of the positioning data. A node in a communication network comprises a report converter arranged for obtaining positioning data and approximating a polygon with an ellipsoid point having altitude and uncertainty ellipsoid.
US09097767B2
A system and method for determining the health of a DC motor, such as a DC motor on a vehicle. The method includes measuring a current output signal of the DC motor, determining a mean of the measured current signal over a predetermined time period and determining a variance estimation of the mean of the measured current. The method then uses the variance estimation to determine the health of the motor, including an end-of-life prediction of the motor, and uses the mean of the measured current to determine the performance (torque) of the motor.
US09097764B2
In an embodiment, a scannable storage element includes an input circuit for providing a first signal at first node based on a data input and a scan input, where the scan input is of pull-up logic in functional mode. The input circuit includes a first pull-up path comprising a switch receiving data input and a switch receiving scan enable input, and second pull-up path comprising a switch receiving scan input, first pull-down path comprising a switch receiving the scan enable input and a switch receiving the scan input, and second pull-down path comprising a switch receiving the data input. The storage element includes a shifting circuit configured to provide a second signal in response to the first signal at second node, and a scan output buffer coupled to the second node and configured to provide a scan output at a scan output terminal in response to the second signal.
US09097758B2
An integrated circuit device comprising a semiconductor die contained in a package. The integrated circuit device includes one or more internal connection verification modules for asserting a poor connection signal for the test apparatus in response to a voltage difference between a voltage at a corresponding internal power supply node and a reference voltage, the voltage difference being indicative of a poor connection of power supply to one of power supply terminals on the package. The test apparatus can include an indicator or a sorting element for rejecting or accepting the integrated circuit device in response to logic signals indicative of the presence or absence of a defect accompanied by non-assertion of the poor connection signal, and for processing the integrated circuit device distinctively in response to assertion of the poor connection signal.
US09097752B2
The invention provides for a magnetic field probe (100, 2202) comprising a container (104, 702, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800) with a hollow cavity (106, 602). The hollow cavity comprises a duct (110, 700) connecting the hollow cavity with an exterior surface (109, 702) of the container. The container further comprises metallization (108, 800) surrounding the duct on the exterior surface. The container further comprises a metallic plug (400, 1000). The metallic plug at least partially fills the duct. The metallic plug forms a seal (402, 1002) with the metallization. The magnetic field probe further comprises a sample (300, 900, 1608) comprising fluorine 19. The sample at least partially fills the hollow cavity. The magnetic field probe further comprises an antenna (102) adjacent to the container for manipulating the magnetic spins of the fluid sample and for receiving magnetic resonance signals from the fluid sample.
US09097751B1
An amplifier and method for improving linear response includes a plurality of N bi-SQUIDs. Each bi-SQUID has a non-uniform bi-SQUID parameter βi, described by βi=2πLiIciΦ0 can be defined for each bi-SQUIDs from i=1 to N, where Li is the loop inductance, ic is the critical current, and Φ0 is a flux quantum for each bi-SQUID. The non-uniform bi-SQUIDs can be connected in series or in parallel to establish a Superconducting Quantum Interference Filter (SQIF) array of bi-SQUIDs. Once connected, a mutual inductance between the connected bi-SQUIDs can be established. If the mutual inductance between connected bi-SQUIDs is accounted for, careful manipulation of the critical current or the loop size, or both, of each bi-SQUID can result in extremely uniform behavior (linear response) of the SQIF when considered as a whole, even though the behavior of the element bi-SQUIDs is non-uniform (different βi, parameters).
US09097745B2
A corrosion detection apparatus for permanently and integrally monitoring a state of corrosion of a component is provided. The corrosion detection apparatus makes it possible to use the change in electrical conductivity to detect corrosion of a component to be monitored. A corrosion-sensitive bridging element that establishes an electrical connection between a first electrical line section and a second electrical line section of a sensor circuit is used to change certain electrical properties of the sensor circuit. On account of the corrosion-sensitive property of the bridging element, the latter changes its electrical conductivity when corrosion starts. This makes it possible to use the sensor circuit to detect corrosion of the bridging element and thus of the component to be monitored.
US09097742B2
There is provided a Multi-functional measuring and waveform-generating equipment with a probe. The equipment is capable of measuring element values of electric or electronic devices and electrical quantities such as a voltage, and generating electrical signals with various waveforms. Also, a user can conveniently manipulate and handily carry it. The equipment provides functions of measuring a voltage, a resistance, an inductance, capacitance, a frequency, the number of pulses, and the voltage level of a logic signal; verifying diode polarities, measuring the voltage level of a pulse signal, and modes generating a rectangular pulse train and a PWM signal by the simple combinations of two switches. Additionally, it also offers a much cheaper equipment than other existing expensive apparatuses, and provide better usability at experimental environments because it is small-sized, light, and conveniently portable, compared to conventional equipments that are large-sized, heavy, and not easy to carry.
US09097733B2
A speed sensor system for a locomotive traction motor of the type having a motor frame head adjacent each wheel truck, including a mounting bracket, attachable to the frame head at a prescribed distance from an axis of rotation of the motor and a sensor support portion extending from the inner surface through the ventilation opening and having a hollow tubular portion at the end for releasably receiving and positioning a separate sensor assembly in such a manner that the sensor itself is precisely positioned with respect to the armature gear surface of the traction motor.
US09097731B2
A method for the detection of heparin-dependent antibodies and the diagnosis of immune or autoimmune pathologies potentiated by a heparin substance, such as thrombocytopenia induced by heparin (HIT type II) as inducer drug. The method includes the steps of reacting at least one substance with high affinity for a heparin substance (SFA), with at least one heparin substance (SH) so as to form a substance with high affinity for heparin-heparin substance (SFA-SH) complex. The heparin substance is adapted to bind other substances with affinity for heparin and with at least one potential antigenic substance capable of reacting with the heparin substance, forming a (Ag-SH) complex. The method further includes the steps of testing a patient's plasma or serum potentially containing an anti(Ag-SH) antibody after administration of the heparin substance and revealing the resulting (Ag-SH)-anti(Ag-SH) complex produced.
US09097724B2
The number of atoms present in an ion of a molecule is identified using a mixture of different forms of the molecule. A mass spectrometer analyzes a mixture of at least two forms of the molecule using one or more ion scans producing a mass spectrum. The first form of the molecule includes a first combination of isotopes of one or more elements. The second form of the molecule includes a second combination of isotopes of the one or more elements. A first peak and a second peak that differ in mass by a multiple of a mass difference between the first combination of isotopes and the second combination of isotopes are located in the mass spectrum. The number of atoms of the one or more elements present in an ion of the molecule is identified from a mass difference between the first peak and the second peak.
US09097722B2
PARylated proteins are enriched by treating cell lysates comprising PARylated proteins and DNA/RNA with an endonuclease that cleaves the DNA/RNA but not the PAR; and separating the PARylated proteins from the cleaved DNA/RNA. PARylation sites are labeled by eluting PARylated proteins from a PAR-affinity substrate with a nucleophilic amine exchange reactant, wherein the reactant labels PARylation sites of the proteins. Specific binding agents are identified by screening compounds for specific binding to a PARylated protein disclosed herein; and identifying one of the compounds as a specific binder of the protein. Antibodies which specifically bind PARylation sites are also disclosed.
US09097710B2
Apparatus for determining the quantity of a target protein, biomarker or analyte present in a sample, comprising a top plate and a bottom plate, each comprising a plurality of recesses arranged to form a plurality of rows extending parallel to one another, and a plurality of channels extending perpendicularly to the plurality of rows of the bottom plate; wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are assembled together so that the top plate is on top of the bottom plate and the recesses of the top plate communicate with the recesses of the bottom plate so as to form a plurality of rows; and wherein at least one of the top and bottom plate is configured to slide relative to the other of the top and bottom plate in order to form a plurality of columns, with each of the columns in communication with each of the channels.
US09097708B2
Methods of identifying RNA-protein interaction sites are provided. Systems for identifying RNA-protein interaction sites are provided. Systems for identifying secondary structures are provided. Methods of identifying secondary structures are provided. Methods of identifying RNA-binding proteins are provided.
US09097705B2
The present invention has successfully established a mixed culture system capable of actively proliferating a Kupffer cell in a primary culture of a cell population derived from a liver. Additionally, the present invention has successfully established a novel production method for efficiently producing a large amount of highly purified Kupffer cells using this mixed culture system.
US09097704B2
A method whereby one or more fluorescent dyes are used to bind and stain nucleic acids in certain blood cells, such as, for example, white blood cells, nucleated red blood cells, and reticulocytes, and to induce fluorescent emissions upon excitation of photons from a given source of light, such as, for example, a laser, at an appropriate wavelength. More particularly, this invention provides a method whereby a fluorescent trigger is used in a data collection step for collecting events that emit strong fluorescence, in order to separate white blood cells and nucleated red blood cells from red blood cells and platelets without the need for using a lysing agent.
US09097700B2
The present disclosure relates to packaging containers for holding a plurality of test sensors. The packaging container may include a first semi-circular housing and a second semi-circular housing. The first semi-circular housing has a plurality of first test sensor containing regions. Each of the plurality of the first test sensor containing regions is adapted to contain at least one test sensor having a top portion covered by a foil cover. The second semi-circular housing has a plurality of second test sensor containing regions. Each of the plurality of the second test sensor containing regions is adapted to contain at least one test sensor. The second semi-circular housing has a top portion. The first semi-circular housing and the second semi-circular housing are positioned adjacent to each other.
US09097699B2
A portable, hand-held glucose testing device includes a housing configured to accommodate a plurality of test sensors in a stacked arrangement and having a wall with an opening defined therein. A plurality of packaged test sensors is stacked in alignment with one another within the housing. Each of the test sensors is packaged within a blister package. The blister package includes a blister package housing and a cover foil overlying a surface of the blister package housing and the test sensor. A drive slide is configured to displace one of the plurality of packaged test sensors out of alignment with other packaged test sensors. A knife mechanism is configured to pierce through the cover foil, and to engage and urge the test sensor to extend through the opening for receiving a sample. A meter contact is configured to engage the test sensor when the test sensor extends through the opening.
US09097697B2
A method for simulating deformation of rubber compound including silica particles and an interfacial coupling agent therefor is disclosed. Using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), data of STEM images of the rubber compound are acquired. Based on the STEM image data, a dataset of a 3D structure of the rubber compound is reconstructed. Based on the dataset, a model of the rubber compound is generated. Using the model on which conditions are defined, a deformation calculation is made and a physical quantity is acquired. The rubber compound model comprises a rubber component model, silica particle models and interface models surrounding the silica particle models and defined as being harder than the rubber component model.
US09097690B2
In a large-scale analyzing system arrangement with a multi-sample processing capability, connecting a plurality of analyzing systems each having a minimum analyzer configuration makes it difficult for each analyzing system to continue analysis while managing and sharing the consumables information required for measurement between the analyzers. Additionally, since the sample preprocessing and conveying system does not recognize operational states of the analyzing systems during the analysis, conveyance of the sample to an analyzing system unable to conduct the analysis is likely to occur, resulting in delays in reporting the test results on the sample. The internal operational status of a plurality of analyzing systems is collectively managed and samples are conveyed between the analyzing systems. If the analysis is determined not to be capable of being continued, the sample is temporarily placed in a stand-by condition and then the analysis, after returning to a restartable state, is automatically continued.
US09097685B2
An illumination module that may include a LED driver; a group of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that comprises at least one LED; the group of LED is coupled to the LED driver; wherein the LED driver is arranged to activate the group of LEDs by driving a high current short duration driving signal; and wherein the group of LEDs is arranged to emit at least one light pulse in response to the high current short duration driving signal.
US09097682B2
An optical probe for measuring physical and chemical characteristics of a transparent fluid medium during flow comprises two fingers parallel to one another and to the flow. Each finger consists of a solid bar of transparent material, in which a light beam propagates and is reflected on an end face of the bar, said face being situated upstream in the flow. Such an optical probe may be reduced in size, and provides results which are less sensitive to disturbances of the flow that are caused by the probe itself.
US09097681B2
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus of inspecting an overlapped substrate obtained by bonding substrates together is provided. The apparatus includes a first holding unit configured to hold and rotate the overlapped substrate, and a displacement gauge configured to measure displacements of peripheral sides of a first substrate and a second substrate constituting the overlapped substrate while rotating the overlapped substrate held by the first holding unit.
US09097678B2
A method for removing sulfur-comprising compounds from a hydrocarbonaceous gas mixture, in which an adsorber material is brought into contact with the hydrocarbonaceous gas mixture, wherein the adsorber material comprises a material that adsorbs sulfur-comprising compounds and, in addition, comprises at least one transition metal compound which changes color thereof by reaction with the sulfur-comprising compounds.
US09097675B2
An assay and method of making same for use in SERS spectroscopy. The assay includes colloidal particles of a metal, which have been lyophilized. The lyophilized particles of metal produce a SERS active solution when reconstituted. The lyophilized particles of metal may be provided in a container in an assay system.
US09097673B2
This invention relates to multi-drug resistance (MDR) in cells, and the use of certain xanthene compounds for determining drug resistance in cells and the effect of test compounds on cell membrane transport by the membrane transporters MDR1, MRP and BCRP. Processes and kits for making these determinations and measuring these effects are described and provided.
US09097671B2
A method for assaying a sample for each of multiple analytes is described. The method includes contacting an array of spaced-apart test zones with a liquid sample (e.g., whole blood). The test zones are disposed within a channel of a microfluidic device. The channel is defined by at least one flexible wall and a second wall which may or may not be flexible. Each test zone comprising a probe compound specific for a respective target analyte. The microfluidic device is compressed to reduce the thickness of the channel, which is the distance between the inner surfaces of the walls within the channel. The presence of each analyte is determined by optically detecting an interaction at each of multiple test zones for which the distance between the inner surfaces at the corresponding location is reduced. The interaction at each test zone is indicative of the presence in the sample of a target analyte.
US09097666B2
A non-invasive method for determining a concentration of a gas component in a gas mixture contained in a spacing of a glass unit having at least two glass sheets spaced apart from each other and forming the spacing. One or more light beams is applied at an angle to the surface of the glass unit, wherein the wavelength of the emitted light beam is varied around or over the at least one absorption line of the interest gas component. The light beams transmitted through or reflected from at least one surface or interface locating at the opposite side of the spacing are collected by a detector and non-linear variations in the intensity of the transmitted or reflected light beams over an absorption line of the interest gas is then component determined. The concentration of the gas component to be measured is determined based on the non-linear variations in the intensity.
US09097662B2
The present invention relates to droplet-based particle sorting. According to one embodiment, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a suspension of particles; and (b) electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations using droplets comprising particles. A method of transporting a particle is also provided, wherein the method includes providing a droplet comprising the particle and transporting the droplet on a droplet microactuator.
US09097659B2
The present disclosure relates to an electrochemical test sensor for detecting the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample. The test sensor includes a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a trigger electrode. A temporary protective layer overlies the trigger electrode and helps to maintain the function of the trigger electrode during test sensor manufacture.
US09097656B2
The present invention relates to precision linewidth control and frequency measurements of continuous wave lasers for the near to far IR spectral regions, precision frequency synthesizers and exemplary applications in molecular detection. Methods and systems are disclosed for simultaneous line narrowing of cw lasers, as well as referencing the desired emission wavelength to a frequency comb laser.
US09097652B2
A sensor apparatus is disclosed herein. The sensor apparatus includes a flexible carrier that is elongated along a length of the carrier. The sensor apparatus also includes a plurality of analysis zones carried by the carrier. The analysis zones are spaced-apart from one another along the length of the carrier. The sensor apparatus further includes first and second spaced-apart electrodes carried by the flexible carrier. The first and second electrodes have lengths that extend along the length of the carrier. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes analyte sensing chemistry. The first and second electrodes extending across and contact the plurality of analysis zones.
US09097651B2
The ability to switch at will between amperometric measurements and potentiometric measurements provides great flexibility in performing analyzes of unknowns. Apparatus and methods can provide such switching to collect data from an electrochemical cell. The cell may contain a reagent disposed to measure glucose in human blood.
US09097650B2
A test sensor includes a body, a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a third conductive trace. The body includes a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region separate from the first region, and a first temperature sensing interface disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area. The fluid-receiving area receives a sample. The first trace is disposed on the body, and at least a portion of the first trace is disposed in the first region. The second and third traces are disposed on the body. The third trace extends from the first to the second regions. The third trace is connected to the first trace at the first temperature sensing interface. The third trace includes a different material than the first trace. A first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface. The thermocouple provides temperature data to determine an analyte concentration.
US09097640B2
The present invention provides a low cost imaged-based system for detecting, measuring and/or counting labeled features of biological samples, particularly blood specimens. In one aspect, the invention includes a system for imaging multiple features of a specimen that includes one or more light sources capable of successively generating illumination beams each having a distinct wavelength band and a plurality of differentially excitable labels capable of labeling a specimen comprising multiple features, such that each different feature is labeled with a different differentially excitable label.
US09097639B2
A resonant sensor assembly includes a dielectric substrate having a sensing region. The sensor assembly further comprises a plurality of tuning elements operatively coupled to the sensing region, where the sensing region is coupled to the plurality of tuning elements to define a plurality of resonant circuits.
US09097628B2
The present invention relates to a method for processing a wax-embedded biological sample, the use of poly(organosiloxane)s for liquefying the embedding medium of a wax-embedded biological sample and a kit for processing a wax-embedded biological sample.
US09097622B2
A valve assembly includes a valve body having a fluid access passage extending from a process fluid port to an access port, a block valve disposed in the fluid access passage and movable between open and closed conditions, an access blocking device disposed in the fluid access passage between the access port and the block valve, and a valve interlock arrangement. The access blocking device is movable from an access blocking condition in which access to the block valve through the access port is blocked, to an access permitting condition in which access to the block valve through the access port is permitted. The valve interlock arrangement is configured such that the block valve is prevented from being moved to the closed condition when the access blocking device is in the access permitting condition.
US09097614B2
What is disclosed is a system and method for testing a motorized vehicle's exhaust emissions in a non-controlled emissions testing environment. In one embodiment, the present system comprises a toll collection structure having a sensor for obtaining information about a registered owner of a motor vehicle and about the motor vehicle itself, as the vehicle travels on a lane which passes through the structure. At least one emissions detector, which is fixed to the toll collection structure, performs an emissions test on the vehicle by analyzing an exhaust plume emitted by the vehicle. Speed/acceleration of the vehicle is also measured. In various embodiments hereof, the emissions detector comprises a combination of dispersive or non-dispersive infrared detector and a dispersive or non-dispersive ultraviolet detector. Emissions data collected is automatically compared to emissions standards and an authority is notified if that the vehicle does not meet those standards. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US09097612B2
An instrument for measuring aspheric optical surfaces includes both an optical wavefront sensor and a single-point optical profilometer. The optical wavefront sensor measures surface height variations throughout one or more areas of an aspheric test surface. The single-point profilometer measures surface height variations along one or more traces on the aspheric test surface. At least one of the traces intersects at least one of the areas, and respective spatial frames of reference for the traces and areas are relatively adapted to each other by minimizing differences between points of nominal coincidence between the areas and traces.
US09097609B1
The present invention is a versatile hermetic seal leak detection apparatus for testing hermetically sealed containers and devices for leaks without the need to create a custom or specially manufactured testing chamber conforming to the dimensions of the specific object under test. The size of the testing chamber may be mechanically adjusted by the novel use of bellows to reduce and optimize the amount of gas space in a test chamber which surrounds the hermetically sealed object under test. The present invention allows the size of the test chamber to be selectively adjusted during testing to provide an optimum test chamber gas space. The present invention may be further adapted to isolate and test specific portions of the hermetically sealed object under test for leaks.
US09097608B2
A method for detecting the high-pressure sealing performance of a gas system after an impact test of a compressed natural gas vehicle, including installing a high-pressure sensor with a characteristic curve on an air inlet pipe of a pressure reducer, and inflating a high-pressure pipeline with compressed gas under a safe pressure; inflating the gas system with compressed gas to a normal working pressure before the impact test of the compressed natural gas vehicle; collecting a voltage value by the high-pressure sensor within 1-3 hours, and determining that the sealing performance of the gas system of the compressed natural gas vehicle is satisfactory when a detected voltage drop value is smaller than a preset value; otherwise, determining that the sealing performance of the gas system of the compressed natural gas vehicle is unsatisfactory.
US09097607B2
A portable, small-sized device is provided to accurately conduct a leakage test for a liquid volume meter such as a pipette. In operation, pipette P is connected to the device main body side via a tube. A command from a central processing unit causes a pump to perform a suctioning operation to depressurize the pipette P side to a predetermined pressure. Any pressure changes over a predetermined period of time are monitored by a pressure sensor. The central processing unit determines whether there is leakage from the pipette P, and displays a judgment result on a display unit. In particular, when a diaphragm pump is used as the pump, the pulsation of an air flow occurring in a suction operation is attenuated in a pressure vessel so as not to have harmful effects on either the inspection results or the pipette P side.
US09097598B2
A torque sensor for a human-powered object includes a spindle connecting crank arms of the object. In one embodiment, the object can be a bicycle. The torque sensor further includes at least one strain gauge mounted to the spindle in a shear pattern to measure shear strain perpendicular to a radius of the spindle. In some embodiments, the torque sensor further includes a carrier fixed to a hollow interior of the spindle, where at least one strain gauge is mounted to the spindle via the carrier. Advantageously, the torque sensor provides a low cost method to measure power.
US09097595B2
A system for determining the source of vibration of a nipped roll assembly includes: a first substantially cylindrical roll; a mating structure positioned relative to the first roll to form a nip therewith; a plurality of annular nip condition sensor units mounted on the first roll; each of the annular nip condition sensor units being positioned at different axial locations along the first roll and configured to provide nip condition signals from the nip, the signals indicating a nip condition at multiple circumferential locations; and a processor associated with the sensor units that receives signals from the sensor units. The processor is configured to convert the signals from the sensor units into nip condition readings for the multiple circumferential locations at each axial location. Such a system can detect irregularities in a roll or the mating structure that can cause undesired vibration.
US09097594B2
A defrost indicator including: a body member, at least a portion of which is capable of having a restrained shape or size and an unrestrained shape of size; and an indicia disposed on at least one surface of the body member, an appearance of the indicia being different in the restrained shape or size than in the unrestrained shape or size; wherein the body member is restrained into the restrained shape by freezing one or more liquids associated with the body member.
US09097588B2
A UV radiation (UVR) response indicator comprises a first UVB and/or UVA radiation sensitive material which has been modified so as to display an altered characteristic in a delayed manner in response to UVB and/or UVA radiation exposure. The UV indicator is capable of displaying exposure to increased UV radiation over a period of time. The present invention also relates to a method of displaying a relative amount of exposure to UVR by a UV indicator over a period of time. The invention is particularly useful in detecting the level of exposure to sunlight or sunbed radiation.
US09097585B2
A single-shot real-time spectropolarimeter for use in astronomy and other sciences that captures and encodes some or all of the Stokes polarization parameters simultaneously using only static, robust optical components with no moving parts is described. The polarization information is encoded onto the spectrograph at each wavelength along the spatial dimension of the 2D output data array. The varying embodiments of the concept include both a two-Stokes implementation (in which any two of the three Stokes polarization parameters are measured) and a full Stokes implementation (in which all three of the Stokes polarization parameters are measured), each of which is provided in either single beam or dual beam forms.
US09097576B2
In a method for predicting a rolling noise B of a tire on a pavement, a real profile of the pavement is charted, at least one value of at least one descriptor of the pavement is determined based on the real profile, and use is made of a law for predicting rolling noise B of a tire. The law is of a type given by B=g(V1, . . . , Vn), where V1, . . . , Vn are values of descriptors D1, . . . , Dn of the pavement, where 1≦n≦2, where D1 is a characteristic number of indenters of the pavement, and where D2 is a characteristic dimension of the indenters of the pavement.
US09097574B2
A method for calibrating large fixed electronic scale is provided. The method applies an auxiliary verification device to calibrate the large fixed electronic scale without using a weight and includes following steps of: loading and unloading every supporting point on the scale table board of the scale by at least one self-locating loading and unloading mechanism; measuring and displaying a load that each loading and unloading mechanisms applies to the scale table board by at least one high accuracy load gauge; controlling a size of the load that each loading and unloading mechanisms applies to the scale table board by a constant load control device; and comparing a precise load displayed by the high accuracy load gauge with a gauge weighing display value of the scale to obtain a calibration error of the scale. The present method greatly improves working efficiency and safety and reduces costs.
US09097565B2
A material characterization system and method for quantifying the characteristics of a flowing thermoplastic material is presented. The system comprises a tool comprising first and second tool halves, a plurality of flowing material characterization channels, and a feed runner. The tool is at a temperature that causes phase changes from fluid to solid in at least a portion of the characterized material and enables solidification of the material in the flowing material characterization channels. The feed runner is connectable to a single flowing material characterization channel. The tool is adjustable to disconnect the feed runner from one flowing material characterization channel and connect it to different flowing material characterization channels. A sensor quantifies the characteristics of the material under different flow conditions. The method comprises measuring the material characteristics as it flows through the flowing material characterization channel at multiple flow rates and repeating measurements for different flowing material characterization channels.
US09097556B2
A method for reducing the non-linearity effect of a digital-analog converter on an electronic interface circuit of a capacitive sensor. The electronic circuit includes an amplifier connected to the common electrode by a switching unit, a logic unit connected to the amplifier for supplying first and second digital measuring signals, and a digital-analog converter for supplying a measuring voltage to the electrodes. The method includes firstly biasing the capacitor electrodes by the measuring voltage, then biasing the fixed electrode of the first capacitor at a regulated voltage and the fixed electrode of the second capacitor at a low voltage, then biasing the capacitor electrodes by the measuring voltage, and finally biasing the fixed electrode of the first capacitor at a low voltage and the fixed electrode of the second capacitor at a regulated voltage.
US09097554B2
Techniques are described for allowing a user to intuitively check an actual image captured by a camera, rather than to recognize information regarding a peripheral area (point of interest) on a map. An apparatus includes a camera module that accesses an image captured by a camera and detects a direction in which the camera points and a display unit that displays the captured image. The apparatus also includes a controller that detects a position of a point of interest (POI) corresponding to a keyword and indicates location information for the POI on the displayed image based on the direction information of the to camera, a current location, and the detected location of the POI.
US09097550B2
When a navigation device receives an input of speech from a user, it transmits data of inputted speech to a server and receives a speech recognition result. If a guide route includes a communication impossible area, the navigation device obtains terminal-use speech recognition data necessary for the navigation device to perform speech recognition from the server before reaching the communication impossible area. Thus, even if the speech is inputted by the user while traveling the communication impossible area, the navigation device can perform the speech recognition by itself by using the terminal-use speech recognition data.
US09097549B1
A vehicle includes a navigation system and a processing device. The navigation system determines a route from a current location to a selected destination. The processing device applies a template to the route. The template represents driving trends associated with a geographic region. The processing device adjusts the route based on the template prior to the vehicle embarking on the route.
US09097545B1
Techniques are described for monitoring whether a user is following directions to a destination during electronic navigation to the destination provided by an electronic navigation device. When the electronic navigation device determines that the user is not following directions to the destination (e.g., the user has missed several turns suggested by the electronic navigation device), the electronic navigation device determines that the user appears to be avoiding the route (or a primary component thereof) to the destination. In response to a determination that the user appears to be avoiding the route (or a primary component thereof) to the destination, the electronic navigation device may automatically, without human intervention, perform an operation directed to using an alternative route (or alternative primary component) to the destination despite the current route remaining preferred according to current routing settings.
US09097531B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a route from a first geolocation to a second geolocation; calculating the route from the first geolocation to the second geolocation; identifying one or more inferred paths that coincide with at least a portion of the route; replacing one or more navigation instructions of the route with an abbreviated navigation instruction associated with the inferred paths; and providing a set of navigation instructions of the route that includes the abbreviated navigation instruction.
US09097528B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a method for managing a datacenter using a mobile device, which method includes: (a) in response to a user request, the mobile device causing an identification prober to obtain information from one or more of a plurality of identification providers disposed at predetermined locations in the datacenter, and determining a mobile device location in the datacenter therefrom; (b) the mobile device requesting a datacenter map from a datacenter management system, displaying at least a portion of the map on a mobile device display, and displaying the mobile device location on the at least a portion of the map; and (c) the mobile device obtaining an equipment location of an equipment in the datacenter from the datacenter management system, displaying directions from the mobile device location to the equipment location, and displaying the equipment location on the at least a portion of the map if it fits in the display.
US09097526B1
Systems and methods for a polarization matched resonator fiber optic gyroscope are provided. In one embodiment an RFOG comprises: a light source; a fiber optic ring resonator; a photodetector that outputs an electrical signal that varies as a function of optical intensity; and an input light polarization servo. A light beam from the servo is launched into the resonator ring in a first direction of circulation. The input polarization servo comprises a birefringence modulator that modulates a phase shift between two components of an input polarization state of the light beam at ωm, the modulator is controlled to drive towards zero a 1st harmonic of ωm as measured in the electrical signal. The servo further comprises a tunable ½ waveplate that adjusts an amplitude of the two components of the input polarization state relative to each other. The tunable ½ waveplate is controlled to maximize a peak optical intensity as measured in the electrical signal.
US09097517B2
The power input to the light source of a microscope is varied as necessary to maintain a constant degree of detector saturation as the objective is moved toward a best-focus position. Focus is found by tracking the source's intensity necessary to maintain the detector irradiance at a constant level. The in-focus position is reached when the power input (and correspondingly the intensity of the light emitted by the source) reaches a minimum. The concept can be applied in a similar manner to minimize or eliminate tilt in a sample.
US09097516B2
Provided is a measurement device including a light source that sequentially emits plural beams of light which are respectively incident on an object and of which optical axes are parallel or substantially parallel to each other, a condensing optical system that condenses the plural beams of light reflected from the object or the plural beams of light transmitted through the object, a light receiving unit, a light receiving surface of which is placed on a back focal plane of the condensing optical system, and that outputs a distribution or a center position of an intensity of light received in the light receiving surface, and a measurement unit that measures at least one of an angle and an angle distribution of a surface of the object, based on an output value output from the light receiving unit for each light applied to the object from the light source.
US09097500B1
A modular, adjustable weight arrow tip is disclosed. The arrow tip has a body and one or more blades in various configurations. The arrow tip utilizes one more modular weights, preferably seated between the body rear end and the arrow shaft, to allow the user to be able to selectably adjust an incrementally stepped array of weights to achieve the desired flight and “front of center” for their application. The modular weights can be threaded or unthreaded, can utilize a modular weight seating collar, can have varying weights, and may be utilized with any type of archery tip.
US09097499B2
A crossbow and bolts are described herein. The crossbow may include a main frame defining a groove, a top limb, a bottom limb, a string and a trigger assembly. The top limb may extend in front of the main frame and be positioned above the lower limb. The string may be configured to be cocked backwards and engage with the trigger assembly. A bolt may be configured to attach to the string and be ejected from the crossbow when the trigger assembly is fired. The bolt may include a removable tip, a removable coupling, and a snap-on fletching. The crossbow may include a worm gear assembly to cock the string for firing.
US09097497B2
A window guard and defensive barrier device for protecting and/or shielding personnel within the interior of a building structure against firing of projectiles through a window opening includes a movable upper panel member pivotally connected by a hinge device to a fixed lower panel member and being rotatable for covering the window opening. Gas spring mechanisms are used for facilitating the rotation of the upper panel member between a stowed position and a deployed position. A locking device is used for maintaining the upper panel member in the deployed position.
US09097492B2
A blast mitigation method includes forming a body of solid material which transitions from a solid state to a non-flowing viscous fluid state when stressed which attaching it to the body of the undercarriage of a vehicle. The material of the body transitions from a solid state to a viscous fluid, state when an explosion occurs, is proximate the body and it absorbs at least some energy from the explosion mitigating impact on the vehicle. A plunger plate with blades extending outwardly therefrom is coupled to the body and oriented such that the blades are adjacent the body.
US09097489B2
A magazine holder for use with a gun includes a cavity configured to receive at least two magazines and a biasing member in the cavity and configured to engage at least one magazine located in the cavity to maintain the at least one magazine in the cavity.
US09097485B2
A trigger assembly for activating a firing mechanism. The trigger assembly includes a trigger having a sear arm with a first sear surface, and a firing element including a body portion with a second sear surface and an engagement portion for engagement with the firing mechanism, for activating the firing mechanism. The trigger assembly also includes a captured roller positioned for engagement with the first and second sear surfaces. The trigger is pivotable between a load position, in which the captured roller is held between the first and second sear surfaces, and a release position, in which the second sear surface is disengaged from the captured roller and the firing element is released. The firing element is pivotable between a first position, in which the firing element is held by the captured roller, and a second position, in which the firing element is disengaged from the captured roller.
US09097477B1
A toy launcher apparatus with a rotatable clip connector mounted to a lower portion of a housing. The housing also includes an upper portion, a barrel portion and a grip portion. Pivotally mounted to the upper portion of the housing is a handle and mounted to the grip portion is a trigger and a switch. Attached to the clip connector may be eight projectile clips and the clip connector is rotatable 45° every time the handle is pivoted forward. Mounted within the housing are a battery compartment, and a wheel and motor assembly. Batteries in the battery compartment may power the wheel and motor assembly after the switch is activated by a user. Pulling the trigger causes a projectile, such as a foam dart, to be pushed from a clip aligned with the barrel portion toward spinning wheels of the wheel and motor assembly, and the wheels cause discharge the dart.
US09097475B2
A gas operating system for a firearm renders the firearm capable of firing a wide range of shot loads by passively or automatically compensating for different shot loads. The firearm includes a plurality of ports formed in the firearm barrel, and corresponding ports formed in a gas block of the gas operating system. The ports tap gases generated during firing which are used to cycle the firearm. When firing different cartridge loads, differing combinations of the ports are selectively at least partially blocked or otherwise obstructed by the cartridge casing according to the size of the cartridge. Additionally, the gas operating system includes compensating gas pistons with internal relief valves that can bleed off excess gas to compensate for larger shot loads regardless of the size of the cartridge.
US09097458B2
A refrigeration device comprising a heat-insulated housing, which contains a storage compartment, a water tank, a fan for propelling a stream of cold air that passes through an evaporator and a distribution unit for the controlled distribution of the stream of cold air along at least two circulation paths, the first of which is in closer thermal contact with the water tank than the second.
US09097449B2
This patent is directed to an external air conditioning system connected to a parked airplane. The system has multiple refrigeration units. Each refrigeration unit has a controller. Each refrigeration unit's controlled is linked to a common controller. A single stream of air flows through all of the evaporators in series. Each of the refrigeration units has multiple compressors. Additional compressors are activated or deactivated based on refrigerant pressure. The activation or deactivation pressures are staggered across the refrigeration units, thus coordinating operation of the multiple refrigeration units.
US09097444B2
A heat pump type water heating apparatus is provided that includes a refrigeration cycle circuit having a first refrigerant and water heat exchanger to perform a heat exchange between a first refrigerant and water, and a first refrigerant and second refrigerant heat exchanger to perform a heat exchange between the first refrigerant and a second refrigerant. The heat pump type water heating apparatus may also include a cascade circuit having the first refrigerant and second refrigerant heat exchanger to operate jointly with the refrigeration cycle circuit, the cascade circuit also having a second refrigerant and water heat exchanger to perform a heat exchange between the second refrigerant and water, and a water heating channel connected to the first refrigerant and water heat exchanger and the second refrigerant and water heat exchanger so water passes through the first refrigerant and water heat exchanger and then through the second refrigerant and water heat exchanger.
US09097443B2
Disclosed is a device for securing, mounting, aligning, and grounding solar panels to a roof mounted rail. The device in combination with a t-bolt, a nut, and a solar panel end-clamp or mid-clamp, secure, mount, align, and ground the solar panels to the roof mounted rail. The device can be inserted into the top of the rail anywhere along its length. After the device and t-bolt are inserted in the rail, the t-bolt rotated so it inserts into a slot at the bottom of the rail thereby securing the device to the rail, assuring the proper orientation of the t-bolt, and preventing further rotation of the t-bolt.
US09097436B1
A dual chamber burner assembly provides a header, a first burner chamber adjacent the header, and a second burner chamber on an opposite side of the first burner chamber from the header. The second burner chamber is provided with a flame sensor portion extending back through the first burner chamber toward the header so that first and second flame sensors may be utilized to detect flame in the first and second chambers, respectively.
US09097434B2
A target supply apparatus used in an extreme ultraviolet light apparatus that generates extreme ultraviolet light by irradiating a target with a laser beam may include a tank, a nozzle that includes a through-hole and is disposed so that the through-hole communicates with the interior of the tank, a first heater disposed along a wall of the tank, a second heater disposed along a wall of the tank in a position that is further from the nozzle than the first heater, and a control unit configured to control the first heater and the second heater so that a temperature of the first heater is greater than a temperature of the second heater.
US09097433B2
According to one embodiment, a service execution apparatus controls facility devices in a group. The group includes a plurality of calculation areas. At least one facility device is installed in each calculation area. The service execution apparatus includes a calculation unit and a control unit. The calculation unit is configured to calculate a control value to control a selected facility device installed in one of calculation areas in the group, using weather information relating to the one of calculation areas. The control unit is configured to control other facility devices installed in the calculation areas of the group, based on the control value for the selected facility device.
US09097432B2
The present disclosure provides a method for operating an HVAC system for conditioning air of an inside space. The HVAC system has an economizer configured to control the intake of outside air into an HVAC air stream of the HVAC system. The method includes determining at least two parameters of the air of the inside space, where the at least two parameters are selected from a set of parameters from which an inside air dry bulb temperature, an inside air dew point, an inside air relative humidity, and an inside air enthalpy can be determined, either directly or indirectly. The method also includes determining at least two parameters of the outside air, where the at least two parameters being selected from a set of parameters from which an outside air dry bulb temperature, an outside air dew point, and an outside air enthalpy can be determined, either directly or indirectly. Based on one or more of the inside air dry bulb temperature, the inside air dew point, the inside air relative humidity, and the inside air enthalpy, a determination is made of whether dehumidification of the inside space is needed, and if dehumidification is not needed, the economizer is commanded to increase the intake of outside air into the HVAC air stream if the outside air dry bulb temperature is less than a dry bulb temperature reference, and if the outside air enthalpy is less than an enthalpy reference. If, alternatively, dehumidification is needed, the economizer is commanded to increase the intake of outside air into the HVAC air stream if the outside air enthalpy is less than the enthalpy reference, and if the outside air dew point is less than a dew point reference.
US09097423B2
A portable hand held torch for use in manually igniting a standing pilot flame, a main burner flame, or any other suitable flame. In an illustrative embodiment, the portable hand held torch may include a torch body having a torch tip such that when the torch is lit, the torch tip emits a flame. The torch tip may include a hollow tip body with a first end and a second opposing end. The hollow tip body may define an initial combustion chamber. A fuel source conduit may provide fuel to the initial combustion chamber, and a high energy capacitive discharge igniter may provide a reliable ignition spark upon demand. The high energy capacitive discharge igniter may extend into the initial combustion chamber and be held in a fixed position relative to the fuel source conduit to help ensure consistent and reliable ignition, even in severe industrial environments.
US09097422B2
A heating apparatus may include a control valve assembly. A control valve assembly can have a housing and a valve body positioned within the housing. The housing can define an inlet and first and second outlets. The control valve assembly can also include an igniter having a sensor for firing an electrode. An extension can be used to activate the sensor and to thereby activate the igniter.
US09097418B2
A system includes a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) including a plurality of evaporator sections. At least one evaporator section includes a natural circulation evaporator configured to generate a saturated steam, a once-through evaporator configured to generate a first superheated steam, a first superheater configured to receive the saturated steam from the natural circulation evaporator, and a second superheater configured to receive the first superheated steam from the once-through evaporator.
US09097417B1
A reduced emissions work light composed of a two module system for easy assembly and reassembly of component parts. The first module includes a bulb, a ballast, a ballast housing, an end cap, a socket fixture, and an electrical cable. A socket fixture is configured to secure a connection between the ballast housing and the bulb to create a single unitary body. The first module is placed inside a second module to form the reduced emissions work light containing only two separate components.
US09097415B2
A lighting device (1) comprising a base part (2) with a first magnetic material, and a second part (3) is disclosed. The second part comprises a light source (4), and a nonmagnetic shell (5) defining an essentially closed cavity, the light source (4) and the nonmagnetic shell being in a fixed positional relationship, wherein the essentially closed cavity encloses a second magnetic material (6) displaceable therein. This provides a lighting device (1) in which the user may readily position the light source (4) with a large degree of freedom.
US09097405B2
A light module system includes a receptacle, which may be mounted on a support surface, such as a heat sink, and further includes a cover and an LED assembly rotatably coupled to the cover. The LED assembly seats within the receptacle which causes terminals of the LED assembly to align with contacts on the receptacle. One of the cover and the receptacle has a plurality of ramps and the other has a plurality of shoulders. The cover can be rotated relative to the receptacle to cause the shoulders to slide relative to the ramps so as to direct the LED assembly into the receptacle. When the LED assembly is attached to the receptacle, the terminals on the LED assembly mate with the contacts on the receptacle.
US09097392B2
A mixed light source comprising: a first radiation source, which emits radiation in the red spectral range; an excitation source, which contains a III-V semiconductor material; and a conversion substance, which, during the operation of the mixed light source, converts the radiation of the excitation source at least partly into radiation whose color locus in the CIE chromaticity diagram lies within a polygon spanned by the coordinates (0.1609; 0.497), (0.35; 0.6458), (0.558; 0.444) and (0.453; 0.415).
US09097391B2
A lamp achieves high output power like an HID lamp by using a light emitting element(s) as a light source. A mount board having LED mounted thereon is provided on the surface of a base member, and there are provided plural flat plate type light source units arranged around an axial line while the back surfaces thereof faces inwards, and a support member provided on the axial line. The plural light source units are supported on the support member, and a space through which air flows is provided at the back surface side of each base member.
US09097386B2
A portable work screen apparatus including a semi-rigid screen and at least two supports, each having an attachment device, the attachment device having a magnet for, in use, releasably connecting the screen to a surface proximal to a workpiece, wherein the at least two supports are spaced apart, such that, in use, the screen is extending therebetween and is flexed to a desired configuration.
US09097380B2
The invention is a security bracket for a retail display. The security bracket has guide pins extending laterally outwardly from each side of a base member. Sliding blocks are mounted to each pair of guide pins. The sliding block also carries a vertical arm that may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly. Adjustment of the sliding blocks relative to a hand-held allows the security bracket to be used for mounting hand-helds with different footprints to a retail display.
US09097379B1
This invention provides a novel compact electronic device support that allows articulation for ideal positioning, aiming or viewing. It is compact, readily stored and quick to set up. Frictional and magnetic forces prevent rotational twisting and wobbling without mechanical parts. In one embodiment the system describes a ball and socket joint. In an alternate embodiment, the head of the threaded fastener is cup-shaped and the base support has a raised hemispherical pivot. In a further alternate embodiment, the base and the clip-on support together form a fob for a key-ring. The removable support can be connected to an electronic device and then connected to magnetic cup formed into the base for a ball and socket joint. In an additional alternate embodiment, the base support has a post having a geometric shape that inserts into a conforming threaded adapter that is removably attached into the electronic device's conventional tripod socket.
US09097376B2
A spherical annular seal member 46 includes a spherical annular base member 42 defined by a cylindrical inner surface 38, a partially convex spherical surface 39, and large- and small-diameter side annular end faces 40 and 41 of the partially convex spherical surface 39; a plurality of partially convex spherical intermediate layers 43 formed integrally on the partially convex spherical surface 39 of the spherical annular base member 42 and laminated in a radial direction; and an outer layer 45 formed integrally on a partially convex spherical surface 44 of the outermost partially convex spherical intermediate layer 43 of these partially convex spherical intermediate layers 43.
US09097367B2
Ductwork, for arranging at least one pipe through an opening in a partitioning, has a flange with a central area having a guide opening for every pipe, the flange having plural mounting apertures, an inner side of the flange being adapted for bearing against a side of the partitioning. The ductwork also has a connecting arrangement mounted in each mounting aperture and has a force transmitter with an operating member disposed over an outer side of the flange. A shank extends through the mounting aperture, over which a clamping device is displaceable around and/or along the shank by actuating the operating member. An engagement arrangement disposed between the inner side of the flange and the clamping device has contact surfaces interacting with contact surfaces on the clamping device, and engaging faces that are displaceable radially relative to the shank by the operating member.
US09097364B2
A seat ring for a control valve has a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a gallery. The seat ring includes an annular body and a flow separator. The annular body is adapted to he disposed in the gallery of the valve body and includes an interior sidewall defining a port for accommodating fluid flow through the gallery. The flow separator is disposed within the port and includes a flow straightening portion defining a plurality of separate passageways. Each of the plurality of separate passageways has a hydraulic diameter and a length that is larger than the hydraulic diameter. As such, the passageways separate the flow of fluid through the port into a plurality of separate flow paths to interrupt turbulence adjacent to the port.
US09097354B2
A slim profile rotary control valve capable of independently modulating fluids into a single heat exchanger from two different and distinct systems that utilize the same type of heat transfer fluid. The valve is capable of monitoring both the supply and return fluid temperatures as well as the mass flow to enable the valve controller to optimize system's energy efficiency. It eliminates the use of multiple valves currently used in a conventional changeover system and automated control of valve positioning works much superior to existing valves. The housing and inner cylinder have tapered profiles to enable rotary sealing between the inlet and outlet ports. The housing has flow characterization profiles machined into the outlet ports thus eliminating the need for characterization disks. The rotary valve has a geometry that allows for a no flow dead zone when no heat exchange is so demanded.
US09097350B2
A gas turbine engine has a turbine section and an air moving section upstream of the turbine section. A seal is between a static surface and a rotating surface in at least one of the turbine section and air moving section. The seal includes a seal shoe which is biased at least in part by a spring force, with the spring force created by cuts formed to provide a gap to allow arms associated with the seal to provide the spring force. The movement of the shoe is along a direction having at least a component parallel to an axis of rotation of the gas turbine engine. In addition, an axially moving non-contact seal is claimed.
US09097342B2
The method of estimating and controlling driveline torque in a continuously variable hydro-mechanical transmission uses pressure data and other metrics of a hydrostatic power unit of the transmission in lieu of actual driveline torque data. A mechanical efficiency of the transmission is determined as a function of whether the power unit is operating in a power generation or regeneration mode, and the torque output of the power unit is estimated from that and other hydrostatic parameters. This is used to estimate a torque output of a planetary power unit of the transmission, and the torque on an output member of the driveline is then estimated using that value, and appropriate corrective action taken.
US09097329B2
There is provided transmission module (10) for a tractor which is selectively configurable between a CVT arrangement and a multi-ratio powershift transmission arrangement. The module comprises an epicyclic unit (13) in which a first gear element of the epicyclic is driven mechanically from the input shaft (11) and a second gear element of the epicyclic acts as an output of the transmission module. By simply connecting either a CVT unit (24) or a pair of clutches (80) between the input shaft and a third gear element the module (10) can be converted to the desired transmission arrangement. This delivers benefits in a factory for example whereby a large proportion of the assembly can be completed before tailoring the transmission to a customers requirements, thus reducing lead times on delivery.
US09097328B2
A transmission includes a main gearbox and a power take off unit, wherein the power take off unit can be engaged with and disengaged from the main gearbox through an engagement mechanism having at least a first position engaging the main gearbox and the power take off unit and a second position disengaging the power take off unit from the main gearbox, wherein the power take off unit is provided with at least one lubricant inlet. The engagement mechanism includes a valve member and when the engagement mechanism is positioned in its second position, the valve member blocks the lubricant inlet, thereby preventing lubricant from flowing through the lubricant inlet into the power take off unit. When the engagement mechanism is positioned in its first position, the lubricant inlet is open and lubricant can flow through the lubricant inlet into the power take off unit.
US09097325B2
A motorized drive system and method for articulating an articulated joint having a motor and an elastic cable. The elastic cable is operatively connected to both the motor and the articulated joint such that the motor articulates the joint via the elastic cable. In addition, the elastic cable is adapted to be sufficiently elastic such that the motorized drive system is configured to use one motor for each degree of freedom through which the articulated joint moves.
US09097323B2
An automated electric manual transmission (EMT) has an input member, an output member, and at least one shaft. The input member and the at least one shaft are rotatable about a first axis of rotation. A countershaft is substantially parallel with the at least one shaft and is rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The output member is operatively connected to rotate with the countershaft. A transmission controller controls engagement of a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms to selectively establish different gear ratios from the at least one shaft to the transfer shaft through pairs of intermeshing gears. An electric motor and a planetary gear set are concentric with the first axis of rotation. The electric motor can provide torque to a member of the planetary gear set.
US09097310B2
A mount having a bolt through configuration couples two components of a vehicle. The mount includes a first elastomeric member that defines a first portion of a first chamber and a second elastomeric member that defines a second portion of the first chamber and defines a second chamber. An inner tube assembly defines an opening for receiving the bolt. The first and the second elastomeric members are bonded to the inner tube assembly. An annular member is disposed between the first and the second chambers. The annular member defines a fluid-track which fluidly couples the first and the second chambers. The mount dampens vibrations at varying amplitudes by pushing fluid between the first and the second chambers via the fluid-track. The mount may also include a decoupler by way of a decoupler ring and decoupler cap to isolate the mount at a predetermined amplitude at varying frequencies.
US09097302B2
A brake actuating apparatus includes a caliper body with a cylinder. An electric motor is fixed to the caliper body. A piston is installed in the cylinder. A plug and a rotational shaft are installed in the cylinder to be rotated by the motor. A head is attached to the rotational shaft and the plug defines a fluid-receiving space. The rotation of head varies the volume of a fluid contained in the fluid-receiving space, thereby moving the piston.
US09097301B2
A disc brake, having a brake caliper which straddles over a brake disc and in which brake pads are arranged which are provided with friction linings and can be pressed in each case with their friction lining on both sides against friction rings of the brake disc. The disc brake is configured such that the friction rings are covered outside an overlap region of the friction linings by a housing which is stationary with respect to the brake caliper and is connected to a suction device. A dust removal device is provided between the housing and the suction device.
US09097299B2
A bi-directional clutch is provided having inner and outer members disposed about a rotational axis. One or more pawls are coupled to one of the members and configured for rotation about separate rotational axes. One end of each pawl moves between first and second engagement positions with corresponding engagement surfaces formed in the other member and a position of disengagement with the other member permitting relative rotation of the inner and outer members. A pair of magnets are disposed at the opposite end of each pawl with each magnet in the pair defining a pole adjacent the end of the pawl and the poles having opposite polarity. An electromagnetic actuator selectively generates electromagnetic fields of different polarities to urge the pawls away from the position of disengagement to one of the engagement positions to cause rotation of the other member in either rotational direction.
US09097291B2
A drive assembly having an actuating piston for generating a thrust for engagement of a clutch unit. The assembly also has a bearing for transferring the engagement thrust and a pusher for discharging the engagement thrust onto the clutch unit. The actuating piston, the bearing and the pusher are assembled in succession on a transmission shaft carrying the clutch unit. A chamber is provided for supplying a fluid under pressure for generating a disengagement thrust acting on the actuating piston. At least one preloaded spring is provided that acts on the actuating piston so as to push it towards the clutch unit. The bearing for transferring the thrust is mounted with play directly on the transmission shaft. The pusher being disk-shaped and comprising a first face in lateral contact with the bearing and a second face in lateral contact with the clutch unit.
US09097287B2
An inner race and boot sleeve combination is provided. The inner race has an inner surface with a groove formed therein. The boot sleeve has a groove in an outer surface. A ring is located in both grooves to axially secure the inner race and boot sleeve together. Devices to prevent relatively rotation between the inner race and the boot sleeve are also provided.
US09097286B2
A coupling is provided for connecting two shaft sections in a damping manner, including a bushing arrangement having a radially inner bushing and a radially outer bushing, wherein the radially inner bushing can be coupled to a first shaft section and the radially outer bushing can be coupled to a second shaft section so as to transmit torque, wherein a damping layer is provided between the radially inner bushing and the radially outer bushing. The bushing arrangement can have a circumferentially wave-shaped contour, wherein the radially inner bushing and the radially outer bushing have shafts that mesh with each other, and wherein the damping layer is provided with axial openings, which extend reciprocally from both axial ends of the coupling into the damping layer so that damping blocks are formed at the axial ends of the coupling between the radially inner and radially outer bushings.
US09097280B2
An outer ring, an inner ring and a ball that are a rolling contact member formed of sintered β sialon inexpensive and capable of reliably ensuring sufficient durability, is constituted of a sintered body containing β sialon as a main component and having a remainder formed of an impurity, and the outer ring, the inner ring and the ball have raceway/rolling contact surfaces, i.e., an outer ring raceway surface, an inner ring raceway surface and a ball rolling contact surface included in a portion having an outer ring high density layer, an inner ring high density layer and a ball high density layer higher in density than an inner portion.
US09097279B2
Provided herein, is an apparatus that includes a stationary component, a rotatable component, and an upper journal bearing and a lower journal bearing. The upper journal bearing and the lower journal bearing are defined in a gap between the stationary component and the rotatable component, and the stationary component and rotatable component are configured for relative rotation. A thrust bearing is disposed between the upper journal bearing and the lower journal bearing.
US09097272B2
A fixing arrangement for fixing a first motor vehicle component to a second motor vehicle component includes first second fixing elements. The first and second fixing elements are connectable to each other in a positive locking manner. The second fixing element has a pin configured as a ball; and the first fixing element has a sleeve that fits over the spherical pin to produce a positive locking engagement. The first fixing element has a securing device designed as a cap, which is mounted on an outer shell sleeve surface such that the cap is movable in the axial direction. The sleeve is locked on the spherical pin by axial relative movement of the cap from a defined first position into a defined second position.
US09097268B2
An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.
US09097267B2
A system to pressurize barrier fluid of a submersible installation to provide a differential pressure between the ambient pressure surrounding the submersible installation and the pressure of the barrier fluid internally in the submersible installation during submersion of the system, wherein the differential pressure fits within a predetermined differential pressure range. The system comprises a pre-charge arrangement and a pressure intensifier which is adapted to start working at a start-up pressure. The pre-charge arrangement is adapted, during submerging of the system, to provide a differential pressure within the predetermined differential pressure range until the ambient pressure equals the start up pressure of the pressure intensifier, while the pressure intensifier is adapted to provide a differential pressure within the predetermined differential pressure range when the ambient pressure equals the start-up pressure of the pressure intensifier during further submersion of the system.
US09097261B2
An axial fan (1) having a motor comprising a stator (2) and a rotor (3), wherein blades (4), which move a gaseous medium in an axially directed main flow direction (S) from an inlet side (E) to an outlet side (A) of the fan, project from the outer periphery (U3) of the rotor (3). For enhanced performance with regard to efficiency in a structurally less costly manner, a rotation-symmetric flow guiding element (5) is mounted on the outlet side (A) directly or indirectly on the stator (2) and concentrically with respect to a stator hub (2a). The flow guiding element to have an outer diameter (D5) that is greater than the outer diameter (D2) of the stator hub (2a) greater than the outer diameter (D3) of the rotor (3), and smaller than the diameter (D4) of a perimeter (U4) around the blades (4).
US09097259B2
A bleed air outlet provided in the bypass duct of a turbofan engine includes a bleed air tube protruding into the bypass duct and a cover having a plurality of air outlet openings provided in the top of the cover, with the cover being conceived as an elongate, essentially oval, shell-like aerodynamic fairing element (3) which, while extending in the longitudinal direction of the bypass duct, is provided with a longitudinally convexly curved and transversely essentially straight top (10) and sidewalls (11) arcuately extending from the latter to an inner bypass duct wall. Such a design of the bleed air outlet reduces pressure losses, acoustic emissions and vibrations in the bypass duct.
US09097247B1
Inventive methods and apparatus for automated control of a pump utilized to draw liquid from a fluid reservoir. Certain aspects relate to one or more components of an oil well pump control system. Other aspects relate to methods for automated control of a pump utilized to draw oil from an oil well.
US09097229B2
An engine starter apparatus having a clutch assembly and a ring gear or pulley. The clutch assembly has a plate structure, a drive hub and a clutch element for selectively coupling the drive hub to the plate structure. The ring gear or pulley is coupled to the plate structure.
US09097224B2
A method for a multi-fuel vehicle includes: determining a first target amount of fuel to be injected for a combustion event of a combustion chamber of an engine; determining first and second fractions for the combustion event based on at least one of engine speed, engine load, and engine temperature; determining a second target amount of liquid fuel for the combustion event based on the first target amount and the first fraction; determining a third target amount of gaseous fuel for the combustion event based on the first target amount and the second fraction; selectively injecting a liquid fuel directly into the combustion chamber for the combustion event based on the second target amount and using a first fuel injector; and selectively injecting a gaseous fuel into a port of the combustion chamber for the combustion event based on the third target amount and using a second fuel injector.
US09097219B2
An internal combustion vehicle cold start control system method is provided. The method includes warming alcohol and air when a door handle is actuated, while the engine is cold and starting an electric turbine connected to an intake manifold. The method also includes actuating valves allowing recirculation of the warmed air through the intake manifold and actuating spark plugs providing an initial warm-up of electrodes and engine cylinders if the temperature is less than 30° C. The starter motor is driven by 2-4 turns of a crankshaft axle so that any cold air in an air filter at the cylinders' entrance is drawn inside and is expelled by the exhaust system. A small volume of the warmed alcohol fuel is maintained in the fuel injectors. The method also includes injecting the warmed alcohol, verifying the minimum air temperature; and deactivating the system after appropriate warm-up of the engine.
US09097214B2
An exhaust gas recirculation system adapted for use by an internal combustion engine, and for selectively diverting a recirculated portion of the engine exhaust away from the EGR cooler, includes a by-pass conduit and/or feed line shiftable between open and closed conditions, and an active material actuator.
US09097213B2
A carburetor includes a main fuel path connected to a main nozzle and a slow fuel path connected to a slow port. The main fuel path and the slow fuel path are separated from each other and are independently communicated to a constant fuel chamber below a fuel level of the fuel chamber. The slow fuel path includes a first slow jet located above the fuel level and a second slow jet located in the downstream of the first slow jet. A opening size of the second slow jet is smaller than that of the first slow jet, and the first and second slow jets are arranged in series.
US09097211B2
An example gas turbine engine includes an engine casing and an engine liner within the engine casing. One of the engine casing or the engine liner includes a first attachment structure. The other of the engine casing or the engine liner defines a track guide. A slideable member is moveable within the track guide between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The slideable member includes a second attachment structure engageable with the first attachment structure to secure the engine liner relative the engine casing when the slideable member is in the engaged position.
US09097206B2
The present invention provides a Stirling engine capable of effectively recovering heat from exhaust gas flowing through a flue 42, and capable of connecting a heating portion 10 and a regeneration portion 5 with each other through an operation gas tube without providing a flow passage separating portion 110, and as the removing mode, number of revolutions of the Stirling engine is reduced, an operation of the Stirling engine is stopped, an amount of generated electricity at the Stirling engine is reduced, or the Stirling engine is reversely rotated.
US09097204B2
A cylinder head (10) for an internal combustion engine, having at least two inlet valves (20) associated with the or each combustion chamber, the inlet valves (20) being supported in the cylinder head (10) with their axes spaced from one another in a first direction, at least two exhaust valves (22) with their axes of reciprocation also spaced from one another in the first direction and at least two receiving formations for operating elements (such as a spark plug (38) and fuel injector (40)), the receiving formations opening into the combustion chamber portion in a central region bounded by the heads of the valves, wherein the receiving formations are inclined to one another so as to diverge generally in the first direction as they extend away from the combustion chamber portion.
US09097200B2
When a compression self-ignition engine is automatically stopped, at the same time as fuel cut for stopping fuel injection from a fuel injection valve (15) is executed, an operating position of an intake throttle (30) is set to fully closed, and the fully-closed state is maintained at least until final TDC. Furthermore, an operation of an accessory (32) performed after the fuel cut is controlled to adjust an engine load so that an engine rotation speed (Net) when passing the final TDC falls within a specific speed range (P) determined in advance. Accordingly, a piston (5) of a Compression-Stop Cylinder (2C) is stopped with high accuracy at a target position that is set on a bottom dead center-side of an intermediate position (CAx) between top dead center and bottom dead center, and a restart time of the engine is thereby reduced.
US09097199B2
The disclosed method and system utilizes inspection information from individual components to predict a value for a system performance parameter. The predicted system performance parameter is utilized to determine if corrective action is required for any of the system components. No corrective action is recommended if the predicted system performance parameter is within desired limits. Further, corrective action for a specific component of the system is performed and indicated independent of the inspection results of a specific component.
US09097196B2
A system for a vehicle includes a time stamping module, a period determination module, a stochastic pre-ignition (SPI) indication module, and an SPI remediation module. The time stamping module generates first and second timestamps when a crankshaft of an engine is in first and second crankshaft positions during an engine cycle, respectively. The period determination module determines a period between the first and second timestamps. The SPI indication module selectively indicates that an SPI event occurred within a cylinder of the engine based on the period. The SPI remediation module selectively adjusts at least one engine operating parameter in response to the SPI indication module indicating that the SPI event occurred within the cylinder.
US09097188B2
The disclosure provides a gas turbine device capable of producing a mixed gas in which three or more types of gases are evenly mixed, and of doing the like. To achieve this, in a gas turbine device configured to burn in a combustor a fuel gas supplied from a fuel gas supplier, together with a compressed air supplied from an air compressor, and to rotationally drive a gas turbine by a combustion gas generated at the burning, the fuel gas supplier includes two mixers, and is configured to produce a mixed gas by mixing three types of gases of a first gas, a second gas, and a third gas in the mixers in ascending order of specific gravity or in descending order of specific gravity, and to supply the mixed gas to the combustor as the fuel gas.
US09097186B2
An accessory box for a gas turbine engine has an input gear to be driven by an input shaft. The input gear is engaged to drive a first driven gear on one radial side of a drive axis of the input gear. The first gear drives at least a second driven gear on one radial side of the drive axis, with at least one accessory driven by one of the first and second driven gears. The second driven gear drives a bevel gear arrangement to drive a third driven gear on an opposed side of the drive axis of the input gear. The third driven gear drives at least a second accessory. The accessories are associated with a gas turbine engine.
US09097181B2
A turbine housing of an exhaust-gas turbocharger includes an outer housing, an inner housing, and a tubular fitting which is formfittingly connected to the inner housing and has a flange collar for attachment of a bearing case of a turbine wheel. The inner housing traverses the fitting and has an end portion which is bent radially outwards about the flange collar. A press ring is arranged upon the end portion for additional securement of the inner housing in place.
US09097178B2
An internal combustion engine, including a combustion chamber with a first aperture; a compression chamber with a second aperture; and a crossover valve comprising an internal chamber, first and second valve seats, a valve head, and first and second valve faces on the valve head, wherein the first aperture allows fluid communication between the combustion chamber and the internal chamber, the second aperture allows fluid communication between the compression chamber and the internal chamber, the first valve face couples to the first valve seat to occlude the first aperture, and the second valve face couples to the second valve seat to occlude the second aperture.
US09097165B2
A system and a method of diagnosing a secondary air injection apparatus may include an intake line supplying air to an engine, an exhaust line exhausting exhaust gas, a secondary air injection (SAI) line branching off at a branch point of the intake line and being joined to the exhaust line at a joining point of the exhaust line, a first pressure sensor mounted at the intake line to detect pressure or amount of intake air flowing through the intake line, a catalytic converter, a first oxygen sensor mounted at the exhaust line, an SAI pump mounted at the SAI line and pumping the air flowing through the intake line to the SAI line, an SAI valve mounted at the SAI line and selectively communicating the SAI line with the exhaust line, and a control portion controlling the SAI pump and the SAI valve to perform catalyst heating.
US09097160B2
In a method for operating an SCR catalytic converter provided for the reduction of NOx in exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, which SCR catalytic converter is operated with a reagent which can be stored in the SCR catalytic converter such that there is a certain reagent fill level in the SCR catalytic converter, wherein the actual NOx concentration downstream of the SCR catalytic converter is monitored on the basis of the signal of a sensor, which is arranged downstream of the SCR catalytic converter and which is sensitive at least with respect to NOx, in comparison with a calculated NOx concentration downstream of the SCR catalytic converter, it is provided according to the invention that, in the case of a comparison result which represents a conversion deficit as a difference between the measured actual NOx concentration and the previous calculated reagent fill level in the SCR catalytic converter is corrected to a new calculated reagent fill level, whereby an immediate dosing of reagent takes place.
US09097154B2
A method for producing a ceramic honeycomb filter having predetermined plugs comprising immersing the end portions of a ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of flow paths, with its end surface covered with a mask provided with holes only at positions corresponding to the predetermined flow paths, in a plugging material slurry, so that the plugging material slurry is introduced into the end portions of the predetermined flow paths, and removing plugging material protrusions formed in the flow paths that should not be plugged.
US09097152B2
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing energy to a dwelling. An engine is housed within an inner tank, which is in turn housed within an outer tank. The engine provides electricity which is used for a dwelling. Exhaust fumes from the engine are piped through a series of heat-exchanging tubes within the outer tank to heat potable water within the outer tank. Water enters the potable tank at a bottom of the tank, and warms as it rises through the outer tank toward an outlet near a top of the outer tank. Hot, potable water is provided from the top of the outer tank to the dwelling. Condensate from the exhaust is captured and used as potable water. Heat, vibration, and acoustic energy from the engine is captured by the fluid in the inner tank and transferred to the outer tank.
US09097148B2
A system for improving PCV flow of an engine is presented. The system can reduce engine oil consumption when an engine is exposed to lateral or centripetal force. In one example, the system includes a mechanically operated valve that acts to limit PCV flow in a conduit external to an engine.
US09097147B2
A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, comprises: an electric intake valve timing control apparatus to vary an intake valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism; and an electric exhaust valve timing control apparatus to vary an exhaust valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism. A heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the intake valve timing control apparatus is made of a heat resisting material whereas a heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the exhaust valve timing control apparatus is made of a material lower in heat resistance than the heat resisting material of the intake valve timing control apparatus.
US09097141B2
A mid turbine frame of a gas turbine engine has a plurality of circumferentially spaced load transfer spokes extending radially between outer and inner cases. The load transfer spokes have a circumferentially enlarged inner end which is mounted to the inner case by a plurality of axially disposed fasteners extending through the inner case and spokes.
US09097138B2
A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section, a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, and a buffer system. The buffer system can include a first circuit that supplies a first buffer supply air and a second circuit that supplies a second buffer supply air. The first circuit can include a first bleed air supply a second bleed air supply and at least one of an ejector and a valve. The second circuit can include a third bleed air supply, a fourth bleed air supply and at least one of an ejector and a valve.
US09097137B2
An actuator module for a gas turbine engine includes a multiple of actuators mounted within a common actuator housing.
US09097131B2
A gas turbine engine system includes a disk and an airfoil. The disk includes a first rail, a second rail, a retention slot located between the first and second rails, and a ridge extending radially outward from the second rail. The airfoil is engaged with the retention slot, and includes a platform with an upstream angled portion, a downstream angled portion, and a notch defined in the platform. The ridge of the disk extends at least partially into the notch of the platform.
US09097129B2
A segment for a knife edge seal includes an arcuate segment with a first end with a first end surface and a second end with a second end surface. The first end surface and the second end surface are complementary and overlapping when the first end surface and the second end surface interface with ends of adjacent segments.
US09097119B2
A gas turbine is provided having a secondary combustion chamber and a first guide vane row of a low-pressure turbine, the row being arranged directly downstream of the chamber. The radially outer boundary of the secondary combustion chamber is formed by at least one outer wall segment, which is secured on at least one support element arranged radially outwardly. The flow path of the hot gases is bounded radially outwardly, in the region of the guide vane row, by an outer platform which is secured at least indirectly on at least one guide vane support. A substantially radially extending gap-shaped cavity having a width in the range of 1-25 mm in the axial direction in the inlet region is arranged between the wall segment and the outer platform. At least one step element, which reduces the width by at least 10% in at least one step, extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the hot gas in the cavity, is arranged in the inlet region.
US09097107B2
A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer structural layer that expands across an expansion zone to facilitate creation of a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. An inflatable bladder can be used within the outer structural layer to cause expansion, and a seal can be disposed for cooperation with the outer structural layer to facilitate sealing engagement with the surrounding wellbore wall. One or more drain features are used to improve the sampling process and/or to facilitate flow through the drain over the life of the single packer.
US09097105B2
Screen assemblies capable of being disposed in a wellbore for hydrocarbon fluid production are described. The screen assemblies can support tubes for receiving hydrocarbon fluid and reduce or eliminate plugging of the tubes by swellable material. A screen assembly may include a support material between a tube and swellable material located exterior to a base pipe. The tube may include perforations and can receive and direct hydrocarbon fluids from the formation. The swellable material can expand after contact with an activating fluid and can displace the tube toward a surface of the bore. The swellable material can expand more than the support material and the support material can reduce or prevent plugging of the perforations by the swellable material expanding.
US09097101B2
A system, method and device for interrogating a downhole environment in a borehole beneath a surface includes a source of electromagnetic energy, operable to transmit an electromagnetic signal in the borehole, a sensor module, including a passive resonator having a resonant frequency that varies with changes in the condition in the downhole environment to reflect the electromagnetic signal and generates harmonic frequencies in response to a condition in the downhole environment in the borehole and a detector positionable to receive a returned electromagnetic signal. Embodiments include a filter to pass a harmonic of the resonant frequency of the resonating circuit and circuitry configured and arranged to measure the frequency of the harmonic signal.
US09097098B2
An offshore well system for a subsea well, including a floating platform, a drilling riser system connected with the well for drilling operations, and a production riser system connected with the well for production operations. The drilling system also includes a riser tension system. The riser tension system is capable of compensating for movement of the platform while adequately tensioning both drilling riser system and the production riser system when each are connected to the well.
US09097096B1
A computer drilling model for geo-steering during directional drilling of a wellbore including a processor, a data storage, and client devices in communication with the processor through a network. The processor can receive data from directional drilling equipment and can present that data to users in an executive dashboard. Users can send data and/or commands to the directional drilling equipment. The executive dashboard can present: a portion of interest in a stratigraphic cross section for user identification of: the drill bit in the stratigraphic cross section, formations in the stratigraphic cross section, and other formation data. The computer drilling model can be used to: identify a projected path for the drill bit, import data, compute wellbore profiles and stratigraphic cross sections, plot actual drilling paths, overlay the actual drilling path onto the projected path, and present control buttons to the user.
US09097091B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a flow control insert having both a choke valve configured to control flow and pressure through the system and a check valve disposed along a fluid flow path along which the fluid flows. In accordance with the present embodiments, the flow control insert couples together the choke valve and the check valve, and the flow control insert is independently insertable and retrievable relative to a flow control housing.
US09097083B2
A flexible milling assembly for milling an orifice through a well casing. The milling assembly can include a drive yoke, and a plurality of straight and split yoke assemblies—all linked together and to a cutter head with universal blocks that enable the components to pivot relative to each other. A string of joint tubing connected to a prime mover on the surface is used to lower the milling assembly into a well and supply the driving torque. A split shoe coupled to a guide tube is positioned within the well casing where the orifice is to be milled. The milling assembly is guided through a curved passage within the split shoe to bring the cutter head into contact with the well casing. A protector assembly can be provided to enclose and protect the milling assembly when it is tripping into and out of the well casing.
US09097081B2
A technique facilitates actuation of a variety of tools in many types of environments. The actuation technique employs a closed conduit, such as a closed tube, arranged in a curvilinear structure. By applying a differential pressure to the closed conduit, the curvature of the curvilinear structure is changed. This change can be used to actuate a corresponding tool between desired operational positions.
US09097080B2
A method of separating a riser, comprising providing a riser having an inner and an outer surface, a circumference of said outer surface, a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end; radially surrounding said riser with an explosive shaped charge material, wherein said shaped charge explosive material is capable of generating a high-velocity plasma jet in response to an activation signal, and wherein said explosive material comprises an electrically conductive layer; transmitting said activation signal to said explosive material; generating said high-velocity plasma jet; and separating said riser into a first portion comprising said first end and a second portion comprising said second end when said high-velocity plasma jet penetrates said outer surface of said riser and exits said inner surface of said riser.
US09097075B2
A superabrasive compact cutting element, for example, a insert utilized in shear cutter bits. The cutting elements include a layer of superabrasive materials that is provided with different shapes and positions relative to the substrate in order to enhance the abrasion resistance performance of the cutting element. The cutting element includes a top, bottom and peripheral surface. The cutting element further includes at least one superabrasive material portion comprising polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or cubic boron nitride (CBN), a substrate supporting the at least one superabrasive material portion, and an interface where the at least one superabrasive material portion and the substrate are joined. The interface slopes downwardly with a slope angle of less than about 40° and/or the cutting element has a longitudinal thickness of the at least one superabrasive material portion measured along a peripheral surface of the cutting element in a longitudinal direction greater than about 3 mm.
US09097057B2
A safe (e.g., a gun safe) according to various embodiments comprises: (A) a housing defining an interior portion and an opening; (B) a door disposed adjacent the opening, the door being mounted to move between: (1) a closed position, in which the door prevents access to the interior portion; and (2) an open position, in which the door does not prevent access to the interior portion; and (C) a locking mechanism for maintaining the door in the closed position. In particular embodiments, the locking mechanism comprises a lock bar defining at least one elongated (e.g., substantially planar) tab, the lock bar being mounted to slide between: (1) a locked position, in which at least a particular portion of the elongated tab is disposed in an opening defined by the housing; and (2) an unlocked position, in which the particular portion of the elongated tab is not disposed in the opening.
US09097056B2
An adjusting device for automatically actuating a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes first and second tubular housings connected between a body of the vehicle and the door. A spindle drive includes a spindle driven by an electric-motor drive, a spindle nut threaded on the spindle, a push rod that bears the spindle nut, and a tubular guide part enclosing the push rod and the spindle nut. The tubular guide part is provided with a shape complementary to a shape of the spindle nut and secures the spindle nut against rotation. The tubular guide part is produced by a plastic forming process on a suitable metal tube. A cylindrical spring assists the spindle drive enclosing the tubular guide part. Spacers are provided over an outer circumference of the tubular guide part to reduce friction between the cylindrical spring and the tubular guide part.
US09097046B2
A pinned hinge with articulating cover system and associated method for assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the hinge includes first and second hinge members pivotally coupled together. A plurality of geared bearing inserts are mounted to knuckles of the hinge members. A cover adapter clip is mounted on the knuckles that is configured to movably engage the geared bearing inserts. A cover is mounted on the cover adapter clip to complete the cover system. Opening and closing leaves of the hinge members displaces the cover to prevent interference with the hinge members during operation. The cover adapter clip and cover are resiliently structured in some embodiments to facilitate lateral assembly of the clip and cover to the hinge for convenience of installation. The geared bearing inserts further include an integral load bearing portion and provide vertical load-bearing support for the hinge.
US09097038B1
A slide lock device is disclosed for preventing a panel from being displaced from an opening. The slide lock device comprises a latch plate and a mounting plate. A fastener traverses the latch plate and the mounting plate for slidably coupling the latch plate to a first side edge of the panel. A bolt extends from a lower edge of the latch plate. A bolt receiver is coupled to a first side structure of a surrounding structure. A lower stop surface of the mounting plate is adjacent to a lower termination surface of the latch plate for defining a non-locking position wherein the bolt may not engage with the bolt receiver for permitting displacement of the panel relative to the opening. An upper stop surface of the mounting plate is adjacent to an upper termination surface of the latch plate for defining a locking position therein the bolt engages with the bolt receiver upon the latch plate aligning with the bolt receiver for preventing the displacement of the panel relative to the opening.
US09097037B2
Disclosed are various embodiments of lock devices, systems, and methods. A lock of the application can include an internal mechanism to permit backdriven operation and lost motion operation. In one form the lock can be made from an assembly of parts that have locating features that require one way installation/assembly. The lock can include an internal power source capable of driving electronics used to determine handedness of a door.
US09097011B1
A heat and fire resistant system, comprising at least one layer of an intumescent coating applied on at least one surface of a foam substrate. The intumescent coating includes an intumescent catalyst, a carbonific, a blowing agent, expandable graphite, and a binder. A method for rendering a foam substrate resistant to heat and fire, comprising applying at least one layer of intumescent coating composition onto at least one surface of the foamed substrate and allowing the intumescent coating to dry on the foamed substrate. The intumescent coating composition includes an intumescent catalyst, a carbonific, a blowing agent, expandable graphite, and a binder.
US09097004B2
The present application relates to a pre-embedded anchor system for securing construction elements to concrete slabs. The system comprises at least one pair of juxtaposed elongate anchor slots (1) connected together by at least two linkage bolts (8) and an assembly of steel bars (2) interconnecting a plurality of anchor members (3) at connection nodes (7) of the anchor members (3). The anchor slots (1) have a plurality of anchor members (3) extending therefrom. The pair of juxtaposed anchor slots (1) are interconnected by the linkage bolts (8) and the assembly of crossover steel bars (2) to form a frame.
US09097001B2
An anchor for supporting a load comprises an anchor rod having a lower threaded portion for being embedded in a concrete structure and an upper portion for extending outside the concrete structure; a metallic body attached to the lower portion, the body including a top surface and a bottom surface joined by a vertical side surface; and the side surface including at least one shoulder extending therefrom.
US09096999B2
A framing structure includes elements that are integrally connected by a poured bonding core. The elements include a hollow-interior column and a beam having a cavity that is configured to receive a pourable bonding material. The hollow interior of the column and the cavity of the beam form a continuous volume that is configured to receive a pourable bonding material.
US09096996B2
A water-saving system for the management and disposal of liquid, semi-solid and solid wastes is described that comprises an open-rim toilet bowl for allowing the flow of greywater containing food residues, small pieces of soap, soapy water, toothpaste residues, shaving residues, hair and the like, without allowing the formation of obstructions throughout the length of the open rim; an anti-sedimentation tank placed above and connected to the toilet bowl, said anti-sedimentation tank being capable of receiving and storing greywater that will be reused to flush the toilet to clean the toilet bowl and flush the wastes contained therein; a washbasin-shaped tank lid located above and closing the upper part of the anti-sedimentation tank; and mixer valve installed in the washbasin-shaped lid and connected to cold and hot water supplies, where the mixer valve includes a third water supply intake which is also connected to a water outlet of the intake valve of the anti-sedimentation tank by means of a flexible hose.
US09096994B2
A motor grader includes a base unit and a blade positioning assembly. The base unit has a main frame. The blade positioning assembly includes a pivot member attached to and extending downwardly from the main frame, and a blade lift member attached to a bottom end of the pivot member.
US09096987B2
Compliant offshore platforms with isolated decks using one or more bearings located on a generally horizontal plane that is in proximity to the vertical center of gravity of the deck.
US09096986B2
A post-tensioned concrete cap foundation has helical anchors with pipes having several helical discs welded around the pipe perimeter to spin drill deep into subsurface soils or other soft materials with holes in the pipe for high pressure-grouting in place. The helical anchor pipes include a tensioning element for pulling and post-tensioning the helical anchor. The helical anchors are tension anchors which can be converted to compression anchors. The helical anchors in tension serve to pull the foundation cap down to compress the underlying soil while the compression anchors limit the maximum settlement of the concrete foundation cap. The foundation also includes perimeter-forming and interior corrugated metal pipes with upper and lower sleeved horizontally extending radial bolts that are secured to the pipes and post-tensioned to provide lateral foundation compression.
US09096980B2
Snowblower chute control devices, systems, and methods are provided and can include a positioning rod having a first end pivotably connected to a machine handle and a second end connected to a snowblower chute such that rotation of the positioning rod about a longitudinal axis causes rotation of the snowblower chute. A control lever can be connected to the positioning rod such that the control lever is substantially fixed with respect to the positioning rod for rotation about the longitudinal axis but is pivotable with respect to the positioning rod about a pivot axis that intersects the longitudinal axis. The snowblower chute position control device can further include a positioning guide configured to retain the control lever at one or more selected angular positions with respect to the longitudinal axis corresponding to one or more desired rotational positions of the snowblower chute.
US09096979B2
A frozen precipitation treatment system may include a vehicle, a frozen precipitation treatment device, such as a snow plow or spreader, and an electronic mobile device that that controls the frozen precipitation treatment device.
US09096976B2
A self-propelled building machine, especially a road cutting machine or a surface miner, has a machine frame and a chassis, comprising running gears resting on the ground. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for operating such a building machine. In an operating mode for adjusting the working depth of the working device the imposed weight applied by the building machine on the running gear is measured, whereby depending on the imposed weight either a controlled or an uncontrolled lowering of the building machine is indicated. A measuring device comprises a sensor for measuring the weight imposed by the building machine on at least one of the running gears. Depending on the measured imposed weight, a signal is generated indicating an uncontrolled lowering of the building machine, if the imposed weight falls short of a predetermined value and/or a signal indicating a controlled lowering of the building machine is generated if the imposed weight reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US09096970B2
An apparatus for treating clothes includes an accommodating space, an air supply unit, a duct unit, a filter unit, a substance removal unit and a collection unit that is separate from the filter unit and the substance removal unit. The accommodating space is configured to receive one or more clothing articles. The air supply unit is configured to supply air to the accommodating space. The duct unit is configured to guide discharge of air from the accommodating space. The filter unit is positioned to filter substances from air discharged from the accommodating space through the duct unit. The substance removal unit is configured to move substances remaining on a portion of the filter unit. The collection unit is configured to collect substances moved from the filter unit by the substance removal unit.
US09096966B2
A device for determining a fill level of liquid within a suds tub of a washing machine, having a fill level sensor by means of which a pressure value generated by the liquid can be determined, the fill level sensor having at least one detection part disposed in a lower area of the suds tub that is covered by the liquid during the washing process.
US09096963B2
Positioning device adapted to dispose a strip of fabric or other similar material on an article of clothing do as to form a loop, the strips divided into a central portion and two opposite ends, the positioning device rotates at least one of the two ends of the strip in order to bring that end or ends into abutment with the central portion of the strip; and wherein guide means guide the end or ends of the strip during rotation.
US09096962B2
A sewing machine includes at least one detecting portion, a processor, and a memory. The at least one detecting portion is configured to detect an ultrasonic wave that has been transmitted from a transmission source. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the sewing machine to execute steps including identifying a position of the transmission source of the ultrasonic wave based on information pertaining to the ultrasonic wave that has been detected by the at least one detecting portion, and controlling sewing based on the position of the transmission source that has been identified.
US09096960B2
Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods for impinging fluids, e.g. heated fluids, onto the surface of substrates and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid delivery outlets that are in diverging relation to each other. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid capture inlets that are locally positioned relative to the first and second fluid delivery outlets, respectively. The apparatus and method may be used e.g. to impinge fluids onto two converging substrates and may be used to heat the surfaces of the substrates so as to facilitate melt-bonding the substrates to each other.
US09096957B2
A porous membrane of vinylidene fluoride resin, including a 10 μm-thick portion contiguous to one surface thereof which comprises network resin fibers having an average diameter of at most 100 nm and shows a porosity A1 of at least 60% as measured by a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope, and showing a surface pore size of at most 0.3 μm on said one surface thereof. The porous membrane has a treated water side surface layer showing a small surface pore size suitable for water filtration treatment and formed of extremely thin network resin fibers giving an extremely high porosity, thus showing an excellent minute particle-blocking performance and also extremely good anti-soiling resistance and regeneratability. The porous membrane is produced by a process including: melt-extrusion of a composition obtained by adding to vinylidene fluoride resin of a large molecular weight a relatively large amount of a polyester plasticizer which is mutually soluble with the resin and provides the resultant mixture with a crystallization temperature that is substantially identical to that of the vinylidene fluoride resin alone to form film, followed by cooling from one side of the film to solidify the film, extracting the plasticizer and stretching the membrane after the extraction while partially wetting a surface portion thereof.
US09096942B2
A method of altering a property of a surface includes suspending a plurality of low surface energy particles in a solvent, agglomerating the suspension of particles, and subjecting the suspension of particle agglomerates to electrophoretic deposition onto a substrate for a predetermined time. The altered surface may be superhydrophilic or superhydrophobic.
US09096940B2
A high pressure water electrolysis system includes a high pressure water electrolysis device, a hydrogen storage device, a high pressure hydrogen pipe, a branch pipe, a non-return valve, a pressure detector, and a controller. The controller includes a threshold storage device, a threshold determination device, and a solenoid valve opening/closing operation device. The threshold storage device is configured to store a first threshold of a pressure value detected by the pressure detector and a second threshold lower than the first threshold. The threshold determination device is configured to determine whether or not the pressure value detected by the pressure detector has reached the second threshold. The solenoid valve opening/closing operation device is configured to open and close a solenoid valve if it is determined that the pressure value detected by the pressure detector has reached the second threshold.
US09096933B2
Apparatus and method for plasma-based processing well suited for deposition, etching, or treatment of semiconductor, conductor or insulating films. Plasma generating units include one or more elongated electrodes on the processing side of a substrate and a neutral electrode proximate the opposite side of the substrate. Gases may be injected proximate a powered electrode which break down electrically and produce activated species that flow toward the substrate area. This gas then flows into an extended process region between powered electrodes and substrate, providing controlled and continuous reactivity with the substrate at high rates with efficient utilization of reactant feedstock. Gases are exhausted via passages between powered electrodes or electrode and divider.
US09096926B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a process kit for use in a physical deposition chamber (PVD) chamber. In one embodiment, the process kit provides adjustable process spacing, centering between the cover ring and the shield, and controlled gas flow between the cover ring and the shield contributing to uniform gas distribution, which promotes greater process uniformity and repeatability along with longer chamber component service life.
US09096924B2
The present invention is directed to compositions, baths, and methods for composite plating including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and more particularly, to compositions, baths, and methods of composite plating with PTFE in a metal or alloy matrix where the materials used in the process contain no or essentially no PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and/or no PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid).
US09096921B2
The present invention provides a transparent conductive film excellent in pen sliding durability at the time of using the transparent conductive film for a touch panel and which enables to production a touch panel having excellent flatness. A transparent conductive film of the present invention comprises a transparent plastic film base and a transparent conductive thin film containing crystalline indium oxide as a main component laminated on at least one face of a transparent plastic film base, wherein an average circle-equivalent diameter of crystal grains of indium oxide of the transparent conductive thin film is 30 to 1000 nm, and a coefficient of variation of a circle-equivalent diameter of the crystal grains is 0.00 to 0.30. The transparent conductive film preferably contains indium oxide containing 0.5 to 8% by mass of tin oxide.
US09096919B2
Optimal wetting and adhesion of the hot-dip coating by way of pre-oxidation in a DFF pre-heating furnace and humidification of the annealing atmosphere in a holding zone is achieved in a hot dip galvanised flat steel product.
US09096913B2
A process and a system for creating internal stress in a metallic workpiece by laser shock peening is provided. In the process, a first laser pulse is applied to a treatment site of the workpiece covered by a surface layer. A second laser pulse follows the first laser pulse in time, and is applied to the treatment site of the workpiece. A covering layer, such as flowing water, is provided over the treatment site during the application of the laser pulses.
US09096908B2
A process for detecting Bordetella spp. nucleic acid in a biological sample includes producing an amplification product(s) by amplifying one or more Bordetella spp. in a multiplex single chamber PCR assay, and measuring the amplification product(s) to detect or distinguish Bordetella spp. in the biological sample. Also provided are reagents and methods for detecting and distinguishing Bordetella spp. from each other and other bacteria or viruses. A kit is provided for detecting and quantifying one or more Bordetella spp. in a biological sample.
US09096904B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a means of rapidly and reliably detecting lymph node metastasis in cancer or the risk of lymph node metastasis. Specifically, the present invention provides a method and a rapid determination kit for detecting lymph node metastasis in cancer or its risk by identifying a certain genetic polymorphism of the human CRP gene, and it is clinically significant in determining the treatment strategy, because effective prediction/determination can be made regarding lymph node metastasis, which is an important phenomenon in cancer progression.
US09096903B2
The present invention provides a method of screening a subject for mutations in the CC2D2A gene that are associated with Joubert syndrome, an autosomal recessive form of mental retardation. The present invention also provides proteins that are associated with Joubert syndrome including proteins that includes an amino acid sequence that terminates in DHEGGSGMES (SEQ ID NO: 1). Also provided are nucleotide sequences encoding such proteins and methods of screening subjects to identify nucleotide sequences or proteins associated with Joubert syndrome.
US09096900B2
The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method for identifying natural killer cells of a mammal, which often express the surface proteins CD 16 and/or CD56, comprising analyzing the methylation status of at least one CpG position in the CX3CR1 and/or FGR and/or NKG7 and/or GNLY genes, in particular their upstream regulatory regions, and in particular the promoter and other conserved regions of the genes CX3CR1 and/or FGR and/or NKG7 and/or GNLY, wherein a demethylation of at least one CpG in the analyzed sample to at least 70% is indicative for CD56 expressing NK cells, which might also be CD8+ or CD8−, CD56 dim or bright, CD 16+ or CD 16− NK cells. The methods of the present invention are useful for the detection and quality assurance and control of NK cells. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a kit for performing the above methods as well as respective uses of the inventive methods or kits. The present invention furthermore provides an improved method for analyzing the methylation status of at least one CpG position in the gene CX3CR1 and/or FGR and/or NKG7 and/or GNLY genes that allows for a precise analysis even from sub-optimal quality samples, such as non-freshly obtained blood, tissue or serum samples.
US09096898B2
The present invention relates to a novel method for analyzing nucleic acid sequences based on real-time detection of DNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of each of the four nucleotide bases, supplied individually and serially in a microfluidic system, to a reaction cell containing a template system comprising a DNA fragment of unknown sequence and an oligonucleotide primer. Incorporation of a nucleotide base into the template system can be detected by any of a variety of methods including but not limited to fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection. Alternatively, microcalorimetic detection of the heat generated by the incorporation of a nucleotide into the extending template system using thermopile, thermistor and refractive index measurements can be used to detect extension reactions.
US09096896B2
Improved methods of quantifying nucleic acids that are unique to a transgenic corn event designated Bt11 in a biological sample and compositions thereof are disclosed. The invention further relates to primer pairs used in the method that are unique to event Bt11.
US09096880B2
The present invention relates to an isolated peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. The present invention also relates to a method for increasing expression of a target protein using the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, comprising (a) fusing the peptide with the target protein to form a recombinant protein; and (b) expressing the recombinant protein by an expression host.
US09096879B2
The present invention relates to methods of reducing substitution of amino acids during the production of polypeptides of interest in mammalian cells. By varying the concentration of amino acids in the culture medium, heterogeneity of the polypeptide's amino acid sequence is decreased, leading to higher yields of functional protein.
US09096872B2
The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms having an increased ability to produce butanol, and a method of producing butanol using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to recombinant microorganisms whose ability to produce butanol was increased by manipulation of their metabolic networks, and a method of producing butanol using the same. The recombinant microorganisms having an increased ability to produce butanol comprise a deletion of a gene, which encodes an enzyme that converts acetyl CoA to acetate, in host microorganisms having genes that encode enzymes involved in acetyl CoA and butyryl CoA biosynthetic pathway. The recombinant microorganisms obtained by manipulating the metabolic flux of microorganisms are able to selectively produce butanol with high efficiency, and thus are useful as microorganisms for producing industrial solvents and transportation fuels.
US09096868B2
This invention provides a new approach to the design of a virus with a defective replication cycle, which can be rescued by wild type virus co-infection, and which expresses foreign antigenic epitopes that contribute to the elimination of virus infected cells and then to viral clearance. The vector of the invention, by expression of epitopes derived from common pathogens, by-passes existing tolerance of virus specific T cell responses. The vector will only replicate in virus infected cells.
US09096866B2
Inbred corn line designated II11 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line II11, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line II11 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing inbred corn line II11 with itself or another corn line. The invention also relates to products produced from the seeds, plants, or parts thereof, of inbred corn line II11 and/or of the hybrids produced using the inbred as a parent. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line II11.
US09096865B2
Provided are methods of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant by expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:1-467, 785-3047; or an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:468-784, 3048-4333, 4335-4682. Also provided isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-467, 785-3047, which can be used to increase nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant.
US09096861B2
Transgenic plants that produce high levels of polyhydroxybutyrate and methods of producing them are provided. In a preferred embodiment the transgenic plants are produced using plastid transformation technologies and utilize genes which are codon optimized. Stably transformed plants able to produce greater than 10% dwt PHS in tissues are also provided.
US09096857B2
The present invention relates to an aptamer or an active fragment thereof raised against the semi-conserved duffy binding ligand domain 1α, DBL1α, region of the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1, PfEMPI, which aptamer has an effect against malaria, in particular severe cerebral malaria.
US09096852B2
Method of identifying and using compounds which inhibit the expression or activity of micro-RNAs for preventing and/or attenuating ageing, and/or for hydrating skin. An in vitro method for screening for candidate compounds for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin, and/or for hydrating the skin, includes the following steps: a. bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of keratinocytes; b. measuring the expression or the activity of at least one microRNA in the keratinocytes; c. selecting the compounds for which an inhibition of at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the expression or an inhibition of at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the activity of at least one microRNA is measured in the keratinocytes treated in a. compared with the untreated keratinocytes.
US09096849B2
A method of: providing a solid surface having a dendrimer molecule bound thereto and a single-stranded probe nucleic acid immobilized to the dendrimer; contacting the solid surface with a sample suspected or known to contain a double-stranded complimentary target nucleic acid; denaturing the target nucleic acids at thermal conditions and in a salt concentration sufficient to denature the target nucleic acids to produce denatured nucleic acids; and cooling the sample to allow hybridization of the denatured nucleic acids to the probe nucleic acids. An article having: one or more paramagnetic microbeads; a dendrimer molecule bound to the beads; and a probe nucleic acid immobilized to the dendrimer.
US09096846B2
A first cell containing at least one magnetic particle is provided and a second cell is also provided. The second cell is cultured in the presence of the first cell. An alternating magnetic field is applied to the first cell. The alternating magnetic field at least partially separates the first cell from the second cell.
US09096841B2
The present invention relates to a process for the biocatalytic, enantioselective production of a β-amino acid precursor from an optionally substituted dihydrouracil using a hydantoinase and/or a dihydropyrimidinase, a process for producing a β-amino acid from said precursor, a hydantoinase and its use in said process for the biocatalytic production of a β-amino acid precursor or a β-amino acid, and a method for obtaining said hydantoinase.
US09096840B2
Cell-targeted serine protease constructs are provided. Such constructs can be used in methods for targeted cell killing such as for treatment cell of proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). In some aspects, recombinant serine proteases, such as Granzyme B polypeptides, are provided that exhibit improved stability and cell toxicity. Methods and compositions for treating lapatinib or trastuzumab-resistant cancers are also provided.
US09096839B2
The present invention provides biological compositions and methods for making the same.
US09096837B2
The present disclosure relates to variants (mutants) of polypeptides, in particular Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent alpha-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca2+ dependency, specific activity, in particular laundry and dish-wash applications.
US09096831B2
A method is provided to functionally select cells with enhanced characteristics relevant to cell engraftment, including both spontaneous migration and directional migration towards specific chemo-attractants. The cells are preferably undifferentiated cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells. The method involves entrapping or encapsulating the cells in a biomaterial barrier, optionally inducing cell migration, and selecting cells that migrated through the barrier. The cells selected by this method have better migratory activities and enhanced in vivo engraftment to injured tissues when they are supplemented systemically.
US09096829B2
The subject invention pertains to the development of a novel human mast cell line, USF-MC1. USF-MC1 is a mast cell precursor present in human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) that may be sustained in culture in the absence of exogenous cytokines to serve as a convenient experimental model of human mast cell activation. The SCF-independent human mast cell line USF-MC1 responds to IgE-mediated and IgE-independent stimuli in a way comparable to that of LAD2. USF-MC1 cells are useful for investigation of IgE-mediated activation mechanisms of human mast cells, contributing to the development of effective treatments for allergic disorders and other disorders. The subject invention provides a ready source of human mast cells for research, including pharmacological studies for the screening of various agents, and toxicologic, e.g., for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The mast cells can also be used as biofactories, for the large-scale production of biomolecules.
US09096823B1
A microfluidic acoustic-based cell lysing device that can be integrated with on-chip nucleic acid extraction. Using a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) transducer array, acoustic waves can be coupled into microfluidic cartridges resulting in the lysis of cells contained therein by localized acoustic pressure. Cellular materials can then be extracted from the lysed cells. For example, nucleic acids can be extracted from the lysate using silica-based sol-gel filled microchannels, nucleic acid binding magnetic beads, or Nafion-coated electrodes. Integration of cell lysis and nucleic acid extraction on-chip enables a small, portable system that allows for rapid analysis in the field.
US09096815B2
The present disclosure provides a process for producing 20-carbon fatty acids from a plant seed oil, the process comprising: a) providing a plant seed oil comprising fatty acids, wherein the fatty acids include 18-carbon fatty acids; and b) elongating the fatty acids by two carbon atoms to produce a composition comprising 20-carbon fatty acids.
US09096810B2
A method for producing a bio-coal includes the following steps: (a) lowering the moisture content of a fiber residue obtained after oil extraction of oil palm fruit to less than 25%; (b) after step (a), cutting the fiber residue; (c) after step (b), pelletizing the fiber residue into short-fiber pellets; (d) drying the short-fiber pellets to reduce the moisture content of the short-fiber pellets to below 10%; and (e) after step (d), carbonizing the short-fiber pellets at a temperature below 300° C.
US09096805B2
The present invention includes the use of anhydride compositions, including alkyl and aryl anhydrides, for use as a demulsifier in resolving water external emulsions of water and oil and complex emulsions of water and oil. In particular, the anhydride composition can be used alone or in a blend with other demulsifiers. Suitable anhydrides suitable for the present invention include acetic and propionic, with acetic anhydride being preferred. The anhydride composition can be added directly to crude oil emulsions or other compositions to be resolved. As such, the demulsifier composition includes an anhydride, such as acetic anhydride, alone or in combination with other demulsifiers. The anhydride can be used in an amount ranging between trace and 100% by weight of the demulsifier composition.
US09096794B2
A liquid crystalline polymer composition that contains a liquid crystalline polymer and an aromatic amide oligomer is provided. The oligomer can serve as a flow aid by altering intermolecular polymer chain interactions, thereby lowering the overall viscosity of the polymer matrix under shear. The oligomer is also not easily volatized or decomposed during compounding, molding, and/or use, which minimizes off-gassing and the formation of blisters that would otherwise impact the final mechanical properties of a part made from the polymer composition. While providing the benefits noted, the aromatic amide oligomer does not generally react with the polymer backbone of the liquid crystalline polymer to any appreciable extent so that the mechanical properties of the polymer are not adversely impacted.
US09096789B2
A slick water fracturing fluid including a brine, an inorganic nitrate, a nitrogen reducing bacteria, a scale inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylate polymer, a polyacrylate copolymer, a polyacrylate terpolymer, and mixtures thereof, and a friction reducer, wherein the friction reducer is a polyacrylamide.
US09096788B2
A fracturing fluid for a downhole environment is disclosed, comprising a water-sensitive gel; and a hydrated breaker. A fracturing fluid for a downhole environment is also disclosed, the fracturing fluid comprising a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker comprising one or more hydrates, and wherein water of the one or more hydrates is releasable so as to act with the water-sensitive carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid. A method of treating a downhole environment with a fracturing fluid is also disclosed, the method comprising: providing to the downhole environment a fluid comprising a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker comprising one or more hydrates; and allowing water from the one or more hydrates to release so as to act with the carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid.
US09096786B2
Described herein are methods for creating spill-proof or spill-resistant surfaces through the use of hydrophobic or oleophobic (H-SH) edges, borders or/and boundaries that contain the water and other liquids within inside the edges, borders and/or boundaries. Also described herein are spill-proof/spill-resistant surfaces. Liquid (e.g., water and other aqueous solutions/suspension) heights of 3-6 mm on a level planar surface can be sustained by such edges, borders and/of boundaries. The H-SH borders can be created on glass, metal, wood, plastic, and concrete surfaces.
US09096783B2
A glue composition can include: one or more glue proteins selected to undergo a conformational change responsive to a pH change; and one or more pH components selected to change the pH of the one or more glue proteins in response to a change in one or more conditions. The glue can be prepared by: providing one or more glue proteins selected to undergo a conformational change in response to a pH change; and combining the glue proteins with one or more pH components selected to change the pH of the one or more glue proteins in response to a change in one or more conditions.
US09096780B2
A UV-curable pressure sensitive adhesive, a package having an adhesive-based reclosable fastener including the pressure sensitive adhesive, and a method of forming the package is described herein. The package includes a cavity and opposing panels configured to cover an opening to the cavity. The reclosable fastener is a UV-cured pressure sensitive adhesive comprised of one or more UV-curable acrylic oligomers, one or more tack control components, and, optionally, an elastomeric material. An adhesive component ratio defines an effective ratio made up of the weight percent of the UV-curable acrylic oligomer relative to the sum of the weight percents of the tack control component and elastomeric component, where the ratio provides a fastener with a first peel adhesion and subsequent peel adhesions effective to form the adhesive-based fastener into a reclosable fastener.
US09096778B2
The present invention relates generally to cyanoacrylate adhesives and, more particularly, to a one-part adhesive, comprising one or more 2-cyanoacrylate esters, one or more bis-silanes and optionally one or more monosilanes and to the use of said adhesive as an instant adhesive with improved water resistance.
US09096775B2
The present invention relates to a methods and composition in which a D-form or retro-inverso Pseudomonas pilin peptide is bound to a substrate. The disclosed methods and composition are useful for inhibiting biofilm formation by non-Pseudomonas bacteria, for reducing the inflammatory response to a material, for reducing corrosion of metals, and in biosensor applications.
US09096772B2
A polyester polymer is provided that includes at least one pendant phenolic-containing group. In one embodiment, the polyester polymer is combined with an optional crosslinker and an optional carrier to form a coating composition suitable for use in coating articles such as packaging articles. The coating composition typically includes a resole phenolic crosslinker. In one embodiment, the polyester polymer has at least one phenolic-containing group that comprises an adduct of cardanol.
US09096771B2
An ink set includes a first ink that contains a white material and a first resin; and a second ink that contains a color material other than the white material and a second resin, wherein the first resin includes a component (A) causing cracks when resin of 0.5 g is dropped onto a slide glass and is dried at a temperature of 50° C. and a humidity of 0% RH for 10 minutes, and wherein the second resin includes a component (B) of at least one of polyolefin wax and ethylene vinyl acetate resin.
US09096756B2
A process for obtaining an aqueous emulsion comprising a block copolymer by the solution polymerisation of vinyl monomers to obtain block [B] in the presence of a) a radical precursor; and b) an iodine atom containing block [A]; where block [A] and [B] together comprise 0 to 2 wt % of methacrylic acid; where block [A] and block [B] together comprise ≧2.5 wt % of vinyl monomers bearing ionic or potentially ionic water-dispersing groups not including methacrylic acid; and performing a post polymerisation reaction on the block copolymer emulsion obtained in step II; and wherein said aqueous emulsion has a free vinyl monomer level <1000 ppm when having a solids content of ≧20 wt %.
US09096736B2
Fine graphite particles include plate-like graphite particles; and an aromatic vinyl copolymer which is adsorbed on the plate-like graphite particles, and which contains a vinyl aromatic monomer unit represented by the following formula (1): —(CH2—CHX)— (1) (in the formula (1), X represents a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, an anthracenyl group, or a pyrenyl group, provided that these groups may have each a substituent).
US09096732B2
[Problem] To provide a pneumatic conveyance method for a water-absorbing resin powder substance, which is capable of suppressing property decrease of the water-absorbing resin powder substance, while suppressing obstruction phenomenon.[Solution] A conveyance method for a water-absorbing resin powder substance by pneumatic conveyance of the water-absorbing resin powder substance during a production step via a transportation pipeline, wherein a variation of a solid-gas ratio (R1/R2) exceeds 1 and is equal to or smaller than 7, provided that R1 (kg-resin/kg-air) stands for an initial solid-gas ratio at a start point of the transportation pipeline, and R2 (kg-resin/kg-air) stands for a terminal solid-gas ratio at a terminal point of the transportation pipeline is provided.
US09096728B2
A method of manufacturing a resin foam includes dissolving a blowing agent into a mixture of a resin C and a resin D having a difference of solubility with respect to the blowing agent in an amount of more than 0% and less than 5%; subjecting the mixture to heat-melting for extrusion; and evaporating the blowing agent such that the resin foam has a porosity (X) of not less than 80%, a cell (L) with a cell diameter of not less than 1 μm and not more than 1000 μm, and a cell (S) with a cell diameter of not less than 0.01 μm and less than 1 μm, in which two peaks are present in cell diameter distribution, one peak thereof being present in not less than 10 μm and not more than 500 μm and the other peak being present in not less than 0.01 μm and less than 1 μm.
US09096723B2
A production process of a poly(arylene sulfide), including (a) a polymerization step of polymerizing at least one sulfur source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfides and alkali metal hydrosulfides and a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent to form a polymer; (b) a separation step of separating the polymer from a liquid reaction mixture containing the polymer formed after the polymerization step; (c) a washing step of washing the polymer with at least one washing liquid selected from the group consisting of water, an organic solvent and a mixed solution of water and an organic solvent as desired; and (d) an aqueous oxidizing solution treatment step of treating the polymer by bringing the polymer into contact with an aqueous oxidizing solution.
US09096712B2
A curable composition comprises: an epoxy silane represented by formula X—Si(OR1)(OR2)(OR3) wherein R1-R3 represent C1 to C4 alkyl groups, and X represents an organic group having at least one oxirane ring; a fluorinated silane represented by formula; wherein: Rf represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms, R4 represents H or a C1 to C4 alkyl group, and R5-R7 represent C1 to C4 alkyl groups; and a photoacid. Use of the curable composition to coat a phototool, thereby providing a protective coating on the phototool is also disclosed.
US09096711B2
The invention relates to a carboxylic acid functional branched polyester for thermosetting powder coating composition, wherein said polyester is prepared from at least the following monomers: a difunctional aromatic acid, the difunctional aromatic acid being a combination of terephthalic acid (TPA), isophthalic acid (IPA), an at least trifunctional monomer and a difunctional alcohol, the difunctional alcohol being a combination of at least ethylene glycol (EG) and/or diethylene glycol (DEG) and neopentyl glycol (NPG), the molar ratio of TPA to IPA in the carboxylic acid functional branched polyester is at most 12.4, and the functionality of the carboxylic acid functional branched polyester is from 2.15 to 4.0, and the carboxylic acid functional branched polyester has an acid value of from 14 to 80 mg KOH/g resin, and the carboxylic acid functional branched polyester has a glass transition temperature of at least 40C. The powder coating compositions of the present invention derived upon curing of the thermosetting powder coating compositions which comprise the polyester according to the invention together with a crosslinker with oxirane groups and an epoxy cure catalyst present good corrosion resistance to steel substrates. Furthermore, said low cost and corrosion resistant powder coatings may present good reverse impact resistance (RIR) and/or good smoothness.
US09096703B2
A method for preparing and resulting articles of manufacture comprising a substrate having a surface, a bulk beneath the surface, and a grafted polymer layer on the substrate surface, the substrate surface and the grafted polymer layer, in combination, constituting a modified surface having a fibrinogen adsorption of less than about 125 ng/cm2 in a fibrinogen binding assay in which the modified surface is incubated for 60 minutes at 37° C. in 70 μg/mL fibrinogen derived from human plasma containing 1.4 μg/mL I-125 radiolabeled fibrinogen.
US09096700B2
A process comprising contacting a catalyst system with one or more olefins in a bubble column reactor. Also, a polyolefin copolymer composition comprising ethylene, propylene and optionally a C4 to C20 alpha olefin; said composition having a bimodal distribution with respect to composition distribution, molecular weight distribution or a combination thereof; an Mw of 10,000 g/mol or more; and/or at least two melting peaks in a DSC heating cycle with a difference in melting temperatures of at least 5° C.
US09096693B2
The invention describes a method for obtaining inulin which comprises: a) finely comminuting inulin-containing plant material, wherein particle sizes of the plant material are generated which are smaller than the size of the inulin-containing plant cells, b) suspending the finely comminuted plant material in a liquid, wherein inulin is released from the plant material and suspended in particulate form in the liquid, c) separating off plant particles from the liquid, wherein the inulin which is suspended in particulate form remains in the liquid, d) separating off the inulin which is suspended in particulate form from the liquid. The method is suitable in particular for obtaining inulin from artichoke roots.
US09096692B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing microcellulose comprising subjecting fibrous cellulosic material to acid hydrolysis at a temperature of at least 40° C. and at a consistency of at least 8% on dry weight of the cellulose, wherein the amount of added acid is from 0.2 to 2%, preferably from 0.5 to 1.5% on dry weight of the cellulose.
US09096684B2
The present invention provides peptidomimetic macrocycles capable of modulating growth hormone levels and methods of using such macrocycles for the treatment of disease.
US09096675B2
The present invention relates to a cell suitable for production of one or more fermentation product from a sugar composition comprising glucose, galactose, arabinose and xylose, wherein the cell comprises two to fifteen copies of one or more xylose isomerase gene or two to fifteen copies of one or more xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase, and two to ten copies of araA, araB and araD, genes, wherein these genes are integrated into the cell genome.
US09096674B2
The present invention is in the area of coagulation analysis and relates to antibodies which bind specifically to an immune complex of prothrombin fragment F2/F1+2 and an F2/F1+2 neoepitope-specific antibody fragment, and to the preparation and the use thereof in methods for determining F2/F1+2.
US09096661B2
It is disclosed herein that condroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), also known as high molecular weight melanoma associated antigen, is overexpressed on basal breast carcinoma cells (BBC), specifically triple negative basal breast carcinoma cells (TNBC). Methods for detecting basal breast cancer in a subject are disclosed. Methods are also disclosed for inhibiting the growth of a basal breast cancer cell. These methods include contacting the basal breast cancer cell with an effective amount of an antibody that specifically binds CSPG4. Additional treatment methods, and the use of antibody panels, are also described herein.
US09096657B2
This disclosure relates to novel peptide agents, e.g., antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, that bind hemagglutinin protein of influenza viruses, and methods of their use.
US09096654B2
Provided are peptides capable of inhibiting proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from the third extracellular domain of T-cell immune response cDNA7 (TIRC7) costimulatory molecule are described. Compositions comprising such peptides and their use for the treatment of immune diseases are provided.
US09096650B2
An internally-constrained cyclic oligopeptide comprising a ring of at least six amino acids for specifically binding to a target ligand, wherein the ring comprises a plurality of amino acid domains, each domain comprising at least two epitope-forming amino acids, and two or more associating functional groups positioned so that they form one or more intra-cyclic associations; whereby the cyclic oligopeptide is constrained in a single conformation so that the epitope-forming amino acids form an epitope in each domain, each epitope being capable of specifically binding to a target ligand.
US09096634B2
The present invention relates to substituted purine and 7-deazapurine compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and methods of treating disorders in which DOT1-mediated protein methylation plays a part, such as cancer and neurological disorders, by administering these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US09096628B2
Substituted metalloporphyrin compounds are described, along with pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and methods of use thereof in protecting cells from oxidant-induced toxicity and pathological conditions such as inflammatory lung disease, neurodegenerative conditions, radiation injury, cancer, diabetes, cardiac conditions and sickle cell disease. Mn(III) porphyrins bearing oxygen atoms within side chains are particularly described.
US09096618B1
A method of regenerating a silyl or boryl compound is described. The silyl or boryl compound is contained in an organic phase with conjunct polymer. The silyl or boryl compound is chemically reduced with a hydrogen containing compound in a silane or borane regeneration zone under regeneration conditions to form at least one regenerated silane or borane compound and a metal salt compound. The regenerated silane or borane compound is recovered.
US09096617B2
The invention describes a crystallized hybrid solid with an organic-inorganic matrix, of a three-dimensional structure, containing an inorganic network of aluminum-based metal centers that are connected to one another by organic ligands that consist of the entity —O2C—C6H3—N3—CO2—. Said solid is called CAU-1-N3 and has an X-ray diffraction diagram as given below.
US09096612B2
The present invention relates to a fused heterocyclic derivative of the formula (I) The variables R1-R4, z, A, Q, X and Y are as defined in the claims. The following heterocycles are exemplified sub-structures of formula (I): The compounds of formula (I) are modulators of the S1P receptor (Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor), More specifically, they are agonists of S1P5. The compounds have therapeutic use in treatment of cognitive disorders, age-relate cognitive decline and dementia.
US09096606B2
The present invention is directed to Buprenorphine Analog compounds of the Formula (I), Formula (IA) or Formula (IB) shown below, wherein R1, R1a, R2, R8, R3a, R3b, G, X, Z, Y, and A® are as defined herein. Compounds of the Invention are useful for treating pain, constipation, and other conditions modulated by activity of opioid and ORL-1 receptors.
US09096604B2
Disclosed herein are compounds exemplified by the following structure Formula (I) that form covalent bonds with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds of Formula (I). Methods of using the Btk inhibitors exemplified by the structure of Formula (I) are disclosed, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions.
US09096601B2
Arylamino purine derivatives represented by formula I and their preparation method are disclosed, wherein each substituent is defined as in the description. The derivatives have an inhibitory effect on non-small cell lung cancer with deletion mutation of exon 19 or L858R point mutation of exon 21 in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
US09096599B2
This invention relates to novel spiroindoline compounds of formula (I) that are generally useful as medicaments, more specifically as medicaments for animals. The medicament can preferably be used for the treatment of helminth infections and the treatment of parasitosis, such as caused by helminth infections. This invention also relates to uses of the compounds to make medicaments and treatments comprising the administration of the compounds to animals in need of the treatments. This invention also relates to the preparation of said compounds. Moreover this invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the compounds.
US09096598B2
The instant invention provides compounds of formula I which are JAK inhibitors, and as such are useful for the treatment of JAK-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, COPD and cancer.
US09096591B2
This disclosure relates to new tetracyclic compounds that may be used to modulate a histamine receptor in an individual. The compounds in one embodiment are tetracyclic [4,3-b]indoles. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds are also provided, as are methods of using the compounds in a variety of therapeutic applications, including the treatment of a cognitive disorder, psychotic disorder, neurotransmitter-mediated disorder and/or a neuronal disorder.
US09096577B2
The invention provides processes for preparing intermediates useful for preparing compounds of the formula: or a tautomer or salt thereof, where R1-R5, a, b, X and P2, are as defined in the specification.
US09096563B2
A high selectivity catalyst start-up process is provided in which an excess level of chloride moderator (greater than 1 ppm) is present in the feed gas composition during each of the various stages of the start-up process. The excess level of chloride used in the start-up process maintains a low level of selectivity (less than 86%) during the entire start-up process. Despite the low selectivity values achieved during the start-up process of the present disclosure, high selectivity catalysts that are conditioned by such a start-up process exhibit improved catalyst performance during the normal operation of the catalyst.
US09096548B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula 1 or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R5, R4, R5, R6 and X− have the meanings as indicated in the specification, to their use as a medicament, to their use in the treatment of a disease selected from among respiratory diseases or complaints and allergic diseases of the airways, to pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one of said compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as well as to medicament combinations containing one or more of said compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09096543B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I, and methods of using said compounds, salts and compositions in the treatment of various disorders associated with CRM1 activity.
US09096530B2
An explosive material in the form of a cocrystal comprising 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20 or HNIW) and at least one energetic material. The energetic material is selected from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX).
US09096525B2
Compounds of the formula I in which the substituents are as defined in claim 1 are suitable for use as microbiocides.
US09096523B2
A cyclic amine compound having a prescribed configuration can be efficiently prepared by reducing an imine derivative in the presence of a sulfonic acid. Specifically, a cyclic amine compound which is substituted with an amino group and a carboxyl group in which both groups are arranged in the trans configuration can be prepared efficiently.
US09096514B2
The invention relates to a process for removing an alkanol impurity from a stream containing an organic carbonate and the alkanol impurity, comprising contacting the stream with a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate.
US09096508B2
The present invention provides an efficient method for industrially producing a naturally-derived carotenoid composition with a large amount of a carotenoid such as astaxanthin from a culture of a yeast of the genus Xanthophyllomyces without requiring any special extraction equipment and any complicated refinement process and without any need for organic solvents harmful to humans. Provided is a method for producing a carotenoid composition, including the steps of washing a carotenoid-containing yeast of the genus Xanthophyllomyces with an organic solvent (A) at 30° C. or lower, and extracting a carotenoid from the washed yeast with an organic solvent (B) at 10° C. to 70° C.
US09096505B2
Anti-cancer compositions and methods are described including one or more isothiocyanates and/or isoselenocyanates. Methods of treating a subject are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which include administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition including an isothiocyanate and/or isoselenocyanate to a subject having a condition characterized by Akt dysregulation. Administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition including an isothiocyanate and/or isoselenocyanate to a subject detectably increases apoptosis and/or decreases proliferation of cancer cells, particularly cancer cells characterized by Akt dysregulation.
US09096502B2
A compound [II] such as ammonium N,N-di(fluorosulfonyl)imide is obtained by reacting a compound [I] such as N,N-di(chlorosulfonyl)imide and NH4F (HF)p. A compound [IV] such as an N,N-di(fluorosulfonyl)imide alkali metal salt is obtained by reacting the obtained compound [II] and an alkali metal compound or the like.
US09096499B2
The present invention concerns compounds and their use to treat cell proliferative diseases such as cancer. Compounds of the present invention display significant potency as kinase inhibitors, cause the downregulation of c-myc, and inhibit the growth and survival of cancerous cell lines.
US09096498B2
The present invention discloses a cheaper and practical protocol for the construction of a wide variety of o-cyanocinnamonitrile and their structural analogs that proceeds with good yields in a single step using CuCN as the only reagent.
US09096488B2
Process for the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons by means of aliphatic alcohols containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, which comprises feeding the hydrocarbon and alcohol to the head of a fixed-bed reactor, operating with “trickle flow” regime, containing at least one layer of a catalyst comprising a zeolite selected from medium-pore zeolites and large-pore zeolites.
US09096486B2
A process for polymerizing or oligomerizing a hydrocarbon includes feeding a liquid hydrocarbon reactant and a liquid evaporative cooling medium into a bulk liquid phase which includes polymeric or oligomeric product admixed with a catalyst, and allowing at least a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon reactant and the liquid evaporative cooling medium to vaporize to form bubbles rising through the bulk liquid phase, with the hydrocarbon reactant polymerizing or oligomerizing to form the polymeric or oligomeric product and with the evaporation of both the liquid hydrocarbon reactant and the liquid evaporative cooling medium effecting heat removal from the bulk liquid phase. Gaseous components are withdrawn from a head space, cooled and separated. Condensed hydrocarbon reactant and condensed cooling medium are recycled to the bulk liquid phase.
US09096478B2
Low-concentration phytotoxic micronutrient compounds for selective control of invasive plant species
This invention provides low-dose, low-concentration formulations of phytotoxic trace inorganic compounds for use in methods and systems for selectively and effectively controlling invasive plants.
US09096474B2
This invention relates to a mold for synthesizing powder, and particularly to a mold for synthesizing ceramic powder suitable for use as a mold system which is subjected to spark plasma sintering, which includes a cylindrical mold body into which a powder material used to synthesize ceramic powder is charged, and a pair of mold covers respectively disposed in contact with the top and the bottom of the mold body, thus basically suppressing the production of aggregates in synthesized powder due to pressing and also enabling the mold system to operate even when using a small amount of power, so that the system is prevented from malfunctioning and the power consumption thereof is reduced upon operating.
US09096470B2
The invention relates to comb polymers of maleic acid or derivatives thereof, allyl ethers and (meth)acrylic acid or derivatives thereof, and to the preparation thereof by free radical polymerization at a reaction temperature of 10° C. to 50° C. The invention further relates to the use of such comb polymers for improving the processability of hydraulically setting compositions.
US09096459B2
A flat panel display glass substrate includes a glass comprising, in mol %, 55-80% SiO2, 3-20% Al2O3, 3-15% B2O3, and 3-25% RO (the total amount of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO). The contents in mol % of SiO2, Al2O3, and B2O3 satisfy a relationship (SiO2+Al2O3)/(B2O3)=7.5-17. The strain point of the glass is 665° C. or more. The devitrification temperature of the glass is 1250° C. or less. The substrate has a heat shrinkage rate of 75 ppm or less. The rate of heat shrinkage is calculated from the amount of shrinkage of the substrate measured after a heat treatment which is performed at a rising and falling temperature rate of 10° C./min and at 550° C. for 2 hours by the rate of heat shrinkage (ppm)={the amount of shrinkage of the substrate after the heat treatment/the length of the substrate before the heat treatment}×106.
US09096451B2
An apparatus to remove ions, the apparatus including a capacitive electrode stack. The capacitive electrode stack has a first electrode that includes a first current collector, a second electrode, and a spacer between the first and second electrodes to allow water to flow in between the first and second electrodes. The apparatus has a connector to connect the current collector inside the housing with an electrical source outside the housing, and the connector includes a closing off portion to close an opening in the housing and to form a boundary for the water in the housing.
US09096449B1
Composition and method for treating fluids with select facultative organisms and/or nutrients. At least one facultative organism is selected and added to a fluid to stimulate/facilitate biological remediation of the fluid. In one embodiment, the select facultative organisms are put into frac pits/ponds containing frac water to inhibit the sulfate reducing bacteria in the frac water. In another embodiment, at least one facultative organism and nutrients are selected and added to a fluid.
US09096445B2
A water purification apparatus comprising at least: (a) one or more water purification components in a housing; and (b) a handset integral with the housing, and moveable between a supported position on the housing and a suspended position beyond the housing, the handset including one or more water purification controls thereon. In this way, at least one control of the purification of the water in the housing is operative on the handset, which handset is useable either in its supported position on the housing or in its suspended position beyond the housing, whichever is most convenient to the user. More convenience is therefore provided to a user by the present invention compared with conventional purification apparatus.
US09096444B2
A water-based remediation bed includes a container providing a fluid cavity. Organic, inorganic and biological remediation media are arranged in the cavity and are configured to permit a water-based fluid within the cavity to simultaneously flow through the media.
US09096435B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing carbon nanotubes, comprising a synthesis step of synthesizing carbon nanotubes on a support on which a catalyst is supported by flowing a source gas consisting of acetylene, carbon dioxide, and an inert gas over the support, wherein in the source gas, a partial pressure of the acetylene is 1.33×101 to 1.33×104 Pa, a partial pressure of the carbon dioxide is 1.33×101 to 1.33×104 Pa, and a partial pressure ratio of the acetylene to the carbon dioxide (acetylene/carbon dioxide) is in the range of 0.1 to 10.
US09096425B2
A method comprising depositing an ink comprising a nanomaterial, a material capable of transporting charge, and a liquid vehicle from a micro-dispenser onto a layer of a device is disclosed. A method comprising depositing an ink comprising a nanomaterial, a material capable of transporting charge, and a liquid vehicle from a micro-dispenser onto a second material capable of transporting charge in a predetermined arrangement is also disclosed. In certain preferred embodiments, the nanomaterial comprises semiconductor nanocrystals. In certain preferred embodiments, a micro-dispenser comprises an inkjet printhead. Methods for fabricating devices including a nanomaterial and method for fabricating an array of devices including a nanomaterial are also disclosed. An ink composition including a nanomaterial, a material capable of transporting charge, and a liquid vehicle is also disclosed.
US09096417B2
A modular chemical dispensing system includes a plurality of rail members combining to define a wall-mounted grid for supporting dispensing and chemical source modules. The grid is easily secured to a wall and the modules moved laterally onto the grid with rotatable locks securing the modules to the rails. Chemical source modules have lockable doors preventing unauthorized access to chemicals therein and preventing unauthorized module removal. A variety of module configurations are provided, reducing inventories of custom parts. Methods are disclosed.
US09096410B2
A multi-car elevator control device for controlling an operation in such a manner that a rear car can stop away from a periphery of a fire floor. The multi-car elevator control device includes a running-enabled section calculator for calculating, as a running-enabled section, a range of a floor in which a stop can be carried out to open a door without a collision with a front car which stops, a fire floor information acquiring part for acquiring fire floor information, an in-fire stop prohibition section calculator for calculating, based on the fire floor information, an in-fire stop prohibition section for prohibiting the stop of the car, and a running permission deciding part for deciding a running permission of an elevator by referring to the running-enabled section and the in-fire stop prohibition section.
US09096402B2
A sheet material supplying device includes a tension detection device that detects tensions at both end portions of the unprocessed sheet material in a widthwise direction of the sheet material; an engaging roller that engages the sheet material at a location that is upstream of the processing section in a path of the sheet material that is drawn out; a supporting mechanism that supports both end portions of the engaging roller and that is displaceably supported with respect to the frame such that an axis of the engaging roller is tiltable in a direction that crosses a sheet surface of the sheet material with which the engaging roller engages; an actuator that is connected to the supporting mechanism and that displaces the supporting mechanism; and a drive control device that controls driving of the actuator on the basis of the tensions detected by the tension detection device.
US09096400B2
A first feeder contacts a first surface of a first sheet held in a first tray and feeds the first sheet toward a recording unit. A second feeder contacts a first surface of a second sheet held in a second tray and feeds the second sheet toward the recording unit. An inner member is disposed above a standing plate. An outer member comprises an upstream portion opposing the standing plate, and a downstream portion opposing the inner member. The inner member guides the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet. The standing plate guides the first surface of the second sheet. The upstream portion of the outer member guides a second surface of the second sheet, and the downstream portion guides a second surface of the first sheet and the second surface of the second sheet. The standing plate moves relative to the outer member.
US09096394B2
A dosing device for bulk material having a dosing scale fastened to an outlet opening of a bulk material container. The dosing device comprises a motor-driven conveyor, extending substantially horizontally, which is designed to convey the bulk material from an entry region to an exit region. The entry region is arranged under the bulk material container. The exit region is supported on at least one first measurement device which is arranged and designed to determine the weight load of the conveyor by the bulk material. The conveyor is attached in a free floating manner to the bulk material container at the entry region thereof.
US09096392B1
A conveyor belt steam cleaning device to clean a continuous loop conveyor belt of a conveyor stand including a housing attached to a conveyor belt stand, a steam spraying unit and a wiping unit disposed below the housing, and a steamer unit disposed below the conveyor stand. The steamer unit includes a boiler, a water collection tray, a pump, a filter and an actuator. The actuator is in operational communication with a power source, the boiler and the pump. The boiler contains and heats water to the temperature required create steam. The steam is transferred to the steam spraying unit which dispenses steam to clean and the wiping unit dries the belt as it moves under the housing. Condensate from the steam is collected in the water collection tray. The pump drains the water collection tray and pumps the condensate through the filter and recycles it back to the boiler.
US09096389B2
A surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator.
US09096386B2
A modular multi-mode conveyor system includes at least one linear drive track section configured such that moving elements are independently controlled and moved along the track section and at least one mechanical drive track section having the same configuration as the linear drive track section but where the linear drive is replaced with a scroll cam drive system and moving elements are controlled and moved along the track section by the scroll cam drive system. The scroll cam conveyor system includes a scroll cam. The scroll cam includes a cylindrical cam, a plurality of cam grooves formed on the cylindrical cam, a drive system for rotating the scroll cam, and a moving element. The moving element includes a plurality of cam followers. The plurality of cam grooves are configured to contact with respective ones of the plurality of cam followers to move the moving element.
US09096384B2
A plurality of conveyors including a center conveyor are appropriately disposed without any gap or step and any interference between driving units. The center conveyor includes a pair of left and right belt driving pulleys that are provided at the front and rear sides in the conveying direction so as to stretch loop-shaped conveyor belts therebetween and are provided at both sides in the width direction, a pair of first left and right pulleys that is connected to each other through a connection shaft disposed on rotation axes of the belt driving pulleys at both outer sides in the width direction, a pair of left and right second pulleys that is provided below the first pulleys at both outer sides in the width direction so as to stretch loop-shaped pulley belts between the first and second pulleys and includes a common rotation axis, a driving shaft that is disposed on rotation axes of the second pulleys and is connected to the pair of second left and right pulleys, and a motor that is connected to an end of the driving shaft.
US09096368B2
Medical device packaging, medical device packaging assemblies, and methods for preparing and packaging medical devices. An example medical device packaging assembly may include a packaging pouch including a front pouch portion and a back pouch portion. The front pouch portion may include a first sheet of material having a plurality of layers. The back pouch portion may include a second sheet of material having a plurality of layers. A medical device may be disposed in the pouch. At least one of the plurality of layers of first sheet of material and the plurality of layers of second sheet of material may include a moisture scavenging layer. In addition, at least one of the plurality of layers of first sheet of material and the plurality of layers of second sheet of material includes an oxygen scavenging layer.
US09096367B2
The present invention relates to a product containing bioabsorbable carrier materials especially for tissue regeneration and to a packaging, and also to processes for the production of the product.
US09096366B2
The present disclosure includes an apparatus and method of use to facilitate storing, conserving and exhibition of fresh flowers particularly where the flowers originate in country such as Columbia and are internationally shipped to a country such as the United States and doing so while the flowers are maintained completely hydrated. Hydration is accomplished by placing fresh flowers stems into florists' foam which is soaked to make hydration continuously available to the fresh flowers during storage shipment and exhibition. Thus there is no water to leak from the packaging and no need to maintain the shipping container in a vertical upright position. The packaging further includes perforations so the fresh flowers can breath while being stored and in transit and the packaging includes a stand for exhibition of the flowers at a convenient and attractive height of about waist high when the fresh flowers arrive at a retailer having no special equipment or personnel for the care of perishables. The exhibition box contained within the shipping container is equipped with a custom symmetric geometric shaped opening for firm support of the bucket containing the fresh flowers and soaked florists' foam. The disclosure further includes a series of steps for opening the shipping container, discarding packaging material and placing the bucket of fresh flowers into the top of the exhibition box. Finally, the method includes the optional step of adding water to the bucket.
US09096363B2
A transportable load carrying platform comprising a base to support a load during transportation. One or a plurality of support frames are positioned towards one or two ends of base and are configured to pivot between three positions. In a first position, the end frames extends upwardly from the base, in a second position the end frames extend outwardly and downwardly from the base and in a third position the end frames are substantially flat and parallel to the base to reduce the overall height of the platform. Pivot means allow the support frames to pivot relative to the base between the various positions. Suitable load transfer means are provided to effectively transfer any applied loading forces from the support frames to the base.
US09096357B2
A self-ventilating liquid container that includes a pair of venting channels disposed through the container's spout. A second venting channel of the pair provides increased performance, including improved flow rate and less turbulent liquid flow, because the second venting channel allows more air to flow into the internal volume of the container while providing airflow to different areas within the container. The positioning of a first venting channel and a second venting channel within the container interior and in different locations therein reduces any chance of a vacuum forming within the container during dispensation.
US09096347B2
A stand-up package is formed to include an interior region for containing a product. The package is configured to be in an upright, standing position.
US09096346B2
An opening feature for a flexible laminate membrane having a metal foil layer sandwiched between first and second structures is formed by a first score line through a thickness of the first structure but not breaching the metal foil layer, and a second score line through a thickness of the second structure but not breaching the metal foil layer, the first and second score lines together encompassing a removable panel portion of the flexible membrane. A press-and-pull tab constituting part of the removable panel portion is arranged to be pressed downward to cause the metal foil layer to break in the region of the tab, and then to be grasped and pulled upward to cause the metal foil layer to break all around a periphery of the removable panel portion to enable the removable panel portion to be completely removed from the flexible membrane.
US09096343B2
A container knockdown assembly capable of opening into an erected container assembly. The knockdown includes an unopened outer sleeve having first and second outer side panels opposing and substantially parallel to one another when in the knockdown form, and an unopened inner sleeve having first and second inner side panels opposing and substantially parallel to one another when in the knockdown form. The inner sleeve is secured within the outer sleeve in a positional relationship of the assembled container. A cutout is formed in a section of one of the outer corners of the outer sleeve to expose at least a portion of a corner of the inner corner. A container formed from such a knockdown is also provided.
US09096340B1
The present disclosure relates to improved box designs and methods of making stackable boxes having improved designs. Some embodiments include boxes having corner stack tabs that are bent along an axis extending from the top to the bottom of a box. Some embodiments include boxes having corner stack tabs of tapered or generally trapezoidal shape. Some embodiments include a box having a notch in its bottom end portion for receiving a stack tab of another box. Some embodiments include boxes formed from three separate sheets of cardboard.
US09096338B2
A film fitting system which fits a tubular film on a fitting target including a fitting device which fits, at a predefined fitting position, the tubular film on the fitting target which is transported; and a transporting device which receives the fitting target at a predefined supplying position, wherein the transporting device includes a mount which is moved in a state where the fitting target is placed thereon; a positioning member which is moved in a linked manner with the mount and which positions the fitting target with respect to the mount by contacting a part of the fitting target; and a moving device which moves the positioning member to a reference position, and a retracted position where the positioning member is separated from the fitting target at least at the fitting position.
US09096332B2
An airship docking station includes one or more sources of relatively high speed airflow to facilitate landing an airship in turbulent or gusting air conditions. The sources of airflow are arranged to produce an envelope of airflow over the surface of the airship to stabilize the airship as it lands and is moved into a docked position where it can be secured. The docking station allows an airship to land with reduced or eliminated risk of damage to the airship, payload or ground personnel injury compared to current methods in use. The docking station and method thus ensure more consistent wind conditions adjacent the docking station. Protection from buffeting by gusting winds also facilitates automated or semi-automated airship landing with fewer or no ground personnel.
US09096329B2
A method and device for displaying the performance of an aircraft when climbing and/or descending. The device includes devices for data capture, calculation and generating images for a display screen. The calculation device is configured to calculate a maximum slope that the aircraft can adopt depending on current data received from a data capture device. A display device presents images of the maximum slope superimposed with altitudes of a projected flight plan.
US09096323B1
A system for detecting contamination of a window of an optical system includes a polarizing beamsplitter, a quarter waveplate, a photodetector, and a processor. The polarizing beamsplitter is configured to receive a laser beam having a first polarization and reflect the laser beam having the first polarization to the window. The photodetector is configured to sense a magnitude of reflections of the laser beam from the window having a second polarization, wherein the polarizing beamsplitter passes the reflections of the laser beam from the window having the second polarization to the photodetector. The processor is configured to determine a contamination level of the window based upon the magnitude of the reflections of the laser beam from the window.
US09096321B2
An aircraft galley plumbing is disclosed comprising water distribution components and assemblies to allow installation in a wet/refrigerated reduced foot print galley. The system includes a single potable water distribution manifold with quick disconnect couplings for the GAINS and built in air bleed devices facilitate rapid drainage and easy installation. The system also includes a compact pressure check valve to control filling operation and drain down of the potable water system. The use of a compact air stop valve and integrated master distribution block (manifold) and water filter system further enhance the system.
US09096320B2
A single valve door thrust recovery outflow valve is provided that does not rely on a relatively large and expensive actuator to move it, and does not create unwanted drag during aircraft cruise operations. The valve includes a valve frame, a valve door, and an aerodynamic flap. The valve door is rotationally coupled to the valve frame, is adapted to receive a drive torque, and is configured, upon receipt of the drive torque, to rotate between a closed position, a full-open position, and a plurality of partial-open positions between the closed position and the full-open position. The aerodynamic flap is coupled to the valve door. When the valve door is in the closed position and in numerous partial-open positions, the aerodynamic flap makes the thrust recovery outflow valve aerodynamically clean.
US09096309B2
A method for controlling the piloting of an aircraft comprising the steps of receiving at least one first instruction for modification of a current velocity vector of the aircraft, determining a target velocity vector of the aircraft, on the basis of said at least one first instruction received, and determining, on the basis at least of said target velocity vector, at least one actuation command intended for at least one actuator of the aircraft in order to modify the movement of the aircraft according to said at least one first instruction received.
US09096306B2
An aircraft system carrier element includes a basic body made of a sound- and heat-insulating material, in which are formed an air conditioning duct, which is connectable to an aircraft air conditioning system and provided for supplying an aircraft compartment, and a line duct for receiving lines that are provided for supplying the aircraft compartment. The basic body includes a rear wall and a line duct cover that is fastened detachably to the rear wall. The detachable fastening of the line duct cover enables easy access to the lines for maintenance purposes, when necessary, while also protecting the lines against environmental effects in normal operation.
US09096300B2
One embodiment of the invention comprises a method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steerable propulsor, a corresponding first reversing device, a second steerable propulsor and a corresponding second reversing device. The method comprises receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to a rotational movement and no translational movement command, generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal, coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steerable propulsor and the second steerable propulsor, and coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling the first reversing device and to the second reversing device. The method creates rotational forces on the marine vessel with substantially no translational forces on the marine vessel.
US09096296B2
A tow rope system for use with a water recreation device may include a first drawbar member positioned to overlie a second drawbar member and oriented to be inverted with respect to the second drawbar member. Each of the first and second drawbar members may include a grip connected to opposing lateral supports. A coupling member may be connected to a portion of each of the opposing lateral supports, resulting in the first and second drawbar members extending outwardly from the coupling member in an angled configuration. The grip of each drawbar member may present both a gripping surface for a water recreation device rider and a mechanical engagement surface for a tow hook on a water recreation device. The dual-drawbar configuration may facilitate both passive and active towing of a water recreation device rider, and also both traditional and ergonomic gripping by a rider.
US09096292B2
The invention concerns a ship, in particular a cargo ship, having a load surface for receiving load items, in particular piece goods. The invention concerns in particular a ship whose load surface has a plurality of receiving means which can be connected to fixing means and which are distributed in a grid over the load surface. The invention further concerns a floor element for a ship, in particular a cargo ship, and a securing element.
US09096287B2
The present invention relates to a bicycle in which at least a portion of a control cable is routed internally. In particular, a bicycle according to the invention comprises a frame, the frame including a head tube; a fork assembly carried by the frame; and a cable guide positioned at least partially within the head tube and connected to the fork assembly, the cable guide adapted for receiving the portion of the control cable. The invention extends to a method of routing the control cables through a bicycle frame to minimize aerodynamic losses that are caused by control cables. More particularly, the method includes the steps of providing a bicycle frame comprising a head tube, providing a fork steerer including a groove formed in the fork steerer at least partially within the head tube, and positioning a portion of the cable within the groove.
US09096286B1
A saddle rear rack for a bicycle contains a body, a connector, and two coupling sets. The body is in a frame shape and includes an accommodating cavity, two tabs, and two polygonal recesses. The connector is fixed between the two tabs and includes two hanging bars for hanging the connector on two stems of a bottom end of a saddle, and the connector also includes two toothed notches. Each coupling set includes a fixing element, a limiting element, and a screw bolt. The fixing element a polygonal surrounding section for corresponding to each polygonal recess and a toothed surrounding section for inserting into and engaging with each toothed notch. The limiting element has a circular disc and a circular peg corresponding to the toothed surrounding section of the fixing element, and the screw bolt is screwed with and unscrewed from the fixing element and the limiting element.
US09096283B2
A magnetic robot includes a chassis and at least one track assembly associated with the chassis. The track assembly has a linear series of non-circulating magnet modules displaceably mounted with respect to the chassis. A driven track circulates about the magnet modules and travels on guide portions of the magnet modules.
US09096276B2
A front subframe structure includes a pair of left and right side members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, a center cross member of a closed cross-section structure extending in a vehicle-width direction to couple the a pair of left and right side members together, an inclined member having a pair of left and right inclined portions extending obliquely, in a plan view, outward in a vehicle-widthwise direction from a rear portion of a vehicle-widthwise middle portion of the center cross member, and a mount attaching portion of a powertrain mount housed in the center cross member and located behind a front edge of the center cross member and in front of a coupling portion between the inclined member and the center cross member.
US09096267B2
A system and method for providing lane changing maneuvers in an autonomously driven vehicle. The vehicle includes a navigation controller that provides a planned route for the vehicle to follow and a vehicle controller that receives route information from the navigation controller and provides steering, braking and throttle control for the vehicle to follow the route. Either the navigation controller or the vehicle controller may initiate a lane change maneuver to cause the vehicle to be steered from a travel lane to an adjacent lane. In response to the lane change requirement, the navigation controller provides a route segment to the vehicle controller and a lane-change zone so that the vehicle controller can steer the vehicle to the adjacent lane while in the lane-change zone.
US09096257B1
A plurality of steering wheel sections can be joined to form a steering wheel. A member is partially disposed within a first steering wheel section cavity and partially disposed within a second steering wheel section cavity. A plurality of support arms each have disposed therein a support arm extension. At least one separation mechanism is configured to break a joint between first and second steering wheel sections.
US09096256B2
The present invention provides a system and method of providing high reliability for an absolute angle in an electric power steering system in which the final absolute steering angle is calculated using a device configured to measure an absolute steering angle and a relative steering angle.
US09096251B2
A handtruck has an elongated frame, with wheels mounted adjacent to the bottom of frame and forming a wheelbase. A load-bearing member, such as a base plate, is attached to the frame. A footkick is provided and is attached to the frame, the footkick extending rearwardly relative to the wheels, preferably with a part engageable by a person's foot. The footkick provides a lever for facilitating rotation of the frame about the wheelbase.
US09096250B2
A foldable stroller includes a linkage and an engaging mechanism; the linkage includes a slider connected to the rear frame, a pull rod connected between the slider and the upper frame, and/or between the slider and the lower frame, and struts whose middles are pivoted each other, with two ends of each strut connected to the rear frame, and the sliders connected to the struts so as to actuate the struts to pivot each other; and the engaging mechanism is formed on the rear frame to restrict a sliding motion of the slider. The structure is simple and handy, and the stroller can be folded due to the gravity of the upper and lower frames when operating the engaging mechanism, which needs small strength of the user.
US09096243B2
A railroad switching apparatus utilizing a tie which is positioned under rails and points used in switching railroad cars. A support is interposed the tie and the rails and points and includes a passageway to guide the first and second indicator bars which are attached to the points. A slider is also employed at the attachment point of the indicator bars to the points to accommodate the thermal expansion and contraction of the rails and points. The indicator bars are formed into a coaxial unit in order to allow simple observation of the relative movement between the first and second indicator bars to determine proper movement of the points relative to the rails.
US09096230B2
A drive system for a machine is disclosed. The drive system may have an engine, a pump driven by the engine to pressurize fluid, a motor connected to the pump via an inlet passage and an outlet passage, and a traction device driven by the motor. The drive system may also have an operator input device movable from a neutral position through a range to a maximum displaced position to affect a speed of the engine, and a controller in communication with the input device and at least one of the pump and motor. The controller may be configured to gradually adjust a displacement of the at least one of the pump and motor to slow the traction device over a period of time after the operator input device is returned to the neutral position.
US09096224B2
The clutch control device for a hybrid vehicle comprises an engine, an automated manual transmission, a clutch device and a clutch actuator concluding an output rod and a master cylinder which generates a hydraulic pressure therein by closing an idle port in response to the stroke of the output rod, a slave cylinder in fluid communication with the master cylinder through a passage and controlling the clutch device to be in engagement state or disengagement state operated by the hydraulic pressure generated by the master cylinder and a clutch engagement state holding control portion for temporarily holding the clutch device to be in the engagement state by operating the master cylinder to close the idle port after the engagement state under the vehicle being running under a motor drive mode continued for a predetermined time.
US09096219B2
The drive apparatus (1) controls a rotating speed of a ring gear (Ri) of a power split mechanism (6) by controlling a first motor generator (3) after a rotating speed of an engine (2) is deemed to be zero by executing an engine stop control for stopping the engine (2), when a condition which a control to a clutch (31) or a parking mechanism (30) is performed is satisfied while the engine (2) is running.
US09096215B2
A method is provided to control a drivetrain of a vehicle, especially a utility vehicle, wherein the drivetrain includes an engine with a cooling system. The cooling system includes a fan. The cooling system and the drivetrain are controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU has access to a navigation system with topographic data. The method includes determining a topology of an upcoming route of the vehicle, estimating the load of the engine dependent of the topology of the upcoming route, estimating a temperature variation of the cooling system during the upcoming route, and controlling the drivetrain dependent on the estimated temperature variation, such that an actual temperature of the cooling system is kept below a temperature threshold value during the upcoming route of the vehicle. The temperature threshold value is dependent on a temperature at which said fan is activated.
US09096213B2
A system and a method for operating an engine of a vehicle are provided wherein a transmission coupled to the engine has a freewheeling mode. The engine is switched off by setting the transmission into the freewheeling mode and interrupting fuel supply to the engine in the freewheeling mode depending on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle. A gear in the transmission is selected proactively depending on one or more operating actions of the vehicle anticipated to be required on or within a predefined time limit after restart of the engine.
US09096200B2
A vehicle braking system includes a slip control system operable in an electronic stability control (ESC) mode to automatically and selectively apply the brakes in an attempt to stabilize the vehicle when an instability condition has been sensed. The slip control system is further operable in an adaptive cruise control (ACC) mode to automatically apply the brakes to slow the vehicle in response to a control signal. The slip control system includes a variable speed motor drive piston pump for supplying pressurized fluid pressure to the brakes through a valve arrangement. In the ESC mode, the pump motor operates in an ESC speed range, and in the ACC mode, the pump motor operates in an ACC speed range lower than the ESC speed range. The slip control system further includes an attenuator connected to a pump outlet for dampening pump output pressure pulses prior to application to the brakes. The attenuator includes an elastomeric member located in an attenuator chamber of a housing. The attenuator chamber defines a shoulder and the elastomeric member includes a flange which rests on the shoulder and locates the elastomeric member in a predetermined axial position within the attenuator chamber. An outside wall of the elastomeric member includes circumferentially extending grooves defining ribs between adjacent grooves.
US09096189B2
A multi sensor detection and disabling lock system includes detector cases for holding interchangeable detectors that sample for chemical, biological and radiological compounds, agents and elements, with each detector case disposed in or upon the monitored product. The detector case transmits detection information to a monitoring computer terminal and transmits a signal to a lock disabler engaged to the product to lock or disable the product's lock thereby preventing untrained, unauthorized and unequipped individual's from gaining access and entry to the product, and also preventing further contamination of the area. The detection system can be interconnected to surveillance towers scanning detector cases disposed at seaport docks, freight depots and rail terminals for monitoring containers being prepared for shipment or sitting on docks for long periods of time.
US09096185B2
A grommet includes a resin inner assembled to a grommet main body composed of a rubber or elastomer, a seal lip provided in the grommet main body to press against an outer surface of a body panel, and an engagement tab provided in the resin inner to engage with a periphery of a through-hole in the body panel. A base portion of the seal lip projects from a resin inner holder of the grommet main body: An inclined portion projects outward from the base portion. The inclined portion has a seal projection. A plurality of deformation prevention ribs are provided in a circumferential direction with intervals therebetween to connect the front end side of the inclined portion and the resin inner holder.
US09096170B2
Example light fixtures include one or more light transmitting illuminated rods that emit a series or array of discrete spots of light. Some example light fixtures disclosed herein include optical features that provide an intriguing, attention-getting affect that can be useful particularly in alerting personnel of certain conditions at a doorway of a truck loading dock. In some examples, the light transmitting rods are mechanically coupled to a housing that contains an LED light source. The mechanical coupling allows the illuminated rods to be readily replaced without disrupting with the operation or wiring of the light source. Some example light fixtures illuminate the cargo bay of a vehicle at the loading dock.
US09096165B2
A method is provided for generating noise in an interior and exterior of a motor vehicle in which a control unit is provided which can be activated and which is operatively connected to a noise generator. The noise generator is connected to at least one noise emitting device (3). The noise emitting device (3) is mounted underneath a hood of the motor vehicle, and is connected to the vehicle interior via at least one hose with at least one sound transmitting element. Sound waves are extracted from the noise emitting device (3) and are transmitted into the vehicle interior.
US09096162B2
An information display system for a vehicle includes an information display device, a mounting member, and a personal digital assistant. The information display device is mounted on a vehicle and is configured to display vehicle information. The mounting member is fixed to the vehicle. The personal digital assistant is detachably mounted on the vehicle via the mounting member in such a manner that at least a part of the vehicle information displayed on the information display device becomes non-visible by the personal digital assistant and includes a communication device and a display device. The communication device is configured to acquire at least vehicle information which is displayed on the information display device and which becomes non-visible from an electric accessory unit mounted on the vehicle. The display device is configured to display the vehicle information acquired using the communication device.
US09096158B2
A vehicle seat with a seat part and a backrest having a simple design of a cushion that provides a passive aeration or a passive climate seat while maintaining a visually appealing top side or front side, respectively.
US09096154B2
The present invention relates to a reclining apparatus for a head rest of a rear seat that includes: a reclining motor operably coupled to an integral lead screw; a carrier thread fastened to the integral lead screw; and a link module configured to transmit operation force from the carrier to a head rest module, wherein the head rest module angle is adjusted in a forward/rearward direction by the operation force from the carrier and the link module.
US09096153B2
A vehicle seat with a function of absorbing volatile substances in an interior of a vehicle with the seat is disclosed. The vehicle seat comprises a seat frame structure, a cushioned padding member supported on the seat frame structure, and a volatile substances-absorbing member provided on a surface of the cushioned padding member which faces the seat frame structure.
US09096152B2
A vehicle seat, in particular motor vehicle seat comprises an inclination adjustment fitting, a backrest part, and a seat part. The inclination adjustment fitting has a toothed first element and a toothed second element, and the vehicle seat has a first main structural element and a second main structural element. The inclination adjustment fitting has an adjustment mechanism and/or a latching detent for adjusting the inclination of the first main structural element relative to the second main structural element about an axis of rotation. The toothed first element is connected directly to the first main structural element, and/or the toothed second element is connected directly to the second main structural element.
US09096150B2
A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and at least one seat located in the passenger compartment. The seat can be moved from a front-facing position to a rear-facing position for when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode. The vehicle may further include autonomous driving sensors and an autonomous controller that receives signals generated by the autonomous driving sensors and controls at least one vehicle subsystems according to the signals received.
US09096147B2
A vehicle seat includes a seat back having a support frame coupled to a seat foundation. The seat back also further includes a deformable seat shell adapted to assume various shapes between initial position and final positions in response to variable rearward loads applied by a seated passenger. The seat shell is coupled to the support frame by a compliant shell-motion controller via upper and lower motion-control links. The motion-control links allow pivotal motion, and at least one of the links includes a spheroidal joint. A link foundation extends between and interconnects the upper and lower motion-control links and is coupled to the support frame so that the link foundation does not move during seat shell deformation. The shell-motion controller may be pre-assembled as part of a backrest or the motion-control links may be formed after the link foundation is attached to the support frame.
US09096143B2
A temperature control system for a drive device of a motor vehicle includes a first temperature control circuit, which is coupled to an electric drive apparatus of the drive device; a second temperature control circuit, which is separate from the first temperature control circuit and is coupled to an electric energy store of the drive device; and a heat exchanger for optionally transferring heat between the first temperature control circuit and the second temperature control circuit. A method for operating a temperature control system for a drive device of a motor vehicle includes optional transmission of heat between the first temperature control circuit and the second temperature control circuit by way of a heat exchanger in such a way that heat is extracted from the first temperature control circuit and the second temperature control circuit.
US09096137B2
An electric vehicle comprising a battery charges the battery through an electric vehicle power supply device, and transmits to a user terminal device a first charging information notification message, which includes information on a current charging status of the battery. The electric vehicle detects an interruption to the charging of the battery on the basis of the current charging status of the battery, and checks the cause for the interruption to the charging of the battery. When the interruption to the charging of the battery is detected, the electric vehicle transmits to the user terminal device a second charging information notification message, comprising information on battery charging status that indicates the interruption to the charging of the battery and charging error information that indicates the cause of the interruption to the charging of the battery.
US09096135B1
An electric vehicle includes an electric motor configured to provide traction and a control system. The control system may be configured to receive a signal indicative of a requested torque and determine an acceleration limit based on the requested torque. The electric vehicle may also include an inverter operatively coupled to the control system and the electric motor. The inverter may be configured to control the electric motor based at least on (a) a signal indicative of the requested torque, and (b) a signal indicative of the acceleration limit.
US09096134B2
A system and method for determining whether a resistor in a battery circuit on an electric vehicle cannot be used as a resistive heater for heating a cooling fluid for cooling the vehicle battery, but can used as a pre-charge resistor for starting the vehicle. A temperature sensor is provided proximate the resistor within the cooling fluid. The method turns on the resistor before turning on a coolant pump and samples the temperature at sample intervals over a predetermined period of time. The method then calculates an integral or differential of the sampled temperatures and compares that value with a calibrated threshold. If the temperature value is not greater than the threshold, meaning that the temperature indicates no cooling fluid is present, the algorithm disables the resistor for heating purposes, but maintains operation of the resistor for pre-charge purposes.
US09096127B2
A drive control system for a work vehicle is provided with a power transmission device that drives front wheels and rear wheels, a request determination unit, and a drive mode control unit. The power transmission device has a drive mode switching mechanism that performs drive mode switching between a four-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to front wheels and rear wheels and a two-wheel drive mode in which drive power is transmitted to only the rear wheels. The request determination unit determines a necessity for an increase in drive power on a contact area of the work vehicle, and outputs an increase request based on the determination result. The drive mode control unit outputs a drive mode switching request for switching to the four-wheel drive mode to the drive mode switching mechanism, in response to output of the increase request.
US09096123B2
A straddle-riding vehicle includes a vehicle body frame including an engine supporting portion that supports an engine and a front wheel supporting portion arranged in front of the engine supporting portion, wherein a wheel supporting arm that supports the front wheel and a suspension arm that supports the wheel supporting arm are mounted to the front wheel supporting portion. At least a portion of a secondary air introduction unit that introduces secondary air into an exhaust passage of the engine is positioned directly behind the front wheel supporting portion.
US09096122B2
A fuel cutoff valve is equipped with a casing main body having a valve chamber that forms a connection hole that is an opening to the valve chamber side on an upper wall, a cover that forms a pipe which forms a pipe passage, and a float housed inside the valve chamber. The cover is equipped with a pipe extended part which is provided extending inside the linking chamber from the pipe in a tube shape facing the connection hole and on an substantially straight line, the pipe extended part has an extended passage 45 connected to the pipe passage, the extended passage has an inflow port that opens to the linking chamber, and the inflow port is provided on the side opposite the pipe with the connection hole as the center.
US09096120B2
A fuel filling device includes a fuel pipe seat having a filling port and a fuel pipe in communication with the filling port. Three engagement portions are formed on an inner peripheral face of the fuel pipe. A fuel cap includes a body and an operative portion mounted to the body. Three tracks are formed on an outer periphery of the body. Each track includes a front, lower end and a rear, higher end having a stop. An entrance is defined in front of the front, lower end of each track. The fuel cap is inserted into the fuel pipe with the engagement portions respectively received in the entrances of the tracks. The fuel cap is rotated in a locking direction. The tracks move relative to the engagement portions until the engagement portions are stopped by the stops of the tracks, and the fuel cap is in a locking position.
US09096118B2
A drive device of a hybrid vehicle includes an engine and an electric motor acting as power sources, and further includes: a first rotating member coupled to the electric motor; a second rotating member to which power from the engine is transmitted; and a gear pair made up of helical gears formed on the first rotating member and the second rotating member to couple the first rotating member and the second rotating member in a power transmittable manner, within a case, an inner wall extending from an outer wall of the case toward an inside of the case is in the case, and an elastic member pressing the first rotating member toward the inner wall is provided in a preloaded state between the first rotating member and the inner wall.
US09096117B2
A body structure of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle is driven using power of an engine and electric power supplied from a battery module. The body structure includes a propeller shaft disposed in a lower side of a floor panel in a vertical direction of the vehicle so as to extend in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle and configured to transmit the power of the engine and the electric power to at least a rear wheel; and an integrated battery pack below the floor panel so as to cover the propeller shaft. The integrated battery pack has at least the battery module. The battery pack includes a recess to house the propeller shaft.
US09096112B2
A wind deflector (10) for a vehicle has a fastening section (11) for mounting the wind deflector (10) releasably on a retainer (13) of an upper cowl (14) of the vehicle and an air-guiding section (12) for guiding the flow of air. A locking device (17) assigned to the fastening section (11) releasably locks the wind deflector (10) to the retainer (13) of the upper cowl. The locking device (17) has at least one shiftable anchor (18), an actuator (19) and a spring (20). The actuator (17) interacts with the anchor (18) so that, when the actuator (19) is not actuated, the spring (20) presses the anchor (18) into a locking position, and, when the actuator (19) is actuated, that actuator presses the anchor (18) into an unlocking position counter to a spring force of the spring (20).
US09096111B2
A coupled torsion beam axle type suspension system may include trailing arms respectively coupled to opposite ends of a torsion beam, a trailing arm bush coupled to a front end portion of the trailing arm, a link bracket mounted in front of the trailing arm bush and engaged therewith in a width direction of a vehicle, and a lower mounting bush mounted outside of the trailing arm bush in front thereof, installed in the link bracket, and engaged with a lower part of the vehicle body in a height direction of the vehicle, and an upper mounting bush offset, with respect to the lower mounting bush, by a predetermined width in the width direction of the vehicle, a predetermined height in a height direction thereof, and a predetermined length in a length direction of the vehicle body.
US09096100B2
A pneumatic tire has a pair of sidewalls overlying a carcass connecting a pair of bead components and a rubber chafer adjacent to each sidewall, the chafer including 100 parts by weight of elastomer; 20 to 60 phr of a low surface area carbon black having an Iodine absorption value of from about 10 to about 50 g/kg; 20 to 60 phr of a high surface area carbon black having an Iodine absoption value of from about 100 to about 300 g/kg, each sidewall including 100 phr of the same elastomer used in the chafers; 20 to 60 phr of the same low surface area carbon black used in the chafers; 10 to 20 phr of the same high surface area carbon black used in the chafers, the weight ratio of high surface area carbon black in the chafers to high surface area carbon black in the sidewalls being greater than 1.
US09096096B2
A hub module includes an axle member, a hub shell mounted on the axle member, at least two sprocket carriers, and a pair of end caps respectively secured to opposite ends of the axle member. Each of the sprocket carriers includes a carrier body having an outer profile, and a bearing unit mounted in the carrier body. The outer profiles of the carrier bodies of the sprocket carriers are different from each other. The bearing units of the sprocket carriers are the same in total length and inner diameter. Any one of the sprocket carriers is able to be mounted on a carrier-mounting section of the axle member and cooperates with the axle member and the hub shell to serve as a hub assembly.
US09096092B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of and apparatus for graphically marking a series of portable objects, such as a card, each portable object being graphically marked on a respective zone by a respective marking device, wherein the marking devices are configured to perform the same marking operation simultaneously on a plurality of portable objects.
US09096086B2
In an inkjet recording apparatus, a support frame has a support part, and supports a carriage on a first surface of the support part. A pinch roller is disposed on a second surface side of the support part, the second surface being opposite from the first surface. A conveying roller is disposed opposite to the support frame relative to the pinch roller and in confrontation with the pinch roller. A roller holder is disposed on the second surface side of the support part and supporting the pinch roller. An urging member is interposed between the roller holder and the support part, and urges the roller holder to press the pinch roller against the conveying roller. The carriage is in contact with the first surface of the support part while the urging member is in contact with the second surface of the support part.
US09096085B2
A printer has a carriage being movable between a first end and a second end of a reciprocating path; and a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism provided at the second end of the reciprocating path. The selecting mechanism has: a common driving force outputting member; a plurality of force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer for keeping the position of the selecting member. The selecting member connects the force outputting member to one of the plurality of force receiving members, and moves in association with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction extending from the second end to the first end. The force receiving member connected to the force outputting member via the selecting member is selected in accordance with a movement of the carriage along the reciprocating path.
US09096080B2
A page-wide inkjet printer for determining a drying time of a print swath of ink deposited on a sheet of media by a fixed printhead spanning a width of a printing zone in a subscan direction. The printer has a controller communicatively coupled to each of the printhead and a moveable gloss sensor or a scan bar for processing a respective output response for the determining the drying time of the print swath.
US09096076B2
When a printing conveyance speed at a printing unit is changed, if a length of a printing paper sheet in the conveyance direction thereof is smaller than an inter-unit conveyance distance, which is set in advance, between the printing unit and a post-processing unit, only a printing suspending operation at the printing unit is performed, and a post-processing suspending operation at the post-processing unit is not performed. On the other hand, if the length of the printing paper sheet in the conveyance direction thereof is equal to or greater than the inter-unit conveyance distance, both the printing suspending operation at the printing unit and the post-processing suspending operation at the post-processing unit are performed. In this manner, the post-processing suspending operation is omitted depending on the length of the printing paper sheet in the conveyance direction thereof.
US09096072B1
Generally, in accordance with embodiments, a thermal printer comprises heating elements, a storage section, a drive circuit and a controller. A plurality of heating elements are linearly arranged. The storage section stores a one-line amount of image data. The drive circuit energizes each heating element according to the one-line amount of image data. An acquisition section acquires an A/D value corresponding to the voltage applied to each heating element every time each heating element is energized. The controller outputs a one-line amount of empty data to the storage section to acquire a first A/D value with the acquisition section, reduces, based on the first A/D value, noises of a second A/D value which is acquired by energizing each heating element and checks the disconnection of each heating element based on the noise-reduced second A/D value.
US09096070B2
Colorant transfer, involving a colorant supply, and impeding colorant from exiting the colorant supply, a motion device, and providing a passage out of the colorant supply.
US09096063B2
A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes the steps of (1) forming a recess in a second surface of a substrate to form a common supply port, (2) forming an etching mask, which specifies opening positions of independent supply ports, on a bottom surface of the common supply port, and (3) performing ion etching using plasma with the etching mask employed as a mask, thereby forming the independent supply ports. The etching mask has an opening pattern formed therein such that respective distances from an ejection energy generation element to openings of two independent supply ports adjacent to the ejection energy generation element on the first surface side of the substrate are equal to each other.
US09096055B2
An ink-based digital printing system for variable data lithographic printing includes an imaging member and a dampening fluid/carrier patterning system. An inkjet-type device of the patterning system jets material onto an imaging member. The as-jetted material includes dampening fluid and carrier component such as a wax jetted in a single phase. Upon contact with a surface of an imaging member, the jetted material cools and phase separation occurs, the dampening fluid leaching to a surface of the solid component on the imaging member surface, dampening the solid component, which forms an image according to image data input to the patterning system.
US09096049B2
A metal-clad laminate excellent in isotropy, appearance, bondability between a TLC polymer film and a metallic sheet, and dimensional stability is provided less costly with a first step of thermally compressing the film with the metallic sheet by passing them through a nipping region between heating rolls, and a second step of heat-treating the resultant metal-clad laminate at a temperature not higher than the melting point of the film, wherein the film has thermal expansion coefficient αL satisfying αL=βT+γ with thickness T, thickness coefficient β and anisotropy coefficient γ of the film; wherein the coefficient β is within the range of −0.08 to −0.01; the coefficient γ is within the range of αM+6≦γ≦αM+10 with thermal expansion coefficient αM of the metallic sheet; and thermal expansion coefficient αT of the film is within αM−2≦αT≦αM+3 with the coefficient αM.
US09096047B2
A method for manufacturing a textile product includes the steps of providing an intermediate product formed by a backing having a front surface and a back surface, and yarns applied into the backing, the yarns extending from the front surface of the backing material, feeding the intermediate product along a body having a heated surface, the back surface being pressed against the heated surface, to at least partly melt the yarns present in the intermediate product to form the textile product, wherein the part of the back surface that is pressed against the heated surface has a relative speed with respect to the heated surface, and a device enabling applications of this method and to a floor covering incorporating such a textile product connected to a dimensionally stable carrier sheet using thermo reversible covalent interactions.
US09096046B2
Provided is a direct heating type card lamination apparatus, and more particularly, to a direct heating type card lamination apparatus with a concise and simple structure that performs low power lamination by applying heat directly on a card and performs lamination conveniently and quickly without a waiting time. The direct heating type card lamination apparatus does not perform lamination by a heated roller after heating the roller with a heating element according to a conventional method but performs lamination by directly applying heat on a card by a momentarily heated lamination head. Accordingly, the direct heating type card lamination apparatus quickly and conveniently performs lamination with low power without energy loss or a waiting time.
US09096044B2
In a method of fabricating a flexible display panel, a rigid substrate is provided. A flexible substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface is provided. A plurality of releasing-regions are formed on the first surface, and bonding strength of an area outside the releasing-regions is greater than bonding strength of the releasing-regions. An adhesive layer is formed between the rigid substrate and the first surface of the flexible substrate. A plurality of display units are formed on the second surface, and each of the display units is located over one of the releasing-regions, respectively. The flexible substrate is patterned to obtain a plurality of flexible carriers, and each of the flexible carriers carries one of the display units, respectively. The flexible carriers and the adhesive layer are de-bonded.
US09096042B2
The invention relates to a lighting apparatus (10) for providing processing light for processing an object. Groups of light sources generate light for processing the object, wherein the groups of light sources are imaged onto a working plane (17) by an imaging unit (16) for producing the processing light. The resulting intensity distribution is configured such that, if the intensity distribution is integrated in a spatial integration direction, the resulting integrated intensity distribution has an intensity dip, wherein one or several of the groups of light sources are controllable independently from the other of the groups of light sources for modifying the integrated intensity distribution. This allows using the lighting apparatus in a processing apparatus such that perpendicular to a processing line, along which an object is to be processed, in particular, to be sealed, the object can be processed relatively homogenously, thereby improving the quality of processing the object.
US09096041B2
The present invention relates to a method for coating substrates, including applying a composition to a first side of the substrate, the composition containing an inorganic compound, drying the applied composition, applying at least one coating to the first side of the substrate to which the composition is applied, the coating containing a silane, drying the applied coating, and applying at least one barrier layer to a second side of the substrate.
US09096037B2
The present invention is in the field of multiple layer glass panels comprising a polymer sheet having desirable surface properties, and more specifically, the present invention is in the field of multiple layer glass panels comprising poly(vinyl butyral) having a finished surface of relatively low waviness and high roughness disposed in contact with poly(ethylene terephthalate) and/or other poly(vinyl butyral) type layers.
US09096036B2
Disclosed are building board manufacturing techniques that minimize the build-up of slurry on associated forming equipment and also produce panels with enhanced physical properties. The methods involve applying a dissolvable film laminate to one or more fiber mats at the outset of the forming process. In the un-dissolved state, the film acts as a containment envelope for the gypsum slurry and any free floating glass fibers. During subsequent curing, the film is dissolved by vaporized water. In its dissolved state, the film is liquefied and coats the fibers of the underlying mat. This results in a building board with improved physical properties.
US09096034B2
A syntactic metal foam composite that is substantially fully dense except for syntactic porosity is formed from a mixture of ceramic microballoons and matrix forming metal. The ceramic microballoons have a uniaxial crush strength and a much higher omniaxial crush strength. The mixture is continuously constrained while it is consolidated. The constraining force is less than the omniaxial crush strength. The substantially fully dense syntactic metal foam composite is then constrained and deformation worked at a substantially constant volume. The deformation working is typically performed at a yield strength that is adjusted by way of selecting a working temperature at which the yield strength is approximately less than the omniaxial crush strength of the included ceramic microballoons. This deformation causes at least work hardening and grain refinement in the matrix metal.
US09096030B2
Disclosed is a sealing and cutting unit with a sealing device and a cutting device. The latter is assigned with hold-down means positioned downstream of the cutting device in the direction of transport of a film to be sealed and to be detached.
US09096027B2
A preform is formed by stacking core elements that are coated with prepregs. By heating the preform at a temperature at which the core elements do not thermally shrink, the prepregs are preliminarily hardened, and prepregs that are in contact with each other are caused to adhere to each other. Then, the prepregs are definitively hardened and the core elements are thermally shrunk by heating the preform at a temperature at which the core elements thermally shrink.
US09096017B2
A welding and cutting wheel for permanently bonding micro-denier fabrics is provided. The wheel assembly comprises a first rotatable wheel equipped with a plurality of spikes along its perimeter, the first rotatable wheel being positioned to rotate around a first axis, a second rotatable wheel equipped with a plurality of holes along its planar face, the second rotatable wheel being positioned to rotate around a second non parallel axis in relation to the first axis, and an energy source operably connected to at least one of the rotatable wheels, to activate an adhesive material used in the bonding process.
US09096016B2
Aspects relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for a manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool is comprised of a vacuum tool and an ultrasonic welder as a unified manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool may be used to pick and position a manufacturing part that is then welded with the associated ultrasonic welder.
US09096008B2
A mold clamping device includes a fixed platen on which a fixed mold is disposed, a movable platen on which a movable mold that defines a cavity along with the fixed mold is disposed, a tie bar configured to resist a mold clamping force that is generated between the fixed platen and the movable platen, and a half nut opening and closing device configured to grip the tie bar, thereby locking the movable platen and the tie bar, in which the half nut opening and closing device includes half nuts configured to grip the tie bars, an actuator which is disposed on the movable platen and configured to move the half nuts back and forth with respect to the tie bars, and a clevis configured to connect the actuator to the half nuts so as to allow the actuator to swing with respect to the gripping member.
US09096002B2
A process for providing an overmolded waterway comprising inserting a shaft portion of a sacrificial core into an end of a tube, the shaft portion having a first opening therein, the sacrificial core having a second portion comprising a second opening and a contact surface about the second opening, the second opening in fluid communication with the first opening and the inside of the tube, in a mold cavity inserting a core pin transverse to the tube end, the sacrificial core contact surface engaging a mating surface of the core pin closing the second opening, injection overmolding over a portion of the tube end and core pin forming an overmolded waterway having an outlet portion in fluid communication with the second opening and the inside of the tube, and removing the core pin from the second opening through the outlet portion and removing the overmolded waterway from the mold cavity.
US09095995B2
Disclosed herein is a method of forming a structure, comprising forming a mandrel layer over a substrate, masking the mandrel layer with a first mask and performing a first etch on the mandrel layer, the first etch forming a first opening exposing a first portion of the substrate. The mandrel layer is masked with a second mask and a second etch is performed on the mandrel layer. The second etch forms a second opening exposing a second portion of the substrate, and also forms a protective layer on the first portion of the substrate and in the first opening.
US09095990B2
There is described a method for at least partially covering selected surfaces of a non-porous substrate with a flexible veneer, the method comprising the steps of maintaining a humid environment during the covering of said substrate with the veneer, applying a preheated adhesive to one or both of the substrate and the veneer, progressively shaping the veneer to the selected surfaces of the substrate through the application of pressure biasing the veneer against the selected surfaces and curing the assembly of the veneer and the substrate.
US09095987B2
Disclosed is a device for cutting an electrode sheet laminate wherein two or more continuous electrode sheets, in which an electrode active material is applied to one or both surfaces thereof, are laminated, to form a plurality of unit electrode laminates from the electrode sheet laminate, the device including a cutter to cut the electrode sheet laminate at a set position and thereby form unit electrode laminates, and two or more transport grippers arranged at the front of the cutter based on a feed direction of the electrode sheet laminate, the transport grippers drawing and transporting the electrode sheet laminate by one pitch, a size corresponding to the unit electrode laminate according to operation of the cutter, wherein while one of the transport grippers draws and transports the electrode sheet laminate, the remaining transport grippers move to a position for drawing.
US09095980B2
Systems and methods for transferring a micro device from a carrier substrate are disclosed. In an embodiment, a mass transfer tool manipulator assembly allows active alignment between an array of electrostatic transfer heads on a micro pick up array and an array of micro devices on a carrier substrate. Displacement of a compliant element of the mass transfer tool manipulator assembly may be sensed to control alignment between the array of electrostatic transfer heads and the array of micro devices.
US09095974B2
A material carousel for manufacturing and/or assembly operations is provided. The carousel includes a hub fabricated from a low friction material wherein the hub has a polygonal shape. The carousel also includes a plurality of equally spaced arms which are press fit into the hub. Each arm is adapted to hold cable and/or harness assemblies or includes a bin for holding materials used for production operations. In addition, the carousel includes a support column that extends through the hub, wherein the hub is adapted to rotate about the support column. An adjustable support column is also provided for supporting the hub on the support column. Further, the carousel includes a peg mechanism for stopping rotation of the hub after a predetermined rotation angle.
US09095967B2
A tool, in particular a wood chisel, includes a first profiled part (100; 1), a second profiled part (103; 10, 14) and a removable blade (106; 20). The second profiled part (103; 10, 14) is pushed into the first profiled part such that the removable blade can be inserted between the first and second profiled parts (100; 1; 103; 10, 14) and be held therein by friction.
US09095956B2
A block former comprises a portable device for compression forming of carbon dioxide particles into a non-homogenous block of carbon dioxide. The formed non-homogenous block can be used with carbon dioxide blasters that shave the formed block, and then eject the carbon dioxide shavings into a pneumatic jet as a blast media for cleaning surfaces. The block former further comprises a control system comprising a logic system of switches, valves, and timers to perform a timed sequence of events to form loose carbon dioxide particles into a non-homogenous block, to release compression on the block, and to eject the formed block from the block former. A single compression surface is provided to compress the carbon dioxide particles block, to release pressure on the block, and to eject the block from the block former device. The carbon dioxide particles used to form the non-homogeneous block can vary in size from snow to chunks or pellets.
US09095952B2
A substrate polishing system includes a platen to support a polishing surface, a carrier head configured to hold a substrate against the polishing surface during polishing, a light source configured to direct a light beam onto a surface of the substrate, a detector including an array of detection elements, and a controller. The detector is configured to detect reflections of the light beam from an area of the surface, and is configured to generate an image having pixels representing regions on the substrate having a length less than 0.1 mm. The controller is configured to receive the image and to detect clearance of a metal layer from an underlying layer on the substrate based on the image.
US09095942B2
Cooling apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating cooling of electronic components of an electronic system. The cooling apparatus includes a housing at least partially surrounding and forming a compartment about the components, and an immersion-cooling fluid is disposed within the compartment. At least one component of the electronic system is at least partially non-immersed within the fluid in the compartment. A wicking film element is physically coupled to a main surface of the at least one component and partially disposed within the fluid within the compartment. A coupling element physically couples the wicking film element to the main surface of the at least one component without the coupling element overlying the main surface of the component(s). As an enhancement, the wicking film element wraps over the component to physically couple to two opposite main sides of the component.
US09095941B2
A metal matrix composite is disclosed that includes graphene nanoplatelets dispersed in a metal matrix. The composite provides for improved thermal conductivity. The composite may be formed into heat spreaders or other thermal management devices to provide improved cooling to electronic and electrical equipment and semiconductor devices.
US09095940B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material. One of the systems includes a system for harvesting a waste magnet from an end-of-life product, the system comprising a positioning mechanism that defines a recess to receive and locate the end-of-life product relative to the positioning mechanism, the end-of-life product including the waste magnet, a separating station to substantially separate a portion of the end-of-life product containing the waste magnet from the remainder of the end-of-life product when the positioning mechanism moves the respective end-of-life product through the separating station, and a transport station that receives the portion of the end-of-life product containing the waste magnet from the positioning mechanism when the positioning mechanism moves the respective end-of-life product to the transport station.
US09095937B2
A wire (10) for use in a brazing or soldering operation has an elongated body (12) of a metallic material. The elongated body (12) has an outer surface (18). A channel (14) is formed along a length of the body. The channel (14) has an opening (A1). A flux solution (22) is deposited within the channel (14) and along the length of the body. The flux solution (22) covers a portion of the outer surface (18). A portion of the flux solution (22) is exposed through the opening (A1) in the channel (14).
US09095934B2
An aluminum alloy brazing sheet having a good brazing property that prevents diffusion of molten filler material in a core material of the aluminum alloy brazing sheet during a brazing process and which has a superior corrosion resistance to an exhaust gas condensate water after the brazing process is disclosed. A method of manufacturing of the aluminum alloy brazing sheet also is disclosed. A high corrosion-resistant heat exchanger that employs the aluminum alloy brazing sheet also is disclosed.
US09095927B2
The invention aims at providing a friction stir welding method which can achieve joining a butting portion to a deep location therein by reducing the load on the friction stirring device. The friction stir welding method for joining two metal members (1) using a primary joining rotary tool (F) with a stirring pin (F2) includes a primary joining process in which a rotating stirring pin (F2) is moved to the butting portion formed by butting the metal members (1) against each other and friction stir welding is carried out. In the primary joining process, only the stirring pin (F2) is brought into contact with the metal members (1).
US09095926B2
A tool driving section of a friction stir spot welding device is configured to advance and retract each of a pin member and a shoulder member. A tool driving control section is configured to control the tool driving section such that an absolute value of a tool average position Tx defined by a following equation: Ap·Pp+As·Ps=Tx, where Ap is a cross-section area of a front end surface of the pin member, As is a cross-section area of a front end surface of the shoulder member, Pp is a press-fit depth of the pin member press-fitted from a front surface of an object to be welded, and Ps is a press-fit depth of the shoulder member press-fitted from the front surface of the object to be welded, is small.
US09095924B2
A welded construction according to the present invention has a first metallic member, on one surface of which a projecting portion is formed and on the other surface of which a depressed portion corresponding to the projecting portion is formed, and a second metallic member are welded together at a welded portion which includes a summit portion of the projecting portion; wherein, on at least one of the first metallic member and the second metallic member, on its opposite surface to its surface that faces the other one of the metallic members, a recessed portion is formed that is recessed from its peripheral region towards a region which corresponds to the welded portion.
US09095919B2
A stick electrode for depositing an high strength weld metal bead on a workpiece where the yield strength of the weld metal is between 85 ksi and 125 ksi irrespective of the cooling rate. The electrode deposits weld metal having 0.80-1.85% by weight manganese, 0.25-0.50% by weight molybdenum, 1.25-2.50% by weight nickel, and less than 0.07% by weight carbon, wherein the ratios of the carbon, manganese and molybdenum are adjusted to provide a carbon equivalent in deposited weld metal in the range of 0.17 to 0.30 and preferably less than 0.22.
US09095917B2
A die head retaining mechanism for installing or removing a die head in a power drive for thread cutting operations is described. The mechanism comprises a cam and follower arrangement with a face gear having at least one locking jaw disposed in a slot provided on the face of the face gear oriented away from the housing. The mechanism also comprises a drive ring having a collection of cam profiles to control the movement of the locking jaws. The mechanism also comprises at least one compression spring disposed in corresponding groove(s) on the face gear. The compression spring is typically preloaded to keep the locking jaws in a locked position. The mechanism also comprises a bearing provided between the housing and the face gear. The bearing is locked in place by a retaining ring. A locking plate, spring washers, and screws are used to secure the assembly of the die head retaining mechanism on the power drive.
US09095915B2
An apparatus and associated methodology providing an axial positioner for a rotatable shaft that is selectively extensible along an axis of rotation. The apparatus includes a sleeve having a first race operably fixed in rotation with the shaft, and a second race operably fixed at a predetermined rotational position. The races define opposing bearing surfaces operably supporting the first race in rotation with respect to the second race. The apparatus also includes an indicia device attached to the second race.
US09095912B2
A tool drills holes into different sized wooden blocks so that the holes are precisely positioned while providing a means to position the tool to match an existing line or slot on the wooden block. The tool includes two identical pieces that, when assembled, adjusts to accommodate variable sized model car blocks, provides a view port to look through the tool for positioning, and contains perfectly aligned drill guide holes on either end and in the middle of the assembly to guide a drill bit that drills the required holes needed to accurately place axles and eyelets into the model car. The tool is adjustable to accommodate different sized blocks. The holes can be angled to create wheel camber when axles inserted.
US09095909B2
A cutting tool has an indexable insert, a holder with a holder member and an arrangement for securing the insert to the holder. An upstanding holder wall and a conical insert clearance surface are designed so as to enable securing of the insert to the holder in a finite number of fixed relative positions. A curved portion of the upstanding holder wall supports the conical clearance surface laterally in each fixed relative position of the holder and the insert. A tight abutment of the conical clearance surface on said curved portion is provided to dirt from penetrating therebetween.
US09095906B2
A method for producing a workpiece from an elongated blank or intermediate product. The workpiece geometry is formed in a first method step, for example by forging the blank or intermediate product, a centering region for subsequent machining of the workpiece between centers being introduced in two oppositely situated sides of the workpiece with reference to the longitudinal axis thereof, and at least one of the centering regions having a desired deformation face. The workpiece is calibrated in a second method step, the desired deformation face being adapted in such a manner that the distance between the contact faces of the centering regions for the machining between centers being adjusted to a predetermined desired measurement. The invention also includes a corresponding workpiece with centering regions, at least one of which has at least one desired deformation face.
US09095904B2
Titanium tetrahalide (preferably titanium tetrachloride) is reduced to titanium metal particles by reaction with an alkali metal dispersed in a non-aqueous, organic ionic liquid. The dispersion is enhanced using high-shear mixing. By-product alkali metal chloride salt(s) is dissolved in the ionic liquid. Precipitated titanium metal powder is readily separated from the ionic liquid solution as a product. And the separated solution may be subjected to electrolysis to recover chlorine gas, electrodeposited alkali metal, and the ionic liquid. Other metal halides may be added with the titanium halide to form titanium-based alloys or other titanium based products.
US09095903B2
Methods and compositions are disclosed for preparation of both open and closed nanowire metal rings. Such rings may be used in conductive layers of electronic devices.
US09095902B2
A process is provided for producing a component. The process comprising the steps of: producing a former corresponding to the internal dimensions of the component to be formed; providing a layer of a second material on at least one surface of the former; locating the former in a containment and filling the containment with a first material; subjecting the containment to hot isostatic pressing such that the second material diffuses into the first material.
US09095892B2
A method of providing a mold with a conformal cooling passage includes rough machining a mold cavity generally corresponding to a molded part shape using CAD data. Conformal cooling slots are cut in the mold cavity using the CAD data. The conformal cooling slots are welded shut using the CAD data to provide conformal cooling passages. A class A surface is machined over the conformal cooling passage and corresponds to a finished mold part shape using the CAD data.
US09095888B2
A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner to form a machine arrangement. Each machine includes a modular base, a transfer star wheel, and a turret mechanism configured to perform a working operation on an article. The turret mechanism includes a turret star wheel. A central axis of the transfer star wheel is approximately 45 degrees below horizontal relative to a central axis of the turret star wheel. The turret mechanism includes a cantilevered portion overhanging a portion of the base.
US09095873B2
A cover for a shaft of an electronic thermometer probe. The cover includes a tubular body having an open end and a closed end opposite the open end. The body defines a cavity sized and shaped to slidably receive the shaft of the electronic thermometer probe. At least a portion of the tubular body is formed from a nanotube composite material including a polymer matrix material and a carbon nanotube filler material.
US09095867B2
A system for coating a target surface employs a bottle for containing the texture material and a spray pump assembly. A resilient member is supported by a pump housing to define an outlet opening. A collar member is supported by the pump housing. The resilient member is normally in an undeformed configuration in which the outlet opening defines a first cross-sectional area. Moving the collar member relative to the pump housing causes the collar member to act on the resilient member to deform the resilient member from the undeformed configuration to a deformed configuration in which the outlet opening defines a second cross-sectional area, where the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.
US09095863B1
An apparatus and method for forming a fusible coating or structure comprising a combustor that is operative to combust a fuel and contain the resulting flame to produce combustion products; components for cooling the combustion products to produce a hot carrier gas stream; and elements for introducing fusible material into the hot carrier gas stream; made lightweight and easier to operate through the addition of a continuous electronic ignition system and a single air manifold.
US09095849B2
A separator for use in a container for a biological fluid is disclosed. The separator includes a separator body having a first region at least partially made of a first material having a first density, and a second region at least partially made of a second material having a second density different from the first density. The separator has an overall density intermediate the densities of a first phase and a second phase of the biological fluid. At least a portion of the separator is deformable between a first condition in which the biological fluid can pass between an inner surface of the container and the separator, and a second condition in which at least a portion of the separator prevents the biological fluid from passing between the inner surface of the container and the separator.
US09095843B2
A method for lowering the sodium content of different carriers which may have different physical properties as well as varying degrees of sodium is provided. The method, which lowers the sodium content from the surface, subsurface as well as the binding layer of the carrier, includes contacting a carrier with water. A rinse solution is recovered from the contacting. The rinse solution includes leached sodium from the carrier. The sodium content in the rinse solution is then determined. The contacting, recovering and determining are repeated until a steady state in the sodium content is achieved.
US09095830B2
An apparatus is for directing a fluid into a radial reactor is and which maintains a bed of solid particulate material within a reactor. The apparatus comprises a duct for directing fluid into a reactor and has a screenless face for the egress of the fluid, while providing for the retention of solid particles.
US09095827B2
A mixer for mixing an exhaust flow with a fluid injected into an exhaust pipe includes a tubular housing having a reduced size center portion positioned between first and second ends. The housing includes circumferentially spaced apart apertures extending through the center portion. A first mixing element includes a first peripheral portion positioned within one of the apertures and a second peripheral portion positioned within another one of the apertures. A second mixing element includes third and fourth peripheral portions positioned within other apertures of the housing.
US09095823B2
A tunable membrane configuration for a filtration or selective fluidic isolation and recovery device includes a housing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at an opposite end with an opening extending from the inlet to the outlet. An internal support structure is maintained in the opening, and layered filtration media is carried by the internal support structure, the media separating feed received at the inlet into at least three separate output flows.
US09095821B1
A polymer membrane is formed around nanotubes by applying either droplets or a thin film of a suspension of the nanotubes over a layer of a solution of the polymer, the suspending medium for the nanotubes and the solvent(s) for the polymer selected such that the suspending agent will evaporate while it is migrating into and dispersing in the solvent. When the polymer is then permitted to coagulate around the nanotubes, the coagulated polymer will fix the orientations of the nanotubes and a high proportion of the nanotubes will protrude from both sides of the resulting membrane to provide through-passages through the membrane.
US09095820B2
The invention relates to a filtration system that includes one or more flat filter, capillary tube filter, or wound filter modules having a single or double permeate drain on the edge side and fluid couplings for connecting the filter modules to a fluid distributor or additional filter modules. The fluid couplings include at least one passage each for permeate fluid, raw fluid, and concentrate fluid.
US09095818B2
The present invention relates to methods for removing antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants from a platelet preparation. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of flowing the platelet preparation through a filtering tube comprising a filtering membrane and separating the antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants from the platelet preparation by tangential flow filtration. In another embodiment, the method includes the step of passing the platelet preparation through porous material that specifically binds to the antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants.
US09095810B2
A filtering device features a carrier medium and activated carbon as adsorbent which is immobilized due to the addition of adhesive.
US09095808B2
An electrolytic filtration method and apparatus for the concentration and collection of suspended particulates from aqueous solutions is disclosed. The electrolytic cell contains at least an anode and a cathode, and in one embodiment contains a plurality of anodes and cathodes. The electrolytic cell also contains a filter, and in one embodiment the filter is a moving belt filter. While not bound by theory, the electrolytic filtration method and apparatus is based on the electrophoretic movement of algae particles suspended in an aqueous solution away from the filter under the influence of an electric field. In one embodiment the electric field is a pulsed waveform with unidirectional voltage or current pulses. In another embodiment, the electric field is a pulsed waveform with bidirectional voltage or current pulses.
US09095806B2
A filter housing (10) having a raw-side inlet (12) and a clean-side outlet (14) for media to be filtered and a forward-mounted part designed as a cyclone pre-separator (20) including at least one fastening region (32) of a first part (30) made substantially of plastic is fastened to the raw side, and a second part (40) braced between the first part (30) and the filter housing (10). The fastening region (32) of the first part (30) is screwed to the filter housing (10) using metal fastening elements (50, 54, 56, 60), and—at the upper side facing away from the filter housing (10) it has at least one pressing contour (70) for compensating for at least one dimension tolerance of the elements fastened together. The contour is substantially plastic material, which can be deformed by means of applying a force generated by the screwing together of the metal fastening elements (50, 52, 56, 60), in particular which can be melted.
US09095772B2
Technologies and implementations for providing and online gaming experience are generally disclosed.
US09095762B2
System for light signalling to supply a moving light reference (60) to an athlete, said system (10) including a plurality of lighting elements (20), in particular light emitting diodes, arranged along an athlete path, controlling means (11, 19) adapted to control said plurality of lighting elements (20) according to a lighting sequence adapted to generate said moving light reference (60) and to impart to said moving light reference (60) a displacement speed along said plurality of lighting elements (20) which is settable through said controlling means (11, 19). According to the invention, said system (10) further comprises a plurality of microcontrollers (23) arranged in a cascaded connection with respect to command signals (42) pertaining lighting parameters sent by said controlling means (11, 19) and arranged along said athlete path, said microcontrollers (23) being connected to respective sets of lighting elements in said plurality of lighting elements (20) to command their lighting state on the basis of said command signals (42).
US09095750B2
The present invention relates to a racket for ball games having a frame comprising a head portion for receiving a stringing and a handle portion for gripping the racket, wherein the frame comprises at least one transparent or translucent portion formed from a transparent or translucent material, said transparent or translucent portion being integrally bonded to the remaining frame. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a racket is described.
US09095744B2
Disclosed is an intra-vaginal device of a new and innovative design that in combination with kegel exercises or performing ones daily routine strengthens the muscles of the pelvic floor. The device employs a combination of unique shape, materials as well as carefully engineered deflection, frictional, testing and clean-ability characteristics with particular attention to a sexually neutral appearance, comfort during insertion and exercise as well as positive physical feedback to encourage prolonged and frequent use. Benefits of the device include improvement or prevention of urinary leakage and prolapse, increases in sexual intensity, to keep the uterus, bladder or rectum in place as a pessary as well as relief for women suffering from moderate prolapse. As a dilator to aid women who suffer from vaginismus. With its multiple features and benefits, the device is a vital tool in a woman's quest for a complete and balanced wellness regimen.
US09095743B2
A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.
US09095734B2
A molecule for stabilizing a bioactive chemical group capable of releasing nitric oxide in vivo is described. The molecule possesses multi-functionality, enabling the delivery of multiple nitric oxide precursors on a single molecule. In some embodiments, a tissue or prosthetic bonding group is attached to one of the functional arms of the molecule making the molecule of the present invention localizing to tissue or an implant.
